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Chicago Awards $1.3 Million to 250 Artists Through 2026 Individual Artists Program
August 21, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events awarded more than $1.3 million in project-based grants to 250 individual artists working across six disciplines through the 2026 Individual Artists Program. The grants, drawn from 1,239 applications, provide up to $6,000 per artist to support new creative
Chicago House Music Festival and Conference Returns August 27 Through 30 With Four Stages at Millennium Park
August 19, 2026
The Chicago House Music Festival and Conference returns August 27 through 30 with four days of free programming at Millennium Park, the Chicago Cultural Center, Daley Plaza, Grant Park, and the Chicago Riverwalk. Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the 2026 edition features four performance stages,
Chicago Air and Water Show Draws Thousands to the Lakefront for Its 67th Year Despite Weather Delays
August 18, 2026
The 67th annual Chicago Air and Water Show returned to the lakefront this weekend, drawing thousands of spectators to North Avenue Beach and the shoreline stretching from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street on August 15 and 16. Low clouds forced organizers to push Saturday’s start time back by roughly 90
Noble Hops and the Blue-Collar Stories, Loud Guitars and the Long Road of American Rock and Roll
August 14, 2026
By: Jake Morrison There is something stubbornly reassuring about Noble Hops. In a musical landscape where artists are routinely encouraged to reinvent themselves every few months, the Western Pennsylvania band has spent more than 15 years doing something considerably less fashionable: figuring out exactly who they are and sticking with
Bears Sit Caleb Williams for Saturday’s Preseason Opener as Ben Johnson Shifts Evaluation to Roster Battles and Defensive Depth
August 14, 2026
The Chicago Bears will open their 2026 preseason on Saturday at Soldier Field without quarterback Caleb Williams on the field. Head coach Ben Johnson confirmed on August 13 that Williams will sit out the noon kickoff against the Cleveland Browns, with backup Tyson Bagent starting and likely playing into the
See Your Shadow’s Michael Coleman Finds Humanity in the Quiet Moments
August 11, 2026
By Wade Montgomery Chicago has always embraced artists who tell the truth. From the gritty blues of Muddy Waters to the poetic storytelling of John Prine, the city’s musical identity has been built upon authenticity, resilience, and the ability to transform ordinary experiences into something universal. It should come as
Amanda Williams Surrounds Washington Park Statue With Nearly 40 Other Washingtons
August 8, 2026
Artist Amanda Williams unveiled “Other Washingtons” on August 6, 2026, surrounding the 1902 George Washington statue in Washington Park with nearly 40 flagpoles honoring other people who share the Washington surname. The installation drew what Williams called “an amazing turnout” of honorees, family members and neighborhood residents at the unveiling.
Why the Chicago River Dye Still Puzzles So Many
August 7, 2026
The Chicago River dye that turns the water emerald green every St. Patrick’s Day has sparked curiosity and confusion for more than six decades. Despite thousands of spectators lining the riverbanks each March and millions more watching online, the exact formula and application process remain closely guarded secrets. The annual
The Midway Plaisance’s Second Act: A Forgotten Mile Reborn
August 7, 2026
The Midway Plaisance history begins with the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, when the mile-long strip between Washington and Jackson parks served as the fair’s amusement zone. Today, the sunken greensward functions as athletic field, sledding hill, ice rink, and vital green corridor for Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and Kenwood residents. What
White Sox Stadium Upgrades That Changed the South Side Experience
August 7, 2026
Stadium improvements at the home of the White Sox have fundamentally altered the game-day experience for South Side baseball fans. Over more than two decades, the ballpark has undergone multiple rounds of White Sox stadium upgrades that transformed sight lines, seating options, and fan amenities. These changes reflect broader trends
What Makes a Deep-Dish Pizza Chicago Actually Deep-Dish
August 7, 2026
Deep-dish pizza Chicago is baked in a tall, circular pan and features a thick, crumbly crust filled with mozzarella cheese on the bottom, toppings in the middle, and a layer of tomato sauce ladled on top. That inverted structure and the tall pan distinguish it from nearly every other pizza
Ariana Grande Tells Chicago Crowd Her Career Break Was Planned Long Before Public Scrutiny Intensified
August 6, 2026
Ariana Grande addressed speculation about her upcoming career hiatus directly from the stage of the United Center in Chicago on August 3, 2026, telling an arena full of fans that the decision was made “a long time ago” from “a thoughtful and empowered place.” The speech, delivered between songs during
Julián De La Chica and the Inner Architecture of Silence
August 6, 2026
When Colombian composer, and visual artist Julián De La Chica began working on Piret, he did not set out to make a film shaped by a string quartet. In fact, much of the film’s musical identity already existed in his mind, and its central piano material had long been composed.
Music Without Limits: At 72, Robyn Williams Is Building a Legacy for Film, Television, and Beyond
July 31, 2026
By Courtney Simon For many artists, the dream of composing music for film and television begins early. For Robyn Williams, that dream has become a purposeful mission, one fueled by decades of life experience, unwavering determination, and a belief that it’s never too late to create something meaningful. At 72
The Grainy Old Photo That Started an Epic: Kathleen McDonnell Rescues Her Great-Grandmother from the Shadows of History
July 25, 2026
By: Mitchell Bosco There is something quietly miraculous about the process by which a single faded photograph in a family album becomes a fully realized historical epic spanning three countries, three of the nineteenth century’s most devastating upheavals, and the full arc of one woman’s long and improbable life. Kathleen
How “One Second After Death” Explores Eternity for Skeptical Readers
July 25, 2026
By: Michael Brantley – Evangelist/President, OneHopeOneVoiceOneSpirit Ministries Humanity has achieved remarkable things. We carry powerful computers in our pockets, cure diseases that once wiped out entire populations, and send probes to distant planets while dreaming of colonizing Mars. Yet for all this progress, one wall still stands. We cannot stop
The Lines Between and How Danielle M. Wong Builds a Focused Psychological Thriller
July 24, 2026
By: Jax Smith There is a clear creative vision in The Lines Between that appears from the first pages and continues across the full length of the novel. Danielle M. Wong shows a strong sense of what kind of story she is telling, what world she is building, what protagonist
Caroline Taylor Has Been One of Crime Fiction’s Quiet Secrets and Bad Girl Is the Book That Should Change That
July 23, 2026
By: Sandra Williams Caroline Taylor has spent more than a decade writing crime fiction that earns multiple International Firebird Book awards, builds a devoted readership among the members of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and somehow manages to remain less widely known than the quality of her
The Quest That Lets You Choose How It Ends, and Terrence W. Walsh Has Written a Distinctive Work of Fantasy Fiction
July 10, 2026
By: Andrew Vespa There is a particular kind of storytelling confidence that allows a writer to hand the ending of a story back to the character and say, here, you decide how this goes. Terrence W. Walsh shows that confidence in Prince Adam’s Quest, a playful and witty result of
Beyond Space Battles, W. Clark Boutwell Explores the Human Cost of Progress in New Trilogy
July 3, 2026
By Jamie Dunn Science fiction has long served as a lens through which writers examine the challenges and contradictions of the present. While futuristic technology and imagined civilizations often capture readers’ attention, many of the genre’s most enduring stories are ultimately about human nature. That philosophy drives After The Fall
DPB Finds Strength in Every Scar on Undefeated
June 26, 2026
By: Jean Apache Longevity is one of music’s rarest achievements. It demands adaptability without surrender, growth without abandoning identity, and enough conviction to keep creating when the spotlight shifts elsewhere. On Undefeated, veteran Christian hip-hop artist DPB doesn’t simply celebrate surviving more than three decades in the music industry; he
Juneteenth 2026 Events Span Chicago Neighborhoods
June 23, 2026
Juneteenth 2026 celebrations in the Chicago area begin Thursday, June 18, and continue through the weekend with festivals, concerts, and community gatherings across the city. The federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery falls on Friday, June 19, and Chicago residents have dozens of free and ticketed events to choose
The Countdown Has Already Started in Dr. Peter Solomon’s 12 Years to AI Singularity
June 20, 2026
By Victoria Smith There is a particular kind of storytelling that only becomes possible when the person writing the fiction is also genuinely alarmed by the reality underneath it. Dr. Peter Solomon is a scientist who believes we are running out of time to make the right decisions about artificial
Juneteenth Weekend Stacks Obama Presidential Center Opening, Cultural Festivals, and City Programming Across Chicago’s South Side
June 19, 2026
Chicago’s South Side enters its densest cultural programming weekend in recent memory on Thursday, June 19, as the Juneteenth federal holiday, the public opening of the Obama Presidential Center, and a constellation of neighborhood festivals converge across a corridor stretching from Jackson Park through Bronzeville to the Loop. The overlap
Chicago’s World Cup Absence Sparks Reflection as the City Watches the 2026 Tournament from the Sidelines
June 16, 2026
As 11 U.S. cities host the largest World Cup ever staged, the third-largest city in the country is watching from home — and eight years later, the decision that kept Chicago out of the tournament is looking less like a missed opportunity and more like a calculated act of fiscal
Richard Lynch Turns Country Music Into a Mission Through the Love Tattoo Foundation and 2026 Benefit Concert Series
June 16, 2026
Many artists measure success by streams and social media followers. Country music traditionalist Richard Lynch has built his legacy on something far more enduring, and that is service. For years, the Ohio-based singer-songwriter has been one of independent country music’s most passionate advocates for preserving traditional country music. Beyond the
How “Super You!! Building Wellness in Every Way!” Turns Everyday Habits Into Real-Life Superpowers for Children
June 16, 2026
Children often grow up hearing about superheroes with incredible strength, magical abilities, and world-saving powers. But in Super You!! Building Wellness in Every Way!, Dr. Tina Fournier introduces a different kind of superhero… one built through healthy habits, emotional resilience, kindness, curiosity, and self-awareness. The children’s wellness book presents an
The Ferris Wheel Was Born in Chicago, Built to Outshine the Eiffel Tower
June 12, 2026
The Ferris wheel is now a fixture of fairgrounds, boardwalks, and skylines around the world, so ordinary that its origins are easy to forget. But the ride was not a gradual invention that evolved over time. It was a single, audacious engineering gamble, conceived in Chicago in 1893 for one