Things to do at museums in ChicagoMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson July 8, 2021 at 12:29 pm

Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment in Chicago at our city’s best museums and galleries. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on the latest activities.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

When: Ongoing

Where: 2430 N. Cannon Dr.

What: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where children of all ages can connect to nature and science, reopened July 8. Exhibits include “Without a Trace,” selections of photographs by Zbigniew Bzdak; “Patterns in Nature: A Bridge between Art and the Natural World,” mixed media work by artist Katherine Lampert; “Judy Istock Butterfly Haven” “Birds of Chicago” and many more. Admission: $6-$9, children under 3 free.

More information: naturemuseum.org

‘Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40’

When: To mid-September

Where: Smart Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl.

What: A multi-museum exhibit covers important work by a wide variety of artists. The reopened DuSable Museum of African American History participates with an exhibit of “Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B Walker, Colored,” a signature black silhouette installation from the artist Kara Walker. Admission: $3-$10 (Sundays free), children under 5 free.

Visit: dusablemuseum.org.

‘Chicago: Where Comics Come to Life (1880-1960)’

A 1954 “Brenda Starr” panel at the Chicago Cultural Center exhibit.

When: To Oct. 3

Where: Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph

What: This exhibit looks at Chicago’s significant role in the development of the early comic strip. Curated by artist-author Chris Ware and the City of Chicago’s cultural historian emeritus, Tim Samuelson, it focuses on comics in popular publishing, African American cartoonists, the first women cartoonists, the first daily comic strip and more. Admission is free. (The exhibit is a historical companion to “Chicago Comics: 1960s to Now,” the survey of contemporary Chicago comics at the Museum of Contemporary Art.)

Visit: chicagoculturalcenter.org

National Museum of Mexican Art

When: Ongoing

Where: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th street

What: After being closed for 15 months, the museum has reopened with a handful of exhibits. “Spotlight on Chaz Bojorquez and Enrique Alferez” features the museum’s newest acquisition, “We the People,” a painting by Bojorquez, and Alferez’s iconic bronze sculpture “La Soldadera.” Plus “Adlateres and the Unexpected Journey: Works by Carmen Chami” features paintings inspired by Mexican Baroque painting and figurative style. Admission is free.

More information: nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

‘Toward Common Cause’

“Mother and Child,” Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2016). Courtesy the artist, Victoria Miro and David Zwirner.

When: To Nov. 21

Where: National Public Housing Museum, 625 N. Kingsbury, and at the Minnie Riperton Apartments, 4250 S. Princeton

What: The National Public Housing Museum partners with the Chicago Housing Authority to display artwork by MacArthur Fellow Njideka Akunyili Crosby as part of “Toward Common Cause,” a multi-site exhibition organized by the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program. Crosby uses acrylic, colored pencil and photo collages to create her distinctive portraits of African American life. “I almost want people to feel like the door is open and they’re walking by a scene into someone else’s life,” she says, “because that really is what I’m doing… mining my life to tell a story that is global but really wanting people to feel like they’re getting a glimpse into my world.” Crosby’s artwork installation is displayed on 70-foot banners on the sides of two buildings.

More information: nphm.org

‘Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War’

Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin

When: Through spring 2022

Where: 104 S. Michigan

What: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin, who studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and was a cartoonist for the Chicago Sun-Times, is the subject of a retrospective at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. “Drawn to Combat” covers Mauldin’s career as a wartime cartoonist focusing on soldiers’ experiences and as a political cartoonist. The exhibit draws from more than 5,000 cartoons and objects donated to the museum by the Mauldin family. Tickets: $8, $10, children under 12 free.

More information: pritzkermilitary.org

‘The Obama Portraits’

Amy Sherald’s portrait of Michelle Obama

When: To Aug. 15

Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan

What: The Art Institute is the first stop of a five-city tour for the official portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. Artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald are the first African Americans to be commissioned by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Galley to create the official portraits of a president or first lady. After the nationwide tour, the portraits will reside in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The exhibit is included with museum admission ($14-$25).

More information: artic.edu

‘Chicago Comics: 1960s to Now’

Nick Drnaso’s painting for the cover of his graphic novel “Sabrina” in “Chicago Comics.”

When: To Oct. 3

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago

What: A new exhibit celebrates Chicago’s pivotal role as a national and innovative center for comics and cartooning. With a focus on rediscovering the work of women and BIPOC comic artists, this major exhibition presents the last 60 years of the city’s artful cartooning history, showing how comic art is a democratic medium that allows artists to speak directly to people in relatable ways. Over 40 cartoonists are featured including Lynda Barry, Lilli Carre, Daniel Clowes, Nick Drnaso, Edie Fake, Emil Ferris, Nicole Hollander, Charles Johnson, Kerry James Marshall and Chris Ware. On display are comics, graphic novels, zines, original drawings, dioramas, commissioned films, installations, rare ephemera and books. Admission: $8, $15.

More information: mcachicago.org

‘Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Jane Goodall’

When: To Sept. 6

Where: Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.

What: Generations have been inspired by the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who has not only shown the urgent need to protect chimpanzees but also redefined species conservation to include the needs of local people and the environments. A new exhibit follows her journey from a curious young child in England to a passionate scientist studying chimpanzees in Africa. Included in the exhibit are a re-creation of her field research tent, a hologramlike projection of Goodall sharing her fieldwork memories, augmented reality activities and a projection of Tanzania’s Gombe Stream National Park. Tickets: $18-$32.

More information: fieldmuseum.org

‘Vivian Maier: In Color’

Three Highland Park firemen Highland Park, Illinois, August 1964 Tres bomberos de Highland Park Highland Park, Illinois, agosto de 1964 Inkjet print, 2021 Gift of Jeffrey Goldstein, (C) The Estate of Vivian Maier — Vivian Maier, “Three Highland Park firemen,” Highland Park, August 1964, inkjet print.

When: To May 8, 2023

Where: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark

What: Much has been heralded about street photographer Vivian Maier’s black-and-white photographs in exhibits, books and films. Now this multimedia exhibit features 65 color images made during her time as a suburban Chicago nanny from the 1950s to 1970s, many of which have never been seen before. Maier, who died in 2009, was a bit of a character and always had a Roloflex camera around her neck as she walked the streets snapping images of women, children, the old, the poor, the abstract. While her motives remain elusive, her photographs continue to speak volumes. Tickets: $17, $19.

More information: chicagohistory.org

‘Frida Kahlo: Timeless’

When: Through Sept. 6

Where: Cleve Carney Museum of Art in the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell, Glen Ellyn

What: Here’s the not-too-miss art exhibit of the summer. Dolores Olmedo (1908-2002), a Mexican musician, businesswoman and friend of artists Frida Kahlo and her husband Diego Rivera, amassed an impressive list of works by both artists that reside in Mexico City’s Museo Dolores Olmedo. Her collection of paintings and works on paper by Kahlo have now traveled to the newly expanded Cleve Carney Museum of Art. The long-awaited exhibit, delayed a year because of the pandemic, features an array of oil paintings and works on paper, pivotal pieces created by the artist. Also featured are a multimedia timeline that offers a framework of Kahlo’s life, more than 100 photographs, a Kahlo-inspired garden and a family-friendly children’s area featuring a replica of Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Coyoacan, Mexico. Tickets: $23, $40.

More information: theccma.org/frida-kahlo/

Museum of Contemporary Photography

An-My Le’s “Migrant Workers Harvesting Asparagus, Mendota, California,” part of “Much Unseen Is Also Here.”

When: Through Aug. 29

Where: 600 S. Michigan at Columbia College Chicago

What: The museum is presenting two new exhibits. “Much Unseen Is Also Here: An-My Le and Shahzia Sikander” features the work of two Asian-American artists who explore their relationship to America. In the tradition of American road photography, Le’s photographs confront the political rhetoric of the moment and tackle current events; Sikander uses sculpture, drawings and animation to examine the intersection of power, gender, empire and self. “Martine Gutierrez” features work from Gutierrez’s independent art publication, “Indigenous Woman”, a magazine exploring how deeply sexism, colorism, racism, transphobia and other biases are embedded and ubiquitous in popular culture and fashion photography. Admission is free.

More information: mocp.org.

Polish Museum of America

When: Ongoing

Where: 984 N. Milwaukee

What: The museum, since 1935 a repository for a wide variety of materials pertaining to Poland and the Polish-American community, has reopened after being shuttered for more than a year. Among the many permanent exhibits are “Polish Chicago 1850-1939,” “Folk Art Collection” and “The Paderewski Collection,” which documents the life of Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Tickets: $6-$10.

More information: polishmuseumofamerica.org

The Hartwell Memorial Window

Hartwell Memorial Window 1917, leaded glass; design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop. Tiffany Studios, Corona, New York. The Art Institute of Chicago — The Hartwell Memorial Window bears a design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop of Tiffany Studios.

When: Permanent

Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan

What: A magnificent stained glass window made by Tiffany Studios in 1917 is now on permanent display at the Art Institute. The Hartwell Memorial Window, attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, Tiffany’s leading landscape window designer, was originally commissioned for a church as the gift of Mary L. Hartwell in memory of her husband Frederick W. Hartwell. It consists of 48 different panels, and is a scenic view of Mount Chocorua, a peak in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The window, located near the museum’s entrance, is one of the most ambitious landscape window projects produced by Tiffany. Museum admission: $14-$25.

More information: artic.edu

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

When: Ongoing

Where: 99 Chicago Riverwalk

What: This five-story museum celebrates the Chicago River and its world-famous movable bridges. Visitors explore a historic bridgehouse, watch the massive gears of a moving bridge and learn about the history of the Chicago River. Plus from the top floor, there’s a 360-degree view of the city and river. Find the museum at 99 Chicago Riverwalk. Admission: $5, $6; children 5 and under free.

More information: bridgehousemuseum.org

‘Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Exhibition’

You can walk among life-sized reproductions of a fresco masterpiece when you visit “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” in Oakbrook Center.

When: Ongoing

Where: Oakbrook Center, 2120 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook

What: For a new perspective on some of the world’s greatest art check out this immersive exhibition showcasing the artist’s renowned ceiling frescos from the Vatican chapel. The reproductions were made using a photographic technique that captures the look and feel of the original paintings. Tickets: $14-$26.60.

More information: sistinechapelexhibit.com/chicago/

Things to do at museums in ChicagoMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson July 8, 2021 at 12:29 pm Read More »

Things to do in Chicago for movie fansMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson July 8, 2021 at 12:29 pm

Welcome to our roundup of movie screenings and events in Chicago. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on shows and activities.

‘The Lord of the Rings Trilogy’

Elijah Woods as Frodo in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

When: July 9-15

Where: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport

What: Hard to believe it’s been nearly 20 years since Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Fellowship of the Ring” hit movie screens and wowed audiences with its epic cinematic storytelling. To celebrate this anniversary, the Music Box Theatre presents all three films in their original 35mm theatrical editions. Follow the adventures of young Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Elijah Woods) who inherits the Ring and is tasked with saving civilization in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.” Tickets: $11.x

More information: musicboxtheatre.com

‘The World of Gordon Parks’

When: Through July 22

Where: Online

What: Chicago Film Archives presents a free online program featuring film work inspired by the iconic photographer’s photo essays created for Life magazine. In collaboration with the Gordon Parks Foundation and Anthology Film Archives, three documentary works are featured: “Flavio” (1964), a film centering on Flavio da Silva, a young boy from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro; “Diary of a Harlem Family” (1968), which utilizes Parks’s photographs and narration to reveal the racism and economic hardships experienced by Harlem residents and “The World of Piri Thomas” (1968), which looks at the issue of poverty through the eyes of the Puerto Rican-Cuban writer and poet. Also included is Romas Slezas’s 1973 short “Listen to a Stranger: An Interview with Gordon Parks” — the photographer-filmmaker would go on to make five feature films including the Blaxploitation classic “Shaft” (1971).

More information: chicagofilmarchives.org

‘Movies in the Parks’

When: To Sept. 14

Where: In parks throughout Chicago

What: The Chicago Park District’s series returns with films ranging from Hollywood classics to retro childhood favorites and family-friendly offerings from recent years. Admission is free.

More information: For a complete list of films and parks, visit chicagoparkdistrict.com/movies.

Garden Movies

When: All summer long

Where: 3733 N. Southport

What: The Music Box Theatre is screening films in its expanded courtyard under the stars. Tickets: $9.

More information: musicboxtheatre.com

Things to do in Chicago for movie fansMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson July 8, 2021 at 12:29 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Why the cornerback room is a concern heading into campRyan Tayloron July 8, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears cornerback room is a growing concern heading into training camp and into next season. Can the Bears’ secondary suffice without Kyle Fuller and with a new defensive coordinator?

The Chicago Bears need their cornerbacks to play well for them in 2021.

The Bears’ had one of the most effective cornerback duos in the NFL last season behind the seven-year veteran, Kyle Fuller, and 2020 second-round draft pick Jaylon Johnson.

Last year, Fuller allowed just a 55.4 percent completion percentage when targeted and 527 receiving yards which both count as his lowest marks in the past three seasons.

Johnson tacked on a terrific season too recording a 56.4 allowed completion percentage rate and 697 yards. He did not record any turnovers and missed 17 percent of tackles but he still had a reputable rookie outing.

#Bears CB tandem of Kyle Fuller and rookie Jaylon Johnson rank 1st and 2nd in the NFL in lowest completion percentage when targeted (min of 45 targets).
1. Fuller (46.6%)
2. Johnson (48.1%)
3. Joe Haden, PIT / Casey Hayward, LAC (50%) #DaBears
Credit: @pfref pic.twitter.com/U3O0clm5Ub

— Eric Szczepinski (@eszczepinski2) November 11, 2020

While Johnson is an excellent cornerback in his first year, he’s a better Robin to someone else’s Batman. This season, the cornerback room is without Fuller after the Bears let him go in free agency to clear cap space. Fuller was later picked up by the Broncos and his former defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio to round out arguably the best cornerback room in the NFL.

As for the Bears, NBC Sports Chicago analyst Alex Shapiro believes the cornerback room will look like Johnson, Desmond Trufant, Kindle Vildor, Duke Shelley, and Thomas Graham. If I had to grade this cornerback room, I would grade it with a C- or a D+ grade. The room is well below-average and destined to be one of the Bears’ biggest weaknesses this season.

Let’s go through each member to see why the secondary might have problems this season:

Jaylon Johnson

As I mentioned before, Johnson is an outstanding cornerback for only being one year into his career. The bottom line for Johnson is that his perceived value was heavily based on the fact that Bears fans did not expect much from the second-rounder in his first season.

It was not until before just before week one did Bears fans find out that he would start across from Fuller on defense. He ranked sixth in the NFL in passes defended with 15 on the season and recorded a remarkable completion percentage allowed against his targets, allowing just 56.4 percent of passes to be completed.

He did miss three regular-season games with a shoulder injury which was also an issue in college. That will be something to keep an eye on for the season since the defense will need him for every game.

Don’t Get It Twisted.. The Noise Don’t Bother Me. Just want things put things into perspective

— Jaylon Johnson (@NBAxJay1) July 7, 2021

Desmond Trufant

In my eyes, Trufant’s free-agent signing could be described as lazy. Bears fans should not be excited about Trufant and his guarantee to start week one.

Trufant has not played a full season since 2018 and his statistics do not bode well for his case as a starting corner. He allowed 68.8 percent of passes to be completed against him and a passer rating of 111. He also missed 20 percent of tackles with the Lions last season.

Trufant is an ineffective starting cornerback, even more so now that he has injury concerns. The only hope Trufant has is thriving elsewhere outside of Matt Patricia’s defense that even caused second overall pick Jeff Okudah to have a disappointing rookie season last year.

Kindle Vildor and Duke Shelley

I paired Vildor and Shelley together because both of them shared a similar role in the Bears’ defense, filling in for the nickel position. Vildor allowed 70.6 percent of passes to be completed and two touchdowns in 135 defensive snaps. He did not miss any tackles on the bright side and made 17 of them on the season.

Shelley allowed 80.6 percent of his targets to be completed for 167 yards and one touchdown on the year. Like Vildor, he was an efficient tackler by only missing one and completing 16 on the season. Both Vildor and Shelley did not show a ton of promise in their game last season.

They both showed an apt amount of hustle on the field but they both struggled reading the offense. The upside is that they have a combined three years of NFL experience between them, giving them plenty of room for potential improvement.

Thomas Graham

Graham was selected in the sixth round of this past NFL draft out of the University of Oregon. He is a big corner, standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing just under 200 pounds.

Graham played three years at Oregon and opted out of his final season with the Ducks. He recorded eight interceptions, 182 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and defended 40 passes in college.

Graham is known for his athleticism and ability to stick on receivers in coverage which is an excellent attribute for the Bears’ defense because the Bears are in need of a slot corner.

Next: Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack finally earning some respect again

With Johnson and Trufant expected to be lining up on the outside going into week one, Graham could have his hands on the slot in nickel packages if he can impress in camp. The only question remains, can this squad of young guys create an effective secondary?

Chicago Bears: Why the cornerback room is a concern heading into campRyan Tayloron July 8, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Tribune, Won’t You Make Me, Your New Columnist (with apologies to Janis Joplin)on July 8, 2021 at 12:02 pm

Getting More From Les

Tribune, Won’t You Make Me, Your New Columnist (with apologies to Janis Joplin)

Tribune, Won’t You Make Me, Your New Columnist (with apologies to Janis Joplin)on July 8, 2021 at 12:02 pm Read More »

Sacha Mullin, singer-songwriter and backup vocalist extraordinaireSalem Collo-Julinon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am

KERRY COUCH

Sacha Mullin, 32, is a singer-songwriter and pianist who teaches voice and piano to private students and works as an administrative assistant for Peter McDowell Arts Consulting. He has performed with the bands Lovely Little Girls and Cheer-Accident, and he’s released two albums of his own music, 2013’s Whelm and 2017’s Duplex.

I mostly grew up in Minnesota. I was there for about 18 years, and then around 2011 I decided to move to Chicago. I love New York dearly, or at least the idea of what New York was–it’s permanently crystallized in my head as the Seinfeld era–but New York is very different now. I had thought, well, you know, Minneapolis is sort of Cindy Brady and New York is Marcia, so I’ll move to Jan. You know, Chicago.

I got an apartment on Craigslist and prayed that the people who lived there weren’t going to murder me. They ended up being friendly and fine. And it was because of them that I attended a weird dinner party and met [Quimby’s manager] Liz Mason, who’s now a dear friend of mine. Liz and I now do The Found *NSYNC Fan Fiction Radio Hour, a podcast where we read *NSYNC fanfiction that was found in a binder in a Goodwill.

I did know a few people in Chicago before I moved here–a band from Minneapolis called Guzzlemug. I went to college with two of the three members. And I was like, “Well, I know you. Let’s hang out.” The drummer, Charlie [Werber], was in a couple of other projects as well, and he sent me an e-mail from this group called Lovely Little Girls. I thought, “That’s an odd band name.” And Charlie said, “They need a keyboard player.” And I was like, you know, Charlie, I appreciate the offer, but I kind of want nothing to do with music right now; I’m trying to rebuild myself. And then they found a keyboard player, and then there were some more persistent e-mails to me asking, “Well, will you sing backup?”

So I asked for a demo CD. My mom had given me a Panera gift card. I walked about 45 minutes to a Panera with the CD and a laptop and sat there listening and eating salad. Lovely Little Girls has some rather ribald lyrics. I was listening, thinking, “What on earth is going on here?” And then I said out loud, “What the fuck?” It just kind of came out of my mouth.

I’ve always kind of been the person that wanted to conquer different challenges, and I’m glad I just fell into this band without any context. I just said to myself, “Yeah, I’ll sing these really acrobatic lines.”

I ended up making two records with them and toured a couple of times. It taught me a lot about myself as a singer. I felt like a Swiss Army knife. It’s amazing that in that band we were able to somehow distinctively bring our own sounds. You have a group of nine very idiosyncratic people, all very different, and it somehow coalesced into this really interesting music.

Shameless Karaoke on Marz featuring Sacha Mullin
Thu 7/22, 8 PM, Life on Marz Community Club, 1950 N. Western, free, 21+

My folks were involved in church music, like from the Catholic angle. My mom was always playing this one cassette tape of Sandi Patty’s “Pour On the Power.” I can’t with that song. My mom is a great singer, and she often had jobs at churches as the music or choral director. So I learned the harmony style of Catholic music kind of through osmosis, which is great from a music-theory standpoint. I hit “cancel” when it came to Catholic confirmation–I was done after the free trial. But, you know, those formative sounds are always with you.

One particular memory I have from childhood is hearing the end credits to the Coneheads movie, and Morten Harket from A-ha sings a Frankie Valli song (“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”). And I just remember thinking, “How do I get to be a disembodied voice over the credits for a movie?”

I’m attracted to things on the margins. I can put a couple of weird things on a plate, and it makes sense to me. I definitely have a lot of memories of failing spectacularly at that sort of thing, but I think I’m at a point where I can go, “Well, maybe like a Balkan-style harmony would make sense over this, and then this sort of progressive underpinning with an R&B bass line . . . ” I’m not typically composing in the sense of music theory; I can, but I want to assemble things as if I’m storyboarding in my head. In a way, I feel like a casting director for sound.

During the COVID lockdown period, I felt like there were times that my heart stopped–there were moments where things fell apart because we couldn’t be near anyone. There was a reunion of an old band that I was involved in, and we got pretty far in the recording stages of a project and it just all fell apart–the energy was gone, the mojo was gone. I had a relationship I was in that fell apart because of the distance.

[embedded content]

But limitations always create opportunity when you get over the sulking. The benefit was that I focused on my apartment that I’ve been in for eight years and realized, “This isn’t just a stopping point; maybe you should finally unpack a couple of boxes.” I bought a nice mirror and I assembled a desk, and now it looks like I live in a Michaels. So, small things.

And I was working–I was teaching voice, and I had been working as an administrative assistant for a long time. I also work with Darien Williams at Cafe Mustache, putting together events (filmed live and streamed on Twitch during the pandemic). Thankfully we’re now in a time and space where a “live studio audience” is welcomed back in, and the support has been great.

I was able to finish a record that I started a couple of years ago with Todd Rittmann [of Dead Rider]. Todd is a very good friend of mine and an absolute goofball. I think that we’ve made something really cool. And I am elated that I was recently signed to Dog & Pony Records, who are scheduled to release my album with Todd early next year. They might help me release a digital reissue of my 2017 album Duplex as well.

If someone asks me to sing backup, I am there. It’s my favorite thing to do–resonating against someone else’s voice. But I’m excited about this new record with Todd. It’s really great to feel like I’m in my own skin with this record. v

Sacha Mullin, singer-songwriter and backup vocalist extraordinaireSalem Collo-Julinon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

The Pine Valley Cosmonauts make Tom Waits’s 1973 debut feel relevant for our timesMonica Kendrickon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am

Led by Jon Langford of the Mekons and the Waco Brothers, Chicago alt-country band the Pine Valley Cosmonauts have covered plenty of ground in their quarter century or so of existence: they’ve made tribute albums for icons such as Bob Wills and Johnny Cash, spearheaded a series of death-themed covers compilations called The Executioner’s Last Songs, and provided backing for solo musicians, including Chicago folkie Kelly Hogan and Chumbawamba cofounder Danbert Nobacon. The ensemble’s latest endeavor is The Closing Time, a track-by-track interpretation of Tom Waits’s 1973 debut, Closing Time. In the Pine Valley Cosmonauts’ hands, the album’s melancholy ballads of reminiscence and regret feel like the perfect memorial for the times before the pandemic, and their evocations of lonely late nights and community arrive as a balm after more than a year of isolation. (I know what the Hideout, which is hosting these shows, smells like at 6 AM–and I appreciate that knowledge more now than ever.) The Closing Time reminds us of some of the things we’ve been missing since venues were forced to close last spring: camaraderie with folks you don’t know well but keep seeing at shows, for instance, or the experience of having an intimate conversation with someone you’ve never seen in daylight, so that you don’t recognize them in the supermarket. Tom Waits was only 24 when he made Closing Time, and it’s been argued that he hadn’t yet accumulated the weight of life experience to sing about what he did on that album. But the brilliant barfly talents present on this record certainly have put in the years, and not just collectively–joining Langford is a cast of alt-country and folk-rock royalty that includes Andrew Bird, Sally Timms, Jeff Tweedy, Rosie Flores, and Janet Bean. These shows, which will feature Langford, Bean, Timms, Bethany Thomas, John Szymanski, Rick Cookin’ Sherry, Nora O’Connor, and Dave Crawford, are benefits for the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL). Langford will also moderate Q&As with the show’s coproducer, Gregory Hall of Virtue Cider. v

The Pine Valley Cosmonauts make Tom Waits’s 1973 debut feel relevant for our timesMonica Kendrickon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Why Rodgers, Packers drama is irrelevantAnish Puligillaon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

While Chicago Bears fans have celebrated the selection of Justin Fields back in April, another story they’ve been keeping an eye on has been the drama unfolding in Green Bay between the Packers’ front office and quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Many speculated that Rodgers would opt out of the 2021-22 NFL season because a trade this summer seemed unlikely. Now that the deadline to opt-out has passed, it is clear that Rodgers will either be traded or return to suit up for one final season in Green Bay.

The Aaron Rodgers story shouldn’t really matter to the Chicago Bears at all.

For the Chicago Bears, no matter the result of the Packers-Rodgers drama, their mission in 2021 remains the same. Their future outlook over the next 10 years is still brighter than their historic rival if Justin Fields is everything the team drafted him to be.

If the Packers do trade Rodgers, the Bears become the favorite to win that division. The media will tell you it’s the Minnesota Vikings but the Bears’ 5-1 record over the last three years versus Minnesota paints a different picture. However, even if the Packers do keep Rodgers, is a run to the playoffs out of the question for the Bears this season?

The Chicago Bears could definitely make the playoffs this season with an emerging Justin Fields and a return to 2018 or 2019 form for the defense. The NFC has gotten weaker as Drew Brees has retired and most of the other teams are relatively even with only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a clear level above the competition.

This is why the Packers drama should not matter to Bears fans or the organization because whether or not Rodgers plays for Green Bay this season, the Chicago Bears could find themselves back in the playoffs. The primary goal of this season is the development of Justin Fields. Whether they make the playoffs as a division winner or wildcard takes a backseat to the importance of Justin Fields’ growth as a leader and franchise quarterback.

If the Bears ride their defense back to a division crown as they did in 2018, that would be great. However, the season would only be considered a true success if, for the first time in franchise history, the Chicago Bears field a quarterback who can lead them consistently week in and week out. With this goal in mind, the importance of the Packers drama is minimal for Matt Nagy and the Chicago Bears and should be for fans also.

I believe people have played up the significance of the Packers’ situation for the Bears because Matt Nagy is allegedly coaching to keep his job in 2021. A division without Aaron Rodgers would surely make it easier for him to stack enough wins to keep him around another year. However, this line of thinking is flawed. Matt Nagy’s seat would only begin to get hot if there was no improvement in QB play regardless of whether or not the team itself made the playoffs.

For example, if the Chicago Bears have a repeat of 2020 and once again rank in the bottom 10 in QB play but somehow make the playoffs in a division without Aaron Rodgers, his seat would be much hotter than if Justin Fields shows exceptional promise as a rookie and they narrowly miss the playoffs at 9-8 or 8-9 in a division with or without Aaron Rodgers.

Ultimately, it would be exciting to potentially start the season without having to schedule two losses to the Green Bay Packers because of Aaron Rodgers. However, I for one, am more excited to watch the development of Justin Fields. He could potentially turn the rivalry around and help them pencil in two wins against the Packers every year for the next 15 seasons.

Chicago Bears: Why Rodgers, Packers drama is irrelevantAnish Puligillaon July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

2 killed, 19 wounded, in shootings Wednesday in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon July 8, 2021 at 8:37 am

Two people were killed, and nineteen others were wounded, in shootings Wednesday in Chicago, including a man who was killed, and a woman who was injured in a shooting in Lawndale on the West Side.

They were near the sidewalk about 7:40 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Lawndale Avenue when they heard shots and felt pain, Chicago police said. The 59-year-old man was struck in the chest and was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He hasn’t been identified. The woman, 46, was shot in the foot and was transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

A man was shot to death in Austin on the West Side. Someone fired shots at the 26-year-old about 5:53 p.m. in the 4800 block of West Van Buren Street, police said. He was struck in the abdomen and knee. Witnesses drove him to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses who dropped off the man wouldn’t cooperate and with officers.

In non-fatal shootings, a 41-year-old man was critically wounded in Austin on the West Side. About 11 p.m., he was standing outside in the 5500 block of West Chicago Avenue, when he heard several shots, police said. He was struck throughout the body and taken to the Loyola University Medical Center for treatment.

Minutes prior, a 20-year-old man was shot in Rogers Park on the North Side. About 10:30 p.m., he was standing outside in the 6500 block of North Ashland Avenue, when he heard several shots and felt a pain, police said. He was struck in the leg and taken to St. Francis Hospital in good condition.

Three people were wounded, one critically, in a shooting in East Garfield Park. They were on the sidewalk about 7:30 p.m. when someone opened fire in the 3500 block of West Lake Street, police said. A 35-year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds on the body and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition. A 24-year-old woman was grazed by a bullet in the thigh. Her hospitalizations were unknown. Another woman, 27, was shot in the back and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

Two men were wounded in a shooting in Back of the Yards on the South Side. Two 30-year-old men were walking about 6:40 a.m. in the 5300 Block of South Hoyne when someone opened fire, police said. One man was shot in the leg, while the other sustained lacerations to his face. The two men drove themselves to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center before being taken to Stroger Hospital. Their conditions were stabilized.

Eleven others were wounded in shootings citywide.

One person was killed, and seven others wounded in shootings Tuesday across Chicago.

2 killed, 19 wounded, in shootings Wednesday in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon July 8, 2021 at 8:37 am Read More »

Things to do in Chicago for movie fansMary Houlihan – For the Sun-Timeson July 8, 2021 at 5:46 am

Welcome to our roundup of movie screenings and events in Chicago. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on shows and activities.

‘The Lord of the Rings Trilogy’

When: July 9-15

Where: Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport

More information: musicboxtheatre.com

‘The World of Gordon Parks’

When: Through July 22

Where: Online

More information: chicagofilmarchives.org

‘Movies in the Parks’

When: To Sept. 14

Where: In parks throughout Chicago

What: The Chicago Park District’s series returns with films ranging from Hollywood classics to retro childhood favorites and family-friendly offerings from recent years. Admission is free.

More information: For a complete list of films and parks, visit chicagoparkdistrict.com/movies.