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City Cast Chicago

Sidney Madden

<a href="https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/construction-temporarily-paused-at-brighton-park-tent-camp-after-environmental-report/">Gov. JB Pritzker temporarily paused construction</a> Monday on a migrant base camp in Brighton Park following an environmental assessment that showed mercury and other contaminants in the area. <a href="https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/12/02/brighton-park-tent-encampment-for-migrants-deemed-safe-despite-mercury-contamination-mayors-office-says/">While the city says the site will be safe with remediation</a>, state officials and neighbors have questions. Host Jacoby Cochran and executive producer Simone Alicea break down the latest, along with their picks in our <a href="https://chicago.citycast.fm/best/best-christkindlmarket-mug">Christkindlmarket mug bracket</a> and how well they did on a <a href="https://graphics.suntimes.com/education/2023/can-you-pass-an-eighth-grade-constitution-test/">constitution quiz for Illinois eighth graders</a>. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our<a href="https://chicago.citycast.fm/"> Hey Chicago newsletter</a>.  Follow us<a href="https://www.instagram.com/citycastchicago/"> @citycastchicago</a>You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info<a href="https://citycast.fm/advertise/"> HERE</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>

Johnson vs. Pritzker, Christkindlmarket Mugs, and Constitution Quiz

Hey Chicago readers have crowned a Christkindlmarket mug champion after weeks of voting: the 2023 model! With custom designs for each of the market’s three locations across Chicagoland, the 2023 mug destroyed its competition.

And it’s popular among Christkindlmarket patrons, too: 

Organizers announced the signature mug was sold out this week

The 2023 mug was voted the best by Hey Chicago readers. (Courtesy of Christkindlmarket)

Have you been following the news in Chicago this week? Prove it! Take the City Cast Chicago news quiz.

Today, we’re starting off with a special (tough) question — the answer was not covered in the newsletter, but die-hard Dolly Parton fans should know.

Looking for a previous City Cast Chicago news quiz? Find it here.

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events in Chicago? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

Your Weekly News Trivia Quiz

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

Kayleigh Padar

Amid a summer of foodborne illnesses, intense weather, and ever-rising grocery prices, many Chicagoans are exploring ways to grow their own food, said Sam Koentopp, the Farm Programs Manager at Urban Growers’ Collective.

“Our food system is not set up in a way to support our health and the health of the environment, and more people are seeing that,” Koentopp said.

By operating eight urban farms and teaching people to grow their own food, 

 aims to change that while providing affordable, fresh food on the South and West sides of Chicago.

“We’re all about what happens when we put our hands in the soil and connect with the earth and each other,” Koentopp said.

 in a container on your patio or front steps.

“Start with something really simple that you’re going to be excited to eat,” Koentopp said.

Isn’t it kind of late to be planting a garden?

Nope! You still have plenty of time. Some warm-weather crops — like green beans, cucumbers, turnips, and collard greens — grow very quickly and will be ready to harvest before cold weather sets in.

Other plants — like carrots, lettuce, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower — don’t mind the cold at all! Koentopp said some of them even taste better after they’ve survived a frost.

Where can I find affordable supplies and more information?

, high-quality potting soil, and a small container. And one of the best things about gardeners is that they love to share!

“Gardening is not a solo endeavor,” Koentopp said. “Just a little bit of curiosity about your neighbors’ gardens can open up pathways for you to reduce costs and connect with your community.”

It’s common for gardeners to trade seeds, share supplies, exchange harvests, and reveal their most effective methods.

Urban Growers Collective regularly hosts 

 is Sep. 5 from 10 am- 12 pm, and it’s all about the fall growing season.

Stick around after the workshop for their weekly Saturday 

, where you can hit the farm with their experienced gardeners and get some hands-on experience.

Amid a summer of foodborne illnesses, intense weather, and ever-rising grocery prices, many Chicagoans are exploring ways to grow their own food

City Cast Chicago's Guide on Growing Your Own Food

How To Start Growing Your Own Food

Keep It Local

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Chicago

From expansive gardening centers to little shops packed with house plants, it’s not hard to find all the supplies you need to bring some more greenery into your life.

If you want to make sure the plants you buy have beautiful, healthy lives, check out City Cast’s 

Almost every house plant in my apartment came from 

 at 5739 North Clark St. (And all of my Jellycats!) You probably know it as that big yellow building that anchors the north end of Andersonville’s main shopping strip. There’s a large greenhouse, nearly a block of patio space, and a gift shop.

 is Sep. 12-13 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., where you can find hundreds of plants, pots, holiday decor, and garden essentials. 

 found its home at 3247 N. Broadway in 2021, it started with a group of friends selling plants and hand-painted pots at local farmers markets. Now, the store is home to more than 30 individual vendors.

🤒 Next time your pothos looks a little sickly, don’t freak out. For $75, an expert from Plant Stand Collective will 

 and tell you how to improve your plants’ lives. They also offer re-potting and plant sitting services!

Adams & Son & Daughter Gardens (Humboldt Park)

 at 1057 N. California Ave. celebrated its 20th anniversary. The family-run garden center has a wide selection of houseplants, exotic plants, and outdoor crops, not to mention literally anything else you could ever need for your garden. Plus, they’re famous for their 

🧐 Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The store’s resident plant experts are always ready to provide advice on how to care for your new green friend.

 at 3645 N. Kedzie has all kinds of plants, trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers. Their team of master gardeners and designers is prepared to take on almost any project, from removing a dead tree to arranging a tiny terrarium of succulents.

🌱 If you love having plants more than planting them, Fertile Garden Center 

: landscaping design, garden installations, maintenance, and more.

From expansive gardening centers to little shops packed with houseplants, it’s not hard to find all the supplies you need to bring some more greenery into your life.

City Cast's Guide to Garden Shops in Chicago

Your Guide To Chicago’s Garden Shops

Do you ever look around the city and think to yourself, “Someone should make a board game about this?” Well, for the past eight years, the independent artists behind the gift shop 

, Transit Tees’ teams of creators enjoy the challenge of capturing all the things that make Chicago unique through interactive activities.

“We always want to have an insider’s angle, like, ‘If you know you know,’ and if you live here, you get it,” said owner Tim Gillengerten. “There’s so much joy here. We love celebrating Chicago and expressing that experience in our products so people can connect with the city.”

” players race to strategically visit five El stations and return to The Loop before anyone else.

“We had a family tell us that they draw their five destinations, play the game, and then make a day out of physically going to each of those stops and exploring those neighborhoods,” Gillengerten said. “I love that they found a way to use the game to expand their knowledge about the city.”

It typically takes the Transit Tees team about a year to design a game, but they usually repurpose some of the art to create lines of related gifts and apparel.

“It’s been really fun for us to draw and design the games, and to strategize about creating the gameplay,” Gillengerten said. “When we made The El, I laid out a map of the CTA in the office. We all grabbed stuff from our desks, like a box of Tic Tacs and a razor, just started strategizing about how we could turn the concept into a game.”

” — a drinking card game named after the classic dive bar combo of a shot of Malort and Old Style chaser. It’s filled with trivia questions and challenges based on common city experiences.

 about their next board game project, “Dibs,” where players can build a parking empire by saving spots with junk from the garage.

From board games about the city’s history to puzzles of iconic maps to card decks featuring local wildlife, Transit Tees’ teams of creators enjoy the challenge of capturing all the things that make Chicago unique through interactive activities. 

A board game that's centered around Chicago

How Transit Tees Turns Chicago’s Quirks Into Board Games

I’m pretty sure any kid who has to return to spending their days inside deserves a little treat.

From vintage toys to a workshop series for aspiring toy inventors, I’ve compiled a list of places that’ll help you spoil the kids in your life as they get back into the swing of sitting still and studying.

Why buy toys off a regular, boring shelf when you could make an afternoon out of grabbing them with a claw machine? Claw It at 2252 S. Canal St. has 

 filled with plush toys, collectibles, Pokémon cards, candies, and soda. They also host kids’ birthday parties!

🧸 If you win a handful of smaller plushies and toys, you can trade them in for a bigger prize. 

 at 2532 W. Fullerton Ave. has over 2,500 square feet of “Vintage, Toys, Arts & Farts,” making it one of the largest vintage toy shops in the city. They specialize in toys from the 80s and 90s, and regularly host group art shows themed around toys and pop culture. And if you’re in the market for fake poop, they’ve got that too!

🪀 If you have an old bin of Barbies or My Little Ponies or Star Wars action figures lying around, you can sell them at the shop! Just 

 of items they’re looking for before you go.

, which has locations all over the city, offers an extensive selection of toys organized neatly into themes, like “blast from the past,” “planes, trains, and automobiles,” “unicorns, rainbows, and sparkles,” and much more. If you send them your budget and a description of what the kid in your life is interested in, they’ll curate a pre-wrapped box of goodies.

 that’s perfect for commemorating the first day of classes.

 at 4749 N. Lincoln Ave. curates the store based on his passion for child development. This fall, they’re hosting 

 for the “Young Inventors Challenge,” where kids aged 6-15 can turn an idea into a real toy or game, build a prototype, and pitch it to the toy industry.

📚 For a back-to-school season sale, Timeless Toys is offering 15% off on all books through Aug. 28. On the last day of the sale, 

From vintage toys to a workshop series for aspiring toy inventors, Here's a list of places that’ll help you spoil the kids in your life as they get back into the swing of sitting still and studying. 

Some of the Best Toy Stores in Chicago

Your Guide to Chicago’s Toy Stores

Even now, my dad always texts me when he sees the school supply sections pop up in grocery stores. So, think of this roundup as me passing along the favor.

Whether you’re actually going back to school soon or you just love analog hobbies, these local shops will help you find all kinds of stationery goodies you didn’t even know you needed!

I know they’re viral on social media, and there’s always a line out the door, but I’m here to promise you that 

 at 5208 N. Clark St. is worth the hype. This queer-owned small business recently expanded into a bigger space, and it’s filled to the brim with journaling supplies and hard-to-find international brands.

🎨 The owners are working to launch Paper & Pencil Creative Studio in their former retail space at 1480 W. Berwyn Ave. They plan to offer meetups, open studio hours, pop-up markets, and creative workshops. Check out their 

Buying art supplies doesn’t have to be expensive. 

 at 1754 N. Kimball Ave. is like a thrift store for art supplies. Last year, they kept more than 50 tons of craft materials out of landfills and provided them to local creatives at more affordable prices.

🧵Overwhelmed by all the choices? Pick your favorite type of craft, and they’ll 

 at 2321 N. Milwaukee Ave. designs and prints a full line of their own greeting cards and gifts that are sold in 750 stores throughout the country. In addition to their original creations, you can find a wide variety of planners, journals, coloring books, notepads, and writing materials.

🌃 I’m a sucker for anything Chicago-themed, and they have an entire 

If you’re looking for tools that feel luxurious, this is the place to check out. 

 at 1463 N. Milwaukee Ave. has a very elevated vibe and aims to offer products that fit seamlessly into your daily rituals. They also have a second location in Lincoln Park at 810 W. Armitage Ave.

, this Japanese company offers quality home goods that’ll make your desk feel fancier.

Some of the Best Stationary Shops According to Us

Your Guide to Chicago’s Stationery Stores

Emily Mack

Chicago is hot AF right now — and so is the dining scene. These recent openings have caught our eye.

This moody, velvety cocktail lounge is indeed dramatic. It’s also a new favorite of our own Michelle Navarro. Michelle likes the Offline Crush, a fresh cucumber drink with mezcal. (Personally, I enjoyed the candied kiwi that comes atop the Disco Pen.)

Turn Back Time is equal parts coffee shop and record store, designed for customers to browse and talk while sipping. Underscoring those community aspirations, it 

The coffee comes from Four Letter Word in Logan Square, and the tea is by Rishi Tea & Botanicals.

The upscale steakhouse reopened in late July following water and fire damage. Can confirm: This is a great spot if you’re trying to ball out for a special occasion. (At P&P, I once had the petit filet with wild mushrooms and partook in my first-ever seafood tower.)

An Englewood native opened this spot recently inside of an old dilapidated church — and it’s already drawing big crowds. The 

(and the name, of course) all honor Black roots.

Here’s what we’re trying on Roots’ menu

, I’m excited to try this casual burger stand. But I’m waiting for a wild night. Bumper 2 Bumper is open till 2 a.m. on weekends and takes up a prime location near the California Blue Line.

5 New Spots to Dine and Drink

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Chicago. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Chicago Food & Drink

Food & Drink

“Everyone will always need to buy pens,” is the mantra that inspired Brendan Schmidt’s great-grandfather to open 

 in 1939. For decades, the family-run shop delivered office supplies in bulk to offices in the Loop.

“In years where business in the city was good, you’d see a ton of sales for black ink, and in years when it was bad, red pen sales skyrocketed,” said Brendan, who co-owns the store at 227 W. Lake St. with his brother Brian Schmidt.

When most Downtown offices shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the store was suddenly forced to change its business model. For the first time in the family business’ history, people actually 

So, Brendan and Brian shifted their focus toward selling fine writing instruments and stationery to individuals. 

“When I joined the team back in 2018, I thought my job was going to be selling paper and staplers, like Dunder Mifflin style,” Brendan said. “So, you can imagine I was thrilled when we made the decision to pivot, because the stuff we sell now is way more fun to be around than copy paper.”

If you’re new to stationery like Brendan was, his advice is: keep an open mind. It’s normal not to understand why anyone would buy a $20 (

) pen until you’ve used one yourself, he joked.

“We have people who’ve finally bought a nice fountain pen, and come back a week later, like ‘What did you guys do to me?’” Brendan laughed. “Before you know it, they’ve got a ton of pens, and some stickers, and that collection grows.”

Over the past six years, the shop has grown rapidly because journaling as a hobby has grown in popularity. Many of Atlas’ regular customers buy supplies for “

,” a messy mix of scrapbooking and notetaking.

Whether you’re working with the finest materials or some random hotel pens from your junk drawer, the point of journaling is to set aside some time for yourself to slow down, Brendan said.

“Journaling is a form of art and creativity on its own,” Brendan said. “We don’t always have to rush and jot down a note and move on. We can enjoy the process. The best thing is that there’s no rhyme or reason to any of it. I know people who have a journal ecosystem, with three different notebooks that each have their own theme. You can really do anything you want.”

For decades, the family-run shop delivered office supplies in bulk to offices in the Loop.

Atlas Stationers Has Supplied Chicago’s Pens For Decades

Family-Run Atlas Stationers Has Supplied Chicago’s Pens For Decades

Getting a souvenir Christkindlmarket mug is a beloved Chicago tradition. But with the market now in its 27th year, which mug is the best?

What's the Best Christkindlmarket Mug?

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

. Everyone has their go-tos, naturally, but consider hitting some potentially underrated spots this summer.

Solana, on the sixth-floor rooftop of the Robey hotel, technically has the only pool in Wicker Park. It’s not big, but hey, it’s a pool! And the frozen margaritas are solid.

Tucked away in quiet Edgebrook, Whealan is essentially the ultimate splash pad. There’s also a full pool with a slide.

Everyone knows the skyline is better from the South Side, and no beach has a more beautiful view than Rainbow. It’s also arguably the city’s most historic beach, the site of 

Somewhat surprisingly, this beach has a lot of shade! It’s the perfect place to stretch out for the day if you want to alternate between sand and water, reading … or splitting a six-pack.

While not exactly “hidden,” I don’t think all Chicagoans have experienced 

A biased pick, since I’ve been leaping off here my entire life. Bonus: The curve around the sanctuary is a simple meeting point that’s not (usually) too crowded.

Open seven days a week, this pierside restaurant features a different style of music and dancing 

Right along South Shore beach and near the South Shore Cultural Center, this six-acre-plus sanctuary includes dune, wetland, woodland, prairie — and more — types of habitat. Make a day of it!

 — but don’t forget you can also swim at the park’s manmade beach. It’s Chicago’s only inland beach.

Underrated swimming spots in Chicago this Summer.

Swimming Spots in Chicago

Hidden Gem Swimming Spots

Chicago is a hot dog town — with very few hot dog carts.

 is licensed to cook hot dogs on a city sidewalk. Within parks, just around nine hot dog carts are licensed citywide. Similar legislation prevents many food trucks from opening … It’s all a far cry from the open-air sausage-slinging that once defined 

But on this National Hot Dog Day, let’s celebrate the hot dog carts feeding Chicago my favorite food, despite the ketchup-colored tape. 

This stand continues the legacy of Kim and Carlo's, a staple during my adolescent trips to Museum Campus. After Kim and Carlo's closed in 2024, its longtime manager opened a Chicago-Style Hot Dog Store with the goal of keeping everything the same — though she’s added jalapeño cheddar franks.

Sonia was the star student of Hot Dog University 

. It’s no wonder why: She previously learned all about the trade at Kim and Carlo’s! Now a master of the craft, Sonia’s opened her own cart, which will remain in Palmisano Park through October.

The proprietors of this lovely parkside cart are, you guessed it, former colleagues of Kim and Carlo’s! Their Chicago dog includes sliced red onion, and multiple flavors of agua fresca are available. "Chicago style is Chicago style, but to stand out, you gotta do something different,” co-owner Lalo said.

Inspired by the neighborhood hot dog vendors of their youth, two cousins opened this Armour Square Park cart in 2019. They also offer food truck-style catering.

at hot dog stands, but Lincoln Dogs is literally run by one. Lincoln enrolled in Hot Dog University when he was just 13. Now 17, he runs a cart near the tennis courts in Oz Park. It’s usually open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons and runs through Labor Day.

With a (seemingly rare) permit from the city to sell ready-made hot dogs, Austin’s Street Wieners operates weekend afternoons on Christiana and Diversey, March through October. It’s affordable, too: $4 hot dogs with many free dog days throughout the season.

I’m unsure what the nondescript white trailer across from 

 is called. But I know all I need: It serves an excellent (at times, lifesaving) beach dog.

You may need to haggle for all the Chicago fixings.

Okay, Relish is technically not a cart. But hey, it’s a seasonal shack and, with locations in the Loop and Streeterville, made for lunchtime crunchtime. It’s pricey — $8 dogs — but what can you expect downtown?

Again, not technically a cart, but functionally … these glorious metal boxes have 

. Coupling streetside vendor aura with the reliability of fixed, year-round locations, this parking lot feast is always a win.

Hot dog carts are rare in Chicago. Consider visiting one this National Hot Dog Day! 

Hot Dog Carts in Chicago

The Hot Dog Cart-icle

Back in April, I said every month feels like poetry month in Chicago. I feel the same way about Pride — this city stays bursting with queer energy. But, in honor of 

 Pride month, here are some local LGBTQ+ poets worth checking out.

 and all-around hometown hero. She’s also a decorated poet, often mining her Beverly upbringing for her work.

 you don’t fit in / everybody in your neighborhood color of white hen

Woods’ friendship with another local queer poet, Fatimah Asghar, inspired the series “Brown Girls.” 

Rachel Mennies is a Chicago-based writer whose poems get at queer longing. Her collection 

 is full of epistolary poems, written to the woman the speaker loves.

 / through my coat, enough to pool desire / where I most wanted you to touch me.

Britteney Black Rose Kapri is — I can attest — a great (though tough) poetry teacher. She’s published two books of poetry, including 

These local queer poets are worth checking out — during Pride month and beyond.

Chicago's Best

What's the Best Christkindlmarket Mug?

Sidney Madden

City Cast

Johnson vs. Pritzker, Christkindlmarket Mugs, and Constitution Quiz

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Chicago's Best

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5 Queer Chicago Poets You Should Know

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Chicago Was — Is? — a Magic Town

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Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

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Your Guide To Chicago’s Garden Shops

How Transit Tees Turns Chicago’s Quirks Into Board Games

Your Guide to Chicago’s Toy Stores

Your Guide to Chicago’s Stationery Stores

5 New Spots to Dine and Drink

Family-Run Atlas Stationers Has Supplied Chicago’s Pens For Decades