An interesting way to get free appetizers for life, the end of an era for DePaul women’s basketball and a deadly earthquake in Myanmar
plus, the benefits of playing a musical instrument
Welcome back to ‘In the Loop’! It’s your newsletter team Lauren, Audrey, Mason, Sam, Gia, Annabelle, Elliot and Nupur. We’ve got a good one for you today.
To start, we have a deal from Friendship Chinese Restaurant: get their logo tattooed in exchange for free appetizers for life. Then, we have important dates to keep in mind for Spring Quarter and concerns about funding public transportation in Chicago and Illinois as federal COVID-19 relief money dries up. We also have information on the potential consumer impacts of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump and the trial results of Marine Le Pen, one of the most influential figures in far-right French politics. To wrap up, we have information on the closing of one of Pilsen’s Love Fridges and an explanation on why playing a musical instrument is good for the brain.
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With that, let’s get into it!
Free Crab Rangoons for Those Under the Needle
By Audrey Leib
An Avondale Chinese restaurant has a new promotion: get their logo tattooed and receive free appetizers for life. Friendship Chinese Restaurant on Milwaukee Ave. advertised the promotion last Monday. The most exciting part isn’t the free crab rangoons; it’s that their neighbor, Legacy Tattoo, is offering to ink patrons with the logo for free until April 11.
The promotion started as a way to gain traffic to the two businesses, but was inspired by one of the employees at Friendship. Selin Ekinci, an employee at the restaurant, was searching for a fun first tattoo — one that would remind her of happy memories. She got Friendship’s logo inked on her ankle.
“Everybody thought it was way cooler because it’s red,” Ekinci said in an interview with Block Club Chicago. “I’ve been promoting it.”
Brian Clutter, who founded Legacy Tattoo in 2019, created the promotion after Ekinci was inked. He modeled it after Hot Doug’s “free hot dogs for life” for whoever got their logo tattooed. Hot Doug’s closed down in 2014.
“We hope that the people that want to get the tattoo would also want to come over and eat some of the restaurant’s other dishes,” Clutter said in an interview with Block Club Chicago.
Construction along Milwaukee Ave. isn’t helping with business.
“January was surprisingly slower than [past] January times,” Alan Yuen, the owner of Friendship, said in the same interview with Block Club Chicago. “Normally, it’s a really busy month, but this year is a little bit slower, I think because of the construction. I see dining is picking up a little bit with the weather and with social media.”
Yuen’s father started Friendship Chinese Restaurant almost 45 years ago.
The publicity from the promotion has probably helped with business — Yuen and Clutter went on WGN’s Spotlight to advertise the promotion. The show’s producer, Summer, got the logo tattooed on air.
The tattoos are being inked every Wednesday in 30 minute increments and are only available by appointment. Options for colors are black or red. You’re fresh out of luck if you’re in the mood for some free ink and appetizers because, much to the dismay of my mother, I snagged the last available spot. Although, you can still get the logo tattooed at Legacy Tattoo after April 11.
As long as the restaurant is around, those with the tattoo will receive one free appetizer when you dine in and present your tattoo. You can choose between delectable crab rangoons, egg rolls, pot stickers, calamari, salt and pepper tofu, spicy wings and their signature Angry Long Bean.
So far, 47 people have signed up to get the tattoo. Those interested in getting the logo tattooed at Legacy Tattoo should call Friendship at 773-227-0970 or direct message the owner on Instagram. Read the full length story this Friday on 14 East’s website.
DePaul News
By Lauren Sheperd
Spring Quarter schedule and important dates — DePaul University resumed classes today with the start of Spring Quarter taking place on Saturday. The deadline to add classes for the spring is this Friday, April 4. The deadline to drop classes with a 100% tuition refund and no grades on transcript is Friday, April 11. This is also the final date to select the pass/fail option for Spring Quarter classes. The university will be closed from Friday, April 18 to Sunday, April 20 for Good Friday and Easter, as well as Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day. The final day to withdraw from Spring Quarter classes is Friday, May 16 and classes will wrap up on Friday, June 6. For more important dates, check out DePaul’s academic calendar.
Long time women’s basketball coach steps down — Women’s basketball head coach Doug Bruno stepped down last Friday after 39 years in the position. Bruno will remain at DePaul, taking up the role of Special Assistant to the Vice President/Director of Athletics for Women’s Basketball beginning on May 1. During his tenure at DePaul, Bruno earned a record of 786-405 (.660) and led the team to 19 conference titles. He is also a five-time conference coach of the year and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. “DePaul University has been my home for 44 years,” Bruno said, as he also played for the men’s team beginning in 1968. The national search for a new coach began immediately following Bruno’s announcement. DePaul Athletics has more.
The STRC received $1.5 million donation from the Mellon Foundation — The Social Transformation Research Collaborative (STRC) was awarded enough money to continue operations for the next three years from the Mellon Foundation, which “makes grants to support communities through the power of the arts and humanities,” according to their website. The STRC, which is housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, supports research in the humanities as a source of justice for communities facing racism, violence and dispossession. This grant will provide funding for three annual fellowship cohorts for faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, the annual Summer Institute for incoming freshmen, and the STRC’s annual symposium. Russell Dorn at DePaul Newsline has more.
Chicago Headlines
By Mason McKee
National Museum of Public Housing opens after nearly 20 years of development — A first-of-its-kind museum has opened up in Little Italy which seeks to tell the stories of public housing residents through oral histories, everyday objects and art. Located at 919 S. Ada St., the museum has been in the works for over 18 years after former public housing residents and preservationists came together with a plan to preserve their memories and histories in a single place. Visitors can explore exhibitions which include three recreations of public housing apartments between 1938 and 1975 and a REC room that showcases music records created by artists who lived in public housing. The museum’s inaugural exhibition is a space showcasing objects from cities like Chicago and New York from public housing families, each featuring a story told by the residents. “It was really clear that public housing, you can’t understand it without residents’ stories,” said Lisa Yun Lee, the museum’s executive director. For more information, you can find Francia Garcia Hernandez’s article at Block Club Chicago.
Cuts to public transport service possible as federal COVID-19 grants run dry — As federal grants to train services reach the bottom of the cup, state legislators seem more focused on reforming the system instead of finding the nearly $700 million needed to prevent drastic service cuts to CTA, Metra, Pace and Regional Transport Authority (RTA). “There will be no funding without reform,” state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), has said repeatedly when approached about funding solutions. Despite the grants lasting through the year, transit bosses say that a solution must be found before the end of the spring legislative session. Some short-term solutions are being discussed like reallocating money from the state budget and redirecting some funds from the state’s federal highway through a process called “flexing.” However, both of these solutions seem unlikely according to Kate Lowe, an associate professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. “Sadly, public transit is not the only thing looking for money in the state budget,” Lowe said. For more information, you can find David Struett and George Wiebe’s article at Chicago Sun-Times.
Attorneys for ex-House Speaker Michael Madigan seek to overturn convictions —Lawyers for Michael Madigan, who was found guilty of 10 counts against him, including two for bribery, are arguing for a new trial. They allege that prosecutors failed to prove Madigan knew about ComEd conspiring to pay off his associates while also claiming the presiding judge made a series of mistakes during the trial. In a 73-page motion filed on Friday, Madigan’s lawyers claim these errors lead to highly prejudicial evidence tainting the jury. “Michael Madigan is not corrupt. He never exchanged his duty to serve his constituents for private benefit — the essence of corruption,” the filing stated. They have asked U.S. District Judge John Robert Blakey to reverse the verdict on only certain guilty counts and grant a new trial on others. While not likely to be granted, the filing does open the door to an appeal to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This filing comes on the same day prosecutors filed a motion demanding Madigan to forfeit more than $3.1 million as part of the sentencing. For more information, you can find Jason Mesiner and Ray Long’s article at Chicago Tribune.
National Headlines
By Sam Freeman
The Wisconsin Supreme Court vote is Tuesday — Wisconsin voters will decide whether conservatives or liberals will control the Wisconsin Supreme Court tomorrow. Elon Musk has spent $20 million to boost the conservative candidate, Brad Schimel, a judge who was also endorsed by President Donald Trump. On the opposing side, liberal candidate Susan Crawford has condemned Musk’s spending. Liberals currently control the court with a 4-to-3 majority. The winning candidate will tip the seven-member high court’s political balance. The outcome may also reflect the stances of voters in battleground states two months into the Trump administration, which has implemented sharp cuts to the federal workforce and launched a crusade against diversity initiatives in government programs and higher education. Wisconsin voted for Trump by less than a percentage point in November. Liberals are outraged by Musk’s involvement in the election partially because his company, Tesla, is suing Wisconsin over a law that restricts manufacturers from selling cars directly to consumers. Ernesto Londoño from The New York Times has more information.
Protesters gather at Tesla showrooms to oppose Elon Musk’s purge of the U.S. government — Across the nation and in some cities in Europe, protesters gathered outside Tesla dealerships opposing billionaire Elon Musk’s purge of the U.S. government. Protesters showed their discontent with Musk’s role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he’s gained access to sensitive information and eliminated entire agencies in an effort to reduce government spending. Saturday was the first nationwide attempt to surround Tesla’s 277 showrooms and service centers. Crowds ranging from dozens to hundreds of protesters gathered in the early afternoon in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas. More protests emerged in major cities, including Washington D.C., Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Seattle. Anti-Musk sentiment also resonated outside the U.S., with some smaller protests in London. Michael Liedtke of the Associated Press has more.
New tariffs could heavily impact American consumers, according to estimates — President Trump has said that imposing tariffs on foreign countries will force companies to move production back to the U.S. The sweeping tariffs that the president was imposing could collect about $6 trillion in government funds over the next decade, according to Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to Trump. Although he reiterated that Americans would not carry the cost, his estimates suggest that the burden of tariffs may heavily impact consumers, instead of forcing companies to relocate their supply chains. Trade experts have argued that using tariffs to bring manufacturing back to the United States is ineffective as Americans would still need to purchase substantial amounts of imported products. Trump is expected to introduce global tariffs on other countries this week. Ana Swanson from The New York Times has more.
New York City mayor urges a judge to rule in his corruption case so he can start campaigning — A lawyer representing New York City Mayor Eric Adams asked the judge in charge of his federal corruption case to decide if he is going to throw out the charges, insisting that the mayor needs to begin campaigning for reelection. Adams was charged last year with conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery after allegations that he accepted illegal campaign contributions and travel perks from people, including a Turkish official, who was seeking to buy influence. Adams pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set to begin in April. However, in February, Trump’s Justice Department moved to drop the case because the charges were filed too closely to his reelection campaign. The Justice Department also said the case could be refiled after New York’s mayoral election in November. Adams has not done much publicly to set up a campaign while Democratic challengers are developing serious campaigns ahead of the primaries in June. Anthony Izaguirre from the Associated Press has more.
International Headlines
By Gia Clarke
Marine Le Pen banned from running in next election — Marine Le Pen, Deputy of the French National Assembly, has been banned from running in the 2027 French presidential election. The court ruled that Le Pen and other members of her far right party, the National Rally, illegally used 4.4 million euros ($4.8 million) in EU funding that was intended for assistants helping lawmakers in the European Parliament. Le Pen received a four-year prison sentence, though two years of that term were suspended by a judge in favor of an alternative such as an electronic bracelet. She will also be unable to seek public office for the next five years, thus taking her out of the 2027 election, unless her sentence is appealed quickly. Noemie Bisserbe and Stacy Meichtry from the Wall Street Journal have more information.
Myanmar’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake kills and injures many — A series of earthquakes devastated Myanmar last Friday killing at least 144 people and injuring over 700 people. The initial earthquake started Friday afternoon just west of Mandalay. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an estimated 3.7 million people lived in areas affected by violent shaking and an additional 2.9 million people lived in areas affected by severe shaking. Due to the destruction caused by the earthquakes and much of the rubble still being inspected, the number of deaths could exceed 10,000 or even 100,000. Feliz Solomon and Patrick Barta from the Wall Street Journal have more information.
The German military gains massive increase in investment due to anxiety caused by Russia — Germany’s military, the Bundeswehr, recently got a massive increase in investment after Parliament ruled to exempt defense spending from strict rules on government debt. As Germany was the main aggressor in WWI and WWII, German society generally had a rejection of increased military spending post-war, advocating for staying out of violent conflict. But as Russia continues to fight Ukraine, German military general Carsten Breuer worries that Russia will not just stop at Ukraine. Furthermore, a recent YouGov poll showed that 79% of Germans see Vladimir Putin as “very” or “quite” dangerous to European peace and security. 74% of Germans said the same for President Donald Trump. Sarah Rainsford from the BBC has more information.
Greenland’s leader said to Trump: “We do not belong to anyone” — The Prime Minister of Greenland, Jens-Frederik Neilsen wrote in a Facebook post: “President Trump says that the United States ‘will get Greenland.’ Let me be clear: The United States will not get it. We do not belong to anyone else. We decide our own future.” Nielsen’s message came after Trump’s statement to NBC News saying that military force was not off the table with regard to acquiring Greenland. CNN has more information.
14 East Pueblo: Pilsen’s Love Fridge in need of a new home
By Annabelle Rivera
One of Pilsen’s Love Fridges, located outside La Michoacana at 1855 S. Blue Island Ave., is now permanently closed, organizers announced Monday. But this doesn’t mean that the Fridge is gone forever.
Don Noé, the owner of La Michoacana who volunteered to host the Fridge, made the decision to close it after four years.
“We know these things take a lot of effort, and we’re respectful of the change,” Eric Von Haynes, the organizer of the Fridge, told Block Club Chicago.
However, the need for aid still persists in the neighborhood. Volunteers can host a Love Fridge, or multiple, as long as they meet the requirements. If people can’t host a location, volunteers at existing sites are still needed to maintain and stock.
The Fridge was launched in 2020 to provide the community with fresh food and produce free for whoever needed it. With the help of volunteers and mutual aid organizations, over 1,000 pounds of food were distributed weekly.
Hey, Check This Out!
With Featured Columnist Elliot Allison
Listening to music is good for you. Playing music is even better.
Firstly: full disclosure. I have played piano since I was five, drums since I was 10 and have picked up various other instruments for different periods of time throughout my life. I love music, but I also understand that it is not for everyone. If you think it’s not for you, I’m going to try to convince you to give it another chance.
By college, less than half of people play a musical instrument for various reasons, and I would encourage you to think about being in the roughly 50% that do.
Playing music works nearly every aspect of your brain, in much of the same way as learning a second language. Executive function is challenged by forcing your brain to think about what is happening now, as you play, and what you need to play next at the same time. Your fine and gross motor skills are each challenged through the actual playing of the instrument. For example: a violinist must both depress the strings and move the bow while playing. Additionally, most sensory inputs (including emotional) are challenged while playing.
This invariably leads to brain growth in some, or all of these areas. According to Penn State, it may be a unique form of brain exercise, by also being a form of play. Humans, like most animals, need to engage in some form of recreation in order to thrive and opportunities to play are limited for adults.
Learning to play a musical instrument also decreases your risk for dementia and/or cognitive impairment, especially if practice is continued into adulthood and the elderly years. Humans also, unlike with languages, do not show any predisposition to learning instruments at a younger age, although exposure to certain things like rhythm and melody in the infant and toddler years can make learning them easier later on. This means that learning a new instrument in college or beyond does not put you at a disadvantage.
The real downside is that instruments are expensive, loud, large and time consuming; things that don’t typically fit into the college student lifestyle.
With some time, patience and creativity, all of these issues can be solved if one is willing to put a bit of effort forward, something I hope is worth it for the real benefits of playing music.
Beyond just the physical and mental health upsides, there also exists the creativity that comes with musical expression. In the earlier years, music education is mostly focused on learning the techniques and pieces of experts who came before, but once a foundation is built, a real avenue for emotional expression and analysis opens itself.
When I play any instrument, it helps me to feel more at peace with myself and my life in that moment and more focused later on. I can work out anger and sadness, express my happiness, collaborate with my friends, and get lost in my own world.
It is a magic I cannot describe, which is why I ask you to consider noodling on an instrument of your choosing, just to see if it might be something that awakens something deep in the back of your mind. It might not be for you, and that is okay, but think about it.
Resources
Need resources regarding cooling centers, rental assistance, abortion access, COVID-19 testing and vaccines or mental health? Check out our complete list here.
That’s it for today! See you next Monday.
The 14 East Newsletter Team