We have a tradition here at the Reader of tasking one of the city’s most talented illustrators, Jason Wyatt Frederick, with creating a Where’s Waldo-esque tableau every year for Pitchfork, filled with a who’s who of Chicago personalities and small visual puzzles spelling out the music fest’s lineup. When it seemed clear that we would […]
Tag: Best of Chicago 2020
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Losses and gains: Best of Chicago 2020
The positives of the year look different for everyone. The losses and gains have been very personal, so in turn the issue turned out that way too. It reads like group therapy—writers were given space to acknowledge what’s being left behind and then move forward with optimism, maybe even excitement about what the city still has to offer us. Reader poll results were determined by you, the readers!
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A new way to go live
NoonChorus helps artists innovate for streaming content.
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The pandemic pushed indoor music into the parks
Saxophonist Dave Rempis and drummer Tyler Damon played regular concerts in Margate Park this past summer and fall.
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The changing streets of Chicago
The pandemic forced us to rethink how we use our streets.
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A personal remembrance of DJ Kwest_On
The Promontory’s favorite DJ died last spring, but his soulful music can still bring life.
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Yes, please
Samantha Irby’s Wow, No Thank You. is just what the doctor ordered.
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Instagram takeovers
Social media pop-ups kept the Chicago food scene looking delicious.
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The highs and lows of CTA-less living
The commute is time stolen by the constraints of modern urban capitalism that we’re forced to borrow back only to kill.
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A non-obituary for Chicago improv
Venues were in flux, but Chicago improv pushed back against racism and harassment in 2020.
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Experimental Sound Studio has turned a streaming series into a virtual community
With its ongoing Quarantine Concerts, ESS has built connections faster and cheaper than it could have in person.
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The lasting impact of the late Terrell Davis
The 22-year-old artist died in December, but his influence remains incalculable.