The 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival opened its four-day run with a superb lineup. Here are my thoughts about and images from the the first day of the festival.
All in Chicago
Ukrainian K-Pop All Stars
On Sunday, August 24, 2025, I attended the Chicago Ukrainian Community’s annual Independence Day celebration, which included speeches from Congressman Mike Quigley and Congresswoman Robin Kelly. Most importantly, I had another opportunity to see the Ukrainian K-Pop All Stars perform. Here are my thoughts about and images from exhilarating event.
Death in a Tent
On Saturday, August 20, 2025, members of the Chicago’s Palestinian Community held a demonstration at the intersection of Upper Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue. Here are my observations about and images from the demonstration.
Texas Hold 'Em
On Saturday, August 14, 2025, I attended “Stand with Texas: Fight the Trump Takeover” in Chicago’s Millennium Park. Sponsored by Indivisible Chicago, the demonstrators included many of the Texas legislators who fled to Illinois in order to prevent the Texas Legislature from converting five Democratic congressional seats to Republican ones through redistricting/gerrymandering. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event
Posse Comitatus
Late Thursday afternoon, August 14, 2025, several groups held a protest in Chicago’s Federal Plaza to object to Donald J. Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Baked Alaska
Tomorrow, Donald J. Trump heads to Alaska for an ill-advised summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Tonight, 30 Russian emigrés demonstrated outside of Chicago’s Wrigley Building, calling on Putin to stop the war in Ukraine. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Trans Rights
This past Sunday afternoon, 75 demonstrations gathered in Federal Plaza for a rally on behalf of transgender rights. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Father Pfleger
Father Michael Pfleger took to the streets today on behalf of the Palestinians living in Gaze. The event had a much stronger religious tone than other pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.
GazaPalooza
Today, I attended another pro-Palestinian demonstration; this one at the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Upper Wacker Drive. The heritage Palestinians apparently chose this location because it provided maximum visibility to those headed to Lollapalooza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration and the march that followed.
Āshūrā
On Sunday, July 6, 2025, Chicago’s Shia Muslim Community observed Āshūrā (عَاشُورَاء) in Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali, the prophet Muhammad’s grandson.
Greatest Hits
The demonstrators came out today, starting in Chicago’s Federal Plaza with a rally, and then marching to the ICE Chicago Field offices and Trump Tower. Here are my thoughts about and monochromatic images from today’s Independence Day rally.
Cultural District
On July 1, 2025, Chicago’s Ukrainian Community celebrated Ukrainian Village’s recent designation as an Illinois State-Designated Cultural District. Here are my thoughts about and images from the celebration at the Ukrainian Cultural Center
Gone Mainstream
Chicago’s 54th Annual Gay Pride Parade rolled through Lakeview’s streets today. Here are my thoughts about and images from the parade.
Wash and Repeat
Late Monday afternoon, protesters gathered in Chicago’s Federal Plaza to demonstrate against the U.S. strike against Iranian nuclear facilities and Israel’s continued aggression in Gaza and its attacks on Iran. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally and march.
Too Hot
Last Saturday afternoon, a small group of Chicago’s Ukrainian Community gathered on Michigan Avenue to draw attention to the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continuing attacks on Ukrainian civilians. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
World Refugee Day
Last Tuesday—June 17, 2025—I attended the annual World Refugee Day ceremony in Daley Plaza. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event.
Blues Fest, Day 4
The 2025 Chicago Blues Festival went out with a bang tonight at the Pritzker Pavilion. Unfortunately, C.J. Chenier was scratched from the lineup due to an hour-long rain delay, but Lurrie Bell, Avery R. Young, and Mavis Staples did take the stage. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s performances.
Blues Fest, Day 3
Saturday brought an exciting days of Blues to Chicago’s Millennium Park as the 2025 Chicago Blues Festival kept churning out exciting music for the thousands who flooded the park today. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day’s festivities.
Blues Fest, Day 2
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest opened its run in Chicago’s Millennium Park today. For me, the big name of the day was Christone “Kingfish” ingram who played during the B.B. Ing Centennial Tribute on the main stage at the Pritzker Pavilion. Tomorrow Kingfish is the headliner. Here are my thoughts about Kingfish’s and all the other often incendiary performances, together with my images.
Blues Fest, Day 1
The 2025 Chicago Bluesfest kicked off this evening at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. The bill included 91-year-old living legend Bobby Rush, as well as Billy Branch and the Sons of the Blues. Here are my thoughts about electrifying performances, together with my images from the evening.