Front page flashback:<\/strong> Feb. 23, 2011<\/p>\n 2011:<\/strong> Rahm Emanuel<\/a> was elected Chicago\u2019s 55th mayor.<\/p>\n Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1965:<\/strong> A ribbon-cutting was held to open a new college campus for 10,000 students in the city.<\/p>\n It was called the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle<\/a> because it was at the circular junction of what became the Kennedy, Eisenhower and Dan Ryan expressways.<\/p>\n The college merged<\/a> in 1982 with the university\u2019s Medical Center campus to become the University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC.<\/p>\n 1989:<\/strong> Oprah Winfrey\u2019s restaurant in River North, The Eccentric<\/a>, opened at 159 W. Erie St., Chicago.<\/p>\n A year earlier the cavernous space was the concrete garage of an automobile dealership. Winfrey and Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises<\/a> chief Rich Melman converted it into a multiroom, 500-seat brasserie with English, French, Italian and American themes.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Oprah Winfrey \u2014 10 moments from her Chicago years<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Menu highlights included \u201cOprah\u2019s potatoes,\u201d which were mashed potatoes with horseradish, for $2.25.<\/p>\n Winfrey made it clear that she would not be just another celebrity with a passing fancy in the establishment.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to check the bathrooms every half hour; they\u2019re very strict about that,\u201d she told the Tribune. \u201cBesides peeling the potatoes, I do get to make the Perrier sodas \u2014 my favorite. But I won\u2019t be answering phones because I can\u2019t tell you how to get here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tribune gave The Eccentric\u00a02 out of 4 stars<\/a>\u00a0for chef\u00a0Michael Kornick\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0cuisine.<\/p>\n The restaurant\u00a0closed<\/a>\u00a0in September 1995. Wildfire opened in its place.<\/p>\n 2019:<\/strong> R&B superstar R. Kelly<\/a> was indicted on charges he sexually abused four victims, three of them underage, over a span of a dozen years. He surrendered to authorities at the Central District police station at 18th and State streets and spent the night in lockup. He was released the next day on $1 million bail.<\/p>\n Kelly was convicted<\/a> in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court in New York of multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. These convictions along with a 30-year prison sentenced were upheld<\/a> in February 2025 by a federal appeals court. He was also convicted<\/a> in 2022 of child sex charges including charges of producing images of child sexual abuse in Chicago.<\/p>\n 2021:<\/strong> Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law making Illinois the first state to abolish cash bail under a sweeping criminal justice overhaul.<\/p>\n 2023: <\/strong>Patrick Kane<\/a>\u00a0played his final game with the\u00a0Chicago\u00a0Blackhawks. He scored two goals and added an assist in a win against the Dallas Stars.<\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t![\"Rahm](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CTC-L-RAHM-EMANUEL-ELECTED-MAYOR-2011-01.jpg\")
Rahm Emanuel became Chicago’s first Jewish mayor and 46th overall. He succeeded Mayor Richard M. Daley, the city’s longest-serving chief executive, when he won 55% of the vote in the Feb. 22, 2011, election. Emanuel was mayor of Chicago until 2019. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
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A crowd gathers for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the campus called the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle on Feb. 22, 1965. (Howard Borvig\/Chicago’s American)<\/p>\n![\"(27364](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CTC-L-OPRAH-WINFREY-ECCENTRIC-CT0021390834.jpg\")
(27364 )..OUTSIDE TRIBUNE CO.- NO MAGS, NO SALES, NO INTERNET, NO TV, CHICAGO OUT.. CTHISTORIC : Chicago Tribune File Photo Feb. 22, 1989. Assign. No. 27364. New Oprah Winfrey\/Rich Melman Lettuce Restaurant. Oprah Winfrey with Rich Melman greet guest at tables at The Eccentric Restaurant at 159 W. Erie Street on 2\/22\/1989. Chicago Tribune photo by John Bartley.
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R&B musician R. Kelly turns himself in at 1st District police headquarters in Chicago on Feb. 22, 2019. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Gov.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CTC-L-CT-pritzker-signs-crime-bill-1_182088615.jpg\")
Gov. JB Pritzker receives applause after signing the criminal justice overhaul bill on Feb. 22, 2021, at Chicago State University. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/CTC-L-AP-CHICAGO-BLACKHAWKS-PATRICK-KANE-2023-01.jpg\")
Chicago Blackhawks right wing Patrick Kane (88) scores against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) in the second period on Feb. 22, 2023, in Dallas. (Tony Gutierrez\/AP)<\/p>\n