Latest Stories
Review: Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver
This space opera sequel doesn’t quite capture the worldbuilding magic of its predecessor.
Review: Macbeth
Strong performances make up for mediocre staging in this filmed stage production.
Review: Abigail
This horror-thriller is chaotic and a bit too long, but in the same vein as 2022’s M3gan, it’s ultimately entertaining.
The Music Man at Marriott knows the territory
A sparkling revival lets us believe in the storybook premise of a classic American musical.
Jump bridges painful family memories
Charly Evon Simpson’s poetic and empathetic drama gets a sturdy midwest premiere at Shattered Globe.
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Invasion of privacy
The millionaire behind Schubas, Lincoln Hall, and Audiotree recorded friends and employees without their consent. So far, he’s suffered few consequences.
‘Unstuck’ is a genre-shattering evening of live work
SITE/less hosts five artists who work outside of traditional disciplines.
News & INVESTIGATIONS
Contaminated prison water, Howard Brown union contract, police misconduct
A weekly column from the Chicago Reader covering the top stories on our radar and how they impact our communities.
Narcan para todos
Cómo obtener el fármaco gratis y así salvar una vida
Mission: demolition?
Loyola University’s development plans and lack of communication set Rogers Park residents on edge.
Columns & Opinion
Editor’s note: why we cover so much art
Artists, writers, musicians, actors—all these citizens are going to show us how to save the world.
Film
Minhal Baig explores the dichotomy of Cabrini-Green in We Grown Now
A Q&A with the director about filmmaking, community, violence, and faith
Review: John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger
Visit the museum in this interesting onscreen exhibition.
Review: Hanky Panky
The cast totally buys into this genre-defying horror-comedy, and viewers should too.
Arts & Culture
Dane in the mirror
Eddie Izzard’s one-person Hamlet provides fresh insights into Shakespeare’s brooding prince.
Guys and Dolls kills at Drury Lane
The “oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York” is right at home in the suburbs.
Brooklyn Laundry mixes the lights and the darks
Northlight stages John Patrick Shanley’s brutal but beautiful story of romance and mortality.
Simple Simon
Barefoot in the Park needs more charm to overcome the wispy storyline.
Baby shows its age at Citadel
The 1983 musical about expectant parents has creaky narrative joints.
Music
Plastics Hi-Fi aimed for the radio and missed
These psych-pop tinkerers tried mainstreaming their trippy “bathtub symphonies” and ended up disbanding with their final album unreleased.
Jon-Carlo Manzo, indie tastemaker
“It’s so hard to make music last longer than, like, 24 hours.”
The Reader’s Guide to Record Store Day 2024
Our interactive map of Chicago’s record stores will help you find the in-store concerts and special sales on RSD—and guide your crate digging all year.
CITY LIFE
Fad2Fresh has become an Andersonville staple
Find curated music, Bulls memorabilia, gender freedom, and more at the Black-, queer-, women-owned vintage shop.
Clothing swap offers a chance to create a conscious wardrobe
Chicago Fair Trade’s Conscious Closet Club hosts a clothing swap and benefit at the Weaving Mill’s open house.
Food & Drink
Pizza Dom throws dough on the patio at the next Monday Night Foodball
Check out Dom Vallone’s Neapolitan-meets-tavern-style pies at the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up at Frank and Mary’s Tavern.
Piñatta kicks off patio season at the next Monday Night Foodball—now at Frank and Mary’s Tavern
Check out the Guerrero brothers’ pre-Colonial taqueria classics at the Reader’s weekly chef pop-up in fresh, new—yet landmark—digs.
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Best Dating Sites for Real Relationships in 2024
The top websites to meet someone special for a real relationship
If you’re open to giving online dating a try, these are the best dating sites to actually meet…
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Demystifying Acupuncture provides answers for the curious skeptic
Acupuncture is a form of Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) that involves the placement of hair-thin needles into…
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Help the United Negro College Fund provide scholarships to Illinois students by playing the $200,000! Bingo Tripler!
For nearly two decades, the Illinois Lottery has been a pioneer in creating specialty lottery tickets dedicated to…
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At the California Clipper, everyone is welcome
The newly relaunched Humboldt Park lounge champions community, inclusivity, and fair labor practices Since the 1820s, Chicago’s pubs…
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Bright Endeavors provides a guiding light for young mothers in Chicago
The social enterprise of Chicago nonprofit New Moms empowers local mothers ages 18-24 through their comprehensive job training program
As the proverb goes, it takes a village to raise a child. The folks at Bright Endeavors know…
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In Motion: Metamorphosis explores the intersection of art and technology
As the leader of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Princess Mhoon is on a mission to raise…