Originally published by The 19th Ahead of the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle, 90 disability organizations signed onto a letter to host CNN, requesting that the debate be made more accessible and that moderators consider topics relevant to the disability community. “We hope that CNN will really listen to us when we […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Reeling with Midwest Movie Events
Whether film fans prefer 35mm, movie-themed menus or post-show discussions, local venues have audiences covered with a variety of special screenings and cinematic happenings. Thanks to Choose Chicago, the inaugural Sundance Institute x Chicago (June 28-30) will offer a lineup of screenings, panel discussions and master classes at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Claudia Cassidy Theater, […]
Posted inFeatured
Interview: Jen Kober Spreads Harmony Through Humor with Her New Special ‘No Flies on Me’
Jen Kober isn’t just a hilarious stand-up comedian, she also has a famous face that you’ve probably seen in some of the best shows streaming today. “I like to tell people I’m in one episode of all the shows you’re not watching,” Kober joked by phone earlier this month. The Righteous Gemstones, The Mandalorian, American […]
Posted inFilm & TV
Review: With Age Comes Wit and June Squibb in ‘Thelma’
If Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise can do his own high-speed stunts while in his 60s, nonagenarian June Squibb can man a motorized scooter in Thelma (2024). For Squibb, “slow and steady wins the race” since the Vandalia native made her movie debut in Woody Allen’s fantastical comedy Alice (1990) when she was in her […]
Posted inFilm & TV
Review: ‘Brats’ Documentary Unpacks Brat Pack Baggage
It’s taken Andrew McCarthy nearly 40 years, his memoir “Brat: An ’80s Story” (2021) and his new documentary Brats (2023) for the actor-turned-director to come to terms with the term Brat Pack. The label was coined in the New York cover story “Hollywood’s Brat Pack: They’re Rob, Emilio, Sean, Tom, Judd and the rest — the […]
Posted inRebellions Archive
Meshell Ndegeocello on Nina Simone, ‘The Hustle,’ and Why She Loves Chicago [From the Archives]
This post first published on September 19, 2012, and we’re re-upping it in honor of Ndegeocello’s Tiny Desk concert released on June 18, 2024, as part of Black Music Month. Meshell Ndegeocello won’t say what she’s cooking. A few minutes into our interview, the unmistakable clanging of pots gets louder in the background, and she asks […]
Posted inFeatured
Juneteenth is Just the Beginning: Black Americans Still Deserve Economic Freedom
When certain Americans hear, “It’s a free country,” they think everyone can say anything, do anything, be anything, go anywhere, strive for anything, believe anything, whenever and however they want. But, is it really a free country for everyone? Has it always been a free country — where all can pursue happiness as a God-given right? […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Chicagoland Sizzles With Free Fairs, Fests & Outdoor Concerts
The city’s warm weather sets the tone for open air events starting with Movies at Gallagher Way in Wrigleyville. The free outdoor screenings include Barbie (June 26), School of Rock (July 10), Angels in the Outfield (July 17) and more. In Morgan Park, the Far South Community Development Corporation hosts its Juneteenth Festival (June 15) […]
Posted inFeatured
Photos: Sarah McLachlan Celebrates 30 Years of ‘Fumbling Towards Ecstasy’ in Chicago
Back in October of 1993, Sarah McLachlan released her now-iconic studio album, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy. With songs like “Possession,” “Good Enough,” “Hold On,” and “Ice Cream” on the tracklist, the album was – and still is – a refreshing look at complicated romances, peaceful love, and self-discovery. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Fumbling […]
Posted inReviews
‘The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel’ is My Gift to 2020 Grads [From the Archives]
Make your inbox more Rebellious! Click here to sign up for our free weekly newsletter. Eds. Note: While this post was originally published on April 19, 2020, as a love letter to pandemic grads, many of the messages and insights feel just as relevant four years later as some of those same students graduate college, […]