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Chicago Bears: Do fans need to temper FA expectations?on March 10, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

With free agency approaching, do Chicago Bears fans need to temper their expectations?

Well Chicago Bears fans, we’ve almost made it. We are less than one week away from the beginning of the “legal tampering” period of the NFL free agency period. While teams cannot sign any deals with players until March 19th, they may begin to negotiate with players on the 16th. Although Ryan Pace and company appear to have some holes to fill, it’s worth wondering whether fans should temper their expectations, or risk being extremely disappointed.

All offseason, fans have been clamoring for upgrades at a variety of positions. While the quarterback position may be leading the way, there is a strong contingent of folks who would argue tight end and offensive line are the more pressing needs.

Regardless of where you come down on prioritizing those needs, it is safe to assume that the vast majority of fans believe all three must be addressed through a combination of free agency and the NFL Draft in April.

Free agency, though, offers the first crack at addressing some of these needs. At this time, they have just over $16.5 million in cap space according to Over the Cap. It is possible deals may be restructured once the new collective bargaining agreement is in place (if it passes). The new deal may also result in a higher salary cap. However, neither of these things are guaranteed, and with the voting period being extended until Saturday, we will operate under the current situation.

So before free agency kicks off fans may not want to get their hopes up as there is a real possibility the team doesn’t make a “splash move” at any of the aforementioned positions.

Let’s take them one at a time, starting with the tight end position. While Trey Burton had an incredibly disappointing season, he is still set to count for $8.85 million against the cap this season. Cutting him would result in $7.5 million worth of dead money. In other words, he’s not going anywhere.

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They’ve already signed Demetrius Harris for $1.65 this season, and are paying Adam Shaheen and Ben Braunecker $1.8 and $1.6 respectively. This doesn’t include the additional million in total for guys like Dax Raymond and Jesper Horsted. At this time, they have an awful lot of capital devoted to the position. Are they willing to commit that much more? Instead, they may be comfortable riding with Burton, hoping he’s now healthy.

What about the offensive line? We can talk all we want about how much the o-line needs to be upgraded, but the reality is there is only one vacancy — right guard. Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, Charles Leno, and Bobby Massie, despite your personal opinions on their quality of play, aren’t going anywhere. So what about guard? Well, the top options on the market are clearly Brandon Scherff, Joe Thuney, and Halapoulivaati Vaitai, whose market value has been assessed at $12.5, $13.9, and $9.7 million respectively according to Spotrac.

That is also a lot of money to dedicate to an interior line position, especially considering the other needs the team must fill. It would be a big surprise if they were serious contenders for any of these players.

Finally, we come to the quarterback position. The idea of landing a guy like Tom Brady or Phillip Rivers seems like a pipe dream. Even trading for a guy like Cam Newton or acquiring Teddy Bridgewater seems far fetched. It appears more likely the team will bring in someone just good enough to keep the masses from revolting, but just bad enough to provide marginal competition for Mitchell Trubisky.

The name that keeps popping up is Andy Dalton, for whom the Cincinnati Bengals are asking for a second-round pick. While that seems laughable, NFL insider Benjamin Allbright said recently that a third-round pick is likely the sweet spot. First of all, if the Bears give up that kind of draft capital for Dalton, I’ll be physically ill. Second, regardless of the price, a guy like Dalton is not likely, in my opinion, to move the needle much on offense. He would be a slight upgrade to Trubisky but isn’t someone with whom the Bears could legitimately hope to have Super Bowl aspirations.

Next: Should Bears trade for Trent Williams?

While the football offseason, and especially free agency, can be particularly exciting for fans, they may want to curb their enthusiasm a bit this year, or risk being supremely disappointed.

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‘Kindness and Wonder’ — Share what you’ve learned, as Mister Rogers didon March 9, 2020 at 9:00 pm

Margaret Serious

‘Kindness and Wonder’ — Share what you’ve learned, as Mister Rogers did

©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
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‘Kindness and Wonder’ — Share what you’ve learned, as Mister Rogers didon March 9, 2020 at 9:00 pm Read More »

Watch Berkowitz w/R Primary State’s Attorney candidate Judge Pat O’Brien on Smollett, Homicide, Foxx, et al; Cable & Webon March 10, 2020 at 1:41 am

Public Affairs with Jeff Berkowitz

Watch Berkowitz w/R Primary State’s Attorney candidate Judge Pat O’Brien on Smollett, Homicide, Foxx, et al; Cable & Web

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Watch Berkowitz w/R Primary State’s Attorney candidate Judge Pat O’Brien on Smollett, Homicide, Foxx, et al; Cable & Webon March 10, 2020 at 1:41 am Read More »

Decluttering up to a pointon March 9, 2020 at 10:02 pm

Retired in Chicago

Decluttering up to a point

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How Luya Poetry became a space for Chicago’s poets of coloron March 9, 2020 at 8:00 pm

Chris Aldana, 27, inspires Chicagoans–especially many who are LGBTQ and people of color–to listen to each other’s words.

This happens in part during monthly gatherings at Luya Poetry, the open mike she hosts in east Pilsen at ISA Studios (the studio is named after the Filipino word for “one”). Audience members pack in elbow-to-elbow, watching performers who stand before a vintage silver trailer festooned in fairy lights.

At a recent mike, Frankiem Mitchell, a teaching artist-in-residence at the Chicago Poetry Center, recited this line: “I woke up this morning suffocating / like I had forgotten to be born or something / like my skin and mind live alternative realities / This doesn’t make sense in more than one dimension / there’s a holy war being waged against my melanin / Don’t you feel it?”


When Aldana moved to Chicago in 2016, she felt the city’s spoken-word poetry scene lacked a certain atmosphere that existed in Bangkok, where she had lived the previous two years and participated in open mikes hosted by a group called Bangkok Lyrical Lunacy at a local bar. She said it was a relaxed mood where people always interacted with newcomers and returners. It also was more diverse, she said, compared to when she came to Chicago and found herself at mostly white open mikes.


So, she decided to do something about it and, in July 2018, created Luya.

The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

How did you come up with the name “Luya?”
I knew that I wanted to use a word that was from my language and my culture. I was at AFIRE, a community organization here that does immigrant rights and domestic worker rights, and they had posters on the wall from a previous workshop about food. There was a brainstorm on one wall that was talking about healing and different ingredients. It said, “luya,” and then underneath it said, “ginger,” and I was like, “I didn’t know that [luya] was the word for ginger in Tagalog (a language spoken in the Philippines). That sounds really beautiful.” Most of our cultures, if not all, use ginger in their cuisine, and then also believe ginger to have healing properties. That’s what I feel like poetry can be for people. It’s like an avenue for healing, for spiritual nourishment.


Would you call Luya your baby?
I don’t want to get into the habit of calling it my baby because I feel like Luya is something else entirely. To call it my baby would imply that I really have to mother and look after it, like it can’t do things for itself. Honestly, I could put up the flyer for the event like one week in advance of it, and it will still be packed. Luya means something to other people, and it’s beyond what I want it to be now. And I love it, obviously, but I also know that it’s not mine in that sense.


As you’re approaching your second year doing Luya, how do you hope it evolves?
I don’t know what it’s going to look like a year from now, right? At the outset in my head, Luya for me was intended to be more than just an open mike. I think the open mike will stay as a flagship thing. But, my overall goal with Luya is to create spaces and opportunities for poets of the Asian diaspora, and other communities [of color] they stand in solidarity with, to feel comfortable bringing their whole stories and whole selves to the mike. And so that can look like showcases, it can look like artist talkbacks, it can look like workshops. I can’t be married to the idea that it has to remain an open mike. Otherwise, I don’t think it will survive. Because for example, if ISA closed tomorrow, I don’t have space for my open mike anymore. We would have to take a break.


From your eyes, why do you see Luya and spaces like it as important for the Chicago community?
I can’t speak for the entire Chicago artist community, and as a host, I often don’t get to experience what Luya actually feels like. Luya provides a space where you don’t feel like you have to justify the art that you are about to do. It’s a place where you can go, and you can do a poem or a song that’s not even in English, and the audience will receive it. It’s a place where you can talk deeply about diaspora and the consequences of war and imperialism and colonization freely without fear of being judged. That’s the thing that makes Luya beautiful. v






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Major U.S. sports leagues closing locker room access amid coronavirus outbreakon March 9, 2020 at 11:16 pm

MIAMI — The NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer are closing access to locker rooms and clubhouses to all non-essential personnel in response to the coronavirus crisis, the leagues announced in a joint statement Monday night.

The leagues said they made the decision “after consultation with infectious disease and public health experts.” The NBA, in a call with teams earlier Monday, stressed that the move is not to ban reporters but to ensure the safety of players and staff in those areas.

The statement, in part, read: “Given the issues that can be associated with close contact in pre- and post-game settings, all team locker rooms and clubhouses will be open only to players and essential employees of teams and team facilities until further notice. Media access will be maintained in designated locations outside of the locker room and clubhouse setting.”

The changes, which the leagues say are temporary, will begin Tuesday — though some NHL teams began putting them into use this past weekend. The NBA said interviews with players would continue in different settings, stressing a gap of 6-to-8 feet between reporters and interview subjects.

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Major U.S. sports leagues closing locker room access amid coronavirus outbreakon March 9, 2020 at 11:16 pm Read More »

Chicago’s First Black and LGBTQ+ Owned Sports Bar Opens This Springon March 9, 2020 at 7:36 pm

So you walk into a sports bar, ready to watch your team, co-mingle or commiserate with fellow fans, and drink a brew. To your dismay, your acclaimed neighborhood establishment is full of snapbacks, bros, and domestic brews (in a can). If you’re lucky, there might be food, but that’s a long-shot — kind of like an air-ball at the buzzer. There you are, paying full-craft-beer-price for a can of Coors, listening to the roars of former fraternity bros while the wave of Sunday Scaries envelops you. You leave your famed sports bar, distressed and confused.

Sounds familiar (and abysmal), right? It’s kind of like the Seinfield of the bar scene in Chicago. Sure, it’s fun for a weekend or two but much more than that and you’re searching for something more. What’s more? Unlike wine and cheese, this sports bar scene does not age well.



Enter a golden opportunity: how does a sports bar that specializes in deep-dish, Italian beef sandwiches, and craft brews sound? Oh, by the way, this bar is inclusive of everyone, regardless of your team. Focusing on the LGBTQ+-identified and black folks of Chicago, Williams Inn Pizzeria and Sports Bar will bring its A-game for you and friends alike when it opens this spring.

gay sports bar
Photo Credit: The Jeffrey Pub

The current owner of Chicago’s oldest gay bar (Jeffery Pub), Jamal Junior, has recognized that there is an overlooked demographic in this landscape of sports bars. Presently, in 2020, Jeffery pub is the only black- and gay-owned bar in Chicago. Keep in mind, in 2016, 44,000 LGBTQ+ individuals in Chicago also identified as black. Combine this statistic with the one and only black- and gay-owned sports bar in the city and you’re sure to scratch your head.



Jamal is rising to the challenge for Chicago by bringing a much-needed bar to the Motor Row District. Named after Jamal’s grandmother, Williams Inn Pizzeria and Sports Bar is a direct response to the growing need for representation in bars, entrepreneurship, and minority ownership, and the third iteration of its kind in Chicago. 

Photo Credit: Williams Inn Pizzeria

For a sports bar, Williams Inn plans to model itself in a similar light: plenty of big-screen TVs, traditional bar finger-foods, and ample seating for groups and individuals alike. The drink menu stands out because it offers 24 beers on tap and plenty of craft cocktails. Be sure to check out their other non-sports-bar-inspired food, too, like pasta and salad. 



Emphatically, Williams Inn distinguishes itself from the others by being inclusive, welcoming, and, most of all, warm for everyone. Identity doesn’t limit you at Williams Inn. Be kind, be you, and celebrate your new favorite sports bar in the Motor Row District, when it opens sometime in late March or early April. 



At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!



Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock Image





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5 Things to Do in Chicago This Weekendon March 9, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Fun Chicago Events, Festivals, & More This Weekend

It’s no secret that every month, Chicago puts on amazing events that will seriously upgrade your weekends. But it’s not always easy to decide what to do and where to go! What are a couple of fun things to do in Chicago this weekend? That’s where we come in.

We have the inside scoop on all of the latest events, festivals, and parties happening this March. Finding parking can be a hassle, but we got you. Other than that, we’re just here to show you fun Chicago events this weekend!



Chicago Beer Festival

things to do chicago march

March 14 @ The Field Museum

Another entertaining thing to do in Chicago on this weekend in March is attending the Chicago Beer Festival from 8 pm – 11 pm (or starting at 7 pm for VIP guests). Try seasonal spring brews from 70 breweries at Chicago’s iconic Field Museum, where you can also enjoy food, music, and tour select museum exhibits. Tickets are $50 for general admission and $65 for VIP.



TILT Me, I’m Irish!

Photo Credit: TILT

March 14 – 15 @ 360 CHICAGO

We’re all Irish around St. Pat’s Day but if you wear green to 360 CHICAGO and purchase a general admission ticket, you’ll be treated to one free TILT ride. Tip 30 degrees out over the city below on this one-of-a-kind attraction. One ride per ticket purchased.



St. Patrick’s Day Events

There’s no doubt that Chicago is one of the best places on Earth to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, other than maybe an actual city in Ireland, of course. The entire city is going green and there’s no escaping the Irish spirit that will take over Chicago. Consult our St. Patrick’s Day Guide for an in-depth guide that will share every single event taking place for St. Pat’s. And yes, while St. Patrick’s Day is only on March 17, you know the city will be celebrating through the weekend.



360 Sky Yoga

Sky Yoga
Photo Credit: 360 Sky Yoga

March 14 & 15 @ 360 CHICAGO

Practice your sun salutations from 1,000 feet closer to the sun at 360 CHICAGO’s 94th-floor yoga class. 360 Sky Yoga welcomes yoga enthusiasts from all skill levels to a one-hour weekly class led by 360 CHICAGO’s professional instructor. Participants will be led through meditation and gentle flow movements to awaken the senses, stretches, breath-centered movements, and morning sun salutations. Registration is $18 and includes a General Admission ticket to the observation deck, so feel free to stick around after the class and take in the amazing views! 360 Sky Yoga sells out every week because the class is crazy cheap and they’re kind of a big deal now, so be sure and register well in advance! Special sessions with guest instructors are held once per month.



Peach Presents: The Spot (Weekly Queer Hangout)

things to do this weekend in chicago

March 15 @ Elixir Andersonville

The Spot is a free, weekly hangout for LGBTQIA+ women, trans folks and non-binary folks every Sunday at Elixir Andersonville. The Spot features a curated dining and cocktail menu for purchase (including vegetarian/vegan options and mocktails) in a relaxed lounge atmosphere with big screens, the best local DJs bringing the good vibes, guest bartenders, and occasionally special viewings, hosts and performers.



At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.



Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Green Curtain Events


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10 Sexiest Burlesque Shows in Chicagoon March 9, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Bump n’ grind or shimmy on over with your tassels and pasties – you have a burlesque extravaganza waiting for you. Full-reveal or not, this evening is for you to explore the art of undressing. The performers await your presence (and your cheers) at these top 10 burlesque shows in Chicago.

burlesque shows
Photo Credit: Bordel

Bordel | 1721 W Division St

Bordel is a grand old time. Bringing you an evening of nefarious and naughty activities, Bordel | Cabaret and Cocktail Bar is a sexy addition to your burlesque evening. An enclave, dimly lit with velvet tufted couches and lounge-areas, Bordel brings talented dancers and jazz musicians in one place (complete with crafted-cocktails!).



burlesque shows
Photo Credit: The Drifter

The Drifter | 676-8 N Orleans St

You’ll see the entrance to Green Door Tavern and notice the smells of pub grub accompanied by eclectic Chicago memorabilia. Does burlesque really happen here?! Don’t judge a burlesque venue by its cover. Nestled beneath the Green Door Tavern is a burlesque experience that you never would have known existed. Drift inside The Drifter, Chicago’s best-kept speakeasy. The Drifter is ideal for folks who want to experience 1920s prohibition-era vibes with underground undressing!

burlesque shows
Photo Credit: Untitled Supper Club

Untitled Supper Club | 111 W Kinzie St

Jay Gatsby’s got nothing on Thursdays at Untitled Supper Club… Unrivaled and unreal, Untitled Supper Club brings burlesque to the underbelly of Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Unbridled, Chicago’s largest burlesque show at Untitled, is hosted every Thursday evening. Dinner reservations are encouraged. Experience River North’s underground burlesque with a variety of their famed whiskeys (or perhaps with a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded dish!). 



burlesque shows
Photo Credit: Foundation Room

Foundation Room | 329 N Dearborn St

Known for its intimate, albeit risque, burlesque shows, Foundation Room at House of Blues Chicago has a lot to offer in the art of undressing. Be sure to get there early; you don’t want to miss the show! From the lighting and drinks to the sultry attire (or lack thereof!), Foundation Room’s burlesque performances electrify the room and engage the audience. Remember, each show has a unique interpretation.

Photo Credit: The California Clipper

The California Clipper | 1002 N California Ave

A happening space from the 1930s and revitalized for present-day experiences, The California Clipper is ideal for those who want to get to know their burlesque community in a cozy space with refined drinks. The Clipper Cabaret at California Clipper happens every first Tuesday of the month — with a $10 cover. Eva La Feva finely organizes this show with top-level talent all the while keeping the atmosphere buzzing with excitement for burlesque.



Photo Credit: The Original Mother’s

The Original Mother’s | 26 W Division St

Clark and Division seems to effectively inspire folks for evenings of debauchery; have you seen all the bars lining the streets!? But, in the midst of it all, you have to check out a particularly special bar known as The Original Mother’s. Looking for more conversation and less undressing? Hang out near the front-most section of the bar. Looking for more nudity and less talking? Head back. Complete with exposed pipes (and much more!),  you’re sure to enjoy the crowd’s 1980s flair (at times) and raunchy burlesque performance. 

burlesque shows
Photo Credit: Debonair Social Club

Debonair Social Club | 1575 N Milwaukee Ave

Debonair Social Club in Wicker Park is in a peculiar area of the Flatiron Arts Building. An artists’ safe haven, Debonair Social Club likes to position itself as a club-of-all-trades, if you will. Punk-rock, dance, and burlesque are all fixtures here. With two levels, you’re sure to find your creative groove or favorite drink. Be sure to show up for burlesque in the most unlikely of places on Wednesdays (doors open at 9 pm)!



Photo Credit: Vaudezilla

Vaudezilla! Burlesque at Stage 773 | 1225 W Belmont Ave

Every Saturday at 10:30 pm, Stage 773 transforms into an artistic display of talent in the art of undressing and acrobatics. Did someone say they perform aerial acts? VAUDEZILLA! Burlesque is ideal for folks who want consistently fresh and innovative takes on burlesque each month. It’s a delight for everyone, most notably because of its nonbinary inclusivity!

Photo Credit: Shakin’ It at Shakers on Clark

Shakers on Clark | 3160 N Clark St

Once a month, Shakers on Clark transforms its corner-bar feel into neighborhood burlesque vibe. Shakin’ It at Shakers Burlesque Show is ideal for folks who don’t take themselves too seriously but love a good performance. Have a blast and be on the lookout for their events on Facebook! 



burlesque shows
Photo Credit: Annoyance Theatre & Bar

The Annoyance Theater and Bar | 851 W Belmont Ave

Comedy or burlesque? Why not both!? The Annoyance Theater and Bar is a taste of fresh interpretation on a timeless performance. On Saturdays at 10:30 pm, The Annoyance Theater and Bar brings a tongue-in-cheek performance with fishnets known as Burlesque is More. It’s over the top without the top!



Be ready to partake in the nefarious activities of yesteryear at any of these burlesque venues in Chicago!



At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

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An Extravagant NYC-Based Fish Bar Opens in Chicago This Springon March 9, 2020 at 8:25 pm

A new seafood restaurant and raw bar will be opening this spring in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Lure Fishbar, which will be located at 616 North Rush Street, is founded by Mercer Street Hospitality’s John McDonald and will offer some of the freshest fish and seafood in the city.



Josh Capon will be the head chef and is a Chicago native who previously was at House of Blues Chicago. This will be Lure Fishbar’s third location, following New York City and Miami, and will not only offer the freshest fish selection from around the world but will feature things like a raw bar, a rotating oyster selection, a vibrant bar experience, and a world-class sushi program. Lure is also known for their award-winning Bash Burger, which is seen as an elegant interpretation of the In-N-Out Burger and is one of the best burgers in New York City.



John McDonald is excited to be expanding and choosing Chicago as the next location was a no-brainer, “Through the years visiting Chicago I experienced a city that is about community and hospitality, making it a natural fit for our next location. We look forward to expanding Lure Fishbar to such a revered and respected food-centric city, a city that shares our strong passion for the restaurant scene.” He knows people of Chicago appreciate quality and hopes to be another success story along with other New York City imports like The Smith and Boqueria.

Lure Fishbar is wildly popular in New York City and Miami for its fresh, seasonal menu and upscale elegant aesthetic. “Since opening Lure in the heart of Soho 15 years ago, we’ve always strived to create a restaurant that brings people together over delicious food, drinks, and high energy ambiance,” says John McDonald. Once Lure Fishbar is opened in April, you can stop in for delicious, fresh fish, and seafood for lunch and dinner daily.



At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in ​your ​neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: ​Lure Fishbar​

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An Extravagant NYC-Based Fish Bar Opens in Chicago This Springon March 9, 2020 at 8:25 pm Read More »