Meter Wars Continue
A public-interest group continues to challenge Chicago's parking meter deal in court, even though the City itself is defending the agreement.
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TODAY
Monday, November 17
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Monthly Archive
May 2014
Casting the First Stone
Neil Steinberg wrote a column about the line at Hot Doug's that included an anecdote about two "hefty" women who sat down and scooted forward as the line moved. The comments -- which two editors flagged but let stand -- struck Chicagoist Associate Editor Lisa White and many others as gratuitous fat-shaming.
Critical Pedicab Mass
Critical Mass is tonight, and this month there's something extra: a protest against the City's new pedicab ordinance.
Illegal Cheese
Federal investigators say secretly recorded conversations reveal state Rep. Derrick Smith asking how much "cheddar" (bribe money) people were willing to pay in return for his support.
A Meaty Offer
Tyson Foods offered $6.8 billion for Chicago-based Hillshire Brands, which makes Hillshire Farms meats, Ball Park hot dogs and Jimmy Dean sausages.
Divvy in the Red
Divvy posted a loss of $148,000 last year, but the City picked up the tab per its agreement with Alta Bicycle Share Inc.
No Beer Was Harmed
Production of Half Acre Beer's "Daisy Cutter" variety will be halted for a week following a fire last weekend at the Indiana factory that makes the brew's aluminum cans. Stay strong, we'll get through this.
Talking About Chicago & Reparations
Whet Moser talks with Ta-Nehisi Coates about his Atlantic article on reparations in the face of ongoing housing discrimination and segregation.
Cameron Doesn't Live Here Anymore
Cameron's home in Ferris Bueller's Day Off finally sold after years on the market.
Guns & the Man
The NYTimes editorial board weighs in on Mayor Emanuel's proposal for limits on where and how gun shops may operate within city limits.
Last Days of the Telegraph
Logan Square wine bar Telegraph is closing June 7 due to an "amicable parting" between executing chef Johnny Anderes and the rest of the management team. The popular spot will undergo reconcepting and reopen in July.
Better Fest Oversight Demanded
The Wicker Park Advisory Council rejected an offer from organizers of the Green Music Festival, citing numerous problems with the festival in previous years. In related news, five West Town community organizations called for greater transparency from festival organizers and chambers of commerce regarding the finances of neighborhood festivals.
Love, Love This
Englewood teen Taylor Townsend took out the 21st-ranked player in the world to move on to round three in the French Open.
Give Peace a Chance
Chicago went 42 hours without a gun homicide over Memorial Day weekend, and some of the credit is going to the #SaveChicago campaign backed by Chance the Rapper and his father.
Take That, Cleveland
Chicago beat out some of its Midwestern neighbors and moved up the rankings to become the 15th fittest city in the country. [via]
Unfortunate Irony
An NPR reporter's interview with Englewood residents about their work promoting the neighborhood's positive side was interrupted by a man shooting at a van with a semi-automatic rifle. [via]
There Vents the Neighborhood
In the RedEye, Britt Julious wonders whether sites like EveryBlock and NextDoor are making bad neighbors.
Crack in the Ledge
A group of tourists stepping onto the Ledge at Sears Tower were startled by apparent cracks in the glass outcropping. Only a protective outer coating cracked, say officials, but they should consider keeping them to compete with the scare-inducing TILT at John Hancock.
United States of X: Immigration Edition
In 1910, the largest immigrant population in Illinois came from Germany. In 2010, it was Mexico, according to a Pew Research study.
Special Agent in Charge
Jack Riley, chief of the the DEA's Chicago division, has been fighting drugs in the city for more than 30 years.
The Gyroscopic Menace
City Council is considering a bill to limit the number of Segways allowed on tours to eight.
Raising the Wage
A proposed ordinance raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour received support from 21 aldermen, only five votes short of a majority.
You Don't Actually Have a Right
If you haven't stumbled across the #YesAllWomen on Twitter, you should click the link and read some of it now. Many of the tweets share stories by women who had interactions where men assumed they had a "right" to do something the woman didn't want. And, since this space is too small to explain why this sharing is awesome, I suggest you read this for an intro to the hashtag, read this for a recent incident that happened to Britt Julious, and then keep reading if any of the other links seem confusing.
Closing 1 Book, Opening Another
The Encyclopedia Show holds its final session tonight at Stage 773. Find out all you ever needed to know about prairie. Or hear all about boobs at the premier of Miss Spoken, a new woman-focused reading series at Gallery Cabaret.
Don't Upskirt
There's already a state law against it, but City Council just passed an ordinance making upskirting -- taking photos up women's skirts -- punishable by a $500 fine.
Bringing This Life Home
Chicago Public Media will distribute "This American Life" itself starting July 1.
Dollies at the Ball Game
Dmitry Samarov went to Doll Day at the Cell and sketched about it for The Classical.
Updating the Dead
The venerable Graveyards.com, a resource for cemetery fans since 1996, just got a snazzy redesign.
Englewood's not All Bad
Journalist Rashanah Baldwin took Huffington Post on a tour of the positives in Englewood, her home neighborhood. Baldwin hosts a show on Kennedy-King College's WKKC-FM called "What's Good in Englewood."
RIP Jim Karr
Jim Karr, a legend in the coffee industry who used to be director of brewing technology for Intelligentsia and more recently founded SteamVolt, died Saturday when a coffee machine fell on him in Grant Park. He was 48.
Hope You Brought a Coat
Heads up: a "pneumonia front" is on its way through, dropping temperatures near the lake by as much as 20 degrees.
Watch the Mayor's Chair
One Chicagoan is on a mission to convince Kanye West to run for mayor in 2015.
Safety On
Mayor Emanuel proposed new regulations for gun shops restricting them from doing business in most areas of the city and requiring them to videotape every sale.
Spirited Competition
Celeste, The Aviary, Sable Kitchen & Bar, and Three Dots and a Dash are finalists in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.
Oh Deer
A woman got quite the shock this weekend while driving on I-90 near Barrington; a deer fell from an overpass and went through her windshield. No one was injured.
Bat Woman
A White Sox fan made an impressive one-handed grab of a bat flung into the stands, protecting a baby seated behind her.
10 Years of Taste
LTHForum is 10 years old; cofounder Michael Gebert recalls the dinner that instigated its creation.
Book It
Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will take the Chicago Ideas stage on June 11 to promote her memoir, Hard Choices.
Parks & Receation
The Chicago Neighborhoods has released a series of full-color prints celebrating the city's parks and public places.
From Englewood to Paris
Englewood-born tennis star Taylor Townsend won her first round match at the French Open
Justice for Jurich & McShane
Four years after beating Stacy Jurich and Natasha McShane with a bat and one year after pleading guilty, Heriberto Viramontes was sentenced to 90 years in prison, and must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.
Everyone's Going Somewhere
This weekend is one of the busiest, both on the streets and in the sky, so be sure to check your train or the roads before heading out.
Critical Mass
Bike the Drive is this weekend, and over 18,000 people have already signed up to pedal their way down Lake Shore Drive.
Battling Blight
The City received over $169 million from the federal government to deal with vacant properties, but as the money was spent on projects all over the map, it's unclear if it made any impact on blighted areas.
Legislative Lag
From Uber to Google Glass, legislators are unsure how to regulate new technologies without stifling innovation.
Top Local Tunes
TimeOut put together its list of the 41 best Chicago albums of all time. Anything missing?
The Devil Wants You!
"Thee Satanist Church" once practiced in Lawndale, as well as spots in Oak Park and elsewhere, in the early 1970s. It was run by Terry Taylor, an occult bookstore owner who acted as high priest -- but who didn't believe in the devil.
Current Events of 1914
The Tribune has been posting front pages from 100 years ago on its Pinterest account, which right now means articles on the women's suffrage movement and the Mexican revolution.
Blasphemy vs. Anti-Authoritarianism
Sun-Times political reporter Dan Mihalopoulos wrote about a column about how Pussy Riot members' upcoming performance at RiotFest is an affront to Chicago's Orthodox Christians. Whet Moser argues that he might be missing the point behind the band's actions. (In Russia, reaction to their guerrilla performance in Christ the Savior Cathedral was mixed.)
Natural Buzzkills
Chicago's beaches open on Friday but it will probably be too cold to soak up the sun. You could grill out instead, but those delicious crispy bits might give you cancer.
Ebert on Film
Life Itself, the documentary about Roger Ebert, debuts in Chicago July 4. The official trailer was released yesterday.
Life Itself: Official Trailer (2014) from Kartemquin Films on Vimeo.
Van Watch
Brooklyn hardcore band Go Deep's van, and all the equipment in it, was stolen while it was parked in the Wicker Park area Wednesday afternoon.
Build Your Own Machine
Political organizations upset over school closings and other City Council decisions are getting behind residents who want to run against their aldermen in the next election.
Going for Broke
The Cubs are adding more revenue-generating electronic signs and seating expansions to their renovation plans, figuring rooftop owners near Wrigley Field are going to sue them anyways.
Art That's Gone to Pot(holes)
Local artist Jim Bachor has been filling in potholes with Chicago flag mosaics.
Terrible is Great!
The Reader finds checks in on what Everything is Terrible! has been up to lately.
Greenwald to Speak on Snowden & the NSA
Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who worked with Edward Snowden to reveal widespread surveillance by the NSA, is on tour with Haymarket Books this summer, and will be speaking June 26 at the Socialism 2014 Conference in Rosemont. GB's Jason Prechtel interviewed Greenwald at the Socialism Conference in 2012.
Still not Equal
The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates makes the case for slavery reparations by way of introducing us to Clyde Ross, a Mississippi-born son of share croppers who settled in North Lawndale, and Chicago's ongoing problems of segregation. You may want to save this one for weekend reading.
Shutting Down the Golden Arches
McDonald's was forced to shut down part of its corporate headquarters when over 2,000 protesters gathered outside for what may have been the largest demonstration ever faced by the company.
Goats + Chickens = Jet Ski
Comedian Kurt Braunohler will jet-ski from Chicago to New Orleans starting next week for a Comedy Central web series -- and also to raise money for Heifer International.
Culture Warriors Return
The Dueling Critics Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel, formerly of WBEZ, are returning to public radio on WDCB's "The Arts Section."
Tunes Returning to Pilsen
The reopened Thalia Hall hosts its first concert tonight, a sold-out performance by Panda Bear.
We're Walkin' Here
Chicago is one of the safest cities in the country for pedestrians, according to a new study.
Watch Dogs IRL
YouTuber Devin Graham produced a real-life version of the upcoming Watch Dogs video game set in Chicago.
Out of the Suburbs & Into the Grid
Chicago gave the world the suburbs, and historian Elaine Lewinnek explains how and why in a new book.
Grumpy Cat Visits Navy Pier
Grumpy Cat will be at Navy Pier's Signature Store from 4 to 5pm today, posing for pictures and generally being annoyed.
Give the Others a Chance
As the James Beard Awards come to Chicago, Anthony Todd makes a convincing argument that the city get its own Best Chef category.
RIP Sam Greenlee
Sam Greenlee, author of The Spook Who Sat by the Door, passed away Monday at age 83. The film based on his book is credited with launching the blaxspoitation genre.
Business As Usual
While the departure of the federal hiring monitor from Chicago signaled the end of patronage hiring in City government, Sun-Times' Carol Marin says that oversight never applied to City Council, and political hires are still happening today.
Nice Driving, Glasshole
Chicago State Senator Ira Silverstein proposed a ban on wearing any kind of computer display while driving.
Same Paul, Different Day
Photographer Paul Octavious is interviewed in The Great Discontent about his professional development and how he comes up with his great photo series. [via]
Opening Up the Local Scene
Many Chicago rappers now receiving national attention worked with Closed Sessions early in their career, and RedEye's Ernest Wilkins says the local label plays a vital role in connecting local talent to tastemakers around the country.
Unbelievable Numbers
Part two of Chicago magazine's in-depth investigation of crime stats looks at theft and assault. (Read part one, on homicide rates.)
A New Museum on Campus?
The proposed site for an interactive museum spearheaded by George Lucas would place it nearby Soldier Field and the Field Museum downtown.
Beard's in Chicago
Chicago will host the James Beard Awards ceremony next year, the first time the awards will have been held outside New York. The awards gala will be on May 4, 2015.
Love & Money
Harrison Martin and Bret Hamilton interviewed people in River North/Gold Coast and Pilsen to get their thoughts about love and capitalism. [via]
Love and Capitalism from Harrison Martin on Vimeo.
Because it's Happy
McDonald's is bringing to the US a new Happy Meal character named "Happy," who will either delight your children or haunt their dreams. Happy was designed by the chain's European ad agency and debuted over there in 2009.
Warning: Insipid music.
Fun with Cryptocurrency
The Sun-Times is all in on Bitcoin, isn't it? Its next experiment is to allow readers to purchase items in ads with Bitcoins, using QR codes. The first test will be Jay-Z/Beyonce concert tickets this summer.
A New Line to the Loop
Blackline shuttle service promises a faster trip from the North Side to downtown while offering leather seats, A/C, and WiFi to commuters.
Goodbye, Gay Mart
Gay Mart has closed after more than two decades on Halsted Street. Chicago Phoenix's Gerald Farinas reflects on the store's role in the LGBT community and how Boystown has evolved.
Spread of Emptiness
Watch as 18,000 vacant properties pile up around Chicago on this map put together by the Chicago Reporter.
Assault in Logan Square
Reddit user "dobbi" posted that she was attacked while walking on Lyndale around 9:15am this morning. Description and a lengthy discussion follows at the Reddit post.
Pot Arrests Continue
Despite City Council passing new rules decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, Chicago police are still more likely to take someone to jail than write them a ticket, according to a new study.
Plants on Plants on Plants
In the massive grow rooms at Green Sense Farms, LEDs deliver the exact amount of light needed by each plant in the vertical farm, allowing for more harvests than a traditional farm and creating less waste.
80 Acres of History
Urban archaeologists are digging into the history of a Civil War prisoner of war camp located in what is now the near South Side of the city.
When Humanity Gets Real
An old friend of Lance Armstrong paid a visit while the former cyclist played Cards of Humanity this past weekend.
Just another night of playing Cards Against Humanity... pic.twitter.com/lfu3YtdHRC
— Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong) May 18, 2014A Tech Company Dealing in Food
The Tribune peers into The Matrix, the computer brain pieced together by Chef Homaro Cantu to help run things at Moto.
Get to Know the Chicago Imagists
The group behind the new film Hairy Who and the Chicago Imagists just published an online archive of material about Chicago Imagism. The interactive archive includes everything from rarely seen artwork to personal correspondence to new interviews conducted with artists, scholars and collectors.
Rebrand CPS
Chicago Public Schools is holding a contest to redesign its logo. Sadly, it's only open to students in 6th to 12th grade.
Clearing the Path
In order to extend the Red Line to 130th, the City may have to seize hundreds of parcels of land to make way.
No Kids at the NRA Show
A woman was ejected from the National Restaurant Association convention at MCCormick Place for bringing her 10-day-old infant into the show, violating their rule against children under 16.
Get Drunk Faster
If QwikerLiquor (previously) wasn't enough for your immediate booze delivery needs, Boston-based app Drizly is now available here.
Spin these Singles
Music blog Chicago Singles Club profiles one artist a month and produces a two-track single from each. This month it's Moritat.
Some Park in Chicago
There are a few errors in the Wrigley Field mural commemorating the park's 100th anniversary. Foremost among them is a photo of something that happened at Comiskey.
Lay Down With the Stars
Goody Two Shoes Estate Sales is selling a bed they claim was once owned by legendary Hollywood star Rita Hayworth. It's round, it's red and can be yours for a mere $1,500.
Statistically the Best
Chicagoist aggregated data from a variety of ratings to produce a "statistically accurate" list of the 25 best restaurants in Chicago.
Maxwell Street, 1964
And This is Free is a documentary of Maxwell Street in its hey day, made by Mike Shea. [via]
Summer Plans
It may not feel like it outside, but summer is just around the corner. The Reader's annual summer guide might help you warm up. (It is flammable, after all.)
Don't Waffle on This Book
Remember the Waffleizer? Author and former GB contributor Daniel Shumski's book Will it Waffle?, based on the popular foodblog, is now available for preorder.
End of Corruption
A federal monitor tasked with investigating city hiring practices and combating political patronage is ending its oversight role, satisfied new measures will keep politics out of the hiring process.
Fight for 15 Continues
Many fast food workers in Chicago are on strike today, calling for $15 an hour and better working conditions.
Rock Down Memory Lane
Ten Riot Fest headliners including Weezer, Slayer, and Jane's Addiction will be playing their "Essential Albums" in their entirety.
Burying the Drive
A group of Streeterville residents unveiled a plan to bury part of Lake Shore Drive near Oak Street Beach in order to make space for more green areas, beaches, and a man-made island.
Garage Sale Season is Upon Us
This weekend there are two big events to consider: the Ravenswood Manor Garage Sale featuring more than 100 participants throughout the neighborhood, and the Great Parker Garage Sale benefiting Francis Parker School. [via]
When the River's More than Muddy
A new site from Open City provides up-to-date info on whether and where sewage is being pumped into the Chicago River. Co-creator Derek Eder talked about it on "The Afternoon Shift" Tuesday.
We're Ready to Believe
The Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team got Bill Murray to do a promo for their upcoming Ghostbusters Night May 30 -- and for some reason he impersonated Harry Caray for it.
Zero, the Unlucky Number
For years, Tom Feddor had to battle Chicago over tickets erroneously issued to his license plate, which is simply 0. Now he's fighting Oak Park.
Transforming Television
Tyra Banks is producing a documentary series about a group of transgendered women in Chicago. "TransAmerica" will be hosted by Carmen Carrera and run on VH1. (Thanks, Dee.)
Trotting Out the Propaganda
A new video by the conservative Illinois Policy Institute tells the story of Pickle the carriage horse and her owner, who would be put out of business if the city passes a ban on horse-drawn carriages.
Seeing Green in Red Lights
Unsealed court documents detail huge bribes taken by a former City Hall official in return for sending City business to red light camera operator Redflex Traffic Systems.
Blue Line Hero
TSA agent Eddie Palacios will receive an Award for Valor from the Department of Homeland Security for stopping an El train before it hit a woman who fell on to the tracks at the Chicago Ave. Blue Line.
From Blue to Green
Food Not Bombs is growing a community garden on the lot of an abandoned police station in Pilsen.
Smoke Delays
Around 1,120 flights were cancelled yesterday when the evacuation of a radar facility halted all flights through Midway and O'Hare.
She Draws
Columbia journalism students profile five local female comic artists and illustrators; for further reading, see also the Ladydrawers and Quite Strong.
16-sided Roll of the Die
The folks behind Cards Against Humanity have launched Tabletop Deathmatch, a competition in which 16 independent game designers compete to win a first printing and a booth at GenCon. Follow along on the video series.
Who is Fred Eychaner?
He's a Chicago businessman who's given more than $14 million to liberal super-PACs but stays out of the public eye.
Never Too Old to Rock
Students at Marquette University created a short documentary about Tribune rock critic (and Marquette alumnus) Greg Kot. [via]
United States of X: Language Edition
No surprise that Spanish is the most common language spoken in the US after English. But what's the further down on the list? In Illinois, Polish is third. Slate's Ben Blatt also looked at what the most common Native American, Scandinavian, Indo-Aryan and African languages are spoken across the country. UPDATE: AAPI Voices' Karthick Ramakrishnan points out flaws with some of Blatt's maps, and provides updates.
Principally Silent
Principals speaking out against school closings and other CPS actions say a "code of silence" enforced by the the Emanuel administration keeps most school heads from sharing their opinions of its reforms.
It Takes Money to Make Money
Whether it's working as a server, fixing computers, or audio engineering, the side hustles of Chicago rappers help them raise money for music videos and studio time.
Counting Down to the End of the Bun
Hotdogs.com is, amazingly, a countdown clock for the closure of Hot Doug's.
Smoke Clears the Skies
All flights in and out of O'Hare and Midway were halted after smoke forced workers to evacuate a radar facility in Elgin. UPDATE: The smoke was caused by a bathroom fan, and flights will slowly resume at both airports.
Civic Pride Profalactics
Chicago-themed condom dispensers designed by Columbia students will eventually be installed in two dozen high schools around the city.
The People's Picks
Residents of three different wards chose how they wanted aldermanic "menu money" spent in their area, selecting projects like street resurfacing, bus stop benches, and walkway lights.
Another Vortex for You
Humidity and back-and-forth temperature shifts are unleashing a "pollen vortex" of allergens into the air.
Where to Eat Next
Time Out Chicago announced its 2014 Food & Drink Awards, with Cicchetti taking Readers' Choice for Best New Restaurant.
Get Outta Town
Just Off the Tracks provides tips on places to eat and things to do near Metra stops within the city and in the suburbs. Just the UP Northwest Line so far, with more lines on the way. [via]
JJJr. Begs Forgiveness - for Others
Imprisoned former congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. asked President Obama to pardon several of his fellow inmates.
Putting Everything On the Table
Conversations about the future of Chicago are taking place all across the city today as part of the Chicago Community Trust's "On the Table," including a session on community news and citizen journalism hosted by GB.
Off the Bench
A Cook County judge previously found not guilty of assaulting a deputy because she used the insanity defense was removed from the bench by a panel of judges.
Buzzing the South Side
Some South Side residents are upset that a new flight path heading towards Midway Airport is leading hundreds of planes to fly closer to their homes as they land.
Google Bots IRL
A fleet of 500 Finch Robots will be available to anyone with a library card after Google Chicago donated the programmable robots to the Chicago Public Library.
C-Suite Not Sweet on Illinois
A survey of CEOs ranked Illinois as the third worst state to do business behind New York and California.
In Good Company
Theaster Gates, Chicago artist and founder of Rebuild Foundation, is #11 on Fast Company's 100 Most Creative People in Business 2014 list.
Be Exposed to Laughter
The Comedy Exposition of 2014 is a new stand-up comedy festival coming to Chicago in July.
High Hospitality
A Calumet Park man is under arrest after feeding a woman and her 1-year-old son chocolate cake laced with marijuana.
Now They Have a Request
Local radio DJs are coming together to speak out against violence in the city, adding regular messages to their broadcasts telling listeners to put their guns down and speak out.
The Send-Off
In Chicago's African-American community there's a growing tradition of friends and family coming together for a pre-prom party before young gussied up couples head off to the big dance.
"A Love Like Coffee"
Mothers from across the city tell the Chicago Reporter what motherhood means to them ahead of Mother's Day this weekend.
Global Grandparents
A "Speaking Exchange" program uses video chats to connect students learning English in Brazil with senior citizens at a nursing home here in the U.S.
Seeing Green in the Ivy
Forbes' Mike Ozanian calls the Cubs "Baseball's Next Powerhouse," pointing to upcoming television deals, the Ricketts' development strategy and Warren Buffett's interest in the team as signs of future prosperity.
Keeping Up with Joan
Joan Rivers talks with Michigan Avenue magazine about her time at Second City in the early '60s and how it affected her career.
Remembering Lost Friends
The Tribune teamed up with the Mash, Truestar Foundation and the Chicago Bureau to produce Lost Friends, a series of videos by high school journalists talking about violence in their lives.
How Many Chicagos in New York?
Three, according to this map of "New York expressed in units of Chicagos." [via]
Talking Together
Ad agency FCB Brazil helped its client CNA language schools create a platform for young Brazilians to practice English by video chatting with senior citizens in a Chicago rest home.
(Thanks, Dee!)
The Ivory Third Coast
ABC7 tracks the illicit ivory trade as it passes through Chicago on its way to the rest of the world.
The Motley Pumpkins
Tommy Lee is behind the drum kit on the Smashing Pumpkins' upcoming album. [via]
United States of X: Beer Tweet Edition
Vox shares several maps of Twitter data about beer. Chicagoans really like Schlitz and Goose Island, not surprisingly. But we tweet more about church than beer.
Not Quite a Critical Mass
The number of people who rode a bike to work in Chicago more than doubled in recent years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Still, only 1.3 percent of workers said they rode a bike to work between 2008-2012.
Leaning Over the Ledge
Visitors will be able to lean out from the 94th story of the John Hancock building at "TILT" starting Saturday.
Snail Mail Fail
People all over the city are having problems getting their mail delivered, possibly due to a high amount of turnover at the U.S. Postal Service.
To Scav is to Live
The annual University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt list is out, and it's full of fun items, such as Barbie's résumé, a "Canadian tuxedo" made entirely of denim, and a barbershop version of "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins," to be performed in hobbit-Starfleet costume
On McStrike
Hundreds of local fast food workers will join a national strike against the restaurant chains on May 15.
Backing the Opposition
Yesterday, the Chicago Teachers Union's House of Delegates passed a resolution to join the growing national opposition to Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Something Nice for Mom
Still looking for a good Mother's Day gift? Heshima Kenya's line of handmade scarves is a versatile, fashionable option. They'll be at Dose Market this Sunday at Chop Shop.
Miles and the Chair
The Illustrated Press tells the story of Miles Turner, a high school linebacker stuck in a wheelchair after being shot eight times in the back while trying to protect a cousin.
Socking it to Rahm
Tribune editorial board member Kristen McQueary takes Mayor Emanuel to task for being more swagger than substance while letting expenses pile up.
Building a Hub in Humboldt
After buying all four corners where California Avenue and Augusta intersect, developer Gino Battaglia plans to bring more restaurants and community spaces to the neighborhood.
Mr. Reliable
Vocativ named the Reader's J.R. Jones the "Most Reliable" movie critic in the U.S., saying his rating of a movie is usually closer to the average of all MetaCritic reviews than any other critic in the country. [via]
Up to the Highest Height
As green shoots emerge from the ground, kites return to the skies. So maybe Spring is finally here.
Citizen Kids
A higher rate of 17-year-olds voted in Cook County's March primaries than people old enough to be their parents.
Red Camera Flag
Civil libertarians and the ACLU are concerned new traffic cameras giving CPD 360-degree views around the surrounding area could be used to monitor non-criminal activity.
Jet Goes Digital
Jet will no longer print its (formerly weekly) magazine and will turn into an all-digital publication.
Let the Carts Cook
Two years after the food truck legislation passed, food cart vendors are trying to get a little regulatory relief of their own. Their fight is sadly not new.
This Will Go Well
Ventra is answering your questions via Twitter from 2:30 to 3:30 today. The #AskVentra hashtag is already lighting up with abuse.
No Rideshare at O'Hare
No, Uber X can't pick you up at the airport, the City decided yesterday after the company sent a message to drivers telling them how to accept pickups at O'Hare and Midway.
Don't Shush Their Acceptance Speech
First lady Michelle Obama will present Chicago Public Library the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the highest official honor a library can receive for its service to the community.
If it's Tuesday, it Must be Funk
Tonight at 7pm at Hopleaf, join us for the latest edition of Tuesday Funk, where Melissa Wiley, James Finn Garner, Gint Aras, Dustin Monk, and GB's own Jeremy Owens are reading.
The Silent Swede
The Blackhawks' Niklas Hjalmarsson will play Tuesday despite being unable to talk after a puck hit his throat during their last game.
Trump Stamp
The all-caps, LED-illuminated "TRUMP" logo is getting installed on the side of Trump Tower downtown.
Working for the Long Term
The Distance, a new business magazine from Basecamp (previously), launched today with a profile of Horween Leather Company, the city's last tannery.
Red Light Irony
While Mayor Emanuel stressed the necessity of speed cameras to keep kids safe, they also caught his own motorcade speeding or running red lights almost two dozen times, according to ABC 7.
It's in the Water
The water from a pump in the Schiller Woods Forest Preserve is said to have magical powers. Curious City investigates.
Mayor Emanuel apparently isn't too worried about going slow near schools and parks. His chauffeured SUV has been caught by speed and red light cameras 20 times in the last two and a half years.
Documenting the West Side
Photographer Paul D'Amato speaks with Vice about his work documenting the everyday life and people of West Side neighborhoods like Garfield Park, Lawndale, and Humbolt Park.
Secrets in the Library
The mystery behind 150-year-old marginalia in a copy of Homer's Odyssey from the University of Chicago Library has been solved.
Doggone It!
Hot Doug's is going on "permanent vacation," per owner Doug Sohn, who also told DNAinfo that it's "time to do something else." "I'm not burnt out. I also don't want to be burnt out. It's just time," he told the Trib's Kevin Pang.
Crowdfund Pure Joy
Pure Joy is trying to create an all-ages, accessible performance space in Chicago. They're raising startup funds via IndieGoGo.
Beard Winners Announced
Jacquy Pfeiffer of the French Pastry School, an episode of This American Life, Curtis Duffy's Grace, Dave Beran of Next, Jimmy Bannos, Jr. of The Purple Pig, and Paul Kahan (Publican, Avec, etc.) were among the winners at last night's James Beard Awards ceremony in New York.
When Michael Jackson Went to Chicago...
A Timbaland-produced track called "Chicago" is on the new album of Michael Jackson rarities and unreleased material, Xcape, out next Tuesday.
Running Out of Juice
While Chicago's electric vehicle-charging network was planned to be one of the largest and fastest-charging in the country, many of the stations in the area are out of order thanks to lawsuits and investigations by the FBI.
Plunging from Above
Dozens of people including RedEye's Leonor Vivanco rappelled down from the 27th story of the Wit Hotel for the Skyline Plunge fundraiser.
End of the Lineups
The Chicago Police Department is cutting back its use of lineups to save time and money, and will ask witnesses to identify suspects in photos instead.
Here to Make You Feel Unaccomplished
Crain's 20 in Their 20s list is sure to get you thinking about what you've been doing with your life.
Stackin' Tickets
Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long took a trip to Chuck E. Cheese's with a 9-year-old boy who was the victim of bullying on the school bus.
The Separate City
While L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist comments and history of racial discrimination lawsuits ignited a media firestorm, Whet Moser reflects on Chicago's own legacy of racial segregation.
Rambling to Victory
Loyola's men's volleyball team are national champions, beating Stanford 3-1 Saturday.
Deadly Wrong-Way on the Drive
A wrong-way drunk driver collided head-on with a taxi on Lake Shore Drive early Sunday morning, killing one of the cab's passengers and injuring three others.
RIP Gary Becker
Gary S. Becker, Nobel Prize-winning University of Chicago economist, passed away Saturday. He was 83. In 2004 he started a blog with law professor and federal appeals court judge Richard Posner; Becker's final post was on March 3, on the Cuban embargo.
Donut Forget Your Receipt
Stan's Donuts was printing Mitch Hedbergs "Receipt for Donut" joke on their receipts for donuts.
Lady Titans
Robert Feder singles out the 20 most powerful women in Chicago's media industry, with Tribune managing editor Jane Hirt taking the top spot.
Tough Timing
A grand jury is investigating an anti-violence program connected to Gov. Pat Quinn, giving some major ammunition to rival gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner.
Popping Up in the Loop
Hoping to get workers to stay in the Loop, the Chicago Loop Alliance is turning the area's loading docks, alleys, and other neglected spots into cool places to hang out.
Goodbye, Johnny
Johnny's Grill in Logan Square has abruptly closed, just one more victim of the march of gentrification. Owner Nicholas Kalliantasis tells DNAinfo he was not given the option to renew his lease.
A Big Year for the Bean
Nearly 47 million people visited Chicago from around the country, setting a new all-time record, although they still tend to stay downtown and by the lake.
Found Footage of the Fix
Now you can watch the White Sox throw the 1919 World Series thanks to restored newsreel footage posted online. [via]
Caught in the Mouse Trap
Brooklyn-based poet Shane Romero produced Mouse Trap, a short film addressed to Li'l Mouse, a 14-year-old rapper from the South Side. Romero spoke with the Chicago Bureau about the film and its inspiration. [via]
Drunken Jerk Vortices
You probably already realize bars and bar fights go together. You might be surprised just how many crimes occur in the city's nightlife districts.
"Journey to Freedom"
Amer Ahmad, the former City comptroller who fled to Pakistan in an attempt to avoid prosecution for corruption at his previous job as Ohio deputy state treasurer, kept a journal of his escape.
Taste That Fresh Air
Chicagoland has the 20th most polluted air in the country by ozone, and has the 14th worst short-term and 20th worst year-round particle pollution according to the American Lung Association. (Thanks, Dee!)
More Force
WBEZ reports that Chicagoans are almost six times more likely to be shot by police than New Yorkers.
Artapalooza
This year's Lollapalooza will be accompanied by a large exhibition of art curated by street artist Shepard Fairey.
Where Shootings Happen
The Sun-Times compares areas where shootings took place last month with the entire city using demographic data, showing there's more poverty and unemployment in areas affected by violence, but fewer college degrees.
Crowdsourcing History
When the University of Chicago posted online asking for help translating mysterious notes written on a copy of Homer's "Odyssey" from the 1500s, people from all over the world came together to help crack the code.
Drink Your Best Tea
In addition to the rumors that she may buy the Los Angeles Clippers in the wake of the Donald Sterling scandal, former Chicagoan Oprah Winfrey has collaborated with Starbucks to create a chai tea blend that is sure to make your life better.
Save Muddy's House
A year later, there is yet another effort under way to save the historic home of Muddy Waters. This time, Muddy's son, Mud Morganfield, is leading the charge.
A New Road to Chinatown
Mayor Emanuel introduced plans to connect the Loop and Chinatown with a $62 million road project. The Wells-Wentworth Connector would extend Wentworth Avenue over the South Branch and up to Wells Street.
Pick Up Some Portillo's
As in, all the Portillo's. The privately owned, Oak Brook-based Portillo's Restaurant Group is exploring the sale of its namesake restaurant chain.
