Lollapalooza is bringing live music is back to Chicago in a big way. The Grant Park festival is one of the country’s first large-scale events post- pandemic, and it was ushering in the tunes — and the good feels — from the start on Thursday afternoon.

Orville Peck

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.

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.

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 is a Chicago freelance writer.

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Jason Lieser and Patrick Finley talk about their first impressions of rookie quarterback Justin Fields and the young offensive players the Bears have put around him.

New episodes of “Halas Intrigue” will be published regularly with accompanying stories collected on the podcast’s hub page. You can also listen to “Halas Intrigue” wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Luminary, Spotify, and Stitcher.

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One of the biggest challenges for people that don’t eat gluten is trying to find restaurants that offer dishes they can eat. Well, it doesn’t have to be a challenge anymore – because we have rounded up 8 of the best gluten-free restaurants around the city.

2873 N Broadway St

This daytime cafe offers 100% gluten-free options of all kinds, and they pride themselves on the wide selection of tasty dishes they serve that are allergen-free. You can grab a drink and a nutritious treat without having to worry about any sensitivities. 

1 W Erie St

Good food has the power to make yourself feel better physically, and True Food Kitchen prides themselves on ensuring that each dish they serve contributes positively to the way you feel. Most menu items that they offer can be customized to accommodate your needs!

2100 W Roscoe St

This small, family-owned restaurant offers tons of gluten-free options for breakfast, brunch, and lunch that you will definitely want to try. If you’re new to eating gluten-free, Lucy’s Cafe is a great place to start – as the majority of their menu items are GF, and especially, delicious!

2465 N Clark St

We get it; you eat gluten-free, but your friend doesn’t. Basil Leaf Cafe is the perfect place for you both to enjoy fantastic food together – as there are plenty of options for the both of you. Serving classic Italian dishes, this spot is a guaranteed hit. 

1954 N Halsted St

If you’re looking for more of an upscale spot, Summer House Santa Monica is the place to be. Though their menu is not 100% gluten-free, they pride themselves in being able to accommodate GF needs in customizable ways with their dishes. They also serve alcohol!

2333 N Milwaukee Ave 

It’s no surprise that this Chicago classic made the list. They pride themselves on being meat-free since 1983, but they also have tons of gluten-free options on the majority of their menu items. We recommend the Thai Basil Stir Fry.

1477 W Balmoral Ave

Most people who follow a gluten-free diet tend to stay away from bakery items. Well, you don’t have to anymore! Defloured is a bakery that specializes in gluten-free treats. They offer cookies, cakes, pies, scones, and so much more. Feel free to indulge in the sweetness at Defloured!

5020 N Sheridan Rd

As a sister restaurant to Big Chicks, Tweet offers a great spin on a wide range of classic dishes. They believe eating is not only a way to nourish the body – but believe it should be an entire experience. We recommend the Chipotle Black Bean Burger!

What’s your favorite spot in Chicago that offers gluten free eats? Share with us in the comments!

Photo by Sonny Mauricio on Unsplash

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Someone named Natalie at something called “SeatGeek” sent me an email offering White Sox tickets for Friday’s game against the Cleveland Indians. I blinked at it.

“Didn’t they change their name to the ‘Guardians?'” I wondered. Yes they did, but only after this season. Ah.

Sure, I could get all sentimental about a century of baseball tradition being scrapped. Weep how I loved Chief Wahoo as a child and, to be honest, still do. How my mother was an Indians fan, my grandfather before her.

But you know what? Truth is, I’m an adult now, and understand the world is not all about me. I have my own sense of self-worth, one not dependent on the icons of my youth being carried into perpetuity on the shoulders of the public, like plaster saints borne aloft in some dusty village procession. Times change. Certain stereotypes fly in 2021 while others do not. I can’t explain why the Fighting Irish Leprechaun is OK while Chief Wahoo isn’t.

Though I can try: It has something to do with the Irish coming here and doing pretty well, eventually, while the Native Americans already were here and didn’t do well at all, not once the white newcomers were done with them. I bet if no Irish Catholics actually attended the University of Notre Dame, its pugnacious mascot would be seen in a very different light.

Still, when I heard Cleveland is changing the name to “Guardians,” I winced. Leave it to Cleveland to pick a dud. I had been pulling for “Spiders.” It’s such a cool name, with roots — Cleveland was the Spiders before it was the Indians. And I’d been to the University of Richmond, and was so impressed with its way-cool Spiders mascot I almost bought a Spiders t-shirt.

But the Guardians? What’s that? There was that movie with the raccoon, “Guardians of the Galaxy.” And … what else? Guardian ad litem, the attorney a court orders to make sure children or seniors aren’t being abused by those tasked with their care. Important, but not something to put on a sweatshirt.

The rationale is that the statues on Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge are called the Guardians of Traffic. I grew up next to Cleveland, and they’re not exactly beloved civic icons. Heck, I didn’t make the connection, and I’ve been on the bridge relatively recently, in 2016, when the paper sent me to cover the Republican Party’s coronation of Donald Trump. A protest by medical personnel decrying his malignancy was shunted across the mile-long bridge to keep it contained. Marchers literally could not detour from their route without falling to their death.

Photo by Neil Steinberg

Sure, I noticed the things; hard to miss a quartet of 43-foot pylons, each with a pair of Art Deco figures, each holding a means of transportation — a wagon, a truck, a 1930s-era car.

“Guardians of Traffic,” sounds like the worst Marvel superheroes movie ever, a bush league Avengers where Saltman leaps to de-ice highways and The Signal projects flashing lights upon the back end of cars changing lanes.

A neutral term for a team. Isn’t that what you want? A name without many associations, upon which the club can imprint its identity. Now they can play ball without kicking over the bucket of America’s murderous past. Won’t that be nice?

I shouldn’t have to point out the obvious, but sometimes that’s my job. A segment of Chicago’s Italian American community, straddling the loathsome corpse of Christopher Columbus, pressing on its chest, hissing, “Breathe, damn you!” should stop, look up, brush a sweaty strand of hair from their face, gaze at Cleveland, and think. This is what you do when you’ve lost a cultural battle and have a financial stake. If it’s not your dime, sure, pump away. But if you need to sell tickets, eventually you give in.

Remember, everybody is free to venerate whomever they like. I could light incense before a Chief Wahoo bobblehead. No one cares. This is about bullying others to show deference to your hero. Italian American identity isn’t bound up in Columbus any more than Donald Trump actually cares about Cleveland. “Such a disgrace,” he sighed.

Do I need to point out that the Trumpy, Fraternal-Order-of-Police elements of Chicago’s Italian American community are the ones going all out for Christopher Columbus? Maybe they really do love him.

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Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be partly sunny with a high near 87 degrees. Tonight will be mostly clear with a low around 65. Tomorrow will be mostly sunny with a high near 78.

Top story

Fugitive who served 12 years for $10 million scam arrested in Orland Park for parole violation

Deputy U.S. marshals and Orland Park cops yesterday arrested a 50-year-old businessman who failed to report to federal prison for parole violations in a $10 million fraud case.

Lee Anglin was taken into custody at a sports and dining club on 143rd Street in Orland Park after the Orland Park Police Department got a tip he was there.

A man who said he runs the club’s daily operations told our Frank Main that Anglin’s wife, Jenni, is the president of the facility, called the Riviera Country Club.

Lee Anglin was paroled in 2018 after serving about 12 years in prison for a $10 million real-estate scam.

Anglin violated his parole when he failed to tell his parole agent about business ventures he and his wife were involved with in Utah. He also failed to tell the court he was getting paid for providing legal advice to inmates. He was supposed to report to prison June 29 for a six-month sentence.

Court records involving his parole violation didn’t mention his involvement in the Orland Park facility, which opened in June after closing under previous ownership during the coronavirus pandemic.

Main has the full story on Anglin’s arrest. For more background, read our 2018 story on how Anglin, fresh out of prison after serving 12 years for a real-estate scam, claimed he would straighten up and repay his victims.

More news you need

1. A CTA employee was stabbed in the neck after he accidentally sprayed a woman with water while cleaning a platform in the Loop last night, according to Chicago Police. The woman was arrested at the scene and charges were pending, police said.
2. Charges have been filed against a man who broke into his girlfriend’s West Humboldt Park home last November and shot her, police said. The man was arrested yesterday and is expected to appear in court today.
3. A pair of settlements between the city and two food companies will pay $935,000 in restitution to thousands of employees for unpaid sick hours. One of those companies is also at the center of the corruption scandal that culminated in the indictment of Ald. Edward Burke (14th).
4. The many people entering Grant Park today for Lollapalooza were greeted not only with a requirement for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test, but by signs informing them that, by attending the festival, they assume all risk related to exposure to the virus. The signs make clear that Lolla won’t be held responsible if anyone gets the coronavirus while attending.
5. If you’re among those not going to the festival, you can still watch live performances from many of the biggest acts on Hulu. Subscribers will be able to watch sets from Post Malone, Foo Fighters and more.
6. Sticking with Lolla news, festival organizers announced a new program that will donate $2.2 million over five years to supporting arts education in CPS schools. The fund is being created in partnership with Ingenuity, an arts education nonprofit.

A bright one

Field Museum gives inside look into how researchers analyze millennia-old portrait

The Field Museum gave a glimpse into how scientists can analyze a 2,000-year-old portrait that can reveal ancient trade routes for painting materials and manufacturing techniques using state-of-the-art technology.

Researchers can examine the way paint reflects, absorbs and emits radiation at different wavelengths by using a special camera that can capture light in the ultraviolet and infrared ranges beyond what can be seen with the human eye.

The portrait examined yesterday is thought to have been displayed in the 1893 World’s Fair and was later added to the Field’s collection. Researchers Giovanni Verri of the Art Institute of Chicago and Marc Sebastian Walton of Northwestern University are leading the effort to learn how it was made — and what it can tell us about the period.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Walton said the millennia-old portrait helps tell a story of a period when Egypt was part of the Roman Empire that helped blend Roman, Greek and Egyptian culture into one. This meant including a painted portrait of a deceased person on a slab of wood that was then incorporated into the mummy’s wrappings.

“When we are looking at this, it is in a fragmentary state, but by using all these analytical techniques, we can basically go back in time to realize what these might have looked like originally,” Walton said. “This is considered to be the beginnings of Western portraitures and would become very critically important when we are talking about the entire scope of the history of art. This is really where our painting practices began.”

Manny Ramos has more on the fascinating process.

From the press box

Your daily question ?

If you could create your own Lollapalooza lineup, who would be the headliners?

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: With August right around the corner, what’s something you want to do before summer ends? Here’s what some of you said…

“Perhaps go out to eat and just relax and be waited on, by myself. Just to be able to sit, people watch or read for awhile would be heaven.” — Sue Shannon Whelan

“Hit the lottery and be OUT and in HAWAII FOREVER before winter hits. Otherwise, I just want to go to the beach at least one more time.” — Anthony Howard

“I want to have a quality of life in the little things like eating out, going to a ballgame or an evening walk with the dog while feeling safe from violent crime.” — Jennifer Weed

“Clean out my garage and have a garage sale.” — Regan Robertson

“Camp at a state or national park, and hope I’m not eaten by a bear, or attend the Illinois State Fair.” — Elliott Avant

“Go to a Cubs game.” — Deb Zenner

“Go to Brookfield Zoo.” — Frank Collins

“Go swimming at the beach.” — Mike George

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

Sign up here to get the Afternoon Edition in your inbox every day.

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When instances of violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) older adults spiked earlier this year, one Instagram account featuring joyful photos of stylish seniors from Chinatowns across the country became a viral sensation, shared widely on social media in support of the AAPI community.

The curators of the @chinatownpretty account and authors of the corresponding book “Chinatown Pretty: Fashion and Wisdom from Chinatown’s Most Stylish Seniors,” photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu, were surprised by the support for their project, but understood that for many, it offered a counterpoint to the hate people were seeing on the news.

“A lot of people described the project as a ‘beacon’ for them during this really dark time,” said Lo. “We were glad to offer these personal stories that provide a real glimpse into the lives of AAPI older adults, who are our neighbors in all of our communities. Showing the joy of these seniors, not just through their outfits, but through their expressions and personalities that come through in the photos, was one of our main goals for the project.”

The authors and friends developed the idea for the project in San Francisco more than 10 years ago.

“We would go on dim sum dates in San Francisco’s Chinatown and when we were there, we would notice a very distinct style — layers of pat-terns, colors and florals, wide hats and big jackets – and so we wanted to know ‘how did they compose these out fits, and more importantly, where did they get their shoes?'” says Luu.

When they visited Chicago’s Chinatown, one of the oldest and fastest growing in the country, Lo and Luu met one of their most memorable subjects, a woman whose story they titled “Windy City Wear.”

Thinking that their chances of running into someone to photograph on this cold and rainy morning in Chicago were dreadfully low, Luu and Lo had to do a double take when they passed Mrs. Mei, standing in a doorway with her husband and taking shelter from the rain while the pair waited for the bus.

Wearing a teal, flor al print jacket, purple polyester shirt and yellow ’70s striped ringer tee, Mrs. Mei was a ray of sunshine on this gloomy day. Her vibrant out fit was topped off with a Burberry-print bucket hat, complete with a chin strap that Lo and Luu found to be a common and necessary accessory in the “Windy City.”

And as if Mrs. Mei’s ensemble couldn’t get any better, the authors asked to see her socks, which “to our delight were covered in puppy dogs and soccer balls.”

“Chinatown Pretty” is full of interesting stories like Mrs. Mei’s, all of which Lo and Luu hope will inspire people to get to know their neighbors.

“Through celebrating all of these seniors in the book, we hope that people are inspired to ask their grandmas and grandpas to share their own stories, and that they carry this sentiment when interacting with their neighbors. Everyone has a story to tell and we hope that people are encouraged to have these types of conversations more frequently in their lives every day,” says Lo.

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Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Co. over its streaming release of “Black Widow,” which she said breached her contract and deprived her of potential earnings.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday morning in Los Angeles Superior Court, the “Black Widow” star and executive producer said her contract guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news of the lawsuit.

Johansson’s potential earnings were tied to the box office performance of the film, which the company released simultaneously in theaters and on its streaming service Disney+ for a $30 rental.

“In the months leading up to this lawsuit, Ms. Johansson gave Disney and Marvel every opportunity to right their wrong and make good on Marvel’s promise,” the lawsuit said. “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the Agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”

Disney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After its release was delayed more than a year because of COVID-19, “Black Widow” debuted to a pandemic-best of $80 million in North America and $78 million from international theaters three weeks ago, but theatrical grosses declined sharply after that. In its second weekend in release, the National Association of Theater Owners issued a rare statement criticizing the strategy asserting that simultaneous release lends itself only to lost profits and higher quality piracy.

Once taboo, hybrid theatrical and streaming releases have become more normal for many of the biggest studios during the pandemic, with each adopting its own unique strategy. This weekend, Disney is employing the same strategy with “Jungle Cruise,” and next weekend Warner Bros.’ big-budget “The Suicide Squad” opens both in theaters and on HBO Max.

The revised hybrid release strategies over the 16 months have occasionally led to public spats from not just theater owners, but stars, filmmakers and financiers who are unhappy with the potential lost revenues and the alleged unilateral decision-making involved.

The WSJ said Warner Media, for instance, paid over $200 million in “amended agreements” with talent over its decision to release its entire 2021 slate simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max.

But none have been as public as Johansson’s lawsuit. The actor, who has been in nine Marvel movies going back to 2010’s “Iron Man 2,” quickly became a trending topic on Twitter on Thursday after news of the suit broke.

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Cornerbacks live by the credo that you have to have a short memory. Jaylon Johnson took it a step further Thursday — he had no memory.

The Bears’ second-year cornerback not only was burned by wide receiver Darnell Mooney at practice on Thursday at Halas Hall, but also fell to the ground on the play, appeared to be shaken up and drew the attention of the training staff. But when asked about it after practice, he had no recollection of either incident.

“I don’t remember going down,” he said.

Did he at least remember the move Mooney put on him?

“No.”

Johnson repeated the act when asked about wide receiver Marquise Goodwin beating him for a touchdown — “I don’t remember that,” he said with a laugh. He likely was just having a little fun, perhaps an indication of the confidence and comfort he has this season after a promising rookie year — and just his happiness at finally being in a more normal football routine after last year was marred by coronavirus limitations.

Johnson, coming off surgery for a shoulder injury at Utah in 2019, had no on-field work prior to training camp last season, after the Bears’ selected him in the second round of the draft. He acclimated himself quickly, became a starter in Week 1 and started every game until suffering a shoulder injury against the Texans in Week 14.

Fully recovered from the shoulder injury that did not require surgery, Johnson is in a much better place this season. He’s already noticed the difference with fewer coronavirus restrictions in this year’s camp.

“This is the first example — having you guys here,” Johnson said at the podium in the Halas Hall media room — the first time the media has seen him up close in person as a Bear. “Just having more people involved. The facility was very limited last year. Just being able to see more people, get somewhat of the full experience and things like that.

“But even the atmosphere — it feels more open and we’re not as worried about being close and following certain protocols. Certain [unvaccinated] guys do, but for the most part, it’s pretty much opened up.”

The personable Johnson has opened up as well and already has a veteran’s mentality entering his second season. With former Pro Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller in Denver after signing with the Broncos in free agency, Johnson is expected to fill the lead cornerback role. Veteran Desmond Trufant and second-year pro Kindle Vildor are competing for the other cornerback spot.

Johnson had his rookie moments but overall had an impressive first season that supported comparisons to Charles Tillman, a second-round pick in 2003 who became one of the best cornerbacks in franchise history. Johnson had 15 pass break-ups in 2020 — tied for ninth in the NFL, despite missing the final three games.

Johnson said completion percentage when his man is targeted is the stat he valued most as a cornerback. “If I can hold somebody to at least 50%, 60%, I feel like I’m all right,” he said.

But the number that bothers him most is the zero interceptions he had as a rookie. “I don’t really pay attention to the stats — I just know I didn’t have any interceptions,” he said. “So that’s what you’re going to hear from me and see from this year is getting my hands on the ball.”

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Chicago Bulls could move into first round of 2021 NBA Draft by Ryan Heckman

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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The Chicago Cubs are sellers at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline. Nobody would have thought it when they finished off one of the best months in the team’s history earlier in May but things have fallen off hard since. They are more than likely going to be breaking up the core that ended the 108-year curse that kept the Cubs from winning the World Series. It is surely going to be interesting to see what comes of this.

The Cubs just went through the best stretch in the history of the team. It led to a few deep playoff runs and one World Series title. Now, they are looking to rebuild for the future and that is going to come at the cost of some fan favorites.

The trade deadline is on Friday at 3 PM central time. That means it is within the next 24 hours now as we pass the 3 PM mark on Thursday. They need to work hard to get some of these deals done. The longer they wait, the harder it is going to be. It would be doing themselves a disservice to not make any of these big moves because it is going to be hard to rebuild without them.

If they are smart with these deals, they won’t be a bad team for very long. The group they have together right now isn’t getting it done anyway so it is time for a change. These are the three big trades that they need to get done before the deadline in 24 hours (or less):

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It’s officially here: Lollapalooza 2021.

The music extravaganza by the lake kicked off today in Grant Park. More than 100,000 music fans are expected to attend the four-day event.

Though a few things have changed this year — no Kidzapalooza stage and strict new COVID guidelines to be aware of before heading to the park — the stacked four-day lineup is an impressive feat to have pulled off in record time.

Keep in mind there are numerous COVID safety restrictions in place for the fest. You’ll need proof of vaccination or proof a a negative COVID-19 test for entry to the festival grounds. Lolla is the largest public event to date held in Chicago since the emergence of the coronavirus last March. Despite worries over the virus’ Delta variant and rising caseloads nationally, the show will go on this weekend.

We’ve got the festival covered from every angle. For a complete guide to all things Lolla, check out our guide here. If you want our tips of the acts to catch, you can find our Top 10 picks here. And keep in mind, there are gobs of street closures in place; you can find the details here.

Here’s a look at some of the sights and sounds from Day 1:

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