Gapers Block : Merge : Author

The August Book Club Selection
The Gapers Block Book Club is reading Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, an old-fashioned love story and captivating page-turner about an old man remembering the time he spent working with a circus in Depression-era America. Visit the book club blog and read our short introduction to the novel. Then join us on Monday, August 13, at 7:30pm at The Book Cellar to talk about the book. New faces and new voices are always welcome.
Thursday July 12 2007 Books/Authors

Help Women & Children First
Women & Children First has been a fixture in Chicago's literary and independent business community for almost 30 years, but that could change very soon without your help. We've been tracking the stories on the GB Book Club blog.
Wednesday April 18 2007 Books/Authors

I Hear Chicago Speak
Every once in awhile, the Tribune publishes something that forcefully reminds me why I still subscribe. If you read nothing else this week, read "I hear Chicago speak," written by local artist Tony Fitzpatrick, which appeared in yesterday's paper.
Monday April 16 2007 City Life/Cultural

Reading A Chicago Tavern
This month the Gapers Block Book Club is reading A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream by Rick Kogan. Find out more at the book club blog.
Monday March 19 2007 Gapers

GB Book Club Meeting Tonight
Just a reminder that the Gapers Block Book Club is meeting tonight at The Book Cellar at 7:30pm to discuss The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea. Hope to see some of you there! Check out the book club blog to find out what else we're reading this year.
Monday March 12 2007 Gapers

What We're Reading
A Nobel Prize winner, a presidential hopeful, one of Chicago's most celebrated journalists, a graphic novelist and a late science-fiction writer whose works have been adapted for several major Hollywood films. What do all these people have in common? They are all authors of our upcoming books in the Gapers Block Book Club. Can you guess who they are? Visit the book club blog to see our new 2007 booklist.
Monday February 26 2007 Gapers

Reading Now: The Hummingbird's Daughter
This month the Gapers Block Book Club is reading The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea. It is the fictionalized biography of Teresita, a healer who lived in late 19th century Mexico who many people declared a saint. She was also Urrea's real-life great-aunt. Read more about the book at the book club blog, then join us next month to talk about it at The Book Cellar.
Thursday February 15 2007 Gapers

Review of New Crime Novel
This week the Gapers Block Book Club has a review of Big City, Bad Blood, the debut novel by local writer Sean Chercover. The title may say "bad," but this fast-paced crime drama is anything but.
Wednesday January 31 2007 Books/Authors

DvA Gallery Sale
The DvA Gallery at 2658 N. Lincoln Ave. is having a sale this month. Check out some seriously cool retro-inspired illustration by artists such as Jeremiah Ketner and Amanda Visell. [via]
Tuesday January 23 2007 Business/Shopping

Robots in the Library
Wired has a brief story about the robots being used at Chicago State University to retrieve and shelve materials at the library's storage facility.
Wednesday December 27 2006 Schools/Education

The CTA in Gingerbread Form
You must see Wendy McClure's rendering of the Francisco brown line CTA station in gingerbread. It has everything, right down to its peppermint turnstile. I wish my CTA commute could be this yummy.
Monday December 18 2006 City Life/Cultural

What Was Your Favorite Book of 2006?
At the Gapers Block Book Club, we want to know, "What was your favorite book that you read this year?" Maybe you rediscovered an old classic, were introduced to a great new writer, or read the book you think should have won that fancy literary award. Whatever it was, tell us about your favorite book read in 2006. Just tell us the title, the author and why you liked it in 150 words or less, and send it to bookclub[at]gapersblock.com before December 25. Responses will be published in our December 27 book club feature.
Wednesday December 13 2006 Books/Authors

2006 Chicago Nonfiction in Review
On the Gapers Block Book Club blog we are beginning our second annual year-end review of books published about Chicago or by local writers. This week's feature lists notable nonfiction titles published in 2006, including books by Barack Obama, Rick Kogan, Roger Ebert and many more. Then check back next week for our Chicago fiction round-up.
Wednesday December 6 2006 Books/Authors

Books That Will Haunt You
This week on the Gapers Block Book Club blog, we are celebrating Halloween by sharing a selection of books that are guaranteed to tingle your spines and chill your bones. Find out all the grisly details about the Chicago's most haunted places and well-known ghosts.
Tuesday October 24 2006 Books/Authors

Unabridged Online
Lakeview's favorite indie bookshop, Unabridged Bookstore at 3251 N. Broadway, is partying like it's 1999, and has gone live with its first store website. Woo! Check out new arrivals, sale books and much more. [via]
Tuesday October 17 2006 Books/Authors

Afrocentric Bookstore Still Going Strong
The Chicago Defender has a nice profile of the Afrocentric Bookstore. First "opened 16 years ago at the back of a beauty supply store" on South Wabash, the independent bookstore is now located on South King Drive near 47th Street in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. As the Defender writes, "Afrocentric Bookstore has all the ingredients to warrant second and third helpings: friendly and knowledgeable staff, a wide selection of books and a desire to help you find what you came looking for."
Monday October 16 2006 Books/Authors

Falling for Autumn
Want to get away and enjoy autumn in the Midwest? The Gapers Block Book Club looks at four books this week that might help. Whether you have an afternoon, a day or want to plan a trip for the whole weekend, these books will give you plenty of ideas for where to go and tips for how to get there.
Wednesday October 4 2006 Books/Authors

FBI Raids County Building
The FBI paid a visit to the Cook County Bureau of Human Resources at the county building at 118 N. Clark St. today and reportedly confiscated boxes of records. According to the bureau's website, and as the name implies, the Bureau of Human Resources "directs and coordinates all human resource activities for departments under the jurisdiction of the President of the Cook County Board." The Chicago Tribune has more on the FBI search.
Thursday September 21 2006 In the News

A Review of Hudson Lake
This week in the Book Club, we have a review of Hudson Lake, the third novel by local author Laura Mazzuca Toops. Hudson Lake takes the reader back to the summer of 1926 and shows the ways the lives of the characters at a rural Indiana resort are changed forever. Read the full review on the Book Club blog.
Wednesday September 20 2006 Books/Authors

Learn Japanese
Kanjii alive is "a searchable, web-based tool to help beginning and intermediate level Japanese language learners read and write kanji." It is a free program that was developed by folks at the University of Chicago, and it is definitely worth checking out, even if you have no specific interest in learning the language. QuickTime 6.0 or higher is required to use Kanjii alive.
Monday August 28 2006

Today in Chicago History: August 12, 1833
On August 12, 1833, Chicago was incorporated. The population of the town at the time was about 350 people. According to the Chicago timeline from the Chicago Public Library website, the original boundaries of the city were "Kinzie, Desplaines, Madison, and State streets, which included an area of about three-eighths of a square mile." Happy 173rd Birthday, Chicago!
Saturday August 12 2006 History

Upcoming Book Club Picks
Thanks to suggestions from mailing list subscribers and other book club members, the Gapers Block Book Club has just revealed the updated list of books the club will be reading through March 2007. Vist the book club blog for the complete list, which includes selections from Sandra Cisneros, Mike Royko, Kevin Guilfoile and Elizabeth Crane. Plus, don't forget the August book club meeting is this Monday, August 14. We will be discussing Coffee WIll Make You Black by April Sinclair. See Slowdown for details.
Wednesday August 9 2006 Books/Authors

Calling All Booklovers
It's that time of the year again — time to run, not walk, to the Newberry Library Book Fair. The fair has thousands and thousands of books, organized by category, and spread over the entire main floor. Most of the books are only $2 or less — including hardcover books in near mint condition! Admission to the book fair is free, and it runs today from noon to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. Also, on Sunday all the remaining books are half-price. Visit the Newberry website for more information. [via the Book Club]
Friday July 28 2006 Books/Authors

Read @ Skokie Public Library
The celebrity READ posters from the American Library Association have been popular marketing tools for libraries for years. Now libraries even can create their own customized READ posters. The Skokie Public Library did just that, and they snagged some major local politicians to pose for the photos, including Senator Barack Obama, Senator Dick Durbin and the mayor of Skokie, George Van Dusen. You can view the entire set of posters on Flickr. [via Library Stuff]
Monday July 24 2006 City Life/Cultural

Stars Motel to be Demolished
A real estate developer is tearing down the Stars Motel at 6100 N Lincoln Ave. to make way for more condos. But he's hoping enough people are nostalgic about the historic motels on U.S. Highway 41 to bid on the Stars Motel's neon sign on eBay. Because he cut and pasted a column I wrote in 2004 about the motels on Lincoln Avenue for his auction description, can I claim a percentage of the profit from the sale? Just wondering.
Thursday July 20 2006 City Life/Cultural

Don't Mess with The Outfit
New blog alert! Local writers Sean Chercover, Barbara D'Amato, Michael Allen Dymmoch, Kevin Guilfoile, Libby Hellmann, Sara Paretsky and Marcus Sakey have teamed up to form The Outfit: A Collective of Chicago Crime Writers. This new group blog launches this week and promises to feature stories by these award-winning authors about the city, the "highs and lows of writing for a living" and "crime and justice and revenge." I can't wait.
Sunday July 9 2006 Books/Authors

The New Book Club Homepage
The Gapers Block Book Club has a new permanent home on the GB website. Now you can find out what we're currently reading and see all the latest book club news in one place. Plus, the new book club homepage also features a new weblog dedicated to the local literary scene, which will include news, events, reviews, profiles and more. So, go visit the new home of the GB Book Club and check back often.
Monday June 19 2006 Gapers

Hemon Blogs the World Cup
Franklin Foer, author of How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization, is blogging the World Cup for the New Republic online. And, he's getting a little help from his friends, including critically acclaimed Chicago author--and football fan--Aleksandar Hemon.
Wednesday June 14 2006 Sports/Recreation

Book Club Meeting Tonight
The 14th meeting of the Gapers Block Book Club takes place tonight at The Book Cellar bookshop in Lincoln Square, where we will be talking about Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. See Slowdown for details!
Monday June 12 2006 Books/Authors

Teen Charged for Making Threats on MySpace
A student at Bednarcik Junior High School in southwest suburban Oswego has been charged with felony harassment for threatening a school official on MySpace.
Wednesday June 7 2006 In the News

Chris Ware Again
A writer for The Chicago Maroon, the student newspaper of the University of Chicago, talks about how "the exhibition of the works of Chris Ware, running at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) until August 27, reflects the current confusion in the debate over comics' place in the art world — as well as why such a debate is worth having."
Monday June 5 2006 Arts/Architecture

Next GB Book Club Meeting Approaches
The June meeting of the Gapers Block Book Club is one week away. This month we are meeting to discuss Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. If you missed Veronica's review of the memoir, you can read it here. Then join us next Monday, June 12, for wine, food and discussion at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square at 4736-8 N. Lincoln Ave. The meeting will begin at 7:30pm, and new members are always welcome. And, it's not too late to post your own encyclopedia entry on the book club forum.
Monday June 5 2006 Books/Authors

Embracing Gore's 'Truth'
The most important, scary, and inspirational documentary you are likely to see this year is An Inconvenient Truth. Essentially an expanded version of a presentation that former-Vice President Al Gore has been giving since the late 1980s on the visible perils of global warming, the film also incorporates archival footage of the-man-who-should-be-President's political life gathering support and enlightening citizens around the world on what should be a non-partisan issue. It's not a lecture, but that doesn't stop it from being a must-see eye-opener. The film opens today at the Landmark Century Center Cinema, the AMC River East theatre and at the Evanston Century theatre. (Thanks, Steve)
Friday June 2 2006 Film

Friends of GB at Printer's Row
In case you needed any more reasons to go, a few friends of the Gapers Block Book Club are also participating in this year's Printer's Row Book Fair. First, stop by and say 'hello' to the folks at The Book Cellar at Booth FF3 on Polk Street. Then visit everyone from the Poetry Center of Chicago at area 138 on the sidewalk along Dearborn Avenue. Finally, don't miss local publisher Lake Claremont Press at Booth CC1 because they have a full line-up of authors appearing at their tent during the book fair. For the complete schedule of writers stopping by the LCP booth, click "More" to keep reading.

Lake Claremont Press Author Signing/Q&A Schedule

Saturday, June 3

10-Noon: Ted Okuda, co-author of The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television
10-Noon: Joseph Schwieterman, co-author of The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago
Noon-2pm: Arnie Bernstein, author of Hollywood on Lake Michigan and The Hoofs and Guns of the Storm: Chicago's Civil War Connections
Noon-2pm: Libby Hill, author of The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History 2-4pm: Kathie Bergquist, co-author of the forthcoming Lake Claremont Press book A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago
2-4pm: Robert McDonald, co-author of the forthcoming Lake Claremont Press book A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago 4-6pm: Charles Billington, author of Wrigley Field's Last World Series: The Wartime Chicago Cubs and the Pennant of 1945 4-6pm: Christopher Lynch, author of Chicago's Midway Airport

Sunday, June 4

10-Noon: Dana Caspall, co-author of The Politics of Place: A History of Zoning in Chicago
10-Noon: Carolyn Eastwood, author of Near West Side Stories: Struggles for Community in Chicago's Maxwell Street Neighborhood
Noon-2pm: Ursula Bielski, author of Chicago Haunts and Graveyards of Chicago
Noon-2pm: Dennis Foley, author of The Streets & San Man's Guide to Chicago Eats
2-4pm: Jack Mulqueen, co-author of The Golden Age of Chicago Children's Television

Also, Rick Kogan, author of the forthcoming Lake Claremont Press title A Chicago Tavern: a Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream will be stopping by the LCP booth to chat with visitors.

Friday June 2 2006 Books/Authors

Book Club Authors at Printer's Row
Yes, in case you haven't heard it enough yet, the Printer's Row Book Fair takes place this weekend. And, if you've been participating in the Gapers Block Book Club this past year, you're in luck because many of the authors the book club has featured this past year will be appearing at the fair. So, if you've never met them or heard them speak before, this is your weekend. Keep reading after the break for the schedule of book club authors appearing at Printer's Row. Or, visit the official Printer's Row website for complete fair information.

Saturday

Studs Terkel
Noon at the Harold Washington Library/Auditorium

Wendy McClure
4pm at the Heartland Stage

Sunday

Carolyn Eastwood
10am at the Lake Claremont Press booth

Stuart Dybek
2pm at the Harold Washington Library/Multi-Purpose Room

Aleksandar Hemon
2pm at the Harold Washington Library/Multi-Purpose Room

Joe Meno
3:30pm at the University Center/River Room

Friday June 2 2006 Books/Authors

Memo to B&N: Start Recycling
A writer for the student newspaper at DePaul University, The DePaulia, takes Barnes and Noble to task for the store's policy of discarding books that cannot be resold rather than recycling them. Barnes and Noble manages the DePaul University Bookstore.
Thursday June 1 2006 Books/Authors

Chicago Writers: Prepare for D-Day
Are you feeling guilty about that half-finished manuscript in your bottom desk drawer? Do you work better when you have a deadline? Well, then you're in luck. The Chicago Writers Association is sponsoring an event for all Chicago area writers who need some encouragement--and a deadline--to meet their goals. Deadline Day, or D-Day, is August 12, 2006, when participants will meet for a special D-Day event in Evanston. Anyone may participate in this event. All you need to do to get started is visit the official Deadline Day blog and register by declaring your personal D-Day writing goal in the comments. Good luck!
Monday May 22 2006 Books/Authors

In the Year 2010
The Chicago Public Library has recently unveiled its new strategic plan, titled "Chicago Public Library 2010: A Vision for Our Future." [pdf] The plan is "a call to action for all Chicagoans who understand the essential role of their public library in the educational, economic and cultural fabric of the City of Chicago. A strong and vibrant public library is a sign of a strong and vibrant city, and ultimately a sign of how that city values its residents." Right on.
Friday May 19 2006 City Life/Cultural

A Passion for Paper
Former Gapers Block staff member Alex Golub embraces digital resources. But, in a thoughtful essay on Inside Higher Ed, he writes about why he still prefers the tangibility of paper. He states, "Amazon may have a bintillion books for sale out in the ether of the ethernet, but there is no better place to take the pulse of academic publishing that a good used book store near a university. Bookstores mark the life cycle and disposition of the community where they are physically located...And of course just being in a good bookshop can be therapeutic." I couldn't agree more.
Tuesday May 9 2006 Books/Authors

Transitions Saved--For Now
As previously mentioned on Gapers Block, Transitions Bookplace at 1000 W. North Avenue was in serious financial trouble, and the owners had put out a cry for help to save the 16-year-old business. The day before the owners were about close the store for good, an anonymous benefactor contacted the couple and gave them a check for $75,000, no strings attached, with promises of additional help. Publisher's Weekly has the full story.
Tuesday May 9 2006 Books/Authors

Gapers Block Book Club May Meeting
Don't forget the 13th meeting of the Gapers Block Book Club is this Monday, May 8, at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Author Carolyn Eastwood will be joining us to talk about her book, Near West Side Stories: Struggles for Community in Chicago's Maxwell Street Neighborhood. If you missed the introduction to the book, you can read it here. And, you can find out more about the meeting in Slowdown. This event promises to be a great discussion about the past, present and future of the Halsted-Roosevelt neighborhood. New members are always welcome! I hope to see you there.
Friday May 5 2006 Books/Authors

The Amazing Mackerel Pudding Plan
The latest book by local author and friend of GB Wendy McClure was released yesterday. The Amazing Mackerel Pudding Plan collects more than 100 of the 1970s Weight Watchers recipe cards Wendy first made famous online. And, Wendy notes that people have been having a little too much fun recreating the recipes and posting the results on Flickr.
Wednesday May 3 2006 Books/Authors

Money Smart Week
If you need some help learning to manage your personal finances, this is a good week to start. The city's 5th Annual Money Smart Week begins today and runs through May 6. And, the Chicago Public Library, in partnership with many other organizations, is sponsoring a number of free programs this week. Visit the library's website for the list of programs being offered at various library branches, covering topics from credit repair to buying your first home. The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago website has the complete calendar of events for the week.
Monday May 1 2006 Offbeat/Misc. Events

State Master
Enjoy some Friday fun with statistics! State Master is a free site that collects current statistical data about all 50 states and allows visitors to compare and view data on just about every topic imaginable. Find out how Illinois stacks up against the rest of the country. Hey, we're third in the total number of homicides, and Illinois comes in ninth for the highest unemployment rate. And, did you know 65 percent of the population of Illinois lives in the Chicagoland area? Plus, you can get your statistics fix anytime with RSS and Atom feeds on the site.
Friday April 21 2006 Found on the Web

Who Was First Policeman Killed in Line of Duty?
In case you missed it, the Chicago Tribune has a fascinating cover story today on the local debate over which Chicago police officer should be remembered as the first to be killed in the line of duty. Was it Casper Lauer or James Quinn? Former DEA officer Rick Barrett claims it was Quinn, as he told NPR's Melissa Block this afternoon. Further coverage from the Trib here.
Thursday April 20 2006 History

More on Saving Transitions
Publisher's Weekly has more on the call for help from the owners of Transitions Bookplace. Transitions is truly one of the great independent bookstores in Chicago, and it would be a huge loss to the community if they are forced to close their doors. Please consider helping out.
Monday April 17 2006 Books/Authors

AfriCaribe at the Naperville Public Library
Members of the Chicago-based non-profit AfriCaribe will be performing at the Naperville Public Library on Wednesday, April 5, at 7pm. Founded in 2000, AfriCaribe is dedicated to celebrating Puerto Rican and Caribbean cultures through dance, music, theatre and other arts. Tickets for teh event are available at all Naperville Public Library branches. The performance takes place at the 95th Street Library meeting room. Call 630-961-4100 ext. 4941 for more information.
Saturday April 1 2006 Music/Clubs

Train Station Announcements
Micro Bits, a website dedicated to subway stations around the world, has a great page titled "Voices in the Deep," which compares station announcements in subways in dozens of international cities. According to the list, "in Kyoto, the subway plays beautiful guzheng (sort of an Asian violin) compositions for its door-closing tones," while Lisbon, Portugal, subway riders hear a "buzzing before the doors close." And in Chicago? "A very friendly, pre-recorded male voice is somewhat verbose and talks almost permanently to the passengers." Some city descriptions even include audio files. Check it out.
Thursday March 23 2006 Transportation

Chicago Writers Association
The Chicago Writers Association is a community of writers from around the Chicago area that meet and communicate to network, share resources and support each others' writing goals. Now they have a new website, ChicagoWrites.org, which was launched just days ago. Read an interview with Lake Claremont Press founder Sharon Woodhouse, or check out the growing list of members. Then, find out how to join. Membership is free, but active participation in the group is strongly encouraged.
Thursday March 23 2006 Books/Authors

Map of 1874 Fire
The "Ask the Librarian" column on Gapers Block this week discusses Chicago's Second Great Fire of 1874. As an addendum to the column, check out this illustration of the damage from the 1874 fire. Thanks to The Newberry Library Genealogy News for tracking it down.
Saturday February 11 2006 History

Name That Book
Writer Arnie Bernstein is penning a new history of film in Chicago as a follow-up to his Hollywood on Lake Michigan, which was published in 1998. To promote the new book, Bernstein and local publisher Lake Claremont Press are holding a contest to name the new book. Read the full rules and details on the publisher's weblog.
Wednesday February 1 2006 Books/Authors

More Than Just Steel Mills
Lake Claremont Press's Chicago reminds us that Northwest Indiana is more than just steel mills. There are a variety of suggestions for winter fun in the Hoosier state, including a self-guided tour of Hammond, Ind. for A Christmas Story fans. Writer Jean Shephard grew up in Hammond and based the film on his hometown.
Friday December 16 2005 Sports/Recreation

Book Release Party at Empty Bottle
Brian Costello, an instructor at Columbia College Chicago, is celebrating the release of his debut novel, The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs, with an all-star party at the Empty Bottle tonight. Writers Elizabeth Crane and Jonathan Messinger are scheduled to do readings, and the event will also feature performances by Human Eye, The Mistreaters and The Krunchies. Admission is $7, and the party starts at 9pm. See the Empty Bottle website for more information. And, check out the short interview with Costello in this week's New City.
Thursday December 15 2005 Books/Authors

Richard Wright's Exile Years
In the current issue of Bookforum, Hazel Rowley has an in-depth essay about the years writer Richard Wright spent in Paris in the 1950s. She writes, "Wright died on alien soil, but it was not France that was his 'exile.' His exile, just as it was for many of his friends who remained in America, was disillusionment." Wright lived in Chicago between 1927 and 1937 and is best-known for his novel Native Son, which tells the story of Bigger Thomas, a young African American man struggling against the social conditions in Chicago in the 1930s.
Thursday December 15 2005 Books/Authors

Feminism Meets Domesticity
GB's own Cinnamon Cooper graces the front page of WomanNews in the Tribune today. Read the full article to find out how local craft artists such as Cooper are "making a statement against sweatshop labor and mass production" through the appreciation of doing things by hand.
Wednesday December 14 2005 Arts/Architecture

Illiterate Chicago?
According to the president of Central Connecticut State University, Chicago ranks at a measly 46 on the list of the country's most literate cities. We are ranked behind the likes of Louisville, Omaha, Tulsa and Cincinnati. Rankings are based on a combination of variables, including the number of bookstores in a city, newspaper circulation, education, library resources, periodical publishers and Internet resources. Chicago seems to have been shortchanged, but read the full report on America's Most Literate Cities and judge for yourself. Meanwhile, Seattle gloats over its number one ranking.
Tuesday December 13 2005 City Life/Cultural

Abundance Demands Storage
Aleksandar Hemon has a new, laugh-out-loud funny short story in the New Yorker entitled "Love and Obstacles." Required reading.
Monday November 21 2005 Books/Authors

Images of Industrialization
The November issue of First Monday includes an article comparing two online photography collections: the U.S. Steel Gary Works Photograph Collection, 1906–1971 and the National Child Labor Committee Collection. Although the authors somewhat obviously conclude that the collections show very different views of industrialization, the photos of Gary, Indiana, are well worth checking out.
Saturday November 12 2005 Photography

Cows in Italy
I never expected to see the day when the cradle of the Italian Renaissance would be borrowing a page from Chicago. But, Cows on Parade, meet the Florence CowParade.
Tuesday November 8 2005 Arts/Architecture

Chris Ware in the Guardian
Cartoonist extraordinaire and Oak Park resident Chris Ware is interviewed in the Guardian today. In it he talks about his work, his life and the graphic novel form.
Monday October 31 2005 Books/Authors

America's Best Food City?
Is Chicago America's best food city? Men's Style ponders that question as it highlights four new upscale restaurants opening in the city. Scenesters are especially directed to the recently opened Landmark Grill & Lounge in Lincoln Park. The much-hyped venue features a flying catwalk, Moroccan-inspired lounge and designated cell phone booth.
Monday October 24 2005 Eating/Drinking

October 18, 1931
Today in Chicago history, on October 18, 1931, Al Capone was convicted on several counts of tax evasion. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, fined $50,000, charged nearly $8,000 in court costs, and held responsible for more $200,000, plus interest, in back taxes. Capone spent time in the Cook County Jail while waiting for appeals, then was sent to the high security U.S. Penitentiary in Atlanta in May 1932. In 1934, Capone was transferred to Alcatraz, where he served until his release in 1939. For more on Al Capone, visit the History Files from the Chicago Historical Society and the Famous Cases page from the FBI.
Tuesday October 18 2005 History

Read the Book, See the Author
The Gapers Block book club will be discussing Nowhere Man by Aleksandar Hemon this coming Monday at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Then, Tuesday night, go see Hemon at a special reading event at The Poetry Center of Chicago. As always, Slowdown has all the details on both events.
Thursday October 6 2005 Books/Authors

More on the death of Marshall Field's
"Someone like Marshall Field or John Wanamaker - or even a Bill Gates or Steve Jobs - all became fabulously rich as a side effect of devoting their lives to creating something really new and unique. The approach of a number-cruncher like Lundgren is much more parasitical. It's less about creating something great than squeezing out value from an existing asset without ever really doing anything to replenish it." If you missed this essay by architecture critic Lynn Becker, read it now. It is simply the best essay I've read on the Marshall Field's debacle and the death of department stores.
Tuesday October 4 2005 Business/Shopping

Burn the Streets
Yesterday we mentioned the new Chicago Street Art group pool on Flickr. But, Burn the Streets is Chicago's original street art forum. Check out dozens of photos of stickers and other works posted by local street artists and fans of street art.
Tuesday September 20 2005 City Life/Cultural

Protecting Our Environment
Now get your local environmental news straight from those who are committed to preserving it. Jack Darin, the Director of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, is writing the newish IllinoisSierraClub weblog, covering "the policies and politics of protecting Illinois' environment."
Tuesday August 9 2005 Outdoors/Environment

Go Take a Hike
Since we might have some non-freakishly hot weather this weekend, seize the opportunity to head for the great outdoors. Trailmonkey, which bills itself as the "largest free hiking, mountain biking, maps and trails site on the net," is a great place to help you get started. For quick and easy day trips, visit their comprehensive list of hiking maps and trails in Illinois or their equally comprehensive list of biking trails and maps in the state.
Friday August 5 2005 Outdoors/Environment

Blogging Publisher
The folks at Lake Claremont Press, one of my favorite local publishers, have a fun, newish weblog appropriately titled Lake Claremont Press's Chicago. Check it out.
Tuesday August 2 2005 Books/Authors

Kits for Kidz
I saw Arnie Duncan, the CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, on the news the other day talking about Kitz for Kids, a program that provides school supplies to disadvantaged students. I thought, "Sign me up." But, of course, the local news didn't provide any actual helpful information, like, say, how to get involved in the program. Well, Eric Zorn to the rescue, posting the link to the Kitz for Kids CPS School Supplies Drive on his blog. More than 9,000 homeless students in Chicago need help purchasing basic school supplies, and the kits (there are three different grade level types) each cost less than $15. All kits will be sent directly to those who need them, so consider helping out.
Friday July 22 2005 Schools/Education

More Butterflies in the City
For all you budding butterfly watchers out there, GB staff member Brian wrote me with another great Chicago spot for observing these colorful insects. He recommends visiting the McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary, a 6-acre park along Chicago's lakefront, just south of McCormick Place's Lakeside Center.
Friday July 22 2005 Outdoors/Environment

John M. Smyth Closing After 140 Years
Another sad, sad day for Chicago businesses. The 140-year-old John M. Smyth Homemakers furniture stores are closing their doors forever at the end of this month. The Sun-Times reports, "Homemakers, known for its warbling theme song in television ads, found itself bombarded by competitors ranging from discount stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Costco, to specialty stores Crate & Barrel, Ikea, Rooms to Go, Walter E. Smithe and Ethan Allen."
Thursday July 21 2005 Business/Shopping

Chicago Solar Partnership
Want to put all this hot sunshine to good use? Then visit the website for the Chicago Solar Partnership, which includes helpful information about renewable energy in Illinois. Find out about incentives for installing renewable energy technologies in your home, and check out a map of locations around Chicagoland that are using solar energy right now.
Tuesday July 19 2005 Outdoors/Environment

Today's Front Pages
Today's Front Pages is a very neat website that allows you to scroll over maps of the continents and browse the current front pages of the world's newspapers. Comparing which stories make the front pages in various parts of the country--or the world--is fascinating. Roll your cursor over the Chicago area to compare headlines from the Sun-Times, Tribune, Red Eye, Red Streak, Daily Herald, Northwest Herald and even the Rockford Register Star. Cool.
Thursday July 7 2005 Found on the Web

Bookslut Reading Series
The Chicago-based literary website Bookslut.com is launching a monthly reading series featuring local and national authors. These live events will take place at the Hopleaf bar located at 5148 N. Clark St., also a favorite Gapers Block staff hang-out. On July 26, the first reading is scheduled to include writers Shalom Auslander, Daphne Kalotay and Andrew Winston. So go and see them, sluts. The fun starts at 7:30pm.
Wednesday July 6 2005 Books/Authors

American Environmental Photographs
American Environmental Photographs, 1891-1936 is a digital collection of nearly "4,500 photographs documenting natural environments, ecologies, and plant communities in the United States at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century." The images, which range from ecological settings, individual plants and natural landscapes, are from the Department of Special Collections at the University of Chicago Library. You may search or browse the collections by subject or geographic area. The collection includes more than 700 photos documenting Illinois, and, as is often the case with old photographs, you get the eerie feeling you are looking at natural environments that no longer exist.
Wednesday June 29 2005 Photography

Pamphlets of the French Revolution
Do you love printed ephemera? Then you'll enjoy this digitized collection of "Pamphlets and Periodicals of the French Revolution of 1848," from a collaboration of the Center for Research Libraries, the University of Chicago Libraries and the ARTFL Project. The archive is comprised of more than 100 digitized materials from 1848 to 1851, including this published letter from Louis Napoleon.
Friday June 24 2005 History

Stockyards Gate a Literary Landmark
The Chicago Tribune has a story on the Union Stockyards Gate, which was declared a literary landmark in a ceremony yesterday. The gate, which is the last surviving reminder of Chicago's notorious stockyards, was so honored because of the role the area played in Upton Sinclair's classic book The Jungle. Some history of the novel is discussed in the article, but little of it will be new to Gapers Block Book Club members who read the novel a couple of months ago.
Friday June 24 2005 Books/Authors

Theme Park Insider
School's out for summer! Today is the last day of school for Chicago Public School students, which means summer vacation is here, and it's time to hit the theme parks! Theme Park Insider rates and reviews major theme and amusement parks across the country and around the world. View individual ratings for rides, shows and food for Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL. For the morbid or curious, the site also maintains an Accident Watch, listing injuries and deaths reported at various parks. The last recorded incident for Six Flags involved a 52-year-old employee who died last year as a result of injuries sustained from an accident involving the Rajun Cajun ride. Stay safe, and check out the list of safety tips from Theme Park Insider writers and readers.
Friday June 17 2005 Sports/Recreation

From Louis Sullivan to SOM
From Louis Sullivan to SOM: Boston Grads Go to Chicago is an online exhibition from MIT that explores the connections between architects schooled in Boston and Chicago's architectural heritage in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibit includes sections on skyscrapers, domestic architecture and the World's Columbian Exposition. And, Louis Sullivan, William LeBaron Jenney and Thomas E. Tallmadge are just some of the architects highlighted.
Friday June 17 2005 Arts/Architecture

Grant Park Music Festival
Thinking of my favorite outdoor summer places, reminds me that the 2005 schedule for the Grant Park Music Festival is online. Most of this year's concerts will be held at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millenium Park. According to the website, the Grant Park Music Festival is the country's only remaining free outdoor classical music series. The opening night concert is Wednesday, June 15, at 6:30pm with a performance of Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Thursday June 2 2005 Music/Clubs

Art Classes at Lill Street
The folks at the Lill Street Art Center in Ravenswood are now accepting registrations for summer classes. Check out the full line-up of summer offerings on their website. They have a wide variety of courses for beginners and advanced artists in ceramics, jewelry-making, drawing, painting and textiles. And, the schedules frequently include weekend and evening classes. Look for me in one of the drawing classes this summer!
Thursday May 26 2005 Arts/Architecture

Universal Experience at the MCA
I love to travel. But, being only a humble librarian, about the only type of travel I can afford is the armchair kind. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, however, one can explore the ideas of travel and tourism without leaving Chicago in the museum's current exhibition "Universal Experience: Art, Life, and the Tourist's Eye." The show features over 70 artists from around the world and takes over the entire museum space. It is now entering its last month, so hurry over there before it closes on June 5, 2005. And, an alert reader points outs the show was just reviewed in the New York Times. (Thanks, Matt!)
Friday April 29 2005 Arts/Architecture

Chicago Learning Guide
Want to take a class in drawing, writing, photography, acting or even sports? Then you want to bookmark this site. The Chicago Learning Guide is a directory of "professional, personal and recreational classes" available all over the Chicago area. Just click on a subject area to get a list of links to organizations offering classes in everything from architecture to yoga.
Thursday April 28 2005 Schools/Education

Saul Bellow, 1915-2005
Acclaimed author Saul Bellow has passed away at the age of 89. Bellow was a longtime Chicago resident, remembered for his lengthy tenure at the University of Chicago. Read the obituaries at the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, New York Times and Boston Globe.
Wednesday April 6 2005 Books/Authors

Sleeping at O'Hare
At The Budget Traveller's Guide to Sleeping in Airports, visitors can share their stories about trying to catch some shut-eye while waiting to catch a flight. Airports are also ranked by the relative quality of sleeping experience. Coming in at number 10 on the "most popular airport to sleep in" list is O'Hare International. It is great fun to read everyone's travel horror stories, which include brillant lines like, "6 days later MY BACK STILL HURTS!!!" Awesome.
Tuesday April 5 2005 Found on the Web

Kotlowitz at Zulkey.com
Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here and Never a City So Real, is the latest person to answer "Slightly Less Than Twenty Questions" at Zulkey.com.
Monday April 4 2005 Books/Authors

The Obama Blog
Barack Obama followers can now get their fix by reading Obama's new U.S. Senate blog. Woo hoo! (found via Eric Zorn)
Wednesday March 30 2005 Weblogs

Read an Excerpt From Hairstyles
This week's Ask the Librarian introduces the first selection of the Gapers Block Book Club, Hairstyles of the Damned by Joe Meno. But, if you want to sample the novel first, one of our readers reminds me you can download a 25-page excerpt of Hairstyles of the Damned, in .pdf format, from the Punk Planet Books website. Sweet. (Thanks, Pete!)
Thursday March 10 2005 Books/Authors

Comcast Squashes Would-be Competitors
"In 2003, the cities of Batavia, St. Charles and Geneva, Ill., sought to form a Fiber to the Home system under which fiber optic cables — the next generation of cable technology — would be owned by the cities. Comcast and SBC joined forces to kill the effort to compete with them." Now Lansing, Mich. is preparing to take on the communications giant, and the Lansing City Pulse takes a good look at the issues and the company's strong-arm tactics.
Monday March 7 2005 In the News

Christie Hefner Speaks at Northwestern
Have some time on your lunch break today? Christie Hefner, the CEO of Playboy Enterprises, is scheduled to speak at noon today at the McGaw, Daniel Hale Williams Auditorium on Northwestern's downtown campus. The topic of the lecture, sponsored by the school's Medical Students for Choice group, is "The Current State of Reproductive Rights." The McGaw building is located at 240 E. Huron St. Call 312-867-1917 for more details.
Monday March 7 2005 Politics/Activism

Cast of Shadows gets thumbs up
Kevin Guilfoile's debut novel, Cast of Shadows, was reviewed in the New York Times on Sunday. The book gets a thumbs up, with the reviewer writing, "What's most appealing here, and most promising for Guilfoile's future as a novelist, is that he wields the bylaws of his chosen genre to undercut its central premise." Guilfoile appears at the Book Stall at Chestnut Court today to sign copies of Cast of Shadows.
Monday March 7 2005 Books/Authors

Organic Foods Festival
The FamilyFarmed.org Expo is being held this Sunday at Navy Pier. The one-day festival will feature more than 100 local organic farmers, who will be showing and distributing their produce and other products. Cooking demonstrations from folks like Art Smith, Oprah's personal chef, and workshops on healthy living will also be included. The expo runs from 11am-5pm. Visit the Family Farmed website for the complete program.
Wednesday March 2 2005 Eating/Drinking

Free Copies of The Ox-Bow Incident
If you are planning to read the latest One Book, One Chicago selection, the Chicago Tribune notes that four Starbucks locations will be giving away a limited number of free copies on Friday. The stores at 180 N. LaSalle St., 40 N. Clinton St., 210 W. North Ave. and 1070 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. will all be participating, beginning at 8am.
Wednesday March 2 2005 Books/Authors

Gates Photography Copyright Issues
Poor New York was feeling left out of the whole trademarking of public art debate. So, thanks to The Gates, it seems Chicago isn't the only city having copyright issues with photography of its public art. Jeanne-Claude and Christo tell Newsday photographers in no uncertain terms that pictures of The Gates are trademarked and cannot be sold.
Wednesday February 23 2005 Arts/Architecture

Hemon in the New Yorker
Local auothor Aleksandar Hemon has a short story titled "The Conductor" in the new issue of the New Yorker. Hemon teaches writing in the Masters of Creative Writing program at Northwestern University and is the author of the critically acclaimed novel, Nowhere Man, and a collection of short stories, The Question of Bruno.
Tuesday February 22 2005 Books/Authors

Chicago: City in Art
Chicago: The City in Art is a collaborative effort between The Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Public Schools designed to educate both students and teachers about the Depression-era and Works Progress Administration murals in their own schools. The site includes images of the restored murals, along with lesson plans, glossary and more.
Wednesday February 16 2005 Arts/Architecture

February 8, 2000
Today in Chicago History: It seems like only yesterday to long-time fans, but today marks the fifth anniversary of the untimely and tragic death of popular WGN-AM radio personality, Bob Collins. He died when the small plane he piloted collided with another plane near the Waukegan Regional Airport. Over a million listeners tuned into his morning show every day.
Tuesday February 8 2005 History

Museum Attendance Falls Again
Crain's Chicago Business reports that in 2004 attendance fell for the fourth year in a row at Chicago's top museums. The Mexican Fine Arts Center experienced the biggest decline, with a 36% drop from 2003.
Monday January 31 2005 City Life/Cultural

Kraft Changes Marketing Strategy
The big news in the business world today is the announcement from Kraft Foods Inc. that it will no longer advertise Oreos, Chips Ahoy! cookies and several other sugary products during children's programming. Kraft Foods Inc. began in 1903 when James L. Kraft started a cheese delivery service in Chicago, using a horse-drawn wagon. Today the company is headquartered in suburban Northfield, IL.
Wednesday January 12 2005 Business/Shopping

Wi-Fi at Dunkin Donuts
Dunkin Donuts will be experimenting with wi-fi access at some of its Chicago stores, although the chain denies it is trying to be like that other coffee chain. According to Illinois FreeFi, there is one confirmed Dunkin Donuts wi-fi spot so far.
Monday January 10 2005 In the News

Winterize Your Car
In the spirit of better late than never, check out these tips from AAA Chicago for winterizing your car. Among other things, they advise you "keep the gas tank at least half full to prevent frozen fuel lines and to allow you to drive an alternate route to safety or run your car's heater if you get stranded."
Thursday January 6 2005 Transportation

Can I Borrow a Pencil?
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has been inviting visitors to take pencils from José Damasceno's installation, Observation Plan, this week. The artwork consists of nearly 30,000 yellow no. 2 pencils depicting several figures looking at art. January 2 is the last day to help alter the piece. Then the altered version of the work will remain up until January 16.
Thursday December 30 2004 Arts/Architecture

Only 445 Murders!
Chicago is on target to see the lowest number of homicides in 40 years. Although 445 people were murdered in the city so far this year, this is down from the whopping 884 murders recorded in 1992. We can finally retire our murder capital of the U.S. crown. Take that L.A. and New York!
Thursday December 30 2004 In the News

New Job in 2005
Are you looking for a new job in 2005? For the 19th year, the professional career counselors at Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. will be offering free job search and career advice on December 29 and 30. Call their hotline at 312-332-5790 or email them at callin{at}challengergray.com between 9am and 5pm. Of course, this is the same firm that brags that they "founded outplacement." Um, yeah.
Monday December 27 2004 Resources

Free Blue Bags for Recycling
The Department of Streets and Sanitation is offering a year's supply of free blue bags to folks who take their Christmas trees to be recycled at 22 Chicago Park Distrct locations. But only if you bring it in on January 8 between 9am and 2pm. Because they want to make recycling easier for us.
Monday December 27 2004 Outdoors/Environment

Turkey for the Holidays
Making a turkey for the holidays? A few weeks ago Anne Holub shared her Turkey 101 in One Good Meal. But if you're in need of extra help, check out the Turkey for the Holidays website from the University of Illinois Extension. You can find how to select a turkey, cooking techniques, carving tips and recipe suggestions for what to do with leftovers. And, if you want a really fresh bird for your holiday dinner, check out this list of local poultry farms in Illinois. Although most birds are sold-out for this year, farms are already taking reservations for 2005.
Wednesday December 22 2004 Eating/Drinking

Bundle Up for the Holidays
According to weather guru Tom Skilling, Chicago may experience record lows on Christmas Eve. He's forecasting the daytime high temperature on Friday to be just 2 degrees above zero. So bundle up!
Tuesday December 21 2004 Outdoors/Environment

Winter Festival of Art
Head on down to the Chicago Arts District this weekend at South Halsted and 18th Street for their gala Winter Festival of Art. More than 50 artists will have their galleries and studios open all weekend long. The monthly Second Friday gallery openings will kick-off the festival tomorrow starting at 6pm. Then the event continues Saturday from 12-7pm and Sunday from 12-5pm. Visit the website for more information.
Thursday December 9 2004 Arts/Architecture

More Theories About the 'Windy City'
I grew up believing Chicago had been dubbed "The Windy City" because of our long-winded politicians. Later I learned that historians claimed Charles A. Dana of the New York Sun gave Chicago its famous nickname during the competition to hold the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. But a New York parking ticket judge says that story is untrue. And Chicago really received its nickname from -- Cincinnati?
Tuesday December 7 2004 History

Another Sign of Winter
Don't forget that December 1st also marks the day when the speed limit on Lake Shore Drive is lowered from 45 to 40 mph. And natives know the police love to pull people over on the Drive, so slow down! The lowered speed limit remains in affect until April 1st.
Wednesday December 1 2004 Transportation

All That Glitters
This weekend the Chicago Cultural Center is hosting All That Glitters: A Holiday Bazaar. At this two-day event you will be able to buy gifts from cultural organizations and local artists from all over the city. For those of you who remember, this event seems to be filling the gap left by the Newberry Library's defunct Very Merry Bazaar. Thank you City of Chicago! All That Glitters is open Friday 10am to 6pm and Saturday 10am to 5pm.
Tuesday November 30 2004 Business/Shopping

November 24, 1884
On this day in Chicago history a judge directed the county clerk to produce the tally sheets, poll books and ballots of the Second Precinct, Eighteenth Ward, of the city in connection with allegations of tampering in the Leman (Republican) and Brand (Democrat) senatorial race. In March 1885, three men were convicted of falsifying returns to give Brand the edge over Leman. The race was closely scrutinized because the outcome determined which political party would have a majority in the state legislature.
Wednesday November 24 2004 History

November 16, 1944
Today in Chicago history 750 non-operating employees of the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee and the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Electric Railroads were laid off following a week of strikes by 500 operating employees of the railroads. The workers went on strike to demand a wage increase of nine cents an hour -- four cents more than they were initially offered. Outraged commuters sent telegrams to the White House, pleading for President Roosevelt to intervene and end the strike.
Tuesday November 16 2004 History

We Want Names!
The media is now naming names in the recent arrest of "community activist" Derrick Mosley. Mosley was charged with extortion for allegedly threatening to distribute a video of a certain athlete's wife with a certain Chicago-area musician. Media sources are now revealing that the musician involved may be R&B singer R. Kelly.
Tuesday November 16 2004 In the News

Is Wal-Mart Good For America?
We have discussed whether Wal-Mart is right for Chicago many times on Gapers Block. Read columnist Ramsin Canon's Kill the Juggermart and his Part 2 follow-up for an overview. Then, watch Frontline tonight on PBS as the program asks "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?"
Tuesday November 16 2004 Radio/TV

So What Else Is New?
The Sun-Times reports that Loop Capital Markets, a Chicago-based investment firm involved in the lucrative deal to privatize the Skyway, just happens also to be "at the center of a federal corruption case in Philadelphia."
Monday November 15 2004 In the News

Death and Taxes
Think the sales tax in Chicago is high now? How does 9% sound? That's what Mayor Daley is proposing in order to make up the current $220 million budget deficit. Expect to pay even more for concert and theater tickets, too, as the entertainment tax may increase from 7 to 8%. Find out how many other ways you can squeeze blood from turnips by reading the full story here.
Tuesday November 9 2004 In the News

The Blogging Revolution
Daniel Drezner, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Chicago, examines political blogs and asks, "Can blogs affect politics in regimes where there is no thriving independent media sector?"
Monday November 8 2004 Weblogs

And the Winner Is...
Last month, to celebrate the publication of the Encyclopedia of Chicago, a Chicago trivia contest, hosted by NPR's Peter Sagal, took place at the Harold Washington Library. Sadly, the winner of the contest was not a Chicago native. Instead, the grand prize went to New Jersey native, and University of Chicago undergraduate, Evan Druce. Read more in the U. of C. Chronicle.
Thursday November 4 2004 City Life/Cultural

Who Needs Books?
The former director of the Homer Township Public Library in Lockport, IL was recently found guilty of stealing over $100,000 from the library between 1992 and 1999. Regetta Meyers remains free on bond but faces an additional lawsuit filed by the library district.
Thursday November 4 2004 In the News

Don't Label Me Christian!
A patron at the Palatine Public Library is objecting to the library's use of stickers with "a little white and yellow cross with a purple background" to designate Christian fiction. The patron believes a "generic religious label" for Christian fiction would be more appropriate. The library staff have been using the labels for a couple of years and defend the practice, noting that Christian fiction is a recognized genre, but they are looking into new label types. Read the full story here.
Thursday October 28 2004 In the News

Attempted Nazi March Digitization Project
In 1978 the National Socialist Party of America (Nazis) attempted to hold a march in the Village of Skokie. The suburb at that time was home to a large Jewish community, including many Holocaust survivors. The event received national attention and was even turned into a made-for-TV movie, Skokie, in 1981. Now, the Skokie Public Library brings us the Attempted Nazi March Collection Digitization Project, a comprehensive archive of materials relating to the incident. Download and read the original newspaper articles relating to the march, listen to real audio recordings from the 1977 and 1978 Village of Skokie Board of Trustees meetings, and watch a documentary film about the proposed march. Highly recommended.
Friday October 15 2004 History

Chicago Vocabulary
"Hey, hey." So, you think you know your Chicago slang? Check out this unique Chicago vocabulary list and find out. So the next time your friend tells you that his car got booted outside of the Riv so he took the El to the Weiner Circle to get a chardog and some pop before heading to the Friendly Confines, you can smile and nod your head knowingly.
Tuesday October 12 2004 City Life/Cultural

CTA Reveals Worst-Case Cuts
The Sun-Times has just published lists from the CTA detailing the routes the CTA plans to eliminate or reduce if they cannot make up their $55 million budget gap. Among the bus routes to be cut: the 11 Lincoln and the 88 Northwest Highway. All together, the Sun-Times reports "the CTA's proposed doomsday budget would slice service by 20 percent, eliminate all overnight L trains, kill 30 bus routes and cut 1,000 union workers." Read the complete list of cuts here.
Friday October 1 2004 Transportation

Today

Fuel [28]

From the Archives

Alice Maggio