For Chicago Magazine

Mark Guarino

Damorah Martin chases a balloon after crawling through a tunnel in the music room during the "My Wonder Kids" program at A House in Austin on Nov. 11, 2021.

A House in Austin offers resources and community for parents in an area that can be lacking in so much

February 23, 2022 at 6:14 a.m.

If Lynette Kelly-Bell wanted to meet other parents her age in programs that included playtime for their children, she had to drive from Chicago's West Side, her home of 30...

Commentary: ‘Tonight she’s jobless.’ There’s nothing justifiable in looting.

June 5, 2020 at 5:08 p.m.

I'm standing outside a Dollar Tree on Chicago's West Side. Looters stripped it of its inventory all day. Then they torched it. Unlike most late-night scenes like this I've covered...

Singer-songwriter John Prine performs at Ravinia on July 21, 1972.

Commentary: John Prine peeled back the mysteries of ordinariness for Chicago fans

April 7, 2020 at 9:23 p.m.

Editor's note: John Prine died Tuesday from complications from COVID-19 in a Nashville hospital. The headline of this tribute, which first was published April 1, has been updated. Two days...

The Weird, Whimsical World of Rich Sparks

July 2, 2026 at 1:57 p.m.

The fast-rising cartoonist's first collection hits shelves this month.

No Other Love Is the B-Side of the Chicago Gospel Story

July 2, 2026 at 2:04 p.m.

The new CD honors the South and West Sides' vibrant small-label scene. For many, it's also unearthed rich cross-generational connections.

Chicago’s Best Songwriter You’ve Never Heard Of

July 2, 2026 at 2:11 p.m.

Chris Ligon probably had a worse year than you. He spun his misery into Miss America, a new record out this week.

When Chicago Was Soul City, USA

July 2, 2026 at 2:12 p.m.

Chicago’s role as a hub for innovative black musicians from the 1960s to the ’80s has been underappreciated, according to a new book. Here’s what we learned.

Angel Bat Dawid’s Requiem for Jazz Isn't for Grieving

July 2, 2026 at 2:09 p.m.

The clarinetist–composer's new work is a corrective to repeated handwringing about the genre's future.

Roscoe Mitchell Returns

July 2, 2026 at 2:13 p.m.

As the Art Ensemble of Chicago celebrates 50 years by headlining Jazz Fest, its leader continues to innovate with a new generation of musicians.

Neo-Nazi Scare Becomes Inspiration for Jazz Drummer Mike Reed

July 2, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

Reed's stunning new album, Flesh and Bone, reflects the experience of everyday prejudice.

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