City Cast Chicago
🏁 NASCAR prep has begun
June 5, 2023
Traffic horror story: An express bus that gets me to and from downtown in 20–30 minutes via DuSable Lake Shore Drive took more than an hour last week. But that’s small potatoes compared to commuters facing four hour–round trips. What’s the cause? And could more traffic be coming? 👇
What's CITY Talking About?
Ten Years Since Mass School Closures
As CPS let out for summer around this time a decade ago, 50 schools were closed for good, sending shockwaves through the city’s Black and brown neighborhoods. How’d that decision affect Chicago then and now? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Southeast Side Metal Shredder Update
A judge ruled that Southside Recycling should have gotten a permit to open a metal shredder on the Southeast Side, which city officials had denied. Mayor Brandon Johnson said he will appeal the ruling. [WTTW]
Chicago Tourism Up
The city’s tourism arm said nearly 50 million domestic and international visitors came to Chicago in 2022, up almost 60% from the year before. [Sun-Times]
- Choose Chicago CEO Lynn Osmond told us about her office’s efforts to get tourists into neighborhoods. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Sponsored Content
‘The Whistleblower’ at Theater Wit
What if you told the truth? To EVERYONE? Offered his dreams, Eli wonders why he wanted them at all. “The Whistleblower” is a shockingly funny comedy serving up hard truths. What could possibly go wrong? Written by Tony winner Itamar Moses, “The Whistleblower” runs through June 17 at Theater Wit.
Where Is It?
Last Week’s Winner
Answer: Principle Barbers in North Lawndale
We really stumped y’all with this one, huh? Hear more about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s barbershop on the City Cast Chicago podcast. Our next batch of clues is picked by past winner Grace H.
This Week’s Clues
Where is this sculpture? Bonus points if you know the name! Reply correctly, and you could pick next week’s trivia.
- Artist John Henry created the sculpture in 2007
- It sits on a North Side harbor
- The 50-foot tall abstract piece was previously up at a private home, upsetting some neighbors
What To Do
Pride Zine Making in Dunning | Monday | 3–4 p.m.
Adolescents ages 12 and up are invited to make zines and learn about the medium’s LGBTQ ties at the Far North Side library branch. [Free]
Lory Litefoot in Lakeview | Monday | 8 p.m.
How will comedian Lisa Beasley impersonate the former mayor? Go to the Laugh Factory to see. [Free]
Jazzin’ at the Shedd | Wednesday | 5–10 p.m.
Nothing says Summertime Chi like a drink with live music. Head to Museum Campus for the aquarium’s mid-week concert. [$20 for Chicago residents]
Exhibit Opens in Washington Park | Thursday | 6–8 p.m.
Who was Frank London Brown? An exhibit at the Washington Park Arts Incubator celebrates the legacy of the Chicago journalist and activist. [Free]
Today on City Cast
Still ‘Ghosts in the Schoolyard’
After the city shut down 50 schools in 2013, former CPS teacher Eve Ewing wrote about the largest mass school closure in the nation’s history in her book “Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago’s South Side.” She shares why it’s important to remember the history.
Stay tuned for our summer entertainment guides! Tomorrow, we’ll share what to do with your kids who are out of school and waiting for camp to start 👀
—Sidney Madden
Free · Daily