Chicago Bears should inquire about Hayden Hurston February 25, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears need to improve their tight end room and a good one may have just become available.

It’s no secret that the Chicago Bears will be looking to upgrade at the tight end position, and acquiring Hayden Hurst would be a home run. If he is truly available as a recent report suggests, then general manager Ryan Pace must pick up the phone and see what it would cost.

You may have missed the report yesterday, as it got lost in the shuffle of the first day of the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Most of the focus was on arm length, hand size, height, and weight, but Bears fans may have noticed a tweet suggesting the Baltimore Ravens tight end could be on the move.

A sports columnist with the Florida Times-Union named Eugene Frenette dropped an interesting tweet that did not seem to get picked up or otherwise gain traction.

Patriots, Jaguars exploring pre-draft trade for @Ravens TE Hayden Hurst, but whether it happens will depend on what draft capital teams r willing to part with. Hurst, who Jags we’re going to draft in 2018 ,told me 2 months ago he wants opportunity to catch more passes. Stay tuned

— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) February 24, 2020

The original tweet suggested both the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars were exploring a trade for the former first-round pick out of the University of South Carolina. As previously mentioned, the story did not seem to get picked up and as of yet, has not been independently verified by any of the national reporters (outside of WEEI in Boston), however, the tweet suggests Frenette has had previous conversations with Hurst.

If this is true, and Hurst is available, then the Bears should be willing to give up one of their second-round picks to make it happen.

First, it’s so difficult for a rookie tight end to make an impact, so if the team is expecting to make significant improvements to the position via the draft, it likely won’t have an effect next year. Second, the Bears could get a first-round talent, with two years of NFL experience with a second-round pick. That alone should be a no-brainer.

In 2018 (his rookie year) he played in only 12 games, recording a mere 163 yards on 13 catches. However, it was an invaluable experience that helped him more than double those outputs in year two with 30 receptions and 349 receiving yards.

Next: Bears should sign Teddy Bridgewater

He appears to be getting better each year and could be up for a breakout year in 2020. Because he was drafted in 2018, he is still on his rookie contract. This is great, in that it would allow the Bears to obtain a high quality experienced tight end for an incredibly affordable price — at least in terms of dollars. The downside to all of this is that it remains to be seen whether the Ravens would part with him for just a second-round pick. In any event, Pace will never know unless he picks up the phone.

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Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Combine Week editionon February 25, 2020 at 3:00 pm

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(Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The sport that never really ends. The NFL season really does feel like a year-round experience, and that’s not necessarily a reference to the schedule changes. More so how this week’s Combine is yet another important date for everyone, including the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bears have such a critical week ahead of them. While that does include scouting out the best players in the “Underwear Olympics”, it also involves discussions with agents about pending free agents and the situation about how the team will tackle their quarterback room. The latter is a mortal lock be something that comes up in Ryan Pace’s combine interviews and if his faith in Mitchell Trubisky is wavering.

We can delve into free agents the team should look to keep or re-sign or discuss in length about what the quarterback room should look like this fall. But we’ll shelf that for the time being. Bear with me (no pun intended) and assume/observe the following in my particular scenario:

The Bears sign or trade for an established veteran option at quarterback. While this isn’t the shock of the century, there will be an extremely rare surplus of quarterbacks on the market in both draft and free agency. After the bigger dominos like Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, and Dak Prescott fall, the secondary market will light up in a big way. While it’s not a fail-proof plan, Ryan Pace has a golden opportunity to right the ship.
Fixing the tight end position is not a “draft/sign one guy and he solves everything” ordeal. This is going to be a group effort and adding Demetrius Harris is going to be one of several moves towards the goal of shoring up the position. Therefore, we shall assume Chicago will land one of Eric Ebron, Hunter Henry, Tyler Eifert, or any of the bargain veterans who are going to probably need to do a one-year prove-it deal.
As much as Pace loves trading around the draft, this is probably the first year where he’s going to need to be laissez-faire this time around. He has pushed his chips to the center of the pot time after time, betting on this roster and coaching staff over the last few years and the results have been mixed. Getting guys you really love or are high on are important and getting “your guy” is sometimes praised. But when the player does not pan out, you will unavoidably face backlash. So you will see zero trades here because it’s just not feasible with their current capital. A trade down is more likely to come draft week.

After the Combine, I’m sure a lot of what I write won’t be nearly as relevant and I fathom that we’ll all be so knee-deep in quarterback hand sizes or the time a lineman runs the 40 (or God forbid we get another D.K. Metcalf vs. “The Vaunted Three-Cone” debate redux). So let’s just get down to brass tacks.

Eight draft picks, eight more opportunities to put the Bears back into title contention. Let’s rock.

Next: Pick 43: Adding speed to an offense that needs it

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Chicago Bears: Tight Ends to watch at NFL Scouting Combineon February 25, 2020 at 4:00 pm

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Chicago Bears (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)

As the Chicago Bears head to Indianapolis for the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, what are some tight ends the team needs to keep an eye on?

The Chicago Bears need to figure out the tight end position this offseason. For a position that’s so critical to the success of the offense, 2019 proved that without a tight end, the offense cannot function.

The team has already made one move, signing veteran Demetrius Harris however there is still a lot of work that needs to be done. While Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen will compete with Harris for a roster spot, the Bears need to add even more competition to the position and send a message that nobody is safe.

When general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy in Indianapolis for the entire week, they’ll have a chance to get an extended look at some of the best tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft.

With two second-round picks, the Bears have a chance to find an impact player at the position and get someone who can be a dynamic playmaker for the next four seasons at a cheap price.

While many would argue against using one of the Bears’ two second-round picks on a tight end, it’s necessary that the Bears use a high draft pick to push Shaheen and Burton, both of whom were considered to be the future at the position.

What will help the Bears land a great starting tight end is a run on positions such as quarterback, cornerback, and wide receiver. All three positions are very deep this year meaning when the Bears are on the clock, they’ll likely be picking a guy who could have gone in the first-round in other NFL Drafts.

As the most intriguing week of the NFL offseason gets underway, what are some tight ends the Bears should keep an eye on? Let’s examine some names and find out.

Next: Number One

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Chicago Bears News: Pace sends clear message on Trubiskyon February 25, 2020 at 7:23 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace met with the media today and made, perhaps his most definitive statement about Mitch Trubisky.

Following the end of the season, the Chicago Bears appeared firmly behind Mitchell Trubisky as their starter for the 2020 season. However, they were not prepared to commit to his fifth-year option at that time. Tuesday was the first opportunity since their end of the year press conference to hear from Ryan Pace, the Bears’ general manager. In his remarks, he made, what could be the most definitive statement about Mitch yet.

There appears to be a fundamental disconnect between what Ryan Pace is saying and what the Bears are actually doing. Despite having nearly two months to digest the season, and consider whether to give Mitch his fifth-year option, they are still not prepared to make that decision. Let that sink in for a moment. They have exactly one quarterback on the roster. He happens to be the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, whom the general manager traded up for because he absolutely had to have this guy. And yet, he’s still undecided whether he wants to give him his fifth-year option.

If you’re having trouble reconciling their staunch commitment to Mitch with their actions, you are certainly not alone. So why might they not be willing to commit to a fifth year?

The most obvious explanation is they don’t believe in Mitch. Despite what they’ve said, nothing would demonstrate their supposed “commitment” to Mitch like a fifth-year option. The fact that they haven’t speaks volumes. But it’s more than that. Not only did Pace state he’s not prepared to make that decision now, but that he would make that decision in May.

#Bears GM Ryan Pace said the team will decide whether to pick up the fifth-year option for Mitch Trubisky in May.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) February 25, 2020

Hmmmm — what’s the significance of May? Could it perhaps be that it is after both free agency and the NFL Draft, and the time when Pace will know whether he has a more viable option on the roster? Likely.

Well, you may be thinking this is just how Pace operates, and his preference is to wait until the last minute to make these decisions. If so, how do you explain the fact that Pace told reporters they were picking up Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option in January 2019? The explanation is quite simple — he was confident in Floyd’s future, but not Trubisky’s.

Another possible explanation for their unwillingness to commit could be the uncertainty around the new collective bargaining agreement. However, there are two issues with that logic. First, Pace said himself today that the collective bargaining agreement will have no impact on the decision. Second, the rules for awarding fifth-year options to the 2017 draft class will not be impacted by the new collective bargaining agreement.

Consequently, if they picked up the option it would be at a cost of about $24 million. The fact that they’re not willing to commit that much money to Mitch says a lot. What says even more, though, is that the option is not guaranteed except for injury. So even if they picked up his option, they could always rescind it, absent injury. This makes their unwillingness to do so even more puzzling.

Next: Bears should inquire about Hayden Hurst

Many fans might be unhappy with what they’ll perceive as a lack of real information from Pace, but rather than hanging on every word, focus on the actions — they’ll tell you a lot more.

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High school basketball scores: Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Bolingbrook, Class 1A and 2A regionalson February 25, 2020 at 8:04 pm

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Nazareth at St. Viator, 7:00

FOX VALLEY

Crystal Lake South at Crystal Lake Central, 7:00

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Grayslake Central at Grant, 7:00

Lakes at Grayslake North, 7:00

Round Lake at North Chicago, 7:00

Wauconda at Antioch, 7:00

SOUTHLAND

Rich South at Crete-Monee, 4:30

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE EAST

Plainfield East at Joliet Central, 6:30

Plainfield South at Romeoville, 6:30

SOUTHWEST PRAIRIE WEST

Oswego at Minooka, 6:30

Plainfield North at Yorkville, 6:30

West Aurora at Oswego East, 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE

Homewood-Flossmoor at Bolingbrook, 6:30

Sandburg at Lincoln-Way East, 6:30

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN RED

Bradley-Bourbonnais at Lincoln-Way West, 6:30

Lincoln-Way Central at Stagg, 6:30

NON CONFERENCE

Andrew at Oak Forest, 6:30

Bowen at Brother Rice, 5:30

Dixon at Sandwich, 6:45

Fenwick at Taft, 6:00

Goode at Amundsen, 5:00

Hampshire at Elgin, 7:00

HmS Resource Center at Portage Christian (IN), 6:3

IMSA at Kaneland, 7:00

Marian Catholic at Richards, 7:00

St. Ignatius at Jones, 5:00

St. Patrick at Northside, 6:30

Steinmetz at Lane, 5:00

Streator at Morris, 7:00

Sycamore at Harvard, 7:00

Thornton at St. Laurence, 7:00

Thornton Fr. South at Calumet Tech (IN), 7:00

UIC at Kennedy, 6:30

Woodstock North at McHenry, 7:00

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Glenbrook North at Highland Park, 7:00

Evanston at Maine East, 7:30

Maine South at Maine West, 7:00

New Trier at Vernon Hills, 7:00

Niles West at Deerfield, 7:30

MID SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Hersey at Palatine, 7:30

Elk Grove at Conant, 7:30

Prospect at Fremd, 7:30

Rolling Meadows at Barrington, 7:30

Wheeling at Hoffman Estates, 7:30

WEST SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Oak Park-River Forest at Morton, 6:30

Hinsdale Central at Proviso East, 6:00

Downers Grove North at Downers Grove South, 6:

Lyons at Willowbrook, 6:00

Glenbard West at Leyden, 6:30

Proviso West at Addison Trail, 7:00

Class 1A state tournament

HARVEST CHRISTIAN SECTIONAL

Christian Liberty

Ida Crown vs. Acero-Cruz, 6:00

Beacon vs. Waldorf, 7:30

Walther Christian

Austin vs. Providence-St. Mel, 6:00

Walther Christian vs. CICS-Quest, 7:30

Aurora Christian

Mooseheart vs. Islamic Foundation, 6:00

Collins vs. Air Force, 7:30

Westminster Christian

Harvest Christian vs. Lycee Francais, 6:00

North Shore vs. Westminster Christian, 7:30

RIVER RIDGE SECTIONAL

Polo

Pecatonica vs. Amboy, 6:00

LaMoille-Ohio vs. Ashton-Franklin Center, 7:30

Christian Life

Christian Life vs. Alden-Hebron, 6:00

Earlville vs. Hiawatha, 7:30

SCHLARMAN SECTIONAL

Lexington

St. Anne vs. Calvary Christian, 6:00

LeRoy vs. Cornerstone Christian, 7:30

Iroquois West

Cissna Park vs. Donovan, 6:00

Milford vs. Fisher, 7:30

OTTAWA MARQUETTE SECTIONAL

Putnam County

Gardner-So. Wilmington vs. DePue, 6:00

St. Bede vs. Midland, 7:30

Harper

Richards (Chgo) vs. Excel-South Shore, 6:00

Excel-Englewood vs. Little Black Pearl, 7:30

St. Francis de Sales

Grant Park vs. Chicago Collegiate, 6:00

St. Francis de Sales vs. Foundations Prep, 7:30

Somonauk

Dwight vs. Woodland, 6:00

Newark vs. Parkview Christian, 7:30

Class 2A state tournament

CARVER SECTIONAL

King

King vs. DuSable, 6:00

University High vs. Acero-Soto, 7:30

Corliss

Longwood vs. Baker, 6:00

Harlan vs. EPIC, 7:30

Julian

Chicago Christian vs. Julian, 7:00

Dyett

Dyett vs. ACE Amandla, 7:00

MARSHALL SECTIONAL

Dunbar

Dunbar vs. Urban Prep-Bronzeville, 7:00

Christ the King

Clark vs. Phoenix, 7:00

Orr

Orr vs. Rowe-Clark, 7:00

Francis Parker

Francis Parker d. Golder, FFT

Latin vs. Noble Street, 7:30

GENOA-KINGSTON SECTIONAL

St. Joseph

Timorthy Christian vs. Montini, 7:00

Aurora Central

Marengo vs. Aurora Central, 7:00

Rockford Lutheran

Rockford Lutheran vs. Marian Central, 7:00

PRINCETON SECTIONAL

Winnebago

El Paso-Gridley vs. Mendota, 6:00

Hall vs. Byron, 7:30

PONTIAC SECTIONAL

Coal City

Coal City vs. Wilmington, 7:00

Manteno

Manteno vs. Peotone, 6:00

Herscher vs. Momence, 7:30

Paxton-Buckley-Loda

Paxton-Buckley Loda vs. Watseka, 7:00

High school basketball scores: Homewood-Flossmoor vs. Bolingbrook, Class 1A and 2A regionalson February 25, 2020 at 8:04 pm Read More »

The Annual Baconfest Returns, This Time With the Debut of the First-Ever Da Best Feston February 25, 2020 at 4:15 pm

The Bacontopia You’ve Always Dreamed Of

From humble beginnings to nationally renowned, the annual Baconfest earns the title as one of the most prestigious eatery festivals in the world. Celebrating everyone’s favorite breakfast item in a satisfyingly unique way, Baconfest gathers top chefs and reputable restaurants in Chi-town to carefully curate exquisite dishes, bacon being its prized centerpiece. For the past years, hundreds flocked to the savory smell of crispy cuisine to sample novel treats and sip boozy bacon-inspired cocktails, all for a great cause too!

First Off: Da Best Fest

This year’s annual Baconfest is switching it up a bit with the debut of the first-ever Da Best Fest, beginning on Friday, April 17, 2020, from 6 pm-10 pm at the UIC Dorin Forum (725 W Roosevelt). Instead of solely bacon-driven dishes, Da Best Fest will feature a wholly diverse landscape of Chicago’s favorite dishes, from Italian beef, hot dogs, pizza, and flaming saganaki, to jibaritos, aquarium-smoked rib tips, chicken Vesuvio, shrimp de Jonghe, malort, and more.

“Da Best Fest was born out of a love of Chicago’s home-grown cuisine and its distinctive neighborhoods,” said Seth Zurer, Co-Founder of Da Best Fest & Baconfest. “The fest will be a fantastic mix of classic takes and intriguing interpretations. It will be a great introduction to those not familiar with some of these canonical dishes, like The Mother-In-Law or Sweet Steak Sandwich. I hope to see some truly unique creations that take these beloved bites and turn them inside out to blow everyone’s minds. Da Best Fest will be a consumable love letter to Chicago and all of its delicious parts.”

Chicagoans will get the opportunity to explore over 40 chef-crafted samples from exhibitors. Each ticket type includes seven drink tickets accessible to a wide variety of beers, wines, and cocktails.

General Admission: 7:00 PM -10: 00 PM: $75 + fees
VIP Tickets: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM: $130 + fees

The Baconfest

Following that Friday, the Bacon Fest will promptly begin on Saturday, April 18. This year, the fest reigns in two sessions. Sessions are Saturday lunch, from 11 am – 12 pm (VIP Hour) and 12 – 3 pm (General Admission) to Saturday dinner, from 6 – 7 pm (VIP Hour) and 7 – 10 pm (General Admission).

Proceeds go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which feeds the hungry in the Chicagoland area. So far, the annual fest has succeeded in generating over $480,000 in charity! Last year, Baconfest debuted some exciting bacon dishes such as the Bacon Chicken Lollipop, curated by Kitty O’Sheas, and of course, the Baconfest-exclusive Bacon-Katsu Ramen made by Mike Satinover. This year, we can only fathom what the Baconfest has in store for us! Check below for admission details and get your ticket while you still can!

Saturday Lunch – April 18 (PRESENTED BY JEWEL-OSCO)
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM VIP Hour
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM General Admission

Saturday Dinner – April 18
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM VIP Hour
7:00 PM -10:00 PM General Admission

If looking for the best of both worlds, discount bundles for both Baconfest and Da Best Fest are available.

General Admission Bundles – $140 + fees: save $20 and get GA tickets to Da Best Fest and Baconfest Saturday Dinner

VIP Bundles – $240 + fees: save $50 and get VIP tickets to Da Best Fest and Baconfest Saturday Dinner

Lineup

Friday: Da Best Fest Lineup

Participating Restaurants (as of 2/11/2020) – Roster subject to change without notice.

676 Restaurant & Bar – Dominique LeBlanc Beers
Bangers & Lace – Evanston
Berger Station – Ivan Gonzalez
Black Dog Gelato – Jess Oloroso
Cantina Laredo – Daniel Espinoza
Chicago Chop House – Martin Martinez
Cooking Skills Academy – Paul Guerrero
Four Star Artisan – Kurt Guzowski and Thomas Rice
Goose Island Brewpub – Henry Pariser
Heritage Restaurant and Caviar Bar – Guy Meikle
Hermosa – Ethan Eang Lim
Jim’s Original Inc – Betty Domagala
Labriola Chicago – Tim Donohoe
Le Bouchon – Oliver Poilevey
Links Taproom – Josh Bushnick
Mesler Kitchen – Matthew Cappellini
Michael Jordan’s Steak House – Craig Couper
Orso’s Restaurant
Osteria Bigolaro – Anthony Gargano
Phillipe C’est Bon – Phillipe Sobon
Pinstripes – Juan Gonzalez
Spacca Napoli – Jonathan Goldsmith
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee – Susan Barnett
State and Lake Chicago Tavern – Nathan Sears
The Broken Barrel Bar – Bryant Anderson
The Duck Inn – Kevin Hickey
The Heritage – Nariba Shepherd
The Royal Grocer & Co. – Shane Graybeal
Victory Tap Chicago – Joseph Farina
World of Whirlpool – Luke Creagan
XO Marshmallow – Melissa Humphrey

Saturday: Baconfest Lineup

Lunch | 11 am – 3 pm

AceBounce – Nina Madsen
Atwood – David Fingerman
Bistro Campagne – Adam Grandt
Community Tavern – Joey Beato
Davanti Enoteca – Jim Day
Ella’s BBQ – Art Wnorowski — NEW FOR 2020
Farmhouse Chicago – Eric Mansavage
Firecakes
Flo & Santos – Lupe Garcia
Fred’s Garage – Geo Tapia
Goose Island Brewpub – Henry Pariser
Joe Eats World – Joe Morales and Brandon Thomas — NEW FOR 2020
Jordan’s Food of Distinction – Stephanie Hickey
Kaiser Tiger
Kitty O’Sheas – Mario Garcia
Latinicity Food Hall – Marcos Flores
Market House on the Square – Dan Marquis
Mercat a la Planxa – David Murphy
Murray Bros. Caddyshack
N’awlins Edibles Traveling Chef – Cheryl Bowman
NoMI Kitchen – Eric Damidot
One Lake Brewing – Nick Stewart — NEW FOR 2020
Paddy Long’s
Phillipe C’est Bon – Phillipe Sobon — NEW FOR 2020
Piece Pizzeria and Brewery
Recess – Daniel Weiland — NEW FOR 2020
Sheekar Delights – Diane Joseph
Smack Dab – Axel Erkenswick
Smylie Brothers Brewing Company
Sociale – John McLean & Martin Murch
Soul Kantina – Turon Cummings
The Broken Barrel Bar – Bryant Anderson
The Dearborn – Juan Cervantes
The Signature Room at the 95th – Cardel Reid
Travelle at The Langham – Jeff Vucko
Vinci – Ino Cruz
Whirlyball – Larry Donahue
Wow Bao

Saturday Dinner | 6 – 10 pm

312Chicago – Luca Corazzina
Amazing Edibles Catering – Eric Halvorsen
Asadito Taco – Nick Bajal — NEW FOR 2020
Bangers & Lace – Evanston
Bar Roma – Fred Ramos
Bar Takito – Juan Barrajas
Batter & Berries – Ken Polk
Berger Station – Ivan Gonzalez — NEW FOR 2020
Cafe ba ba Reeba! – Eric Jorgensen
Carnivore – Erik Williams
CheSa’s Gluten Free Food Truck – Chesaree Rollins
Chicago Q
City Barbeque
Copper Fox Gastropub – Cortney Pierce
CRĪO Bar and Restaurant – Luis Guzman
Edzo’s Burger Shop
Fire Thyme – Jamie Bisioulis
Flo Cafe & Bar – Leonard Sanchez
Gale Street Inn – Geoff Silverwood — NEW FOR 2020
Good Measure – Matthew Troost
Goose Island Brewpub – Henry Pariser
Imperial Lamian – Victor Chong
Izakaya Mita – Brian Mita — NEW FOR 2020
Naansense – Hiran Patel
Rack House Kitchen & Tavern – Bryant Anderson
SafeHouse — NEW FOR 2020
The Bageler’s Coffeehouse – Jotam Torres — NEW FOR 2020
The Florentine – Zachery Walrath
The Grill On The Alley – Ozzy Amelotti
The Grillroom Chophouse and Winebar
The Roaming Hog – Eddie Aguilar
Three Floyds Brewpub – Pat Niebling
Torali Italian-Steak – Franco Diaz — NEW FOR 2020
Townhouse Restaurant & Wine Bar
XO Marshmallow – Melissa Humphrey
ZED451 – Joe Rosetti

Featured Image Credit: Baconfest Instagram

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Biggest Celebrities to Come Out of Chicagoon February 25, 2020 at 7:38 pm

Chicago is home to some big celebrity names. While some stars are true natives who were born and bred here, others found their fame after calling the Windy City their home. Here are some of the biggest celebrities to come out of Chicago.

Kayne West

He was born in Atlanta, but Chicago has been a huge influence on him. He named one of his children Chicago, and he references the city at least ten times in his song “Homecoming.” Kayne even earned an honorary doctorate from the Art Institute of Chicago.

Ben Savage

Ben Savage was a ’90s TV staple on the show Boy Meets World and is a native Chicagoan. He briefly reprised his role as Corey Matthews in the spin-off show Girl Meets World.

Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes, a Chicago native, has created some of the most influential TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder.

Pete Wentz

The Fall Out Boy bassist was born in a suburb of Chicago and graduated from DePaul University.

Chance the Rapper

Chance the Rapper hasn’t forgotten about his hometown of Chicago even after hitting it big in the rap industry. Few other celebrities have done as much as Chance as he has donated millions of dollars to CPS.

Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama famously grew up on the southside of Chicago, and it was here in the city that she and President Barack Obama fell in love and shared their first kiss.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford was born on the northside of Chicago and graduated from high school in Park Ridge. He later went on to embody some of the most beloved characters on the screen, including Indiana Jones and Han Solo.

Hillary Clinton

Chicago has another famous politician who called Chicago home: Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago and later graduated from Wellesley College.

Oprah

While the TV mogul wasn’t born in Chicago, Oprah has lived in Chicago for many years. She got her start on a small, local Chicago talk show, and the rest is history.

Gina Rodriguez

Gina Rodriguez of Jane The Virgin fame was born and raised on the northwest side of Chicago. She studied at St. Ignatius College Prep.

Hugh Hefner

Even though Hugh Hefner later called the Playboy Mansion his home, he originally lived in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Later, Hefner got a job at Esquire and went on to bigger things until his death in 2017.

Cindy Crawford

The gorgeous movie star says that her suburban Chicago upbringing is the reason for her persona of the “girl next store” and what helped her to keep her feet grounded even while living in Hollywood.

Jennifer Hudson

Before Jennifer Hudson was on American Idol, she called Englewood home. Since becoming famous, she still comes back to visit the city and her family often.

R. Kelly

R. Kelly is a celebrity turned notorious for his current lawsuit involving sexual abuse of teenage girls, one that Chicago definitely wishes we couldn’t claim. Kelly was born in Hyde Park and still calls the Windy City home.

Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco dedicated his album The Cool to his time in Chicago when he was making music in his basement.

Bill Murray

As a proud Chicagoan, Murray can often be seen at Cubs games and other events around the city. He got his start at the Second City, which helped to propel him to fame on SNL later.

Karlie Kloss

Before Kloss was a supermodel, she was doing small-time gigs for tiny bridal magazines in the Chicagoland area.

Keke Palmer

Starting from a young age, Keke Palmer started to perform on stage in the Windy City and this is what helped her to understand the business fully.

Jennifer Morrison

Morrison was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and later graduated from Prospect High School. She studied at Loyola University and later went on to star in TV shows like Once Upon A Time, House, and How I Met Your Mother.

Vince Vaughn

Vaughn is another prod Chicagoan who continues to support his city’s teams. He still lives in the city at his penthouse in the Palmolive building.

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Best Music Venues for Catching Your Favorite Bands in Chicagoon February 25, 2020 at 8:35 pm

No matter what music you’re into, your favorite artists are sure to include a stop on their tour in Chicago. We have tons of incredible venues, but here are 10 of the best venues in Chicago.

Aragon Ballroom | 1106 W Lawrence Ave

This beautiful space originally opened as a ballroom in 1926, but now serves as one of the largest music venues in Chicago. The venue is incredibly aesthetically pleasing due to the painted walls and ceiling of the interior. The Aragon has hosted artists like deadmau5, Nirvana, The Flaming Lips, and many more over the years.

chicago concert venues — Photo Credit: Concord Music Hall

Concord Music Hall | 2051 N Milwaukee Ave

If you’re looking for that perfect mid-size venue where you can see artists from all spectrums of music, Concord Music Hall is the venue for you. Not only does this venue host some awesome concerts, they also occasionally host after-parties so that you can literally dance the night away.

local chicago — Photo Credit: Beat Kitchen

Beat Kitchen | 2100 W Belmont Ave

This corner bar in Roscoe Village is considered a pivotal part of Chicago’s music scene, especially if you are an up-and-coming artist looking to have your debut show. You’ll find punk, garage and indie acts performing on stage at the Beat Kitchen alongside a restaurant and bar, fulfilling all of your needs for a fun evening out.

music venues chicago — Photo Credit: Sound-Bar

Sound-Bar | 226 W Ontario St

Providing a pleasing combination of nightclub culture and concert venue, Sound-Bar is a great spot for a night out on the town. Catch a DJ you’ve been meaning to see or to discover a new artist!

Chop Shop | 226 W Ontario St

This hybrid space doubles as a restaurant and deli during the day, and a concert venue at night. With state-of-the-art sound, lights and production staff, Chop Shop is able to put on the show you’re looking for.

Empty Bottle | 1035 N Western Ave

The lowkey exterior of this small Ukranian Village dive bar might have you fooled, but Empty Bottle has had a major impact on the Chicago music scene. Shoot some pool with some of your favorite artists, grab a drink, and groove to the tunes in this intimate concert venue.

Radius | 640 West Cermak Rd

Radius is new to the scene and is ready to make an impact on music in Chicago. Located in Pilsen, this old steel factory is 55,000 square feet of creative space for you to experience the flow of the music.

Metro | 3730 N Clark St

Hosting a variety of touring acts of all genres, Metro is one of Chicago’s oldest clubs and is located in Wrigleyville. You can also check out the bar downstairs, Smart Bar, where the party continues even after the show.

House of Blues | 329 N Dearborn St

Home to one of the city’s best sound systems, the House of Blues is a great venue to immerse yourself in the music and atmosphere. The interior is set to make the venue look like an old blues joint, and has hosted some of the most well-known international artists of our time.

Lincoln Hall | 2424 N Lincoln Ave

Located in Lincoln Park and a quick walk to DePaul’s campus, Lincoln Hall is a great intimate venue with a mellow vibe for when you want to see some emerging artists.

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Best Music Venues for Catching Your Favorite Bands in Chicagoon February 25, 2020 at 8:35 pm Read More »