Free Coal Mine Ride!
The Museum of Science & Industry is offering free general admission through the end of January. [via]
The Museum of Science & Industry is offering free general admission through the end of January. [via]
No Pants 2K9, a nationwide project run by NYC-based Improv Everywhere (remember them from This American Life?), makes a stop in Chicago on January 10. If you're willing to brave the CTA in your bloomers, hop aboard.
You weren't the only one who was having trouble negotiating their way around town over all that ice. A few other people did their share of slippin' and slidin' too.
No matter how cold the weather, the University of Chicago gargoyles remain ever vigilant.
Did you know there's a huge "mixed use mega-complex" in development for the southeast corner of Clark and Addison? Addison Park on Clark would take out all the businesses on the east side of Clark Street all the way down to The Irish Oak.
Unfortunately sometimes public indecency is a fact of life on public transportation. CTA Tattler has a good post exposing one particular lowlife and some suggestions on what to do if you become a victim.
Add one more to the list of things to look forward to in the spring. The Museum of Science and Industry scored a coup of sorts last week, beating out institutions around the world for the chance to premier "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" next April. Tickets already available online.
Empire Today has collected videos of its classic carpet commercials at EmpireCarpet.tv. Sing along!
Audissey Guides has made its iPod tour of Chicago, narrated by local hip hop poet Kevin Coval, a free download.
The "unique" local political scene gets yet another national dissection. This time, it's The Atlantic. And this time it's from October, 1930. The more things change...
WGN collects webcams on one page so you can watch the city get blanketed in snow.
The latest hip urban trend? Raising chickens in your backyard. Says one owner: "They're like pets with eggs." Yeah, but most pets don't have their young eaten by the owner so, you know, not quite the same. (Here's a classic from our archives.)
It may be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, but Chicago 2016 has already made some changes to the proposed schedule of events for the summer Olympics bid.
Speaking of people helping people, Resurrection Healthcare's Homebound Elderly Program is in need of volunteers to help bring holiday cheer to homebound senior citizens in Chicago. Help out if you can.
Head down to the main post office and answer a child's "Dear Santa" letter. Sure things are bleak: The record unemployment. Our dear ole gov'na in shackles. But... 'tis better to give than to receive, right? Letters are available in the post office lobby; sift through and find one that tugs your heartstrings. More info.
There are many reasons to give. (And even more citywide.)
GQ has named Chicago its city of the year, thanks to its politics (though not directly Obama), film (The Dark Knight), literature (yay writers!) and architecture (the on-hold Spire).
A while back we asked if Chicago had the ugliest house in America. Well, the verdict is in and the answer is ... yup, sure do.
The CTA unveiled new hybrid buses today that plug into an electrical outlet at night and run on battery power for most of the day. The move is estimated to save the CTA almost $7 million annually in maintenance, labor and fuel costs by retiring aging buses.
Beware the giant dog attacking the city next spring! That's my impression of the image that won the most votes in the Chicago City Clerk's vehicle sticker contest. Congrats to Denise Ferguson, the artist, who's a senior at Corliss High School.
It will cost you considerably more to park at a meter in the near future. But don't worry: You probably won't be able to move your car from in front of your house anyway.
Even flutists, scanners and jitterbuggers. Even tax enthusiasts.
Hyde Park Progress take a new look at the future of Promontory Point (aka "The Point") in light of one of the area's most famous (former) residents moving to D.C.
Tired of dodging the city tow trucks thanks to that fistful of parking tickets you've collected? The Department of Revenue is giving you a break.
Thousands of taxi drivers reportedly stayed home from work today to show support for the United Taxidrivers Community Council's proposal for a 16% fare hike to take effect January 1.
Hopefully you remembered not to park on snow routes tonight, because whether there's snow on the ground or not, Chicago's winter parking regulations go into effect at 3am Dec. 1 -- very late tonight or very early Monday morning, depending on your perspective. Hope you don't wake up to a missing car!
The Parkways Foundation wants to know if you'll grant Buckingham Fountain a wish.
If you TIVOd the newest (season finale) episode of "Entourage" this past Sunday, pay attention to scene change footage between minutes eleven and twelve...what is supposed to be a quick shot of gritty New York is actually a pre-construction view of the CTA station at Belmont and Wilton. Good work, film editor.
So what were you doing when you heard the news? The Chicago Reporter wants to know your reaction when you first heard that Barack Obama had won the election as part of their upcoming "50 Days/50 Voices" project. Video, audio and essays are all welcome.
The ever-vigilant architecture critic Lee Bay looks at the rise and fall of the controversial Robert Taylor Homes on his blog. He even includes a link to video clip of Mayor Daley the Elder speaking at the grand opening.
Vote now for your favorite design for next year's Chicago vehicle sticker. It's theme is "Dog Friendly Chicago" and all the stickers were created by Chicago Public School students.
Know a University of Chicago student or alumnus? Know two or more? Print out these U of C-centric Bingo cards for them to enjoy during the holidays. Then stand back and watch the geek-tacular fun ensue.
HispanicBusiness.com take a look at the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and its staunch supporters who once again try to stave off gentrification.
The New York Times on Chicago's "moment of renaissance": "Well before Mr. Obama was elected as the nation's 44th president... Chicago was experiencing one of its most blossoming periods in food, fashion and the arts. Now, people around the country and the world are simply noticing." Um, yeah, thanks for noticing. Again.
Image Chicago magazine, a "lifestyle" publication with a heavy emphasis on clubbing and fashion, celebrates its third anniversary. You can flip through the latest issue, a dual "hers and his" type of thing, here.
Watch your pockets. A creepy guy in a mask might just stick something in them.
"Chicago Geek Girls is a network of groups devoted to supporting the work & play of women who identify as geeks."
Chicagoland gamers, welcome to the Dice Doho.
Photographer Edward S. Curtis' 1914 silent film In the Land of the Headhunters was the first to exclusively star Native North Americans. It was recently restored and will be shown at the Field Museum on Sunday and Monday mornings. Stick around afterwards for a discussion with historians and descendants of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation, who are featured in the film. More details in Slowdown.
To celebrate the life of Studs Terkel, Steppenwolf will present a free staged reading of Terkel's book "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" this Monday, featuring Steppenwolf company members, director Joyce Piven, the Tribune's Rick Kogan, and that guy from "Friends."
See, things are already changing after Barack Obama's election victory: Mayor Daley wants to give parking ticket scofflaws a break on unpaid tickets issued before 2007. The amnesty period would run from Dec. 1 to Feb. 14.
All day long at Columbia College, there's a marathon reading of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, happening at 1104 S. Wabash. Pop in during your lunch hour or after work; the motion embedded in Kerouac's words fits beautifully with this bright fall day and the change in the air. Apple pie served at 4pm.
Could last night's historic election results affect Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid? Tokyo thinks so.
If you love pregnant seahorses, endearingly floppy manatees and cephalopods like I do, you'll be excited to learn that every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during the month of November (except Wednesday, 11/26), the Shedd Aquarium will offer free general admission and discounts on inclusive packages.
After months of "Barack Obama's Chicago" in seemingly every media outlet, it's time for a change of pace. This time, Saul Bellow gets the treatment.
The Sun-Times reports that the city will be reducing the length of Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, and other city celebrations for 2009. These reductions are because of Mayor Daley's spending cuts in the 2009 budget.
Bring some quarters along with that sunscreen when you go to the beach next year. The Chicago Park District will charge for all 4,000 parking spots along Lake Michigan, specifically $1 an hour. In addition, they won't open beaches until 11 a.m. to cut down on lifeguard expenses.
Sun-Times writer Mark Konkol and former Q101 DJ Todd "Fook" Fooks have launched a podcast.
The Second Annual Chicago Latino Fashion Week kicks off next Monday with a host of spicy runway shows and post-catwalk parties to satisfy any (color) palette. Each event will feature top designers from across Latin America, including a number of locals showcasing their caliente collections.
If you've ever wanted to know more about the miniature model of Chicago and the full model railroad at the MSI, sit down for a talk with Daddy Nature.
The city's soup kitchens are gearing up for a busy winter, the Chi-Town Daily News reports.
As a South Sider, one of the fascinating outcomes of the election season has been the increase in attention this side of the city is getting. The Washington Post chips in with a four page profile of Hyde Park. [Thanks, Spencer!]
If you were watching the Today show around 7:30 this morning, you may have caught Robyn Okrant, the Chicago-based proprietor of the Living Oprah blog that has gotten a lot of media attention for her year-long experiment to live all things Oprah, being interviewed. If you missed it, we have a video for you.
NewCity's Best of Chicago voting is open.
The apartment of GB's creative director, Naz Hamid, and his wife Jen Schuetz is featured on Apartment Therapy today.
If the stock market dive hasn't eaten up all of your cash, you might consider a stay at the Peninsula Chicago. The luxury hotel was just named the top hotel in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.
Big doings at City Hall today: Not only is Mayor Daley planning on laying off more than 900 city employees (including cutting some garbage crews from two men to one) to help balance the city budget, but his hand-picked top cop Jody Weis is announcing a major shake-up in the CPD.
Cars, whether parked legally or illegally, appear to be the answer to the city's budget shortfall, according to Mayor Daley. To close the $420 million gap, he's raising the city parking tax, preparing to privitize parking meters, putting in more red-light cameras and revising his Denver Boot plan.
City Council has banned texting while driving. It'll be a $75 fine, rising to as much as $200 if you get into an accident.
Care to take a Googletour of Chicago and the suburbs?
Staff at the Adler Planetarium were surprised to make the presidential debates, particularly when their sought-after projection system was ridiculed by McCain.
"Roof Top Honey" may sound like some sort of upper-level illicit rendezvous, but it's actually the name of the sweet product harvested from beehives on the rooftops of City Hall and the Cultural Center and sold online and at The Farmstand at 66 E. Randolph St.
Chicago closes certain boulevards to car traffic this Sunday so that you can enjoy the street with your bicycles, strollers, and walking shoes. Look for activity stations with salsa dancing, yoga and basketball, plus a taping of Chicago's dance show Chic-A-Go-Go.
Study up on your two-letter words for Scrabble Night tonight at Andersonville's The Coffee Studio. It's for experts and newbies alike -- there'll be match-ups and prizes for the former, and tips and tricks for the latter. More details in Slowdown.
Groupon, a Chicago startup, will offer daily coupons for local events, services, hotels, eateries and more. The twist? You only get the deal if enough people sign up for it. If not - well, you know.
In an effort to engage CPS students to register to vote when they turn 18, voting began yesterday for a mock districtwide presidential election that is being touted by CEO Arne Duncan as the largest in the country. FYI, early voting for the real election begins October 13.
In an effort to cure the city's budget woes, Mayor Daley says the city may layoff 1,000 workers, possibly resulting in (among other things) reduced garbage collection.
The Third Coast International Audio Festival has just announced the winners of its 8th Annual TCF/ Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Competition. Click here to listen to excerpts from the winning audio documentaries.
Well this should make Ben Joravsky happy. Due to lack of support from the governor we all love to hate, Daley and friends have decided to shut down the central loop TIF only a year and a half after its original expiration date. So we can actually see where some of our money is going? Amazing.
Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap in Hyde Park is profiled in the fall travel section of the New York Times.
The Tribune's "Skyline" blogs discusses the impact of Daniel Burnham, not only on the look and layout of the city but the 'burbs as well.
According to Chicago 2016 Commitee Chairman Patrick Ryan, the main goal of securing the Olympics is to change the city's image. Really? Are we still all Al Capone and Michael Jordan to the rest of the world?
There are few places as isolated as the Altgeld Gardens-Murray Homes CHA development, the Defender reports.
Somehow we ranked third in public-trans/walkability but only 16th in friendliness. See this and dozens of other rankings in Travel + Leisure's city survey.
Chicago native Scott Johnson barbecues for a cause: to fight cancer. He donates his winnings in national competitions to a cancer research foundation. That's nice, but his reasons for getting into barbecuing might tick a few people off: he points to "the lack of quality barbecue cuisine in his native Chicago." Ahem...
It wasn't just the Marshall Fields and the Potter Palmers who rebuilt Chicago after the Great Fire. WBEZ-FM reports on the women who helped raise the city from the ashes.
The City of Chicago will text you in the case of an emergency if you sign up for their new service NotifyChicago.
Very Small Array has produced maps based on Craigslist Missed Connections, showing the most likely place to "miss" someone in general and by sexual preference as well as age, hair color and other breakdowns.
Once again, Chicago's historic "Maxwell Street" is on the move, this time relocating from Canal Street to Desplaines Street. Even if you don't need tube socks, you should probably go see it. Something says this latest move might be its last.
I love finding blogs about Chicago's less in-the-news neighborhoods: check out beverlymorganpark.net.
The Chicago Architecture Foundation will kick off a new tour soon featuring influential women in Chicago's history. The "Women of Influence Tour" will meet at Graceland Cemetery on select Saturday mornings starting September 6, and for the meager price of $10 (or free, if you're a CAF member) you'll learn about women who fought for civil rights, conducted the Underground Railroad and broke up the plot to kill President Abraham Lincoln...and see some pretty cool tombstones.
The city of Chicago may require a $10 garbage collection fee to close a $420 million budget gap, according to the Sun Times, The Post-Tribune reported earlier this month that council members endorse the pick-up fee.
In this day and age of promoting shelter adoptions of animals, a Tribune article reveals that getting into an Ivy League school is easier than taking that tabby cat you saw at the shelter home with you.
Chicago's air quality isn't the best. No surprise there.
Cyclists, beware! Cops are set to start ticketing for bicycle moving violations like riding on the sidewalk, not wearing a headlamp at night, and riding through red lights and stop signs. And you didn't think those were rules.
Tracing a Cook County politican's family tree is pretty easy: just look at his successor. For the rest of us, there's the Cook County Genology Online, which was unveiled this week. Medill Reports has the story.
For the third year in a row, Hotwire.com declares Chicago the top destination for the Labor Day weekend. And if you do choose Chicago as your vacation destination, a New Zealand travel site tells you the best way to spend 48 hours here.
From four-story condos to Calatrava's tower, Chicago is getting bigger and taller. Unfortunately, there's likely nothing you can do about it should that huge new development loom over your yard.
Mayor Daley's Bicycling Ambassadors installed free bicycle headlights tonight to those riding dark on Milwaukee at Damen, thanks to help from the Wicker Park Bucktown SSA. A friendly Chicago bike COP was in attendance. Expect more and more events to promote bicycle safety.
No, not aliens -- a podcast on green living in the city from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
Abby Mandel, founder of the 10 year-old Green City Market and a longtime food columnist for the Tribune, has died.
Chicago Magazine has an excellent article looking back at the 2005 accident/failed suicide attempt that claimed the lives of three local musicians, and its effects today.
To get an idea of what Chicago's upcoming Sunday Parkways is going to be like, look at the "giddy sort of excitement" that New York saw on Saturday. Sure, it won't be quite like the impeccable brick walkway that was Park Avenue before 1922, but it will celebrate our tree-lined Boulevard system. Perhaps Chicago's new Dutch bike shop will open just in time. In the meantime, here's a video with safety tips on bicycling in traffic (ad plays first).
SeeChicago.com just launched with a HD Video library of the city's neighborhoods. It's aimed at Realtors, but we can enjoy it too.
According to their website, Bike The Dog is "Chicago's Premier Gastronomic Cycling Challenge." They're inviting bikers of any skill level to join them on September 13th for an almost-eighteen-mile trek through the north and northwest sides, sampling the wares at nine quintessential Chicago hot dog locations. It's a pledge-based event, with raised funds benefiting the family of Stella Ackerman, a two-and-a-half-year-old living with a rare blood disorder. More info.
When it comes to construction, we're used to seeing Hispanic workers in certain roles. An article in Crain's, however, shows some Latinos in Chicago are cutting through the stereotypes and the community is rallying around young folks who wish to do the same.
The police confirm what we've already figured: murders are up 18 percent over last year.
Apparently the Tribune doesn't think booting folks for two tickets is that bad of a policy. Steve at the Beachwood Reporter has a different opinion and airs some grievances with parking and the El. Then again Da Mare is riding the Beijing subway to figure out how to fix ours. He could've saved himself a ticket and jumped on an ancient Blue Line car; one waft of the smell of piss and burnt wire-sheathing would inspire anybody.
Chicago Public Radio's Chicago Matters series takes a look at our water system, and how it gets from Lake Michigan to our faucet.
With the news of border raids, censorship and pollution dominating the Olympic experience so far, the competing athlete's stories are a little lost in the noise. Chicago has more than a few locals carrying the torch. They include a diver from the family that owns Cubby Bear and the only Mexican national team wrestler with a Polish name. The SunTimes has a round-up.
The New Republic points out a "demographic inversion" trend happening here and in some other cities.
Chicagoans beat out New Yorkers, Londoners and even Parisians in a survey of the urbanites most fond of their city, conducted by Veolia Environment, a French environmental-services company (which happens to have 1,000 employees here).
The Sun-Times gives a summary of the best beaches in the city. Funny, none of their capsule assessments mention anything about actually getting into the water.
The Tribune is launching an occasional series about Western Avenue, declaring it the city's blue-collar core. Take a trip down our longest street at 480mph.
Tomorrow's Roseland Peace Festival at 115th and Halsted will marry the fun of your typical Chicago neighborhood festival with the very serious message of putting an end to gun violence. The festival, whose theme is "1 Moment Affects 1,000 Lives", will feature a Memory Wall dedicated to the victims of gun violence. More details in Slowdown.
Prompted by a Red Eye story on the lakefront bike path congestion, architecture critic Blair Kamin resurrects a 1998 column of his which shows that nothing much has changed. On your left...
Since the cast and crew of The Dark Knight didn't leave any of their cool equipment lying around after they filmed here, the Tribune tells you how to become a real life Batman. And looking at the total cost, no wonder Bruce Wayne was a millionaire playboy.
The city has 104 red light cameras. They plan on installing 25 more. They expect to collect more than $50 million in fines because of them. If gas prices weren't enough to make you ditch the car, this might do it.
Suddenly, “walkability” is all the rage. Nobody wants to drive their car. Everyone’s looking for alternatives to their God-given, U. S. of A. right. What, did we lose a war? Oh, right …
An online brouhaha is brewing in Hyde Park, where Hyde Park Progress takes aim at the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club's focus, while the Hyde Park Urbanist questions the Hyde Park Progress' sources. Did we mention the words "Hyde Park" enough in this blurb?
Chicago Carless goes REALLY carless this time, detailing his extensive walking jaunts around the city. Made us tired just reading about it.
In the face of rising gun violence in the city, Raymond Figueroa, former alderman and judge and the owner of a Humboldt Park liquor store, is taking a stand.
The Washington Post gushes about our miles of beaches and advises tourists to start taking more advantage of them. Gee, thanks Washington Post.
Chicago-based Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first sorority started by African-American college women, is turning 100. It's celebrating in D.C. with the "largest banquet style dinner in the history of conventions." Mattel's even commemorating the anniversary of the group with the AKA Centennial Barbie.
The Tribune's "Clout Street" blog is giving updates on Police Superintendent Jody Weis' grilling by the City Council today on the city's expanding crime/gang problem. Weis said he plans on contacting other cities to find out how they've handled it.
In a new study by DePaul's Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, Uptown beats out Rogers Park, Hyde Park and the rest for the title of most diverse neighborhood in Chicago. Read the study here [PDF].
Trying to get friends to join you in our fair city? Live Here has your back.
As noted, the Canadian Press seems to think that the blues are dying in Chicago, save for a few tourist traps. But a Tribune article refutes that with a peek at the vibrant South Side scene.
What does your neighborhood sound like? Share it with Chicago Public Radio's Soundmarks project.
Notes for a People's Atlas of Chicago continues to collect homemade maps of how individual Chicagoans experience their city. As you stroll around town this summer, make your own.
Yesterday’s City Council meeting yielded a new proposal from Mayor Daley that would add cameras to six street sweeper vehicles. The cameras would snap pics of cars in locations on street sweeping days where those orange no-parking signs are posted, and feed them to the City to issue a $50 ticket. The idea is to reduce calls to police to come and write the ticket.
Sure it looks cool on film, but all of those explosions and crashes in The Dark Knight, filmed here in Chicago, required the assistance of a lot of city agencies, as this Reuters story explains.
You can relax now: The list of "America's Best Public Restrooms" is out and, yes, Illinois has two of the top 10 spots, including one in Chicago. You can vote for the No. 1 place for No. 1 (or 2) here.
Maybe you were thinking of snagging that darling condo in Pilsen, but just in case there's extra cash in your pocket... Here's what a cool million dollars will buy you in Chicago.
Someone dressed as a chicken will be crossing Milwaukee Avenue Wednesday evening. Portage Park residents are reminding motorists that they need to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. You can join in.
For years, the southeast corner of State and Hubbard used to smell like banana Laffy Taffy. The smell is gone, sadly, so it didn't make it on this map.
The Chicago Reporter highlights the plight of renters caught up in their landlords' mortgage troubles, and offers tips should you find yourself in a similar situation.
Ten people Twitter'd Navy Pier's annual July 3rd fireworks display.
Jeff Ruby picks his favorites in Chicago Magazine.
As the Sun-Times asks Chicagoans for their favorite memories from the past, no doubt many would include the one-of-a-kind Maxwell Street. A new DVD looks at the history of the cultural crossroads and includes a 1964 documentary on the street, vintage recordings of some of the blues legends who plied their trade on the street and a 38-page booklet.
Professional curmudgeon and columnist Thomas Roeser absolutely trashes the Taste of Chicago experience as "a sad trampling of civility" and says that it reduces the dining experience to "ashes and banal barbarism." But other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?
Attention all "playas": You may want to think about removing the tint from the front window of your "hooptie" (do they still call it that?). The city is considering raising the fine for having a tinted front car window from $25 to $250. Now as for that booming bass...
Chicago's own Tiffany dome, thought to be the largest in the world, is back on display at the Chicago Cultural Center after a brief restoration. More in A/C.
Evanston native and actor John Cusak swears he bleeds Cubbie blue...but he's learned to be flexible about liking the White Sox, especially after 2005. But we'll cut him some slack on being a "switch-hitter", especially since he has a connection to the Sox, cinematically speaking.
The New York Times visits Pilsen. (Thanks, Michael!)
Kill some time perusing the Reader's annual Best of Chicago feature.
Keo the ape turns 50 today and the Lincoln Park Zoo is throwing a party for its elder statesman, one of the two oldest male zoo chimps in North America. If you have time, go over to the Regenstein Center for African Apes and show him some monkey love... um, or something like that.
Well, more like the history of Chicago gay bars, actually.
The always-interesting Urban Observer (aka Lee Bey) offers serenely beautiful shots from around the city, as well as a visual tour of the underappreciated John W. Farson House (The Pleasant Home) in Oak Park.
Meet Vincent Falk. C'mon, you know him... the guy with the crazy colored suits? Hangs out in the Loop? Yeah, that guy.
The subject of a Sun-Times article in today's paper, who complained about the hardships of not having a car, gets a bit of a dressing down by (naturally) the author of the blog Chicago Carless.
A white couple from Uptown asks whether they'll be out of place or just fine in Bronzeville. The answers are interesting.
If you like to ride bikes and be naked, might we suggest an activity for this Saturday night?
The Chicago version of the activity-planning website Eventful.com kicked off today, which lets users search, set alerts for and buy tickets to thousands of local events, from concerts to street fairs to discussion groups. You can even add your own events to the listings.
An entertaining slice of urban life or a pain in the...eardrums? Either way, the "bucket boys" are a familiar sight in Chicago and North by Northwestern has an article/video on the ubiquitous street performers.
Proving that a woman's place is in the kitchen (whuh?), Chicagoan Stephanie Izard wins this season's Top Chef, which was lovingly filmed in Chicago. Get your recap over at Drive-Thru.
Another Belushi, Jim's son Rob, joins the line of entertainers from that famous Chicago family. But this one is going for the dramatic roles, currently rehearsing for The Lion In Winter in Glencoe's Writer's Theater.
If TIF money doesn't come to the rescue this week, an unfinished CTA station located underneath Block 37 that is designed to connect the Red and Blue train lines (and has already cost $200M to build) will be "mothballed."
After months of discussion, Michael Reese Hospital will likely close this fall, clearing the way for massive Olympic redevelopment plans.
The pipe organ and bells at Rockefeller Chapel in Hyde Park will sound again this weekend after a year-long restoration process. Forty-six of the 72 bells in the carillon had to be shipped to the Netherlands for maintenance, and the pipe organ was completely dismantled, sent to Ohio for repairs, and reassembled in Chicago.
P.J. O'Rourke previews the Field Museum's new Ancient Americas permanent exhibit for The Weekly Standard.
Plenty, apparently, particularly when it comes to redeveloping HP's Harper Court, as Hyde Park Progress points out.
The 3rd Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival holds court on Daley Plaza (at Washington and Dearborn) all this week from 10am - 3pm daily. The festival will showcase food, merchandise and lunchtime performances from Chicago's 27 sister cities such as Shanghai, Athens and Mexico City, just to name a few.
Business Week's Mike Nussbaum calls Chicago "the most innovative big city in America".
Undergrads from the University of Chicago have launched the first archeological dig of the site of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, aka the "White City." The students are following in the footsteps of another famous U of C archeologist who's been in the news a lot lately.
Bike to Work Week runs June 7 through 13, with Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's commuter stations serving complementary coffee and snacks starting Monday, June 9. Celebrate a fun, healthy, environmentally conscious, and cost-effective way to commute by bicycling your whole way or combining with CTA, Metra and Pace. Sign your office up for the commuter challenge and compete for prizes. The week wraps up at Mayor Daley's Bike to Work Day Rally on Friday, June 13 from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Post your subway crush here.
While our trader and hedge fund manager readership already knows we're the best city to live in as a trader, now it's official -- again.
The Roman Catholic church may not recognize Santa Muerte, but her presence is growing in Chicago.
Author and radio host Studs Terkel, the quintessential Chicagoan, turns 96 today. WFMT-FM (98.7), which hosted Terkel's interview show from 1952 to 1997, will feature special programming dedicated to the author of Working, The Good War and Division Street all day long.
The Medill News Service analyzed data and concludes that the demolition of the Chicago Housing Authority projects has resulted in crime migrating to nearby areas.
Chicago can once again lay claim to being the hometown of the fastest rapper in the world, as confirmed by the Guiness Book of World Records. The title was previously held by Twista.
Received an unexplained overdue parking ticket notice in the mail? Stop scratching your head. This might explain it.
Details are still murky, but the Illinois Restaurant Association and the city are planning a gourmet version of the Taste.
The annual University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt kicked off over the weekend, sending hundreds of Maroon-ers out to the streets in search of (among other things) a Obama-styled haircut at the senator's very own barber shop and a disgruntled beekeeper. As of Monday afternoon no winners had been named yet. Here's the offical report and blog, though.
Kind of interesting...it appears that the Chicago Public Library is looking for someone to run a coffeeshop at the Harold Washington Branch downtown. Bravo! It can only make a neat place even better. (Now, if they added a wine bar at Sulzer, that wouldn't be a bad idea either.)
The 2008 Children's Humanities Festival has been running all week and ends this weekend. Tonight, see original stop-motion animation (about insects!) combined with the dreamy stylings of singer Mirah and the instrumentals of Spectratone International. Includes a dash of Kafka's Metamorphosis. Appropriate for high-minded hipsters and wonderment-loving children alike. Details in Slowdown.
In positive cycling news, Andersonville's annual Bike Week starts on Monday and runs May 12-18th with discounts at local retailers, bike-related art and photo exhibits, free spinning and pilates classes, and a "historic bike tour". Start planning your bike-friendly good times here.
As if wild parakeets weren't enough, Hyde Park now is home to a band of feral cats who have set up shop in an alley near East 62nd Street. No reports of cougars in the HP, though... yet.
The Reader's neighborhood series hits Ukrainian Village and East Village.
The cheftestants become chefzillas in the wedding reception edition of this week's Top Chef recap over in Drive Thru.
New City names the 45 Chicago performers who are keeping the city on the front burner of the national music scene.
Oy! Chicago is a relatively new site for "Jews in the Loop," featuring articles, interviews and events. The latest feature profiles Web2.0 companies Planypus and 37signals.
After thirteen years and heaps of criticism, Chicago will can the blue bag recycling program this summer, with plans to expand the blue cart program city-wide by 2011.
The Reader has begun to solicit nominations for their annual Best of Chicago issue. The categories range from the standard, like Best Theatre Actor and Best Pizza, to the more original, like Best Dead Architect and Best Building for Wandering Around in Before Security Asks What You're Doing There.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey, of "Hell's Kitchen" fame, is set to open a restaurant here in Chicago. Will it have yelling and non-yelling sections?
Uptown Update has the lowdown on some of John Dillinger's hangouts in Uptown, including his last stop: the neighborhood funeral home.
Chicago blues icon Buddy Guy gets the tribute treatment when he's honored during the Great Performers of Illinois Festival July 20 at Millennium Park. Grammy winner Jimmie Vaughn will headline the free (yes, FREE) concert as part of the three-day music festival.
And, more importantly, show up your siblings, by eschewing the half-wilted, unsustainably harvested bunch of red carnations you always get her, in favor of a beautiful card showcasing Chicago’s community gardens. Your $25 donation to NeighborSpace, a nonprofit urban land trust that protects many of Chicago’s urban oases, gets Mom the card and an invitation to a fall tour of city gardens. Slackers, take note: card orders must be received by Tuesday, May 6, at 10 a.m.
Urban planners project that Chicagoland will be home to approximately 2.8 million more people by the year 2040. They'll have live and work somewhere. The agency in charge of deciding how to accommodate this growth wants your input over the next year for the development of their official plan, which will start to be implemented by 2010. 2009 is also the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham's Plan of Chicago.
Catalyst and the Chicago Reporter both focused recently on the effects of incarceration on the families and children of prisoners.
Two sites have their sights set on Uptown: Uptown Update and the Chicago Uptown Crime Blotter. The former looks at events both positive and negative in the neighborhood (although sadly, it's mostly negative), while the latter acts as a near-realtime tracker of criminal activities, pulled from eye-witness reports and police scanner activity. (Thanks, Amy!)
Chicago is on track to become the first city to have a street sweeper-mounted camera system. As the sweeper moves down the street it will take a take a photo of any illegally-parked vehicle and a second image of the license plate, relaying both automatically to the Department of Revenue. Strictly for traffic flow purposes, you understand.
The New York Times gave props to Chicago in its Green Issue for its Green Alleys ongoing program to resurface the city’s alleyways with environmentally friendly materials such as permeable asphalt and light-reflecting concrete.
The president of the Chicago Crime Commission explains how gangs get kids involved in the drug trade.
Given the overwhelming shortage of Section 8 housing vouchers in Chicago, the CHA's plan to hold an additional lottery is welcome news.
Volunteers with the WPB's Community Open Houses asked the people of Wicker Park/Bucktown what they wanted to see in their neighborhood. Their responses were collected in a series of photographs on Flickr: here, here and here. A quick survey indicates a big push for a more bike-friendly area. Oh, and a toy store. Don't feel left out of the process, though, you can submit your thoughts too. [Via]
2020 isn't all that far away now, so the clock has been reset to go to 2040. More about it in the Business Ledger.
CDOT is looking at reconfiguring the accident-prone Damen-Elston-Fullerton intersection with a new Damen-Fullerton intersection that Elston would wiggle around.
Rationally, there's no reason these two businesses can't coexist.
A suburban couple ran "a-fowl" of the law when they tried to provided sustenance for their fine feathered friends. One of the offenders compared the situation unfavorably to Communist Russia.
The Chicago Cultural Center will be showing the premiere of Movin' On Up, a documentary about Chicago native and music icon Curtis Mayfield Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. Never before seen footage, past performances are featured in the film and on Friday, a post-movie Q&A with director David Peck and surviving Impressions members Fred Cash and Sam Gooden follows the screening. The event is free.
How does your zip code compare to the others around you? Here's 60660, 60657, 60622, 60621 and 60615.
AREA Chicago's new 1968/2008 takes a new look at the cultural legacy of 1968 in Chicago: the Democratic National Convention, riots, Chicago 10, Daley's shoot to kill order, etc.
Starting Tuesday, the city will be swapping its look-alike orange street cleaning signs for a rainbow of fruit flavors.
Over at Second City Cop, one of Chicago's Finest and some of his fellow officers vent about the proposed changes by new top cop Jody Weis (whom they sort of humorously refer to as "J-Fed"). Let's just say that they're not too happy.
The Trib has a quick primer on the community areas and the neighborhoods within them that highlights some lesser-known locales, such as Jackson Park Highlands and the Villa District.
They didn't make it to Superdawg, but a Chicago political strategist and his trusty companion did manage to travel all the way to Mars. For naught, as it turned out.
Want to plan a summer block party? Neighbors Project explains how, with videos of grilling experts, tips from aldermen's offices, and photos and stories from those who've done this before.
We're No. 1... when it comes to putting off doing our federal taxes, according to Turbo Tax. Hey, figuring out how those bribes and kickbacks should be deducted takes time. Done yours yet? Didn't think so...
Former Chicago aldermanic legend Dorothy Tillman resurfaced over the weekend at a speaking engagement in Gary, Ind. to promote her new book, Hang Onto Your Hats: A Pictorial Journey of Dorothy Wright Tillman. Yes, she was wearing a hat.
Chicago's Pillow Fight Club celebrated International Pillow Fight Day today with a mass flying-featherfest in front of the Art Institute of Chicago on S. Michigan. If you didn't catch it, here are some photos. (Nice to see white stuff that isn't sleet or snow falling from the sky, isn't it?)
I wonder what's going on here at 3912 S. Vincennes Ave.? UPDATE: Google has taken the scene down; Gawker has the screenshots.
Despite the recent snizzle storms, spring is here, and it's time to plant stuff. Even if you lack a lawn, you can still get into the gardening spirit by "seed bombing" your nearest vacant lot. This video, shot in Pilsen by locals Fresh Cut Media, provides a concise how-to and tips on the latest trend in guerrilla gardening. Seed bombs away ...
The Field Museum's new exhibit "Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids" proposes zoological origins of the world's storied beasties. Cyclops? Just a pygmy elephant. More debunking in the Trib.
Vacant Lot Magazine takes a look at Wilson Yard, the 5-acre plot of now-vacant land next to the CTA tracks between Wilson and Montrose. [via]
After the rumbling has died down, a former Hyde Park Co-Op Market shopper gives a (early) review of its replacement: Treasure Island.
Architectural Artifacts and Urban Remains are selling salvaged pieces of art and equipment from the recently demolished Westinghouse Career Academy and the former Cook County Hospital. Dump Site ponders the ethics of selling salvaged items, but we can all breathe easily: at least these items weren't given the Lee Plaza Treatment.
Wake Great Uncle Billy: Free rides for seniors began today on the CTA. Get the details on the program here.
If you couldn't make it to the St. Patrick's Day Parade downtown today, here's some pics.
The Reader's profile of the South Loop is a great introduction to the neighborhood.
Speak up to improve access to transit, shopping and jobs. An initiative of the City of Chicago's Department of Planning and Development asks Clybourn Corridor residents for their thoughts in a March 26 meeting or an online questionnaire.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is celebrating 100 years of bringing botanical loveliness to Chicago with a yearlong series of special exhibits and events, many of which are free to the public. Check out the Conservatory website for more details.
The first annual Big Lebowski Festival took place this past weekend, with a screening of the 1998 film at the Portage Theater followed by (naturally) bowling at the Waveland Bowl. According to reports, people traveled from as far away as Texas to mingle with fellow fans.
In today's Tribune, local celebrities reveal their secret Chicago-related indulgences, including watching sea lions and eating soup. Scandalous!
Announcing CitizenPowered, a City-sponsored site designed to bring Chicagoans together for collaboration with each other and community organizations. Find a job, help a nonprofit or connect with your neighbors.
A few weeks ago I had dinner with an insufferable visitor from New York who complained for five LONG minutes about how she couldn't buy a CTA card with her credit card. Well, someone from the CTA must have been seated at the next table and overheard her yapping: CTA announced today that they have installed "Express Pay" transit fare machines that accept major credit cards at several stations for a trial thirty-day period; if the program goes well, they'll install more machines at 55 stations all over the city.
Dump Site covers the demolition of Cook County Hospital's former children's wing in three poignant, sad pictures.
Dwell Magazine takes a walking tour of Ukrainian Village, hitting a range of the expected and the lesser known in art and commerce.
The Methods Reporter takes a look at how far Argyle Street has come in recent years -- and how far it has to go.
You may know Sean Parnell from his Chicago Bar Project. He also tracks abandoned lots.
Chicago's mafia isn't all Italian anymore. It's Eastern European, and they spell it "mafiya."
Six local designers have been selected to hawk their fashions in the Chicago Fashion Incubator at the State Street Macy's store starting March 11. According to the application for the year-long Incubator program, the chosen designers will pay Macy's $200 per month for office space and showroom rental, and in return attend lectures and get mentored by Macy's "merchant team." What a deal?
Wikitravel is now publishing travel guides that are updated every month, ensuring you're getting the latest info for your upcoming trip. And the project's first guidebook happens to be about Chicago.
American Girl Place will be canceling its run of the The American Girls Revue theater show as of September 1, citing a need to find "new entertaining experiences for our guests." As if creepy, overpriced plastic dolls and their endless accessories weren't entertaining enough.
Free admission to the Shedd Aquarium all this week.
Noted in this interview with EveryBlock founder Adrian Holovaty, Chicago has a business license designation of "Wrigley Field," which applies to the rooftop decks on Waveland and Sheffield.
As you're opening valentines and being all lovey-dovey today (and possibly tonight), take a moment to reflect on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which took place 79 years ago today. If you're looking for something non-VD (but still poignant) to do tonight, Chicago Hauntings will be offering a tour of the site of the famous massacre (which is now a parking lot, but whatevs).
The New York Times trumpets the rebirth of the historic Blackstone Hotel and ties its return to the housing/building boom in the South Loop.
There are still people desperate to make a bundle in the now-busted housing development boom. So desperate that they harass senior citizens to get them to sell their homes, the Chicago Reporter finds, leading to an exodus of older residents out of the city.
Wondering what Saturday's Lunar New Year Parade on Argyle St. looked like? Well, wonder no longer -- here's some photos of the festivities, taken by this GB contributrix.
As the plethora of rim-busting, tire-flattening potholes grows around the city (and we wait for them to be repaired), you can optimistically report the ones you come across by alerting the Department of Transportation at the City of Chicago website. There's one form for streets and another for