Who else likes weekend getaways to Milwaukee, especially during the summer? I have become well acquainted with a particular neighborhood, the Lower East Side, given its swell of breweries and artsy character. I traveled there recently to check out the East Side Art Market, as it’s been on my to-do list for a while.
Art market details
The market is open during the second and fourth weekends at 1915 E. North Avenue from 12 pm to 4 pm. It’s presented by The East Side BID and Milwaukee Makers Market with beer provided by Brew City Distribution. Stroll the many vendors selling their fabulous wares while listening to local musicians. The painted picnic tables are fun conversation pieces. You can see all the tables and the artists who painted them here.
Thom J. Ertl Designs
I typically look for funky greeting cards or postcards while traveling, which is the reason I was drawn to a vendor. Thom J. Ertl Designs had several carousels filled with unique cards. I bought a bunch because there were so many good ones. I plan to share and keep some for myself to frame as functional art.
Beer options
I planned a brewery right after the market, so I played it smart and only had one beer. They offer a nice variety of canned options, including an IPA, a Porter, a Hefeweizen, a Kolsch, and two Hard Seltzers. It was a bit chilly, so I turned on the heat with a Donner Party Porter by FiftyFifty Brewing. This is a tasty porter with notes of dark chocolate, mocha, molasses, and espresso.
Return visit in my future
The East Side Art Market is a great place to collect some unique treasures, meet people, relax, and enjoy the surroundings. I will definitely be back!
Hacienda Beer Company
The next stop was Hacienda Beer Company’s North Avenue Taproom. I’m not too familiar with them since the original brewery is in Door County. It didn’t take long to realize that I would become more acquainted with their beer in the future. Road trip to Door County, anyone?
What I ate and drank
My server helped me choose beers for a flight including The Invisible Landscape, Everything Eventually, DDH Everything Eventually Phantasm, and Closer Everywhere. All the beers were winners and enjoyed on their colorful patio.
There were several things I wanted from the food menu; however, the only menu available on the weekend is brunch. My server told me I could substitute soy for most of the items, so I chose the Eastside Hash. It was the perfect accompaniment to all that beer.
Black Cat Alley
Next up was Black Cat Alley. I have been here several times; however, there is a new mural I was anxious to see. I also wanted to explore with eyes wide open (seeing the more obscure art).
This beauty by Adjua Nsoroma was well worth waiting for. I hope this talented young woman continues to paint outdoor murals!
All three venues are within five minutes of one another. There are also lots of restaurants and bars nearby, so relish hanging out in this eclectic neighborhood.
My greatest passion is street art. I’m constantly pounding the pavement in search of murals with eyes wide open, so follow me on my colorful journey. View all my findings on Instagram @chicagosartandbeerscene.
Another passion of mine is beer. I consider myself a beer snob with a preference given to dark beer, especially stouts and barrel-aged. However, I’m always willing to try new styles because beer is life. Prost!
The Cubs pulled off their first big blockbuster of the day. Craig Kimbrel is arguably their biggest trade chip of the deadline, and they have now cashed him in prior to the deadline. The best closer in baseball returned a pair of young MLB players, both in their pre-arbitration years (assets that are in higher demand now than they have ever been).
The big name among the two is former 4th overall pick 2B Nick Madrigal. Out for the season with a torn hamstring which required surgery in June, Madrigal is perhaps the elite young contact hitter in baseball. For those screaming for the Cubs to find a top of the order player who puts the ball in play, the Cubs now have another option for the future outside of Nico Hoerner. He put up phenomenal numbers at Oregon State, and then since finding his groove in AA back in 2019 his numbers have looked:
2019 AA: 42 G, 2.8 K%, .341/.400/.451
2019 AAA: 29 G, 3.7 K%, .331/.398/.424
2020 MLB: 29 G, 6.4 K%, .340/.376/.369
2021 MLB: 54 G, 7.9 K%, .305/.349/.425
Madrigal will turn 25 next spring, with one year of pre-arbitration in 2022, and then provides four arbitration seasons before becoming a free agent prior to the 2027 season.
His ability at 2B is nothing special, but is not considered a liability. Madrigal is strictly a 2B, but given Hoerner’s versatility to play SS and potential other positions, this provides the Cubs with coverage in case Javier Báez is traded or leaves via free agency.
Codi Heuer adds to the Cubs stable of hard throwing relievers. He averages around 97 mph on his fastball, and compliments it with a high-80s change and slider. After recording a 1.52 ERA in the shortened 2020 season for the White Sox, he’s fallen off a bit this year, with a 5.12 ERA, but he’s been a little unlucky giving up home runs this year (where as he was a bit fortunate in 2020). His true talent likely lands somewhere in the middle and he should give the Cubs a solid setup option in the coming years. Heuer also has one year remaining before arbitration, but he will reach free agency one year before Madrigal.
Javy (and Williams) headed to Mets for Crow-Armstrong
Source confirms: Báez and Trevor Williams to Mets, pending medical review. First with Báez: @feinsand.
Cubs land 2020 19th overall pick Pete Crow-Armstrong. Speedy centerfielder with a good hit tool. Potential leadoff hitter down the road. Only 19 years old. Currently out for the year after surgery on a torn labrum suffered 6 games into this season (his pro debut).
SAITAMA, Japan — There is no aura of invincibility around this U.S. men’s basketball team. It has gone just 3-3 so far this summer, still has work to do just to qualify for the knockout stage at the Tokyo Olympics and seems far from a lock to win its fourth consecutive gold medal.
It’s different than many past Olympics. And the Americans don’t seem to mind.
“I feel like it makes it more fun,” U.S. center Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat said.
The next fun destination for the Americans, they hope, will be the Olympic quarterfinals. The U.S. can punch its ticket there on Saturday; the sure-fire way to do that would be to beat the Czech Republic in the Group A finale for both nations, though the Americans could still move on even with a loss.
A win would give the U.S. a chance at securing a top-four seed and ensure that the team wouldn’t face any of the three group winners until at least the semifinals. And the losses — two in exhibitions, then the Olympic opener against eventual Group A winner France — have been a benefit to the Americans, Adebayo said.
“We don’t go in every game thinking we’re going to beat everybody by 50,” Adebayo said. “It definitely keeps us on edge and, you know, shows that we can’t mess around.”
The Americans are still big favorites on Saturday; 23.5 points, according to FanDuel, and that line was set after the U.S. had no problem in a 120-66 win over Iran on Wednesday. The 54-point margin of victory — albeit against an overmatched opponent — was the fifth-largest for a U.S. men’s team in an Olympics since NBA players began being used in 1992, and was by the far the best performance by the team yet this summer.
U.S. guard Damian Lillard said the game against Iran, the second one this summer where the Americans had all 12 of their players. It was the first with nobody recovering from flying 8,000 miles the previous day to get to Tokyo after the NBA Finals — as Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton and Devin Booker were for the France game — provided the blueprint for how this team needs to play.
“I think everybody on our team would agree that it felt good to get out and run, get open shots, create steals and go the other way without having to set plays and use our length and athleticism to our advantage,” Lillard said. “I think we can find a way to be consistent at that, we should have a pretty good chance of being successful.”
Each of the other U.S. Olympic teams that won a game by at least 54 points — the 1992, 1996, 2012 and 2016 teams all had one such contest — went on to win the gold medal.
And, perhaps for a couple days, it silenced some of the doubt about whether this U.S. team is good enough to win it all.
“If we win, that’s going to put the rest a lot of the things that have been said, doom and gloom,” USA Basketball senior men’s national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said. “If we don’t win, people will have their opportunity to take shots at anyone and as much as they wish to, for whatever reasons they choose.”
A look men’s field heading into the final games in group play:
AT STAKE
The men’s field will be pared from 12 teams down to the eight for the knockout stage this weekend, with the quarterfinal games to be played in Saitama on Tuesday. The winners of the three groups, plus the best second-place finisher, will earn top-four seeds. The other two second-place finishers and the best two third-place teams will be the bottom four seeds for the quarterfinals.
GROUP A
France (2-0) is the group winner, no matter what happens Saturday against Iran (0-2). The winner of the U.S.-Czech Republic game will be 2-1 and finish in second place; the loser falls to 1-2 and will have to hope to move on as one of the best third-place teams.
GROUP B
Australia (2-0) has clinched a quarterfinal berth and can lock up first place in its group with a win Saturday against Germany (1-1). Nigeria (0-2) needs a win, and probably by a sizable margin since overall point differential is a potential tiebreaker, against Italy (1-1) in the other Group B game on Saturday to have any chance of advancing. The Italians would advance with a win.
GROUP C
Reigning World Cup champion Spain (2-0) will take on Luka Doncic and Slovenia (2-0) on Sunday to determine who wins Group C and is guaranteed a top-four seed for the quarterfinals. Both teams have already clinched a berth in the knockout stage.
Host Japan (0-2) plays Argentina (0-2) on Sunday. The loser is eliminated and the winner — again, likely depending on the points-differential tiebreaker — may still have a chance to reach the quarterfinals. If Argentina does not advance, it may mean that Sunday would be the last time Luis Scola appears in the Olympics. The 41-year-old Scola, who has appeared in five Olympics, hasn’t said if he plans to continue his playing career.
A Chicago man was sentenced Friday to a year and a half in federal prison for carrying a gun during downtown looting last summer.
Javonte T. Williams, 28, dropped the gun from his waistband while officers chased him from the scene of looting early Aug. 10 near State and Lake streets, federal prosecutors said.
He was prohibited from carrying a firearm because of a previous gun conviction in Cook County.
Prosecutors, who asked for a two-year sentence, said Williams had boasted about the looting on social media.
“The defendant’s decision to be out in downtown Chicago in the middle of utter chaos is no mystery given his past public bragging about the amount of looting he himself participated in over the summer of 2020,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum.
When a friend cautioned Williams against posting to Facebook, Williams replied: “I’ll be rite back out f- – – em,” according to the memorandum.
Williams pleaded guilty earlier this year to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
He was the second person sentenced in federal court this week for gun possession during the looting in downtown Chicago last summer. On Tuesday, Brandon Pegues of Riverdale got a year in federal prison for having a handgun and a hammer on the Near South Side on May 31.
Hot on the heels of all Broadway theaters announcing proof of vaccination and mandatory masks for all performers, crew members and theater employees, the Chicago production Teatro ZinZanni today announced that proof of vaccination will be required beginning Aug. 4 for all guests over the age of 12.
The dinner-theater experience is currently in an open run in the intimate Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel at 32 W. Randolph.
The new mandate joins previously announced safety protocols which already included fully vaccinated cast, crew and staff, and an enhanced air filtration system.
“We believe the nationwide rise in the highly-transmissible Delta variant makes this measure necessary for the safety of our audiences, staff and performers. Given the unique nature of our intimate venue, social distancing is impossible, so vaccination presents our best option to continue operating safely,” said the show’s executive producer Stan Feig via statement.
Proof of vaccination, which must be presented at arrival/check-in, can be a CDC vaccination card or clear photocopy/cell phone photo of the card, showing that the individual has completed the required number of vaccine doses at least 14 days prior to show date. Children 12 years and under must wear a mask except when eating. Fully vaccinated patrons may wear a mask at their discretion. More information can be found here.
Since most Chicago theater companies are resuming in-person performances this fall or winter, fully COVID safety protocols have not yet been officially announced. Several companies, however, have already or soon will resume live, in-person performances.
The Goodman Theatre has announced mandatory masks, regardless of vaccination status, for all patrons and staff for its production of “School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play,” which begins in-person performances on July 30.
The Chicago Magic Lounge, which resumes productions Aug. 2, is also requiring that patrons have received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to attend performances at its speakeasy/lounge venue.
And the Cubs and White Sox have reportedly made another deal. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that the Cubs will send closer Craig Kimbrel to the South Side in exchange for second baseman Nick Madrigal. That deal would come a day after the Cubs traded Ryan Tepera to the Sox.
Here’s the latest deadline buzz surrounding the Cubs’ All-Star third baseman.
Bryant remains one of the biggest names still available on deadline day. While there has been growing talk Friday that the Cubs might not part with Bryant, the Rays have emerged as a possible suitor.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reports the Rays are interested in Bryant. They had also shown interest in Kimbrel.
Such a swap would make Rizzo and Bryant rivals in the American League East, putting an odd twist on the Bryzzo sensation in Chicago.
“All good things come to an end,” Rizzo told reporters after he was dealt Thursday to the Yankees. “I’m just focused on going to be a Yankee now. It’s just another really cool opportunity to play for another historic franchise. This will always be home for me, but like I’ve said, my best friend leaving, Jon Lester, he did the same thing. He has two special places in his heart.
“But for these next three months, it’s going to be fun. You go right into a race. Seeing the Yankees pull the triggers like this — get (Joey) Gallo, me now, obviously — that’s what they do. And they’re excited.”
The Mets have also reportedly shown interest in Bryant, though midday reports indicated the two sides are still far apart, according to MLB Network.
Several other teams have reportedly stepped up interest in Kimbrel, including the White Sox, who pulled off a trade Thursday with the Cubs, Dodgers and Braves.
The Cubs have traded All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to the White Sox. They’ll receive second baseman Nick Madrigal and right-hander Codi Heuer in the deal
Kimbrel has had an amazing turnaround since arriving in Chicago in 2019 and after a miserable end to the 2019 season and start to 2020, MLB’s active saves leader has found new life.
Kimbrel is having one of the better seasons of his career in 2021, with a 0.49 ERA in 39 appearances for the Cubs this season with 23 saves, earning his first All-Star nod since 2019 in the process.
Kimbrel becomes the third member of the Cubs’ bullpen traded this week with left-hander Andrew Chafin going to the Oakland A’s and right-hander Ryan Tepera also going to the White Sox.
“Tepera, Chafin, Kimbrel were the guys that we went to to win baseball games,” manager David Ross said. “When you lose two of those three guys, it makes it difficult. Those guys pitch really big innings.”
Madrigal has been considered one of the best prospects in baseball for the last several years. The second baseman was off to a great start for the Sox this season, slashing .305/.349/.425 with four triples, two homers, 11 walks and just 17 strikeouts before needing season-ending surgery to repair the proximal tendon tears in his right hamstring.
Starting her Lollapalooza headlining set with “We Can’t Stop” (preaching the general theme of “it’s my party and I’ll do what I want to”), Miley Cyrusset the tone early on: It would be one helluva time and she would be making all the rules. In following those two tenets, the genre-bending star dominated the festival’s opening night.
There were fireworks, some memorable covers, a motley crew of guests, moments of nearly flashing the videofeed cameras, and the artist taking a stand on the important of freeing Britney Spears. During Cyrus’ performance Thursday of her hit “SMS (Bangerz),” which features Spears, the jumbo screens next to the stage broadcast the trending #freebritney message superimposed with caricatures of handcuffs. (Cyrus recently championed Spears’ conservatorship emancipation at a show in Vegas too.)
Earlier in the performance, Cyrus — keen on doing covers lately — dished out a few tributes to songs that she said “made me who I am.” Among them were Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” the Pixies’ “Where Is My Mind?,” Temple of the Dog’s “Say Hello To Heaven” (which she performed at a Chris Cornell tribute concert a few years ago) and a duet with special guest star Billy Idol on “White Wedding.”
The two also ran through their collaborative track “Night Crawling,” featured on Cyrus’ latest rock-leaning album “Plastic Hearts.” Other guest stars included G Herbo, followed by Wiz Khalifa and Juicy J (plus a random appearance by Benny the Bull) for their track “23” and Kid LAROI for the duo’s new song “Without You.”
Beyond the blitzkrieg of star wattage, Cyrus took moments to get philosophical too, pondering what the quarantine taught her, saying “it was humbling to be humanized together … experiencing the last year and a half with no division between us, all knowing the pain of being disconnected and the value of having one another in our lives,” before cracking a joke about her red sequined jumpsuit being custom made by Gucci and flown in from Italy.
Her bandmates also wore her own merch, the ensemble all standing in front of banner that read “Sell Out to Sell Out.” Cyrus continues to be that perfect dichotomy of pop star kept at arm’s length and a “they’re just like us” celebrity who keeps everyone guessing.— Selena Fragassi
Black Pumas
Though the Black Pumas set ended predictably with the band’s giant hit “Colors” that has been ubiquitous in recent months (including placement in a Target commercial), what was not expected was the overwhelming wash of emotion that came over the crowd. Even frontman Eric Burton (wearing a David Bote Cubs jersey and hat) had to pause and collect himself watching the sea of hands in the air loudly applauding during a break in the performance.
“Cut it off,” he instructed the band, including his partner in the project, the exemplary guitarist Adrian Quesada, whose jam-session solos had been near transcendental to this point. “It’s just you and me,” Burton said, his attention turning to the crowd as he jumped down on the ground and shook people’s hands in the front row, his greetings to each person audible in the microphone.
Eric Burton left the stage for some of the Black Pumas set at Lollapalooza.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The moving song, with its Sam Cooke ambitions to inspire social change, was a tangible game changer in the day, literally bringing people together after nearly two years apart. As Burton sang the last line of the song a capella, the crowd joined in as a last-minute choir that made it one of the highlights of the day.
Elsewhere in the set, after a back-to-back deliverance of the band’s hit “Fire” followed by a rousing cover of Leon Bridges’ “Smooth Sailing,” Burton shared the story of how he went from being a street busker in Austin, Texas, to being on the cover of magazines and nominated for Grammys. That humility and authenticity came through impressively in this set, his passion shown in his octave-busting wails and his joy seen as he moved around the stage dancing with nearly everyone in sight.
The Black Pumas are often categorized as a revival music act — and no doubt they hark back to a time of James Brown, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye — but it’s their revival of the human spirit and connection to important values that is most needed in the world right now. — Selena Fragassi
Steve Aoki
There are a number of elements you can expect in a typical Steve Aoki performance — pyrotechnics, special guests, bass drops and cake throwing, to name a few.
That’s largely why the EDM giant’s Thursday night set at Solana X Perry’s Stage felt like stepping into a time warp to a pre-2020 period, one where thousands of screaming, jumping fans packed tightly at an EDM concert didn’t leave you worried about health risks amid a global pandemic.
There was a sense throughout the night that, despite the threat of COVID-19, concertgoers either felt confident in Lollapalooza’s new admission protocols, compartmentalized the risks to just have fun or went hard in spite of the pandemic and all that’s been lost throughout 2020 and 2021.
Regardless of the context, Aoki stuck to his familiar formula and gave a strong performance comprised of original tracks and remixes that had the entire crowd dancing consistently throughout his hour-and-fifteen-minute set.
He had fire and smoke shoot from the stage.
He brought out several special guests, like All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth — and Darren Criss of Glee fame, who performed a mystifying cover of Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash into Me.”
He had a bass drop in just about every song he blazed through in his Serato, which spanned multiple genres to include everything from Daddy Yankee’s “Gasolina” to Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams.”
And he threw multiple cakes into the crowd, asking “Who came here tonight to have cake all over their face?” before lobbing one into a lucky fan’s face.
Aoki had complete control over the crowd and demonstrated a distinct ability to connect with the seemingly endless sea of faces. He gave his fans exactly what they wanted and they responded enthusiastically to every effort he made to hype them up.
When he raised his arms like a puppet master, the crowd followed his motions. When he popped bottles of champagne, they clamored to be spayed with the bubbly. When he led them in a singalong of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” they belted out every word until it progressed into a buildup and eventual bass drop.
There is no wind-down in a Steve Aoki set and his final songs of the night pushed the crowd into an even higher level of euphoria, which hadn’t seemed possible after seeing the way they responded when he played his BTS collaboration “Waste it on Me” and his remix of Panic! At the Disco’s “I Write Sins not Tragedies.”
His nearly 12-year-old remix of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness” came second to last and elicited perhaps the biggest response from Lollapalooza fans, some of whom sprinted from wherever they were on the festival grounds and into the crowd to catch the song.
Fans of all ages danced passionately straight into the end of his set, as Aoki smiled and moved from behind his DJ setup to the edges of the stage, jumping up and down with them. — Matt Moore
Orville Peck
Orville Peck performs Thursday at Lollapalooza in Grant Park.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Orville Peck may have been the only one wearing a mask at Lollapooza on opening day, but his faithful crowd (quite substantial for the early afternoon set) did come decked out in cowboy hats. Peck, a mysterious and unidentified Canadian artist who is turning modern country on its head and taking great advantage of country’s current moment, has a shtick of wearing a long, fringed facial covering for every performance. He looked every part old-school Nashville in his accompanying fringed vest and sequined chaps while brandishing a classic Gretsch guitar, quickly moving over to the piano for his rollicking set.
Songs “Big Sky,” “Legends Never Die” (his memorable duet recorded with Shania Twain) and “Drive Me Crazy” (“about truck drivers and love”) from his acclaimed EP “Show Pony” deftly blurred the lines between country twang, indie rock and even some added psychedelic swag.
Eva Adams (lifting hat) and Bridget Brazil cheer during the Orville Peck performance.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
“Hello I’m Orville Peck,” he said, conjuring the ghost of Johnny Cash to open the set, and then proceeded to show off his deep baritone, a bat signal for his many followers who sold out his pre-show Wednesday at Thalia Hall. There’s a part of Peck’s rise that feels very Gaga-like (he also wisely offered up his cover of “Born This Way” on Thursday). From the garish costume choices to the pseudonym to becoming a beloved LGBTQ icon, his career seems poised to reach that pinnacle in due time. Watch out for this one, mask and all. — Selena Fragassi
Playboi Carti
Playboi Carti performs Thursday at Lollapalooza.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
The returning Lollapalooza crowd might not have been ready for Playboi Carti, and the rapper didn’t appear ready for them either. The headline-making hip-hop star drew a large throng of people, and as a result, his disjointed set was marred by constant stops and starts as Carti pleaded with the crowd to step back and open up some personal space, after a number of people began passing out. Not a first for Lollapalooza by any means, but in these times, the idea of people suffocating each other takes on a whole new dismal tone.
Carti for his part was wearing a mask, though it was likely more part of his off-kilter ensemble than any functional purpose. The accessory did not help his set, though, which often came off muffled (even by mumble-rap standards) as he ran through what felt like one long track with identical sampling. Among the highlights was “Go2DaMoon,” his track recorded with Kanye West, but overall the performance lacked the panache we’ve come to expect from the artist, and at times he seemed to lose himself in the magnitude of the stage, which was just begging for guest stars. — Selena Fragassi
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World barreled into its set with a guitar solo that led straight into the band’s 2004 single “Pain.” It was enough to get concertgoers funneling off South Columbus and into the larger crowd of fans rocking out in front of the Bud Light Seltzer stage. “It’s so good to be back,” lead singer and guitarist Jim Adkins said.
Eventually, the energy that permeated the crowd for the first couple of songs plateaued as the band moved into the rest of the hourlong set and played more songs from its nearly 28-year discography. A few slower-tempo songs were met with a muted crowd response. And while there may have been a few off notes, they ultimately added to the band’s presence as a seasoned, foundational and tight unit that has fun and will never give an identical performance.
The set ended with songs from the beloved album “Bleed American,” which turned 20 years old last week. The shift into “Sweetness” followed by “The Middle” fully jolted the crowd to life, with people dancing and singing, ending the set on a high note. — Matt Moore
Flo Milli
Flo Milli performs Thursday at Lollapalooza in Grant Park.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
When Flo Milli stepped onto the stage for her Thursday afternoon Lollapalooza set, it was clear she came to do one thing: rap her heart out.
Devoid of backup dancers, a D.J., flashy visuals or any of the other staples artists use to hype crowds, she commanded the stage alone with a blistering set that practically ignited the thousands of fans packed in tight to see her in the excruciating heat.
The 21-year-old Mobile, Alabama, native strutted across the stage, blazing through select tracks from her 2020 mixtape “Ho, Why Is You Here?,” putting her whole chest into every line and the crowd shouted each word back to her. She wasted little time talking in between songs, making the pace of her set feel almost identical to the hit parade that is her mixtape.
What’s notable about the mixtape is Flo’s lack of melodic hooks — she opts instead to repeat extremely memorable and catchy lines. This translated really well live. For the majority of the songs she performed, she rapped without a backing vocal track on the verses, then let the vocals accompany her on the chorus, serving as an invitation to the fans to participate, and they did loudly. It flexed her prowess as one of the most talented hip hop artists in the game.
By the time she went into her song “In the Party,” the already high-energy crowd turned up even higher, prompting her to hop off the stage and into the front row.
But after a blistering 25 minutes, which included a brief snippet of her feature on Yung Baby Tate’s “I Am,” the set ended, cutting off what was scheduled to be a 45-minute slot. The crowd didn’t seem to mind, though.
We can’t wait to see Flo again on a bigger stage with more material. — Matt Moore
Kaytranada
A solitary beat reminiscent of a pulse pounded from the speakers as Grammy Award-winning producer Kaytranada stepped in front of the crowd. It was a fitting entrance because as soon as he dropped his first beat, he brought life to the area, with some fans packed as close to the stage as they could get while others opted to dance on the outskirts.
The man, as smooth as his production, sipped from a bottle of wine and danced along with the steady grooves as the sun dipped behind the skyline.
He masterfully pieced together songs from his albums “99.9%” and “BUBBA,” in addition to remixes and collaborations, all while hyping the crowd with encouragement on the microphone. It showed his dexterity as both a producer and a performer.
Savvy, too, were his repeated references to Chicago artists. This included dropping Chance the Rapper’s “All Night” and Kaytranada’s Mick Jenkins-featuring “Gray Area.” Add to that the remixes of songs from artists like Kelela and Rihanna.
It all worked to get the crowd smiling and dancing, ready to face the rest of the first night of Lollapalooza. — Matt Moore
Ant Clemons
It’s amazing that Ant Clemons isn’t a household name yet. Kicking around since 2016, he’s primarily been a songwriter, the Oz behind a curtain of top singles for acts like Beyonce, Camilla Cabello and Chicago’s own Kanye West, with whom he worked on the 2018 track “All Mine.”
Clemons introduced that song in his set as one that changed his life “when a gentleman from Chicago picked a poor young man up off the floor,” and then proceeded to give a sampler-platter medley of his other big numbers as a way to “get to know” him. That included H.E.R.’s “Damage” (followed by an audio snippet of her winning a Grammy) and “Better Days,” the track he did with Justin Timberlake and that both performed at President Joe Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’ inauguration in January.
Early in the set, Clemons also dropped a bomb with what is presumed to be the live debut of his new song “Appreciation” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, that he announced would drop at midnight Thursday night. If his previous work — like the EP “Happy 2 Be Here,” nominated for a Grammy this year — is any indication, expect his new music to make just as much of a dent and usher in his prime-time appearance at the next Lollapalooza. — Selena Fragassi
LP
Singer-songwriter LP performs Thursday at Lollapalooza.Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Like Ant Clemons earlier in the Day, LP is an artist that got to come into their own on the Lollapalooza grounds. Though they spent decades logging hits for Cher, Christina Aguilera and other pop stars, the demure singer-songwriter, real name Laura Pergolizzi, showed off the writing chops that kickstarted their career and reportedly sparked a bidding war between labels early on. Alongside a versatile backing band, LP offered a canon of trademark catchy material, including “The One That You Love,” “Girls Go Wild” and “When We’re High.” Though the vocals carried incredibly throughout the park (making one wonder if LP even needed the microphone), the strength of the performance wasn’t enough to draw a huge crowd to their flame. Intimate venues, like the pre-show LP did Wednesday night at Metro, are the way to see them. — Selena Fragassi
Looking back, it is hard to believe how long it has been since I put pen to paper (or in this case words on a screen) and written something for the blog. Between getting married, the passing of my mother, the birth of my daughter and the pandemic, life these last three years has taken its toll on me. I have had a lot of time to self reflect and give myself some much needed self care. I am immensely grateful to Kin for keeping things running in my absence.
So what brought me back (hopefully for good)?
Yesterday the Chicago Cubs traded away the player who has got to be my favorite Cub of all time, Anthony Rizzo.
In my heart of hearts I had hoped that he would be the one player left standing when the dust settled. I knew that many players would be traded this year, but I had hoped that he would be the one who remained. In my little world, he was the heart and soul of this team. While he never wore the “captain’s C” he was the veteran leader. He was the one who players went to when they were struggling. He was the one who tried to keep things loose and fun no matter what was going on with the game on the field. He was “that guy”. So of course, he HAD to be the one to stay. Right?
As I said, that is what my heart told me.
However, in my head I knew that anyone and everyone likely would be traded, even Rizzo. We all knew that Kris Bryant would likely be traded as he would likely not be re-signed before reaching free agency. While he has not been traded yet (not as of this writing), he is almost sure to go. Javier Báez has been rumored to be sought by the New York Mets, Craig Kimbrel, Willson Contreras, all of have been rumored and linked to trades. This is a hard pill to swallow, and to be completely honest I fought back tears last night when I heard Rizzo had been traded. I try to cheer myself up by saying he could be re-signed in the off-season, but I know that while possible, probably not likely even though that situation has happened in the past (like the Yankees did with Aroldis Chapman).
I guess I am just a bit sad seeing this team which brought us so much joy in 2016 being sold off piece by piece. Sad that this great group only won one World Series. Even so, from 2015-2020, this has been the best six years I have ever seen as a fan. The core was great for that time, and I will cherish what they gave us forever. I will always cheer for them from a distance, and wish them all nothing but success (unless they are playing the Cubs).
So to Rizzo, Bryant, Báez, Contreras (who’s hopefully sticking around since he still has a year of club control)…. from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for everything you have given this team, this city and the fans.
Rice Cube is the Executive Vice President of Snark for World Series Dreaming. Rice is not a native Chicagoan and thinks all your traditions are crazy but still loves the Cubs so hopefully we can all get along.
TOKYO — Sunisa Lee’s life changed the second she placed a gold medal around her neck. The newly minted Olympic gymnastic champion’s plans, however, have not.
At least for now.
A day after a thrilling victory in the women’s all-around, Lee insisted she’s ready to go to start her college career at Auburn. Really ready.
When incoming freshmen are expected to report to their dorm rooms on The Plains on Aug. 11, Lee plans to be there.
“(College) just has been another one of my dreams and goals after the Olympics,” the 18-year-old said Friday, less than 24 hours after edging Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade for the top spot on the podium. “So I feel like if I were to go pro, it would have to be like something like really good.”
Well, it might be. The Americans have produced each of the past five Olympic champions. The previous four — Carly Patterson, Nastia Liukin, Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles — were teenagers at the time of their triumphs. None of them competed collegiately, opting to turn professional in an effort to cash in on their newfound celebrity.
Back then, however, things were different. Gymnasts had to choose between accepting endorsements or college scholarships. Those days are over thanks to recently passed legislation that allows collegiate athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness.
There will likely be no shortage of possibilities for the charismatic Lee, the first Hmong American to win an Olympic medal. She’s getting a bit of a crash course on the finer points of the rules surrounding NIL. Whatever comes along, however, she expects to compete for the Tigers next season.
“I do want to go to college and have fun and kind of get away from this elite atmosphere just because it’s so, like, crazy,” Lee said. “And I know that college is going to be way better.”
The transition should be easy. Lee’s longtime coach Jess Graba and Auburn coach Jeff Graba are twin brothers. Jeff Graba doesn’t see why Lee can’t go to school while enjoying the trappings that come with being a multiple-medal winner in one of the Olympics marquee sports.
“There’s a pro league for gymnastics, it’s just endorsements,” Jeff Graba said. “So it’s name image and likeness. Time permitting, she should be able to make just as much money as she would have normally made.”
Lee could become the first true litmus test for athletes in traditionally non-revenue college sports. She’s in no hurry to find out. She’s a favorite to add another medal to her gold in the all-around and team silver during the uneven bars final on Sunday.
Maybe by then, things will have settled down a little. They didn’t in the hours after her steady, poised performance on floor exercise helped her soar to the top of the podium. Her phone practically melted from her notifications on social media from random well-wishers to actress Reese Witherspoon.
Not bad for someone whose slow recovery from a broken foot left her wanting to bail on trying to make it to Tokyo. She hung in there and now finds herself one of the new faces of her sport and the U.S. Olympic movement.
St. Paul, Minnesota, where Lee is from, declared Friday “Sunisa Lee Day,” a symbol of just how quickly things can turn when you stand atop the podium at the Olympics with the national anthem playing and NBC’s ever-present cameras zooming in.
Yes, she’ll arrive at Auburn as not just another freshman. Yet she is looking forward to the chance to bring some balance to her life. The run-up to the Olympics is a grind at the elite level. NCAA rules will limit her practice time. She needs the rest.
“My body just needs time to heal itself,” she said.
She hasn’t ruled out trying to do both collegiate and elite gymnastics at the same time. Maybe she’ll try to make the world championship team in 2022 and 2023. The ones coming this fall are out of the question. There are classes to get to. A roommate to hang out with. A life to begin.
“It’s just a different environment,” Lee said. “I won’t be doing any gymnastics. So it’ll be really exciting for me when I can just, like, go out and do stuff.”
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