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Chicago theaters feature five must-see shows in July, including Tony Kushner's "Angels in America" and H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds." The events range from a seven-hour spectacle to an improv festival, showcasing the city's vibrant arts scene. For those interested in magic, the Chicago Magic Lounge offers an intriguing weekly performance.
Uprising Theater & Cafe, the first Palestinian American theater in the U.S., opened its cafe in Avondale after over a decade of planning and construction. The venue aims to showcase Palestinian voices and social justice themes, with plans to stage its first production, “The Olive Tree,” this fall. The cafe will serve traditional Palestinian drinks and pastries while supporting the theater’s mission.
A former single-room occupancy building in Lincoln Park may be redeveloped into a five-story complex with 25 market-rate apartments and retail space. The project includes a two-story addition and five affordable units to meet city requirements. Developers are seeking a zoning change to proceed with the plans.
Nonprofit One Tail at a Time warns that some puppy yoga classes in Chicago source dogs from puppy mills. The Puppy Yoga Club Chicago faces multiple citations for operating without the necessary licenses and for advertising the sale of puppies. Concerns arise as the studio is linked to breeders known for poor conditions.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that over 360,000 residents will lose food assistance due to changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under President Trump's recent legislation. The law imposes work requirements for recipients and shifts funding burdens to states, jeopardizing support for vulnerable populations in Illinois.
Kristol Bell and the Leo High School Choir impressed the judges on "America’s Got Talent" with a powerful performance, earning praise from Simon Cowell. The choir, consisting of 22 boys from the all-boys Catholic high school in Auburn Gresham, will return for the quarterfinals in August. Their national exposure has led to $5,000 donations for each member to support their education.
Chicago Public Library expands its summer reading programs to include adults, offering activities like reading eco-lit and attending gardening workshops. Participants who complete six of ten activities can earn a limited-edition baseball cap and enter raffles at their local library branches. The initiative is part of the “Summer at CPL” event, which features over 2,000 activities for all ages.
The city issued demolition permits for the Damen Silos, ending efforts to preserve the structures. Neighbors expressed concerns over environmental impacts and sought to convert the site into public spaces. Demolition is scheduled to begin after the Fourth of July weekend.
Two friends launched the Strange Bar Sunday Instagram account to explore and document Chicago's unique bars, starting from their visit to the Podlasie Club in Avondale in 2014. The pair, who prefer to remain anonymous, now have tens of thousands of followers and focus on capturing the authentic atmosphere of local watering holes. Their adventures reveal Chicago's hidden taverns, emphasizing the social significance of these establishments in a digital age.
Chicago police closed nearly a third of fatal shooting cases without resolving them, often due to prosecutors declining to file charges. Families of victims, like Jeremiah Lee's, express pain and confusion over the designation of cases as cleared without arrests. The disconnect between police and prosecutors contributes to these unresolved cases.