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Chicago Reader
Trends
- 1
Aaron Sorkin is back in conversation following a New Yorker profile of actor Jeremy Strong, headlined 'Jeremy Strong Is Not Quite Over It.' Strong, best known for Succession, worked with Sorkin on The Trial of the Chicago 7, and the piece has readers revisiting that collaboration and Sorkin's directing style.
- 2The Empty Pockets Score 6.6/10 in New Music Critique▼New Music Critique of The Empty Pockets, 6.6/10
Music Connection Magazine has published a new music critique of Chicago band The Empty Pockets, scoring them 6.6 out of 10. The review is part of the magazine's regular New Music Critique section covering emerging and independent acts. The middling score suggests the reviewers found the band's latest material competent but not standout, and industry readers are taking note of the assessment.
- 3Democracy-themed book club launches with nationwide chapters▼And we have officially launched (and joined Mastadon!) We're a monthly book club, connecting in person and virtually, fo
A new monthly book club for people who care about democracy has officially launched, headquartered in Chicago with book clubs operating nationwide both in person and virtually. Its first selection is Timothy Snyder's 'On Tyranny'. The group has also joined Mastodon and announced a dedicated mobile app currently in development, as it seeks to build a connected community of readers.
- 4Play about Tobey Maguire obsession explores teen angst and celebrity worship▼I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire examines teenage angst and celebrity worship
I'm Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, a stage work examining teenage angst and the intense parasocial bonds fans form with celebrities, is drawing attention from critics. The Chicago Reader reviewed the production, highlighting how it uses an obsessive teen fixation on the Spider-Man actor to probe celebrity worship and adolescent longing.
- 5Inside America's largest astrology conference in Chicago▼I went to America’s largest gathering of astrologers. It was a battle over how to read the stars https://www. theguardia
A Guardian reporter attended the United Astrology Conference in Chicago, America's largest gathering of astrologers, and found the community locked in an internal dispute over how the stars should be read. The article frames the clash as a debate over methods and traditions within modern astrology, placing the practice in the context of its history and its growing commercial appeal in the United States.
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Voter guidance for Chicago in the 2026 US midterm election is being published, explaining registration, early voting, vote-by-mail and polling place procedures for residents of Illinois' largest city. Interest reflects ongoing public attention to the midterm cycle and practical questions about how to participate in upcoming elections.
- 7Local veteran recounts joining the military to escape inner-city Chicago▼Local vet joined the military to get out of inner-city Chicago and find a better life
A local veteran's story is drawing attention after he explained that he joined the military to leave inner-city Chicago and build a better life. The account highlights how military service offered an escape route from difficult urban circumstances, a theme that resonates with many veterans who describe enlisting as a path to opportunity.
- 8Chicago City Council approves better parking meter deal●A City That Works: The City Council got the job done on a better parking meter deal
The Chicago City Council has approved a revised parking meter agreement that Crain's Chicago Business describes as a better deal for the city, framing it as an example of a council that gets things done. Details of the terms, savings, and who backed the arrangement have not been widely reported yet, but local business readers are following the outcome closely.
- 9Ten new books with a Chicago flair for fall reading●10 new books to read this fall with a Chicago flair
WBEZ Chicago has published a roundup of ten new books to read this fall, each with a Chicago connection. The list highlights fiction and nonfiction tied to the city, offering readers seasonal picks with a local angle and drawing attention to authors with Chicago roots or settings.