The re-freeze continues today, with partly cloudy skies, chances of light snow overnight and a projected high of 37. But it's Friday, people. Pizza at Marie's tonight cannot come soon enough. more ›

Today in "Extra Extra:" A flight to Chicago was too much for an al-Qaida operative. more ›

Pinetop Perkins wasn't the only musician with Chicago ties to pass away Monday. Loleatta Holloway died at the age of 64 after a brief illness. more ›

In the wake of the tragedy in Japan, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) will host a bi-partisan hearing in Chicago tomorrow on safety in Illinois nuclear power plants and disaster preparedness at the Dirksen Federal Building. Illinois generates more nuclear power than any other state. Governor Pat Quinn told WGIL that he wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to “take a closer look” at the plants, all operated by Exelon. more ›

The Internet age has been marked unprecedented access to mind boggling amounts of information. That access may used in service of the good, like tracking the influence of money in politics via opensecrets.org or slicing up census data in productive and enlightening ways. Or it can be used to answer immediately (via wikipedia) a trivia question that would never have bothered you if you hadn't just spent 20 minutes clicking on "related videos" in youtube. With great power comes great responsibility... and incredible timewasting potential. more ›

In today's hustle and bustle, coffee has become less of a beverage and more of a cultural icon. For many, it is how we start and end the day. It is the libation of choice at meals, a midday pick-me-up, and even a common thread that brings us together with friends. We don’t call it “coffee culture” for nothing. Coffee shops have become much akin to temples these days, drawing the caffeinated faithful to witness the miracle that transforms beans and water into a dark-roasted cup of heaven. If in java you trust, then let us recommend a place of pilgrimage. At DarkCloud Urban Coffee Lab, it’s not just a latte, it’s an experience. more ›

We love the series of Jones BIG ASS Truck Rental videos. Looks like Toby Jones is branching out into the worlds of legal and day care services. Has anyone told Peter Francis Geraci he has competition? more ›

Russian director Dziga Vertov's 1929 experimental film Man With a Movie Camera (aka The Man With the Movie Camera) is something of a masterpiece of silent film. Shot largely in Odessa with support from the Ukrainian film studio VUFKU, Vertov captures the dawn to dusk minutiae of citizens in the post-Bolshevik revolution Soviet Union. more ›

Last week, i was at Terzo Piano looking at cocktails, and I decided to stay for lunch. I don't usually think of art museums as pizza destinations, but when the crew behind Spiaggia is involved, I guess I should have higher expectations for their Italian specialities. This pizza (or pizzetta) blew me away. Normally made with home-made chorizo, last week's version was made with short ribs. Either way, the combination of roasted fennel, onions, meat and cheshire cheese made for the perfect lunch dish. The pizzetta ($16) is easily enough to feed two people. Go for it. more ›

It looks as though Geoff Dougherty, most recently Associate Publisher at the Reader for the length of time it takes us to make really good limoncello, has resurrected the online portion of Chicago Current. Chicago Current was, at one point, a print and online concern. Before that Dougherty said at the the Chicago Journalism Town Hall could cover news with its predecessor, Chi-Town Daily News, as well as the Sun-Times and Tribune with only a cool $2 million budget. more ›

A Homer Glen man was sentenced to 30 months probation and 150 hours of community service after he killed his brother's cat. 31-year-old Sean Mulcahy slit the throat of his brother's cat Lucifer as retaliation for discovering that his brother was sleeping with his fiancee. That's not "eye for an eye" justice. That's a serious flaw in logic, compounded by Mulcahy's anger issues and excessive drinking at the time he decided to take the phrase "killing the pussy" literally. more ›

The Chicago food community has shown its committment to charitable causes over and over again, and we've already mentioned a few things being done to help disaster-ravaged Japan. This event, however, is in a class by itself. Some of the best chefs in Chicago, including Jimmy Bannos, Paul Kahan, Tony Mantuano, Mindy Segal, Sarah Stegner, Paul Virant, Bill Kim, and of course, Takashi Yagihashi, are coming together at Takashi on April 18th to create a special 6-course dinner. All the proceeds will go the Red Cross. more ›