Chicago-born chess champion Bobby Fischer died yesterday. He was 64. [AP] more ›

It's cold again? In Chicago? In January? Will wonders never cease? more ›

When a theatrical production in Chicago receives seven Jeff Awards, there's definitely something buzz-worthy about it. Picking up the awards for Outstanding New Work, Production, Director, Ensemble, Original Music, Projection Design and Choreography, The House Theatre's production of The Sparrow was the must-see show earlier this year. Everyone around town was trying to get tickets. When the show extended its run another six-weeks, seats sold out in a matter of days, setting box office records... more ›

Last month the craft beer community lost one of its greatest advocates with the passing of Michael Jackson, the "Beer Hunter." Jackson's research and writing on this singular subject laid the foundation for the beer, wine, and spirits writers that followed, raised awareness of the passion and commitment to excellence that the best brewers apply to their craft, and lifted beer to a level where it was considered worthy of mention in the same breath... more ›

One person is dead and three others are injured after a collision between a car and a Chicago Transit Authority bus. The car hit the bus at a high rate of speed after midnight. Our second favorite ex-President, Bill Clinton went on the Oprah show (aired on Tuesday) and downplayed his role in the presidential campaign of his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. We'd be happy to have him as a first hubby. Walgreen... more ›

It's springtime and Chicago theatre is blooming again like the tulips on Ashland. For the last few years, in part because of Mayor Daley's plans to make downtown Chicago a major player in the theatre scene, many of the biggest and brightest shows leaving the Big Apple have made their way to the Windy City. The now-sitting Wicked proves the formula can be successful. It outperformed the New York version and is still going strong.... more ›

The Women's United Soccer Association was the first full-time women's soccer league in the world when it was founded in 2000. Franchises existed in Atlanta, Boston, Chapel Hill & Cary, NC, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Jose, and Washington D.C. After three full seasons, the WUSA suspended operations in the fall of 2003. The WUSA failed for a variety of reasons including a lack of attendance and significant television ratings, and blowing through $100... more ›

Fat Tuesday, Shmat Tuesday. As far as we are concerned, today is about one thing only, eating delicious deep-fried, fruit-filled, often-frosted paczkis. For the non-Polish, non-native Chicagoans, paczkis are traditional Polish donuts, often served on Fat Thursday, except in Chicago and Detroit where they are served today — today being Paczkis Day. more ›

If you've been reading Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week" series from its inception, you'll remember that one of our primary rules of alcohol consumption is if you're old enough to legally order something like Sparks, Long Island iced teas, vodka and Red Bull, frozen cocktails, any drink that ends with the word "bomb," or any cocktail containing Southern Comfort, you're old enough to know better. So where does that leave all you folks who... more ›

Hey there, little buckaroos! We sure do have us a whole herd a political tidbits to round up, so let's saddle up and git a rollin'! Mayor Daley has nothing but good things to say about convicted patronage chief Robert Sorich. In a press conference this week, he said they were all "fine young men," citing his personal knowledge of their families. He went to great pains, however, to avoid passing judgment over Sorich's 48-month... more ›

In Chicago, summer film viewing usually means … whatever’s air-conditioned. The Outdoor Film Festival is a notable exception, but generally speaking, summertime is an annual famine where interesting film choices are few and far between. But autumn is a horse of a different color. Suddenly (due in part to the Oscar race) it's time to bulk up. No sooner does the Chicago International Film Festival draw to a close (winners were announced this week) than... more ›

It’s a well-known fact that Chicago has the largest Polish population of any city outside of Warsaw. But Gridskipper reminds us that it’s also the city with the largest Bulgarian population outside of Bulgaria. The Encyclopedia of Chicago says that Bulgarian writer Aleko Konstantinov’s book Do Chikago i nazad (or To Chicago and Back) was instrumental in the wave of Bulgarian immigration in the 1870s. Currently, the unofficial estimates of the Bulgarian community put the... more ›

Chicagoist hopes you’re busy celebrating Labor Day the way most folks do: by sitting around on your fat ass and drinking some beer (BBQ called on account of rain). Admit it: you deserve a break. Even though Federal, state, city and county offices will be closed along with banks and the post office, many people are spending the day working in our fair city, so it’s only right that we take a brief look at... more ›

Yesterday an alert Chicagoist reader sent us a link to a site called WhatsWrongInChicago.com. Rather than a treatise on government corruption and nanny-like aldermen, the site is merely a static page with a promise that the answer would arrive on September 18th. more ›

August 15th has a special meaning to Croatian nationals, Croatian Americans, and Croatian Catholics. It is on the 15th that they celebrate the Velika Gospa; translated, it means the holiday of the Great Lady Mary. The celebration has its roots in the Venetian era. On August 7th, 1715, the Turkish army, under the leadership of Mehmed Pasa, sent an envoy under heavily armed escort to the Croatian fortress town of Sinj, with an offer to... more ›

Chicagoist won't rehash the ol' "Two Seasons In Chicago" joke because it's tired and you all know it. There is some truth to it, of course, and if you're a regular driver on the city streets, as well as the surrounding expressways, construction is the bane of your existence. Hopefully, though, construction woes didn't cost any of you $3K in damage to your car as it did to West Dundee's Matt Wilkerson. In today's Getting... more ›

Chicagoist is taking the day off for Memorial Day. In the meantime, here's some knowledge to drop on your friends and family as they gather around the grill. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who served in our nation’s armed forces. General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, was the first to officially proclaim the day on May 5th, 1868, and it was observed... more ›

This weekend, all over the world, people protested the 3rd anniversary of the war in Iraq. In Chicago, about 150 demonstrators gathered at Dearborn Federal Plaza to pass out leaflets and listen to speeches. But this downtown rally was just one of several throughout the city. more ›

Chicago's river is not the only thing that turns green around St. Patrick's Day. Many of Chicago's sports franchises are celebrating St. Patrick's Day by donning green uniforms. more ›

Don't forget that starting today through March 16, you can vote early for the March 21 primary election. more ›

Eddie Blazonczyk, Jr., The Versatones more ›

Have you ever entertained out-of-towners asking where to find the best hot dog in the city? Or deep-dish pizza? Should they go to Chinatown or Albany Park for good Asian-style barbecue? What spice houses sell real saffron? Is your short-term health affected by eating at a Harold's Chiucken Shack? more ›

Chicagoist has been a big fan of Wilco over the years but we admit to recently feeling a bit betrayed by the band’s output. We were not a fan of Jeff Tweedy’s last solo album that masqueraded as a full-length Wilco release. We believe that Tweedy is best suited when he has a song-writing partner against whom to bang his head rather than a producing partner who will indulge every inward-turning whim with a constant... more ›

As the kids start heading back to school, it’s time to close the books on the summer movie season. We’ll leave it to the New York Times to do the post-mortem on Hollywood. Apparently some movies are not very good, which may lead to decreased attendance and box office receipts. In other news, scientists have learned that water is wet and children like candy. With the days getting shorter, there are a few notable screenings... more ›

The March towards the Arch returns to action today, including two games at the AllState Arena. In Chicago, there's really only one game -- Cinderella-story Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers vs. top-seed Illinois Fighting Illini. Who'd have thought when the Illini forsaw playing in the Chicago regional, that their opponent's campus would actually be half the distance to the arena? No matter... it'll still be a sea of orange in Rosemont. And that orange sea will be loudly... more ›

Few people think of a river when they think of Chicago. And yet, when many people think of San Antonio, they think of the creek-like trickle through the city that has been developed into a community and tourism masterpiece. How can this injustice continue? more ›

People from warm places love to gloat: "How's the weather in Chicago?" "Wow. That's a lot of snow you've gotten." Next time you talk to someone from San Diego, just reply with, "What's it like to have your city government collapse?" more ›

Most Chicagoans wouldn't know it, but Southern Illinois is leading the nation in judiciary politics. On Monday Gordon Maag, the loser of an intense race for supreme court in Southern Illinois against Lloyd Karmeier, filed a $110 million defamation suit charging that some of the groups opposing his candidacy lied about his record and ruined his reputation. Fans of Court TV know: Maag has got a tough case to make. And the great irony of... more ›

Through Dec. 26 more ›

In case you haven't heard, it's budget time in Illinois, so that means good times for everyone! And since we're no longer in the Go-Go Nineties (much like the "Swingin' Sixties" but different from the "Naughty Naughts"), local governments have a lot of shortfalls and are scratching for every last revenue dollar. more ›