News across Cook County
Two years old and three times the size
Dozens of people fill Animal Records as the store celebrates its second anniversary and grand reopening. The vintage record (and CDs) store moved to a new space at 620 Grove St., which is almost three times its original space next door. “I think people want a place to hang out,…
Mexican restaurant Boca Brava plans to take over half of former Reza’s space
A new Mexican restaurant called Boca Brava, which means “brave mouth” or “fierce mouth” in Spanish, plans to take over part of the former Reza’s Restaurant and Lounge space at 1557 Sherman Ave. Reza’s closed in May 2025. Owner Carlos Arechiga, 31, has signed a lease for the…
ETHS golf: Golfers score wet win at IHSA regional
Evanston’s golf team has fallen short of winning an Illinois High School Associationstate championship by the slimmest of margins for two years in a row. But there can’t be any doubt about the current squad’s mental toughness even ifthey don’t go all the way in 2026. That mental…
Lolo’s Bowls acai and smoothie shop plans to open in early November
A new acai and smoothie shop, Lolo’s Bowls, plans to open in downtown Evanston the first week of November, store manager Kristen Beaudoin said. This will be the fourth location of the growing family-run acai chain. Founder Lauren “Lolo” Schick and her mother, Darlene “Dolly”…
Bookends & Beginnings children’s manager seeks out the unusual in books for kids, young adults
Adrien Sdao manages the children’s section at Bookends & Beginnings, 1620 Orrington Ave., and radiates enthusiasm for books for young people. Sdao has been a bookseller for 12 years and arrived at Bookends a year and a half ago. He said from an early age he found books to be a…
ETHS girls golf: Hilbrant, Sheehan qualify for sectional
Halfway through the Class 2A regional golf tournament at Winnetka Golf Club Tuesday, things didn’t look good for Evanston. Elise Hilbrant had reduced herself to tears after nine holes. Gemma Sheehan had one word to describe her score — “terrible.” But the Wildkits weren’t…
The new Ryan Field debuts this Friday — here’s what you can expect
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with new information released by Northwestern on Wednesday, after the article’s initial publication on Tuesday. Almost three years after winning city approval, and a century after its predecessor opened in the same spot, the new Ryan…
Letter: What does flashy new stadium say about our city?
Northwestern has officially opened its new $870 million Ryan Field. In addition to being a replacement for the 100-year-old football stadium, its role has broadened to be an entertainment venue and a corporate gathering place. The stadium is massive, particularly for the…
Two more candidates to run for District 65 school board
Natika Washington and Danny Orrock are both running for the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 board, they told the RoundTable Friday. The two candidates are not running in affiliation with one another. Washington, an Oakton Elementary School parent, is a U.S. Air Force veteran…
Ready to ride: Oakton Elementary hosts its first ‘bike bus’ event
Dozens of children and parents met at the corner of Madison Street and Elmwood Avenue Friday morning for Oakton Elementary School’s first “bike bus” event, part of Evanston/Skokie District 65’s Walk, Bike and Roll initiative. A “bike bus” is an organized group ride where people…
Woman taken to hospital after hit-and-run on Oakton Street
Following a hit-and-run Thursday evening, a female pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Oakton Street near the north side of James Park was taken by emergency responders to the hospital in critical condition, police said. Oakton Street from North McCormick Boulevard to Grey Avenue…
Louisiana man arrested for theft of money bag at Hardee’s in Paxton
PAXTON — A northeast Louisiana man staying in Chicago has been arrested on a Ford County warrant charging him with burglary in connection with the theft of a bag of cash in August from the Hardee’s restaurant in Paxton. In a news release, Paxton Police Chief Coy Cornett said…