Afternoon Edition: May 26, 2020

Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

The weekend’s gorgeous summer weather continues today: This afternoon will be partly sunny, with a high near 88 degrees. There’s a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this evening as the low drops to around 69 degrees. Tomorrow, more showers and thunderstorms are possible, and the high will be around 83 degrees.

Top story

Chicago’s new normal: When will tourists come back?

Chicago has drawn more than 55 million domestic and international visitors annually for the past several years, lured in part by summer offerings like Lollapalooza and Millennium Park concerts, as well as year-round draws like the Art Institute and Navy Pier.

The city has also benefited from a travel and tourism boom boosted by the strong economy that followed the 2008 Great Recession, with 153,700 jobs tied to Chicago tourism in 2019.

But that was before the coronavirus pandemic upturned the whole world. Now, it’s clear that Chicago tourism numbers won’t reach anywhere close to previous levels until there’s a COVID-19 vaccine or effective treatment.

Since March, numerous trade shows have been canceled, and many summer festivals have been called off. Choose Chicago, the organization charged with boosting Chicago’s image, was hit hard by the loss of hotel and airline passenger tax revenues, which the privately run organization said funded $24 million of its $31 million budget last year.

The tourism group is now focusing its efforts on showcasing Chicago as a safe place where reopening protocols are based on public health and science, said board chairman Glenn Eden, an executive vice president with the public relations firm Weber Shandwick.

Its new campaign, called “Tourism & Hospitality Forward,” encourages hotels, restaurants, museums and other attractions to pledge to keep “socially responsible” health and to prominently display that info on their websites and in other communications.

Unlike some cities that have hurtled toward a rapid reopening with a patchwork of measures, Chicago wants to be viewed as an intelligent destination that visitors can trust, Eden said: “The science will always prevail.“

With the drop in international visitors, the organization sees locals, as well as residents of the Upper Midwest, as the most likely to visit here first. The city plans to highlight neighborhood attractions as a way to offer “exploration and adventure” for these nearby visitors.

Experts agree that trust will be key to restoring Chicago’s tourism. “If you already have a trustworthy brand, this is the time to use it,” said Kent Grayson, a marketing professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Tourists, like customers of any business in the post-pandemic world, will need to feel confident that the places they visit are run by people who are competent to keep them safe, Grayson said: “The stakes are much higher now.”

Read the full story from Stephanie Zimmermann here.

More news you need

1. Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said cabin fever stemming from the state’s stay-at-home order contributed to the most violent Memorial Day weekend Chicago has experienced since 2015. A total of 49 people were shot, 10 of whom died.
2. We’re tracking Illinois’ progress along Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phase plan to gradually reopen the state, using data from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Keep up with the state’s status here.
3. A federal judge has denied compassionate release from prison to a man who, along with his brother, has been heralded as one of the most important drug informants in U.S. history for turning on “El Chapo.” Jon Seidel has the latest on this story.
4. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle vetoed a resolution today that would provide the addresses of COVID-19 positive patients to first responders in suburban Cook County. The veto is the first for the Cook County Board president.
5. Another 39 people have died of COVID-19 today in Illinois, marking the fourth consecutive day with fewer than 100 deaths reported.

A bright one

New artist incubator opening in Humboldt Park

Creative types with roots in Humboldt Park have launched a co-working space tailored to help launch the careers of black and brown artists.

Denise Ruiz, the Honeycomb Network’s founder, said it will serve as a hub for artists from around the city to collaborate with others while also focusing on mental wellness.

“We want to normalize mental health care and break the cycle that pushes the negative stigma of speaking with a therapist,” Ruiz said. “We want to connect those two things by fulfilling our creative and wellness dreams.”

Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

So while the office will offer many of the same amenities as other co-working spaces — high-speed internet, a kitchen with coffee, offices and meeting rooms — it also will have an in-house bilingual therapist.

Ruiz, a writer, creative consultant and mixed-media artist, said the Honeycomb Network will also be an information hub where people can learn more about their respective practices. The group will provide business coaching for entrepreneurs, health counseling and cooking workshops. It also will offer classes centered around cultural arts, like Afro-Caribbean dance.

Read Manny Ramos’ full story for more on this creative new incubator.

From the press box

Kevin White, the former Bears first-round pick who played just 14 games in four years, opened up on an NBC Sports podcast about how difficult it was to have his football career derailed by circumstances out of his control. “I definitely felt cheated ... because I did everything the right way,” White said.

The Bears are hoping for a better outcome with speedy fifth-round pick Darnell Mooney, who should get a chance to earn a significant role in the team’s passing game as a rookie.

Your daily question ☕

How did you celebrate Memorial Day differently this year?

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might include your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Friday, we asked you what your favorite at-home cocktail is. Here’s what many people said…

“Red 🍷 wine.” — Kaleah Nicolle

“Wine.” — Rosa Perez

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