🌱 COVID Cases Up 70 Percent + José Andrés Opens New Restaurants

Happy Friday, Lakeview! Here's the news for Dec. 10.

First, today's weather: Afternoon rain; breezy. High: 47 Low: 45.

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Here are the top stories in Lakeview today:

1. Chicago is averaging more than 900 coronavirus cases per day, a 70 percent increase from last week. The health department reports that hospitalizations remain down about 40 percent. (CBS)

2. Jussie Smollett was found guilty on five felony counts of disorderly conduct Thursday. The former "Empire" actor was charged with staging a hate crime against himself and lying to Chicago police in 2019. (Patch)

3. City officials are not ruling out requiring proof of vaccination to enter Chicago’s bars and restaurants. Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York already require vaccine proof to patronize indoor businesses. (Eater)

4. Wrigley Field remains at the center of the city’s sports betting debate. The Tribune reports Mayor Lori Lightfoot has “work to do” to get the stadium ordinance through the City Council, whose members “balked” at the idea of allowing a betting center at the Cubs venue. (Paid source: Tribune)

5. Chicago Foodways Tours is offering “the Great Chicago Cookie Box” as a gift option this season. It features more than 30 cookies from nine bakeries in the city, including German cookies from Lakeview’s famous Dinkel’s Bakery. (Paid source: Tribune)

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Today in Lakeview:

• “Being the Ricardos” opens at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. (12:45 p.m.)
• See “It’s A Wonderful Life” at Music Box Theatre. (6:15 p.m.)
• Ballet Chicago's “Nutcracker” returns to the Athenaeum Theatre. (7 p.m.)
• Sing “Songs of Good Cheer” with the Old Town School of Folk Music. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The 20th Annual 12 Days of Xmas Bar Crawl will return to Wrigleyville tomorrow. (TBOX)
• Two new José Andrés restaurants open today in Chicago. (Eater)
• The Alphonsus Academy & Center for the Arts collected more than 50 gifts for Toys for Tots. (Facebook)
• Former Bears tight end Zach Miller will visit several neighborhoods Sunday during the Bears-Packers game to give away Miller Lite Christmas sweaters and other goodies. (Eater)
• Chicago's Palmer House is celebrating its 15oth anniversary. (CBS)

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Featured businesses:

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Events:

• Music Of The Baroque and Christmas Carols (December 11)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Holiday Edition) in Fulton Market — Sunday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
• Late Night Shopping: Armitage & Halsted (December 15)
• Chicago Scene New Year's Eve Party at The Drake Hotel (December 31)
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That's all for today, Lakeview! See you tomorrow for a Saturday update.

— Georgi Presecky