“When I was working in politics, we always went to the community for answers. Community organizations are going to be around a lot longer than any politician.”
Beth King, 44, is deputy director and director of development and communications at Intonation Music, a Bronzeville-based organization that helps Chicago youth make music on their own terms.…Read More
In the biggest move of their offseason, the Chicago Cubs got worse. They shipped Yu Darvish – the 2020 NL Cy Young runner-up – to San Diego in exchange for veteran starting pitcher Zach Davies and a handful of less-than-exciting prospects. It’s not often that a reigning division champion makes a big offseason move that […]
The beer bar Bigby’s Pour House has announced that they are closing their Rolling Meadows location. The news broke on their Facebook page. Bigby’s Addison location remains in business.
Looking ahead, I can see that many venues have begun to book live music acts again. I have tended not to list them in these articles, simply because there are so many, I might over fill the articles for weekend events, and still leave some out. Unless they are tied in with a specific beer release. But that’s a policy that can be reviewed at any time.
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Meet The Blogger
Mark McDermott
Writer, trivia maven, fan of many things. I thought to learn all there is to know about beer as a way to stay interested in learning. It is my pleasure to bring Chicago’s craft beer scene to you.
It’s starting to feel like everyone is getting in the flow of things a bit now. The teams are a little more crisp, my basic math skills are returning and Joe Henricksen even sounded kind of excited about the season on the No Shot Clock episode we recorded this afternoon.
Now if only the weather would cooperate.
The big news from earlier this week was the Chipotle Classic. That’s the official name of the season-ending tournament that Rick Malnati organized. Read about it here if you missed it on Monday.
I have mixed feelings about the event. In a way I’m thrilled it exists. The games are going to be a ton of fun. It’s going to bring some much-needed attention to high school basketball. It’s giving eight teams something to play for and focus on this season.
But that is also my problem. Last week all 400 teams in the area were in the same spot. There was no postseason. That was lousy, but everyone was in the same boat. Now some pre-selected teams get to have a big special event and everyone else is left out, with no way to play themselves in. That stinks.
One team did something about that though. Evanston had a ticket to the Chipotle Classic. It was well-deserved, based on what the team has accomplished over the past few seasons.
Instead of just cashing that in and not looking back, the Wildkits decided to change things up. The winner of the Central Suburban League, Evanston’s conference, will go to the Chipotle Classic. And this isn’t some hollow gesture. There are teams in the CSL that are going to give the Wildkits a challenge.
Kudos to coach Mike Ellis and athletic director Chris Livatino. With one selfless, admirable move, the entire CSL season is now exciting and even more meaningful than it would have been. And the the team from the CSL that advances to the Chipotle Classic will be the one team that truly earned the spot.
I was over at St. Ignatius tonight. The young Wolfpack ran into one of the most balanced high school teams I’ve seen in a long time. Bobby Frasor is getting it done at Brother Rice.
Wednesday’s top games
Neuqua Valley 66, West Aurora 39: No trouble for Neuqua against a struggling West Aurora. Connor Davis scored 19 and John Poulakidas added 13 points.
No. 23 Lyons 79, Proviso East 53: Definitely an eye-opening margin. The Lions are living up to the ranking. Cade Nelson scored 15 and Tavari Johnson added 13 points.
Leo 88, Providence-St. Mel 44: Small school showdown. The Lions take it behind Cam Cleveland’s 20 points. Tyler Smith had 18 and JAkeem Cole added 17.
Geneva 40, St. Charles North 39: Huge win for the Vikings on the road. And they did it in spectacular fashion. Nathan Valentine hit the game-winning three-pointer with three seconds left. Valentine scored 33 in the game and drained nine threes.
No. 4 Mundelein 62, Libertyville 49: Scottie Ebube with another big game. The SIU recruit finished with 20 points and 13 assists. Conor Enright added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Yorkville Christian 107, Westminster Christian 43: Jaden Schutt scored 22. The Mustangs are 3-0 to start the season.
No. 9 Fenwick 50, Providence 36: It’s been smooth sailing so far this season for the Friars. They will face Notre Dame this weekend. Bryce Hopkins led tonight with 19 and Max Reese added 13 points.
Richards 74, Shepard 47: A big night for Anthony Taylor with 27 points and 10 boards. Santiago Rios added 18. Cole Hermanson scored 20 and grabbed 13 rebounds for Shepard.
Oak Forest 55, Bremen 37: Robbie Avila scored 24 points and dished out a bunch of assists according to Twitter. He has the Bengals off to a 3-0 start.
Tinley Park 75, Reavis 48: Some big totals in this one for the Titans. Keon Richards scored 27 and Maurice Evans lit it up with 22 points, 10 rebounds, eight steals and five assists.
Evergreen Park 67, TF North 51: Freshman Nolan Sexton has been a scoring machine so far. He finished with 21 points in this one.
No. 7 Hillcrest 77, Lemont 67: The Hawks are 4-0 and Julius Rollins hasn’t even played yet. Jakobi Heady and Mar’Keise Irving each scored 20.
Hard to believe I haven’t heard of dogs driving before now. I came across a couple of articles recently purporting just that. How did I not know? Apparently, a decade ago there was news of dogs learning how to drive. A much-viewed video created in partnership with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in New Zealand, part of a campaign to demonstrate that shelter dogs can be trained to drive a car!! No matter their background, breed or tough life, these shelter pups were teachable!!
You must see this video of these three dogs, in particular: Porter, Monty and Ginny. They took on an eight-week training period to learn how to drive (Forbes), learning one skill at a time. Shifting was taught, and braking, then putting the steps together. Of course, we know many shelter dogs have been chosen to star in movies or perform circus routines at the behest of the ringmaster. The trainers spent 12 weeks training the 3 dogs. Each one was carefully selected and completed five weeks of simulated training to teach them braking, shifting gears and steering. They practiced on go-carts before taking to the track. Yes, treats were provided along the way! After only seven weeks, the pups were ready to compete in a real car.
Directed by a trainer from outside the vehicle, this video not only proves dogs can be trained to complete simple tasks (sit, lay down, etc.), but also complicated tasks. Often driven by treats, dogs are much smarter than we think or imagine. Proof of that is seen every day. For instance, a dog 1,000 miles from home finds its way back to his owner.
It seems that Monty was the first pup to successfully complete the task: starting the car, putting it into gear and driving 70 meters before coming to a safe stop. Porter the Pup teamed up with a reporter to complete a 180-degree turn-despite a little drifting!!
The article I discovered on dogs driving, penned by Elizabeth Blackstock in 2012 came with video of proof that these three dogs not only mastered braking and shifting, but managed to drive around a racetrack negotiating hairpin turns. As Blackstock witnessed, these 3 pups from Auckland wrapped their paws in the 10 and two position and drove a Mini Countryman-alone-down the racetrack. Airing on Campbell Live, the video of these cruising pups was part of a month-long campaign to demonstrate that dogs-no matter the breed-can master ‘human’ skills.
We learned that the dogs also made an appearance on the David Letterman Show to demonstrate their newly acquired pastime. They also received coverage from the BBC, The York Daily News and New York Times, the Guardian and the Daily Mail. Science blogs such as Live Science and Smithsonian also covered the action.
“What’s next,” you might ask. Well, as another journalist noted “Imagine your dog picking up the kids from school.” Or, picking up dinner at the drive-through at McDonalds!!!
According to a SPCA spokesman, all three dogs received many applications for adoption. The object: Not just to find them a home, but the PERFECT home!!
Be sure to look up the video online under ‘videos of dogs driving cars.’
Building esteem for women (and men) through passion for the sports car. Brought to you by a certifiable car nut by night and weekends, who happens to be a veteran psychotherapist by day.
Westminster Christian at Yorkville Christian, 7:00
Many schools livestream games on the NFHS Network, which often charges fans to watch. However, several local schools stream games on their own that are free to watch. Some schools do all the games, some just home games and some select games.
If your school streams games, please send a link to the channel or home page to [email protected]. Here’s a list of all the schools that have submitted links so far.
Setting the tone for what’s sizing up to be one of the most exciting White Sox seasons in recent memory, third baseman Yoan Moncada put his musical skills and Caribbean vibes on display Wednesday in a newly released music video for his debut single, “Desastre Personal.”
The song is a collaboration between the Cuban baseball star and artists El Chacal and Lenier. In the video, Moncada sings in front of a swimming pool and dances with women while rocking a colorful outfit and a necklace referencing his uniform number with the White Sox.
“It started out as a hobby, meaning I always loved to sing at home,” Moncada told MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez of his budding musical career. “But one day, I published a song on Instagram singing one of Lenier’s songs, a Cuban singer, and he responded to me! We talked about getting together for a song when I was in Miami, that opened the door for me. That’s how I got my first song.”
Moncada, 25, will try to bounce back with the White Sox this year after a trying 2020 season in which he struggled to get back to full strength after contracting the coronavirus in the summer. Based on the mood he’s bringing into spring training, fans will surely hope he provides even more excitement for fans on the field.
But keeping their balance during COVID has been the toughest challenge many have faced.
On March 9 last year, Ayana Strutz, a professional dancer and actress from Evanston, flew to New York City to try out for multiple Broadway shows. “I remember I was sitting in the audition room—you know, hundreds of people waiting.…Read More
But Protect Our Parks says more legal challenges are coming for the Jackson Park plan.
It was hot on the August day in 2016 when Mayor Rahm Emanuel presented the Obama Foundation with nearly 20 acres of Jackson Park as the site for the Obama Presidential Center. On the concrete terrace on the south side of the Museum of Science and Industry, where journalists and officials gathered for the announcement, it was blistering—too hot to process much beyond the need to find some shade. …Read More
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