' Andrew Zimmern must have run out of large bugs to munch on in Madagascar, so he came to Chicago in search of foodstuff oddities. So what did he find here? Maybe "sketchy ass" hot dogs? Outlandish deep dish pizza? And what is in that giardiniera on your Italian beef sandwich, anyway? In the clip below, Topolobampo/XOCO chef Rick Bayless takes Zimmern on a tour of the Maxwell Street Market for a taste of some "exotic" tacos al pastor -- noticeably without insects: more ›

As fall’s final days roll around, now is the best time to take advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the art of outdoor feasting. To master the art of eating street food while squatting on a curb, there’s no better place for novices and experts alike than at the Maxwell Street Market. Re-relocated from the former Canal St. location to their new spot on Roosevelt and Des Plaines, this landmark market is open every Sunday, rain or shine, welcoming thrift-seeking shoppers amongst hungry hoards of families. more ›

The historic Maxwell Street Market has been through several changes since it first opened in the late 1800s. It was closed down in the mid-90s due to the expressway and new developments and then relocated to Canal Street. In 2008, it moved to its current location on Desplaines Street between Harrison and Roosevelt. The market will now be managed by the city. The Daley Administration terminated its $850,000-a-year contract with JAM Productions, according to the Sun-Times. more ›

Lit more ›

Story by Amy Wilschke, Photo by JOE M500 more ›

28 restaurants made the cut for LTHForum's 2008 Great Neighborhood Restaurant Awards. Among the winner, Chicagoist favorites Top Notch Beefburger, Jimmy's Red Hots, the Maxwell Street Market and the Violet Hour. The full list is available at LTH forum. [LTHforum GNR] more ›

Lots of festivals, tastings and food-related events this week, people. more ›

There was an interesting article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal about a new multimedia documentary about the Old Maxwell Street Market released by blues, world, jazz and folk music label Shanachie Entertainment. combines a photo slideshow and classic films shot on Maxwell Street, a cd of blues tied to the market and a booklet of exhaustively researched information about Maxwell Street's history. more ›

Maxwell Street, 1941. Sunday mornings are a good time for shopping. Especially if you're looking for things like random socks, hubcaps, lamps, or eyeball tacos. The Maxwell Street Market isn't what it used to be back in the days of the early 1900's, or even before the UIC Expansion starting in the late 60's. Hell, it isn't even on Maxwell anymore - it's on Canal Street at Roosevelt. Regardless of where progress has pushed... more ›

Is Maxwell Street Market Still Around? more ›

Chicago is a city full of iconic imagery. From its skyline and architecture, to its beaches and boulevards, to its trains and neighborhoods, take one look at any of those and you know that you're looking at home. The Maxwell Street Market once deserved to be listed among all those other landmarks. These days, Maxwell Street itself is unrecognizable. All traces of its open market glory were buried long ago by urban planning and the... more ›

It seems like yesterday that preservationists and historians protested in vain about the relocation of the old Maxwell Street Market. Indeed, ten years does pass like a fleeting memory. It was a contentious debate that was eventually wasted breath. Most of us have lived in Chicago long enough to know that when Mayor Daley lobbies for something, he gets it. And this was a project both he and the University of Illinois at Chicago put... more ›

The Chicago Tribune’s readers nominated “Chicago blues” as their fourteenth and final nominee for the 7 Wonders of Chicago. But Chicagoist is wondering if we’ll soon speak of the blues as an ancient wonder of the city instead of a living one. more ›

Pilsen is a neighborhood currently battling the winds of change from the neighborhoods surrounding it. With the gigantic University Village development project reaching its northern edge businesses throughout the neighborhood are undertaking minor repairs or full-on overhauls in the hope of courting new homeowners down to spend their money in the galleries, storefronts, and taquerias, while still maintaining the working-class family feeling that draws so many Mexican immigrants to settle down there and the... more ›