![\"Sign](\"https:\/\/www.newcity.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/B.L.U.E.S.-on-Halsted.jpg\")
B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted, from Chicago Ghost Signs\/Photo: Ray Pride<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Get Chicago & Great Lakes culture news sent to your inbox every weekday morning. Subscribe to Newcity Today\u00a0<\/i><\/b>here<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a>.<\/i><\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n ART<\/strong><\/p>\n Jordan Martins Paints On The Forest Floor<\/strong><\/p>\n Tiger Strikes Asteroid Chicago presents \u201cOn the Forest Floor,\u201d \u201ca solo exhibition of new paintings by Chicago-based artist Jordan Martins. Co-curated by Jaclyn Jacunski and Teresa Silva, the exhibition brings together a body of work that spans Martins\u2019 ongoing series of Sottobosco paintings, large-scale collaged canvases unfolding across the gallery as a sustained meditation on perception, abundance and what it means to be immersed rather than oriented. The sottobosco, Italian for \u2018undergrowth,\u2019 was a minor genre of seventeenth-century Dutch still life painting in which the forest floor replaced the table: mossy ground, fallen branches, fungi, nesting birds and creeping insects arranged with the same loving attention previously reserved for fruit and flowers in still lifes.\u201d Opening June 27, 1-4pm. More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Ren Receives Climate-Oriented Grant For Facilities<\/strong><\/p>\n The Renaissance Society has received an award from the \u201cFrankenthaler Climate Initiative, a grantmaking program established by the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation in collaboration with Environment & Culture Partners to catalyze climate action in the visual arts. The grant supports \u2018A Sustainable Future for the Renaissance Society: Assessing Energy and Building Performance at Historic Cobb Hall,\u2019 a scoping study that will investigate HVAC system performance, building envelope integrity and humidity control in [their] gallery space.\u201d More here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n DESIGN<\/strong><\/p>\n A Rare Unit In The Art Moderne Theophil Studios Is For Sale<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOwners of twenty-five years are selling a one-bedroom unit that has many of its 1940 finishes intact, including stained glass in a rare modern style,\u201d reports Crain\u2019s<\/a>. The residential building is part of the West Burton Place Historic District, which also features the nearby Carl Street Studios, which artist Edgar Miller collaborated on with developer Sol Kogen. Theophil Studios was \u201cheavily influenced by Miller\u2019s design work, especially the stained glass windows,\u201d writes the Edgar Miller Legacy<\/a>. \u201cEven some of Edgar Miller\u2019s relief sculptures and painted tiles were incorporated into sections of its front wall. This likely happened by Kogen selling pieces of Edgar\u2019s work that had been left at the Studios.\u201d View the listing here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Neglected Frank Lloyd Wright House Sold To Neighborhood Nonprofit<\/strong><\/p>\n Nonprofit community group Austin Coming Together has purchased the vacant Wright-designed J.J. Walser Jr. House and intends to restore the building, writes Lee Bey at the Sun-Times<\/a>. \u201cBuilt in 1903, the buff-colored wood-and-stucco Prairie School design is among a set of circa 1900 residences along Central Avenue that mark the Austin\u2019s early years as a Chicago neighborhood.\u201d While they purchased the building for $125,000, the group expects it could take at least $3 million to rehab the home, which is a city landmark.<\/p>\n Chicago Designers\u2019 Home Bedecked With Contemporary Art<\/strong><\/p>\n A red brick and limestone structure in Lakeview \u201ccuts a stately, purposely demure profile,\u201d writes Robb Report<\/a>, but \u201cfrom the moment you step inside, the residence opens into a welcoming, modern mix of rich color and pattern, anchored by the owners\u2019 contemporary art collection. To highlight the artwork, which includes works by Banksy, Damien Hirst and Roy Lichtenstein, James Dolenc and Tom Riker, co-founder of the interiors firm James Thomas, designed a comfortable and refined family home that allows it to stand out. The firm had worked with the clients on several other properties, and for this one they pursued a layered aesthetic focused on textured materials, contemporary forms and soft colors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n DINING & DRINKING<\/strong><\/p>\n Behind The Reopening Of Beaumont\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOpened in late May, Beaumont\u2019s, at 2020 North Halsted, is a 200-seat tavern-driven American restaurant. Upstairs is The Bull Moose, a boutique steakhouse that will debut on July 1,\u201d writes Lisa Shames at The Hunger<\/a>. \u201cHeading up the kitchen for both restaurants is executive chef Johnny Besch, who most recently was at the Loop\u2019s Bistro Monadnock and the West Loop\u2019s BLVD Steakhouse before that.\u201d<\/p>\n Among the dishes, \u201cthere\u2019s the coal-roasted rainbow trout paired with an absinthe cream sauce and topped with shaved fennel and herbs. The shrimp and grits features a Spence Farms grits cake paired with smoked ham hock, prawns and creamed sherry and topped with caramelized raclette cheese. \u2018It eats very Southern and French Creole, so there\u2019s that through-line back to my cooking pedigree of mostly French cuisine,\u2019 says Besch.\u201d<\/p>\n Tzuco And Ummo Collaborate With The MCA On \u201cDancing The Revolution\u201d Dishes<\/strong><\/p>\n The MCA and Somos Hospitality have announced a \u201cnew collaboration in celebration of the MCA\u2019s exhibition \u2018Dancing the Revolution: From Dancehall to Reggaet\u00f3n.\u2019 As a part of the collaboration, made in consultation with Chef Carlos Gayt\u00e1n, Somos restaurants Tzuco and Ummo will present signature dishes and cocktails inspired by dancehall, reggaet\u00f3n and the Caribbean. At Tzuco, guests can enjoy a lobster tostada and The Old Cuban cocktail. At Ummo, visitors can order the Tamarind Martini. After purchasing signature collaboration items, guests will receive two-for-one admission to \u2018Dancing the Revolution.’\u201d The special cocktails and dishes will be available beginning July 1.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Bear\u201d Leaves Its Mark On Chicago Dining<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cFrom Mr. Beef to Avec and Kasama, tourists \u2018make a pilgrimage\u2019 to spots seen in \u2018The Bear,’\u201d surveys the Sun-Times<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s just become a part of the food culture,\u201d Publican Quality Meats chef and butcher Rob Levitt said. \u201cPeople are constantly talking about, is it a good representation of the industry? But I think the one thing that I love is that everybody agrees that it is a love letter to Chicago.\u201d Donnie Madia, the Chicago restaurateur behind One Off Hospitality, \u201cwhich owns the Publican brand of restaurants, plus Avec and other concepts, has also appeared in the show, playing himself\u2026\u2019All the actors have put another spotlight on this city, letting everyone know that this city is the culinary destination, not of the universe, but in the nation. There\u2019s a heightened awareness, and also a spotlight.’\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n FILM & TELEVISION<\/strong><\/p>\n The Music Box Shows Off Its New Theater<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest Instagram post<\/a> from the Music Box shows off Theater 3, opening today: \u201cFeaturing ninety-eight European-style seats, a design and color scheme inspired by our original auditorium (plus replicas of our inner lobby columns!), a new NEC Laser Digital projector, state-of-the-art ribbon-based sound system by Alcons Audio, accessibility devices for the hearing and vision impaired and coming soon\u2014two Norelco 35mm projectors rebuilt and installed by Kinora.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n AI24 Knows You\u2019re Disappointed With Their Google Deal<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIndie movie fans are upset about Google DeepMind\u2019s $75 million investment in A24, which comes as AI companies are deepening their influence in Hollywood,\u201d writes Wired<\/a>. Google \u201cis teaming up with A24 to create new filmmaking \u2018tools,\u2019 as part of A24\u2019s technology startup, A24 Labs, overseen by cofounder Scott Belsky.\u201d \u201cThis is a research partnership,\u201d Sophia Shin, who handles communications at A24, writes. \u201cWe\u2019re working side-by-side with DeepMind\u2019s researchers to learn, iterate and build, having an active hand in shaping new tools and workflows.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n STAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n Steppenwolf Will Open Its Season With \u201cTopdog\/Underdog\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n Steppenwolf Theatre Company will launch its fifty-first season with Suzan-Lori Parks\u2019\u00a0Pulitzer Prize-winning drama\u00a0\u201cTopdog<\/span>\/Underdog,\u201d directed by Tony Award-winning director Kenny Leon, who returns to Steppenwolf after his production of \u201cKing James.\u201d Ensemble members Glenn Davis and Namir Smallwood go head-to-head in this revival, more than two decades after the company\u2019s 2003 production. \u201cTopdog<\/span>\/Underdog\u201d will play a limited engagement September 17-November 1\u00a0in Steppenwolf\u2019s Downstairs Theater. Single tickets go on sale Thursday, July 9, 2026 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ari Emanuel In Talks To Acquire Broadway-West End Theater Giant<\/strong><\/p>\n Ari Emanuel\u2019s live events group is exploring a $6 billion takeover of the theater owner and operator ATG, writes the Hollywood Reporter<\/a>. \u201cATG has ten theaters on the West End, including the Lyceum, home to long-running hit \u2018The Lion King\u2019 and the Savoy Theatre, where the box office hit \u2018Paddington the Musical\u2019 is playing. It has seven Broadway theaters, after acquiring a majority stake in Jujamcyn Theaters in 2023, as well as the Lyric Theatre, which is home to \u2018Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.\u2019 The company owns, operates or programs seventy venues across Britain, the U.S., Germany, Austria and Spain.\u201d The Chicago-area native and brother of the former mayor also owns Frieze, the parent company of Expo Chicago.<\/p>\n Remy Bumppo Announces The Season Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n Remy Bumppo Theatre Company has announced its next season, which will feature the return of founding artistic director James Bohnen. Productions planned for the season include Dominique Morisseau\u2019s \u201cMud Row,\u201d running October 15-November 15, directed by Malkia Stampley; \u201cMarjorie Prime,\u201d by Jordan Harrison, directed by Bohnen, running April 29-May 30, 2027; and the fourth edition of its reading series, \u201cReadings on Ravenswood\u201d in winter 2027. Subscriptions ($55-$115) here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ARTS & CULTURE & ETC.<\/strong><\/p>\n The Arts Are Chicago\u2019s Third-Largest Industry<\/strong><\/p>\n The new report from Arts Alliance Illinois \u201cmeasures the sector\u2019s economic impact in a moment when the creative field has faced funding cuts across levels of government,\u201d reports the Sun-Times<\/a>. \u201cThe creative sector is Chicago\u2019s third-largest industry and accounts for nearly 213,000 jobs, according to a new economic impact study released by Arts Alliance Illinois, a statewide advocacy organization.\u201d That makes it \u201ca larger workforce than educational services, retail or manufacturing.\u201d The Arts Alliance\u2019s report and asset map is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tourism Grows, But Still Below Pre-Pandemic Totals<\/strong><\/p>\n Choose Chicago announced that \u201cvisitation to the city grew by 2.6 percent last year to 56.8 million people. The total still trails the record-high 61.6 million tourists the city welcomed in 2019,\u201d reports Crain\u2019s<\/a>. \u201cAt about ninety-two percent of its pre-pandemic tourism activity, Chicago isn\u2019t the only major U.S. city still trying to recover lost business,\u201d with New York and San Francisco still trailing their 2019 visitor totals. In Chicago, \u201cdomestic leisure travelers grew by 4.8 percent last year to 40.7 million visitors,\u201d which was \u201clargely offset by an eight percent drop in international travelers to a total of 1.9 million, the agency said. That decrease aligned with reduced foreign tourism nationwide, a trend fueled by the Trump administration\u2019s immigration crackdown efforts, trade wars and moves to block tourists from several countries.\u201d<\/p>\n Nine Key LGBTQ+ Chicago Historical Sites<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cChicago has played a critical role in LGBTQ+ history,\u201d tallies Block Club<\/a>. The Illinois Office of Tourism has highlighted<\/a> landmarks in Chicago \u201cthat many queer Chicagoans enjoy. These buildings, parks and places, found all across the city, represent important chapters of queer history.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Send culture news and tips to\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n