This City Goes Up to 11
All the honking and sirens and people sounds in the city makes it hard to commune with nature- although it is possible to get away, if you know where to look.
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
Tuesday, November 18
Merge
Monthly Archive
February 2015
Closer to Junk
Moody's downgraded Chicago's credit rating once again, citing the city's looming pension issues.
Comeback Kid
Derrick Rose is expected to miss 4-6 weeks following his latest knee surgery, but should be back in time for the playoffs.
Called to Civic Duty
If you're not registered to vote but the runoff has you suddenly motivated, you're in luck, there's still time to register. You have until March 9 for absentee and March 10 for in-person voting. Early voting will run March 23 through April 4.
Better with Whiskey
A new local liquor company has developed an Indian-inspired cream liqueur -- but don't take their advice and try it in a negroni.
Towering Inferno It Was Not
A fire broke out on the 87th floor of the Hancock last night. Fortunately, it was put out quickly and no injuries were reported.
Plows to the People
The City seems particularly attentive in plowing side streets ahead of April's runoff election.
Doing More With Less
Curbed's Micro Week celebrates life in small spaces, including tips on how to fit a lot into a little room.
Don't You Forget About Them
Diablo Cody and other writers reflect on the impact of the Breakfast Club 30 years after the teen classic's release.
Tragedy in Black and White
Another newly-discovered clip of the Eastland Disaster shows the grisly recovery effort as divers and workers pulled hundreds of bodies from the Chicago River.
Best Seats in the House
From the Frank Sinatra Booth at Gene & Georgetti to a seat near the Billy Goat's "Wall of Fame," Zagat sought out Chicago's ten most famous tables.
Roadtripping with John Hughes
Bookmark this for warmer weather: roadtrip maps to locations in John Hughes movies, from Ferris Bueller to Home Alone to Weird Science.
Your Campaign Dollars
WBEZ created Campaign Finance Explorer, which lets you see who donated to the election campaigns all of the mayoral and aldermanic candidates. Dig deeper into the data yourself at Illinois Election Money.
It's Gonna Be a Cold One
Not only might today break a record for cold, but February as a whole is on track to be the coldest since 1875.
Sunk Costs
Despite costing the City over $400 million and counting, the Block 37 superstation sits unused downtown, a remnant of abandoned plans for an airport express train.
Walah on the Corner
"Walah's Corner Store" profiles an Englewood store and its owner, highlighting the importance of immigrant-run businesses in under-served communities.
A Matter of Split Seconds
Fivethirtyeight's Data Lab runs the numbers on Chicago's yellow lights, and finds them coming up a bit short.
Usurping the New Republic
Local magazine The Point took the turmoil of The New Republic's staff walkout as an opportunity to bring new readers into its fold.
Another Encased Meat Emporium
Hot Doug's is returning... for one day only... at Paulina Meat Market May 16. And yes, Doug will be there. Nearer term, you can get a special Doug-designed pizza at Piece during March.
Shedding Light on a Black Site
Further coverage and reaction to the Guardian's story about Homan Square, CPD's alleged "black site" for CIA-style interrogation: Police spokesman Marty Maloney says the station is no different from any other, Chicago Justice Project Executive Director Tracy Siska talks with The Atlantic, and Dan O'Neil offers the open data perspective.
Brightly Colored Bungalows
Chicago Patterns visits McKinley Park, home to dozens of quaint Italianate cottages and one of the easiest places to see how Chicago raised the streets to accommodate the sewer system. [via]
Staying on Track
After thoroughly covering the run-up to yesterday's election, Aldertrack is going year-round with its e-newsletter covering Chicago politics. Subscribe by April 1 for a 10 percent discount off the annual rate.
Kane & Rose Injured, Out
Bad night for Chicago sports: the Blackhawks' Patrick Kane suffered a "significant injury" after being checked into a wall, and the Bulls' Derrick Rose tore a meniscus in his right knee and will have to undergo surgery.
It's a Runoff
In case you somehow didn't hear, Mayor Emanuel received 45.4 percent of the vote, triggering the first mayoral runoff in history against Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, who received 33.9 percent. Get ready to vote again April 7.
BREAKING: Rahm Emanuel to see six more weeks of winter.
— Scott Smith (@ourmaninchicago) February 25, 2015Next Stop: Party
Did you know you can rent your own two-car El train? Although there's no booze on board, live music and food are allowed, leaving plenty of party possibilities.
Memberabilia
Learn the art of making plaster copies of private parts from the master, Cynthia Plaster Caster, known for her molds of celebrities from Jimi Hendrix to Karen O.
CPD's Black Site
An investigation by the Guardian alleges CPD holds suspects in an off-the-books facility in Homan Square where they are interrogated and denied access to attorneys.
Putting Rats on Birth Control
Not the pill. The City is testing a "milky egg cream" that inhibits sperm production and causes egg loss in rats, with the aim of slowing the rodents' rapid reproduction rate.
"Our Kitchens, Ourselves"
Chefs Gale Gand, Beverly Kim, Iliana Regan and Mindy Segal talk about the intersection of feminism and food Wednesday night at Revolution Brewing. Tickets are $20.
Meet the Gatekeepers
The latest issue of Sixty Inches from Center magazine covers the gatekeepers, the people who determine who's in and who's out in the art world.
Let's Cuddle
There's an IndieGoGo campaign on right now to start a professional cuddling service in Chicago. Meanwhile, though, you could check out the local chapter of Cuddle Party if you crave that non-sexual physical intimacy.
Thinkpiecing About the Election
Both John Kass and Mick Dumke call loudly for a runoff, which Carol Felsenthal says would be humbling. And in the NYTimes, Megan Stielstra wonders, "If we don't like the guy ... why are we resigned to his re-election?"
"Haters are gonna hate"
"Downton Abbey" fan Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock apparently enjoys modern perks as well. According to the Associated Press, Schock used campaign and taxpayer funds on private flights, massages, and Katy Perry concert tickets for his interns.
To Have, and Not Need
Despite running unopposed, Ald. Ed Burke reportedly has over $8 million in campaign cash on hand, far more than any other alderman.
Clout Quantified
Chicago Magazine's annual Power 100 list of the most influential Chicagoans puts Mayor Emanuel on top.
Endorse This!
If you want to get feedback on who to vote for tomorrow, here's some help: Independent Voters of Illinois, the Trib, the Chicago Defender, Equality Illinois, the Chicago Federation of Labor and the Chicago Citizen. Happy voting! Polls are open from 6am to 7pm.
Hype Men
DePaul's Bench Mob keeps the crowd cheering, even if they don't spend much time on the court.
Pretty in Pink
Last week, furniture maker Nathan Chandler sold a mint condition 1956 kitchen from a home he purchased that had been sealed, time-capsule style, since it was built.
Save Transit Funding
After Gov. Rauner proposed funding cuts to the Regional Transportation Authority in his state budget, the Active Transportation Alliance launched a petition to fight it.
Cheaper to Rent
Rents were up an average of 3.3 percent across the country in January, but they fell half a percent in Chicago.
Chicago's Oscar Night
Chicago did pretty well at the Academy Awards last night. Ida, which is distributed by Music Box Films, won Best Foreign Language Film; Chicago-born Patricia Arquette won Best Supporting Actress for Boyhood; Chicago-born Common won Best Original Song with John Legend for "Glory" from Selma; and Chicago-born author and screenwriter Graham Moore won Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game. On the other hand, Finding Vivian Maier did not win Best Documentary.
Oh, and Oprah got an Oscar, too.
Good night. pic.twitter.com/KmdQkcZ3Ur
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) February 23, 2015What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Mutual Legal Understandings?
The owner of Piece, Love and Chocolate, a Colorado-based chocolate store, penned an open letter to Vosges founder Katrina Markoff after receiving a whopper of a cease-and-desist letter from her lawyers, threatening legal action if the store doesn't change their store name and marketing materials in one week. Vosges claims that they have trademarked the tagline "Peace, Love, and Chocolate" and that the Colorado store's name is "confusingly similar" and "unfairly competitive."
MCA's Future Face
The Museum of Contemporary Art is planning a major $64 million renovation to improve the art viewing experience.
Faded to Black
Chicago's silent film industry boomed in the 1910s until filmmakers headed west and made Hollywood the movie mecca it is today.
Frozen Foster
Foster Beach looks like an alien planet in photos of the frozen landscape captured by frequent Rearview photographer Bill Guerriero.
Quality Versus Quantity
Chicago's high school graduation rate is up, but some alternative schools may be lowering standards and using unproven online instruction methods, according to an investigation by Catalyst and WBEZ.
In Praise of Pairs
This Saturday, in the unlikely venue of Chi-Town Futbol, the second annual Two-Piece Fest Midwest will showcase 22 bands made up of just two people each.
An Old Soul?
A 5-year-old Cincinnati boy claims that in his previous life he was a woman who died in a fire at a Chicago residential hotel in 1993.
Ina's Back
Ina Pinkney, who closed her West Loop brunch spot in 2013, will be making a special appearance tomorrow starting at 9am at Feast; she'll be cooking and signing copies of her cookbook.
Real Women Wear Wheels
A bunch of Windy City Rollers posed for the Rollergirl Project, a photography series documenting "the different body types of active skaters and the physical effects derby has on the players."
Blue Bin Shaming
Buildings with more than five residential units are required to recycle according to city ordinance. My Building Doesn't Recycle is a place to anonymously report yours doesn't.
Kickstart to Warm Up
The You Are Beautiful public art project, a hummingbird feeder and a picnic cheese plate pack on Gapers Block's curated Kickstarter page might help you look forward to warmer weather.
What the Woof?
Surveillance video of yesterday's widely-reported theft of a minivan full of dogs reveals that the driver was not carjacked by two men, but that the car was taken while unlocked and unattended.
Local Comfort Food
Eat your way through these arctic temperatures by cooking up some foods invented or perfected in Chicago.
Complete Cubbies Roster
Rick Kaempfer put together a list of every Cubs player in history, complete with a short bio for each.
Meet the (Would-Be) Mayors
WBEZ put together a guide to the mayoral candidates' views on major issues like public safety, education, and jobs.
Kick off Your Boots
The City is looking to use self-releasing boots for cars with unpaid parking tickets, although drivers would still have to return them after settling their debt.
Makerspace in Rogers Park
The Chicago Industrial Arts & Design Center is currently building out a makerspace in a three-story building which was the original home of Chicago Radio Laboratory (which eventually became Zenith Electronics). Interested makers will definitely want to check out the current Indiegogo campaign for membership and other perks.
Elect Me, Don't Appoint Me
A recently released UIC report [PDF] on the impact of having mayor-appointed board members in the Chicago Public Schools (versus elected members, which is the norm in 98% of the nation's school districts) shows the urgent need for more transparency in how the school system is run. By the way, many Chicagoans will be asked to vote on the need for an elected school board in this Tuesday's election.
Chicago's Wrestling Clown
Rolling Stone profiles Colt Cabana, the hometown pro wrestler who keeps things fun and funny .
Freeze Out the Vote
Why are Chicago's municipal elections held in February, anyway? Curious City finds out.
Puppy Jacking
Two men carjacked a minivan owned by Urban Out Sitters -- with six customers' dogs still inside. UPDATE: The van has been found, with all the dogs cold but safe.
Stay Warm Out There
It's gonna be really cold today, like no school cold. (All area YMCA locations will be open today should you need a place to take the kids.)
Coming Down the Home Stretch
Aldertrack is offering its Racing Form for free until Election Day; it includes details on aldermanic candidates, ward maps, and more.
Living Well Downtown
The Near North Side, Loop, and Near South Side ranked as the most livable neighborhoods in a list by PlaceILive.com, where most areas fared well relative to other cities.
Eastland's Lost Reels
While the first-known footage of the Eastland Disaster surfaced recently, Robert Loerzel found Chicago's censorship office rejected several films documenting the event.
A Brutal Connection
An investigation by the Guardian alleges a Chicago detective who used brutal methods to solicit confessions from suspects was also responsible for torture at Guantánamo Bay.
People in Ice Houses
There's no fighting these arctic temperatures, so why not build a multicolored igloo instead?
United States of X: Loudness Edition
Chicagoland isn't just full of light pollution, it's also really loud.
The Happy Couples
Photographer Marc Perlish is doing an ongoing project photographing just-married couples holding hands, with their families, kissing and having fun outside marriage court in the County Building.
Place Your Bets
They haven't played a spring training game yet, but Vegas bookmakers are projecting the Cubs to be better than the Sox this season.
Anti-Antivaccination Legislation Coming
Illinois' non-medical vaccine exemptions doubled between 2009 and 2013. A bill being considered in Springfield would make it harder for parents to skip vaccines for their kids and put her immunity at risk.
Emanuel Mugging Report Missing?
The Sun-Times got a copy of the police report for the robbery of Mayor Emanuel's son in December, but the incident doesn't show up in the crime database on the City's data portal.
Pick a Paczki
DNAinfo has a handy map of bakeries selling packzis to satisfy your Fat Tuesday pastry cravings.
Behind the Road Sign
A series by ABC7's Roz Varon takes a look at how Chicago's streets got their names.
Be Like Mike
If you feel like celebrating Michael Jordan's birthday you can maybe pound a six-pack after a workout, or just stay on the couch and watch some of his best moves or someone else recreating his epic dunk from Space Jam.
Skyline Drying Up
Water towers sprouting from rooftops across the city may start disappearing after the Commission on Chicago Landmarks decided not to protect most of them.
Shrinking to Grow?
Tony Hu is selling most of his restaurants except for the expanding empire of Lau Sze Chuan locations. He sold Lao Beijing already.
In Right Field, Bill Murray
Back in 1978, Bill Murray played a few weeks of minor league baseball in between "Saturday Night Live" seasons. [via]
Pilsen's Been Coming Up for a Long Time
The gentrification debate has been going on in Pilsen "for probably 50 years, according to 25th Ward aldermanic candidate Roberto "Beto" Montano. Don't know about that, but we've been covering it since 2004.
A Conversation With Martha Lavey
Polly Carl, former director of artistic development at Steppenwolf Theatre, spoke with Steppenwolf's outgoing artistic director, Martha Lavey.
Hot Suit, Cool Sound
To celebrate his Grammy nomination for writing the liner notes to the incredible compilation Purple Snow: Forecasting the Minneapolis Sound, Numero Group's Jon Kirby commissioned a stunning purple suit from Prince's former clothing designer.
Look to the Stars
Chicago-born astronaut Dr. John H. Grunsfeld is being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Art in the Walls
Cuban artist Alejandro Figueredo Díaz-Perera is in the midst of a three-week stint living in a 2.5'x10' crawlspace at the Chicago Artists Coalition.
Was JRW a Victim of Gentrification?
A column in The Nation last week was titled "Gentrification Is the Real Scandal Surrounding Jackie Robinson West." Daniel Kay Hertz argues that no, gentrification is not the issue.
For Austin
For Grace, the documentary about the making of Chef Curtis Duffy's restaurant, is screening at the SXSW Music Festival in March.
Flip Her the Ring
Rodney Nelson proposed to his fiancée Alexa Wenning with a flip book in Lincoln Park Zoo. [via]
Families Yes, Teens No
The Chicago Ridge and Ford City malls are banning teenagers on Friday and Saturday nights unless accompanied by adults in order to encourage a more family-friendly atmosphere.
Snow Crash
Yesterday's lake effect snow caused a 38-vehicle crash on the Kennedy inbound express lanes. Twelve people went to the hospital.
I Just Want to Know Why
FoGB Felix Jung has created a couple fun Twitter bots recently. One tracks people's desires, while another plays the question and answer game.
You Only Get One Shot
Hundreds of young rappers hoping to get a big break lined up for a chance to audition for the hip hop reality show "One Shot."
The Barren Wasteland
Chicago will be very, very cold this weekend, but if you're brave enough you can go see the "ice volcanoes" along the beach.
Pitchfork Lineup is Out
Wilco, Sleater-Kinney, and Chance the Rapper will headline this year's Pitchfork Music Festival, and tickets are available now.
Fly to Chicago
Curbed shares some vintage Chicago tourism posters aimed at bringing travelers our way.
This is Getting Out of Hand
A Logan Square woman found her car "essentially bombed," apparently by someone upset at her for violating dibs.
Feel Safer in the Backseat?
Uber is adding a panic button to its app in Chicago soon, a representative told the Sun-Times.
A Home for LGBT History
The Henry Gerber House in Old Town was named as a National Historic Landmark for its connections to the Society for Civil Rights, the first gay civil rights organization.
G-Man as Critic
FBI agents looking for communistic messages analyzed writings and plays by Chicago legends like Richard Wright, Lorraine Hansberry, and Charles S. Johnson.
Live from New York, via Chicago
From Wayne and Garth to Haray Caray and the Superfans, TimeOut shares the best SNL sketches inspired by Chicago.
Not All Newbies
Despite the occasional trip down Lake Shore Drive, Divvy riders may actually be safer than other cyclists, reporting only 18 crashes since the program started.
Help Hungry Pets in Need
Add Friendship Pet Pantry to the list of pet food pantries in Chicago -- and consider going to their benefit party Friday night.
No More Sweeping Away the Homeless
The City promised to be more respectful of homeless people's belongings when they clean Lower Wacker Drive and other common street sleeping quarters, after reaching an agreement with the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, which had threatened a lawsuit.
Think Outside the Styrofoam Box
Crain's has an interesting "open letter to McDonald's" from Mayor McCheese, aka comedian Joe Janes.
The Father, the Strad, and the Cosa Nostra
A former prison chaplain is on trial for allegedly smuggling messages from an imprisoned mob hit man revealing the location of a Stradivarius violin once owned by Liberace.
For You? Half Off Everything
Enjoy a weekend of bargains at beloved record/book/everything store Shake, Rattle & Read in Uptown. In honor of their 49th anniversary, the whole store is 50% off Friday-Monday.
Alley-Oops
It looked like someone accidentally hit the pass button instead of shooting when backup Bulls point guard Aaron Brooks floated a ball in the air to no one in particular.
Reading, Writing, and Rubella
Elementary schools in Chicago Lawn, Grand Crossing, and Little Village are among those with the lowest vaccination rates among students.
No More Dibs
The City will begin clearing anything left behind to reserve a street parking spot on Friday.
Persecuting Persepolis
Remember when CPS banned Persepolis, the award-winning graphic novel about a young woman coming of age during Iran's cultural revolution, back in 2013? A grad student recently discovered that the order came from the top.
Not So Hot
Doug Sohn has been enjoying his time not being Hot Doug so far -- and he's only gone past his beloved former restaurant once.
A Later Purple Line
The CTA is going to test sending the Purple Line on one more run to the Loop and back, leaving Linden at 8pm, for six weeks this summer.
They're Still Winners to Me
Claiming that the team deliberately let ineligible kids play, Little League International stripped the Jackie Robinson West team of all their wins from the 2014 Little League World Series tournament this morning. The US championship was awarded to the Las Vegas team JRW beat 7-5.
There's Money in Jails
The Chicago Reporter examines the economics of prisons in a story snappily titled "Orange is the New Green."
Just PICK Already
Currently on a media tour to promote his new tell-all book, former Obama advisor David Axelrod said on "CBS This Morning" yesterday that Chicago will most likely get the Obama Presidential Library, although Sneed claims Michelle wants it to be in New York.
Preserving Pullman's History
The Pullman Historic District will be designated a national monument by President Obama.
Pretty Salty Lights
Watch how snow plows made their way through the blizzard with a heat map animation by the team behind clearstreets.org.
Little League, Big Drama
Little League Baseball officials are taking another look at allegations that Jackie Robinson West improperly expanded its boundaries to build its championship team.
Civic Duty Helpers
The Tribune's endorsements and DNAinfo's election guide are worth checking out before you head to the polls.
Chance the Bandmate
The Fader profiles Chance the Rapper in his new role as part of the band Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment.
Oldies Radio from Oldies TV
Weigel Broadcasting is taking its MeTV classic television concept to the radio, turning 87.7 into an oldies station. That frequency was most recently 87.7 The Game before Tribune Media abruptly killed it, and before that the temporary home to the former Q101.
RIP JoAnn Thompson
Sixteenth Ward Alderman JoAnn Thompson passed away last night during open heart surgery. She was 58.
Declaring Peace on Our Environment
Last weekend's NYTimes Magazine included yet another examination of the reversal of the Chicago River and the question of its re-reversal, and puts the question into the larger context of fixing past ecological mistakes.
Green Line to McCormick
The new Green Line stop at Cermak/McCormick Place opened Monday, in time to get any kinks out ahead of the Chicago Auto Show this weekend.
A Flight of Flavors
Passengers stuck at Midway and O'Hare can sample Restaurant Week specials offered by eateries from Auntie Anne's to Wolfgang Puck. [via]
The X Factor
Uber makes a lot of claims about how UberX benefits drivers and passengers alike, so Touchvision checked the facts in a series of short documentaries.
No Home for the Blues
While the roots of the blues run deep in Chicago, enthusiasts and icons like Buddy Guy have been struggling for decades to build a museum to preserve its history.
Dibs War Heats Up
A Ukrainian Village woman says someone cut her car's brake lines after she parked in a spot marked with chairs.
Hired Truck Hired Again
A company owned by one of the central players in the hired truck scandal was hired to help remove snow from the blizzard.
Drew Peterson Back in Court
Drew Peterson allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill the state prosecutor who put him in jail for killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio.
The Eastland Disaster on Film
The first-known film footage of the Eastland Disaster was recently discovered in a Dutch news reel from 1916 by a UIC grad student. [via]
The Eastland portion begins at 1:10.
Laatste bioscoop wereldberichten
Thinning the Herd Protection
Twenty-five elementary schools in Chicagoland have vaccination rates under 80 percent, according to an investigation by the Tribune. Most are religiously affiliated private schools.
Early Voting Begins
Early voting starts today for the Municipal Election. The Board of Election Commissioners has a full list of early voting sites, should you want to cast your vote before the election on February 24.
What Green Can Do for You
Aside from the health benefits of medical marijuana, a bill legalizing adult possession of up to 30g of pot could mean far fewer black men in Illinois prisons, HuffPo's Kim Bellware points out.
A New City Abroad
After nearly 30 years of covering culture in Chicago, Newcity is setting its sights on Brazil.
Get it All Clean
The Distance profiles the World's Largest Laundromat, a massive 24/7/365 "third place" in Berwyn. (Oh, and the Distance now has a podcast!)
Get a Cart & Get in the Race
The Chiditarod shopping cart race is now in its 10th year! Hard to believe, I know. Registration is now open, and they're looking for volunteers to help run the event on March 7.
Drafting Players, Dodging Fees
The NFL demanded free parking, party spaces and a bunch of other stuff in order for Chicago to host Draft Day this year.
Tweet This Movie
The F This Movie Twitter film festival is this Saturday starting at noon. Follow along at @fthismovie and #fthismoviefest.
Drinkin' More than Water at Stickney
A police officer at the Stickney Water Treatment Plant accidentally revealed the existence of a secret drinking room in the plant while giving a new officer a tour. The officer, now suspended, also used quite a few racial slurs, leading Water Reclamation District to launch a broader investigation of employee behavior.
If This Car is Rocking
Contrary to videos circulating on YouTube, rocking a car back and forth to get it unstuck probably won't cause it to start on fire, reports DNAinfo's Mina Bloom.
Start it Up
Chicago tech companies raised $1.6 billion in investment in 2014, according to Built in Chicago, which also singled out 50 companies to watch in 2015.
Winter Walking Woes
Pedestrians tired of slogging through sidewalk snowdrifts filed hundreds of complaints after Sunday's storm, but the City hasn't issued any citations yet.
Measles on the March
Five infants who went to the same daycare in Palatine were diagnosed with measles.
A Valentine from the Heart
Take a second and write a cool note to a sick kid and Lurie Children's Hospital will deliver a special valentine on the 14th. C'mon...think of the children!
Mixed Feelings
Building mixed-income housing at Lathrop Homes would create a test-case for new public housing ideas, but residents are concerned about losing their community.
The Topic That Mayoral Candidates Dare Not Broach
The thing that doesn't get talked about enough in race for mayor? Racial segregation. So the Reader talked with most of them about it.
Put it On the Table
The Chicago Community Trust celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and it's honoring the occasion by organizing another On The Table event on May 12. Thousands of Chicagoans will come together to talk about ways we can make our communities stronger, safer and more dynamic through collaboration and philanthropy. Consider hosting a meetup yourself -- I am.
A Cry Goes Out
The CME Group announced Wednesday that most futures pits in Chicago and New York will close in July, bringing open call trading that much closer to the end. Options markets will remain open.
Chicago's Safe
Chicago ranks fifth in North America and 16th in the world in The Economist's Safe Cities Index. The white paper notes that there's a 27 point difference between how safe the city is and how safe it's perceived as being -- a bigger gap than any other city in the world.
Travel Stories
Student reporters with Real Chi Youth followed the epic two-hour commute of a high school valedictorian.
The First Cuts
The state is withdrawing its support for youth jobs programs in Chicago and other initiatives promised in the closing weeks of Gov. Pat Quinn's administration.
Taking Vivian Maier Off the Streets
Deanna Isaacs delves deeper into the situation with Vivian Maier's photos now that Cook County has asserted copyright ownership. (Previously; more background here.)
Send in the Plows
While it may take a while for your side street to be cleared of snow, it helps if you have idealistic neighbors or are an alderman.
The Things We Leave Behind
Chicago Dibs shares photos of the giant stuffed animals, baby strollers, and other things Chicagoans are using to claim shoveled-out parking spots.
Goodbye, Prentice
The National Trust for Historic Places released a time-lapse video of Prentice Women's Hospital being demolished. The film was captured by Scrappers Film Group and GB's David Schalliol, the team behind our own short documentary series, The Grid.
A Modest Launch
Modest, a mobile commerce platform startup led by former Threadless and Obama for America CTO Harper Reed, officially made it out of beta yesterday.
The Brave Ones
The Sun-Times editorial board released its aldermanic candidate endorsements, saying those on the list seemed most willing to tackle taxes and pensions.
Selling the Stacks
JBTV's Jerry Bryant is selling the show's archive of 30,000+ music videos from the 1980s-2000s.
RIP Andrew Patner
Writer and WFMT radio host Andrew Patner passed away suddenly on Tuesday. He was 55. Neil Steinberg wrote a lovely obituary about the quietly influential critic.
Over My Dead Body
Chicago Magazine has a quiz to help you decide whether to use dibs to mark your parking spot, and if you do, why not use something creative, like a skeleton?
Dibs skeleton pic.twitter.com/ekzabwX2CS
— Mitch Dudek (@mitchdudek) February 3, 2015Kickstarter Class
The Entrepreneurial Product Development class at UIC, taught by FoGB Craighton Berman, is teaching industrial design students how to use Kickstarter as a platform for launching new products.
Making History
Mikki Kendall started #HistoricPOC to add images of people of color to people's often-whitewashed visions of history. [via]
Seeing Schock-ing Red
The interior decorator who recently gave Congressman Aaron Schock's office a "Downton Abbey"-themed renovation is likely in the dog house after giving a Washington Post reporter an impromptu, private tour of the space, which is bedecked with feather arrangements, chandeliers and mirrors; the politician's staff later unsuccessfully tried to have the photos and story removed.
Survival of the Fittest
A timeline in the Reader shows how Mayor Emanuel's stance on the minimum wage evolved amid fallout from the school closings and ongoing public pressure.
Rahm es Mas Macho?
Congressman Luis Gutierrez endorsed Rahm Emanuel in a new Spanish language ad -- but Payton Prep student Karina Pantoja wonders: Is the sexist language necessary?
World Class Architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and Unity Temple have been nominated to become UNESCO World Heritage Sites. [via]
Cop Stop
Police SUVs and emergency vehicles got stuck on the unplowed side streets yesterday, thanks to a batch of two-wheel drive SUVs purchased a few years back.
Super Bowl Suckage
Chicago-based ticket broker Vivid Seats refunded some Super Bowl ticket buyers 200% after selling tickets they didn't have.
Book Chat Room
Chicago Public Library is taking its book club online, hosting literary conversations online and on Twitter. The next book is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
Dibs' Beginnings
Chicagoans started claiming recently-cleared parking spots with folding chairs, sawhorses, and other random items during the Big Snow of 1967, according to DNAinfo's Ted Cox.
How Not to Get Lost
An appropriate link post-blizzard: In 2009, a Chicagoan named George Joachim hiked into Canada's Columbia Icefield and got lost. [via]
Pour Some Cider This Week
This is a great week for cider fans. The Cider Summit is Saturday, and a whole bunch of events are happening at area bars during industry-only CiderCON's Cider Week. [via]
Get Paid for Lovin'
McDonald's is accepting random acts of kindness as payment from randomly selected customers now through Valentine's Day.
Break Chicago's Silicon Ceiling
Tech startup hub 1871 is looking toward version 3.0, but the launch of the proposed WiSTEM program (née FemTech) has been postponed. More than 200 women came to an event for Women Tech Founders, leading the Trib's Melissa Harris to opine 1871 needs to step up for women or the city should fund an organization who will.
S'no School
If you've got kids you've already heard, but CPS and a bunch of other school districts have canceled class today due to the blizzard.
