This film clip of 96-year-old Samuel Seymour's appearance on "I've Got a Secret" in 1956 puts into perspective the passage of time and how generations overlap. Indeed, though it seems to be distant history today, our grandparents would have known people that fought in the Civil War when they were children. more ›

...and that's how the civil war of the Great Lakes started. more ›

SFist witnessed a new apartment building tszuj the skyline with spectacular, gaudy turquoise aplomb, the (informal) renaming of the Mission/SOMA neighborhood border, the return of the Maltese Falcon, the Mayor Gavin Newsom mea culpa-ing over his Hawaiian getaway during the oil spill, and double-decker buses hitting the streets of San Francisco. Oh, and some baseball player named Barry Bonds is a liar whose pants, it seems, are totally on fire. LAist continues to cover the... more ›

Who gives last rites to the priest? Who installs a new crown in the dentist's mouth? Who buries the gravedigger? Or, more importantly, who gives the eulogy when a funeral home dies? If you're the family that has held sway over Griffin Funeral Home for 60 years, you give it yourself. The historic, African-American-owned parlor at 32nd and King Drive is closing its doors come New Year's Eve. Griffin has played host to such final... more ›

Although many here in Chicago don't celebrate today as a holiday, June 19 marks Juneteenth, a day commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery Texas, and the end of slavery in the US. On June 19, 1865, 2,000 Union troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the Texas and enforce the emancipation proclamation, more than two years after it took effect. Recognized in 14 states (including Texas) as an official holiday, it... more ›

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first commemorated after the Civil War as a way to honor fallen Union soldiers. After World War I it was expanded to honor all men and women who died in a US war or military action. It was originally observed on May 30, but since becoming a federal holiday, is now always observed on the last Monday in May, effectively creating a national three-day weekend. For many,... more ›

Sign outside of the Patio Motel by abbyworld. more ›

Rich Whitney, Green Party Candidate for Illinois Governor more ›

It must be something in the air. Look beyond the explosion of neighborhood Summer Fests, “Taste Ofs”, and nationally recognized rock smorgasbords, and you’ll find… still more festivals. Taking a cue from music promoters, local theaters know you’re excited to spend hours upon hours being entertained along some kind of theme. Festivals grab attention, and these festivals grabbed ours: Darknight Theatrical Productions pays tribute to Twilight Zone master Rod Serling, presenting three original one-acts inspired... more ›

In theatre, the word “epic” is usually thrown about when used to describe massive productions on an Andrew Lloyd Webber scale or if a show clocks in at over three hours. More appropriately, the word describes a sprawling narrative incorporating many lives, loves, and battles. So it’s no surprise to see “epic” pop up in the press materials of The Kentucky Cycle, a series of nine short plays presented by the Infamous Commonwealth Theatre in a run that begins tomorrow and continues through July 3rd at the National Pastime Theater (4139 N. Broadway). more ›

Here's some information on the race for Illinois' 4th congressional district. Incumbent Democrat Luis V. Gutierrez has held the seat for 12 years and looking at his competition, Republican Tony Cisneros and Libertarian Jake Witmer, he'll serve at least another two. Witmer is a classic Libertarian (everyone should own guns, the government is a thief, etc), but his rhetoric reeks a bit like Keyes'. He says our current drug policy "...makes us a society of... 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 ›

Memorial Day is a time to honor our vetrans, those who have died defending out country, and the men and women who are currently serving in the military. But let's face it - to many of us Memorial Day is a time to make merry because we have an extra day off of work! Whether you celebrate it patriotically or not, Chicago has a million things going on this weekend. Chicagoist tried to round them all up, but feel free to comment if we missed any! more ›