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| What Chicago's Talking About |
| | | Are County Jails In Crisis? Also, Changes at MSI | Following a historic number of deaths in 2023, growing concerns over standards violations, and more, some Cook County Commissioners are calling for renewed independent oversight for the state’s largest county jail. We discuss the news on today’s podcast. Also: major renovation plans at the Museum of Science and Industry. [City Cast Chicago 🎧] | | Everyone Running For the School Board | Chicago votes on its first-ever fully elected school board Nov. 3. Here’s a clear guide as to who’s running in each local district, in addition to the four candidates vying for president. [Sun-Times] | | Illinois’ Carbon Footprint | Illinois has reduced its carbon footprint 32% since 2005, but it’s still falling behind the 2050 goal of “net zero” emissions. According to a new report, additional investments and regulations could help while producing a net benefit worth billions per year. [Capitol News] | | Help Shape the Bronzeville Trail | Got thoughts on the walking/biking trail coming to Bronzeville? There’s a free open house Wednesday at King College Prep for neighbors to share feedback. Bonus: It includes dinner. [Block Club] | | |
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| | | Suicide touches far too many lives. In Illinois, it's the 3rd leading cause of death for ages 15-34, and 4th for ages 35-54. But there is HOPE, and together, we can save lives. | Join us at the Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk on October 3 at Montrose Harbor. Walk in honor of someone loved, in memory of someone lost, or in support of your own mental health. | Learn more, register, or donate at afsp.org/Chicago. |
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| Are Singles Mixers Worth It? |
|  | This anthropological mission required a Long Island iced tea. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
| It’s officially fall — which means it’s officially cuffing season. Normally, I do not partake. But when my best friend Cori signed up for 222, an AI-curated meet-up app, curiosity (and FOMO) took over. | | I’ve now explored multiple types of singles mixers across the city. | | The 222 App | There’s no swiping on 222 — it’s not technically a dating app. After paying the hefty monthly fee, users answer a questionnaire that runs the gamut from Ye vs. Taylor Swift to your thoughts on abortion. Then the app invites you to group events matching your profile. | | The catch? AI does the sorting. I attended a seated dinner, which meant I spent almost two hours with machine-selected tablemates. Cori turned out to be the only female at her table. (My dream, her nightmare.) | | My table’s gender ratio was mixed. Our conversations, though cordial, felt somewhat forced. Things got friendlier once we all moved to a nearby bar. Drinking might have helped. | | Did I have fun? ✅ | Did I find love? ❌ | |  | Cori and her table of bachelors. Unfortunately, no one got a rose. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
| A Singles Happy Hour | Next, Cori and I tried Offline Dating Night, a happy hour at the Goose Island Taproom in West Loop. At the very least, I figured, a Google employee might buy our beers. | | The bar offered three cup types: green (“Come talk to me”), yellow (“Proceed with caution”), and red (“I’m here by accident”). The showing wasn’t terrible, about 25 people, but most men were holding red cups. | | Green cups in hand, Cori and I mainly talked to each other. Other women appeared to do the same. One man approached us — no connection. It seemed people were mainly there for the $3 Honkers. | | I did, however, meet a cute guy at the spot we went after to debrief … | | Did I have fun? ❌ | Did I find love? ❌ | | Butch McGuire’s Singles Night | The second Thursday of every month, Butch McGuire’s in Gold Coast turns into a sloppy, flirty mess. Entertaining to witness, but the crowd skewed young. (Hence the sloppy flirtiness.) “Wow, you look good for 28,” someone told Cori. | | The gender divide seemed even throughout the crowded rooms, and people took advantage, leaning in close to chat over loud music. Drinks were spilled. Phone numbers were exchanged. “We have nothing like this in Montana,” one out-of-town visitor told me, gushing. | | I also made friends in the bathroom! It really was like being 22 again. | | Did I have fun? ✅ | Did I find love? ❌ | | Upcoming Queer Singles Events | The singles mixers I attended were primarily straight, but plenty of queer events are coming up: | | | |
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… Meanwhile, I’m STILL trying to get the mud off my Riot Fest boots. At one point, schlepping to Alanis Morissette, it came up mid-calf, solid like quicksand. | | Some festgoers didn’t care, as evidenced by this mud-drenched man chugging sparkly green Malört. | |  | Rock on. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
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