Chicagoist: Skeletons Inside Jo-Jo's Closet

Mikey

Fri, 04 May 2007 17:08:49 -0600

(sigh) Me too, Spook. Me too...

spook

Fri, 04 May 2007 16:23:59 -0600

I totally agree JMC this is Pulitzer material! and yea E, I too have found memories of ordering a boiled skull at the Walnut room at Marshallfields at Christmas with my family!

JMc

Thu, 03 May 2007 21:55:54 -0600

With this story Jess D'Amico has officially become the most valuable Chicagoan at Chicagoist. Brilliantine.

E

Thu, 03 May 2007 18:56:46 -0600

I used to get all my skulls boiled at Marshall Fields. Sigh.

spook

Thu, 03 May 2007 16:47:05 -0600

Good Old Jo Jo! Back when Wicker Park was cool, I rented the house Jo Jo and his partner lived in on St. Paul Street.Their parties were legend. When his partner died of AIDS in the house, Jo Jo moved out three months later. My downstairs neighbor (it was a two flat A-frame) told me that before his partner died Jo Jo half carried that dude up Mt. Kilimanjaro because it was what his partner wanted before he cashed out his life chips The apartment was totally tricked out. Burnt orange living room with silver ceiling, dark lime green kitchen, blue bathroom painted with crazy fish, blood red bed room. I was right outta a conservative school so it was a nice place to land back in the Chi. His partner's ghost remained, on the real! I could hear him in the attic sometimes at night. I see Jo Jo still rocks and he summed up “The Taste of Chicago”! Next time I see him at his studio at Around the Coyote. I will introduce myself this time Keep it real Jo Jo keep in real!

Cletus Warhol

Thu, 03 May 2007 12:50:26 -0600

Oh, and you would trust someone else to boil the meat off the skulls for you? Especially skulls from China, whose skull boiling quality control system is notoriously lax? What are you, some kind of clueless hipster/trixie transplant? Real Chicagoans will remember the awesome "Boil Your Own Skull" emporium (The Noggin Steamer) that used to be down on 45th and Western near the Stockyards (or Der Kopfenbubble up in Lincoln Square). Of course, that was back in the day when a boy and his dad could bond with a little skull simmering session; before outsourcing and imitation cranium companies ruined the Home Skull Hobbyist movement.

Headless

Thu, 03 May 2007 11:31:48 -0600

What is weird to me is that the skulls were shipped from China un-boiled. Is the meat on the skull like a mattress tag that can only be removed by the end user?

sparky

Thu, 03 May 2007 08:40:40 -0600

I have also known JoJo Baby for a few years. The publicity may be nice for JoJo's business, but I agree, I do not think it's his style. But, watching the footage on NBC5 10 pm news of JoJo wearing the Taste of Chicago shirt was hilarious! Thanks, JoJo!

NSH

Thu, 03 May 2007 07:41:17 -0600

Ald. Moore ban on skull boiling in 5...4...3...

MaryBee

Thu, 03 May 2007 07:18:30 -0600

Can someone PLEASE explain why horses are still being slaughtered in DeKalb, IL for "human consumption"??? Also, JoJo is the closest living relative we have to the Oompa Loompas and deserves respect in his decision to buy human skulls, probably.

Roscoe

Wed, 02 May 2007 23:42:53 -0600

Looking at JoJo makes my dick go into frightened turtle mode.

Josh

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:58:57 -0600

I smell b.s.

Savey

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:57:15 -0600

my farts smell like poop

Sam

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:51:08 -0600

I've known JoJo for years and I very seriously doubt he'd conjure up something like this for a "publicity stunt" as you allege. I don't doubt he's enjoying the subsequent attention, but that's simply not his style. And besides what would be in it for this other guy? I can tell you right now, had JoJo not been seriously weirded out by the discovery he would have never called the police in the first place. I do generally enjoy this site but shame on you guys for suggesting otherwise.

Hanna

Wed, 02 May 2007 22:48:28 -0600

I went to high school with him! Go Vikings!!

Annie

Wed, 02 May 2007 20:30:24 -0600

I can think of no better twist on this story than knowing that JoJo was involved. Thank you Chicagoist for reporting with the other news would not!

Carl Weathers

Wed, 02 May 2007 19:31:06 -0600

So THAT's the odd looking guy I always see wandering into filter (Jo Jo)

Louis

Wed, 02 May 2007 18:44:12 -0600

I'm less appalled at the skulls boiling in water as I am of the fact that Sloan "has a law degree." Is this what awaits me at the end of 3 years? I sure hope so.

matty

Wed, 02 May 2007 18:20:17 -0600

Jesus this story is awesome.