Barry Butler has been photographing Chicago for decades — but more specifically, he’s been capturing its tulips. A native of Ireland, Butler has always loved shooting natural scenery. But while building his photography practice, he also began photographing Chicago’s industrial landscape, a striking contrast to Ireland’s terrain. “I was psychologically saying to myself, ‘Well, I […]
Chicago’s landscape isn’t the only thing hitting its stride this May. The city is alive with can’t-miss theater, ambitious exhibitions, street festivals, art fairs, and spring markets that stretch from downtown to the suburbs. Whether you’re planning a Mother’s Day outing, Memorial Day weekend, or just looking for a reason to stay out a little […]
“I felt misunderstood for so much of my life,” says Monique*, reflecting on years of therapy before receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult. She was labeled lazy by teachers, and what seemed easy for peers felt difficult for her. Monique felt she had to mask her differences to fit in. It was exhausting. Autism […]
For more than 50 years, curiosity has shaped the career of David Byrne — the Talking Heads frontman and an Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award–winning artist who has long used his art to explore how we perceive and make sense of the world. Across stages and mediums — from Coachella to Broadway to immersive theater […]
In Chicago’s Little Village — often called the “Mexico of the Midwest” for its vibrant Mexican-American culture — a neighborhood school was preparing to host a community event connected to The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros’ iconic coming-of-age story about growing up between cultures on Chicago’s West Side. The event was meant to be […]
April in Chicago brings fresh blooms, a spotlight on the planet, and springtime fun — from Earth Month films and art to flower shows and live theater. Say hello to the new season and dig into a month packed with can’t-miss music, film, shows and more. Keep reading for the best things to do in […]
Patti Smith has worn many titles through the years — rocker, godmother of punk, poet, artist, writer, wife, mother, sister, advocate, friend, mentor, muse. For a brief chapter at the beginning of her story, she was also a Chicagoan. Returning to the city where she was baptized in 1947, Smith joined Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy […]
Few composers have shaped the sound of modern cinema as profoundly as Howard Shore. Across more than 90 genre-spanning film scores — from The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and The Aviator, to lighter favorites like Big and Mrs. Doubtfire — the Canadian composer has built a career defined by musical storytelling. But it is […]
Chicago-born rapper, writer, actor, and activist Vic Mensa first gained national attention through his music, emerging alongside Chance the Rapper and a generation of boundary-pushing Chicago artists. Since then, his career has continued to expand across mediums, from music and film to essays, interviews, and public dialogue tackling timely cultural and political issues. From his […]
As Chicago winter makes its last stand, the March calendar is filling with reasons to get out the door. From St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and museum exhibitions to buzzworthy stage premieres and neighborhood food festivals, there’s no shortage of ways to spend a late-winter weekend around Chicagoland — but we’ll help you narrow it down. […]
