The "nation's report card" for public schools came out yesterday, and Chicago ranks behind other urban areas on reading and math for 4th and 8th graders. about 16 percent of the 2,400 4th graders who took the reading exam showed proficiency, compared with an average of 22 percent in cities as a whole. In math, 16 percent of Chicago pupils were proficient, compared with an average of 28 percent in other cities. About 17... more ›

On this -- officially the slowest sports day of the year -- we will take the opportunity to look back at the first half (or so) of the season for the Cubs and Sox. Fans of both teams entered the season with high expectations. Has either team lived up to those expectations? Cubs After spending a ton of money on free agents during the off season, the Cubs sit in second place in the NL... more ›

All is not well on the North Side as we all know, but things ain't much better on the South Side either. While not quite fist fights and on-field tantrums, the White Sox have resorted to some unusual measures to try and awaken their team from its slumber. more ›

In theater, "breaking a leg" is good luck. In baseball, not so much. No, it's definitely bad news for the White Sox that versatile utility player Pablo Ozuna will miss three months with a broken leg, which he broke during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. more ›

We’re a little behind the times here at Chicagoist. While we knew the moment that Sanjaya was kicked off of "American Idol", some technological advances pass us by. Which is why we now proudly present to you, the audio book. more ›

The jaunts will be short this week as most of us get out and enjoy the sunshine. We were walking around this morning and people just seem happier. Which is all the more reason to get out tonight for some good music. We plan on getting intimate with Ambulette and Maura Davis' intensely mesmerizing voice at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. Davis splits her time between Richmond and Charlotte and comes to Chicago to rehearse with... more ›

Jean Twenge is a San Diego State University professor and lead author of the study that says that the generation born after 1982 is "the most narcissistic generation in recent history." OK, we've got to do some thinking about that. On one hand, we agree. Chicagoist finds it extremely odd that even in the most casual of conversations about the most inane of pop culture references ("Fantasy Island," "Little House on the Prairie"), a lot... more ›

Juanita and Michael Jordan have decided to call it quits. After 17 years of marriage the two are separating "amicably" and their lawyers released a statement saying, "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements." more ›

The ABC network announced Friday that Oprah is making the long expected foray into prime time television. The two shows were explained in a press release issued by the Walt Disney company and Harpo. The first show, which seems to be in a pretty firm state, is going to be titled "The Big Give." Nothing surprising there. The premise of the reality show is to have contestants dole out large sums of money in innovative and compassionate ways. Basically, who can act like Oprah, best. more ›

Grade school kids are still taking loads of tests beyond the ones required to graduate. Chicagoist remembers the IOWA, IGAP, ISAT….etc. Those were the days... A study of the nation’s science knowledge was recently released by the National Center for Education Statistics based on one such standardized test. more ›

Chicagoist is positively overflowing with free stuff lately. And next on our list of giveaways is two tickets to the Hotel Cafe Tour. more ›

We survived the first day of Lollapalooza! We got to see some amazing acts like The Raconteurs, duh! Saw some legends - Sleater Kinney, of course. And we saw some promising bands - The Subways! Learned about egg discrimination from Ryan Adams. But, the main thing that we learned is there is a lot of walking to do at Lollapalooza. Wear some comfortable shoes when heading out the rest of the weekend and if crowds aren't your thing - check out some of our photos on Flickr from Day 1 of Lollapalooza. more ›

The Chicago Bulls dramatically upgraded their franchise in terms of toughness over the holiday weekend. First, Benny the Bull was arrested at the Taste of Chicago, after riding a mini-motorcycle without a permit and then throwing a punch at a sheriff's deputy. Barry Anderson, in costume as Benny the Bull, was charged with misdemeanor battery and driving within a parkway. more ›

The NBA Draft takes place tonight, and with both the 2nd and 16th picks in the first round, it'll be a busy night for the Bulls. And a critically imporant night, as the outcome could have an substantial impact on the team's ability to return to greatness. This draft, however, is also one of the least predictable in a long time. And weaker than most -- in part due to the rules change that keeps... more ›

Just a few weeks ago, a former Chicagoan asked us whether we knew what MJ was up to lately, because he hadn't seen or heard anything about him in quite a while. Even here in Chicago, he'd been keeping a pretty low profile since his retirement from the Washington Wizards in 2003. Yeah, there was that motorcycle racing thing, but that's about all we've heard in the past couple years. He tried to buy the Milwaukee Bucks in 2004, and I said I was pretty sure he was still plotting his return to the NBA as an owner. more ›

It seems this is the season for awards, rankings and competitions, at least when it comes to food and drinks, the people who make them and the places they are consumed. And don’t tell Chicagoans they’re not leading the pack in any arena. No, seriously, don’t. more ›

It took a while. A really long while. But the Bulls finally seem to have discovered that scrappy instinct that led them to a 47-35 record last season and their first playoff appearance since MJ left town. more ›

While Sunday's forcast calls for a relatively balmy 41 degrees, that's not exactly boat weather. Especially when there's a Bears playoff game at Soldier Field. But because the Chicago Boat and RV Show runs through Sunday at McCormick Place, there's going to be a real mess along the lakeshore. more ›

• In Park Ridge they're adding signs below some stop signs that say "Stop Means Stop." If that doesn't work then maybe they can add another sign under that saying "Dammit, we mean it, STOP!!"
• A Charlotte news station did an article about all the Chicago restaurants in their town as the Panthers look to the Bears playoff game this weekend.
• A couple local art gallery owners are in deep doo for smuggling protected artifacts - you know like carved elephant tusks and ceremonial headdresses made from feathers of endangered birds and a carved shell of an endangered sea turtle.

The Bulls are less than a week into the regular season and have played three games so far. They've got a 1-2 record. But Chicagoist is more positive about this team than we were heading into the season. That's because the last two games, while losses, were very tight games against very good teams. more ›

...And on top of that deficit, Kirk Hinrich left the game late in the 3rd with an ankle sprain. Many in attendance fled the United Center, but those who stayed got quite a show. The Bulls rallied to tie the game, then won109-105 against the Charlotte Bobcats in overtime! more ›

While much of our collective sports attention is forcused on the White Sox, Chicagoist hasn't forgotten that we have a few other teams in this city, and they don't come to a screaching halt just because one of 'em's in the playoffs. So here's what's going on with the others: more ›

The most persistent Sox rumor involving a hitter prior to the non-waivers trading deadline involved them landing Cincinnati Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. Supposedly a deal was nixed at the deadline by Reds ownership. Word that Griffey has been put on the waiver wire and cleared waivers means the rumors of his coming to the South Side are reemerging. Supposedly, the deal continues to be held up by Reds management -- who don't want to remain on the hook for a large chunk of Griffey's remaining contract. more ›

Last week the Chicagoist office received 3 books to add to the "Local" shelf of our staff library. One is written by a Chicagoan, one takes place in Chicago, and one is both written by a local and takes place here. more ›

With all the baseball and NCAA basketball going on, Chicagoist has been neglecting our Bulls of late so it time to get ya'll up to speed. more ›

Actually, two big breaks is more appropriate. The first big break is the one discovered in White Sox ace Mark Buehrle's foot. In a freak accident, Buehrle felt something pop while shagging fly balls in the outfield yesterday. An x-ray showed a hairline fracture and now Buehrle is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. more ›

Critical reception of her may have been mixed, but you’ve gotta admit Christina Applegate is one game girl: the actress managed to Fosse her way through 20 minutes of Friday night’s show on a broken foot before her understudy stepped in. more ›

Tomorrow night, the Chicago Historical Society kicks off their "Out at CHS" lecture series with a look at how modern historians interpret same-sex relationships in the 19th Century. Scholars from area universities will discuss the lives of Jane Addams, Walt Whitman, and Charlotte Cushman through the modern perspective. more ›

Following last night's victory over the Charlotte Bobcats, the Bulls completed the first half of their season with a 22-19 record. Yeah, that's right... 3 games over .500! Of course, that means they've beena sizzling 22-10 since their 0-9 start. more ›

No weekend is complete without some cross-dressing action. Fortunately for you, "I Am My Own Wife" has extended its run at The Goodman Theatre through February 20. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, playwright Doug Wright travelled to Berlin and met transvestite Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. Born in 1926, stage14x.html">Lothar Berfelde adopted the transvestite life during his teenage years, becoming Charlotte. Such "sexual deviants" were often killed by both Hitler's Gestapo and Communist dictatorship, but... more ›