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Best Day Ever: Cliff Rome
Chef and entrepreneur Cliff Rome is devoted to managing and developing talent and businesses on the South Side.
- His group, Rome's Joy Companies, runs Peach's restaurants, a catering company, the Parkway Ballroom and Blanc art gallery.
Improving college success in high school
Even though 69% of Chicago Public Schools' freshmen this year aspire to go to college, only about 19% are likely to receive a bachelor's degree within 10 years of starting high school, according to a University of Chicago analysis.
What's happening: To try to remedy the issue, a program called OneGoal teams students up with a cohort of other college-aspiring peers during their junior year of high school and continues support through their freshman year of college.
Kinzinger on Trump battle: "He won, in the short term at least"
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) told WGN-TV in an interview published Thursday he has no regrets about standing up to former President Trump, but he thought more Republicans would speak out.
Driving the news: Kingzinger called on Trump in November 2020 to stop spreading "debunked misinformation" about the presidential election and criticized him for calling for an early end to ballot counting.
Chicago's favorite broadcast booths
We recently lamented the loss of Blackhawks color commentator Eddie Olczyk, who left for the Seattle Kraken.
- We surveyed the state of our local broadcast booths, on both TV and the radio, and asked for your all-time favorites.
Food Fight: Wrigley Field
Our trip inspired a Wrigley-themed Food Fight, where we each tried to find the best bite in the park.
- Since the renovation, the concessions here have improved dramatically beyond the days of hot dogs and helmet nachos.
Wrigley's worst seat
Anyone who has visited Wrigley Field on a budget knows that some seats offer sightlines that are … less than great.
- A new study shows that the Friendly Confines actually has one of the worst seats in baseball. Bookies.com considers Section 428R, Row 1, Seat 2 the second-worst seat in baseball, behind a seat at Fenway Park.
José Andrés lets loose, slings sangria
👋 Hey, it's Monica. Earlier this summer, I met up with chef José Andrés at his River North Jaleo restaurant before he hosted a Capital One cooking demonstration.
Why it matters: The Spanish-born chef and subject of Ron Howard's new "We Feed People" documentary is better known for bringing food to crisis zones with his World Central Kitchen than for having fun.
Color Factory Chicago explores our connection to color
It's about time a new immersive art museum engages both our brains and our social media feeds.
- That's what's happening at Color Factory Chicago in the basement of the Willis Tower.