Yesterday’s 98th Academy Awards show was a mix of expectations and added showcase recognitions. But the vibe was like amateur night at the local college where nothing was rehearsed (and which I didn’t mind).
“One Battle After Another” claimed the night’s top honor, winning the Oscar for Best Picture, while the film’s director, Paul Thomas Anderson, earned the award for Best Director.
Jessie Buckley received the Best Actress Oscar for “Hamnet” and Michael B. Jordan took Best Actor for “Sinners” which also took several awards as expected.
Sean Penn won Best Supporting Role for “One Battle after Another” but the surprise was for the Supporting Role Oscar which went to Amy Madigan in “Weapons.”
What I liked was that some of the production awards usually announced before Oscar night were also spotlighted and a new award, Casting, was added to the Ceremony. It went to “One Battle After Another.”
See the complete list of winners that includes nominees here.
February is already around the corner so don’t be surprised if there are a few last minute day or overnight trips we almost overlooked. But they still can be slivered into the schedule.
The weather looks fine this weekend for driving up to Lake Geneva, WI. for its Winterfest. Sponsored by Discover Wisconsin, this annual celebration of snow creativity is going on right now north of Chicago.
Teams of snow sculptors have invaded Lake Geneva this week-weekend with their creative concepts of what can be done with snow and hand tools. They have been working on their creations at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park since their blocs of snow were delivered on Wednesday.
These art works will be up through Sunday or until they melt. However, the judging and awards are done today, Jan. 31, 2026.
Producer Harold Ramis’ famed movie that supposedly takes place in Pennsylvania but is actually shot in Woodstock, IL, centers around a groundhog’s winter-spring prediction.
It’s fun to see the movie and its noted filmed spots up in Woodstock, a town northwest of Chicago.
Celebrated this year in Woodstock with a recreation of Woodstock Willy’s prediction Feb. 2, many of the activities are really going on right now so don’t worry if you can’t drive up there for the actual announcement.
Maybe you watched the Golden Globes and or the Critics Choice ceremonies so you already think you know what the Academy Awards will reveal. Then again, those events included TV and even a podcast award so maybe there will be some surprises when the ceremony is just for film.
Of course with quirky comedian Conan O’Brien at the host microphone there’s a chance not everything will go according to movie makers’ and host ABC’s expectations.
The ceremony for the 98th Academy Awards airs live March 15, 2026 at 6 p.m. CT in the Dolby Theater.
However, the Awards nominations are what you already expect so below are a few reiterations of the big ones announced the morning of Jan. 22, 2026.
BTW if the number of nominations received are any indication of who or what captured the film industry’s applause note that Emilia Pérez, (Netflix) got 13 nominations that included Best Picture and that Wicked and The Brutalist each received 10 also including Best Picture.
After the winter months’ preOscar award shows that loved “Emilia Pérez,” the Oscars surprisingly went in another direction.
It was “Anora,” a tale of an erotic dancer who marries a Russian oligarch that took home Best Picture at the Academy Awards in LA, Sunday. Set in Brooklyn, it was a low budget film made by Sean Baker for $6 million.
The Academy also saluted Baker as Best Director and “Anora” as Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. In addition, the film’s Mikey Madison won Best Actress.
In accepting the Oscar, Baker pleaded the case for people to return to movie theaters. “Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theater,” he said. “Filmmakers, keep making films for the big screen.”
Among the other notable wins werethe Sci-fi film, “Dune: Part Two,” for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects and Adrien Brody as Best Actor in director\ producer Brady Corbet’s “The Brutalist,” a period piece about a Holocaust survivor.
“I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of antisemitism and racism and ‘othering,’” said Brody who won Best Actor 22 years ago for “The Pianist.”
“I pray for a healthier and happier and more inclusive world. If the past can teach us anything it’s to not let hate go unchecked, he added to great applause.
Much applause and a standing ovation happened between awards when representatives of the first responders from the LA wildfires took the stage.
In other presentationsBest Supporting Actress was awarded to Zoe Saldaña in “Emila Pérez” and Best Supporting Actor to Kieran Culkin in “A Real Pain.”
Also, Best International Feature went to “I‘m Still Here,” Best Adapted Screenplay went to “Conclave,” Best Original Song went to “El Mal (Emilia Pérez), Best Documentary Feature went to “No Other Land,” and Best Costume Design went to “Wicked.”
In all, it was a delightful, memorable night that would be fun to watch on tape.
Maria Elena Ramirez blesses the space during the 43rd annual Muertos de la Risa procession in Pilsen on Nov. 2, 2022. ( Photo by Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago.)
Although traditionally observed Oct. 31-Nov. 2, it’s not too late to look for and join a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. The Mexican holiday that honors deceased loved ones is not celebrated on just one dia or day in the Chicago area, but at least for more than a week in late October and into early November.
Event festivities include artwork, alters, food, dance and items such as skeletons and photos that are not meant to be scary but are ways to remember relatives and others who have died. Chicago has already had several such events but here are more to come and join.
2. Eventbrite has tickets to Cafe El Tapatio’s event at 3400 N. Ashland Ave. in Lakeview from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 30. It includes painting calavaera (decorative skulls). Event includes painting materials, appetizers and cocktails. Tickets are $60.
3. Drag Paint & Sip: Day of The Dead & Halloween, Oct. 31 at Pinot’s Palette, 2768 N. Milwaukee Ave. , 7-9:30 p.m. The event features Boo Boo Kitty F*ck, Ricky Ruff, X and Ash Wednesday performances. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets range from $10-$42. Click above at Drag Paint for tickets.
4. 45th Annual Pilsen Día De Los Muertos Celebration And Procession, Nov. 1 at Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St. from 3 to 7 p.m. Considered the longest-running Día de los Muertos celebration in Chicago, the Free celebration will include free face painting,music, refreshments, performances and a community procession, sponsored by SGA Youth & Family Services, After School Matters and the Chicago Park District.
Video of Corpse Flower courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
Now while the “Corpse Plant is open and the odor happens
Go over to the Chicago Botanic Garden on Lake Cook Road just east of US 41 (Edens Expressway) but park in the first lot you come to because “Stinky Spike” is in the Plant Science Center on your right opposite that parking lot (just after the admission booth you pass where you pay for parking if not a member).
The Science Center daily hours for members are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for nonmembers.
Spike is a huge flower now in full bloom and smelling like really bad, decayed food. The odor is to attract pollinators. The odor is strong while the bloom lasts from 24 to 26 hours.
“At 7 feet 6 inches, Spike is our tallest corpse flower ever. Another corpse flower, Sumatra, had a gorgeous bloom June 7 and is powering down, ” said Botanic Garden officials. Both are in the Plant Science Center.
Also known as titan arum, the corpse flower comes from Sumatra rainforests and have been at the Chicago Botanic Garden since 2003. Both Spike and Sumatra are on display.
An out-of-this-world, multi-sensory experience opens at Navy Pier Friday, June 28, in the 32,000 square-foot space that was the Crystal Gardens.
What: Experience one of two features: WILD: A Safari Experience or SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond. Both features use cutting-edge cinematic production and virtual reality.
Experiences will typically be 45 to 60 minutes. Tickets begin at $34.99 for adults and $24.99 for children, plus taxes and fees.
