Many moons ago, someone got the bright idea to make a sequel to the original Rudolph cartoon, only this one involved time travel, Baby New Year, and islands for each holiday. It was a hot mess in a good batshit crazy (read: if you're stoned) kind of way. In honor of tomorrow's holiday, here's the Independence Day island more ›

Holiday celebrations ended abruptly and horrifically for many gathered on a pedestrian bridge in Merrillville, Ind. Saturday evening. The bridge, holding an estimated 100, collapsed as people dispersed after a fireworks show that evening, according to Chicago Breaking News. While there were significant injuries, no one died and everyone was rescued, reported a Merrillville dispatcher. more ›

Sure, we could have gone with the obvious pick for today's diversion. But instead, we decided to go with something a bit more historic. Mark it down: this was the moment the Cold War ended. (bonus videos after the jump) more ›

Normally, this would be Kevin's territory, and he covered the reasons we're weighing in today at length yesterday. As we sit in front of a computer terminal in Wisconsin fresh from a bike ride to New Glarus, the sights of yellow "support our troops" ribbons, flags and jingoistic bumper stickers every quarter-mile along the route fresh in our mind, we felt the need to write. more ›

Forgive us for being less than enthusiastic about Independence Day this year. Oh sure, we love having a day off and all that. The fireworks are cool. But it's a little hard to muster up a whole lot of that rah-rah flag-waving patriotism; between Scooter Libby, the endless war, and the paralysis of Congress, the business-as-usual attitude oozing from Washington, Springfield and Chicago has got us mired in the blahs. We're certainly not alone... more ›

This afternoon, gangs of Chicago artists are out to change the way you think about Independence Day, slaying sacred cows and cherished myths. Myth #1: July 4 is a time to put politics aside and celebrate America. For Feel Tank Chicago, the personal is political. And that includes how we celebrate The Fourth. Rather than marching lockstep with Team USA cheerleaders, loving their country right or wrong, the artistic collective has planned this afternoon’s Fifth... more ›

What with Paris Hilton's release earlier this week and the upcoming celebration of American Independence (sorry, Londonist!), we've been thinking a lot about freedom. Freedom to vote, freedom to choose, and most importantly, freedom to blog. Here are a few things we're happy we've been free to blog about this week. Being the nation's capital, DCist felt especially proud to let freedom ring this week by exposing the really important issues, like how sad they... more ›

Now that City Council has banned smoking tobacco on Chicago stages, city actors and audiences will have to get used to that cool herbal cigarette smell. If you're Jonesing for the real thing, you’ll have to head out to suburban Next, Circle, and Northlight theaters. Architect David Fisher, of “Leonardo da Vinci Smart Bathroom” fame, is hoping city leaders will go to bat for his next idea: a skyscraper whose floors spin slowly and independently,... more ›

The Hideout Block Party - including Touch and Go's silver anniversary celebration - merely headlines what is shaping up to be a busy weekend of neighborhood and city-endorsed festivals. As people throughout the city scramble to enjoy the waning moments of prime tanning and outdoor drinking weather, here are some other festivals and events around the city for you to check out: - The Windy City Wine Festival gears up for another weekend of oenophilia... more ›

As we threw earplugs into our ears last night to drown out the sounds of the rocking party happening above our bedroom, we again cursed our luck in having to work on a day such as this. Though Chicagoist will be taking the 4th of July off to celebrate Independence Day, we’re working today. We're here, with no beer, and we’re getting used to it. more ›

By the time you read this, Chicagoist will be in a New York state of mind. We'll be catching up with old friends, eating a slice of "Original Simply Famous Really There Can Be Only One" Ray's pizza, gawking at David Blaine's "douchebag in utero" performance art piece - "douchebag" being the word of the week around here - and sniffing out a bar with a wide selection of premium tequilas. This week's primer on... more ›

Tuesday, August 15th was the 59th anniversary of Indian independence from the British Empire. So Indians in the United States have adopted the folkways of their new home by waiting until the following weekend to really cut loose. Today Chicago-area Indians gave it a shot by blocking off Devon Avenue between Western and California (known in some circles as "Little Bombay") and dragging a few dozen floats down the street. more ›

Today is Independence Day in India and Pakistan. In 1947, the independent nations of India and Pakistan were born after a decades-long struggle for freedom against colonial rule. Finally it was time to shout: The British Are Leaving! The British Are Leaving! Chicagoland's Independence Day celebrations will take place tomorrow, Tuesday the 16th, at Daley Plaza downtown, from noon to 3pm. Join the celebrants for food, vendors, and speeches galore. Hopefully someone will recite... more ›

Chicagoist might pretend to come off jaded and too cool for school but even we like a good fireworks display. We were part of the over one million people expected to view the city's pre-Independence Day celebration. Of course, we snuck down there about 9:15, ooh'ed and ahh'ed, and were back on our barstools before 10. So we had it a lot better than all the suburbanites and other folks who just can't resist... more ›

There have been three things on our music-loving minds this week: 1. The dearly departed Delilah’s sign and awning covering A plastic replacement sign showed up above Delilah’s this week but it’s a poor substitute for the Manichean shingle and reclining nude mural that hung above its humble door all these years. Damaged during a recent storm, there are no plans to replace them though Chicagoist would volunteer to put together a benefit show if... more ›

� Chicagoist gets a sneak preview of Matt & Ben and loves it more ›

The race for U.S. Senate got rolling this weekend with two parades, some words traded, and commercials starting to air. more ›