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Axios
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
5 Chicago questions about "The Bear" season 4
I recently binged season 4 of "The Bear" and found myself shouting questions that only Chicagoans would ask. Who says J-O? Sure, we like to throw around the word jagoff, but I've never heard anyone refer to it as "J-O" the way Uncle Jimmy does when talking to his kid this season. Which Trib reviewer? The Bear team obsesses over a tepid review by a Chicago Tribune dining critic who I assumed must be based on real critics Louisa Chu or Phil Vettel. That is until a character called the critic a "millennial jagoff." Those two are neither. Did cheesy beef start south? When Sydney's South Side hairdresser friend complains about North Side Italian beefs lacking cheese, it bolstered my hunch that cheesy beefs, like many great culinary inventions, started south. Is Donnie on staff? I loved seeing TV star and restaurateur Alpana Singh dispensing wisdom this season just as One Off Hospitality partner Donnie Madia did in season two. But in one scene this season, it looks like Madia joined The Bear staff. When did this happen?
Winnipeg Free Press
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Bear serves up a sweet nod to print journalism
Opinion This column is about the latest season of The Bear, minor spoilers within. At the end of Season 3 of The Bear — the FX dramedy about the titular Chicago restaurant and its tortured chef Carmen (Carmy) Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) — there's delightful, unexpected anachronism for a show set in 2025. The gang at the Bear are waiting, with bated breath, for their review in the Chicago Tribune. FX/TNS Jeremy Allen White is back as chef Carmen (Carmy) Berzatto in Season 4 of The Bear. The Trib write-up provides the season-finale cliffhanger setting up Season 4, which dropped last week on Disney+. We learn in the first episode of the new season that the review wasn't exactly a full-on pan, but it was far from a rave — and it casts doubt on the future of the restaurant. As someone who has written many reviews in her time as a print gal, seeing a newspaper review being treated as something to be anticipated — something with weight and influence, something with legitimacy — filled me with joy. Some critics have argued the inclusion of the review is meta commentary from creator, co-showrunner, writer and director Christopher Storer since, obviously, The Bear has been the subject of many TV reviews. Perhaps. But many of us remember a time when a newspaper review — not an Instagram post, not a tweet — of a restaurant could make or break an establishment. Watching, I kept thinking about the late, great Free Press restaurant critic Marion Warhaft, for whom I had the honour of writing an obituary earlier this year. Warhaft was tough but fair, and was gifted with adjectives — flannelly mussels! — but what made her such a trusted voice is the fact that she knew who she was writing for: the reader, not the restaurant. Warhaft was among the last anonymous restaurant critics; she wasn't a 'don't you know who I am' diva. She wanted her dining experience to be how yours might be. With local newspapers shuttering and newsrooms shrinking and resources becoming more scant, reviews are often the first things to be cut. But they are journalism. They are a record of our life at the time. You may recall Marilyn Hagerty, the now-99-year-old Grand Forks Herald restaurant critic and columnist who went viral in 2012 for a positive review she wrote of the Olive Garden. People were quick to snark on her no-frills, reported-style reviewing of a chain restaurant — 'The chicken Alfredo ($10.95) was warm and comforting on a cold day. The portion was generous. My server was ready with Parmesan cheese' — until Anthony Bourdain set them straight. 'Marilyn Hagerty's years of reviews to be a history of dining in America too few of us from the coasts have seen,' he tweeted. 'We need to see.' Like the news, that gap has been filled by social media influencers — often invited by the restaurant. They are not there to critique the food or the experience, mind you. They are there to create content about it. In their short TikToks and Reels they might actually include a shot of them actually eating the food, and it's always 'so good.' But is it? Or the food is completely secondary, as in mukbangs — a Korean trend gone global that translates to 'eating broadcast' — in which a host eats a large quantity of (usually fast) food while having a chat with the audience to the delight of those who love ASMR and to the horror of those for whom audible slurping is a punishable offence. It's not just capital-I Influencers. There's a reason artful shots of latte art and avocado toast on a vintage plate became millennial esthetic clichés; many of us became documentarians, capturing dining experiences for consumption by other people. And just like our taste in music and clothes and movies, our taste in food can communicate something about who we are and what we value. (It's best, of course, if one's not trying too hard. New York-based cookbook author Alison Roman has the coolest Instagram I've ever seen and it's just, like, insouciant photos of dill.) This phenomenon is curiously absent from The Bear. There are no influencers in the dining room; I don't recall ever seeing a background extra playing a patron hold an iPhone over a dish while their date impatiently waits to dig in. There isn't a frenetic montage of The Bear going viral on social media, just a brief mention of a scallop dish playing well. Instead, the staff are worried about coverage in the paper of record — and they refer to it as such — and excited about a magazine spread in Food & Wine. We read user reviews online all the time, often on products we're thinking of buying. Many of these reviews are useful, many are not. But there's something about building trust with a name you recognize, a source you can return to get perspective you value — whether you agree or not. Restaurants are a lot like newspapers in that they are often chaotic, deadline-driven, high-pressure, public-facing places to work, populated by a colourful cast of characters of varying intensity (I say with utmost affection). In other words, you gotta love it. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. But another commonality they share is the existential threat they face. I've been told 'newspapers are dying' since I began my career in 2006; in 2020, when the world shut down owing to a global pandemic, many restaurants — beloved ones, too — were forced to close their doors forever. People's eating and spending habits have shifted. Takeout has continued to replace dine in, a trend hastened by food-delivery apps. Restaurants and newspapers provide a service, yes, but they also provide tangible, offline experiences and rituals. A delicious meal, beautifully presented, enjoyed with great company. A thoughtfully curated selection of the things you should care about, read over a morning coffee in a favourite mug. This is how things become knit into the fabric of our lives, the fabric of our cities. It's through the ritual. And if these places are any good at what they do, they become institutions. Indispensable, reliable, trusted parts of the community we can't imagine life without — and that we grieve if and when they do close. The Bear is a reminder there's still an appetite for the analogue. Jen ZorattiColumnist Jen Zoratti is a columnist and feature writer working in the Arts & Life department, as well as the author of the weekly newsletter NEXT. A National Newspaper Award finalist for arts and entertainment writing, Jen is a graduate of the Creative Communications program at RRC Polytech and was a music writer before joining the Free Press in 2013. Read more about Jen. Every piece of reporting Jen produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
A Pope, a President and a GOAT
Chicago: People must be wondering how Chicago does it. The Windy City is now the official hometown of Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Francis Prevost. Can you think of another city in the world responsible for a pope, a president and the greatest basketball player of all time? That president is Barack Obama, whose early career as a community organizer on the city's South Side built his brand as he began to rise through the Illinois machine. Like his politics or not, Mr. Obama was a force in American government. He became the country's first black president, campaigning on a message of unity. (That was the message, letter writers!) Michael Jordan needs no introduction. Thirteen-year-olds who weren't born when he retired watch his highlight reels and wear his sneakers. The consensus in the back of my car is that Michael is still the GOAT. LeBron? Sorry, but please. And now we have a Windy City pope. Pope Leo was a child of the South Side, and that helps explain his rise and his commitment to social justice. Scrappy is part of the uniform. The Chicago Tribune says he was raised in Dolton, just outside the city's limits, and went on to study theology at the Catholic Theological Union in East Hyde Park. He worked as a missionary in Peru, but the Trib notes his Chicago roots 'imply tenacity, strength and fearlessness.' Correct. Anyone who lives in Chicago recognizes that description and knows the Michael-Barack-Leo trinity isn't an accident. The city wheels grind on Midwestern grit. People are competitive but awfully nice, because you don't last long here with the staccato manners of New York City. The city is famous for its hot dogs and knows that's a badge of pride. It brags that it's home to more Polish people than Warsaw (though Warsaw might protest). It has immigrant communities with generational neighborhood roots mixed with the smart children of Midwestern farm towns who wanted to get out, but not too far from family to drive home for a weekend. Did I mention the lake effect? Chicagoans call Lake Michigan the country's Third Coast, and they aren't exactly wrong. It's a gorgeous summer spectacle, as good as any ocean for summer beaching. But it's also not an ocean, and calling it the Third Coast reveals the Midwestern striving ethos that's part of Chicago's culture. The city is all the more remarkable because its character shines through a history of remarkably lousy city governments. The Daley machine politics are a source of nostalgia to residents who have lived through the mayoral regimes of Lori Lightfoot and the un-wonderful Brandon Johnson. But that's the city's story: Chicagoans know how to survive a long hard winter. The cardinals aren't unsavvy in their choice of the first American pope in these rather unusual political times in the U.S. Protecting the Vatican's singular voice in world politics is on the agenda, and perhaps Pope Leo's words will be a bit harder to discount. President Trump said after the announcement that the American pope was 'such an honor for our country' and that 'we're a little bit surprised, and we're very happy.' Chicagoans are happy too, and not surprised at all. Ms. Levy is a member of the Journal's editorial board. Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
83-year-old Greensburg woman identified by police as wrong-way driver in Route 30 crash
Apr. 25—State police have identified an 83-year-old Greensburg woman as being the wrong-way driver who caused a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday on Route 30 in Hempfield. Nancy Duva entered the eastbound lanes of the divided highway going west in Subaru Crosstrek around 5:15 p.m., causing the crash just past the Cedar Street exit at a bend in the highway, troopers said. Duva struck a Dodge Ram being driven by Jace Bartsch, 20, of Wheeling, along with a second car, a Hyundai Elantra being driven by Kassidy Warfel, 27, of Latrobe, police said. Bartsch and Warfel were both eastbound. Duva and Bartsch were taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville, Mutual Aid spokesperson Shawn Penzera said. Their conditions are unknown. Warfel refused treatment, police said. The sight distance for eastbound travelers on that section of Route 30 is difficult, state police Trooper Steve Limani said. "The sight distance is designed for people traveling the speed limit or close to it," he said. "Add a vehicle driving toward you at the same speed ... your sight distance is basically cut in half. You basically have no chance — it's almost no chance." The road was closed for four hours while state police reconstructed the crash. About 37,000 vehicles use that stretch of highway daily, according to a PennDOT traffic volume map. Traffic was detoured onto Route 119 and various side streets. Limani said the highway is so busy at that time of day, he is surprised there weren't more injuries. A video recorded by a driver in the westbound lanes and posted on social media showed what appeared to be an SUV driving the wrong direction and slamming into a pickup truck other motorists avoided the collision. Video from Trib news partner WTAE showed a car that appeared to have collided with the pickup. Both had front-end damage. The SUV came to a stop several feet west. In March 2021, AAA and the National Transportation Safety Board warned motorists of an increasing rate of wrong-way crashes resulting in fatalities. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that there were 2,008 deaths from wrong-way crashes on divided highways nationwide between 2015 and 2018. Authorities charged a Charlotte, N.C., man who was eastbound on the westbound side of Interstate 376 near Downtown Pittsburgh on April 13 when he struck an oncoming car, causing a collision that left two people dead. And a little over a year ago, a Scottdale woman was arrested and charged with homicide by vehicle after, police said, she was driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 in South Huntingdon, causing a 2022 crash that killed David Ott of Perryopolis. Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A message from our CEO, Sonal Shah
When I joined The Texas Tribune at the start of 2023, I knew I was stepping into a special place. Like so many others, I was a Texan and a reader — grateful for the Tribune's work — but I didn't fully appreciate the depth of what it takes to produce trusted journalism, reach diverse audiences, and hold people's attention in today's fast-moving world. These past two years have been nothing short of transformational. One of the greatest privileges of this role has been meeting Texans who rely on the Tribune to better understand their government, their communities, and their lives. I've heard from longtime supporters who believed in this mission from day one, from college students who've just now discovered the Tribune, and from new donors eager to ensure Texas has strong, independent journalism for generations to come. Traveling across the state — from McAllen and El Paso to Tyler, Midland, and San Antonio—I've met passionate community leaders, lawmakers, students, business owners, readers and neighbors who care deeply about the power of good across the country, people are losing faith in institutions, including the media. At the same time, local journalism — the foundation of an informed and engaged public — is disappearing. The result? More Texans feel disconnected from the news and uncertain about whom to trust. That's why we didn't just talk about the crisis — we acted. We made a bold commitment to local news, not just to fill a coverage gap, but to rebuild trust with Texans. We launched a strategy to bring deeply rooted, community-trusted journalism to more places across the state — starting with new newsrooms in Waco and Austin, with more to come. This expansion isn't just about growing our footprint; it's about ensuring that Texans, no matter where they live, have access to fact-based, nonpartisan journalism from reporters who understand their communities. At the same time, we've strengthened our statewide newsroom, ensuring that Texans have the information they need to hold power to account. We've embraced new tools — like AI and short-form video—to meet people where they are. And we've built a strong leadership team that is ready to guide the Tribune into its next chapter. Now, it's time for new leadership to carry this vision forward. I've already let our staff, board and many supporters know that I will be stepping down as CEO by December 2025. This decision is deeply personal: As the primary caretaker for my parents, I need to be closer to them and will be moving back to Houston. Until then, my focus will be on ensuring a smooth transition—strengthening our leadership team, integrating our local newsrooms, raising the funds needed to sustain our work, and ensuring a successful Texas Tribune Festival, Nov. 13-15 in downtown Austin. Leading The Texas Tribune has been one of the great honors of my life. I grew up in Alief, in an immigrant family drawn here by opportunity. I love this state, and I believe deeply in the Tribune's mission and the people who power it. I will always be a champion for this work, cheering on the next generation of leaders as they take the Tribune to even greater heights. To our donors: you are in the best hands. The Tribune has one of the most talented, fearless, and committed teams in journalism today. You can count on them as they continue to serve Texans. We are immensely grateful to Sonal Shah for leading the Texas Tribune over the past two years, supportive of her decision, and appreciative that she will help facilitate the transition to a new CEO through the end of 2025. Sonal has continued to double down on the Tribune's journalistic excellence and set the institution up for a bold new strategy to start local newsrooms – and build further trust with communities across the state. This is a great time for a new CEO to lead the Tribune and write the next chapter, building on this ambitious and important approach. The Board of Directors will launch the search for the next CEO effective immediately, working with the Blinkhorn firm through the process. Always innovating on the original mission, The Texas Tribune is the industry leader for delivering trusted information to communities across Texas. The Texas Tribune's leadership team – Matthew Watkins, Darla Cameron, Carrie Bair-Norwood, and Evan Lambert – is poised to guide The Texas Tribune into its next chapter with vision and expertise. Through the end of the year, Sonal will focus on supporting the team by integrating new newsrooms, fundraising for their shared services and managing a successful Texas Tribune festival. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff, and all our readers and supporters: Thank you, Sonal. Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
