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From Columbia College Chicago to Schubas Tavern: The Music Journey of Dan Apodaca
While Dan Apodaca, 37, has not played the drums in a while, he recognizes the instrument as a stepping stone to his future career. As a band drummer in the Silver Lake area of California for seven years, the instrument allowed him the opportunity to build consistency in the patterns of rhythm and beat, Apodaca said.
Columbia College Chicago gives students the spotlight during Biggest Mouth showcase
Columbia College Chicago’s Biggest Mouth competition showcases artists from all genres and gives them the chance to gain exposure in the real world. The competition took place on Thursday, April 20th at Chicago’s Metro venue in Wrigleyville located at 3730 N Clark St. The Metro is a famous venue in Chicago which has hosted iconic acts such as Fall Out Boy, Green Day and many more. This is the second year Columbia have hosted Biggest Mouth at the Metro and they plan to carry on using this well-renowned venue in the future.
Opinion: Chicago small businesses need your help
Chicago’s economy is diverse, consisting of industries from finance to manufacturing to healthcare. But one of the most significant contributors to the city’s economy is small businesses. According to the City of Chicago, there are over 100,000 small businesses registered throughout Chicago. These types of businesses contribute to job creation, economic growth, and community development. These numbers could be much higher, with an accompanying result of much more robust and tight-knit communities and a better economy.
Opinion: The Democratic National Committee is making a huge mistake by not sponsoring debates
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced Thursday, April 20, that they will not be sponsoring debates in the upcoming presidential primary election. This comes in the wake of news that President Biden would be launching his reelection campaign. The DNC has released a statement indicating that they will fully support Biden in his efforts.
From Columbia College Chicago to the Chicago Tribune: Zareen Syed reflects on her career
Zareen Syed’s love of storytelling was evident since childhood, as she began to write her first stories in third grade. Since then, Syed, 30, from Glendale Heights, Illinois, has followed her passion of writing to her current position at the Chicago Tribune. After a journey filled with twists and...
Opinion: How female politicians are changing the face of governance
Growing up, politics surrounded me; my late uncle constantly kept up with any election, politicians’ actions, and the changing laws in the U.S. and worldwide. A few years ago, my dad decided to join the local elections and run for treasure for the village of Bartlett. In my experience...
Opinion: How will looming Chicago budget gaps effect Mayor Brandon Johnson’s ability to pay for promised initiatives?
Brandon Johnson won the general mayoral election to become the city’s most progressive mayor to date, promising to implement groundbreaking initiatives to bring financial and quality-of-life equity for all Chicago residents, including a promise not to raise property taxes. Property, income and sales taxes are the largest generators of...
Opinion: Exploring the spike in vinyl record sales
There’s nothing quite like slicing through the plastic, sliding the inner sleeve out, and placing a new vinyl record on a turntable. For those who can remember a time when vinyl was the only way to listen to music, it may come as a surprise that records have had something of a renaissance in recent years. In 2022, vinyl record sales surpassed CD sales for the first time since 1987. That was the year Whitney Houston released her classic “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” and the year “Dirty Dancing” hit cinemas. It’s clear that the music and media landscape has drastically changed since then, but what’s the cause for this recent trend in physical music sales?
A conversation with: Head clerk of a Chicago Public Library, Vida Baleckaitis
Vida Veronica Baleckaitis, born and raised in Chicago, is the head clerk at the Garfield Ridge Branch of Chicago Public Library (CPL). Next month, she will not only continue to celebrate the 150th anniversary of CPL but her own 30 years of working with the library. Back in 1993, she started off as a part time page and has continued to work her way up the library ladder to her current position. She reflects on her years of public service and shares her future hopes for CPL.
A dance group that is out of this world
Michaela Reese, Daisy Yanez and Jasmin Rios might not seem like K-pop stars. But when the three friends (21-, 22-, and 21-year-olds) aren’t studying for midterms in dance, they perform in Astronomical, a group that creates covers of K-pop dances from music videos. They are a mix of college students from Chicago that formed through Columbia College Chicago.
Chicago golf course provides green getaway for residents
For many Chicagoans, finding a golf course close to home may seem like an unattainable task, given how densely packed the city is. Little do these residents know that an affordable and accessible golf course lies in their own backyard. Located just north of Belmont Harbor off of Lake Shore...
How Chicago colleges are keeping students safe
Chicago public transportation is used by more than 1.59 million people a day according to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). Meaning virtually everyone also has a story about something happening on their commute. Chicago is known for its transit, with the elevated train that runs around the loop, underground trains,...
A conversation with: Columbia College Chicago student and actress Melaina Laurent
Although her family attempted to make her a star in softball, Melaina Laurent, freshman film student at Columbia College Chicago, showed signs early on that she was a star waiting to be on a stage. She quickly began her career with the support of her parents. Nowadays, whether you find her traveling throughout the country for conventions or at home filming self-tapes, Laurent does what it takes in order to pursue her passion in film acting.
A conversation with: Curious City reporter Adriana Cardona-Maguigad
Adriana Cardona-Maguigad is a radio journalist originally from the country of Colombia. She was a co-founder of The Gate, a completely bilingual newspaper for and about Chicago’s Back of the Yards. It was then in her life that she said she fell in love with radio. It became her dream, just to get a job at a radio station. Cardona-Maguigad tried to do a few pieces in her office and eventually was offered a job with a Univision Chicago. She worked there for two years until she got a job with WBEZ, Chicago’s local NPR station. Recently Cardona-Maguigad has done work for “This American Life” and currently, she works for WEBZ Chicago’s hit show, Curious City.
A conversation with: The Wasteshed founder Eleanor Ray
While some artists aim to create things that have never been done before, Eleanor Ray believes in giving materials a second life and creating art from items that others may discard. This is reflected in her work as executive director of The Wasteshed. Ray founded The Wasteshed in 2014 as...
Opinion: Chicago’s Little Village Discount Mall vendors at risk of losing their jobs
Chicago’s Little Village Discount Mall located on 3115 W 26th St. was bought by Novak’s Construction Company over two years ago and many vendors still have no idea what’s going to happen. This will have an impact on the vendors’ sales and will result in loss of revenue. The Little Village Discount Mall has been in business for 30 years and vendors have had steady work to look forward to each day to provide for their families, until now.
Illinois may become a safe haven for climate migrants, while also suffering from climate change
Millions of migrants are expected to be displaced across the country to escape rising sea levels, drought, flooding, wildfires and hurricanes. With the Midwest having less severe environmental issues, migrants may find this more appealing, which raises concern about the impact on state resources. Climate Migration. Migration Projections in Illinois.
Joe Powers releases his debut album Power Moves
On March 25th, Joe Powers will perform his debut album Power Move live with his band at Lincoln Hall’s Schubas Tavern located at 3159 N. Southport Ave.. Powers is a keyboardist, singer, and now producer. This is his first large project, which has been in the works for a little over a year. In its creation, it became important for Powers to produce an album where anyone could find something they enjoy and also open up their ears to something they haven’t heard before.
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