The Stairwell
You know how this story ends: a fierce struggle between two men, a police commander shot dead outside the Thompson Center. But what you don’t know is how it begins.
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Photo Essay: Madison Street, April 5, 2008
What the street looked like 40 years after the West Side riots.
What Happened During the West Side Riots of April 1968
Nine people were killed and 1,200 injured as the city smoldered for days following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Jane Goodall Celebrates Her 84th Birthday in Chicago
The legendary primatologist spoke to CPS students about the moment with a chimpanzee that inspired her career, and saw it memorialized in a statue at the Field Museum.
A Chicago Shoe-Repair Startup Moves In After Brooks Shoe Repair Vanishes
Shoe Drop, a mail-in repair service with a Silicon Valley approach and a 4,000-square-foot workshop on the West Side, is opening its first physical location on Jeweler’s Row.
April 5, 1968
Fifty years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a new work by acclaimed poet Eve L. Ewing evokes the day Madison Street burned.
10 Stories You Should Read This Week
The ’68 West Side riot, the last days of a cage hotel, an urban-farming guide, and more
The Easy-Peasy, No-Excuses Guide to Becoming an Urban Farmer
Everything you need to know to start growing what you eat, from habaneros to hens, right here in the city
Six Things to Plant in the Ideal Starter Garden
Illustrations: Vidhya Nagarajan These six edible plants are just right for beginners who have outdoor space, whether a backyard, a community garden plot, a deck, or even a fire escape. The only place you don’t want to plant is directly in the ground—Chicago’s soil tends to be too toxic and compacted to yield safely edible … Read more
How to Grow a Vegetable Garden on Your Windowsill
Photo: Jason Little; Styling: Sage Reed; Plants: Courtesy of Windy City Greens No outdoor space? No problem. There’s a huge range of herbs and vegetables that thrive on a sill. Choose a south-facing window if you can, ideally one that gets at least six hours of sunlight in the summer. Use potting soil, not gardening … Read more