Vintage clothing, art, jewelry, furniture, home decor, and nostalgic items from mid-century through the 1990s are available for the seekers at today’s Vintage Garage meet-up. This is the second to last Vintage Garage before the end of the year, and 75 vendors offering all things vintage (rumor has it there might be a Reader staffer […]
Tag: North Lawndale
Posted inTheater Review
‘And then I laughed’
At one point in Theatre Y’s ambulatory Laughing Song: A Walking Dream, Marvin Tate as George W. Johnson (the first Black American recording artist) is asked by a reporter at a press conference, “Is your laugh real, or is it fake?” It’s a reasonable question—but by the end of this four-hour show, which weaves together […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Marvin Tate takes us on a dreamwalk through North Lawndale
When Chicago poet, sculptor, and musician Marvin Tate was in elementary school, he had a terrible stutter. To help him, his older sister gave him a poem to practice reading aloud. The poem was “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. That’s the one that begins with “We real cool. We/Left school.” and ends with “We/Jazz […]
Posted inThe Sale of Douglass Park
A promise worth keeping
Youth soccer coach Ernie Alvarez recounts his days in Douglass Park.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
A challenging and memorable bike ride around Chicago’s exact city limits
Cycling, sightseeing, and snacking from Rogers Park to Edison Park, Mount Greenwood to Hegewisch
Posted inMusic
‘Do what the good Lord gave you and keep going’
The new compilation No Other Love shines a light on a self-reliant strain of midwest gospel that’s survived outside the mainstream for more than 50 years.
Posted inMusic
Riot Fest’s elephant in the room
Does Riot Fest have any business taking over a public park in a largely Black and Brown neighborhood?
Posted inNews & Politics
Community gardens beautify urban space, but some seek to transform urban society
Community organizers connect politics with plant care.
Posted inNews & Politics
Overlooked mayoral hopefuls share bold visions for Chicago
They may have little name recognition and no campaign funds, but the regular people running for mayor are committed to making the city thrive.
Posted inBlogs
Lake Shore Drive marchers: Here’s the real lowdown on the city’s budget
According to Cook County clerk David Orr, in the last year alone $660 million in property taxes went into tax increment financing (TIF) districts.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Cops slammed for ticketing black cyclists: ‘It’s about the police harassing people’
Cycle of injustice continues as blacks still ticketed at far higher rates for biking violations.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Vision Zero makes inroads on the west side
In response to criticism of Chicago’s traffic fatality prevention plan, CDOT is now gathering community input.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Does Chicago’s Vision Zero Action Plan have zero vision?
Some transportation advocates wonder if the city’s strategy to eliminate traffic crashes has enough teeth to achieve its ambitious goals.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Competing lawsuits have been filed in the Frank Cruz bike fatality case
Cruz’s mother and a man who says he’s Cruz’s son have both filed suits; the driver is still at large.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Who killed Chicago cyclist Frank Cruz?
Weeks after a hit-and-run crash involving a local company’s van, the case is still open.