City Cast Chicago
🔜 NASCAR traffic headaches return
June 10, 2024 · —Sidney Madden
More signs it’s summer in the city: Movies in the Parks start tomorrow, the Grant Park Music Festival kicks off Wednesday, and NASCAR street closures are back. More below on how to brace yourself for the street race traffic headaches 👇
What's CITY Talking About?
Chicago’s Growing Homeless Population
The city’s annual point-in-time count revealed nearly 19,000 Chicagoans experienced homelessness on a single night in January, a threefold increase from last year. The reason for the jump? Almost 14,000 asylum-seekers with no place to stay. [WBEZ]
Mayor Johnson’s $30K Hair, Makeup Expenses
Mayor Brandon Johnson is dropping a pretty penny to look good around town: The first-term mayor has spent more than $30,000 in campaign funds on personal grooming. A campaign spokesperson said, “Appearances matter.” [Sun-Times]
Calumet Fisheries is Back
The popular Far South Side eatery reopened over the weekend after it caught fire days before Thanksgiving. Before the fire, Calumet Fisheries had failed several health inspections. [ABC7]
Welcome to City Cast Chicago’s Festival Week
Festival season in Chicago is no joke. How do you decide which fests to attend? Which ones have the best food? The team is here to help you plan your festival itineraries all week long. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Chicago Chatter
With the first Crosstown Classic series done for the season, we asked Hey Chicago readers if they rooted for the Cubs or Sox. While it was mostly split, the Cubs have an edge (which makes sense since the Sox have had a tough season).
Cubs
Alex W.: “My family has always been Cubbies fans. It’s in my blood!”
Emory W.: “I moved to Chicago six months ago, but I've been a New York Yankees fan since childhood. Although the White Sox have better uniforms, I can't possibly cheer for another American League team. So the Cubs are my local team!”
Viki R.: “Grew up on the North Side, and LOVE Wrigley. It’s one of the only places I can unwind, let go of my worries, and live in the moment.”
Juli A.: “My boyfriend made me.”
Sox
Rebekah P.: “I’m a transplant from Central Illinois, and I’m a St. Louis Cardinals fan through and through. So when I moved up here, I became a White Sox fan too, because the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Bradley P.: “Born and raised on the South Side. There is no other option. If they were to ever move, I’m becoming a Brewers fan.”
Piper M.: “I live near Wrigleyville and it puts me off. I love the vibes of going to a White Sox game!”
Avery S.: “It's tradition — Cubs fans disgust me.”
Maybe the Sox can win fans back before the next Crosstown Classic Aug. 9–10?
What To Do
Monday, June 10
- Rainbow Storytime 🌈 South Shore | 10:30–11:30 a.m. | Free
- Yoga & Boba 🧋 West Loop | 6:30–8 p.m. | Free
Tuesday, June 11
- LGBTQ2S+ Walk & Talk Hike 🚶 LaBagh Woods | 4–6 p.m. | Free
- Aperitivo Hour with Chasity Cooper 🍷 Humboldt Park | 5:30 p.m. | $32
- Yoga 🧘 Wicker Park | 6:30–7:30 p.m. | Free
- Movies in the Parks start 🎬 Citywide | 8:30 p.m. | Free
Today on City Cast
Your Summertime Chi Festival Primer
The City Cast Chicago team is here to help you make the most of the city’s best neighborhood festivals.
Anyone catch Tems on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert as part of their Black Music Month series? After my 20th listen, I bought tickets to see her at the Aragon Ballroom in the fall.
Free · Daily