Articles

  • 6 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Dave Hoekstra

    WICKER PARK — Ken Ellis — artist, bartender and doorman with a resume unrivaled in Chicago nightlife — grew up in the Gold Coast, in the shadows of a neon wilderness. His father was a building engineer and janitor at 1235-45 N. Astor St. In 1960, when Ellis was 6, he moved with his parents north from Bronzeville to the Victorian brownstone on Astor, where his dad was on call 24 hours.

  • 2 weeks ago | davehoekstra.com | Dave Hoekstra

    Now Reading Long may you run: Mark Ibach 1957-2025 138 138 A friend to his dog is a friend to all. My friend Mark Ibach was all that and more. Since 1981, he rescued five basset hounds. There may even have been more that we don’t know about. Mark’s Christmas cards featured a photo of him with his hounds. He brought them to the annual Chicago White Sox Dog Day.

  • 1 month ago | davehoekstra.com | Dave Hoekstra

    Now Reading Duke Slater: Passing the torch of a Chicago legend 5 5 Once you learn that a good life comes from a series of small gains you will move on to bigger things. This is the ethos of football legend Duke Slater. Frederick “Duke” Slater was the first Black lineman in the National Football League.

  • 1 month ago | newcity.com | Dave Hoekstra

    A stirring parable of Southeast Chicago can be told through the punk band Dead Steelmill. They formed in 1985 in response to the collapse of the local steel industry. All four members came from steelworker families and their ethos contains the neighborhood’s values of family, relentless spirit and rebirth.

  • 1 month ago | davehoekstra.com | Dave Hoekstra

    Now Reading Chompin’ at the Bytes 5 5 Just when you think journalism is dead, the three-year-old American Thoroughbred Journalism is the lively favorite to win Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Actually, the last time horse racing was super popular was about the last time people carried around newspapers.

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Dave Hoekstra
Dave Hoekstra @DaveHoekstra66
2 Jun 25

My take on a Chicago nightlife icon who shares the light. Beautiful images via @colinbphoto https://t.co/7chZFAzflD

Dave Hoekstra
Dave Hoekstra @DaveHoekstra66
22 May 25

If you like dogs you would have loved my friend Mark: https://t.co/PbXAfHISJd

Dave Hoekstra
Dave Hoekstra @DaveHoekstra66
30 Apr 25

An inspiring story from all angles: https://t.co/Yr2PBD5rmy