City Cast Chicago
🫢 Blame Illinois for pumpkin spice craze?
October 25, 2023
Ever go on a pumpkin spice tour of Chicago? The City Cast Chicago podcast team enjoyed pumpkin goat cheese cheesecake and choked down pumpkin spice Malört.
What's CITY Talking About?
City Department Needs More Bilingual Staffers
The city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications has 43 staffers who answer 311 calls, and only six speak Spanish. At a hearing Monday, alders expressed concern over the office’s capacity and language proficiency. [Block Club]
- Why do Chicagoans most often call 311? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Mobile City Hall Events Canceled Until 2024
City Clerk Anna Valencia made the decision after more than 1,000 people lined up for hours at an event in Wrigleyville this month. Most of them were migrants seeking municipal IDs. Valencia said the demand overwhelmed staffers. [WTTW]
Lincoln Square: Take Down Halloween Displays
That’s what police are saying residents should do after at least 10 fires targeting holiday decorations in the area. [Block Club]
MacKenzie Scott’s Latest Chicago Donation
The billionaire philanthropist donated $8 million to workforce development organization Cara Collective. Scott has donated more than $270 million to Chicago-based groups. She has pledged to give away most of her wealth following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. [Crain’s 🔒]
Best of South Side Submissions Open
South Siders can showcase their favorite people and places in their neighborhoods in South Side Weekly’s annual list. [South Side Weekly]
- Don’t forget to vote Hey Chicago and City Cast Chicago as your favorite local newsletter and podcast in the Reader’s best of 2023! [Reader]
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What To Do
Black People Outside in Garfield Park 💚 Wednesday | 6 p.m.
Head to the Garfield Park Conservatory to hear about why the duo started exploring the outdoors and how you can join them. [Free]
West Town Halloween Tie-Dye Party 👕 Thursday | 6–9 p.m.
Estelle’s is offering guests white T-shirts to design and decorate at the neighborhood bar. [$25]
Free Concert in the Loop 🎶 Thursday | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Catch Roy Kinsey and Nico Segal perform under the Preston Bradley Hall dome — the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world — at the Chicago Cultural Center. [Free]
East Side Litter Pickup ♻️ Saturday | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join the Shedd Aquarium for its community action day at Calumet Park Beach. Stick around for a workshop. [Free]
Today on City Cast
Illinois = Pumpkin Capital?
Illinois is the country’s largest producer of pumpkins and home to the canned pumpkin brand that made pumpkin pie a household staple. Does that make pumpkin spice more than just a trend in Chicago?
Speaking of Malört, City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran tried his first shot of the bitter liquor over the summer … and wasn’t a fan.
—Sidney Madden
Thanks to editor Simone Alicea!
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