How Fred Hampton Gave Way to Obama
Judas and the Black Messiah doesn’t just track the Black Panther’s betrayal, but the birth of a coalition that elected Mayor Harold Washington and our 44th President.
Matt Pollock
Ten Great Things to Do in February
From a reopened Art Institute to a Children’s Choir concert featuring Chance the Rapper, Chicago’s cultural offerings are beginning to thaw out.
The Handoff That Wasn’t
Mike Simmons made headlines for his upset appointment over Rep. Kelly Cassidy. Lost in the scuttlebutt: Springfield’s never seen anything like him before.
These Chicago Bungalow Planters Are to Die For
Katie Lauffenburger’s ceramic creations take the form of workers’ cottages, bungalows, and other iconic types of architecture
Where Illinois Is Losing Population
More people left our state than any other in the 2010s. Part of the problem: Unlike elsewhere, there’s been no urban growth to offset rural decline.
Your Affordable Midcentury Dream Home Is Probably in Flossmoor
The south suburban village is commutable, diverse, and relatively cheap. The tradeoff: Its housing stock doesn’t last long.
How to Succeed in Politics Without Winning an Election
Two weeks into a new term, State Sen. Heather Steans is retiring, leaving political allies to pick her replacement. On the Far North Side, that’s simply how it’s done.
Blair Kamin’s Exit Interview
The Tribune architecture critic, who stepped down after 28 years last week, on the failures of high-rise public housing, the transformation of the Loop, and Chicago’s biggest obstacles to an equitable built environment.
The Complicated Record Exec Left Out of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
The Netflix adaptation (and August Wilson’s original play) track Rainey’s abuse at the hands of a white recording industry. But there was also a go-between: J. Mayo Williams, a Chicago talent scout and Paramount’s first Black A&R rep.
Five Granny Flats for Sale
For the first time since 1957, City Council has authorized the construction of new accessory dwelling units. Before the pilot program starts in May, here are five existing spots on the market.