“The Oprah Effect” hit its pinnacle last night as Barack Obama accepted the Democratic nomination, and Oprah Winfrey, who has long endorsed him, was in Denver to celebrate. Oprah watched among the crowd of 84,000 at Invesco Field and was moved to tears, so much so that her fake eyelashes couldn’t take the floods. “I cried my eyelashes off,” Oprah was quoted as saying. more ›

Wow, and I thought everyone saying "can't we all just get along?" on this week was moving. FotS and WBEZ correspondent Justin Kaufmann sends along this video from the Illinois delegation's breakfast in Denver this morning. Hugs for everyone! more ›

As the Democratic National Convention got underway last night, much of focus has been on the ongoing Clinton-Obama struggle and an appearance by stricken Senator Ted Kennedy. But Monday night, with the theme of "One Nation" focusing on Barack's background, featured a plethora of Chicago and Illinois politicians stumping for Candidate Obama, including the ladies of the Obama family. Amongst the Chicago politicians who spoke yesterday (though you wouldn't know it given the way Wolf Blitzer talked incessantly over the speeches - viva la C-SPAN!) was Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who used old-school baseball analogies for Obama and the Clintons:

“Barack Obama has the capacity to hit,” Jackson said a breakfast panel just before the opening of the Democratic National Convention. “But he is in the situation where he can’t hit back, which Jackie Robinson could not do…He had to be able to run the bases, even though the crowd was jeering the first African-American on the field...He has to keep smiling, because no one wants an angry African-American man in the White House.” more ›

Delmarie Cobb, a Chicago political consultant, says State Senate President Emil Jones called her an "Uncle Tom" at hotel where the Illinois delegation is staying in Denver. Cobb, who is black, is a Hillary Clinton delegate, and says she and Jones were arguing about Clinton vs. Obama. more ›

While several of his rivals have been given speaking engagements at next week's Democratic National Convention in Denver, it seems there's no room for Governor Blagojevich on stage. We already know Mayor Mumbles is speaking and new speakers recently added to list include state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Comptroller Dan Hynes, and Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan. But is Balgo's exclusion that big of a surprise? Given that Obama's campaign gets final say-so in choosing speakers, it shouldn't come as a shock, in spite of Obama and G-Rod's former ties (coughRezkocough). more ›

At least we don't have to worry about Chicago being under-represented at this year's Democratic National Convention. The convention, happening in Denver August 25 through 28, will apparently be quite a spectacle with some guy making a really big speech. But beneath all the hubbub, one of Chicago's finest (if not the finest) theatre troupes, Second City, will be performing at the convention. more ›

This August will be the 40th anniversary of one of the CPD’s darkest hours (oh, but there are so many to choose from): the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The milestone will be commemorated on the silver screen with the release of a new movie, Chicago 10, which opens in theaters nationwide tomorrow. [See our October review.] more ›

If you've ever wandered past the ever-under-construction mass of steel and concrete at the corner of State & Kinzie, that's the Museum of Broadcast History, the same group that put out the list of Top 125 American Political Broadcast Moments earlier this week. And, being as that lists are made to be pulled apart, dissected, shredded and argued over, who are we to get in the way of such rich tradition? There are some entries... more ›

Aurora's Planned Parenthood can open immediately. How bad do things have to get before Daley will denounce what's going on with the Chicago Police Department's Special Operations Section? Even the Associated Press is saying, "Not since club-swinging cops in baby-blue helmets chased demonstrators through clouds of pepper gas at the 1968 Democratic National Convention have Chicago police been so awash in trouble." Dayum. And yet Da Mare has given no indication that he'll disband... more ›

Ask the average Chicagoan about the riots of the late 1960s, and he or she will probably nod their head and say “During the Democratic National Convention, right?” While the 1968 riots maintain a prominent (read: notorious) place in this city’s history, this week marks a series of riots that were a flashpoint for the frustrations of Puerto Ricans in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. On June 12th, 1966, 20-year-old Aracelis Cruz was shot by police... more ›

After numerous eye-rolls by a Greek co-worker for buying our feta at the grocery store, Chicagoist ventured out to Greektown to find authentic feta. In our search we found a great little market called Athens Grocery. You might almost bypass it with all of the Greek restaurants along Halsted and trees hiding the sign, but Athens Grocery is a wonderful little shop full of authentic Greek products including many types of olives (a gallon jar... more ›

As the city’s nighttime streets lend an air of authenticity to this weekend’s number one movie and Vince Vaughn's new flick shuts down a portion of Michigan Avenue for most of the day, the Sun-Times reminds us why The Blues Brothers is responsible for bringing moviemaking back to the city of Chicago. As we watched Batman Begins this weekend, we noticed three things: 1) It is possible for Chicago’s mass transit system to get worse... more ›

On Monday the Illinois State Police confirmed that they were investigating a number of allegations of negligence and misconduct against the Governor's security detail made in an ABC7 report. ABC7 launched the investigation during last summer's Democratic National Convention. (For the whole report, including other examples, go here.) They wondered why the Guvna's bodyguards needed to drive state SUVs to Boston when Massachusetts was already providing all state governors with state troopers and vehicles. The... more ›

It is now a fact: Barack Obama will be the next Senator from Illinois. The Illinois Republicans haven't managed to find a replacement for Jack Ryan, and so the Democratic National Party has plucked Obama to deliver tonight's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Chicagoist has seen Obama speak before, and you can be sure that tonight's speech will be nothing less than a barnburner. Born in Hawaii, raised in Kansas and... more ›

Today's the day Chicagoist has been waiting all season for! The first game between the Cubs and White Sox begins this afternoon at 3:05pm at U.S. Cellular Field. Mark Prior faces off against Jon Garland in the first of three games between the two clubs this weekend. The Cubs' and Sox's success on the field again has fans dreaming of a Red Line World Series. Will it happen? If history is any indication probably... more ›

David Dellinger, the oldest member of the Chicago Seven, died Tuesday in a retirement home in Vermont. He was 88. A famous peace activist and union organizer who called himself a "moral dissenter" in his 1993 autobiography, Dellinger is remembered for his role in the riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Need a little refresher on Chicago activism? The 1968 Democratic National Convention drew thousands of anti-Vietnam War protestors into Chicago in late August.... more ›