Finding Community at Chicago Filmmakers: Colleen O’Doherty’s Story
Colleen O’Doherty, a relatively new Chicago resident, has found a sense of community and purpose through her involvement with Chicago Filmmakers and the Queer...
Exploring Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Legacy in Chicago – Chicago Reader
A fascinating exhibition showcasing photographs and objects related to Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural practice is currently on display at the Richard H. Driehaus Museum...
Viewfinder: A Unique Band from Chicago – Music History Review
Plastic Crimewave, also known as Steve Krakow, has been uncovering hidden gems in Chicago's music history through his Secret History of Chicago Music since...
Carnage for Christmas: Chicago Reader Review and Analysis
It has been a challenging year for trans rights, but a promising one for trans cinema. The power of seeing a film in a...
Discover the Blooming Secret Garden at Theo – Chicago Reader
I came across Frances Hodgson Burnett’s 1911 novel The Secret Garden many years after it was first published, and the story about a troubled...
Chicagoland’s Hottest Merry Men: A Closer Look at the Sexy Side of Chicago Reader
If you're looking for a spicy holiday theater experience to fill the void left by The Buttcracker burlesque, PrideArts has got you covered with...
Exploring Laura Yee’s Chinese Mom Kitchen Pop-Up in Chicago – A Unique Culinary Experiment
Laura Yee, a veteran food journalist and editor, recently launched her own baking business, Chinese Mom Kitchen, after receiving an invitation from Urban Belly...
Exploring Experimental Fantasias in The Moviegoer – Chicago Reader
The Moviegoer is a diary of a local film enthusiast who explores the best of Chicago's independent and underground film scene. Experimental cinema is...
Vanessa German’s Logan Center Exhibition: A Must-See in Chicago
Vanessa German, a Pittsburgh/Asheville-based artist, recently held a solo exhibition at the Logan Center Gallery in Chicago. The exhibition, titled “At the end of...
Exploring the Black and Blue Culture in Chicago – Chicago Reader
The opera "Blue," currently showing at Lyric Opera, brings to light the complexities of race and policing in contemporary America. Commissioned in 2015 by...
Hubbard Street Fall Series: Fosse & Verdon Highlights – Chicago Reader
The Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Fall Series at Steppenwolf brought together a collection of beloved works by renowned choreographers and featured the highly anticipated...
Creating a Wordless Hamlet: Robert Lepage’s Innovative Approach
Shakespeare's iconic play "Hamlet" has been reimagined in various innovative ways in Chicago in 2024. From Eddie Izzard's one-person interpretation to Red Theater's stripped-down...
The Return of He: A Chicago Reader’s Guide to His Comeback
The man in power is an entitled rich dude with a blond pompadour, a loose relationship with the truth, and a stunning wife that...
Community-Centric Cariño Festival de Cine: A Celebration in Chicago
Zedrick “Cariño” Alfredo Aurelio was not known as a filmmaker, but his impact on the filmmaking community was far greater than that title. He...
Explore the Ultimate Chicago Reader List: Must-Reads, Hotspots, and Events
Writers Theatre's latest production of Every Brilliant Thing, starring Jessie Fisher and directed by Kimberly Senior, offers a powerful and timely exploration of the...
Buddy Calamity in The Moviegoer – Chicago Reader Review
The Moviegoer is a film enthusiast's journal, capturing the essence of Chicago's independent and underground film scene. Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky (1976) portrays a...
Exploring Chicago’s Death’s Door Distillery: A Bright Beam of Light
Years ago, a lighthouse stood tall on a mysterious island in Lake Michigan, guiding sailors through a treacherous passage known as Death's Door. The...
Homocore Music Scene in Chicago: A Deep Dive
Kevin Sparrow's latest creation, Sofa King Queer, is making waves in the Chicago homocore music scene. Directed by JD Caudill, this pop-punk musical features...
Sparkling Holiday Events in Chicago: A Festive Guide to Celebrating
White Christmas at Marriott Theatre is a holiday classic that brings comfort and joy to audiences. While the story may not be groundbreaking, the...
Polish Food & Lemonade Grilled to Perfection for Monday Night Football – A Delicious...
The opportunity to enjoy an 18-inch Polish French bread pizza in Cook Country Forest Preserve is coming to an end soon. Justyna Haluch, known...
Bin Chen: A Solar-Cell Chemist Making Waves – Chicago Reader 2024
Bin Chen, a 33-year-old research associate professor at Northwestern University, is making waves in the field of renewable energy. Leading a team of 30...
Tanya Cabrera: The People’s Advocate in Chicago – Chicago Reader 2024
Tanya Cabrera, a prominent figure in Chicago, has been making waves as the chairperson of the Illinois DREAM Fund (ILDF). Raised in Chicago, Cabrera...
Jana Kinsman: The People’s Beekeeper in Chicago – 2024 Reader Issue
Jana Kinsman, a multi-talented individual, has made a name for herself as a beekeeper, illustrator, and entrepreneur in Chicago. Her journey began with a...
Norman W. Long: The Natural Listener – Chicago Reader People Issue 2024
Norman W. Long is a composer and sound artist who found his passion for experimental music while studying at Illinois State University in the...
Celebrating Chicago House Music Culture with Ten City’s 14-Piece Band
In June 2023, the city of Chicago designated a historic landmark status to a brick factory building at 206 S. Jefferson, where the legendary...
Envisioning the Future: First Nations Rappers Snotty Nose Rez Kids – Chicago Reader
Snotty Nose Rez Kids, a hip-hop duo from Vancouver, are using their music to explore their Indigenous identities, break stereotypes, and shed light on...
Jack McCoy: Founder of Microcinema – People Issue 2024 – Chicago Reader
Jack McCoy, the 28-year-old founder of Sweet Void Cinema, a microcinema in Humboldt Park, has a passion for creating a space for accessible cinema...
Seitu Hayden: The Wrist, People Issue 2024 – Chicago Reader
Seitu Hayden, a renowned artist and illustrator known for his graphic biographies of Malcolm X and Barack Obama, has had a diverse career that...
Zel Hizó: Next-gen Zinemaker Spotlight – Chicago Reader 2024
Zel Hizó, a talented ten-year-old zinemaker, is making waves in the Chicago art scene with her creative projects. From zines about Freddie Mercury to...
Universe Builder Oluwaseyi Adeleke: People Issue 2024 – Chicago Reader
Oluwaseyi Adeleke, also known as Olu, is a graphic designer and the creator of the streetwear brand Prgrssn. Born as a first-generation Nigerian American,...
Katia Pérez Fuentes: Chicago’s 2024 People Issue Energy Worker
Katia Pérez Fuentes, a 29-year-old creative facilitator, astrologer, hypnotist, and interdisciplinary artist, hails from New Mexico via Chihuahua, Mexico. They made the move to...
Monsieur Bombastic: The Horror Drag King of Chicago Reader’s People Issue 2024
Ore, also known as Monsieur Bombastic, is a unique drag king based in Chicago who explores themes of body horror, sex, and death in...
Reignite Your Interest: Firebrand’s Comeback – Chicago Reader
In the midst of the chaos following the election results, Harmony France, co-founder of Firebrand Theatre, reached out to announce the company's comeback. Firebrand...
Exploring Chicago’s Diverse Community – Chicago Reader Feature
The Chicago Reader recently featured 15 fascinating Chicagoans from different walks of life. These individuals come from diverse backgrounds and have unique stories to...
Alan Mills: The People’s Lawyer Fighting for Justice in Chicago – Chicago Reader 2024
Alan Mills, now 68 years old, came to Chicago to study law at Northwestern University and found himself deeply involved with the Uptown People's...
Chicago Reader’s 2024 People Issue: A Spotlight on Chicago’s Community
The Chicago Reader team recently gathered for an all-staff event to review their guiding policies and mission statement, take staff photos, and welcome new...
Do Gun Possession Laws Actually Reduce Gun Violence? Key Findings Revealed
A recent analysis conducted by the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts has shed light on the impact of gun possession laws on gun...
Chicago Reader’s Guide to Simplifying Recipes and Reducing Ingredients
Judith Thompson's play, Perfect Pie, presented at the Gwydion Theatre, tells the story of childhood best friends Francesca and Patsy reuniting after a 30-year...
Exploring the Bird Restaurant in Chicago: A Detailed Review
The journey from being a teenager to a young adult can be challenging, but the movie "Bird" demonstrates that change can also bring liberation....
Exploring Music, Myth, and Magic in Chicago – Chicago Reader
Leroy and Lucy is a play by Ngozi Anyanwu that delves into the world of music, myth, and magic in a unique and captivating...