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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Monday, December 29
With the Super Bowl being held in New York this year, RedEye asks if it could ever make its way to Chicago. It's possible, although critics- includking Ditka himself- say it's way too cold here in the winter.
Whole Foods Market Inc. confirmed purchasing four former Dominick's stores in Chicago, including the Lincoln Park location at 959 W. Fullerton Ave., the center of DePaul University's campus. Other locations purchased includes the West Loop, Edgewater and Streeterville.
Former Mayor Daley's nephew Richard Vanecko will serve 60 days in jail after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the 2004 death of David Koschman, who died after Vanecko hit him during a drunken fight.
Four to eight inches of snow are forecast for this weekend. Good thing you never put your boots away.
According to food blog Sample the Culture, Potbelly's has a secret "underground menu," including sandwich hybrids like "Fireball" and "Seven Wonders." If you try ordering one, let us know how it goes. [via]
An NBC5 investigation into which El stations have the most crime found the Red Line stop at 95th and Dan Ryan led in the number of violent crimes, while the Red Line's Jackson and State stop had the most thefts, mostly of smartphones and other gadgets.
If you miss Uncle Fun already, Time Out suggests a few places you can go to get your fix.
Close-by coffee shops in Evanston avoided conflict by, get this, talking to each other -- and their supplier.
Transitized's Chicago Commute Map shows you the predominate mode of work transportation throughout the city. Surprising how few of us carpool. [via]
Plans to expand Cinespace, the West Side soundstage where TV shows like Chicago Fire are filmed, include turning nearby buildings into sets by adding new facades resembling a bank, a courthouse, and New York brownstones.
Crain's profiles how smaller ad agencies are taking on the giants in the digital age, where data and analytics are valued higher than pitches and expensive suits.
Vice's Noisey continues their look at the intersection of hip hop and violence in Chicago, following Chief Keef as he visits New York and delving deeper into the challenges facing Chicago communities with members of local rap collectives and the CPD.
NPR's Ian Chillag got a taste of Endgrain Restaurant's "doughscuit," the latest pastry innovation in a post-Cronut world.
Supplies at Chicago's blood banks are running low, with polar vortexes and record cold causing blood drives to be cancelled and donors to stay at home. You can find places to give blood through the American Red Cross' website.
Conservative blogger RebelPundit interviewed activists from Chicago after the State of the Union Address, who offered some pretty harsh criticism of President Obama.
You can see the ice on Lake Michigan make its way east in these time-lapse gifs from the National Weather Service. [via]
Matthew Buchholtz of Alternate Histories makes wonderfully weird posters, such as Chicago's earliest days, what really caused the Great Chicago Fire and a map to the old killer robot factory.
The Reader delves into how the Field Museum's Emily Graslie became a YouTube star with her show, The Brain Scoop. (Previously.)
WBEZ profiles entrepreneurs who are catering to American Muslims, including Chicago-based Haute Hijab.
Google is selling Motorola Mobility to Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo for $2.91 billion. (Schaumburg-based Motorola Solutions, which split from Mobility three years ago, isn't part of the deal.)
Chicago became the metropolis it is today by swallowing up nearby townships like Hyde Park, Lake View and Jefferson.
After Chicago said "hell no" to revenge porn kingpin Hunter Moore, a ban on revenge porn was introduced to Illinois legislature. The proposal would make it illegal for post revenge porn on the Internet without consent.
Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police wants Google to tell them who posted one of their board meetings to YouTube, using audio recorded secretly during the event.
The "Gordon Rebranding Committee" will discuss a potential name change from Gordon Tech High School to DePaul College Prep at a meeting today. Gordon Tech's partnership with DePaul University, which began in 2012, has been called one of the most "promising changes" to have happened to the high school.
Chicago's very basic cubicle hotels offer a brief, inexpensive escape from the cold for many people with nowhere else to go.
When Joel Reese heckled the Blackhawks at a home game he expected to get jeered out of the United Center, but all he found was a stadium filled with (mostly) gracious hosts.
The total cost of Chicago's government pension debt is $18,596 for every single person living in the city -- more than any other city in the country -- according to a new study.
I think of Williamsburg as the Wicker Park of New York, since the former got hot years after the latter already was, but Gawker reversed it -- and called Pilsen Chicago's Bushwick (aka the next up-and-coming hipster hood).
Animal Planet's Puppy Bowl X will include a touchdown dance by first lady Michelle Obama, as well as penguin cheerleaders and a halftime performance by "Keyboard Cat."
The efforts to turn Pullman into a national park got a major boost last week from the National Trust for Historic Places. [via]
Crew in Uptown is one of the best gay bars in the country at which to watch the Super Bowl, according to NewNowNext. (Thanks, Dee!)
Hopefully it warms up soon so you can take advantage of this nice literary tour of the city.
A year ago, Hadiya Pendleton was killed. Her parents reflect on the anniversary, and the foundation they created in her honor.
TriQuarterly, Northwestern's literary journal (which went all-digital in 2009), just redesigned to better show off its video and audio, among other things.
The need to compensate private companies for any money they lose when the city handles public business- like paying a parking meter company when a street is closed- leads to many unforeseen costs that defeat the money-saving aims of privatization, writes Ellen Dannin in truthout.
Ted McClelland delves into the contradictions in Rahm Emanuel's mayorship for the American Prospect.
Maybe it's just the cold, but this look back at the Chicago blizzard of 1967 makes me feel nostalgic for snowier (but warmer) days.
From amateur photographers to crime watchers, Chicagoans tuning in to CPD's scanner radio frequency keep tabs on the police as they fight crime across the city.
While students directed a torrent of offensive tweets towards U of I Chancellor Phyllis Wise after the school didn't cancel classes Monday, RedEye social media lady Jessica Galliart writes the incident doesn't deserve any attention.
Morton Salt's Umbrella Girl turns 100 this year, so the company gave her (and the rest of its logo) an update.
Quarterback Kain Colter and other members of the Northwestern football team are asking to be represented by a labor union, making them the first players in the history of college sports to do so, according to ESPN.
Chicagoland has several entries in the Tom Waits Map, a thorough mapping of every place mentioned in the singer's many songs.
Cameron Esposito is returning to Chicago ...sort of. She's writing a weekly column for A.V. Club. Watch for it Friday; here's a sample of what to expect.
"Chicago police have long been criticized for interpreting the Constitution in different ways depending on which neighborhood they patrol." The Reporter backs that compliment up with data showing blacks far more likely to be shot by police in Chicago.
A record 20 million passengers traveled through Midway last year, an increase of 5 percent from 2012. O'Hare's passenger traffic grew only slightly.
TV reporters are no strangers to standing outside in ridiculous weather, and their helpful strategies include everything from battery-powered socks to ninja suits.
Harry Mark Petrakis remembers the "Golden Age of Bronzeville" and laments the loss of Walter Davis, a writer whose works went unpublished due to a lack of commercial appeal.
Check your local listings for the violent programs on TV in Chicago- back in October 1954, as shown by a study prepared for the Senate at the time and unearthed by Slate.
Local playwright Tanya Saracho is joining Lena Dunham as writer for the fourth season of "Girls" on HBO.
With below-zero wind chills expected to continue through at least Tuesday night, CPS will keep schools closed tomorrow as well.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office is objecting to an application for a concealed carry permit filed by someone they say is a leader of the Latin Kings gang.
Numero Group has created a board game called Cities of Darkscortch to accompany their upcoming release of Warfaring Strangers: Darkscorch Canticles, a compilation of D&D-inspired '70s rock.
DNAinfo put together a map of the Loop's Pedway system showing how to eat, drink, and shop without heading out into the cold.
Chicago 1872, the hardware-oriented tech startup community, has changed its name to Catalyze Chicago and will open Feb. 17.
Adrian Holovaty thinks Chicago's tech scene needs to stop trying to beat Silicon Valley at its game, and instead excel at its own strengths -- such as bootstrapping.
Chicago photographer Jennifer Greenberg's portraits of rockabilly devotees recently caught the attention of Wired in relation to the throwback Thursday phenomenon.
Last year the Tribune asked for ideas for a "new plan of Chicago," and got more than 800 responses. The editorial board summarized the responses an called for even more.
Chicago Public Schools has already cancelled classes tomorrow in anticipation of the next round of bone-chilling cold.
Companies forming with the help of the Impact Engine accelerator are focused on solving societal problems instead of profits.
Susanne Atanus, a Republican challenger to Rep. Jan Schakowsky, said autism, dementia and tornadoes are sent by God to punish the people of the United States for advancements in LGBT rights and other misdeeds. [via]
If you're a "Walking Dead" superfan, Walker Stalker Con is the place for you. It's shambling into Rosemont March 14-16.
Wired profiles the pioneering aerial photography of George R. Lawrence, who dangled cameras from balloons, kites, and ladders to catch some unique shots of Chicago back in the early 1900's.
The would-be builders of Forbidden Root, billed as the first "botanical brewery" in the U.S., are meeting resistance from West Town residents who don't want any more liquor licenses issued in its proposed location.
Tickets for the Pitchfork Music Festival are on sale now, with three-day passes early-bird discounted to $110. The festival will be July 18-20 this year.
Last year, CPD solved its highest percentage of murder cases since 2009, improving on 2012's record-low clearance rate.
Streetsblog's Steven Vance created a map of all the parking meter pay boxes in the city. [via]
A Chicago man was among three people killed in a massive pileup on I-94 near Michigan City, Indiana, involving around 46 vehicles, including 15 semi-trailer trucks.
NewCity's annual list of the 50 most important people in Chicago theater is out.
Forbes has a layover guide for O'Hare that conveniently breaks down according to length of pit stop.
A woman who stayed at the Palatine Holiday Inn Express encountered bedbugs during her stay, forcing her to cut off her waist-length dreadlocks, which she had been growing for 13 years. She filed a lawsuit this Tuesday, exemplifying Chicago's rank as number one city with bedbug infestations two years in a row.
A former employee of red light camera company Redflex is blowing the whistle on the company, which the City fired amid a bribery scandal last year. (Redflex is still contracting for some of the city's cameras, though, while Xerox ramps up.)
Mayor Emanuel wants to turn Chicago into a City of Light, lighting up public spaces like historic buildings, roads, and the river walk to attract tourists.
In crafting the city's new policy allowing for gun sales, Mayor Emanuel is turning to California for inspiration. Set to be active within six months, gun rights activists think that the Los Angeles influence will create strong restrictions on firearm retailers.
According to a meteorologist, "there is no foreseeable end to the deep cold here." The National Weather Service issued another wind chill warning for Thursday night, as temperatures may get to 30 below zero.
Vice's Noisey began an eight-part documentary on "Chiraq" this week, visiting Englewood to learn more about Chief Keef, the rise of drill music, and its connection with gangs.
A Chicago Sports Museum planned for Water Tower Place will combine exhibits on local sports history with a restaurant and shopping areas.
A Tuskeegee airman who went on to earn a law degree from UofC, Judge John W. Rogers Sr. passed away Tuesday. He was 95. [via]
Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the documentary "Chicagoland" draws from "unprecedented access" to Mayor Emanuel and his work behind the scenes.
Taser and Sharpie, two Italian Greyhound puppies from a Chicago-based rescue organization, are stepping into the arena for this year's Puppy Bowl.
Negotiations between the Cubs and the owners of rooftop clubs that would be impacted by proposed renovations of Wrigley Field have officially broken down and will be settled in court.
Kraft Foods is running a contest to "lease" an Oscar Meyer Wienermobile for a day -- and entries must be submitted by Twitter with the hashtag #Tweet2Lease. See the rules here [PDF].
You might have seen him at a concert or music festival, dancing up a storm in knee pads and a shredded t-shirt. Vice finds out who that guy is. [via]
As promised, EveryBlock blinked back on today, like nothing happened. Your old login even works, if you had one.
Chicago magazine captured glimpses of the special, magic moment that is last call at bars around the city.
The woman who left an alligator at O'Hare Airport is facing misdemeanor charges of animal cruelty and reckless conduct.
CPS recommended the Board of Education approve applications for seven new charter schools, while the CTU and protesters contend taxpayers' money should be spent on neighborhood schools instead.
Pearl Tavern, the Loop's brand new craft, oyster and "sea delights" bar, is giving away free oyster tastings to all who make a reservation, in celebration of its opening. Call them at 312-629-1030 or follow the link for free oysters between now and January 30.
Vice's Noisey takes the latest look at the crossroads between gang violence and hip hop in Chicago through their multi-part documentary, "Welcome to Chiraq."
The Chicago Public Library system ranks first in the country and third worldwide, according to a new study by a German University.
Chicago is the best big city to live and work in as a filmmaker in 2014, according to Moviemaker Magazine. Oddly, it didn't even rate in 2013.
Sears is closing its flagship store in the Loop as the retailer shifts some of its focus to online sales.
The upcoming Candy Crush Crawl has nothing to do with the videogame and everything to do with chocolate fountains and pools filled with jelly beans. And booze.
Bath & Body Works thinks a Lake Shore Drive scented candle should smell like "fresh water, shoreline woods and a hint of mint." In other words, they have never been on Lake Shore Drive. (Thanks, Rachelle!)
Kartemquin Films' Roger Ebert documentary Life Itself premiered at Sundance this weekend. The Trib's Michael Phillips gave it three and a half stars. Chaz Ebert discusses seeing the film for the first time.
The "Police Reporter!" series that ran in the Chicago Herald-American in the 1940s led to photography that ranged from high art to high camp. [via]
The Tribune's new Tribune Trivia app draws from the paper's archives to serve up questions over a wide range of topics, both local and otherwise.
Tribune Trivia from Chicago Tribune on Vimeo.
Comcast switches neighborhood networking site EveryBlock back on this Thursday, RedEye reports.
New celebrations of the Chinese New Year are coming to Chicago, with lantern celebrations, fireworks, and vendor fairs planned to attract international tourists and help residents celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Horse.
Chicago native Lexie Kamerman was educating young women in Afghanistan when she was killed during a Taliban-led attack on a restaurant in Kabul on Friday.
CPS is tapping into $21.5 million in extra TIF funds to hire dozens of arts and physical education teachers, helping schools across the district meet minimum requirements for gym and art classes.
The Chicago Archdiocese released decades of files related to priest sexual abuse cases today, and took the opportunity to highlight the Protect & Heal project from its Office for the Protection of Children and Youth. The Tribune and Sun-Times have already begun reporting off the documents.
The "Super Bowl Shuffle" has been remade by a motley crew of comedians (among them Chicagoan Kyle Kinane) and other entertaining folk in the name of charity.
A suit filed by Chicago-area in-home care providers will get its day in the U.S. Supreme Court, where justices will decide whether the healthcare workers can be required to pay union dues.
2013 was another record year for film and TV in Chicago; six full-time TV series and three feature films films were produced here, thanks in part to the expansion of Cinespace Chicago Film Studios.
Even after handing over his cell phone to two robbers, Kevin Baker was shot Thursday afternoon while walking home from school. The 19-year-old Harold Washington College freshman died Saturday.
Frustrated by the "lack of ladies and lady-centric jokes in the comedy world," a Los Angeles-based writer has launched Ladies Against Humanity, a new counterpart to Cards Against Humanity.
Bixi, the Canadian supplier for Divvy, filed for bankruptcy Monday. It shouldn't affect Divvy, though.
As the temperature drops to zero and below again, the city's warming centers will be in heavy demand. WBEZ's Curious City learned the centers' limits.
A sad day for football fans in Chicago. All four of the Republican candidates for governor said they don't support fully legalizing marijuana in Illinois. The "420 Bowl" disagrees.
Music blog Boxx Magazine is raising money to help it continue to cover music from a female perspective.
The Congress Theater may soon be sold to the developer behind the Cadillac Palace downtown, Jim DeRogatis reports.
While San Francisco is Bitcoin crazy, the digital cryptocurrency is only beginning to take off in Chicago. (No word one places taking Dogecoin yet.)
And speaking of Chicago magazine, its annual Best New Bars list is out, with Three Dots and a Dash taking the top spot.
Last week Ald. Scott Waguespack did an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit. He didn't get quite the attention that another Chicagoan got: Bill Murray.
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the Museum of Science and Industry and DuSable Museum are celebrating.
The Adler Planetarium is hiring a Sky Show Operator. "The premise of the show is that it's the year 2096 and a company called Space Express Tours conducts guided excursions into the Solar System. After viewing a brief pre-flight movie in the Welcome Gallery the visitors are met by their tour guide, Jesse, at the entrance to the Grainger Theater and enter the theater to begin their journey."
The new Chicago Public Library website will be even more immersive than the Dewey Decimal system, allowing users to rate books, create wishlists and leave reviews.
Has Jeppson's Malört seemed a bit too mild to you lately? Not to worry: their batch of Malört coming out this Spring will be even more bitter than their bottles on the market now.
For the first time in its nearly two-year existence, Mayor Emanuel's Infrastructure Trust won approval of a project to improve public buildings using privately-invested funds, after drastically scaling back the plan due to a lack of market interest.
Speaking of potholes, The Pothole Store is your one-stop shop for Chicago pothole-related gifts and keepsakes. [via]
It's pothole season, so if you see one you can report it to using the City's Pothole Tracker or even turn it into a work of art, like one local artist. [via]
Part of the mayor's housing plan includes a proposal to sell some city-owned lots in Humboldt Park to a developer for $1 so they can build affordable housing there.
Lagunitas is nearly done with its new brewery and taproom, and is hiring for practically everything right now.
Chicago ranked first in bedbug infestations again this year, according to the Orkin pest control company.
The Reader shows what it takes for the folks behind Sunday Dinner Club to prepare cassoulet -- a traditional French mixture of beans, meat, and assorted deliciousness -- for 500 people. Time for lunch.
United Airlines is laying off 685 flight attendants as part of a plan to cut $2 billion a year from the airline's budget.
See the median rent price per square foot in your part of town -- and compare it with median income -- with Kwelia's heat map.
"I'm actually really tired of talking about how Chicago can be more like San Francisco," says Harper Reed in a Tribune interview. "What I want to know is how Chicago can be more Chicago, if Chicago is using its power to do great things." Amen.
Pinstripes, a suburban bowling and bocce chain, is moving into River East Plaza -- practically across the street from Lucky Strike. (I'm more excited about the year 'round bocce, personally.)
Comedian Emily Winter's parents wee both lawyers. When she lost a tooth in 1989 and couldn't find it, they wrote up a legal affidavit for the Tooth Fairy explaining its disappearance so she could still receive compensation. [via]
A new proposal would make it easier for drivers to get any tickets for not having a city sticker dismissed, so long as they can provide a proof of purchase showing they bought the sticker before the ticket was issued.
The Anthology of Chicago is now accepting poems and stories inspired by the city's neighborhoods. [via]
Two aldermen announced that they oppose the renaming of ATF headquarters after crime-fighter Eliot Ness. Jonathan Eig notes that Ness didn't actually bother Capone much, despite the film depiction.
Chicago will host 300 industrial executives, entrepreneurs, and public officials for an invite-only summit plotting the Midwest's role in the "next industrial revolution."
Local classic rock acts Chicago and REO Speedwagon are touring together this summer -- but so far they're not playing in Chicago.
A couple wants to turn an empty storefront beneath the Bryn Mawr El stop into a community center where people can fix broken household appliances, do DIY projects, or learn a new skill; they're funding their effort through an Indiegogo campaign.
"We actually feel that our meggings are more flattering than other tight pants on a man," say the founders of Meggings Man "They allow room but they don't really accentuate...that area."
An online step-by-step guide shows how to attach your Ventra card to a keychain, so you don't have to fumble with your wallet to get it out.
NPR's "All Things Considered" reported on the often drastic difference between prayer spaces for men and women in mosques in America, inspired in part by the photo project Side Entrance by Chicagoan Hind Makki.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists kept the Doomsday Clock at five minutes to midnight this year.
The controversial Ghost burger special at Kuma's Corner last year made TIME's list of most influential burgers of all time. Seems like they're giving it a little too much credit.
In the ongoing pre-trial announcements about ex-cop Steven Mandell, new details emerged that Mandell planned to kill two targets in order to take over their lucrative strip club. The Chicago Tribune had created a timeline of the "Steven Mandell Saga" that will now continue to grow.
Four former Dominick's grocery stores -- among them the ones at Roosevelt and Canal and Clybourn and Wrightwood -- reopen today as Jewels.
With the trial of the NATO 3 set to begin next week, prosecutors dropped four of the 11 counts against them, although they still face terrorism-related charges for allegedly planning attacks during the 2012 NATO Summit.
Able to get around without crutches, an injured Derrick Rose is back to traveling with the Bulls.
Artist Jedediah Johnson laid lipstick-smeared kisses on 100 men, women, and babies for "The Makeout Project," but he's not done yet -- and would probably lay one on you, too.
The City Council officially banned use of e-cigarettes indoors under the same rules that restrict the smoking of regular cigarettes, with Mayor Emanuel saying it's necessary to keep kids from getting interested in them.
The Archdiocese of Chicago is handing over thousands of pages documenting sex abuse allegations against clergy to attorneys representing the victims.
The Cubs are not entertained by the harsh, sometimes perverse treatment their new mascot Clark the Cub is getting at the hands of photoshoppers across the Internet.
Sports blog Kissing Suzy Kolber reimagines NFL logos as hipsters. Sweet bowtie, Bears.
A would-be robber broke the lock on a Wicker Park bar, but couldn't pull the door open to get in- despite the sticker marked "PUSH" on the outside.
Now you can help Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling battle the weather in a race against time. Tom Skilling's WGN Weather Challenge app, by Cubicle Ninjas, is available for free download in the iTunes app store.
Police responding to reports of shots fired in the west suburbs found an elderly man was shooting the icicles hanging from the roof of his house to knock them off.
Real estate site Redfin named Humboldt Park the 10th hottest market in the country for 2014. (Last year Logan Square was eighth.) [via]
The numerous potholes on city streets means great business for repair shops. You can report any really bad potholes to CDOT online. [via]
The annual Chiditarod urban shopping cart race is March 1 this year, and registration opens on the 17th. They need volunteers, too. [via]
Threadless laid off a quarter of its staff and closed its shop in Lakeview in a restructuring move that will take it more toward partnerships with major retailers, such as the Gap.
The Dissolve has posted an extensive oral history of Hoop Dreams, with recollections from the filmmakers and the subjects of the documentary.
Organizers of the science fiction Chi-Fi Con decided to cancel this year's event, saying staff at the River North hotel where it was going to take place called attendees "freaks."
A federal judge granted Mayor Rahm Emanuel's request for six months before firearm stores will open in Chicago so the city can craft new rules and regulations about where the shops can be located.
Curiosity.com aims to be a Pandora for learning, serving up Khan Academy videos and other educational content from across the Internet.
Political activist and Heartland Cafe co-founder Michael James is working on a draft of his memoir. It's filled with local political figures and historical Chicago scenery -- in the form of stunning black and white photos.
While everyone else was at home throwing boiling water into the air, filmmaker Ronit Bezalel biked through the Polar Vortex to capture unique views of a frozen Chicago. [via]
Grant Achatz's tweet over his dilemma of whether a couple who brought their crying eight-month-old to Alinea this past weekend should have been asked to leave is earning him some major attention, as well as a new parody Twitter account.
The Sun-Times is going to test a "social paywall," granting people access to their site by tweeting a link or donating bitcoins, making it the first American paper to accept the digital currency.
Gov. Quinn is pushing for new emergency rules for the handling of petcoke, the powdery petroleum byproduct which gained attention after South Side residents complained the substance was blowing off of piles and into their neighborhoods.
Veteran journalist Susy Schultz is taking over as executive director of the Community Media Workshop, as co-founder and president Thom Clark steps away from day-to-day management after 25 years at the helm.
The new WMS Boathouse designed by Studio Gang was inspired by the sport of rowing it houses. [via]
The Park District is looking for locally produced, Chicago-focused independent features, documentaries and shorts for Chicago On Screen, a new series that will be part of Movies in the Parks this summer. If you've got something to submit, here's the application form [PDF].
City Council is picking back up that ordinance banning e-cigarettes from being smoked indoors (previously).
The Cubs unveiled their new mascot, Clark the Cub today, and the Internet went nuts. Among the people chiming in was Deadspin editor and Chicagoan Tim Marchman, who calls Clark "a nightmarish, perverted furry."
Ald. George Cardenas and Ald. Ed Burke want to ban the use of Styrofoam and other plastic foam food containers in the city.
When the pipes froze in a Chicago couple's house, they found a wedding ring lost years before while repairing them. [via]
A Southwest flight that left Midway airport heading for Branson, Missouri landed at the wrong airport.
As soon as the temperature gets above freezing, people take their pants off and take a ride on the Red Line.
The Sun-Times reveals gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Rauner gave $250,000 to Walter Payton College Prep, after he allegedly also pulled strings to get his daughter into the elite high school.
Labrador retrievers are the most popular dogs on the North Side, while South Siders prefer pit bulls, according to a look at registered pets by DNAInfo.
Threadless laid off more than a quarter of its staff and closed its Lakeview store. [via]
American Thinker resurrects a "forgotten masterpiece," sculptor Carl Rohl-Smith's depiction of the Fort Dearborn Massacre. Black Partridge, one of the Native Americans depicted, nearly had a new park named after him in 2009.
A couple brought their 8-month-old baby with them to Alinea after their babysitter fell through. Chef Grant Achatz was at a loss as to how best to handle the situation after the infant's crying upset other diners, which led to plenty of discussion on Twitter -- and a parody account.
NewCity's Life 101 issue is on newsstands, giving you a guide to classes and self-improvement options to get your year started on the right foot.
Northwestern University's basketball team is sporting (temporary) new uniforms that the players helped design themselves, including images of the John Hancock Center building, a heart-shaped basketball, and Bulls-inspired pin striping.
Mayor Emanuel agrees that police statistics are kind of crap, but he wants CPD to be more aggressive in getting those numbers to go down.
So the arctic cold is gone and the snow is melting, but that water and rain together means potential flooding across the city, or at least in that one spot where you have to cross the street.
One person will get the chance to be a movie critic for a day, if they win the prize promised by the Indiegogo campaign raising money for the Roger Ebert documentary "Life Itself."
When will someone here take notice of how Pittsburgh handles their dibs problems?
A music maker, custom pinball machines, and smartphone-controlled blinds are among Chicago's contributions to the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
A Humboldt Park woman shoveled her entire block to stop people from claiming "dibs" on street parking spots they cleared of snow.
The owner of a children's clothing store in Southport says she's closing up shop because she's tired of dealing with snobby locals who yell, throw shoes, and let their kids pee on the floor.
The RedEye social media team put together 312Works, a tumblr of office selfies. Care to join in?
If your street is still covered in snow, you're not alone. According to the Sun-Times, city aldermen have been receiving hundreds of side-street snow removal complaints this week. Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Charles Williams said he's limiting salt use to manage the city's supply.
Chris Jones vents about the controversy over whether it's necessary to have seen the play August: Osage County to effectively review the movie. (Read Steve at the Movies' review here.
If you haven't gotten your flu shot yet, you might want to hurry, because it's here.
Two former Chicago cops were caught boasting on a tape about plans to mutilate a kidnapping victim's genitals. Moments before their kidnapping attempt, the two were arrested. Last year one of them was also accused of planning to extort and murder a local strip club owner.
The Cook County Electoral Board is deciding whether former Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Al Sanchez may run for a seat on the county board, despite formerly being convicted of felony corruption charges.
Neighbors' complaints on Facebook about a woman leaving her dogs outside in this week's cold weather escalated to tickets, police visits, and eventually a Cook County commissioner calling her an "asshat."
The Zero Percent app helps grocery stores and restaurants share their surplus food with charities in Chicago.
Losing your dibs, extra-corrupt politicians, and festival season made Buzzfeed's list of things only Chicagoans are scared of.
The Niagara Foundation, recently in the news in connection to charter schools and Speaker Madigan, is hosting the Chicago Interfaith Gathering, a three-day conference on inter-religious dialogue, peace-building and community support, Feb. 3, 4 and 6.
In his first public interview, a Chicago man shed light on his claims that CPD officers beat him and sodomized him with a gun until he agreed to be a drug informant. He was working on a documentary about the Jon Burge torture scandal at the time.
The speed cameras near schools and parks fell short of revenue estimates in their first year of operation, bringing in just 2 percent of the $15 million predicted. The City says it's because installation was delayed and the cameras issued warnings for longer than originally planned.
A recent strong solar flare may make the Aurora Borealis visible in Chicago, with the best visibility tonight if skies are clear. Current forecasts say it will be overcast.
The odd love affair between former Bulls star Dennis Rodman and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un continues, with The Worm singing happy birthday to the head of the hermit kingdom and playing a game with a team of retired American players as a present.
Rodman later apologized, saying he was drunk.
The Reader's annual fiction issue is out, featuring short stories by Billy Lombardo, Laura Adamczyk, Heather Michaels, Lex Sonne and Robin Kirk.
Annie Mohaupt's wooden sandals are cute and comfortable -- but that didn't save her from being a bad business person. After a disastrous attempt at outsourcing to China, Mohaupt is Kickstarting a factory stateside.
Chicago mag's Cassie Walker Burke and the BGA take a look at the rise and fall of Juan Rangel, former CEO of the United Neighborhood Organization, and
UNO's charter school mismanagement.
White Sox slugger Frank Thomas was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, receiving approval from 83.7 percent of voters from the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Draft magazine picked its 100 Best Beer Bars of 2014, and not surprisingly a lot of Chicago spots are on it. Congrats to Bangers & Lace, Fountainhead, Hopleaf, Local Option and Map Room.
Now through Feb. 12, the Art Institute is free on weekdays for all Illinois residents.
The dispute (previously) between Chicago State University and a faculty-run blog critical of university administrators continues, with the school now demanding the site change its domain name.
Chicago Sketchfest kicks off Thursday, with Siblings of Doctors, featuring Community's Danny Pudi, likely to be a top draw, and over a thousand other funny folks set to take the stage. [via]
Online voters selected "Chicago Authors" as the topic of a future exhibition at the Chicago History Museum as the result of its first-ever crowdsourced exhibit search.
While Divvy has all this downtime, they should develop ways to increase density of the service, says Steve Vance.
Natalie Moore thinks the nickname "Chiraq" needs to go now that the city is less of a war zone.
A new documentary produced by WorldStarHipHop looks at the influence of Chicago's violence on the city's biggest hip hop stars, including interviews with artists like Lil Reese, KatieGotBandz, Rhymefest & more.
Headlines Against Humanity pits two preposterous headlines against each other -- can you guess which is real? It's surprisingly hard. [via]
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner would like to lower the state minimum wage back to the national minimum of $7.25 an hour. Based on his annual earnings, Rauner makes $25,550 an hour.
Only 16 people lost their lives in fires in Chicago last year -- fewer than ever before in the recorded history of the city.
Ten Blackhawks will be representing their home countries at the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, although only Patrick Kane will be putting on the red, white, and blue for Team USA.
Some intrepid workers braved the snow, but no one can work through the torrent of sewage that rained down in the Leo Burnett building downtown. UPDATE: Leo Burnett claims it was only water and dust.
While the bitter cold seemed to keep people from shopping or ice skating outside, things stayed busy at bars and breweries across Chicago as many workers with the day off made the most of their free time.
Some heated disputes are breaking out in the cold as Chicagoans continue the pastime of reserving their street parking spots after digging them out of the snow.
The Sun-Times' Mark Brown says Chicago Rep. Monique Davis hasn't paid rent on the CPS building she uses for her district office in 11 years.
The Army Corps of Engineers released a report detailing options for keeping Asian carp and other invasive species from moving between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin. Among the solutions is physically separating the waterways from each other, reversing the work done when the Sanitary and Ship Canal and Cal-Sag Channel were dug over a hundred years ago.
While Chicago reached record low temperatures, some passionate photographers braced the cold to capture these shots of the Polar Vortex over the city. Here are some phenomenal pictures and videos documenting the unbelievable cold from the Trib, Jessica Koscielniak, Shawn Reynolds, @GoogleEarthPics, RedEye, Huffington Post and, of course, our own flickr pool. We recommend you enjoy these from inside a heated space.
Over 500 people spent the night on Amtrak trains stranded by ice and snow outside of Chicago.
The guys behind MakeItFor.Us are launching the Makery, a shared retail space on the near West Side backed up with technical and logistical support.
The CDC has traced the largest-ever outbreak of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
Today, a federal judge found Chicago's ban on handgun sales within the city to be unconstitutional.
"Professional feminist" Veronica Arreola launched the #365FeministSelfie challenge on flickr, Facebook and Instagram to highlight the positive aspects of the selfie phenomenon. Join in on the social media platform of your choice.
Boosted by the success of "Chicago Fire," the latest action-drama series based on Chicago's public servants, "Chicago P.D.," premieres Wednesday on NBC.
A petition calling on Shigetaka Kurita to add a hot dog emoji is circulating online, thanks to an effort by Superdawg and other encased meat advocates.
"The comic books were my childhood refuge from an alcoholic father, but they helped me overcome my own battle with the bottle, too," writes James Orbesen at The Atlantic.
As a result of the dangerously low temperatures, Chicago public schools will remain closed Tuesday.
An Andersonville man took advantage of this winter's snowy weather by building a backyard igloo.
Chicago's Department of Transportation often lagged behind goals for repairing potholes and responding to 311 requests, while also keeping inaccurate records to make their performance seem better, according an audit by the Office of Inspector General.
The uniquely weird and kitschy Uncle Fun novelty store in Lakeview is closing, according to an announcement on its Facebook page.
Chicagoans trapped at home are trying out science experiments in the record-setting cold, like throwing boiling water into the air where it instantly turns into steam.
Gawker thinks conservatives should "stop hating on Chicago" because our murder rate isn't nearly the story they make it out to be, last year or this year.
Photographer Nick Ulivieri spotted a waterspout steam devil on Lake Michigan last night.
A steam devil is a "small, weak whirlwind over water (or sometimes wet land) that has drawn fog into the vortex, thus rendering it visible."
CPS announced Sunday that schools will be closed today due to the frigid temperatures. Chicago Park District facilities and city warming centers will be open. Northwestern, DePaul, Kendall, U of C, much of UIC, the City Colleges and most other universities canceled class today as well; Loyola is open.
A grey seal pup was recently born at the Brookfield Zoo, but it will be kept out of public view for its first few weeks. There are still plenty of videos and photos posted online to quench your thirst for cuteness, though.
Two Chicago Fire players, league MVP Mike Magee and goalie Sean Johnson, have been invited to join the training camp which determines who plays on the U.S. national team.
Passengers on over a dozen Southwest Airlines flights sat on the tarmac and waited for an open gate at Midway Airport for over three hours Thursday, possibly violating federal rules on such delays.
On Monday, 17-year-old Tyshawn Carter, suspected of armed robbery, hanged himself in Cook County Jail. ChicagoNow blogger Elana Anthony was his teacher.
A CPS technology coordinator who stole over $400,000 by funneling money through fake equipment vendors was later found dead in Tijuana, Mexico, according to a just-released report from the Board of Education's Inspector General.
The CTA says the majority of problems with Ventra cards not being read is due riders not knowing where to tap their cards. So they're adding decals to readers to guide you in.
RedEye looks back onthe creative ways people have reserved their parking spots alongside Chicago's snow-covered streets.
Alternative music will be back on the radio dial at 101.1, with new owners Cumulus Media saying they will first simulcast Q87.7 on the station before completely restoring Q101. However, the station won't be called Q101 unless another deal happens: the name, website and intellectual property were sold to Broadcast Barter Radio Networks when Merlin bought the station.
Grind, a newish coworking space on LaSalle Street, is offering a free day pass [PDF] to check out the space.
Illinois' property taxes are the second highest in the nation, and people may be moving away because of it.
If you're looking for a way to stretch your brain in the new year, Sneaky Smart is here to help with daily 5- to 10-minute lessons delivered by email.
Applications for concealed carry gun licenses become available online Sunday -- and businesses will be expected to post very specific signs to keep guns off the premises.
Mayor Emanuel appointed CTA planner Rebekah Scheinfeld as Chicago's new transportation commissioner.
Out Traveler voted Chicago's Boystown the Incomperable Gay Neighborhood of 2013. [via]
A 9-year-old girl helped deliver her own baby sister after her mother went into labor at their home.
Lynn Becker laments the loss of historic industrial buildings across the City That Works, including a Wrigley factory complex in the Central Manufacturing District.
The dates of 1975 and 2014 line up, so local cartoonist Mark Anderson scanned in his mint condition Mighty Marvel Calendar for 1975 for you to use as a monthly desktop. [via]
You're out of luck if you wanted to use a Divvy bike today. As of noon, the bike sharing program is closed until further notice.
From Mayor Emanuel's re-election bid to the City's yet unresolved pension issues, the Tribune outlines the local political agenda for 2014.
Esquire picks the 10 most authentic Chicago movies, leaving out Ferris Bueller's Day Off and My Best Friend's Wedding because "they're really just two-hour advertisements crafted for the Chicago Office of Tourism and don't depict what it's like to be a true Chicagoan." [via]
As we remember the Chicagoans we lost in 2013, the area's latest resident was born just before 12:01 a.m. on January 1.
The Bears signed quarterback Jay Cutler to a seven-year deal for an undisclosed amount of money.
Thanks to good footwork by Freda Moon, NYTimes' periodical 36 Hours in Chicago travel feature doesn't insult or get it wrong for once. More of the South and West sides could have been included, but at least the destinations included go well beyond the Loop and River North.
Tickets for B-Fest, the annual 24-hour b-movie festival at Northwestern, went on sale last night. Keep an eye on the fest's website for lineup details for Jan. 24-25, and check out Mitch O'Connell's poster.
Chicago's homicide rate declined in 2013, totaling 415 after two shootings on New Year's Eve -- lower even than 2011, before last year's surge. Rates for other violent crimes also dropped.
