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$1.5 million ale house plan in downtown Antioch delayed

Work on a planned $1.5 million conversion of a former hair salon into a bar and restaurant in Antioch has been delayed.

The interior of the former Flo's Family Hair Care, 945 Main St. (Route 83), has been gutted after a demolition permit was issued by the village in June. But there has been no further activity.

A representative for the project was not immediately available Tuesday, but a village official said construction bids for the proposed Rivalry Ale House were higher than expected.

"They need to find a contractor who can do it within their budget," said Michael Garrigan, community development director. "They have not advised us they are modifying the plan or not proceeding," he added.

Flo's, a single-story building on the southern end of the downtown area, has been vacant for two years. Investors want to expand the building by about two-thirds to 9,800 square feet by creating a two-story restaurant with an all-season atrium and an upper, outdoor seating area.

Village officials endorsed the concept in the spring, as well as a potential $200,000 grant from the village for materials and a license to use a portion of an adjoining municipal parking lot for a beer garden.

"We think it's a game changer for the downtown," Garrigan said. "It's a major intersection and it's a very ambitious project."

The idea was pitched by an investment group including Jim Donohoe as managing partner. Donohoe owns and operates The Lodge, a Northwoods-themed venue serving pub food just north on Main Street.

Village Trustee Jerry Johnson also is an investor in the building and would be the landlord. He recused himself from discussions regarding the village incentive.

The incentive is contingent on the project proceeding, Garrigan said. If the plan is modified, the incentive would be reviewed and revised, he said.

The Rivalry Ale House plan remains among the possibilities as the village considers avenues to enhance the area. Grants for awnings and signage have become popular, Garrigan said, with a total of $3,560 recently approved for three businesses.

Village officials consider those minor improvements and are looking for more extensive renovations to consider for funding.

"We don't want the facade program to be an awning program," he said.

That's not the case with Waldron Construction, which received about $15,000 from the village to renovate the space at 889 Main St. A kitchen remodeling showroom grand opening was held Oct. 13.

The village also hired a consultant to study designating downtown, as well as stretches of Route 83 and Route 173, as a "business development district" in accordance with state law.

The village can impose up to an additional 1 percent sales tax in those districts with proceeds used for various economic incentives to improve or develop properties.

Source: https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20181030/15-million-ale-house-plan-in-downtown-antioch-delayed

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University celebrates business diversity program’s decade of success

The Office of Business Diversity recently celebrated a decade of success in connecting women and minority-owned firms with key decision makers at the University of Chicago.

What began in 2009 as 80 individuals gathering to discuss fostering diversity in UChicago’s business relationships has grown to include 250 leaders from various professional services companies. On Nov. 14, the University looked back on the achievements of the Business Diversity Professional Services Symposium, a two-day event that has become a national model for other institutions.

Since its inception, 285 different businesses have gained exposure to UChicago through the symposium, leading to more than 80 new business relationships.

“The concept of this program is amazingly simple. It’s based on the observation that there’s an enormous amount of talent, and it’s not getting enough opportunities to express itself,” said President Robert J. Zimmer at the symposium’s closing reception at Gordon Parks Arts Hall. “For us, it’s a huge advantage if we can tap into this talent when other people are not.”

On Nov. 13-14, representatives from 30 potential vendors specializing in money management, communications, HR, legal and architecture/engineering gave 45-minute presentations about their companies, after listening to University officials speak briefly about their current and future needs.

In 2011, Edilberto Ortiz was invited to the annual reception, and the following year the CPA and his firm gave a presentation that led to accounting and auditing work. “The university engagements that we have acquired in the past few years have given us the experience to pursue other opportunities and have helped us grow our business,” he said.

A few years ago, CTS Impact, a hands-on business consulting firm focused on Finance, HR and IT, was invited to the symposium. After their presentation with University of Chicago Finance leaders, they were engaged by the University’s Budget Office to assist with various process improvement and systems integration activities.

“Success breeds success,” said Julie Scott, the firm’s president, CEO and founder. “With our many thanks to UChicago, these successes have led to other opportunities for our firm.”  In addition, Julie added that “UChicago’s business diversity program is a game-changer compared to other corporate diversity programs our firm has participated in, since UChicago’s program ‘walks the walk’ not just ‘talks the talk’ of the importance of creating opportunities for diverse talent.”

Lorraine Tyson, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP, participated in her first symposium in 2012 (while a partner at Pugh, Jones & Johnson, P.C.). Shortly thereafter, she was invited to serve as sole underwriter’s counsel on a bond transaction while at Pugh, Jones & Johnson, P.C.. “You can have opportunities at the University,” she said, emphasizing the importance of giving chances to women of color such as herself. “I’m a testament to that.”

About five years ago, the University of Illinois at Chicago began its own professional services symposium to increase diversity, which they explicitly modeled after UChicago’s.

Source: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/university-celebrates-business-diversity-programs-decade-success

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First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Brewers, Sunday 5/12, 6:05 CT

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Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/5/12/18536950/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-brewers-sunday-5-12-6-05-ct

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Colbert “Cole” Hamels Has Essentially Dominated So Far This Season

Cole – excellent birth name, Colbert – Hamels was a big source of concern for me heading into the 2019 season. Not necessarily because I didn’t think he’d be good, but because the Cubs had taken a pretty big gamble ($20M) betting that he’d be close to the the guy he was for them in the second half of last season (2.36 ERA, 3.42 FIP in 12 starts) and not the guy he was before that in Texas (4.72 ERA, 5.20 FIP in 20 starts). And it wasn’t just the money they spent on him, it was the opportunity cost of not spending that money elsewhere.

Fortunately, Hamels has done pretty much nothing but good since the regular season began, including last night’s seven scoreless, walk-less innings of baseball in Miami.

Alongside the notable absence of walks and runs last night, Hamels allowed just three hits and notched eight total strikeouts (including 14 whiffs). On top of that, Hamels solicited an absurd amount of ground balls (81.3%) and every batted ball classified as a fly ball was popped up on the infield (which is ideal). That’s how you dominate a start. And that’s what Hamels did last night.

Indeed, that was his best performance of the year so far, and he’s had a pretty good year:

Mia: 7.0 IP, 3H, 0ER, 0BB, 8Ks LAA: 8.0 IP, 4H, 1ER, 0BB, 6Ks MIL: 6.0 IP, 6H, 2ER, 0BB, 5Ks TEX: 5.0 IP, 6H, 5ER, 3BB, 4Ks

Aside from the combined 3 earned runs over his last 21.0 IP, the total lack of walks through three straight starts is making me drool. As Jesse Rogers points out, Hamels hasn’t walked a batter over his last 22.0 innings pitched, which is currently the longest stretch in baseball this season … by six full innings!

Indeed, Hamels’ 3.0% walk rate this season is actually the second lowest mark in all of baseball, behind only Padres starter Nick Margevicius (2.5%).

Plus, although I’m not full-on campaigning to justify his first start in Texas this year, I will point out that the sixth pitch of the at-bat just before Delino DeShields hit the critical grand slam was a borderline call that could’ve ended the inning instead of loading the bases. You still have to get that next batter, bases loaded or not, but he was a call away from having an absurd four-start beginning of the 2019 season. Again, it doesn’t work that way, but given how well he’s pitched since and how tight that zone was, it’s not difficult to just broadly say he’s been pretty close to fantastic the entire season.

Indeed, despite that grand slam, Hamels is tied with guys like Noah Syndergaard,  Gerrit Cole, Blake Snell, James Paxton, and Trevor Bauer for the 11th most WAR among starters (0.7). Meanwhile, his 2.77 ERA (23rd) and 3.18 FIP (26th) both rank among the top-30 in all of baseball.

As you can imagine, Hamels has been happy with results (MLB.com): “The past couple of games, just really trying to stay focused on throwing strikes and executing. That’s obviously the key to going deep in a ballgame and keep guys off the basepaths: throwing strikes and trying to get outs early. I think ever since that game, it’s just always been on my mind this whole season, even in Spring Training. It’s maintaining that desire to execute strikes and obviously not give away free passes.”

Now, with all of this said, we do have to concede that aside from Milwaukee, Hamels has faced some pretty bad teams this season. The Pirates, Rangers, and (Trout-less, Ohtani-less, Upton-less) Angels lineups are not world-beaters.

In fact, the Pirates (49 wRC+, 30th), Angels (53 wRC+, 29th), and Rangers (87 wRC+, 17th) are some of the worst teams in baseball against left-handed pitchers, in general. So he was set up for success. But to play devil’s advocate, the Brewers are one of the hottest lineups in baseball, especially against left-handers (137 wRC+, 6th in MLB) and it’s not like those aren’t all big league teams. A good pitcher dominates more times than not when he’s set up for success, and Hamels has dominated. You can be aware of those teams’ offensive shortcomings and still be impressed that Hamels did what he did.

We have a long season ahead of us and plenty of time to decide – in retrospect – whether Hamels was worth the $20M investment and related roster impact, but so far he’s done nothing but prove the front office right. And given the way Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana have performed this week just ahead of him – plus Jon Lester’s impending return – the rotation is really starting to shape up.

(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2019/04/18/colbert-cole-hamels-has-essentially-dominated-so-far-this-season/

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Week 13: Bears at Giants Game Preview, Volume I

Above: my hometown. It’s a shitty town a few miles outside New York City. It was called Soccertown USA after we put three guys on the 1994 World Cup team.

Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears This Week?

I always like the Chicago Bears…

…and these two teams are headed in opposite directions. The Bears are a team on the rise, a few wins from a division title and their first postseason trip in eight years. The Giants are enduring the final days of a champion quarterback and are probably a few years away from being contenders again. (They’ve also got Norv Turner 2: The Revenge at head coach.)

Game Poem

A Fan of the Bears, in the Shadow of Giants

I grew up in the shadow of the Meadowlands,

My father’s hand-painted Lawrence Taylor poster board displayed in the dining room window for all of Kearny, New Jersey to see.

The white 5 and 6 sat awkwardly on the faded blue paint, like two tourists afraid to speak their native tongue in a foreign cafe.

I could have chosen the Giants. It would have been easy.

I could see their building out my bedroom window.

The window above my elephant toy box, laden with blue and red and green spots for some reason.

The window I’d shout out to my friends from on Saturday mornings.

I could have chosen the Giants and celebrated Super Bowl titles four times.

Could have had Tyree and Norwood wide right and Manningham up the sideline.

But those would just be rings.

Titles.

Brief but wonderful celebrations of athletic success.

I could have chosen the Giants,

And I would have a team.

I chose the Bears.

And got a life.

Got this website, my thirteen-year and counting passion project.

Got Reverend Dave’s bullshit and “Bears Jeff” in the Josie Woods computer.

Got Rick Pearson at the Goat and Adam Jahns out in Edison Park.

Got the Old Town Alehouse and Rossi’s and Pippin’s and the Twin Anchors.

Got Seurat at the Institute and the crust at Pequod’s.

Got the motherfuckin’ Q Brothers, what you got?

I was born and raised in the shadow of Giants Stadium, a big concrete structure in a filthy swamp where Big Blue played their football.

But I found home in the city of the Chicago.

Where the Bears are.

Who Are the Giants?

Living in NYC, I know as much about the two local football teams as I do the Bears because I listen to local sports radio for hours and hours every single day. Here are six points on the Giants:

This is one of the worst offensive lines in the sport but their numbers have actually improved in recent weeks by facing San Francisco and Tampa. They’ve cut two of their opening day starters – tackle Ereck Flowers and former Bear Patrick Omameh. Nate Solder has been awful at left tackle. This line is incapable of controlling the line of scrimmage in the run game and incapable of giving Eli Manning more than a second or two in the pocket. (This unit also commits a lot of penalties once they’re put under pressure.)

Khalil Mack vs. right tackle Chad Wheeler might be the most significant mismatch the Bears face all season. Wheeler has been a combination of poor and injured in 2018. Note to Vic Fangio: don’t let Mack move around this week. He doesn’t need to. Sit him off Wheeler’s hip and let him ruin the game.

If you tackle the Giants, you beat the Giants. The line doesn’t block well for Saquon Barkley but that doesn’t make him easy to stop in the run game. He might be the hardest back to tackle in the game right now. And Eli completes most of his passes quickly and short. So if the Bears don’t take good angles and wrap up, Odell Beckham and Sterling Shepard will take bubble screens to the house.

Giants traded Snacks Harrison, one of the best run stuffing tackles in football, to Detroit a month ago. They are now firmly one of the worst rush defenses in the league. Last week against Philly the Giants offense couldn’t even get on the field in the second half because their defense couldn’t get off of it. I’m no longer predicting the Bears to have breakout games on the ground. But if Matt Nagy wants to make things easy on his club Sunday, he might wanna run it more than seven times.

Only the Oakland Raiders sack the quarterback less than the New York Giants. For comparison: the Bears have 34 sacks. The Giants have 14. So the Giants give you yards on the ground and time to throw.

The Giants aren’t good.

Tomorrow: Few tidbits & game prediction!

Related

Source: https://dabearsblog.com/2018/week-13-bears-at-giants-game-preview-the-game-poem

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Illinois Policy Institute demands retraction, attempts to rewrite history

* As we discussed yesterday, this is from the Illinois Policy Institute…

Illinois’ budget impasse may have also been a drag on employment growth, perhaps even more than the tax increase but passing a budget with the largest permanent income tax hike in state history didn’t improve Illinois’ economic climate.

* Here’s what I told subscribers this morning…

As even the far-right anti-tax Illinois Policy Institute now mostly admits, the impasse likely did more damage to the state’s job growth than the 2011 and 2017 income tax hikes.

* From Orphe Pierre Divounguy, an economist at the Illinois Policy Institute…

Rich,

Your newsletter today takes our research completely out of context and warrants a correction.

We clearly state in the piece: “Although tax hikes may initially cause tax revenues to increase, the negative economic effects of the 2017 tax hike will overshadow any benefits of additional revenue in the long run.”

We, first, never mention the 2011 tax hike and we say the impasse could have done more damage in terms of growth in the 2017-2018 period – not “likely” did, as you wrote. We clearly share that the potential reason for this is uncertainty about a future tax hike depressed investment that could have yielded jobs growth. The budget impasse was bad but it left open the possibility of no new taxes. Issuing a permanent tax hike will undoubtedly be a larger drag on employment in the long term than the impasse was, as we write in the piece.

Last, the far-right reference is offensive especially in this political climate. And it’s completely unnecessary. Advocating for the overburdened taxpayer, criminal justice reform, wanting retirees to actually keep their pensions rather than see them go bankrupt, etc. is not “far right.”

OK, fine. Have it your way. I’m sorry!!!

* But “the budget impasse was bad?” Really? From May of 2016…

The organization wants to see state lawmakers make the right reforms before approving a budget, said Kristina Rasmussen, executive vice president of the Illinois Policy Institute.

“No budget is better than a bad budget,” Rasmussen said.

* And the reference is offensive in this political climate? Anybody remember this?…

One legislator was called a “f—-ing animal.” Another was told he’d be “hanging from a tree.”

“You are selling your soul to the devil,” said a message to GOP House floor Leader Steven Andersson, who reported receiving a steady flow of abusive text messages and calls — including a death threat. “I’m coming for you,” it said. Now the Illinois State Police are investigating.

The rage unleashed by the vote serves as a reminder of the combustibility of the current political atmosphere, one where a tax increase to avoid a fiscal catastrophe — combined with the perception of partisan betrayal — could set off such an explosive response. […]

Stoking the backlash are well-funded anti-tax groups such as the Illinois Policy Institute, whose staffing exceeds that of some legacy newspapers. That group had warned its subscribers that Andersson and another lawmaker might vote with Madigan. Andersson’s cell phone was somehow distributed as well as those of several other GOP members who voted for the tax hike, Andersson said. The Illinois Policy Institute said Wednesday it does not release or post lawmakers’ cell phone numbers.

* And the group’s reaction?…

* And the letter the House Republicans sent to members?…

Dear House Republican Members,

[The HGOP’s] Digital Media Manager, has prepared the information below to help guide members who experience abusive social media comments.

What to do if you receive threats on Facebook, Twitter or other social media accounts:

* If you feel the threat is imminent call 911 * Report threats of violence immediately to State Police at this phone number: 877-xxx-xxxx * Then report to social media platform - here’s how * Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/help/181495968648557?helpref=faq_content * Twitter:https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998#whatshouldido * Or, ask your communications staffer for help

* And, of course, there was also this…

Source: https://capitolfax.com/2018/11/06/illinois-policy-institute-demands-retraction-attempts-to-rewrite-history/

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Khalil Mack expects to be better than last year: 'I want to be the best to play the game'

Khalil Mack expects to be better than last year: 'I want to be the best to play the game' originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com

Khalil Mack didn't take long to make an impression on the Chicago Bears and the fanbase.

The linebacker starred in the first game at Green Bay and finished as a first-team All-Pro selection for the third time in his career. He expects even more in his second year with the Bears.

"I don't too much talking," Mack said. "I let my play do that for me. The expectations is to be a lot better than last year, for sure."

That won't be an easy bar to reach. Mack had 12.5 sacks, a career-high six forced fumbles and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.

That said, it wasn't the best season of Mack's career statistically. Mack sat out two games, the first time he missed any games in his career. He had the lowest tackle total of his career at 47. He was in the 70s for tackles in each of his four years in Oakland. Mack's 10 tackles for loss was also a career-low.

Based on previous performance, Mack could be better. That said, he was still an All-Pro and helped the Bears defense take the next step into becoming a dominant unit.

"I want to be the best to play the game," Mack said while referencing all-time greats like Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas.

Let's see what the sequel of Khalil Mack with the Bears will provide.

 Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of the Bears.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/khalil-mack-expects-better-last-225120081.html?src=rss

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Mendoza Recorded Mayoral Announcement Video — But Still Plays Coy

Despite publicly playing coy about her ambitions to run for mayor of Chicago, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has recorded a video in which she announces her campaign to replace Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

In the video first reported Friday by WBEZ, the Democrat says, “I’m Susana Mendoza and I’m running for mayor of Chicago. … And I ask you to join me on this journey together.”

Because she’s running for re-election as comptroller on Tuesday, Mendoza has repeatedly dodged questions about her potential mayoral ambitions ever since Emanuel revealed in September that he will not seek a third term in the February election.

Asked about the video Friday, a spokeswoman for Mendoza issued a statement saying she’s still not sure whether she’ll run for mayor.

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“I am focused on the Nov. 6 election because too much is at stake for the people of Illinois,” Mendoza was quoted as saying. “I’m considering a run for another office and have taken steps to prepare for that should I choose to move forward, but I have not made any formal decision.”

Veteran Democratic political consultant Eric Adelstein confirmed that his firm filmed the video and said it had been “leaked.”

”When we were filming Mendoza for her re-election campaign, I suggested, because it is no secret that she’s thinking about running for mayor, that we record some lines,” Adelstein told WBEZ. “It’s no secret that this campaign would be coming up quickly, and I thought even though you have not made up your mind, would you be willing to record it so we could move quickly, and she agreed.”

He added that “it’s too bad that it was” leaked before Tuesday’s election but that Mendoza would make a great mayor.

Sources said Mendoza could announce her mayoral run as soon as a few days after the election. She faces challenges from Republican Darlene Senger and Libertarian Claire Ball.

Republicans immediately sought to capitalize on the leaked mayoral-announcement video.

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner tweeted, “It’s now clear that Susana Mendoza is running for Chicago Mayor and she should drop off the ballot for State Comptroller immediately.”

Later Friday afternoon, Republican comptroller candidate Darlene Senger held a hastily arranged press conference in downtown Chicago to call Mendoza a “liar.” 

“It’s not too late for her to make a statement that, ‘I don’t want you voting for me for Comptroller because I am running for mayor of Chicago,’” Senger said. 

Senger said she “feels bad” for anyone who voted early for Mendoza because she’s been “disingenuous.”

Before becoming comptroller in 2016, Mendoza was Chicago’s city clerk and a state representative.

Source: https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/mendoza-recorded-mayoral-announcement-video-but-still-plays-coy/47ebbdff-4660-4c2a-ad12-f7941c415a97

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Cold Takes: A Look At Chicago’s Sloppy Win At San Francisco

We’ve all seen the “Hot Takes” from the last weekend’s games all over the net.

In this series, I’m letting some time pass, and after reviewing the game tape a couple of times, I’m going to share some “Cold Takes” about the Bears pulling out a tough win over the San Francisco 49ers and staying alive for a bye in the playoffs. I’ll also sprinkle in a few thoughts about our division rivals. These are just a series of my thoughts and observations about the game as well as the Bears in general up until this point, presented in no particular order.

My game ball goes to Danny Trevathan. Not only did he have a huge, game saving pick, he also played on whale of a game from the first snap to the last. Honorable mentions go to Roquan Smith, Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Eddie Goldman, Sherrick McManis, Deon Bush, Prince Amukamara, Kyle Fuller and last but certainly not least Leonard Floyd.

Leonard Floyd is the monster that we wanted out of him when we drafted him. These last six weeks, after he was fully healthy from the knee (from last season) and the hand, the man has been money. Literally. He’s about to get PAID.

Speaking of Floyd, if he starts this weekend I do believe we’ve got a couple of signature bets that get won... It will be interesting to see if the people who bet their sigs that Floyd wouldn’t start the entire season will “remember” that they did so.

No, before you ask, I am not the sig-bet police.

As usual, I’ve not got much to say about Mitchell Trubisky, mostly because everybody else talks about him a lot. Mitch had great numbers, but unlike what was reported on the radio, he had NOT seen the defensive holding flag when he launched that horrible throw into the end zone that was picked off. He just plain missed, and we got lucky.

THOSE types of passes are what we can’t have in the playoffs from Mitchell. He doesn’t have to win games by himself (he can HELP though), but he cannot allow himself to lose games. That was a Rex Grossman type throw, and we just need to not have any more of those.

Jordan Howard needs 176 yards to break 1,000 for the season (last time I checked). I’d like to see the Bears give Howard 40 carries and see if he can break that mark... because if they do that, and if he did, we win this ballgame this week. Minnesota is actually really struggling with the run (if you take out the LOLions & Packers games, because they can’t run on an NAIA team let alone an NFL team).

Richard Sherman’s explanations about the proper way to hit other players in the helmet when in a fight were interesting. Never punch, always swat with an open hand... they feel it more and you don’t hurt yourself. Sherman has a lot of experience doing this. I wonder why a lot of players think he’s a dirtbag?

We only dressed 4 WR’s, and when Anthony Miller and Josh Bellamy were ejected for fighting that left us with two wideouts for the rest of the game. For a lot of teams this would be a problem, but for Chicago? We just slotted Tarik Cohen and one of our pass catching tight ends out there and pressed on.

Think about this one, how things have changed. We only dressed four WR’s and one of them was Bellamy... and everybody was happy about it.

I asked the boys at The Chicago Audible Podcast (CLICKY) (formerly Da Bears Brothers Podcast) in their December 19 Q&A show (CLICKY) if they thought Joshua Bellamy had earned a multi year deal, and the fellas agreed that he had. Truth compels me to admit a bit of trolling here, I’m a long time listener and fan of the show, and over the history of the show the boys have not been noted as the biggest Bellamy fans... in fact, they pretty well universally had him cut during the pre-season roster episode.

So what do you good people think, does Joshua Bellamy deserve a multi-year contract along the lines of a Sherrick McManis deal? I think he absolutely does.

The more I watch Matt Nagy on tape... later after the game’s emotions settle down... the more impressed I am by how quickly he reads the defenses and throws changes at them.

This will probably make you roll your eyes, but I am dead serious. Matt Nagy slots in age between Drew Brees and Tom Brady. With what he has between his ears, if he can throw the ball AT ALL, he could be a winning quarterback in the NFL today. Make the read, get the ball out, boom. Of course, the first hit might put him in intensive care, but... hey, dreaming doesn’t hurt :)

BOOM!

Speaking of BOOM!...

Chicago Bears fans need to make BOOM! work, and we need to start in the playoffs. Seriously, this HAS to be a thing. Can you imagine the power and shock of 60,000 rabid Bears fans... and their players on the sidelines... doing the Matt Nagy BOOM!

I’ve been reading a lot of articles about Matt Patricia. We got the right Matt.

Green Bay has played a lot better since they fired their coach after losing at home to the hapless Arizona Cardinals.

I’m still laughing so hard it hurts... Green Bay lost at home to the Arizona Freaking Cardinals. The likely first team in the draft. With a healthy Aaron Rodgers. Excuse me, I’m about to die laughing.

Gasp. OK, got my breath back now. Whew.

Don’t look now, but Jon Gruden is still and idiot.

OK, there’s really only one huge thing to talk about with the 49ers and Bears, and of course it’s Robbie Gould. Robbie, a Bear forever no matter where and how long he plays, sure is missed, but even he admits he was needing a change his last year in Chicago. Personally, I think that change could have come by getting him a new position coach and coordinator to fix his mechanical issues and help him focus, but Ryan Pace decided to save some coin and cut him.

That’s worked out great for Robbie, but terrible for the Bears. Robbie has been even more automatic since he left than he was in his prime here. Of course, in San Fran land he’s kicking in much better conditions than Chicago, but still, the dude is on fire.

Bold prediction time. Robbie is a free agent, and appears to be happy in San Francisco... but he lives in Chicago, loves Chicago and the Bears need to upgrade in the kicking department. My bold (and very unlikely to come true) prediction is that Chicago eats the rest of Parkey’s contract and signs Robbie this off-season as a free agent on a 3-year deal. Robbie would rather live here with his family than out of an apartment out there...

Yeah, I know, that last one is more a pipe dream than reality, but a fan can hope.

As usual, I asked my fellow WCG contributors if they had any cold takes to share... you just know they did...

Eric C. Duerrwaechter

I sure do miss Robbie Gould. And the rest of the Bears’ fanbase certainly does as well. It bites not having a kicker who’s as automatic as Gould was during his prime, even through today. With that said, the objective should be touchdowns, not field goals. Yes, Ryan Pace and his staff should look into adding competition next year at the Kicker position. Then again, this offense is light years away from the old mindset of controlling the clock and settling for field goals if need be. Matt Nagy and this team want touchdowns, nothing less. And, well, I do not feel Parkey is nearly as bad as Connor Barth was for his time in Chicago.

It’s also comforting to see Mitchell Trubisky continuing to improve after his stinker against the Rams two weeks ago. As he displayed against the Packers just a week prior, Trubisky utilized his athleticism as a tool to buy time for his receivers to get open against zone coverage. He took a few sacks at San Fran against a decent front seven, yet he didn’t seem overly rattled when pressure was applied. Instead, he looked downfield, made quick decisions, and threw bullets with anticipation and accuracy. That is something I have waited to see consistently for a while now. Oh, and he is in the midst of a 7-game winning streak as the Bears’ starting QB. The last time any QB won 7 in a row? 2006, with Rex Grossman; a QB comparison that Trubisky has certainly outperformed.

And now, time to get a little hot...

Screw all the talk from ESPN and other pundits about needing an MVP caliber QB to reach the Super Bowl. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl in 2000 with the Baltimore Ravens despite not even touching 2,000 yards in 11 starts while passing 12 TDs to 11 Ints. Joe Flacco won a Super Bowl in 2012 with a great defense while posting mediocre stats as a QB. Peyton Manning rode a great defense to the Super Bowl in 2015 despite having his worst year as a pro. He, Manning, threw 17 interceptions compared to just 9 touchdowns. And, just last year, a back-up in Nick Foles became the 2nd ever backup QB to win a Super Bowl. I would say Trubisky is better than any of those QBs were in the aforementioned seasons, and he’s good enough to win a Super Bowl with this season thanks to a scary Bears defense paired with a smart coaching staff.

Rant. Over.

Josh Sunderbruch

I don’t blame Ryan Pace for moving on from Robbie Gould at kicker. It needed to happen, and it was a decision based on performance (not pay). However, I absolutely do blame Ryan Pace for the parade of ineptitude that has made its way through the position since Gould was cut. Better kickers were available, yet Pace has provided the Bears with a motley collection that has gone 56/74 (<76%) since 2015.

Superfans

OK, Chicago Bears fans, there you have it. What do you think? Spill the beans!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/12/27/18157612/cold-takes-a-look-at-chicago-bears-sloppy-win-at-san-francisco-49ers-danny-trevathan-mitch-trubisky

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In A Star Is Born, love hurts, but it’s labor that breaks your heart

In a pivotal scene in the new version of A Star Is Born, unknown singer-songwriter Ally (Lady Gaga) and a buddy arrive at their food-service kitchen job dressed in unflattering clothes, talking excitedly about anything but work. Their boss trudges by and says snarkily, "You're late!" Ally is furious. "I'm late?" she says. "I'm late?!" She quits on the spot, stomps out of the restaurant, and does what her new boyfriend, rock star Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper, who also directs), has been urging her to do—get on a plane, fly out to his latest gig, sing to a packed stadium, and leave her life of drudgery behind forever.

Ally's escape encapsulates the exhilarating fantasy of stardom—and it's no accident that it centers on work. As Matt Stahl writes in Unfree Masters: Popular Music and the Politics of Work, "work, for most people, most of the time, is not particularly free, enjoyable or fulfilling." Work is a grind, and that grind eats up most of our lives. The bulk of our waking time on earth is spent doing things we don't want at the behest of people we'd sooner avoid. "I was raised in a 'no you don't' world / Overrun with rules," Barbra Streisand sings in the 1976 version of the film. But singers get to break those rules. As Stahl says, "the stars of popular music often appear to be so free and to be doing such enjoyable, expressive, and fulfilling work that it almost seems strange to think of them as working people."

A Star Is Born is about how Ally escapes from alienation and ends up embodying freedom by expressing herself fully in her work—so fully, in fact, that her work and her self become inseparable. But it's also about how even stars are stuck in what Stahl calls "stable structures of authority and subordination." Stars may not seem to be working, but they are—which is the tragedy of the film.

That tragedy is by now well-worn; this is the fourth iteration of the movie. The 2018 version hits the familiar marks, following especially in the footsteps of the 70s Kris Kristofferson-Barbra Streisand version. Cooper plays an aging alcoholic rock star and songwriter. He stumbles (more or less literally) on singer-songwriter Ally performing in a drag bar and falls in love with her talent, her songwriting, and her nose. After he pushes and goads her into performing onstage with him, her career takes off, while his sinks into a bottle, Behind the Music style.

In comparison to the '76 version, the film benefits from the fact that Cooper has a much greater range, both vocally and as an actor, than the mumbling, shambolic Kristofferson. But the 2018 script is also sharper because it's more grounded in the dynamics of labor.

One of the first times we see Ally is when her boss forces her to take out the garbage—the definition of scut work. The drag bar where Jack meets her is her former employer; she used to work there as a waitress. The drag queens loved her so much they let her perform with them, which she does with over-the-top fabulousness, wearing false eyelashes and a leg-baring outfit. Before the film even starts, Ally has already, on a small scale, gone from drab drone to outsize star, donning elaborate makeup and costumes to express her true self (both in the narrative and, of course, as the real-life Lady Gaga.)

Even the transition from waitress to (small) star pales, though, before the duets Ally and Jack sing together, belting out their ecstatic feelings for each other in real time as the crowds cheer and the money rolls in. Work is love; love is work. That's not just a romance, it's a vision of capitalism overthrown.

Ally's work becomes more fulfilling; Jack's less so. By the middle of the movie he's no longer singing his own songs to packed houses. Instead he's appearing in a gig with a Roy Orbison cover band. He doesn't even get to sing himself; he's just a hired guitarist, off on the side, doing what someone else says for someone else's glory—which is what most of us do for a living. He refers to the gig as "one of those paid things, soul-crushing work."

It's not Jack's alienated labor that leads to the film's tragic conclusion, though; it's Ally's. As Stahl writes (mentioning Lady Gaga by name, as it happens), even when a pop star embodies freedom, she is also "a political and economic actor, a working person whose contractually governed relationship to her company is sometimes one of real subordination." Ally's oleaginous manager, Rez (Ravi Gavron), wants her to dye her hair and perform with backup dancers. "You can't go rogue on me," he tells her, as bosses will.

Ally resists to some degree; "I am who I am," she declares, by which she means her music, and her work, have to come from inside her. She sings because she wants to sing, not because someone tells her to.

But there are also limits to Ally's autonomy. Rez makes her take dancing lessons; she has to make appearances and recordings. Toward the end of the film she wants to bring the recovering Jack on tour with her, and Rez unambiguously vetoes the idea. He then privately tells Jack that he's wrecking Ally's career, leading to the disastrous finale.

When a star is born, she captures our dreams, but also something of our fears. The movie is about aspiration toward true unfettered autonomy and escape from that kitchen. But it's also about the fear that there's another boss waiting after you get off that plane.

Jack's brother, Bob (Sam Elliott), says that no one is to blame for Jack's fate but Jack. That isn't exactly true, though. Jack's alcoholism isn't anyone's fault, but management's refusal to accommodate his illness is. Jack at the end seemed at least to have a chance against his disease. It's work that eats him. In A Star Is Born, love hurts. But it's labor that breaks your heart.   v

Source: https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/a-star-is-born-lady-gaga-bradley-cooper-matt-stahl-unfree-masters/Content?oid=59096834

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How to fix anything in your neighborhood

Graffiti, potholes, broken streetlights, and unplowed streets—all these things can make a perfect neighborhood miserable. But, there’s a simple fix.

Chicago was one of the first cities to implement a comprehensive system called 311 that offered residents easy access to city services and non-emergency services. Initially it was only a hotline (you dialed 311 to report your problem) but the city relaunched the website and created a mobile app last year. Below, we’ve answered most commonly searched questions on CHI311.

How do I make a noise complaint?

Equipment noise, like trucks or buzzing air conditioning units, is taken care of by the Department of Public Health and you can file that complaint through CHI311. Other noises that involve neighbors blasting music late at night or bar noise are resolved by the police. If you call 311, they can give you the number of your local police station where you can lodge your complaint. Going one step further, you could report the business to your alderman, who can keep tabs on disruptive bars or restaurants.

Airport or airplane noise can be reported online, and is crucial for O’Hare and Midway’s noise management system. More than 5 million data points are recorded each day to help authorities analyze and reduce the noise impact on nearby residents.

How do I report a pothole (and get the city to pay for damage)?

Potholes are an inevitable problem—Chicago’s harsh winters make the pavement freeze and crack. There are inspectors and construction crews that work on repairing potholes, who are on call all winter and spring (also known as pothole season).

Report the pothole using CHI311, and be sure to include a photo. The city needs to see the extent of the pothole and where it’s located in order to send people from the right departments to fix it.

If your car or bike was damaged by a pothole, you might be able to get reimbursed for the repair. To file a claim, you’ll need a police report, two cost estimates for the repair (or a paid receipt), and a vehicle or property damage form.

How do I find out where my car was towed?

Call 311, and an operator can tell you what pound your car was taken. Or you can search online by license plate, vehicle make, or location. If you have questions about what happened, reach out to the Bureau of Traffic Services.

The city can tow or relocate cars for a number of reasons. Maybe you parked in a filming location or an illegal zone. But most people get tripped up by the winter overnight parking ban. A number of arterial streets don’t allow parking between 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. between December 1 and April 1, regardless of snowfall. Outside of those dates, if there’s snowfall that’s 2 or more inches, the same ban goes into effect.

How can I get more trees on my block?

Across the city, there are over 500,000 trees of 140 species planted in parkways (that little grassy patch between the sidewalk and road). And, you can ask the city to plant more on your block. When you submit a request, forestry staff will assess the stop and determine what kind of tree should be planted. It might take a while for this to happen, since there are just two planting seasons: spring and fall.

You can also request a free tree trim, when a tree is damage or just has too many low- hanging branches. Emergency situations take priority, but otherwise requests are fulfilled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

How do I report graffiti?

A graffiti tag doesn’t have to be on a public building to be removed by the city. If your garage or fence gets painted, crews will take care of it for free. The city is quick to respond to graffiti removal requests, promptness that can be unfortunate if the graffiti is actually street art. To verify what the paint in your neighborhood is, there is now a mural database. Artists, organizations, and building owners can register murals so that they don’t get accidentally erased.

How can I keep my street clean?

Street sweeping gets rid of all the debris that’s been hidden under months of snow, and you can track when workers will clear your block. The same goes for snow and ice removal, which is tracked on a live map. But if your street (or bike lane) needs more attention, perhaps after a summer festival or bad snowstorm, residents can request another clearing. The city can also remove abandoned bikes from racks, if needed.

Source: https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/6/3/18645074/chicago-city-services-chi-311-request

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Belmont Gateway’s dramatic canopy inspired by Avondale’s lost waterfall

When architect Carol Ross Barney was planning the design of the new Belmont rail and bus station, she was asked to create a structure that would be a signifier for the neighborhood. In response, the massively upgraded station was adorned with a bright blue and white steel canopy.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Barney explained that while growing up in Chicago she vividly remembers the neighborhood’s long-gone Olson Rug Park and waterfall. The 22-acre park opened in 1935 was an oasis in an industrial landscape—it left an impression on the architect and many residents while it existed. The sweeping, vivid blue glass is meant to mimic that memory of the waterfall—and now acts as a new landmark for the area.

Barney’s architecture firm has worked on a handful of public space projects including libraries, transit, and parks. She’s well-known for working on the Chicago Riverwalk and recently completed the new eco-friendly River North McDonald’s. She’s worked closely with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and at the ribbon-cutting said he “understands the value of good design and how it can increase the value throughout the city.”

The Belmont Blue rail and bus station is the CTA’s most popular bus and rail facility with 1.7 million entries per year, said Dorval R. Carter, Jr. President of the CTA at the ribbon cutting. It is the seventh most traveled station on the Blue Line and the third busiest stop for bus lines No. 77 and 80. After 50 years, the $17 million dollar project has brought much-needed upgrades to the street entrance, bus platform, and rail station that include:

Faster boarding times with a permanent prepaid bus boarding area

New LED lighting and more additional overhead heaters while you wait for the bus

An enhanced PA system, bus and train tracker screens

A new concrete platform, repaved surfaces, and landscaping

This is the ninth of fourteen stations that have been redesigned as part of the $492 million Your New Blue program. The transit project is the largest investment in the Blue Line since it was extended to O’hare Airport 30 years ago.

Source: https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/3/29/18285924/belmont-gateway-blue-opens-transit

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First pitch thread: Cubs vs. Rangers, Friday 3/22, 3:05 CT

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Source: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/3/22/18271915/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-rangers-friday-3-22-3-05-ct

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Dante’s Pizzeria to Bring N.Y.-Style Slices to Humboldt Park

The owners of Dante’s Pizzeria, the N.Y.-style pizza shop with locations in Logan Square and Avondale, are opening a bar. They’re taking over the space at the corner of Augusta and California that most recently housed the Shelby at 2759 W. Augusta Boulevard in Humboldt Park. This Dante’s, which should open this month, is the first location that will serve beer and cocktails and have table service.

It’s a shift in strategy for co-owner Tim Murphy, who also plays bass in Chicago punk band Canadian Rifle. The new bar won’t serve whole pizzas or offer delivery. The location is in the middle of the delivery area for his Logan Square pizzeria and he doesn’t want to cannibalize business. Instead they’ll focus on pizzas by the slice, offering a few select daily specials while also encouraging diners to pick their own toppings.

“It’s definitely more of a bar atmosphere,” Murphy said of the upcoming Humboldt Park spot. “We are encouraging customers to stick around a little bit.”

By not offering delivery, the kitchen staff can also focus on other items like appetizers — fried mushrooms, cheese curds, and mozzarella sticks. Better versions of typical pizzeria food, Murphy said. They’ll also serve more stromboli.

Dante’s is also expanding its vegan options. They haven’t figured which cheese alternative they’ll use — they’re down to three options — but the restaurant wants to offer better meat- and dairy-free options.

Co-owner George Simos was part of the ownership group at the Shelby and Haywood Tavern, the bar that closed late last year before the Shelby opened. He’s hopeful that a pizzeria will work. The Shelby lasted seven months. Haywood lasted two years.

“They were just great spots but just never really took off,” Simos said. “But then you look at what’s here and what’s not. The area’s kind of screaming for what we’re doing.”

The former Shelby

Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

They’re looking at five or six house cocktails and draft beer from 12 taps. They’ll have another 30-40 canned and bottled beer options. They aren’t going for anything esoteric, Simos said. Beer naturally goes well with pizza so why complicate things?

The insides have been repainted and a new mural has been added. There also new lighting, tables, and stools. The music will be metal and punk giving the space a new feel.

Simos and Murphy hinted at more openings depending on the success of the new Humboldt Park location. Check back in the coming days for news on the opening date.

Eater Chicago

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Source: https://chicago.eater.com/2018/11/6/18069456/dantes-pizzeria-humboldt-park-slices-bar-beer-alcohol

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New! – Your Chicagoboyz Black-Coffee Friday Holiday Espresso Update

  After a couple of not entirely satisfactory years with a low-end conventional espresso maker (discussed here, here and here) and this morning’s epic hot milk explosion we decided to buy a standalone milk frothing device and ended up ordering this DeLonghi-made Nespresso machine, which comes with a milk frother for around $104 total (after coupon) on a Black Friday deal.

We have never owned a Nespresso but have given a couple of them as gifts and everyone loves them. Of course you have to buy coffee capsules, which are pricey if you buy the Nespresso branded ones but a very reasonable 33 cents each if you buy the ones from Bestpresso. These are excellent in our experience.  

  UPDATE: There’s a similar deal on a Breville-made Nespresso/frother combo:  

    —- Disclosure: This blog post was written under the influence of caffeine. Chicago Boyz earns an affiliate payment from Amazon when you buy any product through any of the Amazon links on this blog. If you buy stuff through our links we can afford to buy more espresso.

Source: https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/58467.html

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Metra Train Evacuated After Engine Fire in North Suburbs

A Metra train headed to Fox Lake was evacuated due to an engine fire in the north suburbs, the rail agency said.

Passengers got off Milwaukee North train #2151 in Morton Grove Monday evening after the fire. There were no injuries.

The Morton Grove Fire Department was on scene and handling the investigation.

Trains began moving again about 9:40 p.m.

Source: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Metra-Train-Evacuated-After-Engine-Fire-in-North-Suburbs-501842801.html

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Theo Epstein Says Cubs Don’t Have Artificial Limitations on Spending – I Still Think Chilling is Advised

In his wide-ranging, impassioned end-of-season remarks, Chicago Cubs President Theo Epstein said that the time had come for the Cubs to focus more on production than just talent: “It’s time to stop evaluating in terms of talent and start doing it in terms of production.”

It seemed not only like an indication that the Cubs weren’t simply going to keep hoping for big steps forward from young offensive players, but also that the Cubs would be aggressive this offseason in seeking out something closer to assurances of production.

Then, in the wake of adding $20 million in Cole-Hamels-option-driven AAV to an already-weighty payroll for luxury tax purposes, questions started flying about whether the Cubs really would have the financial might to compete at the tip top of the free agent market this year. Even if the Cubs moved out some salary, they likely could not sign a guy like Bryce Harper or Manny Machado if they were determined to stay under the top tier of the luxury tax ($246 million), something many of us have been speculating about.

So, what would Theo Epstein say about that if you asked him? Well, the Chicago Tribune did at the GM Meetings, and he said that, “We definitely don’t have any artificial limitations,” in reference to $246 million being a hard top.

To be sure, I don’t think you should find that particularly comforting OR discomforting, because I don’t think Epstein is going to give up much of anything concrete in either direction this week. I also think there could be a lot of play with that word “artificial” in that line from Epstein. If revenues aren’t projected to be quite as gangbusters in 2019 for the Cubs, and/or there are concerns about the TV network, then restrictions to payroll wouldn’t really be “artificial.” They’d probably be more generously described as “proactive.”

Still, it’s nice to hear that there is no artificially-imposed hard cap at $246 million in luxury tax payroll, which leaves open certain possibilities if the right, can’t-miss opportunity comes along – as Epstein said before this past season – in the form of “a certain great fit or just the right special player happens to become available, or somebody wants to be in Chicago and something becomes too good to turn down.”

Nothing should be viewed as absolutely certain to us on the outside. Consider, for one example, how incredibly opaque the Cubs’ pursuit of Jason Heyward was a few years ago, and it turned out they’d been planning and preparing it for months and months without a peep slipping out. We have only the foggiest impression of what the Cubs truly can and cannot do, and what they even think internally about the future productivity of a player like Harper or Machado.

That said, Epstein also seemed to slightly modify his after-season message from just a month ago, in a way that raised some eyebrows initially:

Now, then, if you were looking to read that with a dubious eye, you could see it as confirmation of financial limitations, and say it changes the message considerably, from now is the time to go for production over talent to maybe after next season if there isn’t production it will be the time to go for production elsewhere.

Of course, even if you do see a change in articulation there, it doesn’t have to be about the Cubs’ financial wherewithal. Instead, it could just be a more measured way – with a little distance from the end of the season – of describing a club that won 95 games and still has a ton of talent. The Cubs, in my view, do need to make an impactful addition on offense, but it’s not like I’d say it was time to burn the mother down and totally turn over the roster. Moreover, one impactful addition isn’t going to make the most significant change to the Cubs in 2019 – instead, it will be guys already on the roster doing the things we know they can do at the plate. Maybe that’s all Epstein was saying, and it wasn’t really about money at all.

At which point I circle back to … Epstein just ain’t gonna spill the beans in either direction right now. How many times have we heard this front office talk conservatively about an offseason that lays ahead, only to go out and spend very aggressively once they were ready to win at the big league level? I know everyone is nervous about the spending this offseason, and the way rumors are spilling out is truly strange, but we can’t act like the Cubs haven’t put their money where their mouth was so far. Ownership and the business side have provided the resources, and the front office has done its best to spend that money in an impactful way.

I expect more of the same this offseason. Whether that means blowing out the top luxury tax tier, or *merely* increasing payroll by several tens of millions of dollars, I think it’s going to be a very long time before we can thoughtfully evaluate whether there really were “artificial” payroll limitations that impacted the offseason, and that shouldn’t have been there.

Epstein says that isn’t the case right now. That hasn’t been the case in the past. We don’t quite know what’s going to happen on the revenue side in the near term. Let’s just see how things play out.

Source: https://www.bleachernation.com/2018/11/06/theo-epstein-says-cubs-dont-have-artificial-limitations-on-spending-i-still-think-chilling-is-advised/