Classic Fran line: "Until now, Quigley has been the Hamlet of Chicago politics. He has flirted with the idea of running for mayor for the last three or four cycles, but he never pulled the trigger."

Let's end this most challenging year with our favorite Dill Pickles and their Bawl M'ass'k courtesy of member @newberrylibrary.bsky.social (citation below) 2026 has to be better, right? Right????

When Patrick Smith decided to become the co-host of "Say More," he left behind a dream job so he could help create a new public square on WBEZ.

CPD graphic design went hard in the '80s

We're thrilled to welcome reporter @jimrlynch.bsky.social, a Morgan Park native, to the @blockclubchi.bsky.social team, expanding our full-time coverage to Beverly, Mount Greenwood, Morgan Park + Washington Heights. Send him your tips at [email protected]!

With dueling budget proposals, City Council is no closer to compromise as shutdown deadline looms. blockclubchi.co/4rR5bDr

Soccer House bar is taking over the former Twisted Spoke just in time for the World Cup. blockclubchi.co/3Mx1939

Major props to Illinois Answers and the Sun-Times for doggedly covering this story all year

A source involved w/ budget negotiations says there will likely be no committee votes today on MBJ's package budget. Process seems poised to stretch into December From Friday, w/ latest budget numbers in slideshow at bottom of story: blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/14/m...

Volumes is calling it after a decade in Wicker Park. Sad to see an indie bookstore close, anytime. Owner directly points the finger at the nearby Barnes & Noble, which opened last year. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/14/v...

Ald Greg Mitchell declined to answer Qs about the immigration raid and living conditions at 7500 S Shore Dr at council today. He said the raid was "over with," and suggested I already knew about his prior work to address the building's problems. When I said I do not, hence me asking, he walked away

Roughly outside what is today Easy Bar

Bovino just posted this on X

"While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” “Little Village!” the crowd shouted back from the Downtown sculpture, located 6 miles northeast from the Chicago neighborhood." blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...

It might be getting lost in the shuffle, but Chicago Public Library's proposed collections budget -- used to buy new books, maintain subscriptions, access databases -- is slated for a 50% cut next year, from $10 million to $5 million. 69 currently vacant positions are also on the chopping block.

One update - at least one other man was detained by Border Patrol on Avers Avenue south of Lawrence this morning, according to video provided by a witness.

Video from this morning on Lawrence near Kedzie @blockclubchi.bsky.social

here's a video of that happening www.reddit.com/r/LoganSquar...

Hundreds marched through Downtown Tuesday to protest President Trump’s latest threat to send troops to Chicago as well as his administration’s immigration enforcement operations. blockclubchi.co/4nU7XFb

Dasha Ramirez, 8, and her little brother were playing with the water at the Crown Fountain in Chicago’s Millennium Park when federal agents approached their parents. She ran toward her father, Jaime Ramirez, who was suddenly surrounded by a group of heavily armed agents in full camouflage.

I spoke with Tony about his new book, upcoming Steppenwolf show and of course, all things Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/22/t...

god bless Chicago "Last month, Satrom launched a petition to “Save the West Town Skeleton (On A Motorcycle),” with a goal of permanently installing it on a median in the middle of Ogden Avenue, ideally right by the Twisted Spoke site." blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/17/t...

Heyday Eatery is bringing all-day breakfast, coffee and matcha to Wicker Park. blockclubchi.co/4nbtYzu

Here is the reroute/detour plan

If I see the salt truck video one more time I'm going to lose my fucking mind. They're not being used to block the city off from ICE. They're walling off the Taste of Chicago. The city uses salt trucks as temporary infrastructure.

2,800 total housing units, 180-200 room hotel, 19 SFH, 28 townhouses, a riverwalk and the 606 extension over the Chicago River: JDL shared its latest plans for Lincoln Yards replacement Foundry Park at a community meeting last night @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/04/f...

Meet Me On Milwaukee shut down a section of the usually crowded thoroughfare to cars for seven hours Sunday. It’s the first of three car-free events on the strip this summer and fall. blockclubchi.co/4lWGqSa

Here's a fun palate cleanser story before whatever happens this week happens @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/02/p...

I was not expecting Trump to become a champion of anti-Asian carp efforts in the Great Lakes....but as he's calling it the "China" carp, maybe it makes sense - comments start a bit after 51 min www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPf...

A 44-unit apartment building is replacing a longtime Wicker Park tire shop. blockclubchi.co/3JkYojP

A bit of good news for a strip that's been struggling this year. "Indie Row" around Armitage on Damen continues to be a vibrant business corridor, with locally-owned boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Damen closer to North is full of chains -- and many are closing or moving.

📢 JOB ALERT: @blockclubchi.bsky.social is hiring a FT reporter to cover Beverly, Morgan Park + Mount Greenwood in Chicago! Dream come true for @jensabella.bsky.social + me. We both live in Beverly + have long dreamed of adding a reporter here. Deadline 9/25: blockclubchicago.org/2025/08/13/w...

Meet the Watermelon Man, a South Side legend with the sweetest melons in town.  blockclubchi.co/3J8d59P

Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park will go car-free once a month this fall. blockclubchi.co/4fawx1o

Major scoop from @themelodymercado.bsky.social

Mayor Johnson is pushing for a City Council vote next week on a proposal to allow single-family homeowners to convert their attics, basements, garages, and coach houses into "granny flats," also known as accessory dwelling units.

An adult spelling bee brought hundreds to Wicker Park to relive their childhood glory. blockclubchi.co/3IhQ4k4

Yes, I went to the "Free Adult Spelling Bee" in Wicker Park last night. It was a blast blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/26/a...

The barrel that launched a sour beer movement is now at Chicago’s Off Color Brewing. blockclubchi.co/4k5rOyY

what could possibly go wrong?

The "snap curfew" passed City Council — but the mayor vows to veto it. blockclubchi.co/43S4bVX

Indivisible Chicago is now estimating 75,000 people attended today's march. Impossible for me to tell from on the ground, but certainly "tens of thousands" of people attended.

My old apartment, blocked by tree.

How Rainbo Club bartender and artist Ken Ellis became a "Wicker Park icon." blockclubchi.co/4mD3ret

A very cool and very Chicago effort from people trying to make their neighborhood a better place @blockclubchi.bsky.social blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/02/b...

The "additional bathrooms" is actually the most exciting part of this

When we talk about the impact of local news, most think of a massive investigation. But the impact I'm most proud of is how we've empowered our readers to help each other, keeping folks in their homes, saving local businesses — and finding a kidney donor.

A woman donated her kidney to a renowned Chicago choreographer — who will soon dance again. blockclubchi.co/4jiXtwF

Good morning from today's City Council zoning meeting, which is set to kick off shortly. The largest project on the agenda: Onni's massive three-phase development at 700 W Chicago Ave near the casino that includes 2,451 mixed-income residences. From last year: blockclubchicago.org/2024/06/25/m...