Hey, it's Monica. I'm working through a second round of COVID that I originally thought was allergies.

• And just as I did during my case last spring, I'm oversharing because I have a hunch that cases could soon rise.

Why it matters: This month lots of folks are returning from spring break and holding Passover, Easter and Ramadan gatherings that may include older or immunocompromised guests.

Driving the news: Although officials don't track most cases anymore, another metric, wastewater surveillance, shows detections are on the rise in parts of the city.

• Samples taken on the North Side, downtown and at the Calumet Treatment Plant on the South Side show increases in COVID levels in recent weeks. Meanwhile, hospitalizations have seen an uptick.

Between the lines: That's in line with the anecdotal accounts from friends who recently got sick and from the nurse at my mom's senior center, who says she's seen a big jump in cases.

• But University of Chicago infectious disease specialist Emily Landon warns that experts are still learning how to confidently interpret wastewater data.
• Almost all outbreaks have been preceded by wastewater increases, she explained, but not all wastewater increases have predicted an outbreak.

The intrigue: We're in peak allergy season, which is intensifying across the country with some of the largest changes in the Midwest, per the Washington Post. And this year's pollen season started earlier than usual due to a warm January and February.

• Loyola Medicine has reported moderate to high allergy counts from Chicago trees this week.

Yes, but: "The biggest mistake people make is that they think their symptoms are just their allergies," Landon tells Axios. "It turns out that sometimes your allergies are really COVID, and it's not worth risking it with grandma or grandpa."

What they're saying: "The same rules apply for Easter and Passover gatherings that have applied for any of the holidays we’ve had this year," Landon says.

• "You have to be careful, and if you're sick, you absolutely should stay home."

Tips for travelers

This year, Rohini Dey celebrated the 20th anniversary of her River North Indian fusion restaurant Vermillion by revamping the menu to highlight India's distinct Indo-Chinese cuisine.

The intrigue: During the pandemic Dey brought together the city's female restaurateurs to join forces and share ideas in a coalition called Let's Talk Womxn.

• "We women restaurateurs were isolated, racking up debt, and demoralized. There was no playbook," she tells Axios.
• What started as 20 female restaurateurs ballooned to 90, and the initiative has expanded to 17 cities. "It's been a magical journey and very much evolving."

We asked Dey what her best day in town would look like:

Breakfast: "Udupi Palace or Annapurna on Devon for a crisp dosa (Indian savory rice lentil crepe with filling, coconut chutney, and lentil sambar). Dosa is India's favorite brunch fare."

Morning activity: "A long outdoor run while streaming NPR — 6-8 miles, my daily indulgence. ... Our lake looks stunningly distinct every day. Downtown looms. I love it."

• "Maybe this should be before that breakfast?"

Lunch: "Definitely a Let's Talk Womxn restaurant. With 90 of us Chicago women restaurateurs, there's no dearth of choices. Next on my list is Heather's Soul & Smoke, one of the best artisan BBQs in town. I'd get smoked rib tips and hot link combo with sauteed onions for sure."

Keep reading

🤝 Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said he had a "flood of emotions" as he entered the mayor's office yesterday to meet with Mayor Lori Lightfoot (CBS)

📬 Thousands of mail-in ballots coming in could sway close alder races. (BlockClub)

🗳 Former Tribune columnist Eric Zorn reveals that he left his mayoral ballot blank, and he explains why. (Picayune-Sentinel)

Chocolate is king for Easter, and America's favorite Easter candy is Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, according to data from Instacart, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.

• But apparently in the Midwest, our big spring holiday fave is Starburst Jellybeans. Hmmm.

The big picture: Reese's eggs were the top-selling seasonal candy on Instacart last year in 29 states.

• Reese's cups, Starburst Jellybeans, and Hershey's Milk Chocolate all tied — with five states each.

By the numbers: RetailMeNot's Easter candy survey also put Reese's eggs at the top with 51% of the 1,000 people surveyed claiming it's their favorite. Followed by:

• Chocolate bunnies (17%), Cadbury eggs (13%) and jellybeans (12%). But Peeps, just 7%. What?

Yes, but: Chocolate eggs will cost the Easter Bunny 15% more than they did last year, according to data from consumer intelligence company NIQ.

• High inflation is also driving some families to experiment with painting and dyeing potatoes this Easter.

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Last weekend we shared memories of favorite long-gone movie palaces and you gave us a double feature of your own.

Elyse F: "I loved the Granada! Such a beautiful theater! A real movie palace from the fabulous 1920s.

• "The site of so many movie memories — including a live appearance by Sonny and Cher, promoting their truly awful 'Good Times' from my pre-teenhood, and the world-premiere of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' with a live appearance by Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher."
• Carol E., Marla K. and Loel M. also loved the Granada. As did Michael F, who said, "It broke my heart when they didn't keep the facade and put up an ugly, tall condo building."

William T.: "Blue Island's Lyric was renovated and is beautiful."

Linda K.: "Terminal Theater in Albany Park."

More memories