Cultural Developments: Gallery Openings, Museum Appointments, Restaurant Launches, and Festival Finales

Hans Goodrich gallery inaugurates a second location in Chicago on April 4, featuring works by Gaylen Gerber through May 17. The Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University names Ariel Pate as chief curator, effective May; she previously served at the Milwaukee Art Museum. In dining, chef Noah Sandoval and Larry Feldmeier prepare to open All Well, a West Loop bistro highlighted by Bon Appétit among notable spring openings. Chef Rodolfo Cuadros will launch Port Union in Wicker Park on April 17, taking over the former Bloom Plant Based Kitchen space. Roger Ebert's Film Festival concludes its final iteration, titled 'The Last Dance,' from April 17-18 in Champaign, Illinois, showcasing classics like 'The General' and contemporary films. The National Book Critics Circle awarded honors, including a service award to Elizabeth Taylor, former Chicago Tribune literary editor. Controversy surrounds the Non-Equity Jeff Awards after some theater companies plan to exclude judges following concerns over selections and conduct. The National Blues Museum in St. Louis closed due to financial difficulties and reduced attendance. In real estate, a developer proposes transforming Detroit's Belle Isle into a residential community for up to 50,000 people, while a buyer intends to convert Michael Jordan's former Highland Park mansion into a museum. Architectural criticism targets the rushed construction of a ballroom addition to the White House, citing design flaws. Sysco announces a $29 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, and Washington D.C. sees a significant rise in restaurant closures attributed to economic pressures.