Latest news with #WickerPark
CBS News
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
3 teachers hold spelling bee for adults in Chicago's Wicker Park
A crowd turned out in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood Wednesday evening for an adult spelling bee. Three teachers organized the first-ever Wicker Park Spelling Bee in the Chicago Park District park of Wicker Park at Damen Avenue and Schiller Street. Fourth-grade teacher Gracie Hepworth said she was inspired to organize the event while trading TikToks with her friend, teacher Jenna Garcia, and they came across someone who threw a spelling bee party. So they decided, why not hold a spelling bee for adults? "We thought it would be a really fun community event. We're the three teachers on summer break," said Hepworth. "So Jenna and I were talking about it, and then I roped in my fiancé, Matt, who's also a teacher — and one thing led to another." The trio of teachers began putting up simple black-and-white posters around the Wicker Park neighborhood. They also posted a series of TikTok videos, and were shocked that one of them went viral and racked up more than 350,000 views. "Once the TikTok happened, we had no idea what it was going to look like. Our initial instinct was that it would be like maybe a few of our friends, and then maybe a few strangers the posters — probably about 20 people," Hepworth said. "But once we saw how many views it was getting, we had no idea. We all got a little bit nervous. But we were committed to carrying it out, so here we are." Indeed, there were a lot more than 20 people at the spelling bee. They sat on lawn chairs and blankets in the grass, making Wicker Park look more like Ravinia. The teachers said they created the spelling bee because they wanted to spread positivity in their community in an age where social media is dominant in people's lives. They also wanted to get people off their phones to do something in person.
New York Times
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Men, Where Have You Gone? Please Come Back.
May 17. A warm Saturday night in Wicker Park, a vibrant stretch of Chicago where seven restaurants crowd a single block. Troy and I were having dinner at Mama Delia, one of the quieter spots. The sidewalk patio held five tables: three two-tops, including ours, and a pair pulled together for a group of eight women. At those tables, Troy was the only man. The scene was beautiful — low lights, shared plates, shoulders angled in. The kind of evening people wait for all winter. Still, I found myself watching the crowd as it moved past us: women walking in pairs or alone, dressed with care. At table after table at the nearby restaurants, there was a noticeable absence of men — at least of men seated in what looked like dates. Troy and I have known each other for almost 20 years. We met at Playboy, of all places, back when we were both learning how desire gets packaged, sold and sometimes misunderstood. We stayed close friends, bonded not just by our opinions, but by the effort it takes to stay in someone's life. That night, we made the effort. Still, what I saw unfolding around us felt like something else entirely: a collective shift I couldn't unsee. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Phone Arena
19-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Total Wireless kicks off its first-ever social program to support certain customers
Working students are invited at the Summer Career Fair in Chicago | Image credit: Total Wireless To celebrate the launch of its social program, Total Wireless will host a 'Career Spark' Fair in Chicago on June 27 near Wicker Park. Stations at the fair will be focused on student well-being and career growth and include tips and resources to manage work/life balance, short and long term career opportunities, community resources for Total's nonprofit partners and Total Spark grant recipients, a headshot station, lots of Total swag, and more. Those interested in attending the event may reserve a spot by signing up here
