The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association wants us all to “Feel Magnificent,” and this month apparently that means knocking back the bubbly. Throughout February, businesses on the Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area have been serving champagne to diners and shoppers all along the Avenue, which means we have T minus 7 days to score some free (or reduced) sparkling goodness. The Mag Mile web site can fill you in on everywhere that’s filling flutes,......

To background, I manage a Chicago band called Tom Schraeder & His Ego, which landed a coveted spot on the 2007 bill. Though our slot was early (12:30 p.m. on Friday), the work for artists doesn’t stop once they’ve loaded up their vans (or in our case, the hearse) and exited the festival grounds. To give our esteemed Chicagoist readers a quick sketch of life deep on the Lollapalooza undercard, I kept a scribbled-note journal......

This week, just for "guest", Chicagoist decided to tie this installment of the "Buffet" into Lollapalooza. We also have an update on Bell's, some other newsworthy items, and the usual complement of events. - A forum thread started at Beer Advocate earlier this week asked the million-dollar question: When is Bell's coming back to Illinois? Standing out among the speculation was a reply from Larry Bell himself. Bell told the forum that he's been talking......

Perhaps realizing that yesterday’s official explanation for its objection to the ads for the movie The Nativity Story at the Christkindlmarket made about as much sense as tits on a bull, the city of Chicago now says it objects to the ads because it would be too commercial. Too commercial for an event that is also sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel, Mercedes-Benz and Lufthansa. Proving once again that there’s no hole that can’t be......

Whew! Blago now says he'll never lease or sell the tollway... because Topinka said she'd never do it if elected? The Feds charged 47 members of a street gang that controls drug dealing in a South Side housing complex where many of the recent Fentanyl-related overdose deaths originated. The guy we told you about who escaped custody during a court appearance at the Dirksen Federal Building and caused a floor-to-floor search? He escaped from......

You have two hours of free time downtown with your 10-year-old son on a pre-paid trip that already includes King Tut, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, a harbor cruise, Hard Rock Café and Medieval Times. What do you do? (Besides drink heavily.) That’s what one MetaFilter reader wants to know, and other readers are weighing in with their suggestions, which include: - Millennium Park - The Hancock - A......

Chicagoist has often been accused of rampant snobbery but we’ve got a soft spot for cover bands. As the granddaddy of cover band inspiration gets yet another posthumous tribute, we’re checking out other bands that are walking a mile in another’s shoes. Since it’s August, many are celebrating Elvis Death Week and Chicago is no different. Mark Hussman’s labor of love ,The Elvis Spectacular, descends of the House of Blues tonight at 8 PM. Hussman......

We’ve got another giveaway today in conjunction with The Futureheads acoustic show this Friday the 10th at the Hard Rock Hotel bar presented by MSN/Swatch Paparazzi. You can pick up a free ticket to this performance by stopping in at the Swatch store at North Bridge. If you’re out in the ‘burbs you can also stop by their stores at Oak Brook Center or the Westfield Stores at Old Orchard. Tickets are also still available......

Ay díos mío! There is no El Vez Christmas Show at Abbey Pub this weekend which makes for a very sad Mex-Mas indeed, niños. But do not despair! The gringos of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are bringing their Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party to the House of Blues tonight at 9 PM. Chicagoist wonders if it will resemble our own wild and swingin’ holiday party which featured copious amounts of Sam’s “Jingle My Bells Punch.”......

The China Grill is opening in the Hard Rock hotel today, so plan your social events calendar accordingly. The restaurant is the fifth China Grill, following in the noble footsteps of its New York, Miami, Las Vegas, and Mexico City predecessors. Join us now, won't you, and let's say it unison: Mexico City? Anyway. Expect a pan-Asian menu with, according to Metromix, at least two dishes that feature "Asian slaw." Unfortunately, Chicagoist is on an......