Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration OKed the project despite a liquor-license moratorium and opposition from neighborhood residents and Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez.

A new tavern named The Giant Penny Whistle opened recently in Pilsen.

It has a music venue that can accommodate up to 300 people and the original bar from the venerated McCuddy’s tavern once located outside Sox park.

The owners say they’ve carefully restored the old bar — at which Babe Ruth is said to have hoisted a few — after purchasing it from a McCuddy’s family member.

There’s just one problem: The Giant Penny Whistle’s owners were granted permission to open by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration even though there’s a liquor-license moratorium that was voted in by neighbors more than 25 years ago that’s still in place.

The bar is in Ald. Byron Sigcho-Lopez’s 25th Ward. And he says he supports community leaders who want the moratorium enforced — and the bar shut down.

Pat Nabong / Sun-Times file

The dispute is the latest flashpoint in a widening rift between Sigcho-Lopez and Lightfoot over what he has taken to calling “community prerogative”— to distinguish it from the “aldermanic prerogative” that he and the mayor both campaigned against.

The complicated story of how they arrived at this juncture involves the messy final year in public office of Ald. Danny Solis, Sigcho-Lopez’s predecessor.

Solis is the alderman who turned FBI mole when confronted with his own alleged wrongdoing. He then went AWOL during the last four months of his term after his undercover work against others including Chicago City Council colleagues was unearthed by the Chicago Sun-Times in January 2019.

In hindsight, there seems little doubt Solis intended to lift the liquor-license moratorium to allow owners Kevin Heisner and Robert and Kathrine Middleton to open The Giant Penny Whistle at 1854-56 S. Blue Island Ave. in a building that previously housed the long-shuttered Tito’s Hacienda.

It’s even more clear Solis never actually managed to get that accomplished before he left office on May 20, 2019.

Solis still had a year left on his term on May 24, 2018, when he met with Heisner to discuss plans to open the tavern, according to a lawsuit the owners filed against the city.

Brian Jackson / Sun-Times file

The owners say Solis promised to support their project and “take all necessary steps” to lift moratoriums that barred new liquor licenses for taverns or packaged-liquor stores on Blue Island Avenue from 16th Street to 19th Street.

Those had been voted into effect decades earlier by locals worried about problems created by the high concentration of liquor establishments in their neighborhood, said Raul Raymundo, chief executive officer of The Resurrection Project.

But in their lawsuit, the owners said Solis told them their establishment would be “good for the community” and the next month wrote a letter backing the issuance of their building permit.

Lifting liquor-license moratoriums is a fairly simple matter. All it takes is for the city council to pass an ordinance doing so after first notifying any property owners who would be directly affected— in this case those along Blue Island Avenue.

In November 2018, the owners say, Solis’ aides told them they had submitted the documentation to lift both moratoriums.

But council records show the proposed ordinance which Solis introduced Dec. 12, 2018, and that was passed on Jan. 23, 2019, dealt only with lifting the moratorium against opening new liquor stores — but not the ban on taverns.

The January council meeting happened to fall on the same day the story broke in the Sun-Times that Solis had secretly recorded conversations with Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), who later was indicted on federal corruption charges.

Solis wasn’t at the council meeting that day. And he never attended another public meeting, though he did not resign. His 25th Ward aldermanic service office kept operating, though dealing with it was difficult with Solis’ whereabouts mostly unknown.

Despite all of this, the tavern project continued to advance. The city issued a building permit for its construction in February 2019, and the owners say they soon started work. City Hall later accepted their fee for a liquor license.

It wasn’t until May 28, 2019, that the owners say they learned the tavern moratorium had not been lifted.

By then, Sigcho-Lopez had taken office. He took a decidedly different approach than Solis had to projects he says could hurt the character of Pilsen. He has allied himself with groups that want to put the brakes on the gentrification they say is pushing out longtime neighborhood residents and businesses.

Sigcho-Lopez refused to lift the moratorium, siding with community leaders who had been involved in the original effort to impose it. He pointed out that Benito Juarez High School and the Rudy Lozano Branch Library are nearby, and so is a Head Start program.

The tavern owners filed suit against the city in Cook County circuit court in May 2020. They argue that they had relied on Solis’ promise and the city’s approval of its building permits and demanded that the city either lift the moratorium or pay them damages of $797,932 — the amount they say they had spent on construction and city fees.

On Dec. 4, 2020, City Hall’s lawyers signed a settlement, agreeing that the “controversy is the result of an administrative error” and authorizing the city liquor commissioner to issue the bar a liquor license.

Sigcho-Lopez said he was unaware the lawsuit had been filed, let alone settled, that he learned about it only when The Giant Penny Whistle opened for business two weeks ago and neighbors complained.

“We thought it was a dead issue, then, all of a sudden, we realize they’re open,” said Juan Soto of the Pilsen Neighbors Community Council.

Sigcho-Lopez said the Lightfoot administration had no legal authority to bypass the moratorium and should have consulted with him and community residents.

Mark Brown / Sun-Times

Officials with City Hall’s law department wouldn’t discuss the matter with me.

Kathrine Middleton, one of the owners, said The Giant Penny Whistle has gotten a “fantastically warm welcome” since opening.

“We hope we have a long relationship with the community,” Middleton said.

But Sigcho-Lopez, who’s also involved in a dispute with the Lightfoot administration over another Solis-era liquor licensee, isn’t looking for any relationship at all.

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The hip-hop star tells Richard Roeper about ‘Magnificent Coloring World,’ a movie Chicago will see this weekend before anyone else.

When Chance the Rapper was on the “Magnificent Coloring World” arena tour in 2016, during his moments of downtime he had taken to watching a lot of filmed concerts — and that’s when he realized there’s a difference between a filmed concert and a concert film.

“Two things came to mind when I was watching these classic concert films from Michael Jackson and others,” said Chance in a conversation we had Wednesday at the mansion he has dubbed “House of Kicks” (more on that in a moment). “One, you couldn’t really hear the crowd. Two, it often seemed like we were just watching a tour performance that somebody had filmed.

“I had this crazy idea. I drew up this little map of a semi-circle with five separate stages and a long row of bleachers like they had on the old TV music shows. I wanted to do something that was a special event — a concert film and not a filmed concert.”

This was the genesis of “Magnificent Coloring World,” a stylized, one-off performance filmed at Chicago’s Cinespace Studios some four years ago but just now coming to light through an unprecedented direct deal between Chance and the AMC Theaters chain. Chicago audiences will be the first to see the concert film at advance screenings May 14-16 at AMC River East 21, followed by a nationwide rollout this summer.

After the deal with AMC was announced, Chance invited me up to his rented compound in Bannockburn so I could watch the film in the screening room in a massive house that was buzzing with activity, as various areas have been converted into recording studios, editing bays, green-screen soundstages, etc. (It was kind of like an updated version of “Entourage,” except in lieu of partying, everyone was fast at work.) I’ll have a full review of “Magnificent Coloring World” when the movie officially opens this summer, but it is indeed a concert film, with Chance performing in front of a smallish but wildly enthusiastic hand-picked audience on a specially constructed stage that allows him to seamlessly move from one setting to another to reflect the vibe of each song.

The top 1% of Chicago fans

“My fans, specifically in Chicago, are very used to scavenger hunts,” said Chance, who was sporting a classic retro White Sox hat during our talk. (He switched to his signature 3 cap for a photo op.) “Whenever I do an event, I put up tickets in random places, and it’s usually hard tickets only. People have a story for how they got to my show.

Bob Zegler

“For this [project], I hit up SoundCloud and asked them to use metrics to find the top 1% of my listeners in Chicago. We sent out an RSVP to them and didn’t tell them anything about what the show was going to be. We just told them to gather at a specific location, and we rented out a bunch of school buses and they all rode to a random location, and they come inside not even expecting a performance. But I knew this audience would be the ones that really listen [to my music], the ones that know the words, and I wanted their voices and their enthusiasm.”

For the concert, Chance is backed up by a full band, a team of kinetic dancers with Broadway-style moves, a rousing choir that will give you goosebumps — and the fans, who appear on camera from time to time, singing along with pure joy and passion. (And yes, we can hear them, as microphones have been placed in the audience.) “With the microphones in the audience, that’s like the sixth stage,” he said.

There was some talk of releasing the finished product on a streaming service or in theaters, but Chance decided to hold on to it. “The main reason I didn’t put it out was, I wasn’t happy with the edit. And the reason I wasn’t happy with the edit was I was never in the editing room and I didn’t know HOW to edit. Then the pandemic happened, and I started doing all these filmed performances, and I learned about film and editing my own performances. So, after four years, I was like, ‘I need to do this over, I need to find a better way.’ ”

The film runs just a little over an hour — but before we get to the concert, there’s a series of brief interviews with various members of Chance’s team, and home video footage of a young Chancelor Bennett celebrating his win in a local talent show.

“I was 8 or 9 years old, that’s the first talent show I performed in,” he said. “I went to Skinner Elementary, right next to Whitney Young. … But when I was in preschool — this sounds stupid, this sounds crazy — I was a very well-known dancer, among friends and family. I would be the kid who would be doing ‘The Tootsie Roll’ and s— like that. When I got to grade school, I was really quiet for the first few years, but then I won that talent show and that was a turning point in my life.”

The next Paul Giamatti?

There are times during “Magnificent Coloring World” when Chance plays directly to the camera, almost as if playing a part. He has acted before, in the indie-horror film “Slice” and on “Saturday Night Live.” The tradition of singers becoming movie actors dates back well before hip-hop and rock ’n’ roll, to the early days of cinema, but Chance said he doesn’t want to just take some mainstream action/comedy type leading role.

A24

“The people I respect are the Steve Buscemis and the Paul Giamattis, the character actors. … I’d want to try to get into that space of becoming a character actor before I attempt to do any lead acting.

“I love movies because it is such a team sport. But I love lighting, cinematography, editing, directing, so many different types of behind the camera work that I could get into without having to shove my face in front of everybody.”

Chance will be a headliner at Summerfest in Milwaukee in September, as we slowly get back to something resembling normalcy in terms of sports and theater and music performances. But when he’s onstage, he doesn’t necessarily feel as if he’s playing a character.

“I feel like I’m Superman when I’m onstage and I feel like I’m Clark Kent when I’m not,” he told me. “You know how they say all the other superheroes put on a suit to become who they are, but Superman when he puts on a suit he becomes Clark Kent? I feel like I do more acting and I’m actually less myself when I’m NOT onstage. But when I get onstage, I remember who I am. … These songs that I love to write and I love to record and I love to listen to — I don’t love them as much as when I’m singing them to a crowd, when I’m sharing them. That’s my most comfortable space and where I can move how I actually move, as opposed to having to walk normal and s— in real life.”

“I fully build my performances off the crowd and I will spend a long time trying to get the crowd into their comfort zone so we can be Superman together.”

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A 14-year-old girl was wounded in a shooting early Friday in Englewood on the South Side.

The girl was standing outside about 12:30 a.m. in the 800 block of West 61st Street when someone fired shots, Chicago police said.

She suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen and was taken to Holy Cross Hospital but set to be transferred to Comer Children’s Hospital, Chicago police said. She was listed in fair condition, according to police.

There is no one in custody, police said.

A couple of hours earlier, a 16-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting in West Englewood. He was struck in the thigh and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition, police said.

Two more teenagers were shot about 6:40 p.m. in West Englewood. A 16-year-old was struck in the abdomen and the other, 15, was shot in the arm, police said.

The boys walked to Holy Cross Hospital and were transferred to a nearby trauma center where their conditions were stabilized, according to police.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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Zach LaVine might not deliver this team to the post-season, but at least one teammates feels he has emerged as a leader, not only for this year but beyond.

Zach LaVine has always said the right things.

Credit his upbringing or his make-up, there are seldom verbal missteps coming from the Bulls guard.

This year, however, he’s finally doing the right things.

There are actions behind his words. That’s why he’s emerged as a true leader for this group this season, and hopefully beyond.

The latest evidence of that was on Thursday at the United Center, as the Bulls were facing a completely undermanned Toronto roster in what was still a must-win situation for the home team, and while LaVine wasn’t looking to score 40, he was looking to play a complete game on both ends of the floor.

Thanks to LaVine’s efficient 24-point night and solid defense, the Bulls beat the Raptors 114-102, staying alive for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference with two games left.

The problem is that those two games might not mean a thing.

The Bulls (30-40) are off until Saturday afternoon, but with Washington playing the Cavaliers on Friday, it could be wrapped up by the Wizards with a win.

Obviously, a massive gut-punch to LaVine & Co. if it happens, especially with how much they talked about wanting to be a playoff team this season.

What it won’t take away, however, is the leadership role LaVine established with this group this season. A far cry from last year, when he was passed over as a captain in a team vote.

“I think this year was definitely a growth year for Zach from the simple fact of he was more vocal than anything, he always voiced his opinion,’’ veteran forward Thad Young said. “He helped guys out through the course of games, he went out there and got after it defensively. Offensively, we all know what he can do. He led by example each and every day. I just think that this year was really a big period of growth for him and I think he can lead this franchise and take this franchise to the next level.’’

There’s been a reminder of that since his return in the last week alone.

LaVine missed 11 games after testing positive for the coronavirus back on April 15, as the Bulls went from holding a play-in spot when he went down to losing it in his absence.

He’s now returned for the last five games, and the Bulls are 4-1 since he’s been back.

What’s impressed key voices in the locker room like Young’s is LaVine’s acceptance to try and be a more consistent two-way player this season, and then come back from a long layoff with that same mentality – play both ends of the floor.

“I think that was one of the most important parts, the most important keys,’’ Young said. “Me, I’ve been staying on him all season long. Billy [Donovan] and the coaches have been staying on him all season long, and telling him that’s the next level of growth for him. He has to be a two-way guy. He can’t just play one side of the basketball because it’s not going to help you win games. I think he’s taken on that challenge.’’

Not the only challenge, either.

By going 3-for-7 from three-point range in the win over Toronto, LaVine became the first Bulls player in franchise history to record 200 threes in a single season.

Just another sign of his evolution, both on and off the court.

“Winning is important to him,’’ Donovan said after the latest win of LaVine. “I think he’s figuring out the mental side of what goes into that.’’

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The 34-year-old was shot Thursday night in the 400 block of East 48th Street.

A 34-year-old man was fatally shot Thursday night in Bronzeville on the South Side.

The man was standing on the sidewalk about 9 p.m. in the 400 block of East 48th Street when someone fired shots Chicago police said.

He was shot in the face and leg and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office hasn’t released his identity.

Witnesses told officers they saw the shots fired from inside a silver-colored vehicle that fled west on 48th Street, according to police.

No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.

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An 8-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting Thursday in Lawndale on the West Side.

The boy was in the street about 6 p.m. in the 1800 block of South Kildare Avenue when someone began firing shots, Chicago police said.

He was shot in the knee and was taken in stable condition to Mount Sinai Hospital by citizens at the scene, police said.

The boy was not the intended target, according to police.

Police tape cordoned off a light-blue Buick on 18th Street. About 30 shell casing markers dotted the road around the car.

A man and woman who live on the block with their three children said they were in their home when they heard “a lot of shots.”

The couple said they had seen the boy playing before the gunfire rang out.

“It’s dangerous here,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “We want to sell our house and move, but it’s hard.”

Family of the boy who gathered outside of Mount Sinai said he was “ok” but declined to comment further.

Community activist Andrew Holmes told reporters outside of the hospital that the gun violence plaguing the city should be treated as a health crisis.

“That’s the pandemic, discharging that weapon, and the pain that this baby is going through,” Holmes said, adding that he is concerned about the long-lasting effects of the gunshot wound on the boy’s body.

“Is he gonna come out limping? Is he gonna come out still in pain? The family want him back the way he was before he came here,” he said.

Holmes urged the community to cooperate with investigators and turn in the gunmen responsible, before another child is marked by gun violence.

“I’m asking the community let’s do what we got to do before the next one gets shot and we gonna be at another hospital. Stop staying I ain’t seen nothing, stop saying I don’t know. Cause guess what? Somebody out there know.”

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The biggest summer music festival in Chicago will once again be a reality this year, according to an exclusive report by Variety.

The publication’s website reported Thursday the festival is scheduled to return as a live, in-person event July 29-Aug. 1 in Grant Park. Variety said Lolla has the city’s OK to operate at near- or -full-capacity, and that a schedule and lineup announcement is expected to come next week.

Lollapalooza fell victim to the COVID pandemic’s mandatory shut-down of all indoor/outdoor venues and mass gatherings last year, pivoting to an online free streamed event.

A promoter at Lollapalooza organizer C3 Presents declined to comment on 2021 plans. As of Thursday evening, the official Lollapalooza Twitter account had yet to make any official announcement, and the festival’s website still listed information for the 2020 event.

When asked to confirm news of the festival’s return, a press representative for the office of Mayor Lori Lightfoot told the Sun-Times: “While conversations have been moving forward in a positive way, nothing has been confirmed.”

The city’s official Phase IV “be safe” guidelines for gatherings currently call for any outdoor, general admission spectator events to limit capacity to 15 people per 1,000 square feet. On Friday, the city moves to Gov. Pritzker’s “Bridge Phase” for reopening, which shifts those guidelines to 30 people per 1,000 square feet of space. In addition, the CDC on Thursday recommmeded that fully vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks indoors or out in most instances.

The governor tweeted: “I firmly believe in following the science and will revise my executive orders in line with @CDCgov guidelines lifting additional mitigations for vaccinated people.”

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The boy was shot Thursday in the 1800 block of South Kildare Avenue.

An 8-year-old boy was wounded in a shooting Thursday in Lawndale on the West Side.

The boy was in the street about 6 p.m. in the 1800 block of South Kildare Avenue when someone began firing shots, Chicago police said.

He was shot in the knee and was taken in stable condition to Mount Sinai Hospital by citizens at the scene, police said.

The boy was not the intended target, according to police.

Police tape cordoned off a light-blue Buick on 18th Street. About 30 shell casing markers dotted the road around the car.

A man and woman who live on the block with their three children said they were in their home when they heard “a lot of shots.”

The couple said they had seen the boy playing before the gunfire rang out.

“It’s dangerous here,” said the man, who declined to give his name. “We want to sell our house and move, but it’s hard.”

Family of the boy who gathered outside of Mount Sinai said he was “ok” but declined to comment further.

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