Zahara Bassett fell on the floor of her best friend’s house exhausted from a long day of making $9 an hour and barely getting by. She was working as a housing monitor for TransLife Care at Chicago House, a transitional housing program for transgender people who have nowhere to stay or are reentering society. All […]

The post Life Is Work supports Black trans people in their communities appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Around this time of the year you’ll begin to hear the phrase “the giving season.” It’s the moment when donation-dependent organizations ramp up their campaigns in the hopes of being included in the gifting air that comes in on a wind of mailers, calls, and fundraisers. For the Nonprofit Issue, we thought it would be […]

The post <i>Chicago Reader’s</i> Nonprofit Guide for 2023 appeared first on Chicago Reader.

1 Chicago stepping lessons from award-winning south sider Shaun Ballentine of Effortless Stepping. —Salem Collo-Julin Open group lessons Wednesdays at 7 PM, Effortless Stepping Studio, 1850 E. 79th. $20 per person, 21+ only. For private lesson rates or information about having Ballentine do a stepping class at your event, message through Instagram or Facebook.  2 […]

The post The <i>Reader</i>’s 2023 Holiday Gift Guide appeared first on Chicago Reader.

When a beloved family pet finds poison intended for rodent invaders, a handful of local exotic animal hospitals can help save them.

The post Surviving rat poisoning, as a rat appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Update as of 4:00 PM on Tuesday, September 26, 2023: Abhijeet’s name was previously misspelled in several places in this article and has since been corrected. And the Vanguard Awards were previously categorized as posthumously awarded; this is not entirely the case as several awards will be given to living people. The Reader regrets the […]

The post Celebrating the drag makers and nightlife impresarios appeared first on Chicago Reader.

I threw the worst pitch of my life on a Saturday afternoon in Gary, Indiana. My brain lagged behind my body as it went through the motions that should result in a clean throw; everything went sour once my torso began to twist in the direction of home plate and I became fully conscious of […]

The post First pitch: a journey through ceremony and baseball appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Writers idealize themselves, spending hours at the computer, polishing their prose to make themselves sound better than they are. Cartoonists spend as much time, or more, to make themselves look, well, cartoonish. Lynda Barry erases her chin and hides her eyes behind opaque spectacles. Art Spiegelman turns himself into a neurotic mouse.  In his self-portrait […]

The post Alex Nall’s comics are building a small-town world appeared first on Chicago Reader.

When Chicago’s NASCAR events take over downtown streets in July, people may either leave town to avoid the spectacle or stay and curiously catch sight of something never seen in the city.  One person watching with great interest will be Fred Lorenzen, who will see the NASCAR events through the eyes of a guy who […]

The post NASCAR’s DuPage County connection appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Although her shop is closing its doors, the mark that Faith Phillips and Wish Me Luck Tattoo left on Chicago will always remain.

The post ‘The prisoner is me’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Black teenagers can view lacrosse as a healthy outlet and a new gateway to seek athletic or academic scholarships. It’s very understandable that Chicago wants to send a clear message that this sport is for everyone. 

The post Black high school lacrosse is here to stay appeared first on Chicago Reader.

When Jack Wagner was 15, he made a documentary about the haunting of Wheaton’s Grand Theatre. Built in 1925, the historic theater went through several identities over the decades (including an aughts-era punk venue where Wagner’s band played). When he showed up with his camera, the owner shut Wagner and his buddies in the empty […]

The post Ghosts, cryptids, and Chicago appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Despite the popularity of the wine bar in Mariano’s locations across the city, nobody knows who Nob is or how the grocery store bar got its name. Regulars call it the M bar, for Mariano’s. And at the M bar, neighbors love to hang out and grab a drink—or three.

The post M is for Mariano’s appeared first on Chicago Reader.

“Since I was a little kid, I’ve been drawing rabbits,” said Whitney Wasson. The Chicago-based comics artist and comedian said that rabbits are cute and easy to draw, which were two ideal qualities for their early childhood doodles. “[The drawing] could be terrible, but as long as you [make] long rabbit ears it reads as […]

The post Getting sober and drawing rabbits appeared first on Chicago Reader.

In the red-hued darkness of the California Clipper in Humboldt Park, a few dozen speed daters chattered on a damp Tuesday evening. Some arrived alone, others accompanied by friends or coworkers. They sat with name cards that got the basics out of the way: name, pronouns, sexuality. People lean in to hear over the noise […]

The post A potato-themed speed dating venture appeared first on Chicago Reader.

For the cover of our last print issue of 2022, we wanted to capture the spirit of the year, as we see it, in our own Reader way. We asked photographer Carolina Sanchez to see if she could find a street musician who was being ignored, a situation which many can relate to as the […]

The post The year in photography appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Thirteen of Chicago’s new queer and/or BIPOC recurring events

The post <strong>Your guide to outside</strong> appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Black trans icon Mama Gloria is remembered for living an extraordinary and full life.

The post ’Well done, Gloria Allen’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.

"In roller derby they don’t care if you’re gay or trans or whatever—they just accept you.”

The post ‘Existing without question’ appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Modernity and tradition. Relaxation and tension. Chaos and order. Yin and yang—roughly speaking. These are complementary universal forces that can easily lose balance and therefore create trouble. But not at Hyun’s Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do School, a Bucktown martial arts storefront rooted in the same location for over 50 years; an unexpected harmony permeates […]

The post Strong and steady appeared first on Chicago Reader.

In late June, the Chicago Pride Parade returned to its in-person glory after two years of delay and cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of people headed for the north side on Sunday, June 26, to celebrate and honor the LGBTQ+ community. Marchers, drivers, and floats representing a variety of community, civic, and commercial […]

The post Photos: 2022 Chicago Pride Parade appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Ah, summer vacation: the time of year when Chicago’s youth are free from the confines of school—but aren’t allowed to be in Millennium Park after six at night on weekends (or anywhere in public after 10 PM) without an adult present. What’s a teen to do during the lazy hazy days of summer?  FREE TIME […]

The post Summer in the city: youth edition appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Celebrate how far we’ve come and brace yourself for the work to be done by enjoying libations and liberation at some of these Chicago gems: Berlin 954 W. Belmont  berlinchicago.com Welcoming everyone since 1983, Berlin is an inclusive venue for dancing, drinking, and drag. Big Chicks 5024 N. Sheridan bigchicks.com Visit Big Chicks for Sunday […]

The post Where the bars (actually) are appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Are rainbow-festooned events full of glitter, sequins, and boas signs of progress? Strides made by LGBTQ+ people are increasingly under fire in the forms of violence, rhetoric, and quasi-legal attacks on the rights of the community. Has the LGBTQ+ community unwittingly played a role in this by seeking assimilation? Some might say that the idea […]

The post Where the bars are appeared first on Chicago Reader.

GoGo for the Gold—think RuPaul’s Drag Race but for go-go boys—features a swoon-inducing roster of fuzzy bears, femme dancers in heels, and trans man Paulo Batista, all competing for a cash prize of $10,000 and the title of “American’s #1 Champion Gogo Superstar Star.”   “Not everyone is attracted to six-pack abs and big thighs,” says […]

The post Go-going for it appeared first on Chicago Reader.

An audiologist's study of over-the-counter hearing aids, a guide to radiator noises, an investigation of ShotSpotter, and much more

The post The Sound Issue appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The numbers boggle the mind. More deaths than AIDS in 40 years, the most recent epidemic in recent memory. More deaths than the 1918 influenza pandemic, previously the deadliest disease event in American history. More deaths than the U.S. Civil War, the deadliest conflict in our nation’s history. More deaths. More. More. More.  The COVID-19 […]

The post Comfort in the face of the unknown appeared first on Chicago Reader.

A look back at the love stories that started in the pages of the Reader, no swiping necessary

The post Like Tinder in print appeared first on Chicago Reader.

About a month ago, I saw a magnet being hurled over the 18th Street Bridge. Initially, I brushed it off and I continued to stroll along the Chicago River bank with my friends. But the sound of the splash carried some weight, like an anchor or rock colliding with the water. I expected the line […]

The post Where the water flows appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Several Chicagoans have made the leap into adult entertainment using websites like OnlyFans.

The post Sex work from home appeared first on Chicago Reader.

This year’s Summer Fair represents a passing of the torch and merging of communities in the historic neighborhood.

The post Chinatown: the next generation appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Yes, it’s part of the tragic gutting of the Tribune. But John Kass’s departure is still good news.

The post Mission accomplished: John Kass has been deplatformed appeared first on Chicago Reader.

A local Latina lesbian couple navigate COVID—and family.

The post Facing turmoil together appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Monica Ortiz confronts—and survives—many obstacles during a traumatic year.

The post A true survivor appeared first on Chicago Reader.

It’s not clear why Waffle House doesn’t exist in Chicagoland, but it was worth the trip to Indianapolis.

The post An epic bicycle ride across Indiana to Chicago’s nearest Waffle House appeared first on Chicago Reader.

What would it take to bring the grandeur back to the Loop?

The post State Street, that great street? appeared first on Chicago Reader.

What was lost—and gained—in 2020’s historic Rogers Park tornado.

The post Blown away appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The birds are flocking to the city for survival.

The post A day in the life of Chicago’s Canada Geese appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Rebirth Garments’s founder reflects on dealing with COVID-19 and other challenges.

The post The Sky’s the limit appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2020: City Life appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2020: Cannabis appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Best of Chicago 2020: City Life

The post City Life poll winners appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Best of Chicago 2020: Cannabis

The post Cannabis poll winners appeared first on Chicago Reader.

How a year inside changed my outward expression

The post The pandemic, gender, and me appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Several statues along the shoreline are being reevaluated for possible removal.

The post Skiing the entire Lakefront Trail at a time when Chicago is reassessing its public art is a monumental journey appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Despite the ongoing pandemic, partners are finding—and maintaining—love.

The post Coupled up in quarantine appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Examining and altering our pandemic-induced substance habits nearly one year in

The post When does drinking to cope become drinking too much? appeared first on Chicago Reader.

When the pandemic hit, I ran to the woods.

The post My year of hiking appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Whether through organizing, the arts, or social media, these individuals took the year by the horns and made their mark on Chicago—and the world.

The post Changemakers of 2020—and beyond appeared first on Chicago Reader.

From digital events to socially distanced pop-ups, things in 2020 can still be merry and bright.

The post Chicago keeps holiday tradition alive appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Reader staffers on what holidays look like in 2020.

The post We’ll stay home for Christmas? appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Destress at the city's only bunny club.

The post Cuddle Bunny is a furry, feel-good utopia appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The neighborhood tavern may be closing, but it’s forever a part of Chicago’s boozy, haunted history.

The post The lingering spirits of the California Clipper appeared first on Chicago Reader.

For some, the self-isolation and shutdowns have been a welcome change of pace.

The post The calm ones amid the COVID-19 storm appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Tiffany Hudson and her partners are bringing diversity, equity, and inclusion to Chicago businesses their way.

The post The new face of DEI work appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Money doesn’t grow on trees, but other trees do!

The post Propagation in isolation appeared first on Chicago Reader.

What it’s like to virtually flirt at the hot new first-date spot: Google Hangouts

The post Dating at a distance appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Four places where relationships sunk

The post Beyond the heartbreak hotel appeared first on Chicago Reader.

How do you mend a broken heart? Twitter has some answers.

The post #BreakupRituals appeared first on Chicago Reader.

My year of eating You want a list, I’ll write a damn list. By Mike Sula Looking on the bright side As the teens turn to the twenties, it’s a struggle to find a little cheer in the gloom. By Ben Joravsky Safe bet, sucker deal The Chicago casino is still in the works, but […]

The post 2019: Year in review appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2019: Sports & Recreation appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2019: Cannabis appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Chicago Cultural Center

The post Staff Pick: Best attraction appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center

The post Staff pick: Best huge old thrift shop, about to disappear appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Querying the concept of T-shirt shops

The post Staff Pick: Best T-shirt shop appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2019: City Life appeared first on Chicago Reader.

We're all winners.

The post Best of Chicago 2019 appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Lorena Cupcake

The post Staff Pick: Best budtender appeared first on Chicago Reader.

The post Best of Chicago 2019: Buy Local appeared first on Chicago Reader.

A vital—and vexing—vehicle that connects Chicago’s Black communities on the south and west sides

The post Ode to the Green Line appeared first on Chicago Reader.

What lies at the bottom of the Playpen, Chicago's floating daytime clubland

The post What lies at the bottom of the Playpen, Chicago’s floating daytime clubland appeared first on Chicago Reader.