'Round Labor Day last year, Hollywood Holt dropped a mixtape that contained several tracks that would've dominated Chicago speakers for the summer. This Memorial Day, Holt returned with new single "The Show." Prepare to get amped. more ›

Yesterday's closing of North Avenue Beach after eight people complained of heat-related illness can serve as a reminder that even perfect weather can turn bad, under the right circumstances. more ›

We can get back to the liberal/conservative bickering tomorrow. Thank a veteran today. more ›

74 years ago today, police opened fire on a group of striking steelworkers and their families on the Southeast side. Ten were killed in the "Memorial Day massacre of 1937." more ›

It's always a pleasant surprise to be thanked for my military service. more ›

Two up-and-coming Chicago bands sharing a bill at the Empty Bottle Monday have released tracks from their upcoming records. Download them here. more ›

After a little fuss about where he'd be doing it, President Obama honored the nation's fallen military in a rain-shortened ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois yesterday afternoon. After meeting with with wounded veterans and their families at the Fisher House in Hines, Illinois, Pres. Obama performed a wreath laying at the cemetery. But, as the photos above show, his speech was cut short by the storms that moved through the area yesterday. With the rain interfering with that speech, Pres. Obama spoke to troops at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington, D.C. more ›

President Obama's visit to Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood was cut short by stormy weather this morning. The visit, to honor America's military on Memorial Day, was going as planned at first: Pres. Obama laid a wreath but before he got to speak, the rains came. As the storm descended on Elwood, Obama told the crowd, "A little bit of rain doesn't hurt anybody but we don't want anyone to be struck by lightning. I'd ask everybody to very calmly move back to their cars. I'm going to go back to mine. We will make sure the thunder has passed." Due to the fact some attendees were shuttled from their cars to the ceremony, there was some confusion with the scattering. more ›

T-G-I-F! This weekend could not have come soon enough for us. We are putting work behind us and are ready for the multitude of Memorial day grilling events to take place. We even have a special one planned for our staff (don't you love drunk staff parties). more ›

While you were busy trying to figure out your escape route out of town this weekend, the Obamas were coming home for the holiday. But, of course, President Obama wasn't around long. He barely made an imprint on the bed before heading out early this morning to hit the Gulf Coast and assess the oil spill situation. He'll be back before long though and he'll mark Memorial Day honoring vets at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois. But some vets (and, well, Glenn Beck) aren't exactly happy he's bypassing the traditional Arlington National Cemetery, turning those duties over to Vice President Biden. John Conrath, commander of the American Veterans Motorcycle Riders Association Chapter 11 in Joliet, told the Southtown Star, "Obama, to me, it seems that he wants to break every tradition that this country has ever had. All these things that he's doing, it seems that he wants to ruffle everyone's feathers. It's aggravating. I really think he should be in Washington this Memorial Day weekend." more ›

It's Memorial Day weekend, the start of the traditional summer traveling season, as well as a three-day holiday weekend for lots of folks. And that also means traffic. Throw in a visit from the President, all that construction, and a new report about truck bottlenecks and you've got yourself a recipe for lots of traffic news. IDOT Communications Manager Josh Kauffman told The Expired Meter, “Plan on the whole weekend being very busy. I think it’s something that needs to be taken into consideration.” And expect traffic to start getting worse this afternoon as people head out early for an even longer weekend. Joe Collins, WBBM Newsradio 780’s traffic reporter, told the Meter, "People try to avoid Friday’s traffic by taking an extra day off and leaving Thursday." Adding to the congestion will be plenty of construction projects, including the ongoing Eisenhower resurfacing. Oh, and with it being a holiday weekend, expect a few DUI checkpoints as well as a step up in the enforcement of the state's Click It Or Ticket campaign. more ›

The Obamas are coming home to Chicago for the extended Memorial Day Weekend. It'll be the second trip back home for the First Family and the fourth for the President since he took the reigns in January 2009. With the traditional Memorial Day wreath-laying coming up, Obama will observe the holiday at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood while VP Joe Biden performs wreath duties at Arlington National Cemetery. No word yet on what kind of traffic arrangements will be made but it is known that the Obamas will fly in Thursday. more ›

We're signing off for the day, to fight the clouds and occasional raindrop to grill some burgers, chicken, etc and to relax for a little bit before the work week kicks in. Have a safe and wonderful rest of your holiday and we'll see you back here bright and early tomorrow! more ›

For Memorial Day, The Chopping Block is hosting a BBQ Bash at their Lincoln Square location. The bash is an "open-house-style cooking class and party" on their patio with all the proceedes going to veterans via the Disabled Patriot Fund, a not-for-profit that helps Illinois veterans wounded in Iraq or Afganistan. Cook and dine on slow-smoked BBQ pork, balsamic-glazed skirt steak, beer can chicken, three bean salad, blueberry pie a la mode and sip on (free) lemonade and Goose Island Beer. The classparty is from 12-3pm, sponsored by Goose Island, Paulina Market and Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet and is $75 per person. Yes, more than your typical back yard party but it's for a good, local cause. So do it. With a smile and hungry stomach. more ›

The plants we've been watching with worry in our garden have been our pepper plants. We got a late start to this whole project (most everything was planted around Memorial Day) and our natural inclination leans toward impatience, which isn't the temperament to have when were waiting for a garden to grow. That impatience morphed to outright frustration as we watched the tomatoes explode with rich, vibrant fruit. A month ago, when we noticed the... more ›

Le Francais, the Wheeling restaurant that was the gold standard of fine dining in the Chicago area during its heyday, closed down during Memorial Day. The Sun-Times reports today that the restaurant filed a notice with the Wheeling fire department that it was no longer operating. A busboy and food runner who requested anonymity said that owner Michael Moran did not tell his staff of the closing ahead of time, and that he only found... more ›

What we are writing right now probably isn't going to be read by half of our readers. Or that is the conclusion we have come to after reading this article in today's Sun-Times, which tracks the evolution of "summer Fridays." If you don't know what "summer Fridays" are, then you probably don't have them. And if you do, then Chicagoist is insanely jealous of you, you lucky bastard. Essentially, companies are realizing that during the... more ›

Vegetarian Hot Dogs? more ›

Now that Blago's $7.6 billion tax plan has crashed and burned in the state legislature, he's doing a total 180, embracing expanded gambling in Illinois to try and cope with a state budget that is in serious trouble. The legislation, backed by Emil Jones, would expanding gambling in Illinois to include three riverboat licenses for Waukegan, the south suburbs and an as-yet undetermined point within an eight-mile radius of O'Hare Airport. As part of... more ›

All across the Ist-A-Verse (or at least the American parts thereof), writers and editors are in the midst of enjoying their three-day weekend. But after the week we've all had, we feel like the break is not only needed, but deserved. Just look at everything we've been doing! Gothamist headed into the Memorial Day weekend with a number of tasks accomplished. They worried about Long Islanders giving New Yorkers a bad name. They tried... more ›

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day was first commemorated after the Civil War as a way to honor fallen Union soldiers. After World War I it was expanded to honor all men and women who died in a US war or military action. It was originally observed on May 30, but since becoming a federal holiday, is now always observed on the last Monday in May, effectively creating a national three-day weekend. For many,... more ›

Memorial Day Weekend is under way, so pull out the grill, set up the yard games, and put on your leather. For 29 years now this Chicago weekend has been synonymous with International Mr. Leather—a leather beauty pageant, leather and fetish conference, adult superstore, and cocktail party rolled up into one giant event that attracted some 15,000 leather daddies, leather boys, leather mamas, and leather girls last year. (Folks, that’s an entire town of fetish... more ›

Let's start the buffet off with this video this video singing the praises of the Harold's 6-piece wing dinner. The language is NSFW, but if you're watching this in the office, you're probably the only one left, so crank it. Memorial Day is the (un)official start of grilling season. We've had the grill on an eternal flame for two months now, but loaded up on fresh vegetables from the farmer's market, tri-tip steaks from... more ›

Memorial Day weekend is nigh! That means summer is officially here and girl-watching season is in full force. We thought we’d dedicate today’s EOYW to all the ladies who make summer worthwhile. Amanda Leigh Moore has been cultivating that girl next door image her entire life. We’re not sure how Mandy has managed to avoid the pitfalls of excess that other Hollywood divas her age seem to revel in, but this movie and television star... more ›

It’s fast approaching Memorial Day weekend, the official start of grilling season. But if late nights up rocking (and rocking and rocking) your little one have made you too exhausted to head to Paulina and man the grill yourself, pack up the baby and head to Muskie’s instead. more ›

Carl Wright, a Chicago actor who appeared in Soul Food, Barbershop and Big Momma's House, has passed away from cancer. Northwestern won't be offering an undergraduate major in Jazz studies any longer. --> Bo Diddley's condition is improving after having a stroke last week. In local celeb gossip, people are wondering whether Vaughnifer is planning a romantic reunion in Chicago. Someone at MeFi asked "What is required for a Chicago porch repair permit?" A... more ›

They say that the best things in life are free. Now you can count among those the complimentary toddler and dog cones at delicious Scooter’s Frozen Custard in Lakeview. more ›

With Memorial Day behind us and a streak of days breaking 80 degrees, we think we can say summer is on its way. And, nothing says summer in Chicago quite like drinking a $6 margarita overlooking the lake. That’s right, we’re talking about Castaways Bar & Grill, and as crowded and cliché as it might be, it’s a Chicago summertime landmark. If you’ve lived in Chicago for more than a minute, then you undoubtedly... more ›

Chicagoist is taking the day off for Memorial Day. In the meantime, here's some knowledge to drop on your friends and family as they gather around the grill. Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who served in our nation’s armed forces. General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, was the first to officially proclaim the day on May 5th, 1868, and it was observed... more ›

It’s Memorial Day weekend, and most of us will celebrate it by gorging on barbecued goodness and large amounts of beer. But, as always, things can get a little out of hand when the party goes too far. Check out This Week in Stupid’s guide to how not to celebrate. And have a safe and happy holiday. more ›