Happy weekend, Block Clubbers,

Because it’s a day that ends in ‘y,” I am going to talk about my dog again. I know I mention Moose a lot in this space, but I don’t think I’ve delved into the backstory of Moose and me.

Moose is a pandemic puppy. In August 2020, a friend who had been fostering shelter dogs said her latest had a brother and she wasn’t sure about taking on two dogs, so would I be up for watching him? The brother was Moose.

I had wondered about getting a dog for years. I had one as a kid (R.I.P. Muffin the beagle mutt) and loved having her. But the twins took most of my attention when they were little so I doubted my abilities to take care of one more living thing. Plus our house doesn’t really have a yard, so would it be fair to coop a dog up like that?

So I thought fostering would be a good way to maybe, tentatively try out having a dog.

Joke’s on me: Moose was an immediate foster fail and has been here ever since. (My friend kept Moose’s brother, too, so it was a win-win all-around.)

We compensate for our lack of yard with multiple daily walks that help me hit my daily 10k step count. The kids are older now, and can actually help out with him occasionally. Best of all, Moose is a delightful companion who is a great listener, is excellent at disposing of leftovers and never misses a Zoom meeting.

All this is to say that if you too are on the fence about a pet, this is a great time to get out there and explore some options! PAWS has a goal of getting 200 animals adopted by the end of the year at its Holiday Adopt-A-Thon. From adorable kittens to laid-back senior dogs and every age in between, you can check out possibilities for your new four-legged best friend at the PAWS space at Armitage and Clybourn now through Dec. 21.

And if you’re a cat person, you’ll want to check out the Field Museum’s new exhibit “Cats: Predators To Pets,” imported from Paris’ natural-history museum. On Sunday, the Field is partnering with the Anti-Cruelty Society to host a Cat Cafe, with live cats on site for visitors to cuddle with. The cats will also be available for adoption.

So if you happen to meet your future pet this weekend, please let us know at arts@blockclubchi.org. 

Happy hunting,

Gwen Ihnat
Arts & Culture Editor

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14 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend: Cocoa Crawl, A Winter Book Exchange And More Holiday Markets

There’s also a Latin America Posada and Health Fair, a Nigerian food pop-up and more.

Finish your holiday shopping at the Chicago Artisan Market in Fulton Market (401 N. Morgan St.) on Sun, Dec 15th (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) with 115+ talented local artisans in food, fashion, home and art.

Get tickets (1 for $8 | 4 for $20)

2025 vendor apps (No junk fees just to fill out application)

This week only: Support Block Club to get a free neighborhood print and be automatically entered to win two tickets to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra!

Top Picks This Weekend

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is apparently one of those stories just made for radio interpretation. Now another group is taking the radio version of the 1946 Frank Capra film to the stage: The community theater group the Kilbourn Park Playhouse is bringing “It’s a Wonderful Life” to Portage Park. The final shows at Tatas Kitchen and Social, 5700 W. Irving Park Road, take place Saturday and Sunday. Far Northwest Side reporter Molly DeVore talked to artistic director James Edward Dauphin about interpreting the movie by way of radio.

Support the Pilsen community and grab those last-minute holiday gifts by visiting the third annual 18th Street Casa De Cultura holiday market this Sunday. The cultural center at 2057 W. 18th St. opened in 2021 as a community space for Chicago’s Mexican and Latino communities. Holiday market shoppers will find handmade jewelry, crafts, amulets, coffee, candles, prints, gifts, textiles and clothing from a variety of local vendors. Pilsen reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez has the details.

In 2013, then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel closed 50 CPS schools. A new documentary, “Beyond Closure,” explores the devastating impact of those lost schools on the South and West sides. You can catch the premiere of “Beyond Closure” Sunday afternoon at the Chicago Cultural Center's Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St., followed by a panel conversation with the team behind the film as well as individuals featured in the documentary. Bronzeville reporter Jamie Nesbitt Golden and West Side reporter Michael Liptrot have more on the film.

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