City Cast Chicago
😎 How to have fun in April
April 1, 2026 · — Emmi Mack
April fools, Chicago! I’m blanking on a prank, so consider this a reminder to trick someone in your life today. Today’s podcast is full of more April reminders — street cleaning starts back up today! — and recommendations. Take a listen and don’t forget your umbrella.
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What's CITY Talking About
CPS Finally Has a CEO
The Board of Education hired interim CPS CEO Macquline King Monday with an 18-1 vote. King has been the interim chief since last June and now faces a projected $520 million budget deficit. [Chalkbeat]
- Rewind: Here’s what it took to get here. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
- Looking ahead: It’s onto the school board elections. [City Cast Chicago 💻]
Operation Midway Blitz in Numbers
A recent analysis of Operation Midway Blitz found that around 3,800 people were detained and nearly 2,500 people were deported last fall. About 60% of people detained had no criminal record. [Chicago Tribune]
Skyway Lanes Closing
Chicago’s last Black-owned bowling alley, Skyway Lanes, is closing at the end of April. The Far South Side spot opened in the 1950s. Although it raised over $25,000 in donations last year for repairs, it’s struggled with rising costs and fewer patrons. [Block Club]
Chicago’s James Beard Award Finalists
Three James Beard Award finalists are from Chicago: chefs from Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Cariño, and Feld. It’s the fewest number of Chicago finalists in years. [WTTW]
What To Do
Wednesday, April 1
- 🏛️ Free admission | DuSable Museum | Washington Park
- 🥪 Edible Book Festival | Newberry Library | River North
- 🏖️ 12th Street Beach cleanup | Northerly Island | Free
- 🌱 Art After Dark | Garfield Park Conservatory | Free
- 🥚 Easter Egg Hunt | Humboldt Park | Free
- 🎸 Blues Jam | Logan Center | Woodlawn | Free
- 📜 Free admission | Chicago History Museum | Lincoln Park
- 🎥 Asian Pop-Up Cinema | One Rotary Center | Evanston
Thursday, April 2
- 🗣️ Mooove Voice | Loyola Park Fieldhouse | Rogers Park | Free
- 🖼️ On Rock-Soft Matters | Seldon Institute | Hyde Park
- 🎾 Senior Pickleball | Center on Halsted | Northalsted
- 👃 Fragrance workshop | Suuri Design | Hyde Park
- 🏠 Free tour | Glessner House | South Loop
- 🎥 Asian Pop-Up Cinema | AMC NEWCITY 14 | Lincoln Park
- 🎤 CAConrad, Rickey Laurentiis, Jake Skeets, S Yarberry | Poetry Foundation | River North | Free
😘 Till tomorrow and happy April!
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