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The 2024 Chicago Pride Parade, set to take over the city on June 30 starting around 11am, has become the subject of some city-specific drama.  Just yesterday, officials with the Chicago Police Department presented a proposal that would shorten the festival's route in order to reduce the number of police officers needed on site by about 48 posts.  “We were obviously not thrilled to hear that,” Jin-Soo Huh, chair of the mayor’s LGBTQ+ advisory council, said to Block Club Chicago. “Even though it is only a proposal, our message is that this is a proposal that should have been done in consultation with the community. We’re still calling on the Mayor’s Office to restore the Pride Parade [to its past form].” The new developments follow an April announcement regarding other changes that will define this year's parade, including a cap on entries. As reported by Block Club Chicago last month, the 2024 festival will include around 125 bands, floats and groups, down about 37% from last year's total of 199.  Given the smaller size of the event, organizers will obviously have to be more selective when it comes to participants. As of now, officials have announced that all those who were part of the parade last year can return. New LGBTQ+-adjacent businesses and groups will be prioritized as entries, although all spots are currently filled. Those interested can add themselves to a wait list by emailing info@pridechicago.org. Although all accepted and proposed changes seem to be directly rel

Take a trip to the Mediterranean coast without stepping foot outside of Chicago. The Robey, the hotel inside Wicker Park's iconic Coyote Building, is unveiling a refreshed rooftop space this summer. On the sixth floor of the hotel, Cabana Club, the bar and outdoor pool, will be converted into a Mediterranean-inspired, semi-private day club with brand new dishes, cocktails and events.  The tropical rooftop became a local favorite for its unbeatable, 360-degree views of the city skyline and Wicker Park. Now, Cabana Club will channel the beachside vibes of the Mediterranean coast in a new, revamped concept. Photograph: Courtesy of Sandy Noto/Cabana Club Each dish on the new menu was created by Robey executive chef Michael Elliot. Light bites include grilled shrimp skewers with rich garlic hummus, while heartier selections feature pork kofta served with cucumber onion salad. Through the many salads, greens, and traditional Greek dishes, bright summer flavors take center stage on the all-day menu.  The light and coastal vibes are only amplified by the club’s drink menu. Essentials like Aperol Spritzes sit alongside more inventive cocktails, such as pomegranate Cosmos and Mediterranean Mules. To make summertime in Chicago even sweeter, indulge in the rose vodka-based “Made You Blush,” made with Aperol and elderflower.  Photograph: Courtesy of Sandy Noto/Cabana Club Cabana Club will also introduce two new programs: night swims and Recovery Sundays. Collaborating with local DJs,

One of Chicago’s most popular and viral summer events isn’t coming back for another season. Friday Morning Swim Club, the unsanctioned meetup that drew thousands of people to Montrose Harbor each week all summer long, has announced the event is officially canceled this year.  Organizers Andrew Glatt and Nicole Novotny explained their decision in a video posted on Friday Morning Swim Club’s Instagram account, stating a deal couldn’t be reached with the city. The pair said it would cost $108,000 to secure a permit for the space, plus an additional $80,000 for lifeguards, security, portable toilets and more. Factoring in other business expenses, the club was looking at a quote of $250,000-$300,000 to run the event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Friday Morning Swim Club ™ (@fridaymorningswimclub) General disinterest from the Chicago Park District was another reason for the cancellation, according to the organizers. “All the suggestions, all the comments pointing to the easy solutions—they were met with unreasonable demands … Swim Club did not fit their mold and they were unable and unwilling to think outside the box,” Novotny said. Born during the pandemic, Friday Morning Swim Club originally started as a social gathering among friends in 2021. But it soon grew to hundreds of participants. Last summer, thousands flocked to Montrose Harbor—an area that does not allow swimming—to jump into the waters of Lake Michigan with floats on Friday morn