The longtime Reader editor and critic championed fringe artists and played a significant role in the growth of Chicago theater.

Charles E. Gerber broke into TV in the 70s on a Jewish kids’ show, but his career as a singer, actor, and teacher continues ...

Chicago became a hub for beer brewing in the 19th century. By 1900, the city had around 60 breweries, thanks to an influx of German and Irish immigrants who brought with them lighter, more carbonated ...

The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene ...

Marcus Gardley's Lorca-inspired story of free Black women facing an uncertain future in 1830s New Orleans returns at Invictus.

Bylines labeled “Chicago Reader Staff” are used for features that contain nonwritten, nonreported information like listings, ...

When the weather is fine, especially during Chicago summertimes, Medley’s semi-secret patio is a sanctuary to enjoy a meal ...

Topher Payne's 2013 dark comedy Angry Fags, updated for our current authoritarian age, returns at Ghostlight Ensemble.

Plus: Uptown People’s Law Center workers speak out after layoffs and city domestic violence services face budget cuts in 2026.

Steven Levenson's Days of Rage traces the relationships among friends and would-be revolutionaries in the late 60s ...

Torn Light Records reopens after a month of mopping up, Public Works sells a “Fuck ICE” T-shirt to benefit immigrant groups, and more.

Even after the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, local officials and everyday people resisted the legalized abductions of men, women, and children who had escaped slavery ...