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🌱 Two Chicago Hotels Make 'Top 50' List + Lakeview SWAT Investigation

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

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Good morning! As always, thanks for checking out today's Chicago Daily. In your guide to local stories:

  • ✉️ Stolen postal property was discovered in a hotel room in the Loop.
  • 🌷 An Englewood flower shop is swapping roses for tulips this Valentine's Day.
  • 🏎️ The NASCAR summer street race could pump $113 million into the local economy.

☁️ The weather:

Turning out cloudy. High: 42 Low: 36.

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📰 Top 5 stories in Chicago:

1) Chicago police and federal authorities are investigating evidence of a potential large-scale mail fraud operation that was discovered yesterday at Virgin Hotel in the Loop. Police found various electronic items and postal property inside a vacant hotel room, and were seen hauling large bags out of the hotel. (WGN 9)

2) No charges will be filed against a man who shot two dogs, killing one, in Lakeview yesterday. The man claimed to have acted in self-defense. Initial reports of the shooting led to a SWAT investigation, after the man barricaded himself inside a residence. Officers were on the scene for five hours. (CBS Chicago)

3) NASCAR says the summer street race in Grant Park could provide a $113 million boost to the local economy, attract 65,000 out-of-town attendees and showcase scenic parts of downtown to millions around the world. A NASCAR study expects tourists to book 24,000 hotel room nights in the city and generate $8.9 million in city, county and state tax revenue. (Chicago Sun-Times)

4) Two Chicago hotels made the U.S. News & World Report's "The 50 Best Hotels in the USA" list for 2023. The Langham at 330 N. Wabash Ave. ranked No. 8 and The Peninsula Chicago at 108 E. Superior ranked at No. 11. The list was compiled using a variety of factors, including hotel star rankings, industry recognition and guest feedback. (NBC 5)

5) Southside Blooms in Englewood is offering affordable, eco-friendly and homegrown tulips for Valentine's Day. The vertically integrated in-house flower shop grew 18,000 tulips in its basement over a three-month period of time. A special bouquet wrapped in recycled South Side Weekly newspaper starts at $50. (ABC 7)

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📌 Today in Chicago:

  • Have a Heart . . . & Give Valentines! at Edgewater Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • AARP Free Tax Preparation at Jeffery Manor Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • AARP Free Tax Preparation at Hall Branch Library (10:00 AM)
  • Adult DIY: Valentine's Day Picture Frame at Gage Park Branch Library (10:30 AM)
  • "Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad" at Pritzker Military Museum & Library (11:00 AM)
  • History of Black Photography at DuSable Museum of African American History (5:00 PM)
  • Test Literary Series at Whistler (6:00 PM)
  • Galactic Movie Night at Uncommon Ground Lakeview (6:00 PM)
  • Bassel & The Supernaturals at Epiphany Center for the Arts: The Sanctuary (7:00 PM)
  • Talisk at SPACE (7:30 PM)
  • Andy Brown & Friends with Guest Kyle Asche at Winters Jazz Club (7:30 PM)
  • NerdBear: Pokemon Trivia at The SoFo Tap (8:00 PM)
  • Jazz and Jokes at Reggie's (8:00 PM)
  • Breabach at Old Town School of Folk Music (8:00 PM)
  • Kayo, T Star Verse, Kiraly Payne at Schubas (8:00 PM)
  • DJ Lovebug & Mike Slugs at Punch House (9:00 PM)
  • Gag! A Celebration of Life at Berlin (10:00 PM)

📱 Social chatter:

  • Illinois Teacher of the Year finalist: "Anne Gray's love for music and dedication to her students caught the attention of colleagues who nominated her. Chalkbeat Chicago reports:" (Block Club Chicago via Facebook)
  • New indoor play treehouse: "Our new -- indoor -- Houston Family Play Treehouse at Pritzker Family Children's Zoo is open! 🎉 This nature-based, free-play area offers an immersive, sensory experience for children to explore. Stop in with your family to experience it for yourselves!" (Lincoln Park Zoo via Facebook)
  • "The Wizard of Oz" auditions: "Seeking children (ages 5 & up) and adults to audition for Beverly Theatre Guild's musical production of 'The Wizard of Oz.' Performances on April 28-30, 2023 at the Baer Theater at Morgan Park Academy Arts Center. Auditions are on February 26 or 27, with Callbacks on February 28, 2023." (Chicago Patch)

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That's it 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

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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