Yearly Archives: 2025

Chicago’s ‘Remarkably Rotund’ Beaver Has A New Name

Chicagoans have finally named their favorite beaver.

A “remarkably rotund” beaver living, eating and knocking down trees on the Southwest Side along the Chicago River chewed her way into local lore after being captured on wildlife tracking cameras in February.

Environmental nonprofit Urban Rivers held a public naming contest for the beaver, who had been described as “spherical,” a “deep-dish Bridgeport resident” and most likely pregnant.

The winning name — Ida Beav Wells — was unveiled Wednesday at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave. Al Scorch, a local singer-songwriter known for his viral poem about Chicago-style hot dogs, mayoral election smash-hit “Paul Vallas Hates House Music” and being the first to document Chonk, a local enormous snapping turtle who made national headlines, announced the winner.

Wildlife experts told the crowd Ida Beav Wells was in fact pregnant — and now has two kits, according to ABC7.

Urban Rivers announced the kits’ names Thursday: Chewy Garcia and Plumpton Sinclair.

Over the years, Urban Rivers has seen “a lot of beavers” around Wild Mile Chicago, the world’s first floating eco-park, and around the South Branch of the Chicago River, Executive Director Nick Wesley previously said. The group has observed at least five or six beavers in that area, and it’s continuing to collect research on the semi-aquatic rodents and where they live in the river and city, he said.

St. Patrick’s Day 2025: Where to see Chicago River dyeing and parades

Chicago is gearing up for a weekend full of St. Patrick’s Day parades and citywide celebrations. Here’s what you need to know. St. Patrick’s Day is on Monday, March 17. The three annual parades are held the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day. The Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown is held on the Saturday before…MORE

Rare 40th anniversary “The Breakfast Club” reunion happening in Chicago

A rare movie reunion has just been announced involving all five of the main cast of high schoolers from the 1985 classic, “The Breakfast Club.” “The Brain,” “The Princess,” “The Jock,” The Basket Case,” and “The Criminal,” at least, that’s how they saw each other at the beginning, will reunite in Chicago. Anthony Michael Hall…MORE