We've long been fans of the Rock Island-based Daytrotter, bringing us some great musical performances each week. Today, our pals at Gapers Block take a closer look at the folks behind Daytrotter and how they pull it all together. And Robert Loerzel has a great piece on Daytrotter's barn shows in this week's Chicago Reader. more ›

And we thought we were big fans of Playboy. The Reader has a great profile of Peggy Wilkins, a South Side woman who works at the University of Chicago by day and manages a large collection of Playboys by night. So large she rents a one bedroom apartment just to house them. She also moderates a Playboy fan mailing list and a searchable database of playmates. It's a fascinating peek into fandom and worth checking out. more ›

Stuck at work with no one else around? Still on vacation with little to do except surf the internet? Consider picking up a copy of - or browsing on the interwebz - The Reader's 2009 edition of their annual Fiction Issue. This year's issue features stories from Benjamin Kumming, Stephen Markley, Natalie Edwards, Will Fletcher, and Robert Cass. And, while you're at it, be sure to check out the exclusive short story "The Starving Dogs of Little Croatia" we got from renowned writer Barry Gifford. more ›

A few weeks back, Joe mentioned the race in the state's 40th District, pairing incumbent State Rep. Deb Mell (a.k.a. Blago's sister-in-law) against Joe Laiacona, an openly gay candidate who, among other things, writes a leather fetish column. In this week's Chicago Reader - out today - our pal and former Chicagoist political writer Hunter Clauss writes an excellent in-depth profile of Laiacona, including his side-projects, the campaign, and the petition challenge against Mell. Check it out here. more ›

Chicago Magazine's Bryan Smith offers up "Trashed," a compelling look at the case of Michael York. York's body was found in a West Side alley after a weekend of partying that left him dead, apparently from a drug overdose, the body dumped there by York's friends. Smith examines what led up to York's death and what followed. more ›

On the afternoon of May 9, 2008, John Conroy - former writer for the Chicago Reader - was the victim of an unprovoked attack on the West Side while riding his bike. He's now captured the incident, his experience, and an unflinching look at youth, violence, and race in a stunning piece of work for Chicago Magazine. Check it out here. [via WindyCitizen] more ›