Recently Chicagoist stopped by the Chicago Cultural Center to check out Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe, the collection of 300 photos and works documenting the tragic bombshell's icon status and ineffable glamor. Organized by Artoma in Hamburg, Germany, and circulated by International Arts & Artists, the exhibit has passed through six countries before stopping at the CCC, where it remains until September 21. The non-photographic works presented in LaL include few highlights -- for......

The “Marilyn Monroe – Life as a Legend” art exhibit is coming to Chicago in July, and Chicagoist is squirming with excitement. Featuring about 300 pieces of work ranging from fashion photography to pop art, the exhibit serves to document Monroe’s life and rise to stardom, as well as her impact on the more than 80 featured artists whose work will be on display. Still, the very existence of the exhibit makes us ponder how......

Bin 36 hosted their annual Bubbles Bash last night where 450 revelers ate and drank, then drank ome more, to their heart’s delight. Champagne, cava, prosecco, sekt, and sparklers from a full range of countries flowed for hours making a dark and drizzly Wednesday night into a scintillating celebration of friends, flavors, and holiday festivities. It’s amazing what a little CO2 can do! Buy it. Sip it. Gift it. Make chocolate champagne truffles out of......

Few artists inspire as much delight and wrath from even the most casual art observer as Andy Warhol. You love/hate how he made accessible/denigrated his work by putting it on soup cans, how his 8-hour shot of the Empire State Building blew your mind/messed with your mind, how he took silver balloons and made them art, how he captured Marilyn Monroe’s essence over and over again. Starting this weekend, the MCA exhibits many shades......

With everyone here at the Chicagoist offices still feeling a bit hungover from the holidays, we’re not quite ready to return to work. The people at Schubas’ are of the same mindset. Tomorrow they’re hosting their Fifth Annual New Year’s Rehab Night with free DVD screenings of Wedding Crashers and The Aristocrats. While we didn’t think Crashers held up as well on a second viewing, The Aristocrats is worth seeing again if only to decide......

The Gene Siskel Film Center picked a helluva time roll out some excellent retrospectives. With the temps so low, all we want to do is roll ourselves up in blankets and watch our Tivo’ed episodes of Law and Order. But The Gene is tempting us to bundle up and head downtown for some great revivals and overlooked films of 2005. First up is "Merry Marilyn," a look at the films of Marilyn Monroe. Now: you......

In response to fears of terrorists smuggling explosives aboard an airplane, federal security officials have called for an increase in the number of manual frisks on passengers at airports starting Monday. Manual frisks--that sounds sexy! You dogs! These manual frisks will allow the open-hand technique, much more effective than the current back-of-the-hand technique (especially for the reach-around and spooning), on passengers selected for extra screening or those wearing suspicious clothing. Four U.S. airports, including O�Hare,......