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🌱 'Hollywood of the Midwest' + World's Largest Pizza Party + 33 Dogs

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Chicago.

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Hello again! In today's Chicago Daily:

  • 🚗 Chicago has the fourth-highest increase in the cost of auto insurance
  • 🎬 Officials broke ground on the "Hollywood of the Midwest"
  • 🐕 33 displaced dogs and puppies are on their way to Chicago for adoption

🌬️ The weather:

Breezy in the morning. High: 43 Low: 28.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Tony Troiano, owner of J.B. Alberto's in Rogers Park, teamed up with an international group of pizza professionals to throw the world's largest pizza party, beating the Guinness World Record. The party also raised $42,090 for the Make-A-Wish Oklahoma. (Block Club Chicago)

2) According to a new study from Bankrate.com, the cost of auto insurance is up more than 14 percent in Chicago since 2022—the fourth-highest increase in the U.S. Another study found that much of the increase is due to inflation, though carjackings and catalytic converter thefts also play a role. (NBC 5)

3) Officials broke ground yesterday on a $100 million media campus at South Chicago Avenue, aiming to make Chicago the "Hollywood of the Midwest" and bring jobs to neighborhood residents. Regal Mile Studios is projected to open in fall 2024 and will have five soundstages, a gym, cafeteria and recreation space. (Chicago Sun-Times)

4) Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul will investigate whether the Chicago Police Department violated state law the last two years when it denied hundreds of undocumented immigrants a chance to apply for U visa certification—a special visa for crime victims. (Injustice Watch)

5) Thirty-three displaced dogs and puppies are headed to PAWS Chicago for adoption after a tornado damaged several Houston-area animal shelters— including one in Pasadena that had its roof completely ripped off. Nineteen are males and 14 are females, and 27 of them are younger than 1 year old. (NBC 5)

📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Intro to Minority and Women Owned Business Certifications for Government Contractors virtual event (10:00 AM)
  • AARP Free Tax Help at Avalon Branch Library (10:15 AM)
  • "King Richard" at Blackstone Branch Library (11:00 AM)
  • Valentines for the Homeless at Humboldt Park Branch Library (11:30 AM)
  • DJ Joe Shanahan at GMan Tavern (5:00 PM)
  • Nikki O'Neill & Her Band at Colvin House (6:30 PM)
  • Our Lady Peace - The Wonderful Future Tour at House of Blues (7:00 PM)
  • Cardiel at Cobra Lounge (7:00 PM)
  • Demetria Taylor at FitzGerald's (7:00 PM)
  • The Charlatans UK & RIDE at The Vic Theatre (7:30 PM)
  • Patrick's Traveling Book Party at Zanies Comedy Club (7:30 PM)
  • J-L Cauvin & Kevin McCaffrey at City Winery (8:00 PM)
  • Rent Control Records DJ Set at Empty Bottle (8:00 PM)
  • Notes on Masculinity at The California Clipper (8:00 PM)
  • Miirrors with Miniskirt and Drazek/Fuscaldo at Sleeping Village (8:30 PM)
  • Trivia Tuesday" Queens We Love Edition at Sidetrack (9:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Posh condo listing: "A sports agent whose clients in the NBA have contracts worth a combined $321.9 million is selling his condominium in a historic River North building." (Crain's Chicago Business via Facebook)
  • Voting by mail: "A step-by-step guide to voting by mail in the Chicago mayoral election." (NBC 5)
  • Salvador Dalí: "COMING SOON—'Salvador Dalí: The Image Disappears' See the first-ever Art Institute exhibition devoted to the quintessential Surrealist and discover 25 works created by the artist at the height of his fame, including rare loans from around the world. Opening February 18." (The Art Institute of Chicago via Facebook)
  • Shamrock Shuffle: "Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle registration still open as race day inches closer." (NBC 5)
  • National Pizza Day: "Thursday, Feb. 7 is National Pizza Day and we're celebrating #Chicago's status as the #1 city for food manufacturing (including pizza) with FREE PIZZA (between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.) thanks to Home Run Inn Pizza. Stop by the Chicago Food St..." (World Business Chicago via Facebook)
  • Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras-Bulls collab: "Young musicians collaborate with Chicago Bulls for Black History Month." (Chicago Defender)
  • Black-owned coffee shops: "20 great Black-owned coffee shops in Chicago." (Infatuation Chicago)

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You're officially in the loop for today!

— Nicole Cvetnic

About me: I'm a Midwesterner and very happy to call Chicagoland home. I love the outdoors—especially hiking—performing arts, photography, good food, travel and gardening. You can find me reading to my toddler, watching tv with my husband or cuddling with our rescue dog.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Chicago Patch newsletter? Contact me at chicago_il@patch.com

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