Chicago Reader

Bridgeport needs a bookstore

Joe Judd plans to open Tangible Books on Halsted Street this fall.

by Dmitry Samarov

Latest Stories

The Body and Big|Brave draw on the Band and Appalachia for Leaving None but Small Birds

by Shannon Nico Shreibak

Please line up for Funeral Potatoes at Monday Night Foodball

It’s Week 5 of the Reader’s chef pop-up series at the Kedzie Inn.

by Mike Sula

Archive Dive

A daily dip into the stacks, leading up to our 50th anniversary

by Kirk Williamson

Destinos showcases local and international theater companies

Voices and stories from the Latino diaspora return live in CLATA’s annual festival.

by Kaylen Ralph

“City on Fire: Chicago 1871”

The Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibition explores what happened before, during, and after the devastating fire.

Open House Chicago

100 sites. 30+ neighborhoods. Endless discoveries.

Help support the Chicago Reader

News & Politics / Columns & Opinion

Power tripping on Grindr

Is it homophobic for a straight man to tease a thicc bottom boy with dick pics?

by Dan Savage

Listen to the new Chicago Queer & Now podcast

Two Reader staffers explore all things queer Chicago.

by chicagoreader

Growing for Good with Green Thumb

Cruel Consequences: Encouraging communities to replace the negative stereotyped images of marijuana criminalization

After 34 years, a murder conviction quietly reversed in four minutes

James Allen still has two murder cases keeping him in prison.

by Maya Dukmasova and Injustice Watch

Arts & Culture

More changes at the top for Chicago-area theaters

Robert Falls is stepping down at Goodman, Ericka Ratcliff is stepping up for Congo Square, and Joe Keefe is out at Metropolis in the wake of controversy.

by Kerry Reid

The midwest, tweet by tweet

Josh Lipnik documents regional art and architecture on Midwest Modern.

by Megan Kirby

These girls are still golden

Hell in a Handbag’s drag parody doubles down on the raunch at the Leather Archives & Museum.

by Albert Williams

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Music

Byron Westbrook blurs the boundaries between natural and man-made environments on Mirror Views

by Bill Meyer September 23, 2021September 21, 2021

Former Oshwa bandleader Alicia Walter makes a grand entrance as a solo artist

by Leor Galil September 22, 2021September 20, 2021

The Reverend Marvin Yancy’s solo career lasted just one great album

Before he died at 34, he had a hand in a raft of soul, R&B, and gospel hits—including several he cowrote for his wife Natalie Cole.

by Steve Krakow September 22, 2021September 21, 2021

Food & Drink

Nobody’s Darling is for everyone

The Black- and queer-owned space in Andersonville serves cocktails for the city’s “outcasts.”

by Adam M. Rhodes

Monday Night Foodball Goes to Mumbai with Tasting India

The Kedzie Inn hosts Jasmine Sheth’s regional Indian pop-up series.

by Mike Sula

Don Pablo’s Kitchen is one man’s ode to empanadas

Pablo Soto is the Pablo Neruda of Chilean hand pies?

by Mike Sula

Film

Wife of a Spy

Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa beautifully and methodically renders the story of a married couple plunged into uncertainty in the days leading up to World War II.

by Nina Li Coomes

The Nowhere Inn

In The Nowhere Inn, St. Vincent collaborates with best friend Carrie Brownstein to create a documentary about her life and music.

by Adam Mullins-Khatib

Malignant

Malignant is the type of movie that requires viewers to strap in and shut up from the onset.

by Becca James

We gave you a lot of ideas to keep in mind for fall activities as part of our Fall Arts Preview this week, but here are a few more events and exhibitions to consider checking out this weekend and beyond. Fri 9/17: Music festivals continue to bring rockin’ sights and sounds to Chicago’s streets, including […]

by Salem Collo-Julin and Kerry Reid

City Life Continued

Festivals, fun, Foodball? Bingo!

Another few days of summer weather for the next week will surely bring Chicagoans out and about! Be safe, have fun, and consider one of these options as you make your plans. Fri 9/10 (open run): Theater Wit had a huge hit in 2015 with Anne Washburn’s apocalyptic black comedy, Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play, […]

by Salem Collo-Julin and Kerry Reid