Young Songsters Keyed up by Rhymefest, Kanye Performing in Pilsen
In August of 2012, Donda’s House Inc. partnered with The ARK of St. Sabina to launch its pilot program “Got Bars,” and selected the best 30 out of the 500+ applicants, who were 15 -24-years-old to participate in high quality arts instruction. The students took three classes every week for 12 weeks. Che “Rhymefest” Smith […]
Social Media Plays Important Role For Measuring Success Online
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Chicago’s Seapunked Digital Sea: Tales of Contemporary Chicago Nightlifers
Every Wednesday night the Chicago Beauty Bar hosts a party called Mainframe that flies under the banner of an internet movement known as seapunk. If one were to walk by the venue, located a stone’s throw from the city’s Blue Line Chicago stop, he or she might encounter a rogue group of oddly familiar cigarette […]
Families question support after loved ones’ killings
When Donna Howard’s 18-year-old son was shot to death more than a year and a half ago, she didn’t know where to turn for support. “We were exhausted, crying and speaking on Facebook,” says Howard. Her son Delvonta Porter was killed Oct. 24, 2011, in the South Shore neighborhood, just blocks from home. Howard found […]
Unsolved homicide not forgotten
More than a year after a 20-year-old Chicago man was killed, friends and family continue to update his memorial Facebook page. “R.I.P Joel Verdugo” has garnered 275 likes with posts that express the sadness, anger and grief his friends and family have experienced since his death. An unknown assailant shot Verdugo in the head March […]
Killer on the line
Carla Allen’s voice shakes as she recalls the brief conversation she had with her daughter’s killer. “He called and asked me for forgiveness,” says Allen. “He said, ‘That was my friend. I didn’t mean to hurt my friend.’” The call came two years ago, just days after the May 30, 2011, killing of her 16-year-old […]
For some, the grieving never ends
She never knows when it’s going to happen. The last time it did, Darlene Clair-Clark was in the bathroom at work when she suddenly remembered she’s lost two sons to homicide and broke down. The 55-year-old mother of three wishes she could forget the losses and just remember the lives, but the pain she feels […]
Filmmakers, Bicyclists Shoot a PSA for Bike Chicago
In celebration of Bike Chicago 2013 and Chicago Bike Week, The City of Chicagois hosting a public service announcement (PSA) video contest to help spread the message that bicycling is a fun, healthy and environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Video finalists will be shown at the Bike Chicago Movie in Millennium Park on Tuesday, June 11 […]
The White House looking for immigration sagas
From Cecilia Muñoz, Director, Domestic Policy Council for The White House comes this invitation. Do you have an immigration story to share? Share it with the country and the world: When Americans from all over the country — each with different backgrounds, each from different circumstances — all speak out with the same voice, it’s powerful in […]
Building a barbecue community in West Ridge
Harry Belafonte is playing on the turntable and the smell of smoked barbecue invades the room. Within moments of walking in, Rub’s Backcountry Smokehouse proves true to its name, and feels more backwoods Nashville than it does Northside Chicago. Vintage flags, wagon wheel chandeliers and ornamental pigs decorate the space. Through the economic downturn, struggling […]
State lawmaker pushes for less employee privacy
The so-called Facebook bill, signed into law last August, currently restricts employers from asking for employee user names or passwords to personal social media accounts. Now Republican Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs wants to let employers have access to employees’ social media accounts if they visited them with a company computer or cell phone. Durkin […]
Thinglink example
Thinglink.com is an app that allows you to edit images by adding rich media tags (links to URLs, to videos, to other images, etc.) to the images. Your audience can “touch” the image to acknowledge they have interacted with it. Users can click on the interactive elements you add to any image.
Time For Tech Notes: RebelMouse pulls your social network together
Time for Tech Notes is an occasional feature of Chicagotalks.org. Send us your suggestions for tech we should talk about, or send us your review as a “Time for Tech Note.” Rebel Mouse, is a social publishing platform that allows for users to share their content in a similar way to the digital clipboard site […]
Parks Around Chicago Offering Halloween Parties
Here is a sampling from Halloween parties being planned at Parks around the City. Are you too old for these parties? Check out the party at Working Bikes (see below for details.) Abbott Park, 49 E. 95th St. (312) 747-6001, Fee: Yes Age Range: 3-12 yrs Lindblom Park, 6054 S. Damen Ave. (312) 747-6443 Fee: Free Age […]
Chicago Detours Offers History, Music, and Fun
Due to overwhelming enthusiasm and positive feedback from our patrons and partners, the Historic Bar tour will be offered permanently. We intended a short-run just for fun, but it seems we hit a chord with both travelers and Chicago residents. On three occasions we had groups of people without reservations come to already sold-out tours pleading for a […]
River Water Quality and You
Mother Jones recently reported on a national river water quality study: ” If you are a fly-fisher, a rafter, or heck, just a person who drinks water, here is some troubling news: Our waterways are in rough shape. An eye-opening new report from Environment America Research and Policy Center finds that industry dishcarged 226 million pounds […]
Syrians ask Chicago for help
Protestors gathered in Grant Park on March 10th to demonstrate against the genocide of their people, which they attribute to the regime of Syrian President, Bashar al-Asaad, who has been accused of committing atrocities against the people of Syria. The demonstration marked the anniversary of the first sparks of uprising from the Syrian rebel forces, […]
Meet the Deputy Director of Social Media at the Chicago Mayor’s Office
Ankur Thakkar’s road to being the social media guru at the Chicago Mayor’s Office was a little indirect, but he finds that all of his interests led him to where he is today and apply to his current position. After working at the University of Chicago for 11 months, Thakkar started working in government for […]