Today In The Culture, December 16, 2022: New Chicago Film Office Head | Fifty Years for Chicago Opera Theater | Chicago Film Critics Love “Banshees” and “Everything”
Jonah Zeiger, Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Film Office
ART
Northern Trust Funds Three Museums For EXPO Acquisitions
“Museums in Seattle, St. Louis and St. Petersburg, Florida, will make purchases at the Chicago fair next year thanks to the Northern Trust Purchase Prize,” reports the Art Newspaper. “Those three institutions are the recipients of the Northern Trust Purchase Prize, an annual award given at the fair since 2013, which will allow them to select works from the fair’s Exposure sector—highlighting galleries founded within the past ten years—that will then be acquired for their permanent collections by Northern Trust, a financial services provider headquartered in Chicago.”
Third Phase Of Hyde Park Art Center Grants Announced
Hyde Park Art Center has announced its third phase of the Artists Run Chicago Fund, a regranting initiative providing unrestricted relief for Chicago’s artist community since 2021. The third phase will give a total of $120,000 to fifteen independent artist-run spaces ($8,000 each). The initiative has given more than half a million dollars ($680,000) to eighty-five independent artists-run spaces to date. Artists Run Chicago Fund initiative is generously supported by the Builders Initiative. “The fund aims to acknowledge the important contributions of artist-run platforms to the Chicago art community, strengthen artist-to-artist support networks, and encourage the emergence of new artist-run spaces, while prioritizing platforms run by ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American), queer, womxn artists and artists with disabilities.” Grantees range from artist-run galleries, community studios, festivals, to art writing and programming platforms, infusing Chicago’s visual art ecosystem with flexible financial support to strengthen diverse and experimental programs. Recipients of the third phase include Bird Show, Bridge, Center for Native Futures, Contra Corriente 2023, Convictions, Companion Cooperative, Hoofprint, Intersect, Mayfield, Mothers Healing Circle, Narrow Bridge Arts Center, Out of Site Chicago, SITE/less, Watershed Art & Ecology and WILD YAMS: Black Mothers and Caretakers Artist Residency. More here.
Morton Arboretum Announces Major Art Exhibition
The Morton Arboretum has announced its next large-scale sculpture exhibition, “Of the Earth,” featuring five new works by Polish-American artist Olga Ziemska, opening May 26. “Olga will bring a fresh and evocative new display to The Morton Arboretum’s art exhibition program, which has enhanced the guest experience among our tree collections,” Preston Bautista, the Arboretum’s vice president of learning and engagement, says in a release. In Polish, Ziemska means “of the earth.” Her work will be created from reclaimed tree branches and other natural materials gathered from various locations throughout the Arboretum’s 1,700 acres. Ziemska said that some of the Arboretum’s tree-filled landscapes inspired her because they reminded her of the landscapes of Poland, where she has lived and regularly visits her family. More here.
DESIGN
Saks Off 5th Returning To State Street After Three Years
“After a three-year hiatus, Saks Off 5th is returning to State Street in the Loop, welcome news for a key Chicago retail strip awash in vacant space,” reports Crain’s.
Electric Truck Makers Press Pritzker For Faster Phase-Out Of Gas, Diesel Vehicles
Sixteen businesses press Governor Pritzker on eliminating gas and diesel engines, reports the Sun-Times. “Two electric truck makers with Illinois operations are pressuring Governor Pritzker to commit to more aggressive state policies that phase out large gas and diesel-engine vehicles. Rivian, with almost 6,000 employees in Normal, and Lion Electric, which is beginning to build electric school buses in Joliet, along with fourteen other businesses connected to electric vehicles and clean energy sent a letter urging Pritzker to set specific targets for eliminating polluting trucks, buses and other large vehicles.”
Metra Approves Rebuilding Three South Side Electric Line Stations
The Metra board of directors has approved a $33.9 million contract to completely rebuild and make accessible three stations on the Metra Electric Line on the South Side of Chicago: the 79th, 87th and 103rd Street stations. More here.
Passes Combining CTA And Pace Suburban Buses On The Way
Public transportation leaders are creating passes that can be used on both the CTA and Pace suburban buses, reports the Sun-Times.
DINING & DRINKING
Lettuce Entertain You Sets St. Regis Restaurants
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants has announced the restaurants it will open in the new St. Regis Chicago in spring 2023. “The first restaurant will be a Japanese concept offering an all-day dining experience from Lettuce Entertain You Chef Hisanobu Osaka and is expected to open Spring of 2023. The second restaurant will be a Tuscan Steakhouse in collaboration with award-winning Los Angeles-based Chef Evan Funke,” LEYE posts.
Leigh Omilinsky Joins Daisies And Radicle Food Group As Head Pastry Chef
Pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky (Swift & Sons, Nico Osteria, TRU) will partner as head of pastry for the Radicle Food Group. “Known for her thoughtful baked creations rooted in the art of both French and Italian dessert making, Omilinsky will introduce a rotating menu of breads, tartness and pastries sweet and savory to the new location of Daisies, which will include a full coffee shop and pastry counter, an entirely new pasta and pastry production room which doubles as a private dining room and events space, pasta making classes for guests, collaboration dinners, community events and programming, as well as a studio kitchen and photography room,” the group says in a release. Industry accolades for Omilinsky include the Jean Banchet award for Best Pastry Chef in 2014 and a Pastry Chef of the Year nomination in 2019, Zagat’s 30 Under 30, and FSR’s 40 Under 40.
Workers At Two Chicago La Colombe Cafés Unionize
La Colombe Workers Union has posted its intention to unionize two Chicago locations. Gold Coast and West Loop La Colombe locations have filed with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election. “Our campaign joins a resurgent wave of workers across our industry, and the country, who are coming together to advocate for themselves and exercise their collective power. We look forward to uniting with our coworkers nationwide, and the larger labor movement, in fighting for workers rights in all industries,” they write.
Touring Illinois’ Famous Old Bakeries
In a survey of older bakeries in the state, the Illinois Times includes Roeser’s: “Residents of big cities also need baked goods… The bakery touts itself as the oldest family-owned bakery still in the same location in Chicago, near Humboldt Park. John Roeser, the fourth generation of his family to run the business, says he believes it has lasted because of consistency with many of the same ingredients in the baked goods. ‘Everybody wants to have that kind of nostalgia.'”
Uptown Taproom Opens
“Uptown Taproom, a third neighborhood taproom from Uptowner Andrew Pillman,” opens today, reports Uptown Update, joining sibling taprooms Lakeview Taproom and Lincoln Square Taproom. “Patrons can expect ‘hyper-local beers, appetizers, salads, tacos and sandwiches’ with a ‘neighborhood vibe.'”
FILM & TELEVISION
Chicago Film Office Deputy Commissioner Named
Mayor Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have announced Jonah Zeiger as Deputy Commissioner for the Chicago Film Office. Zeiger replaces Kwame Amoaku, who served in this role since 2019 and left Chicago to take a similar position in New York City. “Zeiger is a film industry leader, educator, producer, programmer, program builder and champion of Chicago-based filmmakers and creative content creators,” writes DCASE. Zeiger served as Assistant Director of the EPICS Office at Northwestern University’s School of Communication, where he led film and television industry programming and oversaw professional development curricula for three graduate programs: the MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage, MFA in Documentary Media, and the MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprise. Since 2020, Zeiger has also served as Chair of the Creative Cabinet and a Strategic Advisor to IFA Chicago, the film nonprofit. Zeiger has taught at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts and founded DePaul’sVisiting Artists Series.
Alamo Drafthouse Opening Six Wrigley-Adjacent Screens
“Alamo Drafthouse is opening in January in the hulking Addison and Clark development across from Wrigley Field,” reports Block Club.
Jennifer Reeder’s “Perpetrator” To Berlinale
Jennifer Reeder’s fourth feature, “Perpetrator,” debuts at the Berlinale in February. Here’s the festival’s summary: “On her eighteenth birthday, tough-girl Jonny eats a cake baked by her aunt according to a magical family recipe and goes through a radical metamorphosis. As several classmates go missing, a bloody coming-of-age story takes its course.” The cast includes Kiah McKirnan, Alicia Silverstone, Christopher Lowell, Melanie Liburd and Ireon Roach. The co-producers include 30 West, who have co-produced “Triangle Of Sadness” and Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming “Killers Of The Flower Moon.”
Chicago Film Critics Scream “Banshees”
The Chicago Film Critics Association has announced its 2022 award winners, with “The Banshees of Inisherin,” directed by Martin McDonagh, taking top prize as well as awards for best actor (Colin Farrell), best supporting actress (Kerry Condon) and best original screenplay (Martin McDonagh). Taking the most awards is the Daniels’ “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” with six nods, including best director (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), best supporting actor (Ke Huy Quan), best art direction and production design, best costume design, best editing and best use of visual effects. Cate Blanchett was chosen best actress for “TÁR” and Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking” was named best adapted screenplay. More awards here.
Netflix Not Living Up To Promises To Advertisers
“Netflix is falling short of ad-supported viewership guarantees made to advertisers and allowing advertisers to take their money back for ads that have yet to run,” reports Digiday. “The specific shortfall amounts vary by advertiser, but in some cases, Netflix has only delivered roughly eighty-percent of the expected audience… ‘They can’t deliver. They don’t have enough inventory to deliver. So they’re literally giving the money back.'”
MUSIC
Gezelligheid’s Back, And It’s Got Andrew Bird
“Musician Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid concerts became a beloved holiday tradition in Chicago after their 2009 debut,” Chicago magazine writes. “But when the pandemic hit, the shows were moved to a livestream format. This year, the annual residency at Fourth Presbyterian Church has returned with a seven-night run that brings Bird back.”
STAGE
Chicago Opera Theater Launches Fiftieth Anniversary Year
Chicago Opera Theater, Chicago’s foremost producer of contemporary and reimagined opera, continues its season and launches its fiftieth anniversary year with Benjamin Britten’s “Albert Herring” at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture for three performances only, January 26, 28 and 29. Tickets are $25 -$165 with discounts available for groups, subscribers and students. More here.
ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.
COVID Rapid Tests Again Free By Mail
Residential households in the U.S. can again order one set of four at-home tests from the federal government for free via the postal service. Order here.
How Much Does Illinois Make Selling Cannabis To Out-Of-Staters?
“Since legalizing recreational weed in 2019, Illinois has made millions upon millions of dollars–some of which they funnel to their public schools,” writes the Evansville Courier & Press. “In October alone, Illinois made more than $40 million [from] out-of-state sales to Hoosiers and other nearby residents.”
Some JFK Files Released
The public affairs office at National Archives has released more JFK files and have posted them online. JFK Facts editor Jefferson Morley posts a detailed thread here. The White House issues a memo on what’s still secret. Download all the released documents here.
