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The Coronavirus Threat the Media Have Overlookedon March 17, 2020 at 10:53 pm

The Amused Curmudgeon

The Coronavirus Threat the Media Have Overlooked

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Covid-19 Diary — March 17, 2020— The Day the Restaurants Closed — First Death in Illinois– Who Wants to Get My Mail?on March 17, 2020 at 11:50 pm

Life is a TV Dinner

Covid-19 Diary — March 17, 2020— The Day the Restaurants Closed — First Death in Illinois– Who Wants to Get My Mail?

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Covid-19 Diary — March 17, 2020— The Day the Restaurants Closed — First Death in Illinois– Who Wants to Get My Mail?on March 17, 2020 at 11:50 pm Read More »

Internal Spiritual Knowledge being discovered by Individuals. Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan discusses it.on March 18, 2020 at 2:52 am

Chicago Paranormal and Spiritual

Internal Spiritual Knowledge being discovered by Individuals. Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan discusses it.

©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
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Internal Spiritual Knowledge being discovered by Individuals. Psychic Medium Edward Shanahan discusses it.on March 18, 2020 at 2:52 am Read More »

What’s the deal with hoarding toilet paperon March 18, 2020 at 9:01 am

I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

What’s the deal with hoarding toilet paper

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COVID-19 hits live music hardon March 17, 2020 at 5:00 pm

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The current message on the Metro marquee - KELLY WEY

Precautions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 have resulted in the widespread cancellation of concerts and the temporary closure of the great majority of Chicago’s music venues. Many people working in live music–artists, road crews, promoters, venue staff–are losing most or all of their income during this crisis.

Because every concert the Reader intended to cover this week has been called off, we’ve converted our show previews to record reviews where possible. We hope this will drive sales of music or other merch and help artists compensate for lost gig income. We’ve included links on each review page where you can make such purchases.

Several local venues have already launched fundraising campaigns to help their employees stay afloat while operations are suspended, among them the Hideout, the Empty Bottle (and Bite Cafe), Metro (along with Smart Bar and Gman), the Hungry Brain, Reggies’, Sleeping Village, the Whistler, Cole’s, SPACE in Evanston, Cafe Mustache, and Tonic Room. Please consider donating, especially if your job still exists. And please e-mail [email protected] to let us know about campaigns not on the list below.

Venue names, alphabetized below, link to the relevant fundraising pages.

Beat Kitchen

Bottom Lounge

Burlington Bar

Cafe Mustache

Chop Shop

Cobra Lounge

Cole’s Bar

Constellation No fundraiser at this time, but patrons who bought tickets for canceled shows can donate their refunds to the staff.

Dorian’s

Empty Bottle (and Bite Cafe)

Four Entertainment Group (includes the Owl and AliveOne)

Hideout

Hungry Brain

Liar’s Club

Live Wire Lounge

Martyrs’

Metro (and Smart Bar and Gman Tavern)

Promontory

Reed’s Local

Reggies’ Rock Club (and Music Joint)

Sleeping Village

SPACE in Evanston

Subterranean

Thalia Hall (plus Dusek’s and Punch House)

Tonic Room

Whistler v

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Simulating the state basketball playoffs: How the Class 2A tournament could have played outon March 17, 2020 at 10:06 pm

The 2020 Illinois High School Association’s boys state basketball playoffs will never be completed. All the players and coaches were left stuck just steps from Peoria.

There’s nothing anyone can do about that. But a day after the cancellation I had an idea. Sports video games are huge. I regularly play a computer baseball simulation game called OOTP Baseball. Why couldn’t we do something like that for the state playoffs?

I asked around and found a few people willing to take on the task and ended up deciding to go with The Barking Crow.

The Barking Crow started in 2017 as All Things NIT, a farcical college basketball blog written by someone very bored at work. While it’s still primarily a farcical sports blog, it’s expanded to include legitimate statistical forecasting surrounding the College Football Playoff, the NCAA Tournament, and the NIT.

The Barking Crow used Aaron Britton’s (@NestoHoops) spreadsheets as data for the simulation. They are available on his website.

Obviously this is all totally fictional and made up and just for fun. So I made a few rules. I’m not going to mention any player names in the short write-ups. It doesn’t seem proper to have a high school kid’s name attached to something that he isn’t involved in. For that same reason I’m not going to use any of our pictures.

Just to be very clear: The IHSA has nothing to do with this. The schools and teams are not involved in any way. This is a completely fictional result based on data from the season.

Class 1A and Class 2A will be released on Tuesday.

Check back on Wednesday for Class 3A and Thursday for Class 4A.

CLASS 2A

State semifinal: Orr 73, Breese Mater Dei 54

The Spartans jumped out to a 20-10 lead and Breese Mater Dei was only able to cut it down to nine by halftime. Orr dominated the third quarter and cruised to the win.

State semifinal: Timothy Christian 55, Sacred Heart-Griffin 52

This one was a lot closer. Looks like it was an excellent game. Sacred Heart-Griffin led 14-5 after the first quarter. Timothy Christian cut the lead to six by halftime and just one point after three quarters. The final quarter went back and forth until Timothy Christian took the lead for good with 3:44 to play. Sacred Heart-Griffin hit a shot to pull within three with 49 seconds left but that was the final score of the game. The computer had Sacred Heart-Griffin as a 1.5 point favorite, so this was a minor upset.

State championship: Orr 58, Timothy Christian 41

Orr has dominated Class 2A for four years and entered this game as a heavy favorite, but Timothy Christian held its own early and led 31-30 at halftime. The Spartans then locked down on defense and held Timothy Christian scoreless for the first half of the third quarter. Orr led 45-33 after three quarters. The Trojans only got as close as ten points in the fourth quarter and Orr buckled down on defense again and held them scoreless for the final 5:07 of the game.

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Simulating the state basketball playoffs: How the Class 2A tournament could have played outon March 17, 2020 at 10:06 pm Read More »

9 Easy Cocktail Recipes to Make at Home During Your Quarantineon March 17, 2020 at 4:50 pm

Many of us aren’t used to working from home or staying indoors for long periods of time. If you have the luxury of quarantining yourself inside your home, first of all, be grateful. Second, make a cocktail. Because no one wants to get through quarantine completely sober.

These are a few classic cocktail recipes that are easy to make at home. You probably have some of these liquor bottles already on your shelves from that manic Target trip you had over the weekend.



Martini

Standard Recipe: 2 1/2 oz gin, 1/2 oz dry vermouth, 1 dash of orange bitters, garnish with a lemon twist

This might seem like a no-brainer, but there are actually about a million ways to make a martini, and your mom probably enjoys hers differently than you do. The classic martini is made with gin, but you can swap for vodka. Next up is a good dry vermouth, and then the question of shaken or stirred. We recommend stirring, as shaking can often damage the liquor you’ve just poured. Add some bitters, then decide if you’d like lemons or olives to top off your drink. Why not make one of each? You have all the time in the world.



easy cocktail recipes

Margarita

Standard Recipe: 3 oz tequila, 2 oz lime juice, 1 oz simple syrup (optional), 1/2 – 1 tsp orange liqueur, 2 tbs kosher salt and/or sugar (for the rim), garnish with a lime

If you don’t know how to make a margarita, there’s no better time to start. This is kind of a quintessential drink to know, perfect for parties, beach days, and self-quarantines alike! First, rub the rim of your glass with lime juice so that the salt or sugar sticks to it. Then it’s time to add the other ingredients. Shake up your other ingredients in a separate glass and then pour them into your glass when ready.



easy cocktail recipes

Mojito

Standard Recipe: 6 oz light rum, 12 mint springs or spearmint, 6 tbs lime juice, 4 tbs sugar, club soda, garnish with lime slices

This one is really easy—unless you’re going the frozen route, in which case you have to pick up a blender. All you have to do is toss your ingredients into a glass, shake it up really good, and pour into your glass. Then garnish with some lime slices. Easy peasy, Mojito squeezy.



easy cocktail recipes

Manhattan

Standard Recipe: 2 oz whiskey, 1 oz sweet vermouth, 1 – 2 dashes of bitters, moisten the rim with an orange peel and garnish with cherries

Our train of M cocktails comes to an end with the classic Manhattan, another relatively easy cocktail recipe to procure. Shake up the liquor and bitters and pour it into the recommended glass shape, pictured above. The orange peel is really only to get the flavor on the rim of your glass, but no one is stopping you from plopping it into the drink along with some cherries.



easy cocktail recipes

Daiquiri

Standard Recipe: 2 oz light rum, 1 oz lime juice, 3/4 oz sugar syrup, garnish with a lime twist

This one tends to get a bad rep. What was once a glorious drink to have in hand has since been subdued to a sugary menace that induces a splitting hangover. Daiquiris are shaken and then garnished with a lime twist. Or just a wedge if you aren’t that fancy.



easy cocktail recipes

Long Island Iced Tea

Standard Recipe: 1 oz vodka, 1 oz gin, 1 oz white rum, 1 oz white tequila, 1/2 oz triple sec, 2 tbs lemon juice, garnish with lemon wedges

A hangover waiting to happen, this is not for the faint of heart and everybody knows it. Though not the prettiest of drinks, just one of these hard iced teas will have you stumbling, two will have you dancing on bar tables, and three… if you know, you know. Shake your ingredients, water it down with a half-cup of Coca Cola, or brave the full force of your Long Island Iced Tea.



easy cocktail recipes

Whiskey Sour

Standard Recipe: 2 oz bourbon or whiskey, 3/4 oz lemon juice, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 1/2 egg white (optional), garnish with bitters, cherry, and lemon wedge

This one is a personal favorite, and an easy cocktail recipe to learn. Crack an egg, even though they’re running out of ’em at the grocery stores, and learn this blended cocktail in a flash. Shake up all those ingredients and top your whiskey sour off with a dash of bitters. Garnish with cherry or lemon slices as you wish.

Bloody Mary

Standard Recipe: 2 oz vodka, 4 oz tomato juice, 2 dashes of Tabasco sauce, 2 tsp of horseradish, 2 dashes of Worcestershire sauce, 1 pinch of celery salt, 1 pinch of ground black pepper, 1 pinch of smoked paprika, garnish options: lime wedge, green olives, parsley sprig, celery stalk, shrimp, a cheeseburger, bacon, a shishkabob, you name it!

Okay, so when we said ‘easy,’ we meant relative to how badly you want to drink any of these cocktails. The Bloody Mary is sought after by almost everyone, so it’s safe to say you kinda have to learn how to make one, even if it’s not necessarily an easy cocktail recipe. The best part is, once you’ve made it, you can garnish it with just about anything. It’s not as complicated as you think to put everything together. We recommend following these simple steps for the perfect Bloody Mary.

Moscow Mule

Standard Recipe: 2 oz vodka, 3 oz ginger beer, half a lime, garnish with a lime wheel

That’s it? That’s it. There’s that mug we all know and love, that shiny copper, almost rose-gold glow from the vessel that holds our beloved Moscow Mules. And now you know how little is in them. Congrats, you’re a cheap date.

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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Try These DIY Crafts With Your Kids While You’re Stuck at Homeon March 17, 2020 at 5:54 pm

A lot of us are wondering what we can do to keep our kids busy during this 2020 COVID-19 quarantine. In this time of struggle and confusion, it is important to keep our minds, bodies, and souls cleansed with fun and interactive activities for our youth. A busy mind results in an educational approach for our little ones at home who are unable to practice social interaction at this time.

Although it is easy to throw on your child’s favorite TV show or games on a tablet, providing a structure of learning curves with at-home supplies will keep your kids busy from boredom and fatigue while they are limited for the next few weeks.



If you joined in on the world-wide panic of lack of toilet paper and hand sanitizer, you are probably fully stocked with some supplies you didn’t think about using.

Now, keep in mind that you do not need to necessarily participate in the pandemic of racing to the convenience store to purchase items that you may or may not have. It is still important to keep you and your loved ones safe from large crowds that create a higher risk of catching this respiratory disease.



Here are some family-friendly bonding activities that you can do with your kids, and while you’re at it, recycle those gently used items you bought recently at the store!

crafts for kids

Toilet Paper Roll Rainstick

We know for a fact that you all are stocked up on toilet paper. This easy craft takes most of us adults back to our younger, simpler years. In light of current events and now that we’re rolling into spring, this will keep your children’s imagination running. The best part? This activity only requires 3 supplies: toilet paper rolls (after you’ve used them—no one is insinuating that you should deplete your hoarded stash), tape, and rice! To make their rainstick’s unique, you can add stickers, construction paper, or rhinestones to the outside. No two sticks are alike! For step-by-step instructions on how to create your own in your home, visit Happiness is Homemade.



Tissue Box Bird Houses

The COVID-19 virus is no joke when it comes to your immune system and flu-like symptoms. If you have been feeling a little under the weather recently, you more than likely have a few empty tissue boxes lying around. This quick and easy activity will be a great addition to your family’s outdoor living spaces, gardens, and backyard trees. These are hard times, not just for us, but for our wildlife as well. You could give a bird a new home. This craft only requires a few supplies: tissue box, glue, some sort of stick (popsicle sticks, toothpicks, kabob sticks), paint, and safety scissors.

Whale Pool Toy

During this time, one of the few things we can do is look forward to positive dates and events coming up in our near future. One of those is a favorite season for most of us: summer! Summertime calls for outdoor fun, playing at the playground, and hitting your local swimming pool to let out some energy. This activity will be fun to do to help the anticipation of fun in the sun! This requires only 2 supplies: an emptied-out hand sanitizer gallon jug and a pair of scissors! To make this more festive, add some glitter or googly eyes to make your pool toy come alive! Crafty Morning can give you tips and tricks to make yours right at home!



Looking for a few more projects to tackle? Upparent is an amazing resource for families looking for things to do at home and 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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Best Shows to Binge Watch On Amazon Primeon March 17, 2020 at 6:35 pm

As an Amazon Prime member, I can safely speak for all of us when I say, social distancing is something we have been practicing for YEARS now. With the recent news of the novel coronavirus spread, you may be developing a severe case of agoraphobia. Well, dear readers, have no fear, we’re here with some great news. Amazon Prime Video has released some of the latest and greatest TV shows for your viewing pleasure.

PRIME: Limited-Time Sample Season 1

HOLD THE PHONE – Amazon Prime is tempting us with a good time – and we’re hooked! This month Amazon has released select series for their season 1 viewing only! Just enough to tempt you to buy the next season. We’re not too upset, though, because they are some seriously great shows. What’s the catch? They’re only available to Prime members, free of charge, until March 31st. Interested in what we recommend?



best shows amazon prime
Photo Credit: Kidding on Showtime

Kidding

Featuring the main character, Jim Carrey…

Looking for a show to take your mind off the potential impending doom? This show will do the trick. Jeff Pickles is a man full of wisdom and kindness who hosts a children’s television show. Season 1 takes you on a heartwarming, yet cruel journey, through Mr. Pickle’s life and the once perfect world he lived in, as it begins to implode around him. We laughed, we cried, we gained 10 pounds binge watching this.



best shows amazon prime
Photo Credit: Jamestown TV Series

Jamestown

From the makers of Downton Abbey…

This show is set back in the 17th-century in Jamestown, Virginia. This troublesome town was settled nearly 12 years prior to the arrival of the first woman. As the ladies arrive, they find that this tiny settlement isn’t all they expected it to be, but maybe it is in fact, everything they needed it to be. This show takes viewers on a journey of curiosity, excitement, desire, and worry. Every episode is sure to shake things up.



amazon prime best shows
Photo Credit: Black Sails

Black Sails

“War against the world”…

Everyone loves a great pirate adventure! In these uncertain times, this American tale is one of historical adventure that we needed to distract us. Set in the West Indies in 1715, the laws of every civilized nation stated that these pirates are “enemies of all mankind”. In return, the pirates believe they are in a war against the entire world. The coolest part of this show? It was written as a prequel to the much loved “Treasure Island”. This action-packed series will surely keep you preoccupied during your self-imposed quarantine.



PRIME: Amazon Original Series

You guessed it, these are only available to the ever-so-fortunate, Amazon Prime Members. These shows are the added bonus of having, in some cases, multiple seasons to aid us in our binge-watching addiction.

best shows amazon prime
Photo Credit: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel

IMDb: 8.8/10 | 3 seasons, 26 episodes



Looking for a show to truly lift your spirits and put a smile on your face? This series is sure to do it. Set in the late 1950’s viewers follow Midge Maisel through her ever-changing life. From a perfect life, to changing everything to chase her dreams, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel will have you on the edge of your seat.

Photo Credit: Bosch

Bosch

IMDb: 8.4/10 | 5 seasons, 50 episodes



Excuse us while we swoon over the true intellectual hero that is Harry Bosch. This show had us hooked not only emotionally to the storyline that tugs on the heartstrings, but from the moment we saw just how real Bosch can get. This L.A.P.D. Homicide Detective works day and night on thrilling crime. Chasing serial killers was never so thrilling.

Photo Credit: Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete

IMDb: 8.2/10 | 3 seasons, 30 episodes



We love when a character grows on us because we sure did NOT love Pete in episode one! This series tells the story of Marius Josipovic who recently regains freedom to the normal world (got released from prison). After stealing his cellmate’s identity, Marius decides to take it even further by stealing his entire family! This three-season series will definitely satisfy those TV binging urges.

PRIME: Other Quick Notable Mentions

Catastrophe

IMDb: 8.2/10 | 4 seasons, 24 episodes

Jack Ryan

IMDb: 8.1/10 | 2 seasons, 16 episodes

Transparent

IMDb: 7.8/10 | 5 seasons, 41 episodes

Homecoming

IMDb: 7.5/10 | 1 season, 10 episodes

Forever

IMDb: 7.2/10 | 1 season, 8 episodes

You heard it here first folks, stay inside, grab a blanket, and cuddle up. Amazon Prime Video – keeping the world safe one TV series at a time.

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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Best Ways to Relieve Stress While You’re Quarantined at Homeon March 17, 2020 at 7:10 pm

The time has come that both government mandates and personal judgment regarding COVID-19 has forced us indoors. The fear of the unknown cocktailed with social isolation can lead anyone to go a tad stir-crazy. Social isolation can make a huge impact on your mental health. Binging every Netflix series or scrolling through social media will quickly grow tiring. Let’s explore some soothing in-home activities.

relieve stress home

Meditate and focus on your breathing

Find a soothing spot where you can dim the lights, sit alone, and feel your heartbeat. Meditation can alleviate stress and create a state of deep relaxation, which will benefit your overall well-being during these uncertain times. With everything going on, silencing the internal chatter can welcome an eased mind.



relieve stress home

Take a trip down memory lane

Pull out some of those old photo albums or school yearbooks and revisit the past. Reliving nostalgic moments can give us a sense of support, make us feel happier, and promote optimism.

relieve stress home

Donate goods you don’t need

Go through household items, shoes, and clothing you may no longer use. Donating to local charities is a great way to help others, increase happiness, and relieve stress. In all likelihood, if you haven’t worn it or used it in a year, you’re not about to start now!



Ditch the technology and pick up a book

Reading not only improves memory, vocabulary, and knowledge, it can help with mental stimulation. Boosted mental stimulation contributes to the flow of blood diminishing stress!

Try a little Feng Shui

There is something uniquely satisfying about giving your space a makeover. Removing clutter can create a sense of balance, both physically and mentally. Rearranging your space can be very stimulating and help distract you from everyday stressors.



To help mitigate this crisis, it is important we each do our part. Staying out of restaurants, bars, and limiting our social interaction can decrease the rapid worldwide spread of this virus. These simple indoor activities can help alleviate stressors out of our control. The best part is, they’re completely free and will aid in keeping you out of harm’s way.

Namaste!



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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