Bridgeport Day 2025

The cradle of five past mayors and home to the White Sox, Bridgeport has grown into an emerging arts and culture district for the city. On May 10, we partner with two anchors of the community with our visit to the beautifully restored Ramova Theatre and the cultural center and exhibition space, Co-Prosperity. 

Author and longtime climate and human rights activist Rebecca Solnit helps us navigate the uneven terrain of our times; best-selling author Maggie Nelson gives us an inside look into the last 20 years of her writing; Pulitzer Prize winner Rick Atkinson dives deep into the American Revolution; and food writer Melissa Clark joins Emily Weinstein, editor in chief of New York Times Cooking and Food, to talk all things cooking. You won't want to miss a specially curated panel by the students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Arts Administration program; a talk on sign-painting in Chicago; American artist Tom Torluemke on the past 40 years; iconic Chicago writer Eve L. Ewing on racial inequality in our school systems; and Top Chef host Kristen Kish on her journey to culinary stardom. Finish out the day with a performance from microplastique, an unconventional ensemble of multi-instrumentalists and be sure to visit the Latina-owned Las Primas Photo Booth to walk away with your free photo memento from the festival.