ComEd will again be giving a $2 discount on Compact Flourescents as a part of their aptly named ComEd Discount CFL Bulb Program. See? Energy conglomerates don't want the earth to die, you silly environmentalists. more ›

Bill Clinton was in town today to sign books at Borders on North Michigan. A woman arrested for battery of an off-duty police officer claims that the arresting officer offered the cop filing the complaint a "free shot" while she was cuffed in the squad car. She also claims that the next day she was pulled over as a joke and let go. What is he smoking? Cook County Board President Todd Stroger says... more ›

If the kid living with you joins a gang, gets a gun, and shoots a thirteen year old girl, you might look to yourself and try to determine what went wrong. You might. Or, you might take that anger and frustration and send it right back to Mayor Daley for calling suspect Tony Serrano a "nineteen year old punk." Serrano is accused of firing the shots that killed Schanna Gayden on the orders of gang... more ›

We were so sure it would lead to something, anything, but such is not the case. Once again we return to the case of Dr. David Cornbleet, the dermatologist heinously murdered in his office in October 2006. Last month we told you about the efforts of Dr. Cornbleet's son, Jon, to enhance surveillance footage taken of a "person of interest" in the case. Tapes from the downtown office building and a Lincoln Park Home Depot were shined up and distributed to the media, as well as posted on Jon's MySpace account. Things looked promising. more ›

Back in October, we alerted you to the brutal murder of dermatologist Dr. David Cornbleet in his downtown office. In the midst of tying up the doctor and stabbing him to death, the would-be killer was captured on surveillance cameras entering and leaving the building at 30 N. Michigan. More information trickled out in the form of added security camera footage from a Lincoln Park Home Depot, showing a man making an odd purchase, in... more ›

We haven't really heard too much from so-called "big box" retailers since City Council unpredictably voted against Daley to decide how much they pay their workers and were subsequently and somewhat-predictably vetoed by Daley. We're not sure where you stood, stand, or sit on the issue, but you should add one more tidbit of info to your argument: Home Depot has announced it will be hiring 2,000 people in the Chicago area. more ›

Now that it's cool to live in Andersonville again, some local politicians are mulling over a proposed ordinance that would ban chain retailers and restaurants from opening up shop in designated business districts and historic neighborhoods. The idea is that by freezing out the Starbucks and Borders of the world, hoods like Andersonville can retain their charm by favoring places like the Kopi Cafe and the Women and Children First Bookstore. The ordinance hasn't yet been introduced to the City Council, and if it were to pass, qualifying neighborhoods could opt in or out of the so-called "formula retail" ban. more ›

"Rainbow Over Chicago via dcortesi. more ›

It’s official. Big-box stores will have to pay a higher minimum wage and benefits to Chicago employees. After more than three hours of debate yesterday, the City Council voted 35-14 to approve the hotly contested big-box measure. Stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot and Costco will be affected by the new ordinance, as well as certain department store locations. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association is expected to fight the measure in court, claiming it... more ›

Area Jewel shoppers don't need to bring a wallet to buy groceries anymore, just a fingerprint. Excuse us, not a fingerprint, just their finger, and its "hundreds of characteristics in the grooves at the end of the index finger--like spacing, size and curvature," that can identify them in seconds. Okay, that sounds a lot like a fingerprint. more ›

So Chicagoist is shopping for food in a store where everyone is speaking Polish, the aisle signs are in English, and one section is devoted to Hispanic foods. We can only be in Wally’s Market although come to think of it, we could be in any store in Chicago, including Home Depot! more ›

Chicagoist can normally give or take pesto, to be honest, but sometimes things made from your own garden taste better. So when our basil plant started to get out of hand, we had no choice but to blend it with olive oil, parmesan, pine nuts, and a little bit of garlic. more ›

Okay, in all honesty, this place used to look like a crack den…bars on the windows and doors, a very small sign that said very quietly “Wine Discount Center.” If you were driving between the Target on Elston and the Home Depot on North Avenue, and you dozed off for a sec, you would’ve missed it. But now, WINE DISCOUNT CENTER has a peppy red and white sign on every side of the building, the front door is painted a bright red (very feng shui, the chi is happy!), and inside are the nicest people ever. Okay, the bars are still up, but they do carry alcohol...duh. more ›

What could be better than sexy girls baring all while bearing Big Macs? Chicagoist sure can't think of anything. And now our fantasy has come true, thanks to two Chicago institutions. Playboy magazine features "Women of McDonald's" in a special Playboy.com (NSFW) feature. more ›

Warning: Not all of these links are safe for work more ›

It looks like the love affair betwixt Chicago and Wal-Mart might be on the fritz. The megastore has dropped its plans for a South Side location, and they�re on the ass end of a law suit filed by the Illinois attorney general�s office. The suit, which is also directed at Target, is an attempt to collect back state taxes on products Illinois residents purchased online between 1999 and 2002. more ›

The urban bunny is on the rise, according to �anecdotal evidence� and the Sun-Times. One homeowner estimated a 25 percent increase, although it is not clear how he arrived at this estimate. more ›