🗓️ Weekend Plans: Bookstores, bakery farewells, and bizarre Chi things
By Sidney Madden | @sidney_madden_
Hey, friends!
How’re you kicking it this weekend? I’m hoping to hang out with my cousin who just moved to the city.
Seeing Chicago through her eyes has made me see some of the city’s quirks in ways that transplants and tourists often point out.
I’m not the only one: Reddit users have been compiling a long list of things that are normal to Chicagoans but weird to outsiders. We’re talking uniquely Chicago things — from pizza puffs to dibs to high school applications.
❓ What’re the things about the city that YOU think are weird to non-Chicagoans? The things that you have to explain to visitors? The ones that made you scratch your head when you moved here?
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📰 NEWSFEED
▪️ Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday she’ll make her re-election campaign announcement soon. The news comes after U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley said he would not be running for mayor next year. [Chicago Sun-Times]
▪️ El Milagro violated labor laws for allegedly denying employees at the tortilla factory regular meal breaks, the Illinois Department of Labor found. [Chicago Tribune]
▪️ Participate in the worldwide BioBlitz this weekend in Chicago. Download the iNaturalist app, document local flora and fauna, and be part of some friendly competition! [WTTW]
▪️ Illinois’ first luxury campground opens today: Camp Aramoni is a 96-acre campsite and event space near Starved Rock. [Eater Chicago]
▪️ This week’s must-read.
🗓️ WEEKEND PLANS
Friday
+ Englewood open mic. Head to the first in the new open mic series at Imagination House from 6–9 p.m.
Saturday
+Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl. Visit 10–15 stores on Indie Bookstore Day, and get 10–15% off at all the participating bookstores for a year.
+ Día de Los Niños festivities in Pilsen, Belmont Cragin. Ring in Children’s Day, a Mexican holiday, at a parade at Plaza Tenochtitlan at 11:30 a.m., and with games, music, books, and more at Blackhawk Park from 2:30–6 p.m.
+ Last hurrah at Dinkel’s Bakery in Lakeview. Grab one last treat at the 100-year-old bakery before it closes permanently Saturday.
+ “Ye-Xian: The Chinese Cinderella” reading in Chinatown. Bring the kids to hear what is possibly the oldest Cinderella story at the Chinese American Museum at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
+ Election judge deadline. Earn $230 to work the polls in the June primary!
All Weekend
+ One of A Kind Show downtown. Get your Mother’s Day shopping done early and score these artisan goods from more than 300 creatives at the Merchandise Mart through Sunday.
+ “Seinfeld” food truck in Near North Side, Oak Brook. Nom on free snacks inspired by the ‘90s sitcom by Water Tower Place Friday and Saturday and Oakbrook Center Sunday.
+ Arbor Day plant sale in Lisle. Consult experts while picking out your new plants at the Morton Arboretum through Sunday.
⏪ THIS WEEK ON THE PODCAST
A new study will look at air pollution in Pilsen, gas giveaways have become political, and Chicago really is a union town.Chicago Reader’s Kelly Garcia and Katie Prout join us to look back at the week in news. (new)
Missed a City Cast episode this week? Catch up.
🎉 MORE BIRTHDAY LOVE
We have another Taurus on staff, and that means another City Cast b-day to celebrate: Jacoby Cochran’s!
Jacoby is not only your (and your mom’s) fav podcast host, he’s also a compassionate educator, a budding photographer, a gifted storyteller, and possibly the busiest Chicagoan.
No, he’s not skydiving this year — I asked — but he’ll celebrate Saturday, his actual birthday, with friends and fam.
Lucky to work with and learn from you, Jacoby!