Art Institute “workers will cast mailed-in ballots that will decide if they affiliate with Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,” reports David Roeder at the Sun-Times. “A federal agency has set dates for an election to decide if workers win collective bargaining rights at the Art Institute of Chicago and its school… About 600 workers will decide if they affiliate with Council 31 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. It would be the first time workers at the renowned museum have unionized, organizers have said.” Ballots must be received by January 10.
Appraising Damen Silos Art
“The towering, old grain silos near 29th Street and Damen Avenue, on the banks of the Chicago River’s south branch, date to Chicago’s heyday as a hub of manufacturing and food distribution. While they haven’t been functional for decades, the dormant, weathered structures have long been a draw for graffiti artists and taggers who’ve turned the twenty-four-acre site into something of an industrial canvas,” writes the Sun-Times of the state-owned property. “That includes the silos themselves, adjoining structures that are as tall as fifteen floors and a series of cavernous tunnels snaking below. Not exactly the safest place to roam—and not a legal place to visit, either, as the ‘No Trespassing’ signs inform… A street artist who goes by Werm has painted at the silos over the years—including on the roof in the mid-1990s when he says it wasn’t such a well-known spot. Part of the allure of the place, Werm says, was that ‘there’s a lot of walls and it’s abandoned, it’s a place where anyone can go practice, and there’s no rules, and you can take your time.'”
Art Space Opens in Bridgeport
GOLA Art Space has opened in Bridgeport at 3147 South Morgan, reports South Side Weekly. “In the Pakistani language of Urdu—[artist-gallerist Roland] Santana’s partner Aliya Haq is Pakistani, and they collaborate creatively—GOLA which means a cluster of materials in a spherical shape, or just a spherical object. When stepping into the art space, those shapes take form and you can feel the art—from vibrant abstract paintings to chunky, painted clay rings. ‘That’s kind of like my main practice,’ Santana said. ‘Making more works that kind of pop out at you,’ Santana said.”
Robert Jacobsen, Asian Art World Expert And Former Minneapolis Institute Of Art Curator, Was Seventy-Seven
Robert Jacobsen, “a giant in the Asian art world and a champion of the Twin Cities art community,” was seventy-seven. “He taught people how to love Asian art,” Susan Jacobsen, former director of public programming at Mia told the Star-Tribune. “He knew how to explain Asian art history to a Western audience.”
DESIGN
Virgil Abloh Was Forty-One
“Virgil Abloh, fashion’s highest profile Black designer and the creative mind behind Louis Vuitton’s menswear collections, died on Sunday of cancer,” reports Reuters. “The French luxury goods giant said Abloh, forty-one, had been battling cancer privately for years… Abloh, who also worked as a DJ and visual artist, had been men’s artistic director for Vuitton, the world’s biggest luxury brand, since March 2018… In July this year, LVMH expanded his role, giving him a mandate to launch new brands and partner with existing ones in a variety of sectors beyond fashion.” British Vogue, September 2020: “For Virgil Abloh – a man who has built his career travelling the world, taking eight flights a week, and never sleeping in order to ensure that he operates in every time zone – the beginning of lockdown, spent at home with his family in Chicago, offered a novel sense of relief. As calls were cancelled because ‘everyone was chilling,’ exhibitions were postponed, and fashion shows and manufacturing deadlines were pushed back, the enforced pause became like the holiday he’d never had… As an African American designer who not only operates his own brand, Off-White, but sits at the helm of one of Europe’s most esteemed fashion houses, Abloh often describes his career as a Trojan horse. ‘My power is to show Black talent, Black people, and Black people inside of my output…Does the fashion industry have a race problem? Well, it’s so systemic and deep that it can’t even look at itself when it represents itself.’”
Chicago Independent Venue League On Second Ward Machinations
“Chicagoans deserve aldermanic wards created to best represent communities and businesses rather than private interests and backroom dealings,” the Chicago Independent Venue League says in a release. “The Lincoln Yards project, which is the largest TIF in the history of Chicago, prioritizes developers’ revenue over neighborhoods’ benefit. In the name of transparency and accountability, Lincoln Yards cannot remain in Chicago’s 2nd Ward, which has earned the reputation as the city’s most gerrymandered ward. Chicago Independent Venue League was formed in 2018 to fight against Lincoln Yards and its outside interests. We stood up to Live Nation as the multinational conglomerate threatened Chicago’s independent music venues and worked with City Hall to keep tax dollars in Chicago’s communities. While we are recovering from the pandemic shutdown, Live Nation is again threatening to deliver a crushing blow to the communities in which they have no interest other than financial.” The Chicago City Council will hold meetings on Monday, November 29, Tuesday November 30, and Wednesday December 1 to redraw Chicago’s wards. Chicagoans can make their voices heard, the group advocates: “Use this link to contact your alderman today and let them know that you don’t support putting Lincoln Yards in the 2nd Ward.”
DINING & DRINKING
Rick Kogan On The Relocated, Re-envisioned Pippin’s
“The new Pippin’s Tavern, which opened last week at 39 East Chicago… is to the old Pippin’s what Michigan Avenue is to the old Maxwell Street,” writes Rick Kogan at the Trib. “The woman who owned the old place [is] Lyn McKeaney, a buoyant and bright woman who runs the Lodge Management Group, a gathering of saloons that includes She-Nannigans, The Lodge and the Original Mother’s, on Division Street; the Hangge-Uppe, Streeter’s Tavern and the Redhead Piano Bar to the south and the River Shannon in Lincoln Park. Her late husband, F. Owen McKeaney, started this saloon empire when he bought The Lodge in 1970… The new Pippin’s, with large windows facing north and west, is all dark wood and stylish, with plenty of artful Irish design touches as well as three banquet rooms and another barroom on the second floor. This new Pippin’s is the first of McKeaney’s tavern brood to offer food and it has a menu peppered with such items as charred cauliflower, a veal sweetbread corn dog, smoked carrots, beef heart meatballs, fried chicken, roasted branzino, oysters and shrimp… you get the idea.” More here.
Four Seasons Opens Reservation-Only Cocktail Lounge With Caviar And Custom Drinks
“It’ll be a complement to Adorn as opposed to competition,” Four Seasons director of food and beverage Justin Yu tells Eater Chicago of Social Lounge. “This is going to be a place for people to come have cocktails, canapes, and a glass of champagne before the theater or dinner as opposed to a full meal.” … “The lounge features gray pillow-strewn couches with low and long marble tables for relaxed gatherings plus armchairs and small tables for holding a drink… Musicians and DJs provide a soundtrack ranging from jazz to house that’s meant to celebrate the city’s musical history.” … “Sometimes when you think of luxury hotels, you think they’re more stuffy or more formal,” Yu tells EC. “We wanted to break that barrier so we have this lounge seating that’s very comfortable for people.”
Binny’s Lottery Angers Fans Of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
“Black Friday in Chicago has been a holiday for beer fans since Goose Island Beer Co. began using the day after Thanksgiving for the annual release of its Bourbon County Brand Stout,” reports Eater Chicago. “One of the reasons for the beer’s success is due to Goose Island’s partnership with local liquor chain Binny’s Beverage Depot, which has a store next to the original brewery in Lincoln Park.” Last week? Oops. “Instead of forcing fans to line up outside stores, Binny’s now holds an online lottery.” But “disgruntled customers… posted complaints on social media, writing that despite winning lotteries, they were locked out of purchasing beer. Upon winning the lottery, customers have until a specific date—in this case November 22—to buy their beer before their allotment expires. A flood of customers headed online to make those purchases before that date and were instead faced with ‘sold out’ messages.”
Beverly’s Late-Night Brewbakers Is Back
“It’s finally happening,” Brewbakers‘ staff wrote on Facebook. “After what feels like an eternity, Brewbakers will be open for business this Wednesday night from midnight to 4am.” From Block Club Chicago: “Brewbakers is the only bar in the 19th Ward with a license to [serve] alcohol until 4am Monday-Saturday and 5am Sundays… It looked like the end of the road… when the building, 10350 South Western, was listed for sale in December 2019. The pandemic then forced owner Peter Bradarich to close the bar’s doors for more than 20 months.” (The property is still listed for $895,000.) “Ald. Matt O’Shea previously called Brewbakers a ‘problem bar’ and ‘a cancer’ to his ward, but when asked if he welcomes the return of [the bar], he said, ‘Sure… We haven’t had issues with Brewbakers in quite a while. I’m confident they’ll be cognizant of their neighbors… I’m excited that we’re seeing businesses reopen. I want to make sure everybody has the ability to create jobs and get people back to work.’”
FILM & TELEVISION
How Marcus Theatres Is Bouncing Back
Milwaukee-based Marcus Theatres “endured deep financial distress that has only recently started to reverse course,” writes Milwaukee magazine. “Marcus is the fourth-largest cinema operator in the United States, and as of late September, more than 90% of its 1,106 screens in 91 locations across 17 states had reopened,” with most of the still-closed screens being discount houses. “Marcus management is confident in its business going forward. Industry analysts foresee theaters regaining their catbird seat with new releases soon, with Marcus particularly well positioned for a recovery. ‘There is a great deal of enthusiasm about the industry,’ says Rolando Rodriguez, chairman, president and CEO of Marcus Theatres.”
LIT
Powell’s Hyde Park Reopens
“When Powell’s closed on March 16, 2020, we never could have imagined how the business and staff would be challenged over the next nineteen months,” the bookstore writes in its newsletter. “We are extremely grateful to have made it through, what we hope, is the worst of the pandemic. Without our small, but dedicated staff and the support of our customers (near and far), we never would have made it to this point. As Powell’s takes this step toward a new ‘normal,’ we remain committed to selling the best used books while doing all we can to keep everyone safe. We ask for your cooperation and patience as we reopen our doors.”
Lakefront Anonymous No More
“’Lakefront Anonymous: Chicago’s Unknown Art Gallery’ is a remarkable and important book,” writes Rick Kogan at the Trib, “a gathering of more than a hundred photos of such lakeshore attractions as faces, animals, bathing beauties, signs and symbols, names… carved into the limestone blocks that once lined the entire lakeshore. These carvings, much like some of the graffiti and paintings that are an ever-increasing public presence across the city, are things we often take for granted.” But, William Swislow writes, “All of this art, the new and the old, is there to enjoy just for the looking. The final lesson here applies well beyond the Chicago lakefront. There are interesting things to see everywhere, since art can be found anywhere: in museums and mental hospitals, on signs in auto repair shops and tacos stands, in front yards and on fences. And, of course, on rocks along the lake.”
MEDIA
Reader Publishes Anti-Vaccination Column By Co-Owner
“Come on, my beloved Chicago Reader,” tweets Streetsblog co-editor and Chicago Reader columnist John Greenfield, “which I write for, why the f— are you running this easily debunked anti-[vaccination] garbage—simply because it happens to be written by a Reader co-owner? Please retract this and apologize… It’s good that [the paper] also published this piece by Deanna Isaacs debunking anti-[vaccination] talking points… But, seriously, this is not an issue where the Reader should be giving equal time to the pro-science and anti-science viewpoints.” The Reader tweets a note to Reader staff from co-publisher-co-editor-in-chief Karen Hawkins: “I hope it’s helpful if I offer some context [and] background about Len and his recent column—I know a lot of you have questions. Len has been writing for us since shortly after becoming one of the owners of the paper. Since we’re still both a nonprofit and for-profit, he’s technically still part owner… I’ve edited his columns for almost all of that time… I don’t always agree with him, but I recognize it’s not my job to agree with him… I know some of you don’t think we should’ve run his recent column, and many of our readers and supporters agree with you. I ran it because I think it’s important for people to hear what he has to say, not because he’s owner of the paper, but because he’s a Dad who’s worried about his kid and has a point of view that is unique to the Reader. I don’t agree with him, but a friend recently chastised me for not doing enough to listen to people I don’t agree with… That’s the lens I brought to my decision to run Len’s column and not to remove the parts that are making people the most uncomfortable and angry.” Sampling the column: “The feverish hype by government officials, mainstream media outlets, and Big Pharma, and the systematic demonization and censorship of public figures who raise questions about the campaign, provide further cause for concern.”
Radio Docuseries “The Invisible Ones” Presented By WVON
WVON Radio begins its five-part docuseries “The Invisible Ones: Voices of the Missing” today, hosted and produced by morning news anchor Candace McCollum. The series highlights stories of fifty-one Black women and girls who have gone missing or have been found dead after being reported missing in Chicago in the past twenty years. The women vanished without a trace and their investigations have gone cold. “In the documentary, McCollum speaks to family members, law officials and other stakeholders on the frontline of the issue. The series seeks to draw attention to the disparity in the investigations and the coverage of missing Black women and girls versus their white counterparts,” WVON says in a release. “I sought to humanize many of these women whose names we never knew. I cannot name one Black woman whose name is etched in the psyche of America because she went missing.” McCollum says. The series will air 6:50am, 10:50am, 4:50pm and 7:50pm Monday-Friday from November 29.
Can NPR Change?
At Nieman Reports, Tina Pamintuan offers notes in “Three Steps Toward Making NPR More Inclusive and Diverse,” which uses Liz Phair lyrics as touchstones. “We need more diverse station leadership because our newsroom staff understand that the inequity in our industry threatens its viability in an America whose demographics are swiftly changing and whose younger generations expect diversity in their workplaces. And because our listeners and donors need to be challenged—and educated—on what their public media could sound and look like if it were more equitable and reflective of American society.”
Chicago Magazine Musical Chairs: The Music Stops Again
“Chicago Magazine is getting a new editor-in-chief, its second in six months,” reports Crain’s. Amy Carr steps down at the end of 2021 after the February issue is bedded; former executive editor of seven years Terry Noland returns to take Carr’s position. Robert Feder quotes Carr: “I came to Chicago magazine during a pivotal time of staff transition, and am so proud of the work we’ve been able to do there… We’ve built out a new team, developed a sustainable new business model for the future, and delivered on our commitment to cover all of Chicago.”
How Gambling Has Altered Sports Media
“By 2025, legal sports gambling nationwide is projected to be worth $10 billion,” reports Danny Funt at Columbia Journalism Review. “Media companies have also entered the business—sports bettors watch about twice as many games as non-bettors do, and Bleacher Report found that gamblers are five times more engaged with its app than other spectators. In the past year, NBC Sports negotiated a partnership with a sportsbook called PointsBet worth nearly $500 million. ESPN, Fox, and CBS signed deals with other gambling companies, including old-school casinos like Caesars. DraftKings agreed to pay $50 million to distribute podcasts by Dan Le Batard, formerly of ESPN. In May, the Associated Press announced that it would exclusively reference betting odds from FanDuel, DraftKings’ archrival. And still, the integration of sports media and gambling is probably in just the top of the first inning.”
MUSIC
CIVL SAVE Artist Fund Taking Applications Until November 30
The second round application of the CIVL SAVE Emergency Relief Fund, powered by The Giving Back Fund, to help furloughed staff closes on November 30. The application for artists who have worked at Chicago venues for these need-based grants is here.
King Kemo And The “Dancing With The Stars” Win
“King Kemo is synonymous with Chicago’s footwork culture. That’s why when former NBA player and 2016 champion Iman Shumpert advanced to the final round of 2021 ‘Dancing with the Stars’ competition on ABC, he immediately called King Kemo up to add some Chicago flavor to his Mirror Ball routine with partner Daniella Karagach,” writes the Triibe. “On Monday, when Missy Elliott’s ‘Lose Control’ slid into one of Chicago’s most exalted footwork mixes, DJ Clent’s ‘Bounce,’ everybody from the crib couldn’t contain themselves. Then Shumpert, an Oak Park and River Forest High School hoops king, came in hitting the Erks and 40s, which only took everyone’s excitement to the next level. With that freestyle routine, their second performance of the night, Shumpert and Karagach were crowned the winners of season 30’s ‘Dancing With The Stars.’ And soon after, social media unearthed that 33-year-old King Kemo was the choreographer behind the winning finale.”
