A most welcome mess in Andersonville – Chicago Tribune

Good morning, Chicago.

On a cold January Wednesday, a trip into the beautifully fake laundromat on Clark Street yielded a packed showroom, filled to the balcony with local fans of prestidigitation checking out the latest fare at the Chicago Magic Lounge, one of the most notable success stories of late on Chicago’s live entertainment scene.

On hump day, or whatever it is that defines a Wednesday, the Magic Lounge books a weekly regular for some three months of gigs, in contrast with the variable weekend programming. For these cruelest months of wind chill and gray skies, that performer is Harrison Lampert, an intriguingly self-deprecating magician with nihilistic tendencies.

You might think of Lampert as the antithesis of the silent Teller; in his hourlong set, which is very funny, Lampert never stops talking even for a second. He intentionally allows his mouth to form words even before his brain fully has decided what to say, all part of his theme of being pretty much a total mess, albeit one for whom the cards and ropes still manage to effect some remarkable transitions. You don’t really know whether to watch his mouth or his hands — or the sweat upon his brow — all of which Lampert turns to his advantage.

Read Chris Jones’ full review of Wednesdays at the Magic Lounge.

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An initiative designed to boost the life expectancy of residents in the West Garfield Park community was awarded the second Chicago Prize, a $10 million grant competition established by the Pritzker Traubert Foundation to help revive neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

More than 20 West Side community organizations formed the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, and plan to create the $50 million Sankofa Wellness Village, replacing vacant lots with a fitness center and health clinic, after-school care facilities, a credit union and a business incubator, as well as job training facilities and pop-up groceries, amenities little seen in the neighborhood since the 1968 uprising after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. left behind burned-out commercial buildings and homes.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot portrayed the effort to recruit students as a single staffer’s well-intentioned but wrong idea.

Earlier in the day, CPS inspector general Will Fletcher confirmed that his office has opened an investigation into emails sent by Lightfoot’s reelection team to CPS teachers, asking them to solicit their students to volunteer on the campaign trial.

One of 2022′s near-perfect films is now in limited theatrical release in the U.S., with a two-week run at the Gene Siskel Film Center, writes Michael Phillips.

“Saint Omer” marks the narrative feature debut of the French documentary filmmaker Alice Diop. Set mostly in the northeastern French town of the title, it concerns a Paris professor following a murder trial there as primary research for her next book.

To those who work at 1920 Football Drive in Lake Forest and have grand aspirations for what the Chicago Bears can become, get excited. And get ready. That’s everyone from general manager Ryan Poles to the entire business development team to the marketing folks to those who work in the cafeteria and equipment room.

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren is coming. Listen for the footsteps, writes Dan Wiederer.

Attend Martin Luther King Jr. Day at the Chicago History Museum, catch “Chicago” back on stage in its namesake town or watch puppets take over the city.

Here are some things to do around Chicago.