Baseball is for writers.

I keep trying to convince my partner of this… he started to finally get it during this series. Baseball is for writers.

Look at all those anxious Canadians. It’s like there’s a poutine shortage! Go Jays!

Yuck!

Take care, John

Chicago Architect Stewart Hicks' Unexpected YouTube Stardom Hicks is a co-founder of Design with Company and professor of architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His videos on architecture and design have earned him a wide audience.

Check out this guy’s videos - and be prepared to fall down a long, fun rabbit hole. design.newcity.com/2025/10/24/c...

This is today! Raise a glass to Nelson Algren!

Biggest crowd I’ve ever seen in Chicago. Never loved my city more.

Chicago being a hellhole again. How do we stand living in such a great city?

“Chicago” seems more right on than usual.

This is the NYT some days.

My daughter said the ICE agents lurking at the bus stops near her high school made her think of the dementors in “Harry Potter.” It’s Lane Tech - a top tier school. Watch out - the kids may do calculus at you!

ICE was outside my kid’s high school today - Lane Tech. They were by the CTA bus stops. Teachers went out to help the kids.

In “Veal,” the Tormented Middle School Friend Becomes Queen of North America The new dystopian play is the kind of in-your-face, challenging theater that A Red Orchid can do so well.

What happens when the kid who got bullied becomes the queen? www.newcitystage.com/2025/10/09/i...

I’m getting coaching and it’s working out great! Sharon lights a fire!

Masi Asare Launches a Workshop for Writing Musicals at Northwestern The university’s American Music Theatre Project will debut the Chicago Musical Theater Writers Workshop, offering instruction and support in musical theater writing for local writers and composers.

So you want to write a musical? www.newcitystage.com/2025/10/06/t...

The Bloody History of A Seventeenth Century Countess Is Told in Idle Muse's New Production "The Blood Countess" reveals the story of Erzsébet Bathóry, a Hungarian countess who was tried and convicted for allegedly killing hundreds of young girls.

An historic mystery www.newcitystage.com/2025/10/01/d...

“You’re a beautiful woman, probably.”

“An October sort of city, even in spring….” Come celebrate our city’s greatest novelist October 19th.

Some cool Chicago history coming up.

In Steppenwolf's “Mr. Wolf," A Teenager Reluctantly Returns Home From Her Kidnapper The top-shelf production is tightly directed and beautiful, but leaves too much space unexplored.

www.newcitystage.com/2025/09/25/i...

From today’s bike ride downtown. “Where are the songs of spring? Ay, Where are they?/Think not of them, thou hast thy music too… “

“A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness” Transforms A Nineties Icon for the Lyric Opera James Lowe, a Grammy-nominated composer, director and arranger, discusses collaborating with Billy Corgan, The Smashing Pumpkins’ front man and lead songwriter.

music.newcity.com/2025/09/23/a...

A meeting of water bottles at the Bloomingdale trail head. Mr. Blue-Green Top has the floor.

From my friend Stacey.

Review: “Ashland Avenue” at the Goodman Theatre Goodman's new play, crammed with Chicago details, stars Jenna Fischer and Francis Guinan.

Decline of a salesman www.newcitystage.com/2025/09/19/i...

Waiting in line at Walgreens and realizing I never want to hear “Wonderwall” again.

Well said - sad that both Butch and Sundance are gone.

Signs of mystery - Chicago, neighborhood of Avondale

Lots of bad stuff happening- but Ringo is still playing.