City Cast Chicago
❓ Can you ace this Illinois presidents quiz?
February 14, 2024
Happy Valentine’s Day! We’ve already told you where to have a romantic dinner and how to celebrate with friends. That’s why we’re jumping into Lunar New Year festivities and Presidents Day trivia in today’s edition.
What's CITY Talking About?
Johnson Won’t Renew ShotSpotter Contract
The contract with the controversial gunshot detection technology company will expire Friday. But the city will use ShotSpotter through September. [WGN]
- What makes ShotSpotter so controversial? [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Chicago’s First Additional Dwelling Units in Decades
Building additional dwelling units, or ADUs, was common in Chicago throughout the first half of the 20th century until a 1957 zoning ordinance. City Council greenlit a pilot program a few years ago, and one family has built a coach house in Wicker Park. Take a peek — it’s nice. [Dwell]
The Best Dumplings in Town
With Lunar New Year parades this weekend, we tapped an expert to help us find the city’s best. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Get to Know the Neighborhoods Hosting Chicago’s Lunar New Year Parades
Asia on Argyle
While you are at the Argyle Lunar New Year Parade Saturday, explore the North Side historic district that was transformed by Chinese immigrants as well as Cambodian and Vietnamese refugees in the ‘70s.
Anti-Asian hate crimes and pandemic business struggles prompted organizer Sany Nguyễn to co-found Celebrate Argyle in 2021, an initiative to encourage Chicagoans to support small businesses. She shared her recs along with City Cast Chicago executive producer and Uptown resident Simone Alicea.
Chinatown
Head south Sunday for the Lunar New Year Parade in Chicago’s Chinatown, which continues to grow while other cities’ shrink.
Photographer Jack X. Li spent a lot of time in the neighborhood growing up since both his parents worked there. He shares his fav spots.
Local Civics: Illinois Presidents Day Quiz
Just in time for Presidents Day, the Illinois State Museum in Springfield has opened an exhibit on the presidents who have called Illinois home: Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama.
How well do you know these four and their Illinois ties? Hey Chicago is challenging you to trivia before the holiday Monday. Here’s the first Q:
Who is the only U.S. president to hold a patent?
- Lincoln
- Grant
- Reagan
- Obama
Click the button to take the full quiz and see the answers 👇
What To Do
Wednesday, Feb. 14
- Flower Show starts 🌼 Garfield Park | Varies | Free
- Flower Show starts 🌷 Lincoln Park | Varies | Free
- Valentine’s Day Skate 🛼 North Lawndale | 4–7 p.m. | Free
- Crying at the Shed Film Fest starts 🎞️ Goose Island | 5 p.m. | $10+
- Anti-Valentine’s Down With Love 💔 The Loop | 5:30 p.m. | $18+
- Friends at First Sight 🫂 Avondale | 6 p.m. | $20+
- Love & Laughter Valentine’s Day Show 😂 Harvey | 7 p.m. | $25+
- Valentine’s Day Painting 🎨 Galewood | 7 p.m. | $30+
Thursday, Feb. 15
- CIVL Fest starts 🎼 Citywide | Varies | Varies
- Grown Folks Stories 🎙️ Hyde Park | 6–9 p.m. | $10
- Galentine’s Day Yoga 🪷 Bridgeport | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | $2
Today on City Cast
Where Are Chicago’s Best Dumplings?
“A Very Chinese Cookbook” author Kevin Pang says that dumplings bring families together and represent good fortune in the new year. He tells us where to find the best dumplings around Chicagoland.
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New Member Shoutout
Javier Perea joined our membership program at the Cousins level. Here’s what Javier loves the most about our city:
"The Food! I’m a Chef in Chicago, I work at Schwa Restaurant (appreciate the love and shout outs on the news letter and podcast.)"
Learn how to get your own shoutout here.
Just under 45 days until Beyonce’s new country album drops. Can I get a yeehaw? 🤠 Listening to “16 Carriages” on repeat until then — and our podcast on Chicago’s role in the genre, of course.
—Sidney Madden
Thanks to editor Simone Alicea!
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