Andrew Huff

Brown Paper Packages
The Reader has a lot of favorite things.
Friday September 21 2007City Life/Cultural 

Complain in Song
The Complaints Choir of Chicago is getting ready to rehearse for their performance this fall, and they need your help: "Detractors, muckrakers, grouches and all citizens of Chicago: this is your chance to unite and voice your concerns and complaints in a hilarious choir conducted by Jeremy Jacobsen." Send your complaint and contact info to: complaintschoir@yahoo.com.
Friday September 21 2007Music/Clubs 

Green Space, a Quarter at a Time
As we mentioned Monday, today is National Park(ing) Day! Head to Milwaukee Avenue, just east of Western, to visit several parking spaces turned temporary public parks. The Trust for Public Land is offering free info, cupcakes and even a wishing tree. (Thanks, Meghan!)
Friday September 21 2007Outdoors/Environment 

OMG! Lulzcon 2007!
Reader Dubi asks, "Can 15 minutes stretch over a weekend?"
Friday September 21 2007Offbeat/Misc. Events 

Desk Work
E. Thomas Gimbel, owner of the LaSalle Network staffing and recruiting firm, is 6'6"; he's found that having a desk to stand behind instead of sit behind has improved his workday immeasurably. [via]
Friday September 21 2007Business/Shopping 

Archival Art
Photographer Ian "only-connect" Lorenzo (whose photo was featured in Rearview on Thursday) does some amazing things with his flickr account. Individual photos shine, but it's best to view his archives page by page by page.
Friday September 21 2007Photography 

Buyer Beware
As if the overbuilding, high prices and cookie-cutter looks of so many of the new condo buildings, the Chicago Journal's Alan Shannon points out some other drawbacks.
Thursday September 20 2007Arts/Architecture 

The Tequilia Fund
A donation fund has been set up for partially paralyzed Windy City Roller "Tequila Mockingbird," (previous coverage here, here) to help pay for her medical bills (she was uninsured). You can donate via PayPal to TheTahirahJohnsonTrust@gmail.com. All funds will be transferred directly into her North Community Bank trust account and are tax-deductible. (You can use that same address to send her well-wishings, too.)
Thursday September 20 2007People/Sightings 

On the Map
National Geographic is bringing its popular Festival of Maps to Chicago Nov. 2 -- spread out over nine museums, libraries and other locations.
Wednesday September 19 2007Arts/Architecture 

A Note of Business
Our text ad service is just shy of sold out into October -- $25 for a week's attention at the top of our pages is a good deal. Click on "more" for an even better deal for our last remaining September slot.

We like to have ads run from Sunday to Saturday, but next week we've got an ad ending on Monday. We'll cut a deal for whoever wants the remaining five days (Sept. 25-29): $15 and it's yours. First to email ah@gapersblock.com with their ad (no longer than 100 characters, including spaces) gets it. Sold. But we still have plenty of room in October -- get in there while you can!
Wednesday September 19 2007Gapers 

There Once Was a Team Called the Cubs...
Photos and limericks about our North Side team. (Thanks, Enrich.)
Wednesday September 19 2007Sports/Recreation 

Metro-Remix
Metromix launched a full redesign today, and divorced itself URL-wise from the Tribune. It sure looks slick, but does it work any better?
Tuesday September 18 2007Found on the Web 

Blogging North of Devon
Rogers Park is the fifth bloggiest neighborhood in the nation, according to Outside.in. [via]
Tuesday September 18 2007Weblogs 

Fix Your Windows
Local software startup Humanized released a set of beta products yesterday. Beta products are small, free apps for Windows that do things like control your music player without actually looking at it, or perform search, language translation or mathematical typesetting wherever you need it.
Tuesday September 18 2007Business/Shopping 

Vote for the Local Collecter
The Apartments.com Collection Obsession contest has reached the finals, and local collector (and former GB staffer) Brenda Janish is a finalist! Vote for her collection of pin-ups every day through Oct. 19 to help her win.
Tuesday September 18 2007People/Sightings 

Day in the Life of a CPS Principal
One in four of Chicago Public School principals are new this year. Chicago Public Radio's David Schaper followed an elementary school principal around for a day to see what challenges she's facing.
Monday September 17 2007Schools/Education 

7 Bids for the Olympics
Well, now we know who our competition is. And the local press is already giving Chicago the lead.
Monday September 17 2007Sports/Recreation 

Design Sense
Stitch is "a rigorously edited selection of sleek home and personal furnishings." A very beautiful selection.
Friday September 14 2007Business/Shopping 

Designers, Set Your Palettes!
If you're into creative competition and don't have much to do on Friday afternoons, you'll want to check out the new Photoshop Layer Tennis!
Friday September 14 2007Weblogs 

Where to Fish
Want to go fishing? Here's where to go, and what you might catch there.
Friday September 14 2007Sports/Recreation 

Thin Crust
Someday, we're going to lose this reputation for only eating deep-dish pizza.
Thursday September 13 2007Eating/Drinking 

Lost Dog
Do you know where Reba is? (Thanks, Ellen!)
Thursday September 13 2007Found on the Web 

Bachelor No More
Crain's reports that William Wrigley, Jr. -- just last month named Chicago's most eligible bachelor by Forbes -- just got married.
Wednesday September 12 2007People/Sightings 

A Life-Changing Report
Tribune science reporter Peter Gorner is being credited with changing the lives of at least 13 children with a story about a rare form of diabetes -- as he himself was dying from lung cancer.
Wednesday September 12 2007People/Sightings 

Big & Green & Closing
You have till tomorrow to catch the very cool Big & Green exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Foundation, featuring 15 green building projects in Chicago or by local architects. Ugh, turns out the exhibit was from 2004. (Sorry, the pages included the date, not the year.)
Tuesday September 11 2007Arts/Architecture 

"My Bed Wasn't On Fire"
A footnote in Del Close's biography, Wasteland was an anthology of short comics written by Close and fellow actor (now comics writer) John Ostrander in the late '80s. Here's a sample story, a parody of both Harvey Pekar's popular American Splendor and R. Crumb's drawing style. (This thread on a comics forum includes a great anecdote about Close supposedly undergoing tests for the US space program.)
Monday September 10 2007Books/Authors 

Teen Sex
Not what you're thinking: The Midwest Teen Sex Show is a great video podcast put together, apparently, by some very funny folks in northwest suburban Woodstock. [via]
Monday September 10 2007Found on the Web 

More on Hans Peterson
Kevin Guilfoile posts more of his research on murderer Hans Peterson on The Outfit Collective blog.
Sunday September 9 2007In the News 

Cheetah Gym Saga Continues
Drive-Thru contributor Dana says, "I walked by the Andersonville location this morning and saw a sign in the window that said 'Cheetah Gym will be reopening under new ownership on Sept. 9.' Quick turn-around, huh?"
Friday September 7 2007Sports/Recreation 

Wanna Be the Next Nitro or Lace?
That's right: "American Gladiators" is returning to TV after an 11-year hiatus. And they're looking for both gladiators and contestants here in Chicago. Show up at the Windy City Fieldhouse Sept. 16 for your chance.
Friday September 7 2007Radio/TV 

Pick Your Favorite
American Express and the National Trust for Preservation have teamed up for Partners in Preservation, a very worthwhile contest: 25 Chicagoland architectural and historical landmarks vie for $1 million in grants for preservation and protection. Who wins is dependent on votes, so vote for your favorite -- and in classic Chicago style, you can vote more than once, every day in fact.
Friday September 7 2007Arts/Architecture 

Cheetah Gym Ex-Members, Unite!
Are you an abruptly ex-member of Cheetah Gym? You might be interested in joining this forum to discuss a possible class action lawsuit against the company. (Thanks, Robert!)
Thursday September 6 2007Business/Shopping 

Oh, Berny.
Berny Stone, our vice-mayor, is being investigated for absentee ballots cast in his favor in the hotly contested 50th Ward elections earlier this year. He says it's probably happening all over the city, but no other alderman report similar investigations. Meanwhile Stone's name is coming up a lot in the convoluted story surrounding the closing of the Lincoln Village Theaters at Devon and McCormick.
Thursday September 6 2007Politics/Activism 

Relive Meigs
The latest edition of GoogleEarth includes a flight simulator (controls here). GB reader Dubi Kaufmann noticed that "One of the 27 airports available in the flight simulator is Meigs Field - FOUR YEARS after it was closed."
Thursday September 6 2007Found on the Web 

The Face of Cornbleet's Killer
Author Kevin Guilfoile has been writing about the case of Dr. David Cornbleet, the dermatologist who was killed in his Loop office. Until now, nobody seemed to have a recent photo of Hans Peterson, the man who confessed to the murder and who took refuge in the French Territory of St. Martin, where he has avoided extradition. Guilfoile believes he's found one.
Wednesday September 5 2007In the News 

Now It's Official
You may have thought it was a done deal, but today Chicago was formally made the United States' nominee for the 2016 Olympics host city.
Tuesday September 4 2007In the News 

Where's Our WiFi?
Wired puts the recent failure of Chicago's municipal wifi plans into national perspective. (Thanks, Matt!)
Tuesday September 4 2007In the News 

Who's Reppin' Us?
Jim DeRogatis asks, who speaks for the local music scene? The answer, in part, is the Chicago Music Commission, which just released an economic impact survey of the city's music industry.
Tuesday September 4 2007Music/Clubs 

Block 37 Over Budget
The Block 37 project is millions over budget, to the surprise of nobody. Crain's reports that the city is now in talks with the same firm that leased the Skyway to privatize the CTA station below the block.
Saturday September 1 2007Transportation 

Rolling the Tollway
Following the great success of Bike the Drive, the Chicago Bike Federation has somehow managed to persuade the Illinois Tollway to give Route 355 over to bicycle traffic on November 11. Six lanes, nothing but bikes.
Friday August 31 2007Sports/Recreation 

Zone 6
Chicagoist answers a question I've been wondering the last week or two: What's up with the new "Zone #" stickers on all the parking meters?
Friday August 31 2007Transportation 

Jazzing in Up
We probably don't have to tell you that the Chicago Jazz Festival is under way; here's a schedule and guide if you need one.
Friday August 31 2007Music/Clubs 

Coming Soon... Cheese
A trailer for I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, starring Jeff Garlin, Sarah Silverman and the City of Chicago. (Thanks, Dubi!)
Friday August 31 2007Film 

Labor Day Get-Together
Kick off the long weekend right: join Gapers Block staffers tonight at the Green Eye Lounge, below the Western Blue Line stop, from 9pm on for our monthly GB Get-Together. Details here.
Friday August 31 2007Gapers 

News About the Other Mafia
The Trib profiled the Chicago Craft Mafia in today's paper, including GB's own Cinnamon Cooper. The article offers a bunch of tips for just-starting crafters toward the end.
Thursday August 30 2007In the News 

Jazz Showcase Returns
Jazz Showcase, the late lamented venue, will rise again at Dearborn Station this winter. (Meanwhile, the old Jazz Showcase space on Grand is La Madia, an upscale pizza and wine place.
Thursday August 30 2007Music/Clubs 

Super Happy Fun Slide
A couple in Lombard left their teenage son at home alone for a week earlier this summer. He and his friends took the opportunity to build a 60-foot waterslide in the backyard. Potential for serious injury aside, that's pretty frickin' cool.
Wednesday August 29 2007Found on the Web 

It's a Fave
Fave is a new "Chicago neighborhood browser." Unlike most search tools, this one is a downloadable browser that supposedly doesn't transmit your search to the Internet, which leads me to believe it has an internal directory -- so it's more like an electronic yellow pages, I guess? If you're curious, they've got a storefront at Clark and Fullerton where you can try it out and ask more questions.
Tuesday August 28 2007Found on the Web 

Lakeview is Burning with Boredom Now
YoChicago magazine lays out what we've all suspected for years: Lakeview is losing its unique and quirky businesses thanks to the wave of condo development that has brought chains in to fill first-floor spaces.
Tuesday August 28 2007City Life/Cultural 

Lone Surfer of Lake Michigan
Detroit surfer Joe Bidawid landed safely in Chicago yesterday after paddling about 60 miles across Lake Michigan on his board. He did it to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Monday August 27 2007Sports/Recreation 

BREAKING NEWS: Serious Injury @ the Derby
Gapers Block just received word that Saturday night's Windy City Rollers bout was cut short by an incident that left Fury player Tahirah Johnson, aka Tequila Mockingbird, with a fractured cervical vertebra. She was rushed to surgery to relieve pressure and hopefully save her from paralysis. We'll keep you posted as details come in (below the break -- click on "More"); The WCR message board is another good place to watch for updates.

Update 8/26 afternoon: No news on Johnson's condition post-surgery, but we've been told that she regained some feeling and control over her left arm before surgery, so there's hope that it means she'll have an effective recovery.

Update 8/27: WCR released this statement today:
"We understand and are grateful for everyone's concern regarding Tequila's injuries. At this time we'd like to respect Tequila and her family by not releasing any information without their permission, but please know that Tequila is in the best of care at one of the top hospitals in the city.

"As soon as we have information to make available, including where folks can send well-wishes, we'll do so.

"Thanks again for your concern, and please thank our medical staff when you get the chance. They truly did an amazing job making sure Tequila stayed safe and cared for."
Sunday August 26 2007Sports/Recreation 

Hef is Your Friend
Speaking of skin, Playboy has created a (non-nude) social network for colleges. Playboy U harks back to the good ole days of Facebook: a .edu address is required to join.
Friday August 24 2007In the News 

Skin Flicks
Chicago-based Mr. Skin is your number one source for who's naked in what movie; Business POV interviewed the founder, Jim McBride, and discovered it's also a $6 million-a-year moneymaker with 44 employees. (NSFW)
Friday August 24 2007Business/Shopping 

Of Boxers and Pit Bulls
The story of a former boxer and pitt-bull fighter from Freeport, IL. [via]
Thursday August 23 2007Sports/Recreation 

Conrad Noir
Noted without comment: Toronto Star photographer Lucas Oleniuk and columnist Jennifer Wells reflect on the Conrad Black trial. (Thanks, Charlie!)
Thursday August 23 2007Print/Magazines 

Saving the Point or Missing It?
Hyde Park's Promontory Point is the subject of much preservationist activism in the face of the Park District's plans to replace the limestone steps and lake wall with concrete. Hyde Park Progress looks at the changes to the steps and general upkeep since the Park Districts' plans were put on hold.
Wednesday August 22 2007Outdoors/Environment 

Taxi Cab Confessions
HACK is a blog by taxi driver and artist Dmitri Samarov, created as a companion to his pretty amazing website. Check out his other "Hack," a minicomic about his day job.
Tuesday August 21 2007Weblogs 

Is That a Ninja In Your Pocket?
Shawnimals is coming out with even tinier versions of its pocket ninjas, with a loop so you can have one guard your keychain. Sweet! In other art/craft news, two of Delicious Design League's Flatstock posters are now for sale on UrbanOutfitters.com.
Monday August 20 2007Arts/Architecture 

Downtown Poshness Poolside
Apartment Therapy Chicago let us in on a cool option for a downtown getaway: The Hotel Intercontinental offers access to its amazing Roman Bath-style pool and fitness center for just $15. (Check out the virtual reality tour of the pool in the Amenities section of this {unfortunately all-Flash} site.)
Sunday August 19 2007Sports/Recreation 

We're Tied for 9! We're Tied for 9!
The University of Chicago tied for ninth place with Columbia University on US News & World Report's annual list of America's best colleges.
Friday August 17 2007Schools/Education 

Come and Knock on My Door
Quick, what was the bar in "Three's Company" called? That's right, the Reagle Beagle. And now you can visit it and the rest of the Seventies and Eighties, right at Michigan and Grand.
Friday August 17 2007Eating/Drinking 

Pessimism Reigns Eternal
Got an overconfident Cubs fan in your midst? Here's a song to help bring them back to earth, courtesy of the Beachwood Reporter.
Thursday August 16 2007Sports/Recreation 

New Brew in Town
Half Acre Beer is a new brewing company in Chicago (although its beer is actually produced in Wisconsin). Looks promising; we'll track down a six-pack and review it in Drive-Thru.
Wednesday August 15 2007Eating/Drinking 

Hot Neighborhoods Are Impoverished Too?
Crain's reports that retail doesn't always follow rapid development of new neighborhoods. Some spirited discussion of the article at YoChicago.
Tuesday August 14 2007City Life/Cultural 

Hundreds of Channels and Nothing On
A moment of web zen: "TV DX Photos by Channel seen from Macomb, IL Since 1983" -- in other words screenshots from stations seen with a long-distance TV antenna. [via]
Monday August 13 2007Found on the Web 

Hacking the Menu
Over in Drive-Thru, we're wondering: what menu hacks have you come across?
Monday August 13 2007Eating/Drinking 

Don't Jenks It
Despite the White Sox' continued suckitude, closer Bobby Jenks has been a bright spot. On Sunday, Jenks tied Jim Barr's all-time record of 41 consecutive batters retired. (Here's a great little profile from back just before Jenks joined the Sox in '05.)
Monday August 13 2007Sports/Recreation 

Friday Fun: Astronaut
Our very own Felix has created a fun little time-killer: the Astronaut syncs random flickr photos to appear with key words from a song by Dan Frick.
Friday August 10 2007Found on the Web 

It's Hot. Watch Movies.
Looking for some movies this weekend? There's a ton to see, and none of it involves a major cineplex. Saturday is another night of Movies in the Park and is Home Movie Day, and Chopin Theatre is hosting a tribute to director Ingmar Bergman on Saturday and Sunday for $7 a show or $20 per day. See Slowdown for details.
Friday August 10 2007Film 

We're Now a One-Paperboy Town
The Tribune is going to deliver the Sun-Times.
Thursday August 9 2007Print/Magazines 

"Who Do You Love? You Love a Car!"
As reader Pat says, "if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."
Wednesday August 8 2007City Life/Cultural 

Nice Shirt
I'm digging the Chicago Shirt from Rock'n Clothing.
Wednesday August 8 2007Business/Shopping 

La Sardine, DesignRed, Lakeshore Theater
What do they have in common? They're all in Chicago Magazine's 2007 Best Of issue.
Wednesday August 8 2007City Life/Cultural 

Parody Songs & Sculpture
Via the Beachwood Reporter, the somewhat bizarre year-end gifts of Sam Zell. (It's copyright Saltator Sepulcri, which translates roughly to "dancer [of/on] graves," so I'm gonna guess they're social satire, not real gifts.) UPDATE: They're real!

GB reader Paula writes, "I wish they were social satire, but they are real and he does give them out as gifts every year. A friend of mine works at a financial company in Chicago that works with Zell and every year they get a bizarre moving sculpture piece that has a button to activate the movement and the voice of Sam Zell pontificating about something important to him. In her front office they have them lined up on shelves and they drive her nuts because guests love to push the buttons, but there’s no off switch so once you start the monologue you’re stuck until it ends. Bizarre."
Tuesday August 7 2007Found on the Web 

Bloggers of the World... Unite?
Should bloggers unionize?
Monday August 6 2007Weblogs 

Things for Sale
FoGB Ron Slattery is selling some of his stuff. And what interesting stuff it is.
Monday August 6 2007Weblogs 

Say Hey, Let Me Play Too
The Cubs are for sale, and Ernie Banks wants in. Mr. Cub made an offer last year, before the Cubbies were available, and has talked to three of the investment teams getting ready to bid.
Sunday August 5 2007Sports/Recreation 

Shooting Racism
A University of Chicago assistant professor in psychology has devised a videogame which tests racial bias based on whether you shoot black or white men holding cellphones, wallets or guns.
Friday August 3 2007Schools/Education 

Scenes from a Movie Theater
Our former film critic Gordon McAlpin and his wonderful Multiplex comic got some attention from Boxoffice Magazine.
Friday August 3 2007Film 

Feeling Safe
If you're not one to read Fuel, you might want to make an exception -- the current thread about what people do to feel safe at night is interesting and pertinent.
Thursday August 2 2007Gapers 

A Body of Words
Dictionary editor and local blogger Erin McKean was the guest columnist for William Safire's "On Language" column in the NYTimes last weekend.
Thursday August 2 2007Print/Magazines 

Pillow Fight Today
I'm ruining this a little by telling you, but there's a pillow fight flash mob happening in Daley Plaza at 2pm today. Grab a pillow (maybe one from the couch in reception?) and look for people in red shirts.
Thursday August 2 2007Offbeat/Misc. Events 

Your Attention Please...
The CTA Tattler runs down a list of some of the CTA's rules of behavior.
Wednesday August 1 2007Transportation 

If I Had a Million Dollars...
Guy goes to a bar and a Miller Beer promo girl hands him a game ticket. It says, "Nobody Knows I... Just won a million dollars." Guy gets excited -- and Miller Girl takes the ticket away. Guy starts talking to a lawyer.
Wednesday August 1 2007In the News 

A Garden Sprouts
In East Garfield Park, at Maypole and California, a community garden is taking shape in a formerly vacant lot.
Tuesday July 31 2007Outdoors/Environment 

Spare the Rod, Spoil the Blog
Zorn points to a blog panning our governor: BloggingOnBlagoBlog, from the Illinois Republican Party.
Tuesday July 31 2007Politics/Activism 

Lake Michigan Stories
Got a good story or photo involving Lake Michigan or another of the Great Lakes? HealthyLakes.org wants to hear/see it. They're running a photo and story contest through the end of August, with prizes awarded each month. (Thanks, Hugh!)
Tuesday July 31 2007Outdoors/Environment 

Want to Write About Comedy?
The Bastion is looking for writers.
Sunday July 29 2007Weblogs 

The Items We Carry
On Tuesday, Naz started a flickr group called The Items We Carry -- just pictures of the things you have in your pockets or on your person every day. As of this writing, three days later, there are 630 members and 320 photos of people's stuff. Join up, or just kill time on a slow summer Friday going people-watching in slightly different way.
Friday July 27 2007Photography 

Trump Marches On
YoChicago checks in on the progress at Trump Tower.
Wednesday July 25 2007Arts/Architecture 

Creative Loafing Buys the Reader
The Chicago Reader has been bought, along with its sister paper, the Washington City Paper, by Creative Loafing, an Tampa-based chain of four southern alt.weeklies. Here are two PDF press releases, from the Reader and one from Creative Loafing. UPDATE: Here's Michael Miner's take on it.
Tuesday July 24 2007Print/Magazines 

Hub to Hub
George Aye and Sara Cantor, the couple behind Hubwear, did a nice interview with Gridskipper.
Tuesday July 24 2007Business/Shopping 

Ask(About Chicago)MetaFilter
There was a flurry of Chicago-related questions on Ask.MetaFilter the last couple days:
• Does the mafia still exist in Chicago?
• "For a novice, what is a good bike route from Chicago's North Side to the loop?"
• Temping in Chicago?
Monday July 23 2007Found on the Web 

A Different Kind of Tour
The Residents' Journal has organized "ghetto bus tours" for folks interested in learning more about what it's like to live in the projects. Tickets are $20 if you're interested.
Monday July 23 2007City Life/Cultural 

Where to Get Leighed
Nerve.com has a neat interview with Karen Abbot, author of Sin in the Second City, about the famed Everleigh Club. (Thanks, Matt!) Medill News Service offers up a record of another recent interview.
Sunday July 22 2007Books/Authors 

Printers' Ball Busted
The aforementioned Printers' Ball was raided by the police last night. Reasons were not immediately clear. (More at Chicagoist.)
Saturday July 21 2007Books/Authors 

Steve@TheMovies-Spotting
Our own Steve Prokopy is a guest host on the latest episode of the popular local podcast Filmspotting. Adam Kempenaar and I discuss Rescue Dawn, which he reviewed last week, and Sunshine, which he reviews this week. You can download the episode here.
Friday July 20 2007Film 

Looking for Laughs
This weekend, the Music Box is being invaded by that other form of moving pictures: TV. The first-ever Chicago TV Pilot Competition showcases comedy television pilots based on ideas from Chicagoans. It even comes with its own commercial, by FoGB Steve Delahoyde.
Thursday July 19 2007Radio/TV 

You Should Have a New City Sticker By Now
...which means you've either added another one to the column, or you've removed the old one and have a sticky smear on your windshield. Here's a sure-fire method for removing the old sticker and the glue.
Wednesday July 18 2007Weblogs 

First, Do No Harm
Expanding her focus on the plight of the chronically ill in today's healthcare system, past GB contributor Kimberly Soenen and friends have launched Project Sin Alma.
Wednesday July 18 2007Found on the Web 

Critics find Fox Revolting, Boycott
The Chicago Film Critics Association (of which our own Steve at the Movies is a member) is slapping 20th Century Fox with a boycott, claiming the studio is discriminating against some of its member critics from less prominent media — specifically, Internet-based critics. (Thanks, Dee!)
Monday July 16 2007Film 

Smart in the Suburbs
The Smart Car is available in Chicagoland -- out of a tiny storefront on Route 14 in Palatine.
Monday July 16 2007Business/Shopping 

Bike Messenger POV
Ever wonder what it's like to be a bike messenger? Crain's tags along with Josh Corby, part owner of the Four Star Courier Collective, and shoots some first-person footage, slipping through traffic.
Friday July 13 2007Business/Shopping 

Trib2.0
The Tribune is previewing the upcoming redesign of its website, and it's ...well, boring. Nice web2.0 social networking-type features, but man, how 'bout a little pizazz?
Thursday July 12 2007Print/Magazines 

Three-Card Monte Tour
Apartment Therapy drew attention to City Walks Chicago, a tour book deck of cards, with which you can design your own walking tour of downtown.
Wednesday July 11 2007City Life/Cultural 

Jeff Tweedy <3 Chicago
Wilco's frontman tells American Airlines' magazine all about his city crush.
Wednesday July 11 2007People/Sightings 

CME+CBOT=?
Shareholders of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade agreed to their pending merger, which means Chicago will be the world capital of commodities for the foreseeable future. There's already speculation that the new "CME Group, a Chicago Board of Trade company" (official acronym TBD) may start looking for more acquisitions.
Tuesday July 10 2007Business/Shopping 

Little Italy: Mostly Mob-Free
Chicago Daily News tells the story of Dead Man's Tree, and finds Taylor Street is largely free of mob influence.
Monday July 9 2007History 

Last Chance for Pitchfork
We're closing entries in our contest for three pairs of three-day passes to the sold-out Pitchfork Music Festival at noon, so get in there now! UPDATE: We have our winners! Congratulations to Elizabeth Monkus, Matt Avery and Bob Atkinson!
Monday July 9 2007Gapers 

Kwik-E Mart Walk-through
Not willing to drive all the way to 63rd and Harlem for a Squishee? The Methods Reporter has your hook-up.
Friday July 6 2007In the News 

Hooping It Up Downtown
Looking for something a little different this weekend? How about a hula hoop dance party in Millennium Park? HooperPower and Chicago Hoopdance are celebrating World Hoop Day with an interactive performance tomorrow night from 7 to 9pm. Grab a hula hoop and join in for free!
Friday July 6 2007Theatre/Dance 

Read, Listen & Watch
Green Lantern is hosting a book launch/video screening/reading tonight from 7pm to 9pm at 1511 N Milwaukee, 2nd flr. Josh MacPhee will discuss his new book, Realizing the Impossible: Art Against Authority, our own Anne Elizabeth Moore will do a short reading and discuss the demise of Punk Planet, and Dara Greenwald will present her rotating collection of short videos that make you laugh and cry. It's free; BYOB.
Thursday July 5 2007Books/Authors 

Tastes of All Kinds
Over in Drive-Thru, we've got some companion coverage geared toward the Taste of Chicago: Christine Blumer provides tent-to-tent recommendations on the drinks of Taste to go with Tribune reporter Monica Eng's ratings of all the food choices. (No really, she tried them all; it cost $1100.) And David Hammond offers up an alternative Taste of his own -- a guide to eating cuts not usually found on American plates.
Thursday July 5 2007Gapers 

Delving into the Past
Once you're done poking around in Architectural Artifacts, head over to Urban Remains, which specializes in salvaged items from the turn of the century to the 1930s, primarily in Chicagoland. (Photography fans should check out this page.)
Thursday July 5 2007Business/Shopping 

Pitchfork Ticket Contest!
We've got three pairs of three-day passes to the Pitchfork Music Festival July 13-15, courtesy of Boost Mobile and Schubas, and we're giving them all away! To be entered in the drawing, send an email including your name, address and phone number to contests@gapersblock.com by July 9! Good luck!
Tuesday July 3 2007Gapers 

Chicago Infoporn
Crain's offers a treasure trove of information with its Market Facts feature this week. Check out maps of census data and an interactive skyline tour, and PDFs of all sorts of market information.
Tuesday July 3 2007Print/Magazines 

Beanbags Away!
Don't know how I missed this yesterday: Cornhole, aka Baggo, makes the front page of the Wall Street Journal.
Friday June 29 2007In the News 

Decorate Your Walls
Dan Grzeca (pronounced "Jet-sah") designs concert posters as well as fine art screenprints; he's now selling them on Etsy in addition to festivals and craft shows.
Friday June 29 2007Arts/Architecture 

Speaking of Tunnels...
The Tribune takes a tour of the tunnels below the Green Mill and other businesses at the Broadway/Lawrence intersection; watch a video here.
Thursday June 28 2007History 

Where to Stand in Line
A map of all the Apple and AT&T stores in Chicagoland: go get an iPhone.
Thursday June 28 2007Offbeat/Misc. Events 

H4x0r5 in T|-|3 N3VV5
Chicago magazine profiles Jeremy Hammond, the hacktivist founder of Hackthissite.org. Lots of links for further exploration in his Wikipedia entry.
Wednesday June 27 2007Found on the Web 

Interested In Some Literature?
Mimi Smartypants comes up with the best response to a religious tract pusher I've heard in awhile (last item).
Wednesday June 27 2007Weblogs 

An Oldie but a Goodie
We've linked to this site about the old freight tunnels under the Loop before, but I just came across a 1933 article in Time about them. "Bowels of Chicago," indeed! (You might also be interested in the Central Electric Railfans Association.)
Wednesday June 27 2007History 

Goodbye Girlie-Q
We just got a note from Bloody Belle of the Girlie-Q Variety Hour, letting us know that the infamous queer burlesque and variety show is no more. Is the timing coincidental to its usual home, the Hothouse, being in danger of losing its lease? Maybe, but more importantly Belle is moving to New York. She says a couple of performers, Backdoor Aly and Mae the Bellydancer, may be planning a new show, possibly to run in Hamburger Mary's upstairs cabaret. Stay tuned, and keep your eye on Ray's Guide for your general burlesque news.
Tuesday June 26 2007Theatre/Dance 

Phone Reader
The Reader now offers its restaurant, film, music and event listings in a mobile version for your phone. Could come in handy the next time you're planning with friends who "dunno, whadda you wanna do?"
Tuesday June 26 2007Print/Magazines 

Helping Our Allies
Kirk Johnson, a journalist whom we've written about before, has launched The List Project, an effort to help resettle Iraqi translators and others who have assisted American and British troops in the war and who are now targets of insurgents. (Thanks, Nate.)
Tuesday June 26 2007Politics/Activism 

Striking in the Conference Room
Jack Flash, singer-guitarist for the local band Bang! Bang!, has been wearing thrift-store ties cut into lightning bolts for some time -- and now you can too. Bang Bang Ties are professionally tailored (not by Flash) and are available online and at Strange Cargo. [via]
Monday June 25 2007Business/Shopping 

New York Swapping Times
Coudal Partners' awesome Swap Meat got a nice write-up in the New York Times Magazine. Its wild success has led them to keep the swap open till at least the end of the summer.
Saturday June 23 2007In the News 

A What Reuben!?
Over in Drive-Thru, we're discussing questionable and strangely named menu items -- such as the ill-advised tilapia reuben and the disturbing Porker McGee. Join us, won't you?
Friday June 22 2007Eating/Drinking 

Going Out Tonight
Going.com lands somewhere between Upcoming and Yelp -- a social network for actual socializing. They're throwing a launch party for their Chicago channel tonight at Debonair Social Club, 1575 N. Milwaukee, starting at 7pm. RSVP and more info here.
Thursday June 21 2007Found on the Web 

Norwood Park + Park Ridge = Norridge
Here's an examination of suburban naming trends in Chicagoland.
Thursday June 21 2007Weblogs 

Son of a Preacher Man
Chicago magazine has an interesting profile of the least-known son of Jesse Jackson, Yusef, who recently moved into publishing by investing in the resurgent Radar Magazine.
Wednesday June 20 2007People/Sightings 

Ze Frank Replacement
People who miss The Show with Ze Frank should check out the Wheezy Waiter, a video blog by Craig, the lead singer of Driftless Pony Club. It's not exactly the same, but hopefully it'll help with your jones. [via]
Wednesday June 20 2007Weblogs 

Kill Your Automated Operator
Bringo is a Chicago-based web company that helps you find a dentist. Even more useful, though, it'll get you past those annoying automated phone trees. Awesome.
Wednesday June 20 2007Business/Shopping 

Bat Suit Revealed!
As you know, the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, is filming around town right now. An alert apartment dweller shot some photos with her phonecam of Batman doing some unsafe stuff on a back deck, revealing to the world the look of the latest costume. HollywoodChicago also has some video of filming in Buena Park.
Tuesday June 19 2007Film 

Punk Planet Closing Up
Punk Planet is ceasing publication. The 13-year-old independent magazine has fallen victim to the same distributor bankruptcy issues (though a different distributor) as McSweeney's, and find themselves with no option but to close down. PunkPlanet.com and the book publishing unit will continue on, but PP #80 will be the last.
Monday June 18 2007Books/Authors 

Cutting Out the Middle Man
Jim DeRogatis examines the stranglehold TicketMaster maintains over tickets for concerts, theater, sports and other events, and points out that LiveNation, TM's biggest customer, recently began selling tickets for all local venues (all the way out to Alpine Valley) at the House of Blues box office, without a service fee. The Metro and Schubas have long offered the same option. (DeRo runs down the fees, and also reminds us that the war on TicketMaster started here in '94.)
Monday June 18 2007Music/Clubs 

Preserve This City
Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois is holding a conference on preservation this weekend, starting tonight with free tours of the K.A.M. II Synagogue and Hyde Park Bank. Much more is planned throughout the weekend, and it's not too late the register.
Friday June 15 2007Arts/Architecture 

DIY Loop Tours
The Chicago Loop Alliance offers Loop the Loop, three free podcast tours of the Loop covering notable art, theatre and landmark destinations. Nice perspective renderings of key buildings, too.
Friday June 15 2007City Life/Cultural 

Messages from Space
Out in Palatine, there's a family whose baby monitor suddenly began picking up video from the Space Shuttle this week.
Thursday June 14 2007In the News 

Help Pay for the New Roof
If you live in a condo building, you might be interested in CondoPerks, a new service that lets condo association members earn money for the association by shopping online. Help defray that landscaping bill bit by bit!
Thursday June 14 2007Business/Shopping 

Hideout Block Party: -Metro, +Bird
The Hideout Block Party is no longer being curated by the Metro; they've moved their big 25th anniversary shindig to an as-of-yet unnamed elsewhere. (No hard feelings between the venues, apparently, just a change of plans.) But the show will go on; so far Andrew Bird is the only confirmed performer. (Speaking of Mr. Bird, he'll be on Conan O'Brien tonight.)
Thursday June 14 2007Music/Clubs 

Art of Protest
An ordinance to privatize the selection of public art, among other things, proposed by Mayor Daley and the Department of Cultural Affairs is being considered by the City Council this morning. Artists and activists will be protesting the silencing of artists' voices at City Hall starting at 10am. You can help keep public art meetings open by calling or emailing your alderman's office -- look it up here -- or head on down and join them.
Wednesday June 13 2007Arts/Architecture 

Aloha, Mr. Coates
Jim Coates, the Tribune's computer columnist, said farewell today with a column looking back on how he spent the last 14 of his 40 years at the paper. Whet Moser and Scott Smith offer rememberances.
Tuesday June 12 2007Print/Magazines 

Out of the Heartland, Into the Grid
Chicago magazine has redesigned its website, cleaning up the layout, doing away with their awful URLs and adding another blog: Jeff Ruby's Push, detailing his road to fatherhood.
Monday June 11 2007Print/Magazines 

Better Than Hands Across America
Student Films Across America is a collection of, you guessed it, short films by students from around the country, including one from Chicago. Head to the Lakeshore Theatre tomorrow night at 7:30pm to see An Open Door by local film student Sean Jourdan and others, all for the same $10 you'd spend watching another lame Hollywood blockbuster.
Friday June 8 2007Film 

Turning the Alleys Green
NYC's Streets Blog summarizes a new pamphlet from the Chicago Department of Transportation: The Green Alleys Program [PDF]. Some interesting stuff in there.
Friday June 8 2007Outdoors/Environment 

Four Stars at the Five Star
It's Transmission Thursday again -- stop by Five Star, 1424 W. Chicago, after 9pm tonight for drink specials and DJ Brad Owen. Make sure to say hi to Nilay; he's got a sticker for you.
Thursday June 7 2007Gapers 

Our Younger Cousin
Our good friends at Chicagoist are celebrating their third anniversary tonight at the Subterranean. If you're looking for a way to escape the heat after work, you could do worse.
Thursday June 7 2007Weblogs 

Lincoln Park Pirate Watch
ChicagoTows.com is a nearly real-time database of Chicago vehicle towing. Keep your eye on those pirates. (Thanks, Pat!)
Thursday June 7 2007Transportation 

Another Billboard Controversy
A billboard for a spa in Glenview diagramming a woman's physical flaws (and their cosmetic solutions) is drawing fire from local women. "I don't want to sound like a chauvinistic pig, but this is a man's world," the spa owner said, refusing to take the ad down.
Wednesday June 6 2007Politics/Activism 

That's Customer Service
The CTA may suck in a lot of ways, but at least there's one employee willing to retrieve the walkman you dropped on the tracks.
Wednesday June 6 2007Transportation 

Collaged Clothing
Check out the very interesting textile artwork of Marcy Sperry, who also blogs about Rogers Park life at Thank You for Your Submission.
Tuesday June 5 2007Arts/Architecture 

Yet Another Googlemap, Posting Edition
Outside.in is already an interesting place to check for posts about Chicago, but here's another neat tool they recently added: blogger maps. Now you can check out which places we and other local blogs have been writing about.
Tuesday June 5 2007Weblogs 

No Tank for 8 Games
The Bears' Tank Johnson has been suspended by the NFL for eight games next season as a result of his arrest on weapons charges last year. Which means, unless he gets time off for good behavior, we'll see him suit up for the first time Nov. 11.
Tuesday June 5 2007Sports/Recreation 

FeedGoogler
The rumor is now official: Feedburner has been purchased by Google. Here's Feedburner's official announcement.
Friday June 1 2007Business/Shopping 

Intersecting Cultures
Theatre, meet Radio: Chicago Public Radio's Sylvia Ewing has joined Steppenwolf as producer of "cultural intersections." The new position will oversee such projects as the CPR-Steppenwolf "Traffic" series of live performances recorded for radio, for which Ewing was one of the producers.
Friday June 1 2007Theatre/Dance 

Bring a Book, Take a Book
Looking for something new to read? Well, new to you, anyway? The Reader Book Swap is tonight at Nick's Uptown. Details in Slowdown.
Thursday May 31 2007Books/Authors 

Four Star Pie Chart
Chicago.Metroblogging's Fuzzy Gerdes has created our local entry into the very cool flags of the world as pie charts
Wednesday May 30 2007Found on the Web 

Listen to Something New
Chicago Public Radio's new station, Vocalo.org, is semi-live. DJs are streaming periodically on the site, and you can sign up to submit your audio clips.
Wednesday May 30 2007Radio/TV 

Does This Look Infected?
Drug-resistant staph infections are spreading through Chicago's population, thanks to the public hospital system, a study says. Yikes.
Tuesday May 29 2007Health/Fitness