Address: 1109 W. Washington Blvd., Unit 8A, Chicago

Price: $4,000,000

Listing date: Nov. 17, 2025

This two-story penthouse has four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, 10-foot ceilings and a wraparound terrace with panoramic skyline views. The kitchen features quartzite countertops, Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and a walk-through pantry with a wine fridge, built-in coffee station and second dishwasher. The open concept living area centers on a custom-honed marble fireplace and built-ins. Additional highlights include a dedicated office with custom millwork and a bonus room that could serve as a gym or media lounge. Upstairs, the primary suite features a sitting area, dual custom walk-in closets and a spa bath with heated floors, a large steam shower, soaking tub and dual vanities. This home features building amenities including 24-hour door staff, private elevator access to both floors, Lutron automated shades, a dog wash station, a bike room and two deeded garage parking spaces.

Listing agents: Kimberley Peirce and Jorie Peirce, The Peirce Group Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, 630-780-1943 and 630-272-4030

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom, two-story penthouse in the West Loop recently went on the market for $4 million. (Matthew Shegog/Zillow Media Experts)

Some listing photos are “virtually staged,” meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options.

To feature your luxury listing of $1,000,000 or more in Chicago Tribune’s Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/west-loop-dream-home-washington/ 

Roughly 2,400 miles from where her nephew faced an hourslong standoff with ICE agents in Elgin last Saturday, Genesis Adriana Gutierrez Morales’ voice shook in Maracaibo, Venezuela, with sadness and rage at the words from authorities she said tarnished her nephew’s name.

“I don’t have the words to describe the frustration that you feel as family, of not being able to do anything, to be far away from him and not be able to help him,” Morales, 35, said in Spanish in a phone interview with the Tribune. “And I’m angered by all the things they’re saying about him that are false, angered that they are smearing his name when I know that does not represent him.”

Morales describes Luis Jesus Acosta Gutierrez as an “incredibly hardworking” man with a huge heart. The Department of Homeland Security says he’s a suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, an accusation the department has routinely leveled at Venezuelans detained during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. 

DHS said Acosta Gutierrez resisted arrest by intentionally ramming an officer’s vehicle into a tree, an accusation his family and advocates deny. 

Morales, who lives in Maracaibo and has helped care for Acosta Gutierrez, 31, since his mother died of cancer, said she was angered by the news headlines claiming Acosta Gutierrez is a suspected member of the Venezuelan prison gang. She felt even more frustrated that she could do nothing to help him from so far away.

“It is honestly denigrating that they are trying to pass him off as a member of a gang, this boy who doesn’t know what violence is,” she said.

Morales said her nephew left Maracaibo about two years ago in search of a better life. Indeed, federal authorities said he entered the U.S. in April 2023 and was granted temporary protected status by the Biden administration. The Department of Homeland Security revoked that status last month, it said.

A Tribune search of local court systems did not locate criminal matters matching Acosta Gutierrez’s name. Records, though, show that Acosta Gutierrez paid a fine for a 2023 traffic violation for driving without a license and the matter was closed in April 2024, according to McHenry County court.

Luis Jesus Acosta Gutierrez, who was recently detained by federal agents at an apartment complex in Elgin. (Robert Held)

Morales described Acosta Gutierrez as a faithful believer in God. He had worked since age 13 as a delivery person among other side jobs while he studied.

In the U.S., Morales said he provided economic support for his family and two young kids back home, ages 7 and 9. 

“It’s not a secret that you can find a better quality of life in another country,” said Morales, who compared her nephew’s story to that of countless Latin American migrants. 

“It’s the story of one more Venezuelan, one more Latino,” she said.

The saga began in Elgin shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of West Highland Avenue. Acosta Gutierrez had been driving to a mechanic to get work done on his car, said Robert Held, an attorney and activist assisting Acosta with the case. 

What happened next is in dispute.

Federal authorities said ICE was attempting a vehicle stop, and that Acosta Gutierrez rammed an officer’s vehicle into a tree. Held said it was an agent who rammed Acosta Gutierrez’s vehicle. 

“Fearing for himself,” Held said Acosta Gutierrez didn’t stop, at which point agents again rammed him from behind.

“He ran (from agents) because he feared for his safety, given the dangerous, violent, unprovoked, inordinate, stupid conduct of federal agents by ramming their vehicle into his vehicle twice,” Held said.

Acosta Gutierrez fled to an apartment building in the 1600 block of Maple Lane, where he barricaded himself on an outdoor balcony, as more than a dozen federal agents tried to arrest him. The scene attracted the attention of neighbors and onlookers.

By mid-afternoon, the crowd had grown to 200 people as about 30 agents tried to negotiate with him. Protesters told the man not to talk to them. Tensions were high. A video taken by a witness at the scene shows at least two agents tackling a protester while other agents pushed the crowd back. Agents deployed tear gas and pepper balls into the crowd, according to witnesses and videos.

By 3:30 p.m., agents reportedly arrested Acosta Gutierrez while he was inside an apartment. Afterward, videos taken by a witness at the scene showed some people throwing snowballs at the agents and their vehicles, while others yelled at them to stop. Agents hurled pepper spray and flash-bang grenades into the crowd as they departed.

The narrative put forth by the Department of Homeland Security claiming Acosta Gutierrez is a suspected member of a criminal gang shook Morales. She questioned the lack of evidence from authorities presenting the claim.

“He has never belonged to any criminal gang,” Morales said. “There’s no evidence, there is absolutely nothing.”

Federal agents detain Luis Jesus Acosta Gutierrez at an apartment building on Maple Lane in Elgin on Dec. 6, 2025. Gutierrez barricaded himself on the balcony for more than five hours trying to flee from agents. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

When asked about evidence of Acosta Gutierrez’s alleged affiliation to the Tren de Aragua gang, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist group as of this year, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said, “DHS intelligence assessments go well beyond just gang affiliate tattoos and social media.”

“We are confident in our law enforcement’s intelligence, and we aren’t going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one. That would be insane,” McLaughlin said.

In September, federal immigration agents raided an apartment building at 7500 S. South Shore Drive in Chicago in a middle-of-the-night operation the government said was intended to target Tren de Aragua gang members and their associates in the country illegally. The Tribune reported exclusively that no public criminal charges have been filed against anyone in connection with the controversial raid.

Held said Acosta Gutierrez was an Uber driver and a painter, not a gang member. He said agents allegedly roughed up Acosta Gutierrez when they took him into custody, and that he suffered injuries to his face. When asked about this accusation, a DHS spokesperson didn’t directly respond and instead referred to a previous news release. 

Acosta Gutierrez is currently detained in Clay County, Indiana, ICE records show.

Morales said some of the people present during the protest Saturday contacted her. They reassured her that Acosta Gutierrez was not alone, and for that Morales who feels powerless from a distance, is profoundly grateful.

“Thousands of thanks, really,” Morales said, “because together we are stronger.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/elgin-venezuela-ice-tren-de-aragua/ 

Film fans like to lament, “they don’t make them like they used to,” specifically about the kinds of wry, life-affirming dramedies that director James L. Brooks perfected back in the 1980s and ‘90s, like “Terms of Endearment,” “As Good as It Gets” and “Broadcast News.” Films of that tone and character are rarer and rarer these days, so it’s worth noting when a new one comes along. But as it turns out with Brooks’ latest, the deeply strange “Ella McCay,” he doesn’t make them like he used to either.

“Ella McCay” is a portrait of a lady on fire — from stress. The quirky, twitchy Ella (Emma Mackey, horrifically bewigged) is the youngest lieutenant governor in her state, an awkward policy wonk serving under her mentor, Gov. Bill Moore (Albert Brooks). When he’s tapped for “the Cabinet,” Ella gets the promotion that she craves, sworn in as the youngest female governor of her state, even as her family life descends into chaos. But Ella’s family life has always been chaotic, as we see in flashbacks to her teenage years, wherein our narrator describes how Ella experiences seeing other happy families as a stab in the heart.

Our narrator is Estelle (Julie Kavner), Ella’s secretary, who explains she’s also biased, claiming, “I’m nuts about her.” The year, by the way, is 2008, “when we could still talk to each other.” So, Brooks has set this political film in the recent past, giving a wide berth to the third rail that is MAGA, but his shrinking away from political hot buttons just renders the whole gambit frustratingly vague and therefore meaningless. Ella lives in “the state,” she runs afoul of “the party,” but skirting the details is a cowardly move, frankly. It’s clear Ella’s politics are liberal, as she champions a bill designed to support parents and children in early childhood (she tears up over “tooth tutors”), but why play coy with the specifics?

All Ella wants to do is run her policy meetings, but the men in her life keep getting in the way. First, there’s her dad (Woody Harrelson), an inveterate philanderer who would like to make amends — in order to please his new girlfriend. Then there’s Ella’s agoraphobic brother (Spike Fearn), over whom she frets (the less said about his bizarrely tacked-on romantic entanglement with an ex-girlfriend played by Ayo Edebiri, the better). Then there’s her husband (Jack Lowden), a seemingly nice, if cocky guy who suddenly starts to love the warmth of the spotlight as Ella ascends.

Again and again, Ella runs in circles trying to put out fires with these men without ever getting to her meetings, or doing the job she claims she loves so much (and when she finally does get to her meeting, it’s a flop). The entire movie is about how men are always getting in the way of women’s work, but it’s not entirely clear that Brooks knows that this is what his film is about, as Ella happily embarks on pointless side quests with her dad and brother, and becomes embroiled in the tamest political sex scandal of all time The real scandal here is why she entertains any of these losers at all.

It never feels like Brooks has a grasp on the material here, which careens aimlessly through Ella’s harried day-to-day, in a handsomely bland, serviceable style. The thread about Ella’s childhood trauma resulting from her parents’ messy relationship is lost, and was never that convincing to begin with. She has an unconventional family, but her aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), who helped raise her, is a fierce protector and confidant. Their relationship is fun to watch, so why bother with all these men and their inane storylines? The only worthy man in Ella’s life is her designated security detail (Kumail Nanjiani). In another movie, they’d have a romance, some sexual tension, or at least a heartfelt and wise conversation. Here, his character is denied any chance of that.

As we move from broken home to political scandal to another broken home, Ella finally realizes that a woman’s place is not in the capitol, but rather in the nonprofit sector (not that she has much choice in the matter). What, exactly, is Brooks trying to say here? We spend two hours watching men mess things up for Ella and then she just accepts it and moves on. Even if the message weren’t profoundly weird, dramatically it falls flat, even if Estelle tries to tie it up with a positive final message — “the opposite of trauma is hope.” Whatever that means. It’s apt that this closing phrase makes as much sense as the rest of the movie, which is to say, very little.

Katie Walsh is a critic for Tribune News Service.

“Ella McCay” — 1.5 stars (out of 4)
MPA rating: PG-13 (for strong language, some sexual material and drug content)
Running time: 1:55
How to watch: In theaters Dec. 12

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/review-ella-mccay-movie/ 

When is a statement technically a fact and at the same time untruthful? Mayor Brandon Johnson gave us a prime example of that dynamic on Tuesday as he was advocating for the umpteenth time for his proposal to tax Chicago’s largest private-sector employers on the basis of each person they put to work.

“We do have the most dynamic, world-renowned companies that are situated here,” Johnson told reporters.

“People talk about Ken Griffin leaving,” the mayor went on, referring to the billionaire who moved to Florida from Chicago three years ago along with the headquarters of Citadel, his sprawling hedge fund and market-making outfit. “But his people didn’t. Citadel is still here.”

Indeed, Citadel remains a presence in Chicago.

But only barely.

Before Griffin’s decision, Citadel employed about 1,100 in the heart of downtown Chicago. At Citadel’s Chicago peak, those extremely well-compensated employees worked out of 500,000 square feet at 131 S. Dearborn St., dubbed (not surprisingly) Citadel Center.

Today? Just 200 Citadel workers are left in Chicago. For now.

The exodus in three short years occurred, by the way, not because Griffin ordered his Chicago workers to move to his South Florida headquarters or to the company’s growing office in New York. They’ve left on their own. Sure, they might have deemed it in their professional interest to do so, but Griffin when he moved the company made it a point to acknowledge that many of his workers had deep ties to Illinois (as once did he) and that Citadel still would have a future in Chicago.

That future has turned out quite minimal indeed. Citadel is downsizing dramatically. The company bought out its lease at Citadel Center and is vamoosing entirely from that tower. Citadel’s Chicago people will work out of a mere 50,000 square feet at 353 N. Clark St. In River North, not the Loop. The move already is in progress.

Not only has Chicago lost nearly 1,000 of those well-paid Citadel workers living in Chicagoland (thereby paying our exorbitant property taxes) and spending each day in the heart of the Loop, availing themselves of shopping, eating and entertainment options downtown. But the small crew here now isn’t even in the Loop; indeed, their absence contributes to the malaise that afflicts the central business district. We’d also venture a guess that the just-graduated talent that flocks to Citadel isn’t flocking to the office here, given this reality. And those sought-after 20-somethings actually are the kinds of workers this city badly needs to be competitive on the international stage.

Not to mention how Citadel’s shrinkage has exacerbated one of the nation’s worst downtown office vacancy rates.

Of course, the mayor doesn’t seem to think in those terms when he considers what Citadel means to Chicago now. He’s focused overwhelmingly on how many heads he can tax. What Chicago has lost with Griffin’s departure goes far beyond the people he employs.

Before he departed, Griffin had become Chicago’s foremost philanthropist, rebuilding the entirety of the lakeshore bike path, for example, and making transformative donations to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, the University of Chicago, Lurie Children’s Hospital and countless others.

He’s doing the same now in South Florida. In just a few short years, Griffin’s philanthropy in the Sunshine State has totaled about $335 million. As a former teacher, Chicago’s mayor might be interested to learn that Griffin has made $14.5 million in public school donations, including $9 million directly to Miami-Dade County Public Schools to expand math tutoring for disadvantaged middle schoolers.

Griffin has given $50 million each to two area institutions for cancer research and treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other similar neurological disorders.

Mayor Johnson likes to extol Chicago’s community colleges. Another $20 million of Griffin’s money has gone to the Miami equivalent, Miami Dade College, for scholarships for first-generation and low-income students.

We could go on. But it’s just depressing.

The point is, Mayor Johnson’s comments displayed not only his apparent ignorance of just what a shadow of its former self Citadel has become in Chicago. They also undermined his entire point in using Citadel to bolster his head-tax case. Citadel, in fact, is the poster child for how government policies truly can chase away a city’s most important corporate citizens. Politicians like Johnson — he’s not the only one, by the way — would do well to stop daring business leaders to follow Griffin’s lead.

And here’s the ultimate irony of Johnson’s choice of Citadel as his example of how the “most dynamic, world-renowned companies” are in Chicago.

Johnson’s ever-shifting threshold for when he would apply the monthly per-worker tax to businesses now has landed at those with Chicago workforces of 500 or more. They would pay $33 per month per worker.

At its current local size, Citadel would be exempt from the head tax.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/editorial-citadel-ken-griffin-mayor-brandon-johnson-head-tax-headquarters/ 

A new citywide poll that concluded Tuesday shows that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s favorability stands at just 26%, while 61% of voters view him unfavorably.  

His job approval is nearly identical, with only 25% approving of the job he is doing and 64% disapproving. Voters have heard about his budget proposals, and they don’t like what they hear, with 26% supporting and 68% opposing.

The poll was part of our organization’s efforts to understand what residents need and want from their city government. Our coalition at One Future Illinois includes civic leaders, labor voices, entrepreneurs and everyday Chicagoans who share a simple belief: that the city functions best when public leadership and private-sector innovation pull in the same direction. While we are aligned with business interests in our commitment to growth, opportunity and fiscal responsibility, our work has been guided by a deeper principle: that the interests of the people are at the forefront of public debate.

That’s why, over the last 15 months, we’ve held listening sessions, commissioned research and conducted on-the-ground outreach to ensure that the voices of Chicagoans are not lost amid the political noise. This poll is part of that effort. Its purpose is to reveal what Chicagoans really think at a moment when the stakes could not be higher. What the poll brings to light is a city that is hungry for solutions, tired of dysfunction and increasingly doubtful that Johnson is prepared to meet this moment.

We surveyed 619 registered voters in Chicago from Dec. 5 to 9. Voters — by a margin of 53% to 24% — also reject the mayor’s head tax proposal. These are not lukewarm reactions. The largest share of voters fall into the “strongly unfavorable” or “strongly disapprove” categories, suggesting deeply held concerns rather than fleeting frustrations. 

This would be troubling for any mayor, but for Johnson, it comes at the precise time when he needs public confidence to guide the city through a contentious budget season. Chicagoans are paying attention. Nearly three-quarters of voters say they have heard at least something about the proposed budget, an unusually high level of awareness for a municipal fiscal debate. After hearing arguments from both the mayor and aldermen, voters find the City Council’s framing more compelling. Concerns about tax burdens, core services and long-term financial stability are driving public sentiment.

Most striking, however, is what voters say about accountability. When asked who they would blame if Chicago fails to pass a budget, a majority of respondents point to the mayor, not the City Council. Fifty-five percent of voters say Johnson would be most responsible, comparedwith just 21% who would fault the council. If the mayor wants to play brinkmanship with a veto? Sixty-two percent of voters oppose Johnson vetoing the alternative budget put forth by members of the council, while only 21% support him. Those margins are not subtle. They represent a decisive shift in public perception about where leadership should come from and who is expected to deliver results. That level of resistance is politically defining. It shows that Chicagoans do not see a veto as an act of principle or prudence, but as an escalation that puts politics above progress.

The message is unmistakable: Chicagoans want their leaders to solve problems, not prolong them, and they believe the responsibility for doing so starts on the fifth floor, not the council chambers.

For One Future Illinois, our mission over the past year has been to highlight the priorities that matter most to residents and to advocate for a city government capable of delivering stability, growth and opportunity. Chicago needs a budget that reflects these values. Businesses need predictable conditions to invest and grow. Families need a city that is safe, functional and responsive. Communities need leaders who can collaborate rather than clash.

The path forward is not mysterious. Chicagoans are calling for cooperation. They want the mayor and City Council to negotiate in good faith, put practical solutions ahead of ideological battles and produce a budget that strengthens the city’s long-term outlook. This is an opportunity for Johnson to recalibrate, to show that he is listening, that he is willing to adjust course and that he understands the trust placed in him by the people he serves.

There is also a warning embedded in the data. Public patience is wearing thin. The political capital that Johnson brought into office has evaporated, and voters no longer assume he is a stabilizing force in city government. If he continues in this moment with confrontation rather than collaboration, the damage could extend far beyond a single budget cycle. Chicago cannot afford a leadership vacuum when it faces significant financial pressures, shifting economic conditions and a need for renewed investment in core services.

Editorial: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s game of budgetary chicken puts Chicago’s future at risk

The City Council, meanwhile, finds itself with unusual public backing. Fifty-six percent of voters prefer the council’s budget to 18% for the mayor’s, even when including an increase in the garbage fee. Voters support its fiscal arguments, trust it more in this specific debate and would reward aldermen for overriding a mayoral veto. This presents a rare moment of alignment between public sentiment and legislative authority and an opportunity to craft a path forward grounded in broad civic consensus. 

At One Future Illinois, we believe the city is strongest when all its sectors — public, private and civic — are pulling in the same direction. The poll results are not a verdict against the mayor; they are a call to action for all of Chicago’s leaders. The people of this city want solutions. They want stability. They want a budget that is responsible, forward-looking and reflective of their concerns.

Chicagoans are watching, and they are asking their leaders, collectively, to rise to the moment.

Michael Ruemmler is president and Jonathan Swain vice president of One Future Illinois NFP.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/opinion-mayor-brandon-johnson-chicago-budget-poll/ 

Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.

“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol”

Originally staged over Zoom during the pandemic, Manual Cinema has transformed the production to haunt a whole theater. Using its signature blend of puppetry and film techniques, the show follows Aunt Trudy as she attempts to reconstruct her late husband’s puppet-show version of the Dickens classic during lockdown. As the pressures of grief, isolation and the holidays converge, the ghosts take over the story. It’s a poignant, quintessentially Chicago adaptation, written in part by Nate Marshall. Of course, if you’re looking for the more traditional version, you’ve got until New Year’s Eve to catch Christopher Donahue as Scrooge at the Goodman Theatre.

“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 28 at Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets from $31 at manualcinema.com. “A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 31 at Goodman’s Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; tickets from $69 at goodmantheatre.org

“‘Twas the Night Before”

Cirque du Soleil takes over the Chicago Theatre for most of the rest of the month with its holiday spectacle, “‘Twas the Night Before.” Expect a thin plot centered on a girl who feels like she’s outgrowing Christmas before she’s whisked off to a winter wonderland full of acrobats, dancers and whimsy. But then, the story isn’t what you’re paying for; it’s the cirque-style spectacle.

Through Dec. 28 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $45 at msg.com

“A Merry Little Christmas With Megan Hilty”

Megan Hilty performs holiday tunes and Broadway classics at the Steppenwolf. Hilty made her Broadway debut as Glinda in “Wicked” and was nominated for a Tony Award for her latest role in “Death Becomes Her.” You might remember her as Ivy Lynn on “Smash.” Want a preview? Check out her 2016 album, “A Merry Little Christmas.”

7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Steppenwolf, 1650 N. Halsted St.; tickets from $99 at steppenwolf.org

Megan Hilty is doing a holiday cabaret-style show on Halsted Street with music direction by Matt Cusson. (Anthony Matula)

“The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party”

Tom Kitten, Squirrel Nutkin and of course Peter Rabbit return in the Chicago Children’s Theatre’s “Beatrix Potter Holiday Party.” This year, “The Tale of Pickles and Ginger” joins the lineup. The puppet show is followed by a photo op with the cast and holiday treats. Best enjoyed by little ones.

Through Dec. 28 at Pritzker Family Studio Theatre at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave.; tickets from $47.25 (lap seats $12.75 for 18 months and under) at chicagochildrenstheatre.org

“That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party!”

Ever hear a kid tell a goofy and yet somehow brilliant story? That’s what this show aims to produce. Professional actors, comedians and musicians from Playmakers Laboratory adapt stories written by elementary school students. Don’t wait, performances of these holiday-inspired stories wrap up this weekend.

2 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at Neo Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.; tickets $15-$25 at playmakerslab.org

Top 50 holiday concerts and shows in Chicago, from Cirque du Soleil to ‘Holly Dolly Christmas’

Christmas on the Farm

Looking to escape the city sidewalks, busy sidewalks? Head 45 minutes (or so) south to Locavore Farm, where you can enjoy an eight-course farm-to-table meal along with a live nativity, holiday music and caroling, a bonfire, and photos with Rudolph. And when we say live nativity, we’re talking real animals sourced from Sandy Oak Ranch, not kids dressed in costumes or dogs posing as sheep.

6-9 p.m. Dec. 13 at Locavore Farm, 11588 N. 17500E. Road, Grant Park, Illinois; tickets $99 at locavorefarm.com

Rod Wave

Last month, Rod Wave earned his first Grammy nomination for “Sinners” (written for the horror film) on the same day he was arrested in Atlanta on weapons and drug charges. Highs and lows, all at once: They’ve defined the trap-soul star’s rise. See him perform live when his “Redemption Experience” tour stops in Chicago for two nights.

8 p.m. Dec. 15-16 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; tickets from $101.85 at unitedcenter.com

Christian Nodal performs during the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Nov. 13, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Christian Nodal

It’s been about six years since Rolling Stone declared Christian Nodal “the future of regional Mexican music.” This weekend, Latin Grammy Award-winner brings his brand of mariacheño — a fusion of mariachi and norteño music — to Allstate Arena.

8 p.m. Dec. 12 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont; tickets from $56.95 at rosemont.com

The Sklar Brothers

Stand-up comedians Randy and Jason Sklar — twins born in St. Louis — play the Den Theatre this weekend. If you don’t know them for their podcasts “View From the Cheap Seats” and “Dumb People Town,” you may know them anyway. They’ve been on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Better Call Saul,” “Maron,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and more.

7:15 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets from $22 at thedentheatre.com

“Birthday in Babylon”

“Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me” panelist and Chicago native Brian Babylon offers a mash-up of comedy and couture at Collaboraction Theater’s House of Belonging. Expect stand-up and a glimpse of Babylon’s BB Spoke fashion line.

8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave.; tickets $22 at collaboraction.org

Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/what-to-do-chicago-dec-13/ 

Delivery robots have been appearing more frequently of late on some of Chicago’s sidewalks in Lakeview and elsewhere, bringing hungry folks their tacos, chicken tenders or smashburgers as they trundle along. They’re kind of charming in their insulated way, with their fake eyes and novel names.

One, presumably ennui-driven, robot goes by “Chekhov,” and we have entertained ourselves watching his siblings try to navigate Chicago’s intersections. It takes them forever to deem it safe to cross the street. No fools, these robots.

Some of them have been meandering past aldermanic offices, always a dangerous thing to do, lest an alderman with control issues pop out the door, flag down a reporter and declare the need for a new ordinance. Unsurprisingly, such chatter has begun, fueled by a few NOMS (Not On My Sidewalks) types worrying either that this is some kind of epic corporate takeover of the public right of way, or that they or their pooch will get pushed out of the way.

We don’t see any such problem or need; the ever-yielding, safety-conscious robots are quite courteous, and we know at least one dog that has begun a healthy relationship with one (in fairness, we also have seen the opposite). The moving carts have operated just fine in other cities, including in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, where they are lucky even to find a sidewalk.

Those among the ranks of the NOMS should remember that the robots mean that a delivery vehicle (possibly more than one) is being removed from our crowded roads and that there is an inherent, environmentally friendly efficiency in a very small vehicle delivering a big, juicy sandwich rather than a great honking SUV.

Better yet, the robots are a weapon against the scourge of double-parking, yet more pernicious when it snows. Ald. Daniel La Spata, 1st, wants an ordinance letting Chicagoans snitch on delivery vehicles blocking the public way, another proposed new law for which we see no need, given that people already can call 311 if they wish and that those opposed to the FedEx truck blocking their way tend to drop their opposition when FedEx is coming to their door. La Spata hardly is known for caring much about the ability of local businesses to get stuff delivered, but we think he and his ilk should be in favor of the little robots.

We’ll be happy to revisit this topic if we get to the point where there are so many of these robots that humans can’t walk down the street, but that is hardly the case at present. Many of our sidewalks need the action. Chicago already has a reputation as a Luddite city, and this is not a battle any alderman should waste time fighting. The delivery robots are fun and friendly; let ’em be and get back to work on the budget. We don’t need another solution to a nonexistent problem.

From our observations, though, these robots are not big fans of snow. Indeed, we’ve not seen them come out as much since the white stuff fell in large quantities. Shame. They could have little plows attached and take on the new problem of plowing protected bike lanes and deliver a chicken sandwich at the same time. That’s unlikely to happen, alas. No doubt Chekhov is sitting in a warm warehouse somewhere, dreaming dreams of a Moscow summer.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/editorial-chill-out-aldermen-the-delivery-robots-are-cute/ 

Indonesia Targets Finfluencers In Crackdown After P2P Investment Losses

Tyler Durden
Thu, 12/11/2025 – 05:45

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/indonesia-targets-finfluencers-crackdown-after-p2p-investment-losses 

Por The Associated Press

El presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tenía previsto mantener conversaciones urgentes el jueves con líderes y funcionarios de unos 30 países que apoyan los esfuerzos de Kiev de conseguir condiciones justas para poner fin a la guerra con Rusia.

Se esperaba que los líderes de Alemania, Reino Unido y Francia participaran en la reunión de los aliados de Ucrania, denominada la Coalición de los Dispuestos, a través de una videoconferencia.

Zelenskyy indicó que las conversaciones se organizaron apresuradamente mientras los funcionarios en Kiev tratan de no verse limitados por las demandas del presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, de un acuerdo rápido. Los gobiernos europeos tratan de ayudar a guiar las negociaciones de paz porque dicen que su propia seguridad está en juego.

Trump dijo el miércoles que él y los líderes europeos comentaron propuestas por teléfono en “términos bastante fuertes”, agregando que Zelenskyy “tiene que ser realista” sobre la posición de su país en un plan de paz que cedería territorio ucraniano a Rusia. No dio más detalles.

El último esfuerzo de Trump para negociar un acuerdo está tomando más tiempo del que quería. Inicialmente estableció una fecha límite estricta para que Kiev aceptara su plan de paz antes del Día de Acción de Gracias. Plazos anteriores de Washington para alcanzar un acuerdo de paz también han pasado sin lograr un avance.

Rusia también está interesada en mostrar a Trump que está participando en sus esfuerzos de paz, con la esperanza de evitar más sanciones de Estados Unidos. El ministro ruso de Exteriores, Serguéi Lavrov, dijo el jueves que Rusia ha transmitido a Washington “propuestas adicionales… sobre garantías de seguridad colectivas” que Ucrania y Europa dicen que son necesarias para disuadir futuras agresiones.

“Entendemos que al comentar garantías de seguridad, no podemos limitarnos sólo a Ucrania”, dijo Lavrov. No ofreció detalles sobre las propuestas del Kremlin.

Mientras tanto, Ucrania lanzó durante la noche uno de sus mayores ataques con drones en casi cuatro años de guerra, que obligó a detener las salidas y llegadas de vuelos en los cuatro aeropuertos de Moscú durante siete horas. Los aeropuertos en otras ocho ciudades rusas también enfrentaron restricciones, dijo el jueves la autoridad de aviación civil rusa Rosaviatsia.

El Ministerio ruso de Defensa dijo que sus defensas antiaéreas interceptaron 287 drones ucranianos en múltiples regiones rusas.

La demostración de la capacidad militar de Ucrania para atacar en el interior del territorio ruso parecía una respuesta al argumento del Kremlin de que su invasión es abrumadora para su vecino más pequeño.

El presidente ruso, Vladímir Putin, quiere mostrarse como negociando desde una posición de fuerza, dicen los analistas. Pero desde que lanzó la invasión a gran escala en febrero de 2022, Rusia sólo ha capturado alrededor del 20% de Ucrania.

Hay indicios de que las negociaciones están llegando a una encrucijada. Las conversaciones están en “un momento crítico”, dijeron los líderes europeos en un comunicado el miércoles.

Ucrania se coordinará la próxima con los países europeos a nivel bilateral, dijo Zelenskyy el miércoles por la noche.

“Ucrania está trabajando rápidamente”, afirmó.

Los países de la Unión Europea tienen previsto celebrar una cumbre periódica en Bruselas a finales de la próxima semana.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/zelenskyy-tendr-conversaciones-con-30-pases-mientras-trump-busca-un-acuerdo-rpido-con-rusia/ 

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Dec. 11, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 61 degrees (1949)
Low temperature: Minus 5 degrees (1972)
Precipitation: 1.73 inches (1949)
Snowfall: 9.5 inches (2000)

A group of assistant state’s attorneys gather for their first and last look at the County County Jail gallows as the county prepares to destroy the contraption on June 17, 1977. The gallows ended up being auctioned off. The gallows were saved in case “Terrible” Tommy O’Connor, who escaped before his execution in 1921, was ever apprehended. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1921: Three days before he was scheduled to be hanged, “Terrible” Tommy O’Connor and two other prisoners escaped from jail in Chicago and were never seen again.

Henrietta Bradberry’s invention shows in detail how to house and deploy a torpedo underwater while preventing the liquid from penetrating inside the mechanism. (U.S. Patent Office)

1945: Henrietta Bradberry earned her second U.S. patent — for a torpedo discharge means.

While her husband William was at work, the Kentucky native brainstormed ideas for useful devices in their Chicago home on Champlain Avenue. Her two patents could not be more different in purpose and design.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: Inventions and innovations by Black Chicagoans

Bradberry’s got her first patent May 25, 1943, for a collapsible rack — meant to hold bed sheets and pajamas — that could attach to a bed’s frame.

Coach George Halas of the Chicago Bears congratulates quarterback Johnny Lujack on setting the National League aerial gain record of 468 yards on Dec. 11, 1949, in their victory over the Chicago Cardinals, 52 to 12, at Wrigley Field. Editors note: this historical print has a hand painted background and graphics added to the print. (Chicago Tribune illustration)

1949: Quarterback Johnny Lujack threw six touchdown passes and set a record with 468 yards in the air in one game as the Chicago Bears beat the Chicago Cardinals 52-21 at Wrigley Field.

The NFL’s oldest rivalry continued at Soldier Field. A look back at the teams that started it all in 1920.

1965: “I just got mad. They shouldn’t have thrown me out.”

That was the reason given by 24-year-old Robert Lee Lassiter after he splashed gasoline inside a West Side tavern and used a borrowed match to set it ablaze. The fire killed 13 patrons of the Seeley Club, 2026 Madison St., Chicago, and injured 22 others.

Lassiter’s confession, however, was suppressed after a judge ruled the electric company laborer had been deprived of his right to an attorney.

He was found guilty in March 1967, and sentenced to up to 150 years for each of the 13 deaths.

Five men plunged to their deaths at the State of Illinois Center construction site on Dec. 11, 1981, when the metal basket they were riding in gave way. (Chicago Tribune)

1981: Five iron workers plunged 100 feet to their deaths at the construction site for the State of Illinois Center when a platform on which they were riding nearly eight stories above ground broke loose from a mobile crane and spilled the crew into the excavation site. Phillip Rios was the only survivor.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Bob Murray draws a bead on Edmonton’s Glen Anderson during the first period of a game on Dec. 11, 1985, at Chicago Stadium in Chicago. The Oilers outscored the Hawks 12-9. (Ed Wagner Jr./Chicago Tribune)

1985: The Edmonton Oilers beat the Chicago Blackhawks 12-9 at Chicago Stadium. The 21 goals scored tied for the highest-scoring game in NHL history, but the 62 points awarded broke the old record of 53 set by Quebec and Washington in 1981. The Hawks had 46 shots on goal and the Oilers had 44.

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry introduces outfielder Kosuke Fukudome on Dec. 19, 2007, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)

2007: The Chicago Cubs signed Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year deal. He was introduced to fans here eight days later.

In 2008, he made the All-Star game, the cover of Sports Illustrated and hit a game-tying home run in the ninth inning on opening day in Wrigley Field.

Fukudome was traded to Cleveland in 2011, then signed a two-year deal with the Chicago White Sox in 2012.

‘Proud and honored’: Kosuke Fukudome, the Chicago Cubs’ first Japanese player, reconnects with team in Tokyo

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/chicago-history-december-11/