Beginning on the banks of the Ohio River at the tip of Illinois and marching 400 miles through 14 counties north to Chicago, Halsted Street is America in microcosm. Follow it from downstate, through the suburbs, along the central swathe it cuts through many of Chicago's most integral neighborhoods and you'll get a great idea of what this state and this city are all about. 13 years ago, that's just what filmmaker David E. Simpson did, and he took his camera. The result was Halsted Street USA, which you can watch online in its entirety. more ›

Well, there goes our straight line by bike from Bridgeport to Evanston for the next year. Starting this week, Halsted street is being rerouted for the next year as a new $27 million tied arch bridge will be constructed at Halsted near Goose Island to replace the current monstrosity that is a hell ride to cross by car, bicycle or foot. When the new bridge is completed, it'll have two lanes in either direction and dedicated bike lanes. Improved lighting will also be installed, and Halsted will be resurfaced from Division Street to North Branch. more ›

1. Porn stars playing Twister. And for a charitable donation, you can join in as well. 2. Gay cheerleaders of the Chicago Spirit Brigade soaring through the air. When you have a significant male presence on the squad, things people really get flying. 3. Shirtless muscle men. And an occasional shirtless woman. 4. Models wearing cutting-edge fashions, strutting their stuff. In an over-exagerated dance move, the rear seam in one model’s pants bursts open. 5.... more ›

John Bubala, chef/owner of the popular Timo restaurant on an industrial strip along Halsted Street near Milwaukee Avenue gets it right there. And now, with his recently opened Baccala in Wicker Park, he gets it right again. Shocker. When you use super-fresh ingredients, many from local farmers and ranchers, coupled with rich, velvety butters, creams and olivey olive oil, how can food not taste darn good? Baccala’s menu doesn’t stray far from the type... more ›

Chicagoist often thinks of restaurants like friends, and thus our experiences with restaurants are oftentimes described in terms of human relationships. For example, one restaurant we eat at is a go-to kind of friend; always open, never a hassle, no complications. Another restaurant we like to go to keeps letting us down because our expectations are too high ... and yet, we keep going back for more. more ›

If you missed the global sports extravaganza that was the Gay Games this summer (see, we've already *had* an Olympics, people!), you can still get in on a part of the action. To wrap things up and to clean out the closet, the organizers are having a mega garage sale. What might you find at this garage sale, you ask? "Items available for sale will include country and state banners used in the Opening and... more ›

We usually think of May Day as pretty girls dancing around maypoles, but much of the world celebrates May 1st as International Workers’ Day, commemorating the Haymarket Riot of 1886. more ›

Calling attention to unique and threatened urban spaces, Preservation Chicago has released their annual list of endangered Chicago buildings. Not much on the list will surprise anyone who follows the ongoing drama of developer/preservationist smackdowns. We expected to see: Promontory Point, with its beautiful but fading limestone steps. If the City has its way, these will go the way of their concrete-laden counterparts to the north. DePaul University’s Hayes-Healey Center, which the CTA plans to... more ›

So Chicagoist was enjoying this peaceful Saturday afternoon reading the paper and eating Chinese food when this absolute scrub of a kid struts into the restaurant like he owns the joint yapping into his cell phone with a total disregard for the people around him. After a few too many "damn, bro's" we walked to him and politely mentioned that we weren't really interested in the killer game of pickup ball he played, the wack-ass dj at the club the night before, the dvd player he installed in his Honda Civic, or his baby mama drama. We got the stink-eye, sure, but he did take the conversation outside where he added "kicking (our) ass" to his list of talking points. more ›

Sri Lanken-born, Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club owner Ramesh Ariyanayakam and owner Edward Gisiger are hosting a benefit for the victims of the tsunami from 6 till 9 p.m. tomorrow night, January 6, at their 3700 N. Halsted Street restaurant. more ›

Last Saturday night was the final night of the Grant Achatz-era at Trio, one of Chicago's top restaurants. Closed until August 17th, Trio will re-open its kitchen under chef Dale Levitsky of the bistro La Tache in Andersonville. With the introduction of a new chef, owner Henry Adaniya has decided to change Trio's concept, as well. It will become what its owner terms an atelier -- French for "workshop." This means lower prices, eclectic food, tapas-style servings and a looser vibe. "I've reached all of the heights I want to reach," Adaniya said. "I want to make it more accessible so that we're not exclusive, so that many more people will be able to have the Trio experience." more ›