City Cast Chicago
📲 Chicago’s toughest reservation? Maybe City Council.
December 11, 2023
Good news to kick off your Monday: You can now become a member of Hey Chicago and the City Cast Chicago podcast! Keep your eyes peeled for more deets arriving in your inbox later today 💙
What's CITY Talking About?
Next Up in Burke Trial: Danny Solis
The former alder and FBI mole is expected to hit the witness stand as early as Tuesday in the federal corruption trial of ex-Ald. Ed Burke. Solis’ cooperation with the FBI led to indictments of Burke and former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, whose own trial will start in April. [Tribune 🔒]
- Here are some updates in the Burke trial, which might go on past the holidays. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
- Learn about Madigan’s rise and fall from power ahead of the spring trial. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
A Reservation for … City Council?
Constituents will need an ID and a reservation to sit in the main chamber of City Council, according to a new (and possibly illegal?) policy meant to limit disruptions at meetings and threats to alders. [WBEZ]
Inside Des Plaines Pilgrimage
Whether it’s by foot, car, or horseback, thousands of Catholics and other pilgrims will travel to Des Plaines overnight to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The northwest suburb is home to the only replica of the painting from the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Reviews for McDonald’s Spinoff CosMc
Opening weekend was busy for the Chicago-based company’s new restaurant concept, a beverage-focused drive-thru in Bolingbrook. [ABC7]
Why This Wicker Park Apartment Went Viral
Twins Sophie and Isabelle Lynch were surprised by the response after they listed their three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment for $2,350. TikTok and X (ergh, Twitter?) were blowing up for good reason. [Sun-Times]
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Showcasing the Art of Our Time
Spend a Day at the MCA exploring the museum’s current offerings. You’ll be thinking about them long after you leave. Faith Ringgold: American People, now on view through February 25, is the long-overdue retrospective of activist, artist, author, and educator.
Where Is It?
Last Week’s Answer
Answer: The Reebies Moving & Storage Warehouse (also featured in WTTW’s new season of “The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago”). Amrit M. was our random winner. We picked the next clues!
This Week’s Clues
What train stop are these statues at? Guess here, and you might pick the next round of trivia.
- Created by sculptor Preston Jackson
- Intended to juxtapose contemporary and historic imagery of Black culture and daily life
- This stop is on a train line that could be extended
What To Do
Monday, Dec. 11
- Pictures With the Grinch 📸 Bridgeport | 5:30–7 p.m. | Free
- West Side Fine Arts Holiday Musical 🎵 Austin | 6–8:30 p.m. | Free
- 3Peat Show 🤣 Lincoln Park | 8 p.m. | $27.80
Tuesday, Dec. 12
- Dark Sky Walk 🌌 Willow Springs | 6 p.m. | Free
- Black Pop Culture Trivia Night 💻 Avondale | 6:30–8:30 p.m. | $15+
Wednesday, Dec. 13
- Legal Clinic ⚖️ Woodlawn | 4–6 p.m. | Free
- “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” Opens 🩰 The Loop | 7:30 p.m. | $31.50+
- Squash Winter Potluck 🍽️ Lincoln Square | 6:30–8:30 p.m. | $25
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Today on City Cast
Why Thousands Travel to Des Plaines
Father Esequiel Sanchez shares more about the significance of the shrine, and Cynthia Alanis shares why her family started making the pilgrimage from Ravenswood more than 20 years ago.
We all go for something — faith, tradition, whatever you want. … You become a community when you're going.
We’re launching podcasts and newsletters in Nashville and Austin, which means we’re hiring! Tell your friends and fam down South 🤠
—Sidney Madden
Thanks to editor Simone Alicea!
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