Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

Father Augustus Tolton escaped slavery in Missouri to become the first openly recognized Black Catholic priest, ministering in Quincy, Illinois and establishing the first standalone Black Catholic church in Chicago. While there are currently no African American saints, he is currently a candidate for sainthood.

The Illinoisan and Chicagoan Lizzie Magie invented a board game at the turn of the twentieth century as a teaching tool on behalf of anti-land ownership ideals. It later influenced Monopoly. Discover her story in an excerpt from a new American Experience documentary on Monopoly. 

Tristan is determined to become his own man outside of Siegfried's shadow as Christmas approaches and Siegfried makes a devilish bargain to protect his brother. An impending departure clarifies things for Mrs. Hall. 

Fat Tuesday may now be unofficially known as Pączki Day in Chicago, but there are plenty of other treats to enjoy on a day when Christians traditionally used up fat and meat before entering a period of fasting. 

Tyris Bell helped his brother Darnell Reed open Luella's Southern Kitchen and worked there for the past eight years. Now he has opened his own place, an eclectic barbecue joint in Canaryville. Don't worry, it still has mac 'n' cheese.

When Tyris Bell decided to open his own restaurant, Bell Heir's BBQ in Canaryville, after opening Luella's Southern Kitchen and working there for eight years, he decided to keep mac 'n' cheese on the menu, and use a recipe that's "basically the same."

The exuberantly creative Esmé presents plenty of culinary conundrums for beverage pairings, which are handled by Tia Barrett. But she also champions beverage producers who are people of color or have a charitable component.

We have a recipe for a riff on the classic Kir Royale from Tia Barrett, the beverage director for the exuberantly creative fine dining restaurant Esmé.

Max and Oskar uncover a nationalist sect that might be involved with Ida Rego's death and also begin to suspect that they might be set up as they uncover a hidden plot.

Germany's invasion of Poland has everyone holding their breath and reassessing priorities, contemplating big decisions that could change their lives—but their lives will be changed by war no matter what.

Eliza, Moses, William, and Nash all team up after each receiving a bomb threat and then being removed from the investigation by higher-ups at the police, in the season finale of Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

Now in its eighth year, Chicago BLACK Restaurant Week celebrates the "Jordan Year," 2023, after the legendary athlete's number, by offering deals and events to support Black-owned restaurants. 

Thousands of restrictive laws govern people who have been released from prison in the United States, making it difficult for them to find housing, employment, and to restart life after they have done their time, as WTTW's FIRSTHAND: Life After Prison explores. The producer of the documentaries spoke about the project. 

Max and Oskar witness the death of the star of a film at its premiere, and quickly begin investigating it as a murder. Soon, another actress, a fanatical admirer, and an American senator are all involved in the case.

Eliza is upset that William is seeing Arabella, but she needs his help as she tries to claim an inheritance for an unknown heir and thus receive a sizable fee that could change her business prospects.