Afro-Opulence Is the Life of the Party By Audarshia Townsend Artist Raub Welch celebrates Black history and culture with his festive affairs. Read more
Nnedi Okorafor’s Books Focus on Future Tense By Nneka McGuire The author journeys into postapocalyptic unknowns through science fiction fantasy with an African backdrop. Read more
Illinois Is a Musical Melting Pot By Edward McClelland A exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield shows how music genres coexist in our state. Read more
Neal Francis Was Saved by the Bell By Joshua M. Miller The singer-songwriter found sanctuary — and his new album — in a Northwest Side house of worship. Read more
Riding Down Historic Route 66 in Illinois By Edward McClelland The highway was officially decommissioned in 1985, but there are still some great old attractions that make the road worth traveling. Read more
What Virgil Abloh Meant to Me By Samantha Smyser-De Leon To the world, he was a fashion icon. But to me, he was a mentor, fierce champion for young creatives, and master educator with street cred. Read more
Ayana Contreras Spotlights the Power of Black Excellence By Lolly Bowean In ‘Energy Never Dies,’ Contreras explores the surprising connections among Chicago’s tastemakers and cultural innovators. Read more
