Chicago Reader

Long live the classifieds!

A young person’s dive into the history of the once lucrative section and its humble future.

by Taryn Allen

We’re giving away tickets to Second City

The Chicago Reader has officially made it to 50 years. Let’s celebrate it with a 50 day prize giveaway!

by Chicago Reader October 16, 2021October 5, 2021

Latest Stories

50 years of a Chicago weekly

The history of the Reader reflects the larger history of newspaper publishing in the United States. This timeline traces the paper’s changing fortunes over the course of a half-century.

by Chicago Reader

Kinky or killer?

During a trial over a grisly murder, prosecutors and journalists alike traded in homophobic, sex-negative tropes that some say do a disservice to the victim and the BDSM community.

by Adam M. Rhodes

R&B newcomer Jaas finds strength in solitude on her debut EP

Unavailable is the first release by the new label attached to Chicago’s famous Classick Studios.

by Tara C. Mahadevan

Minding the age gap

Just because you drove to another state to hook up with a teenager doesn’t mean you weren’t the victim of sexual assault.

by Dan Savage

Home is where the heart is

The Joffrey returns to live performance in a new venue with a glorious program.

by Irene Hsiao

Oakland’s Kowloon Walled City return after six years with a noise-rock masterpiece

by Luca Cimarusti

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News & Politics / Columns & Opinion

Growing for Good with Green Thumb

Fully Free Campaign: Directly impacted individuals changing laws and creating opportunities

Listen to The Ben Joravsky Show

Livestream and podcast

by Ben Joravsky

The Reader at 50

A deep dive into how this city’s alt-weekly made it through five decades

by Mark Jacob

Arts & Culture

Grimm examines fairy tales with a twist

A cabaret of familiar characters takes the stage with Theatre Above the Law.

by Kerry Reid

Queer history through the eyes of the Reader

A reflection on how LGBTQ+ issues, subjects, and writers have appeared on the paper’s pages over the last five decades.

by Adam M. Rhodes

Puppets and pandemic precautions clash in House of the Exquisite Corpse

Rough House’s peep horror show provides moments of thrilling action behind the shields.

by Max Maller

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Music

Austin doom outfit Monte Luna takes their dazed and heavy doom on the road

by Monica Kendrick October 14, 2021October 15, 2021

Jessie Montgomery, CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence

“When I think of classical music, I automatically think of how it’s connected to new music. I think the CSO does a great job of making that connection, and I’m hoping to make that even stronger.”

by Jamie Ludwig October 14, 2021October 15, 2021

Andrew Goes to Hell channels emotional extremes into mighty underground pop

by Leor Galil October 13, 2021October 15, 2021

Food & Drink

Get down with Don Pablo’s big Chilean empanadas at Monday Night Foodball

Check out the menu for week eight of the Reader’s chef pop-up series at the Kedzie Inn.

by Mike Sula

The return of the roti at Cafe Trinidad

The city’s original Trini restaurant mounts a ghost kitchen comeback.

by Mike Sula

It’s Ethan Lim’s Khmerican bar food vs. your wolfish hunger at Monday Night Foodball

Feast on salted tamarind caramel riblets, Cambodian fried chicken, and loaded tots from the Sandwich King of Hermosa at week seven of the Reader’s chef pop up series.

by Mike Sula

Film

Lamb

Lamb captures grief by oscillating between the beautiful and the horrific.

by Becca James

The Last Duel

The Last Duel recounts the story of the last legally sanctioned trial by combat in France.

by Adam Mullins-Khatib

El Planeta

Like the films of French master Philippe Garrel, conceptual artist and filmmaker Amalia Ulman’s feature debut is both of its time and yet somehow not.

by Kathleen Sachs

With Halloween on the horizon and Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, there are plenty of opportunities to ponder horror, acknowledge history, and honor resistance. Here are some of our best cultural bets for the week ahead. Fri 10/8: What does it mean to create as an act of resistance to oppressive structures? Can art manifest…

by Salem Collo-Julin and Kerry Reid

City Life Continued

Ray of sunshine

“I would love Chicago to be a fashion center like NYC,” says yoga teacher Bradshaw Wish, 32, who was doing his part while grocery shopping on a sunny Friday afternoon. Not styled for any special occasion, Wish says he simply “loves to dress up.” That day his styling process started with the dress, followed by…

by Isa Giallorenzo

October is golden

The Reader turns 50 today, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate our golden anniversary than by checking out some of the events that give our city (and surrounding areas) a cultural glow and make us happy to be here. Cheers! Fri 10/1: Fall is here and Pride has returned! This weekend…

by Salem Collo-Julin and Kerry Reid

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Credit: Photos Jim Newberry / Photo illustration Amber Huff

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