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…
Cooking with heart: A first look at the new Soul & Smoke
When a chef is cooking with their whole heart, you can taste it on the plate. D’Andre Carter cooks like every dish means something personal to him. You can taste his intention; you can taste the history. His food feels truly lived in, not merely inhabited. Listen: Great food…
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, Police Chief Coy Cornett said Kadorian J.…
Nicholas ‘Nick’ Rehwaldt, ‘political junkie,’ with sharp wit dies at 37
Nicholas Lloyd Rehwaldt, 37, of Evanston, died Sept. 6, 2026. Born July 5, 1989, in Chicago, Nick graduated from Evanston Township High School. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology…
NAACP Evanston Youth Council hosts youth-led voting rights event on Oct. 2
The community is invited to join a youth-led presentation from members of the NAACP Evanston Youth Council, held from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St. Explore the history of Black voting rights and the fight for access. Learn how to…
The Traffic Guy 2.0 hears … news of ‘yikes for bikes,’ support for safer speeds, plus Traffic Guy will be taking some time off
… that the Traffic Guy 2.0 is driving off into the sunset after this column (scheduling conflicts, FYI), but only for the rest of 2026. An early 2027 return is planned — that is, if the GPS is working. (That’s Global Positioning System, in case you’ve forgotten or, hey, no shame,…