Your Daily Guide

Giannoulias Stumbles on the Northwest Side

On today’s podcast, we’re talking about mayoral candidate and Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ photo op flop. Giannoulias caught flak for posing with and voicing support for controversial Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th). Also discussed: LGBTQ+ representation in Illinois politics and bookstore events. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]

State’s Attorney Bars Vendor From Sharing Data With ICE

Cook County’s top prosecutor Eileen O’Neill Burke says she’s revisiting her office’s contract with company Appriss Inc., which notifies victims of court dates, to “explicitly prohibit” it from disclosing data with federal law or immigration enforcement officials. [WTTW]

Johnson Broadens Gunshot-Detection Pilot

Recently, Chicago announced a new pilot gunshot detection technology program. Now, after voters voiced support for restarting the tech in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson is changing the pilot to include other vendors — one of which is behind ShotSpotter. [CBS]

Illinois Ban on THC Drinks Paused

Following a federal lawsuit by around 250 businesses, Illinois agreed not to enforce its new law banning sales of THC drinks (outside dispensaries) for an extra week. A judge will hear arguments Nov. 19. [Block Club]

• While supplies last: Marz is counting down, and Hopewell is slashing prices. [Instagram, CBS]

Parents Protesting Google's AI School Policy Today

Local parents are gathering at Google’s West Loop headquarters at 4 p.m. to protest the company’s AI policy for schools. Recently, Google announced it would take away Google search for schools that opt out of its AI products. Google then backtracked. Somewhat. [Axios]

Eating All Around West Town

West Town has no shortage of hip restaurants. One writer balked at the line at Lao Peng You (been there) before hitting the affordable Dell’ Rooster Restaurant & Bar, Barsero’s happy hour, J.J. Thai Street Food, and much more. [WBEZ]

• Also: This year’s Eater picks mapped. [Eater]
• Plus: The best new restaurants of 2026. [City Cast Chicago]

I visited the free National Veterans Art Museum to see Kurt Vonnegut doodles — his silkscreen prints remain on display. But once there, I was entranced by the work of vets I'd never heard of.

Vietnam War veteran John McManus’ sculptures, bound in carved ropes and blindfolds, are so haunting that a college removed one (“Abandoned,” pictured above) for being too depressing.

You see, NVAM is not patriotic in the stereotypical flag-waving sense. Rather, the museum’s patriotism emerges through honoring veterans’ own images. It’s the only museum in America dedicated solely to art by veterans.

Plaques accompanying the permanent collection include writing from the artists, too: craft talk and war fog memories that weave together like grievous poems:

• “... I always saw them with chutes streaming behind them, changing into futile wings that could not support or save them.” — Leo McStravick, a Vietnam vet, on "Falling Airman"
• “... How do we normal, walking-down-the-street kind of people end up doing these incredibly horrible things to each other?” — Randolph Harmes, a Vietnam vet, on "Ritual Suicide Mask"
• “We are blindfolded on this planet; we are unable to see what we do to each other … when I sculpt, I learn to see.” — McManus on "POW" (pictured above)

On Display Now

In addition to NVAM’s permanent collection, you can catch “Never Forget: 9/11 25th Anniversary” through January and “we had each other, and still…,” a collection of paintings by Minneapolis-born Gregory Rick through July.

An Iraq War veteran, Rick depicts tortured chaos, overseas and at home, to tell a broad story of the so-called war on terror. In one piece, the army recruitment station sits next door to a bail bondsman. Another collages the 24-hour news cycle. Viewed in succession, his paintings unfold like comic panels, satirizing war’s corporate interests.

They are remarkable.

Make a Day of It

Tucked away on the second floor of a Portage Park loft, NVAM is right above Filament Theatre and across the street from Junebug Cafe, where I enjoyed a delicious bowl of spicy chicken-and-sausage gumbo. Then, just around the corner, unwind at City News Cafe.