(Legendary Chicago-based photographer Art Shay has taken photos of kings, queens, celebrities and the common man in a 60-year career. In this week's look at his photography archives, Art shares some never before seen photos of McDonald's founder Ray Kroc and looks back at working with McDonald's.) more ›

After seeing a Chicago play, legendary photographer Art Shay shares his recollections of race relations in suburban Chicago in 1959, with photos not seen in years. more ›

It's always a pleasant surprise to be thanked for my military service. more ›

On May 4, 1961, civil rights activist started riding buses into the South to challenge segregation laws in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision in Boynton v. Virginia, which struck down racial segregation in public transportation as a violation of the Interstate Commerce Act. The mostly young men and women who embarked on these "Freedom Rides" expected violence and opposition, and were beaten, faced with angry mobs and imprisonment on their travels. But their courage from May to December 1961 in the face of the Jim Crow South inspired scores of citizens on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line to join the Civil Rights Movement. more ›

Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King would have been 79 this year. In 1984 an act of Congress made the third Monday of this month Martin Luther King Day. With most government offices closed today, there are a plethora of events honoring his memory. The Chicago Park District is holding a series of events dedicated to his legacy. The University of Chicago is hosting panels and speakers all week, with a series of films and documentaries this evening starting at 5 p.m. The DuSable Museum of African American History is holding workshops, performances and panel discussions on the legacy of the civil rights movement and the challenges it still faces in 21st century America. The Chicago History Museum kicks the day off with crafts and storytelling for children, followed by songs and spirituals performed by the Chicago Chamber Choir. At 1 p.m., LeRoyce Hawkins and Cameron Drake will perform Jeff Stetson's critically acclaimed "The Meeting", an imagined meeting between Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, followed by a reading of King's "I have a Dream" speech. more ›

It's the first Friday of the month which means The Dollar Store Show, a series of readings and performances based on purchases for a buck, returns to the Hideout. This month's readers include writers James Kennedy and Jonathan Messinger as well as theater performers Sarah Haskins and Diana Slickman. Hideout, Friday, 7 p.m. $1 We can't decide which under-appreciated literary group to support on Saturday so we'll list two and hopefully hop between them. First,... more ›

Discussions about Black History Month have become as complex as discussions about race. Debating the labels ‘black’ and ‘African-American’ lead to debates about biracial identity and, recently, whether Senator Obama, Joe Biden’s “first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” friend, is actually African-American. In the same vein, Black History Month has increasingly been relabeled African-American Heritage Month and African Heritage Month, terms emphasizing the present and future as... more ›

While we like to think of ourselves as culturally aware, we have to admit that we are pretty unaware when it comes to Kwanzaa. Aside from seeing a small exhibit about the holiday at the DuSable Museum of African-American History, and hearing a woman at the post office wishing a clerk a “Happy Kwanzaa!” (the first we’d ever heard it said, mind you), our encounters with the celebration have been few and far between. more ›

What can be said about Millennium Park that hasn’t already been said? If the horse is dead, can we still beat it? more ›

The village of Maywood has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle a lawsuit with a man who was beaten and forced to strip by another inmate in the Maywood jail. George Caithammer was in a holding cell in June of 2004 after being arrested for a traffic violation when his assailant, a known violent offender, hit him over 60 times in 20 minutes. more ›

If last week’s Sugar Water Festival at Northerly Island had you yearning for more neo-soul stylings, then you’ll want to spend your Friday nights in August at the DuSable Museum of African-American History for the 4th Annual Neo-Soul Explosion. Organizers of The Neo-Soul Explosion brag that it’s the place in Chicago to see rising stars in soul, jazz, and funk. That’s usually a risky statement to make but the NSE has delivered the goods in... more ›

Snow snow snow. Everybody’s cancelling plans and freaking out about the alleged “incoming snow” scheduled to income tonight/tomorrow/etc. Use extreme caution when traveling, they say. Stay home if at all possible, they say. more ›

Weather.com is promising warmish, sunny weather this weekend�just in time for the 57th Street Art Fair. This is its 57th anniversary, too, which makes it the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. Congratulations, beloved 57th Street Art Fair. The fair is free to the public and features over 300 artists; things kick off Saturday at 11 a.m. on 57th, from Kimbark to Dorchester. Chicagoist has been to the last three fairs and has developed... more ›