Axios Chicago

August 07, 2024
❤️ Happy Wednesday! Today is "National Sea Serpent Day." Because even sea serpents need love.
☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with a high of 79.
🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Chicago member Kathy Talkin!
Today's newsletter is 927 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Lake Shore Drive plan rankles some
Transportation officials are seeking public feedback on their vision for a revamped North DuSable Lake Shore Drive at an open house tomorrow.
Why it matters: The long-awaited plan, called Redefine the Drive, could reshape lakefront traffic and recreation for decades.
- But some alders are already bashing it for a lack of emphasis on active and public transit, and transportation advocates are planning to protest outside the open house.
Zoom in: The plan focuses on several intersections of the drive from Hollywood to Grand avenues with the stated goal of "improving safety and mobility for all users," boosting access and circulation, and addressing infrastructure problems.
- Project designs are expected to be finalized in 2025.
Context: In June a group of lakefront alders sent a joint letter to the heads of Chicago Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Transportation asking them to halt plans based on the five finalist proposals, all of which they found lacking in mass transit and pedestrian-friendly elements.
- A Chicago Tribune editorial then dunked on the alders for prioritizing public transit and bikes over cars.
Behind the scenes: When Axios asked IDOT if the department would consider the alders' request, a spokesperson did not answer, saying only, "The department is following the same process as other major projects."

The latest: Late last month, CDOT and IDOT quietly chose a preferred plan from among the five, opting for one with some of the most benefits for motorists and least for public transit.
- It sparked backlash from a coalition of planning and environmental groups, who said it largely "maintained the status quo."
- Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth tells Axios she wants "to pause and bring all the stakeholders to the table including the Department of Environment, CTA, and the communities most impacted."
What's next: CDOT and IDOT officials are hosting an open house from 3-7pm tomorrow in the Truman College cafeteria to discuss the plan and hear feedback.
- Opposition groups are encouraging citizens to protest outside the event at 5pm.
Future events
📆 Start planning your days ahead.
Annual Brain Tumor Awareness 5K Fun Run/Walk at Chicago Ridge Mall on August 17: Enjoy music, family friendly games and activities like double Dutch to support research and scholarship programs. $0-$50.
Hosting an event? Email [email protected].
2. Top takeaways from episode one of "Hard Knocks"
👋 Hi, it's Justin!
'"Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears" premiered on HBO last night, showcasing the Bears for the first time in franchise history.
The big picture: The docuseries is featuring the Bears, but also the city of Chicago. The opening credits ran over a montage that relied heavily on sweeping shots of downtown, focusing on the riverwalk, skyscrapers and the lakefront.
What they're saying: "Chicago, home of the blues, deep dish pizza and lakeside summers," narrator Liev Schreiber says in the beginning of the episode.
Here are some takeaways:
- Not surprisingly, the first storyline surrounded rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. This included a botched karaoke performance in front of the team and a montage of Williams struggling in practice.
- Head coach Matt Eberflus' beard stole the show. The episode focused on an in-house haircut accompanied by a side-by-side comparison with Ryan Reynolds' facial hair.
- Jonathan Owens' excused absences to support his wife, Olympic star Simone Biles, was featured early. The cameras followed Owens and his dogs while he chatted with Biles on a video call.
- Theo Benedet made the biggest splash. The Canadian lineman butchered a karaoke version of "Proud to be an American" while stripping down to his underwear. It was a bizarre scene that ultimately set up the rookie's injury that will sideline him throughout camp.
Hyperbole alert: The narration slipped up toward the end of the episode. While showing a late touchdown from last week's preseason game, Schreiber said "Collin Johnson's laser sharp route and [Brett] Rypien's rifle right arm haven't just given the Bears the lead, but the whole city hope."
- Um, no. Johnson and Rypien are both backups who may not make the team.
3. Tips and hot links: Pritzker supports Walz
🗳 Gov. JB Pritzker praised Vice President Kamala Harris' pick of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, saying, "Tim is a friend and fellow Midwestern governor, and I've been proud to serve alongside him." (CBS2)
👮♀️ Arrests at Lollapalooza decreased for the fifth year in a row. (ABC 7)
🚲 The city has pulled more than 60 Divvy bikes out of Lake Michigan since June. (Tribune)
4. Second City alum Chris Redd hosts new Netflix show

The new Netflix car makeover show inspired by "Pimp My Ride" is hosted by a comedian who came up through Chicago.
Zoom in: Chris Redd, who grew up in suburban Naperville and performed with the Second City Touring Company before joining the cast of "Saturday Night Live" in 2017, hosts the new iteration, titled "Resurrected Rides."
- Like the MTV series, "Resurrected Rides" features contestants who were picked (via video submission) to have their old cars repaired both mechanically and cosmetically by a team of experts.
Yes, but: The showrunners learned key lessons from the choices that prompted the backlash its predecessor received, which is why the Chicago native signed on to host.
What they're saying: "A lot of the folks that we helped were people who are really involved in their communities. We had a dancer who's giving out free classes for kids who can't really afford it, and we had this lady who is a surf instructor who helped in her community by picking up kids who couldn't afford even make it to her," Redd told Axios.
- "It's all these people who are doing for others but can't do something cosmetically to their car for themselves."
The latest: Redd has been on tour this summer (not in Chicago), but when he does make it back to town he says he hits up the classics: Harold's, Uncle Remus and Portillo's.
What's next: All eight episodes of "Resurrected Rides" are now available on Netflix.
Edited by Lindsey Erdody and copy edited by Rob Reinalda and Aurora Martínez.
🦮 Carrie is anxiously waiting to see if last night's dog training worked for Zuzu.
🧄 Monica wants to check out the delicious food at Garlic Fest in Highwood tonight.
💿 Justin is digging the new Remy Wolf album and loves that she showed up at Lollapalooza for a quick cameo in Zedd's set. Thank you, Hulu!
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