A group known as Gospel Music Capitol of the World Productions wants the City of Chicago to purchase and restore the Chicago Defender building and use it to house an International Gospel Museum. (We know this might be the pot calling the kettle black, but shouldn’t that be Gospel Music C-A-P-I-T-A-L Of The World Productions?) The release cites a recent Chicago Sun-Times article that quotes David Bahlman, president of the former Landmarks Preservation Council of... more ›

Sure, smoking’s always good for comment bait. But don’t get Chicagoist readers started on the topic of urban renewal! Our post on the plans to knock down the “Artful Dodger building” sent you into paroxysms of preservationist rage. In fact, more of you would rather see condos go up in the Loop than in Chicago neighborhoods (so long as no one complains about the bucket boys, we assume). As far as the proposal to expand... more ›

Months back while writing a post about the now-defunct BOS Distilling Company we lamented briefly on the then-recent closing of the Artful Dodger. Folks with fond memories of the Dodger knew that it was being consigned to memory long before it finally closed its doors, with whispers floating around that the building at 1734 West Wabansia with the Queen Anne style architecture was slated to be sold, razed, re-zoned and turned into condos. Well, that's... more ›

There's been some lamenting lately both in print and on-line about the steady decline of taverns in city. Years ago when this writer lived in "Liquor Park" there was a nice selection of dives that offered the opportunity to treat the liver like a one-night stand for under ten dollars. The Artful Dodger closed its doors nearly two months ago. Nick's on Milwaukee used to house Club Dreamerz. Estelle's was seemingly raided by the cops every other weekend, and Tuman's Alcohol Abuse Center served $3 Guinness pints to bikers and yuppies alike; both are shadows of their former selves. All these dives had nasty bathrooms, sweet jukeboxes, cheap drinks, enough second-hand smoke floating around to kill a rhino, and laid-back character in common. more ›