Mariah Rush

Vintage photobooth studio opens in Wicker Park for 'analog' fans

Eleven photo booths — six vintage-inspired digital and five vintage analog — are in the 2,000 square-foot space, the former home of Bellows Film Lab. Starting Feb. 6, people and pets alike are welcomed into the The Strip Club Photobooth Studio to pay $7 for a turn in a photobooth.

When I go to Wicker Park, I feel a bit "vintage," too. Here's another return-to-analog story from @mariahrush.bsky.social.

Bears fans come together with the help of cheese graters, both real and fake Bears fans could be seen shredding some cheese and wearing foam grater hats to celebrate the team's victory over the Packers.

never thought i’d be able to publish the phrase “celebratory cheese” but here we are !! chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/0...

Ex-CEO of Chicago Public Media saw $900,000 payout in 2024, IRS filings show

The nonprofit owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ paid its outgoing CEO more than $900,000 in 2024, new tax filings show, as it engaged in staff cuts and other measures to deal with declining revenue.

This isn't theoretical: several Chicago stores told me they can't get pennies from banks anymore, even if they want them.

That's why you're seeing "exact change only" signs and new rounding rules pop up.

Business owners have yet to receive clear guidance from the gov on how to handle this.

Here's where to read the whole story by @dmihalopoulos.bsky.social and me, gorgeous photos by Anthony Vazquez and Candace Dane Chambers: chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

End of penny production has Chicago businesses facing coin shortage Some experts say the death of the copper coin isn’t that big of a deal, but the recent end of penny production has led businesses to change their payment policy.

The U.S. has stopped making pennies — and Chicago businesses are already dealing with coin shortages, exact-change signs and rounding rules.

I reported on how stopping production of the "cultural icon" is playing out across the city👇

chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/1...

“We try to explain to them that standing in line right now, walking your dog into the shelter — and I hate to say it this way — but that could be the dog’s very last walk that it’s taking,” said the CACC spokesperson. For @chicago.suntimes.com

Berry and Seven's story isn't unique. Shelters in the area have experienced a jump in owner surrenders, many due to financial and housing reasons.

But owner surrenders are the first euthanized at the city-run shelter.

Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.

Curtis Berry didn't want to give up his dog, Seven. But Seven had a severe ear infection that would cost $1K to treat, and Berry couldn't afford the bill.

chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...

Thanks for sharing Stephanie!!

Pet owner surrender rates are up, overwhelming Chicago shelters More people have been giving up their dogs and cats, citing a tough economy and housing restrictions. The surge is putting a strain on pet shelters and rescue centers.

Sad sign of the times: More pet owners are giving up their dogs and cats because they can’t afford their care or high pet fees from their landlord.

Great reporting by @mariahrush.bsky.social

Reminder: Still no paywall at the nonprofit Chicago Sun-Times!

chicago.suntimes.com/money/2025/0...

Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen. Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.

Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023. He's determined to create apartments while maintaining the Gothic and art deco architecture.

Chicago landmark Pittsfield Building went viral on TikTok. Meet the guy who made it happen. Tom Liravongsa — or as social media knows him, Tom the Skyscraper Guy — has racked up millions of views on videos about the 38-story tower that he purchased in 2023.

Once the tallest skyscraper in Chicago, the Pittsfield Building has drawn in millions of views on social media. “Tom the Skyscraper Guy” tells us how and why he’s turned the building into viral content: chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

Members-only club for dog owners opening in Bucktown Founder Aly Udartseva created Pup Social because she wanted a place offering amenities to dogs and their owners from an off-leash supervised dog park to a nail and hair salon for their owners.

Bucktown's newest exclusive social club includes a co-working lounge with craft brews on tap, a hair and nail salon + outdoor patios with a firepit. But its main focus is on dogs.

More about Pup Social, for @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...

Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.

Western apparel shops around Chicago have seen a boost in sales since the BeyHive came to town.

"God bless Beyoncé," said Alcala's co-owner:
chicago.suntimes.com/small-busine...

Beyoncé's Chicago concerts had the BeyHive swarming shops like Alcala's Western Wear The singer was in town performing at Soldier Field as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, and it meant concertgoers were looking to don their best western gear.

Beyoncé's Chicago concerts at Soldier Field fueled a sales frenzy by her fans at Alcala's Western Wear, doubling their usual best weekend revenue.

Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits While residents in neighborhoods like West Lawn waited years for the promised stores, the owners of Yellow Banana were racking up business and personal problems.

Save A Lot owners get extension on city-funded deal but pattern emerges of missed deadlines, lawsuits. Contractors — including a Latina-owned painting company in Chicago — have filed liens to get paid. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

How the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences An investigation into how the failures of a mental health system can have deadly consequences.

Our series on several odd, shocking, unprovoked attacks in downtown Chicago has finally posted in full on this landing page:

(Note: the Chicago Sun-Times has no paywall.)

(1/9)

chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support.

#ICYMI: Trump targets day cares, children’s programs for massive cuts//Chicago families, preschool providers fear prospect of vital services shutting down, potentially leaving thousands of kids without support. chicago.suntimes.com/education/20...

Veteran Affairs job cuts by the Trump admin have Doyle concerned. “My worry is that ... we will start to see homelessness and suicides again start to rise,” Mark Doyle said.

Read about Veteran Roasters plans to expand in Pullman to create a cafe-brewery-restaurant-roastery and more.

Coffee roastery and cafe staffed by military vets has big plans for South Side expansion Veteran Roasters, a nonprofit with cafes in the Loop and at O'Hare, is getting ready to open a 16,000 square-foot brewpub and cafe in Pullman.

“People who wore the uniform shouldn’t be living in shelters and shouldn’t be living on the street,” said Doyle, founder of Veteran Roasters, which employs only homeless, at-risk veterans.
chicago.suntimes.com/work/2025/04...

Museum founder Peggy Montes established Women's History Month in Chicago — and still is a 'lady in motion' Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"

Peggy Montes started Bronzeville Children’s Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and sought to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?”

Peggy Montes helped establish Chicago's Women's History Month — and still is a 'lady in motion' Peggy Montes started the Bronzeville Children's Museum, worked to elect Mayor Harold Washington and seeks to empower, inspire women: “I said, ‘Why is there no celebration of women and what women do?"

Happy Women's History Month! Peggy Montes, now 88, helped elect our first Black mayor Harold Washington, and led the charge to celebrate Women's History Month for the first time in Chicago. For @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...

We’re the Chicago Sun-Times Guild, a union that’s been around for decades to protect the future of the Sun-Times newsroom and our dozens of members who have kept it running.

We’ve already seen many colleagues head out the door in the past few weeks. And we’re worried that more could soon follow.

my dog turned a very bratty 14, so we made her a cake and had grand ol time.

very belatedly, here goes an intro post: I'm a @chicago.suntimes.com reporter writing about the South and West sides on our race, class and communities team! My author page currently reflects an obsession with business + some healthcare but I write a lil bit of everything, so pls email me any tips!

She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...

She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her // Seems the partnerships w local businesses that Yellow Banana promised didn't pan out so well, not for I Love My Coffee Black @mariahrush.bsky.social and I report chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...

I Love My Coffee Black slated to open coffee shop at Englewood Save A Lot The Black-owned online coffee company will open its first store at the former Whole Foods location by the end of this year.

I originally wrote about the deal YB made to put this Black-owned coffee company in the Englewood store as a coffee bar back in Nov. 2023. At the time, it was the first promise made by the company that seemed to come to fruition: chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...

She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her Yellow Banana, which got a $20 million city contract to renovate grocery stores on the South and West sides, also promised it would partner with several community-based and Black-owned businesses, inc...

another one w/@bylaurenfitz.bsky.social: 'She had a deal to run a coffee bar inside the Englewood Save A Lot, but Yellow Banana ghosted her' chicago.suntimes.com/business/202...