Pope.L/Photo: Peyton Fulford
Get Chicago & Midwest culture news sent to your inbox every weekday morning. Subscribe to Newcity Today here.
ART
“Campaign: A Celebration of Pope.L” In November
The Division of the Humanities at the University of Chicago will present “Campaign: A Celebration of Pope.L” on November 10-11. “An artist and teacher for over a decade in the city of Chicago, Pope.L touched countless lives in big and small ways with his insight, generosity, kindness and creative vision. The two-day commemoration, free and open to the public, will take place at the Logan Center for the Arts and Midway Studios at The University of Chicago.” More details and RSVP here.
Nelson-Atkins Museum Looks To Private Money To Expand
“One of Kansas City’s crown jewels will see a renovation and expansion in the coming years,” reports KCTV Kansas City. “The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art announced that it has begun a $160-$170 million project to ‘reconfigure and renovate existing spaces to position the museum to serve its growing and increasingly diverse audience and future generations.’ The museum stated the project will be funded entirely by private donations… The project will see 61,000 square feet of new space while renovating nearly 74,000 square feet of existing space.” More on Nelson-Atkins here.
DESIGN
Chicago-Based Perkins&Will Designs Museum of Shakespeare
“Archaeological remains of Shakespeare’s sixteenth-century Curtain Playhouse have been uncovered and integrated into the Museum of Shakespeare in Shoreditch, east London, by Perkins&Will,” writes Dezeen. “Designed to ‘reveal and celebrate the historically significant remains’ of the theater, which were uncovered during the early stages of construction on the site, the museum was designed by architecture studio Perkins&Will for developer Cain International.”
Hotel For The Homeless In Lincoln Square
A bold experiment at Lincoln Square’s Diplomat motel “represents a pioneering approach to housing the unhoused,” reports Chicago magazine. “The city announced, in 2023, that it was going to buy the motel. That it was going to turn the Diplomat into a transitional housing facility called the Haven on Lincoln… In addition to having private space, every resident will have access to onsite services for medical, mental health, and addiction support.”
How Working Bikes Salvages Chicago’s Broken Bicycles
“Working Bikes has donated more than 150,000 bicycles to people in Central American and African countries,” reports the Sun-Times. “The Chicago nonprofit is celebrating twenty-five years of volunteer work as its founders ponder the future.”
DINING & DRINKING
Alinea Group’s First CEO Comes From Tech
“The Alinea Group, the team behind three-Michelin-starred restaurant Alinea, has named its first CEO, Jason Weingarten, a tech entrepreneur relatively new to the industry,” reports Crain’s. It’s “the first big leadership change for the group since it launched in 2005.” Co-founder and executive chef Grant Achatz remains with the group, who told Crain’s, “We’re not looking to expand for the sake of expansion, but rather to ensure that any growth aligns with the values that have always defined The Alinea Group.”
Weingarten’s ideas include “spinning off one of the Next Restaurant’s dozens of proven menus into its own restaurant. And The Aviary, one of the group’s bar ventures, has been floated as a possibility to bring to different locations, even out of state.” Weingarten “is not a novice. He launched [a] meal-kit company… in 2022 and recently opened South Loop restaurant Oliver’s, which is led by chef Alex Carnovale.”
Concessions At United Center Tries Local Tastes
At United Center, “the upcoming season’s dining and beverage options offer variety. Think of the Chicago classics: dogs and Italian beef. But also more innovative items such as tuna nachos, espresso martinis and jalapeno margaritas,” reports the Sun-Times.
Adorn Dinner For James Beard Foundation
Adorn Bar & Restaurant executive chef Richie Farina will host a four-course dinner on Thursday, November 14, featuring James Beard Finalist Maya-Camille Broussard, “Top Chef” alum Joe Sasto and Casey Doody of GT Prime Steakhouse with a collaborative four-course tasting menu. Each course will be prepared by a different chef, “culminating in a final dish that showcases their combined culinary artistry.” The evening begins with a standing reception at 6pm, with a seated dinner at 7pm. Tickets ($95) benefit the James Beard Foundation to support their efforts toward a sustainable and inclusive food industry here.
Alder Halts Fulton Market’s Bear Naked Social Club Until Name Is Changed
Bear Naked Social Club, a Fulton Market restaurant, is on hold as the local alderman Walter Burnett Jr. has asked the owner to change the name, reports Block Club. Burnett says that his “constituents thought that name was too provocative… especially considering its proximity to the West Loop library next door. Before greenlighting the restaurant’s pending liquor and public place of amusement licenses, the veteran alderman asked the owner to change the name.”
Some Restaurants Resist The Price Slash Trend
“Portillo’s, Potbelly and Red Robin are among the chains avoiding drastic price cuts across their menus,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “Sandwich chain Potbelly in July added in most of its locations a $7.99 meal deal bundling a small sandwich, chips and a drink, for example, but diners won’t find sandwiches at around half-price as at Subway.”
Massive Recall Of Tainted Meat, Chicken Expands To Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Target, Others
“Nearly ten million pounds of beef and chicken that has been recalled over possible listeria contamination can be found in frozen dinners and fresh salads from Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s and big grocery chains including Kroger and Publix, according to U.S. regulators,” reports the New York Post. “The 326-page list is the most comprehensive to date by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition to the branding and packaging, the list indicates which supermarkets sold the potentially tainted chicken and beef.”
FILM & TELEVISION
Governor Recognizes Chicago International’s Sixtieth Today
Governor Pritzker has proclaimed today, October 16, as “Chicago International Film Festival Day,” in honor of the opening night of this year’s Festival, the sixtieth edition of the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. The event runs October 16-27 at venues throughout the city, including Newcity, the Music Box, the Film Center, the Logan Center for the Arts, the Chicago History Museum, the Hamilton Park Cultural Center and the National Museum of Mexican Art. More CIFF here.
Locally Made “Christmas On The Ranch” Debuts On Hulu November 1
Throughline Films’ second holiday movie, “Christmas on the Ranch,” premieres as a Hulu exclusive on November 1. It’s the local production company’s second Hulu premiere after “Reporting for Christmas” debuted last year as a top-ten new release. “Christmas on the Ranch” follows a talkshow relationship expert “with her own romantic hang-ups who gets stranded at a ranch before Christmas, and the charming rancher who reminds her that love is always worth the risk.” The movie was filmed on location in Chicago and the Northwest suburbs, with most of the shoot taking place at Country Ridge Stables in Mundelein, Zia West in Hawthorn Woods, and WGN Radio in downtown Chicago. Additional photography took place in Long Grove, Arlington Heights, Vernon Hills and Oak Park. Trailer here.
MUSIC
Pitchfork Alumni Launch Music Mag In TikTok Moment
“After the popular publication was folded into GQ, a group of Pitchfork alumni is striking out on its own. One of the first orders of business: doing away with album scores,” reports the New York Times (gift link). “Former Pitchfork journalists are getting the band back together to start a new online music publication, Hearing Things. The site, which launched on Tuesday, aims to capture the original independent spirit of Pitchfork while tuning out the stan armies that worship huge artists.” Site here.
New Board President For Chicago Chorale
Daniel Comeaux introduces himself as the new board president of the Chicago Chorale: “I moved to Chicago in 2010 and joined the Chorale shortly thereafter. In the decade since, the Chorale has provided not only a musical home for me, but also served as the foundation of a community of committed choral singers and audience members. Like many of my fellow Chorale members, singing is not my ‘day job’—when I’m not singing, I work as a transportation planner and policy analyst. But no matter where we spend our working hours, Chorale members are passionate about the music we make together. Just as importantly, we love to share that music with the larger Chicago choral community.”
Live Nation Also Takes Over Oz Music Biz
“Live Nation is the world’s largest live entertainment company, behind some of the biggest concerts globally,” reports ABC News Australia. “The company has been raking in record revenue—in 2023, it earned nearly $23 billion, and its chief executive is among the highest paid in America. After dominating the United States, Live Nation is now increasing its power in Australia, where small venues and music festivals are fighting for survival.” An “investigation has found Live Nation has expanded its reach to every part of the Australian music industry and its practices are angering some of the country’s most talented musicians… Industry insiders and artists [are] coming forward in a last-ditch effort to protect Australia’s unique live music culture.”
STAGE
New Producing Director Structure At Lifeline Theatre
Lifeline Theatre’s will launch a “Producing Director” structure with the start of its MainStage season. A producing director team of artistic ensemble members Heather Currie, Elise Kauzlaric, Anthony Kayer and Chris Vizurraga “will provide creative and production oversight for the theatre and its four upcoming productions. In an effort to streamline expenses, the producing directors will be fulfilling duties currently performed by the artistic director, the production manager and marketing and communications director, effective November 1.”
Says board chair Neil Sondgeroth, “To protect the financial health of our company, the Lifeline Board has made the decision to shift to a more ensemble-driven, volunteer leadership structure—bringing some roles in-house—that regrettably results in the elimination of three full-time salaries. Unfortunately, our recent S.O.S. campaign did not hit its target, and this plan will help ensure the production of the current season and provide time and space for determining what a ‘new’ Lifeline will look like.” More Lifeline here.
Deeply Rooted Appoints Dance Education Director
Deeply Rooted Dance Theater has appointed Kelli David-Low as Dance Education Director, to help with the return of training programs and community-based program offerings. A Chicago native, she was program manager of the Mayfair Arts Center 2022-2024 and spent years performing, touring, and teaching with Joel Hall Dancers, Ascension/The Kirby Reed Project, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Instruments of Movement, and Disney’s “The Lion King.” More Deeply Rooted here.
Tickets Go On Sale For Kelli O’Hara At Steppenwolf In 2025
Fresh off her run in Broadway’s “Days of Wine and Roses,” Steppenwolf and Mark Cortale announce Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara with Music Director Dan Lipton, performing a program of American Songbook classics and modern Broadway favorites. O’Hara will play three performances only April 18-19, 2025 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater. Single tickets ($89-$139) go on sale Thursday here.
ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.
Harlem Globetrotters Started In Chicago, Not New York
“Abe Saperstein, a Jewish immigrant to Chicago from London, created the Harlem Globetrotters and had a major impact on basketball and baseball,” unearths WBEZ. Mark Jacob, former Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times editor and author of “Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up The World Of Sports,” talks about the history.
Walgreens To Close At Least 1,200 Stores Across Three Years
“Walgreens will close 500 stores next year, toward the end of the year, and reach a total of 1,200 store closings in the next three years,” reports Yahoo Finance. “The store closures, or ‘footprint optimization’ strategy, is focused on… ‘re-orienting’ the company as a retail pharmacy.” CNN: “By 2027, about one in seven Walgreens currently open will close its doors.”
Social Equity Owners Lag Among Illinois’ Eighty-Two Newest Cannabis Outlets
“Eighty-two new cannabis stores opened in Illinois in the past fiscal year, marking ‘explosive growth’ in sales outlets for an industry that surpassed $2 billion in sales,” reports the Tribune. “State regulators boasted in the 2024 annual report that ‘social equity’ marijuana business owners, those who come from poor areas or who were most [affected] by the war on drugs, now own nearly half of the 220 dispensaries statewide. But social equity owners say they remain largely on the fringe of the industry, because the state favors previously existing big businesses. A state disparity report showed social equity businesses collected only twelve percent of statewide revenues in the past year.”
Congress Underfunds Tribal Colleges By A Quarter-Billion Dollars Each Year
“Decades ago, Congress made a commitment to fund a higher education system for Indigenous communities. But a $250 million annual shortfall has led to crimped budgets and crumbling buildings, even as enrollment rises,” reports ProPublica.
Send culture news and tips to [email protected]
This post was originally published on here
