Gapers Block has ceased publication.

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.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Thursday, March 28

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Merge

Malört on the Move

Malört lands in an unsuspecting Madison, WI, and the local media are trying to make sense of it all.


A Personal Take on Chicago's Violence

South Side residents share how shootings affect their lives and what it's like to live under the constant threat of violence in a new video by local Jon Lowenstein.


"Awws" Strike Local Zoos

Local zoos got a bit cuter recently with the births of an endangered black rhinoceros and white-cheeked gibbon at Lincoln Park Zoo, and a snow leopard at Brookfield Zoo.


We're Gonna Need a Bigger Box

Cards Against Humanity is launching a monolith.


The Bigger Blacker Box from Max Temkin on Vimeo.

"Instead gram do you have one?"

Not sure this fledgling record label is going to make it, but this CraigsList ad is pretty great. (Thanks, Anne!)


DIY Cribs

DNAInfo's Jackie Kostek takes a look inside the cinder-block home a homeless man built for himself on the site of a failed condo development in Wicker Park.


Hold on to Your Butts

Smokers who flick their cigarette butts out of a car window or otherwise drop them in public can face a $1,500 fine for littering anywhere in Illinois starting January 1.


Your City Streets

CDOT launched a new portal, Chicago Complete Streets, that hopes to make better sense of all the projects the department is currently working on or planning.


Fool Me Twice

The young man accused of trying to blow up Cal's Liquors last year has been further charged with attempting to order a hit on an FBI agent scheduled to testify against him. In both cases, the people he contacted about the dirty work were undercover FBI agents.


Logan Square, We Hardly Knew Ye

Julia Thiel makes the case that Logan Square's influx of cocktail bars and restaurants means Wicker Park-like gentrification is just around the corner.


You Okay, Pal?

A group of photography students from After School Matters who were setting up an exhibit of their work in the former Charlie Trotter's space last night were abruptly kicked out by Trotter himself; the chef, who is an ASM board member, ordered his guests to clean his toilets, used gay slurs and obscenities, told them to get "Charlie Trotter tattoos," and then refused to let the kids back in to get their work and other items. A WGN reporter had a bizarre confrontation with Trotter on camera, who mumbled "Should I do an Alec Baldwin?" as he walked off.


Fast Food Workers Fight for $15

In Chicago and cities across the country, employees of McDonald's, Wendy's and other fast food chains walked off the job today, calling for the right to organize and an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.


Heroin Ring Busted

More than 30 people were charged with trafficking heroin throughout Cook and DuPage Counties.


Less Money for Schools, More Protests

The CPS Board passed a reduced budget yesterday while hundreds of parents and students protested outside, boycotting the first day of school to show their opposition to school closings and budget cuts.


Witness the Destruction

Amateur video captures some of the more dramatic moments of Michael Bay destroying the city -- again -- for the next Transformers movie. [via]


Guzzardi Runs Again

Will Guzzardi announced that he will once again challenge state Rep Toni Berrios. Carolyn O'Donovan wrote about Guzzardi's campaign last election, which was close enough for a recount.


Pulled a Chief Keef

Three men in Englewood and four in Rogers Park were charged with felonies after appearing in two separate gang beef rap videos while flaunting some serious guns.


That Sounds Safe

Six Flags Great America in Gurnee is planning to build the fastest wooden roller coaster in the world.


Your Garden Overfloweth

If you're lucky enough to have a space in a yard or a plot in a community garden, you're probably enjoying the bounty of tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers and more that your carefully tended plants are producing. But if you find that you're producing too much and you can't bear to watch the produce wither in your vegetable bin because going out sounds better than eating more zucchini, consider donating your excess to a local food pantry. Ample Harvest has created a nationwide database of all food pantries willing to take homegrown veggies and there are several in Chicago.


Pay Those Tolls

The Illinois Tollway Authority posted a list of 157 "super scofflaws," individuals and companies that have racked up the most non-payments on Chicago-area tollways. Eight have more than $100,000 in unpaid tolls and fines. Not surprisingly, the list is generating some complaints from those on it.


Illinois Tollway Super Scofflaw List by Gapers Block

Brunch Will Never be the Same

Restaurant icon Ina Pinkney is retiring and closing her eponymous restaurant; last service will be Dec. 31.


Public School Drunkenness

Tickets are now on sale for the annual Kegs for Kids event at Hopleaf. Get your drink on to help a neighborhood school.


Send in the Drones?

While officials like Ald. Cardenas may think it's a good idea to use drones on safe passage routes, a new law signed by Gov. Quinn prohibits police from using drones to spy on civilians without a warrant.


CTU Changes Course

After failing in its effort to prevent 50 neighborhood schools from closing, the Chicago Teachers Union is now setting its sights on the next round of state and local elections, where it could be the most disruptive force in decades.


Doughnuts Get a Makeover

Black Dog Gelato is teaming up with Glazed and Infused for a daylong collaboration of ice cream doughnut sandwiches. Order today for pick-up tomorrow.


Buttons & Civil Rights

On this historic day, local button makers Busy Beaver Buttons blogged about some historic buttons relating to the civil rights movement.


Circling the Squares

Reelagram will turn seven of your Instagram photos into a ViewMaster slideshow. (2-D only, unfortunately.)


No Free-Pass for Toll Skippers

The Illinois Tollway will begin publicly shaming the "Top 100 Toll Violators" who owe the most in unpaid tolls by listing their names on its website.


History Through the Viewfinder

Smithsonian created an online tool that lets you see what the city grid looked like at the time of the Great Chicago Fire. (Thanks, Dee!)


FBI Mobilizes on Mobile Doctors

The FBI raided the offices of Mobile Doctors, a service for arranging house calls, and arrested its CEO and one of its doctors on charges of health care fraud.


Bike Sharing a Life Together

Divvy has teamed up with dating company Project Fixup to create dating plans around the bike share service.


Garbage In, Garbage Out

WBEZ looks back on a century of refuse, comparing modern waste management with that of the 1900s.


Defining "Reasonable" Suspicion

While there is no formal "stop and frisk" police policy in Chicago, the Reader's Mick Dumke shares different perspectives on how similar pat-downs play out in Chicago.


Walk This Way

Signs from Walk Your City were recently spotted in Lincoln Square. Where will more pop up?


Tour Historic Boulevards

Steve Shanabruch, the designer behind the Chicago Neighborhoods logo project, has begun a series of WPA-inspired posters of local landmarks.


Guess Where the Cops Live

Whet Moser maps the safest neighborhoods -- and the most dangerous -- in the city, and it's probably exactly the ones you suspect.


Windy City High

A new National Geographic documentary looks at Chicago's drug trade, calling the city both "one of the biggest open-air crack and heroin markets in America" and "murder capital of the U.S.A."


Vacant Building Maintenance Law Loses Teeth

A judge has ruled Fannie May and Freddie Mac don't have to follow the city ordinance that requires owners of vacant, foreclosed buildings to maintain the properties. The mortgage lenders own 258,000 loans in Chicago. [via]


"Raising a brewery takes a village."

The interesting origin story of Off Color Brewing.


Feel Free to Start Salivating

Eater looks forward to some of the most anticipated bars and restaurants opening this fall, including a German beer hall, a butcher shop/ concert venue, and a bar to fill the "Bonny's sized hole in your heart."


What We Do

The Oriental Institute currently has an exhibit that ties current professions back to their ancient origins.


Purple to Purple, Dust to Dust

Barring any last minute delays, demolition of the Purple Hotel begins today (previously).


School's Out Forever

On the first day of school yesterday, Tribune photographer Brian Cassella visited every school closed by CPS and took photos.


Crowd-surfacing the News

NewsChicago is an experiment from the Tribune in using social media to highlight news.


Are All Contracts Created Equal?

Economist Dean Baker questions why Mayor Emanuel and other officials seem unwilling to break contracts made with private companies, like Chicago's parking meter deal, but do approve of forcing changes to pension benefits and other agreements made with workers.


Triathletes Triumph Over Trials

The thousands of people who turned out for Sunday's Chicago Life Time Triathlon included a ten-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis, 22 paratriathletes, and a man who learned how to swim this year.


Skip the CTA's ORD Surcharge

Don't want to pay $5 to take the Blue Line from O'Hare? The Trib's Jon Hilkevich found a way, although it's not exactly quick.


Miley Cyrus and the Politics of Twerking

Miley Cyrus's notorious performance at last night's Video Music Awards has been the talk of the internet. If you missed it to watch "Breaking Bad", or if you caught it but are still trying to sort it out, reading this essay by Nico Lang and this piece from Britt Julious might help.


Eating in White

Diner en Blanc, an annual outdoor dining event in a surprise location to which guests are expected to dress all in white, is back in Chicago on Sept. 19. If you weren't already on the mailing list, you missed the chance at tickets, but you can still register for the wait list.


It's Englewood

WGN reporter Mark Suppelsa spent 12 hours in Englewood to provide a glimpse of what life is like in "one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city."


Not a Safe Passage Then, Either

This pic of kids walking to a first day of school (near Schiller and Clark) in 1962 doesn't seem to be much of an upgrade from what kids going to school today could experience.


Live in the Loop

There are more apartments downtown than ever -- but are there people to fill them?


Help Find a Mobile Library

The Read/Write Library's amazing bike-based library, the Bibliotreka, was stolen over the weekend in Logan Square. If you spot it, get in touch.


Safe Route to School

This morning will be the first test of the "safe passage" routes for CPS students and those charged with protecting them.


Chief Keef: the New Marilyn Manson

An Oklahoma teenager accused of shooting a man at random because he was "bored" apparently is a fan of Chief Keef -- so of course that's being trotted out as the latest example of music fostering violent behavior in youth.


The Latest Congress Problem

The Congress Theater is still closed after losing its liquor license and other battles with the City, and in the latest twist, there's a new lawsuit over a right-of-first-refusal deal owner Eddie Carranza made with Jam Productions.


TNK 5 Days Available Now

Zip on over to Lincoln Hall's site, and you may just grab an (very limited time) early-bird discount on TNK 2014 5-day passes (that's the Tomorrow Never Knows Festival, for the uninitiated). It's never too early to plan for winter's best music festival.


Move Along People

City Hall closed on a $288 million federal loan to begin upgrades on O'Hare Airport's "people mover system." The $800 million project, slated for completion in 2016, will include a consolidated rental car facility, parking garage, Metra transfer station, automated transit system station, and bus plaza.


Unite Together Among Ourselves

In March of 1963, Malcolm X was interviewed on WMAQ-TV's "City Desk" program about the "Black Muslim movement." [via]


Schwim Schwam Shwhat?

A weird window display leads Michael Gebert to discover a sketch comedy online show by one of the discoverers of Vivian Maier.


United States of X: Opinions Edition

Business Insider and SurveyMonkey Audience asked Americans about their opinions of various states. Not many maps feature Illinois prominently, but those that do are probably about Chicago.


Starbucks Will Be Contained

This fall, Starbucks hopes to bring their new drive-thru shop design to Rogers Park/Edgewater at the corner of Broadway and Sheridan. The kicker — the shop will be constructed entirely out of shipping containers.


$100k in Tickets Knocked Down to $4500

Remember that car with more than $100,000 in tickets? The City finally settled with the owner for a little under $4,500.


Still the Cardinal

A year after submitting his (mandatory at age 75) resignation, Cardinal Francis George is still working. The Wall Street Journal looks at reasons why.


Hindsight is 20/20

In an interview with the Thomas Fordham Institute, former CPS chief Jean-Claude Brizard said, "We severely underestimated the ability of the Chicago Teachers' Union to lead a massive grassroots campaign against our administration." [via]


Chicago is Back

Not the city -- it never went away. No, the band.


Opera in the Grocery Aisle

Mariano's celebrated its third anniversary in Chicago last Saturday with an opera flash mob performance of "Brindisi" from Verdi's La Traviata in the West Loop store by the da Corneto Opera Company.


CPS Boycott Next Week?

A coalition of community activists is calling for CPS students, parents and teachers to boycott class on Aug. 28 -- the third day of school -- in protest of the treatment of disadvantaged students.


Chicago Tech's Female Problem

For former GB contributor Katherine Raz and other women in Chicago's tech industry, it's not just a question of where are the women, but why aren't more getting involved?


Plus or Minus 40 to Model

Nikki Muffoletto was a plus-size model until losing 40lbs., dropping from a size 14 to an 8. In order to find work as a model, she'll need to lose another 40 or gain it back -- so she's going to make a documentary about the process of trying to drop to a size 2. You can back her on Kickstarter. (See more Chicago-based Kickstarter campaigns on GB's curated page.)


Fire Staffer Burnt Out with Fans

In a lengthy editorial posted to the Chicago Fire's website, Communications Director Dan Lobring calls out the soccer club's fans for disrespecting the team's owners and behaving badly after the Fire lost at home to one of the worst teams in the MLS, ending their bid for the U.S. Open Cup. [via]


"Pregnant Behind Bars" at Cook County Jail

"Pregnant Behind Bars", a two-part series about expectant mothers at Cook County Jail, premieres tonight at 9pm on Discovery Fit & Health.


Do We Still Have a Dream?

The Reader looks back 50 years after the March on Washington to see if anything has changed, whether justice is yet served, and who's leading the movement now.


Divvy NIMBYs

Lakeview condo owners have filed a lawsuit against the City after a Divvy bike station was placed in front of their building at Addison and Pine Grove.


Of Coffee and Donuts

Curious City did a crawl last month to find Chicago's best doughnut, but the question they really wanted to answer was, did Dunkin' Donuts kill the competition when it came here in 1965? The answer may surprise you.


Hungry for a Win

Seth Unger has started a bracketed Tournament of Dips, and your votes are needed. [via]


This is Only a Tribute

Britt Julious digs into why Chicago is such a great city for musical tribute nights.


Listen All Y'all

The viral video of librarians remaking the music video for the Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" was shot at Francis W. Parker School -- and there are other videos to check out, including Assistant Principal Damian R. Jones lip-syncing Michael Jackson's "Bad."


A Decade in Ravenswood

Lillstreet Art Center is celebrating 10 years at its Ravenswood location beginning this weekend.


Beer & Chainsaws Don't Mix

It's not every day you read about a chainsaw-wielding maniac attacking neighbors on the South Side.


Charges in Rogers Park Beating

Charges have been filed against two men in the beating of bartender Michael Davis last month.


Drinking in the Movies

Drinking Buddies, opening this Friday at Landmark Century Center, was directed by Chicagoan Joe Swanberg and filmed at Revolution Brewing.


Regal Theater Gets a Boost from Bey & Hova

Jay Z and Beyonce have (allegedly) purchased the shuttered Regal Theater on the South Side. UPDATE: Or maybe not.


Ditka's the New Goat

Mike Ditka stopped by Bears practice yesterday, helping the team "embrace tradition" -- or perhaps acting as the Billy Goat, un-jinxing the upcoming season.


Can You Drive 70 on the Kennedy?

The new 70mph highway speed limit is only in effect in rural areas of Illinois -- or it might be OK in Chicagoland as well, depending on how the law is interpreted.


Laugh at this List

I get the feeling Chicago coming in at number two on Movoto's list of the funniest cities in America is some sort of joke on the Second City. The list makes no effort to justify how Atlanta is number one.


Solis: La Casita Had to Go

Ald. Danny Solis told Pilsen residents Monday that the Whittier Field House demolition "had to happen" due to the poor condition of the building, while apparently dodging questions about why it had to happen under cover of darkness on a Friday night, with no permits.


Dial-A-Song

Call 773-295-2135, and Willis Earl Beal might sing a song for you.


Star Wars & Dewars

GB contributor JH Palmer tells the deeply personal story of her alcoholic mother's attempted suicide at The Toast.


SUV on Bike Assault

Bike-a-bee's Jana Kinsman was attacked last night by four men in a purple Chevy Tahoe while she was riding north on Kimball, grabbing her bag and dragging her until she hit a parked car.


Kinsman sustained significant injuries to her arm, although no broken bones. She was told by police that they are considering the case a hit and run. If you have any information that would be helpful to the investigation, call 311 or text the tips line at CRIMES (274637) and reference case number HW415248, on Beat 1412.

Additional reporting: Chicagoist, DNAinfo.

UPDATE: DNAinfo has surveillance video footage of people coming to the aid of Kinsman after she crashed into a parked car. A GiveForward fundraiser has been established to help Kinsman with medical expenses. As of 1pm on Aug. 21, it has collected more than $4,000.

Here's a Storify by one of Kinsman's friends, collecting her tweets about the attack.

Fire on the Mountain

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Mount Hope Cemetery in Morgan Park this morning. Chicagoland has gotten only half its usual amount of rain since July 1, leading to very dry conditions.


Meet Sunny

The Obamas have a new dog.


Jamming Live Straight from the Boards

Umphrey's McGee is on the forefront of concert experience innovation with its Headphones & Snowcones headphone rental (named for a song; no frozen treats are involved.)


Stomach-Turning Tech

Food Safety News reports on Foodborne Chicago, the app from SmartChicago that monitors Twitter for food poisoning (previously).


Nike Doesn't Run Bucktown

An ad promoting the upcoming debut of a Nike running store in Bucktown featured the phrase "We Run Bucktown," which angered residents who thought it came off as arrogant, based on its double-entendre. It's been changed to "Nike Running Bucktown."


Documenting School Closures

Local filmmakers including Kartemquin Films, Siskel/Jacobs Productions, Media Process Group, and The Kindling Group have teamed up to make a documentary about the aftermath of Chicago Public School's recent decision to close 50 schools. Students with Free Spirit Media will help with post-production.


Permit Skipped for Whittier Field House Demolition

Fran Spielman of the Sun-Times reports that Chicago Public Schools officials skipped applying for a demolition permit to raze the Whittier Field House. The article says an administrative order from the Department of Buildings was issued, allowing for an emergency demolition.


Married to the Chef

Lisa Kornick may not be the typical chef's wife -- she runs operations for husband Michael Kornick's mk. But she can definitely give perspective on what it's like being in a restaurant marriage.


Drilling Down on Violence

Another angle on the connection between drill music and violence, this time a conversation with King L and Katie Got Bandz on Ebony.com.


Drink Up, Chicago

Chicago magazine's Best Beers in Chicago feature is online, along with a scorecard to see how many of their 62 picks you've tried.


Bootlegged to Billboard

Chance the Rapper hit the Billboard charts last week thanks to an unauthorized bootleg CD. The Reader's Leor Galil tracked down the bootleggers.


Casing Chicago

Need to protect your iPhone? There are a couple cool Chicago-themed cases on Etsy. (Samsung S4 users are in luck, too.)


The Scarlet Letter C

Apparently Brewers player Ryan Braun accused the man who collected the urine sample that led to his suspension on drug policy violations of being a Cubs fan and an anti-Semite, according to ESPN.


What's that Smell?

Curious City tries to track down the sources of some of the city's smells.


School District Administration Drama is Everywhere

The superintendent of the Evanston-Skokie School District announced his resignation last week to pursue "consulting opportunities."


Whittier Field House, aka La Casita, Being Demolished

Police and other city agents are currently at Whittier Field House, aka La Casita, preparing it for demolition. Read here for background about the building and the related struggle. UPDATE: The building is still intact, and demolition crews are leaving the area; CPS will meet with area parents tomorrow morning, but it doesn't look good. CPS says the building is unsafe for use and resulted in complaints from community members. UPDATE #2: It's being demolished. UPDATE #3: View additional information, including demolition photographs, in Mechanics.


Hang Up and Drive

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill today banning cell phone use in Illinois without a hands-free device. The bill goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2014 and violators can face fines starting at $75.


No More "This is my rape"

Women shouldn't have to feel afraid of what might happen if they take public transportation, says former GB contributor Niki Fritz in the RedEye.


More on Vivian Maier's Copyright

GB contributor Julia Gray was on "The Morning Shift" this morning, talking about her article covering the ambiguity surrounding the copyright on renowned street photographer Vivian Maier's work. Also, Northwestern professor Pamela Bannos has posted an excerpt from her book that includes a heartbreaking passage from Maier's probate papers about the photographer's last days in a hospital room.


Graphic Violence

The Tribune photography department put together a stunning feature chronicling violence in the city. Spend some time with this, and have a tissue handy.


Subculture Clash

The deadheads who show up every Wednesday at Abbey Pub to see Terrapin Flyer were shocked to find a Juggalo act playing instead this week.


The Big Cheeses

Who's tops in the city's culinary world? NewCity's annual Food & Drink 50 breaks it down. The top 10 you can probably guess, but 11-50 is where it gets interesting.


Clout was Once Pull

What we refer to today as political clout, John "Hinky Dink" McKenna would have called his "pull." The former took hold over the latter in the 1940s.


Feder to the Trib

Media critic Robert Feder is launching a new site, appropriately named RobertFeder.com, in collaboration with the Tribune.


Meet the Olinguito

The first discovery of a new carnivorous mammal in 35 years was spurred by a visit to the Field Museum's archives by a Smithsonian curator. The olinguito had been confused with the olingo, an unrelated but somewhat similar animal from South America, for nearly 100 years.


Former City Comptroller Indicted

Amer Ahmed, the former city comptroller who stepped down in July, was indicted yesterday on federal charges of corruption dating to when he was deputy treasurer and chief financial officer of the state of Ohio.


'That '70s Show' Actress, DePaul graduate dead at 43

Lisa Robin Kelly was found dead in California today. She was a 1992 graduate of DePaul, where she majored in acting.


Home Sweet 1900s Home

Peek inside a 1911 home in the Lakewood Balmoral Historical District that was "a palimpsest of architectural ideas" before a complete renovation.


Closed but not Empty

WBEZ's Chip Mitchell toured the closed Pope Elementary School to see what CPS left behind after shutting down the school. There's quite a bit.


Architecture, Jazz, Improv...

The latest episode of Freakonomics Radio looks at 10 of Chicago's many major contributions to American life.


When Comedy isn't Funny

Chicago native and comic Cameron Esposito wrote a thoughtful op-ed piece for Advocate about being heckled onstage by her opening act.


ACLU To CHA: No More Drug Tests!

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois filed a class action lawsuit today challenging the Chicago Housing Authority's policy of forcing CHA mixed-income housing development residents to be annually drug tested.


He Did What!?

Chicagoist has a firsthand account of the guy who cut off his nipple at the Gathering of the Juggalos. NSFW, obviously.


Mobile Rail Workers Vote to Unionize

Mobile Rail Workers Union at Chicago-based Mobile Rail Solutions has won their National Labor Relations Board election in a 17-5 vote. The employer has 7 days to challenge the results.


Around the World

Marbles the Brain Store put out a music video for "Tour the World," a track on its new kids album Brain Beats 2, featuring a hand drawn globe and illustrations by designer and ex-GB staffer Craighton Berman.


This Charming Gig

A Tumblr blog that expertly pairs "Peanuts" cartoons with lyrics of songs by The Smiths is based on an advertisement for the band's last-ever performance in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom, which took place August 15, 1986 (27 years ago today!).


You Have Nothing to Fear

The next installment of Fear Experiment, a three-month program in which you learn how to do something you've always been afraid of and then perform it in front of hundreds of people, is looking for additional participants for its session on . Go on, take a chance. What are you afraid of?


What Is It?

Studs Terkel asks people at the unveiling of the Picasso in Daley Center what it looks like to them. The accents and digressions might be more interesting than their answers. The full episode will be broadcast on WFMT this Friday at 10pm. [via]


Toplessness for All

The World Naked Bike Ride may have already passed, but there are two upcoming opportunities to protest obscenity laws. This Saturday, Topless Equality is holding a Free the Tatas rally at Foster Beach. Then on Aug. 25, activists celebrate Go Topless Day at North Avenue Beach.


Documenting "Chi Raq"

Protein TV sent Will Robson-Scott to Chicago to document the violence. The result is Chi Raq, a short film and zine. [via]


Chi Raq by Will Robson-Scott from Protein® TV on Vimeo.

After the Rowing

It's been a year since Jenn Gibbons returned from her rowing trip around Lake Michigan to raise money for Recovery on Water (previously) -- a trip that nearly ended when a man tried to sexually assault her while she was docked for the night in southwest Michigan. She gave RedEye an update on her life and what's next.


Filmmaking on Speed

The results of the 48 Hour Film Project, in which teams receive a character, a prop and a line of dialog and have to make a short movie around them, are screening at the Music Box tonight and Thursday. Get tickets online or at the door and enjoy a few dozen very quick films.


Reporting on Women's Work

The Ladydrawers have begun a yearlong investigation into international women's labor, with a focus on garment work and sex trade, for Truthout.org.


The Inequality of Murder

Daniel Hertz breaks down how Chicago's murder rate in recent years compares to the early '90s -- and how the violence has become more concentrated in certain areas over time. [via]


Help Find Mister Junior

Alberto Ramón Gutiérrez, aka burlesque performer Mister Junior, disappeared Monday night, and friends and family have mounted a search.


The Next Top Chef Could be a Chicagoan

Chefs Aaron Cuschieri (Slurpling Turtle) and Carlos Gaytan (Mexique) will compete on the next season of "Top Chef," which premieres in October.


JJJr gets 2.5 Years

Jesse Jackson, Jr. was sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to misusing $750,000 in campaign funds. Sandi Jackson received a one-year sentence, which she'll serve after Jesse gets out.


Eating Sister Cities

Travel bloggers Lost & Found Travel is launching the Sister Cities Project, in which they'll be trying a signature dish from a restaurant representing each of Chicago's 28 sister cities.


Down on the Bears

Deadspin's Drew Magary once again tells you why the Bears will suck this year. (Don't worry, all the other teams will suck, too.)


Skilling's Coral Anniversary

Last night Tom Skilling celebrated 35 years on the air at WGN-TV.


Here's a weather break from 1980, courtesy of FuzzyMemories.TV:

Chicago's Best Neighborhood to Live in

Lakeview is Chicago's best neighborhood to live in. It also has the highest robbery rates in the city


Cutting School

Ben Joravsky talks with a CPS principal about how she decided who to fire due to budget cuts.


Polluted Commute

The RedEye's annual worst CTA station contest is now open for nominations.


Help Fido Get Home

If you've lost a dog -- or found one -- Lost Dogs Illinois is a resource to help reunite pet and owner. The organization frequently posts lost and found listings on its Facebook page.


No More Medical News

The AMA is closing its news magazine, AM News. The 55-year-old publication has 230,000 subscribers but has struggled to turn a profit over the past decade. The association's JAMA research journals are not affected.


School's Nearly In

CPS is back in session Aug. 26. Hopefully your summer vacation was better than this one in Rookie.


O'Hare Doesn't Look Too Baaaaaaaad

The City has started using 120 animals, including goats, sheep, llamas and burros to maintain the landscape at O'Hare. They will not get on the runway.


Shuffling Seats, the Chicago Way

Now that state Rep. Deb Mell has succeeded her father as 33rd Ward alderman, one of Dick's top aides is replacing Deb in Springfield.


Will the Real Bridgeport Please Stand Up?

There's a battle for the hearts and minds of Bridgeport going on -- on Facebook. After one too many racially and politically charged arguments on the Bridgeport Chicago IL group, two neighborhood residents created The REAL Bridgeport and Bridgeport Neighborhood groups as hate-free zones; at least one group formed in response has already been closed.


Your Long Read Today: "Taken"

In five chapters, CNN tells the story of the oldest cold case ever solved: the kidnapping and murder of Maria Ridulph in 1957. The man convicted of the crime, Jack Daniel McCullough, is planning an appeal.


Phat Beats, Fat Beets

Michelle Obama is releasing "Songs for a Healthier America," a hip hop-inspired album about eating and fitness.


Sussing the 606

Tracy Swartz takes a look at the current status of the Bloomingdale Trail (aka the 606) and talks to several people with a stake in the project -- including GB's own David Schalliol.


Iron Chef Japonais

Japonais is getting a reboot this winter -- with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto at the helm.


Hot Fat Rice

Bon Appetit announced its 10 Best New Restaurants list a little early, and Fat Rice made the cut.


Small Change

The World's Fair of Money visits the Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont this week. If you're into rare coinage, this is the place to be.


Chicago Sirens Rugby Team Headed to Kenya

The Chicago Sirens Women's Rugby Club has been invited to play in the 2014 Safari Sevens Tournament in Nairobi, Kenya. They are the only U.S. team -- and the first women's team outside of Africa -- to receive an invitation to this premier tournament.


Cheerleaders on Ice

What's it like trying out for the Blackhawks' Ice Crew? DNAinfo reporter Jackie Kostek tells all.


How the Outfit Collects

Details of the day-to-day work of a mob extortionist and enforcer have been revealed in the trial of Paul Carparelli.


Return of the Mariotti

The beloved ex-Sun Times sports columnist has launched a new website.


A Little Help for a Little One

Through Project 143 and the Little People of America, Southwest Side couple helped an Eastern European teen gain self-confidence and learn how to function in a world not built for her.


Speed Cameras Coming, Profitable

The planned speed cameras near schools and parks could net the City hundreds of millions a year, based on results of the 30-day test run conducted earlier this year. The first permanent cameras will be rolled out later this month, with 50 planned by the end of the year.


Still His Airness

Fifty-year-old Michael Jordan can still dunk.


Down One Juggalo

A man was found dead Friday in a tent at Gathering of the Juggalos, which began Wednesday at downstate Cave-in-Rock. UPDATE: And someone was paid $158 to cut off his nipples! (Warning: graphic picture)


Pizza Travesty

Gnash your teeth and rend your clothes, for Chicago has been left off TripAdvisor's list of the 10 best cities for pizza. This has got to be the only time San Diego has ever topped such a list.


Reversing the River

Radio show 99% Invisible shares the story of how the Chicago River was reversed.


Red Stars on Camera

The Chicago Red Stars' Ella Masar and Erin McLeod do a YouTube interview show, and it's wonderfully low-budget -- and popular.


Reunion Tees

Threadless throws its annual Family Reunion next Saturday; RSVP and enjoy a carnival, music, food and more.


"Minden Day, 1 August 1759"

Every year on Aug. 1, since 1967, six red roses arrive at the British embassy in Chicago, accompanied by a note in memory of the Battle of Minden. [via]


Beauty in Blight

Photographer Joseph Kayne has been visiting blighted sites in Chicago and Gary.


"I guess it's pretty serious."

What if Ferris Bueller wasn't bluffing about being sick? What if he was dead?


Catch a Shooting Star or Hundred

The annual Perseid meteor shower is this weekend, and the parks at Montrose Beach and Northerly Island will stay open till midnight so you can watch it with less light pollution. Evanston's Lighthouse Beach will be open later, too.


Looking for the Real Paul Fronczak

The Chicago FBI office is reopening a kidnapping case from 1964 after a DNA test determined the 14-month-old infant returned to the grieving parents was not the missing baby.


Ebony on Trayvon

Ebony magazine's September issue will feature four cover variations and substantial coverage of the Trayvon Martin case and its impact on African-American society.


Male Full Frontal, Just Over the Border

A full-frontal gay strip night has launched on Monday nights in a Harvey strip club, where it's legal for full nudity and liquor to be in the same room. But time will tell if the boys from Northalsted are willing to go that far south on Halsted, even with a shuttle.


Chicago is Mine

Samantha Irby briefs you on how it's gonna go when you and she break up.


11 Inspiring Women; Millions of Inspiring Stories

I think we're all lucky to know someone who inspires us. But just in case you are looking for more inspiration, Leah Pickett shares brief stories of 11 Chicago women who are doing amazing things to make our city better. But each woman has more than one inspiring story, far more.


Memoir of a Mustache

Nick Offerman has a book coming out, and Unabridged Bookstore is bringing him and his mustache to the Music Box on Oct. 4 for a book release party. Your ticket gets you a copy of Paddle Your Own Canoe.


Three out of 50's Not Bad

Bon Appetit's narrowed its list of best new restaurants in America down to 50, including Fat Rice, Grace and Trenchermen. The final list will be announced Aug.14.


Silent Screams

The Music Box is showing Alfred Hitchcock's nine silent films this weekend and early next week -- with orchestral accompaniment at several screenings.


Hop on This Ticket

If you want to attend this year's Hamburger Hop at Chicago Gourmet, be ready at your keyboard at 10am this morning, which is when tickets go on sale.


Rubber Ducky, You're the One

The annual Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby is today on the Chicago River. Now till 12:30pm, you can adopt a duck for $5 outside the Wrigley Building, 400 N. Michigan Ave., and enjoy the family fest from 10am on. Duck drops begin at 1pm on the river, viewable from the Riverwalk and the Michigan Avenue Bridge. If your duck comes in first, you could win one of a handful of prizes, including vacations and a new Chevy Malibu. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics Illinois.


A Tale of Two Malls

While one suburb celebrated the opening of a brand new mall last week, another has filed a complaint to shut down an old mall it says has conditions that are too dangerous to still be operating.


Midcentury Corporate Art

Page through Art in Chicago Business, a book published in 1966 featuring art hung in the city's major corporations' collections -- along with executives who presumably had a hand in selecting them.


CTA Retirement Party Tomorrow for 2200 Cars

The last of the Blue Line's accordion-doored 2200-series train cars will be retired tomorrow after two "farewell runs" featuring 1970s-era advertising and exterior decals.


Drillin' in Chiraq

Edward McClelland writes about the drill music scene and its interconnection with gang violence


Buy Cameron's House

Cameron Frye's Highland Park home in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is on the market for $1.5 million. (The plate glass windows have been fixed.) It was first up for sale in 2009 after its owner died, causing Landmarks Illinois to fear for its future.


Son of La Creperie Owner Dies

The son of the owner of La Creperie was discovered dead of a heart attack last week. Jeremy Roignant was back in town, after moving to LA with his wife and children, to help his father close the restaurant later this month.


You, Me and Tig

Comedienne, Taylor Dayne fan and cancer survivor Tig Notaro just booked a one-night-only show tonight at UP Comedy Club (8pm, $15). You should go.


Where are the Pot Busts?

DNAinfo mapped where tickets for marijuana possession have been written in the seven months since having less than 15g of pot became a ticketable offense. Interestingly, Portage Park had twice as many tickets as the second worst community area.


These Boyz Got Talent

The tumblers of the Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team moved on to the semifinals of America's Got Talent after debuting their Human Jump Rope Routine.


Love Machine

Becka Joynt's Miss Vantastic is one sweet ride.


Bowie's Golden Years

David Bowie Is, a retrospective exhibition about the Thin White Duke, will make its only US appearance at the MCA next fall.


Everyday Hero: Betty Brewer

The Rogers Park resident prevented a kidnapping by confronting a man waiting for a 12-year-old girl to come out of a convenience store.


Own a Piece of (Bloody) Sports History

Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw is selling the stitches he received after getting hit in the face by a puck in Game 6 of the finals, giving all proceeds of the online sale to charity.


Warping Wood

Matt Ovel's Contour chair is solid yet undulating. It's for sale at Scout in Andersonville. [via]


CPS Pensions: Can's Been Kicked Before

The executive director of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund tries to clear up misconceptions about the pension situation at CPS. Short answer: blame state legislators back in 1995.


Stay at Michigan & Wacker

The London Guarantee Building, 360 N. Michigan Ave., will soon become a hotel, say its new owners.


Mapping Chicago's 1st Century

Whet Moser found 10 maps that tell the story of Chicago's first hundred years. The Atlantic Cities collected a few more from then and beyond. (Thanks, Daniel!)


Who's Lovin' It?

Chicago-based food journalist Josh Schonwald will be among those sampling the first lab-grown hamburger today.


Ventra's First Day

The CTA's Ventra payment system went live yesterday. Tracy Swartz reports on how it went.


312: Still Local?

Goose Island's popular 312 Urban Wheat Ale is no longer brewed in Chicago. At all. So is it still a local beer? And are other area code beers still a possibility from parent AB InBev?


Pamplona at Hawthorne Race Course

If you've always wanted to run with the bulls but can't afford to fly to Spain, you may be in luck: The Great Bull Run plans to come to Chicago next summer.


Tough Crowd

Sox fans gave quite a warm welcome to soon-to-be-banned Yankee Alex Rodriguez last night before the Sox beat his team 8-1.


Everybody, Go Home

The Backstreet Boys concert at Northerly Island on Friday was cut short while the group was in the middle of a song, after a late start caused the show to pass an 11 p.m. curfew.


Hunger Strike Continues at Northwestern Hospital

Over a dozen demonstrators continued a hunger strike protest outside Northwestern Memorial Hospital today, demanding access to organ transplant procedures for undocumented immigrants.


Force Win First National Championship

The Chicago Force defeated the Dallas Diamonds 81-34 Saturday night to win the Women's Football Alliance (WFA) National Championship.


The Gift Returns

The Gift, a series on WBEZ that delves into the writing process (and more) with various authors, is taking a look back on much older works during August. The first is T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land, read by poet Rachel Jamison Webster and filmmaker Spencer Parsons.


Dealing with Death

Crain's this week explores "the business of life and death" at Leak & Sons Funeral Home, one of the oldest African-American funeral homes in the country.


The Flying Tomato Saves the Day

Snowboarder Shaun White's band Bad Things stepped in as a last-minute replacement after rap/noise outfit Death Grips refused to appear at a Lollapalooza after-show at Bottom Lounge on Friday night, and the band's onstage gear was reportedly destroyed by angry fans.


Cheer on Chicago's Championship Team

The undefeated Chicago Force will be taking on the Dallas Diamonds at the Women's Football Alliance Championship game in San Diego on Saturday. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. and the game will be live on ESPN3 and streaming online.


Flash in the Pan Taco

Chicago Taco seems to have shut down already, not even a week after it opened to replace the West Town Tavern.


You Would Probably Watch on a Screen at Lolla, Anyways

Lollapalooza kicks off today, and even if you're not planning on braving the crowds (or possible rain), you can catch some of the tunes streamed live on their YouTube channel. [via]


IL Rep. Monique Davis Enters the No-Spin Zone

IL Rep. Monique Davis appeared on the O'Reilly Factor after saying on a radio show that some of her constituents "suspect that maybe the police are killing some of these kids" while discussing violence in Chicago. Rep. Davis reiterated that those were not her words and then discussed the real cause of urban violence with O'Reilly. [via]


Gang Summit Planned for Chicago

In an effort to fight gang violence in Chicago, the Rev. Gregory Tatum and former Ceasefire director Tio Hardiman are hoping to bring hundreds of gang members together at a summit in September; similar meetings in 1992 led to a truce in LA between the Crips and Bloods gangs.


L Seating to (Eventually) Improve

The CTA seems to have learned its lesson after introducing its 5000 series L cars to widespread complaint and is going to make its next order more "customer-friendly." View the diagram comparing the cars for a quick review of the changes.


Another Metra Leader Disembarking

Metra Board Chairman Brad O'Halloran is stepping down amidst a continuing scandal surrounding the departure of CEO Alex Clifford, who wrote in a memo that O'Halloran and another board member were plotting to force him out because he refused to make political hires and did not get rid of employees that O'Halloran told him to fire.


Chicago-Area Film Degree Programs Among the Best

DePaul University, Columbia College Chicago and Northwestern University all made The Hollywood Reporter's 2013 list of the best film schools. DePaul came in at 21 on the list, while Northwestern and Columbia placed at 13 and 14 respectively.


CPD Puts Up a "Help Wanted" Sign

The Chicago Police Department is taking applications for the first time in three years. Starting salary is listed as $43,104, and you only need to be 18 years old to apply.


Shagadellic Satire Gets Real

Two young filmmakers who put a fake post on Craigslist looking for actors to appear in "Austin Plowers" are making the porn film after all (and a documentary about it) after they received real responses to their ad.


Kick Butt Russian Style

You may have seen viral videos of people kicking ass using the Russian martial art called systema. There are a couple places you can learn it here in Chicago.


Cycling Crash Cartography

A map of accidents reported by bicyclists shows that Milwaukee Avenue and downtown are two of the most dangerous areas to pedal through.


This Bud's for You, Illinois

Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill legalizing medicinal marijuana in Illinois, placing strict restrictions on its use and making it available to patients with cancer, multiple sclerosis, AIDS and other ailments.


Daym That Food is Super Official

YouTuber-turned-T.V. host Daym Patterson visited Chicago on his hunt for the "Best Daym Takeout," offering enthusiastic reviews for Pequod's Pizza, Superdawg, and Mr. Beef from the driver's seat of his car.


All the Parks are a Stage

Chicago Shakespeare in the Park is bringing free performances of the Bard's A Comedy of Errors to green spaces around the city all summer.


Looks Like it was a Blast

With a camera mounted above his head, one fruit hurler caught a unique perspective of the Tomato Blast this weekend at Soldier Field. Have video to share? Throw us a link on Facebook or Twitter.


Tomato Blast 2013 from ActionBooth on Vimeo.

City Says Niet to Breaking Russian Ties

City of Chicago officials said they will not end its sister city relationship with Moscow, after local groups called on the city to do so in response to Russia's passage of anti-gay legislation.


 

Archives

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15