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Good Monday morning, Evanston.
Above, Irish folk band One of the Girls plays a jam-packed St. Patrick’s Day concert Sunday at SPACE. (Photo by Chris Gillock.)
Northwestern University president Michael Schill, who took office less than two years ago, has faced turbulent times of late. He oversaw the bitterly contentious process that ultimately won approval for concerts at a new Ryan Field and has been the target of an ad campaign alleging that antisemitism is proliferating at NU. In an exclusive Q&A with the RoundTable, Schill discusses town-gown relations, offers thoughts on Evanston zoning and names his favorite local restaurant.
The Frances Willard House and Museum at 1730 Chicago Ave. has long served as a quiet memorial to the temperance leader, who died in 1898. But lately it’s been the subject of some noisy disputes. In 2019, eight state chapters of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, which owns the site, filed suit against a plan to join with the Frances Willard Historical Association. In October 2023, a judge ruled the merger pact was unenforceable. Now the future of an important piece of Evanston’s past is shrouded in uncertainty.
RoundTable roundup
Tuesday: James Schottelkotte of Northwestern University’s astrophysics center will speak on how to view the April 8 solar eclipse at 7 p.m. at the Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St.
Wednesday: Illinois Libraries Present hosts a virtual conversation with two-time Oscar winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter on Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: The city will hold two public engagement sessions on Envision Evanston 2045, its zoning overhaul initiative:
• A Spanish-language session at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main St.
• A 6:30 p.m. Thursday session in the Caldwell Assembly Hall of Westminster Place, 3200 Grant St.
Friday: Singer, pianist and harmonica player Derrick Procell plays a free Jamming Jean concert at 5 p.m. at the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave.
For more events, check out our Events Calendar.
More RoundTable reads
City Engineer Laura Biggs (right, addressing the Finance & Budget Committee) said a proposal to require city staff to bring certain unbudgeted large projects to the panel for review before going to City Council could add delays of up to eight weeks and sizable costs to the process.
Evanston’s Liquor Control Review Board on Friday discussed overhauling the city’s complex liquor licensing system. The city has 41 different liquor license types in its code, none of which cover actual bars or taverns, creating what Mayor and Liquor Commissioner Daniel Biss calls a “ridiculous mess.”
Four James Beard award-winning chefs (clockwise from upper left: Beverly Kim, Debbie Gold, Sarah Stegner and Gale Gand) will unite in Evanston for a Tuesday benefit at LeTour, 625 Davis St. Proceeds from the event will go to The Abundance Setting, a nonprofit that aids working mothers in the hospitality industry.
ETHS Foundation holds ‘Wild’ fundraiser at brewery. More than 300 ETHS fans attended the foundation’s annual Wild for ETHS benefit, which featured live music, a silent auction, local food and Sketchbook beverages.
ETHS track: Johnson, Hassard claim CSL South indoor titles. Individual victories for the two freshmen left the Wildkits with the feeling that the glass was half full, despite an uncharacteristically low third-place finish in team standings.
ETHS baseball: Opportunity knocks for new group of seniors. The graduation of 16 seniors from last season’s squad clears the way for this year’s seniors, seven of whom started in Saturday’s season-opening win over Loyola.
At This Time: 4:55 p.m. Saturday. Evanston forester Wemmeth Ogunremi trims a maple tree on the 1200 block of Maple Avenue. Said Ogunremi: “It’s fun – if you like heights.” (Photo by Richard Cahan.)
Bulletin board
Northwestern University Dance Marathon celebrates a half century of giving back. The March 29-30 event is the culmination of a yearlong fundraising effort aiding Ronald McDonald House and the Evanston Community Foundation.
Upcoming Evanston History Center lecture focuses on Chicagoland mid-century architecture competition. Associate professor Siobhan Moroney of Lake Forest College will discuss how designs reflected the expectations of middle-class families and the social norms that dictated their lives and aspirations.
Photos from our readers
Mike Roche shared this photo of an owl perching in northwest Evanston. Send your photos to news@evanstonroundtable.com for a chance to be included in this newsletter.
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Around the web
NUGW members vote to ratify contract agreement with University. The three-year deal raises graduate workers’ base stipend from $36,960 to $41,000 in June and to $45,000 in September, with 3% increases in 2025 and 2026.
‘Best player to play at Northwestern’: How Boo Buie helped redefine NU basketball. With the all-time scoring record, countless big-time shots and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, Buie will be on the short list of the best Wildcats ever.
Chicago slowly starts evicting migrants from shelters. Of the nearly three dozen migrants expected to be evicted from shelters Sunday as the city began enforcing its 60-day shelter stay rule, just three were removed.
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