How to Secure Your House for Working From HomeMartin Bankson May 1, 2020 at 4:44 pm

Small Business Blog

How to Secure Your House for Working From Home

ChicagoNOW

How to Secure Your House for Working From HomeMartin Bankson May 1, 2020 at 4:44 pm Read More »

Do you suffer from Weird Beard?Michael Messingeron May 1, 2020 at 7:04 pm

Mysteries of Life

Do you suffer from Weird Beard?

ChicagoNOW

Do you suffer from Weird Beard?Michael Messingeron May 1, 2020 at 7:04 pm Read More »

Say it ain’t so, JoeDennis Byrneon May 1, 2020 at 7:22 pm

The Barbershop: Dennis Byrne, Proprietor

Say it ain’t so, Joe

Say it ain’t so, JoeDennis Byrneon May 1, 2020 at 7:22 pm Read More »

Bears and NFL release face coverings to fight coronavirusChicagoNow Staffon May 1, 2020 at 8:34 pm

ChicagoNow Staff Blog

Bears and NFL release face coverings to fight coronavirus

Bears and NFL release face coverings to fight coronavirusChicagoNow Staffon May 1, 2020 at 8:34 pm Read More »

10 Chicago Album & Beer Pairings for a Better Home Happy HourAudrey Snyderon April 29, 2020 at 9:45 pm

Many of us are stuck at home as we do our best to flatten the curve. While we’re finding different ways to keep busy, sometimes a good brew and some solid tunes are most appropriate. To enjoy the best of both, Chicago-style, try some of these music-and-beer matches made in heaven on your next Happy Hour Zoom call.

Noble Beast (Andrew Bird) + Apex Predator (Off Color Brewing)

Take the mid-afternoon sunshine of shimmering strings and plucked countermelodies with the dark glissandos and haunting whistles on Bird’s 2009 album, pair them with the fruity- but-biting Apex Predator, and you’ve got an entire ecosystem of sound and taste.

Crybaby EP (Beach Bunny) + Masquerade Tears (Temperance Brewing)

No need to cry when you’ve got Beach Bunny’s pastel brand of melancholy-affirming pop to go with this fruity milkshake double IPA from Temperance Brewing— a solid reminder that sometimes, more is more.

Coloring Book (Chance the Rapper) + Coloring Books & Puppies (Forbidden Root Brewery)

This pairing might seem a little on-the-nose, but who’s to say the bold aural experience of this gospel-influenced pop/hip-hop album from Chance the Rapper isn’t just the right thing to go with the prickly peppercorn of Forbidden Root’s Nordic wheat ale?

American Beauty/American Psycho (Fall Out Boy) + Freedom of Press (Revolution Brewing)

The balance of sweet and tart in the session sour Freedom of Press feels like the right companion to Fall Out Boy’s high-energy 2015 release and its dualistic title track.

Lightlessness is Nothing New (Maps & Atlases) + Penumbra (Empirical Brewery)

Lean into the sunless, indoor-cat existence you’re living and revel in the dark sour Penumbra while you make up for your lack of vitamin D with this set of tunes from Maps & Atlases.

Pith (Melkbelly) + Cushy Blood Orange (Old Irving Brewing)

Need something sharp and bold to go with this crunchy, alternative release? Old Irving’s fruited sour Cushy Blood Orange can add the perfect high sharp note to Melkbelly’s savage bass lines and in-your-face drumming.

Telefone (Noname) + Good Listeners (Off Color Brewing)

Are you listening? Because Noname has something to say in this debut, and if you’re not paying attention, you might miss some of the incredible details in it— so settle in for an intense listening session with the intensely fruity Good Listeners, Off Color Brewing’s collab with Rowley Farmhouse Ales.

Horses (Patti Smith) + Ghost Ride (Revolution Brewing)

Pair a uniquely-fermented Kölsch-style bevvie with the unique frontwoman that is Patti Smith, who blasted into the 1970s rock scene with her debut album Horses.

Grand Illusion (Styx) + Passing Haze (Ballast Point Brewing Co.)

Styx is here to remind you that if you think your life is complete confusion right now, you should come sail away with this hazy IPA from Ballast Point.

Gish (Smashing Pumpkins) + Ancient Magick (Old Irving Brewing)

Let the magic of Old Irving Brewing’s imperial stout bring you to new spiritual planes as you rock out to Smashing Pumpkins’ early 90’s debut.

Share this post:

10 Chicago Album & Beer Pairings for a Better Home Happy HourAudrey Snyderon April 29, 2020 at 9:45 pm Read More »

These Books About Hardships by Chicago Authors Might Be Comforting Right NowAngelica Ruizon April 30, 2020 at 6:31 pm

As we’re bound to our immediate surroundings, community will remain instrumental in the success of Chicago’s transition into life after COVID-19. Until then, we have access to literature about the people and communities who have shaped our neighborhoods into the places we know and love. Chicago authors Sandra Cisneros, Gwendolyn Brooks, Nelson Algren, Shel Silverstein, and Eve Ewing all documented periods of hardship and growth in the city.

The House on Mango Street

By Sandra Cisneros

Ease into this reading list with Sandra Cisneros’s The House on Mango Street. The book is a collection of short stories — called “vignettes” — that offer a first-person narrative about being brown, going through puberty, and growing up on the outskirts of Chicago. Riding a line between autobiography and fiction, Cisneros whimsically describes her encounters with the world around her and her dreams for a way out.

The Neon Wilderness

By Nelson Algren

Nelson Algren is most well-known for his novel turned film, The Man With the Golden Arm. Sticking to his anti-establishment voice for outsiders, The Neon Wilderness is a series of essays about the challenges of living in Chicago. While there seems to be corporate success on every corner, there’s a starkly different reality for working-class Chicagoans. These essays poetically speak on the topics of crime, addiction, and class.

A Street in Bronzeville

By Gwendolyn Brooks

Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks’s first book, A Street in Bronzeville, is a collection of poems written about lived experiences in Chicago neighborhoods. The poetry in this book shows Brooks’ dedication to the black community, vividly illustrating the ups and downs of the black American experience.

The Giving Tree

By Shel Silverstein

In hopes of inspiring gratefulness for the things we do have during the stay-at-home order, we’ve included The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. Possibly one of the most moving short stories ever written, The Giving Tree is a timeless classic for people of all ages to enjoy.

1919

By Eve Ewing

1919 is the most contemporary work included on this list, but it highlights a 20th-century turning point in tolerance for segregation. The Chicago Race Riot of 1919 began a series of uprisings throughout the United States calling for an end of segregation. Ewing uses poetry and an afro-futurist lens to retell history and illuminate the similarities between past and present.

Featured Image Credit: Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Share this post:

These Books About Hardships by Chicago Authors Might Be Comforting Right NowAngelica Ruizon April 30, 2020 at 6:31 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: 5 biggest questions remaining following NFL DraftPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Next1 of 6Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

What are the five biggest questions remaining for the Chicago Bears now that the NFL Draft is over?

The 2020 NFL Draft has concluded and so the Chicago Bears turn their attention to the net phase of the offseason as the calendar turns to May. Under normal circumstances, teams would be preparing for or even beginning their one allotted three-day post-Draft rookie minicamp.

But as we are all well aware, these are not normal circumstances. The entire world is continuing to deal with the COVID-19 global pandemic which has wreaked havoc not only in our daily lives but to the sports we love that often serve as a distraction from the difficult times we find ourselves in.

So with that as the backdrop, Ryan Pace and the rest of the Bears organization are gearing up to deal with their “new normal” trying to figure out how to conduct an offseason program in this type of environment. The show, as they say, must go on, and it will — at least for now (more on that later).

As they do, there are still a number of questions that remain from both the team’s and fans’ perspectives. What are they? Well I’m glad you asked. We take a look at the five biggest questions remaining below.

Next: No. 5

Next1 of 6Prev post

Use your (arrows) to browse

Load Comments

Chicago Bears: 5 biggest questions remaining following NFL DraftPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Ryan Pace’s stubbornness will be his downfallPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 12:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

When he looks back on his tenure as Chicago Bears general manager, Ryan Pace will regret being so stubborn.

Another NFL Draft for the Chicago Bears has passed without selecting a quarterback or picking one up as an undrafted free agent. In general manager Ryan Pace’s six-year tenure, he has done that exactly once — in 2017 — when he traded up for Mitchell Trubisky.

Despite his stated belief that it is a good idea to try to draft a quarterback every year — which he famously said when hired — has not subscribed to his own philosophy. Or, alternatively, perhaps he never believed it in the first place and instead was simply paying lip service to a quarterback-starved franchise.

While obviously this is not based on any inside information, it’s hard to draw a different conclusion for his reluctance, or even downright stubbornness, in not selecting a quarterback in 2016, 2018, 2019, or 2020.

Understanding many Bears fans are not fans of Pro Football Focus, there is a terrific article from Kevin Cole outlining the myriad benefits of continuing to address the quarterback position, even when, as a team, you think you’ve got it covered. The piece, using the Philadelphia Eagles recent selection of Jalen HUrts as the backdrop, analyzes the opportunity cost of essentially “doubling-down” on the quarterback position.

Did the Eagles need a quarterback? No. They have Carson Wentz. Did the Green Bay Packers need one? Of course not. They have an all-time great under center. So what made them trade up into the first round for one? It was their recognition of an unavoidable truth that Pace has failed to grasp despite publicly espousing and that is that a team should look to address the quarterback position every year.

Failure to do so leaves you in the position Pace finds himself in today, and that is with mediocre options at the position and no viable backup plan. That’s a dangerous combination because it could very well result in Pace reaching in next year’s draft to address a need that he has refused to up till now.

Think of this analogy: if you had an old vehicle, and it was indispensable to your livelihood, assuming you had the means, it would be better to purchase a replacement vehicle now rather than wait until your car broke down. If you chose to wait, then you’ve put yourself in a position where you must have a replacement and may have to overpay for an inferior vehicle out of necessity rather than upgrading when the market conditions were in your favor.

But if you were stubborn and thought, “nah, I can squeeze another three months out of this jalopy” then you end up overpaying for a 1997 Toyota Camry. And that’s the kind of stubbornness that will cause you to lose your job.

Next: What is Cole Kmet’s ceiling?

The moral of the story is you should never wait until it’s too late and allow terms to be dictated to you. Rather, you must remain proactive to ensure you hold the leverage. In this regard, if Pace had brought in developmental quarterbacks over the years, perhaps his backup plan would already be on the roster. But he didn’t so it’s not, and that might end up being Pace’s downfall.

[embedded content]

Load Comments

Chicago Bears: Ryan Pace’s stubbornness will be his downfallPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Latest MLB plan would be fun for Cubs and White Sox fansPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball’s latest realignment proposal would be fun for fans of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

If the latest plan for Major League Baseball realignment comes to fruition, fans of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox could be in for a real treat for this season. As you may be aware, MLB has been tinkering with a number of ideas and proposals for how to get a semblance of a season in for 2020.

It feels like every week or so another proposal is leaked (more like floated as a test balloon) outlining how the league might be able to play baseball while minimizing travel and practicing social distancing as much as possible.

You may recall another recent realignment proposal we outlined that would spell trouble for the White Sox. In it, MLB contemplated realigning the teams into six divisions split among two leagues. Under that proposal, the White Sox would have been in the same division as some other powerhouse teams.

While the most recent proposal is really no better from a competitive advantage standpoint for the Sox — or the Cubs for that matter — it would be a blast for the fans.

#MLB considering 3-division, 10-team plan for 2020. Teams would play only within realigned divisions, combining American & National League clubs based on geography.#Braves would be part of the Central Division under this plan according to @USATODAYsports https://t.co/xopwpAuhGz pic.twitter.com/PAu98tk2fH

— Grant McAuley (@grantmcauley) April 28, 2020

Under this proposal, all 30 teams would be split up into 3 10-team divisions organized entirely by geography. MLB would abandon the American League and National League distinctions and instead opt for a more geographical friendly alignment.

The newly constituted Central Division would consist of the Cubs, Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and Detroit Tigers.

While it would be a gauntlet for both Chicago teams, imagine the fun and excitement around playing your geographical rivals. Simply squaring off against your inter-city rivals more often each year would be worth it. But now you add the Indians, Twins and Braves, three other quality teams, and you can start to see how new rivalries could easily emerge.

Next: Theo’s 3 biggest mistakes since 2016

The competition might be stiffer, but this season, if it happens, will already be a grind for players due to the unprecedented circumstances under which they will be playing. So why not at least add something else for the fans, who probably won’t be able to attend any games? It could be fun.

Load Comments

Latest MLB plan would be fun for Cubs and White Sox fansPatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Despite recent moves, Foles was correct choicePatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Despite some recent transactions, the Chicago Bears made the right choice with Nick Foles.

Don’t worry Chicago Bears fans, it’s human nature. That feeling you have in your gut second-guessing Ryan Pace’s decision to trade for Nick Foles is not out of the ordinary. Have you ever made a big purchase after narrowing down to two choices? Then after making your selection, you come across a review of the product you didn’t choose? Doubt starts to creep into your head and a little voice says “did I make the wrong choice? Do I still have the receipt?”

Well, there will be no “returning” of Foles, but that “buyer’s remorse” has likely been exacerbated by the slew of quarterback transactions to hit the wire over the last few days.

First, there was the report that Jameis Winston signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints for essentially peanuts ($1.1 million). Then, there was the news that the Cincinnati Bengals released Andy Dalton another target some Bears fans had their eyes on. To make matters worse, Cam Newton is still available.

However, despite all of that, Nick Foles was the right choice for Pace. Look, I have criticized Pace for many things but this decision isn’t one of them.

Of course, it’s easy to sit here in May, with the benefit of hindsight and say Pace should have known how the board would unfold. But there are a few things to consider.

First, those who think Dalton or Jameis were the clear frontrunners are neglecting one critical point. There may not even be an offseason in which to prepare due to COVID-19, and if there is, it will be extremely limited. There certainly isn’t going to be enough time to get a new quarterback spun up on Matt Nagy’s offense. Foles held a supreme advantage in that regard, so he likely always held the edge.

Second, the Cincinnati Bengals’ asking price for Dalton was reportedly too high. In retrospect, not having to give up a draft pick for Dalton might have been better value than having to fork over a fourth-rounder for Foles.

However, Pace was likely not willing to take the risk of waiting for Dalton to be released. What if another team agreed to the Bengals’ asking price, and by that time, Foles was off the market, traded to another team? Pace would have been left empty-handed. From that standpoint, it’s hard to fault Pace for taking the bird-in-hand, especially when that bird knows your offense

Finally, while Jameis’ contract is incredibly affordable, it wasn’t that long ago he was reportedly seeking $30 million per year. Who knows whether, at the time the Bears signed Foles, Jameis would have accepted the same deal he ultimately got? Perhaps this deal is a reflection of the quarterback market drying up. In addition, it was highly unlikely the Bears would have signed off on Winston, given his past indiscretions.

As for Cam, he remains unsigned which should send a clear signal that teams are very concerned with his health, and their inability to evaluate him due to COVID-19 is probably why he’s still on the market. Could he be had on a cheap one-year prove-it deal? Maybe. But again, hindsight is 20/20.

Load Comments

Chicago Bears: Despite recent moves, Foles was correct choicePatrick Sheldonon May 1, 2020 at 2:00 pm Read More »

How to Secure Your House for Working From Home

Protecting Your Home Network

Keeping Your Home Secure

Identifying Common Scams

Staying Secure While Working From Home

Meet The Blogger

Martin Banks

Subscribe by Email

Latest on ChicagoNow

Posts from related blogs

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

Bacon

Paul M. Banks

Newsboy

Do you suffer from Weird Beard?

Subscribe by Email

Meet The Blogger

Michael Messinger

Recent posts

Monthly Archives

Live Traffic Feed

Latest on ChicagoNow

Posts from related blogs

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

Bacon

Paul M. Banks

Newsboy

Say it ain’t so, Joe

Visit my new website

Subscribe to The Barbershop

Dennis Byrne’s Facebook Fan Page

Blogroll

Like me on Facebook

Blogroll

Our National Debt

Twitter

Tags

Recent Comments

Recent posts

Latest on ChicagoNow

Posts from related blogs

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

Bacon

Paul M. Banks

Newsboy

Bears and NFL release face coverings to fight coronavirus

Subscribe by Email

Latest on ChicagoNow

Posts from related blogs

Read these ChicagoNow blogs

Read these ChicagoNow Bloggers

Bacon

Paul M. Banks

Newsboy

Noble Beast (Andrew Bird) + Apex Predator (Off Color Brewing)

Crybaby EP (Beach Bunny) + Masquerade Tears (Temperance Brewing)

Coloring Book (Chance the Rapper) + Coloring Books & Puppies (Forbidden Root Brewery)

American Beauty/American Psycho (Fall Out Boy) + Freedom of Press (Revolution Brewing)

Lightlessness is Nothing New (Maps & Atlases) + Penumbra (Empirical Brewery)

Pith (Melkbelly) + Cushy Blood Orange (Old Irving Brewing)

Telefone (Noname) + Good Listeners (Off Color Brewing)

Horses (Patti Smith) + Ghost Ride (Revolution Brewing)

Grand Illusion (Styx) + Passing Haze (Ballast Point Brewing Co.)

Gish (Smashing Pumpkins) + Ancient Magick (Old Irving Brewing)

What are the five biggest questions remaining for the Chicago Bears now that the NFL Draft is over?

When he looks back on his tenure as Chicago Bears general manager, Ryan Pace will regret being so stubborn.

RELATED PRODUCT

Chicago Bears Fruit Life 5.5″ Swimming Trunks

Major League Baseball’s latest realignment proposal would be fun for fans of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.

RELATED PRODUCT

Chicago Cubs Mistletoe Button Up Shirt – 2XL

Despite some recent transactions, the Chicago Bears made the right choice with Nick Foles.

RELATED PRODUCT