The Plan for Transformation has transformed Chicago’s built environment

Over the last decade, photographer David Schalliol has been diligently documenting the demolition and reconstruction of the city’s public housing. Selections from the series are now on display as part of the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

by David Schalliol on September 19, 2017

Dan Pittatsis, an Uber and Lyft driver, sets his own hours

“To me, this isn’t even working,” Pittatsis says. “I would never, ever under any circumstances work for someone else ever again. I’m done.”

by Anne Ford on September 15, 2017

The Amazon HQ2 deal could sell Chicagoans down the river 19

If city and state officials are successful in their effort to persuade the behemoth online retailer to build a second headquarters here, Chicagoans can all expect to pay big.

by Ben Joravsky on September 19, 2017

When the nice lady has a penis . . . 1

Dan Savage advises a straight guy encountering a “mental block” after learning the woman he’s been seeing is transgender, and more.

by Dan Savage on September 20, 2017

The anti-Balbo movement gains momentum in the City Council 1

Aldermen move forward with an ordinance to remove tributes to Italo Balbo, a henchman of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.

by John Greenfield on September 21, 2017

Vision Zero makes inroads on the west side 1

In response to criticism of Chicago's traffic fatality prevention plan, CDOT is now gathering community input.

by John Greenfield on September 21, 2017

How Chicago comedy prepared Jordan Klepper for Comedy Central

The former Chicago improviser and Daily Show correspondent adds “yes, and” to “no, but” for his new Comedy Central show The Opposition With Jordan Klepper.

by Steve Heisler on September 21, 2017

Brennen Reeves can laugh about his double lung transplant

The comedian’s one-man show, Breathe, is full of life.

by Steve Heisler on September 20, 2017

Five Guys Named Moe, The Funny Papers, and eight more new stage shows to see

A Louis Jordan tribune and a satire of the 21st-century news biz are among this week's best bets.

on September 20, 2017

Steppenwolf’s Rembrandt is no masterpiece

The theater's latest takes a detour into Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

by Tony Adler on September 20, 2017

Chicago Renaissance celebrates the people who built the city’s cultural scene

A new book examines the local art and literature milieu in the early 20th century.

by Aimee Levitt on September 20, 2017

Gordon Grdina, Kenton Loewen, and François Houle build improvised sound worlds on decades of trust

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

Open Mike Eagle revisits the traumatic destruction of the Robert Taylor Homes on Brick Body Kids Still Daydream

by Leor Galil on September 15, 2017

Antietam’s powerful new album essays life’s travails, and seems to find the strength to overcome challenges through the power of its music

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

Dead Rider show delicious cracks of mental instability on its slickest, most disturbing album yet, Crew Licks

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

Orphée et Eurydice: opera can dance

by Deanna Isaacs on September 15, 2017

Wovenhand’s swaggering celestial explorations revitalize Americana rock

by Monica Kendrick on September 15, 2017

On its new George Lewis portrait album, Chicago’s Ensemble dal Niente vividly illustrates the composer’s talks of an improvisational practice

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

Kansas City three-piece Giants Chair show how some 90s emo bands went hard

by Leor Galil on September 15, 2017

Lavender Country come to town more than four decades after releasing the first openly gay country album

by Leor Galil on September 15, 2017

MUNA find compassion and hope in conflict

by Austin Brown on September 15, 2017

Posthardcore heroes Quicksand returns with new music for the first time in 22 years

by Ryan Smith on September 15, 2017

Three former Chicagoans—baritone saxophonist Josh Sinton, drummer Chad Taylor, and bassist Jason Ajemian—reconnect as Musicianer

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

The strengths of the annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival are highlighted by two poignant, inventive duos

by Peter Margasak on September 15, 2017

RIP Trey Gruber of promising young Chicago band Parent

Plus: New recordings on the way from the Father Costume—and a new album already here from Dan Whitaker & the Shinebenders

by J.R. Nelson on September 19, 2017

Bassist Matt Lux on his favorite pianist of his generation

Plus: Jazz guitarist Tim Stine on “classic rock” from Helmet, Reader critic Peter Margasak on a reissued Yoko Ono masterpiece, and more

by Peter Margasak on September 20, 2017

The Growing Concerns Poetry Collective ask all races to fight racism

Mykele Deville, McKenzie Chinn, and Jeffrey Michael Austin tell stories for black folks that aim to reach everyone.

by Lee V. Gaines on September 20, 2017

Free-improv trio Ballister is a fire-breathing behemoth, but beneath the ferocity lies a sophisticated group of musicians

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

Armed with a new singer, tech-metal titans Gigan return with an evocative new album

by Monica Kendrick on September 22, 2017

New York rapper Cardi B has found musical success through transparency

by Leor Galil on September 22, 2017

Canadian indie supergroup Broken Social Scene are the same as they ever were on Hug of Thunder

by Leor Galil on September 22, 2017

Unequaled excitement hits the windy city as Derv Gordon of cult UK band the Equals plays a rare gig

by Steve Krakow on September 22, 2017

California bands Wand and Peacers transmit wonderfully disparate strains of psychedelia

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

New York reedist and sound artist Lea Bertucci explores the acoustic properties of physical spaces

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

On its first album in six years Fleet Foxes reclaim the grandeur of their harmony singing if not the perfection of Robin Pecknold’s songwriting

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

Singer Sam Amidon deftly weds the universal truths of folk music with an unapologetically exploratory musical sensibility

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

The hard-hitting Norwegian freebop quartet evokes the full range of jazz history in their music, but their vital energy and enthusiasm is all about the present

by Peter Margasak on September 22, 2017

Japanese Breakfast get expansive on Soft Sounds From Another Planet

by Leor Galil on September 22, 2017

Ka Baird of Spires wrangles sonic spirit shapes on her new solo album

by Bill Meyer on September 22, 2017

With two new breweries, Pilsen is now the brewing capital of the south side

Lo Rez Brewing and Taproom and Alulu Brewpub and Brewery join Moody Tongue's tasting room to make Pilsen a beer destination.

by Julia Thiel on September 20, 2017

Six best bets for fall restaurant openings

by Mike Sula on September 15, 2017

At The Kennison chef Bill Walker picks up where Perennial Virant left off

Like its predecessor, the new restaurant from the Boka group makes an art of seasonal cooking

by Mike Sula on September 14, 2017

Blvd aims to conjure the glamour of 1950s Hollywood

But it’s chef Johnny Besch’s food that transcends the postwar Sunset Strip cliches.

by Mike Sula on September 20, 2017

Tales of seduction and betrayal light up Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival

Hello Again, a musical reimagining of Arthur Schnitzler’s La Ronde, opens the fest’s 35th edition.

on September 20, 2017

Love is the drug in Andrzej Żuławski’s L’Important C’Est D’Aimer

Romantic passion consumes everything in this 1975 drama from the director of Possession.

by Ben Sachs on September 21, 2017

Print Issue of September 21, 2017

Volume 46, Number 50

on September 21, 2017