We promise we love many elements about the Christmas season: the festive decorations, the spirit of togetherness, the delicious foods ... but other elements make us want to stab our eyes out. At the top of our list are awful Christmas songs. While there are some songs that make us reminisce about our childhood (anything from the A Very Special Christmas album is fair game), there are others that almost induce involuntary vomiting. We polled the Chicagoist office to compile a list of the Worst Fucking Christmas songs, and here's what was said. (You can wage your own bets about which Chicagoist writer said what): more ›

Happy Holidays! Chances are, you're reading this the day after Christmas, back at your day job after all-too-short a holiday, and the last thing you want from us is stuff about the holidays. But that's just too bad. Because, see, here in the Ist-a-verse, we do things ahead of time. It might be December 26 for you, but that's what you get for not checking your Favorite Local Blog on Christmas Eve. Austinist is... more ›

It’s the holidays, and nothing says Happy Holidays to us like some raw oysters and a gin martini. And while us landlocked Midwesterners won’t pretend to have any expertise on the subject of mollusks or the like, we have heard that Fulton’s chef Mark Mavrantonis is an oyster dynamo. Rumor has it that he was on a team that set an oyster-shucking record by opening up more than 16,000 of the little guys in something like 11 hours. Having nearly lost a few fingers trying to shuck in the past, Mavrantonis’ oyster reputation was enough to get us through Fulton’s door last night for a quick dozen and some juniper berry goodness. more ›

It is that time of year again. Lights go up on the houses, department stores start making money, presents are picked out, wrapped, and then returned on the 26th. In other words, the holidays have arrived, which bring with them one additional bundle of joy (besides baby Jesus): The office holiday party! more ›

We know it seems we’ve been awful hard on Macy’s, but it seems they give us fodder on a daily basis. They’ve even got the stamina for twice a day sometimes. Macy’s, Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and we assume many others to follow, will be bringing back the term “Christmas” this year. more ›

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 ›

The George Ryan trial is in recess until after the New Year, but let’s take a look at some of the most interesting recent developments so you can discuss them all with your family and friends over the holidays: more ›

Chicagoist loves the comfort of representative democracy, knowing that our elected officials are taking care of the important things for us, things that require the leadership and insight of our best and brightest like making sure we call Christmas trees the right name. That's right, House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) is on the case, sending a letter to the Architect of the Capitol, asking that he please call the decorated conifer on Capitol Hill a "Christmas tree" instead of "Holiday tree." more ›