City Cast Chicago
🎒 What’s next for Chicago’s top high schools?
April 23, 2024
What's CITY Talking About?
Unified System for Homelessness, Migrants
State and city officials are in the process of combining shelter systems for the city’s unhoused population and new arrivals. The shelter systems currently compete for limited affordable housing resources. [Tribune 🔒]
- City Council approved last week $70 million to help aid migrants. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Illinois’ First Federally Recognized Tribal Nation
The Prairie Band Potawatomi has gotten back a portion of its ancestral land: 130 acres of the Shab-eh-nay Reservation in DeKalb County. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision comes 175 years after the government auctioned off the land. [Sun-Times]
Bears NFL Draft Primer
The team has the Nos. 1 and 9 picks in the 2024 NFL draft. While the Bears are almost certainly going to pick quarterback Caleb Williams first, who else will the team draft in the first round Thursday? [Bears Wire]
- Are things looking up for Chicago sports teams? The Sky also had two first-round draft picks last week. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
The Best Book Clubs in Chicago
Gearing up for the Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl Saturday? After you go home with your bookstore passport stamped, yearlong discount secured, and a bag of books, consider joining a local book club.
Best for Romance Lovers: The Last Chapter Bookshop
📘 “Bride” Sunday at 4 p.m.
Talk your latest romance reads at the Roscoe Village bookstore. Join the Geneva app to help pick future books and to get the conversation started.
Best for Runners: Read & Run Chicago
📘 “Becoming” May 5 at 9 a.m.
This reading–running book club creates routes inspired by books about Chicago, ending at a restaurant or spot where runners can rest and discuss.
Best for Introverts: Silent Book Club
📘 Anything you want — different chapters meet at different times
There are now six Chicago silent book clubs that invite readers out to silently read together — including two new South Side chapters in Beverly and Bridgeport.
Best Radical Reads: Women & Children First Banned Books Group
📘 “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” May 13 at 7 p.m.
The Andersonville store’s book club reads books that have long been challenged and books currently being targeted.
What To Do
Tuesday, April 23
- Homeschool Neighbors 👥 Logan Square | 1–2:30 p.m. | Free
- Open Stage Festival 🎤 Hyde Park | 7 p.m. to Midnight | $10
Wednesday, April 24
- Spring Wildflower Walk 🌷 Tinley Park | 5 p.m. | Free
Thursday, April 25
- Arts & Music LP Sale 💿 Harold Washington Library | Varies
- Pri-Ma-Ve-Ra 💬 Humboldt Park | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Free
- Best of Chicago Party 🏆 Lincoln Park Zoo | 6:30–10 p.m. | $25+
- “Midsummer Night’s Dream” opens 🩰 The Loop | 7:30 p.m. | $36+
Today on City Cast
More Funding Approved for Migrants
Why was Friday’s City Council meeting so heated? How can you celebrate Indie Bookstore Day? What makes Chicago a good place to start a pest control business? The City Cast Chicago podcast team discusses.
Happy Passover to readers and listeners celebrating! Here’s a list of spots to grab a bite during the holiday.
—Sidney Madden
Thanks to editor Simone Alicea!
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