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| What Chicago's Talking About |
| El Grito is Back | After canceling last year over fears of immigration raids, El Grito is coming back to Grant Park in September. Organizers say the hiatus was the right call, and now they’re excited to return. Tickets to the Mexican cultural celebration start at $10. [ABC 7] | | Street Vendors Still Under Pressure | Chicago street vendors are facing increased police enforcement with an uptick in fines, confiscations, and arrests in recent months. Immigrant families and advocates argue the city needs to do more to create sustainable pathways for vendors. [Tribune 🔒] | | | It’s About More Than a Name | As discussion continues over renaming Cesar Chavez Multicultural Academic Center in Back of the Yards, members of Increase the Peace, a local violence prevention group, say they don’t want to idolize a single person. Meanwhile, an eighth grader likes the name Demeter. [WBEZ] | | NASCAR Returning? | There’s no street race this year, but NASCAR is shopping the idea of returning to Grant Park in 2027. At least it probably won’t be over Fourth of July weekend. [Block Club] | |  | “Ghost” is such a solid park movie. (Bilgin Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) |
| The Greyhound Station, Lesbian Businesses, and Summer Movies | Mayor Brandon Johnson has presented an ordinance to purchase the downtown bus terminal for $19 million. Its future has been in limbo for a while now. We discuss the deets on today’s podcast, plus Chicagoland’s growing lesbian business directory, and the Movies in the Park summer schedule. [City Cast Chicago 🎧] | |
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| | | Ever notice how the best part of anything is right in the middle? Come see for yourself in Illinois, where you can hit the trails in breathtaking state parks. Experience classic Americana on Route 66. And even kayak through a glistening canyon of skyscrapers. It’s all right here in Illinois. |
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| New Spots to Drink and Dine |
|  | The Oi Lindo from Apothecary in Lakeview. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
| Apothecary in Lakeview | With its lush art deco interior, this cocktail lounge doesn’t exactly resemble an apothecary. However, the menu is divided into remedies, prescriptions, etc. My advice is skip the food but take your medicine: I enjoyed the cachaca-based Oi Lindo and Tuck Me In, a springy vodka drink. | - Straight down Halsted: Beaumont’s is open, resurrecting the name of the bar that stood there for 40-plus years. Now, it’s a large tavern restaurant with an upstairs steakhouse.
| | The Origin in Bucktown | For about a year, I’ve passed this expansive Bucktown space and wondered when Origin would finally open. Well it’s here! The Afro-fusion restaurant offers red stew, jollof rice, red snapper, and more — I can’t wait to try. Also (very) exciting: It’s open late. | | 3 Spots in Portage Park | Portage Park is becoming a food destination, and three new spots are adding to the hype: | | | K and Jay’s Soul Food in Roseland | Following a soft opening, the ribbon-cutting for K and Jay’s is Saturday. The Black Foodies recommend the salmon-cream cheese egg rolls, wings, catfish, and turkey chop. Stay tuned for official hours and note that it’s take-out only. | | |
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| | Logan Square's new headquarters for focus. |
| The world’s first neighborhood work club is coming to Logan Square. Our friends at @switchyards are opening May 18 at 2359 N Milwaukee Ave. Set in a 5000 square foot ex-print shop, the location will be open 24/7 with endless free coffee from Metric and Hexe—plus free bookable phone booths, fast internet, and the op to bring guests for free. Reserve a spot! |
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