Chicago’s Original Celebrity Athlete By Robert Loerzel The new book ‘Eckie’ spotlights Walter Eckersall, a bygone local sports pioneer. Here’s what we learned. Read more
The Birth and Death of Chicago’s Machine By Edward McClelland Clout City, a new book by historian Dominic A. Pacyga, traces the rise and fall of Chicago-style politics. Here’s what we learned. Read more
Can Tangling With Trump Boost the Mayor’s Popularity? By Edward McClelland The only politician less popular among Chicago voters than Johnson may be Trump. Read more
20 Years Later: How Sufjan Made Some “Illinoise” By Grace Perry Sufjan Stevens’s sweeping ode to the Prairie State was released in July 2005. Let’s explore the album’s enduring status as a cult classic. Read more
Requiem for the Montrose Beavers By Robert Loerzel The author was delighted when the wood-chomping rodents surfaced at the harbor. Then one turned up dead. Read more
The TikTok Candidate By Edward McClelland Influencer Kat Abughazaleh is getting national buzz for her run for Congress. But how well does she know the district she’d represent? We quizzed her. Read more
All We Ever Wanted to Be Was a Party Band By Rick Telander For 54 years, through raucous parties and life’s twists and turns, the author has rocked on with his band. Read more
Who Will Be Our Next Mayor? By Edward McClelland Speculation has already begun on who might replace a beleaguered Brandon Johnson. Let’s handicap the field. Read more
Brother, Can You Spare a Billion? By Grace Perry Facing a projected $1 billion shortfall, the mayor and the City Council are scrambling to balance the 2025 budget. How did we get here? Read more
Before the Sky, There Was the Hustle By Jarrett Van Meter In the late ’70s, a pro women’s hoops team briefly captivated the city by living up to its name. Then it all unraveled. Read more
