News across Cook County
How an Evanston audience’s reaction to ‘Sunset Boulevard’ changed movie history
Sunset Boulevard is an iconic and classic film. But the film that audiences know and love was not the film its director, Billy Wilder, planned to release. A test screening in front of an Evanston audience in January 1950 generated a surprising reaction that ultimately altered the…
‘Public art is the best thing’
A three-story mural titled Welcome Back to Main Street was dedicated Saturday overlooking the city parking lot at 727 Main St. Artist Oscar Joyo designed the mural, which includes more than 800 clay tiles created over the past several months by everyday Evanston residents. Each…
Evanston Grows to supply kale, salad mix, romaine, parsley to ETHS
Starting this year, the nonprofit Evanston Grows will kick off a pilot program to grow kale, salad mix, romaine and parsley for Evanston Township High School’s from-scratch kitchen to be used in student meals at the high school and the District 65 schools that receive meals from…
‘It’s a sacred service’: Volunteer Jewish group offers end-of-life ritual support
A human body lay motionless on a raised platform, surrounded by about 20 volunteers. All were gathered in a specially equipped downstairs room at Chicago Jewish Funerals, in Skokie, to learn about taharah: the practice of preparing a body for burial. The training was sponsored by…
Third annual RoundTable Reads features ‘The Hitch’ author Sara Levine and Rebecca Makkai
About 300 guests at Nichols Concert Hall Thursday evening heard Evanston novelist Sara Levine — author of The Hitch — in conversation with fellow author Rebecca Makkai as part of the third annual RoundTable Reads program. The program began with an introduction from RoundTable…
Residents pitch in for 25th annual Wheelchair Wash
Dozens of volunteers came out to lend a hand on Thursday at the Over the Rainbow Association, 2040 Brown Ave., for this year’s Wheelchair Wash. They gloved up and spent the evening hand-washing wheelchairs for residents of the independent living facility for people with…
How local groups cleaning up Evanston beaches can raise awareness
International Coastal Cleanup Day is held annually on the third Saturday of September, spurring volunteers globally to organize and contribute to beach cleanups. Lake Michigan beaches have been part of this global effort since the Alliance for the Great Lakes launched its…
ETHS girls swimming: Gatchell burns foes with breaststroke win
Nina Gatchell hasn’t mastered using a glue gun quite yet and, as a result, the Evanston junior wasn’t sure she’d even be in the lineup for the Evanston Invitational girls swim meet Saturday. But Gatchell was able to make her presence felt after all. Out of the water all week…
ETHS comes home
Each fall, Evanston Township High School homecoming traditions spark a collective celebration that transcends generations and fosters school pride. This weekend, ETHS students, staff, alumni and community members united to uphold traditions and build some new ones. ETHS spirit…
ETHS flag football: Wildkits finish strong with win over top-ranked Willowbrook
The emotions spilled out Saturday at Lazier Field for the 10 seniors who helped build Evanston’s girls flag football program from scratch. But no one felt worse than Willowbrook. The Wildkits shocked the top-ranked Warriors 33-0 in the regular season finale,regaining the momentum…
ETHS football: Farlow puts Kits back on winning track in homecoming victory over Glenbrook North
Kendale Farlow was among the alums in the stands Friday night at Lazier Field for Evanston’s homecoming football game. And the former Evanston Township High School linebacker recognizes talent when he sees it. That’s why he bought his son Kamryn those bright orange football…
New Evanston record shop puts Chicago house music front and center
In what will likely be music to the ears of house fans, Evanston will soon be getting another record store this fall, with a heavy emphasis on one of Chicago’s own creations. Although an official opening day has not been announced, E-Town Records will be located at 2601 Prairie…