Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Pagan homers and Caissie reaches base 4 times as ACL Cubs offense stays productiveon July 6, 2021 at 2:36 pm

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Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Pagan homers and Caissie reaches base 4 times as ACL Cubs offense stays productive

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Pagan homers and Caissie reaches base 4 times as ACL Cubs offense stays productiveon July 6, 2021 at 2:36 pm Read More »

Chicago Cultural Center reopens amid restoration of G.A.R. hall, rotundaKyle MacMillan – For the Sun-Timeson July 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm

When the building that first housed the central library and now the Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1897 at cost of more than $60 million in today’s dollars, it was a symbol of the city’s surging national importance and a beacon of culture and knowledge.

The latest milestone in what has been a multistep renovation of the building — a comprehensive, more than $15 million restoration of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Rotunda — is expected to be completed in February 2022 and help bring the structure back to its original splendor.

“It parallels the best of the best doing the building in the 1890s and the best of the best restoring it here in 2021,” said Tim Samuelson, cultural historian emeritus for the City of Chicago.

The one-year project, which has brought together top preservation experts and artisans from the Chicago area and beyond, has been funded by a grant from an anonymous donor — the largest private donation in the history of the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Although the Memorial Hall and rotunda are closed during this overhaul, the rest of the building is open to the public, including a reimagined Welcome Center and Learning Lab, and Buddy, a new shop that features art and other goods by area artists and small fabricators. In addition, several exhibitions can be seen, such as “Chicago: Where Comics Came to Life, 1880-1960.” The landmark building, affectionately called “The People’s Palace,” is home to myriad music, dance, art exhibits, lectures and other programs throughout the year.

The limestone-faced building at 78 E. Washington was designed by the Boston architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, which won the commission through a competition. The 104-foot-tall structure with 3-foot-thick walls follows a neo-classical style with Italian Renaissance elements.

At the time of the central library’s conception, Chicago was preparing for a world’s fair and was concerned about its image. So, no expense was spared, with interior marble imported from the celebrated quarries of Carrera, Italy, and the engagement of the finest designers and artists of the day.

“Although the building was still under construction at the time of the fair,” Samuelson said, “seeing this great classical stone building rising up for a library certainly sent the message that Chicago wasn’t just some place of stockyards and smokestacks.”

Two key parts of the building in the north wing are the memorial hall and rotunda, an ode to a fraternal organization of Civil War veterans who donated the land. Highlighting the rotunda is a dome 40 feet in diameter with 62,000 pieces of stained glass.

The dome and interiors of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Rotunda of the Chicago Cultural Center were designed by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., a predecessor of the better-known Tiffany Studios. — The dome and interiors of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall and Rotunda of the Chicago Cultural Center are in the midst of a two-year restoration project.

The dome and interiors of the spaces were designed by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., a predecessor of the better-known Tiffany Studios, all of which were owned and directed by famed artist and designer Louis Comfort Tiffany. The actual work was carried out under the supervision of Tiffany specialists by other firms, including Chicago-based Healy & Millet, which fabricated the dome.

But as inevitably happens over time, the building suffered normal degradation, and elements were modified. A protective glass skylight over the rotunda dome was covered during a 1930s renovation, blocking natural light, and the meticulously layered colors of the walls were painted over in the 1970s.

This new project is meant to counteract those changes, restore the original look of rooms and upgrade electrical and technical infrastructure. It is being overseen by Harboe Architects of Chicago, which was founded in 2006 by Gunny Harboe. The historic-preservation specialist has worked on the restoration of the Rookery Building, 209 S. LaSalle, and Unity Temple in Oak Park.

Instead of re-creating the original wall colors, as is typically done, workers with EverGreene Architectural Arts of Oak Park have been able to carefully scrape away the 1970s over-painting and preserve the 1890s surfaces with only minimal touch-up. Dorothy Krotzer of Philadelphia provided the historic materials analysis.

“It’s going to be spectacular,” said DCASE commissioner Mark Kelly. “This is every door, every piece of marble, the 62,000 pieces of glass. These rooms that had lost all of their color and luster are just going to be ablaze as a Tiffany masterpiece.”

Admission to the Chicago Cultural Center is free; it’s open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. In addition to the dome undergoing restoration, the building also boasts the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome at the south end of the center, which is open for public viewing.

Kyle MacMillan is a local freelance writer.

Chicago Cultural Center reopens amid restoration of G.A.R. hall, rotundaKyle MacMillan – For the Sun-Timeson July 6, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Facebook has lost its dirty mindon July 6, 2021 at 1:40 pm

Being Catholic…Really by Pam Spano

Facebook has lost its dirty mind

Facebook has lost its dirty mindon July 6, 2021 at 1:40 pm Read More »

Chicago Cubs: 3 players snubbed from the MLB All-Star GameVincent Pariseon July 6, 2021 at 12:00 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

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The Chicago Cubs are in rough shape. They have done a lot more losing lately than winning and it has made their chances at being a contender in the National League feel very unlikely. However, there are still some good players left on the roster. Most of them are going to be in trade rumors over the next few weeks but nobody knows exactly how they are going to handle it. Now, the All-Star selections are out which makes things even more interesting.

The Chicago Cubs have two players going to the All-Star Game this year.

The Chicago Cubs will have two players play for the National League All-Stars this year. Kris Bryant and Craig Kimbrel have both been selected to represent the Cubs in the midsummer classic. This will be the fourth time that Bryant is selected and the eighth time that Kimbrel is there. It is a big honor for both players. Each of them is well-deserving after facing many question marks going into the 2021 season.

Each of them is going to get some interest in the trade market and these All-Star selections are going to make it even more interesting. They should both be proud of their selections in the big game but Cubs fans know that there were some snubs this year.

The National League is filled with talent but the Cubs are a part of that talent pool. Even though the team is horrible there are still a few other players that deserve to be at the All-Star Game. They’re never all going to make it but these are the three biggest snubs of 2021:

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Chicago Cubs: 3 players snubbed from the MLB All-Star GameVincent Pariseon July 6, 2021 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Evanston’s Jason Narducy wields a lifetime of rock power on Split Single’s new AmplificadoLeor Galilon July 6, 2021 at 11:00 am

Split Single front man Jason Narducy can mold a bit of guitar distortion and a sweet melody into a lifeline. On “Bitten by the Sound,” a standout on Split Single’s new third album, Amplificado (Inside Outside), Narducy’s sheer but ironclad guitar embodies the white-hot energy of rock, which has mystified him since childhood. As a fifth grader in the early 1980s, he cofounded Evanston hardcore band Verboten, which inspired future rock icon Dave Grohl to pick up drums and provided the source material for a contemporary musical, also called Verboten; Chicago playwright Brett Neveu enlisted Narducy to write the songs for the stage show, which debuted two months before the pandemic. Narducy has been making music professionally since the early 90s, when he and Alison Chesley (aka Helen Money, who contributes to Amplificado) began the collaboration that would evolve into the alt-rock band Verbow. These days he splits his time playing bass for Bob Mould and touring with Superchunk, and he’s front and center in his own alt-rock project Split Single.

Amplificado addresses the anger, anxiety, and full-body exhaustion of the late Trump years, though alt-rock can only do so much in the face of a narcissistic despot who openly despises anyone who doesn’t claim fealty. Narducy, now 50, uses his music as a salve–on “95 Percent,” he whips up succinct riffs and triumphant melodies with the energizing effect of a shot of espresso. Drummer Jon Wurster (also of Superchunk and Bob Mould’s band) and bassist Mike Mills (of the defunct R.E.M.) mirror Narducy’s energy and intensity while leaving him plenty of room to steer the album through its twists and turns. Narducy’s clean, honeyed singing has a hint of weary grit, which lets him stir up bittersweet feelings with just an inflection–a subtle touch that infuses the borderline ballad “Satellite” with the kind of vitality that can turn ordinary people into rock lifers. v

Evanston’s Jason Narducy wields a lifetime of rock power on Split Single’s new AmplificadoLeor Galilon July 6, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack finally earning some respect againRyan Heckmanon July 6, 2021 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

When the Chicago Bears traded for Khalil Mack back in 2018 and saw him go on to become an All Pro, fans were enjoying a hysterical honeymoon period.

Sack after sack and forced fumble after forced fumble, Mack absolutely wrecked games by himself. The numbers were pretty astounding for that season on Chicago’s defense. All around, that unit was stellar.

However, after that season, the Bears’ defense appeared to have taken a step back under Chuck Pagano. Many of the same players, yet no where near the same production — some guys faded in the background just a little bit.

Khalil Mack was one of those players, at least according to some people.

Chicago Bears edge rusher Khalil Mack has never not been an elite talent in this league.

Although Mack’s numbers were down in 2019 and 2020, his impact was still felt. His value was still sky high. But, not everybody looks beyond just the raw numbers.

CBS Sports writer Jared Dubin published his list of top 10 NFL edge rushers a few days ago, and Mack was no where to be found. The list also included interior linemen, but the fact Mack didn’t even crack the top 10 was shocking.

However, Dubin might be one of the only “experts” who believe Mack to be outside the top 10. Though that article and graphic caught people’s attention on social media, let’s not forget Pro Football Focus ranked Mack as the number one most valuable edge defender of 2020 based on wins above replacement (WAR).

Now, recently, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled more than 50 league executives, coaches and personnel to form his own top 10. It seems as though Mack isn’t going anywhere soon — he came in at no. 4.

Although his sack numbers have been down, Mack is still as disruptive as ever. He has had hardly any help on the opposite side over the past two seasons. Whether it’s been Robert Quinn or Leonard Floyd, Mack hasn’t had production on the other side. It’s been all on his shoulders to create pressure. Hopefully that changes in 2021, but for the sake of this argument, Mack has been just as good as he’s always been.

Some fans need to hear these types of things. Not everyone understands the impact certain players have on the game unless it shows up on the stat sheet. But remember, box scores and stat sheets don’t always tell the entire story. Just ask Tristan Wirfs.

This coming season, hopefully we get to see more of the physical evidence on paper. The fans who want to see more sacks and big plays out of Mack aren’t alone, and the Bears’ new defensive coordinator Sean Desai should be able to help manifest just that.

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Desai was one of Vic Fangio’s closest colleagues and his right-hand man. He knows how to get the most out of his star players. In 2021, expect to see the aggressive, menacing Mack we all first saw back in 2018. He hasn’t gone anywhere.

Chicago Bears: Khalil Mack finally earning some respect againRyan Heckmanon July 6, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

2 killed, 5 wounded, in shootings since Monday evening in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon July 6, 2021 at 10:18 am

Two people have been killed, and five others have been wounded in shootings in Chicago since 5 p.m. Monday, including, a man who was fatally shot in a drive-by in Washington Park on the South Side.

About 10 p.m., the 26-year-old was standing outside next to a car in the 200 block of East 59th Street, when someone inside a passing vehicle fired shots at him, Chicago police said. He was struck in the chest and got in the passenger seat of a friend’s car who then began to drive him to the hospital, but stopped in the 5700 block of South Calumet Avenue. He was taken by paramedics to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

A man was shot to death during an argument in Gresham on the South Side.

The 48-year-old was arguing with a person in a home about 5:20 p.m. in the 8600 block of South Aberdeen Street, police said. The person pulled out a gun and shot the man in the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He hasn’t been identified. Officers recovered a weapon at the scene.

In non-fatal shootings, a 27-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting in the Englewood neighborhood. The man was driving about 10:30 p.m. in the 7300 block of South May Street when someone opened fire, police said. He was struck in the head and leg before crashing into a fence. Paramedics transported him to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.

A teenage boy was wounded in a shooting in Riverdale on the Far South Side. The 15-year-old was on the front porch of a home about 9 p.m. in the 700 block of East 132nd Street when someone opened fire, police said. He suffered a graze wound on the leg and was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in good condition.

Two teenagers were shot and wounded, one critically, in Uptown on the North Side. They were walking about 8:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of North Clarendon Avenue when someone fired shots, police said. Officers said they were possibly shot by someone inside a passing black car. A 17-year-old boy was struck in the back, hip and leg. He was taken in critical condition to Weiss Hospital and later transferred to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. A girl, 16, was grazed by a bullet on the ankle and transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition.

A 15-year-old boy was critically hurt in a drive-by shooting in West Woodlawn on the South Side. The teen was on the sidewalk about 5:50 p.m. when a dark-colored vehicle drove by and someone from inside pulled out a gun and fired shots in the 6600 block of South Langley Avenue, police said. He was struck on the back and was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

Seventeen people were killed, and at least ninety-nine others were wounded, in shootings over the long Fourth of July weekend.

2 killed, 5 wounded, in shootings since Monday evening in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon July 6, 2021 at 10:18 am Read More »

Man fatally shot in drive-by in Washington Park: policeSun-Times Wireon July 6, 2021 at 8:15 am

A man was fatally shot Monday night in a drive-by in Washington Park on the South Side.

About 10 p.m., the 26-year-old was standing outside next to a car in the 200 block of East 59th Street, when someone inside a passing vehicle fired shots at him, Chicago police said.

He was struck in the chest and got in the passenger seat of a friend’s car who then began to drive him to the hospital, but stopped in the 5700 block of South Calumet Avenue, police said. He was taken by paramedics to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not yet identified him.

Area One detectives are investigating.

Man fatally shot in drive-by in Washington Park: policeSun-Times Wireon July 6, 2021 at 8:15 am Read More »

Horoscope for Tuesday, July 6, 2021Georgia Nicolson July 6, 2021 at 5:01 am

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Gemini.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today is confusing. You might feel distant from others in a romantic relationship or a social occasion or something to do with sports. However, confusion might be a contributing factor. Wait a few days for some more clarity. Do nothing while you are unsure.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Postpone important financial decisions today along with important purchases, especially purchases that are luxurious or expensive. Your judgment is a bit off. A decision regarding real estate, family and or a home purchase might be influenced by the wrong reasons. Play it safe and do nothing.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Mercury is in your sign and it is at odds with fuzzy Neptune, which creates wishful thinking that is also confused. Added to this, there might be a strained element in all your relationships with others. This is a tricky combo. Best to just tread water. Do nothing and coast.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Today you might hold back information in order to avoid a confrontation with someone. Actually, this is a confusing day for many kinds of communications, which is why you should be careful, and, in particular, postpone important financial decisions. Agree to nothing important.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Relations with those who are closest to you are a bit strained today. You might feel lonely or cut off. But this is just a temporary feeling and it will pass. However, a conversation with someone younger or someone in a group might leave you feeling confused.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Be careful about conversations with parents, bosses, teachers and the police today because there is a lot of room for confusion or false assumptions. Therefore, don’t make important decisions. Don’t volunteer for something. Don’t believe everything you hear.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Avoid controversial subjects like politics, religion or racial issues today because they will simply be confused communications and circular arguments that solve nothing. Meanwhile, someone older might make you feel diminished. Steer clear of this. Relax. This is a confusing day for everyone.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

It might be challenging dealing with an older family member or a parent because you feel misunderstood or cut off. Furthermore, discussions about inheritances and shared property are hazy or confusing. Too many challenges today! Therefore, just sit this one out. Keep things simple.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today you might feel lonely or cut off from others, in part because of confusing assumptions. The fact is that things are confusing today. Many people are confused about many issues. Knowing this, agree to nothing important. Take a sober look at things — and wait a day or two.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Your financial situation might disappoint you today. However, something related to your job or your health is actually confusing and this might be a contributing factor. Because you are discouraged or you might not have all the facts, do nothing. Things will settle in a few days.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

Relations with romantic partners, social situations, something to do with sports or even your dealings with kids are confusing today. False assumptions and even deceit are possible. This is why your closest relationships are a bit standoffish. Fortunately, this is temporary.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Don’t agree to anything important regarding family discussions or plans for home repairs today because this is a confusing day. You might not have all the facts. Or someone might tell you something that is incorrect. Meanwhile, you might be avoiding an important discussion with a parent or a boss. It’s a tough day at work.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor, director Sylvester Stallone (1946) shares your birthday. You are passionate and moody. One day friendly and outgoing, the next day private and withdrawn. Many of you are great collectors. You are independent; nevertheless, you have strong family values. This year you are in the final year of a nine-year cycle, which means you are wrapping up things. Let go of what you no longer need. Lighten up!

Horoscope for Tuesday, July 6, 2021Georgia Nicolson July 6, 2021 at 5:01 am Read More »

2 teens wounded, 1 critically, in Uptown shootingCindy Hernandezon July 6, 2021 at 3:43 am

Two teenagers were shot and wounded, one critically, Monday night in Uptown on the North Side.

They were walking about 8:30 p.m. in the 4400 block of North Clarendon Avenue when someone fired shots, Chicago police said. Officers said they were possibly shot by someone inside a passing black car.

A 17-year-old boy was struck in the back, hip and leg, police said. He was taken in critical condition to Weiss Hospital and later transferred to Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

A girl, 16, was grazed by a bullet on the ankle and transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition, police said.

Two pedestrians walk a crime scene where two people were shot in the 800 block of West Montrose Avenue, in the Uptown neighborhood, Monday, July 5, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

No one is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate.

2 teens wounded, 1 critically, in Uptown shootingCindy Hernandezon July 6, 2021 at 3:43 am Read More »

Daily Cubs Minors Recap: Pagan homers and Caissie reaches base 4 times as ACL Cubs offense stays productive

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