Photo credit: sniderscion Torontoist spent its week uncovering who was behind mysterious ads for a drug called "Obay" that popped up across the country (Scientology? Frank Shepard Fairey?), first tracing them to an advocacy group called Colleges Ontario and then confirming their suspicions a few days later.Phillyist learned how to put on a puppet show – it's not as easy as you might think!Shanghaiist discovers that the average starting monthly pay for fresh graduates......

A Chinese dragon ushers in the Wu Zi, the Year of the Rat, in Chinatown earlier today. Photos by Timothy State. While Thursday was the Chinese New Year, today was the annual Chinese New Year parade. With the temperature near zero and wind chill making it feel like 20-below, the crowd was very light. Nevertheless, the Year of the Rat, known by its formal name Wu Zi, year 4705, has begun. In ancient times,......

There were some firecrackers a-poppin' last night: today is the first day of the first Lunar Month. So that means it's beginning of the Chinese New Year Festival, which started at midnight and traditionally lasts until February 15. Also known as the Lunar New Year, festivities are meant to celebrate and welcome the Year of the Rat. As with all major holidays, the New Year revolves around friends, family, and consuming ungodly amounts of food.......

Pack an umbrella, bring your galoshes, and dress in layers. It's been that kind of week. Here are some events to brave any extreme in weather. Movies/Music: DeRo and the Other Guy , as part of Sound Opinions' "At the Movies" series, will be hosting a rare screening of the Who's 1979 concert biopic The Kids Are Alright. The screening will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Derogatis and Kot. Music Box Theater, 7......

Some events in the next seven days to consider saving your freshly shoveled parking space with a few chairs. The annual Grand Chefs Gala for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation kicks off this evening at the Fairmont Hotel. The black tie-preferred event runs from 6 p.m. - midnight and will feature a safari theme this year. Among the participating chefs will be sola's Carol Wollack, "Top Chef" alum Dale Levitski, Aigre Doux's Mohammad Islam, and Adam......

Back in our Chinese New Year post, we recommended that readers check out the recently opened KS Seafood, in the Chinatown Square Plaza. It's located in a small storefront, filled tightly with large banquet tables and seating in every available open space. KS Seafood is one of only two restaurants in the city that specializes in Taiwanese cuisine. Some of you are probably reading this and thinking, "It's all Chinese food. How does Taiwanese cooking......

After 81 years, the University of Illinois is getting rid of its Chief Illiniwek mascot. The Art Institute will be showing a traveling exhibit of famous impressionist and modern art by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Picasso and Gauguin, to name a few. Appropriately, because we just celebrated the Chinese New Year, there's a lot of Chicago/China news: Where there was once a junkyard, we may someday see a new hotel in Chinatown that shows its......

We were pleased to see so many people head down to Chinatown yesterday for the Chinese New Year parade. Although cold weather was causing us to curse our lack of winter boots, the vibrant colors, smiling people and the occasional quirky parade inclusion made for a fun-filled celebration. Gung Hay Fat Choi!......

Doesn't it seem like last year we were getting used to writing "4704" in the dateline of our checks? Chinese New Year is Sunday. 4705 is the year of William Beavers the boar. This means that thousands of people will flock down to Wentworth to watch the pomp and circumstance of dragon processions, fireworks, marching bands, and — since every year is an election year in Chicago — politicians kissing babies, shaking hands, and buying......

We don't know about you, but it's friggin cold out there. Well, not for some of you. It seems as though places that are supposed to be cold are warm and places that are supposed to be warm are cold. Or maybe that's just us. Either way, we're freezing. Austinist said goodbye to their co-editor (sell-out) and played rumor monger on the SXSW lineup. And when dozens of dead birds littered downtown Austin, it's......

It seemed the whole of Chicago was in Chinatown this past Sunday for the Chinese New Year festivities. Beautiful music, welcoming people in spectacular traditional costumes and amazing food makes us come back every year. Kung hei fat choi! Click image for larger size. Photo by Mitch Arsenie......

For those of you who've wanted to visit Chinatown this weekend might be just the time. The Year of the Dog is upon us and that means that the annual Chinese New Year Parade strolls up Wentworth with its Chinese dragons, marching bands, and politicians glad-handing the parade watchers (we're placing even money on whether Jim Oberweis shows up trying to buy potential votes with milk). There's plenty of places to catch a quick bite......