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| |  | Flowers — zinnias? — blooming in Ukrainian Village. (Emmi Mack / City Cast Chicago) |
| Sure, April showers bring May flowers. Tulips and cherry blossoms, specifically! But this month has a lot more than just rain in store. Check out all there is to do in Chicago. | | Arts Events | EXPO: The city’s largest annual art fair returns April 9–12. However, it’s downsized this year. Just 130 galleries will be participating in the Navy Pier event, a drop of about 23%. (I will still be there, people-watching for outfit inspo.) |
| Chicago Latino Film Festival: The 42nd annual film fest runs from April 16 to April 27. That’s plenty of time to check out the jam-packed roster of shows at Landmark Century Centre Cinema in Lakeview. | | CineYouth: The 21st annual fest showcasing filmmakers under 22 returns to FACETS in Lincoln Park April 24–26. Screenings are free! | | National Poetry Month | Every month is Poetry Month in Chicago, but April has extra opportunities to dive in: | | | In the meantime, peruse some of our favorite Chicago poems and stay tuned to City Cast Chicago all month long for more poetry events. | | Holidays | Passover: The eight-day Jewish celebration starts tonight! Here’s where you can observe around Chicagoland. | | Easter: Whether or not you celebrate this Sunday, Easter is a time for special delicacies in Chicago. Get your pepper-and-egg while you can — lent ends TOMORROW. | | Then it’s time for carrot cake. Reader recs include: | | | And if, like me, you find lamb-shaped butter heartbreakingly nostalgic, you can pick some up at Paulina Market, Polana, and good ol’ Jewel-Osco. | | Earth Day: Sign up to volunteer in citywide park cleanups ahead of Earth Day on April 18. | | 420: Last year, I tried to partake in 420 and had an ego death at Lottie’s after drinking a 5 mg soda. Know your limits — and consider hitting up these green dispensaries and bars on your journey. You can still enjoy a range of hemp products thanks to Mayor Brandon Johnson’s veto of the ban. | | ☝️ And don’t forget: Tax Day is April 15! |
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| | | Hit the pavement with 75+ expert-led walking tours from the Chicago Architecture Center. From iconic skyscrapers to neighborhood treasures, discover the design, history and stories that make Chicago the city of architecture. Find your tour at architecture.org. |
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| What Chicago's Talking About |
| | CPS Finally Has a CEO | The Board of Education hired interim CPS CEO Macquline King Monday with an 18-1 vote. King has been the interim chief since last June and now faces a projected $520 million budget deficit. [Chalkbeat] | | | Operation Midway Blitz in Numbers | A recent analysis of Operation Midway Blitz found that around 3,800 people were detained and nearly 2,500 people were deported last fall. About 60% of people detained had no criminal record. [Chicago Tribune] | | Skyway Lanes Closing | Chicago’s last Black-owned bowling alley, Skyway Lanes, is closing at the end of April. The Far South Side spot opened in the 1950s. Although it raised over $25,000 in donations last year for repairs, it’s struggled with rising costs and fewer patrons. [Block Club] | | Chicago’s James Beard Award Finalists | Three James Beard Award finalists are from Chicago: chefs from Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio, Cariño, and Feld. It’s the fewest number of Chicago finalists in years. [WTTW] |
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😘 Till tomorrow and happy April! |
| — Emmi Mack | Michelle Navarro contributed to today’s news. |
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