Director Robert Kenner spent a sizable portion of the budget for his Academy Award-nominated documentary Food, Inc. on legal fees vetting his findings in order to protect himself from being sued by agribusiness giants in any of the thirteen states that have food libel laws. The film, narrated by Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, examines corporate (or "factory") farming in the United States and concludes that much of the meat and produce produced by these farms have costs involved that are unhealthy to the environment and the consumer. In an age where we can catch E. coli just as easily from a tomato purchased at a supermarket as we do from tainted beef, Food, Inc. is a sobering look at how we've come to this point and how large agriculture giants such as Monsanto and Smithfield have gamed a system intended to protect the consumer for their own means and go after critics like Kenner, Pollan and Schlosser in court (Kenner invited Monsanto, Smithfield and other large agribusiness companies to film rebuttals of his findings, but refused). Food, Inc. makes its television debut this evening on PBS. Locally, it airs at 9 p.m. on WTTW-11.1. The film will start streaming on PBS.com tomorrow. more ›

Growing Home, the non-profit organization providing job training for homeless and low-income individuals in Chicago through a social enterprise business based on organic agriculture (via their hoop houses on Wood Street in Englewood), is hosting its annual benefit at the Chicago Cultural Center next Thursday, June 11. The benefit will feature passed appetizers and a 3-course dinner with dishes from Charlie Trotter's, Vie, Nia, Monogramme Events and Catering, the Meatloaf Bakery; a silent auction; an open bar; and a keynote address from Rick Bayless. more ›

If your calendar has an opening sometime between 8:00 p.m. Friday and 10:00 p.m. Saturday, check out the Music Marathon at Northwestern University's Regenstein Recital Hall, a 26-hour-long extravaganza packed to the gills with performances by the school's faculty, alumni, and students. more ›

Robert Kenner's documentary Food, Inc. is a harsh look at how Americans get their food in the age of factory farms and the tacit approval of their techniques the USDA and FDA. Slow Food Chicago is sponsoring a free screening of the film at 600 N. Michigan this evening at 7 p.m. more ›

Joining a Community Supported Agriculture program is a great way to cut out the middleman and get just a little bit closer to your food supply. more ›

When local arts advocates Salvo and Lethal Poetry, Inc. found a way to convert an 8-car CTA train into a bonafide arts space, Art on Track was born. After lots of toiling and planning, Salvo and LP are putting the fruits of their labor on display as Art on Track takes to the Orange line tomorrow night from 6pm to 10pm. more ›