Popular LA-based frozen yogurt franchise Menchie’s made its way to the Land of Lincoln last month. Kim Hardy of Northbrook opened her Menchie’s frozen yogurt shop in Highland Park just in time for… winter? more ›

Highland Park High School was quick to take down a plaque and photo honoring "distinguished alumnus" Graham Spanier, the former President of Penn State University. more ›

An Illinois tech startup is making lemonade out of lemons by utilizing some of the traits found in individuals with autism. more ›

Where do you get your New York-style deli fix in our fair Windy City? If you are a fan of matzo, pastrami, corned beef, cheese blintzes, smoked fish, brisket, and lox & cream cheese served all day, we can only assume that you have sniffed out some pretty good options. Allow us to throw another hat into the ring: a trip up north to Max's Deli in Highland Park will knock your socks off. Who knows, maybe literally. Max's is inconspicuously tucked back into a strip mall off of Highway 41, which is obviously not the ideal or typical setting for a New York-style deli. Even still, the food we had was noteworthy and if you are a deli-loving Chicagoan, it's a must-try. more ›

Vessels made from polystyrene have been keeping coffee and other foods toasty warm for decades, but due to deep environmental concerns Highland Park is considering banning use of polystyrene cups, bowls, and plates in restaurants and in businesses. However, some question whether banning the versatile and cheap material is the right answer to the region's landfill problems. Some have suggested streamlining or producing more viable, technologically advanced methods of recycling and reusing polystyrene materials:

Tanya Triche, senior counsel for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, has followed the debate in Chicago and Highland Park and questions whether alternative products will solve the problem. "If the goal is to get PSF (polystyrene foam) out of landfills, all you are really doing is replacing it with something else that is going into the landfill," said Triche, who suggested that communities build recycling facilities. "Banning something, we really don't feel is the best way to tackle the issue," she said.

We told you how Sarah Palin addressed the Highland Park High basketball trip controversy at her speaking engagement last night. But this afternoon, Palin has taken to, what else, Facebook to further address the issue and her support of the girls' right to travel to Arizona for the tournament. In the note, Palin takes umbrage with the district's decision to make a political stance as well as the fact that the school is sending another group of students to China. Palin even started a Facebook group with WIND 560's Amy Jacobson to support the team. more ›

Sarah Palin made an appearance in Rosemont last night, and we're interested in what she had to say to those of us that don't live in the part of America that she views as "pro-America." So, without comment, here's a run down of the highlights of her address last night, from around the media: more ›

When we were wee lads growing up in Highland Park, we dreamed of owning this one particular home in our neighborhood, which was only fitting given our love of exotic cars and modern architecture. And while riding bikes with our friends one day, we watched a film crew drop a red Ferrari out the back of its glass garage. That, of course, ended up becoming one of the most famous scenes in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," but the home's cinematic legacy may not be enough to save the mid-century masterpiece. The Rose House and Pavilion is included on Landmarks Illinois' latest list of endangered architectural landmarks in our state. Home to Ferris' friend Cameron in the film, the sleek glass house with its own car museum -- cantilevered over the ravine below -- was Designed by A. James Speyer for textile designers Ben and Frances Rose. Completed in 1954 (Pavilion in '74), the Highland Park home remains in relatively good shape for its age. So why is it threatened? more ›

• Nicole Abusharif was convicted today by a DuPage jury in the death of her former lover, Rebecca Klein; she faces a sentence of up to 60 years.
• State health officials have confirmed 82 cases of the swine flu state-wide.
• An August date has been set as the start for the trial of James Degorski, the latest suspect to face trial in the 1993 Brown's Chicken killings.

A missing Highland Park teen is home safe after she went missing Friday evening while running. 17-year-old Caroline Stitcher returned home, and was transported to Highland Park Hospital for a checkup shortly after 9 p.m. on Saturday night. more ›

The true test, they say, will be in July, when the heat and the humidity bring out any lingering scents. Some experts have told them it could take up to three years. more ›

The mercury has cracked 50 degrees on consecutive days this week and that's had us thinking about Spring around here. We know, it's supposed to get cold again next week, but we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's time to start planning our summer excursions. Sure, Lollapalooza and the Pitchfork Music Fest made big headlines recently, but Ravinia's 2008 schedule was also released this week, meaning we can start incorporating trips to Highland Park into our plans. more ›

We mentioned last week that Pinot Days hits Navy Pier this weekend. There are some auxiliary events in conjunction with the grand festival, running from 1 - 4 p.m. tomorrow. 312 Chicago is hosting a winemakers dinner this evening from 7 - 11 p.m. The $120 price tag allows diners access to sample 18 different award winning pinots, including a four-course meal (each course paired with two different pinots) and the chance to ask burning... more ›

Should Chicagoist be worried that the Bulls have opened their season 0-4 after dropping Tuesday night's game to the L.A. Clippers 97-91? Having watched three of their first four in their entirety, we can certainly say that the Bulls look nothing like a team who we'd predict to win 55 games and finish atop the Eastern Conference. Not only have they yet to enter the win column, but they're not even losing to elite teams.... more ›

One of Chicagoist’s few lingering memories of grade school was dental hygiene films. Those things scared the bejeezus out of us. Rotten teeth loomed large in darkened rooms, while Vincent Price’s voice double warned us of the horrors of plaque. Keep that shit up long enough, we were taught, and you get zero teeth. Oddly enough, that’s what a local dental practice’s patrons ended up with, as well as mountains of debt. more ›

For all of our talk about the great food in the city, Chicagoist has been known to slack a little from time to time. For example, it probably isn't the best use of our money or daily caloric intake to chow down on the Thai lunch special from down the street a couple of times a week. But we do anyway. And we know a lot of parents probably operate similarly; they know a Lunchable... more ›

Edward Kearns spent Father's Day in jail Sunday. Kearns, who owes more than $112,000 in child support for three kids, was among 130 deadbeat dads who were arrested by Cook County Sheriff's Police during a week-long "Operation Father's Pay." Pretty bizarre: An off-duty Chicago police officer has been found dead in a gangway near his home in Pilsen; They think he possibly fell off his deck. Businesses are making way for Barney's and those... more ›

It's a less cumbersome title than "Your Friday Food Buffet," don't you think? Good, because that's what we're calling "YFFB" from now on. On to business: - "What is Understood Need Not Be Discussed": That about describes our opinion of Ribfest Chicago 2007 this weekend. We'll leave it at that. - Practical Applications: Printers Row Book Fair is also happening this weekend. Presenting sponsor the Tribune has a full slate of demonstrations and discussions related... 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 ›

"Metro" via Mark Dawursk. more ›

When we placed the call for new food and drink writers last month, we had an idea of what we were looking for. Then real life interceded. Some candidates dropped out of the running. Those that remained made their case, the quality of writing so good we felt bad having to cut someone. Then we envisioned some candidates in roles we didn't expect, and someone wrote us with an offer we couldn't refuse. When the... more ›

The Ravinia Festival summer schedule has been released, a consolation prize for those of us who couldn’t score cheap Lollapalooza passes. Online ticket sales begin April 19 and won’t require multiple browser windows and copious amounts of prayer. True to form, the 2007 schedule offers much to satisfy the 45-55 year old demographic: the Beach Boys, Doobie Brothers, Steve Miller, and that ABBA tribute band return. Programmers share Perry Farrell’s fondness for the 90s, booking... more ›

After months upon months of nothing but terrible to mediocre information, there's good news for public transportation users! more ›

Being as nerdy as we are, we tend to buy a lot of tech stuff, usually online. But sometimes, we want something now. Maybe we figure out we could reconfigure our comp to churn homemade ice cream right at our desk if we only had that one cord, so we just pick it up on the way home. No fuss, no muss, no waiting, no shipping charges. Kind of like how even though we use Netflix, we still skip out to Blockbuster sometimes when “Sylvia” sitting in our mailboxes feels like too much of a pick-me-up. more ›

Juanita and Michael Jordan have decided to call it quits. After 17 years of marriage the two are separating "amicably" and their lawyers released a statement saying, "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements." more ›

How often do you really notice the names on plaques honoring benefactors of various public and private attractions? Does it really matter to you who helped fund the So-and-So Family Auditorium or the John Q. Richerthanyou Memorial Park? You hardly notice the embossed faces of the two bluebloods beaming down from their perches. But some people think that the Lincoln Park Zoo ought to reconsider the honor given to a man whose name graces their polar bear exhibit. more ›

Sometimes we at Chicagoist get busy with our day jobs and miss out on an opportunity to post breaking news. But when we come across a damn good event, we’ve gotta find a way to let you know about it, one way or another. more ›

Not to be outdone by Ravinia, the Grant Park Music Festival has released their 2006 summer schedule. Bringing a nice mix of classical standards, contemporary orchestral favorites, and pop goodness to Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, the festival offers thrills comparable to their Highland Park cousins at much lower cost. The lawn and most pavilion seats are free. Make a reasonable donation to ensure that we cheapskates can continue to freeload, and the best seats are... more ›

Yeah, kind of sounds like the set up for a joke (and there are plenty about this game on Fark). But in suburban Skokie, it's an annual tradition. The Indo Jew Bowl started out as a way for a tight-knit bunch of Niles North High School grads to catch up during the Thanksgiving weekend, by facing off in a friendly game of football -- Indians vs. Jews. And if anybody happens to get hurt, at least there will be planty of doctors on the field. more ›