Gwen Ihnat

5 days ago | blockclubchicago.org | Gwen Ihnat

NEAR NORTH SIDE — As the 7 a.m. Mass was underway Friday at Holy Name Cathedral, a newcomer walked through the massive church doors, wondering if the service was public. After he was assured he was welcome, the visitor said, “I’ve never been here before. I’m excited.”The morning after Chicago learned one of its own — Bronzeville-born Robert Francis Prevost — had been named pope, the celebratory mood that swept over the city and its residents had yet to subside.

3 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Gwen Ihnat

CHICAGO — The weather is warming up, and so is Chicago’s events schedule. Don’t miss the city’s largest art event this weekend, Expo Chicago, which is inspiring other arts exhibitions around the area. You can also still celebrate Earth Day with some environmental events that offer possibilities for volunteering. There’s also the Chicago Poetry Festival Downtown, the Chicago Electronic Music Conference, a boozy Sunday tea service, a vintage market, a rum festival and more.

3 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Gwen Ihnat

DOUGLASS PARK — Riot Fest marks its 20th anniversary this fall with a lineup featuring Blink-182, Weezer and Green Day as headliners for the three-day fest. Other major draws include Jack White, Idles, Alkaline Trio, The Pogues, The Hold Steady, Bad Religion, Jawbreakers, All Time Low, James, Dropkick Murphys and Rilo Kiley.

3 weeks ago | blockclubchicago.org | Gwen Ihnat

UPTOWN — The rock quartet OK Go is probably better known for their videos at this point than their appealing pop stylings. From the early days of their Grammy Award-winning video for “Here It Goes,” the band has expanded into elaborate Rube Goldberg machines, shooting in zero gravity in a plane and Busby Berkeley-like musical numbers while riding motorized scooter chairs — usually with the high bar of filming in a single shot.

1 month ago | blockclubchicago.org | Gwen Ihnat

CHICAGO — Although there are only a handful of them left on the air today, soap operas were once a more prominent force in daytime television. Kids raced home after school to watch the final half of ABC’s “General Hospital”; other devoted fans TiVo-ed shows like NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” to catch their favorite supercouples like Bo and Hope or Marlena and John.