Rock This Vote
RedEye wants you to weigh in on which of 10 local bands should get a spot in their Rock 'n' Vote show at Lincoln Hall and compete for a slot at the Taste of Chicago.
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
Monday, November 17
Merge
Monthly Archive
April 2014
Amer Ahmad Arrested Abroad
Mayor Emanuel's former city comptroller Amer Ahmad was arrested in Pakistan with a fake passport and a large amount of cash, days after a warrant for his arrest was issued for violating bail while awaiting sentencing for corruption charges.
Click it in the Clickhole
The Onion is launching Clickhole.com, a site parodying viral content sites like Buzzfeed and Upworthy, in June.
Bad Air
The American Lung Association gives Cook County and the Chicago area failing grades for air quality in its 2014 State of the Air report. [via]
A New Thread
Threadless is changing the way it pays artists who contribute designs to the site, cutting them in on the sales of their shirt instead of paying them a flat fee.
The Mutiny Needs a Bounty
The owner of The Mutiny is retiring, and the club and building are up for sale.
"The PWNMEAL is NOT a Lie."
Max Temkin explains how Cards Against Humanity punked PAX East with "extreme gaming oatmeal" PWNMEAL packets -- with cards hidden inside.
Not Our Bags, Baby
City Council passed a citywide ban on the use of plastic bags by chain and franchise stores.
Bulls Out of the Running
The Bulls are out of the NBA Playoffs after losing to the Washington Wizards Tuesday night.
Get "Wild About Chicago"
Ben Hollis, the creator and original host of the dearly departed TV show "Wild Chicago," is returning to the airwaves this summer with "Wild About Chicago," to air on Cable 25. Hollis is raising production funds on IndieGoGo; lend a hand to get the show back on the air.
The Price of Writing
In the Billfold, Chicago writer Andrew Reilly measures the cost of changing careers to become a journalist.
Prove You're Here
Time Out has a list 49 "rites of passage" you must pass as a true Chicagoan. (It is unlikely you will complete them all.)
Not Without Limits
Marathoner Liliya Shobukhova's three Chicago Marathon victories were all negated by the Russian track federation when the organization banned her for blood doping.
Clock Watchdog
The Reader's Ben Joravsky broke out a stopwatch to fact-check Mayor Emanuel's claims that a $320 million Red-Purple Line bypass would save commuters three to four minutes.
Another Push for Pot
While medicinal marijuana is still rolling out across Illinois, four Chicago-area politicians are advocating a complete decriminalization of pot in the state.
Beetle Mania
The spread of the emerald ash borer in Chicago may force the City to cut down around 10,000 ash trees found on public property.
Step Outside to E-Smoke
The citywide ban on smoking e-cigarettes in public places indoors goes into effect today.
Back Amazing Grace
Melissa Pierce is making a documentary about pioneering computer scientist Grace Hopper, and is currently fundraising on IndieGoGo to make it happen.
That Startup Lifestyle
Interested in working at a tech startup? Uncubed this Thursday is sort of a speed-dating session with local tech companies, as well as a day of workshops for job-hunters.
Stay with Frank
You'll soon be able to spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright home -- if you can afford it -- as the Emil Bach House in Sheridan opens for guests and meetings.
Alinea #9
Alinea is ninth on the World's 50 Best Restaurants list from S. Pelligrino, up from 15th last year.
Moving Mobile
The Verge takes a look at Motorola's move into the Merchandise Mart and towards new strategies for competing with smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung.
Step Towards the Cup
The Blackhawks move on to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs following a 5-1 victory over the Blues Sunday night.
Noble Rot
St. Boniface Church, which preservationists have been fighting for years to save while neglect made it more and more of a hazard, has received a red X from the City, indicating demolition may be imminent.
Resegregation?
The percentage of black freshmen in Chicago's top high schools has steadily decreased in the years following a 2009 ruling ending a requirement that no school be more than 35 percent white.
Go, Dog, Go
Amtrak will be testing out allowing small dogs and cats on trains between Chicago and Quincy.
United States of X: Nerdiness Edition
Dude, we just hosted C2E2, and Anime Central is in just a couple weeks. How is Illinois 26th in the nation on Estately's Nerdiest States in America map?
RIP Brooks Golden
Street artist Brooks Golden, aka "Be Golden," passed away on Saturday after a brief illness. He was best known for his owl illustrations, such as this mural in Pilsen.
RIP DJ Rashad
Rashad Harden, aka DJ Rashad, was found dead Saturday, possibly due to an overdose. DJ Rashad was a house DJ and rapper who helped popularize Chicago's footwork scene.
DePaul Scandal Surfacing
Student activists at DePaul are accusing the administration of covering up a sexual assault scandal involving one or more members of the school's sports teams. Anonymous students point to Cleveland Melvin, a basketball player who was abruptly left the school earlier this year.
Capitalizing on Capital
The Blackhawks are the "smartest spending" team in major league sports -- well, baseball, basketball, football and hockey -- according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The Cubs are, of course, dead last. [via]
United States of X: Pride Edition
Illinois and Rhode Island residents rate their own states least positively in a new Gallup survey, with a quarter of Illinoisans saying this is the worst state in which to live.
Wildcats Weigh In
Northwestern football players cast their secret ballots today to vote on whether the team should form a union, although the results will be sealed until legal issues with the university are resolved.
Let the Naming Begin
The City announced plans to build Barack Obama College Preparatory High School in Stanton Park, adding another selective enrollment school to the North Side just blocks away from where Cabrini-Green used to be. Needless to say, the announcement has rubbed many the wrong way.
Documentary Choreography
Despite being part of an "unscripted" series, Mayor Emanuel's interactions on CNN's "Chicagoland" may have been set up by his staff and the show's producers. CNN denies the administration had editorial control.
The Alinea Cookbook Book
VFX artist and photographer Allen Hemberger has spent the past five years cooking every recipe from Alinea's cookbook. His resulting blog, The Alinea Project, is full of beautiful photographs that Allen hopes to turn into a book about his efforts. The project is up on Kickstarter. [via]
Hot Town = Crime in the City
Brian Keegan, a former Northwestern student now in Boston, crunched Chicago's crime numbers and compared them to such factors as temperature and the concealed carry law. [via]
How Beverly Stayed Diverse
Curious City turned its attention to Beverly and its concerted effort to remain racially integrated in the face of white flight.
Curse of the Cake?
A 400-pound cake replica of Wrigley Field prepared for its 100th birthday apparently ended up in the dumpster, uneaten. In unrelated news, the Cubs lost their game on the stadium's big day after giving up five runs in the ninth inning.
Silk Road to Ruin
A Dutch man pleaded guilty to selling large amounts of MDMA, ecstasy, and cocaine using the Silk Road online marketplace after he was charged with federal drug crimes in Chicago.
Less Students Left Behind
A new push to keep freshmen "on track" in order to make sure they graduate seems to be working in schools across the city.
United States of X: MLB Edition
The NYTimes put together an interactive map of the dominant baseball team fandom, zip code by zip code. You can probably guess where the line between Cubs and Sox fans is. (Previously, team territories by Facebook likes.)
Some People Have All the Luck
A Chicago man scored three winning scratch-off lottery tickets in three weeks.
Working for the School
The NYTimes looks into Northwestern's campaign against the potential football player union, including mandatory one-on-one meetings with Coach Pat Fitzgerald, threats to cancel the construction of a new athletics center and warnings that a union vote would mean fewer employment opportunities after college. Additional details can also be gleaned from the university's internal response to anonymous questions, as published by CBS Sports.
Eating Green
Speaking of green restaurants, four star-certified green restaurant Big Delicious Planet, Michael Jordan's Chicago Steakhouse, Topolobampo/Frontera Grill and Uncommon Ground are on the Daily Meal's America's Greenest Restaurants list.
Who's Saint Millie?
Ernest Wilkins and RedEye are producing a documentary series on Saint Millie, a rapper from the West Side trying to break through. The first five episodes are online.
Gone Trashless
Lakeview restaurant Sandwich Me In has gone two years without generating any waste. [via]
3 Schools "Turned Around"
The school board voted to fire the staffs at three elementary schools and hand control over to the private Academy for Urban School Leadership. Teachers Union president Karen Lewis called it a hostile takeover.
Renters Should Buy, Says Real Estate Firm
The Trib shared survey results claiming that almost half of Chicago renters could buy a home, but the stats sounded fishy to Chicagoist's Lisa White.
Off-Off-Broadway Awards
Bailiwick Chicago's Dessa Rose received the most nominations of any single show at this year's Non-Equity Jeff Awards, which recognize the best non-union theater productions in Chicago.
United States of X: Tourist Trap Edition
The Leaning Tower of Niles, just outside the city, gets the nod on HuffPo's list of underappreciated tourists traps in every state.
Returning Angels
The Blue Angels and the skydiving Golden Knights will take to the skies above Chicago for this year's Air and Water Show, returning after budget cuts forced them to cancel last year.
Pedi Cash Problems
City Hall is looking to push through new regulations for pedicabs in Chicago, but owners of the pedaled people carriers say new rules and restrictions on where they can go downtown could put them out of business.
Green Tap Lines
Goose Island will be donating part of the proceeds from sales of Green Line Pale Ale to the Trust for Public Land, which supports The 606 and other park projects.
Friendly Confines' Centennial
It's the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field, an institution called a national treasure for its connection to the past of America's favorite pastime, from its manually-operated scoreboard to the ivy still clinging to its outfield walls.
Stay with Cool Friends
A newish hostel has opened up in Wicker Park. Holiday Jones offers hipster-friendly group accommodations in a former SRO at rates that beat most AirBnBs.
Explore the Whedonverse
On May 3, DePaul is hosting Joss Whedon: A Celebration, a daylong conference on the writer and director's works and the culture that surrounds them.
The Falcon Cam Strikes Back
Time to check in on area Peregrine falcon cams! The nests at UIC, South Loop, Evanston and up in Waukegan are all active.
Killing Our Kids
While homicides are down in Chicago this year, the percentage of victims aged 25 or younger has stayed the same.
Make You Sweat
This year's Green Music Fest in Wicker Park will include a bicycle-powered music stage.
High Marks
In U.S. News & World Report's latest school rankings five of the top ten public schools in Illinois are part of CPS, with Northside College Prep ranking as the 36th best public high school in the country.
Hot Topic
Mayor Emanuel surprised CPS officials and aldermen alike with a new mandate making it a top priority to add air conditioning to CPS classrooms that don't have it.
Recycle Bin for the Whole Computer
It's technically illegal to throw away old computers and other electronics, and since it's Earth Day you might as well drop them off somewhere where they'll be recycled.
They're Going the Distance
Basecamp announced today the launch of The Distance, an online magazine about "bootstrapped businesses that are at least 25 years old." It's edited by former Tribune tech/business reporter Wailin Wong.
Get to Work
Dancers King Charles and Pause Eddie show how to do some pretty impressive Chicago Footwork moves, from the Erk and Jerk to the Two-Step. [via]
1085 Crashes
MIT's You Are Here project mapped all the bicycle accidents in 2012 (the most recent data available). [via]
Watch Them Repair the Circle
As part of the massive Circle Interchange reconstruction project, IDOT is currently rebuilding the Morgan Street bridge. UIC's Urban Transportation Center has installed a webcam so you can watch it happen. [via]
Honoring Frankie Knuckles
The Elton John AIDS Foundation has set up the Frankie Knuckles Fund to support HIV awareness, testing and support in African communities worldwide. [via]
Happy Earth Day!
There are plenty of events happening today and all week to celebrate it. You can also defer till Saturday and help clean up local parks and forest preserves.
So Much Noise
The circus-punk marching band Mucca Pazza will perform with the 3,500 members of the Chicago Children's Choir at the choir's "Paint the Town Red" event this spring.
Feds Join the Fray
The U.S. Attorney's new Violent Crimes section will use drug, gun, extortion, and money laundering laws to go after groups responsible for violence in Chicago.
A Rising Star
Bulls center Joakim Noah will be recognized as the NBA's 2014 Defensive Player of the Year, according to early reports.
Final Entry
The live-lit Encyclopedia Show will be closing the book for good next month, ending a five-year run that sparked multiple spin-offs across the country.
A Musical Buffet
Janelle Monáe, Jeff Tweedy, and Aloe Blacc are among the headliners performing at this year's Taste of Chicago.
Documenting the Dream
RedEye follows West Side rap artist Saint Millie as he strives to break out from Chicago's rap scene and into mainstream stardom in the upcoming documentary "Road to Glory."
Hard Feelings
North of Howard resident and former CeaseFire interrupter "thechiraqi" shared some honest feelings on EveryBlock about how life is for young men in his part of town, whether they're part of a gang or not.
We're the Funniest
The Humor Research Lab at University of Colorado Boulder has determined Chicago is the funniest city in America.
Deadly Easter Weekend
At least nine people died and 32 were wounded in gun violence this weekend, including two police officers dead in an apparent murder-suicide.
Green Thumbs
A new wave of startups are bringing digital know-how to the agricultural sector, building apps for farmers to better monitor rainfall and manage their crops.
This is the Museum You've Been Looking For
Do you have a suggestion for where the proposed Lucas Cultural Arts Museum should go? The City wants to know by April 23. (Previously.)
Courting History
A plan for the State of Illinois to borrow $100 million to help pay for the Obama presidential library moved forward in Springfield, and the City is asking for public input on where the museum backed by George Lucas should go if it's built in Chicago.
Fake Lady Parts
WGN anchor Robin Baumgarten couldn't keep a straight face during a story about lab-grown vaginas, and her grossed-out grimace landed her a spot on "The Soup."
Missing a Mask
A side effect of having so much stand up and improv in the city might be that there's plenty of tragedy but not a lot of comedy on stage in Chicago, writes Tribune critic Chris Jones.
Burger Time
NPR's Planet Money maps out how long it would take workers in each neighborhood to make enough money to buy a burger. Lincoln Park and Englewood are among the shortest waits, while Edgewater is one of the longest in Chicago. [via]
Walk for the Dogs
The Pup Crawl May 10 takes you through River North bars and benefits PAWS -- but you should probably leave your four-legged friend at home.
City of Big Puppets?
Giant marionettes will roam the streets if the City can bring French street theater company Royal de Luxe to Chicago for their first U.S. performance.
Enjoy an Old School Mass
If going to church is not on this weekend's to-do list, you should at least view this narrated footage of a traditional Catholic Latin Mass filmed on Easter Sunday 1941 at the amazing Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica on the city's West Side.
Beer & Circuses
Lagunitas is bringing its Beer Circus to Chicago in May, which apparently means live music and lots of clown burlesque. Oh, and beer fresh from the brewery. Get your tickets here.
Large Section of Marktown to be Demolished
The landmark "industrial Shangri-La" of Marktown, Indiana may be coming to an end. Residents recently received notice that approximately 10% of the neighborhood may be demolished as soon as May 5, with more demolitions potentially on the way. A group of concerned residents and friends are trying to stop the demolitions. A few photographs of the development are below.
Better Brown Line at a Cost
The CTA announced plans to rehab the Purple and northern Red Line and extend the southern end of the Red Line yesterday, but a proposal to speed traffic at Belmont by creating a Brown Line overpass have Lakeview residents up in arms because it will mean as many as 19 buildings will need to be demolished.
Bridge Ballet
Bridges are going up again as sailboats head upriver towards Chicago's harbors like (very expensive) birds returning for the summer.
Strong Arm of the Law
Two police officers are being praised as heroes after they spotted a house on fire while on patrol on the Far South Side and convinced two boys trapped inside to jump from a second-floor window and into their arms.
A Hot Neighborhood
Radioactive sand sits beneath the concrete and dirt of Streeterville, a byproduct of lantern factories in the 1900's that was used to shore up the neighborhood's soggy soil.
Table for 50
This year, NewCity's annual Food & Drink Fifty list is made up exclusively of chefs, bartenders and other people making food and beverages in the city -- no restaurateurs.
Bank Robber Blues
While the man suspected of being the Benchwarmer Bandit was charged for one of six bank robberies police think he committed, another bank robber is relieved to be returning to prison after spending most of his adult life there.
Duffle Block
Part of Lake Shore Drive was shut down yesterday after reports of a "suspicious object," but a police robot found nothing dangerous inside the abandoned duffle bag.
Dateline: Chicago
British Pathé, one of the original newsreel companies, just put 85,000 videos up on YouTube -- including quite a few of Chicago. [via]
Hemmed by History
Jen Beeman of Grainline Studios talks about the dying profession of pattern-making for "Marketplace."
Latest Pot Headlines
Springfield lawmakers decided not to ban medical marijuana cardholders from also being concealed carry cardholders. Meanwhile, would-be medical marijuana growers are complaining that it's too expensive to get licensed.
Placing Their Bets
Groups on both sides of the issue weighed in on whether Chicago should be the home of a state-run casino at a public hearing today.
Red Line's Future
The CTA announced plans to completely rebuild four Red Line stops and extend the line South from 95th to 130th Street down one of two possible paths.
Pension Cutting Posse
Mayors from across the state will probably join Mayor Emanuel if his next budget battle is with the costly pensions of firefighters and police officers.
Flash Card Favoritism
Metra released copies of more than 700 index cards documenting when politicians used their clout to influence staffing decisions at the agency between 1983 and 1991.
Choose Or Lose
The Chicago Reader's Best Of Chicago 2014 ballot is now live. Vote from now until May 12.
A Century of Studs
The 102nd anniversary of Studs Terkel's birth is a month from now, and there's a lot planned to mark it. (Here's an interview with Studs conducted by GB founding staffer Dave Elfving.)
Everyday Heroes
Window washers at Lurie Children's Hospital don superhero costumes before swinging by patients' windows, bringing a little more light to their hospital rooms. [via]
You're Either In, Or You're Stressed Out
A new documentary explores the joy and "dark side" of applying and acceptance to Whitney Young Magnet HS.
Spring, They Wrote
The Reader's spring books issue features Julia Glass, Cristina Henríquez, Kathleen Rooney, Colson Whitehead and more.
Building History
The folks at Forgotten Chicago have been busy, unearthing details about a shipping canal in the Gold Coast, radio showrooms on Michigan Avenue, 1 million vacant lots in Chicagoland, art deco masterpieces and many more long-lost works of architecture.
You Win or You Schnitzel
The owners the Schnitzel King food truck and sandwich shop announced they will be closing both, although their lawsuit against the City's food cart restrictions will continue.
Shrinking Sears
Salon traces Sears' decline from building the world's tallest building to closing its store in the Loop.
Barcade All-Stars
RedEye's Mick Swasko profiles gamers striving for the High Score on barroom arcade games.
The Job Situation
The unemployment rate in Illinois isn't going down as quickly as in other Midwest states. The WSJ points to Springfield's economic policies as the reason.
Watching the Watchmen
After three Chicago police officers were caught lying under oath, opinions differ over how widespread a problem perjury by police officers represents.
A Pothole Named Desire
A pothole in Logan Square revealing a piece of metal track beneath the street is like a concrete window into the past, when streetcars shuttled people through the area.
A Millennial Mecca
A study by the website Niche identifies Wicker Park as Chicago's best neighborhood for millennials, while also ranking Chicago as the fourth best city for that generation. [via]
Stitching to Remember
Fourteen women embroidered the names of every homicide victim in 2013 onto a quilt. It's on display at the Craft/Work exhibition at Beauty and Brawn Gallery through the end of the month.
Elephant Walk
Howard Brown is moving the original Brown Elephant resale store to 3020 N. Lincoln Ave. in July.
Faulty Reasoning
Just in time for the no-comments policy at the Sun-Times, Jenny McCarthy wrote an editorial claiming not to be anti-vaccine. Fortunately, the Internet has a long memory -- not to mention logic.
Central Standard: On Education
The team behind GB's The Grid has teamed up with WTTW for a nine-week web series about education in the Chicago region. The first video in the series introduces the five middle school students who will be followed while they wrestle with the transition to high school.
Foam Base
No, those blocks of white dotting Maggie Daley Park are not made of invulnerable snow, they're Geofoam blocks that will be covered up to make hills in the park.
Running Out of Room
Crain's takes a look at whether there are too many 5Ks and other races in Chicago. Jim Crago just wrote about another new one in Tailgate.
Safer Sidewalks
Wider sidewalks and other changes are coming to a stretch of Devon Avenue previously found to be the most dangerous for pedestrians on the North Side.
Sue in Space
Microbes collected from the Field Museum's Sue the T. rex will be launched into orbit and studied on the International Space Station.
Plug the Portable Meter
Starting this week, anyone parking in the West Loop can use a smartphone to pay the meter as part of a test of the new ParkChicago app.
Competitive Disadvantage?
Because what every triathlete wants is a heavy bike designed for cruising, the Chicago Triathlon is allowing 100 contestants to use Divvy bikes in the cycling portion of its SuperSprint race.
Sun-Times Turns Off Comments
Sun-Times Media properties (excluding the Reader, apparently) will "temporarily cease" allowing comments on articles. The move has, of course, elicited plenty of commentary elsewhere.
The Chicago Cop -- Who's Tough on Cops -- Who Would be Mayor
Mayoral candidate Frederick Collins announces plans for his campaign, and ousting the city's police superintendent.
Whitefish Wiped Out
Fish sellers are rationing the hundreds of pounds of whitefish they sell each year during Passover because ice on top of the Great Lakes made it difficult for fishermen to catch a big enough supply.
United States of X: Alternate States Edition
Geography professor Andrew Shears draws Chicagoland as its own state in a map showing what the U.S. might look like if failed proposals to divide up the states had been successful. [via]
Top Ten for #2
Hotels dominate Thrillist's investigation into the best bathrooms for dropping a deuce downtown.
Cat Videos for Good
Cats from local no kill shelters are the stars of CATastrophes, a web series that uses the Internet's love of whiskered videos to promote pet adoption.
Budding Bike Racks
Divvy is bringing bikes out of winter storage, starting with 700 cycles for the 300 stations around the city.
Patio Theater to Close in April
DNAinfo's story on the closing of the historic theater cites construction/maintenance issues. Read our story (and see the great photos) about the Patio's return in 2011.
Kickin' It
Plush skyscrapers, a book of James Bond illustrations and a design museum are among the campaigns currently funding on GB's curated Kickstarter page.
Parking Included
LiveNation includes a parking fee for all tickets at the Charter One Pavilion, whether you drive or take the bus. A class action lawsuit over the fee was just dismissed on the grounds that neither the show nor the venue have a monopoly on the entertainment market.
How the Clout's Shifting
As the ward map shifts, the relative clout of each alderman changes. The Sun-Times maps it all out as it updates its Clout Meter.
Cuddy Humanties Festival
WBEZ arts and culture correspondent Alison Cuddy is becoming the program director of the Chicago Humanities Festival.
You Win or You Chi
TimeOut takes a stab at matching Chicago neighborhoods to the kingdoms and castles of Game of Thrones.
A Touchdown for Science Kids
A weather balloon launched by students with the Adler Planetarium's Far Horizon program landed safely in Battle Ground, Indiana, after reaching 85,000 feet in its trip to near outer space.
Questionable Charity
A group collecting donations from drivers in Edgewater and elsewhere on behalf of a veterans organization may not be connected to any charity, according to DNAinfo's Benjamin Woodard.
Vivian Maier, Bag Lady
Before she was a posthumously celebrated street photographer, author and FoGB Ted McClelland knew Vivian Maier as a bag lady, part of the colorful, frayed fabric of Rogers Park.
May the Force be With Us?
George Lucas might build his Lucas Cultural Arts Museum in Chicago, with a collection including paintings by Norman Rockwell and a scale model of the Millennium Falcon.
Go Do Stuff, Kids
The City has launched Chicago City of Learning, an project to keep kids engaged and involved this summer.
Bobby Rush Ethics Probe
The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating Rep. Bobby Rush following a Sun-Times/Better Government Association investigation into where $1 million earmarked for a South Side tech hub went.
Not Permitted
A City employee stole over $741,000 by diverting funds from checks written by companies applying for city permits.
To Serve and Fight
Chicago cops and firefighters go glove-to-glove in the boxing ring at the annual Battle of the Badges charity event. [via]
Two Scoops of Summer
With this warm weather (mid-50s! woo!) you might be tempted to get some ice cream. Bobtail is celebrating its 10th anniversary by giving you an extra scoop of the week's special flavor; this week it's Signature Sunset.
Kickstarting Capital
Local startup founders are calling for the FCC to loosen restrictions and make it possible for small companies to raise funding through crowdsourcing.
Table to Farm
At The Plant, Chicago's food waste will provide energy for electricity, heat, and beer brewing.
But a Listicle Ain't One
Thrillist's Chicago editor Sean Cooly put together a list of the city's 99 problems.
Not So Useful Nuggets
WBEZ's Monica Eng is trying to figure out what ingredients make up the top five food items at CPS schools, but responses from officials so far include that chicken nuggets contain: chicken nuggets.
"Nature's Job Creators"
The Second City Network reminds everyone that all these potholes create jobs at auto supply shops and mechanics. Not to mention lawyers.
Hipster Steppenwolf
Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin and Tavi Gevinson star in This Is Our Youth, a play at Steppenwolf Theatre this summer.
Political Insider Trading?
The hedge fund company Citadel, owned by billionaire Emanuel campaign contributor Kenneth Griffin, bought stock in Marriott just before the City gave the company the contract to run a new hotel next to thecontroversial DePaul basketball arena to be built next to McCormick Place.
What's Next for Cabrini?
The Atlantic looks at big changes already taking place at the former location of Cabrini-Green and speculates on the site's future.
Pension Fix Progresses
The Illinois House voted 73-41 to approve Mayor Emanuel's proposed fix of Chicago's pension system, including a property tax increase of $750 million over five years.
Shell Games
Marketplace reports major companies with offices in Chicago and the suburbs are avoiding local taxes by funneling part of their business through small, empty offices in distant Illinois towns with more favorable tax codes.
Beyond the City Limits
While Illinois has the second-highest unemployment rate in the country, the ten cities with the lowest percentage of out-of-work people in the state are all in the suburbs of Chicago. [via]
Crimes of Omission
Chicago police did not count a quarter of aggravated assault and battery victims for its 2012 statistics, according to an audit by the Inspector General.
Hard Core Re-Pawn
Two employees of Royal Pawn Shop, the setting of the canceled "Hardcore Pawn: Chicago" reality show, have been arrested for stealing from the shop and re-pawning the goods for gambling money.
Malört Face on Film
This Story Will Never End: Jeppson's Malört Documentary, by Fire Engine Red Films, tells the story of the beloved and maligned bitter liquor. It's due out this summer. [via]
"Racial Grass Divide"
Minorities -- particularly African-Americans -- still make up the majority of small-time marijuana busts, even after the semi-decriminalization of recreational amounts.
Sayonara Sears
The shelves at Sears' store in the loop were picked clean for the last time this weekend.
Only Costs a Comment
Pitchfork's three-day passes may be sold out, but you can win one by sharing your festival memories and dreams with us.
See Spot Sunbathe
Dogs across the city may have lost their beach bodies during the extreme cold, but pet owners in Uptown are nevertheless concerned beaches there are unsafe for pets and people alike.
Focusing on Fuzzy Math
Chicago Magazine takes an in-depth look at whether CPD's claims of a dramatic drop in crime over the past three years are accurate or if they're reclassifying cases so the numbers look better.
Last Chance High
Vice profiles the students of Montefiore Therapeutic Day School, many of whom were kicked out of other schools for issues of aggression and are at risk for ending up in jail or in a mental hospital.
Moving Out
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. was moved to a prison camp in Alabama after apparently clashing with officials at the federal prison where he was serving time by advising other inmates of their rights.
Art on the Street
The Art Institute launched the Art Everywhere Project to bring some of its most famous artworks (well, reproductions) out into the city, on streetscape installations and ad billboards.
RIP Otis McDonald
Otis McDonald, the lead plaintiff in the case that struck down Chicago's handgun ban, passed away Friday after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.
Billy Cub Clobbers Fan
Patrick Weier, one of the guys behind the unofficial Cubs mascot Billy Cub, got in a fight Saturday with a patron at John Barleycorn who removed his head. Weier says he was provoked.
Where to Work
Crain's released its annual Best Places to Work list, and added in top 10s for Millennials and Gen-Xers.
The City vs. Art
While graffiti is gaining acceptance as a mainstream art form, its practice on the street continues to be at odds with the law.
Tunes for Tastebuds
Building the right playlist is key for restaurants looking to set the right mood for their food.
Digging for Gold
Newcity's Kenneth Preski profiles five Chicagoans dedicated to scouring the crates of vinyl at record stores, yard sales, and thrift shops to amass some pretty impressive record collections.
Putting Up a "For Sale" Sign
The Cubs are considering selling minority ownership shares of the team in order to help pay for Wrigley's renovation.
Should Have Called Dibs
A study by a Washington, D.C. think-tank found the City should at least consider tapping into TIFs for funds to address its pension issues instead of raising taxes.
Over the Ledge
Tightrope artist Nik Wallenda is planning to walk between two Chicago buildings for a live, televised stunt on the Discovery Channel.
A Regional Master Plan
Transit Future, a joint project of the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Active Transportation Alliance, have announced a vision of a massive public transit overhaul and expansion for the Chicagoland region. It has the support of many civic leaders; now to secure funding.
CTA Trolls Cubs Fans
Yesterday the CTA sent out a notice warning that the Addison Red Line stop would be closed northbound for repairs today, just in time for the Cubs' home opener. Fortunately, it was just a "clerical error" -- the station will be open from 10:50am to 2:45pm.
A Hole Lot of Damage
Over 1,100 claims of vehicle damage caused by potholes were filed at this week's City Council meeting.
Sledge Men
Meet one Chicago (RIC) Blackhawk who didn't let injury keep him off the ice - even after he was paralyzed from the waist down.
Use It or Lose It
An ordinance regulating petcoke in Chicago doesn't ban the dusty petroleum byproduct from the city so much as limit its storage to companies who use it for manufacturing.
The Jacketed Crusader
A man jumped in the path of a Blue Line train and got it to stop before it reached a woman who fell on to the tracks at the Chicago Avenue stop.
Closer to Even
The Sun-Times had the highest proportion of stories written by women (46%) of any newspaper studied by the Women's Media Center (PDF) during the final three months of 2013 .
A Positive Milestone
The number of murders during the first three months of this year was the lowest since 1958, according to CPD.
Pension Blitz Blocked
Mayor Emanuel's attempt to pass a pension reform bill raising both property taxes and contributions by city employees by getting it passed quickly in Springfield was delayed because any tax increases will need to be approved by City Council.
Finding a Film
Speaking of films, the documentary Finding Vivian Maier opens this weekend at the Landmark Century Centre.
We've written extensively about Vivian Maier's discovery and the copyright questions surrounding her work.
Faux Architecture
Back in December, Neil Steinberg wrote about the best built fake building in Chicago.
Good People to Know
Architect Kathryn Darnstadt, teacher and Tabula Rasa founder Chelsea Armstrong, The Yellow Tractor Project founder Wendy Irwin, Experience Institute's Victor Saad and Yuri Malina are part of Good magazine's Good 100 list of people making a positive impact on their communities and the world.
Film Fests
For movies, you've got options this weekend: the Chicago Underground Film Festival, Chicago Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Film and Chicago Latino Film Festival.
On the Record Books
The period between December 2013 and March 2014 was the coldest four-month span on record in Chicago, according to the National Weather Service.
We're Up All Night to Get Lucky
A study by the University of Chicago found night owls have more sex and are less likely to be in a committed relationship.
Cheat City
A website that helps people in a committed relationship cheat on their significant others found Chicagoans are more active on the site than users in any other city, spending 25 percent more time there than the national average.
History of the Corner
A documentary restored by Chicago Film Archives shows what life was like in the 1960's for members of the Vice Lords on the West Side.
Beyond Crime Stats
Crime & Punishment is a new resource for data and information about the justice system in Chicago.
Tax Breaking Bad
The salvage yard holding dozens of cars CPD suspects are stolen received a property tax subsidy costing city taxpayers $162,000.
The Great American City
Jackpot in the West Productions provides a little midweek inspiration. [via]
That's The Ticket
Thalia Hall, a landmark building turned public hall in Pilsen, is officially open for business, and so is their box office.
Butcher has Beef
The Butcher & Larder's Rob Levitt dispels some myths and airs some grievances about his job in the Food Republic.
Schubas Turns 25
The little Lakeview bar and concert hall owned by Mike and Chris Schuba is 25 years old. Consequence of Sound has an an appreciation.
Save These Places
Landmarks Illinois' annual 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list is out, with three Chicago entries: the Central Manufacturing District, the Halsted and Willow gateway and the Uptown Theatre.
In Frankie Knuckles' House
Media Burn just posted some great archival video by Phil Ranstrom from the opening of Frankie Knuckles' club, the Power House. Jump to 2:55 to hear the first of Frankie Knuckles' interview segments, and then to 6:38 to see a pretty amazing performance by J.M. Silk.
Malört™
Malört is no longer fooling around: the Carl Jeppson Company has trademarked the name of its signature (and only) bitter liqueur.
Preckwinkle's Prospects
While Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says she hasn't decided whether she will run for Mayor next year, a recent poll put her ahead of Mayor Emanuel in a head-to-head contest.
Car Stash
Police suspect that dozens of cars at a South Side salvage lot lot may have been stolen by people connected to a towing operation.
The Next Best Chef
Next's Dave Beran was named one of Food & Wine's Best New Chefs. Beran is also nominated for Best Chef: Great Lakes in this year's Beard Awards.
New Chief at WBEZ
Chicago Public Media (which runs WBEZ) announced its new CEO will be Goli Sheikholeslami, who worked previously at The Washington Post and other digital media companies.
Designing a Home
The Chicago Design Museum is seeking a permanent home, and has launched a Kickstarter to help make its next exhibition a reality.
Holey Art
Tribune photographer Bill Hogan followed artist Jim Bachor as he filled a pothole in Jefferson Park with a work of tile mosaic art.
A Saline Solution
A new "spa-like" IV clinic on Wells Street will pump fluids into customers suffering from hangovers or otherwise looking to hydrate themselves.
The Grid: Open Gov Hack Night
"Open Gov Hack Night," the newest installment in our documentary film series The Grid, spends some time with folks trying to put civic data to good use.
Blogging Classically
The CSO has launched Sounds & Stories, an online magazine about classical music.
Put Away That Gun
William P. O'Connell was the first Illinoisan to have his concealed carry permit revoked after he pulled his gun during a property dispute.
