City Cast Chicago
👋 School board president resigns
November 1, 2024 · —Sidney Madden
I’m giving a belated shoutout to producer Michelle Navarro, who celebrated one year at City Cast last month. Whether she is covering a sacred pilgrimage or sharing her love for hot chips, Michelle puts a lot of TLC into the stories she touches and brings so much joy to the mic.
And a little birdy told me she wouldn’t be mad if you threw us a nomination for the Reader’s best local podcast and newsletter 🤗 Now onto the news!
What's CITY Talking About?
School Board President Resigns
Rev. Mitchell L. Ikenna Johnson resigned Thursday at the request of the mayor after just seven days in the role. Gov. JB Pritzker, 40 alders, and Jewish leaders called on Johnson to step down after his antisemitic social media posts surfaced. [Sun-Times]
- Mayor Brandon Johnson, no relation, appointed the reverend after the entire school board resigned en masse last month. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Alders Reject Pastor for Transit Board
City Council rejected a Humboldt Park pastor with no transit experience to the Regional Transportation Authority. The four other appointees were approved unanimously. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Wicker Park Indie Bookstores Offering Discount
If you wear merch from Quimby’s Bookstore, Myopic Books, or Volumes Bookcafe to any of the three stores today, you can get 10% off your orders. The indie bookstores teamed up to offer the promotion after the Barnes & Noble opened at the Noel State Bank building this week. [Block Club]
This Week’s Must-See
Bears fans, is the Commanders’ game-winning Hail Mary haunting you? At least the memes are good, this song is silly, and this week’s pizza inspired by Bears opponents has bacon–wrapped hot dogs on it. [Meta, Reddit, TikTok]
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Your Chicago News Quiz
Take our weekly quiz to see how closely you paid attention to the Chicago news and trivia we shared this week! Feel free to seek out help in past newsletters and podcasts. Here’s the first question:
Wild turkey hunting in Illinois is highly regulated. Which of the following is NOT one of the three hunting seasons?
- Spring
- Fall — archery
- Fall — shotgun
- Summer
What To Do
Friday, Nov. 1
- Day of the Dead Celebration ❤️ Chicago Lawn | 4–6 p.m. | Free
- Día de los Muertos Craft & Hike 🌺 Eggers Grove | 4–8 p.m. | Free
- Sauced Night Market starts 🛍️ Lincoln Square | 5–10 p.m. | Free
- Chicago Latino Dance Festival 💃 Near North Side | 7–9 p.m. | Free
- Paranormal Prom 👻 Fulton Market | 8 p.m. | $25
- Day of the Dead Celebration 💀 Navy Pier | 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. | $25
Saturday, Nov. 2
- Day of the Dead Run 👟 Pilsen | 8 a.m. | Free to watch
- Calavera Masks 💀 National Museum of Mexican Art | 9–11 a.m. | $40
- Birding is for Everyone 🐦 Burnham Park | 9–10:30 a.m. | Free
- Teen Bags Tournament 🏆 Garfield Ridge | 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Free
- “Frida Kahlo & the Bravest Girl” 🖌️ Woodlawn | 2–4 p.m. | Free
- South Side Pie Challenge 🥧 Hyde Park | 2–5 p.m. | $5 a slice
- Día de los Muertos Community Concert 🫂 Oak Park | 3–5 p.m. | $15
- Stars, S’mores, & Stories 🍫 LaBagh Woods | 5–8 p.m. | Free
- “Havana Blue” 🎵 Austin | 7 p.m. | $1
- Polo G 🎤 Uptown | 7:30 p.m. | $33+
- Stevie Wonder 🎹 United Center | 8 p.m. | $69+
- Riot at the Disco 🪩 Roscoe Village | 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $15
- Diwali Gala 🎉 River North | 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. | $22
Sunday, Nov. 3
- SkyRise Chicago 🏙️ Sears Tower | 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. | $50
- The Great Midwest Train Show 🚂 Wheaton | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $7
- Rolling Stones for Kids 🎸 Pilsen | 11 a.m. | $15
- Kids Day of the Dead Activities 🎉 Little Village | 1:30–3 p.m. | Free
- Death Book Club 📖 Lakeview | 2–4 p.m. | Donation suggested
- “We the People …” 🗳️ Bronzeville | 4–6 p.m. | $40+
- 20x2 Chicago: Can You Explain? 💬 Lakeview | 7 p.m. | $20
- Annie Lederman 🎙️ Wicker Park | 7:15–9 p.m. | $24+
Good luck with the time change this weekend 🫡
Free · Daily