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Are you a would-be sugar baby or sugar daddy? If so, you may have already explored some of the options out there when it comes to sugar sites and apps. But hey, there are a ton! This article is all about helping break them down for you so you can spend less time trying different sites and instead lock down one or two that are best for you.

As you might imagine, sugar sites have gained a ton in popularity in recent years. This is in part because society has become more accepting of sugar relationships, but also simply because of economic factors. There are many wealthy men out there who have gotten wealthier, and there are many young women out there who have taken on student loans or other forms of debt. These circumstances have created a ton of demand for sugar relationships.

Unfortunately, many of the sugar sites that have popped up are not at all worth your time. They’re absolutely full of bots and scammers and may not have any real customer service or support infrastructure to help you out if you have a problem.

So, read on to go through our brand new 2023 rankings of the very best sites for sugar babies and sugar daddies.

Best Sugar Baby Sites and Apps in 2023

RankSiteBest For1.Secret BenefitsBest for babies2.Ashley MadisonJudgement-free sugar dating3.Seeking ArrangementBest overall4.SugarDaddy.comLargest community5.SugarDaddyMeetVerifying someone’s wealth6.SugarDaddyForMeQuick matching7.What’s Your PriceMost transparent8.Sugar SearchBest search function9.R/SugarBabyBest free platform10.Elite SinglesMeet sophisticated babies11.Established MenBest for long-term arrangements12.RichMeetBeautifulMost secure13.Miss TravelBest for traveling14.Wealthy MenBest for rich daddies15.AgeMatchFind younger women16.SudyBest user interface17.SugarBookBest sugar app for babies

1. Secret Benefits – Best for sugar babies

Secret Benefits is a pretty underrated sugar site. It has a more streamlined and modern look than many of its competitors. Plus, it’s been successful at attracting a large userbase for a relatively newer site. Since it’s popular in the sugar community, there are people constantly signing up, which can be done for free. Unlike Seeking, this site tends to be more of a 50/50 split, meaning it’s equally competitive among daddies and babies. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies get to use Secret Benefits for free, as they do with most other sites. One great aspect of Secret Benefits is they have robust security and moderation, which helps keep everything safe and secure. This means fewer bots and less time wasted. You can also verify your profile with a short video, which will also bring many more sugar daddies your way. Lots of babies have gotten the sugar relationship they were hoping to find with Secret Benefits, so it’s worth a shot!

From a daddy’s perspective:

Like most sugar sites, Secret Benefits requires daddies to purchase credits in order to communicate with babies. That said, it’s a really quick and easy sign-up process. You can create a simple profile and use their handy features to find babies right away. One neat feature is that you can hide your profile and browse profiles anonymously. These privacy features are much appreciated by many daddies who may want to be as discreet as possible.

2.  Ashley Madison – Judgement-free sugar option

You’ve probably heard of Ashley Madison and maybe seen their ads on *those* sites: “Life is short. Have an affair.” So, right off the bat, you know what you’re getting into with Ashley Madison. It’s full of people who are looking for something casual (and often extra-marital). Although it has its affair angle, many people have begun using Ashley Madison for sugar relationships. It’s a very open-minded community that both sugar babies and daddies tend to love. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies like Ashley Madison because there are quite a lot of older, well-to-do men on there. It’s usually not too hard to find a good match. Plus, sugar babies can use Ashley Madison for free, meaning a lot of younger women have already signed up. Want to learn even more about Ashley Madison? Check out our full review.

From a daddy’s perpsective:

There are quite a few sugar daddies on Ashley Madison. As is usually the case with these sites, the daddies will have to sign up in order to communicate with the women they’re interested in. Unfortunately, there’s no filtering on Ashley Madison to home in on sugar babies. So, sgar daddies will have to take their time and do some digging. You can sort by age preference, though, so there’s that. 

3. Seeking Arrangement – Best and most popular sugar dating platform

Seeking (formerly known as Seeking Arrangement) is likely the most popular and well-known sugar site around. It’s something like the Tinder of sugar dating sites. Seeking has recently tried to go a bit more mainstream, but it remains one of the most popular sugar sites. 

With over 10 million users in more than 130 countries, it’s never been easier to get into the sugar relationship of your dreams. Seeking wins points for having discreet billing and good cybersecurity, though scammers and bots may still manage to slip through the cracks. You can check out our full review here.

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies also appreciate Seeking because it’s made it easier than ever for young people to find a daddy who will spoil them and make them feel like royalty. Seeking has a lot of transparency, so babies can even see the net worth of the various daddies they may be interested in. The site is also free for sugar babies (once again, it’s the daddies who pay!). 

From a daddy’s perspective:

Seeking is definitely a great site for sugar daddies or would-be sugar daddies. That’s because it features a very high female-to-male ratio, meaning that there’s more competition among the females than the males. Sugar daddies love Seeking because they can typically find women there who are totally open for low-key, no-strings-attached relationships. Daddies generally have to pay to use Seeking, like most sugar sites.

4. SugarDaddy.com – Largest community

Sugardaddy.com has been around a long time and has earned a reputation as a reliable sugar site. They definitely made a move early to lock down that url! One thing that is appreciated by both daddies and babies is the fact that all members must get verified. With around ten million members, chances are you can find the kind of sugar relationship you’re hoping to find! The site is roughly one-third daddies and two-third babies. 

Sugardaddy.com has a lot of handy features, but memberships are pretty much required to properly use the site. The site is built around a credit system, and each credit costs $0.25. 

From a baby’s perspective:

As one of the biggest sugar sites, sugardaddy.com has attracted plenty of sugar babies. While some sugar sites look kind of sketchy or outdated, sugardaddy.com has kept its site looking sleek and modern. This appeals to the younger generations who tend to be the babies on these sites. The only real downside for would-be sugar babies on sugardaddy.com is that the site is full of competition with about 65% of the membership being sugar babies.

From a daddy’s perspective:

Since roughly two-thirds of the members on sugardaddy.com are sugar babies, this is a great site for daddies as they’ll have more than their pick of would-be babies. Daddies will need to shell out for credits, but they don’t cost a ton—and hey, you’re supposed to be well off anyway. Privacy is important to sugardaddy.com, so daddies can rest well knowing that it’s a relatively safe and secure site when it comes to privacy and scammers and the like. 

5.  SugarDaddyMeet – Best verification of daddies

SugarDaddyMeet is an exclusive sugar site that has been around for a while now. It limits its membership to the twenty wealthiest countries in the world, helping keep its sugar daddies desirable for would-be sugar babies. It also does this by verifying both overall wealth and annual income, helping ensure that sugar babies don’t get duped. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies appreciate SugarDaddyMeet because of its rigorous verification of daddies. This helps keep them from being duped by poor guys pretending to be rich. This helps the site feel more safe and secure. It also uses algorithms to help match you up based on the preferences that you provide. Plus, it’s free for sugar babies—what’s not to like?!

From a daddy’s perspective:

Since there’s thorough verification on SugarDaddyMeet, you can’t sign up for this site unless you have the legit qualifications to be a sugar daddy (i.e. be wealthy). The platform is streamlined and has the feel of most social media sites, making it easy to use and familiar even for first-time users. This is another great option for daddies looking for casual arrangements. 

5.  SugarDaddyForMe – Speedy matching process

SugarDaddyForMe, as you might guess from the name, is all about helping sugar babies find sugar daddies. It’s a well-designed site with a variety of useful features. While this site doesn’t quite have the userbase of the big names above, it’s growing fast. 

From a baby’s perspective:

SugarDaddyForMe is yet another sugar site that’s free for sugar babies, making it another nice option to explore. The sign-up process is simple and there’s no need to verify income like the sugar daddies have to do. That means it’s a reliable site, though. You’ll also get to specify your ideal arrangement, meaning less wasted time all the way around.

From a daddy’s perspective:

SugarDaddyForMe has a unique payment system. Instead of paying for access for various things, the different membership tiers give you a certain amount of time. Besides that, you’ll need to verify your income, which is fairly common for the better sugar sites. Once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to browse around right away. 

6.  What’s Your Price – Most transparent

What’s Your Price offers a very unique style of sugar site. As the name suggests, it’s quite transparent about establishing a financial arrangement. On many sugar sites it’s simply left to the sugar daddy and baby how they want to work it out. But on What’s Your Price, the two sides come to a formalized arrangement that can then make the whole question of finances more of a background thing. This site was also established by the people who created Seeking, which means they have plenty of experience in this domain.

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies appreciated What’s Your Price because it lets them set their price—literally—and avoid sugar daddies who might end up wasting their time. The one downside is that there is plenty of competition among babies on What’s Your Price, with around 3 million members and more joining every day.

From a daddy’s perspective:

Depending on the person, sugar daddies may love or hate What’s Your Price. In many ways, it’s almost like online shopping. That sounds weird to say, but it’s true—and, after all, sugar relationships tend to have a prominent financial component. So, sugar daddies get to scroll attractive women and assess the price that they have listed. You can then bid on anyone you like. These bids are sometimes as low as $10, so you don’t necessarily have to be super wealthy or anything. 

8.  Sugar Search – Best search function

Sugar Search functions, as you might expect, as a way to easily search for a local sugar relationship. At the moment, there are only a handful of cities that are eligible, so you’ll have to check. Some of the more prominent cities are New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. Sugar Search verifies accounts, though it’s inevitable that there are some bots and scammers that make their way through. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar Search is a great way for sugar babies to find the sugar daddy they’re looking for wherever they live. Due to the site’s strict verification process, it’s much less likely that babies will end up getting ripped off by some dude pretending to be rich. There are a lot of options here and you’ll be finding someone locally, so there’s a lot to like here.

From a daddy’s perspective:

Sugar daddies will like Sugar Search’s simple sign-up process and the fact that it has a local focus. This greatly increases the chance of being able to meet in person sooner rather than later. There are nice features as well, including an intuitive chat. You can also opt for a pricier membership tier to stand out more when people search. There’s already a good ratio of sugar babies to sugar daddies, though, so competition isn’t too stiff. 

9.  Reddit (r/SugarBaby) – Best free platform

Reddit is one of the internet’s most popular forms of social media not named Instagram, Facebook, or Tiktok, and this is especially the case in North America. Whether you knew it or not, Reddit also has a sugar forum that can be a free way for you to find a sugar relationship. FYI, it tends to be an NSFW page. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies can post freely on r/SugarBaby and describe the kind of arrangement they’re looking for. Daddies will message you if they’re interested. There’s a verification process in order to post, but it isn’t that difficult or time-consuming. If you want to explore an alternative to other sugar sites, r/SugarBaby is worth a try.

From a daddy’s perspective:

There are more than 80,000 people on r/SugarBaby. So, while it might not compete with the likes of a Seeking, it can still get the job done. You’re not allowed to post as a sugar daddy, so you’ll have to browse through and DM the babies you’re interested in. One big plus is that it’s completely free to browse and message people, unlike most the sugar sites listed here. 

10.  Elite Singles – Most sophisticated

Elite Singles is not technically a sugar site. Instead, it bills itself as a luxury dating site that focuses on a specific clientele, one that’s educated, successful, and chic. That said, it so happens that many people who are educated and successful are also looking for sugar relationships. So, Elite Singles may be worth a shot for those looking for that kind of arrangement. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies may benefit from Elite Singles but it’s important to keep in mind that it isn’t strictly a sugar site. So, well you may be able to find people who are looking for that kind of relationship, it’s no guarantee. Instead, you might find people who are looking for a more serious partner. To fit in on this site, it’s best that you’re educated and somewhat successful (or at least working hard to get there).

From a daddy’s perspective:

Elite Singles is perfect for people who are interested in finding other intelligent and independent people. The people here are not necessarily looking for sugar relationsihps, so you’ll have to keep that in mind. You may come across many people who are looking to find something serious, which means this may or may not be a good fit for you. 

11.  Established Men – Best for long-term arrangements

Established Men isn’t all that different from Elite Singles in that it focuses on a certain kind of clientele. In this case, it’s all about successful men. On the other hand, there are a lot of people interested in sugar relationships, so it’s got that going for it. You may have to get to know a few people to see who works best for you, as there will be people looking for different things here.

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies looking for daddies have a lot to like about Established Men. It does a good job of keeping its clientele to men who are legitimately successful. That said, there’s a fair amount of competition so you’ll have to do your best to stand out from the rest of the crowd.

From a daddy’s perspective:

Sugar daddies have to pay to use Established Men, which is pretty normal for sugar sites. Assuming you are successful, however, it shouldn’t pose any real problem. The site lets you flirt with women and send them gifts. There’s not too much that sets Established Men apart from other sites.

12.  RichMeetBeautiful – Most secure

RichMeetBeautiful has a name that gives away that it’s a sugar site pretty quickly. After all, the stereotype of sugar relationships is a young, beautiful woman and an older, wealthy man. That said, you don’t have to be outrageously wealthy to be a sugar daddy or use a site like RichMeetBeautiful. One big plus that this platform has going for it is its security as it uses top-of-the-line encryption. 

From a baby’s perspective:

RichMeetsBeautiful is not necessarily only a sugar site but it definitely has that vibe. In general, it’s another good option for sugar babies to find sugar daddies, though there may be people who are looking for something more like a traditional relationship.

From a daddy’s perspective:

You can be “rich” in more ways than one on RichMeetBeautiful. For example, your experience, style, passion, romantic sensibilities, etc. all contribute to making you an attractive partner (in addition to your wealth). There are plenty of young women on here, making it a worthy platform for would-be sugar daddies to check out. It also sports an algorithm that does a good job of pairing people up by personal preferences. 

13.  Miss Travel – Best for the adventurous

Miss Travel revolves around a really cool concept. For people with the means and/or time/flexibility, it encourages you to travel to/with people who may be a good match for you. Travel is one of the perks that many sugar babies like best, so Miss Travel is a smart play on that aspect of sugar relationships. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies can generally count on a variety of perks: free dinners, gifts, even cash. Yet getting to travel is a unique perk that offers social and cultural opportunities as well. Miss Travel can help you see the world and get spoiled all at the same time by connecting you with a sugar daddy. The “Create a Trip” feature lets you plan everything out with ease. All in all, Miss Travel is definitely worth checking out if you’re a sugar baby who’s excited about travel or simply having sugar daddies come to you. 

From a daddy’s perspective:

Sugar daddies may be fans of Miss Travel if they are looking for relationships with a little bit of distance from their home base. For example, they could use it to check out areas where they will be traveling for business. It’s also possible to pay for women to come to you, making Miss Travel a really cool option that’s worth considering. 

14.  Wealthy Men – Most straightforward

Wealthy Men is just about what it sounds like. It’s a sugar site that features sugar daddies for sugar babies to find. It even has a guarantee for paying members that they will connect with someone within three months. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Wealthy Men is straightforward and lets sugar babies find a sugar daddy near them. Unfortunately, there isn’t a free version for sugar babies like there is with most other sugar sites, so this one might be worth skipping unless you get desperate.

From a daddy’s perspective:

Wealthy Men verifies income ($85k minimum), so that will be your first step. You also have to say how much you’re willing to spend on a given sugar baby, which can be a little awkward if you’re just getting into this or don’t have a ton of money. After that, though, the site is relatively straightforward and there are plenty of sugar babies here. 

15.  AgeMatch – Best for large age gaps

AgeMatch isn’t explicitly a platform for sugar dating. It can easily function this way, however, as it’s specifically about matching people up with a large age gap. As many sugar relationships feature a significant age cap, this means there are plenty of sugar opportunities on AgeMatch if you want to explore that option. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies may like AgeMatch if they are generally into older men. The only thing is that it isn’t explicitly about setting up sugar arrangements, so you’ll need to be clear about that if that’s your expectation.

From a daddy’s perspective:

If you want a strictly sugar relationship, AgeMatch may not be the best platform for you as that’s not strictly the idea there. But if you like the idea of spoiling someone who simply likes you for who you are, this could be a great option to check out. 

16.  Sudy – Best sugar mobile app

Sudy is a newer sugar option that mainly focuses on its app. It has slick functionality and everything is set up quite intuitively. It’s straightforward in terms of how you find potential matches and talk with them. It’s toward the bottom of our list simply because it’s new and doesn’t yet have a large userbase. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sudy is like most sugar sites in that there are more women than men. What that means is that it can be competitive. Sugar babies do benefit from the fact that Sudy verifies the daddies, which helps keep everyone safer and less likely to be wasting their time. 

From a daddy’s perspective:

Sudy verifies income of sugar daddies, and it’s a fairly steep minimum ($200k). There’s a ton of women on Sudy, though, so you should be in good shape so long as you meet that minimum. These women will know that you’re plenty wealthy to satisfy them (at least most of them), meaning that they’ll be looking forward to meeting you. There have been some complaints online about difficulty deleting profiles, so you may want to proceed carefully if privacy is a concern of yours. 

17.  SugarBook – Best for alternative arrangements

SugarBook is yet another sugar site that focuses on pairing up daddies and babies. That said, it recognizes that arrangements don’t have to be purely financial (especially in terms of luxury gifts). There are some babies who may be looking for legitimate connections, business opportunities, help with paying their university tuition, etc. 

From a baby’s perspective:

Sugar babies have to pay up for more access to the site and all its features, but you can get by decently without doing so. You might try it out free and see if you want to continue. After all, there are plenty of other sugar sites that are entirely free for the would-be babies. One plus of SugarBook is that it verifies income of daddies, which helps keep off scammers and fakes.

From a daddy’s perspective:

SugarBook verifies the income of sugar daddies, which is fairly standard of the more legitimate sugar sites. There’s even a free option for men, but, as you might expect, it’s quite limited. You’ll pretty much need to opt for the premium option to fully benefit from the site. 

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Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky riffs on the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty, and interviews politicians, activists, journalists and other political know-it-alls. Presented by the Chicago Reader, the show is available by 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at chicagoreader.com/joravsky—or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss Oh, What a Week!–the Friday feature in which Ben & producer Dennis (aka, Dr. D.) review the week’s top stories. Also, bonus interviews drop on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.

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In the red-hued darkness of the California Clipper in Humboldt Park, a few dozen speed daters chattered on a damp Tuesday evening. Some arrived alone, others accompanied by friends or coworkers. They sat with name cards that got the basics out of the way: name, pronouns, sexuality. People lean in to hear over the noise or perhaps to flirt.

How to meet new people and form meaningful connections outside of work and school is a ubiquitous and challenging social question. Katie Conway has identified one potential answer through creating Hot Potato Hearts, a series of speed dating and friend-making events occurring at neighborhood Chicago bars.

An event at California Clipper Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

After a conversation with a friend last year about wanting to try out speed dating but finding limited options in the area, she went ahead and made a potato-themed speed dating Instagram account. “I created the Instagram, and I just started emailing bars that I knew and liked and felt comfortable in,” recounts Conway. “And I was like ‘Can I host a speed dating event?’ and some bars responded and said ‘Yes!’ and I was like, amazing, let’s do it!”

She expected fewer than ten people to show up to the first event, perhaps just supportive friends and people she already knew. When the time came, 24 people attended after hearing about the gathering on Instagram or Eventbrite. Hot Potato Hearts addresses a need that many might not fully realize they’ve been missing, Conway herself included. “After my first Hot Potato Hearts event, I came home, and I was just like, I feel so much more like myself than I have for the past two years. It was really affirming that not only did other people want it but how much better it made me feel to be back in my element.”

Katie Conway Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

Inclusivity and intentionality are vital to the success of Hot Potato Hearts: the events are explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly and eschew the awkward seriousness people may associate speed dating with. It bills itself as “a space for all genders, all sexualities, all races, all abilities,” with four straightforward requirements: “be 21+, single or ethically non-monogamous, open-minded, and looking to meet cool new people.”

Conscious of the ongoing pandemic, all events require vaccination and recommend masks. Conway brings extra masks in case people forget. When it’s warm enough, events are hosted outdoors. The caring, considerate nature of the community she’s built comes into play here; when people feel sick before an event, they’ll let Conway know so she can transfer their ticket to a later event, keeping everyone safe and happy.

Meeting and chatting up strangers in a bar is a situation we’ve all become a little less accustomed to, but Conway emphasizes that people are actually very open to the idea of speed dating. She encourages a casual and inviting environment, saying, “I don’t just push romantic relationships, but platonic ones as well. And also just enjoying a conversation with someone else. You can just talk to someone else for five minutes and enjoy the conversation and not have to interact with them again.”

Nerves are the number one concern people tend to voice beforehand. Once they get going at an event, however, Conway says the anxiety tends to diminish. Participants are also free to take a break or leave at any point if they feel overwhelmed, and Conway makes sure to reach out later to check in.

Potential daters talk across the tables at a Hot Potato Hearts event. Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

The structure and culture of Hot Potato Hearts set the tone in many ways. Rotating across five-minute conversations with people who also opted to be there, with question-laden index cards on the tables if you need a starting topic, many of the uncomfortable aspects of approaching or being approached at a bar are removed or smoothed over. Fostering this vibe has been purposeful and quite successful, according to Conway: “I think my online community and marketing do a really good job of pulling the right people to my events. All the people at my events always have warm and welcoming energy, and they’re just there to enjoy their night.”

After the series of five-minute conversations, participants write down the names of the people they’re interested in connecting with on the backs of their name tags. If the match is mutual, Conway shares contact information with both parties. She has heard updates from a few success stories, platonic and romantic, that have emerged from this endeavor.

Hot Potato Hearts has been received positively, with an approximate count of 694 people across 23 events as of the beginning of December. Conway estimates that usually about a third of the people who come to her events are regulars or repeat participants, while the majority are first-timers. The age range of the group tends to hover around mid-twenties to early thirties for the most part, but Conway notes that she has also had older participants as well. Regarding the potential for events specifically targeting an older crowd, Conway acknowledged that, “All of my friends’ divorced parents have been like, ‘When are you doing one for me?’ So it’s on the vision board.”

In addition to speed dating, Conway has begun to branch out and build community in a variety of potato-themed ways. The bi-monthly “Book Spuds” book club read the novel Nevada by Imogen Binnie in November. The group will discuss Janelle Monae’s The Memory Librarian at their January 29th gathering at Dorothy.

Then there’s Perfect Mash, a live dating show that now takes place monthly at Schubas Tavern. Three contestants, nominated by themselves or friends, are featured in a mix of activities like trivia and other games. Audience members take a compatibility quiz and the most compatible receive the opportunity to chat with the contestants on stage. Once they find their “perfect mashes,” pairs can go on a date sponsored by local venues like Lincoln Hall, Avondale Bowl, and Bernice’s Tavern.

The project has already spawned relationships, friendships, and group chats, and has become extensive enough that Conway has been able to hire a part-time assistant to help out and bounce ideas off of. Future plans include growing Perfect Mash, designing more recurring events at bars, hosting sober events, partnering with nonprofits for more fundraisers, promoting healthy relationships and safer sex resources, and engaging with local artists in the city. 

And how exactly do potatoes relate to speed dating? “Potatoes work on many levels because they’re not gendered the way some fruits and vegetables are. And speed dating is kind of similar to the hot potato game ’cause you’re moving around the room as the hot potato,” Conway explains. “But also I just love potatoes, and I refer to myself as a hot potato. Or if a friend sends me a photo where they look cute, I tell them ‘You’re one hot potato!’”

As a self-professed potato-lover, Conway recommends a very thinly sliced potato slathered in paprika, ginger, a little bit of chili, and olive oil, roasted until nice and crispy. Or for a fancier option, sweet potato gnocchi. And french fries are excellent for any occasion, perhaps shared with a friend or romantic interest met at speed dating.

Perfect Mash: a live and interactive dating showMon 1/23, 8 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, $10, 21+

Book Spuds: a book club celebrating queer storiesSun 1/29, 6:30 PM, Dorothy, 2500 W. Chicago, free but reservations required at Eventbrite, 21+

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In the red-hued darkness of the California Clipper in Humboldt Park, a few dozen speed daters chattered on a damp Tuesday evening. Some arrived alone, others accompanied by friends or coworkers. They sat with name cards that got the basics out of the way: name, pronouns, sexuality. People lean in to hear over the noise or perhaps to flirt.

How to meet new people and form meaningful connections outside of work and school is a ubiquitous and challenging social question. Katie Conway has identified one potential answer through creating Hot Potato Hearts, a series of speed dating and friend-making events occurring at neighborhood Chicago bars.

An event at California Clipper Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

After a conversation with a friend last year about wanting to try out speed dating but finding limited options in the area, she went ahead and made a potato-themed speed dating Instagram account. “I created the Instagram, and I just started emailing bars that I knew and liked and felt comfortable in,” recounts Conway. “And I was like ‘Can I host a speed dating event?’ and some bars responded and said ‘Yes!’ and I was like, amazing, let’s do it!”

She expected fewer than ten people to show up to the first event, perhaps just supportive friends and people she already knew. When the time came, 24 people attended after hearing about the gathering on Instagram or Eventbrite. Hot Potato Hearts addresses a need that many might not fully realize they’ve been missing, Conway herself included. “After my first Hot Potato Hearts event, I came home, and I was just like, I feel so much more like myself than I have for the past two years. It was really affirming that not only did other people want it but how much better it made me feel to be back in my element.”

Katie Conway Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

Inclusivity and intentionality are vital to the success of Hot Potato Hearts: the events are explicitly LGBTQ+ friendly and eschew the awkward seriousness people may associate speed dating with. It bills itself as “a space for all genders, all sexualities, all races, all abilities,” with four straightforward requirements: “be 21+, single or ethically non-monogamous, open-minded, and looking to meet cool new people.”

Conscious of the ongoing pandemic, all events require vaccination and recommend masks. Conway brings extra masks in case people forget. When it’s warm enough, events are hosted outdoors. The caring, considerate nature of the community she’s built comes into play here; when people feel sick before an event, they’ll let Conway know so she can transfer their ticket to a later event, keeping everyone safe and happy.

Meeting and chatting up strangers in a bar is a situation we’ve all become a little less accustomed to, but Conway emphasizes that people are actually very open to the idea of speed dating. She encourages a casual and inviting environment, saying, “I don’t just push romantic relationships, but platonic ones as well. And also just enjoying a conversation with someone else. You can just talk to someone else for five minutes and enjoy the conversation and not have to interact with them again.”

Nerves are the number one concern people tend to voice beforehand. Once they get going at an event, however, Conway says the anxiety tends to diminish. Participants are also free to take a break or leave at any point if they feel overwhelmed, and Conway makes sure to reach out later to check in.

Potential daters talk across the tables at a Hot Potato Hearts event. Credit: Courtesy Hot Potato Hearts

The structure and culture of Hot Potato Hearts set the tone in many ways. Rotating across five-minute conversations with people who also opted to be there, with question-laden index cards on the tables if you need a starting topic, many of the uncomfortable aspects of approaching or being approached at a bar are removed or smoothed over. Fostering this vibe has been purposeful and quite successful, according to Conway: “I think my online community and marketing do a really good job of pulling the right people to my events. All the people at my events always have warm and welcoming energy, and they’re just there to enjoy their night.”

After the series of five-minute conversations, participants write down the names of the people they’re interested in connecting with on the backs of their name tags. If the match is mutual, Conway shares contact information with both parties. She has heard updates from a few success stories, platonic and romantic, that have emerged from this endeavor.

Hot Potato Hearts has been received positively, with an approximate count of 694 people across 23 events as of the beginning of December. Conway estimates that usually about a third of the people who come to her events are regulars or repeat participants, while the majority are first-timers. The age range of the group tends to hover around mid-twenties to early thirties for the most part, but Conway notes that she has also had older participants as well. Regarding the potential for events specifically targeting an older crowd, Conway acknowledged that, “All of my friends’ divorced parents have been like, ‘When are you doing one for me?’ So it’s on the vision board.”

In addition to speed dating, Conway has begun to branch out and build community in a variety of potato-themed ways. The bi-monthly “Book Spuds” book club read the novel Nevada by Imogen Binnie in November. The group will discuss Janelle Monae’s The Memory Librarian at their January 29th gathering at Dorothy.

Then there’s Perfect Mash, a live dating show that now takes place monthly at Schubas Tavern. Three contestants, nominated by themselves or friends, are featured in a mix of activities like trivia and other games. Audience members take a compatibility quiz and the most compatible receive the opportunity to chat with the contestants on stage. Once they find their “perfect mashes,” pairs can go on a date sponsored by local venues like Lincoln Hall, Avondale Bowl, and Bernice’s Tavern.

The project has already spawned relationships, friendships, and group chats, and has become extensive enough that Conway has been able to hire a part-time assistant to help out and bounce ideas off of. Future plans include growing Perfect Mash, designing more recurring events at bars, hosting sober events, partnering with nonprofits for more fundraisers, promoting healthy relationships and safer sex resources, and engaging with local artists in the city. 

And how exactly do potatoes relate to speed dating? “Potatoes work on many levels because they’re not gendered the way some fruits and vegetables are. And speed dating is kind of similar to the hot potato game ’cause you’re moving around the room as the hot potato,” Conway explains. “But also I just love potatoes, and I refer to myself as a hot potato. Or if a friend sends me a photo where they look cute, I tell them ‘You’re one hot potato!’”

As a self-professed potato-lover, Conway recommends a very thinly sliced potato slathered in paprika, ginger, a little bit of chili, and olive oil, roasted until nice and crispy. Or for a fancier option, sweet potato gnocchi. And french fries are excellent for any occasion, perhaps shared with a friend or romantic interest met at speed dating.

Perfect Mash: a live and interactive dating showMon 1/23, 8 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, $10, 21+

Book Spuds: a book club celebrating queer storiesSun 1/29, 6:30 PM, Dorothy, 2500 W. Chicago, free but reservations required at Eventbrite, 21+

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The Chicago Bears aren’t going to the playoffs but they have the most cap space in the NFL by a lot in addition to the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft which they can use as a weapon. Now, it is about building for the future around their new stud quarterback Justin Fields. One thing that would make their future even brighter is Aaron Rodgers leaving the division in any way, shape, or form.

He has absolutely destroyed the Bears in his career which is something that he prides himself on. Now, the time might come when he is no longer a problem.

The 2022 season was a mess for him and his team. They started off very poorly and made it almost certain that he and his team would not be in the playoffs. However, they went on a winning streak throughout December which got them back in the hunt.

All they needed to do on Sunday was defeat the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football in order to clinch a berth in the postseason but they failed. The Lions beat them and were a great spoiler. Green Bay’s 8-9 under .500 record was not good enough and they are out.

The Chicago Bears were joined by the Green Bay Packers out of the postseason.

The Seattle Seahawks then clinched the playoffs as the 7th seed despite coming into this year with a very low projected win total. They deserve a lot of credit for the way that they have played this year. They haven’t missed the playoffs in back-to-back years during Pete Carroll’s career.

After the game, Aaron Rodgers was shaking hands with Detroit Lions players and wishing them well. When he was asked for a jersey swap, he calmly denied it because he wanted to keep that one, hinting that he might see that jersey as special.

Is it special because it is the last jersey he is ever going to wear for the Green Bay Packers? That would certainly be one worth hanging onto. This could be a subtle hint that he is either retiring or planning on moving on from that franchise.

There has been speculation about Rodgers and his future for years now but he always ended up back in Green Bay. However, this could very well be the time when he departs. It will be an interesting story all off-season and Chicago Bears fans will watch with great interest.

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ESPN’s fantasy basketball and basketball betting tips cheat sheet is your pregame destination for basketball betting predictions and our best intel and data to help you make smart fantasy and wagering decisions. NBA game odds for January 9th are provided by Caesars Sportsbook, and fantasy advice is based on ESPN 10-team leagues.

Game Script: There are three games that opened with a total north of 237 points: Bulls-Celtics, Lakers-Nuggets and Magic-Kings. Games with such a total have gone under the projected number 61.1% of the time this season, so who does an underwhelming scoring night favor? So far, the Bulls, Nuggets and Magic hold the edge in their respective games in terms of ATS record when unders cash with Denver holding the biggest edge (they are 11-7 ATS when under tickets chase while the Lakers are just 5-11 ATS in those spots).

Bucks On Milwaukee: When the Knicks are a small underdog this season (three or fewer points), unders are 6-3, a similar cashing rate to when the Bucks are small favorites (6-4). That gives this game SGP potential when you consider that Milwaukee is 4-1-1 ATS in those six under instances. As far as the total goes, don’t let the recent run of Buck overs fool you … unders are 10-8 in their games with a sub-225-point total (8-13 otherwise).

Pelican Pickups: The Pelicans will be without both Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson due to respective injuries for tonight’s matchup against the Wizards. The New Orleans front office has amassed unique depth at the wing, with the likes of Naji Marshall (93% available in ESPN leagues) capably stepping up when called on. Marshall has posted 47 points and six steals across his last two games and is just $5,500 on DraftKings. Jonas Valanciunas ($6,600) is also a key DFS play given reasonable pricing in a matchup that should see him approach 30 minutes of exposure.

Bank on Brogdon: The Celtics’ investment in more backcourt depth is paying off, as they can turn to Malcolm Brogdon to orchestrate offense when needed. With Marcus Smart listed as doubtful to play against the Bulls in Chicago tonight, Brogdon — a free agent in nearly a third of ESPN leagues — is positioned as a top DFS value and spot starter in redraft leagues.

Getting Ahead: In some competitive fantasy hoops formats it can pay off to be proactive. For instance, adding the Suns’ Duane Washington Jr. (99% available in ESPN leagues) ahead of Tuesday’s tilt with the Warriors. With Chris Paul unlikely to play and Cameron Payne still sidelined, Washington can build on his recent 25-point opus against the Cavaliers as Phoenix’s lone active point guard.

Target Thomas: The Lakers are warming up in the win column thanks in part to the play of Thomas Bryant, as he’s been able to hold down the paint while Anthony Davis recovers from a foot injury. Ahead of tonight’s matchup with Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets, Bryant is somehow still a free agent in two-thirds of leagues despite averaging nearly 22 points and 13 boards over the past week.

— Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe

New Orleans Pelicans at Washington Wizards7 p.m. ET, Capital One Arena, Washington, Washington D.C.

Line: Wizards (-1)Money line: Wizards (-120), Pelicans (+100)Total: 227 pointsBPI Projected Total: 233.8 pointsBPI Win%: Wizards (56.6%)

Questionable: Larry Nance Jr.Ruled Out: Brandon Ingram, Zion Williamson, Bradley BealNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Best bet: Kyle Kuzma over 22.5 points. With Bradley Beal already ruled out for Monday’s game against the Pelicans due to a hamstring injury, Kuzma will play a major role for the Wizards. This season, New Orleans allows the fifth most points per game to small forwards. This season, Kuzma is averaging 21.4 points per game, a career high. — Moody

Best bet: Jonas Valanciunas over 26.5 points + rebounds. Due to Zion Williamson’s hamstring injury, Valanciunas should continue to play a more important role for the Pelicans. Over the last four games, he’s averaged 16.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. This season, the Wizards have given up the second most points per game to centers. — Moody

Best bet: CJ McCollum over 24.5 points. McCollum isn’t on the injury report after sitting Saturday’s game, likely for rest purposes on the second half of a back-to-back. With Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram still out, McCollum should again be the focal point of the Pelicans’ offense. Including the game Zion left injured, McCollum has scored 28, 28 and 26 points in his last three games as that focal point, and overall has averaged 26.3 PPG in his last 12 games while going over 24.5 points in eight of the 12. –– Snellings

Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics7:30 p.m ET, TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts

Line: Celtics (-8.5)Money line: Celtics (-355), Bulls (+278)Total: 237.5 pointsBPI Projected Total: 237.6 pointsBPI Win%: Celtics (80.2%)

Questionable: Alex Caruso, Marcus SmartRuled Out: Tony Bradley, Javonte GreenNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Best bet: Jayson Tatum over 44.5 points + assists + rebounds. This season, forwards have been very successful against the Bulls. In three games against Chicago this season, Tatum averaged 30.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. This season, the Bulls rank 19th in points allowed per 100 possessions and allow the fourth-highest effective field goal percentage to opponents. — Moody

Best bet: Over 241.0. Both the Lakers and Nuggets have been subpar defensively all season long. However, offensively it’s been different for both teams. In five of their last seven games, the Lakers have scored 120 or more points. Five of the Nuggets’ last six games have exceeded that total. It is also likely that this will be a high-scoring game as the Lakers are second in pace in the league. — Moody

Best bet: Zach LaVine over 23.5 points. After a shaky start to the season as he continued to recover from knee surgery, LaVine has settled in at his usual level for more than a month now. In his last 18 games, LaVine has averaged 25.7 PPG while scoring more than 20 points in 14 of those games. He’s been particularly hot of late, averaging 29 points in his last four while scoring 36 or more in his last two outings. — Snellings

Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks7:30 p.m. ET, Madison Square Garden, New York

Line: Bucks (-1)Money line: Bucks (-120), Knicks (+100)Total: 221 pointsBPI Projected Total: 236.1 pointsBPI Win%: Knicks (61.6%)

Ruled Out: Khris Middleton, Serge Ibaka, RJ BarrettNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: Immanuel Quickley (rostered in 19.4% of ESPN leagues) is once again on the streaming radar with RJ Barrett considered doubtful for Monday’s game. Six consecutive games have seen Quickley score 25 or more fantasy points, including two with 50 or more. -Eric Moody

Best bet: Over 221.0. In the Bucks’ last seven games, the over has cashed five times. Eight of the last ten games for the Knicks have ended with the over cashing. Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s lowest-scoring game of the season coincided with the Bucks’ 29-point home loss to the Hornets on Friday. As they look to bounce back, the Bucks will likely be aggressive in this game. — Moody

Best bet: Giannis Antetokounmpo over 32.5 points. Giannis is coming off one of the worst games of his career on Friday, a nine-point/four-rebound performance with zero assists and three turnovers in 22 minutes of a home blowout against the Hornets. He seemed to be worn down in that game. Giannis had been carrying a huge load, even for him, with both Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday missing time in these last few weeks. He had averaged 39.1 PPG in the eight games before Friday and has now had three days rest since that debacle. Monday is a good bounce-back opportunity against a Knicks squad that he dropped 37 points against the last time he saw them just over a month ago. — Snellings

San Antonio Spurs at Memphis Grizzlies8 p.m. ET, FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee

Line: Grizzlies (11)Money line: Grizzlies (-600), Spurs (+430)Total: 238 pointsBPI Projected Total: 240.9 pointsBPI Win%: Grizzlies (82.2%)

Questionable: Keldon Johnson, Jakob PoeltlRuled Out: Devin VassellNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: Romeo Langford (available in 99.3% of leagues) has moved back into the starting lineup with Devin Vassell out. In the two games since, he’s averaged 14.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG in 30.0 MPG. In fact, in his last five starts where he’s played at least 28 minutes, Langford has scored double digits in all five games while averaging 16.4 PPG. — Snellings

Best bet: Tyus Jones (rostered in 9.7% of ESPN leagues) is once again on the streaming radar if Ja Morant is ruled out for Monday’s game due to a thigh injury. This season, Jones averages 17.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists per 40 minutes. He should have success against a Spurs team that ranks 30th in points allowed per 100 possessions. — Moody

Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets9 p.m. ET, Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado

Line: Nuggets (-10)Money line: Nuggets (-440), Lakers (+335)Total: 241.5 pointsBPI Projected Total: 245 pointsBPI Win%: Nuggets (81.4%)

Questionable: Russell Westbrook, Troy Brown Jr., LeBron JamesRuled out: Jeff GreenNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Best bet: Jamal Murray over 23.5 points + assists. Over the last three games, Murray has averaged only 19 PA, but he is well-positioned to have more success against a Lakers team on Monday that has allowed some very good performances to opposing point guards. Los Angeles ranks 23rd in points allowed per 100 possessions. In three games against the Lakers this season, Murray has averaged 19.0 points and 5.7 assists. — Moody

Best bet: Lakers +9.5. The Lakers have won five straight games and are quietly creeping up the standings in their division. The Nuggets are as hot as any team in the West, having won eight of their last 10, but the last time these teams faced off the Lakers won by 18 points. I can agree with the Nuggets being favored to win, but with the way the Lakers are playing right now I’d take them with almost 10 points against pretty much anyone in the West. — Snellings

Orlando Magic at Sacramento Kings10 p.m. ET, Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, California

Line: Kings (-6.5)Money line: Kings (-240), Magic (+196)Total: 237 pointsBPI Projected Total: 242.1 pointsBPI Win%: Kings (74.2%)

Ruled Out: Bol BolNote: BPI numbers factored in players who are ruled out but assumes questionable players will play

Fantasy streamer: Markelle Fultz (available in 65.2% of leagues) Fultz has become one of the best defensive guards in the league, and it adds an element to his all-around game that makes him a starter in most fantasy formats. In his last 12 games, Fultz has averaged 12.5 PPG, 6.3 APG, 5.3 RPG and 2.4 SPG. In his last outing, on Saturday, he turned in a 4×5 game with 16 points, 7 assists, 6 steals and 5 rebounds in 31 minutes. — Snellings

Best bet: Magic +5.5. With how the Kings have played lately, it’s difficult to see Sacramento defeating the Magic by more than 5.5 points. The Kings are 1-4 in their last five games against the spread. In their last four road games against teams with winning records at home, the Magic are 4-0 against the spread. — Moody

Best bet: De’Aaron Fox over 32.5 points + assists. Over the last 12 games, Fox has averaged 27.7 points and 6.9 assists. The Magic ranks 18th in points allowed per 100 possessions. Fox scored 37 points and amassed three assists against Orlando back on November 5th, 2022. — Moody

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The Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Calgary Flames on Sunday night. After coming off a very fun 2-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Friday, there were some good vibes surrounding the team. Patrick Kane is still missing with his injury but is expected to be back when they play next.

One player who has stepped up in the place of Patrick Kane is Lukas Reichel. After having his best game in the NHL with nothing to show for it against the Coyotes on Friday, he had an even better game against a much stronger opponent.

He started things off with his first career NHL goal just a few minutes into the game. He did what goal-scorers do and went to the front of the net. When you have hands as good as he does, you’ll score some goals if you go to that area of the ice regularly.

He wasn’t done there though. With the Blackhawks up 2-1 going into the second period, Reichel and his line made some noise just :35 seconds into the middle frame.

Coming down the wing, he got one of the best goalies in the world Jacob Markstrom to freeze up which left Philipp Kurashev with a wide-open net. Reichel found him with the backdoor pass and the Hawks went up 3-1.

Lukas Reichel put the team on his back in their Sunday night victory.

Now, the Hawks are a horrible defensive team but Alex Stalock kept him in it with his incredible goaltending (he has been the team’s best player this year). The Flames came all the way back and got it tied at three before the end of the second period.

In overtime, Reichel decided that he wasn’t done making awesome plays. He made a great play to find Max Domi in front of the net who didn’t miss scoring the game-winning goal. Domi’s 12th of the season was his second overtime winner this season.

With his play this weekend, Reichel earned himself a longer stay with the NHL club which is amazing. He didn’t look like someone who didn’t belong in his previous NHL action but he wasn’t producing any points. Now, he might have turned a bit of a corner.

Don’t expect him to have three points a night because nobody really does that but he seems like a kid that might end up working out long-term. Wouldn’t he look good playing with Connor Bedard? Hopefully, the Hawks are smart with his development as they move along here.

They are done playing now until Thursday which should be a nice little rest for them. They will host the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche who are very injured and looking to get back in the thick of the postseason race. This should be a great test for Reichel and the guys.

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The Chicago Bears lost to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. They were never really in it enough against the NFC North Champion Vikings for anyone to actually think they had a chance. By the end of the game, the result was becoming obvious.

The Vikings seemed to be content with taking out some players as the game went along and the Bears started to do the same thing. Getting as high of a draft pick as possible was always important to them and losing secured them the second overall pick at the worst.

Well, they got their wish as the Vikings ended each team’s regular season with a big victory on the road at Soldier Field. The Bears had the second overall pick locked down unless the Houston Texans could pull off a miracle in their game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Luckily enough, a big play at the end of that game got the Houston Texans within one point. Instead of sending the game to overtime with an extra point attempt, they went for two points. Luckily for the Bears, they did it and jumped the Bears on the draft board.

The Chicago Bears got some big-time help from Lovie Smith one final time.

For the first time since 1947, the Chicago Bears have the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. This is actually a very exciting piece of news as Chicago will hold a lot of cards with this pick. They could either trade it or make a selection. Either way, big things are coming for them.

Former head coach of the Chicago Bears Lovie Smith was the head coach of the Houston Texans in this game. He made all of the decisions in the final game that led to his team winning and handing over the first overall pick to his favorite team. Lovie helped Chicago out one last time.

You might remember that the Bears fired Lovie Smith all of those years ago after a winning season. Since then, literally nothing has gone right for the Bears and that includes any coaches to come along since (we will see about Matt Eberflus).

Unforutanately, the Houston Texans couldn’t even wait until Black Monday to fire Lovie Smith. They fired him on Sunday night just a handful of hours after their game ended. The players and coaching staff had to be happy with the final win of the year but the team clearly wasn’t.

There might have been some more things that went into this decision to fire him but it is hard to believe that the organization is happy with the fact that they no longer have the first overall pick. With that in mind, Lovie did the Bears one last solid on his way out.

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Margot McMahon says her father called himself an innocent bystander, but if this exhibition of graphite and watercolor pictures is any guide, I’d call him an engaged, active witness. Comprising some 40 pieces that portray protests, court scenes, political gatherings, as well as portraits and cityscapes with historic significance, the work dates from the 1940s to the early 2000s. If there’s a through line, it is a palpable sense of being there. 

Franklin McMahon was a POW in the waning months of World War II, and his daughter believes that experience shaped his worldview. The earliest pieces show the gates of Auschwitz, the Berlin Wall under construction, and a decimated building in Hiroshima. Subsequent pictures depict the Emmett Till trial, Martin Luther King Jr. on Madison Street in Chicago, Shirley Chisholm giving a campaign speech, protestors against Nixon, and street demonstrations against the Iraq War. These subjects and dozens of others are always from the perspective of the man in the crowd rather than the hero on stage. McMahon would park himself on the sidewalk and draw what he saw before his eyes as it happened. Then he would take the large sheets of paper home to his studio and add watercolor. Some pieces still bear his handwritten notes on what color to use and where.

Scarred by war, McMahon devoted his entire working life—he passed away in 2012—to championing righteous causes with his pencils and brushes. Talking about the country’s recent history, Margot laments that the lessons her father worked so hard to impart through his art weren’t heeded. He reminds us that an artist’s greatest responsibility is to bear witness.

“Resist!: A Visual History of Protest”Through 2/12: Wed-Sun noon-4 PM, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago, uima-chicago.org, admission donation-based

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