Video: Chicago co-ops gain momentum as sustainability, locavore movements grow
By Grace Austin Today’s food co-ops in Chicago are not your hippie commune cooperatives of the 1960s and 1970s. They are for-profit businesses that are focused on local, healthy and sustainable produce and goods. But they are keeping the democratic nature of a traditional co-op as well as the emphasis on community engagement and philanthropy […]
Construction begins on separate bicycle, runner lanes on Chicago lakefront trail
By Grace Austin The Chicago Lakefront Trail runs for 18 miles along Lake Michigan, drawing in runners, dog walkers, beach goers, roller bladers and bicyclists. It passes marinas, beaches and public art that includes massive sculptures. But congestion during the warmer months, especially between bike riders and joggers, has created an outcry for separate lanes. […]
Job outlook at a 10-year high for college seniors
By Grace Austin A stronger economy means a better job outlook for graduating college seniors and grad students in Chicago, experts say. According to a 2017 CareerBuilder survey, employers hiring recent college graduates this year say those with business, engineering, and computer and information sciences degrees are seeing the highest demand.
Uptown summit brings together stakeholders in changing neighborhood
By Grace Austin Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood faces challenges ranging from gang violence and homelessness to gentrification. At the historic North Side neighborhood’s annual summit, State of Uptown, business owners, residents and local aldermen discussed how to maintain Uptown’s diversity and charm amid rapid development. Photo at top: A mural by the “L” tracks shows the […]
Chi-Town Browns Backers keep fingers crossed for Cleveland
By Grace Austin Cleveland Browns fans often speak of the “Factory of Sadness,” a nickname for FirstEnergy Stadium, where the often-losing NFL team plays. Since the team’s return to Cleveland in 1999, the Browns have made the playoffs only once, in 2002. Last season, they won only one game. But in the heart of Wrigleyville, Chicago’s Chi-Town […]
Photos: Is the tattoo parlor the new barbershop?
By Grace Austin Tattoos have become near ubiquitous, with 3 in 10 Americans now having them, according to a 2015 Harris poll. As tattoos become more mainstream, so do the number of tattoo parlors and the kinds of people getting inked. Chicago’s Deluxe Tattoo has a reputation for easy rapport and detail-oriented artists, similar to […]
Video: Poetry café in Old San Juan draws in locals and tourists
By Grace Austin The Poet’s Passage is an arts and spoken word café in Old San Juan. It brings together local artists and visitors to listen, socialize, work, and buy goods with inspirational poetry emblazed on them. Owner Lady Lee Andrews prides herself on creating an arts space that continues to make money, even after […]
Video: Chicago folk-music school helps memory loss via music
By Grace Austin In the United States, 5.5 million people suffer from early onset Alzheimer’s, a form of dementia. Music therapy for those with memory loss has been touted by medical professionals, studies and journals as a particularly effective way to counter the effects of the debilitating disease. Studies have shown that music memory is […]
VR expands the limits of Chicago comedy and improv
By Grace Austin Virtual reality is arriving on to the Windy City’s sketch scene, as iO Chicago launched pioneering technology designed to bring the outside viewer into the decidedly low-tech, interactive form of comedy. In a cozy theater in Goose Island last Sunday, amongst a small but warm crowd of about 20, ceiling microphones and […]
