Issuu

october 19 - 25, 2026 Vol. 34 No. 35

$1.85 + Tips go to your Vendor

How StreetWise Works StreetWise exists to elevate marginalized voices and provide opportunities for individuals to earn an income and gain employment. Anyone who wants to work has the opportunity to move themselves out of crisis. StreetWise provides “a hand up, not a handout.”

Buy the Magazine, Take the Magazine When you buy the magazine, take the Vendors purchase the magazine, and read magazine for $1.15 and the magazine, you sell it for $3 plus tips. are supporting our The vendor keeps all of microentrepreneurs earning their earnings. an income with dignity. -or-

All vendors go through an orientation focusing on their rights and responsibilities as a StreetWise Magazine Vendor. Authorized vendors have badges with their name, picture and current year.

New vendor orientation is every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. at 2009 S. State St. Find your nearest vendor at www.streetwise.org

4 Arts & Entertainment 6 SportsWise

Event highlights of the week!

The SportsWise Team discusses the possible restructuring of college football tournaments.

7 Cover Story: halloween in chicago

Looking for chills and thrills? Or maybe just some lighthearted, family-friendly fun? Chicago celebrates Halloween like nowhere else. Iconic parades to museum exhibits to elaborate parties, there is certainly a Halloween event to please every taste. Use our handy calendar of events to make sure you don't miss a thing!

12 From the streets

Content about helping people experiencing poverty and homelessness is trending on social media. But is that a good thing?

15 The Playground

THIS PAGE: Haunted Halsted Halloween Parade (Northalsted photo). DISCLAIMER: StreetWise publishes perspectives from vendors and contributors to reflect a range of lived experiences and viewpoints. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of StreetWise. We are committed to fostering dialogue grounded in dignity and respect, and we do not endorse language or perspectives that harm or dehumanize others.

Dave Hamilton, Creative Director/Publisher

dhamilton@streetwise.org

StreetWiseChicago @StreetWise_CHI

Suzanne Hanney, Editor-In-Chief

suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

Julie Youngquist, Executive director

jyoungquist@streetwise.org

LEARN MORE AT streetwise.org

DONATE

Ph: 773-334-6600 Office: 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL, 60616

To make a donation to StreetWise, visit our website at www.streetwise.org/donate/ or cut out this form and mail it with your donation to StreetWise, Inc., 2009 S. State St., Chicago, IL 60616. We appreciate your support!

My donation is for the amount of $________________________________Billing Information: Check #_________________Credit Card Type:______________________Name:_________________________________________________________________________________ We accept: Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________

Account#:_____________________________________________________City:___________________________________State:_________________Zip:_______________________ Expiration Date:________________________________________________Phone #:_________________________________Email:_________________________________________

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Compiled by Dave Hamilton

Peace in Art!

‘Shifting Horizons’ Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., presents “Shifting Horizons,” a group exhibition presented as part of the 2026 Veteran Art Triennial and Summit “Resisting The Long War,” organized by the Chicago-based emerging Veteran Art Movement (eVAM). “Shifting Horizons” brings together artists whose practices confront the border as one of the long war’s most enduring technologies. From the US–Mexico border wall to Israeli occupation, from Indigenous land struggles to the policing of refugees and migrants worldwide, the exhibition examines how borders operate not simply as geographic boundaries, but as militarized systems that organize movement, belonging, dispossession, and death. Through weaving, film, performance, installation, and visual art, the artists trace how migration is forced, surveilled, inherited, remembered, and resisted. The exhibition runs October 24 – April 18, 2027, with a Veteran Art Summit taking place November 5–8, days leading up to Veterans Day, November 11. For more information, visit resistingthelongwar.online.

A Nation's Pride!

Georgian National Ballet ‘Sukhishvili’ The world-famous Georgian National Ballet "Sukhishvili" will perform at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., to share with you a remarkable date - its 80th anniversary! To mark this occasion, a series of performances, exhibitions and other events will take place around the world throughout the year, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the heritage of "Sukhishvili" and pay tribute to the incredible dance company that has become the face of Georgia. Despite modern elements and new ideas, "Sukhishvili" performances are always based on traditional Georgian dance, with its inherent intricate movements, colorful costumes and powerful storytelling. One-night-only, October 20 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $90.85 at harristheaterchicago.org

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Classically Innovative!

‘Beyond Borders’ "Beyond Borders" traverses six distinct sound worlds with the cello as a guide. Invoking ancient instruments while breathing life into music of our time, the program probes sonic possibilities, both familiar and fantastical. Featured artists include cellist Alexander Hersh, who has emerged as one of his generation’s most compelling artists for his expressive performances and imaginative programming. A Carnegie Hall recitalist and acclaimed soloist, he is Co-Artistic Director of NEXUS Chamber Music in Chicago. Hailed by The Washington Post for his “poised and imaginative playing,” Filipino-American pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion has performed across North and South America, Europe and Asia. A Steinway & Sons Artist, he is also the founder of FilAm Music Foundation, championing Filipino classical musicians. FREE on Wednesday, October 21, at 6 p.m. at the Driehaus Museum, 50 E. Erie St.

Chicago Premiere!

‘Omar’ Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker Drive, presents the company premiere of “Omar,” the Pulitzer Prize–winning opera by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, on October 23 (7 p.m.) , 25 (2 p.m.), and 28 (7 p.m.). A Lyric co-commission, “Omar” is inspired by the memoir of West African Islamic scholar Omar ibn Said — a Muslim whose writings preserve a firsthand account of the experiences of enslaved people in the New World — and tells a fundamentally American story of survival, faith, and identity. The score draws together hymns, spirituals, gospel, and bluegrass with African percussion instruments, setting the musical inheritance of the American South against the sounds of the West African homeland Omar was forced to leave behind. Tickets start at $69 at lyricopera.org

Collaborative Opera!

‘Beyond the Aria’ Presented in partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Harris Theater's “Beyond the Aria” series pairs some of the most celebrated voices in opera today with developing artists from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Christian Van Horn, “a bass-baritone of uncommon agility and power” (The New York Times), performs with tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who brings “his sweet tone, fastidious pitch, and poetic phrasing” (The New Yorker). The two are joined by mezzo-soprano Alexis Peart and Series Artistic Director Craig Terry. The October 22 concert at Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., is the first of four this season. Reserved seating is sold out, first come first serve FREE lawn spaces will be available.

First-ever Fest!

Ubuntu Festival The nonprofit Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), Chicago’s community for innovative and experimental music, presents its first-ever Ubuntu Festival, spanning three evenings of creative community, October 22-24, from 5-9 p.m. Each evening will feature a unique program of four headliner concerts by internationally recognized AACM musicians at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University, 700 E Oakwood Blvd. Tickets are $40 per evening. For a full schedule and tickets, visit aacmchicago.org.

Ladies and Laughs!

Funny is Female (FIF) Fest A stand-up comedy weekend (October 21-25) featuring female comedians from around the country is presented at the Comedy Plex, 1128 Lake St., Oak Park. Comedy workshops are $5, daily shows are $10, Headliners (including Marina Franklin and Ariel Elias) are $20, multi-day passes start at $30, and the all-inclusive 5-day pass is only $50 in advance. For a full schedule and tickets visit comedyplex.com/fif-festival

Babes with Blades!

‘King Lear’ William Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’ tells the complicated story of a king who divides his kingdom into thirds for his three daughters and the unforeseen struggles from this decision’s aftermath. His unraveling is parallelled by the nefarious journey of a jealous Edmund, who seeks to overtake his nobleman father’s affairs from his half-brother. Presented by Babes with Blades Theatre Company at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave, October 22-November 21. Tickets are $37 at BabesWithBlades.org.

Clever Wordplay!

Write Club Chicago Write Club Chicago returns at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, at the Gman Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St., with its infamous “bout” format, in which three rounds of combatant writer-performers face off with original, seven-minute essays on competing topics to win prize money and claim the cherished Loving Cup of Deathless F***ing Glory. Winners are decided by the audience following each “bout.” $25 suggested donation at the door. The event will repeat with new performers on November 17 and December 15. For more information, visit WriteClubNation.com

Laughs Reflecting Life!

‘Adirondack Chair Circle’ Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1646 N. Halsted St., presents “Adirondack Chair Circle,” playing October 22 — December 6. In the play, A gaggle of suburban moms, armed with pickleball paddles and hard kombucha, are ready to take on the school board in the fight of their lives: attempting to ban the controversial books available to their kids in the school library. But is this trusted inner circle all on the same page? A piercing world premiere from a Chicago playwright, Stephanie Alison Walker’s “Adirondack Chair Circle” exposes the hilarious hypocrisy of the causes we claim and the company we keep. And has a damn good time doing it. Tickets start at $66.50 at steppenwolf.org.

www.streetwise.org

Vendors (left to right) John Hagan, Russell Adams and A. Allen chat about the world of sports.

College Football Shake-up John: There are 12 teams in the college football playoff tournament and they are talking about expanding it to 24. Here are the pros: more money for TV executives. It would also eliminate ridiculous conference championship games that are a waste of time. It includes one automatic bid plus 23 at-large bids. The downside is, four or five teams that lose games in the regular season that may get into the tournament. It will also make less impact on regular season games; week 9 might not mean as much as it did. There’s also the loss of rivalries: Nebraska against Oklahoma, Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia.

SPORTSWISE

Russell: It sounds good. Everybody wants more revenue. Last year, Notre Dame didn’t make it in, kinda shocking. Same with BYU, they was 11-2. This year, that would get you in. Twenty-four teams is a lot. Maybe 16 spots. Teams that lost a third game could get in.

Allen: Miami of Ohio offered $30 million to $40 million for a spot in the American Conference, so it’s all about the money. The conference received offers from Miami, from James Madison and UConn but sources said the conference isn’t expanding. John: I like that because it eliminates the conference

championships. Why would you want to have a conference championship if you’re going to have a playoff? It gives an unfair advantage to those with a bye week. I think 24 teams is too much; 16 would have been just fine and I would have ended the championship on New Year’s Day. I would have started the playoffs earlier: the Final Four on Christmas weekend. But I can see why college football decided to do the playoffs in January, it’s kind of like March Madness for basketball. I also don’t like that you might have the team that loses four games get in. If you’re a .500 team, you should be watching the playoffs on TV, not playing in them with home field advantage. So the danger of expansion is, you may have mediocre teams winning the championship

as opposed to the team that worked hard to be 13-1. It gives less meaning to college football rivalries, like Nebraska-Oklahoma, which only played twice since 2011, when Nebraska came to the Big Ten. Nebraska-Oklahoma was always a Thanksgiving Day tradition. I miss that more than Michigan-Ohio State, which is still in the same conference. Russell: I enjoyed the games this year because Texas beat Ohio State. Texas was No. 1 and Oregon No. 13 as of early October. If Oregon beats them, they might have a chance. Allen: Schools look forward to those rivalries. It’s not professional like Bears against Green Bay. It’s personal. The Lone Star Showdown between Texas and Texas A &M, the Backyard Brawl

between West Virginia and Pittsburgh. John: Michigan will probably get into Expansion 24, but Illinois, with that loss to Duke, will not be in unless they run the table, because Duke is not exactly Miami of Florida or Notre Dame. USC and Notre Dame makes more sense than Michigan State and Notre Dame. This is not the same USC and Notre Dame of the 60s-80s when you had Pat Haden, Marcus Allen, Anthony Davis playing for USC; Joe Montana, Joe Theissman and Tim Brown playing for Notre Dame. All that storybook history goes by the wayside. That’s another negative about this expansion. Any comments, suggestions or topic ideas for the SportsWise team? Email StreetWise Editor Suzanne Hanney at suzannestreetwise@yahoo.com

all

ln co

Compiled by Dave Hamilton

Now through October 25

Now through October 28

1265 W. Le Moyne Jack's features a corn maze, pumpkin patch, food trucks, photo ops, carnival games, axe throwing, and more. Tickets start at $33 and must be purchased in advance at jackspumpkinpopup.com f Mexican Art

Now through October 31

‘Death Toll’

Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave. Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m. “Death Toll” is a sketch show with one simple rule: drink when someone on stage dies. All new sketches with plenty of death, comedy, and (fake) blood! BYOB. $15+ suggested donation. cornservatory.org Now through November 1

'House of the Exquisite Corpse VI: Lullabies'

Steppenwolf, 1646 N. Halsted St. Various Times Rough House Puppet Arts presents Chicago’s only puppet haunted house. 13+. Tickets start at $22 at roughhousetheater. com

Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up

Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos

s um

Now through November 29 ation

M al

2400 N. Cannon Drive Tuesdays and Wednesdays 7 or 8:30 pm Join Adam Selzer—host of Mysterious Chicago Tours— for spine-tingling walkabouts that dig into the zoo’s cemetery roots and locations from throughout its allegedly haunted history. Tickets are $28+ at lpzoo.org

pse

2400 N. Cannon Drive Roast s’mores, watch professional pumpkin carvers, pick your own pumpkin, and catch live music as you explore decorated gardens in autumn color. FREE. Now through November 1

Lincoln Park Zoo Haunted History Tours

C or

Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest

BOO! At the Zoo

Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd., Brookfield Weekdays 10am-5 pm, Weekends 10 am-6 pm Enjoy festive décor, not-so-scary surprises, and seasonal fun for ghosts and ghouls of all ages. Free with admission. Costumes encouraged.

H o u s e o f t h e E xq ui s i t e

Now through November 1

Lin

Halloween in Chicago

F oo

The National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Tues-Sun 10 am-5 pm The exhibit reflects on four decades of collecting, preserving, and celebrating Mexican art and culture, looking back through the permanent collection to trace the evolution of Day of the Dead and the museum itself. Just as Day of the Dead keeps the memories of loved ones alive, the museum preserves memory through art. FREE. Now through January 24, 2027

‘Serial Killer: The Exhibition’

Cinespace, 2428 W. 15th St. Various Times The exhibit brings the world’s largest collection of authentic serial killer artifacts to the city. Spanning over 26,000 square feet and 40+ galleries, it combines criminology, forensic science, and criminal psychology with historical interpretation. The Chicago edition features exclusive exhibits—including 3 original paintings by John Wayne Gacy and a look at H.H. Holmes’ 1893 World’s Fair era—alongside a dedicated victim-centered perspective. Recommended for ages 14+. Tickets start at $28 at serialkillerexhibit.com/chicago/

October 20

October 22 & 29

American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave. 5:30-7:30 pm Put your knowledge to the test with witchy trivia, show off your best magical look in the costume contest, get creative with spellbinding crafts, and dive into the folklore, literature, and legends behind some of fiction’s most iconic witches. Enjoy beer, wine, and the specialty cocktail, “The Cauldron.” Tickets start at $21.50 at AmericanWritersMuseum.org s

Second City, 230 W. North Ave. 7:30-8:30 pm From slashers to thrashers, Halloweenthemed and gore, an improv team will take your favorite scary flick and improvise an equally scary sequel. $20 at secondcity.com

October 21-25

nte

t of

1,0 0

Nig h

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns

'-o

Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe 6:30-10:30 pm Dare to walk an eerie path aglow with artist-carved pumpkins. Watch live carving in action, meet costumed performers, and enjoy playful frights around every corner. Tickets are $24 adult/$17 child (age 3-12)/ 2 and under free at chicagobotanic.org/halloween October 22 & 23

The Haunting of Hull-House: Halloween Folklore Tours

Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S. Halsted St. 6-8 pm A folklore tour that engages stories from the settlement’s past. In the late 19th century, many newly arrived immigrant neighbors responded to the rapid transformations of industrialism with tales of imagination and horror. From its inception, the Hull-House settlement was a center of urban legends and supernatural stories, an oral tradition kept alive by those who imagined unearthly inhabitants who lived at the settlement. You’ll hear about Hull-House’s infamous Devil Baby, the Fountain Girls, the neighborhood mortician, the resident Lady in White, and more. Tickets are $19.72 on Eventbrite.com J ane Ad da ms

H ull -Ho use

f Ho

rror

‘Set in Chicago – Improvised Spooky Movie Sequels’

Mus i c B ox o

Get Lit: Witch Please!

October 23, 24, 30, & 31

‘Vampire Playlist’

El Schomburg, 2538 W. Division St. 7:30 pm Why are vampires always European and listening to bad techno in movies? “Vampire Playlist” counters cliché and asks what if undead bloodsuckers were Latino? This 75-minute movie mixes cultural memory, movement, and music in this dark, brown, bloody, and biting theatrical experience. Tickets start at $11.50 at clata.org

October 23-November 1

‘Stage Frights!’

Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Various times Featuring original plays and performed by a vast ensemble of Chicago artists, this two-week run features vintage thrills, psychological twists, scream queens, murder plots, and maybe a jump scare…or TWO. Tickets are $33 at raventheatre.com October 23 & 24

Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive 6:30-10 pm An adults-only Halloween party at Lincoln Park Zoo that lets you "trick or treat" your way through the zoo for samples of craft beers and ciders. You can also catch live pumpkin carving, themed areas, roaming entertainers, and a costume contest! $67.53 at lpzoo.org October 24

Northalsted Halloween Pup Crawl Halsted St., Aldine to Cornelia 10 am-2 pm You and your 4-legged friends can peruse the sidewalks and meet a variety of Northalsted Business and pet centric vendors. $5 in advance at northalsted.com.

N or

thals

te d H all owee n Pup Cr

aw l

October 24

The Haunted Museum

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, 1155 E. 58th St. 4-7 pm Enjoy facepainting, crafts, spooky storytelling, and candy, of course! Join a guided demon hunt throughout the galleries, then learn all about Ancient Egyptian mummification. Boogie with live performances from the Dirt Red Brass Band and grab a Spooky Gift Bag on your way out. $10 at Eventbrite.com October 24

‘Edward Scissorhands’ In Concert

The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive 7:30 pm Released in 1990, “Edward Scissorhands” is celebrated for its poignant exploration of acceptance, enduring love, and the challenges of being misunderstood. Composer Danny Elfman’s score combines with Director Tim Burton’s stylistic choices to create the film’s iconic atmosphere. Tickets start at $53 at auditoriumtheater.org. For $50 extra, a VIP pre-party featuring Svengoolie is available, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Columbus Drive, Balbo to Monroe 6-8 pm A family-friendly celebration of Chicago’s cultural landscape and creative spirit, featuring unique floats, spectacle puppets, and all forms of artistic performance. This magical evening procession celebrates Halloween as the “artist’s holiday” and draws together participants from cultural organizations, creative youth programs, and artists in every field and from every ward of Chicago. It delights audiences with a mash-up of masks, costumes, dancers, musicians, artists, spectacle, circus and fire artists, creative guilds, art cars, and much more. FREE.

Music Box of Horrors 2026

e n Pa r a

Visitors can hear stories of Hull-House folklore and watch silent films from the 1920s. “Poems While You Wait” will be tapping out spooky prose. Costumes encouraged! FREE.

Music Box Theater, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Noon-Noon This event brings 24 hours of horror movie madness, featuring ultra-rare screenings and visits from actors and directors. Get your tickets now for horror classics, cult favorites, and so-bad-it’s-good flicks. For more information and tickets, visit www.musicboxtheatre.com

s or

o we

October 24

Scis

the

H all

October 24

Hull-House Halloween Open House Arts In The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Dark Halloween 800 S. Halsted St. Parade 10:30 am-3 pm

Edward

rk Da

October 24

Día de los Muertos Xicágo

Harrison Park, 1824 S. Wood St. 3-8 pm The National Museum of Mexican Art transforms the Museum and its surroundings into a beautiful space to remember our departed loved ones. Experience the beauty of this beloved tradition through ofrendas created by community members, live music and performances, art activities, and a stunning illuminated ofrenda projected onto the B O O - se um B a s h exterior of the Museum. FREE. October 24 & 31

‘420 Frankenstein’ Second City, 230 W. North Ave. 6 pm Improv show brings Mary Shelley’s monster to life… with a little help from Mary Jane. $32 at 420frankenstein.com October 25

BOO-seum Bash

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive 10 am-1 pm Join for a morning of animal encounters, crafts, and costume contest. $35 adult/$30 child at naturemuseum.org

www.streetwise.org

Old Town School of Music, Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. 10:30 am Be you a goblin, ghoul, pirate or pumpkin, join a stellar lineup of Old Town School teaching artists for this musical celebration of Halloween. Tickets are $23 at oldtownschool. Grac ela n d Ce org me te ry

October 25

Haunted Halsted Family Trick or Treat

Halsted and Broadway, from Belmont to Irving Park Rd. 11 am-1 pm FREE trick or treating at 20+ Northalsted locations. lst

ll ow

een

Pa r a d e

October 25

Halloween Boo Bash

American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave. 4-7 pm All-ages celebration features live performances and ghost stories, trick or treating, contests, bites and brews, costume contest and more. Tickets are $35 at americanbluestheater.com Ha ll owe en B o o B a s h

Upside Down Halloween Parade

Washington Park, on Russell Drive Noon-2 pm Chicago children and their families will BECOME the parade when they don their costumes and join the procession down tree-lined Russell Drive. Dance teams, musicians, acrobats, sports mascots and other spectacles will dazzle them as they make their way down the route. FREE. October 31

Graceland Cemetery, 4001 N. Clark St. 1:30-2:30 pm TalkDeath’s Cemetery Scavenger Hunt encourages people to appreciate and learn about local cemeteries and their histories through a guided search of the grounds. Community members learn about memorial iconography and history, connect with their community, spend time with friends and loved ones, and reflect on mortality. FREE. Learn more at talkdeath.com

October 31

a dH

Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. Manual Cinema’s thrilling version of the classic Gothic tale imaginatively combines shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, live sound effects and music. The production stitches together the fictional story of Frankenstein with the biography of the original novel’s author, Mary Shelley, to create an unexpected tale about the beauty and horror of creation. Tickets are $35-$85 at fineartsbuilding.com/frankenstein

Haunted Halsted Halloween Fest and Parade

TalkDeath’s Cemetery Scavenger Hunt

October 25

Manual Cinema’s ‘Frankenstein’

Spooky Sing Along

October 28 - November 1

' Fr a

October 25

's ma

Halsted St., Aldine to Addison 11 am - 6 pm Fest 7-8 pm parade | 8-10 pm costume contest & party Have a ghoulish good time with food, drinks, music, local vendors, live performances and more at the NEW Haunted Halsted Festival! It leads directly into Chicago’s only Halloween Night parade, where more than 300 costumed participants show off their creativity and Halloween spirit! FREE. A true Chicago tradition. October 31

Haunted House Party at Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive 7-11 pm House music and Halloween collide with good vibes, eerie eats, and surprises. 21+. $29.95 at sheddaquarium.org

u Ha

d nte

Hou

s e Pa

rt y at th e She d d Aq u

ariu

n ke n

s tein

October 31

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Spooktacular

The Chicago Theater, 175 N. State St. 7:30 pm This live event will feature a screening of the film in a new 4K restoration, hosted by members of the original cast. Tickets start at $54 at ticketmaster.com

Preserving Chicago’s Heritage,

November 1

Día de los Muertos Celebration

one building at a time.

Clark St. & Estes Ave. 4 pm Artist Yosmer Urrieta will create five Día d e lo temporary window murals, sM ue rto forming a public art walk sC el along Camino Clark. A community Día de los Muertos ofrenda (altar) will also be installed at 7056 N. Clark St., where residents and visitors can honor the memory of loved ones. The centerpiece will be a Camino Clark Catrina Parade with community members and Día de los Muertos-inspired puppets along Clark Street. FREE.

ra tio

November 4 - December 13

Eric Allix Rogers PreservationChicago.org

RVATI SE

Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Various Times For more than four decades, this Tony Award-winning musical has delighted millions of fans r s' around the world with the funny o r r Ho of and frightening story of the shy shop assistant, his coworker crush and a mysterious, and carnivorous, plant. “Little Shop” takes audiences on a wild trip where love and world domination meet at a Skid Row floral shop. Tickets start at $81 at porchlightmusictheatre. org

PRE

' Lit

tle

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

C AG

Love Your City Fiercely!®

Tiffany Mosaic Ceiling (1907) At Marshall Field’s / Macy’s on State Street Over 1.6 million pieces of iridescent favrile glass comprise the 6,000-square-foot barrel-vaulted mosaic ceiling designed by Tiffany Studios. Designated a Chicago Landmark on November 1, 2005 Ward Miller Richard H. Driehaus Executive Director of Preservation Chicago

(312) 443-1000 WMiller@PreservationChicago.org

www.streetwise.org

The Kindness Influencers by Veera Vehkasalo

“I feel like a horrible mom.” A young woman with a stroller wrapped in blankets is crying in the video. They are standing in front of a store on a street in Minnesota. It is winter. There is a 1-year-old child in the stroller, and neither of them has a home.

million followers on Instagram and TikTok.

A young man chats with the woman and gives her some food. The man asks her how she is and how she ended up on the street. Another man arrives on the scene. The first man asks, “What is your biggest prayer right now?”

Most of the videos are from the US. Liljenqvist and Weidenhofer, as well as Jimmy Kellogg (Jimmy Darts) and Zachery Dereniowski (mdmotivator), who also have amassed millions of followers, film a large part of their videos in the US, although they are not all from there.

“Find somewhere for him safe to stay. Get a job so I can be able to take care of him,” the woman says, wiping tears from her eyes. In the end, the two men give the woman in the video a bundle of cash. The woman is touched, hugs them and perks up. She enthuses that she can go to a hotel for a while to sleep and to take a shower. Maybe even get a job interview once she has cleaned herself up.

Sometimes the acts of kindness in the videos are just small acts: a hug for someone who needs one, or a few kind words. The videos often introduce people living on the street, who are given shoes, tents, clothes, or whatever they might need at that moment. In one video, a young man is delighted to receive a heat pump on a freezing night. Someone in a neighboring tent just froze to death, he says.

“We’re going to help you a lot further. We don’t want to post a video of you and just leave you,” says the other man.

Sometimes the acts are more generous, like an entire crowdfunding campaign to get a car, an apartment, or other essentials.

“And all the money will go to you. So that you can change your life because you deserve it.”

Some kindness influencers have large accounts, others are modest, but in general, the videos are engaging. The number of likes, shares and comments is huge in places. Sometimes, the amounts of money raised are also huge.

FROM THE STREETS

The men are the social media influencers Joshua Liljenquist and Samuel Weidenhofer. They posted a video of the encounter on their social media accounts, set up a crowdfunding campaign, and then the money flooded in.

At the moment, social media is bursting with this kind of “kindness content” – that is, videos about acts of kindness produced for social media by different influencers.

In the weeks after, they raised over half a million dollars for the woman, Sheena, and her child. In the next video, they take Sheena to the house that they bought for her in Minnesota with the money and tell her that there are still hundreds of thousands of dollars for her. In this video, there’s a closeup of Sheena in tears. Liljenquist and Weidenhofer are so-called “kindness influencers.” They post videos of themselves doing good deeds and helping others, mainly people experiencing homelessness and poverty. They are hugely popular. In December, Liljenquist (social media profile: joshlilj) had 6 million followers on Instagram and 10 million on TikTok. As of July 19, his website (joshliljenquist.com) cited 34 million followers, 2.7 billion YouTube views, $1.7 million-plus documented support and media coverage on CBS and in People magazine. Weidenhofer (itssozer) had 2.6 and 7.8

In the autumn, Weidenhofer’s video about 88-year-old Ed Bambas raised $1.6 million for the man. All it took was a video of Weidenhofer getting to know Bambas at his workplace, casually approaching him as if in passing. After the old man tells his moving life story, the social media influencer gives him $400 and tells Bambas that he will set up a crowdfunding campaign so that the man can finally afford to retire. At the end of the video, the old man (who has lost his wife) cries, again in close-up. (In December, Zachery Dereniowski also made headlines in the Finnish media when a crowdfunding campaign for Ahmed Al-Ahmed, the man who stopped the shooters in the Bondi Beach attack in Australia, raised hundreds of thousands of euros.) “You are angels.” “There are still great people in this world!” “You are doing an excellent job!”

Josh Liljenquist, known online as Joshlilj, and kindness creator Samuel Wiedenhofer, publicly known as ItsSozer, stand with Sheena and Baby Joseph during a GoFundMe check presentation in Fairmont, Minnesota (Josh Lilenquist / Joshlilj LLC)

content that tugs on the heart strings. This is exactly the kind of “sticky” content that works well on social media and keeps people glued to social media videos, Reinikainen says. Regardless of the motivations of the creators, the business logic of the commercial social media platforms is always present in the work. Reinikainen says that influencer marketing is fundamentally commercial and a means of getting visibility and attention. The content is used to grow a personal brand and the influencer’s own commercial potential. Reinikainen estimates that creators with millions of followers earn big money through sponsorship agreements, visibility and advertising partnerships. Some social media platforms also pay their content creators based on the number of views and followers. What if the content and views are obtained by often filming unsuspecting people in their most difficult moments? Unexpectedly talking about life’s biggest traumas with a complete stranger? Getting someone up from their mattress and taking them to the store by the seat of their pants? Filming them crying? “Some pretty bizarre contradictions pop up quite quickly,” says Reinikainen.

Kindness content is popular. The comments posted on the content creators’ social media channels are, almost without exception, hearts or praise and thanks, like in the examples above. Many media outlets also praise the creators for making kindness popular again and helping people. However, everyone is not convinced. The Associated Press calls kindness content “controversial,” and in one of its stories, British public broadcaster, the BBC, discusses why kindness influencers are often criticized. “Many influencers have a genuine desire to do good, to help people, and to use their influence in some positive way,” notes Hanna Reinikainen, a researcher of social media influencers at the University of Helsinki. But she still takes a critical view of this kind of content. The videos produced by kindness influencers combine many things that work on social media: prank culture, and

Although the videos highlight important experiences and the reality of homelessness, the discussion is quite superficial and focuses on the individual, she adds. Lost in the scenes of their melodrama are the “structural reasons” for their problems: the societal, economic and political inequities that led to situations they could no longer control. For example, why is a 1-year-old on the street, or how can an 88-year-old who has worked his entire life not afford to retire? “The videos show what life can be like for people experiencing homelessness or those who have limited means. But they don’t tell us about the structural reasons, or all the reasons people end up like this,” Reinikainen summarizes. They tend to go no further than “individual sob stories,” as she puts it, and the idea that everything can be fixed by handing out large sums of money out of the blue. Erja Morottaja, communications manager at Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry, a Helsinki advocacy and support group for people experiencing homelessness, agrees that the mindset in the videos is fairly simplistic. “Money brings the solution. Quick videos, quick solutions, and onto the next one,” she summarizes. www.streetwise.org

Samuel Wiedenhofer, publicly known as ItsSozer, with Ed Bambas (Facebook photo).

For example, simply having an apartment or a large amount of money is not always enough to end homelessness. Morottaja reminds us that many people need support with daily life or treatment for the underlying problems that cause homelessness. The videos often involve “pranks,” which are popular on social media. Someone secretly pays for another person’s purchases or surprises them with something fun while filming them. Or someone may ask a person who looks poor for help, like a couple of euros for a bus ticket or some other support. If the person helps and gives of the little they have, the content creator reveals that they are actually planning to give them money or something bigger. This is also related to the idea that help must be earned. Communications manager Morottaja sees it as a positive that people are reminded of the importance of kindness. Something good can come from friendliness and helping others. “It is needed at this time. We have forgotten how to show compassion toward other human beings,” she says. At the same time, she thinks that the content is problematic, not only in terms of its solution models, but also from the viewpoint of intentions and power structures. StreetWise emailed Liljenquist and Weidenhofer to ask how they felt about these questions: did the end justify the means? We did not receive a response in over a month’s time. Morottaja reminds us that a person who is indebted to an influencer may agree to the publication of a video, especially when something unexpected happens, but not everyone necessarily understands what they are agreeing to. Most major content creators don’t say at the start that they are filming the encounter, but claim that they will ask permission to publish it afterwards. Even if that is the case, how

many people would dare to refuse after receiving help? Or understand how much publicity a shopping spree at Target will get? Morottaja notes that privacy protection and dignity are often forgotten in these videos. For example, organizations usually have strict rules about how their visitors are presented on social or other media, especially where faces and names are concerned; they seldom publish anything that a severely intoxicated person says because the organization may regret it later. Journalists also carefully consider what to publish about people in vulnerable situations, especially anything that can identify the person. There are no such limits on social media. The videos on many accounts introduce us to very intoxicated substance users, young people who grew up in orphanages, halfdressed people experiencing homelessness, or people who have just been woken up on the street… From time to time, there is even worse content on social media. Morottaja recalls the so-called “bumfights” that were trending in the early 2000s where people experiencing homelessness were encouraged to fight and the camera was rolling. Something like that would probably be censored to some degree by the major social media channels these days. But emotional clips about kindness are the perfect material for difficult times. When people who have suffered trauma are interviewed without preparation and in surprising situations, they easily say all sorts of things on camera. This provides the kind of social media material that will make anyone cry. And brings more views. But the videos leave you with a tacky feeling. And maybe a few hundred thousand dollars to one lucky person, while others are left on the streets. Translated from Finnish via Translators Without Borders Courtesy of Iso Numero street paper, Helsinki / INSP.ngo

e the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the s 1 to 9. Streetwise

10/3/16 Crossword

To solve the Sudoku puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Sudoku

61 Arab chieftain 62 The Scourge of God 64 Romanian cash 65 Clock sound 66 Offended 67 Recliner part 68 Wood sorrel 69 Windbreaks

10 Lewis with 41 Column carved Lamb Chop in the shape of a 11 Common person sense 44 Native 12 Affirmative 45 Tombstone votes wording 14 Disneyland 47 One parent in 21 Cartridge the UK contents 50 Less typical 24 Inn inventory 51 Loose hemp or Down 25 Off yonder jute fiber 1 Twaddle 26 Chimney 52 City on the 2 Talipot palm channel Mohawk leaf 27 Rip apart 54 Aqua ___ 3 32-card game 29 Like a churl 55 ___ fide (in bad 4 Catamaran 33 Bird venerated faith) 5 Long bones by ancient 58 One year in a Egyptians 6 Error trunk 7 Peruvian beast 34 River to 59 On the safe side, Donegal Bay 8 Astringent at sea drug 35 Gumption 61 D.D.E.’s ©2016 PuzzleJunction.com Parting words 9 Old PCCopyright 36 command 38 Aquatic bird platform 63 Much spam

answers last week's edition Sudoku Solution Solution

Sudoku Solution

Find your nearest StreetWise Vendor at www.streetwise.org

Crossword Across 1 Asian capital 6 Muggy 11 Continental divide? 12 Egyptian god of the underworld 14 Negative stimulation 16 Sci-fi creatures 18 Daughter of James II 19 On the ball 21 Geologic time period 22 Golfer’s concern 23 Weapons storehouse 25 “Alley ___!” 26 Legendary Giant 27 Louisiana wetland 28 Building materials 30 Home maker 32 Mollify 34 Pung, e.g. 36 Drops the ball 37 Dog type 40 Brace 44 Pageant crown 45 Kind of bean 47 Mr. Potato Head piece 48 Nasty biter 49 Turns back, perhaps 50 Gobbled up 51 Utmost degree 52 Dog treats 53 Wool sources

54 ___ your business 56 Fishermen 59 Getting closer all the time 60 On the lam 61 Tibet’s capital 62 Finished Down 1 Vespid wasps 2 Teen affliction 3 Newcomer, briefly 4 Clumsy sort 5 Extreme dishonor 6 Selfgovernment 7 Loan shark’s interest rate

StreetWise exists to elevate marginalized voices and provide opportunities for individuals to earn an income and gain employment. Anyone who wants to work has the opportunity to move themselves out of crisis. StreetWise provides “a hand up, not a handout.”

All vendors go through an orientation focusing on their rights and responsibilities as a StreetWise Magazine Vendor. Authorized vendors have badges with their name, picture and current year.

New vendor orientation is every Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. at 2009 S. State St. Find your nearest vendor at www.streetwise.org

THE PLAYGROUND

How StreetWise Works

8 Catcher’s need 37 Engine part 9 A Gershwin 38 Renaissance 10 Go to a painter restaurant 39 Life of Riley 13 Went boldly 41 Iodine source 14 Claw 42 After ant or 15 Labor leader’s man cry 43 Place for a 17 Gullible sorts comb 20 Roller coaster 44 Zingy taste feature 46 Flea market 23 Evergreen deal ornamental 49 Debauchees shrub 52 Half an island 24 Harder to find in French 28 Cancels Polynesia? 29 Russia’s Itar- 53 “What ___ is ___ news new?” agency 55 Scrooge’s cry 31 Romanov ruler 57 Oui’s opposite 33 Lingo 58 Pantheon 35 Lyreflower member