The Winter, Indoor Version of South Loop Farmers Market Opens this Weekend at Roosevelt Collection

Sloopin’ friends! Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Want to get inside and out of the cold Chi-town winter air? Local artisans? Kid and pet activities? Live DJs? Food? 🤩 

We’ve got exciting news! While doing our usual sloopin’ around, we learned that the indoor South Loop Farmers Market opens up this weekend at Roosevelt Collection. The market is on Saturdays from noon-4 PM and runs through March 30th. Explore the vendors this winter. 

Since it’s such a popular happening, the South Loop Farmers Market has also been invited to set up shop at the iconic Water Tower Place. Sundays noon-4PM. Water Tower Vendors. Validated 2-hour parking at both locations. 

Check one or both out over the next few months!

Chabad South Loop Hosts Evening Dialogue with Holocaust Survivor this Thursday (5/18)

Surviving Auschwitz: An Evening of Dialogue with Mr. Israel Starck

Thursday, May 18th

Doors Open 6:45pm | 7:00pm Program Begins

Central South Loop Location

RSVP here.

Use promo code REMEMBER for earlybird pricing.

Lollapalooza Company (C3) Donates $500K for Pickleball Courts in Grant Park

We noticed a post on Hello South Loop's facebook page about the volley ball courts in Grant Park (south of Balbo and west of Columbus) being torn up.  

A reader posted an old article about what is happening (via Chicago Sun-Times):

Chicago’s pickleball scene is getting another shot in the arm — this time in Grant Park.

The folks behind Lollapalooza are donating $500,000 to the Chicago Park District that will be used to build new pickleball courts and refurbish existing tennis courts in the south end of Grant Park.

The pickleball courts will be designed for only pickleball use. 

One of the major knocks from the city’s growing pickleball scene is that the city is lightyears behind other major cities in building dedicated courts. Most pickleball in Chicago is played on tennis courts, which can create tension between picklers and tennis players.

The news was shared Tuesday in a letter that was emailed to Grant Park-area residents from Charlie Walker, an executive with C3 Presents, the company behind Lollapalooza.

A Park District spokeswoman said six existing tennis courts will be rehabbed and a minimum of eight new dedicated pickleball courts will be built.

I play tennis, but have never played pickleball.  That said, maybe we'll have to check it out.  This is probably a win win for most people - maybe outside of volleyball players.  C3 gets a hard surface to better accommodate their festival (for those in the know - this is usually behind "Perry's Stage" and the city/residents gets an area for recreation game that's getting more and more popular.  

City and NASCAR Announce Dates of Street Closures Prior to 4th of July Races

The NASCAR Chicago Street Race is undoubtedly going to be a big, unique event for the city - but as expected it likely will be a headache for those of us who live or spend a lot of time in the Sloop.

How much of a headache?  Well the city just released a list of street closures in and around Grant Park and it's going to be much longer than we expected (via Yahoo):

NASCAR's Chicago Street race is slated to take over the city for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, but the impacts for drivers will be felt long before and after the race is done.

Officials on Monday detailed a traffic plan, featuring more than a month of rolling closures around the city in the lead-up and tear-down for the first-time event.

Closures will include major roadways like DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Columbus Drive, Jackson Drive, Balbo Drive and Michigan Avenue and are expected to kick off on June 2 and continue through July 15, adding to a long list of traffic disruptions for drivers in the city already battling major construction projects on the Kennedy Expressway and elsewhere.

The biggest interruptions are slated to begin on June 25. (Full list of closures at link)

On top of the closures, officials said they expect roughly 50,000 people to attend each day of the two-day event.

Yikes - a month and a half of street closures will likely be pretty disruptive.  Yes, maybe some of the closures early on are small swaths of streets, but still will be confusing and painful.  

(Hat tip:  Mitch!)

20 Years Later After the Close of Meigs Air Field (Now Northerly Island)

Northerly Island is a quiet retreat for us in the Sloop, but many newer residents might not realize it's history.  WBEZ has a good read on how the current concert venue and park became what it is today thanks to a brash move by a mayor:

When the sun came up over Chicago on March 31, 2003, it shone down on six large Xs that were bulldozed overnight into the runway of a small downtown airport.

Under the cover of darkness, then-Mayor Richard M. Daley made it clear who ran the city when he ordered the destruction of Meigs Field on Northerly Island without alerting the City Council, the statehouse or the Federal Aviation Administration. The former airport is now a park, which the mayor had wanted for years.

Daley defended the move the next day by citing safety concerns and told reporters it was a risk to have planes that close to skyscrapers in a post-9/11 world.

The destruction of Meigs was a brash stunt that epitomizes Chicago politics. Simpson equates bulldozing Meigs with similarly “autocratic” schemes greenlit by Daley’s father, Mayor Richard J. Daley, such as ordering police to maintain law and order among protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, resulting in violent clashes.

Twenty years after the overnight destruction at the airport, Simpson and others said the maneuver is fading from collective memory, but it can serve as a reminder of the need to have checks and balances on mayoral power.

Checkout Chicagohenge 2023 Starting Tomorrow

From Chicago Tribune:

Twice a year, during the spring and fall equinoxes, the rising and setting sun lines up with Chicago’s east-west street grid, creating spectacular photo opportunities as the sun is framed within Chicago’s skyline. The spring equinox is Monday.

Take a look to the west shortly before sunset, according to Michelle Nichols, master educator for the Adler Planetarium. The effect is visible for about the week before and after the equinox. And if you miss it, wait another six months for the next one. The fall equinox happens Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023.

Where is the best place to see it?

The city’s rigid east-west grid pattern means that just about any east-west street works, but a street without many obstructions would be best. Skyscrapers in the Loop will offer some of the choicest framing opportunities.

The article gives a great overview of why this phenomenon exists and why people call it Chicagohenge (...stonehenge in the UK).  

So head out to the streets at sunrise or sunset and check it out.

Lolla Officially Staying in Chicago for Another Decade

Apparently when we posted last week about Lolla contract extensions, it wasn't quite a done deal yet.  However, it still felt like it was going to happen and sure enough it did (via Tribune):

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Sunday announced a new contract to keep Lollapalooza in Grant Park for another 10 years.

Lightfoot said the festival will continue to take place in Chicago through 2032, revealing the news ahead of J-Hope’s headlining act on the Bud Light Seltzer stage Sunday evening.

“People have been saying to me, ‘Mayor, we love Lolla. It’s the best thing going.’ I agree. And so I’m here to tell you by decree, we’re gonna make sure that Lolla continues in the future,” Lightfoot said as the four-day event wound down.

The contract will be in place for the 2023 festival, and festival organizer C3 Presents and the Chicago Park District will have the option to extend the contract under the same terms for five years. It was unclear Sunday whether the agreement will go before the Park District board.

Full contract details were not available Sunday, including mention of the city’s amusement tax, a final sticking point in the negotiations. Last week, C3 Presents executives were pressing the city for assurances that Chicago’s amusement tax would not rise higher during the course of a new agreement.

The charge increased from 5% to 9% for large-scale events over the course of the existing 10-year Lollapalooza contract.

This seemed like a no brainer and one that the Mayor couldn't let slip through the cracks.

 

Lolla Founder Says Music Fest Will be Around for Another Decade in Chicago

Lollapalooza kicked off yesterday and the massive events future in Chicago seemed to be in question as this is the last year of their official contract.  Well it seems like the fest isn't going anywhere anytime soon (via WGN):

Lollapalooza will call Chicago home for another decade. 

The festival’s creator, Perry Farrell, spoke with WGN’s Dean Richards on Thursday, the first day of the four-day festival. 

“The mayor has given us a 10-year extension in the park,” Farrell said. “So we’ll be around here for another decade.”

According to other news sources the deal hasn't been officially inked, but seems like there is mutual interest to keep one of the summers signature events in Grant Park.

While (likely) losing the Bears to Arlington Heights probably isn't closely linked to negotiations with Lollapalooza, it would be another black mark to Mayor Lightfoot if she lost Lollapalooza.  It's a huge boon for the downtown core - hotels, restaurants, events, etc - and it's to keep money flowing into downtown.

NASCAR Race Coming to Grand Park & South Loop in 2023

 I'm not a NASCAR fan, but this sounds pretty cool (via WGN):

Some of the world’s greatest drivers will get their chance to compete on the streets of the Windy City in 2023. 

The NASCAR’s Chicago Street Race will take place the weekend July 1 and 2 of next year. 

The series and the City of Chicago revealed the route on Tuesday afternoon when they made the details of the event final.

In general loud cars and bikes are a bit of a headache in the Sloop, but we're giving this a pass.  Also love how the finish line is right at Buckingham Fountain.  Should have some pretty iconic visuals for this race.

Kudos to the city for doing something different.

Buddy Guy Shares Stories with WGN and Talks Annual Residence at His South Loop Club

If you've never been to Buddy Guy's Legend at 700 S. Wabash you're missing out on a fun experience.  And it's an even bigger treat to see the namesake do his thing on stage (via WGNradio):

Buddy Guy, the iconic blues musician, joined Bob Sirott to talk about his annual January residency at his namesake South Loop club, Buddy Guy’s Legends. Buddy also shared stories about how he got started, his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, and what he wished he had said when he visited the White House. Later on, Bob asked Buddy for his thoughts on Chess Records, and potentially renovating the studio on south Michigan Avenue.

Buddy will perform Thursday’s through Sunday’s in January. For more information, and to buy tickets, go to BuddyGuy.Com

 

City to Hold Public Presentation on 12/16 for Chicago Casino Proposals

We've been eating up all the coverage of the potential Chicago casino since there is a pretty chance it's going to be in our neck of the woods.  With that said, it looks like the public meetings are going to be starting soon (via Chicago.gov):

Public Presentations

The bidders of the five Chicago casino proposals will give public presentations on December 16, 2021.

This event will be held from 1pm to 8pm at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Theater at UIC (725 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL, 60608) and will be held in person as well as livestreamed.

If you are interested in attending this event in person, please fill out this form. Attendance will be limited due to Covid, more details to follow.

Not sure if this is a forum for Q&A, but we would hope so.  A 7 hour meeting is pretty intense for the common Joe, so curious to see what comes of this.

(Hat tip:  PB!)

Celebrate Chanukah with Chabad South Loop at Roosevelt Collection on Dec 5th

For the Chanukah celebrators, head on over on Dec 5th to Roosevelt Collection as Chabad South Loop celebrates:

Chicago Sky Bring Championship to Chicago and the Sloop!

As the Arlington Heights Bears got owned in typical fashion by the Green Bay Packers today, it was nice to see another professional Chicago sports team bring home a championship.  Congrats to the Chicago Sky who just won their first WNBA championship at Wintrust Arena at their home court in the Sloop.  Hometown hero Candace Parker came back to Chicago and accomplished her goal (via ESPN):

Chicago Marathon Running Through the Sloop this Sunday (10/10)

 The Chicago Marathon is back and coming through the Sloop this Sunday (10/10).  It's a fun event and brings a different energy (and exhaustion) to the neighborhood.  If you're needing some inspiration, head on out and find a space to cheer on the runners - it really lifts the soul.

You can find more info at the Chicago Marathon website, but if you're looking to check out the race (or avoid it if you need to) here is a snapshot of the course in our vicinity:

Kanye's Donda Experience at Solider Field Certainly Sounds Like an Experience

We've been curiously awaiting reviews and videos from last nights Donda Experience at Soldier Field.  While we imagine the phrase "you had to be there" is an understatement, we thoroughly enjoyed the Chicago Tribune's write-up on the spectacle.  Here is a key blurb that encapsulates the event:

To be honest, it’s how I imagine a listening party with Kanye West going. He invites me over. I wait two hours after the agreed upon time for him to arrive. Kanye being Kanye, just to irritate me, courting attention, he shows up with Marilyn Manson and DaBaby in tow — Manson who faces several assault lawsuits, DaBaby under fire for homophobic remarks at a music festival last month in Miami. They wander the house looking uncertain. Meanwhile, outside on the street, perhaps in Kanye’s mind, the house is under siege by black cars and a faceless army. The music he plays is challenging and interesting but after a while, it’s hard to pay attention to what I’m hearing, and just before it’s all over, in case I didn’t grasp Kanye’s frame of mind, he sets himself on fire.

Some of the videos we've seen are... unsurprisingly Kanye.  Afterall he literally built a replica of his South Side Chicago home in the middle of Soldier Field (via WGN):

Material coming out of the event seems a little limited for some reason.  Here is one we found that wasn't subtle - if fans had any doubt what they were getting themselves into:

And here is some actual music with DaBabby (the cancelled Lollapalooza headliner referenced above):

Chabad South Loop Hosts Jewish High Holiday Services at Glessner House Courtyard

 If you're looking for a place in the Sloop to celebrate the Jewish High Holidays:

From Chabad:

High Holiday Services at the beautiful Glessner House Courtyard

You are invited to join Chabad Jewish Center of South Loop to celebrate the High Holidays outdoors at the historic Glessner House Courtyard!

Services at Chabad of South Loop are warm and welcoming and feature inspirational commentary and melodies. The High Holidays are a powerful time of connection and meaning.

There is no charge to join, but space is limited so it is recommended to RSVP as soon as possible. Registration is required.

Rosh Hashanah Dinner Under the Stars

The community Rosh Hashanah Dinner will take place under the stars in the beautiful Glessner House Courtyard. The lavish dinner will be catered and will blend traditional Rosh Hashanah foods with contemporary dishes, all enjoyed in the festive spirit of the holiday. Registration is required. There is no charge to join, but space is limited so it is recommended to RSVP as soon as possible.

Kanye West Bringing the Donda Album Experience to Soldier Field Next Week (8/26)

Looks like Kanye is coming home for a concert at Soldier Field next week (via Pitchfork):

After two different events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this summer, Kanye West has announced a third Donda listening session. This one’s taking place in his hometown of Chicago, at Soldier Field, on August 26. Tickets go on sale August 20.

The second event, which livestreamed via Apple Music, featured a more elaborate stage show, multiple new songs, and significant updates to tracks he debuted at the first listening session. When Donda didn’t arrive for its originally scheduled July release date, West’s representatives confirmed a new August 6 release date. The album has still not been officially released.

It sounds like tickets go onsite today at noon, so if you're interested probably good to head on over to ticketmaster during that time.  We're guessing it will sellout (especially given the novelty of the event as it's the third of who knows how many).

Kanye remains one of the most enigmatic figures in popular culture.  We're not going to get into all of that right now, but the fact that he was born and raised in Chicago means that he maintains a connection and loyal following here.  We are captivated by him and still listen to some of his older albums (more recent stuff just hasn't appealed as much to us).

You can read more about The Donda Album Experience here.  We found this news segment on YouTube if you're looking for some info:

The segment is....typical Kanye these days. Highly visual and avant garde. Take that for what it's worth. 

Kanye has a history of using Chicago for promotion.  He brought his Sunday Service to Northerly Island a couple years back (although at that point, it was already widely viewed in different locales).  Back in 2013 he projected a video for his new song called "New Slaves" on the Field Museum as a promotional launch.

To be honest, we're unsure what motivates Kanye these days.  While he stands to make money (we would assume), he seems to be more focused on pushing the envelope of culture - for good or bad depending on your perspective. 

Nonetheless - expect some stories coming out of Soldier Field next week.  

City Health Official: No Signs Lollapalooza was a "Super Spreader" Events

Ok, this is my last Lolla post.  Seems like the city is saying there aren't any signs that the massive festival was a "super spreader" event (via Tribune):

Chicago’s top health official announced Thursday that roughly 200 Lollapalooza attendees have tested positive for COVID-19 so far in the aftermath of the four-day music festival, but she said there’s no indication the controversial event was a “superspreader.”

“There’s no evidence at this point of a superspreader event, and there’s no evidence of substantial impact to Chicago’s COVID epidemiology,” said Chicago’s public health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady.

So far, there have been no coronavirus deaths or hospitalizations linked to Lollapalooza, which drew a crowd of about 385,000 to Grant Park, she said.

The outbreak of 203 cases included 127 attendees who had been vaccinated and 76 attendees who had not been immunized; 58 of the positive cases were Chicago residents, 138 lived elsewhere in Illinois and seven had traveled from out of state, Arwady said.

So that's good news - although a cynic could point to the (likely) numerous young people who simply brushed off testing or "mild" symptoms.  

But...we're not going to be cynical anymore.  It seems like the Mayor Lightfoot and the city has avoided the massive black eye many anticipated.  So we will give them their due and say we're glad Lolla happened and that some sense of normalcy occurred this summer.

We will keep our eyes open for additional stories on this topic, but hopefully we're done with it!   

One Negative Covid Test for Lollapalooza!

Sample size of one here - I went to Lollapalooza, haven't had symptoms and had a negative covid test on Thursday!  So that's a relief, but realistically I was probably one of the more responsible attendees hanging in the back and wearing a mask if things got super crowded.

We will be curious as this story unfolds (or doesn't) over the next couple of weeks.  In the meantime, most of the discourse has subsided regarding Lolla.  We saw Bill Maher reference it on his show (he was supportive of life going on) and the latest local news is health officials urging people to get tested if you attended (via Tribune):

Alison Goodwin was eager to attend Lollapalooza, excited for both the live music lineup and the strict pandemic protocols that she had assumed would keep the event safe for her and her wife, who traveled here from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Yet she became increasingly worried during the four-day festival, describing a sea of attendees “literally pressed against each other, maskless.”

She felt the screening process for vaccination cards and COVID-19 tests at the entrance was far too quick to be thorough. While signs requested masks be worn in restrooms, she said “this was hardly ever abided by and came with zero enforcement.”

Even though she’s fully vaccinated, Goodwin said she and her wife are scheduled to get tested for COVID-19 on Friday, a few days after their first potential exposure at the event.

“We would not have attended if we knew it were going to be like that,” Goodwin said.

In the aftermath of the event — which drew hundreds of thousands of participants to Grant Park — various health departments across the state are urging participants to get tested for the virus.

“If you were at LOLLAPALOOZA please go get tested for COVID on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday,” the Tazewell County Public Health Department in central Illinois said on its Facebook page on Wednesday. “This will help us shut down any local outbreaks before they get started.”

We can echo Goodwin's thoughts - the protocols at Lolla were a joke.  Hopefully the outdoor nature of the event really does squelch the spread.  

 

Fun with Lolla Time Lapse

 Not going to lie - all I see is Covid invading Grant Park, replicating and then invading the city....

(Hat tip:  @cabansteven)