With more out-of-town, internationally acclaimed chefs now able to find Chicago on a map, we could be reaching a point where "Rock Star Chef City" hits critical mass. And that's without Gordon Ramsay's recent threats to test the local waters. In short, when a chef earns the name recognition and acclaim affording him to branch out to different cities, he starts to balance that fine line between chef and restaurateur that draws the watchful eyes......

Gas prices are keeping many people close to home this summer, and the Sun-Times is laying out a couple places where Chicagoans can hang out during a "stay-cation." Besides being the word we hate most since "gastropub," [Ed note: "bromance"] if you haven't figured it out a stay-cation is a lot like a vacation...but you don't go too far from home. Duh. The S-T found a few boutique places where you can spend your evenings......

Photo by Joshua Mellin We just pissed away, oh, an hour perusing the Chicago Postcard Museum. Howdy, The City Beautiful, Hi, Hi There Toots and the Aragon are our faves. Wait....Hydrox cookies are gone?! Not awesome. Not awesome at all. [via] Hey, it's the cutest Mad Men Christmas card in the whole world. Turns out tourists like Chicago in the winter. Hotels are cheap, attractions are empty, etc. More than 1,800 Chicago high school......

Even though Barack Obama came in second last night in New Hampshire, he's still number one in Chicago. In fact, the City by the Lake loves Obama so much that we're throwing him a $1000-a-plate fundraiser "Welcome Home" dinner this Thursday. Peoples Gas Co. President Desiree Rogers will be hosting Obama in her Gold Coast home on January 10. Also listed on the invitation are some of Obama's more monied backers, including developer Neil Bluhm,......

There's not a whole hell of a lot going on today, or hadn't you noticed? We're still thinking about that tiger attack in SF, but now we're also thinking about how telegenic Chicago can be. Por ejemplo: People are assholes at hotels! Holy lord, this ostensibly hilarious list of requests made of the concierge at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago has us absolutely stunned. A guest wanted to see the premier of the movie "Disclosure" but he......

Although recent polling in Iowa and New Hampshire shows her slipping against Obama and Edwards, she's not backing down. Erstwhile local gal and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will be taking a spin through Chicago tonight, hosting Hillary's Holiday Cheer at the Hyatt Regency Ballroom. Because who wants to shake hands in a cold Iowa parking lot when you can kick it at the Hyatt in Chicago? Not to be outdone, the Obama campaign announced three......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next commercial! Busted Tees, where they're selling 12 shirts for $12 each. If you're interested in advertising on Chicagoist or any other......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. Dewars Repeal Day, because you shouldn't take the right to have a drink for granted. The Backroom, playing tonight at The Note. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. The Backroom, playing at The Note on 11/23. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? Sony Card, because you'll get a free MP3 player if you apply. Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next commercial! Busted Tees, where you get free shipping with the purchase of three shirts.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. AMEX Urban Adventures, because big cities are full of little adventures. The Backroom, playing at The Note on 11/23. Homes for Working Families, because who hasn't been squeezed out of the housing market? Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next commercial! Busted Tees, where they've thrown their weight behind Hillary in '08. That's Hillary Duff.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. AMEX Urban Adventures, because big cities are full of little adventures. Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next commercial! Busted Tees, where you can get free shipping with the purchase of three shirts! If you're interested in advertising on Chicagoist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist. AMEX Urban Adventures, because big cities are full of little adventures. Choice Hotels, because you can win a part to be in their next commercial! Busted Tees, where you can get free 2nd day shipping when ordering 4 shirts! If you're interested in advertising on Chicagoist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.......

One of Chicago's newest aldermen, Bob Fioretti (2nd) is taking heat from one of the city's older hotels. The 14-story Congress Plaza Hotel, designed and built to accommodate visitors to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893, has been embroiled in a strike with UNITE HERE Local 1 since June 2003. According to Crain's Chicago Business, the hotel, owned by Albert Nasser Shayo, a Syrian globe-trotting businessman with residences in New York, Argentina, and Switzerland, who......

It's only July, one year out, and already it feels like there is a presidential race going on, doesn't it? Maybe it's too soon to declare Bush a lame duck, but we're inclined to think he is. In this most early of seasons, much has been made of fund raising, often at the expense of real discussions of the issues. Obama is setting records, regularly pulling in millions of dollars in small sums, Hillary is......

We're not sure what to dedicate this week's round up to: Rudy Guiliani salivating as he was "asked" about a fictional terrorist attack in last night's debate, Tom Tancredo's vow to double the size of Guantanamo Bay if elected, or Tommy Thompson's large ears and no neck. Ah screw it, this one is dedicated to Rod Blagojevich's hair. Here we go: Mayor Daley Is a Funny Guy. No, really, he is. Go read Mick Dumke's......

An infamous Lincolnwood "landmark" — the Purple Hotel — will most likely be meeting its demise fairly soon, in lieu of new residential and retail space. Before the hotel was closed in January, inspectors found that there was truth in a litany of compaints from guests, including mold growths so bad that that burned your eyes when you walked in and a lack of water in most of the rooms. News that the recently shuttered......

Cool Wedding Venues?...

If you thought Boss (J.) Daley's reign as mayor was long, you obviously never heard about Donald Stephens. The only mayor of Rosemont, ever, presided over the near-northwest suburb for 51 years before dying in his sleep yesterday evening after a year and a half long battle with cancer. In what is the longest mayoral reign in U.S. history and arguably one of the most successful, Stephens spent every moment from the time Rosemont was......

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is holding its annual Cookbook Expo this weekend in Chicago. And, for the first time, they're opening it up to the public. This is your chance to hobnob with some of your favorite cookbook authors and chefs, who will be on hand to sell and sign their latest books. The event runs from 5-6 p.m. tomorrow at the Hilton Chicago. Even though it's free, reservations are required; e-mail......

Many a pilot and flight attendant will be looking for somewhere else to sleep on their layovers at Midway; an anonymous tip led to an investigation into forty "crash pads" located within a mile of the airport. The airline employees use these crash pads to do just that, crash overnight on layovers. They are "two- and three-flats that rent furnished rooms to pilots and flight attendants who live in other cities but fly in and......

Quick, name the top five chefs in Chicago. Now name the five most famous chefs in the country. While the cuisines may vary from Grant Achatz's "molecular gastronomy" to Mario Batali's classic Italian, the one thing that most — or all — of these chefs have in common is the pale, pale, color of their skin. As Maureen Jenkins writes in today's Sun-Times, "the shortage of chefs of African descent is noteworthy if only by......

We previously wrote on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (UCIS) updated test questions and increase in prices for the citizenship exam. One company, First Hospitality Groups, is taking steps to reduce some of the burden on those looking to become legal in the country. As the Sun-Times reports, the hotel chain, which has 12 hotels in the Chicago area, is offering a reimbursement of the $400 it costs for the naturalization process and gives......

Chicagoist has voting on the brain, which is only natural considering Tuesday's upcoming mayoral and aldermanic (or is that aldermaniac?) elections. Have you voted early? No? For shame. For those that haven't ... well, we'll see you in line. One person who won't be making it this year is Amazon Brooks. Brooks had the distinction of being the oldest registered voter in Chicago, according to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. She passed away on......

When we started hearing that Chicago would be experiencing a mild winter, we were pretty excited at the prospect of having dangerous road conditions for only a few days out of the season. However, as we move toward the middle of January, we can’t help but be a little disconcerted. Meteorologists The oh-so-reliable NYC doorman, Rudolph Williams, is saying that the Earth is “recalibrating itself” for the cold winter we had last year. The......

When we heard that the average Chicagoan's salary is 6 to 8 percent more than the national average, we pulled out our pay stubs in dismay. Really? Our own — and maybe your — disbelief aside, the results of the Economic Research Institute in Redmond, Washington, salary survey was full of interesting tidbits to spout off at parties. For example, the highest-paid jobs are most likely set to see a 5 percent increase over the......

As 2006 ends and 2007 begins, the -ists look back not at the past week, but at the past year. So here it is, your Best of 2006 Spectacular. And from all of us at the -ists, happy New Year! Austinist was all about controversy as new construction to increase urban density ran rampant in 2006, as did threats to the city's image from gigantic corporations looking to set up shop in town, leading......

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! These sometimes-swanky affairs can be tricky to navigate for many of us. How tanked can I get and still look my co-workers in......

Seriously, is there anybody in this town's upper tax bracket who hasn't thrown their hat into the ring of interested buyers, should the beleagured Tribune Company decide to sell the Cubs as part of their fire sale? Even before the Trib's latest troubles, some notable bidders went on record expressing interest in buying the team — including the likes of Ernie Banks, Mark Cuban and Donald Trump. While Chicagoist would be all for a Cuban......

Last we heard, the plug had been pulled on The Nicky O Chicago, Nicky Hilton's condotel project planned for 500 S. Dearborn. Now we hear that the project is still on, but it's just delayed while they figure out the designer drapes. No word on whether or not they'll match the designer carpet. The hotel was supposed to open this month, and now the launch date is April 1, and that's no joke. The delay......

Unless you're partaking in one of the lovely establishments along the colorful strip of north Lincoln Avenue, chances are you plunk down a credit card when you rent a hotel room. Makes perfect sense, right? Chicagoist is just hoping you didn't do so in the past few years whilst you visited the Joliet area to satisfy your gaming urges. On Thursday, area police raided seven hotels and arrested ten people who had stolen and sold......