A Streets and San worker has been charged with DUI in connection with a Saturday crash that injured 8, including a toddler, on the Gold Coast. more ›

Restaurant Week is on like Donkey Kong, so you’d better believe your beloved Chicagoist foodies are out there finding out what’s worth your time and what’s not. Up first is Devon Seafood Grill. Despite what you may guess, Devon Seafood Grill is not actually on Devon Avenue - it’s on the corner of Chicago and Wabash in the Gold Coast. Nor is DSG unique to Chicago; the restaurant has additional locations in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Hershey. We visited DSG on the first day of restaurant week, and all things considered, it was a good way to kick things off. more ›

It appears that Soupbox may have raised their prices since the last time we checked, but even still, you can do lunch for two for under $15 at this media darling of a soup joint. We visited the newest Soupbox spot, the Gold Coast location on Chicago Avenue. Unlike the Broadway Street location in Lakeview, the Gold Coast store does not deliver, so you're going to have to go pick it up yourself. We've got the goods and the bads on this hot spot. more ›

Human bones discovered at a Gold Coast construction site are likely remnants of a 19th century cemetery and could date back to pre-Civil War. A construction crew discovered the bones earlier this week in the basement of a townhome near 1500 North State Parkway. Chicago History Museum spokeswoman Lauren Dolan told WBBM, "The boundaries of that Irish Catholic cemetery - we weren't able to locate the exact boundaries. But we knew it was a smaller cemetery just south of North Avenue, which would've been right around the area (where) the bones were discovered." The Trib has more: more ›

• Drivers have a few months to prepare for the next prolonged traffic snarl: resurfacing of the Eisenhower (I-290) will begin in April 2010.
• Prosecutors have alleged Tahawwur Rana, one of the men arrested last month for allegedly plotting overseas terror attacks, was in possession of a pair of al Qaida videotapes.
• The Gold Coast building that used to serve as a home to the Three Arts Club could soon be the home of the ashes of 15,000 deceased Chicagoans.

Situated in the Gold Coast steps away from the new Barneys store, Ogden International Elementary is considered one of Chicago’s finest public schools where students of well-off parents from the neighborhood can choose from a curriculum of after-school activities such as yoga and drawing classes. more ›

Yeah, we've blathered on and on about it. And now it's here! Rather than run off at the mouth again, here are some snaps of the new space. It's fantastic. With the crappy economy and snow piled up everywhere, doesn't an excursion to the tropics sound heavenly? They're open daily at 4 (but will be closed Christmas Day, alas). more ›

Throughout the month of September, you are cordially invited to spend your weekends touring fancy homes (the $900,000–$4,000,000 kind of fancy homes) during the fifth annual Chicago Luxury Home Tour. Presented by Midwest Home Chicago, 22 homes will be on display throughout the Chicagoland area. Think Hindsdale, Naperville, Glenview, not Gold Coast, Bucktown, Lincoln Park. It's a bit of driving around but after perusing the photo gallery (Hello, George Costanza-worthy Weilert Custom Homes bathroom, above) it might be worth devoting an entire day navigating around the suburbs. But if you're like us, you'll probably just get tired and end up hanging out at the refreshment stop, snacking on catered food and raspberry watermelon lemonade from the Viking Cooking School and Culinary Shop instead. more ›

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Last week’s free McSkillet burritos spoiled us. All we had to do was purchase one little drink and we got a free breakfast? Suddenly paying for meals seemed like a sham. It got us thinking - where else can we score some free grub in this town? Well, seek and ye shall find: more ›

What kinds of cars do Chicagoans drive? more ›

While a Chicagoland Legoland is years away, The Graham Foundation’s latest exhibit is architectural fun with Lego models. “Models” doesn't quite describe them. No, they’re “7 New Architectural Species from the Danish Welfare State,” the brainchildren of Copenhagen’s Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). BIG’s big idea is to find new practical utopias by “investing in the overlap between radical and reality,” to create a “new breed in urban life forms.” more ›

The city's License Committee added Alderman Brandon Reilly's 42nd Ward, which includes the Loop, River North and the Gold Coast to the list of wards where private businesses will have the legal authority to boot cars parked on private property. "It seemed like an interesting concept. I figured we’d give it a try,” Reilly told the Sun-Times, pointing out that illegal parkers wouldn't have to travel to remote lots to spring their towed vehicles, and that a private attendant would be on duty to remove the boot once the fine had been paid. more ›

The number of homicides in Chicago is decreasing, but there's another number that's dropping, too: Fewer murders are being solved. Of Chicago's 443 murders last year, only 162 were solved. The police also solved 102 cases from previous years. This year's clearance rate of 36.6 percent is about the same as last year, but 42 percent of 2005 and 47 percent of 2004 murders were cleared. more ›

Even though Barack Obama came in second last night in New Hampshire, he's still number one in Chicago. In fact, the City by the Lake loves Obama so much that we're throwing him a $1000-a-plate fundraiser "Welcome Home" dinner this Thursday. Peoples Gas Co. President Desiree Rogers will be hosting Obama in her Gold Coast home on January 10. Also listed on the invitation are some of Obama's more monied backers, including developer Neil Bluhm, Commonwealth Edison President Frank Clark, Hyatt Hotels heiress Penny Pritzker, Ariel Capital Management founder John Rogers Jr., and Democratic money man Lou Sussman. One-time rival for US Senate and #1 Obama Superfan Dan Hynes is also listed on the invite. more ›

Well, we didn't set out to have a fecal-theme day, but when it rains (poop), it pours (dog poop). A Gold Coast grandmother was fined $400 this week for flinging dog crap at the Latin School. Strange but true! What would prompt such an act? "I had just had it with Latin," she said. Kass works for CPS and is also minister, according to the Pioneer Local. [She says she] "just got tired of... more ›

This week has been all about finding a good turkey, ordering that dinner to go, or cooking at home. But Chicago's intrepid food bloggers were still all over the place this week. Bridget Houlihan and Tammy "Zesmerelda" Green at Chicago Bites took the time to head to Devon Seafood Grill in the Gold Coast. Both of the ladies enjoyed the meal immensely, but to get the full effect, you should listen to their podcast. Meanwhile,... more ›

George Ryan starts his prison sentence today, and the Sun-Times and Trib have helpfully chronicled every move the former governor has made since last night. You know what that means: time for a Ryan Round Up! Olé! Yesterday, the 73-year-old released this statement to the public, again claiming innocence and thanking his family and legal team. At 5:50 this morning, Ryan left his home in Kankakee in a van driven by his son, George Ryan... more ›

It's making the rounds, so we feel sort of obligated to link it up, but bleh. Someone really did hang a skinned goat on the Harry Caray statue, though their curse-cursing didn't do anything. And the cops had to cut it down. Still trying to figure out what to do tonight? Local artist Brian Morris's solo show of drawings and customized toys has its opening party at Rotofugi tonight. If you like skulls and... more ›

Here are some other newsworthy items to ponder while we slap some Tiger Balm on our knees. Serves us right for riding our bikes to Morgan Park and back. Even when being deported, Elvira Arellano can't stop talking. She also got to see her 8-year-old son, Saul, before leaving. He's staying with his grandmother godmother. The "cell-phone bandit?" Now that's a robber with a gimmick. Bond for two men accused of robbing former Bull... more ›

Edward Kearns spent Father's Day in jail Sunday. Kearns, who owes more than $112,000 in child support for three kids, was among 130 deadbeat dads who were arrested by Cook County Sheriff's Police during a week-long "Operation Father's Pay." Pretty bizarre: An off-duty Chicago police officer has been found dead in a gangway near his home in Pilsen; They think he possibly fell off his deck. Businesses are making way for Barney's and those... more ›

One of the things we like the most about Chicago is that when the weather agrees, this city behaves much like a resort town. You can walk, jog, ride a bike, rollerblade, or skateboard along a massive lakefront to any number of beaches. And when you arrive at the beach of your choice, you can hang out for the afternoon, drinking, eating, and more drinking like there isn’t a care in the world. We stopped... more ›

Memorial Day Weekend is under way, so pull out the grill, set up the yard games, and put on your leather. For 29 years now this Chicago weekend has been synonymous with International Mr. Leather—a leather beauty pageant, leather and fetish conference, adult superstore, and cocktail party rolled up into one giant event that attracted some 15,000 leather daddies, leather boys, leather mamas, and leather girls last year. (Folks, that’s an entire town of fetish... more ›

Chicagoist got a blast from the past yesterday when our man in Dirksen, Patrick Fitzgerald, announced the indictment of former 10th Ward Alderman Fast Eddie Vrdolyak on charges of federal fraud and bribery in connection with an alleged scheme to collect kickbacks in exchange for the sale of choice Gold Coast property. The charges allege that Vrdolyak conspired with businessman Stuart Levine to defraud the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science of the full... more ›

While thumbing through the morning paper, we couldn't help but chuckle (read: guffaw) at the Tribune headline, "Streeterville relic - history or just junk?" Apparently, while some dude was toolin' around under the corner of Illinois St. and McClurg Court, he found an anchor that he joked probably belonged to Captain George Streeter. He researched the anchor for fun and found, to his surprise, that there was a distinct possibility it may have actually belonged... more ›

The green revolution is truly upon us. But until you can buy a car that's powered by your own sense of self-satisfaction, you might have to settle for a Tesla. Whether you've heard of them or not, you'll get your chance to check them out up close and personal: the Silicon Valley-based electric car company Tesla Motors is coming to Chicago early next year. Tesla's been blowing the accepted notion of the electric car out... more ›

This ain’t your ordinary brown sack lunch. When your Reuben comes with butter-sherry sautéed onions and the sloppy Joe hails from New Mexico with jalapeños and chilies, you know you’re not going to have just an ordinary sandwich at this charming lunch spot in Logan Square. Maybe that’s because the head chef and owner, Malaika Marion, who trained at CHIC (Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago) and Le Cordon Bleu, has racked in time at... more ›

We know what you’re thinking: “Aren’t the best ethnic markets located in, well, ethnic neighborhoods?” Why, yes, astute reader, for the most part they are. But sometimes, like that ever-elusive bluebird of happiness, you can find them right in your own backyard. Case in point: L’Appetito, an Italian deli and café with two locations in the Gold Coast. Yeah, yeah, there you go again: Yes, we, like you, normally avoid shopping in the Gold Coast... more ›

"How stupid are the drivers in this parking lot?" via kudzuplanet. more ›

Consider these three scenarios. You want to eat some Indian or Pakistani food, but you don't want to make the trek to Devon. You are tanked after a night of drinking in River North or the Gold Coast and you want to go out for some post-drinking nosh, but aren't in the mood for a burger. You've been doing some shopping downtown, and want to grab a quick dinner, but don't want to either... more ›