LETTER FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
I’ve bled Cubbie blue since the age of five (the first autograph I ever got was from team broadcaster Steve Stone, my daily companion on WGN), and even five months after the World Series, it’s still surreal to think that our Chicago Cubs are the champs. Finally, after the years of mediocrity and close calls and heartbreaking misses, none of it matters. The curse has been lifted, and there’s joy in Wrigleyville.
Joe Maddon is a huge reason for that. With his quirkily relaxed managerial style, the Hazleton, Pennsylvania, native kept the young team at ease when the pressure was highest, and they delivered—and how. As a die-hard fan and a proud Chicagoan, I’m thrilled to have Joe grace our Late Spring cover as he steps back into the dugout for the Cubs’ first post-curse season.
Joe isn’t the only impressive figure in our pages this time around: It’s also our Power Players Issue, featuring nine influential Chicago women who are making great things happen in the city and around the world. From finance guru Nicole Lapin and fitness queen Haley Stone to US Army veterans and saffron entrepreneurs Kimberly Jung and Emily Miller, each has a bold vision and will to succeed that are downright inspiring.
“Inspiring” also perfectly describes the upcoming cultural season, with major milestones for a trio of local institutions:
The Museum of Contemporary Art kicks off its 50th anniversary celebration with a much-anticipated exhibit from Takashi Murakami; the National Museum of Mexican Art fêtes its 30th with a gala and a show focusing on local Latino artists; and in Oak Park, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust honors the 150th birthday of the master architect with an essential event for architecture buffs, the Wright Plus 150 housewalk. All that, plus a victory lap for the city’s latest world champions? Now that’s what I call a sensational spring.