City Cast Chicago
🐀 Eek! A rat (quiz)!
March 25, 2026 · — Emmi Mack
Hey Chicago! Is your attention span shot? No problem — The Gift Theatre’s annual TEN festival kicks off today. It features 10-minute works and runs through April 4.
And if you can handle something longer, I recommend The Gift co-founder Maggie Andersen’s memoir, “No Stars in Jefferson Park.” An excellent Chicago read.
Now, onto the news — and a rat quiz!
What's CITY Talking About
ICE still at O’Hare: What is ICE actually doing at the airport? According to some reports, scrolling their phones and chatting with currently unpaid TSA agents. On today’s pod, we’re talking about what this means for travelers. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
- Want to help unpaid workers? Send a $20 gift card to the TSA union. [Tribune 🔒]
- Meanwhile: CPD has yet to finalize officers’ abilities to investigate ICE — despite an executive order. [WTTW]
Tax breaks for UC development: Mayor Brandon Johnson is proposing a nearly $55 million property tax break for the 1901 Project, a $7 billion mixed-use area planned around the United Center. Ald. Walter “Red” Burnett (27th) supports the move, saying it will drive reinvestment on the Near West Side. [Sun-Times]
Chavez painted over: As allegations of sexual assault against César Chavez come to light, the Park District has painted over a mural of the activist at Besset Park in Pilsen. Meanwhile, calls remain to rename the nearby César Chavez Post Office and an elementary school in Back of the Yards. [WBEZ]
A post-Blitz boost: The city is giving $250,000 to fill vacant storefronts in Little Village after “Operation Midway Blitz” lowered foot traffic. This money will be spent along 26th Street and Cermak Road. A separate initiative to help Archer Avenue is underway. [Block Club]
Sponsored Content
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The Rat Quiz
Rat birth control IS working in Wicker Park.
After disseminating contraception in local alleyways, rat-track density is reportedly down by 88%. The city now plans to expand rat birth control further throughout Wicker Park and Bucktown.
Let’s celebrate the humane news with a good, old-fashioned rat quiz!
What To Do
Wednesday, March 25
- 📣 Open House | Brave Space Alliance | Hyde Park | Free
- 🔭 Free admission | Adler Planetarium | Museum Campus
- 🦎 Free admission | Field Museum | Museum Campus
- 🧇 Waffle Day Pop-Up Café | Swedish American Museum | Andersonville
- 🕯 Lit By Sight | Black Luxe Candle | West Town | Free
- 🎥 Faith Ringgold documentary screening | DePaul School of Cinematic Arts | Loop | Free
- 🏒 Professional Women’s Hockey League | Allstate Arena | Rosemont
- ⚽️ Stars vs Pride | Martin Stadium | Evanston
- 🎡 Spring Break at the Pier | Navy Pier | Free
- 🛹 Femme & Queer Skateboarding/Quad Night | Sapient Warehouse | Bellwood | Free
Thursday, March 26
- 🖼 Jess Atieno Exhibition Opening | Arts Incubator | Washington Park | Free
- 🎤 Respect the Mic | Monday Coffee | North Lawndale
- ⚾️ Cubs Home Opener | Wrigley Field
- 📖 Literary Variety Show | Pilsen Community Books | Free
- 📓 After Hours | Quimby’s | Wicker Park
- 🎶 FKA twigs | Wintrust Areana | South Loop
- 🍹 Drink, Draw, and Duplicate | Howling Pages | Portage Park | Free
- 🎡 Spring Break at the Pier | Navy Pier | Free
- 🃏 SketchBEST | Bughouse Theater | North Center
- 💐 Laci Mosley | House of Blues | Loop
- 🍁 Maple Tasting and Art Making | Haibayo | Uptown | Free
- 🪧 Make Protest Signs | Hey, I Thought Of You | Irving Park | Free
And finally, a Chicagohenge sunset over the roof of the Google building. Did you know they have an “L” car up there?!
Free · Daily