If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's the high level of vitriol with which locals despise Macy's for forcing out Marshall Field's. But now we've come up with a plan that may allow you to get a little bit of revenge and help a charity in the process. Macy's is running a campaign this holiday season called Believe based on the New York Sun's famous 1897 editorial, "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." Ha ha. Anyway. Each store is equipped with a "Believe Station" at which the young and young at heart can write a letter to Santa and drop it in the Santa Mail box. For every letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish, up to $1 million. So that got us thinking: how can we make sure Macy's has to shell out the full cool million and allows us to express our contempt for the store at the same time? Why, by stuffing the mailbox, of course! more ›

Almost daily, buildings that have stood for decades, some even for a century, are destroyed. For example, the buildings that made up the Cabrini Green housing project get a little bit smaller every day. Other famed architecture like the two Adler & Sullivan buildings that went up in flames (the Pilgrim Baptist Church and Wirt-Dexter building) in one year have also been lost to the ages. more ›

A marketing slip-up in the merger of two large corporations can cause customers to feel angry and betrayed, especially when a company with local ties is being overtaken by a national company. We saw this with the Macy’s corporate take-over of Marshall Field’s, which some are calling this decade’s “New Coke” of marketing disasters. more ›

It's been a banner year around these parts, with stories big and small, comments bold and beautiful, politicians grand and grandly inept. The last 12 months were filled with sports, food, music and mayhem. What were we all talking about in 2007? more ›

Nothing screams nostalgia like advertising. It's not entirely clear why the commercials from our youth take us back the way that few other things can, but that "588-2300" animation (without the "1-800" tacked onto it) combined with a Charlie Brown-sized Christmas tree makes us all fuzzy inside for the 80s. more ›

We've gone around and about a lot of times about a couple key subjects: How relevant losing Marshall Fields is in the grand scheme of things, Hipster/Yuppie, where does Whole Foods play into the life of a person looking to eat healthy and live on a budget? But another topic that never fails to get someone's ire up is that of biker vs. driver vs. pedestrian vs. driver vs. biker. Most people realize that there... more ›

After finally realizing that Chicagoans aren’t exactly taking well to their brand, Macy’s has decided to hire a “Chicago-bred retailing veteran” to to serve as vice president for the Macy’s North division of stores and manager of the iconic State Street store. Linda Piepho, a Evanston Township High School grad and former Lord & Taylor exec, will be taking over the reigns for Ralph Hughes. Curiously, Hughes will be promoted to regional vice president of... more ›

Despite the overall increase in department store shopping, 2006 has been a disappointing year for such shops in the city. From Macy’s takeover of Marshall Fields (and the resulting low sales) to the closing of Carson’s on State Street, the department stores where many of us grew up shopping have been having a tough time with Chicago buyers. While the plight of Macy’s/Marshall Fields and Carson’s is well-known, two other Magnificent Mile mainstays are struggling,... more ›

We always tend to think other people celebrate holidays like the Griswolds in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – a week-long shopping, eating and bickering extravaganza with extended family. But for many of us, Thanksgiving and Christmas end up being an afternoon or evening of time with the relatives, and that night we’re back in the city twiddling our thumbs. more ›

Carole Jo Utech, Chicago Festival Association more ›

Last night, as Chicagoist began celebrating the weekend a day early, we spoke with someone from Rhode Island (motto: “If You Stretch Your Arms Wide Enough, You Can Hug The Entire State!”) who is thinking of moving to our fair city. While acknowledging all the great things the city has to offer, she expressed some hesitation: "I just don't know if I could handle the winters." more ›

Chicagoist likes to think we’re still young and a little hip, but news about young adult shopping trends and department stores has left us scratching our head. Sure, we lamented the loss of Marshall Fields, but, truth be told, we never shopped there. Same goes for most other department stores. So it doesn't surprise us when they close. more ›

Marshall Fields’ loyalists still stewing at Macy’s takeover now have another reason to boycott or reluctantly patronize the newly rebranded stores. Macy’s has taken over sponsorship of Symphony Center’s Day of Music, and the results are rather dubious. more ›

Geez. We’re sitting here on what turns out to be a nice, pretty Friday morning. We have a night to ourselves, a brand new “Laguna Beach” all cued up on the TiVo, and we’re daydreaming about which toppings to get on our pizza. Things are good, life is good. more ›

The Museum of Contemporary Art got a big chunk of change from Target so starting next Tuesday they're going to have Target Free Tuesdays. Every Tuesday from 5pm - 8pm admission to the museum is free. The thing is, Marshall Fields used to sponsor the free Tuesdays.. which leaves Chicagoist wondering if "free art for the masses" is something Macy's/Federated isn't interested in getting behind any longer. more ›

Just noticed the Trib has a breaking news story - In the fall of next year, all Marshall Field's stores will convert to Macy's. This includes all 62 locations in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Indiana, Ohio and SD. So.. Marshall Fields on State St. becomes Macy's on State. Federated, who bought the May chain that Marshall Field's is a part of, says that they respect the legacy and traditions of Field's and that... more ›

Chicagoist has already cracked on Christmas albums in this space so there’s no need to belabor the point here (except to say Mannheim Steamroller and their entire yuletide-themed catalog can go straight to hell and come to think of it their other albums can follow them down to Old Scratch’s hideaway too). But we are partial to live music that is “of the season” as it gets us in the mood in a way that recorded tunes just don’t. Why? Who knows? Call us fickle (just don’t call us late for dinner! HA! Grandpas tell the best jokes, don’t they?) more ›

Chicagoist is so excited that the holiday windows are up at Marshall Fields on State, but we’re really surprised that this year, after stellar past years of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter, the Grinch that Stole Christmas and the like, that our friends from the Baton Show Lounge are out in force, only in miniature, with heads of papier-maché. more ›

Jacqueline Kennedy. What can we say? She was America's first lady, the Queen of Camelot, and America was, and still is, obsessed. Her sense of style infulenced the world. Starting tomorrow at the Field Museum, people will be able to see the jewelry, hats, and dresses that Jackie wore while she was the first lady. Also on display are rarely seen photos and handwritten notes. more ›