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ART
Kavi Gupta In Dispute Over Consigned Collection
“A New York judge has temporarily barred Chicago dealer Kavi Gupta and his gallery from selling or marketing a collection of artworks at the center of an increasingly messy dispute with a company that gave the struggling gallery more than $2 million in cash last year,” reports ARTnews. “In May 2025, a company called Longcraft LLC paid Kavi Gupta Gallery $2.05 million for roughly 150 artworks. Rather than take possession of the collection, however, Longcraft immediately consigned the works back to Gupta, allowing the gallery to continue selling them on Longcraft’s behalf. The arrangement gave the gallery an immediate infusion of cash while allowing it to continue dealing in the works… Now Longcraft says that arrangement went badly wrong.” Read more at the report here.
“The Odyssey Reimagined” At National Hellenic Museum
The National Hellenic Museum’s “The Odyssey Reimagined,” curated by Cortney Lederer, has assembled work of sixteen contemporary artists who work in painting, sculpture, photography, textiles and sound to interpret the themes of Homer’s again-in-the-mass-culture epic. Tickets and more here.
DESIGN
Uptown Theatre Joins Open House Chicago Sites
Open House Chicago, which “provides free, behind-the-scenes access to about 200 architecturally, historically and culturally significant sites,” will feature “more than twenty sites that are all new to the festival in 2026.” Among them: the Uptown Theatre, shuttered since 1981. Visitors will be able to access the Broadway lobby and the auditorium in guided groups. Also just added: the Monadnock Building and the new Chicago Architecture Center Marquette Hub at the Marquette Building. October 17-18. Full schedule here.
Dedicated Bus Lanes Coming To Michigan Avenue
“CTA bus travel in the South Loop could get faster and more reliable, thanks to a new dedicated bus lane that will be installed along a 1.5-mile stretch between Wacker Drive and Roosevelt Road,” reports the Sun-Times. “CTA President Nora Leerhsen said that stretch of Michigan Avenue was chosen because it is one of the CTA’s most heavily traveled bus corridors, and can be heavily affected by Downtown congestion. Nearly 1,500 daily buses serve 22,000 weekday passengers along twenty-one routes on that segment of Michigan Avenue.” The city outlines the plan here.
The City Wants More Courtyard Buildings
“The City of Chicago is seeking proposals for the redevelopment of three city-owned sites at 4200 South Indiana, 4500-14 South Indiana and 4823 South Evans in Grand Boulevard as contemporary multi-family courtyard buildings,” the city notes. “The RFP is a pilot program to test the feasibility of developing a modern courtyard building typology through strategic amendments to the city’s zoning code.”
Morningstar Will Move HQ To Thompson Center
Financial services firm Morningstar will occupy 275,000 square feet at the Thompson Center, updates the Sun-Times. “Morningstar was founded in Chicago more than four decades ago, and we’re proud to continue building our future here,” Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor said in a release. “As long-term investors, we believe in backing people and communities with enduring potential. Our new headquarters and community commitment reflect our confidence in Chicago, our people and the opportunities ahead.”
Logan Square Plaza Construction Underway
Construction has begun on a public plaza at 2550 North Milwaukee in Logan Square, maps Chicago YIMBY. The plaza is located across the street from the reconfigured and expanded Logan Square park and roundabout. The project was approved by City Council in 2022. The plaza will “include large green areas for sitting, planters, tables and seating areas, along with a children’s play space and small performance area with a canopy.”
DINING & DRINKING
Warlord Co-Owners Take Control From Past Partner
“Former owner Trevor Fleming, who is under felony indictment, was removed from Warlord this year but wanted to open a new restaurant that has since fallen through,” reports Block Club. “Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton, co-owners of the once-celebrated Avondale restaurant, reached a settlement in the lawsuit against their former business partner last month.” Kraszyk and Lupton “had previously removed Fleming from the business following his criminal case and barred him from Warlord’s social media access, further requesting that a court remove Fleming from the business, according to the complaint.”
Goosefoot Brings Fine French Dining In Return To Lincoln Square
In 2024, award-winning contemporary French-American cooking fine-dining restaurant Goosefoot closed its location at 2656 West Lawrence after twelve years, reports Block Club. Goosefoot is now preparing a grand opening on October 10 at a new location “in the heart of Lincoln Square” at 4520 North Lincoln. “His goal at the new location is to perfect the food and fine-tune its wine program, he said. Goosefoot’s old location was BYOB. Now, the restaurant carries wines from around the world as well as an assortment of craft beers.” Goosefoot’s Instagram is here.
Goose Island Shrimp Honored After Half Century
Goose Island Shrimp “will be given the annual Small Business of the Year Award from North Branch Works, an economic development organization that represents businesses in the area,” snacks Block Club. “The Division Street institution has been serving up fried shrimp since 1973.”
FILM & TELEVISION
Paramount Expects To Close $111 Billion Takeover Of Warner Tuesday
A U.S. District Judge has approved Paramount’s settlement with twelve Democratic state attorneys general, reports Variety. Paramount has set Tuesday, October 6, to close the merger. The order was the final barrier “to Paramount’s debt-fueled $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, after it had been cleared by regulators in sixty-eight jurisdictions worldwide including the Justice Department.”
Mattel CEO To Oversee Merged Juggernaut
David Ellison has tapped Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz to serve as co-CEO of the merged corporate entities. “As chairman and CEO, Ellison will lead all strategy, creative and technology functions. Kreiz, as co-CEO, will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations and integration of the combined businesses.” CNN boss Mark Thompson says he’s in preliminary talks to stay in his position under the Ellison regime. Mark Ruffalo speaks out that the merger “should never have been approved” and will “‘stifle creativity’ and ‘Weaken Free Speech.'” Meanwhile, Condé Nast’s CEO Roger Lynch will make the leap to run Mattel, filling Kreiz’s role.
Federal Government Considers Film Production Tax Breaks
“In response to an exodus of movie and TV production, a bill is being introduced in Congress that would use tax credits to subsidize filming in the United States,” reports the New York Times (gift link). “The bill provides a tax credit of at least twenty percent on the wages of the vast array of workers who create movies and TV shows. That includes actors and directors as well as camera operators and makeup artists. The proposal faces formidable obstacles in a divided Congress. Lawmakers rarely agree to pass a tax break for an individual industry without seeking to pair it with a host of incentives for other interests, and the chances of such a package coming together are murky at best.”
MUSIC
Eleventh Dream Day Digs Into Nineties Archives
Monica Kendrick profiles Eleventh Dream Day’s history at the Reader, anticipating the band’s October 21 show at the Hideout. “It’s hard to know where to start with Eleventh Dream Day, since it’s nearly impossible to imagine a Chicago indie-rock scene without them in it. Founded in 1983 by two Kentucky transplants—singer and guitarist Rick Rizzo and singer, drummer and guitarist Janet Beveridge Bean—Eleventh Dream Day helped establish the template for an independent band that could not only carry on for the long haul but also constantly develop as artists.
“When they signed to Atlantic Records in 1989, they carried the hope and pride of their Chicago community along with their own dreams of rock-star success. Eleventh Dream Day’s 1991 landmark, ‘Lived to Tell’ (remastered and rereleased on Comedy Minus One in April), sits at a stylistic crossroads between Neil Young, Yo La Tengo and X, and it holds up majestically.”
STAGE
Former Goodman Head Roche Schulfer On A Future For American Theater
“Unless there is a major infusion of capital into the professional American theater, adventurous productions will only happen in small theaters with low or no wages for artists,” forty-four-year executive director of the Goodman Roche Schulfer writes at the Trib (gift link). Schulfer begins by identifying major crisis points across contemporary theater, and notes that “this ‘after work’ or ‘avocational’ theater is well-established in Chicago. This is not a criticism of these theaters—it simply is observing that artists and theater professionals who aspire to have careers working on new plays and productions will have far fewer opportunities.
“Major not-for-profit theaters will focus on accessible productions and commercial partnerships. For Broadway producers, it will continue to become more difficult given skyrocketing costs and the impact on ticket prices (the early closing of ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ on Broadway over the economics is a recent example). Is there a solution? Not-for-profit theaters and commercial producers should join forces to advocate for significant increases in financial support and tax incentives from all levels of government. The case for support should be focused on jobs.”
WeWomen Play Festival Highlights Feminist Theater Work
Artemisia Theatre returns with WeWomen Play, its annual celebration of new feminist work through staged readings. Each evening will feature two staged readings, along with artist conversation and networking. This year’s playwrights are Zeyy Fawaz with “The Tenants”; Lauren M. Gunderson with “Paradise”; Samantha Hurley with “Countess Josephine and Lady Philomena du Bourbon Try To Hide A Body”; Sonja Lynn Mata’s “White Thorn of Color”; Elenna Stauffer with “Woman’s Work”; and Brandy Victoria with “Holy Smoke.” Bramble Arts Loft, November 16-18. Tickets and more here.
How Has “Chicago,” Broadway’s Longest-Running Show, Razzled And Dazzled For So Long?
“Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Reece Weaver is the latest Roxie Hart cast from the reality universe, a winning strategy for the longest-running musical on Broadway,” writes Billboard. After twenty-three years with “pop artists like Brandy, Usher and Ashlee Simpson, and actors known better for the screen than the stage, like Pamela Anderson, Melanie Griffith and Sofia Vergara” it’s time for reality performers. “The practice has its roots in the mid-nineties, when Barry Weissler (‘Chicago’’s lead producer with his wife Fran) was working on the revival of ‘Grease’ and started to realize the potential benefit of casting new faces with established brands (like Brooke Shields, John Stamos and Rosie O’Donnell) in the show.”
ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.
Behind The Arts Alliance’s Campaign To Boost City Arts Funding
“In an open letter to Mayor Johnson, Arts Alliance Illinois says that even in a tough budget cycle, ‘The arts should be a key part of Chicago’s fiscal year 2027 economic strategy,'” reports the Sun-Times. “How much cities and states contribute to the arts has become a key question among cultural leaders as federal funding priorities have shifted under President Donald Trump. Last year, DCASE awarded a total of $10.8 million in grants to artists and arts organizations across a number of programs, according to public records. Recipients ranged from large companies like the Joffrey Ballet to the South Side storefront Perceptions Theatre.”
DCASE Announces Season’s Cultural Center Cornucopia
DCASE has shared a list of free fall and winter attractions at the Cultural Center: “From exhibitions exploring memory, identity and freedom to film screenings focused on the realities of creative work, the season offers Chicagoans multiple ways to engage with artists, ideas and each other at the Cultural Center. The season brings together Chicago artists, filmmakers, creative workers and cultural partners through contemporary exhibitions, hands-on workshops, film screenings, industry conversations and live music.” See the full list of events here.
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