Events

Last weekend, California governor Gavin Newsom (D) announced that the San Francisco-San Jose heavy commuter rail line had entered the late 19th century (in a good way): On Thursday, the California High-Speed Rail Authority named its new CEO, Ian Choudri – and today, Choudri joined Governor Gavin Newsom in San Francisco to help celebrate the debut of Caltrain’s new electrified train fleet that will transform rail service in the Bay Area and play a key role in California’s high-speed rail system. The...

Jennifer Rubin adds her voice to the growing chorus warning that the XPOTUS doesn't seem to have even a full Euchre deck: Trump seems unable to handle reality. His opponent is beating him by multiple metrics, especially crowd size. In response, he posted several obvious lies on Truth Social, claiming that “nobody was there” and that photos and video of Vice President Kamala Harris’s crowds were AI-generated (our own reporters were eyewitnesses to the event). Trump might be conditioning voters for...

As I wait for a build pipeline to run, I'm reading these: Harvard law professor Richard Lazarus argues that the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity doesn't shield the XPOTUS from the most serious charges he faces. Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a professor of Thai politics, sees recent events in Thailand as heralds of the coming end of the monarchy's control. Why do people just stop dating? Finally, author John Scalzi doesn't want you to idolize authors—especially not him: Enjoy the art...

National Geographic examines the characteristics that make some cities better bets than others for surviving climate change: Immigrants tend to migrate to neighborhoods that meet their cultural and linguistic needs, but the exodus of climate migrants to Buffalo wasn’t solely due to that established community. Months before Maria struck, the city’s mayor declared Buffalo a “climate refuge city,” noting that Buffalo has, “… a tremendous opportunity as our climate changes.” Since then, the city has...

I had painters in my house yesterday and today, and this morning I finally got chased out of my office for a bit. That meant I had more to do this afternoon, which meant I didn't get a chance to read much. Which is only to say, regular posting resumes tomorrow.

I have painters painting and I'm coding code today, so I'm just noting a couple of interesting stories for later: The New York Times explains how the warming climate could send seven systems over the tipping point into unrecoverable damage. Bloomberg CityLab climbs through the $80 million effort to make Chicago's Merchandise Mart last another 90 years. National governments trying to protect their own railroads have derailed private cross-EU night-train service, hurting passengers. The City of Chicago...

Yesterday, Cassie and I walked 16.4 km (just over 10 miles), including a 10 km walk that I'd planned only to be a bit less than 7 km. I wanted to stop by Ravinia Brewing's Logan Square taproom, but alas, when we got there, the patio was closed. So we went to Burning Bush instead. In all, we spent most of the day outside in the perfect weather. We'll do more of the same today, just not quite as much walking. Another brewery that didn't make the cut for the Brews & Choos Project—it's too far from the...

Welcome to a second visit to stop #77 on the Brews and Choos project, previously reviewed in August 2022. Brewery: Banging Gavel Brews, 6811 Hickory St., Tinley ParkTrain line: Rock Island District, Tinley ParkTime from Chicago: 35 minutes (Zone 3)Distance from station: 100 m I'm re-reviewing Banging Gavel Brews after only two years because they didn't have an indoor space until December. And just look at that beautiful building! (Yes, I say while blowing on my fingernails, that is in fact my photo from...

Welcome to stop #115 on the Brews and Choos project. Brewery: Arrowhead Ales, 2101 Calistoga Dr., New LenoxTrain line: Southwest Service, Laraway Road Time from Chicago: 62 minutes, Zone 4Distance from station: 400 m For all you urbanists reading the Brews & Choos Project posts because you want to get fresh beer without driving...you won't like Arrowhead Ales. But I did promise to go to every brewery I could reach, so for the sense of completeness, and to celebrate the fact that I've now been on every...

Yesterday I went out to the exurban village of New Lenox to review one of the most remote breweries on the Brews & Choos list, near the Laraway Road station on the Southwest Service. (Fun fact: After decades of living here, I have now taken every one of Chicago's commuter rail lines at least once.) I had planned to walk from there to Rock Island train station in the center of town, as the Southwest Service didn't have a return train until 10:30pm. I knew the first 2 kilometers of the walk would have...