We wonder if they are re-thinking that whole "ten nominees for best picture" thing this year. Not that there weren't some excellent fare and a few late comers here in December, but 2010 was mostly a down year for new movies. In lieu of a traditional "best of" list, here are the best pieces of the year's movies, which we propose Frankensteining together into one Best Movie of 2010. more ›

Yeah, we get that specific around here. A well-made Martini is one of the great pleasures in life, and it's a topic very close to our hearts. We had a few memorable ones this year - and many more subpar examples. A mishandled Martini doesn't just taste bad, it sets you back more than a few dollars with nothing to show for 'em. None of us should labor in vain in 2011 (let's keep it as classy as possible, eh?), so here are our picks for where you should be enjoying your Martinis this upcoming year: more ›

This list requires a different kind of introduction. Rather than an objective, comprehensive or universalizing "best-of" list which would take into account a statistical average of a whole series of factors, this is an entirely subjective dining list. As we've said many times in the past, dining out is fundamentally about how meals make someone feel, and therefore each person's "best meal" will be a very personal choice. It may be a particular event, or a moment in someone's life that made a meal the best one. It may be the food, the drink, or the service. Or it might be that mysterious feeling of warmth and fellowship that sometimes envelopes a person during the greater moments of their life. We asked our Chicagoist foodies to contribute their best meals of 2010, and invite you to do the same. Happy New Year! more ›

New Year’s Eve is just right around the corner, and you know what that means: Somber, stoic reflection upon a year’s worth of accomplishments and disappointments. Or avoiding getting grab-assed by a bunch of skeevy dudes who seems insistent on ruining your Whiskey-fueled buzz. Regardless of what comes first, Chicago DJ duo Flosstradamus will provide your soundtrack to the evening. more ›

Seven years ago my Grandma Margurite called to tell me about the “nice kid” who came to talk to her one afternoon, the one who left with a shirt box full of her famous pizzelles. Further into the conversation it became clear that the “nice kid” was a reporter from the city’s newspaper and had come to profile her for being a sort of cookie doyenne of the town’s Italian community. In sending him and his photographer off with their own packages of cookies (and a baggie-full for them to eat in the car), my grandma cemented her confectioner’s legacy while unwittingly helping the reporters compromise their journalistic ethics. more ›

Amidst concerns over a rash of shootings and the high profile baseball bat attack, this would seem to be a bad time to kick off a campaign sending people out into the city to knock on random doors. But, according to the AP, that is the unenviable task of census workers who will begin hitting the bricks today to contact residents who have not submitted their forms. more ›

Despite all of the financial hardships and setbacks for most Americans in 2009, a recent poll by AP-GfK finds that a massive 82 percent are still optimistic that 2010 will be a good year, even if they fear that the U.S. economy and their personal financial circumstances won't improve in the new year. more ›

While you were at a party trying to find someone to kiss at midnight, local Chicago hospitals were vying to have the first birth of 2010. One hospital says a baby was born at the stroke of midnight, and two others are reporting births just seconds after the clock struck 12. more ›

And that's a wrap on 2009 for us! It's been an amazing year for us, our fifth year in existence and our biggest so far with more readers than ever and we're gearing up for another spectacular year in 2010. Thanks to all of you - our readers - for making the hard work worthwhile. You might not always agree with us - and you've never been ones to hold back when you do! - but your continued readership, along with our ever-growing love of this city and all its charm (and in spite of its drawbacks), is why we keep at it, day-in and day-out and has pushed us to work harder to make the site even better. Without you, we're just shoutin' into the wind. more ›

We already mentioned the new texting while driving ban that takes effect on Friday, but - as Fox 32 discusses - that's not the only one. They have their breakdown plus you can see a full list of new laws here. more ›

Well, its definitely that time of year again where all the whiz-kid foodie-insight folks predict what will be the biggest restaurant food trends of 2010. The National Restaurant Association polled over 1,800 chefs nationwide to create their list, among them are important but also predictable ones (locally grown produce and meats, sustainability, farm-branded ingredients, etc). But, there are also a few quiet, slow growing trends that have not become as rampant as the 'bacon-in-everything' trend. Mini-desserts, nutritious kids' meals and gluten-free/food allergy meals seem like viable trends, but will they make it to your plate? more ›

• Open their season on April 5th in Atlanta
• Open their home season on April 12th versus Milwaukee
• play the AL West in Interleague play, traveling to Texas (May 21-23) and Seattle (June 22-24) while they welcome Oakland (June 15-17) and Anaheim (June 18-20) to town.

With all the talk of fare hikes, doomsdays, and state funding shortfalls we've heard about our public transportation system since the beginning of the year, well, there's going to be even more talk over the next several days. Starting tomorrow and running until next Tuesday, September 1, the RTA will conduct 13 hearings to help them set next year's budget. WBBM 780 has more on the meetings as well as a break-down of the schedule. more ›

With all the doom and gloom about the city's 2010 budget, it seems the always-on-top-of-things Whet Moser of The Reader has zeroed in on a pretty easy solution: TIFs. more ›

Chicago's Chief Financial Officer Gene Saffold is predicting that the city's budget hole will be worse next year. This is after the city burns through a new $320 million "rainy day fund" created from the parking meter lease. Saffold predicted a deficit of upwards of half a billion dollars next year, citing declining tax revenue and increased wages, compared against a projected budget of $6 billion. (Is this the first time the city has engaged in long-range financial planning? Publicly, at least?) While raising taxes is a last resort, according to Saffold, "nothing is ruled out at this point," Saffold told the Tribune. "The mayor has instructed us not to look at property taxes as we move forward in 2010." more ›

• Metra found out today they're the recipient of $46 million in federal cash.
• The Parking Ticket Geek has shots of today's Parking Meter protest.
• Cook County Commissioner Willaim Beavers took a cheap shot at departing commissioner Forrest Claypool, calling him a, "born loser."

A Kennedy - yes, one of those Kennedys - is probably going to run for the U.S. Senate seat next year, as we discussed this morning. But what does the head of the other dynasty in town have to say about it? When asked about Kennedy's name helping his cause, Mayor Daley responded, "Sure it does. Yes it does. You better believe it. Yes, it does. And same thing Barack Obama's name. Yes. Those two names, you better believe it. Yes, they do." That's four yeses. He feels very strongly about it then. more ›

When he's not smack-talking Sen. Durbin, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is apparently planning on sticking around at his current gig. In an interview with ABC 7's Charles Thomas, Burris said - albeit in a round-a-bout way - that he plans for running to keep his seat in 2010. more ›

Governor Quinn sat down with the St. Louis-Dispatch Editorial Board for an interview recently and he's raised $250,000 so far towards his 2010 reelection fund.

"Yeah," Quinn said, when asked whether he will run in November 2010 to keep the seat he assumed 12 weeks ago. "I think I've done a good job. I plan to do that (run for election). I see no reason not to."

Starting next year, a 31-year-old beloved Chicago tradition will be no more. The South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee announced today that it will not host its annual parade in 2010. more ›

Last week, after days of calling for the resignation of U.S. Senator Roland Burris, Governor Pat Quinn tucked tail and back-pedaled after the first sign of political pressure. Now it seems the chances of Burris being removed or resigning are somewhere between slim and none as a state Senate subcommittee yesterday voted down an attempt to remove Burris from office and set up a special election to replace him. The vote came out 3-2 along party lines with the three Dems arguing the cost of a special election would be too costly. Meanwhile, Burris isn't exactly out of the woods. While we already know he intends to run in 2010 to retain his spot, it seems as if he'll be going up against a formidable opponent, at least in name: Bill Daley, brother of Mayor Daley. Daley joins state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias as people who are taking aim on the seat. more ›

Sen. Roland Burris has had his hands full lately - working on the stimulus package and lobbying for Illinois funds - but according to an interview with WBEZ, the recently sworn-in senator has something else on his mind too: paying off debts. In an interview with Burris on Friday, WBEZ’s Richard Steele asked the junior senator from Illinois if he had decided to run in the 2010 election, noting that according to the Federal Election Commission, Burris signed a statement of candidacy on Jan. 2. “No that means I am in debt,” Burris responded. “I have legal bills, to the tune of $400,000.” more ›