PLEASE NOTE: Events may be postponed or simply canceled. Please call ahead to make sure they are still scheduled to take place.

1

FESTIVAL

Hygge Fest

Andersonville’s annual neighborhood celebration of hygge — the Danish word expressing a general state of coziness, comfort, and contentment — is halfway through a monthlong take-out fest amid COVID-19 restrictions. Local restaurants and shops are offering special packages or discounts on hygge-at-home products like to-go cocktails, virtual wine tastings, sweet treats, and self-care supplies. And if you’ve developed a jigsaw-puzzle habit during lockdown, you can refresh your supply on February 27 at the Great Andersonville Jigsaw Exchange, taking place in the parking lot behind Women & Children First.
Various locations. Andersonville. Various prices. andersonville.org

2

ART

Monet and Chicago

The Art Institute reopened again on February 11, after the pandemic forced two separate closures in 2020. The return to business (at 25 percent capacity) comes with an extension of this major Monet exhibition, which highlights the painter’s relationship to a then-budding Midwestern metropolis.
Through June 14. Art Institute of Chicago. Loop. $7. artic.edu

3

ART

Immersive Van Gogh

This Toronto import turns familiar Van Gogh paintings into vast animated canvases (the walls are 35 feet high in parts of the space) synced to a surround-sound score. It’s a tech-driven art “experience” for everyone who had a poster of The Starry Night on their dorm-room wall.
Through Sept. 6. Lighthouse ArtSpace at Germania Place. Old Town. $40–$100. vangoghchicago.com

4

HISTORY

Mandela: Struggle for Freedom

The life of the South African political prisoner and president materializes in this interactive exhibit, which includes a true-to-scale replica of the Robben Island prison cell where Mandela was held captive. Virtual tours are also available.
Feb. 20–Sept. 12. Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Skokie. Free–$15. ilholocaustmuseum.org

5

OPERA

Sole e Amore (Sun and Love)

Think warm thoughts as you bask in the sound of rising Lyric Opera stars from the Ryan Opera Center’s 2020–21 ensemble, performing lesser-known pieces by Italian composers including Verdi, Puccini, and Rossini. Lyric’s music director designate, Enrique Mazzola, serves as host and accompanist for the recital, streaming on Lyric’s Facebook and YouTube channels (and available on demand for a few months after its premiere).
FREE Feb. 21. 6 p.m. lyricopera.org

6

THEATER

Chicago Theatre Week

The League of Chicago Theatres’ annual showcase usually takes the form of deeply discounted tickets to live performances on the city’s multitude of stages. That can’t be the case this year, but the show, as they say, must go on, so the 2021 campaign will encompass cross promotion of the digital content offerings many theaters have produced. Would-be audience members can choose a virtual theater experience from the menu at the Chicago Theatre Week website to enjoy at home. If you’re so moved, you can donate the money you would have spent on tickets.
Feb. 25–Mar. 7. Various prices. chicagotheatreweek.com

7

TALK

Bill Gates: How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

The title of this Chicago Humanities Festival–produced YouTube Live talk is also the title of the Microsoft cofounder and megaphilanthropist’s new book (a copy is included in the event price and shipped to ticket holders by Seminary Co-op). Gates will discuss climate-change solutions and the challenges laid out therein with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman, the hosts of the podcast Armchair Expert.
Feb. 25. 7 p.m. $36. chicagohumanities.org

8

ARCHITECTURE

Reflections of an Architecture Critic: A Conversation with Blair Kamin

Longtime Chicago Tribune columnist Kamin took a buyout from the paper in January after 33 years — 28 of them as its architecture critic, wherein he won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1999. He reflects on nearly three decades of covering Chicago’s built environment in this conversation with Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture dean Reed Kroloff, broadcast via Zoom.
Feb. 25. 6 p.m. $15. architecture.org

9

FOLK

Black History Month Virtual Concert: Preserving and Persevering

Chicago Children’s Choir’s annual Black History Month concert honors the role of music in the preservation of African traditions and the fight for racial equality and justice. This year’s program, like so much else, has gone digital; tune into CCC’s Facebook page or YouTube channel to hear a program including “Lift Every Voice and Sing” (a.k.a. the Black National Anthem), “Wade in the Water,” and “We Shall Overcome,” among other selections.
FREE Feb. 25. 7 p.m. ccchoir.org

10

DANCE

Bolero

The Joffrey Ballet returns to performance with the virtual premiere of a new short work choreographed by company member Yoshihisa Arai. Originally intended for Joffrey’s annual gala last April, Bolero has been reworked to eliminate physical contact between dancers (the costumes incorporate face coverings). Filmed in the black-box theater at Joffrey Tower, the performance streams on the company’s YouTube channel for one night only.
FREE Feb. 26. Virtual event. 7 p.m. joffrey.org

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Chicago Blackhawks: Dominik Kubalik helps them win an ugly game by Vincent Parise

The Chicago Bulls could be looking for a point guard at the NBA trade deadline, and Lonzo Ball continues to be the rumored target.

At this stage, the Bulls are just treading water in the Eastern Conference. Having dealt with several injuries over the last few weeks, Chicago continues to play competitive basketball for the most part.

Billy Donovan has had an enormous effect on the Bulls, and it’s shown through their ability to still win some games without some important pieces at times. At 11-15, the Bulls sit at the ninth seed out East and still have a legitimate chance at making the playoffs.

If they are to do so, and if they are to remotely make any noise, the Bulls will need to address the point guard position. Throughout this season, Coby White has shown he can be an explosive player just as he was during his rookie campaign.

But, White’s inability to be a true facilitator and, more importantly, play defense, has given Chicago reason to look for a different option. At this stage, White might be better suited as a sixth man — and he’d be fantastic at that role.

Who would the Bulls go after if they were to need a more prototypical point guard? Rumors have been active for weeks now that Chicago is interested in New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, and the interest remains legitimate. It’s been confirmed, but that’s just about the extent of the situation.

The Bulls are interested in New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball, per @ShamsCharania. pic.twitter.com/ZtXSYotXoC

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 15, 2021

Though the Bulls are interested, a recent report says that Chicago has yet to reach out to New Orleans in regards to a potential trade. For now, they continue to do what they have done for weeks on end now: monitor Ball’s situation.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that the Bulls continue to watch for Ball’s status ahead of the deadline, but still have yet to formally discuss a Ball trade. If that’s the case, it makes one wonder just how serious they are about a deal.

Some trades have already happened this season — some big ones, too. If the Bulls wanted to make a real playoff run, why wouldn’t they have tried to execute a deal yet?

A lineup of Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. would be a much improved lineup overall. That has mostly to do with Ball’s ability to defend and facilitate the offense. If Chicago could get Ball for maybe a pick, while keeping their core (and White, off the bench), then they immediately become a more interesting team.

So far this season, Ball is averaging 13.7 points, 4.7 assists 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Those are not numbers which will jump off the page to anybody, but on the Bulls, he’d have a star scorer in LaVine who would instantly take those assist numbers even higher.

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Bulls: 3 Zach LaVine trades with the Heat

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We’ll also continue to monitor the situation with Ball going forward, and maybe the Bulls will have themselves a new point guard sooner or later.

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Chicago’s Englewood B.U. is as much an alchemist as a rapper, combining elements to create effects that defy easy explanation. On his new debut, 99 B.U.…Read More

A history of John Porcellino’s midwest influence

The graphic novel Map of my Heart begins with a cartoon map of Hoffman Estates: the high school, the Barrington Square Mall, a good spot to pick raspberries behind the hospital. At the bottom, everything is labeled: “Map of the Known Universe Circa 1982.”…Read More

The man stood outside and kept asking to be let inside before he fired shots through the door, police said.

A woman was critically wounded after a man she knew opened fire through a closed door Tuesday morning in Woodlawn.

The man stood outside and kept asking to be let inside before he shot through the door, Chicago police said.

The woman, 26, was shot in her abdomen and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.

The shooting happened about 5:15 a.m. in the 6200 block of South Champlain Avenue.

The shooter left the scene and was not in custody, police said.

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Polish culture has a profound place in Chicago’s history and the delights of its cuisine are found abundant. The pączki is perhaps the most popular and Chicagoland bakeries expect to sell thousands and thousands of them this Fat Tuesday.

A pączki is essentially a donut, filled with something sweet such as chocolate or fruit or custard and topped with icing or sugar. So just like a normal donut except for the fact that there’s a bit of alcohol and a very rich flour. They’re also a fan favorite every February as Chicago celebrates their iteration of Mardi Gras. You know we love a good guide so we’ve honed in on our 10 favorite spots around Chicago for the best pączki this year. Note, between COVID-19 restrictions and the snow-pocalypse of this past 24 hours, you may need to utilize your favorite delivery service or cross your fingers one of these is right around your corner for your pączki this year.

Dinkel’s Bakery

3329 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

Andy’s Deli & Mikolajczyk Sausage Shop Inc

5442 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

beLIGHTful 

Online | Pick up at 4650 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Wiklanski’s Bakery

6006 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

Kolatek’s Bakery & Deli

2445 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60707

D’Amato’s Bakery

1124 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Pticek & Son Bakery

5523 S Narragansett Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

Sweet World Bakery

5450 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

Delightful Pastries

5927 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

Bridgeport Bakery

2907 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

For a fully encompassing list of all of the places to grab a pączki in Chicago this year, you can utilize this guide put together by Block Club Chicago. They have also put together a how-to guide on making your own pączki at home if you want to put your own spin on the Polish delicacy. And be sure to snap a picture of your pączki this year and send it to us at @urbanmatterchicago on Instagram! We’ll share your post for the festivities this year!

Pączki Featured Image Credit: Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay 

The post 10 Best Places in Chicago for a Delicious Pączki For Fat Tuesday appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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As the city of Chicago and its’ robust restaurant scene begins to slowly reopen, people are awaiting word on their favorite neighborhood spots. Good news for fans of KINTON RAMEN in West Loop as they’ll reopen on February 17th for dine-in, takeout, and delivery with a great menu special to boot.

They’ll be reintroducing themselves to the restaurant district with an incredible three-course special a meal including choice of any signature ramen for the entrée, side choice of Komi Chicken, karaage fried chicken in a komi sauce topped with arugula, pickled red ginger and garlic chips or Taru Taru Chicken, a karaage fried chicken served in a garlic taru sauce topped with arugula and a spicy chili seasoning, as well as matcha cheesecake to sweeten the deal. Available for dine-in, takeout or delivery for just $16.99, diners may enjoy the special through March 2.

“As the city of Chicago begins to re-open, we are overjoyed to be bringing our upbeat, chef-crafted ramen experience back to diners in the safest way possible,” said James Kim, Founder and CEO of Kinka Family. “Whether dining in with us or ordering for takeout or delivery, we look forward to connecting with our loyal fans once again and warming hearts across the city with our feel-good offerings, made from scratch in-house daily.”

Patrons can take advantage of this deal in person or by ordering directly through KINTON RAMEN. Should you choose to use a third-party delivery service such as Uber Eats or Grubhub, the price is $19.99. For dine-in, KINTON RAMEN is open for both lunch and dinner from 11:30am-10:30pm. The entire experience offers the same food and drink and unmatched energized atmosphere as usual, but with the necessary precautions for health and safety in place you can expect a comfortable, worry-free meal upon your return.

For more information about KINTON RAMEN West Loop or to place an order, please visit www.kintonramen.com. Follow KINTON RAMEN USA on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT KINTON RAMEN

Established in May 2012, KINTON RAMEN was one of Toronto’s first Japanese ramen restaurants. Led by Executive Chef Aki Urata and his team of professional ramen chefs, KINTON RAMEN strives to offer guests an extraordinary dining experience every time. Using the freshest ingredients to make the best quality noodles and broths, KINTON RAMEN invites customers to taste their exceptional ramen bowls right down to the last drop.

For more information, please visit www.kintonramen.com.

ABOUT KINKA FAMILY

Founded in 2009, KINKA FAMILY aims to revolutionize the Japanese hospitality experience. KINKA FAMILY owns and operates a diverse portfolio of restaurants and cafes in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Tokyo, each with unique offerings, atmosphere and service-style. Included are: KINKA IZAKAYA, a Japanese pub famous for its bustling atmosphere; KINTON RAMEN, one of the first ramen shops to open in Toronto; JaBistro, a contemporary and sophisticated sushi and sashimi bistro; KINTORI YAKITORI, a cozy, tapas-style skewers and snack bar; NEO COFFEE BAR, a modern Japanese bakery and café.

Featured Image Credit: KINTON RAMEN Instagram

The post KINTON RAMEN Reopening West Loop Location For Dine-In With a Three-Course Special appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Chicago Bulls Rumors: 3 sizzling Zach LaVine trades with Miami Heat by Ryan Heckman

For the Chicago Bears, a major question that surrounds the team in 2021 is what the defense will look like.

For the third time in four seasons, head coach Matt Nagy is set to have a different defensive coordinator. In 2018, Nagy stuck with Vic Fangio. 2019 and 2020 provided the opportunity for Nagy to work with veteran Chuck Pagano. Now, heading into 2021, Nagy has another defensive coordinator, with Sean Desai taking over the reigns.

The state of the Bears defense will certainly be talked about all offseason. What Fangio did in 2018 was maximize the talent available. Under Pagano the last two seasons, the general feeling around Chicago’s defense is that there has been regression in terms of performance and statistically.

Sean Desai will be taking a fresh approach to the Chicago Bears defense in 2021.

As mentioned previously, many feel like Chicago’s defense has regressed over the last two seasons. While some of this has been due to injuries to key players like Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks, other key players like safety Eddie Jackson have also regressed, raising questions about what the real issue in Chicago was. Was the issue the scheme or the inability of coaches to put players in a position to succeed?

In Desai’s introductory press conference on Monday afternoon, there were a lot of positive takeaways. From the very start, Desai sounded confident in what Chicago’s defense could achieve throughout the 2021 season.

Much of the talent may be remaining the same, however, Desai made it clear that he was going to establish an identity and vision for the defense. With the NFL clearly a pass-first league, the goal for defensive coordinators now is stopping an opponents ariel attack before gameplanning to stop the running game.

There are two categories that Chicago has regressed in statistically between 2019 and 2020: Sacks and takeaways. Desai already has a plan in place for what to do when it comes to getting the Bears back to relevance in both categories.

Desai: “Takeaways come as a result of pressure. Sacks come as a result of coverage.” #Bears

— Usayd Koshul (@usaydkoshul) February 15, 2021

Despite an aging defense, the window for the Bears defense to be a top unit in the NFL isn’t necessarily closed, especially with many starters from the last three seasons at key positions set to return for next season.

Next: Chicago Bears: Five darkhorse NFL Draft prospects at 20th overall

Being a former Fangio disciple, Desai will use a variety of ways to get after the quarterback. Whether it is applying pressure with just four players to disrupt the quarterback or employing a number of exotic coverages to confuse opposing offenses’, Desai is ready to get the Bears defense back on top, one of the many factors that will be crucial if Chicago is going to compete seriously in 2021.

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