Why property tax bills are late … again

El Milagro Settlement Reached

Tortilleria workers and labor group Arise Chicago celebrated Thursday after the company settled a lawsuit over unsafe conditions and low pay. El Milagro had been accused of using intimidation tactics to stop workers from organizing. [FOX32]

• One long-time worker detailed the conditions in fall 2021. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

Property Tax Bills Late … Again

Notices for the second installment of property taxes for Cook County residents will be sent Nov. 1 and due Dec. 1. It’s the second year the payments, which usually go out in the summer, have been delayed. The county attributes the delay to the pandemic and an internal technological overhaul. [Crain’s 🔒]

Northwest Side Kid → National Mullet Champion?

Evan Hall advanced to the next round of the contest with his hairstyle he calls “The Chicago Cascade.” Help the Gladstone Park 7-year-old make the top 25, and vote for him by Sunday. [Block Club]

Make Mangonada Paletas

The Paleta Factory recipe for this Mexican street food requires a couple of ingredients and a few hours. [Chicago magazine]

• Cool off with other frozen Summertime Chi treats. [Hey Chicago 💻]

This Week’s Must-Read

How is climate change affecting the city’s $3.8 billion flood-control project? The Deep Tunnel can’t handle the severe storms. [Tribune 🔒]

🔺 = Sid’s picks

Northerly Island Sad Summer Fest 🎵 Friday | 2 p.m.

See Taking Back Sunday, The Maine, and others at the amphitheater. [$29+]

🔺 South Side Race Riot Bike Tour 🚲 Saturday | 10 a.m.

Cycle through Bronzeville and Bridgeport and learn about Eugene Williams’ unjust killing that led to the 1919 race riots. [Free]

Lawndale Peace Party ☮️ Saturday | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of music, food, and art at Douglass Park. [Free]

🔺 DisFest in the Loop 🎭 Saturday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Check out performances, short films, and visual art created by artists with disabilities at the Chicago Cultural Center. [Free]

Woodlawn Treatment Not Trauma Summit ✊ Saturday | Noon to 3 p.m.

Discuss efforts to invest in public mental health services at First Presbyterian Church. [Free]

🔺 North Side Float Party 🌊 Sunday | 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It's too late to sign up to float down the river from River Park, but you can volunteer at the event or crash the afterparty at Horner Park. [Free]

Logan Square Volunteer Fair 👋 Sunday | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Head to the Joinery to learn about organizations to get involved with which tackle issues from mutual aid to animal rescue. [Free]

🔺 Tacos y Tamales Fest in Pilsen 🫔 All Weekend | Varies

In addition to eating your way through the fest, check out the beer garden and dance the night away. [$10 suggested donation]

Taste of Lincoln Avenue 🍴 All Weekend | Varies

The Lincoln Park fest has bites, a whiskey tasting, and kids carnival. [$10 suggested donation]

PetCon in West Loop 🐾 All Weekend | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Meet pet influencers, adopt a new furry friend, and more at the two-day fest at Morgan Manufacturing. [$28+]

+ Going to Pitchfork? Check out our West Loop neighborhood guide. Reader Abe B. says to stop by High Five Ramen, a basement restaurant.

As always, you all had a lot to say and share in the inbox this week.

Chicago Authors

After we shared our fav local authors, a couple readers had more names to add to the list.

Shelley E.: “Harry Mark Petrakis grew up in Chicago and wrote about the Greek American experience: ‘Pericles on 31st Street,’  ‘A Dream of Kings,’ and his autobiography ‘Stelmark.’”

Ted H.: “Sara Paretsky is the best for mysteries”

Weird Chicago Food Combo

It’s no secret Chicago has concocted some strange food combinations, but some really work.

Sarah P.: “Sketchbook Brewery made a small batch of their Polish Smoked Wheat Ale infused with the ingredients of a Chicago hot dog called ‘Death Before Ketchup.’ It was honestly better than I expected!”

Chicago Horcruxes

City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran recently joked that Malört was a Chicago horcrux (like in Harry Potter). And that got one listener wondering what are other things that contain the soul of Chicago but feel evil.

Annie A.: “My suggestions are the infamous parking meter deal, Lower Wacker, the Addison stop after Cubs games, and the tiny gap between the platform and CTA door that is the perfect size for your phone to slip through.”

Ending Cash Bail

Politico’s Shia Kapos and Tribune’s Britt Julious talk about what the end of cash bail means, check in on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s progressive agenda, and peek into Chicago’s American Legion social clubs.