Latest Stories
Los blancos tienen a Emily Dickinson, los mexicanos a José Olivarez
En su segundo poemario, Olivarez obsequia a los lectores una promesa de esperanza.
Revisiting the crime of the century
Hal Higdon’s true crime classic, Leopold and Loeb, gets a new edition to mark the occasion.
Documenting queer grassroots organizing
“Images on which to build” reveals the diverse lineages of gay and trans communities.
Review: Back to Black
Back to Black lazily tells the story of Amy Winehouse, committing the usual sins of the biopic genre.
Review: Doctor Who (Season one/Series 14)
New stars and a legacy showrunner bring Doctor Who into a new era.
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Tary Coffee House brings ancient preservation techniques from the central Asian steppes to River North
The first U.S. outpost of a Kazakh cafe can do anything with millet and fresh milk.
Chicago’s arcade evolution
Nothing can rival the video game boom of the 1980s, but with the majority of today’s arcade options catering to alcohol-consuming adults, the city’s youth are cut out of vital community spaces.
News & INVESTIGATIONS
CCPSA nominees advance, Mohawk Johnson takes plea deal, First Nations Garden vandalized
A weekly column from the Chicago Reader covering the top stories on our radar and how they impact our communities.
Bosses beware
Chicago’s service and cultural workers are unionizing like never before.
Campus protests, sexual abuse in youth prisons, May Day for Palestine
A weekly column from the Chicago Reader covering the top stories on our radar and how they impact our communities.
Columns & Opinion
“Missing in Chicago” wins the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting
The Reader, in partnership with Invisible Institute and City Bureau, ran the story in November 2023
Publisher’s note: why the Reader is returning to weekly publishing
The Chicago Reader’s print publication will return to weekly publishing in June 2024. The paper pivoted to a biweekly print schedule in June 2020.
Film
Review: IF
IF makes you wish you were watching some other movie.
Review: In the Fade
In the Fade is a bleak almost-classic about the horrors of right-wing violence.
Review: Thelma the Unicorn
Netflix’s adaptation of the hit Aaron Blabey book is cute, if a little expected.
Arts & Culture
Levi Holloway’s Turret is a 21st-century Endgame
His world premiere with A Red Orchid Theatre is bleak, brilliant, and a little Beckettian.
For the labor of art made transparent
Tony Lewis, Devin T. Mays, and Ellen Rothenberg discuss “WORKS BY,” their group show at the Neubauer.
Meet the Author puts the spotlight on a store appearance gone wrong
Joe Janes’s latest comedy takes place at bookstores around the city.
Orphan black comedy
Hell in a Handbag’s Poor People! serves a satirical feast.
Murder in the Cathedral has fresh relevance
City Lit stages T.S. Eliot’s classic about political violence.
Music
J Bambii makes space for everybody at south-side party the FiFi
Plus: The free Grant Slam Fest brings eight acts to Jonquil Park, and indie rockers Milkswarm throw a release party for their debut album.
Remembering Steve Albini
Friends, fans, clients, and coworkers share their memories of the beloved and influential recording engineer.
CITY LIFE
The Raven Room shuts down despite strong community support
The Ravenswood bar and entertainment venue formerly known as Redline VR announced their intention to close at the end of April.
Fad2Fresh has become an Andersonville staple
Find curated music, Bulls memorabilia, gender freedom, and more at the Black-, queer-, women-owned vintage shop.
Food & Drink
Shaker Barbeque beefs at the next Monday Night Foodball
Mike Shaker brings his Texas-style barbecue to the next Monday Night Foodball at Frank and Mary’s Tavern.
Tita Tootsie’s brings vibes of paradise to the next Monday Night Foodball
Check out the future Filipino lounge at the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at Frank and Mary’s Tavern.
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Demystifying Acupuncture provides answers for the curious skeptic
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Help the United Negro College Fund provide scholarships to Illinois students by playing the $200,000! Bingo Tripler!
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At the California Clipper, everyone is welcome
The newly relaunched Humboldt Park lounge champions community, inclusivity, and fair labor practices Since the 1820s, Chicago’s pubs…
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Bright Endeavors provides a guiding light for young mothers in Chicago
The social enterprise of Chicago nonprofit New Moms empowers local mothers ages 18-24 through their comprehensive job training program
As the proverb goes, it takes a village to raise a child. The folks at Bright Endeavors know…
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In Motion: Metamorphosis explores the intersection of art and technology
As the leader of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Princess Mhoon is on a mission to raise…