Chicago Reader
@chicagoreader.com
Chicago's nonprofit newsroom, an alternative weekly newspaper since 1971 🗞
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New issue drop!
On the cover: Artist, curator, maker, connector: Meet the unstoppable Andrea Yarbrough
By Kerry Cardoza
📸 Kirk Williamson
Pick yours up in person tomorrow or read the PDF now! https://bit.ly/48z0plt
On the cover: Artist, curator, maker, connector: Meet the unstoppable Andrea Yarbrough
By Kerry Cardoza
📸 Kirk Williamson
Pick yours up in person tomorrow or read the PDF now! https://bit.ly/48z0plt
“I resent Spotify for monopolizing how people imagine you can experience music.”
Alongside Sam Cantor of Minor Moon, Reader senior staff writer @imleor.bsky.social spoke to Sasha-Ann Simons on @wbez.org's In the Loop about Chicago musicians and listeners leaving Spotify.
Alongside Sam Cantor of Minor Moon, Reader senior staff writer @imleor.bsky.social spoke to Sasha-Ann Simons on @wbez.org's In the Loop about Chicago musicians and listeners leaving Spotify.
December 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
“I resent Spotify for monopolizing how people imagine you can experience music.”
Alongside Sam Cantor of Minor Moon, Reader senior staff writer @imleor.bsky.social spoke to Sasha-Ann Simons on @wbez.org's In the Loop about Chicago musicians and listeners leaving Spotify.
Alongside Sam Cantor of Minor Moon, Reader senior staff writer @imleor.bsky.social spoke to Sasha-Ann Simons on @wbez.org's In the Loop about Chicago musicians and listeners leaving Spotify.
Our big, beautiful coffee table book, celebrating the first 50 years of the Chicago Reader, is available for purchase! Last year, with the help of 1,600+ incredible backers, we brought to life a book commemorating 50 years of independent alternative journalism. Order here: https://shorturl.at/AEbMl
50 Years of the Chicago Reader Book - Chicago Reader
Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader A big, beautiful coffee table book highlighting the first 50 years of the Chicago Reader Hardcover300 pages9” x 12”Limited Availability Standard Edition: $65.00 +...
shorturl.at
December 9, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Our big, beautiful coffee table book, celebrating the first 50 years of the Chicago Reader, is available for purchase! Last year, with the help of 1,600+ incredible backers, we brought to life a book commemorating 50 years of independent alternative journalism. Order here: https://shorturl.at/AEbMl
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
Introducing the CHAAD Project’s restaurant preparedness tool kit - Chicago Reader
The CHAAD Project's hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons.
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
Max Blaisdell and Matt Chapman investigate trade secret protections and find that private companies have been increasingly claiming information is proprietary to keep it out of criminal and civil settings. https://bit.ly/3KrFWHa
Trade secrets protections shield information from public view
When a government contractor’s right to privacy outweighs the public’s right to know
chicagoreader.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Max Blaisdell and Matt Chapman investigate trade secret protections and find that private companies have been increasingly claiming information is proprietary to keep it out of criminal and civil settings. https://bit.ly/3KrFWHa
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it. https://bit.ly/4pHYv8M
Righting systemic wrongs of Illinois prisons - Chicago Reader
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it.
bit.ly
December 8, 2025 at 12:06 AM
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it. https://bit.ly/4pHYv8M
In the latest Gossip Wolf, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its building, The Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, Open Mike Eagle kicks off a residency at the National Museum of Public Housing, and more. https://bit.ly/44K70Z1
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its home - Chicago Reader
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its home, the Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, and more.
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 11:27 PM
In the latest Gossip Wolf, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its building, The Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, Open Mike Eagle kicks off a residency at the National Museum of Public Housing, and more. https://bit.ly/44K70Z1
Size diversity matters in the drag and burlesque community. https://bit.ly/4pKf9oo
'Fat' is not a dirty word - Chicago Reader
Fatphobia and size discrimination occurs less often in drag and burlesque than in theater and film, but it's still present.
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Size diversity matters in the drag and burlesque community. https://bit.ly/4pKf9oo
An animated short from Jiadi Tang adds absurdity to Milan Kundera’s beloved novel. https://bit.ly/44a9kbH
The Prague Spring, by way of Adventure Time - Chicago Reader
The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dick, an animated short by Jiadi Tang, owes much to Milan Kundera’s 1984 novel of almost the same name.
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 8:07 PM
An animated short from Jiadi Tang adds absurdity to Milan Kundera’s beloved novel. https://bit.ly/44a9kbH
That debut single was the only one to provoke backlash, but he had a string of regionally successful releases with the precursor to Chess Records. https://bit.ly/3MhAJCs
Bluesman Andrew Tibbs called out white bigotry in 1947 - Chicago Reader
Andrew Tibbs's debut was his only single to provoke racist backlash, but he had a string of regionally successful records through Aristocrat.
bit.ly
December 7, 2025 at 12:55 AM
That debut single was the only one to provoke backlash, but he had a string of regionally successful releases with the precursor to Chess Records. https://bit.ly/3MhAJCs
Divs Ray re-creates a silk road dinner party like she does home for the Reader’s weekly guest chef pop-up at Thattu. https://bit.ly/4iC6xhr
Umami From Scratch returns to Monday Night Foodball - Chicago Reader
Divs Ray invites you to a Silk Road dinner party—like she does it at home—when Umami From Scratch returns to Monday Night Foodball.
bit.ly
December 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Divs Ray re-creates a silk road dinner party like she does home for the Reader’s weekly guest chef pop-up at Thattu. https://bit.ly/4iC6xhr
We’re nearly a week into Best of Chicago and we want to highlight one of our favorite categories: City Life. This category is about what makes Chicago feel like Chicago. It’s about your favorite alderperson, the best Chicago slang, the best place to throw a party. Vote at chicagoreader.com/best!
December 6, 2025 at 8:14 PM
We’re nearly a week into Best of Chicago and we want to highlight one of our favorite categories: City Life. This category is about what makes Chicago feel like Chicago. It’s about your favorite alderperson, the best Chicago slang, the best place to throw a party. Vote at chicagoreader.com/best!
Max Blaisdell and Matt Chapman investigate trade secret protections and find that private companies have been increasingly claiming information is proprietary to keep it out of criminal and civil settings. https://bit.ly/3KrFWHa
Trade secrets protections shield information from public view
When a government contractor’s right to privacy outweighs the public’s right to know
chicagoreader.com
December 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Max Blaisdell and Matt Chapman investigate trade secret protections and find that private companies have been increasingly claiming information is proprietary to keep it out of criminal and civil settings. https://bit.ly/3KrFWHa
In this week's Make it Make Sense, Cook County swears in its first new chief judge in a quarter-century, Feds slash housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years. https://bit.ly/4iEhE9v
Make It Make Sense: Cook County’s new chief judge
Plus: Trump slashes housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years.
bit.ly
December 6, 2025 at 6:55 PM
In this week's Make it Make Sense, Cook County swears in its first new chief judge in a quarter-century, Feds slash housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years. https://bit.ly/4iEhE9v
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
Introducing the CHAAD Project’s restaurant preparedness tool kit - Chicago Reader
The CHAAD Project's hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons.
bit.ly
December 6, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
This week, the CHAAD Project, a hospitality worker advocacy group, released a ten-page tool kit for restaurant workers and owners on how to prepare and protect their most vulnerable employees amid raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.
December 5, 2025 at 9:43 PM
This week, the CHAAD Project, a hospitality worker advocacy group, released a ten-page tool kit for restaurant workers and owners on how to prepare and protect their most vulnerable employees amid raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other federal agencies.
Size diversity matters in the drag and burlesque community. https://bit.ly/4pKf9oo
'Fat' is not a dirty word - Chicago Reader
Fatphobia and size discrimination occurs less often in drag and burlesque than in theater and film, but it's still present.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Size diversity matters in the drag and burlesque community. https://bit.ly/4pKf9oo
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it. https://bit.ly/4pHYv8M
Righting systemic wrongs of Illinois prisons - Chicago Reader
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 8:08 PM
For decades, the state has offered limited avenues for rehabilitation and shorter sentences. It’s time lawmakers fix it. https://bit.ly/4pHYv8M
In the latest Gossip Wolf, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its building, The Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, Open Mike Eagle kicks off a residency at the National Museum of Public Housing, and more. https://bit.ly/44K70Z1
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its home - Chicago Reader
The Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its home, the Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, and more.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
In the latest Gossip Wolf, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum loses its building, The Ugly Hug and Post-Trash throw an indie-rock fest, Open Mike Eagle kicks off a residency at the National Museum of Public Housing, and more. https://bit.ly/44K70Z1
Reposted by Chicago Reader
Good as time as any to re-up the piece that gave me my start at the @chicagoreader.com that gets into the decline of cinemas and how even in a city as big as Chicago, few audiences have access to even decide if they want to show up for smaller movies.
🫠 chicagoreader.com/film-tv/chic...
🫠 chicagoreader.com/film-tv/chic...
Chicago movie theater accessibility is unequal across the city - Chicago Reader
Chicago movie theater accessibility and distribution is limited for both chain and indie cinema, but the local scene is ready to adapt.
chicagoreader.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Good as time as any to re-up the piece that gave me my start at the @chicagoreader.com that gets into the decline of cinemas and how even in a city as big as Chicago, few audiences have access to even decide if they want to show up for smaller movies.
🫠 chicagoreader.com/film-tv/chic...
🫠 chicagoreader.com/film-tv/chic...
“What I’m ultimately interested in is art that is shifting something about the world and our systems, which I know is a big task.” – Andrea Yarbrough
December 5, 2025 at 7:07 PM
“What I’m ultimately interested in is art that is shifting something about the world and our systems, which I know is a big task.” – Andrea Yarbrough
An animated short from Jiadi Tang adds absurdity to Milan Kundera’s beloved novel. https://bit.ly/44a9kbH
The Prague Spring, by way of Adventure Time - Chicago Reader
The Unbearable Lightness of Being a Dick, an animated short by Jiadi Tang, owes much to Milan Kundera’s 1984 novel of almost the same name.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
An animated short from Jiadi Tang adds absurdity to Milan Kundera’s beloved novel. https://bit.ly/44a9kbH
Divs Ray re-creates a silk road dinner party like she does home for the Reader’s weekly guest chef pop-up at Thattu. https://bit.ly/4iC6xhr
Umami From Scratch returns to Monday Night Foodball - Chicago Reader
Divs Ray invites you to a Silk Road dinner party—like she does it at home—when Umami From Scratch returns to Monday Night Foodball.
bit.ly
December 5, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Divs Ray re-creates a silk road dinner party like she does home for the Reader’s weekly guest chef pop-up at Thattu. https://bit.ly/4iC6xhr
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
Introducing the CHAAD Project’s restaurant preparedness tool kit - Chicago Reader
The CHAAD Project's hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons.
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 11:08 PM
The hospitality worker advocates held a town hall with the aim of protecting at-risk employees from government goons. https://bit.ly/3Mb94D9
In this week's Make it Make Sense, Cook County swears in its first new chief judge in a quarter-century, Feds slash housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years. https://bit.ly/4iEhE9v
Make It Make Sense: Cook County’s new chief judge
Plus: Trump slashes housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years.
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 10:17 PM
In this week's Make it Make Sense, Cook County swears in its first new chief judge in a quarter-century, Feds slash housing funding and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago celebrates 51 years. https://bit.ly/4iEhE9v
It's BEEN time to dump Spotify. Since this article, the music platform has also started running ICE recruitment ads. Is your Wrapped really worth it? https://bit.ly/44cgegy
Time to dump Spotify - Chicago Reader
Spotify was already a blight on music, and now CEO Daniel Ek is investing in AI weaponry. Chicagoans are joining an exodus from the platform.
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
It's BEEN time to dump Spotify. Since this article, the music platform has also started running ICE recruitment ads. Is your Wrapped really worth it? https://bit.ly/44cgegy