around the city and beyond around Chicago J G J M | An expanded guide to chill cycling routes guide to chill cycling An expanded Bike Map BY
The Mellow
B A C | Chicago’s funk superhero releases his fi rst fi his releases superhero funk Chicago’s mission time his this in 40 years—and album the on Black teenagers mentoring includes south side. Sky Captain return of The
FREE AND FREAKY SINCE | JULY THIS WEEK CHICAGO READER | JULY | VOLUME NUMBER
IN THIS ISSUE T R - and state routes in the city and beyond Our critics review releases that you @ 10 Reopening Essays on the hopes can enjoy at home and horrors of returning to “normal” FILM P T B 25 Interview How the fi lmmakers E C S K K H behind Mucho Mucho Amor The C L R H Legend of Walter Mercado brought M E P M TD K R a Latino story to the masses C E B W 26 Movies of Note Desperados A E J L is a Netfl ix comedy fl op The Old S W M D L G D I B J M S Guard is a big budget comic book E A S N L FOOD & DRINK movie that’s both entertaining and G D A H 03 Feature A small northwest aff ecting and Andy Samberg shows L C S C -J C E B N B Indiana butcher shop makes a off his comedic and dramatic chops L C M D L C M C go of it mid pandemic with small in Palm Springs 37 Early Warnings Rescheduled J F S F J H I farmers small slaughterhouses and concerts and other updated listings H C M J M K S K naturally raised beef pork chicken ARTS & CULTURE 37 Gossip Wolf Naperville teen N D LJ L and lamb 16 Visual Arts Chicago’s c punks Protagonists get reissued M M A M -K Museum Hotel reopens with “This a er years indie pop trio J R N J N M O M S C S We Believe ” Gosh Diggity add a little muscle ------18 Lit The American Writers Museum to their tender sound and Le Tour D D J D adapted to pandemic pressures posthumously release what didn’t S M C J G with rich online content and virtual quite become their third album SS P events A T A 19 Social Media iPlanLive takes OPINION S I D M N over TikTok 40 Savage Love Dan Savage D D C W gives advice to just another cuckin’ M P C Y D THEATER MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE monogamous couple E A S L K 20 New Beginnings Steep Theatre 28 Feature Chicago’s funk S EC K K loses its venue but not its vision superhero Captain Sky releases his CLASSIFIEDS ADVERTISING 21 Community The Chicago Artists fi rst album in yearsand this 42 Jobs -- @ NEWS & POLITICS Relief Fund cuts the red tape time his mission includes mentoring 42 Apartments & Spaces C 06 Joravsky | Politics Learning to Black teenagers on the south side 42 Marketplace - @ love the never Trump crowd at the CITY LIFE 32 Chicagoans of Note DJ Hank V P S A M Lincoln Project 22 Transportation Check out the fi lmmaker and bike messenger C R M T P 08 Isaacs | Culture A revised law Mellow Chicago Bike Map a newly 34 Records of Note A pandemic O P J M S A R F ’ L M -H L S slashes casino profi ts for the city expanded guide to chill cycling can’t stop the fl ow of great music C S M W R
N A V M G -- - J L S B THIS WEEK ON CHICAGOREADER.COM ------D C [email protected] -- CHICAGO READER LC BP D R L T E R A- S V
C C E B T C R O P-R F C F ------R ISSN - R LC S M S C IL --
C © C R ‘Filling out the census is Most arrested at the A new wave played at the P C IL A C R R like wearing a mask’ protests were Black wrong speed R R T ® Amid a pandemic, the count is An analysis raises questions Silicone Prairie released an EP more important than ever. about equitable policing. that includes a cover of notorious Chicago band the Mentally Ill. 2 CHICA O READER - JULY ll T W When A Great Deal Matters, Shop Rob Paddor’s... R N. Broad St. Griffith, Indiana Evanston Subaru in Skokie thewurstmeats.com FOOD & DRINK GRAND REOPENING OUR SHOWROOM IS OPEN! NO APPOINTMENTS ARE NEEDED WELCOME BACK DEALS! % % % % 0% 0063 MONTHS00
FORESTER OUTBACK ASCENT IMPREZA Rib eyes from Third Day Farm RICKY HANFT
9:00AM-8:00PM 9:00AM-6:00PM Monday-Friday APPOINTMENTNO FOOD FEATURE REQUIRED Saturday Social Distancing & Face Masks will be The Wurst has the best meats Required for all Customers and Employees A small northwest Indiana butcher shop makes a go of it mid-pandemic with Voted “Best Auto DeAlership” small farmers, small slaughterhouses, and naturally raised beef, pork, chicken, By CHICAGO Voters’ Poll 2019 and lamb. TOP-QUALITY INSPECTED USED CARS & SUV’ S By M S IMPORTS & DOMESTICS SUBARU FORESTERS ‘17 Honda CR-V LX AWD ...... Automatic, Full Power, White, 24205A ...... $17,995 ‘16 Forester Touring ..Automatic Sunroof, Leather, Silver, 23651A ...... $18,995 ‘20 Kia Soul LX ...... Manual, 8K, Cherry Black, P6475 ...... $14,995 ‘17 Forester Ltd...... Automatic Sunroof, Leather, Silver, 24102A ...... $17,995 ‘16 Honda Fit EX ...... Automatic, Moonroof, 13K, Black, 24485A ...... $13,995 ‘15 Forester Prem. Automatic, Sunroof, Heated Seats, Silver, 23349A ....$15,995 he last fun party I went to was Dumpling Relative to the other entries, this was a ‘18 Hyundai Elantra Value Ed. ..Monroof, Blind Spot, Silver, 24523A ...... $12,995 ‘15 Forester 2.5i ...... Automatic, Full Power, Silver, 24325A ...... $14,995 Wars 2020 in late February at Marz next-level dumpling, a striking, expertly plat- ‘13 Hyundai Sante Fe 2.0T AWD .. Auto., Full Power, Black 23373B ...... $11,995 SUBARU OUTBACKS Community Brewing. I was a judge for ed synergy of contrasting textures, colors, ‘15 Toyota Corolla LE ...... Automatic, Keyless, Silver 24504A ...... $10,995 ‘16 Outback Prem...... Automatic, All Weather, Alloys, Black, 24117A ...... $17,995 T ...... Automatic, Sunroof, Leather, Black, 23927A ...... Automatic, 1-Owner, 42K, Ruby Red, 23690A ...... ‘15 Outback Ltd. $17,995 the contest, which was jam-packed with and fl avors. But the guy who made it, unlike ‘14 Buick Encore $10,995 ‘15 Kia Soul ...... Manual, Full Power, Alien2, 21917A ...... $7,995 people inhaling momos, mandu, khinkali, and the other contestants, was neither a working SUBARU CROSSTREK / WRX / ASCENT ‘0z9 Chevy HHR LT ...... Automatic, Sunroof, Beige, 24265A ...... $6,995 ‘19 Ascent ...... 8 Passenger, Sunroof, Eyesight, 4K, Grey, P6528 ...... $24,995 soup dumplings. There was a popular vote professional chef nor an amateur cook—nor ‘13 Hyundai Tucson GLS ...... Automatic, Full Power, Bronze, 24460A ...... $6,995 ‘18 WRX Ltd...... Manual, 8K, Heritage Blue, P6547 ...... $24,995 on the 20 contestants, and the judges picked someone we had ever heard of before. ‘08 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4x4Automatic, 64K Black, 24250A ...... $6,995 ‘17 Crosstrek Ltd...... Automatic, Leather, Sunroof, White, 34321A ...... $19,995 their own favorite. After minimal debate Ricky Hanft is a butcher with a little shop A+ we decided that best in show was a black- in a little town in northwest Indiana. I didn’t RATED squid-ink empanadilla stu ed with wild boar have much chance to talk to him that night, EvanstonSubaru.com chorizo, perched in the bowl of a spoon atop but I took his card and stalked the Wurst’s 3340 OAKTON - SKOKIE • 847-869-5700 a crumble of cured egg yolk with salsa brava Instagram account over the coming weeks. *Add tax, title license and $300 doc fee. 0%financing for 63 months. Monthly payment of $15.87 per $1,000 borrowed. and manchego aioli. It hadn’t opened yet, but he was teasing out Finance on approved credit score Subject to vehicle insurance and availability. Ends 7/31/2020 ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 3 Search the Reader’s online database of thousands of Chicago-area restaurants FOOD & DRINK at chicagoreader.com/food. continued from 3 bills between ironworking. Applestone, meat was sold out of refrigerated beautiful animal and it comes back all hacked his upcoming debut with mesmerizing black- But in 2014 he decided he hadn’t seen vending machines for customers who knew up,” says Hanft. He says Howe said to him, “If and-white shots of the deer processing work enough of the world, so he sold his house and exactly what they wanted, but the Local there was ever a time you would be interested he was doing for local hunters in order to headed east to a job on a bridge deck in New Butcher Shop owners Aaron and Monica Roc- in coming back I would do everything I could raise capital. His personal account had even Haven, Connecticut. But something kept pull- chino went above and beyond, “to where peo- to help you in terms of lining up farms.” more intriguing stu : venison liver sausage; ing him back to food. ple want you to cut a pound of dog food into Hanft decided to give it a go last spring, shaved corned beaver with cabbage, beaver A friend from PQM was interviewing for eight individually wrapped pieces so they’re when he returned home and applied for a stock-horseradish velouté, and caviar; dry- a job with Josh Applestone, a pioneer in the exerting no energy to feed their animal.” commercial line of credit from a local bank to aged squab with Asian pear, Thai chili, and craft butchery movement, who was open- Hanft took enough away from each ex- build out a space on Gri¤ th’s main drag next tamari-cured egg yolk. ing his namesake company selling organic, perience that he began to hatch a plan for a to a deli and down the street from a taxider- What the heck was going on in Griffith, grass-fed custom-cut meats in New York’s shop of his own. On a visit back home, he met mist. That’s when he started processing deer Indiana? Hudson Valley. He invited Hanft to a barbecue Steve Howe, a former schoolteacher who was (and beaver and wild boar). Turns out Hanft has worked as a line cook, Applestone was throwing, and the boss was raising hops and hogs on 30 acres of farm- Howe and Hanft developed standards staging at Gilt Bar and the Publican during a intrigued that Hanft knew both food and how land that had been in his family since 1851. with the farmers—cows are grass-fed and brief run in culinary school. He was also on to fabricate metal. Howe, like Hanft, grew up in Highland, and grass-finished; pigs live on pasture; there the opening crew at Publican Quality Meats, Applestone hired Hanft as an apprentice, schooled him on the plight of small farmers are no GMOs in any animal feed; and they’re and he spent a summer in the kitchen at 3 and within a few years he had worked his way in northwest Indiana who were trying to raise given no antibiotics. “I was able to put to- Floyds. But those jobs didn’t pay the bills. up to plant manager in a white, windowless pastured, antibiotic- and GMO-free livestock, gether a deal with them that we’ll buy all “I got into ironworking right after high refrigerated USDA facility where “all I did but were kneecapped by a market structured their animals so they can just focus on farm- school,” he says. “I’m fourth-generation, all day every day was cut and process. It was for large commodity producers—particularly ing and then they don’t have to worry about so it’s kind of a rite of passage. This is what really nice because that’s how you get good.” when it came time to slaughter and process being salesmen on top of that,” says Hanft. the males in my family do.” Working in the Still, he spent a lot of time perfecting dog the animals. “We collectively determine what everybody steel mills and oil refi neries paid for a house food and hot dogs, but it wasn’t the “super Compared to the slaughterhouse hack needs to make in order to keep the lights on.” when he was just 22, but shortly after that sexy dry-cured charcuterie” he’d dreamed of. jobs farmers had to live with, Howe believed Then the pandemic hit, which stalled the housing market collapsed and ironwork With Applestone’s blessing he took a stage at Hanft’s butchering skills—cutting and sell- Hanft’s loan and everything else except the became scarce. He had to find another way the Local Butcher Shop in Berkeley, Califor- ing—could benefit the whole community. pastured cows and pigs whose slaughter to get by. Cooking was what he did to pay the nia, and was quickly appointed manager. At These farmers “spent all this time raising this dates had been booked a year in advance in
VIRTUAL COMMUNITY EVENT THURSDAY, JULY 16TH | 46 CDT CHICAGO, IL
Hear from our panel of patients, researchers, and health professionals about COVID-19, mental health, oncology, and health advocacy
REGISTER FOR FREE TODAY at awareforall.org
or call 1-877-633-4376 toll free BROUGHT TO YOU BY IN COLLABORATION WITH AiC
4 CHICA O READER - JULY ll FOOD & DRINK
Ricky Han modifying the blades on a bowl chopper for hot dogs TALISMAN BROLIN
time for a May opening. And in time for major bought a couple of freshly cut, deeply fl avor- slaughterhouse shutdowns that fl ooded the ful rib eyes raised by Third Day Farm in Walk- independent operations with commodity erton, Indiana, each capped with the telltale animals. yellow fat of an animal that spent its entire Hanft couldn’t cancel his slaughterhouse life on grass. I can’t stop thinking about them. appointments—the farmers were counting The day I stopped in, Hanft’s mom and dad on him too. He had to scramble. His parents were working behind the counter, and he was mortgaged their house and gambled their going crazy trying to catch up in the days retirement on the build-out, while he had to leading up to the Fourth of July. put off hiring help that would allow him to Still he’s made commitments and he’s com- produce value-added products like stocks mitted to making it work. And he still keeps and soups. “You buy an animal, you sell that something of a low profi le. The shop has no animal, and that gives you enough money to phone and no e-mail, partly because he wants buy the next round of animals,” he says. “So customers to recognize that each cow yields I was sitting on fi ve beef and numerous pigs only a certain number of rib eyes, each pig so prior to even opening. I had to get creative in many chops, each chicken just two breasts. terms of not only what I was gonna do with He doesn’t have time to answer the phone them but how I was gonna store them.” anyway, but this is largely to discourage He also wasn’t able to get a health inspec- people from snapping up prized cuts before tion until his construction was complete, but they’re even on display. “What we have in the by that point his walk-in was operational and case that day is what we have available,” he he jumped through hoops to get the Indiana says. “In my mind that’s the only fair way to State Board of Animal Health and the Lake do it.” County Health Department’s approval to But he does have time to advise walk-in begin dry-aging them. In the meantime, he customers on what to do with all the other got to work making sausage: brats, Polishes, cuts he has. If you’re lucky he might have pork Italian, Thai, loukaniko, chorizo, and all-beef from the Mangalitsa-Berkshire crosses Howe hot dogs based on a recipe he worked on at raises. Howe says it’ll be in stock regularly in Applestone’s with the help of a German mas- December. “They have a healthy creamy fat as ter butcher. well as a nice muscular physique,” says Howe. I tried those dogs a week after Hanft “Best of both worlds.” v opened in mid-June, a month and a half late. They’re warmly spiced, intensely beefy, and @MikeSula they snap audibly from a block away. I also ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 5 NEWS & POLITICS
please recycle this paper POLITICS Enemies of my enemy Learning to love the never-Trump crowd at the Lincoln Project By B J
s hard as this is for me to admit, I’ve today. been turning to Republicans to help me They’re turning all the tricks of the Re- Aget through the horrors of Trump. publican trade against Trump. Doing to him Well, not just any Republicans. But the ren- what he wants to do to Biden. Going negative. egade, never-Trumpers known as the Lincoln Really negative. And, folks, I hate to admit Project, a political action committee whose it—but I love it. Keep ’em coming, Lincoln members include strategists for both Bushes Project. and John McCain. It’s about time that the other side played In other words, people with whom I’m gen- this game. Even if the other side consists of erally at odds. Republicans going after one of their own. But they despise Trump—and Trumpism— I’ve got a feeling the Lincoln Project crowd as much as I do. And they’re not afraid to say sees people like me the way I see them—tem- it, in one powerful Trump-bashing commer- porary friends, albeit of the enemy-of-my- cial after another. enemy persuasion. Like the one that depicts Trump as a dod- As they say on their website: “Our many dering old man. Or the fellow-traveler one, policy differences with national Democrats spoken in Russian, linking Trump to Putin, remain. However, the priority for all patriotic Lenin, and Stalin. Americans must be a shared fidelity to the And the one calling him a coward because Constitution and a commitment to defeat he dodged the draft instead of going to Viet- those candidates who have abandoned their nam, and the one linking him to the Confed- constitutional oaths, regardless of party. erate fl ag, and the one blaming him for pretty Electing Democrats who support the Con- much everything that’s wrong with America stitution over Republicans who do not is a 6 CHICA O READER - JULY ll Housing Discrimination NEWS & POLITICS is against the law!
Northside Community Resources Fair Housing and Housing Programs All that matters for now is that we have a it: “By the time we’re fi nished, they’re going common foe. GAGE SKIDMORE / CC BY SA to wonder whether Willie Horton is Dukakis’s It is against the law in Cook County to discriminate in the rental and use of worthy e ort.” running mate.” housing because of: It’s almost surreal that I’d find myself That Horton commercial was not actually temporarily allied with this bunch, given produced by the Bush campaign. It was pro- Race Gender Sexual orientation my lifelong enmity to the GOP, an attitude I duced by a PAC that wanted him to win. Ethnicity Family status Gender Identity inherited from my late mother, a New Deal So, there’s a certain irony that the Lincoln Religion Disability Criminal history Democrat. Project—another PAC—is playing the same Source of income (including housing choice vouchers) and other classes One of my earliest memories is accom- game 32 years later against Trump, hoping panying her to the polling place where she to undo some of the damage that the Willie Did you know that refusing to rent, lying about whether an apartment is available, and showing apartments only in certain areas, buildings, or parts of buildings is voted not so much for JFK as against Richard Horton commercial caused. housing discrimination? Nixon. By 2004, Republican strategists were also My parents and their friends hated employing homophobia to frighten voters NCR’s Fair Housing Program offers outreach and education to all and legal Nixon—the man who invented the Southern away from the Democrats. representation to people experiencing discrimination. It investigates possible Strategy, which Trump is trying to use to win I’m convinced that George W. Bush won housing discrimination and assists clients in filing and resolving discrimination reelection. Ohio—and the Electoral College—with the complaints to address violations and prevent future discrimination. The Republicans shamelessly exploited Karl Rove strategy to relentlessly run ads white fears, resentments, and hostilities linking John Kerry to gay marriage. NCR’s Housing Program educates tenants and landlords about their rights toward Black people to move the country to They turned the issue toxic for Democrats and responsibilities under the Chicago Residential Landlord-Tenant Ordinance the right on just about every issue I can think who should have known better—like Barack regarding leases, repairs, security deposits, and much more. The program of—from the environment to abortion to edu- Obama, then running for senator from provides assistance to tenants and landlords to improve the rental experience. cation to taxation to unions and so on. Illinois. For years, the Republicans picked at our As a state senator from Hyde Park, Obama For more information about housing discrimination or if you feel you have been discriminated against, please call or email us today. Our services are free and racial wounds, hoping to infl ame white peo- had been for gay marriage. As a statewide confidential. If you are a tenant or landlord and want to attend a training session, ple with a sense of victimhood. senatorial candidate in 2004, he was against please contact us. That tactic was on full display this week- it. end with Trump’s speeches at Mount Rush- Obama later came back to supporting gay more and the White House. Followed by his marriage—after he was reelected as presi- 1530 W. Morse Ave., Chicago tweet championing the Confederate flag dent in 2012. He called it an evolution of his phone: 773-338-7722 ext. 16 and denouncing NASCAR for taking a stand attitude on the subject. So, you might say he email: [email protected] website: www.northsidecommunityresources.org against racism and for racial harmony. devolved before he evolved. But they were playing this game before I’m not just picking on Obama. That’s how The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under a grant with the U.S. Trump. it goes with Democrats. In the face of the Re- Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this Before Trump, there was Ronald Reagan’s publican attack ads, they retreat—so worried publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Federal Government. infamous 1980 campaign speech in Neshoba about losing the “silent majority.” County, Mississippi—close to where three And they voluntarily move right, selling civil rights workers had been murdered by out their principles. Don’t worry, they tell the Klan. us. We’ll regain those principles once we are That speech—in which Reagan called for back in o ce. #TVKUV9TKVGT “states’ rights”—helped snatch the south But then there’s always another election. back from President Jimmy Carter, the And so the center moves right. And the Re- 2GTHQTOGT! former governor of Georgia. Carter was sup- publicans “win” even when they lose. As they %4'#6+8' 51.76+105 (14 posed to be the bellwether of a more moder- did to Obama in the senate race of 2004. %4'#6+8' 2'12.' ate, tolerant southern man. I’m hoping that when this presidential With Reagan’s victory, it’s been downhill election is over and our common foe has been 5WRRQTVKXG #HHKTOKPI CPF )QCN for Democrats in the south—particularly defeated, Lincoln Project Republicans will &KTGEVGF 2U[EJQVJGTCR[ CPF Georgia—ever since. show they’ve truly learned from their past. *[RPQVJGTCR[ HQT #FWNVU In 1988, George Bush—who was supposed And that they’ll be a tad more conciliatory to be a moderate Republican—whipped up and not treat every tax hike on the rich as /#: - 5*#2'; .%59 white fears with the infamous Willie Horton the fi rst step towards Bolshevism. As they’re .QECVGF KP &QYPVQYP 'XCPUVQP commercials against Michael Dukakis. currently doing in Illinois with Governor The commercials highlighted the story of Pritzker’s fair tax proposal. Horton, a Black prisoner who had committed But, fi rst things fi rst. Beating Trump. YYYOCZUJCRG[EQO rape after being released on a weekend fur- Like I said—keep ’em coming, Lincoln OCZUJCRG["CQNEQO v lough program that Dukakis had supported Project. chicagoreader.com/donate NWG TQUU NWG 5JKGNF 2TGHGTTGF 2TQXKFGT while governor of Massachusetts. KIPC 2TGHGTTGF 2TQXKFGT As Bush’s chief strategist, Lee Atwater, put @bennyjshow ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 7 NEWS & POLITICS
The Chicago casino takes the taxpayers’ chips. Don’t KAY / UNSPLASH
of profi ts for both city and state. It’s ba ingly complicated, but, for example, the city’s share miss of the first $25 million from slot machines (the main source of casino revenue) will be just 10.5 percent, and the state’s share will be 12 percent. (Doing the math, a combined 22.5 percent, compared to the 66.6 percent the an 2019 law stipulated.) Only if the casino makes more than $1 billion annually on slots, and only on the tiny slice of that revenue beyond $1 billion, will the graduated rates exceed what the equal-sharing deal would have yield- issue ed for the city and state. Looking for someone who could shed light on this, I reached out to University of Illinois professor emeritus John W. Kindt. He was in Atlanta, having just testifi ed on the subject of gambling at the Georgia state legislature. CULTURE “I think Mayor Lightfoot has caved in to the gambling lobbyists and to their little game of continually lowering their own taxes,” Caving on the casino Kindt told me. Chicago should look to Canada, where the government owns most of the gam- A revised law slashes the profi ts for city and state. bling facilities, he says. “The same companies complaining that their taxes are too high in By D I Illinois are working on management contracts there, and happy to get a small management fee.” ey, sorry to hear about your gambling pansion that more than doubled the number The value of a casino license now, especially losses. of gaming positions in the state and lowered one in Chicago, is probably close to one bil- H What, you don’t gamble? No matter; taxes on existing casinos. lion dollars, according to Kindt. But, he says, if you’re paying taxes in Illinois, you’ve come But, oddly, it didn’t bring a casino to Chica- “committees in the Illinois legislature are up a loser. You just might not have noticed yet. go. While it looked like a done deal, and a pub- stacked with progambling people and their Given our daily dose of previously unimag- lic conversation was immediately launched buddies. They don’t care about the facts or the inable bad news, it would have been easy to about which Chicago neighborhood would fi nances. The fi rst ten Illinois casino licenses, miss the fact that on June 30, Governor Pritz- land it, the fact was that the fi ne print includ- back in 1990, were worth about $500 million ker signed the legislation that’ll fi nally allow ed a stumbling block big enough to keep the each. They were given away to political insid- a casino to be built and operated in Chicago. equal profi t-sharing—touted as exceptionally ers for $25,000 each.” What he approved, however, was not the generous to city and state—from happening. As for the graduated tax scale, which he fair and friendly-sounding city-owned casino The obstacle: a mandated feasibility study, says is structured so they’ll “never or barely” Mayor Lori Lightfoot campaigned on. That conducted by a Las Vegas consulting firm. hit the highest rate: “That’s all legerdemain— idea pretty much disappeared the moment The study concluded (surprise!) that the gov- sleight of hand to keep people guessing what she was elected. ernment share of profi ts under the three-way they’re really paying in taxes.” It’s also not the three-way equal profi t-shar- split was so generous as to be “onerous”: no The law passed last summer also legalized ing deal that emerged in Springfi eld last sum- private owner would want the deal. online sports betting, a major step on the path Get the Next 12 Issues mer, while private ownership also somehow Since investors have been salivating over to the virtual casino of the future. “The goal of of the Chicago Reader slipped into the mix. Under that plan, the ca- the prospect of a casino in Chicago for de- the industry is to put 24/7 real-time gambling Delivered to Your Home sino’s adjusted gross revenues (the money left cades, it might have been interesting to test on everybody’s cell phone,” Kindt says. The after winning bets are paid) would be evenly that conclusion by giving them a chance to Illinois tax on the profi ts from this sure-to-be split—33.3 percent each—between city, state, step up, but that didn’t happen. The study was immense online handle? A paltry 15 percent. chicagoreader.com/ and the newly integral private owner. accepted as fact, and Lightfoot had an excuse Kindt, who’s been analyzing this stuff for support The legislature passed (and the governor to create a much less equitable plan. decades, says, “The people of Illinois should signed) that deal last summer. It was loaded What we wound up with, in the recent be outraged.” v up with a jackpot of benefi ts for entrenched revision to last year’s law, is a graduated tax gambling industry owners—a massive ex- structure that drastically reduces the share @DeannaIsaacs 8 CHICA O READER - JULY ll SCAN HERE WINNING TO ENTER
Visit WinningSummer.com for more information SUMMER No purchase necessary SWEEPSTAKES MAKE THIS YOUR WINNING SUMMER
Learn more at WWW.WINNINGSUMMER.COM O er valid July 7 - September 25, 2020 LOTERIA ™/©: Licensed by Don Clemente, Inc. 2020. All Rights Reserved. ROUTE 66™ Scientific Games International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. See O icial Rules, which govern, for complete details.
ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 9 RACHEL HAWLEY
( e)openin up Essays on the hopes and horrors of returning to “normal”
APARTMENT TOURS ARE like first dates, in that you often know you’re not interested within a few seconds of introduction, and must politely smile and nod your way through a sales pitch anyway. I’d been viewing apartments, masked and gloved, for a few weeks when I found The One: an implausibly large one-bedroom with air conditioning a block from the Red Line in Rogers Park. The moment I stepped inside the empty unit, I began sketching a layout in my mind: a couch, comfortable writing chair, and co ee table near the living room windows; a prop- er desk for my work computer; my kitchen table and chairs in the dining nook (the dining nook!). This apartment, I knew, belonged to the best of all possible futures, the universe in which I become the type of person who makes smoothies with kale and protein powder and hosts parties and never has to weigh wheth- er or not to put on concealer before a Zoom call because my skin is perfect.
10 CHICA O READER - JULY ll This was the fi rst time in a long while that to follow for what ends up amounting to my new masks, an upgrade from napkin/scarf/ I’ve been able to imagine an ideal future. In privilege. I’ve been without many times in my bandana placeholders. Six-feet markers dot January, I fi lled the fi rst page of a notebook life and perhaps part of me thinks, “Hey, I can the floor and the loudspeaker reminds us of with resolutions: lose 30 pounds, land a by- get groceries delivered to my house like a reg- CDC guidelines. Still incapable of judging just line in the New York Times or the New Yorker, ular middle-class person, woo hoo, take that how much two people can carry, we overfi ll the go out with friends every weekend. We make gas station ramen!” It’s a fun privilege. I can cart and have to call an Uber again. plans, and coronavirus laughs. argue that I’m one of those people who tips Week four: In search of alternatives, we put A little over a year ago, my vision of the above and beyond, allowing delivery drivers ourselves on the long waitlist for Imperfect future dissolved under very different cir- to feel the immense power of my guilt through Foods grocery delivery. cumstances. Midway through my senior year their rounded-up (always at least 30 percent Week fi ve: We explore Mariano’s just to liven of college, I began hearing footsteps outside of the total) gratuity. I can hear my field things up. Determined to avoid a rideshare, we my apartment door at all hours of the night. worker ancestors yelling at me with sarcastic walk home. Our shoulders are bruised from all Gradually, I came to the realization that they disdain as I write this, “Oh REALLY, Miss 30 the “necessary” gallons of milk and ice cream belonged to a group of nefarious strangers Percent?! How generous you are!” and liquor that weighed down our bags. We determined to break into my bedroom and I went to the grocery store a few weekends remain too lazy and too stubborn to purchase abduct me, and started sleeping with the “I am trying to ago on a Saturday morning and had to wait in a personal grocery cart. lights on. I began leaving my apartment less line at the checkout for a few minutes. While I Week eight: With a full cart and all of our and less, unsettled by the sense that some of moved back my cart to get behind the distance reusable Wegmans bags perched on the the people who walked past me as I crossed tell myself that tape on the fl oor, I looked around at everyone self-checkout machine, a Mariano’s employee the street were real, and some were not; at else waiting in line. All masked, as far as I tells us that reusable bags aren’t allowed Target, I wandered the aisles aimlessly, un- it’s OK to have could see. And still, the little voice in my head anymore. She stands over us as we fumble to sure of what I’d gone there for, and certain (maybe the ancestors again) was shouting, refold the bags and pack groceries into plastic. that the other storegoers and employees “We’re all going to die.” I don’t have any an- “Please place the item in the bagging area,” were staring at me and whispering. I took the hope in this swers. I’m just fi lling my mouth with cheese the self-checkout machine screams. Shoppers train to the hospital one day, and left a week until I can’t anymore. stare as our bags fall over and rip, and stray later with a new handful of prescriptions and A friend posted a video to Instagram from lemons roll across the fl oor. an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. moment.” a recent hiking trip. She zoomed in on a great Week 12: Our only non-grocery-store ad- If you’d asked me a year ago what kind of shot of a turkey vulture chowing down on din- venture of quarantine, a nearby Black Lives future I imagined for myself, I would have ner in the middle of a fi eld. You can’t tell what Matter protest. “Think of it like going to the described living in my parent’s basement in I KEEP ORDERING takeout. There’s some the vulture is eating at first (the tall grass grocery store,” my girlfriend says. “It’s just New Jersey. I could never have imagined a measure of reason to this: it’s good to limit makes it look like dinner is a pile of discarded one of the necessary things we have to do.” universe in which the meds worked, and I’d my exposure to big groups of people at the beige plastic bags), but then the bird grabs Week 13: As if delivered by God, a giant box work in journalism, and I dug up the perse- grocery store and farmers markets. I have a hold of an end of its meal and lifts up the tail of Imperfect Food groceries appears at our verance to put one foot in front of the other, job and lose track of time, making it hard to and lower half of what appears to be a dead apartment. It’s ugly, as promised, yet it’s the day in, day out, until I no longer felt like I plan meals. I live alone and sometimes go by coyote. The bird flips the tail around for a most beautiful food I’ve ever seen. was tiptoeing across a high wire. The irony is the Mike Royko System of Food Shopping for second and then brings it back to the ground, Week whatever: Masking up and heading ripe—I fi nally caught a break just in time to the Single Man (never do it unless there’s ab- chomping and chomping. My mind drifts as I to the grocery store is a taste of freedom just navigate a global catastrophe. Having already solutely nothing there, not even ice). An hon- watch and I daydream of vultures gathering as much as it is a chore. It’s my framework for emerged out of such a state of uncertainty est attempt to shift to more frequent grocery around my body, lying on the ground. “Big quarantine, almost the only place that exists once has in some ways prepared me for the visits during this pandemic has resulted in creatures,” one vulture says to another, “lots outside of my apartment. There are now more present moment. I tend toward pessimism, the same “only if I’m desperate and only if the of fat.” —S C-J places to go, but I can’t help but prioritize the because it is fun and feels sophisticated, store’s empty” policy, supplemented by gro- data as politicians prioritize the economy. and because my brain chemistry is bad, but cery delivery services, which is basically take- MY QUARANTINE BUBBLE includes me, —T A it’s difficult to remain a pessimist after ex- out: you still tip a driver, you still call to order, my girlfriend, and the Jewel-Osco down the periencing such an improbable reversal of they still have downtime in a car with your street. Groceries have been a necessity, a hur- THIS YEAR, I fi nally visited my friend in Es- fortunes. “Hope for the best, prepare for the food and beverages and perhaps a moment to dle we’ve all had to face over and over again in tonia. I had birthday cocktails in Manhattan, worst,” is grating, as all aphorisms are, but glance down at your pile of cheese-covered the midst of this hellscape. cuddled on the couch at a palatial home in the sentiment holds water. whatever-it-is and make a snap judgement Week one: Leaving the house in a makeshift Akron, sat at the kitchen table with a friend’s In a few weeks, I’ll be packing up my things about what your life must be like. mask feels like being plunged into a dystopian parents in Virginia, toured a home renovation into boxes. Moving is miserable, but there is I could make the argument that having at novel, the sense of fear and urgency in the air in Arizona, watched the plants grow on a no better feeling than having just moved, the least one of the preexisting conditions that palpable. No crazy apocalypse preparation, courtyard in LA, and been entertained inside apartment neater than it will ever be again makes the CDC say “uh, you may want to stay we only want to go as long as possible before the homemade lip-sync studios of a dozen and the neighborhood yet to be explored. I’m inside,” it’s somehow my duty as a thoughtful shopping again. The shelves are ravaged. friends of a friend around the country. I also, trying to tell myself that it’s OK to feel hopeful person to get grocery and food delivery. I We still manage to overfill our cart and are of course, have been to nearly every room of in this moment—hopeful that Ikea will have could also make the argument that without ashamed to call an Uber to transport us less culture editor Brianna Wellen’s place. the perfect rug to bring my new living room frequent access to a car (and the game of than half a mile home. Since the beginning of quarantine, my boozy together, that the New Yorker will eventual- Russian roulette the CTA buses near my house Week two: Don’t you know, people con- friends have taken the proliferation of vid- ly take one of my pitches, that things might have been lately, with their maskless riders sume a lot more food when they’re home eoconferencing in our lives to its next logical return to normal sooner rather than later. that eschew distancing) it’s tough for me to all day, every day. It seems like we’re out of conclusion: virtual happy hours. For those of —R H get to the grocery and back. everything. you who have been FaceTiming, WhatsApping, These are terrible rabbit holes of arguments Week three: We return to Jewel wearing our Skyping, and Google Hangouting interna- ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 11 continued from 11 and lots of handwashing. Snacks: I’d love my bed at the end of the night. I get to pick al sessions with since college when I fi rst had tionally for years now, I know that we’re late to nothing more than to put out chips and guac the music, I can wear whatever I want, I can crippling anxiety attacks, has helped me feel this party. to share, but these celebrations were strictly order o¥ -menu, and there are cats nearby at all comfortable leaving my home. My telehealth But for my Gen X friends and our families, BYOT (bring your own treats). Conversation: times. The best party spot in town was right in sessions are like a FaceTime call. I tell my video calls have been a revelation. I don’t when you’re sitting at least six feet away from my own backyard all along. —B W therapist how tough it’s been to be quarantined know why it didn’t occur to us before that the someone near a street with nonstop traffic, mostly alone, unable to do the things I love like smiling faces of Girl Erinn in Estonia and Boy there’s a lot of shouting involved—that tickle I’VE BEEN STUCK in my living room for what go to the movies or see my niece. She tells me Aaron in Pittsburgh have been just a click away in your throat the next day isn’t coronavirus, feels like a year. My morning commute went to fi nd creative ways to spend time with loved since they moved out of Chicago years ago, but just the early stages of laryngitis. Daylight: for- from hitting the gas down I-90 before 9 AM to ones. Picnics at a distance, for example. now that it has, we have a standing monthly getting that the outside is much more harsh on brewing Cafe Bustelo in my kitchen and racing Still, reopening feels like a mindfuck. The Family Meeting. I have a quarterly catch-up a fair complexion than a dark dive bar, I feel like down the hallway to the living room to clock in nation is seeing higher positive rates and Cook with the crazy kid I interned and roomed with I lost two layers of skin during the fi rst week of on Slack. My workday routine is a thing of the County, where I live, has more new cases than 24 years ago, our boss, and his husband (he’s past, and my living room has turned into my the rest of the state. My mind shuts down just in New York, they’re in Ohio); and one single o§ ce, gym, and therapist’s couch. My laptop thinking about it. I try to distract myself with dad friend in the ’burbs has a weekly hangout I sits right next to my boyfriend’s DJ equipment, TV, but even reality shows have stopped fi lm- haven’t yet made it to (sorry, man!). a reminder of the “work hard, party harder” ing so I can no longer get a slice of the real, pre- None of this replaces seeing these folks in mantra I used to think of to keep my lifestyle virus world. I want to hang with my friends, but person. I struggle with self-isolation every day balanced. I hula hoop on breaks just to keep I question if the paranoia I’ll have after is worth and with the dawning realization that parts of things interesting. it. I worry about how to navigate this city safely our lives will never look the same again. Google Reopening weekend I visited a friend who when folks are still not wearing masks. I can’t Meet will never be able to capture the life-af- asked to go to a dive bar in suburban Elgin. control if someone whose face isn’t covered fi rming joy of themed New Year’s Eve parties Though hesitant, I agreed. will get too close—coronavirus has not put an at Aaron’s apartment (one year we all dressed The small backyard beer garden was packed end to catcalling—and I just can’t fi nd a way to like Stevie Nicks, another year required Burt with people not wearing masks. A piece of tell people to keep their distance in a nice way. Reynolds mustaches), or weddings, house- paper with chicken scratch was nailed to I miss my friends and family. I miss wearing warmings, karaoke, game nights, brunches, a post: “15 people capacity.” There were at makeup and dressing up. I’m beginning to BBQs, chili cook-offs, or 12-hour Pride cele- least 40 people in the tight spot. No masks. open up to the idea of spending safe, socially brations. But for too many of us, schedules, Loud yelling. I swear I saw spit particles fly distant time with those I love. I’m grateful for fi nances, and random obligations would prob- from their mouths and into the air. There was my therapist. No one is meant to live this life ably have meant that years would’ve gone by a sign on the door that said, “Please wear a alone. —J G before any of that happened anyway. It’s both mask upon entering.” I watched in horror as a sobering and exciting that I’m now as likely to “The best party woman put on her mask to go inside, only to be I FELT HOT and sticky behind my mask. I was spend time with my friends in Andersonville as chastised by her husband and his friends who nervous about being in a confi ned space with I am to have drinks in Arizona. I’m still holding said it was “just for show.” I held my hand over other people. I lay down on the table, face in out hope that someday my Stevie Nicks shawl spot in town was my plastic cup. the little face hole, and I panicked. My face and matching tambourine will usher in another It began to rain. I sat at the bar watching rested on the leather where several other faces year IRL again, and that I’ll have a reason to my friend eat a greasy burger while a sweaty had been. learn how to say “cheers” in Estonian. —K right in my own stranger repeatedly bumped into my sweaty I haven’t eaten at restaurants or seen many H back. friends. But I made a chiropractor appointment backyard all I had been missing going to a bar with my because my body is in severe pain. Being a MY 30TH BIRTHDAY party was going to be girls. But here I was, at a bar with my girl, dancer trained in ballet comes with conse- a blowout. I tend to go hard, hangovers and and the only place I wanted to be was in my quences. The pain in my feet has a¥ ected my overdrawn bank accounts be damned, and along.” living room alone. I’m never coming to a bar knees, hips, spine, and neck. Before the pan- typically all of June is fi lled with brunches and until there is a vaccine, I thought to myself as demic, my health came second to everything concerts and so many shots, because it’s my I turned to the bartender and asked for another else in my life. Sure, I exercised and ate vege- birthday and I deserve it. The culmination of one. —Y D tables, but I never dealt with my chronic pain, this monthlong celebration is a giant party at backyard hangs due to sunburn. things that have plagued me for a decade. And one of my favorite bars, usually Rainbo Club or “I don’t think I talked to you at all during WHY COULD I never sleep the night before since quarantine started—and since I’ve been Parrots Bar & Grill. Well, until coronavirus. your birthday last year,” one friend said, re- a visit to the grocery store? I’d watch Netfl ix training to hike 20 miles for several days in I’m lucky enough to have a backyard and a membering being pulled into a conversation and play Scrabble on my phone. Early on in the southern Illinois in October—I can’t ignore my love for spreadsheets, so instead I invited my in the corner of the bar by strangers while I pandemic, it took three nights of this for me aches and pains anymore. friends and family to fill out a questionnaire attempted to greet all my guests. It’s been nice to realize the pattern. I realized my heart was Besides two patients who went in before me, to safely schedule mini celebrations—about a to spend quality time with folks without other beating faster and faster, even though there everyone in the o§ ce wore masks. I was more dozen total—with few enough people to safely friends—or worse, drunk strangers—inter- was no imminent danger. I realized I was ready nervous about how my bank account would social distance. There was much to take into rupting. Even with guests buying me drinks, to run to the grocery story in the middle of the look after the appointment than COVID pro- consideration. a birthday night out at a bar could easily rack night, in the middle of a pandemic, to just get it tocol. But on that table, as the electric muscle The bathroom: I wasn’t going to make any- up a $100 tab. In my yard, I can spend $15 on over with. I wanted to sleep. stimulation pulsated through my body, I imag- one pee in the alley on my busy intersection, a case of beer and be set. And the commute Bless therapists. Not only are they dealing ined all of the folks before me on a contami- so I set ground rules for letting people into my is a dream—instead of waiting for an Uber or with the virus themselves, but they’re holding nated chair. After my ten-minute treatment, I home—masks on, plenty of hand sanitizer (I plotting the easiest route home, I’ve simply space for those of us trying to reconfi gure our was directed to another room where I’d come bought a large self-pump), disinfecting wipes, walked up a flight of stairs and plopped into lives. My therapist, who I’ve been having virtu- into physical contact with the chiropractor. 12 CHICA O READER - JULY ll I pictured all the folks who I haven’t hugged Then I received the fi rst notifi cation that a means soon I’ll want a new tome to read. I JOINED A quarantine pod with six people. or touched, my close friends who stretch out hold I placed in March had arrived at the Logan Good thing I still have a hold waiting for me. Some of us have no close contact with people their arms for an embrace only to have me Square branch. —L G outside the pod, others are essential workers. politely decline. I’ve kept a safe distance from I moved to Avondale in April, so picking up Four of us live together, two of us are in a rela- the majority of people in my social bubble, yet the book on foot would no longer be a conve- THE CHICAGO BOTANIC Garden reopened tionship. Everyone’s diligent about hygiene, but here I was letting a stranger bend and contort nient excursion. But the notifi cation did make its campus to the public June 24 on a limited if one of us gets the virus, it would be highly un- my legs and crack my back with his hands. My me reconsider the idea of visiting the library. basis—parking appointment required, num- likely that all of us wouldn’t get it, too. Yet we’re desperation for pain relief turned into what The city’s libraries don’t o er curbside pickup, bers capped, masks (whenever indoors) and continuing to hang out together, at least once seemed like recklessness. but CPL’s guidelines for visitors and sta are on social distancing mandatory. Starved for the a week. No one’s gotten sick so far and the joy I felt so calm after the appointment that I par with that of a well-regulated grocery store. spectacle of this 385-acre living museum and of our gatherings has been tremendous. After returned a week later. This time masks hung In fact, the library’s COVID-19 precautions are wondering how hard it would be to get access, months of isolation those of us who are single loosely on faces and one staffer even walked better than what I’ve seen visiting Jewel-Osco. I went to the website at 3 PM that day and and live alone have found the pod particularly around with their nose and mouth exposed. If I felt comfortable walking around a grocery was surprised to score a 4 PM reservation. On life-giving. We sco at the people choosing to My isolation-protocol-following ass was not store populated by strangers who don’t under- arrival, I pulled right into a prime Lot 1 parking drink and dine indoors with strangers. We think about to succumb to the pressures of freedom stand face masks should cover your mouth and space, steps from the entrance. we’re being more careful, trusting everyone’s to expose my own face. Back alignment. Then nose in order to buy apples and frozen pizzas, That was the upside of reopening day. The adherence to all safety protocols outside the a neck alignment. Then a few leg stretches and surely I’d be OK stopping in a library for a few downside was that spectacle was in short- pod. I was back on the table. I was so shaken by the er-than-usual supply. AIDS didn’t stop people from having sex or lax rules that this time instead of lying fl at on Coming out of its own quarantine—an entire using intravenous drugs, and that epidemic my face, I propped myself up on my elbows. spring season without its full staff, its army made clear that it was harm-reduction educa- The chiropractor showed me X-rays and said of 1,400 volunteers, and its usual planting of tion, not abstinence propaganda, that actually that I picked a perfect time to work towards 150,000 annuals—the garden looked, well, saved people’s lives. Our local government has a pain-free body. My spine is curving, one of a little ragged. Like the first sight of a friend largely embraced harm-reduction messaging my legs is shorter than the other, and my feet who’s been through a nasty illness, you couldn’t during this pandemic; public health officials are in some serious distress. A few years from help noticing that its color wasn’t so great, and are leveling with people and trying to hammer now, I was told, I’ll be in even worse shape. If that a certain amount of vigor was yet to be home the point that there’s a spectrum of risk right now during a pandemic is the best time regained. to reemerging from our social hibernation. Still, to remedy that pain, then I’ll continue pulling The tulips, of course, had come and gone. the choice to form a pod is among the riskiest up to the doctor’s o ce, equipped with hand Roses were in bloom, though mostly past their we could make. It seems we’re only marginally sanitizer and a handmade mask, ready to rock prime, wilty around the edges. Trellises, includ- more responsible than the Wrigleyville bar hop- and roll. —S N L ing the one that usually supports a jaw-drop- pers. But I’ve recently learned we’re wired to ping floral ceiling over the Gateway Center make these choices, to prioritize the cognitive I’D NEVER EARNESTLY considered making bridge, stood bare. Pools were still drained. The and emotional reward of our little community a New Year’s resolution, never mind following butterfl y exhibit, model train, and greenhouses over the risk of dying. through on it. But after I spent 2019 listening were closed; bonsai platforms were empty and Experts say our brains are meant to fi nd cop- to Smash Mouth’s “All Star” daily on a lark, this forlorn. There was a wind out of the west, car- ing mechanisms for fear, to reduce our stress year I decided to be kinder to myself: I wanted rying the intrusive sound of tra c rushing past levels, because constant stress is taxing for the to visit every branch of the Chicago Public “I often don’t on I-94, louder than remembered. body and mind. Being in a prolonged state of Library. Without the usual mobs of fl owers dominat- fear can muddle our defense refl exes, drive us Before I got the idea, I’d made visiting the leave my home ing the scene, the garden’s impressive collec- into more danger by clouding our judgement, Harold Washington Library a routine, stopping tion of trees came into focus: the elegant alley weaken our immune system, kill us from the in whenever I had even a small window of time of lindens bordering the south side of the Rose inside. “Alarm fatigue” is the way people inev- during my commute to or from the Reader’s for two or three Garden; the sweeping stand of Whitespire birch itably tune out noise from physical alarms in Bronzeville o ce; I’d place holds at the Logan nearby; a multitude of conifers—the whole hospitals or at construction sites—over time Square branch regularly enough to stop there handsome cast of arboreal supporting players. workers’ brains learn to tune out the beeping almost weekly too. I love unsystematically days in a row.” Still, I left for the first time ever without sounds, leading to possible accidents and over- wandering through book aisles with the un- thinking about the flaws of my own meager sight. “Alert fatigue” is that drained feeling we spoken hope of accidentally discovering my gardening e orts. Chalk it up to schadenfreude, get when we’re overstimulated with new infor- new favorite story. I wanted to see what made that ugly weed, but the patch of impatiens and mation, like by watching the news or scrolling each branch unique—its architecture, special potted petunias that greeted me at home didn’t through social media. “Caution fatigue” is our collections, and art installations. minutes to pick up a book I really want to read. look half bad. assessment of risk and reward changing after I made it to eight CPL locations before the Since I’ve come to this realization, I still It was a fleeting satisfaction. On a return prolonged exposure to a dangerous situation. pandemic started. When libraries began re- haven’t made it to the library. I haven’t made visit last week, porta-potties were still camped Brains need the hormones produced by re- opening in June, I didn’t want to go. I knew I the time, and even though I remain inside my out at the entrance, but the professional wards; their drive for them grows the longer couldn’t visit all the branches. A few libraries apartment most days, the hours melt away landscapers were everywhere, manicures in they’re deprived. There’s also “risk compen- remain closed, and I don’t have a car or bike, faster than a soft-serve cone in 98-degree process. Also, the grill was smoking (restau- sation”—people grow to think they don’t need and thus far I’ve avoided taking public trans- heat (which reminds me, I’d like to make rants are partially open) and fountains to take precautions because others are taking portation. Aside from swift grocery runs, I’ve it to the Freeze before the summer ends). were splashing, and, I noticed, the Sower them already. avoided going inside any building that isn’t my On a good day at home I’m able to make a statue—proudly naked in his niche on the The thing about survival instincts and our home. I often don’t leave my home for two or dent in books I’ve otherwise struggled to Esplanade for so long—had sprouted a mask. brains’ coping mechanisms is that they’re three days in a row. focus on for more than a few minutes, which —D I designed to save the individual, evolutionarily ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 13 continued from 13 the screenings aren’t being pulled away from honed to protect a single organism’s longevity ICU beds. But who rations their rationalizations and successful reproduction. The pod itself has when they are in a quiet panic most of the time? become an organism, a sort of colony. But the But not knowing is not better. Not really. The very same thing that’s helping each individual anguish around the virus and all the things we in the group to cope, experience reward, and don’t know about it has given me pause. I have thus improve our overall health in the short no right to put o tests because of my personal term makes us a danger to each other and terrors. Information is power. Even if it’s not others. Each individual’s potential to become a the answer I’d like to hear. SAT JULY 11 @ Online disease vector is now multiplied by six. I feel fine. There’s no reason to think any- I don’t know what we’ll do. Maybe we’ll all thing is wrong, other than family and genetic Sophia Lucia’s Freak Show Cabaret be fi ne. Maybe we’ll all get sick, mildly, and be history. But it’s time to stop avoiding what’s (EVENT REPEATS WEEKLY) relieved to just be through the thing, for now. out there. Or in there, as the case might be. But maybe one of us will die. Or more. We have We’ve seen what avoidance and denial does at WED AUG 5 @ Online, Gourmet Expos, Inc. no children, and we’re not in touch with any a national level. I will do what I can to change an A Live~Virtual Tasting of Liqueur & elders. We’ve mostly avoided public transit and administration this fall. Meantime, I’m calling Artisan Specialties rideshares. One of us gets tested every once in my doctors this week to schedule those damn a while and the results come back negative. Our appointments. —K R FRI SEPT 25 @ Shore Club reward-starved brains are pushing us to keep Beer Fest on the Beach - Oktoberfest taking the risk. But in allowing ourselves these IMAGINE YOU’VE BEEN on some form of lock- liberties, excusing them with scientifi c expla- down because of medical concerns for more nations and empathy toward our social and than a year. How much more eager would you to add your event to emotional needs, we also tacitly collude with be to get back to some semblance of normal? TIXREADER COM a virus whose only imperative is to survive. That’s my reality. and see it listed here weekly, —M D Without getting into too many details I’ll please send an email to [email protected] just say that cancer is a merciless bitch that WHEN NIKE FIRST unveiled their “Just Do too often wreaks havoc on the best people you It” motto, a friend said he wanted to make could hope to meet in a lifetime. And for anyone knockoffs reading “Just Avoid It.” Turns out, su ering from an immune-system-obliterating sheltering in place is a good way to fi nd out just illness, and their family and friends, one of the how much avoidance I can handle in my life. The most striking things about pandemic quaran- answer is “a lot.” tine is that everyone has been experiencing For someone who prefers social interaction some level of isolation and anxiety alongside in small controlled doses (there’s a reason I them. lived alone most of my adult life), quarantine After my loved one was diagnosed last spring, is a perfect excuse. But it’s also, unfortunately, I scaled down my nondigital interactions to the a time to brood. Especially about one’s health. I bare minimum, and eventually halted them mean, there is a pandemic going on. completely to limit my exposure to germs. Even I’m not so much worried about contracting a slight cold would mean I wouldn’t be able to COVID, though I’m taking all the precautions see them or help care for them in person. Minor and then some. It’s the other Big C that haunts discomforts, of course, are nothing compared me. Half your immediate family dying of various to what people struggling with severe illness, forms of cancer and having another sibling in and their full-time caretakers, endure. And remission will do that to you. So you’d think I’d as the virus has made even more painfully ap- be better about doing all those various ’grams parent, it’s an incredible privilege to be able to and ’oscopies and other regular screenings. And be there, to be physically present with family Find hundreds up until a couple of years ago, I was. But I’m members when they need us most, rather than behind schedule, and it’s not because of lack of let them su er alone. of Reader- insurance or any other reasonable excuse. I’m a million percent ready to enjoy once- It’s the dread of fi nding out I do have it, and benign activities like dining and traveling and recommended then, like COVID, fi guring out that nobody really going to concerts, especially going to concerts, restaurants, knows what to do. Or in the words of Beckett’s without fear of illness. I’m even more ready to tramps in Waiting for Godot: “Nothing to be no longer feel like I’m living in some state of exclusive video Providing arts coverage done.” Because whatever miracles people suspended reality. But until infection rates go features, and sign up experience in cancer treatment seldom landed down and there is a vaccine, it’s better to wait in Chicago since 1971. on my family’s doorstep, and I don’t believe I out a pandemic in boredom and loneliness than for weekly news at would be an exception. in sickness. Knowing the kindness and respect The shelter-in-place order was another ex- people showed my family by keeping physically chicagoreader.com/ cuse. “I shouldn’t be going to the hospital for distant for so long makes it feel even more food. screening now. They’re hot spots. I’m in a vul- crucial to return the favor. I know how pre- www.chicagoreader.com nerable age group. I shouldn’t waste valuable cious life is. I know how life can turn on a dime. medical resources.” I know the people doing —J L v
14 CHICA O READER - JULY ll :
Phillip Foss EL Ideas Nick Jirasek Young American Dennis Lee Paulie Gee’s Logan Square Ethan Lim Hermosa Margaret Pak Thattu Jimmy Papadopoulos and Leigh Omilinsky Bellemore, Swi & Sons Dave Park Jeong Ina Pinkney Rick Bayless Frontera Grill / Xoco / Cruz Blanca / Leña Brava Kelly Ijichi and Randi Howry Mom’s at Politan Row Chicago Palita Sriratana Pink Salt Erick Williams Virtue Restaurant Jonathan Zaragoza Birrieria Zaragoza Matthew Clark and Emily Spurlin Lula Cafe Tony Hu Lao Sze Chuan Gene Kato Momotaro Mark Steuer Funkenhausen Giuseppe Tentori GT Prime and drinks! Paul Virant Vie Leela Punyaratabandhu Chris Reed Bumbu Roux Chicago Cooks Danny Shapiro Scoffl aw at Home ^ and more! K>
The Chicago Reader, like so many food and beverage $30 PDF download professionals, is facing a devastating blow to our fi nances during this COVID-19 crisis. In response, we teamed up with $55 printed copy + PDF the city’s best chefs and bartenders to give you their stay- at-home staples. Fi een percent of the profi ts will go to the Comp Tab Relief Fund, a project created to provide fi nancial assistance to any and all service workers who need it. chicagoreader.com/recipebook
ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 15 ARTS & CULTURE
Oklahoma City. 21c Chicago is the ninth location in what they consider to be a single multi-venue museum. “When we open a new location, planning the inaugural exhibition averages about two years, including renovations and the design process,” says Stites. Aiming to reflect events in the world, other exhibitions have addressed themes such as labor (“Labor and Materials,” 2016-17 in Oklahoma City) and the refugee crisis (“Ref- uge,” 2018 in Kansas City, currently installed at 21c Bentonville). “Our focus turned to Chicago in 2018, around the midterm elections. The level The statue The of rancor, divisiveness, and polarization—not State I Am In only in this country but around the world—was greets visitors to 21c Chicago becoming evident. A lot of artists were ad- Museum Hotel dressing issues of allegiance, of people clinging COURTESY C to certain beliefs and denying the rights of CHICAGO others. The moment that we’re living in right now refl ects the bubbling to the surface of our long-embedded historical challenges. ‘This We Believe’ has works that look backwards and forwards and creates a platform to unpack the question, ‘How did we get here?’ That was the original curatorial intent, though [we are now] at a vantage point far ahead of where we were.” “Contemporary artists are visionary witness- VIS ARTS es,” says Stites. “Their work reflects not only nity cultural center. “The art is not decorative,” what is going on in the immediate present but says chief curator Alice Gray Stites. “Art has a often anticipates what is coming. That’s why at This is us very strong role to play in nurturing a sense of 21c we believe art can shape the future. At this community, healing people, and starting con- moment of public health and crisis of justice, Chicago’s 21c Museum Hotel reopens with “This We Believe.” versations that can shape that community—and we should be looking to artists to provide the by extension our culture. We want everyone road map.” As one striking example, Stites By I H who walks through the door to feel welcome, cites American artist Kara Walker’s 2008 A inspired, challenged, and represented.” Warm Summer Evening in 1863. “It’s a textile stone’s throw from the kitsch and luxe of side up, dismantled, defaced, torn apart, woven Originating in Louisville in 2006, 21c Museum of a girl looking like she’s been lynched, over the Magnificent Mile, in a north-facing together, and assembled, erupting in a fountain Hotel was founded by art collectors Laura Lee an image from Harper’s Pictorial History of the Awindow on Ontario, the Hindu god Ga- from the frame of a bicycle. You might almost Brown and Steve Wilson. Inspired by how the Civil War that shows a draft riot in New York nesh merges with the fi gure of a child impaled forget that you’re standing in an architectural Guggenheim Museum Bilbao had transformed City. The draft riot was not simply because through the frontal lobe with a martial pole. marvel: a city of roadblocks, choked o from its a derelict port in Spain into a global destination white men in New York didn’t want to fi ght for Beyond them, a tapestry hangs, where the sil- parks and waters, where just weeks ago bridges for art, the pair was determined to similarly emancipation, but also because they feared houette of a lynched woman forms a dark blot were raised to hem protesters into the tight revitalize Louisville, where a once-vibrant city emancipation would drive them out of their against a wall of fl ames, rioters running beneath island of its fi nancial district. Or not. center had been abandoned and fallen into jobs. We’re still dealing with what wasn’t dealt her feet. To the right, a shirtless boy with tat- “This We Believe,” which opened February 4 disuse by fl ight into the suburbs. Yet reluctant with historically.” toos and scraped knees sits astride a bison with before shuttering for quarantine a little more to rely on taxes and donations or charge vis- Another piece that observes our moment a child in his arms and a dusty American flag than a month later, is 21c Chicago’s blistering itors for admission, they turned to a study of with astonishing clarity is National Anthem, slung over one shoulder, while a few yards away inaugural salvo, marking the arrival of our own Louisville’s other needs. The answer? Hotel an animation by Kota Ezawa that’s based on fringed Vodou fl ags beaded by Haitian weavers museum hotel with more than a little shock and rooms. 21c Museum Hotel thus combines the footage of athletes protesting police brutality glitter boldly on the wall. As you enter, you hear awe. It is a stunning vision that could not be presentation of contemporary art with an ethos that debuted at the Whitney Biennial in 2019. the faint strains of the national anthem and slip more contemporary with the storm this country of inclusion and the development of commerce Watercolor images of linked arms and kneeling into a darkened chamber where a watercolor is weathering, a social uprising pressure-cooked to fund the enterprise, a radical vision that has men softly fl icker, logos and faces recognizable image of Colin Kaepernick takes a knee every in a pandemic. Dispel any notion of hotel art as a since taken root and flourished beyond Ken- yet abstracted as the anthem plays with requi- two minutes. Upstairs, a mosque is intricately bit of soothing color for the bleary-eyed traveler tucky as investors and developers across Amer- em-like solemnity. No voices are heard until the rendered in bullets, gun parts, and a repurposed en route from airport to minibar. Free and open ica have sought to sustainably bring art to their fans’ distant cheers meet the players’ piercing cluster bomb, placed across from a menorah to the public 24 hours a day, 21c Museum Hotel’s cities, opening a second location in Cincinnati gazes, marking the tension of this moment of made of much the same. Flags, maps, guns, and galleries have a mission that includes as much in 2012 and rapidly expanding to Bentonville, stillness. “I never felt the connection to patrio- currency are everywhere—upside down, right provocation as it intends service as a commu- Durham, Kansas City, Lexington, Nashville, and tism . . . I never knew what fl ag I should wave,” 16 CHICA O READER - JULY . ll “T W B ” R / - / , c Museum Hotel Chicago, E. Ontario, cmuseumhotels.com. F ARTS & CULTURE
tism . . . I never knew what fl ag I should wave,” sculptures Umbilical Progenitor (2018) by Zak Ezawa, an Oakland-based naturalized American Ové and Moisa: Sospensione Mosaica (2009) citizen of Japanese and German descent, said. by Maimouna Gueressi. Looming at just slightly “These national anthem protests somehow superhuman scale (86 inches and 90 inches touched something in me, where I all of a sud- high, respectively), the two fi gures—one a bare- den felt very connected to the US and to what foot space traveller in an illuminated Mende these players were doing . . . I perceived it as an ritualistic helmet mask, the other a white- unusual act of patriotism. If you stage a protest horned woman levitating inches above the on such a large platform, in front of millions of ground—combine religious and secular sym- people, it can only because you somehow care bols, as well as masculine and feminine features, about the place or the country that you are sup- to create futuristic shamans tethered to human posed to represent.” history, culture, and spiritual practices. “They More chilling is a 2018 sculpture by New show how one can have a multiplicity of beliefs York-based Chilean artist Sebastian Errazuriz. without pledging allegiance to only one at the Made of 3D-printed plastic painted to look like tremendous expense of others,” says Stites. alabaster, The Police State features figures of “They represent the need for a pluralistic IS NOT FREE the present leaders of Russia, China, and the future where one can have conflicting ideolo- U.S., arranged on a platform not unlike the gies and identities existing simultaneously in Lincoln Memorial. With fl owing fabric draped one person’s being,” adds 21c Chicago museum chicagoreader.com/donate over their suits and ties like fraternity pledges manager Adia Sykes. playing at tableau vivant, Xi Jinping sits in the “If we are going to start healing, it’s our place of honor, flanked by Putin and Trump, duty to get more comfortable with being more We Couldn't Be Free Without You— who are missing their forearms like so many uncomfortable,” says Stites. “Police brutality purloined Venuses. “The U.S. and Russia will be and the legacy of racism that is so corrosive Support Community Journalism handicapped . . . because China, having gathered and painful have been di£ cult, challenging, un- the most data through machine learning, will comfortable topics for people to engage around. have the greatest amount of A.I. and thus the James Baldwin has said, ‘Not everything that most global power,” notes the wall label. “We’re can be faced can be changed, but nothing can be creating a new mythology for the end of human changed until it is faced.’ Until we look honestly times,” Errazuriz says on his website. “In times at these issues and their ramifi cations—legally, CHICAGO READER MASKS of crisis, mass unemployment, and riots, we socially, and culturally—until we look directly will have to have a police state that is stronger and squarely at ourselves in this moment, we at enforcing the will of those in power, and can’t look forward to a better day. Art can allow unfortunately that means that we will live in a us to do that.” society that will be willing to sacrifi ce a lot of Sykes notes, “‘This We Believe’ is an empty their freedoms and liberties in order to have the container for you to fi ll. What is ‘this?’ Who is illusion of security.” this ‘we?’ The intentionality behind that vague- In addition to artworks that witness and ness is really inspired. It leaves a lot of space for critique the past and present, several pieces in a viewer to come in and have their beliefs chal- “This We Believe” present a vision of a poten- lenged. That’s the beauty of this openness.” v CHICAGOREADER.THREADLESS.COM tially hybrid and pluralistic future. Two that Stites describes as especially optimistic are the @IreneCHsiao
Learn how every play helps at ILLINOISLOTTERY.COM ll JULY . - CHICA OREADER 17 ARTS & CULTURE
“A Nation of Writers” exhibit at American in and [attendees] get their book signed Writers Museum COURTESY AMERICAN WRITERS MUSEUM afterwards, there’s that interaction with the writer that’s very personal and intimate,” “There was so much rich content there, in Cranston says. “And that’s something that video and other materials, to sit down and we’re not able to provide right now.” scope out a way to put it online, to take the For in-person author discussions, the mu- curriculum pieces we had for schools and seum partners with local bookstore Seminary make them available for download, and to Co-op to sell books. Now, it’s di¢ cult to track just make it as interactive and engaging as resulting sales, but Cranston encourages possible in the spirit of the exhibit that we’d book lovers to still support those authors and put together,” Cranston says. stores. The exhibit includes more than 30 writers “When [readers buy books] from a local from various immigrant backgrounds. In bookstore, they’re supporting an institution previously recorded content, the writers that usually tries very hard to connect to their talk about their own experiences and answer community and also may provide forums and questions about identity such as “Have you opportunities for writers that wouldn’t get ever felt like an outsider?” them at a national scale,” Cranston says. Misa Sugiura is one of those featured And to help museums, Cranston says con- writers interviewed for the exhibit. She was sider buying memberships. born and raised near Chicago to parents from “We need it; we’ve definitely taken a hit Japan, and is the author of two books: It’s from revenue,” Cranston says. “Because Not Like It’s a Secret and This Time Will Be of COVID, we didn’t have our normal an- Di erent. nual spring fundraiser. It’s been tough on LIT “I really loved the questions—that got me everybody.” excited about the whole project,” Sugiura The American Writers Museum reopened says, “this focus on what it means to be an last week for a limited number of visitors The American Writers Museum American writer.” with modified safety precautions, but will Sugiura says the exhibit counteracts pre- continue to expand its online and interac- vious notions about whose voices get to be tive programming to include resources that recreates experiences during identifi ed and seen as American. schools can use next school year, including “So many of these issues have come to the virtual field trips and guided tours. It will forefront in a way that they haven’t before,” also convert its “American Voices” timeline COVID-19 Sugiura says. “Now is a great time to take exhibit into an online format for the fall. advantage of mainstream America’s rising “We’re building those platforms right now The museum quickly adapted to pandemic pressures with rich online content awareness of who we include and who we because we recognize that even if schools and virtual events. honor, who we believe to be worthwhile in are open, no school is going to put kids on our society, and who deserves a voice.” a bus and bring them down to a museum By A N In June, the museum rolled out a second until there’s a vaccine,” Cranston says. “So virtual experience for another exhibit, this could be a long haul through into next “Frederick Douglass: Agitator.” In addition year.” v to transforming content from the original ex- hen you fi rst walk into the American events. hibit, in its online form, a descendant of Dou- This story was produced in partnership with Writers Museum, you walk right into “We had been hoping to get to a point glass joins writers, scholars, and activists in the Pulitzer Center. For more stories about Wa timeline of American writers that where we could put more of our content reading his 1845 memoir, Narrative of the Life the effect of COVID-19 on museums, please spans more than 400 years. You take that online,” says Carey Cranston, the American of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. visit the Prairie State Museums Project at long hallway to reach an open space often Writers Museum’s president, “when it be- The museum’s reach and coverage is PrairieStateMuseumsProject.org. used for talks with authors debuting new came apparent that we were going to need national—it opened in 2017 and is the first books. Throughout each and every space, to shut down. What I wanted to be able to do museum of its kind in the country. @ArionneNettles there’s something to learn—with great was to redirect our sta ’s energies into proj- The museum’s event calendar may have quotes from great writers like Octavia Butler ects that would keep people occupied.” remained booked, but that national focus lining the walls. The museum’s “My America: Immigrant during COVID-19 brings additional challeng- But since March, walking through those and Refugee Writers Today” exhibit, which es: the unknown safety of travel and canceled rooms hasn’t been an option. The museum, explores the infl uence of modern immigrant book tours. Although a virtual book talk gives like others across the U.S., closed its doors and refugee writing, was created in 2019 to the opportunity to introduce new works, it is as COVID-19 has changed our relationship be an in-person, interactive experience. Be- still a very di erent experience for audienc- please recycle with physical spaces. The museum, however, cause of how it was designed, it became the es—and book sales. was quick to change with it, implementing fi rst exhibit that museum sta converted to “When you bring in 100 people and have this paper new versions of exhibits and adding virtual online. somebody in your space, the author comes 18 CHICA O READER - JULY . ll ARTS & CULTURE
Kale Williams, creator of the #iPlan2Live want to give the world a face for softness in a movement COURTESY KALE WILLIAMS Black man—a smile, a touch on the heart, and familiarity. moment that’s stuck with me. What are your goals for the movement? How did your perception of racism change as you got older? In the abstract, I want to humanize all Black people. I want to push the seeds of love into I realized my culture was hidden and my color the hearts of anyone who sees these videos and was fetishized. In order for me to succeed, I build a community dedicated to change. I want had to coat my tongue in the jargon of the op- to collaborate with leaders so every second is pressor. This manifests three ways: physical, guaranteed for all Black people, regardless of how we dress to assimilate; mental, how we how hate stems even within our community. internalize the ideas and viewpoints of white More concretely, I plan on spreading key supremacy; and spiritual—there are some terms, definitions, and ideas related to BLM Black people that have let that cloak cover through the #iPlan2Live cartoon series. I am every bit of them. The unfortunate truth is that willing to educate. I’d also like to connect with we all involuntarily follow white supremacy, a streaming service that takes information and we all need to take active action. I like to sharing seriously. Most people are unin- tell people that all lives do matter, but don’t formed, and information is power, information forget Black is included in that, too. is love, and that love will eventually lead to peace for my people. Was there a specifi c incident that led you to virtual organizing? Tell me about how you came up with that idea. I saw people outside protesting—many of them people who look like me. But, the reality The #iPlan2Live cartoon series features cute for white protesters is that activism ends when cats speaking about important concepts re- they go home. Meanwhile, I’m in my house see- garding marginalized identities. I chose cats ing headlines about lynchings. I wanted any- because my cat, Gingy, is super cute and has one, even one person, to know that I plan on 19K followers on TikTok. A total influencer! spending every second of my life with purpose. And, my segment of followers tend to be So I took to the Internet, a tool for continued cat-loving folks for social change. The end re- SOCIAL MEDIA growth and mobilizing. sult is a diverse cast of cats voiced by Maliyah Arnold, Brando Crawford, Grace Ahn, Adrian Why did you choose the phrase #iPlan2Live? Stein, Meiling Jin, and Lizbeth De Los Reyes. #iPlan2Live takes over TikTok I want to take this series to Jupiter and back, For Black people, our breath is activism, and because I know it’s important to spread infor- Kale Williams initiates an online movement celebrating Black so ness and breath is life. I want every second guaranteed mation. It keeps us adaptable. Ideally, it would purpose. for all Black people—trans, nonbinary, gender- wind up as a Netfl ix or Hulu show—whoever fl uid, and intersex included. can see the power and potential in my work By KT H and me. Something that really moved me about your initial video is how you tell the viewer that In the meantime, how can folks get ike all great social justice movements, your work. When did you become aware of you are now friends. It’s a very tender mo- involved? Chicagoan Kale Williams’s revolution racism as a concept? ment. What do you think the role of softness Linvolves cats—namely, Gingy, a sweet lil is when it comes to movements like #BLM They can use the hashtag on their social media fur baby with quite the social media following. Kale Williams: In high school, my “best and #iPlan2Live? channels to join the conversation and follow Williams and Gingy are at the helm of #iP- friends” outed me as queer; I had kids come the cartoon series—we’re releasing one epi- lan2Live, a two-veined project that involves up to me saying their parents were known KKK Let me specify: BLM is a history. #iPlan2Live is sode a week. animation and personal testimony via social members and that they “kill faggot n-words.” a movement within that history. In order to sustain this, we also need anima- media platforms. As of writing this article, the In another situation, a group of white kids and It’s important to not mistake softness for tors, accountant, and investors for the cartoon. hashtag is trending on TikTok with over 150K one Black girl went up to my grandfather’s car weakness. My philosophy in life is to exude We also welcome actors, local and global views and is still gaining traction. and screamed, “Don’t bring his faggot n-word as much love and light into the world as pos- celebrities—really, anyone else who wants to Our conversation has been edited for length ass back here!” As we left and drove down the sible. Obviously, I am human and have made help. The fi rst steps: Follow us at @IPlan2Live and clarity. highway, I took my shoes o and stuck my feet mistakes but I do my best. I hope every person on Instagram and @GingyTheConcernedKitty in the window. I remember that Katy Perry’s who sees my video considers us friends and on TikTok. Continue to demand justice for all KT Hawbaker: Let’s talk about the roots of “Teenage Dream” was on the radio—It was a supports all identities within blackness. I Black people. v ll JULY . - CHICA OREADER 19 The Leopard Play, or Sad Songs for Lost THEATER Boys LEE MILLER
NEW BEGINNINGS scrambling to find a home for already-sched- uled shows and been really in a crunch,” says Piatt-Eckert. “This gave us the breathing room Holding space to explore our options but also to be really thoughtful about next steps.” Though they hav- Steep Theatre loses its venue, but en’t zeroed in on a new venue yet, the company not its vision. hopes to stay in the Edgewater neighborhood. Even before the news of the building’s sale By K R hit (and before the stay-at-home order in March shut down all theaters and clubs), Steep was ince its founding in 2001, Steep Theatre thinking about how to reconfi gure the space to has spent most of its institutional life in address the needs of both social distancing and Sthe shadow of the Red Line—from its fi rst productions with larger casts. Piatt-Eckert says, long-term venue by the Sheridan stop (where “Something we were looking at for reopening, the honky-tonk music from the bar next door before the building sold, was fi guring out how to would bleed through the theater’s walls on the make it work with fl exible seating and fi gure out weekends) to its current home nestled next to how to reline up audiences in di¡ erent places.” Brave Space Alliance and Chicago Freedom bit more. the Berwyn station. But they quickly realized that even if they School. “Something I’ve heard a number of di¡ erent But last month, the company announced that could create distance for their patrons, the Says Piatt-Eckert, “I think in this time when theaters say is that they can only afford to they were losing the space they’ve occupied close quarters for actors and crew would be a we’re not producing, theaters have the opportu- reopen once. So theaters are holding onto the since 2008; the owner has sold the building problem. That’s one of the things they hope to nity to take a hard look at themselves and how money they need as much as they can to be able housing both Steep’s fl exible 60-seat black-box address in their new space. they work internally and externally to play a to do another show. Mounting a show is really theater and the adjoining cozy Boxcar bar and Says Moore, “One of the things that we were bigger role in anti-racist work.” That refl ection, expensive and if you don’t have the revenue cabaret space that they opened in 2018. toying with, before the building sold, was our she notes, includes looking at “how are our from the last show to help fund the current The news came in the midst of a flurry of dressing rooms. With large ensemble pieces— artistic teams assembled, and how are our lead- show, you’re essentially starting from scratch. announcements about other Chicago theaters— we had a show with ten people coming down ership teams structured, and how are power And theaters are sort of hanging onto the namely Mercury and iO—closing their doors the pike—the idea of doing a ten-person show dynamics structured.” money they need to be able to do that, but they permanently. But those were for-profi t enter- onstage in that space was daunting enough. But That soul-searching might also involve look- can only a¡ ord to do it once. So if that show has prises and Steep, as a nonprofi t, does have some the idea of cramming ten people into a dressing ing at some of the most cherished precepts of to close because somebody got sick, or because cushion from foundation grants not available to room is impossible.” He adds, “The booth for theater, especially the Chicago storefront model we go back down into stage three or whatever their commercial counterparts. our stage managers is impossibly small to begin where gritting your teeth and getting through that is, it’s likely we won’t have the funds to do Last year, Steep, along with Porchlight Music with. Having a [production] shop in the back of has long been held up as a virtue. “Now there it again.” Theatre and Albany Park Theater Project, re- our new space is a priority.” are di¡ erent kinds of safety that we talk about That means, too, that funders need to be pa- ceived an inaugural “stepping stone” grant from Creating more open space for patrons is also and one of them that we hadn’t talked much tient and fl exible with all nonprofi t theaters— Rick Bayless’s Bayless Foundation, giving them part of Moore’s dream list, spurred by Steep’s about before COVID was the physical wellness, and not just the ones who are on the hunt for a each $150,000, spread over three years. The experiences with the Boxcar, which not only the not-getting-sick part of performing,” says new home. “It seems sort of counterintuitive to grant enabled Steep to make the leap to Actors’ gave audiences a place to gather before and Piatt-Eckert. “I’ve been involved in theater fund theaters to not produce plays, but if there Equity union contracts for their productions of after plays, but also presented its own pro- for almost 30 years and I don’t think I’ve ever is funding to give theaters to function in the Lucy Kirkwood’s Mosquitoes in October of 2019 gramming, curated by Thomas Dixon, which worked on a show where there wasn’t some meantime, that makes it possible for theaters to and for their world premiere of Isaac Gomez’s encompassed music, spoken word, comedy, and cold going around during tech week,” adding, reopen without having to recreate new sta¡ and The Leopard Play, or Sad Songs for Lost Boys community discussions. Moore says he would “We really should be taking our health more recreate new theaters and do all of the things this past January. The company’s operating love to fi nd a way “to incorporate those perfor- seriously as we look at the production models. that will be necessary if theaters start to close,” budget for the 2019-20 season, pre-COVID, was mances in the front lobby. And have a big open I don’t have answers to that yet. But I think it’s says Piatt-Eckert. “For folks out there with piles just under $500,000. lobby with big windows and have the art right something we’re all thinking about.” of money, funding theaters and other arts orga- For Steep’s artistic director Peter Moore out there in front. Maybe have windows open to Meantime, though the shows aren’t going nizations to NOT produce right now is actually and executive director Kate Piatt-Eckert, the invite people into the space and welcome them on, Moore is still reading through scripts and hugely benefi cial as we look to what reopening announcement was not completely unexpected. immediately into the Steep world. I kind of feel thinking about what and when they can produce looks like.” “We’ve known for a little while that it could be like that vision for a lobby—open and inviting, again. “We’ll have a better timeline in the next But whenever and wherever Steep opens sold at some point, but didn’t fi nd out until it arts incorporated into the function—is again a couple of months. We have two shows that were their doors next, Moore is determined that it had,” Piatt-Eckert says. For now, both she and kind of metaphor for how I’d like the organiza- on hold for a little bit and I’m not sure if we’ll will be a place of celebration and community. Moore are choosing to view the search for a new tion to come back.” hop back in and open with those shows.” (One “The experiences we take away from [the Ber- home in the midst of a citywide performing arts Steep, in coordination with several other the- of the shows Steep had to cancel this spring was wyn space], the thing about that space is that it shutdown as a way to reimagine what their the- aters in Edgewater, including Jackalope, Raven, Ironbound by Polish immigrant and onetime was the most alive and vital when those rooms ater can be in a post-COVID world, while taking Rivendell, Story Theatre, and About Face, liter- Chicago resident Martyna Majok, who won the are activated and used by the entire communi- with them the best of what they’ve learned over ally opened its lobby last month to collect dona- 2018 Pulitzer Prize for her play Cost of Living.) ty. Looking back, those are really the exciting the past two decades. tions of food, medical supplies, phone chargers, Piatt-Eckert notes that Steep and many of nights in that space.” v “If it were any other year, any other moment and other necessities in support of Black Lives their theatrical peers aren’t necessarily eager to when this happened, we would have been Matter protesters and organizations such as open until the COVID curve fl attens out quite a @kerryreid 20 CHICA O READER - JULY ll THEATER
Chicago Artists Relief Fund organizers le to right: Claire Stone, Ellenor Riley-Condit, Jessica Kadish-Hernández COURTESY CARF
telecommute day jobs—I work ‘at’ a hospi- tal!—some of us are full-time artists biding time. I think we’re all discovering what it is that individually we need to get through, and the growing pains are real.” With the recent news that Broadway won’t reopen until 2021, it’s possible Chicago the- ater won’t be live again until the new year. Bearing that in mind is difficult for artists who thrive on live performance. And yet, the team behind the fund is focused on the positive. “We have to be optimistic at this point: Chi- cago theater will come out of this stronger, invigorated, inspired, brought emotionally closer by time apart,” Stone said. “It will take COMMUNITY were coming in more quickly than anticipated time to recover, and we’ll have to grow and and fellow artists were quick to step in. change with it. There will be some permanent “We had local musicians, led by Fiona scarring. Maybe the scene will look a lot dif- Sweet relief McMahon, plan a Quarantine Concert where ferent, and we’ll be ready for whatever forms 20 di erent people streamed sets from their it takes. But we’re looking forward to a family The Chicago Artists Relief Fund cuts the red tape. homes on Facebook Live,” Riley-Condit reunion like no other, sharing space and shar- said. “We had a reading of Steel Magnolias, ing work, and we’ll hold each other up until By A F planned by Chicago theater company the New then as best as we can.” Colony, that took place over Zoom. We’ve had Chicago theater, when it does come back, t the start of COVID-19 lockdowns, thou- ‘I’m in,’” co-organizer Ellenor Riley-Condit tons of artists and press shout us out and that could have a much di erent landscape. Mer- sands of Chicago theater artists lost im- (theatermaker and one of the creators of the has helped donations continue to come in.” cury Theater and iO Theater have already Amediate income. In the weeks to come, kid-oriented Unspookable podcast) said via “Angel Idowu at WTTW covered us in announced they are closing permanently, and even more lost future gigs. And now, with no e-mail. “Everyone on the administrative team our first week, which was huge for us, and there may be more closures down the line. reopening date in sight, many of those artists came together [similarly.]” social media word-of-mouth spread world- But there is hope in the changes that Chicago are still without work. Before the state went The relief fund is providing microgrants up wide within days of launching—by the end theaters can become a more equitable and into lockdown on March 22, the organizers to $300 to Chicago-area artists who lost work of that first week we’d raised $31,000,” workable environment. behind the Chicago Artists Relief Fund were due to COVID-19. Priority is given to artists Kadish-Hernández added. “(Donations have “There’s been a lot of wonderful equity already set to help their community. who are BIPOC, trans+, nonbinary, queer, or slowed down a bit since then, but we’re get- work done across arts industries in the last “Following in the footsteps of the Seattle disabled, though the administrators want to ting ready for another big push.) We’re seeing few years,” Riley-Condit said. “People are Artist Relief Fund Amid COVID-19 founded by fund as many artists as possible. support from current Chicagoans and former recognizing the need to educate themselves Ijeoma Oluo [author of So You Want to Talk As of July 6, the GoFundMe raised just Chicagoans and people from all over the and their organizations, and increase their About Race], Jessica Kadish-Hernández put over $96,000 of their $150,000 goal. That’s world who happen to know and love Chicago.” support of work by artists of color, queer and out a call to the Chicago art world and folks enough to fund 313 artists the full amount. Like the Seattle artist fund and other trans+ artists, disabled artists, and so many from different walks and administrative The current goal would allow them to fund crowdsourced funds, the goal for the Chicago more. Chicago theater is no exception there; talents joined the team,” co-organizer Claire 500 artists in full. Artists Relief Fund will continue to rise. As from our largest institutions to our smallest, Stone, the company manager for First Floor “We’ve also all signed a confidentiality each goal is met, the administrators will raise many have committed to these equity e orts. Theater, said via e-mail. “We all have di er- agreement that we take extremely seriously,” the bar a little higher. The original goal was My biggest hope coming out of this, and even ent disciplines, some of us with day jobs out- Kadish-Hernández said via e-mail. “Disclos- $50,000 and now it is $150,000. during it, is that the Chicago theater com- side of the arts entirely, and we all care very ing need is a vulnerable act, particularly “We meet on Zoom every day to discuss munity puts their money where their mouth deeply about our creative community.” when you’re disclosing to fellow artists who and delegate and check in with each other,” is, so to speak. All of the equity e orts mean Kadish-Hernández, a director and actor, you may know from other contexts. From day Stone said in an e-mail. “Administratively little if we don’t act on them when the people posted a Facebook status about creating a one, we made sure we were clear about put- this project has a lot of challenges, especially we claim to want to support are in need.” v relief fund in Chicago on March 13. By that ting privacy and confi dentiality standards in navigating GoFundMe and PayPal at a time afternoon there was a group discussion and writing.” when both are functionally overloaded. For more information on the fund two days later the GoFundMe went live. When originally interviewed early on in Emotionally, we’re connecting the dots day or to donate go to gofundme.com/f/ “When I saw Jess’s post on Facebook shar- lockdown, the three organizers were blown by day. But we have folks on the team who chicago-artists-relief-fund. ing the Seattle Fund and saying ‘Who is going away by how quickly Chicago came together are parents calling in between teaching their to do this with me?!’ I immediately replied, to support the fundraising e orts. Donations kids and making dinner, we have folks with @FinnWrites ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 21 JOE MILLS (833) CALL-KLO KeatingLegal.com Chicago Cyclists Count On Keating Loop and West Town Locations Town Loop and West
22 CHICA O READER - JULY JULY - CHICA O READER 23 ll CITY LIFE
YOUR LOCAL MOBILE BIKE TRANSPORTATION SHOP & SERVICE CENTER The Mellow Chicago Bike Map Book online and we A newly expanded guide to chill cycling routes in the city and beyond come directly to you! Visit velofix.com today By J G to schedule your at-home service or delivery of he need for a good Chicago bike map has Cicero, Devon, and Lake Michigan. This new a fully assembled bike never been greater. version stretches from Morgan Park to Rog- from one of our online T As I write this, our city is in Phase Four ers Park, Edison Park to Hegewisch, o ering retail partners. reopening after being devastated by COVID- low-stress alternative routes, mostly on side 19, and workplaces have opened their doors streets. again. CTA ridership fell by 80 percent during They’re ideal for people from all over town the pandemic, and many Chicagoans are still who want to try biking as a socially distanced avoiding transit, so if we don’t provide safe way to get around that’s also healthy, a ord- Never alternatives to cars for socially distanced able, good for the environment, and super trips, we’re sure to see a serious spike in driv- fun. But even seasoned cyclists will appreci- miss a ing, congestion, pollution, and tra c deaths. ate these quiet, serene roadways where shade show For months now, peer cities across the o ers relief from the summer heat. country and around the world have been tak- View the Citywide, Simplified Mellow again. ing action to facilitate safe, socially distanced Chicago Bike Map online at tinyurl.com/ walking and biking and prevent future car- CitywideSimplifi ed. mageddon by repurposing parking and travel If you’re in a hurry and need more direct lanes to widen sidewalks and create emer- routes, the city of Chicago’s o cial bike map gency bus and bike lanes. There’s also a na- is useful for fi nding marked bikeways on main tionwide movement to create “Slow Streets,” streets. To avoid clutter on this larger edition EARLY residential roadways where through traffic of the map, it doesn’t include the points of is banned so people can safely walk, roll, jog, interest and restaurant and bar recommenda- and bike in the street, creating corridors for tions from the original central-city version, WARNINGS transportation and recreation. That’s crucial, but you can still view those at tinyurl.com/ chicagoreader.com/early because the United States is currently seeing MellowChicagoMap. a major biking boom. While I think these routes are generally Chicago was late to the party, having better for bicyclists, you still should be done almost nothing to make more room for careful anytime you ride in the city. Feel free walking, transit, and cycling during the fi rst to drop me a line with any suggestions for few months of the crisis. Meanwhile, Mayor improvements or additions at jgreenfi eld[at] Lori Lightfoot closed the Lakefront Trail and streetsblog.org. the 606 for about three months, eliminat- Some notes: ing about 21.5 miles of car-free commuting —I’ve tried to create a grid of low-stress corridors. north-south and east-west routes within the Thankfully those key corridors have re- city of Chicago, spaced roughly a mile apart. opened with restrictions, and the city has —To keep the map from getting too clut- been gradually rolling out several miles of tered, main-street bikeways, including most Slow Streets in neighborhoods like South diagonal streets, generally aren’t shown— 3603 W Armitage Ave Shore, Kenwood-Oakland, Bucktown, Logan check out the city’s map for these. Chicago, IL 60647 Square, and Ravenswood. But we’re still way —Some routes include a short stretch of 773.772.5433 behind other U.S. cities. For example, Oak- sidewalk, or a block where you might have to “We Live to Bike, We Bike for Life!” 2016 W. ROSCOE land, California, with a fraction of the pop- ride the wrong way on a one-way street. To Bike4Life is a non-for-profit organization that CHICAGO, IL 60618 ulation of Chicago, is doing 74 miles of Slow follow the letter of the law, please dismount helps raise awareness for life threatening 773.477.7550 Streets, many times more than our city. and walk your bike at these locations. illnesses like HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer, Diabetes and Obesity. But rather than curse the darkness, we Thank you to everyone who provided feed- at the Reader decided to light a candle by back on drafts of this map or helped out in HIGH QUALITY BICYCLE RETAIL + REPAIR speeding up the release of the citywide ver- other ways. v Learn more by visiting our website: WWW.ROSCOEVILLAGEBIKES.COM www.bike4lifechicago.org sion of our Mellow Chicago Bike Map, which originally covered the area bounded by 95th, @greenfieldjohn 24 CHICA O READER - JULY ll FILM
Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado
Tabsch says, “this was his way of showing admiration and respect for his audience.” Costantini, whose father is Latino, grew up in Wisconsin watching Walter. “One of the things he taught me most was that at every moment just be exactly who you want to be, live how you want to live, and look how you want to look.” In an era of conformity, Walter was a radical for simply doing his own thing. Sundance 2020 was their fi rst experience seeing the film screened in front of a live audience in anticipation of the Netfl ix release on July 8. The Latino community came out in full force to support the fi lm. But even people who had never heard of Walter were saying, “I fell in love with Walter, thank you for bringing him into my life,” which Costantini admits was the greatest honor. “We were confident,” Tabsch says, “we know how cute and amazing Walter was, but we didn’t know how that would translate to a non-Latino audience.” The partnership with Netflix was a perfect match, the pair said. Other studios passed on the project, INTERVIEW Under the snow-capped mountains of Park discounting the film because of the Latino City, Utah, in January of 2020, following the subject. “Latinos just don’t see movies,” the Sundance Film Festival’s world premiere of pair was told, “there’s no audience for this.” Documenting the fi nal years of their Netflix-produced film Mucho Mucho Luckily, Netflix did not agree. Partnering Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado, the with Netfl ix will enable the fi lm to reach 200 pair of fi lmmakers refl ected on their journey countries in more than 20 languages. “The Walter Mercado’s remarkable to document the final years of Walter’s re- reason we made the film,” Tabsch says, “is markable life. to amplify Walter’s life work, to promote “Walter is the hardest person I’ve ever shot love, peace, and inclusion in times like these life with, and I’ve shot with pimps, drug lords, when our leaders are preaching division and and warlords,” Costantini says. Producer Alex hatred.” As it turns out, Walter was a huge How the fi lmmakers behind Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Fumero, a mutual friend, introduced the two fi lm bu¡ and loved Netfl ix, even getting upset Mercado brought a Latino story to the masses directors and the result was nothing short of when the pair accidentally disconnected his miraculous, with each one complementing feed during one shoot. By J F the other’s strengths. Tabsch brought exten- Tabsch and Costantini feel fortunate that sive experience with archival footage, which Netflix helps amplify Latino voices. When makes up about a third of the fi lm. “Cristina asked what he would say to a Chicago audi- is a brilliant investigative journalist with ence, Tabsch replies, “If you want to continue deep-rooted intuition,” Tabsch says, adding seeing stories that represent you on screen, uring this time of unrest, with fi erce po- Cristina Costantini? Tabsch is known for his that he learned from her the need to keep support them, watch them—this film was litical polarization, division, and uncer- documentaries with wonderfully quirky, odd- pushing the subject, whose rehearsed banter made by a Midwesterner, a Latino, a queer Dtainty, a voice of unity, love, and peace ball characters, such as the two shorts Cherry required extra nudges. man—those are three big populations. That’s is needed. Someone to dazzle and captivate Pop: The Story of the World’s Fanciest Cat As a queer man growing up in Miami, Chicago right there!” us with a message of hope. Someone to tell and Dolphin Lover, as well as the feature The Tabsch found camradery seeing Walter on Costantini summarizes their efforts per- us everything will be alright. Now more than Last Resort (codirected by Dennis Scholl), TV because it assured him he was not alone fectly: “Our producer Alex said, ‘The movie ever, the world needs Walter Mercado. celebrating the Jewish retirees of Miami in being different. He recalls teasingly ask- is about honoring our immigrant parents and And who better to bring us the story of the Beach in the 1970s. Costantini’s Science Fair, ing if Walter was a minimalist. “No,” Walter grandparents who came here and gave up ev- beloved, flamboyant, gender nonconform- which follows high schoolers in an academic responded, “I am a maximalist!” Very proud, erything so that we could do the bougie shit ing astrologer and psychic, who was seen competition, is a National Geographic docu- with his own sense of beauty, Walter was we do.’” v daily by millions in the Latino world, than mentary that won Sundance Film Festival’s always extra. “He radiated confi dence—how award-winning directors Kareem Tabsch and fi rst Festival Favorite Award in 2018. he felt, and how he made other people feel,” @joshua_flanders ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 25 R READER RECOMMENDED Get showtimes and see reviews of everything playing FILM this week at chicagoreader.com/movies.
NOW PLAYING sexuality, identity, and scripture. The focus this time is aimed at four faith-based families with children in the Bungalow LGBTQ community. The plea for forgiveness comes R Considered a quintessential work of the Berlin when viewers are prompted to look beyond some of School movement, the subtly provocative debut feature the grave mistakes made by family and congregation (2002) of German writer-director Ulrich Köhler depicts members to see the lessons they’ve learned. While the several days in the life of a young soldier, Paul (Lennie growth is heartwarming, it’s also heartwrenching to Burmeister, in a phenomenal performance), a er he consider the avoidable atrocities faced by some of the goes AWOL from the army to hide out at his parents’ subjects and raises the question: Is trotting out traumas, countryside bungalow. There he fi nds that his older some as severe as death, to teach lessons worth it? brother, Max (Devid Striesow), and his Danish girlfriend, For They Know Not What They Do believes it is. Will Lene (Trine Dyrholm), have also come to stay. Paul you? —B J 92 min. Gene Siskel Film Center develops an obsession with Lene, an attractive actress From Your Sofa who’s similarly intrigued by the peculiar wastrel. He then begins acting more and more erratically, which gives this stony comedy its most wryly humorous moments; as a The Girl With a Bracelet result, his alienation from those around him and society R At fi rst French writer-director Stéphane at large becomes more pronounced. Likewise, things Demoustier’s gripping courtroom drama seems almost become more ambiguous as the fi lm progresses, to us too straightforward. A remake of Argentinian director and even to the characters themselves. It’s pure disaf- Gonzalo Tobal’s 2018 fi lm The Accused, it centers on the The Girl With a Bracelet fection—with country, home, and self—writ large but still trial of 18-year-old Lise (Melissa Guers), who’s charged veiled; is it madness or clarity that Paul is experiencing? with violently stabbing her best friend to death two It’s an auspicious debut, one that should inspire viewers years prior. Lise’s parents (Roschdy Zem and Chiara and eff ective legislator, a hilarious, kindhearted fan of and Harry Melling. —K S R, 124 min. Now to seek out Köhler’s subsequent features (Sleeping Sick- Mastroianni) are shocked at what they learn about their chickens and dancing, and a joyfully stoic man who pos- streaming on Netflix ness, In My Room, et al.). In German, Danish, and English daughter during the trial; such revelations are meant sesses steely bravery in the face of white supremacists. with subtitles. —K S 85 min. Through to blemish Lise’s character, as they expose a seemingly Lewis says, “I lost my sense of fear. When you lose your 7/16, Facets Virtual Cinema virtuous young woman who gets into salacious spats sense of fear, you are free.” For a country in the grips of Palm Springs with her friends and has sex with boys and girls. Though terrible trouble, John Lewis: Good Trouble is the perfect R This Sundance darling gained plenty of atten- the fi lm is noticeably devoid of any glaring twists, a injection of courage this Independence Day. —S tion when it was bought for $22 million—far and away Desperados less obvious one is that the very behaviors that might F 96 min. Music Box Theatre, Music Box the biggest Sundance deal of all time. That’s a lot of Nasim Pedrad stars as a lost woman looking for a job normally cast doubt on Lise are here meant to challenge Theatre Virtual Cinema hype to live up to, especially for something being billed and a relationship in this L.P.-directed comedy. The prejudices concerning young women, which routinely simply as an Andy Samberg rom-com, but Palm Springs plot has promise, but a lot of fl opped jokes and cringy vilify them for acting in ways contrary to expectation. manages to live up to and even exceed it. That’s in (in a bad way) moments prove the fi lm to be desperate The ambiguous ending may be unsatisfying for view- The Old Guard part because of the fi lm’s ability to seamlessly blend indeed. The leading lady and her two friends embark on ers anticipating a routine potboiler, but what’s really R With this adaptation of Greg Rucka and romance, comedy, science fi ction, and heart-wrenching a journey to Cancún, on a dummy mission to delete a on trial is more interesting. In French with subtitles. Leandro Fernandez’s graphic novel The Old Guard emotional drama. Samberg stars as Nyles, a seemingly message she sent to her boyfriend during an emotional —K S 95 min. Through 9/14, Gene (which was scripted by Rucka), director Gina Prince- fun-loving and carefree man who draws the attention of breakdown. What could have been a light-hearted story Siskel Film Center From Your Sofa Bythewood (Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights) closed-off Sarah (Cristin Miloti) at a wedding reception about the things people will do to keep love turned delivers a big-budget comic book movie that’s both in Palm Springs. What starts as a typical rom-com con- into a series of odd conversations between friends that entertaining and aff ecting. The perennially badass Char- ceit very quickly reveals itself to be a time-loop movie don’t transfer to real life. On the main character’s dates John Lewis: Good Trouble lize Theron stars as Andromache of Scythia, aka Andy, that leans more toward Russian Doll than Groundhog and in other challenging scenarios throughout the fi lm, R Real life American hero Congressman John the leader of a clandestine group of immortal warriors Day, questioning the purpose of life, the many planes many of her stumbles that were supposed to be jokes Lewis is both honored and humanized by the documen- who come from diff erent points in history. The fi lm’s we might exist on, and the toll that sitting idly by instead don’t land. In fact, there weren’t many laughs to be had tary John Lewis: Good Trouble. The fi lm draws a direct plot centers on the group acquiring a new member, Nile of trying to fi gure it all out takes on one’s humanity. The at all, a result of possibly trying too hard. Any funny line between the past and present, cutting between (KiKi Layne), and subsequently fi ghting back against a continuing twists keep the story fresh, and the support- fi lm should also be relatable and have true stakes—this Lewis’s accomplishments and newly-minted politicians conniving pharmaceutical CEO who seeks to harvest ing cast—which includes Peter Gallagher, J.K. Simmons, Netfl ix release failed to do either. —J G 76 such as Stacey Abrams and members of “The Squad,” their DNA. This succeeds where Prince-Bythewood has and Camila Mendes—are excellent in ever-changing min. Streaming on Netflix highlighting the humbling task of stepping into the always excelled: focusing on strong women, especially time-loop scenarios. At the helm, though, it’s the perfect giant shoes of a legend. Covering well-worn territory women of color, like herself—Nile, a young, Black marine, pairing of Miloti and Samberg, who both shine while such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, viewers are is formidable, and there’s a backstory involving Vietnam- showing off the depth of their comedic and dramatic For They Know Not What They treated to stunning, rarely seen Civil Rights footage ese actress Veronica Ngo’s character that seems likely chops. —B W R, 90 min. Streaming on R Do that was even new to Lewis himself. One particularly to spawn a sequel—and love, be it romantic—two of the Hulu on 7/10 v For They Know Not What They Do asks you for your gripping scene shows a terrifyingly realistic nonviolence male immortals (Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli) are forgiveness, but should you give it? Following the training session role-play in preparation for sit-ins at in a millennia-long relationship—or familial. There’s an Supreme Court’s decision to legalize marriage equality segregated diners—that would turn violent. Starting his indescribable aff ection for and among the characters in and the religious right’s rapid and relentless backlash, life as a young man picking cotton, then ascending to Prince-Bythewood’s fi lms that never feels contrived, and please recycle Daniel G. Karslake’s follow-up to For the Bible Tells Me the ranks of Congress, the fi lm reveals a man who is a here it imbues even an action-packed tale with very real this paper So continues an exploration of the relationship among ruthless and cunning campaign opponent, a progressive sincerity. With Matthias Schoenaerts, Chiwetel Ejiofor,
26 CHICA O READER - JULY ll eChicago Reader is now biweekly More than 50,000 copies will be available at nearly 1,200 locations across the city and suburbs. Find one near you: Upcoming Issues: chicagoreader.com/map
June 25, 2020 Pride Issue July 9, 2020 L I R P A | E C N I S LY K E E W E E R F S ’ O AG C I H C
July 23, 2020 Books Issue AY M | E C N I S LY K E E W E E R F S ’ O AG C I H C Aug. 6, 2020
Aug. 20, 2020 The Gaming Issue Sept. 3, 2020 Education Issue Home & Plants Issue Sept. 17, 2020 Housing Issue How to make the most of your fl ora and furnishings Oct. 1, 2020 Fall Arts Issue Oct. 15, 2020 Mental Health Issue: SocialWorks Insert Oct. 29, 2020 Sex Issue Nov. 12, 2020 Best of Chicago
Nov. 26, 2020 Download a free copy of any Reader issue here: Dec. 10, 2020 chicagoreader.com/chicago/issuearchives
ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 27 JEFF MARINI FOR CHICAGO READER the return of
Daryl Cameron believes the time is right for his cape. A little more than 40 years ago, Cameron fi lled two voids. In the late 1970s, he noticed that scarcely any prominent funk artists lived in Chicago, even though the music was still very much in fashion and had deep roots here. At the same time, he saw a shortage of Black superheroes in pop culture. So he created a costumed alter ego, Captain Sky, and released three albums that celebrated his extraterres- trial powers with upbeat electric dance-fl oor funk. Since then, Cameron has drifted in and out of music, but he established a lasting legacy with those early records—in part by inspiring some of the pioneers of hip-hop. This summer Cameron is releasing the 28 CHICA O READER - JULY ll Chicago’s funk superhero releases his fi rst album in 40 years—and this time his mission includes mentoring Black teenagers on the south side. By A C captain sky
first tracks from his first full-length album (“So So Good”). Predominantly white Luther was a world of Las Vegas’s flamboyant Mr. Showbiz: the since 1980, The Whole 9, via his own Captain Cameron has made a bigger change in the away from Cameron’s south-side neighbor- easygoing Adventures of Captain Sky blended Sky Cre8tive Conceptz label. He’s putting themes his music addresses. On his debut, hood, but he calls the experience “all a part George Clinton with DC Comics. Since Camer- it out piecemeal, and since June 5 he’s been he celebrated virility with “Super Sporm” of my growth and development.” He says he on’s parents paid for the studio time to make dropping one of its nine songs every 21 days (name-checked on the 1979 Sugarhill Gang didn’t have signifi cant trouble because he was the album, he didn’t feel pressure from the through streaming services. No physical smash “Rapper’s Delight”), but compared to Black. He played rock and funk with racially label to wrap the sessions up too quickly. Key- editions are planned yet, but the full collec- the good-time dance tracks that dominated diverse groups of friends, both in a student boardist Donald Burnside, who worked on the tion will be available digitally on November his early work, his new material reflects a group and outside school, and listened to soul arrangements and played on the record, says 27. Cameron is also launching a nonprofi t to more spiritual, inspirational outlook. He also on WVON. they took their time to develop a sound that mentor young African American men. Though remakes the Intruders’ 1973 R&B hookup hit, “Music is universal, man, it has no color,” kept everything loose. He also remembers the cover of his 1978 debut, The Adventures “I Wanna Know Your Name,” as the devotional Cameron says. “It doesn’t have a gender, re- Cameron devising the Captain Sky concept in of Captain Sky, depicts him fl ying above the “I Wanna Praise Your Name.” ally. Some of it does: You can listen to some his own bedroom. city on a golden LP, with his current music and “My spirituality has been deeply rooted,” stuff, and it’s kind of soft. And some other “These were some of the freest sessions social mission he’s responding to people on Cameron says. “It wasn’t a sudden, micro- stu is hard. But even as men, we have some I’ve ever been involved in,” Burnside says. the ground. wave, voila moment. It’s still getting stronger. female tendencies. It’s always a mixture.” “Nobody told me anything; I played anything “The cape is on right now,” Cameron says I never want to feel that it’s something I want As Cameron recalls, Chicago’s music scene I wanted to play. It wasn’t like the Ohio Play- from his home in Olympia Fields. “It’s just not to arrive at—there’s always something for me had a familial camaraderie when he was get- ers, where everything was super structured. visible. It’s not a physical cape—it is the au- to learn. If I sit down with a guy who’s Catho- ting started. After playing in the Bionic Band ‘Super Sporm’ just works with singing, chant- thority that I have to bring about my vision.” lic, a guy who’s Muslim, Buddhist, or whatev- and South Side Movement in the mid-70s, ing, or playing the saxophone. If I could fi gure Musically, The Whole 9 connects to The Ad- er and have a conversation about the Creator, he sang in Aura, a duo with Sheryl Sawyer out why, I’d patent it and never have to worry ventures of Captain Sky and the two albums you may call him something di erent than I (daughter of future mayor Eugene Sawyer). about anything again.” that followed. Cameron’s overarching mood is call him, but we’ll be able to relate.” In early 1978, Cameron started working with Cameron’s debut stood out for another as resolutely positive now as it was then. Clas- That positive sentiment goes back to Cam- industry veteran Eddie Thomas, who repre- reason too. Billboard reported in July 1978 sic funk guitars, scratchy yet precise, engage eron’s youth growing up near 99th and Green sented him as a solo act. that AVI had used a 12-inch of the Adventures with bass and keyboard vamps while horns Street in Washington Heights. He describes an Thomas had been Curtis Mayfield’s busi- of Captain Sky track “Wonder Worm” to in- sneak in brief solos. Cameron, who’s about idyllic childhood, and at age 13 he got a guitar ness partner, and as an independent promoter troduce “expanded grooves on its disco disks to turn 63, still prefers live instruments over from his father as a birthday gift. In the early he’d established many national contacts. to aid deejays to program parts of a record samples, and he shuns Auto-Tune in favor of 1970s, Cameron went to the Lutheran-run Lu- Through Thomas’s intervention, within a few visually.” By widening the groove at key mo- his natural voice. While he’s always written or ther High School South, the same school that months Cameron had signed with California- ments, this modification made it easier for cowritten the majority of his repertoire, he’s Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., aka Common, would based label AVI, whose roster featured disco DJs to work a song into a mix. It also helped now introducing reimagined versions of other attend 15 years later. Religion was part of the band Le Pamplemousse, Chicago soul singer make Cameron’s music popular with a group artists’ material and expanding into di erent curriculum, and he says that his recent lyrics Lowrell, and Liberace. But the fantasy Camer- of trailblazing young musicians—but not for idioms: his new tunes include a blues song refl ect that education. on projected was a far di erent sort than that the exact reasons he might’ve anticipated. ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 29 in 1991 curtailed his involvement in the local scene. He also acknowledges another hin- drance to his personal and professional lives: he calls himself “a survivor of the 1970s snow- storm, where everybody would like to play in the snow.” Though he’s now drug free, his road wasn’t a short one. “It was really a part of social acceptance in the music business,” he says. “But I rebounded from the coke thing.” The death of Cameron’s mother in 2011 hit him even harder than the loss of his fa- ther—after surviving its toll, he says, “getting through this pandemic is nothing.” He moved to Houston that year to regroup, continued Le : Captain Sky in his dressing room at the writing songs, and became a state-certified International Amphitheatre during the 1979 recovery-support specialist to help people WVON Christmas show. Above: Cover art for the 1980 Captain Sky album Concerned Party #1. going through substance abuse. Cameron PHOTO COURTESY DARYL CAMERON moved back to Chicago about two years ago and put his training and experience to work, sessions were still happening in local R&B—an taking a job at a south-side hospital he prefers era that would end just a few years later. One not to name. of the guitarists, the late Danny Leake, would “I was stationed for people who came off go on to become a crucial audio engineer, most the streets, for people who OD’d or had a really notably for Stevie Wonder. bad situation with drugs,” Cameron says. “I Cameron was becoming conspicuous na- had to sit down and meet them where they are. tionwide in more ways than one. At well over I’ve been there myself. I would sit there, and six feet tall even in ordinary shoes, he looked I would have to really encourage a patient to even taller performing “Wonder Worm” on go into detox. They were ready to leave, and Soul Train in early 1979: he wore a rakishly I had to share some of my story with them to cut white jumpsuit with matching boots and encourage them to stay.” fringed cape, flamboyant sunglasses, and a The funk numbers, ballads, and religious huge star-shaped belt buckle, while holding songs that make up The Whole 9 embrace the microphone in one hand and a gleaming, uplifting a¢ rmations in their lyrics and tone. LP-shaped silver shield in the other. A clip of But this spiritual transformation in Cameron’s his appearance has been uploaded to YouTube, music didn’t require him to ditch his Captain and everyone’s moves and styles still look Sky identity. While he still asserts his power like as much fun as they must’ve been in 1978. over the dance floor on “I Just Wanna Have Cameron toured with future house-music Some Fun” (released on June 26), he turns progenitor Vince Lawrence, then a teenager, the euphemism in its title on its head, ex- running his pyrotechnics. And his outlandish pressing a preference for casual conversation continued from 29 Rock” and Public Enemy’s “You’re Gonna Get outfits were created by Dexter Griffin, who over the lunar-powered pickups of 1979. He “All the DJ had to do was play the record one Yours.” He’s shouted out by name in “Rapper’s also worked with Bootsy Collins. Collabora- incorporates occasional guest raps from new time to know which breakdown was which,” Delight” (as “my man Captain Sky”), and two tion fueled imagination. colleagues but also retains long-term collabo- Cameron says. “The first groove could be a of its verses refer to “Super Sporm.” In the “Costume designer Dexter Gri¢ n was phe- rators, such as keyboardist and cowriter Keith heavy percussion break; the next may be a fi rst, the Sugarhill Gang invoke a Black super- nomenal,” Cameron said. “I would tell him Stewart and vocalist Yvonne Gage, who sang bass break, or just the drums and percussion. hero to mock the white concept of Superman: exactly what I wanted in the costume, and we on Pop Goes the Captain. His vocal delivery— So that record was one of the fi rst to ever do “He can’t satisfy you with his little worm / But never met. He had all of my specs, all of my relaxed and assertive—bonds his varied reper- this.” I can bust you out with my super sperm.” measurements. I’d say, ‘I need something with toire together, so that when he comments on The timing couldn’t have been better. That “I realized if my name is mentioned in the purple,’ and he’d say, ‘How about purple and scripture in the slow contemporary gospel “If same 1978 issue of Billboard noted that Bronx very fi rst rap hit, then I had something to do silver? Make the boots come up to the thighs.’ We Believe,” the segue feels natural. DJs had been buying specifi c R&B albums to with the coming together of the whole genre,” A few days later, he’d just make it and send it “My inspiration for The Whole 9 came from loop their rhythm breaks. Soon the result, Cameron says. “It was an honor, and it doesn’t to me via FedEx.” knowing that I’m a miracle and that I was hip-hop, became a nationwide phenomenon. make me stick my chest out and say, ‘I’m the Cameron recorded the cheerful 1980 album preserved to make music, to make people On “Super Sporm” Cameron left unexpected man.’ It’s very humbling. I love Chicago, but Concerned Party #1 (TEC Records) with smile, to make people feel good, help people yet fi tting gaps in his vocals, creating plenty New York really embraced me on that partic- Chicagoans, but within a year or two he was in their lives,” Cameron says. “Captain Sky is of room for multilayered percussive forays ular record.” living in Philadelphia. That record would be my creative expression inside of me. It’s all that made The Adventures of Captain Sky a Back in Chicago, Cameron had a wider his last full-length till The Whole 9. He moved one and the same. Everybody knows my birth sought-after part of that burgeoning genre’s vision for his 1979 follow-up, Pop Goes the back here in 1985, but the days of fantastic name is Daryl Cameron, but Captain Sky is the source material. Whosampled.com lists cuts Captain. Trumpeter Rodney Clark says this costumes and large-scale instrumental ar- brand. There’s a spiritual side of Captain Sky, from his three late-70s and early-80s records album’s large assemblage of horn, string, and rangements were largely in the past. Cameron a romantic side. I’m an original member of as part of 45 hip-hop tracks, including such percussion players represented the premier spent time informally advising upstart artists, the original nation of funkateers. All of those cornerstones as Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Chicago studio talent from a time when such but the emotional blow of his father’s death di« erent sides are a part of the many moods 30 CHICA O READER - JULY ll Daryl Cameron, better known as Captain Sky, at Harold Washington Park earlier this month JEFF MARINI FOR CHICAGO READER
and facets of who Captain Sky is as a creative from Emmett Till on, enough is enough,” this guy to turn away from what he’s doing. “You go in, you spend your blood, sweat, person.” Cameron says. “It took the Civil War to change You can’t convince a guy to give his Mercedes tears on something, and you take it to a record In June, around the time of our conversa- things in this country.” back and get a respectable job—it’s really company and they give you a piece of it,” Cam- tions for this story, Cameron drove past looted Cameron intends to create ongoing change hard. If you catch them before they make the eron says. “How did that happen? Everybody stores near 119th and Halsted. He called me on the south side by setting up his nonprofi t, left turn and guide them and nurture them, the was OK with that at a certain point, because later that day, aghast that some rioters had de- an empowerment program for Black teenage chances of really getting through to them are that was the norm.” stroyed the only places where their own fam- boys called Mentoring and Leadership Essen- greater.” These days, though, he wants to end up with ilies could buy groceries. But he also knows tials (MALE). Here too Cameron will draw on Cameron knows a lot about how to turn away more than a piece, even if he does partner with that systemic racism can produce enough his experiences to o er guidance. His plans for from drugs, but he could also teach young men someone else to release his music. “You still frustration, anger, and grief to contribute to the rest of 2020 include recruiting people to about the power of owning your own work have to be able to delegate and to share your such violence. “Turn On tha’ Juice,” the lead help him apply for grant funding and establish and cooperating artistically. He has a personal pie. I have this good-tasting pie, and I can say, track on The Whole 9, includes a reference to the program. example close at hand, because he controls the ‘John Doe, I want to give you a slice.’ In return Colin Kaepernick’s protest against the killing “Let’s just say a young man is 16, 17, a senior music he’s making now—Sony subsidiary the for John’s slice, there’s some things that John of Black people by police: “You’re criticized in high school, and he ended up being the guy Orchard handles his distribution, but he holds is bringing to the party,” Cameron says. “I for standing up / Just the same for kneeling on the block,” Cameron says. “He’s not satis- the rights to everything. Cameron also intends don’t mind. Nobody’s going to own more of me down.” fi ed with working at McDonald’s. He’s making to use Cre8tive Conceptz as a platform for than me ever again.” v “I don’t condone stealing, but I understand more money in his pocket than most people— emerging artists; he mentions up-and-coming that after years of being treated like S-H-I-T he’s making it the wrong way. It’s hard to get Chicago rapper Roc Solid as an example. @aaroncohenwords ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 31 MUSIC
Because of the pandemic, our doors were forced to close until further notice. The livelihoods of our box CHICAGOANS OF NOTE office workers, security, stagehands, techs, and bar servers have been DJ Hank, footwork producer directly affected by this decision. and bike messenger “Something with the culture just instantly made sense, coming from a punk We want them to know how much background. I think footwork music is pretty subversive. It’s raw.” we appreciate their hard work As told to L G and help support them DJ Hank, 27, moved to Chicago from North playing with a couple di erent bands, just by during this trying time. Carolina in 2011 to become a bike messenger. going to a lot of DIY stu that was all ages. I He began producing footwork tracks within a saw this band Whatever Brains, and they were year, after befriending members of the influ- all way older than me—I was like 15 years old. ential Teklife collective. In April, Louisville They were already touring and gearing up to label Sophomore Lounge issued his first 12- record and shit. I wrote them a message on PLEASE DONATE: inch, Tra c Control. MySpace, like, “Man, I was at y’all’s show, I’m 15, you guys are lit.” They responded, “Do you jamusa.com/helpourstaff big catalyst was pirating FL Studio back want to be in our band?” So I started playing when I was in middle school—I just with them, going on tours, and recorded a A started making beats, not taking it too couple albums with them. seriously. When I was in high school I started I was making rap beats to start off with, 32 CHICA O READER - JULY . ll MUSIC Stay Home. Stay Positive. Stay Connected. You couldn’t really hear footwork tracks to NICK ACCARDI the extent that you can get it now—it’s almost but then I started hearing some electronic a little bit oversaturated now. But back then, music and tried to incorporate that a little bit. you could be listening to music at Battle- I never tried making [footwork] tracks until grounds and not recognize a single track for, I came to Chicago. Going to Battlegrounds, like, hours—this is all hot off the presses. meeting Manny, Phil, and Rashad—that was That’s how I got started. After the fi rst time the catalyst for me to be like, “Let me try to going to Battlegrounds, I kept going to di er- make some tracks.” ent events. Right after graduating high school, I was [For Traffic Control] I definitely want- working two or three jobs. I was doing food ed to do something that was less sample delivery in North Carolina. I knew that they based—like, less straight remixes. There’s have bike messengers up in Chicago, and obviously still samples on the album; I used there would probably be more opportunities samples from cell phones, tra c sounds, and for me here. Through touring with Whatever social-media videos. Those were the motifs Brains, I knew some people and played in I wanted to draw on for the album, ’cause Chicago before I came here. I knew it was it’s something that really reflected my life pretty a ordable; it was cheaper for me to get in a very personal and honest way. The song a place in Chicago than it was for me to get “Tra c Control,” with all the tra c sounds something back home. on it, that was a track that I had wanted to I fi red up Google one day and started call- make for a couple years. I had a concept in ing all the messenger companies I could fi nd. my head just from being a bike messenger; it We can’t wait to get back to making music and In retrospect, that was probably crazy to be a just took me a couple years to unlock what I dancing together at the Old Town School! bike-messenger manager in Chicago getting needed to do on that one. an e-mail like, “Yo, I’m this 18-year-old kid. I There’s two [bike messenger] categories: don’t even live there, but I want to come work one is food messengers, and the other people In the meantime, many of our classes are for you guys.” are, like, paper messengers, legal messengers, Footwork came on my radar through You- whatever you want to call it. There’s been currently running online, and we are actively Tube: Wala Cam dance videos. I didn’t make a mass exodus from the Loop—everyone’s working on more ways to keep you making the connection between the dance and the working from home, so we’ve been struggling music and learning new things with us, from music till a couple years later. How it came just keeping our work up because no one’s to me actually getting connected was, I’m downtown right now. We’re hanging in there. home, in the near future. here in Chicago, and I don’t really know a lot I’m the operations manager at my compa- of people. I’m 18; Chicago’s a very 21-and-up ny. I got promoted almost two years ago. I town. I went to see an all-ages show with Ra- still do deliveries, but I’m the leader for my We are so thankful to be part of the wonderful shad and Spinn at the Metro, and at the end bike team. I’m just trying to think one step and supportive arts community in Chicago and of the night they were like, “Catch us tomor- ahead, and trying to fi gure out what we can row—we’re gonna be at Battlegrounds.” do to stay afl oat and keep the money coming are especially thankful for all our dedicated When you go to Battlegrounds, pretty in. I’ve got about 20 people on my team. students and teaching artists persevering with much everybody that’s there is dancing. If All these different big shifts happen, you’re not dancing, you’re gonna look out of where we had 9/11 and now we’ve got COVID, us during this time. place—it’s a real tight-knit community any- and that is gonna drastically alter the bike- way. People were probably scratching their messenger game. It’s definitely an industry For updates, rescheduled concert info, ways to heads, like, “Who’s this new guy.” But I was that was already on the cutting block in some received warmly as soon as I walked in the ways. In the ten years that I’ve been in Chica- help support our staff & more please visit door. Manny had come up to me, introduced go, I’ve noticed a lot of changes: less compa- oldtownschool.org/alert himself, and started introducing me to a nies, companies are folding, there’s way less bunch of people. bike messengers out. That fi rst day I went to Battlegrounds was a I just moved houses. I haven’t done music Stay safe, sane, and keep on playing from all of legendary night. A group called Red Legends in two months ’cause all my stuff’s been in was battling everybody—that’s honestly one boxes—I just got all my music stuff set up, us at Old Town School of Folk Music! of the craziest nights for footworking I’ve so I’m real excited. I was initially trying to ever seen. Something with the culture just go do some shows, but it’s been cool. Got a instantly made sense, coming from a punk new house, and that’s something to be happy oldtownschool.org background. I think footwork music is pretty for. v subversive. It’s raw. It’s not like a club setting; it’s all ages. @imLeor ll JULY . - CHICA OREADER 33 Recommended and notable releases and critics’ insights for the week of July 9 MUSIC
PICK OF THE WEEK Tatiana Hazel knows she was meant to shine
Julianna Barwick COURTESY THE ARTIST
Vince Ash, Vito perhaps they linger as phantom pain or burrow Pow deep into the brain. It’s these imperceptible trau- 1022vito.bandcamp.com/album/vito mas—and the impossibility of recovery—that con- sume Julianna Barwick on her new fourth solo Vince Ash hails from Hammond, Indiana, but at age album, Healing Is a Miracle. The Los Angeles-based 23 he already raps like he’s lived lifetimes in some composer and vocalist cultivated her voice as a of the country’s most storied hip-hop scenes. On church chorister while growing up in Louisiana,
DAMIAN BORJA his new EP, Vito (POW Recordings), he braids west- and she began cra ing her own music in the mid- coast G-funk storytelling with humid Memphis 2000s—building gauzy atmospheres in solitude with instrumentals—the title track coalesces around a little more than her reverb-armored soprano. For stuttering sample of iconic southern crew Three 6 Healing Is a Miracle, her debut on vanguard elec- Tatiana Hazel, Duality Mafi a shouting out their own name. Ash’s resonant tronic label Ninja Tune, Barwick enlisted a cote- Downtown voice can fl it between sinister and sympathetic in rie of collaborators to add much-needed flesh to soundcloud.com/tatianahazel a couple lines, and his spry performances on Vito her sonic skeletons. Harpist Mary Lattimore shud- bring out the complexities embedded in his darkest ders her way through “Oh, Memory,” the vocals of raps. He contemplates the pain of gun violence in Sigur Rós founder Jónsi echo wistfully in imaginary such intimate detail that it could exhaust just about canyons on “In Light,” and producer Nosaj Thing— anyone, but he o en sounds energized by his own who’s worked with the likes of Kendrick Lamar and CHICAGO NATIVE TATIANA HAZEL has confident, polished production than her urgent need to record every word. His short vers- Chance the Rapper—helps Barwick close the bare- been on a journey that merges fashion, previous work. When I spoke to Hazel last es can bear great weight, and though Vito runs only ly 30-minute album with the indulgent vocal over- 15 minutes, he doesn’t waste even one of them. I’ve dubs and muffled percussion of “Nod.” To make visual design, and music since she was 13 month—shortly after she won the Latin consistently returned to a couple of brutal lines this material, Barwick set aside the primitive head- years old, when she began posting videos of Alternative Music Conference’s Discovery from “Back N the Dayz,” which he contrasts with a phone setup she used on her previous releases and herself singing and playing acoustic guitar Award, which highlights the work of up- gently cascading, piano-driven instrumental: “Was recorded using studio monitors for the first time. 16 when I fi nally shed my last tears / And through That allowed her to approach Healing Is a Miracle on YouTube. Now in her early 20s, the Los and-coming Latinx artists—she told me the years seein’ my peers disappear before my with an emphasis on the physicality of sound—how a Angeles-based singer-songwriter has de- that the songs on Duality emerged from her eyes.” Ash’s high-speed delivery makes these words bass tone can resonate through the body or a single veloped a solid following while deepening determination to resist being pigeonholed rush by like drops in a flood, but they still under- note can penetrate every pore—and made possible score how frequently Black Americans grapple with some of the record’s boldest moments. On the diz- her talent for applying an optimistic, deter- into any one category. “I feel a lot of duality such life-altering grief—and his resolute perfor- zying siren song “Flowers,” she pummels her hyper- mined lens to her confessional reflections within myself—I’m known as a Latinx artist, mance lends an empathetic shoulder to anyone who laminated vocal loops with blistering synth pulses. on relationships, sexuality, breakups, career but I grew up with American pop culture and has suff ered like he has. —L G While Barwick’s creative process is indebted to syn- thesis and circuitry, Healing remains tethered to the impasses, and other life dilemmas. On her spent a lot of time between Mexico and the mystical realms of nature while her many voices ring new EP, Duality, Hazel uses her velvety U.S.” The EP’s upbeat, breezy tunes suggest Julianna Barwick, Healing is a like relics of revelation. —S N S vibratro to share personal tales made irre- that Hazel is resolving those tensions with Miracle Ninja Tune sistible with sugary pop hooks, all wrapped ease. On “Right There,” when she sings “It’s juliannabarwick.bandcamp.com/album/healing- Peter Brötzmann & Fred Lonberg- in shimmery 1980s-inspired synth textures going to be O-fucking-K,” she seems pretty is-a-miracle Holm, Memories of a Tunicate and the occasional disco beat. Created al- convinced—and the feeling is contagious. Relative Pitch While wounds can be stitched and broken bones relativepitchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ most completely by Hazel, Duality is a more —C M J may mend, other types of injuries never fully heal; memories-of-a-tunicate 34 CHICA O READER - JULY ll MUSIC
Park Hye Jin on the cover of How Can I
German reeds player Peter Brötzmann turned 79 South Korean producer Park Hye Jin makes evoc- in March, so it would be developmentally appro- ative house music for late nights. On her new EP, priate for him to take a look back. But memories How Can I (Ninja Tune), her vocal delivery and pro- BIT.LY/GOOSEDELIVERS are a mixed blessing for a devoted practitioner of duction are poised and searing, building on the improvised music. While they can build up a shared template of her 2018 debut, If U Want It. On the understanding between partners, making it easi- EP’s fi rst track, “Like This,” she accompanies a swell er for them to come up with something that works of synth pads and percussion with a repeated line in a pinch, they can also dilute or foreclose on the about how she’s opening her eyes, as if she’s been in-the-moment magic between players that makes in a hypnotic trance. While If U Want It featured the music so thrilling. Knowing this, Brötzmann has the scorching kiss-off “I Don’t Care,” Park takes kept himself moving creatively by dissolving many the art of rejection to the next level on “No,” when productive relationships and putting others on ice she switches from Korean to English—and from a for decades. The Chicago Octet/Tentet, which con- breathy murmur to a piercing, remorseless decla- sisted of players living in or associated with this city, mation—to tell someone to “shut the fuck up.” She’s was one of his most productive ensembles between equally frank on “Can You,” despite describing con- 1997 and 2011. But since Brötzmann disbanded it, fl icting feelings; as she vacillates between singing he has rarely played with any of its members—until “Can you be my baby?” and “I fucking hate you,” now. In 2019 Brötzmann reconnected with cellist the barreling kick drum seems to further unsettle Fred Lonberg-Holm, a founding octet member and her already tortured mind. Park’s diverse musical once a frequent duet partner, for this 62-minute stu- palette has been evident since her 2018 self-titled dio session. (Lonberg-Holm moved from Chicago to mixtape, which incorporates snatches of funk and Kingston, New York, in 2017.) Neither man’s playing hip-hop, and she pushes her eclecticism even fur- has mellowed, but they pay close attention to each ther this time around. On the footwork-indebted other’s musical choices—a sharpened focus that “How Come,” the most notable example, she adds may have arisen from their time apart. The resulting a midsong blanket of shimmering synths to suff use improvisations are musically varied but consistent a vocal sample and a skittering beat with the emo- in their dark emotional tone. The coarse tenor-sax tional tension of her other work. No matter which cries and arcing, feedback-sharpened bowing on mood or style she’s trying to invoke, Park trans- “Salp” (all the tracks are named for marine inver- forms whatever space you’re in into a prismatic, tebrates) sounds like a funeral keen. “Pyrosomes” makeshi dance fl oor. —J M K feels even more tragic, with Brötzmann playing slow melodies on a Hungarian tárogató while Lonberg- Holm surrounds his lines with electronically distort- Carlos Niño & Miguel Atwood- ed smears. And on the closing “Stolidobranchia,” Ferguson, Chicago Waves delicate pizzicato figures give way to a bracing International Anthem spray of electronically reversed notes while the sax- intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/chicago-waves ophonist eases into a restrained, sorrowful blues. If you’re looking for a soundtrack to your opening-up In 2005, Los Angeles percussionist, DJ, arrang- party, you should look elsewhere, but if you need to er, and producer Carlos Niño began collaborating hear something that takes the full measure of what with fellow Angeleno Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, a it feels like when things end, this album is your com- multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music director. panion. —BM That year, Atwood-Ferguson joined Niño’s expan- sive soul-jazz collective, Build an Ark, and helped record studio albums by two of Niño’s other proj- Park Hye Jin, How Can I ects: With Voices, the fi nal full-length from progres- Ninja Tune sive hip-hop production duo AmmonContact, and parkhyejin.bandcamp.com Living Room, from jazzy downtempo unit the Life ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 35 Find more music reviews at MUSIC chicagoreader.com/soundboard.
Pyrrhon COURTESYTHEARTIST
continued from 35 the ruling class. Pyrrhon fi nd a groove on the smog- Force Trio (both were released in 2006). Chicago gy “State of Nature,” while front man Doug Moore drummer Makaya McCraven clearly understood venomously bemoans the scorched, barren planet their partnership when he brought in Niño and we’re foisting on generations not yet born. It ain’t Atwood-Ferguson to augment the hip-hop elec- pretty, but the band’s attention to detail is exqui- tricity and downtempo elasticity on the D side of site, and a diabolical beauty occasionally pervades his monumental 2018 double LP, Universal Beings. the album’s most unnerving passages: the loose, Meet Merlot When McCraven celebrated the album’s release in improvised guitars and jazzy drums of “Solastalgia” Introducing the artist behind the Reader’s newest merch November 2018, Niño and Atwood-Ferguson flew collide and rattle while Moore’s vocals echo as if the to Chicago to perform, and in their free time, the entire band were free-falling in a pitch-black, cav- two of them played an improvised set opening for ernous void. Despite its dire ruminations, Abscess drummer Jeremy Cunningham at Co-Prosperity Time might still count as a respite from real-world Sphere. Thus was birthed Chicago Waves (Interna- calamity, given that dissecting its intricate tracks The yellow newspaper boxes that dot the streets of Chicago are essential to the tional Anthem), a live recording of that show that requires your complete attention—it might even Reader brand. “They are a very iconic symbol for the Reader,” said local artist Mer- rests on the interplay between Atwood-Ferguson’s give you a little more hope for the future, if only wa ing violin and Niño’s minimal, trembling percus- because you’ll want to see where Pyrrhon head lot. “They’re also prime real estate for gra ti artists.” In fact, those beat-up metal sion. The musicians’ telepathic connection enlivens next. —J L boxes were her main inspiration when designing the new street-art-style graphics even the most hushed moments, lending an arrest- for the newest Reader merchandise. ing charge to every microscopic shi . —L G Merlot grew up in Seattle, and for the past fi ve years, Chicago has been her home Spectacular Diagnostics, Thebeautifulmusic and artistic playground. She came to the city to focus on art and to take a design Pyrrhon, Abscess Time Vinyl Digital job, and moving here has done a lot to help her develop her craft and style. Merlot Willowtip spectacular-diagnostics.bandcamp.com/album/ has been painting since 2008 and designing since 2009, but she credits her growth pyrrhonband.bandcamp.com/album/abscess-time thebeautifulmusic and success mainly to the communities in Chicago that so wholly embrace artwork Metal has a reputation as an escapist genre. That Chicago hip-hop producer and visual artist Rob- and allow artists to experiment. could be because some bands indulge in the the- ert Krums has been making music for nearly two Apart from the boxes, another iconic symbol of the Reader brand is the back- atrics and fun of dragons, witchcraft, and sword- decades, and for most of that time he went by the wards “R,” which made this a perfect project for Merlot, since much of her work play, or because others traffi c in gruesome or apoc- name Earmint. About five years ago, he reinvent- plays with typography. alyptic themes that feel too outsize and horrif- ed himself as Spectacular Diagnostics. Fortunate- ic to accept as real—even when they’re a staunch ly, the reputation in the national underground he’d “I have been trying to fi nd my voice through art, honing in on my style and what reaction to a specifi c place and time. All of that is earned as Earmint helped him assemble a hit squad speaks to me. Letters have always been a love of mine, and that’s what I’ve gravi- to say that in 2020, some of the most compelling of guest MCs—Vic Spencer, Quelle Chris, Jeremi- tated towards and want to continue to excel and push boundaries with.” metal albums are hitting too close to home for even ah Jae, Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine—for For this project, Merlot and the Reader partnered with Rowboat Creative, a Chi- the most reality-averse fans to ignore—including his fi rst Spectacular Diagnostics album, 2015’s Raw cago-based screen printer and custom branded merchandise manufacturer, and Abscess Time, the new fourth album from New York Game. He didn’t reach out to his rapper network avant-garde metal band Pyrrhon. Written over the for the new Thebeautifulmusic (released by Ger- all three entities are excited for these product launches. past couple of years and recorded this winter with man label Vinyl Digital), an instrumental release “I wanted to bring a little of my world into the Reader’s by creating my version of Colin Marston (Behold . . . the Arctopus, Dysrhyth- that throws his mystical touch into sharper relief. the box with my name written on it, as well as a 3D letter ‘R’ that embraces some of mia, Krallice), it uses a complex amalgam of twisted Krums makes drums sound like they’re floating the current pieces I’ve been working on,” Merlot said. “It was a great experience, metal, gutter-scraping noise rock, and heady exper- even when they sting with precision; his keyboards imentalism to take aim at the power struggles, cul- exude an air of glamour and grime; and his durable Reader as [Rowboat Creative and the team] were very open to creativity and let me tural dissonances, and technological shifts that bass stitches together the most minimalist composi- have free rein with my design.” have contributed to the colossal shitshow we fi nd tions while remaining in the shadows. On Thebeau- To check out Merlot’s work, fi nd her on Instagram @merlotism or go to mer- ourselves in, and to cast light on the ongoing chal- tifulmusic, Krums steers his jazz-infl uenced instru- lotism.com. Her Reader shirts and hoodies will be available at chicagoreader. lenge of survival. “Down at Liberty Ashes” (which mentals toward languid lounge (“Pour One Out,” features samples from Taxi Driver) discharges its “Clouds”) and glitzy disco (“Routines”), demonstrat- creativeswhocare.org throughout July. death-metal vocals, discordant guitars, and synco- ing how these foundational genres communicate pated, plodding beats at a system that forces work- with each other as he rearranges them into brand- ers to defi ne themselves by their trade and serve new conversations. —L G v 36 CHICA O READER - JULY ll CHICAGO SHOWS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IN THE WEEKS TO COME
b ALL AGES F EARLY WARNINGS WOLF BY KEITH HERZIK Betts Band 7/17/2021, 6 PM, Never miss Aragon Ballroom, resched- a show again. uled; tickets purchased for the original date will be Sign up for the honored, 17+ newsletter at Elijah Bossenbroek 4/9/2021, chicagoreader. GOSSIP 7:30 PM, PianoForte Studios, rescheduled b com/early Cowboy Mouth 7/25, 8:30 PM, WOLF SPACE, Evanston, postponed until a date to be determined Stephen Marley 3/27/2021, A furry ear to the ground of b 8 PM, SPACE, Evanston, Dance Gavin Dance 4/10/2021, rescheduled b the local music scene 5:30 PM, Aragon Ballroom, Murder by Death, Amigo the rescheduled b Devil 3/14/2021, 7 PM, Thalia THOUGH THEY WERE around for only Delta Spirit 5/2/2021, 9 PM, Hall, rescheduled b Thalia Hall, rescheduled, 17+ Natewantstobattle, Vespera a few years in the early 1980s, Naperville Disturbed 8/8/2021, 7 PM, Hol- 4/18/2021, 7 PM, Lincoln Hall, punk band Protagonists did a lot in that lywood Casino Amphitheatre, rescheduled; tickets pur- brief lifespan, recording a tape with leg- Tinley Park, rescheduled; tick- chased for the original date endary engineer Phil Bonnet , releasing a ets purchased for the original will be honored b date will be honored b Paris Chansons 7/31, 8 PM, seven-inch on the label run by fellow sub- Early Day Miners 7/15, 9:15 PM, SPACE, Evanston, postponed urban warriors Reaction Formation, and Empty Bottle, canceled until a date to be determined rocking venues across the city and sub- May Erlewine & the Woody b urbs—not bad for high school kids! On Diet Cig EMILY DUBIN Goss Band 7/22, 8 PM, Jeff Pianki 7/24, 8 PM, SPACE, Evanston, canceled b Schubas, canceled Friday, July 24, local reissue label Alona’s 5 Seconds of Summer Polaris 6/24/2021, 9 PM, Lin- Dream will drop 1983-1985, which com- NEW Holdouts 7/20, 7 PM, Beverly Isabelle Olivier 7/16, 7/23, and 6/18/2021, 7 PM, Huntington coln Hall, rescheduled piles buzzing, new-wave-inflected jams Arts Center b 7/30, 6:30 PM, PianoForte Bank Pavilion, rescheduled b Primus, Wolfmother, Battles from both Protagonists releases as well Dee Alexander Quartet 7/9- HotHouse Global presents Studios b Flora Cash 6/18/2021, 8:30 PM, 7/20/2021, 7 PM, Chicago 7/11, 7 and 9 PM; 7/12, 4 and Concert for Cuba night one Angel Olsen, Hand Habits 7/14, Lincoln Hall, rescheduled; Theatre, rescheduled b as basement demos and live cuts. Their 8 PM, Jazz Showcase b featuring Orbert Davis’s 8 PM, livestream at nooncho- tickets purchased for the The Quarantine Concerts themes will sound familiar to anyone who’s Chris Barron 7/16, 3:30 PM, Chicago Jazz Philharmonic, rus.com b original date will be honored presents Heavy Trip featur- been a suburban teen: Mondays suck, and livestream at stageit.com b Osain Del Monte, Ozomatli, Option series presents Tashi b ing Jessica Moss, Jerusalem having a crush on somebody usually sucks, Beach Bunny 7/15, 9 PM, lives- Grupo Moncada, Bush, Artu- Dorji in conversation with Frames 9/23/2021, 7:30 PM, in my Heart 8/6, 7:30 PM, tream at audiotree.tv b ro O’Farrill & the Afro Latin Ken Vandermark 7/20, 8 PM, the Vic, rescheduled; tickets rescheduled; livestream at but fi sh sticks (when prepared and served Jarod Bufe Quartet 7/22, 7 PM, Jazz Orchestra, Síntesis, livestream at ess.org F b purchased for original date ess.org F correctly) are among the most delicious FitzGerald’s, Berwyn F Tom Morello, and more 7/18, LeAnn Rimes 7/23, 7 PM, lives- will be honored, 18+ LeAnn Rimes 2/5/2021, 7 PM, foods on Earth. Preorders of the vinyl Chicago Honky Tonk DJs 7/19, 7 PM, livestream at twitch.tv/ tream at stageit.com b Evan Giia 8/14, 9 PM, Schubas, Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, pressing come with extra goodies, includ- 3 PM, FitzGerald’s, Berwyn hothouseglobal F b Sepultura, Sacred Reich, canceled, 18+ rescheduled; tickets pur- F HotHouse Global presents Crowbar, Art of Shock David Gray 7/19/2021, 8 PM, chased for previously sched- ing stickers, postcards, and a poster. Chicago Skyliners Quartet Concert for Cuba night two 3/14/2021, 7 PM, House of Huntington Bank Pavilion, uled dates will be honored b Gossip Wolf first heard local three- 7/19, 7 PM, FitzGerald’s, Ber- featuring Dionne Warwick, Blues, 17+ rescheduled; tickets pur- Josh Ritter 9/10, 8 PM, Fourth piece Gosh Diggity on the 2019 EP wyn F Jane Bunnett & Danae Sy Smith 7/17, 8:05 PM, chased for original date will Presbyterian Church of Chi- Banana Brains, whose charmingly thread- Crystal Method 7/18, 9 PM, Olano, Barbara Dane & Pablo livestream at stageit.com b be honored b cago, canceled livestream at stageit.com b Menéndez, Omar Sosa, John Tempo Nasty 7/16, 6 PM, Fitz- Inhaler 9/16, 7:30 PM, Lincoln Bob Schneider 7/30, 8 PM, City bare indie rock mixes dinky drum machine Cybertronic Spree 3/8/2021, Santos, Jon Cleary, Susana Gerald’s, Berwyn F Hall, canceled Winery, postponed until a and plasticized keyboard with gentle vocal 8 PM, Lincoln Hall, 18+ Baca, Orquesta Aragon, Cav- Denise Thimes Quartet 7/30- Jay Electronica 4/30/2021, date to be determined b harmonies. On July 1, Gosh Diggity self- Diet Cig 7/31, 7 PM, livestream erchelo.comb & Ben Lapidus, 8/1, 8 and 10 PM; 8/2, 4, 8 and 9 PM, the Promontory, Shiner, Sweet Cobra 8/13, released another EP, Bedtime for Bonzos, at noonchorus.com b and more 7/19, 10 PM, Jazz Showcase b rescheduled 8:30 PM, Lincoln Hall, can- Dozen Buzzin’ Cousins, 7 PM, livestream at twitch.tv/ Tomita 7/23, 6 PM, FitzGerald’s, Jazz is Phish 7/28, 8 PM, City celed which adds a little muscle to their tender, MMCM 7/17, 7 PM, FitzGer- hothouseglobal F b Berwyn F Winery, postponed until a Bria Skonberg 3/14/2021, 7 PM, sweet-natured sound. “I’m Afraid of Hat- ald’s, Berwyn F Jazz Record Art Collective Harry Tonchev Trio 7/21, 7 PM, date to be determined b SPACE, Evanston, resched- ing Everyone” is about resisting isolation Dreamstream ESS benefi t featuring Mardra Thomas & FitzGerald’s, Berwyn F Kaleo 6/19/2021, 7 PM, Aragon uled; tickets purchased for and despair, not embracing them. night one featuring Laetitia Reggie Thomas 7/16, 7 PM, Ballroom, rescheduled; tickets previously scheduled dates Sonami/Paul DeMarinis/ livestream at facebook.com/ purchased for the original will be honored b Last week, local punks Le Tour dropped Sue-C, Claire Chase, Katinka jazzrecordartcollective F b UPDATED date will be honored b Caroline Spence, Dori Free- S/T 2020, whose fi ve songs were destined Kleijn, Miya Masaoka, Craig Jazz Record Art Collective Dermot Kennedy 7/31/2021, man 7/29, 7:30 PM, SPACE, for their third full-length, which never Taborn, DJ John Corbett 7/17, presents Geof Bradfi eld NOTE: Contact point of pur- 7 PM, Aragon Ballroom, Evanston, canceled came out. The band played their last show 7 PM, livestream at ess.org b & Ryan Cohan 7/23, 7 PM, chase for information about rescheduled; tickets pur- Rod Stewart, Cheap Trick Dreamstream ESS benefi t livestream at facebook.com/ ticket exchange or refunds chased for the original date 7/21/2021, 7:30 PM, Hollywood in 2018. “The emotional aspect of the night two featuring Laetitia jazzrecordartcollective F b will be honored b Casino Amphitheatre, Tinley music and performances had always been Sonami & Zeena Parkins, Ben Kaytranada, Stwo 5/8/2021, David Archuleta 7/31, 6 and Bill Kirchen 7/23, 8 PM, SPACE, Park, rescheduled; tickets a strain on me, and I came to the realiza- LaMar Gay & Damon Locks, 9 PM, Aragon Ballroom, 18+ 9 PM, City Winery, postponed Evanston, postponed until a purchased for the original tion that I was happier just making music DJ Sadie Woods 7/18, 7 PM, Luke Malewicz Quartet 7/22, until a date to be determined date to be determined b date will be honored b livestream at ess.org b 8 PM, livestream at facebook. b Lane 8 9/18/2021, 9 PM, Aragon Weathers, Moby Rich, Kenzo for myself,” says guitarist- vocalist Patrick Driver Era, Wrecks 2/19/2021, com/fultonstreetcollective Nicole Atkins 8/13/2021, Ballroom, rescheduled; tickets Cregan 2/28/2021, 7 PM, Campbell. The songs on S/T 2020 chan- 7:30 PM, the Vic b F b 8:30 PM, Lincoln Hall, purchased for previously Schubas, rescheduled; tickets nel Le Tour’s anxieties about unchecked Feel Good 7/13, 7 PM, Beverly Megadeth, Lamb of God, Trivi- rescheduled; tickets pur- scheduled dates will be hon- purchased for previously police brutality, encroaching fascism, and Arts Center b um, In Flames 8/6/2021, 6 PM, chased for the original date ored, 18+ scheduled dates will be Cameron Foreman 8/1, 2 PM, Hollywood Casino Amphithe- will be honored, 18+ Legions of Metal Fest 9 /4 , 5 honored b festering white supremacy into rambunc- Reggies’ Roof Deck F atre, Tinley Park b Selwyn Birchwood 7/24, 8 PM, PM; 9/5, 3 PM, Reggies’ Rock Wilco, Sleater-Kinney, Nnamdï tious rippers that elevate their air of hag- Ginger Road 7/27, 7 PM, Bever- Mr. Gac 7/17, 9 PM, FitzGerald’s, SPACE, Evanston, canceled Club, postponed until a date 8/29, 6 PM, Pritzker Pavilion, gard exhaustion into a righteous heavi- ly Arts Center b Berwyn F Black Crowes 8/7/2021, 8 PM, to be determined Millennium Park, postponed ness. —J R NLG Guided By Voices 7/17, 4 PM, Music Friendly Distancing Hollywood Casino Amphithe- Gordon Lightfoot 3/6/2021, until a date to be determined livestream at noonchorus. featuring Fee Lion, Glitter atre, Tinley Park, rescheduled; 8 PM, Copernicus Center, in the summer of 2021 b com b Moneyyy, and more 7/10, tickets purchased for the orig- rescheduled; tickets pur- Wild Rivers, Allman Brown 8/9, Got a tip? Tweet @Gossip_Wolf or e-mail Hat Stretchers 7/18, 1 PM, Fitz- 5 PM, livestream at emptybot- inal date will be honored b chased for previously sched- 8 PM, Lincoln Hall, canceled [email protected]. Gerald’s, Berwyn F tle.com b Blackberry Smoke, Allman uled shows will be honored b v ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 37 PAID ADVERTISEMENT NEW TIMES REQUIRE NEW THINKING It’s times like these that your largest asset can be a life saver. Right now, your home equity could promote the fi nancial stability you want in retirement. It’s a well-known fact that for many older trillion dollars* of unused home equity. home equity into extra cash for retirement. lender, found that over 98% of their clients are Americans, the home is their single biggest asset, Not only are people living longer than ever It’s a fact: no monthly mortgage payments satisfi ed with their loans. While these special often accounting for more than 45% of their total before, but there is also greater uncertainty in are required with a government-insured HECM loans are not for everyone, they can be a real net worth. And with interest rates near all- the economy. With home prices back up again, loan; however the borrowers are still responsible lifesaver for senior homeowners - especially in time lows while home values are still high, this ignoring this “hidden wealth” may prove to be for paying for the maintenance of their home, times like these. property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and, if combination creates the perfect dynamic for short sighted when looking for the best long-term The cash from a HECM loan can be used for required, their HOA fees. getting the most out of your built-up equity. outcome. almost any purpose. Other common uses include But, many aren’t taking advantage of this All things considered, it’s not surprising that unprecedented period. According to new statistics more than a million homeowners have already from the mortgage industry, senior homeowners used a government-insured Home Equity Request a FREE Info Kit in the U.S. are now sitting on more than 7.19 Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan to turn their & DVD Today! Call 855-288-2560 now. Your Guide
to a Better
Retirement Today, HECM loans are simply an eff ective way making home improvements, paying off medical for homeowners 62 and older to get the extra cash bills or helping other family members. Some Understanding Reverse Mortgage Loans FREE they need to enjoy retirement. people simply need the extra cash for everyday Although today’s HECM loans have been expenses while others are now using it as a safety
improved to provide even greater fi nancial net for fi nancial emergencies. A Guide for protection for homeowners, there are still many If you’re a homeowner age 62 or older, you owe Children and misconceptions. it to yourself to learn more so that you can make Caregivers For example, a lot of people mistakenly believe the best decision - for your fi nancial future. Your Guide Learn how home equity the home must be paid off in full in order to to a Better can help loved ones Retirement in retirement. qualify for a HECM loan, which is not the case. We’re here and ready to help. Understanding Reverse In fact, one key advantage of a HECM is that the Mortgage Loans proceeds will fi rst be used to pay off any existing Homeowners who are liens on the property, which frees up cash fl ow, a interested in learning more can huge blessing for seniors living on a fi xed income. Unfortunately, many senior homeowners who request a FREE Reverse OurOur neneww Reverse MortMortgagegage ininformationformation gguidesuides & DVD are now might be better off with a HECM loan don’t even Mortgage Information Kit and available featuring award-winning actor and paid AAG spokesman, bother to get more information because of rumors Tom Selleck. DVD by calling toll-free at As Featured on: they’ve heard. U.S.A.’s #1 In fact, a recent survey by American Advisors Reverse Mortgage Company ABC, CBS, CNN, & Fox News Group (AAG), the nation’s number one HECM 855-288-2560 *Source: https://reversemortgagedaily.com/2019/12/17/senior-housing-wealth-reaches-record-high-of-7-19-trillion Reverse mortgage loan terms include occupying the home as your primary residence, maintaining the home, paying property taxes and homeowners insurance. Although these costs may be substantial, AAG does not establish an escrow account for these payments. However, a set-aside account can be set up for taxes and insurance, and in some cases may be required. Not all interest on a reverse mortgage is tax-deductible and to the extent that it is, such deduction is not available until the loan is partially or fully repaid. AAG charges an origination fee, mortgage insurance premium (where required by HUD), closing costs and servicing fees, rolled into the balance of the loan. AAG charges interest on the balance, which grows over time. When the last borrower or eligible non-borrowing spouse dies, sells the home, permanently moves out, or fails to comply with the loan terms, the loan becomes due and payable (and the property may become subject to foreclosure). When this happens, some or all of the equity in the property no longer belongs to the borrowers, who may need to sell the home or otherwise repay the loan balance. V2020.03.16 NMLS# 9392 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). American Advisors Group (AAG) is headquartered at 3800 W. Chapman Ave., 3rd & 7th Floors, Orange CA, 92868. Licensed in 49 states. Please go to www.aag.com/legal-information for full state license information.
These materials are not from HUD or FHA and were not approved by HUD or a government agency.
325049_10_x_9.875.indd 1 7/1/20 10:49 AM
38 CHICA O READER - JULY ll ILLUSTRATION BY DAWN MCQUAY BLUEBIRDLOST
ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 39 the cannabis platform OPINION a Reader resource for the canna curious
Thursdays on SAVAGE LOVE CannabisJust another cuckin’ monogamous couple Chicago’s friendliest ConversationsIt’s possible to enjoy lesbian cuckolding fantasies and not open a relationship. cannabis shop chicagoreader.com/joravsky By DS
Cannabis Conversations
chicagoreader.com/ nuMed.com | 1308 W. North Ave joravsky : I’m a lesbian in a long- does. I just get to watch plan,” said Thomas. “But I term relationship. A er sometimes.” got interested after see- much conversation with Let me quickly define ing some straight cuckold my partner we’ve decided terms for readers who some- porn. I immediately iden- Your partners in health and wellness. to explore cuckolding how missed the 300 other tified with the cuck but I Find out today if medical cannabis or infusion therapy is role-play together. I’m columns I’ve written about was too embarrassed to right for you. Telemed available! not comfortable bringing cuckolding over the years: bring it up with my husband Serving medical cannabis patients since 2015. another person into the A cuckold relationship is a because it went against our www.neuromedici.com 312-772-2313 relationship—especially one-sided open relationship vision of our marriage but right now—but I am willing where one partner is free also because I only ever to explore this as a fantasy. to have sex with other peo- saw cuckolding represent- The thing is, I’m having a ple while the other partner ed in straight porn.” Raising hard time fi guring out how remains faithful. What dis- awareness of gay cuckolds— to do it. There’s not a lot tinguishes a cuckold rela- and representing gay cuck- of info out there on how to tionship from your standard old relationships—motivated engage in cuck role-play, open relationship where Thomas to start his blog. especially between two one person doesn’t care to So if you’re not finding any- women. Could you point me sleep around is the element thing out there about lesbi- in the right direction here so of humiliation. In most cuck- an cuckolding, CUCKGIRL, we can have some fun while old relationships, CUCK- perhaps you could borrow remaining monogamous? GIRL, the cuck—the person a page from Thomas’s play- —C ’U who remains faithful—enjoys book and create the content C K’ being teased or mocked by and resources you would like G IR L their “unfaithful” partner; to see. sometimes the “unfaithful” Sadly, Thomas’s gay cuck- A: “You can defi nitely partner’s lover or lovers, usu- olding blog is no more. His The Reader 420 Companion is fi lled with introduce cuckolding themes ally referred to as “bulls,” was just one of the many sex great recipes, activities and even a cuck identity participates in the erot- blogs—deeply personal pas- and coloring pages. GET INVOLVED! into your relationship while ic humiliation of the cuck sion projects, one and all— Your purchase supports the Reader. 15% of the proceeds will be remaining monogamous,” partner. that were lost forever after donated to the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. said Thomas, a married Thomas created a popu- the geniuses who ran Tumblr gay man and former cuck lar Tumblr blog about gay decided to purge adult con- chicagoreader.com/420book blogger whose husband male cuckold relationships tent from their platform. In a has cucked him many back when there was very matter of days Tumblr saw its times IRL. “In fact, many little information about gay traffic fall by one-third and An Essential Calm. cuckold relationships are cuckolds online, CUCK- its value crater. Yahoo paid Day or Night. monogamous and cucking GIRL, much less gay cuckold $1.1 billion to acquire Tumblr remains in the fantasy porn or other resources. In back in 2013, but six years realm.” fact, there was once so lit- and one porn purge later Whole-plant hemp Thomas even sees his rela- tle info online or anywhere the site sold for just $20 mil- formulations for peace tionship as monogamous—at else about gay cuckolds that lion—less than 2 percent of of mind and body. least on his side. “The defi- many people—myself includ- what Tumblr was worth when nition of monogamy varies ed—weren’t convinced that it still hosted Thomas’s gay greatly for each couple,” gay cuckolding was actually cuckolding blog. (The moral said Thomas, “and I do con- a thing. of this story: Don’t fuck with sider myself monogamous Cuckolding wasn’t a gay cuckolds.) mineralhealth.co because I’m the cuck and so thing in Thomas’s marriage Thomas thinks it’s entire- I don’t technically have sex at the start. “Total monog- ly possible for you and your To advertise, call 312-392-2934 or email [email protected] advertise, call 312-392-2934 To with other guys. My husband amy had always been the partner to enjoy lesbian
40 CHICA O READER - JULY ll OPINION
cuckolding fantasies while ple’s cuckold fantasies, a les- perfect—your husband keeping your relationship bian couple’s fantasies aren’t was cheating on you. My monogamous on both sides. going to be the same either,” perspective/two cents: Indeed, that’s what Thom- said Thomas. “CUCKGIRL Instead of regarding as and his husband did for and her partner just have to everything that worked many years. “My husband find their own way. But the about your marriage as a and I started playing around most important thing is to lie, instead of seeing every with cuckold fantasies sev- keep communicating. Always loving moment as just some eral years into our marriage communicate! If a particular part of your husband’s long and it remained a hot role- form of role-play isn’t work- and very selfi sh con, you play fantasy for a long time,” ing, tell your partner. And might want to see what was said Thomas. “It was fun, it give each other veto pow- good about your marriage was sexy, and it improved ers and go easy on yourself. and what was bad about our ability to communicate Cuckolding is a fantasy that your husband as two things with each other about sex plays with your fears around that existed side-by-side. So in general.” They kept their monogamy and infidelity—it instead of telling yourself, fantasy play simple at first— can be very hot but it can be “This was a lousy marriage, for example, his husband scary too. So take it slow.” it was all a lie, I just didn’t would talk about a guy he Like a lot of sex bloggers know it,” tell yourself, “It was found hot while Thomas who were kicked off Tumblr, a good marriage despite blew him or Thomas would Thomas migrated over to his cheating, it wasn’t all tease his husband about a Twitter, where he currently a lie, but it was a lot less sexy new coworker of his has more than 13,000 follow- perfect than I thought.” that he knew his husband ers. His handle on Twitter is That’s where you’ll need to had a crush on. They would @gaycuckoldhubby. get if you want to stay in this use insertion toys and pre- marriage—and that may be tend they were other guys’ : I’m a straight lady in my the biggest “if” you’ll ever dicks and only gradually did mid-30s and I just found confront in your life. And they introduce some humil- out my husband of six years while there are no studies iating dirty talk into their and partner for ten has that “once a cheater, always cuckold role-play talk, and been cheating on me for a cheater,” studies have then only as Thomas’s hus- the last fi ve years. As far shown that someone who band became more comfort- as I knew, we had a perfect has cheated is more likely to TIRED OF DATING APPS? able with the idea of humil- marriage—probably the cheat again. Not certain to iating him. “Making use of best relationship, sexual or cheat again, but more likely Meet people the old-school way. cam sites is also a great way otherwise, I’d ever been in. to cheat than someone who’s to explore if you’re com- If this was a one-off aff air, I never cheated. I’m so sorry fortable with that level of think I could work past this— you’re going through this, monogamish,” said Thom- counseling, open marriage, particularly now. as. “If you’re a cuck like me, some sort of solution. But watching your partner per- the fact that he’s lied to me : I o en masturbate form for someone else is for the last fi ve years and thinking about the straight incredibly erotic.” that the sex was unsafe (I boy who wakes up in A more monogamous way saw video) disturbs me. female underwear, tied up, to explore cuckolding with- My heart doesn’t want this gagged, and pegged by a out opening the relation- to end—he’s been my best female. Is there a name for ship—not even a crack—is friend, lover, and support this fantasy? —G A simply to ask your partner system for ten years—but S P to tell you about her past my brain is telling me that sexual encounters. Listening even if we renegotiated A: I can’t give you a name—a to your partner talk about the terms of our marriage, name for this sequence hot experiences she had he’d deceive me again. I’m of events and mélange of with other women while you working with a therapist, kinks—but I know plenty masturbate or while you but what’s your take? of professional female two fuck is a great way to Once a cheater, always a dominants that would explore cuckolding without cheater? I don’t expect an be happy to give you an actually opening up your all-knowing answer. But a estimate. v relationship. You’ll be bring- little perspective would be ing people up, CUCKGIRL, helpful. —D W Send letters to mail@ not bringing them in. savagelove.net. Download “But just as a gay cuck- A: For most of your the Savage Lovecast at old couple’s fantasies aren’t marriage—for most of a savagelovecast.com. FREE at chicagoreader.com/matches identical to a straight cou- marriage you describe as @fakedansavage ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 41 protocols, international System (CRS) for ocean freight, 3PL, evaluating statistical and a valid IL dental electromechanical JOBS audio video, sales, applications. BS & 5 yrs. 4PL, rail, truck, & other methods and procedures; license or eligibility cranes. Qualified GENERAL sales management, To apply submit cover intermodal contracts; and (5) conducting for IL dental licensure. applicants should technical aptitude letter and resume to: Resp. for advancing operational examination Some travel may be submit their resume to Vail Systems (Chicago, and marketing. Travel Hyatt Corporation, Attn: company metrics; development activities required for conferences [email protected] IL) seeks a Software required: approximately Karen Newkirk 150 N coord. w/ sub-managers and statistical modeling or professional and reference job code Engineer Manager to 50%. Requires: MBA/ Riverside Plaza, Floor 14, to build & leverage and graphic analysis. development. For fullest SE0620. lead team of developers Executive MBA, or Chicago, IL 60606 logistics services & Send resume to hr@ consideration, please tasked w/ creating voice foreign equivalent and business relationships. ncsbn.org w/Job submit CV, cvr ltr, & 3 Marketing Specialist apps & web svcs in 5 years of relevant work TransUnion, LLC seeks Req’rd: Master’s IDXWP052020. references by 8/5/2020 Palm USA Inc in Chicago, support of Vail goals. experience. Resumes AF Analysts II for degree in Logistics to Susan Lloyd, Dept. IL; Marketing Specialist Reqs occasional trvl to only: Ambily Joseph, Chicago, IL location to Management, Supply Ann & Robert H. Lurie of Oral Medicine & w/BA in Business or Deerfi eld, IL offi ce. Apply Anixter Inc., 2301 Patriot independently prepare Chain Management, or Children’s Hospital of Diagnostic Sciences, 801 related, Research at www.vailsys.com/ Blvd. Glenview, IL 60026 & deliver credit scores its Equivalent based on Chicago seeks Data S Paulina St, Chicago customer’ preference, about/careers/ (Job or ambily.joseph@anixter. royalty reports. Master’s any suitable combo. of Developers for Chicago, IL 60612 or via email to Forecast marketing, sales SEM-06292020). com in Accounting/Finance + educ., training, or exp. IL to design, create, [email protected]. UIC is trends; Devel. procedures 2yrs exp. or Bachelor’s determined by a qualifi ed deploy & manage ETL an Equal Opportunity, for identifying advt. Ezza Nails is Hiring Nail Sr. Java Developer, in Accounting/Finance eval. service. Mail resume or other data integration Affirmative Action needs, Send resume@ Jin Techs Chicago, IL: Create + 5yrs exp. req’d. to Daniel Roe, HR Team solutions in a healthcare employer. Minorities, Noh 5050 W. Lawrence - Great Mani / Pedi skills and execute full SDLC Req’d skills: financial Manager, FNS, INC. env. Bachelor’s in women, veterans, & Ave. Chicago, IL (1yr experience) Java based application accounting & auditing; at 1545 Francisco St, Info Systems/related individuals w/ disabilities - Passionate customer modules for product budgeting analysis; Torrance, CA 90501. field+2yrs exp req’d. are encouraged to Computer Programmer service data management financial statement Req’d skills: 2 yrs w/:db apply. UIC may conduct Chade Fashions Inc in - Committed to Teamwork and digital asset analysis; contractual Goby Inc seeks a Data architecture & data background checks Niles seeks a Comp. - Goal-oriented management. Review, accounting & reporting; Scientist in Chicago, development. Exp must on all job candidates Programmer w/BA in CS; Apply www.ezzanails. test, troubleshoot, vendor contract & IL to work w/various include: healthcare data upon acceptance of a Software programming; com/careers enhance and debug and licensing analysis; review connectors like Amazon & analytics; one of: Java, contingent offer letter. developing, editing, developed modules to credit reports; consumer RDS, Heroku etc. Des. Python, C++; design of Background checks managing, Send Relativity (Chicago, ensure they meet Global scoring & application & CR8 Dashboards, data models; ETL; ODS; will be performed in resume@ Kyooyung Lee, IL) seeks Software Data Synchronization of royalties due to third Reports, Stories, & Data Marts; Cubes; SSIS; compliance with the Fair 6400 W Gross Point Rd Engineer to be part Network (GDSN) parties; price volume Dataflows in Einstein SSRS; SAS; R; T-SQL; Credit Reporting Act. Niles, IL of our development of standards and recipient variance analysis; Analytics & Discovery. validating & cleaning e-Discovery platform. standards. Serve as PeopleSoft; Hyperion; Work w/Salesforce data. Apply at https:// Sales Engineer, Must be willing to occ. technical lead on Product Blackline; OBIEE; Communities. Mail careers-luriechildrens. Power Electronics PERSONALS work in the evening or Introduction (PI) , product Salesforce InTouch; resumes to: Goby Attn: icims.com/jobs/13051/ International Inc. on the weekend. Submit data management Tableau. Send resume to: Grace Elrod 33 N LaSalle data-developer/ East Dundee, IL GNR, Bandman resumes to Recruiting@ platform development. R. Harvey, REF: TM, 555 St Ste 500 Chicago, IL job Tracking code: Design and testing Buckethead, Aerosmith, relativity.com, to be Evaluate and report on W Adams, Chicago, IL 60602 2020-13051 of electromechanical M. Crue, ACDC, B. considered, reference projects to Management 60661 controls and presentation Sabbath. Fun with L. Job ID: 20-9004 in the and Technology Teams. Teacher, Mandarin The Dept. of Oral of expert knowledge of GaGa, J. Bieber, Gwen,
CLASSIFIEDS subject line. BS in CS or related fi eld Oral Surgeon Program. Intercultural Medicine & Diagnostic products to existing and Rue. T. Banks, Camilia, S. and 5 years’ experience All Kids Dental Center Montessori Foreign Sciences at the Univ. future customers. Design Mendez, C. Underwood, Senior Vice President, required. Exp. must D/B/A All Family Dental Language Immersion of IL at Chicago (UIC), custom modifications to Monkeys, E. Goldberg Global Enterprise include off-shore team and Braces Elgin, IL, School, dba Intercultural located in a large our basic equipment to Love AV. Position based in coordination, Agile, Rockford, IL, and Aurora, Montessori Language metropolitan area, is meet individual customer Hollywood Rose Glenview, IL with option APM, Drools API, IL School, in Chicago, seeking a full-time requirements, and to GNR - Tracy Guns to work remotely from Elastic Engine, Java 8/ Provide oral surgery IL. Teach kindergarten Clinical Assistant price the equipment. 312-206-0864 the United States. The J2EE, Open Symphony services to underinsured level academic, social Professor. This position Understand the 773-323-5137 JOBS Senior Vice President, Workflow Engine, patient population at and formative skills is responsible for customers equipment Global Enterprise AV Oracle, Spring Cloud offi ces in Elgin, Rockford, in both English and instruction, assessment structure, operations ADULT SERVICES ADMINISTRATIVE will be responsible for Configuration, Spring and Aurora, Illinois. Mandarin languages. and development of capacity, and torque. developing, leading, and Framework, SQL and Diagnose problems of Req: Bachelor’s degree curriculum in the Oral Must have a Bachelor’s Danielle’s Lip Service, SALES & executing global sales Struts 2.0. Send resume the oral and maxillofacial in Early Childhood Medicine/Orofacial Pain Degree in Mechanical or Erotic Phone Chat. 24/7. MARKETING and marketing strategy to 1WorldSync, Inc. at regions. Perform surgery Education or related. Clinic. Under direction Electrical Engineering. Must be 21+. Credit/ for Anixter’s commercial humanresources@1world and related procedures Fluent in Mandarin. Email and supervision, The position also requires Debit Cards Accepted. All FOOD & DRINK audiovisual business. sync.com on the hard and soft resume to careers@ this position will one (1) year of experience Fetishes and Fantasies This individual must tissues of the oral and interculturalmontessori. assist department in as a Mechanical Are Welcomed. Personal, SPAS & SALONS be able to develop and Plexus Corp. seeks maxillofacial regions to org. teaching, training, and Engineer. Must also have Private and Discrete. position Anixter as a Senior SW Developer treat diseases, injuries, or advising graduate and one (1) year of experience 773-935-4995 BIKE JOBS leader the global audio in Buffalo Grove, IL. defects. Perform surgery National Council of undergraduate students with electromechanical and visual market. This Qualified candidates to improve function or State Boards of Nursing regarding Oral Medicine controls; AutoCAD GENERAL individual should possess must have B.S. in appearance of the oral seeks Psychometrician and Diagnostic Sciences electrical; and the MARKETPLACE the creative leadership Computer Science, and maxillofacial regions. in Chicago, IL. Must through didactic and design of overhead skills necessary to Software Engineering, Must have a Doctorate have Ph.D in Statistics, clinical methods, and help Anixter build an or related; five years of in Dental Surgery (DDS) Math., Measurements or will utilize knowledge REAL effective approach to Oracle EBS developer or Doctorate in Dental rltd quantitative fi eld + 1 of Oral Medicine, Oral aggressively grow our experience, including Medicine (DMD)as well as yr exp. in job offered or Facial Pain, and related ESTATE market share within an translating functional an Oral and Maxillofacial rltd educ measurement disorders to perform international scope. requirements into Surgery Certificate. & testing role. Duties: teaching, clinic, and RENTALS This individual will be technical solutions Must be licensed as Responsible for service-oriented tasks, required to lead and and implementing a Dental Specialist in developing cutting edge will provide clinical FOR SALE develop a team of audio interfaces, conversions, the State of Illinois. testing tools including orofacial and dental visual specialists and or extensions and reports Qualified applicants computer-based patient care to a diverse NON-RESIDENTIAL sales representatives as for Financials, Supply should send their testing, conducting patient population, and well as assist in building Chain, Manufacturing, resume to mary.lindsey@ operational examination will conduct medical ROOMATES strong supplier and or Service modules; uniteddentalpartners. development activities science research in the customer relationships in experience with com and reference code related to psychometrics, field of Oral Medicine the audio visual market. JDeveloper, PL/SQL, OS0120. and initiating research and Oral Facial Pain, This individual will be Workflow, API, BI to improve exam publish and present MARKET- expected to recognize Publisher, and shell Logistics Operations performance. Must research findings, and shifts in technology in scripting; and knowledge Director. Franklin Park, have exp: (1) utilizing participate in curriculum PLACE the commercial audio of Oracle EBS 12.1 or IL. Organize global multiple databases, development. Requires a and visual space and higher. Apply by email to: logistics performance & psychometric/statistical Doctor of Dental Surgery how those shifts will Lindsey.Schmitz@plexus. strategy in accordance software, such as (DDS) degree, or Doctor GOODS affect the market and com w/ company’s policy & Python/R/ SAS, and/ of Dental Medicine SERVICES channel; apply technical procedures; Comm. w/ or Winsteps; (2) (DMD) degree, or its expertise to understand Hyatt Corporation seeks leaders of each business conducting research foreign equivalent, in HEALTH & customers’ needs; able an Senior Software unit & region re: outbound projects concerning the the field of dentistry or to work effectively in a Developer in Chicago, & inbound transportation examination performance related field of study, 2 WELLNESS “matrixed” organization; IL to be responsible contracts, systems, and possible yrs of university-based INSTRUCTION and understand the for the day-to-day networks & service improvements; (3) postgraduate training in professional audio video application development, levels to devel. strategies developing psychometric Orofacial Pain or related MUSIC & ARTS global market including support and technical & create solutions; software to support on- training, certification industry associations architectural needs for Implement best practices going operational works by the American Board NOTICES and emerging technology the Central Reservation & create RFP & RFQ and new products; (4) of Orofacial Pain, MESSAGES LEGAL NOTICES WANT TO ADD A LISTING TO OUR CLASSIFIEDS? ADULT SERVICES E-mail classifi [email protected] with details or call (312) 392-2970 42 CHICA O READER - JULY ll Miracle Massage. DOT tested bedroom w/remodeled utilities, full basement, Obtain health, energy Financing available kitchen w/ dishwasher private parking, new roof, and joy. Prolong your Call Bruce 815-674-5230 and bathroom. Hard electrical and plumbing. youth and life. Decrease or 815-842-2888 floors & plenty closets 2720 W. Summerdale, illness with the possibility space. Laundry amenities Chicago. $539,000 of healing. Call Jolanta: on premises with heat Approx. income $50,000/ (847)640-8989. 5237 W. $1250/mo. 773-369-1525 year. By owner. Call Louie Addison St. Chicago, IL REAL (847) 361-9282 60641 ESTATE 3 unit condo style RENTALS building, North Lincoln Photos of this listing: For Sale Square, great investment 8 Drop vans 53’ property, low expenses, 20 aluminum & combo Lake view area Lincoln rehabbed 2/3 bedroom atbeds 48’ & Damen Close to units, new kitchens with 6 covered wagons Brown line Two flat 1st granite countertops, 6 reefers 53’ floor: Freshly painted 1 separate heat and the platform The Chicago Reader Guide to Business and Professional Services books home improvement LGBTQ Horror BY LOCAL AUTHOR DAVID JAY COLLINS SUMMERDALE Set in Andersonville Custom cut Acrylic desk or table tops • Paperback We bring your outdoor vision to life! Instead of glass, we can Laser cut beautifully protective Acrylic tops • ebook llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll [email protected] Alpina Manufacturing, Chicago, IL 1-800-915-2828 773-202-8887 American Owned www.herreralandscapes.com Visit our website or call us for info: desktoppers.com American Made funeral services sports education ENJOY YOUR SPORT IN STYLE
Serving Chicagoland and NW Indiana We Offer Quality Affordable • At Need Funeral Services • Pre-Planned Funeral Services • Traditional Funeral/Cremation Services Be a Healthcare Hero • Hybrid Programs (online and/or on-campus) legal • Direct Cremation/Direct Burial • Memorial Services • MRI, X-Ray, Surgery, Dental, Dialysis, Ultrasound & MA/Phl. Programs COLLABO TIVE • Specializing in Veterans Services • Online, Weekend, Evening and Day Schedules PREMARITAL Brigi e • Financial Aid and Grants Available (if you qualify) FAMILY 773-956-4000 Schmidt 5112 S. Western Ave | Chicago, IL 60609 • Accredited and Affordable DIVORCE Stellar Career College MEDIATION Bell, P.C. www.GraceAndMercyFS.biz Phone and Video Consultations. Call today. “Let all that you do be done in love” - 1 Cor 16:14 19 S. LaSalle Street, Chicago (Loop) | 312-687-3000 | stellarcollege.edu/chicago BrigitteBell.com [email protected] | 312-360-1124 your heading here air conditioning entertainment SUMMER AC SERVICE, REPAIR & INSTALLATION SALE AMERICAN BUDGET MECHANICAL HVAC-R DISCOUNT SERVICE COMPANY VISIT: WWW.AMERICANBUDGETMECHANICALSERVICE.COM DISCOUNTED & AFFORDABLE - BY THE JOB OR BY THE HOUR YOUR AD HERE CALL OR TEXT 847-529-0050 24/7/365 EVEN @4AM @ NO EXTRA CHARGE - NEVER OVERTIME LICENSED - BONDED & FULLY INSURED WE FOLLOW ALL CDC SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR COVID-19
To advertise, call 312-392-2934 or email [email protected] ll JULY - CHICAOREADER 43 The Chicago Reader publishes compelling local journalism by and for Chicago. As we look around at our new reality, it is clear now more than ever how important community journalism is. Thank you for your commitment to an independent Chicago. Artwork by @merlotism
$25 TEE
$35 LONG SLEEVE TEE
$45 HOODIE chicagoreader.creativeswhocare.org