First things first: If you haven't read about it elsewhere, Anthony Bourdain taped an appearance on Sound Opinions when he was in town in November. The episode airs this evening at 8 p.m. The Artisan Cellar in the Merchandise Mart is hosting an appearance by Evert Nijzink, head winemaker of Paritua winery, makers of Stone Paddock wines. The meet-and-greet runs from 3-6 this afternoon. ChicaGourmets and the local chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is......

In a move a la Stephen Colbert, a computer registered to the multinational energy corporation tried to spiff up its Wikipedia entry late last week, coinciding with the announcement that it will not increase discharges of ammonia and suspended solids into Lake Michigan from the planned expansion of its Whiting, Ind., refinery. According to the record of edits on Wikipedia, on August 23, a computer at the IP address 63.84.4.0, registered to BP Amoco, added......

Well, it is shaping up to be quite the warm weekend. Any of our lovely readers want to invite us to some type of pool party? We'll bring waterwings shaped like Mayor Daley's face. Someone should really make those. In the event we receive no invitations, we've lined up some other activities certain to help you, and us, take advantage of another weekend. As we mentioned yesterday, Calsfest 2007 is taking place at Cal's Liquors,......

You might think you don't want to go down to Cal's on Wells tonight, but trust us, you do. Two of Chicago's most buzzed-about garage pop bands, CoCoComa and Headache City will set up shop tonight, and our prediction is that the combination of both bands on one bill may actually cause the world to implode, or at least the southern half of Wells Street. You kind of don't want to miss it. Ok, so......

All ready for the CTA charley-foxtrot tomorrow, Chicago? Us neither. A South Side teen, who's been missing since March 23, was found dead in the Cal-Sag River in Blue Island Friday night. Chris Pineda, 17, disappeared the previous week after dropping off his girlfriend at her job at 108th & Ewing. He wasn't involved in gangs and didn't have a disciplinary record; in fact, he was looking forward to a future at UIC. A special......

One of the nuances of reviewing restaurants is that you don't want to draw attention to yourself. This means that you don't want to break out the camera and notepad until absolutely necessary. It was a lesson we thought we learned at Pilsen's Fogata Village last summer. Then we entered the Cal-Harbor Restaurant and Lounge, in the Historic Pullman district, with the notepad and camera in plain sight. What followed was a dialogue straight out......

We told you about the benefit that happened last weekend at the Empty Bottle for Callum Robbins’ family. If seeing all those great bands and trying to win those raffle prizes didn’t seem like enough to help defray Cal’s medical expenses, we’ve got another night for you to mark on the calendar — Friday, April 27. Have you circled it yet? Because Shellac will be getting together at Subterranean for a second benefit here in......

After speculation over who will be the "special guest" at the Robbins Family benefit we posted about last week, organizer Jessica Hopper announced today that local legends Eleventh Dream Day will headline the event at Empty Bottle on January 27 at 8:00 p.m. Also appearing that evening are Chin Up Chin Up, Bobby Conn, Life & Times, and Red-Eyed Legends. Plus, they'll be raffling off lots of goodies. Here's the list so far: * VIP......

We're guessing that The Daily Southtown's Paul Ladewski was following his mother's advice when he decided to submit a blank ballot for baseball's Hall of Fame voting. While many players with Hall of Fame numbers eligible for election were passed over because of steroid allegations — yes you, Mark McGwire — Ladewski decided to just forfeit the whole era. With the sports world mired in debate about the steroids era and how its players should......

Metromix’s annual Rock ‘n’ Vote contest is on again with ten local bands vying for a chance to play a show at Metro. Voting continues now through midnight Sunday. Currently leading the vote tallies are The Lifeline, The Emerald Lizards, and Otter Petter (which sounds like it would be nice work if you could get it). One of the bands we’re hoping gets a few more votes thrown its way is Reptoids. They’re a four-person......

The band Lincoln Conspiracy must enjoy a challenge. While other bands are content to worship at the Church of Duran Duran whilst reading from the Book of Morrissey, Lincoln Conspiracy takes chances. Not every group would confidently cite Cliff Richard as an influence. Equally irresponsible is its tendency to recall the English pub rock of Joe Jackson and stomp in the muddy footsteps of Ben Folds. And, frankly, it’s comparable to career suicide to name......

In yesterday’s Tribune, the transportation columnist, Jon Hilkevitch, discusses an intriguing email he received suggesting that the private sector build toll lanes adjacent to existing expressways. (Jon Hilkevitch’s transportation column, by the bye, is called “Getting Around,” which seems a column title more apt for a recounting of Paris Hilton and her skankalicious pairings, but there you have it.) So Hilkevitch received an email from former state representative and 2002 Libertarian candidate for governor......

Chicagoist was only looking for a beer at Cal's on their way to the White Stripes (review will be forthcoming - don't worry) show Monday evening, but we ran into a premiere party for Prison Break. The new series on Fox is being filmed at the Joliet Correction Center taking advantage of the reality of an actual prison and also the tax incentives passed in 2003 to bring more film productions to the state. The......

Alan Keyes! Alan Keyes! Oh, we'll never tire of writing about him. That laugh-a-minute homophobe is a website author's best friend—as long as he stays in the "news," the yuks pretty much write themselves. What's up this week with Mr. Illinois? He's moving! Woot woot. Let's recall…Keyes was crashing in an apartment in lovely Calumet City, and despite getting bitchslapped at the polls, he promised to stick around and help Illinois rebuild its Republican Party.......