Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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This season of "Top Chef" hasn't given Chicagoans much to cheer about in the way of hometown pride (or much else). But in two weeks, "Top Chef: Just Desserts" will feature Glencoe native Malika Ameen, co-owner of and pastry chef at the late Aigre Doux. Set your DVR and get your giant fondant-coated foam "We're #1" finger ready.
Or perhaps I should say "miner," as the US Geological Survey page for the 2.7 magnitude tremor says it may have been mining related. It occurred at around 1pm. (Thanks, Nicole!)
Ramon DeLeon, the hardest working Domino's guy in Chicago, is profiled in Fast Company.
The formal announcement is "imminent."
Investigation of a rumored "dry run" of a terrorist plot via a flight that originated at O'Hare was canceled; the two men who were detained yesterday will not be charged.
Circus in the Parks will bring clowns, acrobats and more to five North Side parks in September and October.
According to Perez Hilton, the Bears' Jay Cutler is dating Kristin Cavallari from "The Hills." Might explain a few things from Sunday's game.
Northwestern's Medill School, Mozilla, Hacks/Hackers and The Media Consortium are collaborating to offer "Open Journalism & the Open Web, a free six-week interactive course that will bring together journalists and programmers. It starts Sept. 15, and just got BoingBoinged, so it may have already filled up; if it proves popular, chances are it'll be offered again.
If you eat at five of these restaurants, you could earn yourself a free ticket to Chicago Gourmet.
Speaking of radio, our own David Schalliol was on Eight Forty-Eight's month in review segment this morning on WBEZ.
Via a Feder footnote, longtime Chicago DJ Robert "Murphy in the Morning" Murphy's website. I shouldn't have to warn you that there's music from the '80s.
Chicago was home to one of the last operating tuberculosis sanitariums in the country. Frances Archer grew up across the street, and has a great series of posts collecting its history and eventual closure.
Glorious Noise co-founder Jake Brown is moving from Chicago to Ann Arbor, Michigan with his family, and he left us a goodbye note.
Downtown high-end apartment occupancy rates are a surprising 94.5%, prompting developers to pursue options for new construction.
Two US citizens traveling on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Amsterdam are being detained by Dutch police this morning after suspicious items in their luggage--several cell phones and $7,000 in cash--suggested to baggage screeners that the duo were making a dry run for a terrorist attack. Relatives claim that the two men were merely bringing gifts to family in their native Yemen.
Five years after "Our Lady of the Underpass," aka "Underpass Mary," persists -- or at least her shrine and her followers do.
Chicago's nascent food trucks are in the running to be on the next season of Food Network's "Great Food Truck Race." Vote for Chicago's Fired Up, Flirty Cupcakes, Gaztro-Wagon and Happy Bodega by selecting Chicago on the map, because we can't link to specific trucks.
Beleaguered bridesmaids, your time has come. Faith & Whiskey, Lincoln Park's self-proclaimed "premiere brown liquor soaked and hard partying spot," is hosting a Bridesmaid Dress Party on Sunday, Sept. 5. Get there right at 5pm, when the doors open: the first 25 females who arrive wearing old bridesmaid dresses will receive $40 gift certificates to Local Lookbook Boutique.
While you're parading around in your ugly expensive duds, drink a$3 "Accidental 3Some" cocktail; gawk at wedding-themed movies like My Best Friend's Wedding; listen to traditional wedding tunes played by a DJ who has spun at "over 200 weddings in Wisconsin"; take pictures on disposable cameras and mug for the professional videographer; shove a bunch of complimentary party favors into your beaded clutch; and rehearse the 90-second bridesmaid speech you wish you could've delivered. The best speech will earn $100 cash.
The fight for the Obama presidential library is heating up. In one corner, Chicago; in the other, Hawaii.
Mark and Liz Mendez, until recently chef and wine director at Carnivale, are planning a new restaurant and blogging about the process on WindyCitizen.
In A/C, we've got an interview with Deon Cole, a Chicago comic who's gone on to write for Conan O'Brien and is working on a pilot for Comedy Central.
On the heels of the Blagojevich's "not the sharpest knife in the drawer" defense, NPR wants to know what's up with Illinois politicians.
The Art Loop Open has extended its application deadline to Sept. 7 and added new prizes for artists interested in participating in the public art exhibition. Details here.
Leonardo DiCaprio won a restraining order against Chicagoan Livia Bistriceanu, who claims to be married to the actor and pregnant with his child, Jesus.
Chicago magazine's food critic spent the afternoon with Nutraloaf, food for misbehaving inmates, a.k.a. "a thick orange lump of spite with the density and taste of a dumbbell."
Join Gapers Block and CHIRP for a show at the Metro this Friday, Sept. 3, featuring The Hudson Branch, Camera, Reds and Blue and My My My. The show is free before 9pm and just $6 after if you bring along this flyer [PDF] -- and still just $9 without. RSVP on Facebook!
While picking up her first Emmy award for her work on the television show "Glee" last night, Dolton native Jane Lynch name-checked the South Side in her acceptance speech. Lynch will be hosting an episode of "Saturday Night Live" later this fall (perhaps with the new locally grown talent who will join the cast for its next season). Other Chicago-connected talents who won awards at the ceremony include "Modern Family's" Eric Stonestreet and Jason Winer.
Tomorrow is the last day to vote in the VegNews 2010 Veggie Awards and give props to competing locals, including the Chicago Soy Dairy, The Chicago Diner, Karyn's on Green, Loving Hut and Karyn Calabrese. Oh, and you might win some prizes too.
Chicagoist's editor, Marcus Gilmer, himself a Katrina refugee, talks with New Orleans transplants in Chicago about the hurricane and its aftermath, five years later.
Apparently at wit's end, the CPD is now telling gangs to clean up their acts "or else."
Despite being a legendary sports franchise in a major market, the Chicago Bears are definitely not thrilling the nation with their team valuation—9th in the NFL and $800 million below their estimated potential. According to Forbes, "the problem begins and ends with ownership."
Did you know the Wrigley Building isn't an official city landmark? Neither is the Merchandise Mart, Marina City, or a few other storied architectural icons. Blair Kamin explores some of the reasons why. One commenter points out that you can explore the city's preservation yourself on an upcoming CAF tour.
The skyrocketing success of Chicago-based Groupon has spawned many copycat deal sites--but none as blatant or bizarro as Big Lion. The only thing more phony than a Russian rip-off would be a Chinese cheater! What the Faker?!
Simple Sandwiches is getting ready to roll. Keep an eye on them via Twitter.
The cumbersomely named tech startup conference midVenturesLAUNCH is a month away, and just announced that Groupon's Andrew Mason will be the keynote. There's still a little time to submit your startup concept to compete for $100,000.
It's the last Friday of the month, which means Critical Mass hits the streets for tonight's commute. Kirstie Shanley examines the cultural phenomenon in Tailgate.
Bon Appetit just crowned Chicago the nation's top spot for inexpensive eats. With Xoco, Big Star and Urban Belly -- and their infamous waits -- on the list, you should have plenty of time to scrounge up loose change. Takashi, Gene's Sausage Shop, Danny's, Franks 'n' Dawgs, Edzo's Burger Shop, and Floriole Cafe & Bakery also made the cut. Popularity, local/organic/seasonal ingredient sourcing, and general deliciousness notwithstanding, can we accurately call a $3 oatmeal cookie, a $13 bowl of ramen, or a $12 bowl of soup "cheap"? Discuss.
Rotofugi, which just moved to Lincoln and Diversey, opens a show of Playboy-inspired art tonight.
Registration opens at noon Saturday for the fall schedule at the People's Music School in Uptown.
We head down to Bridgeport to celebrate a Croatian holiday and eat some delicious lamb in this week's Drive-Thru feature.
Delicious Design League continues its tradition of awesome hot dog-related screenprints with a Chicago-style hot dog on a bike and a unique rendition of the Chicago flag.
Dan Grzeca, who designed our 6th anniversary poster, has a new print commemorating the murder of Fred Hampton in 1969.
The Rod Blagojevich retrial is scheduled to begin this January.
No matter which study you reference, Chicago has bed bugs, and the city has some information to help those plagued by the pests.
New City takes a fresh look at the Cermak Road Creative Industry District, which was a recent recipient of a $250,000 grant.
Nothing to do about the possibility of Manny Ramirez coming to the Sox, except sit, wait, and read. Here's Bill Simmons fantastic column on Manny's infamous departure from Boston. And here's a new Chicago Magazine article on Sammy Sosa's tumultuous departure from the Cubs. Don't forget, Frank Thomas' number will be retired during Sunday's Sox game.
Mayor Daley reaffirmed his everything-has-a-price strategy today by adding the Taste and Fleet Management to the list of leasable options, while also introducing the idea of allowing video rental machines and ATMs in city facilities ... for a fee, of course.
Chicago's unemployment rate fell to 10.5 percent in July. That's a decrease of .1 percent from June 2010. In July 2009 it was 10.8 percent.
Ira Glass gets fed up with New York Magazine's questions all the while identifying his mortal enemy in a pretty entertaining recent questionnaire.
Freelance writer Rachel Rabbit White has a feature up in A/C about her visit to The Sins Center, where liberated grandmas and grandpas go to explore their BDSM fantasies now that they've got some free time on their hands.
If you have some free time today and are itchin' to do some design work, Bike Winter is looking for a new sticker for this season. Check out some previous designs to get you going.
Since their Rex Grossman ...ahem... "led" Super Bowl season of 2006-07, the Bears faithful haven't had a whole lot to celebrate. No playoff appearances, and only one +.500 season since. Still, it's been a much better go of it than say, a Detroit Lions fan has had. Yet, one lone, 63 year-old Detroit Lions fan had the "gumption"/insanity to walk 425 miles from the Upper Peninsula to Lions training camp. Bears fans, consider the gauntlet thrown.
Oak Lawn has its own art installation by Jeff Koons in an unusual location: the CT scanner at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital. Koons's pop-culture panoramas and sculptures were the subject of a 2008 solo exhibition at the MCA.
Cartoonist Dan Meth is on his way to Chicago, and here's what he plans to do.
Ever wonder about who's behind those stamps in the sidewalk? Forgotten Chicago has some answers.
World News America is following Bulls forward Luol Deng as as he returns to Sudan for the first time since his family fled the country when he was five.
Our film critic, Steve Prokopy, visited the set of Transformers 3 recently, under his guise as Ain't It Cool News' Capone.
There's plenty of speculation about who will be the next mayor of Chicago but if history is any guide, it won't be a current alderman.
Chicago-based Remote Sensing Metrics is coming up with novel ways to assess economic health, like counting cars in parking lots or the number of shipping containers at a port.
If you missed out on the Neon Marshmallow festival this past weekend, Transmission writer Chris Sienko has wrapped up each of the four days of noise, destruction, and amazing sounds from the dark confines of the Viaduct Theatre.
Lynn Becker draws our attention to some unique scaffolding on the luxury Elysian's carriage court.
Northbrook-based teachbook.com is being sued by facebook because facebook claims it has the unique ability to use "book" in relation to any social networking website.
If you live in his district, there's a decent chance you have. Why? He makes more than 100 phone calls to constituents a day.
Chicagoans spent just a little above the national average on food in 2009, according to research by Cornell University. Enjoy lunch!
This Sunday, occasional GB contributor John Greenfield will be signing copies of his book, Bars Across America: Drinking and Biking from Coast to Coast, at Lush Wine and Spirits, 1257 S. Halsted St. -- conveniently close to the Boulevard Bike Tour start/finish line. And if you stop into the new Rapid Transit Cycle Shop at 1305 S. Halsted, you can get a free Rapid Transit pint glass, which Lush will fill with free Half Acre beer at the reading.
In advance of a new documentary, the Canadian National Film Board is asking for high-rise dwellers around the world to submit photographs of their views and some related thoughts to a flickr group for a chance to be included in an interactive web feature.
We're #3 in bedbugs -- what is a bedbug, you might ask. And how can I get rid of them? [via]
If you were skeptical about the motivations of the timing of the Broadway Bank closure, the FDIC says to put your mind at ease.
Rev up that second city chip on your shoulders gang! Streetsblog New York looks at the public hazard of privatizing infrastructure--using our own ignoble parking meter privatization as a case study.
Yesterday the Cubs created a special peanut free zone in a skybox for those with serious allergies to the legume.
The Art Institute's popular photorealistic painting of soggy French people -- rendered by artist Gustave Caillebotte -- is paying a visit to the Museum Folkwang in Germany from Sept. 7 to February 2011. See it before it departs, mes amis.
Blago gets the animated treatment from Taiwan-based Next Media Limited studios. Just thank god they didn't show him shaking down a patient from Children's Memorial Hospital.
Looking to class up your clothes? On September 16 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will be auctioning off the fabulous wardrobe that once belonged to the recently deceased Mrs. Eunice W. Johnson, whose family's company publishes Ebony and Jet magazines.
Local music label, Contraphonic, has recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund their nationwide aural mapping project as a part of their already successful Sound Series. Chip in a few clams and help to preserve the best sounds of Chicago, New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, and other locales.
The Museum of Science and Industry will be invaded by Kermit and the rest of the gang a month from today -- better get your tickets now.
The reptile police --aka: Lizard Busters; aka: Herpetological Five-Oh-- have busted the three-foot gator who was camping out in/around the Chicago River at the Belmont bridge. Wally Gator was unavailable for comment. Snagglepuss remarked, "Gators Gotta Go! Exit. Stage Right."
Speaking of area nuclear reactors, the already-offline Zion Nuclear Power Station will be decommissioned over the next several years and then opened up for "unrestricted commercial uses."
Chicago State gets a mention and a thrashing as Washington Monthly tries to develop a new kind of college guide. For what it's worth, the U of C ranks 12th on the list and Northwestern ranks 65th.
Chicago's not the only metropolitan area with a gator problem; a baby alligator crawled out of a sewer in Queens. The two-foot long reptile had its picture taken with an iPhone, was caught by police, and was turned over to New York City's Animal Care and Control shortly thereafter.
That's Mike Royko satirizing advice columnists during his early years at the O'Hare News. Royko's son David recently unearthed that column from 1955 along with some guidelines for surviving an atomic war. At the Reader, Michael Miner provides some additional context on that period of Mike Royko's career.
A blog post by CPD Lt. John R. Andrews that was critical of the department may get him fired.
Want to make your own Bollywood-style movie? The first step is getting the choreography down. BollyRitmo can show you how it's done. You might also want to get seats up front for The Merchants of Bollywood at the Auditorium Theater Oct. 1-2.
Phyllis Lambert, founder of the Canadian Centre for Architecture, graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1963 and apprenticed with Mies van der Rohe. Now 83, she is still kicking butt.
Visit a small block of mammoth edible potential in this week's Drive-Thru feature.
ShoreBank, the only bank with a slogan anything like "Let's change the world," failed. Its "good" assets have been transferred to the brand new Urban Partnership Bank, leaving some to worry about the future of investment in Chicago's low income neighborhoods.
The Printed Blog relaunched today.
The city's ethno-racial populations are made clear in this map on Radical Cartography.
Yet another alligator lurks the banks of the Chicago River. This time, there's a (grainy) photo.
The Chicago Park District is reevaluating what to do with the area they're now calling "North Grant Park," so they're seeking public input through an online survey.
The United and Continental merger is moving ahead, as its branding.
Rapper Serengeti just released his new video for "Perculators." Not since the 2006 video for "Dennehy" has Chicagoland been so prominently featured in hip hop. The slow-mo sample of Cajmere's classic "Coffee Pot" mixed with tai chi is mind-blowing.
Today's Cubs game (which they lost 16-5 to Atlanta) was Lou Piniella's last as manager.
This summer's weather has been a perfect storm for arthropodic bloodsuckers. The flood mosquito population is up thanks to the heavy rains, and the West-Nile-carrying Culex breed has grown rapidly during the heat spells. Stay protected, especially at night when the Culex mosquitoes feed.
Break out your crayons, markers, and colored pencils: local artist Mindy Fisher is making a coloring book, and giving you a chance to win one of her paintings.
Beloved former Sun Times columnist Jay Mariotti was arrested in Los Angeles last night on a domestic disturbance charge after having an argument with his girlfriend.
St. Sava, the Serbian cultural and arts center in Lakeview, has begun hosting shows in its basement club, The Cave -- and not just for Serbian bands -- and also screens Serbian films with English subtitles, too.
The Architect's Paper looks at three firms pushing building design and development strategies surrounding the Loop, including Friedman Properties, one of the key players in the "green" garage.
Last summer WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore received a fellowship from Columbia College to do reporting from Libya, which she started today.
Rod Blagojevich will be at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con this Saturday. No, really.
If you missed TEDxWindyCity back in February, you've got an opportunity to see a food-related mini version in October. Tickets are on sale now, and expected to sell out today.
This BBC map of the fallout if Chernobyl had happened in Chicago is rather timely in light of the Braidwood nuclear power plant shutdown earlier this week. [via]
Brian Doben, photographer, snapped a few fashion pix at O'Hare. That's exactly how I dress whenever I fly.
Greenway Parking Garage, at Clark and Kinzie, is seeking LEED certification. The parking garage features twelve helical wind turbines, but might still have trouble shaking the irony of their slogan "Chicago's first earth friendly parking garage."
The Center for Neighborhood Technology's transportation cost data has been added to WalkScore.com, making your walkability score in Chicago even more accurate.
National Go Topless Day, an annual protest against skin-baring inequality, is this Sunday, Aug. 22, and Chicago's contingent will meet at the North Avenue Beach House at noon.
Epitonic, one of the first streaming mp3 sites, is planning a comeback, with local musician Justin Sinkovich back at the helm. The relaunch is being funded through Kickstarter.
In Mechanics, Michael Volpe tells the story of Mario Benitez, a legal resident alien from Chicago facing deportation for stealing $130 in change from a neighbor.
Chicago Public Radio checks in on Robert Blagojevich and his wife as they live with their 27-year-old son in his Uptown apartment.
The Chicago Reader wants you to know about John Edel and his plans to create a vertical farm in a former meat processing plant.
Much like the small firms who receive overwhelming response from Groupon emails, the company's own servers were swamped today by a deal for $50 worth of Gap merchandise for $25.
Grant Achatz is the cover model for an advertorial insert on oral health in the Tribune last Friday. Positioned as a "report," it was produced by Mediaplanet, whose concept page says, "We convert advice-seeking readers and viewers into customers."
The Butter Cow, now on display at the Illinois State Fair.
Behind the Burly-Q, a documentary about the rise, fall, and revival of burlesque, opens Friday night for a week's run at the Siskel Film Center. The director will be at the Friday and Saturday screenings, and our own Steve at the Movies will moderate Saturday's discussion. Roger Ebert reviews the film and digs up a 1968 interview with star Tempest Storm.
Andrew Bird composed music for the Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age exhibit at the Field Museum. Hear a bit of Mr. Bird's dainty dreamy instrumental noodlings here.
...of not maintaining his storage locker. The Arlington Heights-based company who Blagojevich owes $3,000 to is planning to auction the contents this morning, with the proceeds going to Children's Memorial Hospital. The ex-governor claims to be too broke to pay the back rent.
The BBC gives it a shot with: "Political corruption and Chicago go together like fashion and Milan or surfers and Sydney."
The eggs might have been OK, but you gotta worry about the salmonella-tainted pickles.
Drive-Thru writer Joanna Ericson has been telling her story to Anne Elizabeth Moore in Revision Street.
Fear no ART Chicago just released their newest webisode: an interview with 3 Blondes & a Bald Guy, winners of the 2010 Art on Track A.W.A.R.D.
Missed this last month: Chef Art Smith is looking for corporate sponsorship for his marriage to longtime partner Jesus Salguerio.
The Tribune's new iPhone app debuted today. $1.99 gets you news, photos, tweets and the ability to bookmark stories. You might also be interested in the Tribune's zodiac app, which I'm sure is worth the cost.
The director of the Department of Revenue was suspended for a day over the memo about police needing to up their ticket writing, after Mayor Daley called it stupid.
One Book, One Chicago has just announced its Fall 2010 selection: Toni Morrison's 2008 novel about early American slavery, A Mercy. For upwards of $1,000 per ticket, watch the author in conversation with Oprah Winfrey.
Looks like Half Acre is getting a new brew master, and St. Louis a new brewery. [via]
Chicago magazine's newest list includes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, "This American Life" and that weird steel sculpture Picasso designed for Chicago in 1967.
Did you know that Potbelly Sandwiches had never signed a franchise deal until this week? Apparently the Lincoln Park store has held out for more than a decade, despite expanding into 40 cities and receiving some 6,000 hopeful franchise inquiries.
Rich Miller asks the question on everybody's mind today: Who is the lone juror who held out against convicting Rod Blagojevich on more than one federal charge? It seems like the ex-governor owes her a fruit basket...
Chicago magazine wants to know who their Chicagoan of the Year should be.
In A/C, we learn the story of Rosario Ramirez, a Venezuelan immigrant making a difference in Back of the Yards.
Chicagoan Jay Goltz uses Evanstonian Seth Weinberger as an example in his recent NYTimes blog post questioning the label of "social entrepreneurship."
After 14 days of deliberations, the former governor of Illinois is only charged for lying to the FBI, a charge that carries a maximum of five years in jail and a $250k fine (prosecutors have until September 7 to decide if they want to retrial on the other 23 counts that the jury deadlocked on). Somewhere, Patrick Fitzgerald is stuffing his face with marshmallows.
U.S. News and World Report has the University of Chicago ranked at no. 9 (shared with Dartmouth College and Duke University) and Northwestern University at no. 12 in their list of best colleges for 2011.
Layer Tennis starts its regular season with two live matches this Friday, one featuring local player Nick Campbell.
Fans of experimental music unite this weekend at the inaugural Neon Marshmallow festival at The Viaduct Theatre with nearly 100 sets of music over four days. Details and an extensive preview in Transmission.
Make sure you pay the meters: the CPD was just told to get cracking on parking tickets.
The "meat-man parfait" is basically a giant plastic cup layered with scoops of barbecued pork or brisket, mashed potatoes and barbecue sauce. Ingest it for $7 at the Illinois State Fair -- I have a feeling there won't be much left once PETA finds out.
Chicago's In These Times has a feature on the anger brewing for Obama, Arne Duncan and the democrats within typically friendly waters: the national teachers unions.
The Chicago Justice Project today released a report on the sensationalized writing in the city's press, claiming that coverage of a huge new wave in violence this summer has been factually devoid.
Groupon is the fastest growing company in history, according to Forbes.
Perhaps the Chicago Council on Global Affairs is a little biased, but we come in at number six on Foreign Policy magazine and their2010 global cities index.
Grubwithus puts a social spin on dining deals: members buy seats at a group table, meaning you get to meet some new friends while you eat on the cheap. (Thanks, Lakshmi!)
Oh man, I totally forgot that theChive, the site that did that awesome "I Quit" whiteboard hoax last week, is based in Chicago!
Speaking of birthdays, Sunday was the 175th anniversary of the Chicago Police Department's founding.
Lilli Carré breaks down the 19th century raising of Chicago's street grades in comics form for Chicago Magazine.
Did you miss "The Club," MLB's White Sox reality miniseries? Don't worry, Comcast SportsNet is airing it starting tonight. Or you could just read our recaps.
The A.V. Club has a first-person account of what what happened at the Gathering of the Juggalos this weekend when "entertainer" Tila Tequila was attacked by festival attendees.
In A/C, concert photographer Kirstie Shanley shares thoughts on why bands shouldn't play in the dark.
The Beachwood Reporter has a humorous list of counts the so-far deadlocked jury might agree on.
The Huffington Post has a video of Vince Vaughn skydiving over Chicago at the Air and Water Show. Unless it's just extra footage from Wedding Crashers.
Who owns Chicago's water system, Abigail Singer asks in the latest issue of AREA. Related: Chicago Water Wars.
Remember this terrifying clown who starred in his own Chicago television show for half a century? To celebrate the show's 50th anniversary tomorrow, Borders on Michigan Avenue will host the first book signing for the memoir of the late Larry Harmon, who originally played Bozo.
Lebowski Fest Chicago tickets are on sale now.
CTA buses average an accident a day.
@ChicagoCyclists is a Twitter account where cyclists in the city can share tips, alerts and other bike-related info. Just tweet at the account and it automatically retweets to the list. (Thanks, Clint!)
The folks behind the Center Square Journal are expanding south with the Roscoe View Journal, a news site serving Roscoe Village and West Lakeview launched today.
While performing onstage at this weekend's Gathering of the Juggalos in downstate Cave-in-Rock, entertainer (?) Tila Tequila was injured by rocks, beer bottles, firecrackers, feces and urine thrown by concertgoers, some of whom later chased her to her trailer after Tequila abruptly ended her set. Update: now with NSFW video!
Illustrator Jose Garibaldi helps you visualize your weekend plans.
In honor of the finale of "At the Movies," today NPR's Fresh Air re-played a 1996 live broadcast with guests Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.
Yes, oh, yesssss. We visit a delicious downtown Amish bakery store in this week's Drive-Thru feature.
The 157th Illinois State Fair officially opened today, but some are skeptical about an expensive tradition that doesn't exactly rake in returns.
Freakonomics, the best-selling book by U of C economist Steven Levitt and journalist Stephen Dubner, has been made into a documentary. Freakonomics the movie debuts on iTunes Sept. 3 and opens in theaters Oct. 1.
Cecil Adams of Straight Dope Chicago continues an investigation of the museum's current exhibits and concludes that at least everything still works.
This weekend marks the launch of Hot Box, a mobile gallery showcasing local artists. First up is FoGB Veggiesomething.
To help Laura Park get her back fixed, we're donating $5 of every purchase of the awesome 3rd anniversary party poster she designed for us!
The Arab American Action Network recently released a report [pdf] on the special issues confronting domestic violence in Chicago's Arab and Muslim communities.
Laura Park, local cartoonist, needs to raise $3,500 (even with insurance) for a discectomy. Please help out this talented ink-slinger. Donations can be made here.
At least when they're compared with Brooklyn hipsters.
This guy will never get lost on the CTA.
A couple of new local discount sites debuted this week: Daily Deal Chicago and DealsNear.Me, which is more of a meta-discount site -- it aggregates discounts from a number of places.
A long-running art installation at the Neo-Futurarium, the Hall of Presidents contains a portrait for every US President... except for the most recently elected one. And now the call has gone out for artists to submit their Obama portraits to take the coveted 44th spot in the gallery. In addition to the fame of having his/her artwork on display, the winning artist receives a cash prize of $250 for their trouble! Full details at the Neo-Futurists' Website.
A Chicago-area atheist is suing the state government and others over a $20,000 grant the state provided to the custodians of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, a.k.a. the massive downstate cross.
There is an invisible dagger-wielding dwarf running rampant on Chicagoland streets who seems to be waiting in the bushes for cyclists to crash. One got me two weeks ago when I broke my arm after falling off my bike on the way home from work. I didn't get a good look at him, as he was invisible, but based on Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me host Peter Sagal's description of him, I'm betting we got jabbed by the same bastard.
If Paul Narang is interested in you, he'll give you his card. [via]
In Mechanics, Timna Axel reports on her undercover visit to the recent Americans for Truth Academy conference.
Blagojevich jurors have only decided 2 of the 24 counts in the former governor's corruption trial.
How do you even begin to examine and biopsy a suspicious growth on a four foot long electric eel? Put on some non-conductive gloves as a start, and get some help from the folks at the Shedd Aquarium.
The Reader's Ben Joravsky finds the city has fewer policemen on the streets than it would appear.
Anyone downtown at this moment, take note: right now, over 30,000 rubber duckies are making their way down the Chicago River from the Columbus Drive Bridge.
Designer Chris Courtney recently learned he has stage 3B Hodkins' Lymphoma; on the3six5, he declared war.
Tom Skilling has some tips on watching the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks tonight and tomorrow.
The Public Servant Blog nominated Chicago's boulevard system as number four on its list of the top 20 urban planning successes of all time.
Campy gore film All About Evil comes to the Music Box this Saturday -- with stars Peaches Christ and Mink Stole in tow.
New City tells the story of how south Uptown went upscale.
Don't have the cash or time to sit for a portrait? Oil Painting Express is your solution!
So what will happen if ShoreBank doesn't get the federal bailout it needs? Crain's explores two scenarios.
You've got to be kidding me.
If you're entering the MSI's Month at the Museum contest (previously), you're facing some pretty stiff competition -- from Order of the Odd Fish author James Kennedy, ex-GBer Felix Jung, Davin Coburn and many more.
Walgreens, Northwestern Medicine and Near North Health Service are teaming up to launch a new Food Oasis program. Walgreens says this will combat Chicago's food deserts through more healthy groceries and store locations, and Northwestern Medicine says the project will fight diabetes. Meanwhile, RedEye wants Wal-Mart or Aldi to fix the problem.
Chicago magazine's August issue coincidentally has a profile of Marty Cook, an alcoholic at rock bottom when he began an unexpected friendship with Dan Rostenkowski.
Speaking of fundraisers, Chicago-based GiveForward provides the ability to create a fundraising page for anyone or -thing.
Did the police try to help cover up a hit and run case against one of the Pritzkers? A federal lawsuit says yes.
What do you get when you combine 60,000 people, a carnival and 50 tons of sweet corn? The 2010 Mendota Sweet Corn Festival, of course! The weekend event begins tomorrow, and don't forget the free Del Monte sweet corn on Sunday afternoon.
The American Indian Center of Chicago and Tabula Rosa are among the top 100 projects in Pepsi's "Refresh Everything" contest, and there are many more hoping to join them.
Former US Representative Dan Rostenkowski has died at 82. The once powerful politician spent time in jail in 1996 for mail fraud.
Columnists are already mourning the last episode of "At the Movies," the 35-year syndicated television show dominated by Chicago film critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert during the show's golden years.
Clever Apes is WBEZ's relatively new science podcast. Worth a lunchtime listen.
Really small businesses, or "microbusinesses," are weathering the recession relatively well, LISC finds.
The Architect's Paper has the lowdown about the Pullman Walmart and its surrounding development.
Are "cop-in-a-box" police cameras cost-effective? A new study answers that question and raises others.
This weekend kicks off the 48 Hour Film Project, where 800 Chicago filmmakers have two days to make a film based on a character, a prop, a line of dialogue and a genre, assigned Friday night. Films show August 17-19 and August 24th. Sound awesome? There's still a few slots left.
GB's own Marissa Flaxbart is raising money on Kickstarter to finish a documentary about show choirs; it's just one of many local projects crowdsourcing their funding.
Chicago-based photographer Dave Jordano's Prairieland series was recently featured in the NY Times' Lens section.
Ramadan began tonight, which means Muslims must fast from sunup to sundown and abstain from anything impure for the next month. This includes anger. Which is why Olivia Kompier, homeschooling parent of three, created ScreamFreeMuslims.com, a website to help Muslims cope with the crabbiness that comes easily while fasting.
Former GB writer Brian Leli has launched Noun/Verb, a blog "devoted to artists and their actions." For which we have an adverb/adjective combo: really cool.
Ever wonder about the ladies on death row who dance the cell-block tango in the musical Chicago? Journalist Douglas Perry wrote a book about the real-life murderers and their stories.
Yep, the zipper was invented here, and displayed for the first time at the 1893 World's Fair.
Employers in Illinois can no longer run credit checks on job applicants, according to a new law signed by Gov. Quinn today. It's a rare bit of good news for unions.
They would probably elect Pat Quinn, who's just been endorsed by the state's leading gay rights group, Equality Illinois.
TIF districts are created to freeze the amount of property tax funding stuff like parks and public schools. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants to direct TIF money to fix Chicago Public Schools. Hmmm......
In an interview with NPR, the author of a new book called Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America's Most Wanted Gangster reveals close details about the famous gangster and the way city folk felt about him: "The real issue for most Chicagoans was the damage it did to the city's reputation. We already had an image of corrupt politics, we had a mayor who was widely perceived as being one of the most venal in the country's history, and then you've got these gangsters walking down the street with machine guns shooting it out on Michigan Avenue in broad daylight." Glorious times.
The tagging needs some work, but there are several notable Chicago buildings beyond the usual ones on OpenBuildings.com, a crowdsourced guide to architecture. [via]
"At the Movies" tapes its last episode today, to air this Saturday on ABC7.
Hiroshi Ariyama captures quintessential Chicago scenes in silkscreen.
The Art Institute is hosting a one-minute film festival -- and you're invited to join in, whether as a filmmaker or audience.
Despite that tax holiday, we're still tied for the highest sales tax in the country, according to a new survey.
Wondering what's on the beer list at the bar you're heading to? Here you go.
If you didn't make it to Lollapalooza this year, our recaps of Friday, Saturday and Sunday's shows will help you pretend you did. And if you did go, let us know what we got wrong -- or right.
These slideshows from Time Out Chicago and Style.com focused on the style found at Lollapalooza 2010.
Ravenswood Bank was closed by the FDIC on Friday, the sixth bank in Chicago to fail since 2008.
The Air & Water Show is this weekend, which means we'll get to "enjoy" noisy fly-bys from various aircraft all week. To get the most out of the show, see Todd McClamroch's "ultimate guide," full of tips on where to sit and what you'll see.
If you'd rather avoid the noise of the show, Todd says going west of Ashland or north of Devon is your best bet. To the south, you should be in the clear west of Ashland as well -- most of the planes fly out of Gary International, so stay clear of the lake.
Local twitterer Gabi "@gabifresh" Gregg is MTV's first "TJ."
In this week's A/C feature, John Greenfield and friends take a walk along 79th Street from the western edge of the city all the way to the lake.
Placemaking Chicago's "What Makes Your Place Great?" contest voting is now open: Check out the flickr set and then vote for your favorite place here.
The Chicago Women's Liberation Union herstory project site is interesting in and of itself, but this article about feminist buttons is fascinating.
Double rainbow all the way across the site!
Immersive Games knows how to kill your productivity.
The sole local entry in this year's Solo Photo Book Month is by Kelly Stachura, who created a book based around the idea of a treasure hunt.
As noted by the Chicago Lampoon, the song "Lake Shore Drive" by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah was recorded 40 years ago this weekend. It was released in 1971 and became a regional hit.
The new Laughing Parrot aims to cover Chicago's comedy scene.
In the spring of 1957, local radio legend Ken Nordine was practicing a speech for the opening of the Allied High Fidelity store on Rush and Walton. The practice session, which includes Nordine reciting some poetry, was recorded on reel-to-reel tape and subsequently forgotten... until it was found by blogger Bob Purse and posted on the blog of radio station WFMU.
Meet the Freeman Institute, a political consultancy primarily working on pro-business political campaigns in Chicago. Their website makes their orientation startlingly clear: click on "Invited" to enter the full site; if you're one of the "Others," they ship you off to google.
Chicago's modernist architecture stars in the video for Efdemin's song "There Will Be Singing (Chicago)."
Fantastic post over on MetaFilter about Chicago radio legend Clark Weber.
Just because Lollapalooza is grabbing all the headlines doesn't mean it's the only thing going on this weekend. You've also got the Festival Cubano, Retro on Roscoe, the South Shore Jazz Festival, and Taylor Street Festa Italiana available for your amusement.
The Black Women's Expo this weekend is the first at McCormick Place under new rules intended to reduce costs for conferences.
Check out this useful chart which breaks down exactly what R. Kelly believes in. No word yet if a similar chart for "You Remind Me Of Something" is available.
An SAIC student's homage to Carolee Schneemann's Interior Scroll involving Spaghettios was recently noticed and healthily criticized on Hipster Runoff. [NSFW all around.]
Another alligator was caught in the Chicago River, this time near Lane Tech. I tell you, every summer...
We take you through a Guerrilla Dinner from snout to tail in this week's Drive-Thru feature.
If you live in the Magnolia Glen section of Edgewater, your block club isn't just involved, it's EPIC.
Read and scroll through our Lollapalooza Stage Clash picks this year, so you won't end up on one end of Grant Park when a great band you're missing is on the other. Conveniently culled together from our week of previews in Transmission. (And keep an eye there for daily recaps!)
The Puzzler takes Lollapalooza pregame fun to a whole new level today.
Photographer and web designer Paul Octavious has been visiting "the hill" for two years, photographing it through its many seasons.
Of the handful of Chicago shows that are heading to this year's New York International Fringe Festival, you have a chance to see one of the best this weekend: Dean Evans' Magical Exploding Boy, a great physical comedy show featuring astronauts, amoebas, and an evil baby doll. Check the trailer on YouTube and then see it tonight and tomorrow at Prop Thtr (tickets at Brown Paper Tickets).
An Asian carp found by scientists in Lake Calumet is raising concerns, but experts think it might have been placed in the lake by someone six years ago.
The Denver Post has unearthed an incredible collection of color slides from the Great Depression. The photos are from all across America and really emphasize the poor and poorer (rich people, mercifully, are left out). Heartwarming and heartbreaking each image tells a tale of the brutal life in the real Depression. Look out for the exhilarating shots of Chicago's great railyards and the northward looking PBR sign that shows what, in that day and age, was Chicago's glorious skyline pre-Sears or Aon or Hancock.
As with Pitchfork, everyone and their mother has a guide to Lollapalooza for you this week. If our own previews aren't enough, you can turn to the Reader, Time Out, A.V. Club, Loud Loop Press, the Trib's Greg Kot, Sun-Times' Thomas Conner, Metromix, Venus Zine and Rolling Stone. Jim DeRogatis has some ways to avoid it altogether.
The Reader profiles Sarah Kavage, creator of Industrial Harvest, an "experiment to discover how an abstract 'wheat futures' contract connects to real wheat, real food and real people."
The Bears' Julius Peppers is at #36 on Sports Illustrated's list of the 50 highest-earning American athletes. He'll make a little over $20 million this year.
Kevin Pang asked a dozen chefs what food is overrated, and five said pork. Is this the beginning of the end? (Two said hamburgers.) [via]
Local postermaker Phineas X. Jones (also a FoGB) was the artist who wrought this fine piece of work for Lollapalooza this year. It'll be for sale this weekend at the festival, and on his site in small numbers later on.
It was inevitable: Adam War Rock and Ruckus Robiticus have laid down some fresh beats and rhymes about Ira Glass and This American Life.
The second addition of the New News Survey of Chicago's online news ecosystem is now online.
Starting tomorrow at 12:01am, the entire state gets a tax holiday through August 15 in order to pay less for school supplies; Illinois retailers will lower their normal sales tax charge by 5% for qualifying items [pdf]. Everyone can take advantage of the tax benefit, which is good for those of you looking to get a new athletic supporter.
Skip this unless you want to be depressed all day: Seven puppies perished after an American Airlines flight from Tulsa to Chicago.
Anne wants to know why we're all alcoholics. Thin-skinned Chicagoans provide her with the answers! This is why the Internet exists!
Looking for a job in food service? FoodBevJobs is a new local service that'll help.
Let's get the day started with some vintage Chicago House mixes by DJ Ron Hardy.
Barack had a birthday dinner at Graham Elliot with Oprah and Gayle. Some other people were there.
Guess which city leads the tax pack with an average of $101 in travel and consumer taxes paid over a three day visit.
Q: A federal judge in California just overturned Prop 8, which banned same-sex marriages in the state, what are you going to do now? A: Go to a rally at Daley Plaza at 6pm, of course! Celebrants are encouraged to bring rainbow flags. (Thanks, Marc!)
To celebrate President Obama's 49th birthday (which he will be celebrating in Hyde Park tonight), the GOP has released a set of political attacks disguised as e-cards that you can send to him.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan writes on Huffington Post about Illinois' new law against predatory debt settlement companies, now supposedly the strongest in the nation.
If you're headed to the vast empire of Lollapalooza, stay up to date with your friends' schedules and where to find them in the throngs of thousands with a new free app for smart phones called Lolla.me. Details in Transmission.
It looks like we've lost another promising young artist to New York. But we still love him. Right? Check out Abraham Ritchie's interview with emerging art star and SAIC alum Angel Otero at Art Slant and decide for yourself if you're willing to forgive him for leaving us.
Chicago magazine's annual Best of Chicago feature is slowly leaking onto the web; three more categories to go, but worth checking out now.
The Reader's Pavement Tour Diary blog by sound guy Jeremy Lemos finally makes sense as the band plays Pitchfork.
GreenChoice Bank is the first "green" bank in Chicago. Co-founder Steve Sherman was on "Monsters of the Morning" on CBS2 Monday.
A viral email has been circulating filled with outrage over the new "Cook County Correction Center" "built by Obama" in Chicago pictured as a beautifully designed glass and steel building on rolling hills dense with trees. Obviously not Chicago, so where is it? Snopes has the answer. (Thanks, Don!)
Portage Park's Patio Theater is getting ready to reopen, and shared some photos of its beautifully restored interior on Facebook.
Republican Senate candidate Congressman Mark Kirk's newest doozy is that he singlehandedly established the unanimous Republican opposition to Obama's health care bill in the House.
Combining Kanye's tweets with New Yorker cartoons has turned into a meme.
Art on Track returns to the Loop CTA tracks this Saturday, from 5pm to 10pm. Fear No ART interviewed the founder, Tristan Hummel, to get a bit more info about how this unique show came about.
Little did you know that people fly here from all over for our awesome tweetup prowess.
The other side of coupon sites like Groupon is the risk the discount will be too popular.
Not that we needed Forbes' validation, of course.
"Bitty, sweet puppies can turn into massive, drooly, jowly dogs. But that doesn't mean there's no such thing as puppies."
Christian Picciolini used to be the singer in a white power punk band. Music also played a role in transforming his feelings about race.
Ciclo Urbano is a new bike shop serving Humboldt Park and West Town. Much like Working Bikes, Ciclo Urbano offers refurbished rides in addition to parts and service.
Governor Quinn made appointments to the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission over the weekend, clearing the way for more official investigations into police torture in the state.
Professor Snape lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, according to his business card. [via]
Days of the Living Dead is a documentary webseries that goes behind the scenes at a company that puts on haunted houses in Chicagoland. They're looking for backers on Kickstarter to finance season two in time for Halloween.
The documentary You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk, 1977-1984 is streaming all week at Pitchfork TV.
Artists, don't forget -- you have until Friday, Aug. 6 to submit work for our Chicago Artists Month exhibition, which will be shown at the opening party Oct. 1.
When she was not folding towels at the Evanston YMCA or performing at Second City and IO Chicago in the mid-nineties, Tina Fey was talking about interest rates.
The U of C's Writing Program loves dissecting sentences from academic articles, and lets you write your own jargony academic sentence.
Clergy and peace activists have teamed up to declare "28 Days of Peace," a call for a citywide ceasefire which will end on August 28, the 55th anniversary of the day Emmitt Till was killed and the 47th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. Considering the carnage this weekend, a month without violence may be a tad too ambitious.
The Sun-Times reports on the parts of the city you're most likely to get ticketed for using a cellphone while driving.
Chicago has a long and bloody union history, and it shows. According to a survey of America's ten largest cities, Chicago ranks second in the percentage of unionized workers. At 17.5 percent, we tie with Philly and stop short of New York City, where 22.3 percent of the work force is unionized.
A month after its namesake passed away, Edna's has closed.
No, not Sasha or Malia. The Urban Health Initiative, a U of C Medical Center project that redirects low-income patients to community hospitals on the South Side, was partially created by the first lady when she was the hospital's vice president. Five years later, the press is re-examining the effort. The Kaiser Family Foundation rounds up the reviews here.
The federal government has granted two Chicago groups a cumulative $16 million to expand broadband Internet access in the city. Maybe that'll put a dent in the gaping one-fourth share of Chicago without Internet.
Chicago L Shirts have a thing for the CTA along a certain street.
If you missed seeing the new CTA cars zooming on the Red and Green lines, now's your chance. Today the ten prototype 5000-series train cars will be tested on the Blue Line, and they'll be equipped with security cameras, door sensors, and electronic display maps.
$655 million deep, in fact, for the 2011 budget, which has a lot of people eying those TIF funds. Progress Illinois thinks that's not a bad idea, but Daley wants City Hall to think real hard before tapping that nest egg.
President Obama will be back in Chicago for his 49th birthday this Wednesday, but the rest of his family won't be with him. Michelle and Sasha are heading to Spain, and Malia is at summer camp.
The AP details a day in the federal government's deportation program by starting with a detention center in the suburbs and ending on a bridge between Texas and Mexico.
