Gapers Block : Merge : Author

18K for Preschool
Chicago City Day School and The Latin School of Chicago grace the Forbes list of most expensive preschools with tuitions of $17,750 and $17,425, respectively. Note that a good portion of the Forbes information about Latin is incorrect. [via]
Wednesday September 19 2007 Schools/Education

World Music Fest: Sept 14 - 20
Chicago's Festival Season isn't Over Yet! World Music Fest runs from Sept 14th - 20th and features an eclectic and diverse cast of artists performing around the city. Keep an eye on Slowdown for some recommendations.
Monday September 10 2007 Music/Clubs

Back to School! CPS Stats of the Week
CPS students reported to school this week in record numbers with 93% of the district's 409,000 students attending class on Day 1. CPS managed to record this eventhough their much ballyhooed new attendance system (IMPACT) was down for much of the week. The most eye-catching CPS stat of the week comes from the CCSR: CPS Freshman on average miss/cut 19.6 days of class.
Sunday September 9 2007 Schools/Education

Clinton In Town Today
You can catch a glimpse of Bill Clinton (former President, and prospective First Husband) at the Michigan Avenue Borders today at 11:30 a.m. as he signs copies of his new book "Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World".
Friday September 7 2007 Books/Authors

The Heckler
Are the ups & downs of Chicago sports getting to you? The Heckler can help take the edge off.
Thursday September 6 2007 Sports/Recreation

Free Darko
The prominent hoops bloggers at freedarko.com will be having their first annual Columbian Exposition, er meetup, tonight at 8pm at the Five Star. Afterwards, you should stay at the Five Star for Transmission Thursday.
Thursday August 30 2007 Sports/Recreation

Most Eligible
No less an authority than Forbes Magazine names Jen Schefft and William Wrigley Jr. II as the most eligible bachelorette and bachelor in the city of Chicago. They also claim that the Chi is only the 5th Best city for Singles in America.
Wednesday August 29 2007 Print/Magazines

Don't Go (to) BP-Amoco
A few weeks after Pearl Jam's little environmental ditty "Don't Go (to) BP-Amoco" at Lollapalooza, the oil giant pledged that it wouldn't increase the levels of pollution it dumps into Lake Michigan (from its perhaps expanding Whiting, Indiana plant).
Friday August 24 2007 Outdoors/Environment

Regional Fandom
Strange Maps reminds us that Cubs country is a bit bigger than White Sox country. Curse/Bless you SuperStation WGN!
Wednesday August 22 2007 Sports/Recreation

Fab Labbers Confer in Chi-Town
Neil Gershenfeld's Fab Lab (check out his concept video from TED, and more background on "Personal Fabrication") will be in Chicago next week for a conference at UCHICAGO and the MSI. Rumor has it that a Fab Lab installation will be setup at MSI for public consumption, but nothing has been officially announced yet.
Friday August 17 2007 Schools/Education

Poet Laureate Gets Start in Chi-Town
Charles Simic, the 15th Poet Laureate of the United States, started writing poetry "to impress girls" and was first published in the Chicago Review.
Monday August 13 2007 Books/Authors

How Many Homeless People Live Downtown?
A controversial city census says that there are only 24 homeless people that live downtown.
Friday August 10 2007 In the News

At School on Day One = Free Day at MSI
CPS students who make it to the first day of school (Sept. 4) will receive a family pass for a free day at the Museum of Science & Industry.
Thursday August 9 2007 Schools/Education

Ping Pong Hype Machine
With a new comedy set to raise the profile of table tennis, it's good to realize that Chicago's own Killerspin has been making ping pong cool for years.
Wednesday August 8 2007 Sports/Recreation

It's (Apparently) Not the Teachers...
In 69 of the 87 Chicago Public Schools that were deemed to be failing for two consecutive years, not one teacher's performance was rated "unsatisfactory".
Wednesday August 1 2007 Schools/Education

Every Cubs Fan Has a Blog
The Trib's Paul Sullivan runs through the goings-on at some major Cubs blogs. Be sure to check the comments to see the blogs he missed.
Monday July 30 2007 Sports/Recreation

"Loop U." expansion plans afoot
Crain's details some of the expansion (and construction) plans of the DePaul, Roosevelt, Columbia, and John Marshall campuses in the South loop.
Friday July 27 2007 Schools/Education

Humanized! (and Gapers Block)
Tech Matters in the Sun-Times wrote a feature on Aza Raskin and his firm Humanized. (Along the way they mention our "popular online publication"...)
Thursday July 26 2007 In the News

Walk Scores
Walk Score gives you an idea of how walkable your neighborhood is by charting the proximity of nearby amenities in a handy-dandy Google Map.
Wednesday July 25 2007 Health/Fitness

Wilco to Play Millennium Park
You've seen this in Transmission already, but in case you missed it, Wilco will be playing Millennium Park on September 12th. It'll cost you $45 to get a seat and $10 to get on the lawn. More details in Slowdown.
Tuesday July 24 2007 Music/Clubs

No, Really, I'm the Other David Nelson
Unlike airports in NYC, Washington, Miami, and Los Angeles, Chicago does not have an agent with the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) at one of it's airports to help expedite clearing up mistakes/mismatches in the Terrorist Screening Data Base (and No Fly lists). Reportedly, over 500,000 names are in that database and almost 20,000 warnings were set off in 2006.
Thursday July 19 2007 In the News

Where to Relocate To?
There's absolutely no good reason to ever leave Chicago, but if you must relocate nearby, Money magazine's Top 100 Towns (population < 50K) list includes 4 in Chicagoland. Lisle was ranked #20, Libertyville #52, Woodridge #61 and South Elgin was #82.
Tuesday July 17 2007 In the News

We're #1!
Yup, Gas Prices in Chicago are on average the highest in the nation. $3.46 per gallon.
Monday July 16 2007 Business/Shopping

What You Don't Know...
...can't possibly hurt him! State Senate President Emil Jones' opposition to legislation that would make lists of state subcontractors available on the internet may (or may not) have something to do with the fact that his step-son has millions of dollars in "under-the-radar government business".
Tuesday July 10 2007 Politics/Activism

He Stays!
The "Will He Stay or Will He Go" debate that has swirled around White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle has finally been resolved with a contract extension. No word about what White Sox fans are left to talk about now.
Sunday July 8 2007 Sports/Recreation

The Old Latin Mass Is The New Thing
If you're still firming up your weekend plans and are looking for a hip Latin Mass (Tridentine) to balance things out, the Archdiocese of Chicago says you should look at: St. John Cantius (825 N. Carpenter) and St. Thomas More (2825 W. 81st).
Friday June 29 2007 Religion/Spirituality

What's Ozzie Thinking?
With the White Sox struggling mightily, the Onion gives us a sense of what might happen if we knew what Ozzie was thinking.
Thursday June 21 2007 Sports/Recreation

Cost of Teacher Turnover?!
SIU's study on New Teacher Attrition in Illinois (PDF) reports that "each time a teacher leaves Chicago Public Schools, it costs $17,000 to $22,000 to recruit, hire, process and train a replacement."
Thursday June 21 2007 Schools/Education

Air Guitar is Real
If you're still on the fence about going to tonight's Chicago Regional of the U.S. Air Guitar Championships, perhaps this preview from the Tribune will sway you. Details in Slowdown.
Friday June 15 2007 Music/Clubs

"Let's Change The World"
The AP's feature on Chicago's own ShoreBank, chronicles the bank's success as the nation's first community development and environment bank.
Friday June 15 2007 Business/Shopping

Illinois GDP Like Mexico
This map renames US States with the country whose GDP is most similar. Illinois has a GDP like Mexico. As the author points out in the notes it's somewhat misleading as there's no sense of (population) scale, but it's fantastic nevertheless.
Tuesday June 12 2007 Found on the Web

South Side Gang Maps
The District 299 Blog asks some good questions about "where exactly are the gang lines?" and follows them up with an even better link... to Southside Gang Maps. So now you know.
Friday June 8 2007 Found on the Web

Not Egregious
Chicago State University's President Elnora Daniel finally talked about their recent audit controversy (high travel expenses aboard cruise ships and heavy bar tabs on the state's dime), and generally dismissed the problems as not being egregious. Apparently, we can rest assured that sloppy record-keeping with state funds will not continue. She didn't say that we should go back to not paying them any attention, but might as well have.
Friday June 8 2007 Schools/Education

The Fastest Growing Firm In Chicago
According to Crain's Chicago Business the fastest growing company in Chicago(land) during 2007 is Convergint Technologies. Here's a look at the rest of the "Fast 50".
Tuesday June 5 2007 Business/Shopping

Cubs, Cubs, Cubs
It's been quite the weekend for the Cubs with players fighting each other & the manager "Lou-sing" his cool. Also this week, the NYTimes published a video feature on "The Re-education of Kerry Wood".
Sunday June 3 2007 Sports/Recreation

Obama's Political Hoops
The NYTimes details Senator Obama's hoops profile and it's potential impact on his political career. It turns out that Alexi Giannoulias (Illinois State Treasurer), Martin Nesbitt (Chairperson of CHA), and Arne Duncan (CEO of CPS) were part of his basketball clique. Of the four, it's only Duncan who has played hoops professionally (in Australia).
Friday June 1 2007 Sports/Recreation

Downtown Red Line Rerouted After 9PM This Week
Just so you're not waiting for hours in the subway, note that the Red Line will be running on the El tracks temporarily between the Fullerton and Cermak/Chinatown stations on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights between 9PM and 5AM due to construction and maintenance.
Wednesday May 30 2007

Education Laughs, Onion Style
Today the District 299 Chicago Public Schools Blog collects some education-themed (including some Chicago specific) funnies from the Onion.
Wednesday May 16 2007 Schools/Education

Enjoying the Hoopla
The Bulls won their first playoff series since "the Jordan era" on Sunday afternoon by defeating the Miami Heat. Up next: Detroit.
Monday April 30 2007 Sports/Recreation

No Tinkers. No Evers. No Chance.
Talk about talking smack! The St. Louis Post-Dispatch rewrites a famous baseball poem to articulate why the Cubs will NEVER win the World Series.
Saturday April 28 2007 Sports/Recreation

Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Chicago Spire took another step towards reality by moving through a "critical" stage of the zoning process.
Friday April 20 2007 Arts/Architecture

Jackie Robinson Day
April 15th, the 60th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color-barrier, has been designated Jackie Robinson Day by Major League Baseball. In tribute to Robinson, the White Sox Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, Alex Cintron, (first-base coach) Harold Baines, and (third-base coach) Razor Shines will wear Robinson's # 42. Cubs Derrek Lee, Cliff Floyd, Jacque Jones, Daryle Ward, (hitting coach) Gerald Perry, and (bullpen coach) Lester Strode will do the same.
Sunday April 15 2007 Sports/Recreation

Vallas On the Move...
Paul Vallas, former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools and candidate for the governorship of Illinois, is leaving his post as the CEO of the Philadelphia school system this year. Vallas plans to return to Chicago, but the rumor mill is suggesting that his stay at home will be temporary and that the New Orleans Public Schools will make a play to lure him to Cajun Country.
Friday April 13 2007 Schools/Education

Northwestern University, Qatar Campus
Northwestern is in negotiations to open a campus in Qatar, where coursework would focus on Journalism and Communications and students would have to meet Northwestern's general admission (and tuition) requirements. The programs may negotiate internship opportunities with Al-Jazeera, which is headquartered in Qatar.
Friday April 6 2007 Schools/Education

Odes to Lou & Ozzie
It might only be two games into the baseball season, but it's never too early to sing odes to managers Ozzie Guillen and Lou Piniella.
Thursday April 5 2007 Sports/Recreation

Learn to Talk to Buddhists
Ever feel like the cat's got your tongue whenever Buddhists (with their "ancient, complex, trendy" religion) are around? Apparently you're not alone! Evangelical Christians are organizing workshops on how to "talk" to Buddhists in conjunction with the Dalai Lama's US Tour. The nearest workshop looks to be in Wheaton. The Dalai Lama will be in Chicago on May 6th, check slowdown for details. [Note: The Sun-Times wants you to know that while in Chicago the Dalai Lama will be staying in a hotel suite with 3 bathrooms]
Wednesday April 4 2007 Religion/Spirituality

Hope Springs Eternal
What else can you say on Opening Day? For those of you looking for some diversions this afternoon, the White Sox are playing Cleveland on the South Side & the Cubs are playing in Cincinnati. Both games are at 1PM. Neither team is going to go 162-0 this season, but for a few more hours it remains a mathematical possibility.
Monday April 2 2007 Sports/Recreation

Low Cost Sneakers (No Word on Headbands)
Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace is joining the affordable sneaker movement with his new shoe "the Big Ben" expected to be available in the fall and to retail for $15. The shoes look to have all the popular features of today's modern athletic footwear sans the markup.
Tuesday March 27 2007 Sports/Recreation

Vote for the Worst
Who knew that Vote For the Worst, the subversive element in the American Idol universe, has a Chicago connection?
Monday March 26 2007 Radio/TV

Who is Attending the Best CPS High Schools?
If you guess that it's the Chicago Public School kids who did the best, you'd mostly right. Crain's reports that 17% of the students who were accepted into the 8 Selective Enrollment High Schools last year attended private schools rather than CPS Elementary Schools. Needless to say, this is creating more than some tension for "CPS Lifer" parents who'd like some leg up for loyalty (and might fuel a few residency investigations).
Tuesday March 20 2007

CTA to Add Flight Departure Info at Clark & Lake
The CTA will be installing Flight Departure Info Displays at the Clark & Lake station for flights leaving from both O'Hare and Midway. Precisely what you need to stay calm and relaxed while waiting for the train.
Thursday March 15 2007 Transportation

Is this Heaven? No, It's the South Side
This weekend's South Side Irish Parade was reportedly a festive, green, tradition, beer & Little Caeser's-filled kick-off to the spring season!
Monday March 12 2007 In the News

Dalai Lama-Rama
The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, The Dalai Lama, will be in Chicago on May 6th. Tickets are still available for his afternoon address on "Finding Inner Peace in a World of Turmoil" at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Auditorium.
Friday March 9 2007 Religion/Spirituality

Pulaski Passes, Pierogi Plummets
Bloomberg reports that, in spite of Chicago's historical allure to Polish immigrants, recent immigration from Poland has decreased significantly. Nevertheless Chicagoland still boasts the 2nd largest population of residents of Polish descent (behind only Warsaw) in the world!
Wednesday March 7 2007 In the News

The P is for Pearl Jam
Lollapearljamalooza?! It sounds as if Chicago's own Lollapaooza will feature Pearl Jam (fronted by Evanstonian Eddie Vedder) as the headliner. If you'd been reading Transmission, you'd already know this.
Monday March 5 2007 Music/Clubs

Driving a Bus Seemed to be a Great Way to Meet New People
Or so recalls Mary Wallace, the CTA's first-ever female bus driver, who has just retired after 33 years of keeping people on the go. Thanks to Wallace's trailblazing, today 24% of the CTA's bus drivers are women.
Friday March 2 2007 Transportation

Death Penalty Awareness Week
Even as National Death Penalty Awareness Week (Feb 26 - Mar 2) winds down, there are still some Chicago area events being sponsored by Depaul University. FYI: Depaul has been the Chicagoland university most actively involved in National Death Penalty Awareness Week.
Thursday March 1 2007 Politics/Activism

Dominick's is Their Wonderwall
Or at least an oasis in the midst of a "Food Desert"! Researcher Mari Gallagher finds that the planned closings of 3 Dominick's would create food desert conditions (where fast-food restaurants are plentiful and grocery stores are scarce) for 75 city blocks that over 18,000 Chicagoans inhabit.
Friday February 23 2007 Health/Fitness

Think Spring! Think Ultimate Spring
Registration for spaces in Ultimate Chicago's Spring League opens tomorrow. It'll be a month before Spring League play begins, but registering early will give you something to look forward to!
Friday February 16 2007 Sports/Recreation

Cub's Hot Tub Flub
Continuing the tradition of baseball players finding novel ways of injuring themselves, Cubs reliever Kerry Wood hurt himself getting out of his hot tub! Cubs fans worry not, he'll be back on the mound in a few days.
Thursday February 15 2007 Sports/Recreation

Chicago Hearts Nyandiwa
Famed economist Jeffrey Sachs spoke at the University of Chicago on Monday in support of CHICAGO PROMISE a city-wide effort to raise money for a Milleninum Village in Africa (specifically Nyandiwa, Kenya) and to raise awareness about extreme poverty in Africa.
Wednesday February 14 2007 Politics/Activism

Planet Palehose Draws Its Heroes
With less than 50 days to go before opening day, you can start getting ready for baseball on the southside by checking out cartoonist Carl Skanberg's Palehose 7. It's a more modern look for our heroes who were last seen sailing the south (side) seas in search of (more) baseball championship treasure.
Tuesday February 13 2007 Sports/Recreation

A-Rod? Axelrod!
Alternet's profile of Obama political advisor (and U of C grad) David Axelrod reads like a history of Chicago politics. Prior to working with Obama, Axelrod worked with Chicago Mayors Daley & Washington and developed a reputation for being able "to help black politicians convince white voters to support them."
Monday February 12 2007 Politics/Activism

Are the Jacksons Preparing to be the Next Daleys?
The resurgence of "local politics as family business" seems to be continuing on the South Side, as Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s wife Sandi Jackson campaigns to be the Alderman for the 7th Ward. For more on the Aldermanic races, you should read Revenge of the Second City.
Friday February 9 2007 Politics/Activism

Somewhere Rex is King
While only one team wins the Super Bowl, the NFL prepares for either outcome by printing championship apparel for both teams. The NYT reports that the losing team's apparel is donated to the remotest parts of the world through World Vision. So, somewhere someone believes that the Bears won the championship, and has a shirt to prove it!
Wednesday February 7 2007 Sports/Recreation

It's Cold, Let's Talk about Global Warming
Mayor Daley announced that 80 designer globes will line part of Lake Shore Drive this summer to raise awareness of the dangers of global warming. The project entitled "Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" will feature designs by noted artists and will (eventually) be auctioned off to raise funds to support conservation clubs in the Chicago Public Schools.
Wednesday February 7 2007 Outdoors/Environment

UCHICAGO Understands Black Youth
Or, at least has an intellectual understanding of their attitudes, thanks to the recently completed Black Youth Project. The findings claim to reveal "an unexpected duality in the attitudes of black youth in America," and indicate (among other things) that the majority of black youth would prefer it "if mainstream rappers cleaned up their acts."
Thursday February 1 2007 Schools/Education

The Good News in Education!
Making no mention of what the bad news might be, South Side Congressman Daniel Lipinski's resolution praising "Catholic Schools for their ongoing contributions to education" passed unanimously. The resolution was planned to coincide with Catholic Schools Week (Jan 28-Feb 3). There are over 250 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Wednesday January 31 2007 Schools/Education

Indie Bookstores in Chi-Town
New City Chicago's Indie Bookstore Guide is a fantastic reminder that there are still quite a few great local independent bookstores spread all across Chicago.
Friday January 26 2007 Books/Authors

"My Body for Your Super Bowl Tickets!"
We're already seeing the first of what will end up being a host of stories on the lengths that Chicagoans will go to get Super Bowl tickets! For example, Lake View woman Jennifer Gordon will gladly paint an ad across her pregnant belly in exchange for two Super Bowl tickets. Since 100 million people will see this ad clearly on television, it might not be a bad deal.
Wednesday January 24 2007 Sports/Recreation

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Shaz Rasul