A Sunday Afternoon at Half Acre Balmoral Almost Felt…Normal?on April 12, 2021 at 1:40 pm
A Sunday Afternoon at Half Acre Balmoral Almost Felt…Normal?on April 12, 2021 at 1:40 pm Read More »
A huge game for Zach LaVine couldn’t offset a big collapse by the Bulls down in Atlanta, and tensions are running high on the Big Red Bus as a result. What does another tough-to-swallow loss mean for the home stretch of the season as the Bulls work to make a playoff run?
The post The Big Red Bus – Episode 60 – Stalled Bus vs the Hawks first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

High school teachers and staff returned to in-person work Monday but could revert to remote teaching this week if a deal isn’t reached with CPS.
Chicago Public Schools officials say they are “firmly committed” to reopening high schools next week for the first time during the pandemic despite a plan by the Chicago Teachers Union to have high school teachers and staff work remotely Wednesday in an attempt to pressure the district into a reopening agreement.
The district has held “productive discussions with CTU leadership to ensure a smooth transition back for our students and staff,” and the two sides are working to reach an agreement “as soon as possible,” CPS CEO Janice Jackson and the district’s education chief, LaTanya McDade, wrote in a letter to high school families Monday.
“Over the weekend we made progress on a number of areas and have general alignment on topics including the scheduling models schools will use and safety protocols to keep students and staff safe in high school buildings,” they wrote.
“We have also agreed that high school staff will be able to work on Wednesdays, which is a remote day for all students, and we will work to support vaccinations for students when they are eligible and doses are available.”
The union’s House of Delegates, however, “told the leadership of the CTU in no uncertain terms that we’re not simply reopening schools without more progress at the bargaining table and without a return agreement in high schools,” CTU President Jesse Sharkey told reporters during a virtual news conference Monday.
CTU delegates voted Sunday evening for about 5,350 high school teachers and hundreds more staff to work remotely Wednesday if a reopening deal with CPS isn’t reached by then. CPS had directed those workers to return this week, and they’ll be in schools Monday and Tuesday. About 26,000 high school students are expected back next week. As of now, the collective action wouldn’t affect elementary schools, which have been open for over a month.
“We’re asking for some basic safeguards and some reassurances that we’re not pouring gasoline onto a fire, that we’re not making an unsafe situation worse,” Sharkey said.
“We expect to see progress at the table. … If we do not see that, the members of the CTU are not going back into buildings under those conditions.”
Asked if the potential walkout would extend past Wednesday, Sharkey said the union would hold another meeting this week to discuss the latest bargaining updates and figure out what to do moving forward.

The Chicago native’s sixth album is a double-platinum RIAA certified record.
A Spotify podcast known for discussing the nuances of contemporary music via archival research is looking at one of Kanye West’s most controversial albums.
Dissect, which is in its eighth season, takes a deep dive into the former South Side resident’s sixth studio album “Yeezus,” song by song.
“Yeezus,” a double-platinum RIAA certified record — released in June 2013 — shot to the top of the Billboard Top 200 charts, with singles “Black Skinhead” and “Bound 2.”
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Early highlights from season eight — which debuted last month — include controversial moments from West’s personal and professional life including his interruption of Taylor Swift’s 2009 MTV VMA’s acceptance speech; the death of West’s mother, Dr. Donda West; his “Watch the Throne” album with Jay-Z, and his budding romance with reality TV star Kim Kardashian, among many others.
Podcast creator and host Cole Cuchna, who says “Yeezus” is his favorite West album to date, says the Chicago native altered his image, forcing longtime fans to decide what to make of him, and the album.
“I have a very personal admiration and enjoyment of [‘Yeezus’] which, of course, fuels the show,” said Cuchua. “Having a huge audience, and challenging the audience with something new that pushes boundaries and challenges the status quo — love it or hate it, [‘Yeezus’] demands your attention.
“What makes ‘Yeezus’ so interesting to me is, in wrestler terms, [West] turned ‘heel.’ He makes a confrontational, aggressive, and polarizing album. He understood at that point public perception was a marionette he could control — and he purposely went the other way.”
Previous seasons detailed the nuances of the albums of standout artists including Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” and West’s fifth album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” among others. Episodes go live on Tuesdays.
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Cuchua says he noticed so much more about “Yeezus” when juxtaposing him listening to it as a fan and for work purposes. The show includes research from “Dissect” collaborators Chris Lambert and Travis Bean, who co-host “Watching the Throne,” a podcast chronicling West’s discography.
He describes the feeling as “art appreciation.”
“Generally speaking, I’m looking for albums that we’re going to look back 100 years from now and these are the ones that we’re going to remember,” said Cuchua. “I try to approach current records with a historical lens; how are we going to talk about these records years from now? What can we learn about them? I think the goal of the show is, outside of everything else, we’re gonna spend a lot of time with this one thing, and hopefully learn some valuable life lessons through this art.”
And more content on West is heading toward the masses as several outlets reported this week that streaming giant Netflix purchased the rights to a documentary series about West.
It’s by filmmakers Coodie & Chike, who directed West’s first video, “Through the Wire” and the 2009 ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Benji,” chronicling the life and death of Simeon hoops legend Ben Wilson.

The delays were announced about 7:40 a.m. in an alert from the Chicago Transit Authority.
A man was injured after he walked in front of a moving CTA train Monday morning at the Armitage stop in Lincoln Park.
The man, 46, walked in front of an approaching train about 7:30 a.m. and was struck, according to Chicago police. He was in serious condition with an ankle injury at the station, in the 900 block of West Armitage Avenue, police said.
The man was awake and talking when paramedics brought him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to Chicago fire spokesman Larry Langford.
Red, Brown and Purple Line trains were temporarily suspended at the station until about 8:20 a.m., according to service alerts from the Chicago Transit Authority.
Man hit by CTA train at ArmitageDavid Struetton April 12, 2021 at 2:12 pm Read More »

All the games on tap for Week 5 of the 2020-21 football season.
Thursday, April 15
ILLINI BIG SHOULDERS
Hyde Park vs. Dunbar at Gately
ILLINI GREAT LAKES
Ag. Science vs. Comer at Eckersall
Johnson vs. Catalyst Maria at Gately
Friday, April 16
CHICAGO LAKE STREET
Corliss vs. South Shore at Gately
CHICAGO MADISON STREET
Senn at Taft-B
CHICAGO STATE STREET
Clemente vs. UIC Prep at Lane
ILLINI BIG SHOULDERS
UP-Bronzeville vs. King at Eckersall
ILLINI HEARTLAND
Kennedy vs. ITW Speer at Rockne
ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Raby vs. Lincoln Park at Lane
Westinghouse at Taft
ILLINI RED BIRD
Kenwood vs. Simeon at Gately
ILLINI WINDY CITY
Amundsen vs. Sullivan at Winnemac
CCL/ESCC RED
Leo vs. Fenwick at Triton
Marian Catholic at St. Ignatius
CSL NORTH
Deerfield at Niles North
Highland Park at Maine West
Maine East at Vernon Hills
CSL SOUTH
Evanston at Glenbrook South
Glenbrook North at Niles West
New Trier at Maine South
DUKANE
Batavia at Glenbard North
St. Charles North at Lake Park
Geneva at Wheaton North
St. Charles East at Wheaton Warrenville South
DUPAGE VALLEY
Naperville Central at Metea Valley
Neuqua Valley at DeKalb
Naperville North at Waubonsie Valley
FOX VALLEY
Jacobs at Prairie Ridge
Dundee-Crown at Burlington Central
Crystal Lake Central at Cary-Grove
Hampshire at Huntley
McHenry at Crystal Lake South
ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT
Coal City at Reed-Custer
Manteno at Herscher
Wilmington at Peotone
INTERSTATE EIGHT
LaSalle-Peru at Morris
Kaneland at Ottawa
Plano at Sandwich
Rochelle at Sycamore
KISHWAUKEE RIVER
Harvard at Woodstock
Richmond-Burton at Johnsburg
Woodstock North at Marengo
METRO SUBURBAN BLUE
Aurora Central at Chicago Christian
McNamara at IC Catholic
Wheaton Academy at Riverside-Brookfield
METRO SUBURBAN RED
Elmwood Park at St. Francis
Ridgewood at Aurora Christian
Westmont at St. Edward
MSL EAST
Elk Grove at Hersey
Prospect at Buffalo Grove
Rolling Meadows at Wheeling
MSL WEST
Conant at Fremd
Hoffman Estates at Barrington
Schaumburg at Palatine
NORTH SUBURBAN
Warren at Mundelein
Lake Zurich at Waukegan
Zion-Benton at Libertyville
NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY
Antioch at Grant
Grayslake Central at Lakes
North Chicago at Grayslake North
Wauconda at Round Lake
SANGAMON VALLEY
Clifton Central at Momence
Dwight at Seneca
SOUTH SUBURBAN BLUE
TF South at TF North
Lemont at Tinley Park
Bremen at Hillcrest
SOUTH SUBURBAN RED
Reavis at Eisenhower
Richards at Evergreen Park
Shepard at Oak Lawn
SOUTHLAND
Thornridge at Rich
Thornton at Kankakee
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE EAST
Joliet Central at Plainfield Central
Joliet West at Plainfield South
Romeoville at Plainfield East
SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE WEST
Minooka at West Aurora
Oswego East at Plainfield North
Yorkville at Oswego
SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE
Homewood-Flossmoor at Bolingbrook
Sandburg at Lincoln-Way East
SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN RED
Bradley-Bourbonnais at Lincoln-Way West
Lincoln-Way Central at Stagg
Andrew at Lockport
UPSTATE EIGHT
East Aurora at Streamwood
Elgin at West Chicago
Glenbard South at Larkin
WEST SUBURBAN GOLD
Morton at Willowbrook
Hinsdale South at Addison Trail
Leyden at Downers Grove South
WEST SUBURBAN SILVER
Downers Grove North at Lyons
York at Oak Park
Glenbard West at Hinsdale Central
NONCONFERENCE
St. Viator at Mount Carmel
St. Patrick at Marist
Hope Academy at Marmion
DePaul Prep at Joliet Catholic
St. Rita vs. Benet at Benedictine
Lake Forest at Stevenson
Lisle at Streator
Montini at De La Salle
Carmel at Brother Rice
Providence at St. Laurence
Oak Forest at Argo
Monmouth United at Ottawa Marquette
Saturday, April 17
CHICAGO LAKE STREET
Bowen vs. Lindblom at Eckersall
Butler vs. Fenger at Gately
CHICAGO MADISON STREET
Pritzker at Marine
CHICAGO MICHIGAN AVENUE
Dyett vs. Little Village at Stagg
Richards/Harper vs. Gage Park at Stagg
CHICAGO STATE STREET
North Lawndale vs. Collins at Rockne
ILLINI BIG SHOULDERS
Bowen vs. Lindblom at Eckersall
ILLINI GREAT LAKES
Bogan at Goode
ILLINI HEARTLAND
Rauner vs. Juarez at Rockne
Prosser at Steinmetz
ILLINI LAND OF LINCOLN
Phillips at Lane
ILLINI PRAIRIE STATE
Payton vs. Young at Orr
Clark at Orr
Solorio vs. Bulls Prep at Rockne
ILLINI RED BIRD
Hubbard vs. Morgan Park at Gately
Curie at Perspectives
ILLINI SECOND CITY
Washington at Brooks
Vocational vs. Carver at Eckersall
Julian vs. Harlan at Gately
ILLINI WINDY CITY
Schurz vs. Von Steuben at Winnemac
Mather vs. Lake View at Winnemac
NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC
Walther Christian vs. Iroquois West at Gilman
SOUTHLAND
Crete-Monee at Bloom
UPSTATE EIGHT
Bartlett at Fenton
Glenbard East at South Elgin
NONCONFERENCE
Notre Dame at Nazareth
High school football schedule: Week 5Michael O’Brienon April 12, 2021 at 2:30 pm Read More »

A 17-year-old boy was fatally shot Friday in Bridgeport.
Four people were killed and 24 others wounded in shootings across Chicago this weekend.
Police responded to homicides on the Eisenhower Expressway, Bridgeport, Lawndale and South Shore. The homicide victims ranged in age from 17 to 54. One of the victims was a woman.
Overall, the period was less deadly than last weekend, when 34 people were shot, eight of them fatally.
The most recent homicide this weekend left a man dead and two injured on the Eisenhower Expressway near Damen Avenue. A 22-year-old man was shot as he drove near Ashland Avenue just after midnight Monday, according to Illinois State Police. He crashed on the Damen ramp and died at the scene. His name hasn’t been released.
Two other people in the car were treated for gunshot wounds. State police found another crashed car nearby that was empty.
Early Sunday, a 54-year-old man was shot and killed in the South Shore neighborhood. He was shot and he stood outside about 12:15 a.m. in the 6700 block of South Jeffery Boulevard, Chicago police said.
Harold Green of South Shore suffered nine gunshot wounds to the back and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
A witness told officers they saw the gunman fire shots from inside a gray Chrysler, police said.
On Saturday, a woman was killed and another wounded in a shooting in Lawndale on the West Side. About 9:05 p.m., they were standing in the 2300 block of South Kirkland Avenue, when they heard several shots and felt a pain, police said.
Samone Hill, 29, was struck in her back and arms and was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where she died, authorities said. The second woman, 28, was struck in the lower right leg, and taken to the same hospital where she was stabilized.
A shooting left a 17-year-old boy dead Friday night in Bridgeport on the South Side. The teen and two others were sitting in a parked vehicle about 9:45 p.m. in the 200 block of West 37th Street when a black Dodge Durango pulled up and two men exited and began shooting at them, police said.
Davion Ward, 17, was struck in the back and was transported to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
A 16-year-old boy suffered a graze wound to the head, and the other person, a man between 18 and 20 years old, was struck in the chest, police said. Both were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.
In nonfatal attacks, a teenage boy was shot Saturday morning in Lawndale on the West Side. The boy, 15, was shot in the lower leg about 5:45 a.m. in the 2100 block of South Kostner Avenue, Chicago police said. He was taken to St. Anthony Hospital in good condition.
Earlier Saturday morning, a man was shot in West Pullman on the Far South Side. The 34-year-old was standing outside about 4 a.m. in the 100 block of East 119th Street when someone inside a red-colored vehicle fired shots, Chicago police said. He was struck five times and taken to Roseland Hospital, where he was stabilized.
In the weekend’s earliest reported shooting, a person was shot Friday night on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side. The driver was shot about 9:30 p.m. near Cicero Avenue, and their injuries were not life-threatening, according to Illinois State Police.
At least sixteen more people were wounded in shootings between 5 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday in Chicago.
28 shot, 4 fatally, in Chicago over weekendSun-Times Wireon April 12, 2021 at 2:45 pm Read More »
The Polish community and its foods have been an integral part of Chicago since the mid-1800s. Carrying on the tradition of warm, comforting dishes full of cabbage, sausage, and potato, a myriad of great Polish restaurants populate Chicago and the surrounding area. From full dinners to pierogi combos, red borscht to stuffed cabbage— you’ll find exactly the dishes you’re looking for at one or more of these fine Polish establishments.
3030 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago IL 60618
Avondale-based Staropolska offers hot appetizers, salads, soups, and countless other Polish favorites. Tuck into potato and cheese pierogies, scalloped pork tenderloin, or Hungarian-style potato pancakes.
1549 W Division St, Chicago IL 60642
Head to West Town for stick-to-your-ribs Polish classics. Beef or pork stews, stuffed cabbage, and sour borscht are only a few of the options on Podhalanka’s menu.
169 N Wells St, Chicago IL 60606
Drop in for some Polish eats while you’re bopping around downtown! Classic pierogi flavors, hearty soups, and Polish sausage will fuel any excursion in the Loop.
5619 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago IL 60630
As their website says, you’ll find food “just like Grandma used to cook” at Smakosz. Start off with some potato pancakes or sauerkraut soup, followed by a main course of breaded pork chop, and finished off with some sweet blintzes.
8303 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago IL 60634
Not only is Dunning’s favorite Polish restaurant a great place for food, but it’s also got plenty of beer on tap. Grab a Zubr beer, order some red borscht, and fill up on some cheese and potato pierogies with your best pals.
1730 W Golf Rd, Mt Prospect IL 60056
A little further out in Mt Prospect, you’ll find the quli-nary delights of Qulinarnia. Try a fancier version of the pierogi, filled with lobster and spinach; choose from any number of hearty, meat-filled main courses.
5961 N Elston Ave, Chicago IL 60646
Jefferson Park’s family-operated Smak-Tak offers a selection of soups of the day, breaded meat and fish main courses, stuffed cabbage, dumplings, and more.
5753 W Belmont Ave, Chicago IL 60634
This cozy eatery in Belmont Cragin serves Polish-style lunchtime soups and sandwiches, with heartier selections for their dinner menu. Stop in during the day for a Kielbasa lunch, or drop in after work for the hunter stew dinner.
Polish Restaurants Chicago Featured Image Credit by anialaurman from Pixabay
The post 8 Incredible Polish Restaurants in Chicago for Pierogi, Kielbasa, and More appeared first on UrbanMatter.