New Years Eve at 360 Chicago
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ART
Hyde Park Art Center Announces 2024 Exhibitions
Hyde Park Art Center has announced its exhibition schedule for 2024, which will highlight the impact of local artists on broader Chicago art and design history with solo exhibitions by storied artists Robert Earl Paige (b. 1936) and Alice Shaddle (1928-2017), in addition to its continued cultivation of emerging artists via its residency, education and teen programs. More here.
New Gallery For Roscoe Village
“Old Friends gallery will be opening in Roscoe Village in 2024,” the space posts on Instagram. “Founder Fawn Penn and director Delia Luz Pelliwalbert are excited to show you the program they’ve developed, and bring to life new partnerships with The Digs Chicago and other arts organizations.”
Longtime Ukrainian Institute Board Member Passes
“It is with deep sorrow that we convey the news of the passing of our esteemed Board Member of over fifteen years, Orest Hrynewych,” relays the Ukrainian Institute Of Modern Art. “Orest, along with a group of UIMA supporters, played a pivotal role in the renovation of our galleries, foyer and archives, transforming our space into the beautiful building we now proudly share with our community. Through his leadership and that of other Board members, UIMA played a foundational role in establishing the Chicago Cultural Alliance—an organization uniting some of the prominent art and cultural entities in our city.”
DESIGN
Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed At Night?
“Nothing resembling this pattern has occurred in other comparably wealthy countries. In places like Canada and Australia, a much lower share of pedestrian fatalities occurs at night, and those fatalities—rarer in number have generally been declining, not rising,” reports the New York Times. “Sometime around 2009, American roads started to become deadlier for pedestrians, particularly at night. Fatalities have risen ever since, reversing the effects of decades of safety improvements. And it’s not clear why… In 2021, more than 7,300 pedestrians died in America—three in four of them during the hours between sunset and sunrise.”
Weed? “This timeline also overlaps with the rise of opioids and the legalization of recreational marijuana. But there is little research about how marijuana affects driving.” Phones? “When it comes to other sources of driver impairment, ‘there’s no particular reason to believe that alcohol, speeding or fatigue necessarily have changed in any kind of big way,’ said… a psychologist who studies driving… ‘What has changed is the amount of technology that we’re surrounding ourselves with.'”
Macy’s Valued At $5.8 Billion In Buyout Offer (Real Estate’s Involved)
“Department stores have been a frequent target of takeover attempts by investors looking to take advantage of prime real estate,” reports the New York Times. “An investor group consisting of Arkhouse Management and Brigade Capital has made a $5.8 billion offer to take department store chain Macy’s private,” writes Reuters. “Arkhouse Management, a real-estate focused investing firm, and Brigade Capital Management, a global asset manager, submitted a proposal to acquire the Macy’s stock they don’t already own for $21 a share on December 1.”
Garfield Park Gets Raised Crosswalks
“Raised crosswalks in front of the Garfield Park Conservatory and Garfield Park field house, which improve visibility of pedestrians and encourage drivers to yield to people crossing the street [have been added],” reports Block Club.
“Made In America” Doesn’t Always Mean “More Ethical”
“Garment workers in the United States are paid far below minimum wage. New legislation, if implemented successfully, would change that,” writes Derek Guy at The Nation. “Nestled in the vast expanse of Los Angeles County, there’s a 107-block industrial area known as the Fashion District, where some 1,400 manufacturers and contractors produce about eighty percent of all U.S.-made garments.” (Guy outlines the status of the punishing “piecework” payment system in his reporting.)
Redevelopment Of Preston Bradley Hall In Uptown Continues
“The redevelopment of Preston Bradley Center continues in Uptown,” reports Chicago YIMBY, with photos. “The venue sits two blocks east of the Aragon near the heart of the Uptown entertainment district. The project is being led by its new owners, doctor and philanthropist couple Daniel and Karla Ivankovich, who purchased the site last year… At the core will be a renovated auditorium for concerts and a new office for their nonprofit OnePatient Global Health, which focuses on providing healthcare regardless of ability to pay. Additionally a music studio will be added as well as existing church offices and artist studios will remain.”
Union-Themed Painting Mural Endangered
“The ‘Solidarity’ mural inside the United Electrical Workers union hall at 37 South Ashland illustrates struggles and successes of working people,” reports the Sun-Times. “In one scene in the mural, a Southern sheriff, a Ku Klux Klan member, an industrialist, a general and National Guard members are seen suppressing workers. Other images show people of different races clasping hands, a cartoonish corporate boss being forced to sign a contract and union leaders handing leaflets to factory workers… Completed in 1974 by Chicago artists John Pitman Weber and Jose Guerrero, the painting is inside the United Electrical Workers union hall, which soon could be sold and redeveloped.”
Relocated Walgreens And Commissary Market Set For Vacant Old Town Treasure Island
As part of the larger Fern Hill redevelopment, the former Treasure Island on Wells north of North “will be restored and receive a new red brick facade with added arches and awnings to better fit the overall development’s style,” reports Chicago YIMBY. Then “the space will be divided into two large commercial spaces of which one will go to a temporary Walgreens as it relocates from the street corner. The other half will go to local grocer Commissary Market.”
Biden Pledges $6 Billion As Part Of Infrastructure Investment To Two West Coast High-Speed Train Lines
President Biden “announced $8.2 billion in funding for ten passenger rail projects, including a high-speed rail system connecting Nevada and California,” reports The Hill. “The funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law’s overall $66 billion investment in rail and Biden, as of Friday, has designated $30 billion for rail projects from that funding.”
DINING & DRINKING
All-Pastry Resto For This Sweet City
Executive pastry chef of S.K.Y., Apolonia Restaurant and Valhalla, Tatum Lyneá Sinclair, relays on Instagram the imminent opening of Haven, “a first-of-its-kind dual concept. A dessert-only restaurant with a curated pastry gallery in the morning and an intimate chef’s counter dessert tasting menu at night… Derived from the Old English ‘haefen,’ Haven points to a safe harbor or sanctuary, where one can be themselves and feel loved.” Haven’s yet-to-post Instagram is here.
Mee Mah Quits After Forty Years
North Park’s Mee Mah, a restaurant known for Chinese cuisine, has shut down after forty years, reports WGN 9. In a Facebook post, Benjamin Wong, “whose parents, Bill and Sandy, own the restaurant, announced that they have decided to retire and have chosen to close the restaurant.”
The Race To Save Ketchup
“Seed companies are investing in drought tolerance technologies to help farmers mitigate climate change,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “Plant breeders at the Woodland, California, facility of German pharmaceutical and agriculture giant Bayer are testing whether tomatoes meant for processing into pizza sauces and ketchup can survive on a fraction of their traditional water needs, without sacrificing taste or juiciness.”
Genteel Fuss At Bolingbrook’s Drive-Through CosMc’s
“Security guards, bribes, two-hour waits, and $100 orders: Welcome to CosMc’s opening week in suburban Chicago,” reports Eater Chicago. “The restaurant is designed to be drive-thru only. The public isn’t permitted to enter. Through a trio of drive-thru windows, passersby could see a variety of syrups in pump bottles for hot and cold drinks, a soft-serve machine (for frappes and more), and mini ovens. Once cars reach one of four drive-thru lanes, they’ll be greeted with [the] refrain, ‘Hello, and welcome to… CosMc’s.'” CNBC rushes in with the CosMc menu here.
Panera Founder Makes Charged Remarks About Workers And Shareholders
“No employee ever wakes up and says, ‘I’m so excited. I made another penny a share today for Panera’s shareholders,'” Panera Bread’s founder tells Business Insider. “Nobody cares. You don’t care whether your CEO comes or goes.” Beyond “not pretending to be motivated by shareholders, some younger workers have been vocal about wanting certain changes to work culture, such as a better work-life balance,” says former CEO Ron Shaich, advocating therapy for executives. “So much of what running a business is about is figuring out ‘how do I connect with people?'” Shaich told the publication. “What motivates them, and how do I help them decide to affiliate with what the mission of the enterprise is?”
FILM & TELEVISION
Chicago Latino Film Festival Call For Poster Design
The Chicago Latino Film Festival, the oldest festival of its kind in the United States, celebrates its fortieth anniversary in 2024. “Every year, we invite artists from around the world to submit a poster concept in a competition. The winning design becomes the face of the Festival as it will be on the cover of newsprint programs, invitations, program books, electronic ads, T-shirts, Festival trailer and social media platforms.” The winner receives $1,000. Apply here.
LIT
Why Do Prisons Ban Fantasy And Science Fiction?
“Many incarcerated people, potentially with decades of time to do ahead of them, escape through ideas,” writes Moira Marquis at LitHub. “Which is why it’s especially cruel that U.S. prisons ban magical literature. As PEN America’s new report Reading Between the Bars shows, books banned in prisons by some states dwarf all other book censorship in school and public libraries. Prison censorship robs those behind bars of everything from exercise and health to art and even yoga, often for reasons that strain credulity. The strangest category of bans, however, are the ones on magical and fantastical literature… Nearly every state that has a list of banned titles contains books on magic. Do carceral authorities believe that magic is real?”
MEDIA
Disgraced Former Congressman Boosts Cameo
“In a matter of days, ousted Representative George Santos went from the halls of Congress to the virtual world of Cameo, bringing new interest to the struggling video platform,” reports NBC News. “Santos exemplifies the group of controversial characters who have thrived on the [Chicago-based] app,” even “as cast-off public figures continue to make money off of the platform, it continues to face financial woes. In May, the company underwent its latest round of cuts, dialing back even more from 2022, when it had two rounds of layoffs. Each time someone notable gains virality on the platform, there’s renewed hope that the memes will translate into more buzz. ‘I’m so thankful for George Santos,’ said Perez Hilton, the… celebrity blogger who was an early adopter of Cameo.”
MUSIC
Mariachi Herencia de México Christmas Concerts
Mariachi Herencia de México returns to Chicago for the band’s annual holiday residency at Pilsen’s Thalia Hall on Sunday, December 17, 7:30pm and at Lincoln Square’s Old Town School of Folk Music, Friday, December 22, 7pm and Saturday, December 23, 2pm, 5pm and 8pm.
Raue Center Announces Resident Music Director
Raue Center and its School For The Arts have announced the arrival of resident music director James Mablin. Mablin’s first projects will be RCSA’s January class, “Fundamentals of Performance,” and the youth production of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical,” April 18-20, 2024. More Raue here.
STAGE
Loop Next Stop For “Harry Potter And The Cursed Child”
Eight years or so after its London opening, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” begins its national tour in Chicago, reports Chris Jones at the Trib. The “hit West End and Broadway show, a spectacular sequel to J.K. Rowling’s blockbuster ‘Harry Potter’ series of books,” will play Broadway in Chicago’s Nederlander Theatre, opening in September of next year and running twenty-one weeks, through February 2025. “The hefty months-long run here is likely to be a boon to the economic fortunes of Chicago’s Loop next fall and potentially a tourist draw from throughout the Midwest. The show’s arrival also may be a rare opportunity for Chicago actors as the director, John Tiffany, is known for his affection for the city’s theater artists.”
“Lookingglass Alice” Plays PBS This Friday
HMS Media’s national PBS special, “Lookingglass Alice,” will air Friday, December 15. A full performance of Lookingglass Theatre Company’s signature show will be followed by a behind-the-scenes piece featuring David Schwimmer. This marks the first time a full performance from a Chicago theater company has been broadcast nationally on PBS since Steppenwolf Theater’s “The Grapes of Wrath.” PBS link here.
Plagiarists’ Final Production In The Comic Books
A world premiere of “When You Awake, You Will Remember Everything,” a new play by founding member Gregory Peters, will be The Plagiarists’ final production. “A superhero called The Titan is exiled by his arch-foes to another dimension, a monstrous evil makes a final gambit to destroy the universe, supervillains give interviews, a comics publisher finds out her missing brother may be alive, a henchman betrays his boss, and a therapist encounters a unique case: a man who wakes from a coma and claims to be a superhero named ‘The Titan.'” More on the production here.
Lifeline’s Twenty-Seventh Fillet Of Solo Set
Lifeline Theatre presents the Twenty-Seventh Annual Fillet of Solo Festival, “a vibrant celebration of Chicago’s premiere storytelling and live lit scene” from January 12-21, 2024, at Lifeline Theatre and South of The Border in Rogers Park. “Featuring an array of performers, including a dozen storytelling collectives and solo artists, the festival offers two weeks of powerful personal stories. Spanning comedy, drama, and more—the festival makes up a rich tapestry of Chicago’s storytellers.” Fillet of Solo performances take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at both venues. Tickets are $12 for single entry and $60 for a Festival Pass, granting access to any performance. Full schedule here.
London’s Royal Court Theatre Opens An Online Archive Of Every Play Ever Staged There
London’s getting a fantastic archive, and it’s for the theater world to use, reports the Guardian. The Royal Court Theatre’s “online collection of performances dating back to 1956 will be free to use for writers, directors and the public… Almost 2,000 plays by more than 1,000 writers are accessible on the theater’s Living Archive, along with lists of their casts and directors. ‘Theater is so ephemeral, so experiential, and that’s one of the most incredible things about it. That’s why we are addicted to live and why I never fear it will go away,'” said Vicky Featherstone, the Royal Court’s artistic director. “But the Royal Court today stands on the shoulders of giants. The knowledge of earlier writers and the plays that have gone before feeds into the craft of today’s writers.”
ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.
Penny Pritzker Holds Fate Of Targeted Harvard President?
“When Harvard President Claudine Gay was inaugurated as the University’s thirtieth president, many expected her to lead Harvard for the next decade,” reports the Harvard Crimson. “But after Gay’s testimony [last] Tuesday before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, many are demanding she resign in her first semester. Gay tells The Crimson “that she has the support of Penny S. Pritzker ’81, senior fellow of the Harvard Corporation—the University’s highest governing body. But Pritzker has remained silent… A Harvard spokesperson did not respond to multiple requests for comment… about whether Pritzker and the Harvard Corporation still have confidence in Gay.”
360 CHICAGO For A Panoramic NYE
360 CHICAGO, the observation deck on the ninety-fourth floor of the former Hancock building, is hosting a sky-high New Year’s Eve event to celebrate the ringing in of 2024. “The event features unmatched night-time views of Chicago’s skyline colorfully lit up with NYE firework displays from Navy Pier to neighborhood shows, while DJ Dre Martin performs a live set, spinning top 40 hits and Chicago house classics. Tickets include unlimited rides on Chicago’s highest thrill ride, TILT.” Tickets are projected to sell out, starting at $125 for general admission. Tickets here.
Columbia College Adjunct Talks Stall
“As the strike drags on, some students say they cannot attend classes since most were taught by adjuncts,” reports Block Club. “‘This school is starting to lose its credibility,’ one said… Members of the Columbia College Faculty Union have passed the fortieth day… Part-time instructors walked off the job October 30 after they were unable to reach an agreement with the school on issues like class size and curriculum cuts. Columbia College’s plan to remove 300 adjunct-taught courses would put many of the part-time instructors out of work.”
Grotesque Goldfish Gulp Great Lakes
“Released into the wild, the humble goldfish can grow to a monstrous size and destroy habitats for native species. Canadian researchers are tracking the fish, so that they might be culled,” reports the New York Times. Said an aquatic research biologist, “They can eat anything and everything.” Feral goldfish are “destructive, uprooting and consuming plants that are home to native species. They help spawn harmful algal blooms by consuming the algae and expelling nutrients that promote its growth.”
Private Prison Concerns Prepare To Take Up Migrant Surveillance
“I mean, we’re talking five million people that could potentially be monitored,” reports Lever News. “As the country’s immigration agency ponders a significant expansion of its vast, troubled immigrant surveillance regime, private prison companies are telling investors that the proposal could bring significant profits—and are deploying lobbyists to fight to fund it… Executives with two of the world’s largest private prison companies, the GEO Group and CoreCivic, said they were focused on a new proposal to radically expand an Immigration and Customs Enforcement surveillance program.”
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