Richard Wright’s Theatrical Dreams
The Chicago author found great success as a novelist but struggled as a playwright. Here’s what we learned from a new book on his dramatic pursuits.
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The Five Most Exciting Election Contests
It's no general election, but there are still some big contests on the ballot next Tuesday.
Skilling Has Retired — Along with Winter
We'll have weather without our beloved meteorologist, but will we still have the fourth season?
Why Do Chicagoans Say “Jewels” Instead of “Jewel”?
Have you ever shopped for groceries at Jewels? If you have, you’re pronouncing the store’s name wrong. It’s Jewel — short for Jewel Tea Company, the name of the original business that...
A Road by Any Other Name
Some of our most famous expressways and highways have notable namesakes — while others have been largely forgotten.
A Frugal Traveler’s Guide to Honeymooning near Chicago
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a trip to Hawaii, so have you considered Blue Island or Morton Grove?
Why Is the City Council Passing Resolutions About Foreign Affairs?
The Chicago City Council has a long history of offering its opinion on matters beyond its jurisdiction.
Did the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Spur Calls for Gun Control?
On February 14, 1929, seven gangsters were machine-gunned to death in a Lincoln Park garage, an act that so shocked the nation (“Machine Guns Used to Mow Down Victims,” read...
Lincoln Owes His Presidency to Illinois
A brief history of how our state made Abe the right man from the right place to guide the nation through the Civil War.
The Illinois-Indiana Border Separates Two Worlds
It's Individualistic political culture versus a Moralistic culture — and maybe that's complementary.