The Harry Caray statue outside Wrigley Field has been the target of wannabe-butchers in the past. The Ricketts family hasn't been too nice to it, either. But some dumbass with idle hands decided to tag the statue over the weekend with "Sox" and another illegible word. Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said most of the tagging has been removed. more ›

A little more than two years ago as the real world housing market was in free-fall, the not-yet-opened LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago was looking to start some construction of its own—on a “miniland” scale. About the same time, Daniel Morey was finding himself with fewer and fewer projects in his work as a contract carpenter. more ›

Both Cubs and White Sox fans share an affection for the late Harry Caray. While he cemented a legendary career on the North Side, his years calling games with Jimmy Piersall in old Comiskey Park often veered into high art. But Harry was also something of a populist gourmand, as the two videos we've found show. The first one is a 1980 commercial for La Preferida Mexican food products. Caray was still broadcasting Sox games then, you could still make out what he was saying and, as you'll see near the end of the clip, he was always a man of the people. more ›

Brilliant marketing decision by the NHL to use an actual recording of Harry Caray singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in this commercial. It's getting us pumped for the match-up. [via Awful Announcing] more ›

We try to ignore everything Stella Foster says, but every one in a while, she has some good news. She says those gross, weird AT&T commercials featuring the Harry Caray impersonator will be pulled from the air March 30. more ›

We're not sure than the 2008 White Sox will be any more tolerable to watch than last year's team, but they'll no doubt be easier to listen to -- at least on the radio. That's because Steve Stone will be replacing Chris Singleton alongside Ed Farmer, the team announced on Tuesday. more ›

, and no doubt people all over the city are mispronouncing things in his honor. more ›

Well, that was fast! Barely 24 hours ago, Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome announced that he would leave Japan to play in the major leagues. Fukudome and the Cubs have already reached an agreement on a four-year deal, supposedly for between $48 and $50 million. By signing the outfielder, the Cubs beat out the Padres, White Sox and a couple other clubs rumored to be interested. more ›

It's making the rounds, so we feel sort of obligated to link it up, but bleh. Someone really did hang a skinned goat on the Harry Caray statue, though their curse-cursing didn't do anything. And the cops had to cut it down. Still trying to figure out what to do tonight? Local artist Brian Morris's solo show of drawings and customized toys has its opening party at Rotofugi tonight. If you like skulls and... more ›

Today is a momentous occasion in Chicago Cubs history. It was on this day eighteen nineteen years ago that the Cubs recorded their first official night game at Wrigley Field, beating the New York Mets 6-4 on a national stage; the game was broadcast on NBC with Vin Scully and Joe Garagiola in the booth. Note the use of the word "official." Their first night game was actually scheduled the previous evening against the... more ›

We were reading Deadspin yesterday and came across the map you see above, via flickr user "littlebudapest" and the website Strange Maps. As you can see, the map breaks down the continental United States by baseball allegiances. Notice the little fiefdom the White Sox hold within Cubs Country, like West Berlin surrounded by East Germany during the Cold War. One would think that, with one World Series win in the past ninety years, the... more ›

We couldn't go through this day without paying our respects to DIsco Demolition, a day that will live in White Sox infamy. Today is the 28th anniversary of the event (the You Tube clip included here was from the event's silver anniversary). There's not much we can add to the day, except to read the Wiki entry. Even that doesn't do the event justice to the chaos that ensued. more ›

Looking to go to Taste of Chicago and come away satiated, while having paid less than you would have inside the restaurant? It is possible — if you do your homework ahead of time. Or if you let the Sun-Times do it for you. more ›

This week, the Cubs announced plans to build a statue of Ernie Banks outside Wrigley Field, honoring Mr. Cub himself. The new statue will be in place before the 2008 season. While discussions about erecting a statue honoring perhaps the greatest Cubs player ever had been going on for a while, Jess Jackson recently got the ball rolling with a public petition, appearances on the Mike North morning show, and a publicized meetings with Tribune... more ›

Well, another week has descended upon the city by the lake, and the politicians, like the rest of us, are frolicking in this wonderful spring weather like cowboys at the beach. Let's take all the newsy tidbits that came across our desk this week and rustle them up, like the spring cattle they want to be. Who knows? Maybe one of these stories will fatten up into a vitriol-filled post we can use as a... more ›

Tonight at 5:30 is the 9th Annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray. It is estimated that fans in as many as 81 countries will raise a glass, likely a cold Bud, in honor of the Hall of Fame announcer. more ›

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Because Chicagoist is tired this morning, and because despite what some people think, we can't get up every single morning and just magically bring the funny, we're going to piggyback off this Sun-Times piece about Chicago's "scariest" places so we can whore for comments. We'll give this the old college try and make a brief stab at trying to disguise it as media criticism anyway, because the piece is really no less lazy than what... more ›

Once again, we building lovers are put on the defense. Landmarks Illinois has come out with its fifth annual Chicagoland Watchlist. There are twelve buildings on the list in danger of demolition, including the Chicago Daily Defender Building and the Lakeshore Athletic Club. more ›

With all the potential candidates now known, the Cubs' list to fill Dusty Baker's vacancy seems to be: Lou Piniella, Joe Girardi, Bob Brenley and maybe even Buck Showalter -- the last of the managerial casualties. Braves third base coach Fredi Gonzalez had been on early wish lists, but the Florida Marlins snatched him up within hours of dumping Girardi. more ›

In addition to being one of the fattest cities in the United States, Chicago is also a hot market for designer beef. “There aren’t very many small people walking around Chicago,” Jason Miller, executive chef at David Burke's Primehouse, told the Tribune. more ›

If Chicagoist were going to rob a bank we'd probably just throw on a ski mask to disguise our identity. Or maybe a knee-high pantyhose sock, if we could find one around the house without too many runs. That's why we have never won the Creative Bank Robber of the Year award. Here's someone who may be in the running: The Harry Caray Bandit. more ›

There's a lot going on in the world of sports, and we're busy working on our baseball season preview, so we'll just give you the quick shots: more ›

It's just about that quietest period of the sports year, that point between when the Bears season ends and the Cubs and Sox report to Spring Training. Especially in these years where the Bulls and Hawks are nothing special. Yeah, there's the Super Bowl coming up but when it's Pittsburgh against Seattle, how much pre-game hype can one handle? For us, it's basically a one-day event. more ›

If you've always wondered what a sauce incorporating cork, rubber, wool, yarn, cowhide and beer ladled over spaghetti tastes like, wonder no more friends. Harry Caray's Restaurant will be serving a sauce at their Chicago and Rosemount locations made from the "Bartman Ball" (we still feel bad for that guy) they blew up last year. more ›

The Cubs sure went out quietly, losing 7 of 9 to close out the season and missing out on making the playoffs. But the Cubs have sure made a lot of noise off the field. Everybody seems to be feuding, blaming others for the team's failures. more ›

While some think disco slowly fizzled out, Chicagoans knows disco went out in a spectacular blaze of glory 25 years ago. Tonight marks the 25th anniversary of Disco Demolition Night at the old Comiskey Park. The brainchild of DJ Steve Dahl, the planned festivities were to blow up some disco record on the field between games of a double header against the Detroit Tigers. more ›