There are few days of the year that Chicagoist look more forward to than our annual trip to the Chicago Auto Show. When we were a kid, we dreamed of the day we'd be able to drive any one of the shiny machines we admired so. Now, we fantasize about being able to trading up to something a bit more sexy and exotic that our current ride. more ›

The Chicago Auto Show opens to the public tomorrow ($10 admission), and while the extent of our car knowledge--well, here and there, there is one vehicle that's currently blowing our minds: more ›

We don't know about where you are, but it seems like spring can't decide whether or not to happen. Some days are warm, some days are cold, and sometimes you aren't sure which. Baseball may have started up (and soccer/football winding down) but it still seems cold out there. Unless it's not. Anyways, onto the -ists.
Austinist happily anticipated fall's Austin City Limits, even though they're not fully recovered from South By Southwest. In other music news, a Texas country legend got in hot water after shooting a stranger in the face and a young singer songwriter prepared to embark on another zany tour. Some downtown pranksters pulled off a funny April Fools joke, but Austinist wasn't laughing when '04 Democratic hopeful John Kerry flip-flopped on his Texas appearance.
As Bostonist handed out tips on how not to be "that guy" they watched as the city looked for a few good men as the murder count kept climbing and they mayor tried to put on a happy face. But crime won't get them down, it's Spring and the Boys of Summer are in full force and coming home to Fenway next week. In the meantime they'll be happy not to see any bloody socks and very happy that the butt-load of money spent in the off season seems to have gotten a 10k return.
DCist was feeling confrontational this week. First they told San Diego, and their supposedly superior panda sperm, to get bent. Next they jumped into the fray of the American University students vs. Karl Rove showdown, and then got testy about Inside Edition's Rat Patrol's visit to D.C.. Finally they wrapped up by challenging Metro to make their Knight Rider-style bus upgrades the real deal. Chicagoist saw their top cop resign after police officers were caught on tape in beer brawls on multiple occasions. They also appeared as guest on Chicago Access Network Television's "Talkin' Funny" and got excited about Theatre Seven of Chicago's new show "Is Chicago."
Houstonist was all about conflict this week: a man vs. his prized cockatoo, a woman vs. a really sucky carjacker, the suburbs vs. enormous presidential busts, classic architecture vs. the wrecking ball and a neighborhood vs. a herd of cows.
Phillyist had Phestival Phever, err, Festival Fever, what with both music and movie festivals hitting the city. When they weren’t out using their press passes to have fun, Phillyist staffers were trying not to get stuck in public restrooms, photographing big, tall buildings, getting upset about repackaging, watching their beloved hometeam, and gettin' excited for some unibrow action.
LAist crashed the red carpet premiere of Year of the Dog before heading to the 2007 US Sumo Open and watching the female matches. An Angels baseball player refused to take part in a Jackie Robinson tribute, so they visited the best drive-in movie theatre around - one that happens to be in a suburb called City of Industry (eek!). They tried e-mailing City Council, but the e-mails bounced, so they rocked out on Broadway with Mars Volta.
Gothamist got into the swing of April with the opening of Coney Island, where the famous Astroland amusements may be open for the last time. The Big Apple blog chatted with the guys behind Human Giant, the new MTV show, contemplated NYU's minority magazine with its Yellow Fever cover, and visited the Auto Show where really young girls shilled and activists protested against gas guzzlers. And a warning to folks visiting Chinatown just to buy fakes: You may be locked in a basement for hours during police raids.
Londonist Londonist feared for its health after learning that their city is a more unhealthy place to live than the environs of Chernobyl. But we still love this city, where a simple photoshopped image of St Paul's can land us with a TV slot Meanwhile, a white London councillor who blacked up to look like Nelson Mandela got support from the former South African president.
SFist was stuck in the middle of a lot of things. Like the great battle between cars and bicyclists after a driver either ran over a biker or was assaulted by a wild pack of bikers. Then they got themselves in the middle of the debate over the release from prison of video blogger Josh Wolf. Luckily, to lighten things up, their Mayor did something stupid again.
Torontoist got stylish as they checked out some "street furniture," suggested healthy Easter alternatives, and pondered whether they really are a "capital of style." Elsewhere, somebody posted fake street signs and somebody else responded to them.
Photo by Gothamist's Tien Mao Written by SFist's Jon Shurkin more ›

Think carefully. Which city is a more natural choice for an environmentally sensitive convention, Chicago or Los Angeles? OK, you can stop thinking now, because the U.S. Green Building Council has moved its annual meeting from L.A. to here. The reason? A scheduling conflict with an auto show. Greenbuild, a three-day conference that revolves around developing construction that's friendlier to the environment, took place in Denver last year and brought in 13,500 attendees. This year... more ›

Now that the Chicago Auto Show is well under way, we've had a few bright, shiny glimpses of what could be on its way for this car culture of ours. One of the most excitingly American innovations to debut is technology that could allow drivers to check email while on the road! Woohoo! We're sure it will take a few years for Chicago aldermen to notice it and ban it, so you've got some time... more ›

Normally we are proud of the fact that we don't own a car, what with auto fatalities rising, global warming, and the always increasing dependence on oil. But, those things mean nothing when the wind is nipping at you like a thousand angry piranhas. So this weekend we are going to get re-acquainted with our four wheeled counterparts. After that we are going to reserve a car here, or here, and enjoy our weekend. As... more ›

This week 150 Northwestern students will attempt to break the world record for most people dancing to the "Thriller" dance. Starting on March 5, V-me, the nation's first digital public television network entirely in Spanish, will debut on Comcast Digital Channel 241. Coyotes are on attack in Kane County! City planners dare supermarkets to go where no supermarkets have gone before. Wouldn't it be cool if you could text message 911 and send cell... more ›

In January, General Motors Vice Chairman of Product Development and Chairman of GM North America, Bob Lutz, spoke with a group of bloggers about the Chevy Volt Concept car shortly after it was revealed at the Detroit Auto Show. The Volt, if developed, with its E-Flex power system, could nearly eliminate trips to the gas station. During the interview Lutz spoke about how likely it is the Volt could go from concept to reality "Are... more ›

The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and it is ready to kick off for the 99th time. The show, located at McCormick Place, is open to the public starting Friday, February 9 through Sunday, February 18. The hours are 10am-10pm each day except on the final day when the show ends at 8pm. The event boasts nearly 1,000 domestic and imported vehicles. Chicagoist accepted General Motors’ invite to catch... more ›

Del Taco has a restaurant in Oak Lawn now. Researchers at UIC did a medical study that shows that smoking in workplaces increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers. Critical Mass is planning shenanigans at the Chicago Auto Show. Chicago Wonk is a website that offers a daily poll on Chicago, Illinois, or US policy. Readers vote yes or no each day. A Fresh Squeeze is a company devoted to making it easier... more ›

After more than 18 years at the station, Fox 32 dismissed Sportscaster Bruce Wolf this week. Neither the station nor Wolf would comment on the details concerning the dismissal. more ›

Editor's Note: Chicagoist got David Thomas, online editor of mph Magazine, to give us this report on what's going down at the Chicago Auto Show so we know what to expect this weekend. Today the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public at McCormick Place. But for the last two days the press has been crawling all over the huge hall scrutinizing the latest offerings from the world’s automakers. For the jaded auto snobs, the... more ›

There's nothing better than getting somethin' for nothin'. Well, maybe driving with the top down while blaring music, but that won't happen for at least a couple more months. At the 2006 Chicago Auto Show this year there will be free concerts taking place at the Pontiac Garage. We missed last night's concert with the Bo Deans, but tonight on a first-come first-serve basis the Redwalls will play at 7 pm. Two more shows... more ›

Crain's Chicago Business released their annual list of Chicago's Largest Tourism Attractions, and to nobody's surprise, Navy Pier whupped some tourism butt by topping the list of favorite attractions in the city. Stomping the next largest attraction, the Taste of Chicago, by 3.2 million people, the Pier had 8.75 million visitors last year, and raked in $43 million in revenues. Coming in number two was the Chicago Cubs, with 3.1 visitors in 2004, and Six... more ›

The Ellen DeGeneres Show airing on Thursday morning at 10am on NBC5, will be all about Chicago. The people in the audience are from here and the show will be all about our great city. more ›

Chicagoist can't wait to get down to the 2005 Chicago Auto Show, which opens this Friday and run through Feb. 20th. The 97th annual show--which already was the biggest auto show in the country--will increase its show space by a whopping 42% this year. The huge 1.2 million sq. foot floor will display over 1,000 cars including nearly every model currently sold in the U.S. as well as dozens of concept cars. Prior to the... more ›