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Stefano Esposito

Staff Reporter News
Closeup of Archaeopteryx skull
Arts & Culture
Archaeopteryx — one of Field Museum's greatest acquisitions — emerged from a suitcase in Switzerland hotel room
By Stefano Esposito
 
faux flowers
Arts & Culture
These flowers are fake, but Chicago businesses embrace them as a very real way to attract customers
By Stefano Esposito
 
Father Ephraim of Saints Athanasios and John Greek Orthodox Church pedals his velombile — a covered, non-motorized tricycle, outside his church in Irving Park.
Race, Class & Communities
What’s that lean, green, pedal-powered machine on Chicago streets?
By Stefano Esposito
 
Dan Larson holding dog
Arts & Culture
Frannie the chihuahua loves Hoffman Estates mail carrier, and thanks to social media, the whole world knows it
By Stefano Esposito
 
Hamid Rahmanian holding fan of puppets
Arts & Culture
On a Chicago stage, hundreds of puppets will retell an ancient Iranian story
By Stefano Esposito
 
Epic Snack Shack co-owner Ali Zaidi and his daughter Rayan Zaidi, 11, hold squid-flavored Lay’s potato chips and sour candy at Epic Snack Shack, which sells anime-themed products and snacks from all over the world, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.
Arts & Culture
Anyone for chicken feet-flavored Lay’s? Whopper-flavored Doritos? New Lincoln Park snack shop has these and more
By Stefano Esposito
 
For 100 years, University of Chicago researchers have been traveling to the ancient Egyptian temple complex of Medinet Habu near the banks of the Nile River.
Arts & Culture
Racing to save ancient history, University of Chicago scientists work to preserve carvings in Egypt
By Stefano Esposito
 
Ellie Cotey, costume manager at the Joffrey Ballet, works on a costume for The Nutcracker at the Joffrey Ballet in the Loop, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023.
Arts & Culture
A stitch in time: Joffrey Ballet costume crew stands ready to fix any rips in ‘The Nutcracker’
By Stefano Esposito
 
The CIBC Theatre marquee heralds “Boop! The Musical.”
Arts & Culture
Who was Betty Boop? A new stage musical in Chicago tells a tale of the timeless cartoon creation.
By Stefano Esposito
 
Three train cars decorated with holiday images on The Allstate CTA Holiday Train at the CTA Skokie Shop
Arts & Culture
Making the holiday trains: How CTA decks the L’s at Santa’s Skokie workshop
By Stefano Esposito
 
Amanda Anderson holding open book up to face
Arts & Culture
The only romance bookstore in Chicago is off to a happy beginning
By Stefano Esposito
 
Abby De La Cruz (left) and her parents, Zenaida and Efren, of Darien stand Wednesday in front of the Colorado blue spruce tree selected as the City of Chicago’s Christmas tree.
Arts & Culture
The given tree: Grateful immigrant family donates blue spruce to the city for Christmas
By Stefano Esposito
 
Kyle Weisner stands in front of a stack of crushed vehicles at Victory Auto Wreckers at 710 E. Green Street in Bensenville. His family has owned the business since 1967.
Arts & Culture
Victory Auto Wreckers, featured in famous ’80s TV commercials, is closing up shop
By Stefano Esposito
 
Cruel joke for trick-or-treaters or coveted seasonal delight? The great Halloween debate over candy corn goes on.
Arts & Culture
Gross or gratifying? The great Halloween candy corn debate continues.
By Stefano Esposito
 
Drama masks
Arts & Culture
Report paints a portrait of Chicago’s cultural arts scene in ‘crisis’ post-pandemic
By Stefano Esposito
 
Reporters try out the new SoundShirt during a rehearsal Tuesday of Lyric Opera’s “The Flying Dutchman.” The shirt allows wearers to “feel” music through vibrations that are activated by sound.
Arts & Culture
Lyric Opera’s SoundShirt — a new way deaf, hearing-impaired patrons can experience music
By Stefano Esposito
 
A truck drives by as Laura Levan stands outside the house where she and her kids once lived in the 4800 block of West Ainslie Street
What would you do if trucks kept backing into your house? Past tenant moved out but current North Side homeowner is hoping to stay.
By Stefano Esposito
 
Temperatures in the Chicago area are expected to climb to the upper 90s by Friday.
Environment & Public Health
Ready or not, here comes the heat
By Stefano Esposito