Should We Trash or Save the Thompson Center?
The James R. Thompson Center is only thirty years old, but Governor Bruce Rauner announced in the fall of 2015 that he wants it sold and demolished. Just this month, in January of 2017, he floated the idea of a 115-story skyscraper taking its place. That raises a question for us Chicagoans to consider: should we trash or […]
Three Ways of Understanding Gentrification in Chicago
Recently, a new development project in Pilsen came under fire for its name: “The Gentry.” This upset neighborhood residents, who are concerned about gentrification. The name has since been dropped due to the public outcry, but it provides an interesting glimpse at the issue of gentrification in Chicago. Gentrification is one of those topics that I never feel fully at […]
An Interview with Chicago Author Edward McClelland
Chicago-based author Edward McClelland has made his name by writing books about the Midwest. His latest book is titled “How to Speak Midwestern“was released by Belt Publishing on December 1st. It explores the distinct regional accents of the American Midwest and Through a mutual connection, I got the chance to ask Edward about “How to Speak Midwestern” and his […]
Guided Field Trips in Chicago from an Educator’s Perspective
As a tour guide with Chicago Detours, I very often find myself leading field trips in Chicago that focus on the city’s history, architecture, and culture. Most of my professional life, in fact, is working as an educator of some sort. I also teach courses about cinema, the mass media, and pop culture at Harold Washington […]