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One of the most important cinematic events taking place in Chicago this year is the Logan Center’s preview screening of the 4K restoration of The Killing Floor. The locally made film, which originally aired on PBS in 1984 before screening at prestigious festivals like Sundance and Cannes, tells the true story of a poor black Southerner, Frank Custer (Damien Leake), who migrates from the rural south to Chicago in the early 20th century to work in a slaughterhouse. Upon arrival, he becomes involved in labor struggles involving a controversial and newly formed union, and eventually witnesses the notorious Race Riot of 1919. It's an important history lesson, a compelling drama and a lovingly recreated period piece all rolled into one. The screening will take place on July 27 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the riot and will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s producer and co-writer Elsa Rassbach as well as community and labor activists. We spoke with Rassbach in advance of the screening. Tell me about your background as an artist and activist and the production company you founded that produced The Killing Floor. How did you end up making an independent film about this important chapter in Chicago history? Though my family was neither left-wing nor union, I’ve been drawn to the struggle for social justice ever since high school, when we engaged in sit-ins at Woolworth’s in my hometown, Denver, in protest against the firm’s segregationist p

When it comes to new rooftop bars and restaurants in Chicago, there's always room for more—even if our summers are short-lived. The folks behind acclaimed River North restaurant Pacific Standard Time revealed today that they're opening a seasonal rooftop oasis on Thursday, July 25. Perched seven floors above Pacific Standard Time, the Laurel Room focuses on the coastal cuisine of California—so expect ceviches, tacos and oysters on the menu. The Laurel Room will remain open through mid-October or as long as Chicago's warm weather lasts. The seasonal rooftop space pulls its inspiration from classic California architecture and design, incorporating loungy couches and chairs, globe-shaped light fixtures, colorful accents and plenty of greenery. From the eighth floor, guests are treated to unobstructed panoramic skyline views. Though the menu is smaller and more snack-oriented than what you'll find downstairs at Pacific Standard Time, there's still plenty to choose from, including pineapple-studded kanpachi aguachile, guacamole with tortilla chips and Korean BBQ tacos. For dessert, expect summer-ready treats like rainbow sherbet, pineapple tajin sorbet, Meyer lemon pie and a bourbon-peanut drumstick. The drink menu is loaded with rosés by the glass, a selection of spritzes and a lineup of tropical cocktails, like a spicy mango margarita and a mezcal-based old fashioned. The Laurel Room is open Sunday through Thursday from 3 to 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 3 to 11pm. To acc

To outside observers, this year's edition of Pitchfork Music Festival may be remembered for its extreme heat and Saturday's evacuation. For those who spent at least part of the weekend in Union Park, the things that were happening on the event's three stages will probably take precedence when looking back on the fest. As we wrap up our coverage (and begin looking forward to Lollapalooza), we recalled some of the most exciting and memorable moments at Pitchfork Music Festival 2019. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Pitchfork Music Festival 1. Robyn's end-of-the-weekend dance party A late-afternoon set from pop singer Charli XCX warmed up the crowd for a night of dancing, but Swedish electro-pop star Robyn still had to show up and knock it out of the park. Performing on a stage draped with translucent fabrics and bathed in a surreal glow, the singer took a dramatic approach to the majority of her set before ending the evening with a trio of hits, beginning with a rendition of "Dancing On My Own" that let the crowd take the lead on the song's first chorus. Not even a field that was riddled with mud and puddles from an earlier string of storms could stop some seriously enthusiastic dancing to "Missing U" and "Call Your Girlfriend" (there was even a flash mob near the back of the crowd showing off a synchronized routine). You couldn't ask for a more cathartic end to the long festival weekend. Photograph: Carolina Rodriguez 2. Stereolab's brief but triumphant return

A heat index that exceeded 105 degrees led to the cancellation of pop culture celebration OZY Fest in New York City over the weekend, but similarly brutal temperatures in Chicago didn't put the kibosh on the annual Pitchfork Music Festival. The sweltering heat thinned out Friday and Saturday's crowds, though thousands of people still showed up to sweat, hydrate and repeat while taking in sets from local soul and gospel singer Mavis Staples (who recently celebrated her 80th birthday), hip-hop mogul Pusha T, effervescent Japanese punk outfit CHAI and Scottish singer-songwriter Cate Le Bon. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Pitchfork Music Festival The only real hitch in the weekend was a late-afternoon evacuation of Union Park on Saturday, which effectively canceled performances from Kurt Vile and Amber Mark. After about an hour, attendees shuffled back through the gates and were treated to an abbreviated set from recently reunited avant-pop outfit Stereolab, a full-album performance of If You're Feeling Sinister from Belle & Sebastian and an evening with R&B legends the Isley Brothers that was filled with dancing, sequins and sing-alongs. Sunday proved to be the most pleasant and well-attended day at the festival, with temperatures hovering in the 70s and a host of anticipated appearances from the likes of English noise-makers Black Midi, local indie-rockers Whitney and pop-singer Charli XCX. Swedish dance-pop titan Robyn closed out the weekend, draping the main stage in t

Just as Parquet Courts wrapped a raucous afternoon set at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday, an announcement came over the PA system alerting attendees that Union Park was being evacuated. Crowds began streaming out of the park just before 5pm, heading for the nearby Ashland Pink and Green Line station and taking shelter in businesses, bars and restaurants along Randolph Street. Nearby lightning, thunder and about 15 minutes of pouring rain followed. Due to dangerous weather conditions, Pitchfork Fest is evacuating. Please calmly and quickly leave the festival grounds and find shelter. — Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago (@pitchforkfest) July 20, 2019 After about an hour, organizers announced via Twitter that gates to the festival would reopen at 6:25pm. Pitchfork resumed with sets from Stereolab and Freddie Gibbs, while performances from Kurt Vile and Amber Mark that were slated to take place during the evacuation of the park were apparently canceled. Gates will open in 5 minutes. You can enter at the main gate on Ashland, Ogden/Washington, or at Ashland/Washington. Music will resume as soon as possible with Stereolab and Freddie Gibbs and then will continue as previously scheduled. — Pitchfork Music Festival Chicago (@pitchforkfest) July 20, 2019 The rest of the festival's second day will likely go on as scheduled, albeit with slightly abbreviated sets. Scottish indie rockers Belle and Sebastian will perform their album, If You're Feeling Sinister, and R&B

If you were looking forward to a beachside music festival in Chicago next month, you'll have to hold out until next summer. Yesterday co-organizers Jam Productions and React Presents announced that this year's edition of Mamby on the Beach has been cancelled and that all ticket holders for the Montrose Beach event will be automatically refunded beginning next week. In a release, organizers stated that high water levels (which have eliminated a portion of the festival's planned footprint) and the presence of federally protected Great Lakes Piping Plover birds at Montrose Beach made the location an unsuitable site for the event. While organizers worked with the Chicago Park District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to find a backup lakefront venue, it was eventually decided that relocating Mamby on the Beach a little more than a month before it was scheduled to begin wouldn't be possible. Originally slated for August 23 and 24, Mamby's 2019 lineup boasted acts like Flying Lotus, Brockhampton, Virtual Self, Sylvan Esso and Noname. The festival's planned move to Montrose Beach was revealed earlier this year—during previous years, Mamby was held at Oakwood Beach in late June. While the event's sudden cancellation is certainly a bummer, there are still plenty of summer music festivals to keep you busy through mid-September. Plus, we're guessing that at least a few of the acts scheduled to play Mamby on the Beach may take the stage at a local music venue instead of a lakefr

First there was rosé, then there was frosé, and now there's the Frozie—frozen wine that's topped with a selfie printed on whipped foam. (Just when we thought we'd seen it all!) If the thought of ingesting an edible photo of yourself while sipping ice-cold vino sounds exciting, head to Lollapalooza August 1 through 4 and visit Cupcake Vineyards's Frozie Factory truck activation within Chow Town. RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about Lollapalooza 2019 The winery will be pouring two flavors of Frozie: rosé and something called Chi-Town Chiller, a pineapple-flavored slushy crafted with sauvignon blanc. Both beverages are priced at $10 for a glass. Those who aren't feeling camera-ready can opt for canned Cupcake wine or pours by the glass or carafe in varietals like sauvignon blanc, rosé, prosecco and cabernet sauvignon. The brand is also hosting the Uncorked Wine Lounge, complete with shaded seating, phone-charging stations and photo opps. Cupcake first launched the Frozie at Coachella earlier this year, where they teamed up with Ripples, a company that pioneers technology to print edible images on foam for beverages like coffee, beer, cocktails and milkshakes. According to the Press-Enterprise, the "ink" used is actually malt extract. If you find yourself parched at Lollapalooza next month, wipe the sweat off your face and smile for the camera! And hey, if you don't like your selfie, at least you can drink it. Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

It's opening day for the latest Chicago edition of 29Rooms, the experiential pop-up curated by Refinery29 that brings together artists, musicians, celebrities, thought-leaders and brands to create a collection of interactive installations for guests to explore (and snap selfies within). This year's display—entitled "Expand Your Reality"—takes up residence in the newly opened Skylight Board of Trade venue, which is the Chicago Board of Trade's former agriculture trading floor with its digital ticker board still intact. While 29Rooms spent less than a week in Chicago last summer, it's sticking around for 10 days this time around (through July 27), giving even more people the opportunity to explore the installations—and tickets are still available. We had a chance to walk through 29Rooms last night before the pop-up opened to the public, and we made note of six amazing installations that you need to check out if you plan on attending. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas 1. Dance Break You'll hear the bouncing beats and joyous sounds of dance-floor revelry that are constantly emitted from this room before you see it. Surrounded by shimmering tinsel and festooned with neon signs and disco ball, this impromptu party is always raging, and you don't need to worry about dancing on your own—a small group of professional dancers is there to show you how it's done. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas 2. You Are Magic This tranquil room was created in collaboration with the Hoodwitch (a.k.a. Bri

Oscar Mayer's iconic Wienermobile is rolling through Chicago later this summer, and this time, you won't have to settle for a photo in front of the hot dog on wheels. In honor of National Hot Dog Day, Oscar Meyer is letting fans spend a night in the Wienermobile during Lollapalooza weekend—and you'll be able to book the unique accommodations via Airbnb. The Wienermobile will begin taking requests for a one-night stay on July 24, with reservations rolling out throughout the day. There are only three nights available (August 1, 2 and 3) and you can only bring one other person with you, which means that a grand total of six people will get to experience an evening inside of the 27-foot-long vehicular sausage. If you hit the jackpot and land one of the coveted reservations, you'll get the run of Oscar Mayer's vehicle, which is outfitted with a pair of mustard- and ketchup-colored seats, air conditioning and a couch that folds out to reveal your bed for the night. The Wienermobile's mini-fridge will be stocked with hot dogs that you'll be able to roast over an outdoor grill and an array of Chicago-style toppings (no word yet on if ketchup will be an option). You'll also have access to bathroom facilities—thankfully the Wienermobile is not outfitted with a toilet. We're not sure where the Wienermobile will be parked yet, though the Airbnb listing promises that it will be in the Chicagoland area. If it's not easily accessible by public transportation, we think that winners should

Summer 2019 will forever be immortalized as the Summer of Chance the Snapper, the alligator that evaded authorities for a week while hiding out in the Humboldt Park lagoon. The reptile was captured on Tuesday by Florida trapper Frank Robb, who took over for local volunteer "Alligator Bob" over the weekend. Throughout the gator's weeklong reign over the park, locals rallied behind the creature, nicknaming him Chance the Snapper—a nod to hometown hero Chance the Rapper. Though the chase is over and Chance the Snapper has been taken into custody, the wild ride has been appropriately commemorated through tons of great merch. We rounded up a few of our favorite mementos below—snatch them up while you still can. 1. Gator pops at Pretty Cool Ice Cream: This beloved Logan Square ice cream shop is crafting specialty popsicles dedicated to Chance the Snapper. Chocolate ice cream bars are dipped in a scaly matcha shell and adorned with gumball eyes. Owner Dana Salls Cree made only 100 of these limited-edition treats, and once they're gone, "they won't be seen again 'round these parts." 2353 N California Ave, prettycoolicecream.com View this post on Instagram A post shared by pretty cool ice cream (@prettycoolicecream) on Jul 16, 2019 at 9:47am PDT 2. Buttons at the Festive Collective: Proudly display your gator love with these vibrant 3-inch buttons, a local collaboration between illustrator Syd Veverka, party store the Festive Collective and Busy