Opposition is heating up against a plan that would turn the southeast corner of Addison and Clark across from Wrigley Field into a new hotel-apartment-retail space. Leading the charge is the iO Theater, which has called its space on Clark just south of the intersection home since 1995. The Facebook group started by an iO instructor opposing the development, "People Against the 'Malling of Wrigleyville," has grown to more than 8,000 members (and counting) since last week. Additionally, 100 people showed up to a meeting at iO on Sunday to learn more about the development. Theater owner and directer Charna Halpern says the development threatens the character of the neighborhood and the future of her theater. more ›

• The search continues for an Albany Park boy who fell into the Chicago River while playing yesterday.
• The New Trier student accused in a hit-and-run admitted to police she had been smoking marijuana the night before the accident.
• Jurors on the Rod Blagojevich case will remain anonymous until after the trial is over.

Celebrity appearances at iO theater are not uncommon: Tim Meadows in Uncle’s Brother, Stephanie Weir and Bob Dassie in WeirDass to name a few - but there hasn’t been anything of the magnitude of last night's drop-in appearance since iO's 25th Anniversary show a few years back. This one had a twist: they were there to watch, not perform. Eighteen Saturday Night Live cast members and writers including Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Casey Wilson, Abby Elliott, John Lutz, and Kristin Wiig popped in to watch teams like 3033, Carl and The Passions, and Bullet Lounge last night in iO's Cabaret Theater. John Lutz (everyone’s favorite, schlubby TGS writer) coordinated the trip. "A lot of ['SNL'] people haven't come to Chicago at all, let alone the Second City or iO. It's part of 'SNL' history as well," explained Lutz. more ›

Kim "Howard" Johnson, author of the recently released Monty Python's Tunisian Holiday: My Life with Brian, will be at the iO Chicago Theater presenting an insider's account of the making of Monty Python's Life of Brian. more ›

Our weekend comedy show round-up! more ›