There are probably other Prince eras I would give the slightest edge to musically, but this is the one I feel most aligned with philosophically. Looking forward to reading your full take on it!!

Tracking #Prince’s spiritual path means following the music. And with nearly 40 studio albums, he had a lot to say. After years of studying his discography & comments in interviews, as well as talking to people who knew him, I’ve organized his journey into six phases. 1/4

“I was both astounded and mesmerized." Carl Sandburg’s ‘Chicago’ poem finds fresh relevance in a city occupied by ICE. From @ericathompson.bsky.social via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Have Chicago’s top arts organizations fulfilled their diversity pledges? I surveyed the 21 largest revenue earners about the diversity of their boards and staffs in 2021 and 2025. Only seven fully participated. Learn more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

I’m currently revising my book on #Prince’s spiritual journey before I finish writing the last few chapters. Part of the process is trimming this massive draft down just a little bit. 1/4

A downstate Peoria jury convicted a white, ex-cop of second-degree murder Wednesday for fatally shooting unarmed Sonya Massey in her Springfield area home.

"We’ve always been here." Inspired by a student protest, Chicago History Museum debuts exhibition about Latino history chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-hist..., reports @ericathompson.bsky.social

When D’Angelo dropped music, the world stopped. I’m not even talking about the fervor around “Black Messiah,” which is my favorite among his albums. Even an appearance on a song in a video game could set the internet on fire. (1/10)

From the Englewood Jazz Festival to Afrofuturist Weekend, Chicago events are facing financial challenges due to the cancellation of National Endowment for the Arts grants. Read more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

Fun story about the Vespa subculture in Chicago and beyond by @ericathompson.bsky.social with photos by Pat Nabong #Slaughterhouse31 chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

Shout out to Lois Lane for using a digital recorder for her interview with Superman like the rest of us old reporters. I still haven't shifted to using my phone. 😂

Honored to have won three NABJ Salute to Excellence awards: best business reporting, best specialty story & best national news - single story. I’m proud to share the latter with Frank Main and @elviamalagon.bsky.social. Grateful to the folks who let us tell their stories at @chicago.suntimes.com.

From NBC’s “One Chicago” franchise to Netflix’s “Monster” series, locally filmed productions are relying on small businesses for props and set design. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. Photo by Tyler Pasciak LaRivier chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...

Who else has been boppin' to Ravyn Lenae's top ten hit, "Love Me Not"? The Chicago singer stopped by her alma mater, the Chicago High School for the Arts, for a Q&A today. The students were so excited! She plays Lollapalooza on Friday. 📷 Anthony Vazquez chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Although R&B acts have appeared more consistently in the last 15 years at Lollapalooza, they typically only account for a small share of each lineup. And only a handful have ever reached headliner status. Read more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Chicago designer Ethan Mundt, also known as Utica, is the first "RuPaul's Drag Race" alum to compete on "Project Runway." Here's my chat with the artist for @chicago.suntimes.com. You can catch the season 21 premiere of "Project Runway" Thursday on Freeform. chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-t...

I loved attending this live art collaboration between Samoan master artists and community members at the Field Museum. The completed "siapo mamanu" piece will be featured in a future exhibition. Learn more in my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

Yesterday, I experienced “The Great River Parade,” a larger-scale installment in the series of “Secret River Shows” on the Chicago River. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Who else learned about Connie Francis from this scene in "The Craft"? ✋🏾 Rest in peace. variety.com/2025/music/n...

Even though I'm from Ohio, I didn't grow up engaging with the Great Lakes. Moving to Chicago and experiencing Lake Michigan has been a delight for me. And now I want to explore more of the lakes after writing about David Zurick's photo book, "The Third Coast." chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...

It was such an honor to cover the 2025 Chicago Literary Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The honorees are Timuel Black, Oscar Brown Jr. and Harriette Gillem Robinet. Here is my article for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Candace Dane Chambers chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...

A gem of a read ... ever heard of the O'Hare community in Chicago -- not the airport. Thousands of people live here w/ties to the Schorsch Brothers real estate co. (no relation, or maybe?), via @ericathompson.bsky.social: tinyurl.com/3be2vtae:

When you hear “O’Hare,” you probably think of the airport. There is also an O’Hare community area on the Northwest Side of Chicago, where nearly 14,000 are living. But hardly anyone acknowledges that name. My deep dive on the area for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...

Reports show that the NASCAR Chicago Street Race has made gradual improvements in attracting more women, younger people and more ethnically diverse fans. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/nascar/2025/...

“All we want to show is that everybody’s equal here and we love everybody, and that this is our community,” Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero said. “We all need to get together no matter what.”

I often go to Berwyn to shop, but it was nice spending time with residents yesterday during the Pride Walk. Community members said the suburb has taken steps to be more inclusive of its LGBTQ+ and Latino populations. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/lgbtq/2025/0...

After 18 years in Wicker Park, The Violet Hour cocktail bar shutters following damage to its building. Here's my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/food-drink/2...

For #pride month, several Chicago drag designers gave us a behind-the-scenes look at their creative process. It was so fun to meet these artists, including "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Willow Pill. 📷 Ashlee Rezin & Pat Nabong Our story for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2025...

“New research led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that the depth of social networks that older adults have is linked to their health outcomes.” Informative story by @elviamalagon.bsky.social. chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/06...

Chicago pool season has officially started! I visited Hale Pool and Washington Pool, which some call the “jewel of the south.” Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 @taliaspraguephotography.com chicago.suntimes.com/parks-nature...

Today, I helped cover the “No Kings” protest in Chicago. It was a long but peaceful day that started at the Daley Plaza and ended at the ICE field office. Here’s our live blog for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷: Me

I interviewed 97-year-old George E. Johnson, who created the famous Ultra Sheen & Afro Sheen hair products. His memoir details how he escaped poverty to build the first Black-owned business to trade on Wall Street. Here is my article for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...

I had the opportunity to witness The Queens! 4 Legends. 1 Stage Tour at the United Center. Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills showed off their passion, pipes & sisterhood during the concert. Here’s my review for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Here's the story Jon Seidel and I wrote last fall on Larry Hoover's quest for freedom. chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-gang...

President Donald Trump commuted the life prison sentence of Larry Hoover, the notorious co-founder of the Gangster Disciples street gang, the White House confirmed.

At Soldier Field for the #Beyonce concert, which has been delayed for a couple hours due to weather concerns. But I was able to chat with some fans about their fashion choices for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Anthony Vazquez chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Chicago Cabaret Week is underway! I had a lovely chat with veteran singer Lynne Jordan, who will be performing at The Cliff Dwellers on Thursday night. Here's my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/music/2025/0...

Frank Main, Elvia Malagón and I were honored with two Peter Lisagor Awards for our Sun-Times story on the toll of opioid overdoses on a generation of Black men in America: Best Political and Government Reporting and Best Data Journalism. And congrats to our Baltimore Banner and NYT collaborators! 🎉

From Chicago to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV is making history as the first American pope. Celebrate this groundbreaking moment with this commemorative tee, featuring the historic front page of the Sun-Times. chicago-sun-times.myshopify.com/collections/...

I wrote an obituary for beloved jazz singer and pianist Andy Bey, a Newark native with connections to Chicago. Celebrated for his rich baritone and vocal range, the musician died April 26. Here is my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/obituaries/2...

Resharing my @chicago.suntimes.com interview with Law Roach ahead of tonight’s #metgala. This was an exciting opportunity for me. I didn’t know if I could make it happen, but I did! chicago.suntimes.com/fashion/2024...

So…Chicago has a festival dedicated to pickles … 🥒 I had fun covering #ChicagoPickleFest for @chicago.suntimes.com. 🎥 Me

I often interview artists and gallery owners, but I rarely talk to individual art collectors, especially those just starting to build their collections. Here's my interview with Chris Craft, who bought two pieces at EXPO Chicago, for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/art/2025/04/...

Yesterday, I attended the Midwest Tulip Fest at Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park. What a beautiful and fun place for the whole family. Here is my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. Gorgeous photos by Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

I had the privilege of interviewing young artists from Chicago Public Schools, whose works are displayed in booth 148 at EXPO Chicago at Navy Pier this weekend. Here's my article for @chicago.suntimes.com. 📷 Anthony Vazquez chicago.suntimes.com/art/2025/04/...

Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret has canceled all live shows due to financial challenges. As the Wicker Park venue rebrands as an "ultra lounge," the cabaret community is mourning the loss of an institution. Here is my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

I interviewed comedian, filmmaker, writer & activist @wkamaubell.bsky.social, who is bringing his "Who's With Me?" tour to the Den Theatre this week. You can also catch him on the "Celebrity Jeopardy" finals Wednesday. Here's my article for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/comedy/2025/...

I spent some time at the Garfield Park Conservatory’s spring flower show, “Rooted in Mystery.” There are some really unique varieties this year. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. Beautiful photos by Pat Nabong chicago.suntimes.com/entertainmen...

Today, the Numero Group is releasing the fabulous “Soul Music of Illinois.” Edited by Dante Carfagna, the two-volume coffee table book is a comprehensive overview of the state’s soul music from 1960 to 1990. Here’s my story for @chicago.suntimes.com. chicago.suntimes.com/books/2025/0...

This part of Gayle King’s comments about her space flight is not getting enough attention. Um…what? www.usatoday.com/story/entert...