Axios Chicago Weekender

September 24, 2026
π Happy Thursday! Our crew is off to Atlanta next week for some Axios bonding (work retreat) and hot weather!
- Before we go, we're soaking up some fall vibes in Chicago.
Todayβs newsletter is 792 words β a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: Exhibit explores comics culture
A new exhibition takes Chicago's rich comics history from the page and into the gallery.
The big picture: "Linework: Chicago Comics and Community" explores what makes Chicago such a creative center for contemporary comics and artists.
What to expect: The show at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) in Glen Ellyn centers on "Linework," a comics anthology from the early 2000s.
- It serves as the foundation of the exhibit, displaying work by the Chicago artists and illustrators who contributed to the publication.
- Cartoonist, designer and Columbia College professor Ivan Brunetti launched "Linework" to showcase Columbia students and alumni.

What they're saying: "Linework became a gathering point for many of the most compelling voices in Chicago's comics scene," CCMA director and curator Justin Witte said in a press release.
Zoom in: Artists featured in the show include Nick Drnaso, whose "Sabrina" became the first graphic novel longlisted for the Booker Prize.
- Other artists include Keiler Roberts, whose autobiographical comics explore everyday life, Elias Gonzalez, who makes "funny" comics for "mature" readers, and Abby Jo Turner, who has contributed to animated shows like "Lazor Wulf."
If you go: The show opens with a free reception at 5:30pm Thursday. "Linework: Chicago Comics and Community" runs through Nov. 21 at the CCMA on the College of DuPage campus in Glen Ellyn.
2. Our weekend picks: Fall fun
Carrie's picks:
π I'm fairly certain I could dominate at a Red Line scavenger hunt. And if Justin, Monica and I were all one team?! No contest! This looks like a great way to explore the city and meet new people at an after-party while competing for a cash prize. | Meet at North and Clyborn stop | $20 | Saturday, 1-4pm
𦬠The first national tallgrass prairie in the country is right in our backyard! Well, more like 60-90 minutes southwest of downtown. But still! And there are bison! The National Forest Foundation is hosting volunteer projects and a picnic, so enjoy nature and do some good. | Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie | Saturday, 9am-1pm
πΆπΌA walking tour of the "first planned suburb" sounds like the perfect way to spend a crisp Sunday afternoon. That suburb is, of course, Riverside, designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. A little secret: I've never been to Riverside! I plan to change that this weekend. | Riverside Train Station | $25 | Sunday, 2pm
Justin's picks:

π½οΈ Chicago Gourmet is back this weekend. The upscale culinary festival has been a go-to for me for years β and a reminder of why Chicago remains one of the world's great food cities. My favorite event, the Hamburger Hop, is sold out, but plenty of other cool events are on the menu. | Millennium Park | Thursday-Sunday
πΈ Two Door Cinema Club is not only a great band to see live, but they were once the theme music for my radio show on WGN! | Salt Shed | Thursday, 7pm
π€ The Interview Show returns Friday with a slew of great guests, including Maxwells Trading owner Erling Wu-Bower. Mark Bazer always brings together a tight-knit community of cool Chicagoans for his early-evening, parlor-like show. | Hideout | Friday, 6:30pm
3. New πΊ : "Toy Story 5," and "Backrooms"
Here are some answers to the question: "What's new on streaming?"
Toy Story 5 β Animated film available now on Disney+
- Woody, Buzz and the gang face a new threat to playtime when Bonnie becomes enamored with Lilypad, a frog-shaped tablet.
- Zoom in: Greta Lee, Conan O'Brien and Craig Robinson are among the new voices joining the franchise.
Backrooms β Horror film available Friday on HBO Max
- A furniture salesman (Chiwetel Ejiofor) disappears through a doorway into an endless maze of empty rooms, sending his therapist (Renate Reinsve) inside to find him.
- By the numbers: The $10 million horror film has earned more than $400 million worldwide and has helped signal a historic shift for Hollywood.
The Love Hypothesis β Romantic comedy available now on Prime Video
- A doctoral student (Lili Reinhart) impulsively kisses an intimidating professor (Tom Bateman), then convinces him to join her in a fake relationship meant to help her best friend in this book adaptation.
- Fun fact: The novel began as Rey and Kylo Ren fan fiction, and the movie's male lead, Bateman, is married to Daisy Ridley, who played Rey.
Go deeper: See last week's picks and what else is new this week
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Edited by Larry Graham.






