I'm excited about this Oct. 11 event at the Sanfilippo Foundation in Barrington Hills, My co-author and I will be talking about our book on the Uptown Theatre — but this will also be a chance to see movie palace artifacts. Tickets are $40. Register by Oct. 3: www.sanfilippofoundation.org/events.html

Future of Panther Arena, High Life Theatre Uncertain by @jeramey.urbanmilwaukee.com

Following Social Media Discoveries, Republican Ends Campaign For Governor

I wrote about the incredible collection of modernist architecture in Chatham commissioned by Black professionals looking to make their mark on Chicago in the midcentury

My architecture column returns today (I'm back from two weeks off).

Old and new pics of places in @tvayyyy.bsky.social's terrific, uncompromisingly Chicago-centric novel, The El (B&W pic, Chicago History Museum) bsky.app/profile/tvay...

The 100th anniversary photo of the Uptown Theatre was unveiled at the Chicago History Museum earlier today. Those in attendance included Uptown owner Jerry Mickelson, 46th Ward Alderwoman Angela Clay, and writers of the Uptown book Andy Pierce and @robertloerzel.bsky.social.

Investigative Midwest finds that Beardstown was revived in the past few decades because so many immigrants came to work.

Thur., 10/2 at 18th Street Casa de Cultura, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame presents Nuestros Corazones Literarios (Our Literary Hearts). Free and open to the public. For details and to RSVP: tinyurl.com/mu388d9v

Fellow Chicagoans, I hate to have to say this, but Portillo's is run by fucking scabs and union busters. If you care at all about worker rights, you ought to stop greasing their grinder with your money. www.chicagotribune.com/2024/07/25/p...

The group photo from the 100th anniversary of the Uptown Theatre will be unveiled tomorrow at 10am at the Chicago History Museum. As an added bonus, the museum will be FREE to Illinois residents all day. See you there. Also, if you haven't listened to this yet... www.buzzsprout.com/1022374/epis...

A lot has changed in meat packing since Upton Sinclair released The Jungle, but the industry is still dangerous and it still relies on our most vulnerable populations. Hear those worker’s stories on the latest episode of 99% Invisible 👉 99percentinvisible.org/episode/643-...

2 weeks before he recorded "Blue Train" in September 1957, John Coltrane was a sideman on Sonny Clark's hard bop date "Sonny's Crib." Trane is heard in top form including a commanding feature performance on “Speak Low." Listen or get the Classic Vinyl Edition: bluenote.lnk.to/SonnyClark-S...

Gettysburg College has been named one of 75 dream schools in New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo’s new book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You,” in bookstores now. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3Im7CMD

An agricultural law and policy expert discusses what’s happening in farming from a government and policy perspective.

@spurlockmuseum.bsky.social's exhibit is open from now through January 11.

"He is arguably America's greatest living painter . . ." The Guardian's Eddy Frankel interviews Kerry James Marshall in conjunction with his major retrospective at the Royal Academy. www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Recital of Deirdre by William Butler Yeats with a staging of plays by Lady Gregory and Morris McNeil, Chicago 1923

R.I.P. Sonny Curtis

A few days late, but R.I.P. the great Robert Redford, here running out of Red's Lounge in the Forum across 43rd Street and then onto the @chicagocta.bsky.social 43rd Street El platform while being chased by law enforcement in The Sting (1973).

Here’s a convenient way to find alternatives to Uline for your business: refuseuline.com

A wonderful colleague passed away recently. Our student newspaper wrote a beautiful story about him. I wanted to share it with you. Ricardo Ortiz was a great scholar, teacher, and colleague, and an even better person. He will be missed. We are lucky to have known him. thehoya.com/news/ricardo...

NEW — When the masked and unmasked federal agents surfaced on the rooftop of the red-brick building in suburban Broadview, some armed with pepper ball guns, protesters began to put on their protective gear — masks, goggles, helmets. thetriibe.com/2025/09/and-...

From @whyy.org in Philadelphia, our talk with Terry Gross. Now on video! An honor to celebrate half a century of @nprfreshair.bsky.social.

Turmoil at CDC prompts Illinois, other states, to issue their own vaccine guidance. Story by Peter Hancock. https://loom.ly/UoHCEHE

North Side leaders are hosting a town hall Sunday on how to fight back against ICE. blockclubchi.co/4mmzGx4

In a Colorado meatpacking town, refugees fleeing persecution find themselves in some of the most dangerous jobs in America. Listen to next week’s episode a week early when you subscribe to 99% Invisible on SiriusXM Podcasts+ 🎧

Peach and eggplant sculptures stir unexpected drama in Ellicott City

Senior reporter Maya Dukmasova served as a reporting consultant on this story about Chicago’s LLC landlords. We’re proud to republish this important piece by WBEZ reporters Amy Qin and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang. www.injusticewatch.org/civil-courts...

@robertloerzel.bsky.social, I was looking for you at this show last night, which I think you would have enjoyed:

according to an immigration attorney representing several arrested workers, ICE agents chose to arrest the Korean workers to fulfill the quota of 3,000 daily immigrant arrests set by Stephen Miller www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...

After Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez was shot to death by ICE yesterday, some local & national outlets were quick to uncritically repeat the agency’s version of events. Responsible reporting by @unraveledpress.com, @mulchy.bsky.social, & @djbyrnes1.bsky.social illuminates a very different story.

Maryland professors were targeted by Charlie Kirk. Now what?

Thanks to @rickkogan.bsky.social for this @chicagotribune.com story on the Uptown Theatre and my new book about it: Will there be more birthdays for the Uptown Theatre? A new book looks at its history (gift link) www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/10/u...

Also, check out PUÑO for the next Migra Watch trainings to learn how to combat ICE terror in our communities! We'll be at the one on Thursday, September 18th at 5:30 pm at The National Museum of Mexican Art. You can register at bit.ly/migrawatchtraining

These obits are driving me up a wall. Kirk "talked to people who disagreed with him" the same way that a guy yelling slurs at a protest crowd "talks to people who disagree with him". He was never there to understand, only to posture and dunk. That's not a model for discourse, it's ego masturbation.

The team behind "22 Walks In Washington That You Must Not Miss" explains why the book is essential for newcomers and longtime residents alike. 51st.news/dc-authors-2...

Some of the things Charlie Kirk has said as a right-wing influencer and Trump ally: • “We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s” • George Floyd was a “scumbag” • Gun deaths are “worth it” thetriibe.com/2025/09/live...

Charlie Kirk never had a good-faith debate in his life. And he didn't care for democracy either. Do you, Mr. Newsom?

Not trapped under ICE: During the immigration enforcement crackdown, cyclists are alerting the public and spreading the word about legal rights. There's another Ice Patrol Bike Ride tonight, 9/10, at 7PM in Gage Park, near the Orange Line's Western stop. @chicritmass.bsky.social @bikegridnow.org

Italian Americana 43.1 includes a symposium titled "Reflections on 'Mean Streets' at Fifty." scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/ia/issue... Check out @jacquelinereich.bsky.social's contribution, "The Safe Danger of 'Mean Streets'": scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/ia/artic...

Here's Nick Blumberg's story on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" about the Uptown Theatre, including interviews with me and my co-author, Andy Pierce, plus building owner Jerry Mickelson and theater caretaker David Syfczak—with new footage filmed inside the theater. news.wttw.com/2025/09/08/l...

For nearly a quarter century, Timothy Evans has served as chief judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. The role involves controlling a $368 million budget. Tomorrow, the county’s circuit court judges will vote on whether he will serve a record ninth term. www.injusticewatch.org/judges/court...

When riding your bicycle in Chicago, watch out for ICE! "Bike ride tonight in Pilsen and tomorrow in Gage Park to protest ICE's operations and protect people." Details below. @stevevance.net @swcollectivechi.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @equiticity.bsky.social @bikegridnow.org

Today, students from Georgetown, Howard, GWU, and American University walked out against Trump’s unlawful military occupation of DC. They’re united with DC residents and allies across the nation to stop this wannabe dictator’s power grab. ✊🏽 Stand with us. #FreeDC #WeAreAllDC

"Revival: Live at Pookie's Pub" is a thrilling 1967 live recording of Elvin Jones’ quartet that captures the drummer’s emergence as a bandleader at a little-known NYC club where he had a weekly residency with Joe Farrell, Billy Greene & Wilbur Little: elvinjones.lnk.to/Revival-Live...

Hey hey, Georgetown Students! Are you interested in social justice and the workers' rights movement? Head over to our open house TOMORROW 9/3 from 6:00 - 7:00 to learn more about what we offer.