Meet the Chicago Climate Action Plan: a fabulous, flexible, long-term plan unveiled by the Daley Administration last week that outlines how the city plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the onset of permanent climate change in Chicago. From the Climate Change 101 section of the website: The CCAP outlines 26 actions to reduce greenhouse gases and nine actions to prepare for climate change, helping the City, residents, and businesses reduce greenhouse gases......

Oh Lord, do we like hearing about things like this: a new company called The Special E functions solely to salvage leftovers from special events like weddings or conferences, often rescuing mighty amounts of food and other event leavings from getting tossed in the trash. The for-profit “green” organization, which services 30 major metropolitan areas, has already been hired for half a dozen Chicago events, including Ameriprise Financial's recent national conference at the Field Museum.......

No updates yet on that proposed mandate which would require Chicago cab companies to convert to hybrid cars, but it seems that a high number of Chicago and other Illinois residents are personally making the switch. While California strongly outpaces all other states for new hybrid vehicle registrations, statewide financial incentives and the price of gas are helping to keep both the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois in the top five on......

Palmer's vlog entry from San Francisco a few weeks ago Swiss adventurer Louis Palmer is driving a solar-powered car around to highlight the feasibility of alternative fuels. He cruised through Chicago yesterday in his two-seat, three-wheeled contraption that tops out around 55mph. [AP, ABC 7]......

Vendors at any of the 24 Chicago-run farmers markets won’t be able to participate in next year’s selling season unless they stop using plastic bags. The bag ban, imposed by the city of Chicago, is meant to reinforce the city’s message to “go greener.” Vendors can choose to carry biodegradable bags, while shoppers will be encouraged to bring along their own bags. The Chicago Department of the Environment estimates that each city resident throws away......

Could Chicago cabs be going hybrid? Finance Committee Chairman Edward M. Burke (14th) and Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Allen (38th) are proposing a city mandate requiring cab companies to begin incorporating hybrids into their fleet of vehicles, with a complete conversion of all Chicago cabs by January 1, 2014: Starting next year, they want every new or replacement cab that hits the streets to be either gas-electric hybrid or powered by innovative fuels, including compressed......

A report from the Brookings Institute today examines "metropolitan areas' progress toward achieving productive, inclusive, and sustainable growth that drives national prosperity." How's Chicago doing? Our GDP average $99,313 per job, which is above both the 100 largest metro areas' average and the US average, but the 7.8 increase between 2001 and 2005 is below average 31.6 percent of Chicagoans 25 and over have attained a bachelors degree or higher. Nationally, the average is 27......

The Lincoln Park Zoo is already pretty green, but now it’s going organic. Photo by Whattheheckallthenamesaretaken. One could make the argument that a zoo, by nature, is already organic. But this weekend, the Lincoln Park Zoo is implementing one step in a five-year plan to reduce the attraction’s impact on the environment when they open the Cafe at Wild Things. The cafe will only feature organic, sustainable, locally produced snacks. Even the utensils will be......

The Green Cleaning Schools Act went into effect in Illinois on May 9, making us the second state in the nation to require that schools develop "green cleaning" plans and use cleaning supplies that meet EPA standards. Great, there goes our idea to sell boiling ammonia cancer splash lunchtable cleanser in a get-rich-quick scheme. Sigh. Guess we're going to have to market bottled hippie tears. Oh, we kid. The law does not include penalties for......

Eco-friendly advancements are being made in building design and construction—think sustainable materials, efficiency of resources, and energy-reducing wiring and appliances. If this topic interests you, the new Smart Home: Green + Wired exhibit, opening tomorrow at the Museum of Science and Industry, is a neat opportunity to learn more about green buildings. The exhibit is a real, fully functional, 2,500 square foot home squatting on the museum’s east lawn, demonstrating how landscaping, design, and technology......

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled a program that allows Illinois motorists to recycle old or obsolete license plates. For a few weeks now, license plate recycling bins have been available outside each of the 136 Secretary of State vehicle facilities, but the recycling program was officially announced on Tuesday, in order to coincide with Earth Day. The old license plates will be shredded and sent to a scrap metal vendor, but will......

Macy’s announce this week that they will switch to 100% recyclable material for their 43 million shopping bags, moving away from their signature laminated bag. Photo by Timothy State. It’s with a bit of irony that the company responsible for killing the Marshall Field’s trademark green is now, itself, going green. Earlier this week, Macy’s announced they will be using recycled paper shopping bags at all its stores, as well as biodegradable packaging for......

Ah, the Coen Brothers. They've given us many memorable tales of kidnapping, murder, and betrayal. But none has grown in cult status quite like The Big Lebowski. Since it's theatrical release (10 years ago yesterday!), and despite its subsequently tepid box office gross, the film has become a huge hit on DVD and has even inspired it's own yearly get-together, known as Lebowski Fest. The Fest gives all the Dude enthusiasts a chance to come......

The listed events were chosen by the editors of Chicagoist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Music Gypsy jazz guitarist Alfonso Ponticelli and his band, Swing Gitan, are one of the go-to acts to fill in at the Green Mill whenever Kurt Elling is out of town for his regular Wednesday engagement. Ponticelli's faithful recreations of old Hot Club of Paris numbers, complemented with original compositions, are fresh and accessible without......

The Chicago Journal has an update on the Green Exchange, the eco-themed shopping mall that's slated to open in the old Cooper lamp factory on Diversey. There are two bits of news in the article: first, the Green Exchange is expected to open by the end of 2008, and second, "city planners are exploring the possibility of creating an eco-industrial park or green-themed planned manufacturing district nearby." First Ward Alderman Manny Flores, who was quoted......

Just squeaking in before the NBA's Thursday afternoon trading deadline, the Bulls made a big move by moving Big Ben. As part of a three-team, eleven-player trade with the Seattle Supersonics and Cleveland Caveliers the Bulls traded away Ben Wallace -- less than two years after rolling out the red carpet and $60 million in order to lure him to Chicago. In addition to Wallace's departure, Joe Smith will also be packing for Cleveland while......

The listed events were chosen by the editors of Chicagoist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Food and Wine Meet one of Santa Barbara’s hottest winemakers as Joey Tensley of Tensley Wines personally showcases his current vintages this evening at Custom House. Guests can savor six of Tensley's favorite selections and enjoy small bites from Chef de Cuisine Richard Camarota in the restaurant’s beautifully appointed private dining room. 500 S. Dearborn,......

You know that list of needs the Bears have to fill this off-season? Quarterback, running back, offensive line? Well, we can add wide receiver to the list. The Bears cut veteran wideout Muhsin Muhammad on Monday, along with offensive lineman Fred Miller and defensive tackle Darwin Walker as they try to free up money under the salary cap. By waiving Muhammad, the Bears avoid paying the aging receiver a $500,000 roster bonus in March. He......

Like his old man, Mayor Richard M. Daley is determined to transform public housing as part of his legacy (here's hoping it turns out better than Sr.'s effort -- several detractors don't have high hopes). His plan is creeping forever forward -- it's currently many years behind -- and the city will eventually replace CHA high rise projects like Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini-Green with mixed-income housing. But in the meantime, those people whose......

Photo by Michael DaKidd. Now imagine all those lights turned off. That's what Earth Hour will be like. Mark your calendars: For one hour on March 29th, Chicago will be in the dark. The City of Chicago and COM ED are asking businesses and residents to turn off their lights and unplug all electrical devices between 8 and 9pm on Saturday, March 29th to participate in Earth Hour, a global initiative organized by the......

The corner of Dempster and Chicago in Evanston still retains some vestiges of its hippie past, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It actually reminds us of the less annoying parts of Lincoln and Wicker Parks. We've been fans of Bagel Art in Evanston for as long as we can remember; we usually have a sesame seed bagel with plain cream cheese every morning on the way to work. They also make a few......

A gift from Cupid's Treasures may be nice once in a while, but food is a time-tested aphrodisiac. Restaurants throughout the city are gearing up for one of their busiest days Thursday. Here is a list of price fixe dinners guaranteed to mae a romantic out of even the most callous individuals. Shawn McClain at Spring has crafted a four-course menu featuring the highest quality seasonal ingredients for $80. $40 extra will get you wine......

Photo by Alforque Shake-ups and oustings continue at the Trib. The latest casualty: Tribune Interactive President Tim Landon. [Trib] A missing Chicago 4-year-old was found dead in a relative's home in Milwaukee. [CBS2] A Little Village man faces two counts of murder; one for stabbing a man he says attacked him months ago, and one for accidentally stabbing his brother during the fight. Jesus. [Trib] Former Sun-Times publisher David Radler is suing Donald Trump.......

Like a scaled-down Tonight Show sans writer’s strike trauma, The Interview Show brings humorous, interesting and idiosyncratic folks to The Hideout’s couch. Tonight at 6:30, host and Red-Eye columnist Mark Bazer welcomes “Funniest Person in Chicago” Hannibal Buress (there is no one funnier…), Looking for Alaska author John Green, Lifeway Foods President Julie Smolyansky, and Schadenfreuder and troublemaker Justin Kaufmann. If you can’t change your plans on less than four hour’s notice, take heart. Bazer......

Pantagrapher has it in the bag Surprise, surprise: Chicago will not be banning retail stores from distributing plastic bags anytime soon, but steps are being taken to institute a plastic bag recycling program. According to the Sun-Times, Alderman Ed Burke from the 14th Ward proposed a "San Francisco-style ban on non-compostable plastic bags" last May, but he was ultimately forced to compromise. Now, Burke is joining Economic Development Committee Chairman Marge Laurino from the......

The United States isn't the only country that is having federal elections this year. In March a by-election will be held in Toronto's Toronto Centre Riding. And our sister site, Torontoist has been posting a semi-regular column by their Environment Editor, Chris Tindal, who is running for parliament as the Green Party candidate. With Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama racing headlong into Super Tuesday, it seems that Canadians have already made up their mind. On......

The Green Grocer Chicago market is now open at Grand and Noble. And don't criticize just yet for grabbing onto the "green" moniker for marketing purposes; the owner of the place is named Cassie Green. Get it? The market's goal is to "work closely with Midwestern farmers and producers to provide our customers the freshest food available while supporting our local economy. By choosing primarily to work with Midwestern sources, we get to know our......

Photo by Interrobang "You've got to be willing to get a cut in your face to get rewarded at the end of the night. If you don't want to do it, you're not going to win the Stanley Cup." -- Blackhawks coach Denis Savard after last night's 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets. "Woof!" -- Siberian huskies at tomorrow's Tails on the Trails "sled pulling, skijorring, and speed demonstrations" at the Morton Arboretum. Skijorring......

Remember in Moulin Rouge when Ewan McGregor's character drinks some green liquid, the camera tilts to a canted angle, the crazy music starts playing, and you felt like maybe someone had slipped a hallucinogen into your popcorn? The green liquid, of course, was absinthe, and its purported psychoactive properties have been well extolled by the likes of Oscar Wilde, Outkast, and Johnny Depp. Known as the Green Fairy, absinthe is an anise-flavored (read: licorice) alcohol......

The Museum of Science and Industry announced today that a fully-functional, three-story "green" home will be built just east of the museum on its Jackson Park grounds in Hyde Park this spring. The foundation is currently being laid, and it will be open to the public from May 8, 2008 through January 4, 2009. The 2,500-square-foot home will exhibit some of the latest environmentally-friendly technologies and offer a primer on incorporating these innovations into......