Have a problem seeing newsletter images? NEW: Please help us track down the issue.
And you can read this newsletter on the web instead.
Good Friday morning, Evanston.
Third graders from Dewey Elementary School raise homemade banners at the YWCA-sponsored Unite Against Racism rally. “It’s important to teach anti-racism,” said their teacher Beatriz Difrisco. Hundreds of people took part at the Ridge Avenue rally on Thursday.
After 18 years of serving downtown Evanston, the Celtic Knot Public House is closing after this weekend. “Like all restaurants, we’ve been struggling with staff shortages, food inflation, beverage and alcohol inflation,” founder Patrick Breslin said Wednesday night. The Celtic Knot will have two more musical performances this weekend before it closes.
About 50 Evanston residents got a preview of two new developments along Howard Street during an Eighth Ward meeting Thursday night: An economic revitalization partnership with Rogers Park and a cannabis dispensary and bakery scheduled to open in August. Evanston, Chicago and the Rogers Park Business Alliance announced last month they had jointly won a $100,000 state grant for a business plan dubbed “One Howard Street.”
News & Brews
Treat yourself to an evening of live music and drinks at Sketchbook Brewing on Sunday, May 7. Join us from 6 to 8 p.m. as the RoundTable celebrates 25 years serving the Evanston community. Your ticket includes two drinks and unlimited selfies with the folks who make local journalism happen!
Although not an Evanston native, talk-show host and large-scale personality Jerry Springer (above) spent his last several years living in downtown Evanston. Most remembered for his nearly three-decades long talk show, “The Jerry Springer Show”, he also attended Northwestern Law School and started his career in politics. He died yesterday in Evanston after a brief illness at the age of 79.
RoundTable weekend roundup
Women’s history mural: Art Encounter’s Evanston Mural Arts Program is collecting community input for a mural downtown at 11 a.m. this Saturday at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.
Family Fun Fest: Enjoy a Sunday afternoon with art, music and free lunch refreshments from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Robert Crown Center, 1801 Main St.
Beach clean up: Volunteers are meeting at South Boulevard Beach from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday to help Alliance for the Great Lakes reach its goal to collect half a million pounds of litter.
More RoundTable reads
Benjamin Franklin Gaines Sr. In his last decade, Ben (above) was honored at the A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, appeared on the ABC show Soul of a Nation, was featured in numerous articles on Evanston’s reparations fund for Black residents and for turning 100 in December.
After being canceled for the past three years due to the pandemic, Evanston’s annual Fifth Ward Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fest is back from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at Family Focus, 2010 Dewey Ave.
Evanston Public Library is hosting its first health fair since pre-pandemic days this Saturday. The fair is focused on health disparities in Evanston.
COVID update as of April 27: Evanston and Cook County remain at the ‘low’ community risk level. Statewide, confirmed cases were down 27% from the prior week, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Shutout ends Wildkits win streak. Glenbrook South posted a two-hit shutout Thursday against Evanston Township High School. Above, Hank Liss pitches Wednesday in a 10-8 win over GBS in the first of two back-to-back games.
Several of the Evanston Township High School chess team’s top players will return to ETHS for the 2023-24 school year. Freshman Adam Elgat, junior Chris von Hoff and junior Jonah Chen have been key members of this year’s teams for the Illinois High School Association state tournament and the National High School Championships.
ETHS named a gym in honor of the former physical education teacher, co-athletic director, tennis and badminton coach Shirley Nannini.
The Music Institute of Chicago concludes its 2022–23 season with Celebrating Music Institute of Chicago Luminaries on May 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave.
Photos from our readers
Who let the dogs out? Reader Laurel Covert captured two pups and their owner enjoying the dog beach. Send your photos of people, places and events around town to news@evanstonroundtable.com for a chance to be included in this newsletter.
Become a member!
From day one, it’s been the RoundTable’s mission to bring you unbiased, in-depth reporting about the Evanston community. But we need your help to continue investing in high-quality and in-depth journalism, reporting news that strengthens and enlightens our community, encourages civic engagement and bolsters our democracy. Please join our community of readers and become a member today.
Around the web
Cannabis License Lottery To Pick 55 Of 2,693 Social Equity Applicants Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation will hold a lottery mid-May to determine the next 55 winners of cannabis dispensary license.
A tree older than Chicago is about to be cut down This Lincoln Park tree is between 250 to 300 years old. Experts say it’s sick. It comes down Monday.
NU to discontinue COVID-19 protocols including vaccine requirement, isolation housing and on-campus testing The university will incorporate its remaining COVID-19 protocols into broader health operations beginning June 13.
Like what you’re reading? Share it!
If you appreciate the RoundTable newsletter, please forward it to friends and suggest that they sign up!