Evil Olive Archives - Chicago Reader

The story of Cook County’s pursuit of back taxes from small music venues descends into the surreal

by Lee V. Gaines October 27, 2016August 18, 2021

Cook County amends its amusement-tax code to clarify that its officials aren’t in the business of defining “fine art”—but several small venues are still stuck in administrative hearings arguing about exactly that.

Arts & Culture

More than three dozen of the best Halloween 2016 events

by Chicago Reader October 24, 2016August 18, 2021

A ghoulish brunch, a costume parade, and more spooky things to do

Blogs

Cook County not ‘in the business of saying what is and what is not fine arts,’ according to CFO

by Lee V. Gaines August 30, 2016August 18, 2021

The county’s chief financial officer says he disagrees with a hearing officer’s interpretation that only musical genres considered “fine art” are exempt from an amusement tax.

Blogs

Cook County has become an 80s movie villain in its attempt to tax small music venues to death

by Ryan Smith August 25, 2016August 18, 2021

Cook County’s effort to bilk small music venues is like a plotline from Footloose.

Blogs

Cook County doubles down: Rap, rock, country, and DJ sets are not ‘fine arts,’ not exempt from amusement tax

by Lee V. Gaines August 22, 2016August 18, 2021

At Cook County’s latest hearing on its small-venue amusement-tax exemption, the government dealt several businesses a blow that could eventually cost them hundreds of thousands of dollars apiece.