With two million vaccine doses administered and health metrics improving, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is reopening Chicago a little bit more — this time to let restaurants and theaters serve more patrons and allow fans inside the United Center for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

The new Phase Four rules, effective immediately, allow the Bulls and Blackhawks to close their seasons before roughly 5,250 fans per game — 25% of the United Center’s capacity.

The Blackhawks play at home Thursday and Saturday against the Florida Panthers, then finish their regular-season home schedule with two games in May. The Bulls have a home game Friday, the first of six regular-season games left.

That 25% rule also applies to Wrigley Field, Guaranteed Rate Field and Soldier Field, an increase from the current 20%. The 25% also includes churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship.

Restaurants and bars can increase indoor capacity to 50% or 100 people, whichever is less. The cap had been 50% or 50 people.

Meetings, conferences and conventions held at large indoor venues like McCormick Place now can operate at 25% capacity or 250 people, whichever is less.

Festivals and, what the city calls “general admission outdoor spectator events” get the green light to welcome 15 people for every 1,000 square feet.

The same rules apply to flea markets, which can operate at 25% capacity.

Couples who have put off their weddings during the pandemic are also getting a bit of a break.

Effective immediately, guests who are fully vaccinated and have waited 14 days since their second shot will not count toward capacity limits at weddings and other private events.

But there’s a catch. Those weddings, graduation parties and other large gatherings must be private and held at a licensed business. Also, guests must RSVP, and business owners will be held responsible for verifying that guests are fully vaccinated and keeping records to prove it.

Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has likened her caution and gradual reopening of Chicago to turning the knob on a dimmer switch.

In announcing the latest changes at Navy Pier on Thursday, Lightfoot thanked Chicago residents, employees and businesses for the incredible sacrifices they made to make the reopening possible.

Chicago’s test positivity rate dropped to 4.7% this week — the first time since March it dipped below 5%. That falls into the “lower-risk” level. Hospital capacity in both intensive care and non-intensive care beds remains in the “moderate-risk” category, despite a recent rise in cases, officials said.

“Despite the unimaginable challenges that were thrown our way last year, we were still able to persist and come together to slow and stop the spread of this virus and put our city on the right path toward a safe reopening,” the mayor was quoted as saying in a press release.

“Open Chicago is not only the direct result of these efforts. It also serves as the latest step in our mission to fully restore a sense of normalcy within our city by bringing back and reimagining some of our favorite summer- and fall-time activities.”

Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said the city has made “significant progress” over the past few weeks. But, she urged Chicagoans not to let their guards down.

“While this is an exciting moment, I have to warn everyone we are not out of this pandemic yet. And we need to continue to be safe and smart. We need all Chicagoans to get the vaccine. It is available. It is safe and effective. And it is the best tool we have to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

If the health metrics remain stable or continue to decline for the next two weeks, Lightfoot said Chicago will “join the State of Illinois in moving to the Bridge Phase” of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s reopening plan.

That will loosen the reins “across industries,” and expand operating hours for bars and restaurants.

Read More

The Chicago Loop Alliance on Thursday announced its plans to host a weekly summer street festival, which will close down portions of State Street on Sundays for pedestrians, as part of the group’s initiative to help revive downtown’s economy in the wake of the pandemic.

Sundays on State will feature various outdoor performances along with recreational activities and shopping. The hope is to close down portions of State street to vehicle traffic and give pedestrians an opportunity to walk leisurely through different arts and culture experiences as well as visit retail shops and restaurants and bars.

While organizers are encouraging community members to get involved in the planning process and share any ideas with the committee, some possible programming for the event includes fitness classes musical and theatrical performances and art displays. There will also be “Instagrammable” backdrops for those who love snapping selfies.

“Sundays on State brings a refreshing new take on open streets to the city of Chicago,” Chicago Loop Alliance president and CEO Michael Edwards said in a statement. “The three primary goals of Sundays on State are to accelerate the economic recovery, unite the community, and create joy. We’re inspired to bring this revitalizing concept to one of the largest, most iconic streets in Chicago.”

“This exciting new initiative will allow us to go even further — bringing together people from near and far to enjoy not only our dining scene, but active recreation, art, culture, music, shopping and more,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement.

Sundays on State is part of Chicago Loop Alliance’s Back In The Loop program, which is aimed at helping downtown’s economy rebound from the pandemic.

“Last year was incredibly challenging for the Loop community, which relies so heavily on the 370,000 workers and millions of visitors it normally sees,” Edwards said. “As vaccine distribution continues to ramp up, and as the weather warms, we see Sundays on State as an opportunity to attract people back to the Loop in 2021. In a time when people are eager for community and connection, but still want to stay healthy and safe during a pandemic, this free, outdoor block party is just what the city needs.”

Sundays on State is scheduled to take place each Sunday, beginning July 11, and will run for up to 12 weeks. The closures will last from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m., and the event itself will take place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, go to LoopChicago.com/SundaysOnState.

Read More

More than a quarter of the city’s COVID-19 contact tracers who left their jobs as of early this year still had access to patient data for at least a month after their termination, an investigation from the city’s watchdog found.

Inspector General Joe Ferguson’s office investigated Chicago’s contact tracing program, which is run by an organization under contract with the city, and found the Chicago’ Department of Public Health “did not consistently remove terminated users’ access” to a system of tracking COVID-19 patients within seven days, which is a standard.

Of the almost 600 contact tracers hired last year, the report found 50 of those workers had been fired or resigned as of Feb. 15, 2021. While all of the departing workers should have had their access to a system with patient data cut off within 7 days, only 11 had the ability removed. A month later, more than a quarter of those contact tracers were still able to look at patient information, though city officials told investigators they believe none of the ex-employees tried to access records.

COVID-19 contact tracing, which involves interviewing people who test positive for the virus along with anyone they might have infected, is considered an important tool in fighting the pandemic. While the report found that the city’s tracing program, run by Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership and more than 30 community organizations, largely did a good job of protecting privacy and reducing cybersecurity risks, it said some oversight practices can be improved.

“Contact tracing will continue to play an integral part in tackling the current pandemic by helping to address and manage cases,” Ferguson said in a statement. “As part of its overall and ongoing work to protect communities from both disease transmission and cybersecurity risks, we encourage [the city] to continue to implement and update security needs as they develop.”

According to the health department’s response, included in the report, the city agreed to strengthen its oversight of the contact tracing system access and “will incorporate employment status reviews into its weekly check-ins with the community-based organizations that are in the corps. This will help ensure [the city] is notified when an employee has left the corps and enable the prompt termination of the employee’s access to the system,”

Contact tracers have described challenges getting people to talk to them about their exposure to the coronavirus, and the city program got off to a slow start.

In May 2020, the city issued a $56 million request for proposals to bolster its contact tracing. More than 30 community groups were picked by the workforce partnership group to train the trackers.

The city should also inform COVID-19 patients and contacts how long the city will retain their data, the report said.

Brett Chase’s reporting on the environment and public health is made possible by a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.

Read More

BOONE, N.C. — Two deputies were killed and three other people including a suspected gunman were found dead after a lengthy standoff in North Carolina, a sheriff’s office said Thursday.

The Watauga County Sheriff’s office said Sgt. Chris Ward and K-9 Deputy Logan Fox were dispatched to a home in Boone at 9:44 a.m. Wednesday after the homeowner and his family didn’t report to work or answer telephone calls. Both were hit by gunfire. Other officers were able to pull out Ward, who later died at a hospital. Fox died at the scene.

“The individual suspected of killing the two officers is also suspected of killing two civilians in the residence,” the statement said. Sheriff Len Hagaman said they were the suspect’s mother and stepfather, WSOC-TV reported.

A Boone Police officer, a Boone firefighter and an Appalachian State University police officer were shot at during an initial attempt to rescue the deputies, and the Boone police officer was hit, but he escaped injury to his Kevlar helmet equipment, Hagaman told WSOC.

Morganton Department of Public Safety Maj. Ryan Lander told The News Herald just before 11 p.m. that the suspect appeared to have killed himself, the newspaper reported.

Hagaman said Ward died at a hospital in Johnson City, Tennessee.

“This is an incredibly tragic situation and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved as well as their families and our community,” Hagaman said. “I greatly appreciate the tremendous support we are receiving from law enforcement agencies across the region and the state.”

The sheriff’s office said officers from approximately 15 law enforcement agencies surrounded the home. Other people living nearby were evacuated or told to shelter in place as the standoff lasted throughout the day and Wednesday night.

Clarence Wilson, 78, was on his porch when deputies pulled up in front of the house across the street. Gunfire erupted after the deputies arrived, Wilson said.

“Then they told me to get back in the house and stay,” he said.

Wilson said he later saw officers pull a man from the house.

“I don’t know if it was a deputy or who it was,” he said. “I was just worried about keeping myself safe.”

Wilson said he heard a second barrage of gunfire around noon as the house remained surrounded.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said he spoke with the sheriff to offer support and express his condolences.

“We grieve for Sgt. Chris Ward, K-9 Deputy Logan Fox and the entire Watauga County law enforcement community today,” Cooper tweeted. “These horrific shootings that claimed lives and loved ones show the ever-present danger law enforcement can encounter in the line of duty.”

Read More

Charlie Yook has overseen NFL Network’s draft production since 2014, but he has been a Bears fan for much longer.

At the 2017 NFL Draft in Philadelphia, Yook was watching the proceedings from where he always does, in the production truck. The Bears had traded with the 49ers to move up from the third overall pick to the second. Yook wondered aloud what general manager Ryan Pace was doing, but he tempered his consternation, saying, “As long as it’s not Mitch Trubisky, I’ll be fine.”

A perk of working behind the scenes is knowing teams’ selections before they’re announced. The production crew sets up the graphics and videos for each player to present to the audience. So when the producer sitting in front of Yook learned the Bears’ pick, he uttered, “Uh, oh,” turned around and said, “The pick is in. You’re not gonna like it.

“Mitch Trubisky, quarterback, North Carolina.”

Yook whipped down his headset and broke a monitor.

“And then two seconds afterwards, I was like, ‘All right, everyone, get back to this, let’s concentrate. And can someone fix my monitor, please?’ ” Yook said. “I used a lot more colorful language, though.”

Yook meant no offense to Trubisky, whom he called a “great kid” and said would be fine with the Bills, his new team. Yook just didn’t want him playing for the Bears. Five years later, he’ll get his wish.

But Yook’s biggest wish this year was to return the draft to its proper place, in front of a live audience with a roster of hosts, analysts and reporters performing on stage, albeit while adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols. Round 1 begins at 7 tonight.

“We didn’t get the opportunity to do this last year,” said Yook, who grew up in Glenview and is now NFL Network’s vice president of production. “We really didn’t know if we were gonna put this event on in Cleveland until early March. So we’re really stoked to be doing this one.”

Yook, who graduated from Glenbrook South in 1992, was always a sports nut, but he didn’t develop an interest in TV production until he attended Miami University. As a journalism major, he took a class senior year that gave him hands-on experience in a TV newsroom. Every student performed every job – producer, director, camera, anchor, etc. – and he was hooked.

“We all have that moment we realize, OK, this is something real,” Yook said. “That completely solidified what I wanted to do the rest of my life.”

His first gig after college was an internship at now-defunct cable news channel CLTV, which he thoroughly enjoyed.

“Basically, I went to the United Center to get postgame sound for Bulls and Blackhawks games,” Yook said. “Pretty fun when you’re 22 years old, eat for free and get sound.”

After three years at CBS Sports in New York, Yook headed to Los Angeles – “At age 25, it was time to move to L.A.,” he said – and became a production assistant for the film “Memento.” Thinking he belonged in sports TV, he took an entry-level position at Fox Sports Net in 2001. Five years later, he became a producer at NFL Network, which was about to broadcast its first NFL draft.

“My focus was this event we’re at right now,” Yook said. “It was the college football crossover with the league, how do we make the combine bigger, the draft bigger. So the early portions of that, I was a part of. And here we are 15 years later.”

ESPN pioneered draft coverage, airing its first “annual player selection meeting” in 1980. So Yook and NFL Network had a lot of catching up to do. But the network has acquitted itself more than capable of handling the gargantuan production, assembling a quality cast that stars Rich Eisen, who’s hosting his 17^th draft, and Daniel Jeremiah, who’s in his third year as lead draft analyst.

“The best way you can differentiate [from ESPN] is with the talent,” Yook said. “It’s really up to the viewers who you want. The second part is our analysis tapes. They do their X’s-O’s football tapes a little differently than we do ours. We got a firsthand experience last year because we actually had to come together like the Avengers for the draft. It was a great opportunity for all of us. We’re all friends.

“Let’s face it, they’ve got a bigger platform, they’ve got more audience reach. We’re not the Little Engine That Could at NFL Network, but we just wanna make sure that when people see us, they’re like, ‘I didn’t know that they do that, and they do it on a pretty high level,’ which we feel we do.”

And they do it with a diverse crew. Yook rattled off the NFL teams represented in the production truck. In the front row are fans of the Eagles, Cowboys, Rams and Steelers. The next row has Yook, a Washington fan and a Chargers fan. A 49ers fan is behind them.

“A lot of us have to take emotion out of this,” Yook said.

Easier said than done.

Read More

WASHINGTON — Powered by consumers and fueled by government aid, the U.S. economy is achieving a remarkably fast recovery from the recession that ripped through the nation last year on the heels of the coronavirus and cost tens of millions of Americans their jobs and businesses.

The economy grew last quarter at a vigorous 6.4% annual rate, the government said Thursday, and expectations are that the current quarter will be even better. The number of people seeking unemployment aid — a rough reflection of layoffs — last week reached its lowest point since the pandemic struck. And the National Association of Realtors said Thursday that more Americans signed contracts to buy homes in March, reflecting a strong housing market as summer approaches.

Economists say that widespread vaccinations and declining viral cases, the reopening of more businesses, a huge infusion of federal spending and healthy job gains should help sustain steady growth. For 2021 as a whole, they expect the economy to expand close to 7%, which would mark the fastest calendar-year growth since 1984.

The economic gains have become increasingly evident in recent weeks. In March, U.S. employers added 916,000 jobs — the biggest burst of hiring since August. At the same time, retail spending has surged, manufacturing output is up and consumer confidence has reached its highest point since the pandemic began.

The speed of the rebounding economy has been particularly striking given the scope of damage the pandemic inflicted on it beginning in March of last year. With businesses all but shut down, the economy contracted at a record annual pace of 31% in the April-June quarter of last year before rebounding sharply in the subsequent months.

In its report Thursday, the government said the nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — accelerated in the January-March quarter from a 4.3% annual gain in the last quarter of 2020. It was the first of three estimates of growth last quarter; the government will revise the figure twice in the coming weeks.

Some economists say growth in the current April-June period could reach a 10% annual pace or more, driven by a surge in people traveling, shopping, dining out and otherwise resuming their spending habits.

A major reason for the brightening expectations is the record-level spending that is poised to flow into the economy. A $1.9 trillion package that President Joe Biden got through Congress in March provided, among other rescue aid, $1,400 stimulus payments to most adults. On top of that, Biden is proposing two additional huge spending plans: a $2.3 trillion infrastructure package and a $1.8 trillion investment in children, families and education that the president promoted Wednesday night in his first address to a joint session of Congress.

The Federal Reserve’s ultra-low interest-rate policy, which is intended to encourage borrowing and spending, has provided significant support, too. In fact, the economy is expected to expand so fast that some economists have raised concerns that it could ignite inflation. In part, this is because stronger demand has caused supply bottlenecks and shortages of some components, notably semiconductors, which are critical to the auto, technology and medical device industries, among others.

At a news conference Wednesday, though, Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his confidence that any surge in inflation would prove temporary. And he said the Fed wants to see a substantial and sustained recovery before it would consider withdrawing its economic support. In the meantime, Powell made clear, the central bank isn’t even close to beginning a pullback in its ultra-low rate policies.

The vigor of the rebounding U.S. economy has been particularly striking given the scope of damage the pandemic inflicted on it beginning in March of last year. With businesses all but shut down, the economy contracted at a record annual pace of 31% in the April-June quarter of last year before rebounding sharply in the subsequent months.

“The economy is on fire,” Sung Won Sohn, a finance and economics professor at Loyola Marymount University, said before Thursday’s GDP report was released. “It is being fueled by the vaccine, which is the best economic stimulus we have, plus massive government spending.”

Thursday’s GDP report showed that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the economy, surged at a 10.7% annual rate in the January-March quarter, a significant acceleration after spending had slowed to a 2.3% annual gain in the final three months of 2020.

Business investment rose at a strong rate of nearly 10%, reflecting a burst of spending on equipment. The residential sector, a standout performer in the last year thanks to ultra-low mortgage rates, grew at a roughly 11% annual rate in the first quarter, still solid but down from the fourth quarter. Government spending grew at a 6.3% annual rate after two straight declines that had reflected weakness at the state and local level as the recession shrank tax revenue.

Businesses did slow their pace of inventory restocking in the January-March quarter, which shaved 2.6 percentage points from the quarter’s growth. And a rising trade deficit diminished growth by 0.8 percentage point.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said before Thursday’s GDP report was released that all signs point to an economic boom this year, fueled by heavy government support and a flood of pent-up consumer demand as the economy further reopens.

“This should be a gangbuster year,” Zandi said. “I have been forecasting the economy for almost 30 years, and I can’t remember a time when I have been as confident as I am today.”

Read More

Where Are We Going So Fast?

• About
• Archive

Disney and the Imagineers Bring Us to Tears

Tweet

By James Warda,
today at 9:53 am

After writing an article about being brought to tears on the Flight of Passage ride at Walt Disney World and anticipating some “big boys don’t cry” feedback, I was amazed that what I got was exactly the opposite.

Now, of course, admitting to crying on a ride was not easy, especially a Disney one. And, believe me, I was this close (holds fingers up 3.7 millimeters apart) to not doing it. But, of course, upon further reflection, the tears were the most important part of the experience for me.

First, a quick recap

During a recent visit to see our son in Orlando, after watching The Imagineering Story, my wife and I rode Rise of the Resistance for the second time and Flight of Passage for the first time at Walt Disney World.

Rise of the Resistance was just as cool, if not more so, turning me back into a teenager, not only with its amazingly detailed and complex design, but because it really was more of an “experience.” But Flight of Passage did something more, turning me into a five-year-old − as it dropped me suddenly into a grand and glorious journey. Most surprising to me, at one point, my eyes actually brimmed with tears as I was overcome with wonder.

True, honest-to-goodness, kid-on Christmas-morning wonder.

Now, when it happened, though, I must admit that I felt a bit embarrassed, and quickly tried to wipe at my eyes, struggling to get my fingers under the 3-D glasses, even though no one could see or would possibly care. But, after getting so many responses to my article that were filled with similar sentiments, I realized I had nothing to be embarrassed about – and most certainly was not alone in my reaction.

Other voices of wonder and tears

So, with that, here are some of those responses from men and women alike (I’ve slightly edited them for length and clarity – and also removed the emoji hearts, faces and castles to make it safely past my spellchecker):

• “Flight of Passage makes me cry when I get off. It’s breathtaking!”

• “I’ve told people (who didn’t ask, btw) that it’s what i would imagine Heaven to be like.”

• “Made me ‘well up’ just reading that. I really relate.”

• “We have been visiting Disney World since 1992 (I was 9). We were due to visit this April, but due to COVID-19, we cannot fly (UK). However, this time will be the first time I will be visiting without my parents. That alone is rather emotional for me. I know that I will be able to see in my mind’s eye my dad being carefree and being so immersed in it − unforgettable.”

• “100% agree and pray that everyone gets the opportunity in life to experience the masterpiece that is Flight of Passage!”

• “I felt so much the same on Passage. I haven’t gotten to do Rise yet but am sure it’s amazing. I definitely agree that the queue was one of, if not the, best I have ever been in. The ride was absolutely amazing. One of my favorite rides in the whole place, for sure.”

• “So, this time I will be seeing it through the eyes of my children and experiencing that wonder for myself. I literally cannot wait.”

• “Omg!! I had tears in Flight of Passage too!!! It hits you with all the power that Disney has!!! They are so incredible at what they do all the time, in every little detail.”

• “Flight of Passage had me in tears! Loved it!”

• “Yes!! My thoughts exactly − we had been to Disneyland many times but the first time going to Disney World was absolutely magical for me for all the reasons listed.”

• “I agree, the Imagineer show is top notch. This last trip we made was my first time to ride Passage and it was truly beautiful.”

• “Rise of the Resistance is unbelievable. I’m 45 and was transported to the 12-yr-old girl version of myself. Best ride I’ve ever been on in my life and I’m only a halfway Star Wars fan. Completely epic!!”

• “I’m 72 and looking forward to being 5 again when I ride Flight of Passage!”

• “Exactly! I did cry after Rise of the Resistance. It was such an Amazing Experience!”

• “You managed to put words to my speechless reaction to Disney. Thank you!”

• “I’m a full-grown adult & my daughter always tells me, I act like a kid at Disney! Full from pure excitement & joy the entire time I’m there! My response to her, ‘where else can I act like this?!’”

• “I had no idea what I was getting on when I rode Flight of Passage two weeks ago. And the tears just kept coming down. It truly was breathtaking.”

• “Every time I see the castle… tears roll down my face, and I’m 59. Hubby and I arrive there soon, looking forward to those tears and the magic of Disney.”

• “I cry every time I go on Flight of Passage.”

• “I felt exactly how you felt on both. I cried on Flight and was grinning ear-to-ear and just amazed. Rise is just amazing. Like you said most complex immersive experience ever.”

• “Reading your review, I had tears. You captured not only your feelings but feelings of so many… including me. Stay magical!”

• “I’ve only ridden Passage one time. But I felt like you did. It was… incredible. It’s been over a year since my one ride and I can still capture that feeling in my memory. I can hardly put it into words. I’m looking forward to riding it again and seeing if that wonder and amazement is there waiting for me.”

• “Hands down the 2 best rides I’ve rode in my whole life.”

• “Every time I ride Flight of Passage, I cry because I don’t want to return to reality.”

• “Rise of the Resistance was incredible and so much to take in!”

• “I cry on Flight of Passage, too! I love those moments of Disney Wonder- it’s what hooked me in. Can’t wait to visit again!”

• “Wonder & excitement are great words depicting any visit there. Walt used the term ‘suspended disbelief’ and these two experiences epitomize it from arrival and even exit.”

• “Yes! That feeling of being a kid again is the best!”

• “My daughter was a cast member at Flight of Passage from January through July of 2019 during her participation in the Disney College Program. Your description brought me back to those special moments of us riding with our daughter and her getting the biggest kick out of seeing it through our eyes. Yep, I cried too!“

• “This weekend was probably my 5th time riding FOP and I teared up.”

• “I love your last paragraph about the power of Disney regarding both children and adults. Perfectly stated on why it is so magical and why I love it so much too.”

Not just a song title

Looking back at these responses again also made me realize that, whether it’s a ride, castle, movie, TV or radio show, book, song, or whatever method or medium, the Walt Disney Company and its Imagineers have a way of reminding us that we’re not alone. And that, no matter how different we might feel, in the end, to paraphrase a song you may know, “it’s most certainly a small world after all.”

And that, unlike baseball, there is most definitely crying at Disney.

__________________________________________________________________________

(I’d highly recommend that anyone who has Disney+ watch The Imagineering Story. It shows just how passionate and talented these people are — and how committed they are to creating moments of wonder for everyone who loves Disney.)

Main photo courtesy of  Erik Mclean on Unsplash

__________________________________________________________________________

Contact me at [email protected] and learn more at jameswarda.com.

Comments Note: All comments are reviewed. Any that are considered to be a personal attack or hate speech will be removed. In my blog, I always try to be respectful. I expect the same from my readers, both in responses to me, and about or to each other. And, again, thank you for reading.

@2001-2021, James R. Warda. All rights reserved.

Filed under:
Uncategorized

Tags:
Disney, Imagineers, James Warda

Tweet

• Advertisement:

• Advertisement:

• 
  

  Welcome to ChicagoNow.

  Meet
  our bloggers,
  
  post comments, or
  
  pitch your blog idea.

  Sign in
  Pitch your idea
  Play games

• Subscribe by Email

Completely spam free, opt out any time.

Meet The Blogger

James Warda

James Warda, author of “Where Are We Going So Fast?”, is a keynote speaker who focuses on connecting to each other, and ourselves, through our moments. His background also includes being a writer and speaker for Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, and a columnist for the “Chicago Tribune” and Pioneer Press.

Facebook

Latest on ChicagoNow

• Disney and the Imagineers Bring Us to Tears

  from Where Are We Going So Fast? by James Warda
  posted today at 9:53 am

• Go directly to voice mail

  from Cheating Death by Howard Englander
  posted today at 8:24 am

• Training For A Half Marathon With iFit’s Tommy Rivers Puzey

  from Cut Out Kid by radstarr
  posted today at 7:24 am

• A pair of ISU Redbirds stand best chance of being taken in NFL Draft

  from Prairie State Pigskin by Dan Verdun
  posted today at 6:15 am

• Chicago Craft Beer Weekend, April 30-May 2

  from The Beeronaut by Mark McDermott
  posted today at 12:04 am

Posts from related blogs

• 

  Cheating Death

  Most recent post: Go directly to voice mail

• 

  Retired in Chicago

  Most recent post: The caring example of my cousin Bob

• 

  Getting More From Les

  Most recent post: Jeopardy! Needs Me. You just have to let them know.

More from Lifestyle: Opinion

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

• 

  Cubs Den

  Chicago Cubs news and comprehensive blog, featuring old school baseball writing combined with the latest statistical trends
  • Jacob Wetzel gears up for first season as a Cub
• 

  Pets in need of homes

  Pets available for adoption in the Chicago area
  • Fatima – Hyde Park Cats
• 

  Hammervision

  It’s like the couch potato version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith.
  • Movie Review: Godzilla vs. Kong

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

• 

  Candace Jordan

  from Candid Candace:
  Remembering Hugh Hefner on his birthday by a Bunny who loved him
• 

  Dennis Byrne

  from The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor:
  Illinois teachers union targets home schooling
• 

  LeaGrover

  from Becoming SuperMommy:
  It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.

Advertisement:

ChicagoNOW

• About ChicagoNow
• •
• FAQs
• •
• Advertise
• •
• Recent posts RSS
• •
• Privacy policy (Updated)
• •
• Comment policy
• •
• Terms of service
• •
• Chicago Tribune Archives
• •
• Do not sell my personal info

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

“I knew I could put something in a bottle that’s going to help people make a great drink in 10 seconds,” says bartender Tim Williams of his new line of cocktail mixers. Mission accomplished: These handcrafted concoctions, sold through Pour Souls, the bar-consulting company he runs with the help of Danielle Lewis, are made with fresh juices and ingredients that are locally sourced whenever possible. The best part: After years of being asked by finicky bargoers to swap one booze for another, Williams, who used to manage the bar at Blind Barber, developed mixers that work with more than one kind of spirit.

Take the Paloma-inspired Pink Pigeon, made with agave syrup and grapefruit and lime juices. Adding tequila or mezcal keeps it classic, but if you go with vodka or gin, you’ll end up with a citrus-bright drink that’s just as good. Or consider the Fancy Fu*kin Mule, a Moscow mule riff made with apricot juice, vanilla, and ginger: Vodka, the traditional choice, works just fine, but the mixer is robust enough to stand up to gin or bourbon. Same for the five-spice old-fashioned, which is bolstered with coffee and brown sugar.

Each $15 bottle (they can be ordered at pour-souls-llc.square.site) contains enough mixer for eight drinks and can be made into a highball by adding sparkling water or a toddy by using hot water. “People can use the starters as they see fit,” Williams says. “They’re extremely user friendly.” What better way to make the most of your booze until we’re all toasting in bars again?

Read More

Chicago Bears Draft: Three Big Ten players to consider at pick 20 by Vincent Parise

The Chicago Bears have been absolutely pathetic at the quarterback position for about half a century. You can make a strong argument that Jay Cutler is the best one in the history of the franchise. He, at a bare minimum, is top three. That is a major problem for a team with a rich history like the Chicago Bears.

Even Jim McMahon, the only quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl with the Bears, wasn’t a star. He also claims that the Green Bay Packers were his favorite team he played for which tells you everything you need to know. It has been a disaster for a long time and it needs to get fixed fast. They might look to the 2021 NFL Draft as the next place to try and fix it.

There is one quarterback that the Chicago Bears need to avoid in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Everyone knows that Trevor Lawrence is going to be the number one overall pick made by the Jacksonville Jaguars. It sounds likely that the New York Jets are going to take Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. Tre Lance, Mac Jones, and Justin Fields are going to all go in the first round behind them. Those are probably going to be the five guys taken in the first round at that position.

Teams that don’t land one of those five are going to look at some of the second or third-tier guys. Kyle Trask of Florida probably leads the pack of second-tier quarterbacks. He is also someone that the Bears should avoid at all costs. He is not what they are looking for in terms of their next quarterback.

Trask had a nice 2020 season and nobody can take that away from him. His stats allowed him to come in fourth place for the Heisman Trophy. He completed 68.9 percent of his passes for 4283 yards. He also had 43 touchdowns to only 8 interceptions which is a really nice ratio. The fact of the matter is that the tape suggests that he won’t be able to do that at the NFL level.

He relied very heavily on some of his star weapons to make plays. Kadarius Toney and Kyle Pitts made up a large portion of Trask’s completed passes. Pitts is a generational talent tight end that has Hall of Fame potential. When a tight end finishes in the top ten for Heisman voting (he finished 10th), you know he is so good. He is going to also be a top-five pick in the draft himself.

A lot of the film shows that Trask watches his intended receiver right from the snap. That suggests that he can’t make the necessary reads at the NFL level. The Bears just got over Mitchell Trubisky who had the exact same issue. They don’t need to deal with that again with someone like Trask.

Related Story: Bears 7-round mock draft gives them a QB

This is a quarterback that relied on his star receivers to make big plays a good amount of the time so nobody can be sure he can adjust to the NFL game where making reads is a necessity. He might work out for another team that is good at developing but the Bears can’t do that. Kyle Trask would be a disaster for a team like them.

Read More

Mini-reviews of recent releases from Jhumpa Lahiri, John Grisham, Anthony Bourdain, Sandra Boynton, Eric Jerome Dickey, Kaitlyn Greenidge, Mark Bittman, Ben Philippe, more.

Here’s the lowdown on some recently released books that are worth a read.

‘Whereabouts’ by Jhumpa Lahiri

Alfred A. Knopf, fiction, $24

What it’s about: An anonymous first-person narrator reveals tiny slices of her life in the course of 46 very short chapters in Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri’s meditative sort-of novel centered on a middle-aged woman questioning her place in the world.

The buzz: “This beautifully written portrait of a life in passage captures the hopes, frustrations and longings of solitude and remembrance,” Publishers Weekly writes. AP credits Lahiri “for stretching the form and creating something that feels fresh.”

Alfred A. Knopf

‘Sure, I’ll Be Your Black Friend’ by Ben Philippe

Harper Perennial, nonfiction, $16.99

What it’s about: In this hilarious and biting memoir-in-essays, Ben Philippe chronicles a lifetime of being the “Black friend” in predominantly white spaces.

The buzz: “Philippe has created a funny and at times harrowing, memoir of his experience as a Black man,” Library Journal writes.

Harper Perennial

‘World Travel: An Irreverent Guide’ by Anthony Bourdain and Laurie Woolever

Ecco, nonfiction, $35

What it’s about: A celebration of Anthony Bourdain, the late food and travel writer, whose experiences are collected in an entertaining travel guide highlighting his favorite places and also including essays by friends, family and colleagues.

The buzz: “This gloriously messy miscellany of off-kilter observations and lightning-in-a-bottle insights will make one want to read, eat and experience the world the way Bourdain did,” Publishers Weekly writes.

Ecco

‘Jungle Night’ by Sandra Boynton

Workman Publishing, children’s board book, $7.95

What it’s about: The latest board book for the littlest ones from Sandra Boynton, filled with animal sounds, rhythmic rhymes and simple but striking illustrations — and it comes with two Yo-Yo Ma audio downloads.

The buzz: It doesn’t have the manic energy and fast pace of some of Boynton’s best read-to going-to-bed books, like “Barnyard Dance” and “But Not the Hippopotamus” — but don’t be surprised if your preschooler demands, “Again!”

Workman Publishing

‘Animal, Vegetable, Junk’ by Mark Bittman

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, nonfiction, $28

What it’s about: A history of people and food — and the need for change, to give closer consideration to agriculture’s connections to such big issues as the environment, climate change, sustainability, working conditions and “income inequality, racism and immigration.” It also includes a brief but enlightening couple of pages explaining how and why the not-much-back-then city of Chicago surpassed Cincinnati for meat-packing, became, in Carl Sandburg’s words, “hog butcher for the world” and changed the way America ate.

The buzz: “He has the wisdom not to dwell on the shortsighted ambition that brought us here but rather to offer an equally evenhanded assessment of several failed attempts to undo our errors,” The New York Times writes.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

‘The Son of Mr. Suleman’ by Eric Jerome Dickey

Dutton, fiction, $27

What it’s about: The final novel from Eric Jerome Dickey, who died in January, is about a Black professor whose career is threatened when a white colleague threatens to claim he assaulted her.

The buzz: “This novel couldn’t be more timely as America and the world continues to grapple with the effects of racism on our society,” Black Girl Nerds writes.

Dutton

‘Sooley’ by John Grisham

Doubleday, fiction, $28.95

What it’s about: John Grisham’s latest doesn’t feature a single courtroom scene. Set in the world of college basketball, he follows a 17-year-old playing on dirt courts in South Sudan to college basketball’s big time — who doesn’t forget his family’s plight back home.

The buzz: Builds “to a climax that won’t leave readers doubting whether this is a John Grisham novel,” The Associated Press writes.

Doubleday

‘Libertie’ by Kaitlyn Greenidge

Workman Publishing, fiction, $26.95

What it’s about: The Whiting Award-winning author of “We Love You, Charlie Freeman” returns with the story of a young, Black girl in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, New York, inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States.

The buzz: “ ‘Libertie’ shines as a deeply moving portrait of two very different women and the fraught but loving intertwining of their lives,” USA Today writes.

Workman Publishing

‘Double Plays and Double Crosses’ by Don Zminda

Rowman and Littlefield, nonfiction, $36

What it’s about: Chicago native Don Zminda, a formerly with STATS LLC and the author of other baseball history books including a biography of Harry Caray and “Go-Go to Glory: The 1959 Chicago White Sox,” goes beyond the often-recounted story of the 1919 “Black Sox” scandal.

The buzz: “Zminda exposes the full extent of corruption throughout Major League Baseball, beyond what has generally been known,” Library Journal writes, crediting his “impeccable research and a fan’s eye for detail” and calling the book “the unexpected missing link in the ever-fascinating story of the tainted 1919 World Series and the beginning of baseball’s recovery afterward.”

Rowman and Littlefield

‘On Juneteenth’ by Annette Gordon-Reed

Liveright, nonfiction, $15.95

What it’s about: In a series of essays, historian Annette Gordon-Reed writes about the end of slavery, the role her native Texas played in that, the hardships African Americans endured in the century that followed and her own family history. Available Tuesday.

The buzz: Gordon-Reed shows “that historical understanding is a process, not an end point,” The New York Times writes.

Liveright

‘Shooting Midnight Cowboy’ by Glenn Frankel

Farrar, Straus and Giroux, nonfiction, $30

What it’s about: A detailed history of the groundbreaking 1969 X-rated Oscar- winner starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

The buzz: “Frankel puts it all together with narrative verve, telling a propulsive tale about creativity, commerce and loss,” USA Today writes.

Farrar, Straus and Giroux

‘The Art of Eric Carle’

Penguin Random House, nonfiction, $35

What it’s about: An oversized volume that features more than 60 full-color collage images by Eric Carle, one of children’s literature’s most beloved illustrators and perhaps most famous for “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” It includes personal photos, an essay by Carle’s longtime editor and photos showing how he makes his collages come to life. For ages 10 and older.

The buzz: “More than just an appreciation of his art,” Booklist writes.

Penguin Random House

Contributing: USA Today, Associated Press

Read More