-
-
-
Food & Drink Feature
-
Chicago restaurants ate shit this year. A lot of shit was still pretty great.
- By Mike Sula
-
Tags: Food & Drink Feature, Year in Review 2020, the Powerhouse, Julia Gham, Lao Peng You, Little Madrid, O16, Chicago Ramen, Dining at a Distance, Erick Williams, Virtue, Reader Recipes: Chicago Cooks and Drinks at Home, Jasmine Sheth, Tasting India, Ethan Lim, Hermosa, Yuta Katsuyama, Snack Collective, Eve Studnicka, Dinner at the Grotto, Alexis Thomas, Black Cat Kitchen, Shin Thompson, Bokuchan, Furious Spoon, John Avila, Minahasa, Kedai Tepao, The Wurst, Vera Videnovich, Rachel Kimura, Atichat Srisawangpan, Inon Srisawangpan, In-On Thai, Dinkey DaDiva, Rafael Esparza, Mitchell AbouJamra, Evette’s, Passerotto, Jennifer Kim
-
-
-
Dance
-
In a year of loss, artists found momentum and took care.
- By Irene Hsiao
-
Tags: Dance, Dance, Year in Review 2020, Jane Jerardi, Bril Barrett, M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ayako Kato, Spence Warren, Nora Sharp, Links Hall, Dance Center of Columbia College, Kristina Fluty, Giau Minh Truong, Jacob Snodgrass, Experimental Sound Studio, Win
-
-
-
Feature
-
How local creatives made the most of the social media platform in 2020
- By Brianna Wellen
-
Tags: Feature, TikTok, comedy, burlesque, drag, Alex Collyard, Elizabeth Gomez, Derry Queen, Iridessence, social media, Year in Review 2020
-
-
-
Ghost Light
-
In the pandemic, performing artists took care of each other. We should take better care of them.
- By Kerry Reid
-
Tags: Ghost Light, Ghost Light, Chicago Artists Relief Fund, For the People Artists Collective, Chicago Theatre Workers Relief Fund, Season of Concern, Dancers' Fund, Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, The Actors Fund, Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, Titus Burgess, André De Shields, Brav, Year in Review 2020
-
-
-
Lit Feature
-
Add these stories rooted in the city to your reading list.
- By Adam Morgan
-
Tags: Lit Feature, Year in Review 2020, Everywhere You Don't Belong, Gabriel Bump, The Beauty of Your Face, Sahar Mustafah, Finna, Nate Marshall, Too Much Midnight, Krista Franklin, The Most Beautiful Thing, Arshay Cooper, The Heart of a Woman, Florence B. Price, Rae Linda Brown, Stateway's Garden, Jasmon Drain, The Lost Book of Adana Moreau, Michael Zapata, Campus Counterspaces: Black and Latinx Student's Search for Community at Historically White Universities, Micere Keels, Sun Ra's Chicago: Atrofuturism and the City, William Sites
-
-
-
Performing Arts Feature
-
Fleetwood-Jourdain spearheads a new collaboration "Celebrating Life, Community and the Arts."
- By Catey Sullivan
-
Tags: Performing Arts Feature, Evanston Performing Arts Collective, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, The Musical Offering, Timothy Edward Rhoze, Jeremy Ramey, Kara Roseborough, Rick Ferguson, Harmony France, Firebrand Theatre, Averis I. Anderson, Matthew Hunter, Kyrie Ander
-
-
-
Theater Preview
-
Melissa Leilani Larson and Lavina Jadhwani reimagine a classic for BIPOC voices.
- By Catey Sullivan
-
Tags: Theater Preview, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Pride & Prejudice Productions, Melissa Leilani Larson, Lavina Jadhwani, Guthrie Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Rasaka Theatre, Sarah-Lucy Hill, Dan Lin, Stephanie Fongheiser, Capri Campeau, Sophia Ramos, Stephanie Neuerburg, J.
-
-
-
Theater Review
-
Charles Dickens and Ike Holter are unlikely twin spirit guides in two online shows.
- By Kerry Reid
-
Tags: Theater Review, Remy Bumppo, The Chimes, Charles Dickens, Nick Sandys, Ian Frank, Studio Theatre, Ike Holter, I Hate It Here, Moony, Steep Theatre, The Light Fantastic, Jackalope
-
-
-
Theater Review
-
Christmas Eve goes to 11 in Isaac Gómez's workplace comedy; About Face celebrates Black queer lives, past and present.
- By Kerry Reid
-
Tags: Theater Review, Isaac Gómez, Wally World, Steppenwolf, Lili-Anne Brown, Sandra Marquez, Karen Rodriguez, Audrey Francis, Jacqueline Williams, About Face Theatre, Kickback, Mikael Burke, Rebuild Foundation, Robert Cornelius, Paul Oakley Stovall, Frankie Knuckles, Labi Siffre, ShaZah (Sh, Recommended
-
-
-
On Culture
-
She earned the title—still he was dissing her! Would he do the same to, say, Dr. Kissinger?
- By Deanna Isaacs
-
Tags: On Culture, Joseph Epstein, Jill Biden, Wall Street Journal, Northwestern University, Harper's Magazine, Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Dan Shore, Madama Butterfly, Queen of Spades, Freedom Ride, Sarah Bryan Miller, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
-
-
-
On Politics
-
I think we can all agree the next year has got to be better.
- By Ben Joravsky
-
Tags: On Politics, COVID-19, coronavirus, George Clinton, the Isley Brothers, the O’Jays, Taste of Chicago, Black Harvest Film Festival, Grant Park, White Sox, Cubs, Wrigley, Ricketts, Year in Review
-
-
-
Opinion
-
When politicians sell out to win, we all lose.
- By Leonard C. Goodman
-
Tags: Opinion, Democrats, Republicans, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Green New Deal, WikiLeaks, James Clyburn, Antony Blinken, Jimmy Dore, Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, AOC, Pramila Jayapal
-
-
-
Savage Love
-
For example, it can “involve disagreeing about how many coats of paint are needed on a bathroom wall.”
- By Dan Savage
-
Tags: Savage Love
-
-
-
On Transportation
-
Renaming the landmark for Chicago’s Black founder would be a game-changer, but we can still also refer to Lake Shore Drive by its iconic appellation.
- By John Greenfield
-
Tags: On Transportation, Lake Shore Drive, DuSable Drive, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Toni Preckwinkle, David Moore, Ed Burke, Ephraim Martin, Black Heroes Matter, Sophia King, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Patch, Mark Konkol, Alliota Haynes Jeremiah, “Lake Shore Drive”, Video
-
-
-
Feature
-
On the violence, sadness, and hope of 2020
- By Maya Dukmasova, Karen Hawkins, Adam M. Rhodes, Brianna Wellen, Salem Collo-Julin, Leor Galil, Taryn Allen and Sujay Kumar
-
Tags: Feature, Year in Review 2020, eviction, protest, anti-trans violence, police, therapy, lori lightfoot, death, coronavirus, pandemic, election 2020
-
-
-
Feature
-
Whether through organizing, the arts, or social media, these individuals took the year by the horns and made their mark on Chicago—and the world.
- By Gretchen Sterba
-
Tags: Feature, Eva Maria Lewis, Free Root Operation, Laundi Keepseagle, Save Money, Save Life, Nash Alam, Grassroots Collaborative, Ric Wilson, Rivka Yeker, Morgan Martinez, Hooligan Magazine, Maria Khwaja, Trina Reynolds-Tyler, Pidgeon Pagonis, Intersex Justice Project, Damon Williams, Jennifer Pagán, Let Us Breathe Collective, Year in Review 2020
-
-
-
Feature
-
When the pandemic hit, I ran to the woods.
- by S. Nicole Lane
-
Tags: Feature, Year in Review 2020, hiking, outdoors, walking, Palos Park Woods, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Starved Rock, Devil’s Lake, Wisconsin, Nordhouse Dunes, Michigan, Manistee River, Chicago’s Outerbelt Loop
-
-
-
Public Service Announcement
-
Upcoming events and distractions from our listings coordinator
- By Salem Collo-Julin
-
Tags: Public Service Announcement, listings, events, virtual events, livestream, Annoyance Theatre, walking, books, winter, Water Tower Place, mallwalking, Ballet Chicago
-
-
-
Movie Feature
-
Some of the best films of the year meet their matches.
- By Becca James
-
Tags: Movie Feature, The Assistant, Sound of Metal, Gretel & Hansel, Shirley, Come to Daddy, Blow the Man Down, The Lodge, Vivarium, Straight Up, Buffaloed, Spree, Freaky, The Half of It, Castle in the Ground, A Good Woman is Hard to Find, I'm Your Woman, Becky, Alone, Possessor, Black Bear, Year in Review 2020
-
-
-
Chicagoans of Note
-
“Something about a recording studio, I think it’s always overlooked as a place for community.”
- By Philip Montoro
-
Tags: Chicagoans of Note, Doug Malone, Jamdek, Jamdek Recording Studio, Minbal, Benjamin Balcom, Courtesy, Columbia College, engineer, Humboldt Park, pandemic, COVID-19, Small Business Administration, Save Our Stages, recording studio, studio
-
-
-
Gossip Wolf
-
Plus: Self-described “bootgaze” crew the Keener Family return with a second EP one year after their debut.
- By J.R. Nelson and Leor Galil
-
Tags: Gossip Wolf, Sen Morimoto, Hideout, Tim Tuten, Katie Tuten, talent buyer, booker, Sullivan Davis, Keener Family, Christopher Keener, Quarter Mile Thunder, Ben Clarke, Park Service, Tender Beast, Down the Drain, Hold Me Close, bootgaze, Sam Wagster, Alex DeGroot
-
-
-
Music Feature
-
We’ve all had a lot to pay attention to this year, but there’s always room for more great music.
- By Leor Galil
-
Tags: Music Feature, Best of 2020, Year in Review, Year in Review 2020, end-of-year lists, best albums, overlooked local music, overlooked, Rob Mitchum, Jeff Parker, Suite for Max Brown, Ozzuario, Existence Is Pain, Miranda Reinert, Wendy House Press, Buggin, Buggin Out, Bryanna Bennett, Casper McFadden, Audio Diary, Harvey Waters, Air Sits Heavy, Jusell, Prymek, Sage, Shiroishi, Fuubutsushi, Matthew Sage, Chris Jusell, Chaz Prymek, Patrick Shiroishi, Tree, Free Credit, MFn Melo, Brittney Carter, Solo the Dweeb
-
-
-
Music Feature
-
With concerts and tours on hold for most of the year, the city’s music scene doubled down on mutual aid and fundraising for community groups.
- By Jack Riedy
-
Tags: Music Feature, Year in Review 2020, mutual aid, activism, fundraising, COVID-19, pandemic, Black Lives Matter, Matt Muse, People’s Grab-N-Go, Femdot, Delacreme Scholars, Femi Adigun, the Scholars Slide By, Love & Nappyness Hair Care Drive, Feed the West Side, John Walt Foundation, Nachelle Pugh, Pivot Gang, Frsh Waters, Qurissy Lopez, Bandcamp Friday, Nnamdï Ogbonnaya, Nnamdï, Brat, Krazy Karl, Black Plight, Assata’s Daughters, EAT Chicago, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Illinois Prison Project, Brave Space Alliance, Macie Stewart, Sima Cunningham, Ohmme, KC Tenants, Chicago Community Jail Support, Montessori School of Englewood, Kooyrigs, Warm Violet, Avery Springer, Art Is Love Vol. 1, Why? Records, Ruby Watson, Sen Morimoto, Tasha, Prison + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project, CIVLization, CIVL SAVE Emergency Relief Fund, Situationchicago, Experimental Sound Studio, Quarantine Concerts
-
-
-
Music Feature
-
The Reader got creative to find ways to keep uplifting Chicago artists in 2020.
- By Salem Collo-Julin
-
Tags: Music Feature, Year in Review 2020, gig poster, music venue, COVID-19, fundraiser, flyer, concert, B Side, Gig Poster of the Week, Luca Cimarusti, Kevin Warwick, Nicole Marroquin, DeBarge, fantasy gig poster, Eric J. Garcia, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, Casa Aztlán, Andrea Hill Fitzgerald, Prince, Avalon Regal, Heather Anderson, CocoRosie, Empty Bottle, Tesh Silver, George Floyd, Big Floyd, DJ Screw, Dave “Medusa” Shelton, Rob Schwager, Meatmen, Medusa’s, John Vernon Forbes, Ralph Graham
-
-
-
The Listener
-
Congress has finally earmarked relief for independent venues, but after more than nine months of mandated closure, that money won’t be enough.
- By Jamie Ludwig
-
Tags: The Listener, Angry Peasants, Angry Peasants Volume X, CIVL, Save Our Stages, COVID-19, Nequient, Hypervolume, Justin Cummings, Squared Off, Our Earth Is a Tomb, the Mons, Pale Horsemen, Gravelust, 5RVLN5, Chicago Independent Venue League
-
-
-
The Secret History of Chicago Music
-
This slide guitarist’s recording career lasted less than a decade, but he changed the world by influencing the likes of Robert Johnson and Elmore James.
- By Steve Krakow
-
Tags: The Secret History of Chicago Music, Winter Blues, James “Kokomo” Arnold, Kokomo Arnold, Decca Records, Victor Records, blues, guitar, slide guitar, Gitfiddle Jim, Robert Johnson, Elmore James, Clayton County, Georgia, Lovejoy, Jonesboro, John Wiggs, Rainy Night Blues, Paddlin’ Blues, Kansas Joe McCoy, J. Mayo “Ink” Williams, Old Original Kokomo Blues, Milk Cow Blues, Kokomo Blues, Sweet Home Chicago, Francis “Scrapper” Blackwell, Milkcow’s Calf Blues, Sagefield Woman Blues, I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom, Alice Moore, Roosevelt Sykes, Oscar's Chicago Swingers, Peetie Wheatstraw, Blues Classics by Kokomo Arnold / Peetie Wheatstraw, Burr Oak Cemetery, Saydisc, Matchbox, Document Records, Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, The Kokomo Arnold Collection 1930-38, Acrobat, Video
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Steve Krakow
-
Tags: Music Review, Josephine Foster, No Harm Done, Fire Records, freak folk, folk music, folk-rock, Little Life, Children's Hour, Born Heller, Josephine Foster & the Supposed, Colorado, Mystery Meet, Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You, Matt Schneider, Moon Bros., Nashville, quarantine, Recommended
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Bill Meyer
-
Tags: Music Review, The Miyumi Project, The Best of the Miyumi Project, FPE Records, Tatsu Aoki, Tokyo, Japan, filmmaker, jazz, improvised music, Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Asian, Jamie Kempkers, Mwata Bowden, Rami Atassi, Ameen Muhammad, Recommended
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Noah Berlatsky
-
Tags: Music Review, Electric Hydra, Sweden, Majestic Mountain Records, Tee Pee Records, hard-rock, pop-metal, Jonathan Möller, Ellinor Andersson, Sanne Karlsson, head-bang, Recommended, Video
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Leor Galil
-
Tags: Music Review, Cam Be, Summer in September, Camovement, funk, R&B, hip-hop, Joshua Griffin, Sam Trump, Chris Paquette, Recommended
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Leor Galil
-
Tags: Music Review, DJ Earl, footwork, Teklife, Open Your Eyes, 50 Backwoods, Nick Hook, Paintings on the Porch, MC Sheefy McFly, Black Dobson, Akem Eshu, Bass + Funk & Soul, Moveltraxx, Brazil, Recommended
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Shannon Nico Shreibak
-
Tags: Music Review, Mark Lanegan, Dark Mark Does Christmas 2020, Rough Trade, Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, Isobel Campbell, Dark Mark Does Christmas 2012, Christmas, Recommended, Video
-
-
-
Music Review
-
- By Salem Collo-Julin
-
Tags: Music Review, Bronson Recordings, Live Skull, Dangerous Visions, New York, noise-rock, Dusted, Mark C., Tom Paine, Thalia Zedek, postpunk, Saturday Night Massacre, John Peel, Recommended, Video
