One man's potato pancake is another man's latke. Since it is Hanukkah season, love us some latkes (for a goyim), and know we aren't alone, this Sunday latke cookoff and brunch at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies is right up our alley. Spertus is currently accepting latke recipes (e-mail yours here, if you're interested) with an explanation why yours is the best. Spertus is selecting their favorites for a head-to-head cookoff with Laura Frankel, Executive Chef of the Institute's Wolfgang Puck café, and judged by Ina Pinkney and comedian Aaron Freeman. more ›

Today is the first day/second night of Hanukkah, the festival of lights (or as we like to call it, Jewish Christmas). In addition to lighting the menorah/hanukkiah, playing dreidel and getting presents, Hanukkah is about oil. And while there are all types of oil, our preference is for the hot bubbly kind in the pan. We cooked up two kinds of latkes last night. The first kind we made was from Fine Cooking magazine,... more ›

We've looked all day and still can't top hedgehogs in bandages (they were bandaged at, no lie, Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital). That's the clear winner of awesomeness today. But there were other good contenders... Good luck getting this catchy pork song out of your head. Have 24 hours to burn? The annual 24-hour The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters to Santa Benefit kicks off tonight at 7pm at Second City. This year's performers also... more ›

Every last Friday of the month, the bartenders and servers at Kuma's Corner donate their night's tips to a worthy cause. Tonight, it's all going to Windy City Roller Tahira "Tequila Mockingbird" Johnson, who's still recovering from her injury over the summer. If you find yourself gorging on the "Hatebeak" or "Goblin Cock" this evening, please tip better than you usually do. Just in time for Hanukkah, local food writer Leah Zeldes will give a... more ›

Mutant deers, Nazi gingerbread men, depraved preschoolers and creepy teachers - it's been a busy week for stupid, so let's jump right in. A 4-year-old Texas boy has been accused of sexual harassment by the La Vega Independent School District after hugging a teacher’s aid and rubbing his face into her chest. School officials say his actions warrant the accusations. We say give him a break – the little shit just wanted some motorboat action.... more ›

Now that Santa’s returned to the North Pole and Hanukkah Harry has commenced his rounds, it’s time to focus on New Year’s Eve. Maybe you’ve already ponied up your $100 or more to celebrate that sharp new desk calendar. Or maybe you’ve sworn off Saturday night as an overblown, overhyped, overpriced holiday. If you’re in that second category, consider spending 2005’s final hours at the theater, a more reasonably priced alternative where you leave the... more ›

For some reason, we’ve always believed that you haven’t really gotten down and dirty with the CTA, if you will, until you’ve become familiar with the joys that make up the system of buses that complement the more streamlined system of trains.
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This season there's been a lot of argument over whether we should be saying "Merry Christmas," or "Happy Holidays," or "Season's Greetings," but the one thing most of the media has been doing is making sure to mention the 3 celebrations: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Chicagoist finds this offensive because they're all blatantly ignoring the best: Festivus! Like last year, we ask you all to give to the Human Fund, even though you know we're... more ›

You know what's refreshing about Kanye West? His total lack of humility. Oh sure, if Chicagoist picked up ten Grammy nominations we might say something like "This is really a surprise. Especially for my debut album" or even "Thank you." But that is why we write pithy comments about events in the news and Kanye makes more money than Israel's got Jews (Happy Hanukkah to ya'll). Instead, Kanye described his nominations as "amazing," "nothing to complain about" and "like a perfect score" which indeed it would be if there were only ten noninations given instead of 107. No gospel album nomination though. Thanks for sparing us the controversy, Grammy-ers. more ›

If you're that guy (with the thinning, greasy hair and the stuffed animals in the back seat of your red convertible) that waits outside convenience stores and tries to impress minors by buying them alcohol, watch your back; the Illinois State Crime Commission (and maybe the Chicagoist) is after you. more ›