Axios Chicago

June 26, 2026
π It's Friday. On this day in 1954, a seiche caused by 55mph winds occurred in Lake Michigan, killing eight fishermen.
π§οΈ Today's weather: Chance of rain showers, with a high of 68.
π Happy birthday to our Axios Chicago members James Andrews, Sheila King, Ashley Morse, Marianne West, Andrea Troolin, Doug Kaplan, and Joslyn (Jos) Davidson!
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Today's newsletter is 1,134 words β a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: Betting big on LGBTQ+ tourism
This Sunday, the Pride Parade will draw hundreds of thousands of spectators to Northalsted for one of the country's biggest neighborhood parades.
Why it matters: As some states become less welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors, Northalsted is betting that Chicago's reputation for inclusion can translate into more tourism dollars.
The big picture: Two luxury LGBTQ+ boutique hotels announced plans to open in Northalsted this year. At the same time, Chicago doubled down on one of the neighborhood's most recognizable symbols by renovating its rainbow crosswalks.
Zoom in: One of the boutiques is being developed by Tryst Hospitality, a luxury brand that caters to gay travelers and tourism. Tryst has two big resort locations in Puerto Rico and Mexico, but is rapidly expanding, opening up locations in Fire Island, Provincetown and right here at 3350 N. Halsted Street.
Context: Illinois welcomed 112.9 million visitors who spent $48.5 billion in 2024. The state doesn't break out LGBTQ+ tourism, but industry estimates put annual U.S. LGBTQ+ travel spending at more than $65 billion, with research showing LGBTQ+ travelers take more trips than the general population.

State of play: Ald. Bennett Lawson (Lakeview/Northalsted) took to the council floor last week to talk about the importance of the rainbow crosswalks along Halsted Street.
- Lawson argued the crosswalks are more than decoration β they're part of the neighborhood's brand and help signal to visitors that Chicago remains welcoming.
- Bennett warned Chicago not to take them for granted, citing several Florida communities that have removed or challenged rainbow crosswalks amid broader political fights over LGBTQ+ visibility.
The bottom line: Northalsted's leaders see visible investments in the neighborhood, from luxury hotels to rainbow crosswalks, as more than symbolism.
- They're part of a broader strategy to make Chicago an even bigger destination for LGBTQ+ travelers.
2. Kaufmann quiz: Pride, baby!
π Hi, it's Justin! Let's celebrate Pride with a quiz, shall we?
Two years back, I did a Pride Chicago quiz. It was only my 10th Kaufmann quiz. Today, I'm inching close to 100!
- The quiz still holds up, but there's so much queer history that I'm giving you volume two!
Last week's Obama quiz was pretty popular and netted a few winners. Congrats to Timothy P., Mark S., Matt R., Fred S., Timothy A., Eulalia H., Meg Q., Jackie W. and Jill C.!
3. Sam Panayotovich joins Fox 32 sports
Chicago sports reporter Sam Panayotovich is returning home, joining Fox 32's revamped sports department after four years covering Boston sports for NESN.
Why it matters: Panayotovich's hire emphasizes Fox 32's goal of having a stronger digital presence in Chicago sports coverage.
The big picture: In 2020, Panayotovich, a Mt. Carmel graduate, left WGN Radio for a gig at NESN, where he covered Boston sports and developed his on-camera television experience.
What they're saying: "I was always the radio guy that went on TV as a guest, but working at NESN really helped me gain an understanding of how the sausage gets made," Panayotovich tells Axios.
- He's now returned to Chicago as a reporter and sports anchor across Fox 32's broadcast and streaming platforms. He began on June 8.
Zoom in: Panayotovich joins newly hired lead sports anchor Cassie Carlson as Fox 32 rebuilds its sports department.
State of play: Panayotovich will appear on Fox 32 newscasts but says he's especially excited about building the station's digital sports coverage.
- "The Fox Chicago YouTube has half a million subscribers, and we're trying to hit people on the phone," he tells Axios. "Our boss really believes in multiple media, and we're doing a lot of really cool stuff digitally."
Case in point: One of Panayotovich's first story pitches was the annual Papa Hops 16-inch softball tournament, now in its 12th year and drawing thousands of fans to parks across Mt. Greenwood, Beverly and the Southwest Side.
- He'll stream live from the tournament on July 10.
4. Tips and Hot Links: Mayor signs EO on violence
βοΈ Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order to create a new Office of Gun Violence Reduction. The City Council needs to vote on the ordinance. (WGN-TV)
π³οΈ Former CHA CEO Matthew Brewer declared his candidacy in the 2027 mayoral race. He joins Cook County Commissioner George Cardenas as the latest to join the crowded field. Rep. Mike Quigley is expected to formally announce his candidacy this weekend. (Tribune)
βΎοΈ The Cubs landed 2025 All-Star pitcher David Peterson in a trade with the New York Mets. (Sun-Times)
5. Road trip: The Elmhurst Art Museum
π Hi, it's Carrie!
The Elmhurst Art Museum currently features two very different exhibits and both are worth making the trip to the western suburb.
The big picture: "On Wonder, Mind, & Magic: Jeanette Andrews" explores what we can and can't see through the practice of magic, while "Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford: Near Eternity" makes feelings and memories front and center with bright, large sculptures.

What to expect: Andrews defines herself as a "technical sleight of hand magician." After decades in that world, she came to realize that her work was grappling with larger philosophical questions: "How do we understand the perceptual world? What constitutes a true or false belief?" she told me before the exhibit opened.
- Visitors will experience interactive works, including one at the start of the exhibition that challenges perception. By standing in a specific spot, covering one eye and then the other, and shifting slightly, they'll witness an unexpected change in the object before them.

State of play: Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford incorporates machines and modern technology into his practice, using 3D scanning and even robots to help with carving the creations in his first solo exhibit at EAM.
- Hulsebos-Spofford said making a standing desk covered in salmon-colored plaster and punctuated with thumbprints gave him a tactile outlet for grieving the loss of a friend.
6. Traffic snarls to avoid this weekend


Chicago is celebrating Pride weekend with Navy Pier Pride on Saturday and the annual Pride Parade Sunday through Uptown, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, where several streets will be shut down.
As usual, this packed roster of events will bring congestion and street closures across the city, from Uptown to Garfield Ridge.
Edited by Delano Massey.
π Carrie saw David Cronenberg's "Dead Ringers" last night at the International Museum of Surgical Science β so cool!
πΊ Justin is bummed Earth, Wind & Fire got canceled tonight. He didn't have a ticket, but he's still bummed.
π« Monica is in the Twin Cities.
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