Many of us stayed away at first, preferring the comfort zone of our normal cashier line, while occasionally glancing enviously at “the early pioneers” who dared traverse the still virgin territory of self checkout.
With the virus still among us, proper elevator etiquette has taken on new rules.
When there’s a birthday, there’s cake. And candles, topped with tiny triangles of fiery plumes. There’s also the song, followed by the customary display of the celebrant making a wish and blowing out the candles.
He gave me the side eye as we passed on the sidewalk. It’s a new age look that new mask wearers have adopted.
I didn’t want to leave Florida. I could have stayed in the Sunshine State for a few more months. My wife, however, had different ideas, so I’m back.
By Jon Cohn It is a bizarre and unsettling time. Our lives in the New Eastside and Streeterville neighborhoods have been turned, if not upside down, at least swished around like fruit in a smoothie blender on high speed. Through it all, though, we have learned some different terms and ideas …
By Jon Cohn, April 1, 2020 I am a coach, so competition is always running through my mind even during these difficult times. I started to think of the items that are the most necessary while I am hunkered down at home. I started playing a game. I thought of all the essentials. I started wi…
by Jon Cohn It’s all about the brackets in March. Bracketology, to be precise. No, it’s not about shopping hints from the fix-it folks at your local hardware store. And these brackets will definitely not be sold on the Home Shop- ping Network. The brackets that come to the forefront thi…
by Jon Cohn If you are a hard-core golfer stuck in the throes of long Chicago winters, there is no need to worry. It’s not necessary to plan trips to warm exotic locations to play your favorite game. You can put the plane ticket away, cancel hotel reservations and killer greens fees and tell…
Roe v. Wade remains one of the nation’s most controversial Supreme Court decisions. “Roe,” a play by Lisa Loomer showing at Goodman Theatre until Feb. 23, looks into the lives of those who were a part of the famous decision. Plaintiff Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe), and her legal representative …
After a white Christmas, there may be a Blue Monday. Blue Monday is the name given to what some consider the most depressing day of the year—usually the third Monday in January. The idea originated with a Welsh academic as a marketing plan for a travel company, according to the British ne…
The challenge is on, and it won’t be easy. The problem? This month features Restaurant Week. One of Chicago’s most celebrated winter events is about to kick off and it will provide the greatest of challenges to those still fighting to keep those resolutions of eating a little less and …
by Jacqueline Covey For 17 years, January Doorperson of the Month Justine Kotlarz has worked at 247 E. Chestnut St. greeting residents, tending to their needs and handing out cookies—to those with two and four feet. About two months ago, Kotlarz lost her brother Nick Bolhak. “My brother got …
by Jon Cohn If this month’s topic was a gymnastic event, the judges would give it a degree of difficulty rating in the high 9s. Figuring out the best way to talk politics with friends or family members during the holidays may be a near herculean task. It’s like a female gymnast fighting des…
By Jon Cohn I recently checked out the Maggie Daley Park kids playground. Oh, to be young again! The playground of my day was a couple of chain swings, maybe a teeter-totter (remember those things?) and a really COOL jungle gym. Fast forward some 50 years and welcome to today’s state-of-th…
(Published Aug. 31, 2019) By Jon Cohn In an unofficial tabulation of informal voting done by this column—with apologies to runner-ups May, November and December—the month of September has won Best in Show as the overall most enjoyable month of the year. If you are reading this column in the …
(Published Aug. 1, 2019) By Jon Cohn One of the Midwest’s great summer events descends upon the city as the Chicago Air and Water Show rears it’s noisy, but exciting, head on Aug. 17 and 18. Huge crowds are expected and the Chicago beachfront will be packed, which could present some interes…
Don’t want to fight the crowds at Cloud Gate to get a selfie? Looking for a special spot or event not typically on the tourism map? Get off the beaten path and get in with the locals with this quick guide. Wally Braun, a Chicago resident and official city greeter, has some suggestions. By Wa…
(Published June 30, 2019) By Jon Cohn Stress is something nearly everyone has to deal with. Thankfully, in this modern age, there are plenty of potential remedies available. Varieties of yoga, mental meditation and restorative mindfulness practices (not sure what mindfulness is, but if it wo…
(Published June 13, 2019) State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, is asking residents to join him for a “Coffee Talk” on Saturday, June 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Dollop, located at 345 E. Ohio St. in Streeterville, to provide an update about the progress that has been made in Springfield du…
(Published May 30, 2019) By Jon Cohn Summertime is upon us, and with it comes one of the great pleasures of the long days and warm weather: outdoor grilling. That scrumptious smell of steak, burgers, chicken or fish cooking on the grill. Rubbing them all with your favorite sauces, maybe some…
Jon Cohn Let’s talk for a minute about man’s best friend. No, not the cell phone, but instead our beloved fine, furry, fluffy friends. We all know, of course, dogs are part of the neighborhood scene here in Chicago. Most love the idea. The unique connection of man and dog goes without sayin…
(Published April 30, 2019)By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer Following Sen. Kwame Raoul’s election win as attorney general, the 13th District Democratic Legislative Committee appointed community organizer Robert Peters to the role in the Illinois Senate. By state law, a term of less than two year…
(Published April 30, 2019) By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer After State Rep. Christian Mitchell accepted appointment as deputy governor in January, he left his seat open with two more years to go in his term. Democratic committeemen from the 10 wards in Illinois House District 26 appointed Kamb…
By Jon Cohn I’m not sure how the great tradition of the “pub crawl” started. I’m not even sure that Chicago is the home for these particular events, but based on the number of them coming up we might as well be. For those not familiar with this unique concept, let’s loosely call it a form of…
By Leontina Richardson | President of Stepping into Etiquette Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. If you’re in a new relationship, this day might be a big deal because you want to do everything right. How do you do that? Ask rather than assume. If you are exclusive with someone, you might e…
Leontina Richardson, president of Stepping Into Etiquette Let’s face it: There’s going to be at least one gift under your Christmas tree this year that you’d rather sell on eBay. We’ve all been there. But the reality is, you still need to write that person a thank-you card. Although you woul…
The weather is cooling off and the leaves are starting to change, which means it’s time to stay inside all day Sunday and watch football. This can be daunting for someone who may only be a casual fan or has never watched the game. If the latter sounds like you, and you find yourself at
By Tom Conroy | Staff Writer When I first got to Milwaukee, I received strange looks whenever I wore my favorite football jersey because of the name “FAVRE” stitched on the back. Little did I know that students on campus, most of whom were Packers fans, were still bitter about Brett Favre go…
By Jon Cohn Published August 2, 2018 What’s in a name?: Meet the boats of DuSable and Monroe harbors For most of us who aren’t lucky enough to own a boat, having them around us at the DuSable and Monroe harbors is a true pleasure. Call it boat envy, but there is something about being ar…
By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor This June, the Chicago Tribune staff will be making the trek up Randolph Street to their new digs at the Prudential Plaza. New Eastside residents, keep your eyes out for some familiar faces wandering around—you might see the person whose column you read in…
By Taylor Hartz | Staff Writer Published April 6, 2018 Illinois state primary elections were held on Tuesday March 20, when ballots were cast to select the nominees for our representatives in Washington, Springfield and right here in New Eastside. Below are the results of the primary electio…
By Jon Cohn | Community Contributor Published March 4, 2018 In case you haven’t heard, there have been a few twists and turns in the saga of our omnipresent Wanda Vista building, 363 E. Wacker Dr., which has now been knocked to fourth place in the “tallest building” category. To add insult t…
New Eastside entering tween years By John Cohn | Community Contributor In an interesting and uplifting gathering, the staff of New Eastside News got together for an annual staff-wide meeting. It was a refreshing mix of both young and old. Actually, truth be told, mostly young—I think I was a…
The wait is over. Speculation of what will be built on the remaining empty plots of New Eastside land can now end. Four new buildings are ready to join the O, IJKL parcel party, all of varying shapes and sizes. In maps presented at a recent alderman’s meet- ing, the future sites of these b…
If you’re lucky enough to have a south view from the Lakeshore East neighborhood, you may have noticed the massive tent that went up southeast of Soldier Field last month. “The White Big Top,” as it is called, houses Cavalia’s new show Odysseo, premiering this month only, in the South Lot of…
In honor of March Madness, we put together brackets for a single-elimination tournament of favorite nearby activities.
Late one night last year, as I walked home from the State and Lake train station, I encountered a mystery that I have only recently solved. As I made my way across Michigan Avenue, I smelled the alluring scent of chocolate brownies. I remember thinking, “Some nearby bakery is getting an oddl…
I attended opening night of the Joffrey Ballet’s 7th Annual Winning Works program on Sunday, March 13, at the Harold Washington Library’s Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. Winning Works is a program designed to promote diversity in the dance community. The show featured four performances, each crea…
Normally in this column I go pretty light and try to find some of the humor in our daily New Eastside activities. “He who laughs lasts” has always been one of my guiding principals. But not this month. In our city’s coldest hours, I take a slightly different tone. It started innocently enoug…
I have lived in Lakeshore East for a decade, all of it in the same apartment building, until last month. For most of you, November 2, 2016, will long be remembered in Chicago lore as the day the Cubs finally won the World Series. I shall also remember that date as the day I chose to move fro…
This month, “Coach’s Corner” travels into dangerous territory that will no doubt reduce my popularity with the 12-and-under crowd. Yet, due to its importance, I persist. The risky topic of December’s column is making Christmas, and the entire holiday season, like the Olympics by celebrating …
As the days get shorter and the air gets colder, you may be tempted to tuck into one of the gorgeous hotels along the sprawling Magnificent Mile for afternoon tea. Great idea, but do you know proper high tea etiquette? Let’s look at some often-overlooked fundamentals. Always tea first, and t…
I heard a football coach recently talk about a lesson he imparts to kids, and it hit the nail on the head for living in today’s unpredictable world. His advice? Have fun. Live your life as you wish, but always “keep your head on a swivel.” To appreciate the beauty of that wisdom, let’s discu…
In a riveting and passionate rendering of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the dancers of The Joffrey Ballet displayed raw emotion and palpable tension, beautifully and artistically weaving romance and tragedy into this twentieth-century version. Taking place in roughly three periods in Ita…
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays personally. Busy office hours, social engagements, and the gravity of life give way to a holiday in which everyone can be a kid again for a day. Fanciful costumes and seriously sweet treats abound — and you can be an angel or a devil depending on what…
Against all odds, “Coaches Corner“ is back! The early line was one-and-done, so we’ve exceeded expectations. A special thanks goes out to our New Eastside editors and their apparent, but appreciated, lapse in judgment. Now, on to our topic this month — and I hope you are not sitting down w…
Fall is associated with students returning to school. But one autumn, despite having long ago finished my academic career, I decided to attend classes of a different type — comedy classes. Chicago is a worldwide mecca for improvisational comedy. The list of comedic luminaries who have traine…
As urban dwellers, many New Eastsiders use ride sharing apps Uber and Lyft to get around. Technology has equipped us with the ability to connect with our own personal drivers at the touch of a button. Here we highlight the do’s and don’ts of ridesharing. 1. Be polite. You’re not a foreign di…
Business dinners can be pretty nerve-wracking. In addition to stressing about how to sound clever in the conversation, you worry about basic things such as what to wear or what drink to order. You’re on your own when it comes to what to wear. However, I’m pretty firm on not going with penny …
It’s painful to admit, but living in Lakeshore East for eight years has made me a bit jaded about fireworks. “Oh, are there fireworks? It must be a Wednesday.” The ubiquitous nature of the spectacle has dulled its impact. But last summer I found a way to make them fun again. I still remember…
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