Many believe that the gaps in America between rich and poor, black and white, progressives and conservatives are so large that we can’t even communicate with each other. U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith has been touring the country for the last 2 years using poetry to break down that belief. She’ll be in Chicago this weekend as part of Poetry Fest.

And after more than 50 years, Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetable Market has closed its doors. A victim of competition from larger nearby grocery stores, many believe its demise is also tied to the Lincoln Yards development, just blocks away and recently given the green light by City Council.