Author: Allan Hippensteel
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DOWNTOWN — Chicago welcomed 55.3 million visitors last year, and another strong year is expected, the city’s tourism arm announced Thursday at its annual meeting at the Nederlander Theatre.
Choose Chicago said last year’s visitor total represented a 6.5 percent increase year over year, with international tourism surpassing 2 million visitors for the first time since 2019. The rise in tourism was attributed to the city hosting several large special events and conventions, such as the Democratic National Convention, Sundance Chicago, Lollapalooza and the second Downtown NASCAR race. Combined…
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Bar Louie Suddenly Closes Dearborn Station Spot In Printers Row
The restaurant is one of three Bar Louie locations to abruptly close over the weekend. by Jamie Nesbitt Golden March 25, 2025 PRINTERS ROW — Another restaurant has left the South Loop. Patrons looking to dine at Bar Louie Monday inside Dearborn Station, 47 W. Polk St., were greeted by a sign on the door…
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Trump threatens to arrest, imprison American students who engage in ‘illegal protests’ on college campuses
Rogers Park resident Logan Green poses with his sign at Chicago’s People’s March for Justice at Water Tower Park on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. By Morgan Kromer, Staff Reporter March 4, 2025 President Trump threatened to cut federal funding to colleges and universities that allow “illegal protests” and arrest or expel American students. In a…
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Chicago’s Immigrants Are Being Targeted By ICE. Here’s What You Can Do To Help
From sharing information and shopping immigrant-owned businesses to donating to nonprofits, here are seven ways Chicagoans can help immigrant communities in the city. by Francia Garcia Hernandez January 28, 2025 BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO – Immigrant communities in Chicago are on edge amid the Trump administration’s broad immigration crackdown during his first week in office. When…
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Bonnie McGrath, journalist and attorney who always championed Chicago, dies at 73
By Adam Harrington Updated on: December 29, 2024 / CBS Chicago CHICAGO (CBS) — Bonnie McGrath—a Chicago journalist, attorney, and champion of the city’s arts, culture, and people—passed away last week. McGrath—a longtime resident of the South Loop—died Sunday, Dec. 22. She would have turned 74 on Dec. 25. A Chicago native, Benita Carol McGrath,…
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Aldermanic Forum
On Tuesday, December 3rd at Grace Place, a forum was presented and organized by One Community Near South and sponsored by South Loop Neighbors. The South Loop is split into five different wards. The purpose? The last ward boundries were redrawn was 2022. However, the South Loop, formerly the 2nd Ward, was carved up and…
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AMC Movie Theatres Coming To South Loop, Replacing Shuttered Showplace Icon Theater
The theater at Roosevelt Collection Shops will be one of the few movie theaters south of Downtown. A MacGuffins Bar is also in the works. by Jamie Nesbitt Golden November 15, 2024 BLOCK CLUB AMC Theatres will be moving into Roosevelt Collection Shops in the South Loop next month. Credit: Provided SOUTH LOOP — The…
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If You Block A Bike Lane Downtown, You’ll Now Get An Automatic Ticket Or Warning
Drivers blocking bike and bus lanes Downtown will start receiving warnings and tickets in the mail under the two-year Smart Streets pilot program. by Melody Mercado November 4, 2024 Block Club DOWNTOWN — A pilot program that automatically sends tickets to drivers blocking bike and bus lanes Downtown launched Monday — nearly two years after…
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Kasey’s Tavern Celebrates 50 Years
On October 19th, 2024, Kasey’s turned 50. Bill White purchased it in the mid-1980’s. A wonderful article in the October issue of Newcity (another stalwart of the neighborhood) traces the early beginnings of Kasey’s and how the neighborhood around the tavern has changed. Check out the article written by June Sawyers. Here is an excerpt.…
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Grant Park Framework Workshop, October 15th
How would you like to see the south end of Grant park developed? Neighborhood park, bathrooms, facility for park district programming, enhanced dog park, decking over of the railroad tracks, etc? The 2002 Grant Park Framework Plan noted pending residential growth in the South Loop and the need to develop part of the south end…