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Chicago Easter Weekend Beer Events, April 2-4on April 1, 2021 at 4:27 am

The Beeronaut

Chicago Easter Weekend Beer Events, April 2-4

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Chicago Easter Weekend Beer Events, April 2-4on April 1, 2021 at 4:27 am Read More »

James Taylor kicking off rescheduled 2021 tour at the United CenterMiriam Di Nunzioon April 1, 2021 at 4:48 am

James Taylor performs at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2019 in New York City.
James Taylor performs at Jazz at Lincoln Center in 2019 in New York City. | Getty Images

Tickets for the original tour dates will be honored.

Live music is returning to the United Center.

James Taylor on Wednesday announced his postponed world tour with special guest Jackson Browne will kick off at the Chicago venue on July 29.

Tickets purchased for the original dates will honored for the trek that wraps up Nov. 1 in San Diego. (The tour was originally slated for a stop June 9 the United Center; refunds are available at point of purchase for those unable to make the new date.)

Taylor postponed the tour last April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down all live music/theater venues across the country. Browne contracted coronavirus last March, revealing at the time he suffered only minor symptoms and recuperated while quarantining at home.

“(Jackson and I/James and I) want to thank all those who have graciously held onto their tickets; we appreciate your continued patience as we navigate these unchartered waters. We didn’t want to have to cancel this tour that we’ve been waiting so long to perform together, so we’ve been working to get these dates rescheduled to a time period when the U.S. is reopened and safe to gather for a concert,” the two legendary singer-songwriters said in a joint statement.”

Currently, there are no plans in Chicago or the state for the reopening of indoor arenas/theaters in the wake of the recent uptick in COVID cases. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the mayor earlier this week concurred the surge has put a halt to further easing reopening restrictions.

In March, the Ravinia announced concerts would be returning to the outdoor venue beginning in July.

“Of course we will be keeping a close eye and abide with all health and safety protocols throughout each venue and state. We can’t wait to get back on stage and see you out there soon,” Taylor and Browne’s statement said.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are available at ticketmaster.com.

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James Taylor kicking off rescheduled 2021 tour at the United CenterMiriam Di Nunzioon April 1, 2021 at 4:48 am Read More »

Teen boy shot in East Side neighborhoodSun-Times Wireon April 1, 2021 at 3:33 am

A teen boy was shot March 31, 2021 in the East Side neighborhood.
A teen boy was shot March 31, 2021 in the East Side neighborhood. | Sun-Times file photo

The boy, 16, was walking on the sidewalk in the 10400 block of South Avenue J when someone in a silver sedan fired shots, Chicago police said.

A 16-year-old boy was shot Wednesday night in the East Side neighborhood.

He was walking on the sidewalk about 9:35 p.m. in the 10400 block of South Avenue J when someone in a silver sedan fired shots, Chicago police said.

The boy was struck in the leg and transported to Comers Children’s Hospital in good condition, according to police.

There is no one in custody as Area Two detectives investigate.

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Teen boy shot in East Side neighborhoodSun-Times Wireon April 1, 2021 at 3:33 am Read More »

Coronavirus live blog, March 31, 2021: Chicago sees COVID-19 hospitalizations jump 24% in last 3 weekson April 1, 2021 at 1:56 am

News

8:56 p.m. Chicago sees ‘quantum leap’ in COVID-19 cases — widening Lightfoot-Pritzker split over vaccine plans

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a West Pullman neighborhood news conference Wednesday morning.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Illinois’ COVID-19 uptick took another step up Wednesday as Chicago’s “quantum leap” in cases raised more concerns of a potential third surge of the virus, officials said.

Another 2,592 residents across the state were diagnosed with the virus among 77,727 tests, which lowered Illinois’ average positivity rate to 3.3%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

But that key metric has shot up 57% overall in under three weeks, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have jumped 24% over the same time frame. More than 1,400 beds were occupied by coronavirus patients Tuesday night, the most the state’s hospitals have treated since Feb. 24.

The uptick has already pushed back Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to begin loosening more business restrictions, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot said an even more concentrated spike in the city means additional reopenings won’t be happening in Chicago anytime soon.

Read the full story here.

7:33 p.m. Chicago Restaurants Coalition wants its workers prioritized for vaccination

The Chicago Restaurants Coalition on Wednesday called for restaurant workers to get vaccinated ahead of other workers eligible under Phase 1C of the vaccine rollout.

The coalition said as people return to restaurants to get back some sense of normalcy, restaurant workers will be at greater risk of exposure to the coronavirus because they interact with customers who don’t wear masks while seated.

“Restaurants take on additional risks with their interactions with guests,” said Dan Conroe, marketing director of City Winery Chicago. “We’re behind the curve. When we requested this several weeks ago that would have been the time to prioritize them.”

The Chicago Department of Public Health said it is partnering with the Illinois Restaurant Association to host a series of vaccination events beginning in mid-April.

Reporter Zinya Salfiti has the full story.

1:04 p.m. Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine protects younger teens

Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.

Most COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and older. But vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic — and helping schools, at least the upper grades, start to look a little more normal after months of disruption.

In a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, preliminary data showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among those given dummy shots, Pfizer reported.

It’s a small study, that hasn’t yet been published, so another important piece of evidence is how well the shots revved up the kids’ immune systems. Researchers reported high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, somewhat higher than were seen in studies of young adults.

Read the full story here.

11:53 a.m. 26 Chicago restaurants chosen for DoorDash accelerator program

Geri Hernandez’s restaurant, Savory Crust Gourmet Empanadas, switched to solely takeout and delivery in October 2020 as the pandemic put a major strain on the costs of its branches in Morton Grove and Carol Stream.

As a small business “you’re hanging on a thread anyway,” said Hernandez, the CEO and co-founder. “When the pandemic hit, I thought we were done, that we were going to close. It was a scary time, scary for the whole year. Even now, you don’t know what’s going to happen, there’s a lot of uncertainty.”

Savory Crust is one of 26 Chicago-area restaurants picked to participate in DoorDash’s inaugural Main Street Strong Accelerator Program.

In all, 100 restaurants nationwide will receive a $20,000 grant, access to training support through an eight-week hands-on restaurant operator course that involves small business advising and mentorship, one-on-one financial, legal, and technological expert advice as well as free marketing and merchandising from DoorDash.

More than three-quarters of the Chicago-based restaurants picked for the program are owned by women, 92% by people of color and nearly 40% by immigrants.

Ms. B’s Kitchen & Catering owner and manager Tawanda Stange said she applied to the program for the financial assistance and the additional support services that come with the training, as well as access to the communities and networks of other restaurant owners participating.

“I was super excited. I’m still really excited. I really need this,” Stange said. “Just being involved in something like this will give me the extra push I need to take my business to another level, with confidence.”

Read the full story here.

10 a.m. City opening mass vaccination sites at Wrigley conference center, Chicago State

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

Chicago will open two new mass vaccination sites on Monday — one at Chicago State University, the other at a conference center adjacent to Wrigley Field.

The decision to open two more mass vaccination sites in addition to the one already operating in a United Center parking lot comes just one day after the city expanded vaccine eligibility to include all essential workers and adults with underlying medical conditions, excluding smokers.

The Wrigley Field site will be at the American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way, the open-air plaza adjacent to the stadium. The Cubs play their home opener on Thursday.

It will be operated by Advocate Aurora Health and have the capacity to administer roughly 2,000 daily doses of the coronavirus vaccine, by appointment only. Appointments will be posted on zocdoc.com/vaccine later this week with additional appointments added each day.

Chicagoans also will be able to book appointments by phone; details on that process will be announced in the coming days. There will be no on-site registration.

Read the full story from Fran Spielman here.

9:50 a.m. Reopening retreat: State’s move into less restrictive ‘bridge phase’ pushed back as cases rise, hospital beds fill

Reopening plans are being pushed back in Illinois as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations rise yet again statewide, public health officials announced Tuesday.

With 70% of seniors vaccinated with at least one dose, the state had been on pace to see some business restrictions lifted this week under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “bridge phase” before a full reopening by May.

Not so anymore, as coronavirus cases mount and more people head to hospitals with the deadly respiratory disease. The governor’s intermediate reopening plan also required hospitalizations to “hold steady or decline over a 28-day monitoring period.”

That count has risen almost daily since hitting a one-year low of 1,082 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients March 12. A total of 1,396 beds were taken up Monday night — the most since late February.

“As long as new hospital admissions continue to increase, the state will not advance to the Bridge Phase and on to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan,” officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. “The number of cases of COVID-19 has seen an increasing trend as well. Health officials continue to urge all residents to continue to mask up, socially distance, and avoid crowds to reduce transmission and bring the metrics back in line to transition to the Bridge Phase.”

Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.

New Cases & Vaccination Numbers

Analysis & Commentary

9:52 a.m. I didn’t expect ‘doom’ to be so exhausting

“Impending doom.”

I read the words aloud to my wife.

“Now there’s a phrase that you just don’t see very much,” I continued. “I wonder if other things ‘impend.’ Or is it just doom?”

She started to read something on her phone. The winds buffeted the old house, which groaned like a clipper ship rounding the Horn Monday night, as we fished the internet for news which, despite an upswing in positive developments — vaccines rolling out more and more, weather improving, that ship stuck in the Suez Canal finally freed — suddenly seems grim.

“The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of ‘impending doom’ from a potential fourth surge of the pandemic,” I read. “CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, appeared to fight back tears as she pleaded with Americans to ‘hold on a little while longer’ and continue following public health advice, like wearing masks and social distancing, to curb the virus’s spread.”

When government officials start to cry, that’s usually bad, right? Despite everything that’s gone on for the past … ah … year plus, the people in charge do not generally weep.

Read the full column from Neil Steinberg here.

Read More

Coronavirus live blog, March 31, 2021: Chicago sees COVID-19 hospitalizations jump 24% in last 3 weekson April 1, 2021 at 1:56 am Read More »

Chicago sees COVID-19 hospitalizations jump 24% in last 3 weeks (LIVE UPDATES)on April 1, 2021 at 12:33 am

The latest

Chicago sees ‘quantum leap’ in COVID-19 cases — widening Lightfoot-Pritzker split over vaccine plans

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot speaks at a West Pullman neighborhood news conference Wednesday morning.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times

Illinois’ COVID-19 uptick took another step up Wednesday as Chicago’s “quantum leap” in cases raised more concerns of a potential third surge of the virus, officials said.

Another 2,592 residents across the state were diagnosed with the virus among 77,727 tests, which lowered Illinois’ average positivity rate to 3.3%, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

But that key metric has shot up 57% overall in under three weeks, while COVID-19 hospitalizations have jumped 24% over the same time frame. More than 1,400 beds were occupied by coronavirus patients Tuesday night, the most the state’s hospitals have treated since Feb. 24.

The uptick has already pushed back Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to begin loosening more business restrictions, and Mayor Lori Lightfoot said an even more concentrated spike in the city means additional reopenings won’t be happening in Chicago anytime soon.

Read the full story here.

News

7:33 p.m. Chicago Restaurants Coalition wants its workers prioritized for vaccination

The Chicago Restaurants Coalition on Wednesday called for restaurant workers to get vaccinated ahead of other workers eligible under Phase 1C of the vaccine rollout.

The coalition said as people return to restaurants to get back some sense of normalcy, restaurant workers will be at greater risk of exposure to the coronavirus because they interact with customers who don’t wear masks while seated.

“Restaurants take on additional risks with their interactions with guests,” said Dan Conroe, marketing director of City Winery Chicago. “We’re behind the curve. When we requested this several weeks ago that would have been the time to prioritize them.”

The Chicago Department of Public Health said it is partnering with the Illinois Restaurant Association to host a series of vaccination events beginning in mid-April.

Reporter Zinya Salfiti has the full story.

1:04 p.m. Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine protects younger teens

Pfizer announced Wednesday that its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall.

Most COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at higher risk from the coronavirus. Pfizer’s vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and older. But vaccinating children of all ages will be critical to stopping the pandemic — and helping schools, at least the upper grades, start to look a little more normal after months of disruption.

In a study of 2,260 U.S. volunteers ages 12 to 15, preliminary data showed there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared to 18 among those given dummy shots, Pfizer reported.

It’s a small study, that hasn’t yet been published, so another important piece of evidence is how well the shots revved up the kids’ immune systems. Researchers reported high levels of virus-fighting antibodies, somewhat higher than were seen in studies of young adults.

Read the full story here.

11:53 a.m. 26 Chicago restaurants chosen for DoorDash accelerator program

Geri Hernandez’s restaurant, Savory Crust Gourmet Empanadas, switched to solely takeout and delivery in October 2020 as the pandemic put a major strain on the costs of its branches in Morton Grove and Carol Stream.

As a small business “you’re hanging on a thread anyway,” said Hernandez, the CEO and co-founder. “When the pandemic hit, I thought we were done, that we were going to close. It was a scary time, scary for the whole year. Even now, you don’t know what’s going to happen, there’s a lot of uncertainty.”

Savory Crust is one of 26 Chicago-area restaurants picked to participate in DoorDash’s inaugural Main Street Strong Accelerator Program.

In all, 100 restaurants nationwide will receive a $20,000 grant, access to training support through an eight-week hands-on restaurant operator course that involves small business advising and mentorship, one-on-one financial, legal, and technological expert advice as well as free marketing and merchandising from DoorDash.

More than three-quarters of the Chicago-based restaurants picked for the program are owned by women, 92% by people of color and nearly 40% by immigrants.

Ms. B’s Kitchen & Catering owner and manager Tawanda Stange said she applied to the program for the financial assistance and the additional support services that come with the training, as well as access to the communities and networks of other restaurant owners participating.

“I was super excited. I’m still really excited. I really need this,” Stange said. “Just being involved in something like this will give me the extra push I need to take my business to another level, with confidence.”

Read the full story here.

10 a.m. City opening mass vaccination sites at Wrigley conference center, Chicago State

Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times

Chicago will open two new mass vaccination sites on Monday — one at Chicago State University, the other at a conference center adjacent to Wrigley Field.

The decision to open two more mass vaccination sites in addition to the one already operating in a United Center parking lot comes just one day after the city expanded vaccine eligibility to include all essential workers and adults with underlying medical conditions, excluding smokers.

The Wrigley Field site will be at the American Airlines Conference Center at Gallagher Way, the open-air plaza adjacent to the stadium. The Cubs play their home opener on Thursday.

It will be operated by Advocate Aurora Health and have the capacity to administer roughly 2,000 daily doses of the coronavirus vaccine, by appointment only. Appointments will be posted on zocdoc.com/vaccine later this week with additional appointments added each day.

Chicagoans also will be able to book appointments by phone; details on that process will be announced in the coming days. There will be no on-site registration.

Read the full story from Fran Spielman here.

9:50 a.m. Reopening retreat: State’s move into less restrictive ‘bridge phase’ pushed back as cases rise, hospital beds fill

Reopening plans are being pushed back in Illinois as COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations rise yet again statewide, public health officials announced Tuesday.

With 70% of seniors vaccinated with at least one dose, the state had been on pace to see some business restrictions lifted this week under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “bridge phase” before a full reopening by May.

Not so anymore, as coronavirus cases mount and more people head to hospitals with the deadly respiratory disease. The governor’s intermediate reopening plan also required hospitalizations to “hold steady or decline over a 28-day monitoring period.”

That count has risen almost daily since hitting a one-year low of 1,082 beds occupied by COVID-19 patients March 12. A total of 1,396 beds were taken up Monday night — the most since late February.

“As long as new hospital admissions continue to increase, the state will not advance to the Bridge Phase and on to Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan,” officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement. “The number of cases of COVID-19 has seen an increasing trend as well. Health officials continue to urge all residents to continue to mask up, socially distance, and avoid crowds to reduce transmission and bring the metrics back in line to transition to the Bridge Phase.”

Read the full story from Mitchell Armentrout here.

New Cases & Vaccination Numbers

Analysis & Commentary

9:52 a.m. I didn’t expect ‘doom’ to be so exhausting

“Impending doom.”

I read the words aloud to my wife.

“Now there’s a phrase that you just don’t see very much,” I continued. “I wonder if other things ‘impend.’ Or is it just doom?”

She started to read something on her phone. The winds buffeted the old house, which groaned like a clipper ship rounding the Horn Monday night, as we fished the internet for news which, despite an upswing in positive developments — vaccines rolling out more and more, weather improving, that ship stuck in the Suez Canal finally freed — suddenly seems grim.

“The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of ‘impending doom’ from a potential fourth surge of the pandemic,” I read. “CDC director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, appeared to fight back tears as she pleaded with Americans to ‘hold on a little while longer’ and continue following public health advice, like wearing masks and social distancing, to curb the virus’s spread.”

When government officials start to cry, that’s usually bad, right? Despite everything that’s gone on for the past … ah … year plus, the people in charge do not generally weep.

Read the full column from Neil Steinberg here.

Read More

Chicago sees COVID-19 hospitalizations jump 24% in last 3 weeks (LIVE UPDATES)on April 1, 2021 at 12:33 am Read More »

How churches, community organizations created safe spaces for South Side teens via hip-hopon March 31, 2021 at 11:00 pm

When promoter/mogul John Monopoly would throw parties and other events as a 13-year-old, he would lie about his age in order to enlist a venue to be the host.

And what was the lie he utilized to secure South Side venues such as Hyde Park’s Blue Gargoyle Youth Services, a space founded by University of Chicago divinity students?

Monopoly, who later became the manager of Chicago hip-hop legend Kanye West, and local fashion designers Don C and Virgil Abloh, told venue officials he was working on a class project.

“When I was getting these venues, I was always lying, to be honest,” said Monopoly. “When I saw that worked, I would always make up some kind of fictitious organization. … “It was always a finesse. I’d say: ‘I gotta do this thing for school — blah, blah, blah,’ and by the time it came over that some child had conned them, it was too late.”

Here’s one of the filers/posters promoter/mogul John Monopoly utilized when he threw parties at Hyde Park’s Blue Gargoyle in the 1990s.
John Monopoly

The Blue Gargoyle, which closed in 2009, was one of the handful of spaces hosting South Side teens — and kids from various neighborhoods — who were hip-hop aficionados (breakdancing, graffiti writing, MCing and DJing). Longwood Manor’s St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, the South Shore Cultural Center, Hyde Park’s Promontory Point Field House and the United Church of Hyde Park were some of the other venues utilized.

“I think it was oftentimes easier for people to get access to facilities via their parents because it gave kids something ‘constructive’ to do,” said Jua Mitchell, a senior finance and accounting advisor for entertainment, e-commerce, and cannabis companies. “Parties back in those days, we were breakdancing and DJing — those were actual activities. It wasn’t a ‘party’ per se. I don’t think our parents thought it’s a party [laughs].”


  • Blue Gargoyle Youth Services, located at 5655 S. University Avenue, in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

    Blue Gargoyle Youth Services, located at 5655 S. University Avenue, in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

    Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times


  • The former Boulevard Arts Center, located at 1517 W. 60th St. in the Englewood neighborhood.

    The former Boulevard Arts Center, located at 1517 W. 60th St. in the Englewood neighborhood.

    Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times


  • St. Margaret of Scotland Parish located at 9830 S. Throop St. in the Longwood Manor neighborhood, Monday, March 22, 2021.

    St. Margaret of Scotland Parish located at 9830 S. Throop St. in the Longwood Manor neighborhood, Monday, March 22, 2021.

    Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times


  • United Church of Hyde Park, located at 1448 E. 53rd St. in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

    United Church of Hyde Park, located at 1448 E. 53rd St. in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

    Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times


  • The South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

    The South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr.

    Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times


  • The Promontory Field House at Promontory Point at 5491 South Shore Dr. in Hyde Park.

    The Promontory Field House at Promontory Point at 5491 South Shore Dr. in Hyde Park.

    Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Did these churches and community organizations know what was going on?

It’s tough to say, especially since Catholic churches often cycle out employees and clergy members, and many of the folks in charge of the organizations are no longer around, according to the groups the Sun-Times reached out to for comment. And some of the organizations shuttered over time, as the Blue Gargoyle did.

But party promoters weren’t the only folks who hosted events.

Euphonics, Nacrobats, 3993, and Ill Nature, were among the number of “crews,” “cliques” and “nations,” including the Chicago chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., that threw South Side parties.

Nacrobats MC Pugs Atomz says he was upfront with his intentions when securing spaces for events by providing a “mission statement” to venue officials saying his crew are artists who are college-bound high school students.

“Me and my mom would talk to people to convince their parents that it’d be cool because they’re dropping their kids off to Englewood,” said Atomz, who says his first party was at Englewood’s Boulevard Arts Center. “You were desperate to find hip-hop at that time. The flier culture was so big back then; it was a competition who had the best fliers for their events.”

A flier for a party Nacrobats hosted at the Promontory Point in 1996.
Pugs Atomz

During the rise of Chicago’s hip-hop underground party scene, many teens — particularly South and West Siders — believed they had to choose between hip-hop (a scene some viewed as homophobic) — house music and gang culture, creating a culture clash.

“House was gay-friendly — hip-hop wasn’t,” said Mitchell. “The house scene was very inclusive, whereas hip-hop is the exact opposite way — very crew-based and competitive.”

Duane Powell, a house music DJ who grew up in Roseland, also saw the clashes play out. He believes impetus had to do with gay stereotypes of the genre and the lack of girls/women at hip-hop parties.

“It was definitely a thing,” said Powell. “A lot of people don’t realize house culture — and its inception — was actually a revolutionary act that happened among the Black queer community because Chicago segregation kept them out of spaces.”

South Side-based rapper Ang13 grew up in Rogers Park, and says she attended parties all over the city. She remembers the importance of hosting spaces for Black kids who weren’t a part of the city’s dominant scenes.

“It was important for young Black kids to have those spaces because everyone didn’t like house — or gangs,” said Ang13. “[The parties] kept us out of gangs; it gave us a pass from gang bangers who would say: ‘Oh, he/she on that rap s- – – — they cool; let him/her through.’ “

Chicago rapper Ang13 says she remembers the importance of hosting spaces where for Black kids who weren't a part of the city's dominant scenes. 
Chicago rapper Ang13 says she remembers the importance of hosting spaces where for Black kids who weren’t a part of the city’s dominant scenes.
Jam1Photo

South Side native and New York-based Renegade Performance Group artistic director Andre Zachery attended some of those parties, and he, too, echoes Ang13’s sentiment on Black ownership of comfortable spaces.

“I don’t think people realize how liberatory that space was for us to have that experience,” said Zachary. “For those elders and parents to agree, they were saying: ‘We know that this is a necessary part of their development.’ ”

Why did the parties stop? Systemic issues? Teens aging out and discovering different interests?

Euphonics member “The Architect” DJ Phonz says he saw a “shift” in what partygoers wanted in terms of music. This era existed in concurrence with the aftermath of the alleged East Coast-West Coast “beef” which some believe resulted in the deaths of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.

“I saw a shift when people were coming back from college, getting jobs and wanting to show off what they have,” said Phonz. “When the change happened, the DJs started to follow suit. … This new era forced DJs to play new music in order to get booked for shows.”

And what’s the legacy of this era?

Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th) says he felt a sense of belonging when he attended South Side parties as a North Side battle rapper — a feeling he carries into his time as an elected official.

Ald. Andre Vasquez (left) chats with Ald. Roberto Maldonado during a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall in 2019.
Ald. Andre Vasquez (left) chats with Ald. Roberto Maldonado during a Chicago City Council meeting at City Hall in 2019.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

“The reason why I am the vice-chairman of the reparations subcommittee, and the reason why I find such an alliance to the Black Caucus and other groups stems from my experience,” said Vasquez, who was known as “Prime” back then. “A lot of the people I met are the same kids that were kicked out of Navy Pier and Grant Park when we’re trying to sell our mixtapes. That is the bedrock of where I come from, and that is what my perspective is when I’m looking at City legislation and trying to find solutions.”

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How churches, community organizations created safe spaces for South Side teens via hip-hopon March 31, 2021 at 11:00 pm Read More »

The Mix: The WNDR Museum, Art on theMart and more cool things to do in Chicago April 1-7on March 31, 2021 at 11:11 pm

Immerse yourself

The WNDR Museum, an immersive art and technology experience, has reopened with new exhibits featuring new and ongoing one-of-a-kind installations created by local and international artists, collectives and studios. New displays include the Flux Room, a multi-sensory, 360-degree immersive experience curated by Chicago-based artist Santiago X, and “I Heard There Was a Secret Chord,” a piece created by the Montreal-based design studio Daily tous les jours, which invites participation in a virtual humming choir powered by people around the world listening to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” at any given moment. Among the ongoing exhibits is Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s fabulous immersive work “Let’s Survive Forever.” Plus Keith Haring’s “Untitled (FDR NY) #23 and #24” is now on display outside the museum. Take it all in at the WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe. Timed tickets, $30, must be bought in advance. Visit wndrmuseum.com.

Across the universe

Art on theMart returns with the Adler Planetarium’s “Astrographics.”
Courtesy Art on theMart

Art on theMART collaborates with the Adler Planetarium to transform the facade of the Merchandise Mart into a blend of art and science. The new projection on the art deco building, titled “Astrographics,” consists of four movements — Earth, Other Worlds, Stars and Beyond — which take the viewer from Earth to planets and stars and out into the deeper reaches of the galaxy. The projections were created using real data showing the scale of the universe along with imagery from the world’s telescopes and works on paper from the Adler. Accompanying the display will be music from the Sun Ra Arkestra archives at the Experimental Sound Studio. The 30-minute “Astrographics” runs nightly at 8:30 and 9 p.m. from April 1-July 4. For more information, visit artonthemart.com.

For Oscar ballots

“A Love Song for Latasha”
Copyright ShortsTV

Have an edge in your Oscar pool by screening the 2021 Oscar-Nominated Short Films presented by ShortsTV. Among the documentaries are “A Love Song for Latasha,” a portrait of a young girl whose shooting death sparked the 1992 L.A. riots, and “Do Not Split,” the story of the 2019 Hong Kong protests. The live action films include “Feeling Through,” about the connection between a teen and a deaf-blind man, and “White Eye,” which follows a man as he attempts to retrieve his stolen bicycle. Nominated in the animation category is Disney-Pixar’s “Burrow,” about a young rabbit’s desire to build the burrow of his dreams. The films are available beginning April 2 at various Chicago and suburban theaters and their virtual platforms. The 93rd Academy Awards take place on April 25. For more information, visit tickets.oscar-shorts.com.

Young circus artists

CircEsteem
CircEsteem
Dan Roberts

CircEsteem, the Uptown organization with a mission to unite youth and foster self-esteem and mutual respect through the circus arts, presents Social Circus Day Celebration, an online event featuring social circuses from around the world. Along with live segments, the lineup features taped performances by CircEsteem’s Youth Acts Performance Troupe, Circus Harmony (St. Louis), ENC de Puerto Rico, Fern Street Circus (San Diego), Red Nose Foundation (Indonesia), Trenton Circus Squad (New Jersey) and Zip Zap Circus (South Africa). Streams at 5 p.m. April 3. Tickets: Free or pay-what-you-can. Visit circesteem.org.

Color your world

“Maybe Something Beautiful” is a collaboration between Chicago Children’s Theatre and CSO musicians.
Provided

Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have collaborated on “Maybe Something Beautiful,” a new virtual short film for children and families. Inspired by the award-winning book by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael Lopez, the film brings together five CSO musicians performing classical works by Latino composers, bilingual English-Spanish narration and colorful puppetry to tell a true story about how art can transform a neighborhood into a world of hope and beauty. The free film debuts at 10 a.m. April 1 in an event cohosted by the CCT and the CSO and available afterwards on demand. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or cso.org/tv.

Biblical inspiration

David Cerda (center) & Friends perform “This Jesus Must Die” from “Jesus Christ Superstar Do-It-Yourself Messiah Complex.”
Candice Conner

The Conspirators present the return of “Jesus Christ Superstar Do-It-Yourself Messiah Complex,” its annual Easter variety and sing-along extravaganza. The vaudeville-style show features performances of the songs from the 1970 recording of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical. Performances can range from a simple song over a karaoke track to a modern dance piece or burlesque. Scheduled to perform are Saint Sparklebear, the Cryptid Kid, David Cerda & Friends, Mari DeOleo, Sid Feldman, the Vaudettes, Danielle Levsky, Nathaniel Fishburn, Carey Farrell & the Clamor & Lace Noise Brigade, Sarah Bullion, Gail Gallagher, Jeff Churchwell, Caroline Shaul, Cocktail Jordan & Pearly White, Brian Nemtusak and Rose Freeman, all emceed by Wm. Bullion. Streams free at 7 p.m. April 4. Visit conspirewithus.org.

Virtual stage

Julian Parker takes on the title role in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of I, Cinna, written by Tim Crouch and directed by Tyrone Phillips. Photo courtesy of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
Julian Parker takes on the title role in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of “I, Cinna,” written by Tim Crouch and directed by Tyrone Phillips.
Courtesy of Chicago Shakespeare Theater

In Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s filmed staging of Tim Crouch’s “I, Cinna (the poet),” the apolitical poet Cinna from “Julius Caesar” searches for the subject of his new poem in this exploration of words and actions, protests and power. Streams April 5-May 2. Tickets: $25. Visit chicago.shakes.com. … Remy Bumppo Theatre presents “Artist Descending a Staircase,” an early radio play by Tom Stoppard in which two elderly artists examine their emotional and artistic histories. Streams free April 5-18. Visit remybumppo.org. … Ghostlight Ensemble’s launches its new reading series “For Your (Re)Consideration” with Margaret Cavendish’s “The Convent of Pleasure,” a play about a group of unmarried women who create their own perfect, self-functioning society. Livestreams at 2 p.m. April 4 and on demand to April 30. Tickets: $5 or pay-what-you-can. Visit ghostlightensemble.com/for-your-consideration.

Mary Houlihan is a local freelance writer.

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The Mix: The WNDR Museum, Art on theMart and more cool things to do in Chicago April 1-7on March 31, 2021 at 11:11 pm Read More »

Here’s what you need to know about signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine in ChicagoBrett Chaseon March 31, 2021 at 10:04 pm

The Moderna vaccine is one of the vaccines being given in Chicago.
The Moderna vaccine is one of the vaccines being given in Chicago. | Getty

Check out answers to frequently asked questions, including: Am I eligible for a coronavirus shot? Where can I get one? Can I go to a pharmacy? How long do I have to wait?

As Chicago expands its COVID-19 vaccination program, here are some answers to questions on who can get the shots and where to get them.

Who’s eligible for the vaccine?

• Health care and nursing home workers: Health care workers as well as employees and residents of nursing homes and congregate facilities have been eligible since December and those individuals can still be vaccinated.

• Seniors and essential workers: In late January, Chicagoans age 65 and older and more than 300,000 essential workers became eligible for the vaccine. The group includes police and firefighters, correctional workers, grocery store employees, educators and transit employees. Go to www.chicago.gov/covidvax for a full list.

• Residents with high-risk medical conditions: In late February Illinois expanded the eligible group to include residents 16 and older with high-risk medical conditions. Examples of conditions given by the state include obesity, diabetes, pulmonary diseases, smoking, heart conditions, chronic kidney diseases, cancer, solid organ transplant, sickle cell disease, pregnancy and persons with disabilities.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said each local health department will determine the process for those vaccinations.

Suburban Cook County started vaccinating those with health conditions March 26, while Chicago started March 29. The city has a broader list of health conditions for this eligible group, though smokers aren’t included on the list.

• Additional essential workers: Are eligible as of March 29 in Chicago. The city has said that group will include workers in: transportation and logistics; water and wastewater; food service; construction; finance, including bank tellers; information technology and communications; energy; legal; media; public safety like engineers; and higher education.

When will everyone else become eligible for a shot?

General public aged 16 and older: Pritzker said all state residents 16 and over will be eligible for shots beginning April 12, although he did allow local officials to open things up sooner. Chicago and suburban Cook County have said they are unlikely to meet that target. President Joe Biden has said he wants the vaccines available to all adults in the U.S. by May 1 and Chicago officials said they plan to meet that goal.

How do I sign up to get vaccinated? Where do I go?

Vaccinations are handled through appointments either through a doctor or other health care provider, a pharmacy or an employer. There are also designated sites for mass vaccinations run by cities and counties.

Chicago residents who are eligible can register for appointments via zocdoc/vaccine. More information is available at covidcoach.chicago.gov/.

A map of Chicago vaccinations sites is at chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home.html.

Suburban Cook County residents can check eligibility at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov/.

Go to https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/s/vaccination-location for a map of locations around Illinois.

Among the sites offering vaccines:

The United Center: Since March 10, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been operating a mass vaccination site at the United Center. Officials have limited who is eligible for an appointment there to all residents 16 and older from certain ZIP codes in vulnerable areas of the city as well as all seniors who live in Chicago.

As of March 31, those ZIP codes include 60608, 60609, 60619, 60620, 60621, 60623, 60624, 60628, 60629, 60632, 60636, 60639, 60644, 60649, 60651, 60652 and 60653.

More details are at chicago.gov/city/en/sites/covid19-vaccine/home/united-center.html of by calling 312-746-4835.

Pharmacies: The city lists several where members of eligible groups under the state’s guidelines can sign up to get the vaccine. Some have started vaccinating those with underlying conditions, while others plan to wait until their counties expand eligibility:

• Walgreens at walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19

• Jewel-Osco at mhealthappointments.com/covidappt

• Walmart at walmart.com/cp/1228302

• Mariano’s at marianos.com/i/coronavirus-update/vaccine

• Chicago Costco Pharmacies (Lincoln Park)

• Chicago Costco Pharmacies (Medical District)

Also, CVS announced that it will give a limited number of shots at a single Chicago store location and two suburban Cook County sites, Flossmoor and Olympia Fields. Go to www.cvs.com to make an appointment.

What if I don’t have a doctor or health care provider?

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced an outreach plan to engage residents in 15 South Side and West Side communities, largely areas of the city that include many uninsured residents with poor access to health care. The city is working with hospitals, health clinics and other local organizations to inform neighbors on vaccination details. For theses communities, the city has widened the eligibility rules. Go to the city’s Protect Chicago page for more details.

Will it cost me money to get the vaccine?

The vaccine is free to everyone.

Do I need multiple shots?

To be fully effective, the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines approved for COVID-19 each require a second dose, which will either be three or four weeks apart from the first dose. Typically your second appointment is scheduled at the time you receive your first dose.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine, which is becoming more available, only requires one shot. Experts say all the vaccines are very effective against stopping infections and extremely effective against preventing severe infections. Individuals will not be able to choose which vaccine they get.

Do I still need to wear a mask after getting the vaccine?

Two weeks after getting the second shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, your chance of contracting the virus will be dramatically reduced. No vaccine is completely protective but both of the COVID therapies are more than 90% effective. Johnson and Johnson, which was tested more recently in more countries and against more variants of the virus, is more than 70 percent effective, which officials say is still excellent.

But because there has not been research yet on whether you can still spread the virus to others, officials recommend continuing to take precautions like mask wearing even after you get vaccinated. The CDC said that those who have been fully vaccinated can follow looser restrictions when interacting with others who also have been inoculated.

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Here’s what you need to know about signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine in ChicagoBrett Chaseon March 31, 2021 at 10:04 pm Read More »

Two of Lucas Giolito’s high school teammates also get Opening Day callRonald Blum | Associated Presson March 31, 2021 at 10:12 pm

This photo shows, from left, Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty in 2018. The three were high school teammates and all will be MLB Opening Day starters this week.
This photo shows, from left, Max Fried, Lucas Giolito and Jack Flaherty in 2018. The three were high school teammates and all will be MLB Opening Day starters this week. | Eric Dearborn via AP

Giolito, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty were teammates nine years ago at Harvard-Westlake, a prestigious prep school in Los Angeles. On Thursday, all three will be Opening Day starting pitchers in the major leagues.

Lucas Giolito, Max Fried and Jack Flaherty were teammates nine years ago at Harvard-Westlake, a prestigious prep school in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, all three will be Opening Day starting pitchers in the major leagues.

And they didn’t even win a California state title the year they all played together.

“If you point at a particular high school and ask: What is the probability that three baseball players graduating this year will wind up pitching for MLB teams, and get selected to be this year’s starters on Opening Day? The probability is less than one in a billion,” said James E. Corter, professor of statistics and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College.

“But if you assume that there are maybe 10,000 high schools in the U.S., and elsewhere in the hemisphere that field baseball teams who play at a level that might get them noticed and recruited, the odds that it could happen somewhere, with some high school, rise considerably,” Corter said. “So now we’re talking more like one in 100,000. Still, pretty unusual.”

Giolito becomes the first White Sox right-hander to make consecutive Opening Day starts since Jaime Navarro in 1997 and ‘98 when Chicago opens under new manager Tony La Russa against the Angels in Anaheim, and Flaherty will start his second opener in a row when the Cardinals face the Reds in Cincinnati. Fried takes the mound in an opener for the first time when Atlanta plays at Philadelphia.

“It’s pretty cool when you know 10% of the league is starting Opening Day from the same high school,” Giolito said. “We’ve been working together for a long time, pumping each other up. It’s pretty weird and wild. I don’t think that’s ever happened before in any professional sport where you’ve got three guys from the same high school all competing on the big stage.”

Flaherty was 6-1 with a 1.77 ERA and a save as a sophomore for the Wolverines and Fried was 8-2 with a 2.02 ERA as a senior. Giolito got hurt early his senior season and finished 2-1 with a 0.84 ERA.

Harvard-Westlake’s baseball team went 24-5-1 in 2012 and lost to Valencia 3-1 in the second round of the playoffs. One year later, Flaherty pitched a six-hitter and had an RBI single to beat Marino 1-0 in the 2013 California Interscholastic Federation championship game at Dodger Stadium.

“The most fun was getting to go to bed the night before and knowing that I had somebody really good going to the mound the next day. There wasn’t a whole lot of sleepless nights during that that period of our program’s history,” said Matt LaCour, Harvard-Westlake’s baseball coach from 2002-15 and now one of its athletic directors. “It was pretty easy to tell by the time they got into their junior, senior years that they were all going to be the type of high-profile, highly sought-after draft picks that they became. I guess with Jack it was a little bit different than the other two. We weren’t quite sure if he was going to be an offensive player or a defensive player when it came to pro baseball.”

Fried first attended Montclair Prep in Van Nuys, then transferred after his school eliminated baseball and other extracurricular activities. Flaherty was entering his sophomore year in 2011-12, considering himself a shortstop, and Giolito was starting his senior season. By 2012, Giolito had reached 100 mph in a winter league game and was projected as a possible No. 1 pick before spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, which led to Tommy John surgery that Sept. 13.

“I knew they were going to be successful based on the talent, the work ethic. Did I think that all three of them would be starting opening day? No, I couldn’t imagine that,” said pitching coach Ethan Katz, then with Harvard-Westlake and now starting his first season with the White Sox.

Flaherty viewed the others as potential opening-day starters but not himself — because he didn’t foresee his future on the mound.

“We definitely knew that Lucas and Max we’re going to start on opening day together at some point, and I think I was the third one that was kind of added to that,” he said. “Those guys have been studs in the last couple of years. It’s fun to be surrounded by guys of that caliber and have relationships with them.”

Confidence was not lacking: the trio viewed themselves as future big leaguers.

“That’s something that we talked about all the time. We’re going to motivate each other. We’re all going to get to the big leagues. We’re all going to be mainstays in the big leagues,” Giolito said. “For us, that was stuff that we had to talk about because if you set those goals high and you’ve got guys in your corner to motivate you to get there, then they’re much more reachable than if you’re just kind of on your own and hoping and wishing.”

And, indeed, all three became first-round draft picks. Fried was selected seventh by San Diego in 2012 and Giolito 16th, while Flaherty was taken 34th by St. Louis in 2014.

And all three were bonus babies, with Fried signing for $3 million, Giolito $2,925,000 and Flaherty $2 million

Giolito, a 26-year-old right-hander, became an All-Star in 2019. He was 4-3 with a 3.48 ERA last year and is 31-29 in four seasons.

Fried, a 27-year-old lefty, went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA last year, improving to 26-11 in four seasons. He won a Gold Glove and finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting.

Flaherty, a 25-year-old right-hander, was 4-3 with a 4.91 ERA, leaving his record at 23-22 in four years.

During offseasons, Fried and Flaherty still work out at Harvard-Westlake.

“I’m really happy and really excited for those guys,” Fried said. “They’ve worked extremely hard to be able to put themselves in that position. To kind of share that and be able to be pitching at the same day as those guys is pretty cool.”

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Two of Lucas Giolito’s high school teammates also get Opening Day callRonald Blum | Associated Presson March 31, 2021 at 10:12 pm Read More »