Is NASCAR Chicago's ‘collective ick?’

Pools Open Today

Chicago pools will open today after Park District officials launched an aggressive lifeguard recruiting campaign this year. Water spray features will also be turned on. [WTTW]

• In addition to lifeguard shortages, the Park District has had to grapple with sex abuse at parks and beaches that was covered up for decades. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Future of 35th Street During Sox Games?

After a driver plowed through a crowd of Sox fans outside Guaranteed Rate Field Tuesday and seriously injured four pedestrians, some say 35th Street should be closed during games. [Block Club]

Incoming Minimum Wage Changes

Chicago’s minimum wage will bump up to $15.80 come July 1, a 40-cent increase. But what about the city’s tipped workers? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

This Week’s Must-Read

The people aboard the Titan, the sub that ventured to the wreck of the Titanic, are dead, tour company OceanGate said. A Chicagoan’s 1904 expedition met a similar tragic fate. [Tribune ​​🔒]

🔺 = Sid’s picks

Super Sapphic in Wrigleyville | Friday | 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Go to the largest lesbian party in years at Metro and smartbar. [$27+]

🔺 Chinatown Dragon Boat Race | Saturday | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Watch dragon boats face off in the Chicago River at Ping Tom Park, an annual event that aims to help neighborhood literacy programs. [Free]

South Shore CBA Summit | Saturday | Noon to 3 p.m.

Discuss a community benefits agreement with 5th Ward Ald. Desmon Yancy as Obama Center construction threatens displacement. [Free]

Washington Heights Harsh Remixed | Saturday | 1–4 p.m.

See the exhibit opening at Woodson Regional Library, and celebrate Black Music Month with Sam Thousand and Duane Powell. [Free]

🔺 Pride Parade in Uptown, Lakeview | Sunday | Noon

Floats and performers will march in the parade that attracts more than a million people to celebrate the city’s LGBTQ community. [Free]

House Music Celebration Downtown, Humboldt Park | All Weekend | Varies

Learn about the genre at the Chicago Cultural Center conference today. Party to DJ sets outside the Humboldt Park Boathouse Saturday. [Free]

Pride in the Park in the Loop | All Weekend | 3–10 p.m.

Grant Park will be covered in rainbows at the queer music fest featuring big names like Zedd and Saweetie today and Saturday. [$70+]

🔺 Miche Fest in Pilsen | All Weekend | Varies

Prince Royce, Natti Natasha, and Gerardo Ortiz are headlining the Latin music fest in Harrison Park Saturday and Sunday. [$89+]

Logan Square Art Fair | All Weekend | Varies

Catch 30 bands and 70 local artists at the three-day fest. [Free]

Summer Smash in Bridgeview | All Weekend | Varies

Lyrical Lemonade’s hip-hop fest is bringing stars like Kid Cudi and Future to SeatGeek Stadium through Sunday. [$109+]

The talk of the town this week? NASCAR. And most Hey Chicago readers are not into the upcoming two-day downtown street race.

Why NASCAR opposition is LOUD

Aaron S.: “Every bus I take regularly is affected by the re-routing.”

Vera P.: “Huge disruption for an event that is financially out of reach for most Chicagoans and won't produce the financial benefits to the city that are being hyped to us. In the end, taxpayers will lose.”

Ryland R.: “NASCAR is the collective ick everyone I know is hating on right now. It’s an easy way to connect with people, so now I hate NASCAR, too.”

Reese B.: “We have to deal with three weeks of road closures. Getting out of the city on a holiday weekend is bad enough without this. The icing on the cake is that the cheapest tickets are $269!”

John L.: “Took off work to avoid it all.”

Annie A.: “I dislike that public facilities are unavailable to the public for so long — without the public having any input or chance to veto. I'm planning to get the hell outta dodge for the weekend.”

Kristene R.: “We’re willing to sell our city but not think of our institutions, patrons, and employees inconvenienced at the peak of their season.”

David F.: “I drive for a living (e.g., Uber, Lyft, catering, other delivery gigs). The wait time and traffic disruption have made it unprofitable to work in the affected area. I have switched to working overnight hours during the week and staying out of the area all together on weekends.”

But not everyone feels that way, right?

Next week we’ll share what Hey Chicago readers who are for or indifferent to the race said. Is that you? Weigh in!

Why Chicago’s Pride Parade Route is Meaningful

The Reader’s Salem Collo-Julin and Chicago magazine’s Ted McClelland join the City Cast Chicago podcast to talk about the Pride Parade, minimum wage, and a push for transparency in Harvey. We’re swimming in good news between the Cubs in London and love for “Svengoolie."