This is part of Chicagoist's continuing coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival. A major letdown from the director of Young Adam, this movie from Scotland centers around an odd young man named Hallam Foe (played by Jamie Bell from Billy Elliot), who's obsessed with two things: his dead mother and spying on people. When he's driven away from the family home in the Highlands, he heads to Edinburgh, where he promptly meets a young... more ›

Tonight is AMPED! Columbia College’s Third Annual Battle of the Bands which is part of an ongoing series that invites participation from area high school students interested in arts and communications majors. Six bands comprised of local students will be competing at Hothouse for the princely sum of a $50 gift certificate per band member and, of course, the bragging rights of being Chicago’s best band! Chicagoist will be there as a “celebrity judge” to... more ›

Is it OK to love the French again? We transferred all that misplaced aggression to the Dixie Chicks, right? It just seems silly to hate an entire country that is so in favor of the libertine joys of wine, cheese and dance music. In the spirit of bringing us closer to our Parisian brothers and sisters, Chicagoist offers you a pair of tickets to see Justice spin at Smart Bar this Thursday at 10 p.m.... more ›

Thanks to an incentive-laden deal with the state, Pabst Brewing Company is moving their corporate headquarters from San Antonio (WTF? Milwaukee was so bad they had to move to San Antonio?) to suburban Woodridge, according to an article in today's Sun-Times. The deal, which gives Pabst a nearly $1 million tax incentive and training funding package for 31 executives, to be hired from the area. Pabst itself ifs spending $2.4 million to lease a facility... more ›

The weeks starts out right when a sucker punch on the field lands Chicagoist in the middle of a Sox/Cubs throwdown and the fists continue to fly in the comments. Despite suburban resident Ms. Pinney's best little try no books will be banned anytime soon and the El is really really gross. Houstonist is there to start compiling the punditry when when the guilty, guilty Enron verdict comes down. This guy seems to be able... more ›

Tonight is your best chance to see a Big Ass Rock Star kicking around town. more ›

The well-worn cliché about British rock and pop audiences is that they are ready and willing to embrace a band that breaks the mold and presents something new—much more so than music fans over here. Just two years ago, music execs were in a panic over the lack of British artists on the Billboard charts. While Robbie Williams still remains a hard sell here, whatever plan was devised back in 2002 is clearly working. And... more ›

There�s just too much good stuff going on this weekend to sit inside and enjoy the air-conditioning. And most of this good stuff is happening at two places: the Metro and the Music Box. So Chicagoist suggests you just camp out on the North Side for the next few days. Tonight, Metro has the MC5 reunion tour (with Lemonhead Evan Dando thrown in for good measure) and hyped young bands Franz Ferdinand tomorrow (in a sold-out show, sorry procrastinating hipsters) and the Secret Machines on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Music Box � as part of their great Weekend Matinee series � will show Jim Jarmusch�s wonderful Canterbury Tales-inspired Mystery Train on Saturday and Sunday, and play Wes Anderson�s droll, under-appreciated Bottle Rocket tonight and tomorrow at midnight. Trust us, with so much hip music and deadpan comedy, you�ll feel cool enough without your beloved A.C.
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