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ART

Art Institute of Chicago Gets $25 Million Gift For Photography Center

A $25 million gift from the Bucksbaum family will support future initiatives of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the creation of the Bucksbaum Photography Center, which will house the Department of Photography and Media and its collection. “This transformational investment will have a lasting impact on visitors looking to experience the museum’s singular and world-renowned collection, expanding access to the power of Photography and Media. This is the largest philanthropic contribution to the Photography and Media Department in the history of the Art Institute of Chicago and is one of the largest Photography and Media-specific donations to any museum in the country.”

FRONT International Cleveland Triennial For Contemporary Art Cancels 2025 Show, Will Liquidate

The third edition of FRONT International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art “is canceling its exhibition planned for the summer and fall of 2025 and is permanently shutting down the project,” reports Cleveland.com. Cleveland philanthropist Fred Bidwell, the founding CEO of FRONT, broke the news: “When I developed this idea, it was a lot easier to raise the money,” Bidwell told Artnet. “Times have changed, and priorities have changed. COVID, the murder of George Floyd, and international and domestic political turmoil have changed the atmosphere for philanthropy.” The show’s budget was $5.5 million.

The FRONT statement is here: “Our priority is to ensure that we do not risk the investment our funders and supporters have made or disappoint artists and audiences with an exhibition that is less than their expectations… We want to assure our supporters and stakeholders that we intend to return any contributions to our 2025 exhibition and satisfy all our obligations to our staff, vendors and contractors.” (A 2018 feature on Bidwell’s ambitions for the Triennial is here.)

DESIGN

Cranes No Longer Flying In Chicago

“When Rahm Emanuel ran Chicago and wanted to boast about the health of the city, the then-mayor pointed to the number of construction cranes across the skyline—sixty at the end of 2017,” reports Bloomberg. “Almost five years after he left office, that number has dwindled to the single digits. There was just one groundbreaking on an office building last year, and zero are expected in 2024.”

Wilmette Reaches Agreement Over Future Ryan Field Ruckus

“The village of Wilmette announced it has reached a tentative agreement with neighboring Evanston over concerns that concerts and other events hosted at Northwestern University’s Ryan Field will cause undue inconvenience to nearby residents,” reports the Tribune.

Marriott Will Buy Behemoth Sheraton Grand

“The owner of the Sheraton Grand Chicago exercised its option requiring Marriott International to buy the Streeterville hotel,” reports Crain’s. Marriott International will pay $300 million, plus “an additional $200 million for the land, in accordance with the terms of a settlement agreement with the property’s owner.”

Appleton’s Courtney Woolen Mill Closing After 144 Years

“There’s a lot that Tom Courtney is going to miss about his family’s longtime wool mill,” reports the Appleton Post-Crescent. “He’ll miss the views along the bank of the Fox River, seeing eagles and other wildlife scurry by, and the sunsets glow above the water. ‘Where are you going to get that in downtown Appleton?’ Courtney asked, gesturing to the window next to his desk. Courtney has worked at the Courtney Woolen Mill for decades, but ‘every day is different when you walk in’… Courtney appreciates that, and it’s probably why it ‘doesn’t feel like I worked fifty-two years down here.’”

But now “‘It’s starting to feel that way,’ the sixty-six-year-old said, ‘so I guess it’s time to retire.’ After 144 years in operation, the mill will soon close. Courtney put the property up for sale and announced the end of an era to his customers on Facebook.”

DINING & DRINKING

Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar Opens This Spring In Lincoln Park

Chef-owner Brandon Rushing has set a spring opening of Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar at 2577 North Clark, Briny Swine “is a seaside-inspired smokehouse and oyster bar featuring Carolina-style barbeque, sustainably sourced seafood and Lowcountry classics.” Briny Swine “was first established in Edisto Island—a quiet community of 2,000 nestled between the North and South Edisto Rivers forty-five miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. The picturesque, sixty-eight-square-mile sea island is mostly undeveloped, where the tang of sea salt lingers in the air and the roads are framed by massive oak trees draped with Spanish moss. Edisto’s robust fishing community and the island’s rich heritage spill into its restaurants, where food is the heart of the community. There, Brandon and his wife Katherine own and operate the original outpost of Briny Swine and Ella & Ollie’s, both of whose menus shine with local seafood and Southern staples.” More here.

National Restaurant Association Says Eliminating “Junk Fees” Will Create “Chaos”

“As the Biden administration finalizes new rules to reduce what it calls ‘junk fees,’ the National Restaurant Association is saying the White House’s proposal would create ‘chaos’ at restaurants,” reports Scripps. “While the FTC said that eliminating junk fees would save consumers money, the NRA says it could create a scenario in which restaurants would need to print multiple menus for customers. For instance, when restaurants require large parties to pay a set gratuity, the NRA [claims] the new rules would mean restaurants would have to print entirely new menus.” (The FTC proposal is here.)

CEO Named For Outfox, Foxtrot-Dom’s Kitchen Combine

“Rob Twyman will take the reins at Outfox Hospitality, the still-new parent of the upscale convenience and grocery stores, in March,” reports Crain’s.

FILM & TELEVISION

Moviegoing Deserts Cross America

“New theaters are still being built, but they’re unlikely to affect the increasing number of population centers without nearby multiplexes,” writes former Chicago film booker Tom Brueggemann at IndieWire. “In Chicago, the country’s third-largest city, around 1.2 million people live on the South Side. Until recently, it was served by three movie theaters with thirty-two screens… making it an underserved area by industry standards. Today, there are two theaters and eighteen screens… The just-closed Cinema Chatham 14 was centrally located on a major expressway. It leaves a huge void, particularly for films aimed at the large Black community in adjacent neighborhoods… Cinema Chatham represents the latest in a disturbing trend of population centers across the country where it’s increasingly difficult to find a nearby multiplex.”

Barrington’s Catlow Theatre Could Be Restored

“Barrington’s 500-seat Catlow Theatre has been closed since the start of the pandemic in 2020,” reports WLS-TV. “Julianne and Brian Long bought the Catlow last fall in order to keep what they say is a vital part of the town’s history alive.” Even though no movies are playing, “the marquee still carries new messages every day, often including important community news… Brian calls it the architectural gem of Barrington, and he is trying to restore the Catlow to its original condition. Architect Alfonso Iannelli, a protégé of Frank Lloyd Wright, originally designed the Pickwick theater for this space, but it was deemed too big and he built the Pickwick in Park Ridge. Iannelli then designed the smaller Catlow Theatre.”

MEDIA

Longtime “Morning Edition” Host Bob Edwards Was Seventy-Six

Bob Edwards was at “Morning Edition” “for nearly a quarter century and became… a part of the begin-the-day rhythms for NPR listeners,” reports the Washington Post (free link). “Then in 2004, a decision by NPR to pull Mr. Edwards from the show touched off an avalanche of complaints from his fans that even included statements on the Senate floor… Both his long NPR run and the uproar over his departure reflected Mr. Edwards’ deep influence on public radio as it moved from the margins of the national conversation to become a mainstay. His ‘Morning Edition’ interviews—more than 20,000 from 1979 to 2004—served as an audio scrapbook for a generation and helped establish NPR as a forum for guests to make news or raise their profile.”

MUSIC

Double Door Still Doesn’t Have Money To Open

Double Door “received Adopt-A-Landmark funds and a construction permit, but the $8.5 million project needs final funding before work can begin,” reports Block Club. “The project was awarded $125,000″ from the program. “The money will help preserve the theater’s façade, but Double Door co-owner Pete Bruce said they [have yet] to nail down the majority of the financing for the $8.5 million project. ‘That’ll help us to do the façade period-correct for a 1909 theater,’ Bruce said of the landmark grant. ‘We’re grateful for that… If we had the money, we’d be ready to rock.’”

Pearl Jam Will Play Wrigley Field In August

The Cubs announced that Pearl Jam will play Wrigley, August 29 and 31, as part of its “Dark Matter” World Tour 2024. Tickets will be sold only through a Cubs “Verified Fan” sale, relays WGN-TV. Register for access to tickets by the end of Sunday, February 18 here.

STAGE

Biograph Reopens In March With “Bill W. And Dr. Bob” And “I’m Not A Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce”

Ronnie Marmo and Theatre 68 announced a cast of local actors for the Chicago staging of “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” which spotlights the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. Marmo will direct and star in the production, at the Richard Christiansen Theater of the Biograph Theater with performances beginning March 7. Marmo plays the role of Bill W., with longtime collaborator Thomas F. Evans starring alongside him as Dr. Bob. Katherine Wettermann will play Bill W.’s wife Lois Wilson, while Elizabeth Rude will take on the role of Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith. Marmo is also reviving his “I’m Not A Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce” at the Biograph beginning March 14. The two shows will run in repertory. Tickets ($69-$79) and are on sale at lennybruceonstage.com and billwanddrbobonstage.com.

Congo Square Adds Board Members

Congo Square Theater has added Jawanza B. Malone and Tiara D. Muse as board members. Malone is executive director of the Wieboldt Foundation, where he launched a group “of grassroots community organizing groups to build their organizational and power-building capacities, established a young leaders internship program, increased the size of grant awards going to grantee partners, and diversified the investment strategy of the foundation. Tiara D. Muse leverages her expertise in C-suite leadership to partner with clients and guide candidates as a member of Koya Partners and the Diversified Search Group’s CEO practice. She also advises clients seeking to enhance diversity, equity and inclusion.”

What’s To Become Of Opera?

“Dwindling ticket sales, rising costs and slumping philanthropy are threatening the viability of opera at every level,” reports the Washington Post (free link). “One of the things about institutions is that we tend to treat them as such—stable essential structures that feel like part of the natural landscape, large enough that they attain a kind of invisibility, a permanence fueled by assumption and faith.” (A long list of institutions and their troubles at the link.)

ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.

Ride Sharing And Delivery Strike Planned For Today

“Thousands of ride-hailing and delivery drivers will strike across the United States today to demand fair wages,” reports the Sun-Times. “Uber, Lyft and DoorDash drivers will demonstrate outside airports in ten cities, including Chicago, the Justice for App Workers coalition announced… Drivers will rally at the O’Hare International Airport ride-share waiting lot between 11am-1pm today. They say they’ll shut off their apps and not pick up passengers.”

Chicago Schools May Ditch Cleaning Contracts With Aramark After A Decade

“Philadelphia-based Aramark has been dogged by complaints of unclean schools and a lack of cleaning supplies. CPS wants to regain in-house management of custodians,” reports the Sun-Times and WBEZ. “The decision represents the most significant change to CPS facilities management since services were privatized a decade ago. It is being celebrated by the union that represents school custodians, who have long opposed the privatization of cleaning services.”

Flight Attendants Strike At Thirty Airports, Including O’Hare

“Thousands of flight attendants across three labor unions picketed outside airports in the United States, the U.K. and Guam on Tuesday, pushing airlines for new contracts with significant pay increases” reports Reuters. “The protests included cabin crew members from twenty-four airlines including United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Alaska Air, picketing outside thirty airports.”

CDC Will End COVID Five-Day Isolation Recommendation

“The U.S. health agency is preparing to loosen its COVID isolation recommendations for the first time since 2021,” reports NBC News. “Sources said the CDC plans to recommend that those who test positive for the virus can base their isolation time on symptoms, with the new guidance allowing those who have been fever-free for at least twenty-four hours without medication and who have mild symptoms that are improving to end isolation. Some exceptions could still see longer isolation requirements, however, particularly for those in healthcare settings or who work with vulnerable populations.”

Mayor Will End Lightfoot ShotSpotter Contract In September After DNC; CPD Reported Hundreds Of Missed Shootings

Mayor Johnson “issued a statement saying the city ‘will decommission’ ShotSpotter on September 22, meaning cops will have access to the system throughout the violent summer months and the Democratic National Convention,” reports the Sun-Times, “making good on a key campaign promise to do away with the gunshot detection system that has come under heavy fire for allegedly being overly costly and ineffective.” The Tribune: Of the $10.2 million contract, “Ald. Walter Burnett said the decision draws ‘mixed emotions.’ While some people criticized the technology—which utilizes sensors mounted on light poles to alert police about the location of suspected gunfire—as unhelpful in solving crimes and an impetus for over-policing, others believed it helped officers respond more quickly to shootings, he said.”

An investigation “has gotten the first-ever look at how CPD reports missed gunfire to ShotSpotter, the gunshot-detection company that was recently renamed SoundThinking, as well as a glimpse of how the company responded to its sensors missing a fifty-five round shooting in December 2022 that wounded two men,” reports South Side Weekly. “The shooting, one of more than forty CPD reported to ShotSpotter that month, prompted Dan Casey, the Office of Public Safety Administration’s managing deputy director of public safety IT, to demand an explanation. ‘I got my head handed to me yesterday by Dan Casey,’ wrote Gary Bunyard, ShotSpotter’s vice president of public safety solutions, in an email to other senior employees. ‘This incident involved a high-profile shooting with “55” rounds. And, we missed it!’”

Half The World’s Migratory Species In Decline

“Nearly half of the world’s migratory species are in decline, according to a new United Nations report,” reports the Tribune. “Many songbirds, sea turtles, whales, sharks and other migratory animals move to different environments with changing seasons and are imperiled by habitat loss, illegal hunting and fishing, pollution and climate change. About forty-four percent of migratory species worldwide are declining in population, the report found. More than a fifth of the nearly 1,200 species monitored by the U.N. are threatened with extinction.”

More Than 40,000 Birds Have Died After Hitting McCormick Place

The United Nations migratory animal report “revealed that more than 40,000 dead birds have been recovered from McCormick Place since 1978,” reports WBBM-TV. “The birds hit the glass building after being attracted to the light streaming from its windows… In October, about 1,000 birds were found dead after hitting McCormick Place and other buildings downtown.”

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