On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by St. John's United Church of Christ in Bensenville in their case to prevent the relocation of their cemetery, home to 1,300 graves, to make way for a new runway as part of O'Hare Airport's $15 billion expansion plan. Even though O'Hare officials claim they will move forward with their plans to notify the families of grave occupants about the cemetery relocation, no official action can be taken until all litigation surrounding the proposed move has concluded. The church and the city of Bensenville are still fighting the move with separate cases in DuPage County Circuit Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington. more ›

But these pictures were too gorgeous to pass up. Kristen Plocinik (aka Kudzu Planet) took some amazing photos of an unusual monument at Graceland cemetery. Plocinik nails it when she writes, "All graves are sad in their own ways, but this one's grief seemed especially piercing...."... more ›

Todd Stroger, today is not your day. The panel he appointed to analyze Cook County healthcare announced today that an independent board should take over because the County has so royally fucked it up. Oh, and his tax plan ain't so hot either; the $4 per phone line is actually illegal. Two people were arrested for stealing vases from Chapel Hill Cemetery in Oakbrook Terrace. Loehmanns! On State Street! The old lady in all... more ›

With all the Cubs hoopla going down in Chicagoland lately, it’s only natural for thoughts to turn to … cremation. At least, that’s how Eric Zorn feels today in his Trib column. Know that song “Go Cubs Go” that the Wrigley faithful sing after every victory? You should by now; a welcome change from the past two years, they actually had a winning record at home this season. Zorn spins the tale of Steve Goodman,... more ›

On a June morning in 1918, a circus train stopped on the tracks in Ivanhoe, Ind. The Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was scheduled for a show in nearby Hammond later that day, but for the time being, an overheated wheel bearing box impeded their progress. Despite warning lights and a frantic flagman, another train slammed into the back of the idling troupe. Fire erupted throughout the wooden cars, sending 86 people to their deaths and injuring 127... more ›

Hell may freeze over yet. After all of daddy John’s efforts to demolish old Cook County General Hospital, Todd Stroger’s leading the charge to renovate the beast. The Toddler plans to make it an agenda at next week’s County Board meeting. Preservation and renovation carry a price tag of roughly $140 million. For now, the plan is to turn the 93-year-old structure into medical office space, libraries, a day-care center and, if there’s any space... more ›

Remember growing up, there was that one graveyard you just didn’t go into? You weren’t sure why, but something about the place just gave you the creeps at any time of day. Chicagoist recalls wistfully (maybe not wistfully; more like hysterically) one dare-fuelled drive into Barrington's famed White Cemetery, where two of our friends wouldn’t even breathe the open air, opting instead to cover their mouths with their shirts. And when the car became mysteriously stuck in the boneyard’s driveway … well, it wasn’t a feel-good situation. (Later reflection points to the winter weather rather than impish ghosties.) more ›

Where Chicagoist used to live, we were within walking distance to three (or more, depending on boundary definitions) cemeteries. Not one to be easily creeped out by the prospect, their proximity actually sweetened the pot for us. We’re no Fox Mulder, but we are of the ilk that likes the occasional cemetery walk: peace and quiet, nice funerary art, and a different angle on local history. Some of the places we know are full up and not accepting any new arrivals. However, others have plenty of exploitable space … perhaps too much. more ›

Because Chicagoist is tired this morning, and because despite what some people think, we can't get up every single morning and just magically bring the funny, we're going to piggyback off this Sun-Times piece about Chicago's "scariest" places so we can whore for comments. We'll give this the old college try and make a brief stab at trying to disguise it as media criticism anyway, because the piece is really no less lazy than what... more ›

Another severe budget overrun, another slew of delays, another bloated expansion project. But wait! This time we’re not talking about the CTA! more ›

Everyone's heard now, the guy who ran over the cabbie with his own cab - he got 15 years in prison. Hey, Quinn, way to piss off the Post Office with your tea bag protest! John Ronan wants to turn the old abandoned post office in the Loop into the largest municipal cemetery in the world. Lyric Opera Radio. "Sculpting" via Blank Campbell. The Photographer notes that the description of the sculpture explained that... more ›

Sometimes we wonder how many stupid stories go unnoticed and are never shared with the world. It makes us sad to think that the greatest tales of stupidity may be out there somewhere just out of reach. Then again, there’s something about a stupid act that just begs to be discovered. That’s what makes it so stupid. And yet, we search on. more ›

Chicagoist is taking the day off for Memorial Day. In the meantime, here's some knowledge to drop on your friends and family as they gather around the grill. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who served in our nation’s armed forces. General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, was the first to officially proclaim the day on May 5th, 1868, and it was observed... more ›

You have to hand it to someone who wants to be cremated when they die. Not only is going out in flames pretty rock n' roll--in a Darth Vader, Viking funeral pyre kind of way--but also because even in death you remain humble. It's your last act of consideration, telling your loved ones, "You know what? Don't spend all that money on a coffin and grave plot. Just torch me and put me in a ceramic jar. I don't want to take up too much space." The least you could ask after that is for someone to keep track of what's left of you. more ›

Back in September, the city got approval from the FAA for a $15 billion project to add runways and reconfigure existing runways in an effort to reduce flight delays. With hardly enough time to go out and buy a new shovel to start the digging, the US Court of Appeals came in and ordered a halt to allow time to consider objections from those opposed to the expansion. Seriously, they came in the SAME day... more ›

We’re at the halfway mark of the Chicago International Film Festival. If you’re not attending because you don’t know how to separate the good flicks from the crap flicks, then you’re just not trying. No matter how you like your movies—arty farty or just plain entertaining—there are plenty of ways to find movies to suit your tastes. more ›

In an evironmental impact study, the FAA has endorced the plan for O'Hare's proposed expansion plans, an 8-year long project that will cost $15 billion and will help alleviate our painful flight delays. City officials expect final approval by September. more ›

The story of Emmett Till is a well-documented, well-worn and thoroughly disgusting affair: the 14-year-old Chicago native came to be known as the "sacrificial lamb" of the Civil Rights Movement after traveling to violently-segregated Mississippi to stay with relatives during the summer of 1955. more ›

Chicagoist has been pouring over all of the local media sites trying to decide what we want to do this weekend to celebrate Halloween. There's so much going on. Last week we posted on some city-sponsored events and things going on at the big museums. This week we're trying to highlight other happenings around town. I'm sure we'll miss some, so feel free to add or make suggestions in the comments, but here are some things that looked interesting to us: more ›

Yesterday a grave digger at Wunder's Cemetery (3963 North Clark) found some skeletal remains inside a plastic bag that was buried only 2 1/2 feet deep. A source at the cemetery said that one of the workers was digging a site for another burial and found the remains (tissue, bones, dentures, double-knit burgundy pants, and a brown belt) lying between two graves. more ›

Jimmie Crutchfield, John Donaldson, and Jim "Candy" Taylor, 3 awesome players from baseball's historical Negro League, have been buried for years in unmarked graves out in Chicago Burr Oak Cemetery in Alsip. When baseball fan Jeremy Krock found out he raised the money so that each man could have a proper headstone. Yesterday, those stones were put into place during a memorial ceremony. more ›

People get all crazygonuts when it comes to semiabandoned Civil War cemeteries. The Milton Township Cemetery Authority is claiming jurisdiction over the Jewell Grove Cemetery in the Champion Forest subdivision in Wheaton. Authorities want to �trim and clean up the woods, find and restore toppled and dislocated grave monuments, and make the burial ground off Jewell Road more attractive to visitors,� according to the Tribune. Using ground-penetration radar, the cemetery authority would be able to identify where the 25 or so people buried on the grounds are and remark their graves. more ›

Chicago residents might soon be able to participate in an "organic" burial system that includes digging a grave for your loved one yourself. No embalming, no headstones, no nothing: just a GPS and an audio-video documentary about the deceased. A few California funeral businessmen�please, don't call them death-hippies�have launched plans for an organic cemetery and nature reserve in Mill Valley, California. According to an AP story from a few weeks ago (but it got picked... more ›

Other fun fitness activities this week include: yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, basketball, volleyball, golf, a walking tour of a cemetery, and sticking your flame-y leg through a hula-hoop. Eat it, Andersonville. Eat. It. more ›