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City Cast Chicago

The Metra can take you all over Chicagoland

Nearly 20 miles south of the Loop, the suburb once boasted thousands of manufacturing jobs. Even though its population and wealth have dwindled, Harvey remains rich in food, architecture, and history.

Harvey native Amethyst Davis launched the 

 last year. The only full-time staffer, Davis shares what to do in the south suburb that she said was her “playground growing up.”

“The ‘Storefront’ has some of the best tacos and tortas in all of Cook County. People travel from across the south suburbs to eat there. It's really called 

 is a can't-miss — the food and the building. … The biggest co-sign is for their breakfast, namely their omelets, which are really filling.”

“If you're looking to kick it at a speakeasy, grab a drink with friends at 

, the city's only Black-owned bar downtown.”

“Harvey's biggest draw is architecture. Much of the downtown area retains its early 20th-century buildings. Look at the original City Hall, Harvey Park District headquarters, the Stevenson building, Harvey Public Library District, and historic homes along 155th Street and Turlington Avenue.

. The city's Indian population has quadrupled over the past two decades, best exemplified on 152nd Street and Broadway Avenue.

, Harvey's only high school. Its campus is grandiose and commanding.”

,’ a mural by Dixmoor native and Thornton alum Amoz Wright and other local artists that rests on the side of the famed Harvey Boxing Club. The mural was designed to spread positivity and light across the city.”

Harvey native Amethyst Davis and founder of the Harvey World  shares what to do in the south suburb that she said was her “playground growing up.”

Get to Know Harvey

Neighborhood Guides

. Chalkbeat’s Becky Vevea gave the City Cast Chicago podcast the rundown.

Almost like mini school boards for each school, LSCs have three main functions: approve an academic plan for the school, approve the budget related to that plan, and choose and evaluate the school’s principal.

At least 12 members depending on whether it’s an elementary or high school, half of which are usually parent representatives. The rest can vary but include community members, teachers, non-teaching staff, student representatives, and a principal (who does sit on the LSC but doesn’t frequently vote).

How Have Local School Councils Worked in Practice?

The John Hancock College Preparatory LSC voted to end the  principal’s contract, 

a decision that baffled the community in the Clearing neighborhood

The Jones College Prep LSC tried to remove the South Loop principal for an alleged residency violation. (

He later retired during a district investigation

Since 2020, LSCs have voted on whether to 

🎧 Plus, Chicago's history of LSCs

Want to run for local school council? Applications open Oct. 16.

Your Cheat Sheet for Chicago's Local School Councils

Local Civics

Chicago comedian Sadie Walton co-founded 

 in 2019, putting on clown variety shows and teaching classes for aspiring clowns.

Ahead of the company’s Halloween–themed show opening this week, Walton told Hey Chicago why you should reconsider your clown phobia.

“Me and another member, Peyton, were putting up our first show at the Annoyance Theatre, [which] does kind of like edgy fringe comedy. We knew we wanted to do a clown show, and sex sells. … The community just really, really responded.”

What are recurring characteristics of a Hot Clown Co. show?

“We take those classic clown tropes — like juggling or balloon animals — and then subvert them by making it dildos or balloon genitals. We have songs, song parodies, dance numbers. We've got a burlesque number in our upcoming show. We like to mix genres in that way. It's a lot of physical comedy. We do have some spoken word pieces, but we also have a lot of silent pieces. … There's a lot of audience participation.”

What do you think are some misconceptions about clowns?

“There's a whole group of people who are terrified of clowns — the first thing they think of is Pennywise or John Wayne Gacy. They think birthday clown, 

, the rainbow wigs, which is just garish. … There's a whole new wave of clown in Chicago and other cities.” 

“There's this ongoing question of, ‘What is clown and how do you define clown?’ The trick is you can't actually define what it is: It's whatever.”

 at the Baton Show Lounge in Uptown all month.

🎧 Plus, a clown show as a date?

Ahead of the Hot Clown Company's Halloween–themed show, co-founder Sadie Walton told us why you should reconsider your clown phobia.

Don't Be Afraid of Chicago's 'Hot' Clowns

3 Questions With

More than 45,000 runners are expected to run in 

. The 26.2-mile course starts and ends in Grant Park, winding through several neighborhoods. So where should spectators see runners? We mapped out some of our favorite spots.

Watch runners cross the 5K mark while chowing down on something sweet from the Doughnut Vault.

Find a shady and cool spot to catch your runner early in the race around the namesake park at miles 6 and 10.

Expect lots of activity around the northernmost part of the course at miles 8 and 9. Chill out with a treat at Wake ‘n Bakery.

While runners loop through the neighborhood at miles 14 and 17, spectators can make signs, sip on complimentary coffee, and dance to Greek and American music.

Many runners love this leg of the race because of the crowd’s support. Get a pick-me-up at Cafe Jumping Bean and be ready to cheer at mile 20!

That energy carries to mile 21, where spectators can hop on and off the Red Line to get to other mile markers.

Miles 23 and 24 take runners through the historic South Side neighborhood, the 

With the finish line in sight, miles 25 and 26 get crowded. Take your runner to a celebratory brunch at Honeyberry Cafe.

🚧 Plus, marathon street closures

More than 45,000 runners are expected to run in Sunday’s marathon.

The Best Spectator Spots to Watch the Chicago Marathon

Chicago's Best

Indigenous People’s Day is next week, and Native American heritage celebrations will continue next month. But starting next school year, 

Illinois students will learn about Native history year-round

 after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law.

Contemporary Native American history about Illinois tribes

Forced Native American removal when students learn about the Holocaust and other genocides

 allowing students to wear Native dress to graduations and establishing procedures to return human remains to Native American nations. 

Chicago has one of the largest urban Native American populations in the U.S., so there are opportunities to educate yourself and your kids now with 

🎧 Plus, the fight to teach Asian American history in Illinois schools

Starting next school year, Illinois students will learn about Native history year-round after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law.

What Illinois Students Will Learn About Indigenous History

Chicago, Explained

October is peak fall foliage season in Illinois, which is why we're helping you plan your trips to take in all the crisp autumn colors. Let’s go leaf-peeping 🍂

 helps residents see when and where leaves are changing. Fall foliage is expected to peak by the second week of October in Northern Illinois and by the end of October in Central and Southern Illinois.

Forest Preserves of Winnebago County in Rockford

Chicago has plenty of spots to take in the autumn colors

. Score other leaf-peeping tips from our colleagues in 

October is peak fall foliage season in Illinois, which is why we're helping you plan your trips to take in all the crisp autumn colors.

Where to Peep Leaves in Illinois

Urban Almanac

Don’t have a car? Don’t want to drive? Can’t drive? Explore nearby getaways by bus and train!

⏰ 1 hour 45 minutes from Millennium Station

Explore sand dunes, woodlands, prairies, beaches, and more at the national and state parks — with fewer crowds. Be prepared to hike and spot various bird species.

⏰ 3 hours 30 minutes from 630 W. Harrison St. bus stop

Wisconsin's capital has a lot to do like shopping at the Dane County Farmers Market and biking the Lake Monona Loop. And there’s a lot to eat like cheese curds, onion rings, and fish fry from the Old Fashioned.

⏰ 3 hours 30 minutes from Union Station

In addition to the usual waterpark fun at the Dells, go horseback riding, ziplining, and ride festive trains. Don’t miss craft brewery events!

Head to the western Michigan town for apple-picking, fresh apple cider, and haunted houses. Foodies can enjoy poutine week and a chili cookoff.

Bring the fam for scary fun with Fright at the City Museum and Fright Fest at Six Flags St. Louis. Check out apple butter and storytelling fests.

Explore nearby getaways by bus and train!

How to Travel the Midwest — Without a Car

Chicago Life Hacks

 want to get into the Halloween spirit? Hop in the car and drive to nearby scary destinations.

Shaker’s Cigar Bar in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Once a graveyard, the Capone brothers owned the building as a speakeasy and brothel. Later, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer frequented the spot. Today, patrons can tour the haunted bar and stay overnight above the bar. 

City Cast Chicago lead producer Simone Alicea is making a pit stop …

Downtown Public Library in Peoria, Illinois

Believed to be built on cursed ground, the Central Illinois library’s first three directors died unusually. Ghosts are thought to haunt the library to this day.

Legend has it that the Black Angel statue has been struck by lightning and that virgins will die if they touch the 9-foot sculpture.

‘America’s Most Haunted Small Town’ in Alton, Illinois

McPike Mansion is supposedly home to ghosts of former residents and servants. Unitarian Church and Mineral Springs are also popular haunted sites in the town. Hop on a ghost tour if you don’t want to explore alone.

Stay on the fourth floor of the historic hotel, where guests have seen toilets mysteriously flush and employees have heard doors shut in empty rooms.

Itching for a weekend getaway to get into the Halloween spirit? Hop in the car and drive to these nearby scary destinations.

The Best Midwest Haunted Road Trips

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last week it would expedite work permits for migrants who have arrived from Venezuela — including those who have settled in Chicago.

How Will Migrants in Chicago Be Affected?

Migrants who are Venezuelan nationals and arrived before July 31 are eligible to 

, which for 18 months protects migrants from deportation to home countries considered unsafe. TPS will also allow migrants to apply for legal work permits.

More than 13,500 migrants have arrived in Chicago since last summer, many of whom are from Venezuela.

 heading into 2024, and it costs the city about $20 million per month to support new arrivals, Block Club’s Manny Ramos told the City Cast Chicago podcast.

“[Expanding TPS] allows folks to be more self-sufficient when it comes to working and providing for themselves. 

 can help alleviate some of those burdens for cities that consider themselves welcoming to migrants, but simply don't have the infrastructure,” he said.

Some advocates say the process will take months before migrants see benefits while others say the government should

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last week it would expedite work permits for migrants who have arrived from Venezuela.

Work Permits Coming for Some Migrants in Chicago

You don’t just have to go to Starbucks for fall-themed drinks: Chicago cafes have a bunch of festive specials for you to sip on.

The Goddess and Grocer at Various Locations

The cafe has a few different lattes: raspberry toffee pretzel, sunrise, and brown butter pumpkin.

You can’t go wrong with a classic PSL from this West Side spot.

Try a pumpkin cold brew latte or a pumpkin spice chai latte, both topped with graham cracker crumbs 🤤

Brew Brew Coffee & Tea in Avondale, Pilsen

The Mexican coffee shop has drink specials like a pumpkin spice horchata and café de olla (traditional Mexican coffee with cinnamon).

Get hot or iced caramel apple cider for this sweet treat. I’ll update you if the sweet potato pie latte is coming back this year!

Plus, there are alcoholic beverages in the mix!

Order a blood orange boulevardier — made with bourbon, orange syrup, and Campari — from the English pub.

Order a pumpkin spice martini at the popular North Side trivia bar.

The downtown rooftop won’t offer these drinks until its autumn pop-up Oct. 13, but you can dream about German chocolate coffee cocktails, hot buttered rum, and boozy hot chocolate in the meantime.

We’ll share fall food specials next — stay tuned!

What Chicagoans Can Sip On Besides Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Food & Drink

Chicagoans are urged to turn off their lights this time of year to 

. But there’s another reason residents should keep their lights off: light pollution.

Excess artificial lighting of night skies in cities caused by street lamps, homes, office buildings, and billboards.

Animals’ migration, habitat formation, and sleeping patterns can be affected.

People’s circadian rhythms can be disrupted.

Stargazing in the city with the naked eye is nearly impossible, and becoming more difficult in the Chicago suburbs. That’s why some 

How Can Light Pollution in Chicago Be Fought?

The city has already replaced most streetlights with LED lights

, a Chicago Department of Transportation spokesperson told the Tribune.

But Ken Walczak, senior manager of the Adler Planetarium’s Far Horizons program, said LED lights still emit blue light and contribute to sky glow. Instead, he said the city should dim street lights and only use the amount of light it needs.

Plus, the city should also regulate the light pollution that businesses — like parking lots and gas stations — emit.

Another Reason Chicagoans Should Turn Off Lights? Light Pollution

Next up in our neighborhood series: West Elsdon.

Near Midway Airport and lined with bungalows, the Southwest Side neighborhood played a central role in public housing riots in the mid-20th century. The neighborhood remained mostly white until the ‘90s when more Mexican residents began to settle there.

Pepe Barajas moved as a kid from Mexico to Little Village and later to West Elsdon. From a family who worked in and owned taquerias in Chicago, Barajas opened 

 (formerly El Solazo) more than 15 years ago. He shares his favorite things to do in the neighborhood.

, serving up Chicago-style dogs, burgers, and Italian beef. Get authentic seafood cuisine from the state of Nayarit, Mexico, at 

 on the northwestern corner of 63rd Street and Pulaski Road that was featured in 'Wayne's World.'”

“Agave 101 at Solazo, which offers a wide selection of agave spirits, including tequila, mezcal, and raicilla.”

which Hey Chicago also has a neighborhood guide for

Solazo owner Pepe Barajas moved as a kid from Mexico to Little Village and later to West Elsdon. He shares his favorite things to do in the neighborhood.

Get to Know West Elsdon

The final season of “Sex Education” drops Thursday. While the Netflix show follows high schoolers educating each other through an underground sex therapy clinic, a group of Chicagoland students are working to teach peers and revamp sex education in schools.

Ava Gonzalez and Anna Yang, a senior and junior at the Illinois Math & Science Academy in Aurora, are co-directors of the 

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Ava: “I would say they range from what seems like common knowledge to stuff you would have never heard before. People have asked me, ‘What is contraception?’ … It’s interesting to see that people don't really even know what a condom is or different types of birth control.”

“Shattering the Taboo” workbooks for middle

Anna: “We've continued to reach out to libraries across Illinois, especially those who may not have the best access to sex ed and sex ed books.”

Ava: “We have one installation of a sex ed podcast where we talked to different health officials and professors about what their perspective was on sex ed during different time periods — like the middles ages and 2000s.”

Will SEI influence what you do after high school?

Anna: “Although I'm not thinking of going into direct sex ed advocacy, I want to pursue a career in health care. … [This knowledge] is something I want to pass down to my little siblings and my future kids.”

Know a Chicago student who’d want to get involved? 

🎧 What to know about Illinois' sex ed

Ava Gonzalez and Anna Yang are co-directors of the Sex Ed Initiative.

How Chicago Students Are Teaching Sex Ed

Break out the flannel and scarves: We’re going apple picking! Here are some of the spots Chicagoans can hit up as the fall equinox hits Saturday.

Pick Gala, Golden Delicious, and more at the orchard. Hop on a tractor ride, visit the petting zoo, and sample fall treats.

🍎 $10 for a half-peck bag or $20 for a full bag

The no-frills orchard only offers apple picking. Open for the season Friday, get McIntosh, Jonathan, and Empire apples.

🍎 Admission includes a quarter-peck bag

The 230-acre farm also has a corn maze, bakery, pumpkin farm, pig races, mountain slide, a life-size Charlotte’s Web, and more.

🍎 Admission includes a quarter-peck bag — bigger bags cost more

The orchard has been voted among the best apple-picking spots in the U.S. Your fav newsletter writer went from being an apple cider doughnut hater to convert at this place.

🍎 Even more apple picking

Break out the flannel and scarves: We’re going apple picking!

Where to Go Apple Picking Near Chicago

Starting today, Illinois judges will no longer be able to require cash bail as a condition of pretrial release. Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to end the practice. Here’s what you need to know.

Under a traditional cash bail system, people accused of crimes can pay to be released ahead of their trial. But those who can’t are left waiting in jail — mostly low-income people and people of color.

Banning Cash Bail in Illinois Has Been a Long Road

After advocates fought for years to end the practice, 

the Illinois General Assembly passed the measure in January 2021 as part of the SAFE-T Act

. A Kankakee County judge initially ruled the ban was unconstitutional, but 

the changes were ultimately upheld by the Illinois Supreme Court this summer

Starting today, Illinois judges will no longer be able to require cash bail as a condition of pretrial release. Illinois is the first state in the U.S. to end the practice.

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