Chicago, IL

<div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3iY1kr_0sKaXWSS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3iY1kr_0sKaXWSS00" width="1280" height="720" ></figure> Can you spot where Monica is this week? The big picture: Each week, we ask our readers to guess where our <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago?utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_source=microsoft-start&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_campaign=subs-partner-msoft-chicago" rel="nofollow" target="_self"> Axios Chicago </a> reporters are in photos around the city. <hr> Today's hint: <ul><li> Lakefront football has a home </li><li> On this fake grass sports spot </li><li> No, it doesn't have a dome </li><li> But for golfers it's also hot (nearby) </li></ul><a href="https://www.axios.com/signup/chicago?utm_source=microsoft-start&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=subs-partner-msoft-chicago" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago. </a><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate></div>

Axios Chicago

I have a hidden sushi gem worth seeking out.The spot: Casa Madai, helmed by veteran Mexican American sushi chef Ismael Lucero Lopez, is a new Mexican-inspired omakase spot in a residential corner of Pilsen.Table omakase menus start at $65 and the place is BYOB.What to expect: Thoughtfully crafted nigiri, including Akami tuna topped with poblano pepper butter and red snapper garnished with an umeboshi plum puree.The meal is bookended with rich red miso soup and an amuse bouche featuring juicy hokkaido scallops in a beet mole.What's next: Madai is offering a six-course (plus dessert) taco omakase with drink pairings and music on May 4 for $125. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

New Mexican-influenced sushi spot opens in Pilsen

Yelp ranks Chicago's Northwest Side Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club the third-best brunch in the nation, based on online reviews.No other local spot made the top 100 list released Monday.Why it matters: The honor demonstrates the power of outstanding food to draw folks to even sleepy neighborhoods like North Park.Dig in: We loved the creamy bread pudding pancakes, carnitas skillet, sourdough French toast sandwich, Korean pajun pancake and breakfast tacos from chef Manny Mejia, formerly of M. Henry and Jin Ju.The rub: Neither Bryn Mawr location takes reservations. Arrive early. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club named top Chicago brunch

Illinois State

One-third of Illinois residents still have a landline phone.The big picture: A new study from the research firm Chamber of Commerce shows which states have been slowest to ditch their landlines to go all mobile.By the numbers: More than 3 million people in Illinois still have landlines, which is the same number of people nationwide who have no phone at all.70% of American adults rely solely on their cellphone.40% of adults were landline-only in 2002; that number is now down to 1%.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Landline phones are not extinct in Illinois

A former employee at the Foxtrot store in Old Town filed a proposed class action lawsuit Wednesday, a day after the market/cafe chain closed all its stores.State of play: Plaintiff Jamil Moore alleges that all employees were terminated without prior notice, which may be a violation of the federal and state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN).Moore alleges that he was terminated in the middle of his shift Tuesday around 11:30am, and that other employees found out they were let go in the same manner.The suit claims Foxtrot's parent company Outfox Hospitality failed to pay employees' wages, salary, commissions,...

Foxtrot employee sues company after abrupt shutdown

 The Union Stockyards closed 53 years ago, but Chicago's image as a steak town persists.Why it matters: That reputation — perhaps along with a big political convention coming this summer — has driven a stampede of new steakhouses, offering prime cuts of beef and other intriguing dishes.What they're saying: "We came here because Chicago invented the steakhouse," La Grande Boucherie owner Emil Stefkov told Axios at the restaurant's opening in February."This is one of the great steak cities in the world, but we bring our own vibe, so I feel like there's a place for us here," Will Beckett,...

Chicago's steakhouse stampede

Chicago's most expensive commercial street is in Fulton Market, per a new report, as more companies abandon downtown.Why it matters: It's yet another sign of the Loop's ailing office market — an issue that is causing office tenants to downsize and forcing the city to get creative.State of play: The stretch of Green Street in Fulton Market is the most expensive in Chicago, followed by two nearby streets, Carpenter and Fulton Avenue, according to commercial real estate analysts JLL's study.The intrigue: Just 10 years ago, the most expensive office spots were on downtown streets like Wacker, Dearborn and Clark in...

Chicago's most expensive street, revealed

Friday Film Club is a monthly series revisiting filming locations from Chicago classics, and today we're commemorating "Uncle Buck."🍿 First up: "Uncle Buck."The big picture: The John Hughes film starring John Candy and Macaulay Culkin is celebrating its 35th anniversary.It's a story about a bachelor uncle who has to watch his sister's kids due to an emergency. Heartfelt hilarity ensues.The intrigue: Did you know that almost the entire movie was shot in metro Chicago? Of course you did.We fanned out around the area to revisit some of the locations to see how they've held up.The family home2602 Lincoln St., Evanston...

Chicago classic "Uncle Buck" turns 35

Chicago's downtown visitors increased by 35% from March 2023 to February 2024, according to new University of Toronto data.Why it matters: It's a sign of improvement for downtown's sluggish post-pandemic recovery.The big picture: Among the dozens of North American cities studied, most saw a visitor boost, but Chicago's increase was the second-largest.Data: University of Toronto; Note: Downtown defined as the central location with the highest concentration of employment in each metro area; Chart: Alice Feng/AxiosHow it works: The researchers used anonymized mobile device location data to estimate visitor activity in metro downtowns defined as areas with the highest job concentration.Zoom in: Our biggest visitor bumps happened in June and July, when Taylor Swift, Beyonce, NASCAR and other big draws hit town.Meanwhile, weekend foot traffic in the Loop has surpassed 2019 levels for the first time, according to a recent Loop Alliance analysis.The analysis used first-quarter data counts of silhouettes along State Street from Ida B. Wells to Wacker Drive.Yes, but: Weekday foot traffic from 6am to 5pm reached only 91% of pre-pandemic activity. Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Chicago's downtown is rebounding

Chicago's latest homebuying hot spots are the North and West suburbs.Why it matters: Prices are rising in areas further from the city as low inventory pushes shoppers to expand their searches, according to Schaumburg-based broker Linda Dressler.What they're saying: Schaumburg, along with Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale and Park Ridge, are particularly sought-after because they're near trains that go downtown and highly rated schools, among other draws, Dressler tells Axios.State of play: "People who thought they bought high last year at this time are now looking around saying, 'Wow, prices this year are even higher,'" Dressler says.The median home sale price in...

What $300K gets you in Chicago real estate

Once again, Jewel-Osco leads local grocers with the highest market share in the Chicago metro area.By the numbers: There are 176 Jewel-Osco stores in the greater metro area.Kroger — comprising Food 4 Less, Mariano's Fresh Market, Ruler Discount Foods — has the fewest stores with 15.Batavia-based Aldi has more than 160 stores, but only 4% of market share.Catch up quick: Jewel parent company Albertson's has been trying to merge with Kroger since 2022.Of note: These rankings use data from Chain Store Guide, which was collected before last week's announcement that Foxtrot and Dom's were closing up shop.Fun fact: We asked you what your favorite grocery store was. The winner: Trader Joe's.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Chicago has more Jewels than any other grocery store

Denton, TX

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Robert Russell Shaneyfelt

This post includes content modified using AI. According to a report from CBS News Texas, authorities in Texas have started an investigation following an incident where a 13-year-old pupil was attacked by grown-ups while on a school bus.

Adults Assault 13-Year-Old Black Girl on School Bus

Pharmacists at Walgreens across the Chicago area are demonstrating at stores to call for better pay and hours.The big picture: The protests follow labor disruptions at pharmacies nationwide — dubbed "pharmageddon" — in response to understaffing and growing workplace demands that they say put patients' health at risk.The latest: Walgreens pharmacists and supporters are planning to rally today outside stores in Old Town, Bucktown and East Garfield Park.Reality check: It's not a work stoppage; Walgreens are open and operating as usual.Friction point: The National Pharmacists Association-Laborers' International Union of North America, which represents 900 pharmacists around Chicago, says the union...

Walgreens pharmacists to rally outside Chicago-area stores

When Goose Island's new pub opens Friday next to the Salt Shed, it'll become an obvious choice for concertgoers and non-concertgoers alike. Why it matters: The pub's innovative chow, excellent beer selection and stunning riverside patio are alone worth a trip to the Elston Avenue spot.  Dig in: We tried the juicy smashburger ($18) with a Bourbon County Stout milkshake ($5-$8), a rich smoked trout melt ($18.50) and a fried chicken sandwich with gochujang and kimchi slaw ($17.50).Next time, we want the burnt carrot sandwich ($16), spicy cabbage salad with coconut dressing ($16) and the Green City Market Pop Tarts filled with strawberries and basil ($9). On tap: Visitors will find six permanent Goose Island beers, including 312, Kick Back, Hazy Beer Hug IPA and the latest Bourbon County Stout, as well as seven rotating fruited ales, Belgian pale ales, a kölsch and more. Pro tip: Goose Island staffers tell Axios that you can hear outdoor Salt Shed concerts from their patio seating.Our dream would be to score one of these patio couches Saturday night during the Belle and Sebastian show — which we forgot to buy tickets for.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Goose Island takes flight with new Salt Shed pub

 This spring I've been delighted to see so many maple trees dropping lovely pink samaras (aka maple tree helicopters) instead of the usual green ones.Why it matters: Facebook friends are reporting the same mysterious change across the city and suburbs, but no one really knows why.Context: Experts note that some trees — especially red maples — produce pink samaras, but they're not quite sure why so many maples would switch from green to pink this year. The theory: When I reached out to The Morton Arboretum, Openlands and Chicago Botanic Garden, the best guess came from Openlands senior forestry program manager Tom Ebeling.He conjectures the pink ones could be coming from a silver and red maple hybrid called a Freeman that can produce both green and pink helicopters.And maybe, after this warm dryish winter and spring, "something in the climate is encouraging them to show their pink cards this year." The request: If you're a tree specialist with further insight, please write to chicago@axios.com and help us out.Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Why we're seeing pink maple helicopters and samaras in Chicago

New episodes of "In the Room with Peter Bergen" explore the pipeline of migrants from Venezuela to Chicago.Why it matters: Migration is currently the No. 1 voter issue, and this podcast makes it easy to get up to speed on the origins and implications of the city's current migrant crisis.Zoom in: Bergen spoke with Venezuelan migrants, policy experts, city officials and local volunteers to gain their insights.I gave it a listen. Here's what I learned:U.S. sanctions aimed at weakening Venezuela's leftist Maduro government have instead damaged the economy enough to drive more emigration, while allowing Maduro to blame the U.S....

Podcast explores Venezuela-to-Chicago migrant pipeline

Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts has ventured into the tech arena.Why it matters: Ricketts' company Freedom Fries LLC launched Freespoke in 2022 to take on big tech companies like Google. The search engine allows anonymous queries so users are not fed content and news based on past searches, as they are with Google.Between the lines: Like Google, Freespoke serves up news from a variety of sources, but each story is labeled right, middle or left.For example, the New York Post is labeled "right," the Associated Press "middle" and Axios "left."How it works: Company president Kristin Jackson tells Axios the labels...

Freespoke search engine provides "right, middle, left" labels on news

Cicero, IL

Oak Park, IL

Berwyn, IL

Forest Park, IL

River Forest, IL

Elmwood Park, IL

Riverside, IL

Lincolnwood, IL

Hines, IL

Evanston, IL

Maywood, IL

Lyons, IL

Harwood Heights, IL

River Grove, IL

Evergreen Park, IL

Can you spot where Monica is this week?The big picture: Each week, we ask our readers to guess where our Axios Chicago reporters are in photos around the city.Today's hint:Lakefront football has a homeOn this fake grass sports spotNo, it doesn't have a domeBut for golfers it's also hot (nearby)Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios Chicago.

Quiz: Where is Monica Eng this week?

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