Maybe we've been watching too much Dexter, but this shot from Sue Harper startled us. Turns out he's just making candy canes, which is both tastier and more festive.... more ›

It would be easy to write the obligatory piece about "the man and the dream" today. The fact of the matter is that the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is so much more than just the speech he give at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 in Washington, DC. Although he is remembered in the US as one of the leaders, if not the leader, of the civil rights movement in the 1950's... more ›

For last month’s Convince Us, we asked you for the worst book you have ever read. We chose Paris Trout by Pete Dexter. more ›

Well, we can say with absolute joy that your recommendations for this month's Convince Us had us laughing out loud. Many of you suggested On the Road by Jack Kerouac, but alas, we've already read it, and it's been thrown across the room a couple of times already. more ›

For the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, the answer is simple: put down the blowtorch. This year, two high-profile historic buildings have been destroyed by torch-related accidents. The Pilgrim Baptist Church, a centenarian Adler and Sullivan beauty, smoldered in January, and just a few weeks ago, scrap workers accidentally torched the Wirt Dexter Building using the same tool. The LPC calls for new laws restricting such cutting and welding operations at historic sites. Beyond these... more ›

Exhibit A: Pilgrim Baptist Church Location: 3301 S. Indiana Avenue Built: 1890-91 Notable facts: Originally built by Louis Sullivan and his partner, Dankmar Adler, as the Kehilath Anshe Ma'ariv synagogue. Became the Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1922. Often called the birthplace of gospel music, due to musical director Thomas Dorsey. Designated as a Chicago landmark: Dec. 18, 1981 Fate: Destroyed by fire, Jan. 6, 2006. Caused by workers doing roof restoration. Future: Possible rebuilding. Exterior... more ›

Just as our friends were getting used to avoiding the suspension of the Green and Orange Line service between Roosevelt and the Loop, they get the good news that service has been restored. At 8 p.m. last night the CTA resumed the service that was disrupted earlier in the week by the fire in the Wirt Dexter Commercial Loft building. more ›

What with all the disaster and drama associated with the Dexter Building fire on Tuesday, it was easy to overlook that a dermatologist was stabbed and killed downtown that same evening. Dr. David Cornbleet, 64, was in his 12th floor office at 30 N. Michigan around 5 o'clock, when an unidentified assailant came in, stabbed him more than two dozen times, then left. Cornbleet was found by his daughter around 8 p.m. that night after she became worried that he hadn't called her. more ›

The fire at the Dexter Wirt building will continue to indirectly mess things up for Orange and Green Line CTA riders, Columbia College students, the homeless and anyone trying to get a drink at George's. CTA officials want to make sure the rail structure is safe before allowing train service to resume between Roosevelt and the Loop. In addition, the burnt structure now needs to be torn down so that pieces of the formerly historic... more ›

Chicagoist braved smoke inhalation from the Dexter Building fire last night to attend a little open house for a new Loop burger joint, Patty Burger. The place is the brainchild of former Jimmy Johns CEO Gregg Majewski, and the Chicago flagship location just recently began serving at 72 E. Adams. Patty, by the way, is the name of the restaurant’s mascot (for lack of a better word) — a nod to the 1940s pinup girl. Patty and her small, burger-focused menu look to be attempting an In-N-Out Burger sorta theme, promising fast, fresh (not frozen) burgers, fries and shakes. The menu also features an egg sandwich for breakfast, and chili and a veggie burger for those so inclined. more ›

Yesterday’s fire in the South Loop had an impact on the present and took away a part of Chicago’s past. The building that caught fire was the Witt Dexter Commerical Loft Building at 630 S. Wabash. Firefighters battled the blaze into the night, the CTA’s Loop elevated trains were shut down, and nearby buildings were evacuated. Here’s what you need to know for your morning commute: Green Line and Orange Line service is currently... more ›

There are a few things that Chicago totally rocks at, like making hot dogs and yelling. One of the more notable areas of expertise over the course of the city’s history, of course, is architecture. And who was more of an expert at architecture than Chicago’s own, Louis Sullivan? more ›

A few weeks ago Gaper's Block asked its readers to name their most overrated restaurants. Wishbone garnered a lot of votes, which this particular member of the Chicagoist staff didn't find surprising. You see, some weeks before Gaper's polled their readers there was a bit of a row among us here regarding Wishbone. The opening statement of our argument was that Wishbone "sucked" a certain part of the human body really hard. While we were admittedly overstating our case, Chicagoist does contend that when we crave good southern cooking or soul food, Wishbone ain't even on our radar. more ›

Anton Chekhov famously advised aspiring playwrights: If there is a gun hanging on the wall in the first act, it must fire in the last. Craig Wright turns that rule on its head in Grace, his powerful meditation on faith, reason and time now playing at the Northlight Theater. Here, the gun fires during an opening scene staged in reverse. The rest of the show pieces together how protagonists Steve and Sara, a devout Christian couple undone by a sham business deal compromising their faith, and their neighbor Sam, a scientist who doubts God in the wake of tremendous loss, arrive at that violent moment. more ›

If last week’s Sugar Water Festival at Northerly Island had you yearning for more neo-soul stylings, then you’ll want to spend your Friday nights in August at the DuSable Museum of African-American History for the 4th Annual Neo-Soul Explosion. Organizers of The Neo-Soul Explosion brag that it’s the place in Chicago to see rising stars in soul, jazz, and funk. That’s usually a risky statement to make but the NSE has delivered the goods in... more ›