If you waited until the last minute to make your reservations, don't despair. We've got you covered. more ›

A judge denied bond to a Joliet man charged with the first-degree murder of an elderly Hyde Park man who was picking up dinner for his waiting family on Christmas Eve, the Sun-Times reports. more ›

A young Bronzeville couple says they are indebted to a carpenter who helped them as the mother gave birth outside of Lincoln Park's St. Joseph Hospital on Thursday, the Sun-Times reports. more ›

Large buffets and family dinners are a major part of the holiday season. But let's say you aren't going home for Christmas. Maybe you don't celebrate the holidays. Or you're part of a family that doesn't want to cook. Maybe you had your painstaking Christmas dinner ruined by the Bumpus' dogs and wind up with the rest of the family in a Chinese restaurant ordering a Peking duck where the head's removed at the table with a cleaver. more ›

With Wednesday night's win over the Indiana Pacers, the Bulls reached the half way point in their season on a high. Not only did they win the game, but they did so without Luol Deng, Chris Duhon and Ben Gordon, who are all currently injured. more ›

The Museum of Science and Industry is raising its prices. Adult Chicago residents will now pay $12 (up from $10), adult non-Chicagoans $13 (from $11), Chicago children $8.50 ($6.25), non-Chicago children $9 ($7), Chicago seniors $11 ($8.75), and non-Chicago seniors $12 ($9.50). more ›

Hunter Podschwit is one lucky dog. Or one really unlucky dog, depending on how you look at it. Unlucky to be shot point-blank in the head by a police officer, certainly, but extremely lucky to survive the shooting, yes? more ›

Today, in honor of our favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story we've compiled a list of restaurants offering Christmas Eve dinner. You know, in case the Bumpases dogs ruin your family feast and you have to scramble the troops over some duck at a Chinese restaurant. more ›

The sidewalks are covered in ice and the temps are sneaking down to the single digits. That's perfect weather for toting a toddler around, right? Here are three (free!) reasons to spend that extra hour bundling your kid up this weekend. Christkindlmarket is a candy-cane striped Bavarian winter village deposited into Daley Plaza. Come to gawk at the expensive, often hand-made gifts, and snack on traditional German fare. The children's lantern parade is today at... more ›

Happy Holidays! Chances are, you're reading this the day after Christmas, back at your day job after all-too-short a holiday, and the last thing you want from us is stuff about the holidays. But that's just too bad. Because, see, here in the Ist-a-verse, we do things ahead of time. It might be December 26 for you, but that's what you get for not checking your Favorite Local Blog on Christmas Eve. Austinist is... more ›

When we start getting a little crazy from family overload we find it is best to get out, go to a show or meet up with some friends. We thought we would make it a little easier for you this weekend, here a few things going on around town. As always, feel free to add more events in the comments section. On Christmas Eve, entrance into the Museum of Science and Industry is free. Their... more ›

After playing the part of the stern nanny to the entire city of Chicago for most of last year, the City Council is making it easier to booze it up over the holidays. The Daily Southtown reports that businesses throughout Chicago will be allowed to start selling alcohol at 8 a.m. on Christmas and New Year’s eves. Both holidays fall on a Sunday this year, a day when alcohol sales are prohibited before 11 a.m.... more ›

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones we used to know, chances are you won’t be finding it in Illinois this year. Although The Weather Channel is noting possible flurries, with temperatures above freezing for the entire week, anything sticking around is highly doubtful. With the exception of the snowfall we saw on the first of the month, the 6.5’’ snow tally at O’Hare is half of the 12’’ that had... more ›

"Chriskindlmarket Lights" via artamnesia. more ›

We've all heard the expression "like a kid in a candy store," but how does "like a kid in a Wal-Mart" sound? Eh, even as a kid, we would have taken it. It sounded great for 25 underprivileged children from North Chicago, who received the opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart for the holidays with their local friendly police officers in tow. more ›

Let's say you come from a family that enjoys good conversation while sharing a bottle of wine on the holidays. Or maybe you come from a family where you need a stiff shot of Glenrothes in order to get through the unwrapping of presents. But you live in Chicago, both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on a Sunday this year, and you can't buy liquor until 11 a.m. Let's take solace in... more ›

Here in the toasty confines of Chicagoist's Bridgeport Bureau one of our holiday traditions is making glögg, the Scandinavian version of mulled wine. Glögg, like other mulled wines such as vin chaud or glühwein, makes for a nice insulator during the holidays. However, like any alcoholic beverage served warm, too much too quick will knock you on your ass. more ›

So, do you give a shit about this whole thing? We don't want to tell you what to do, but it is going to get really interesting. So you should. Since it's Friday, here's a short recap of the feud this week and a bit of speculation from your friends at Chicagoist. more ›

If Margaret were here she'd be all over this, Weather Nerd that she is! Skilling is predicting that by the end of this week we're going to have the coldest daytime December temperature in 15 years. Which will most likely lead to the 2nd coldest Christmas Ever daytime high on record since 1870. more ›

Here at Chicagoist we're behind in our holiday shopping and the stress is getting to us. And that stress has led us to thoughts of suicide. Other people's suicides that is. We'd never think of taking ourselves away from you people. We know it would ruin you. more ›