The listed events were chosen by the editors of Chicagoist and brought to you by the 2009 Toyota Corolla. Art Today is the last day for Artopolis at The Merchandise Mart. We, regrettably, haven't made it over there yet, but a number of our friends have and think it's definitely worth the trip, so maybe we can sneak out of the Chicagoist offices around lunch time, pop open our umbrellas, and scurry over there......

Artropolis takes over the Merchandise Mart this weekend with five shows, dozens of special events, and thousands of visitors roaming the halls for a dose (or overdose) of culture. Two years ago, Art Chicago made an eleventh hour deal with the Mart to stave off cancellation. Last year, the partnership was formalized and Bridge Art Fair, Artist Project, Intuit Show, and Antiques Fair happily coexisted with the big show by the river. Actually, Bridge’s organizers......

It's a good day outside and with the combination of springing forward the clocks, the South Side Irish Parade Sunday, and warmer temps next week there are plenty of weeks to go out. Start the weekend off by leaving work early and heading to the Artisan Cellar at the Merchandise Mart, where they'll be having a tasting of the new-to-the area Graham Beck wines from South Africa. The free tasting runs from 3:30-6 p.m.,......

Finally! The CTA is introducing new machines that let you buy transit passes with your debit or credit card. Welcome to the future, CTA! By "the future" we mean "the present" or "several years ago." But welcome, nonetheless. The minimum value you can buy or add with your plastic is $5 and the max is $25 per day (as a security measure, according to the press release) for Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American......

Photo by Michael DaKidd. Now imagine all those lights turned off. That's what Earth Hour will be like. Mark your calendars: For one hour on March 29th, Chicago will be in the dark. The City of Chicago and COM ED are asking businesses and residents to turn off their lights and unplug all electrical devices between 8 and 9pm on Saturday, March 29th to participate in Earth Hour, a global initiative organized by the......

First things first: If you haven't read about it elsewhere, Anthony Bourdain taped an appearance on Sound Opinions when he was in town in November. The episode airs this evening at 8 p.m. The Artisan Cellar in the Merchandise Mart is hosting an appearance by Evert Nijzink, head winemaker of Paritua winery, makers of Stone Paddock wines. The meet-and-greet runs from 3-6 this afternoon. ChicaGourmets and the local chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier is......

'Tis the season for free champagne tastings. Get started tonight at the Artisan Cellar (located on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart) with a sample of some rare bubblies from 4-6 p.m. Learn all about the history of smothered foods from author Wilbert Jones, the author of Smothered Southern Foods. Jones' lecture, "Smothered - Southern Style" is being held Saturday at the Chicago History Museum, sponsored by the Culinary Historians of Chicago. The lecture......

This week's listings kick off this evening at Merchandise Mart with "Chill: an International Wine & Culinary Event" sponsored by Luxehome and Wine Spectator. Proceeds from the event benefit the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. The event runs from 5 - 8 p.m. Chicago Professionals for Youth is committed to improving the lives of local underprivileged youth through literacy and mentoring programs, college preparation, job training and career skills assistance. Saturday they're hosting......

Got the itch to do something fun tonight, given the unseasonably warm weather? We feel you. Options: One of Chicagoist's favorite charities, Mustaches for Kids, has its kick-off get together tonight at Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap, 41 East Superior St. The "growing season" starts Nov 19, so tonight's get-together is all about planning and making pals. 'Stachey! The International Interior Design Association has its Bizarre Bazaar in the Teknion Showroom on the 10th floor of......

Joining Current Conditions in its "new regular feature" designation is Quick Bites, a weekly wrap-up of some of the interesting topics debated and discussed in Chicago's food media. The Time Out Chicago blog scooped Dish on Marcus Samuelsson news; the Ethiopian-born chef will be opening a new restaurant, C-House, in the Affinia Chicago Hotel in early 2008. Samuelsson is known for his work at New York's Riingo and Aquavit. If you've been feeling a little......

Award-winning food and drink writer Fiona Beckett will sign copies of her new book Food, Wine & Friends at the House of Glunz in Old Town this evening. The event runs from 5-7 p.m., and there will be a reception with wine and hors d'ouevres. Cost is $20 for the reception, $40 for the reception and a copy of the book. All you amateur sommeliers should be making a beeline to Sam's Wine & Spirits......

March madness is six long, cold months away. Thanks to The Burrito Bracket things aren't looking so bleak. The blog combines two of Chicagoist's favorite things — eating Mexican food and bracketology — into one, excellent idea; a 19-contender tournament-style competition to determine the best burrito in the Wicker Park area. Burrito Bracket's top three seeds won't surprise a seasoned consumer of Wicker Park burritos; La Pasadita, Tecalitlan and El Taco Veloz earned the top......

"'Cause it's Friday, you ain't got no job ... and you ain't got shit to do." Well, you can go check out the New Orleans Social Club at Millennium Park. If you aren't, here's some stuff in the news. Buckingham Fountain is slated to undergo a complete overhaul in autumn 2008. Near West Side businesses get $1.5 million in TIF money intended for keeping manufacturing jobs in the area. Does Manny Flores have the......

The largest art gallery event in Chicago that doesn’t involve Navy Pier or the Merchandise Mart, Vision 12 kicks off tonight with more than 30 gallery openings in River North and River West. New shows, plenty of group shows, run the gamut from university final projects to more established portfolios. The two week celebration of gallery goodness is presented by the Art Dealers Association of Chicago, who have, appropriately enough, chosen “the business of Art”......

While we know that our home has a kitchen, we’re not entirely familiar with it. We usually use the refrigerator for storing beer and the stove for storing bags of potato chips. Based on our knowledge of the “beer and potato chips room,” it’s easy to understand why our summer diet hasn’t exactly gone as planned, which is why we’re checking out the Chopping Block tomorrow night for a healthy cooking lesson. Put together by......

While we won't get into Chicago's homeless situation, we have to believe the city's vagrants are 97% responsible for the tantalizing aroma of urine that permeates our street corners and mass transit system (the other 3% is made up of drunk bar patrons). While we try to look away, we can't help but be smacked in the face by that indefinable musky pungency that carries in the cool morning air. Since apparently everyone is......

This week's theme: Cinco de Mayo. More specifically, the Anglicized version of Cinco de Mayo. Let's get on with it. Everyone Has An Opinion: In conjunction with National Hamburger Month, the folks at Yelp! have released a thoroughly underwhelming list of their top five places to get a burger in town. The site that brings together user reviews of all the "hidden gems, hot spots, and amazing small businesses you've never heard of or fanatically......

While we love art, we’re not huge fans of the occasionally pricey admission costs to get into museums and exhibits. Fortunately, ARTropolis is all about letting the public see some of the most important new artwork on the cheap. For just $15, you’ll gain access to the two main shows, Art Chicago and the Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair, as well as three satellite exhibits showcasing work from independent and emerging artists. Art Chicago will......

In an interview last month, veteran West Loop gallery owner Rhona Hoffman reflected on how art collection has evolved throughout her career, how the internet has supersized the art fair and made the global scene more accessible than ever. But this interview came not from Art in America or an academic panel but from a Bad At Sports podcast event at ThreeWalls gallery. Art enthusiasts have access to more information, images and, thanks to last......

The latest in the trend towards environmental friendliness in Chicago: the old Cooper lamp factory at 2545 W. Diversey in Logan Square is going to be converted into a “green Merchandise Mart.” Known as The Green Exchange, the building will house a furniture maker, a building supply business, a printing company and several other businesses. Chicagoist has long been concerned about the environment, though we usually reserve expressing said concern to when it’s economically......

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. So, what’s a city dweller to do if he or she is sane enough to stay......

All you've got to do is help feed the hungry. Tomorrow, bring a non-perishable food item to Potbelly at the Merchandise Mart (south entrance), and you'll get a ticket redeemable for a free Potbelly sandwich. All the food you bring will go to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and you'll get a free sammich.......

Last week, we happened to be on that Red Line train to nowhere. We didn't even get angry when we heard the conductor say, "Everyone off the train, no train, no train, etc.." We wondered idly as we left the platform to find some equivelant bus downtown if it was fated that we be on that train. Because, seriously? It doesn't take much to irritate us when it comes to our city's fine public transportation.......

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time when we, as Americans, make like the pilgrims did so many years ago and cook up sweet potatoes with marshmallows, roasted or deep-fried turkey, and mashed potatoes of various types. Except for 1) the pilgrims didn't do any of this shit, 2) they actually wanted to cook an eagle and 3) there is no reason for you to have to do any of this either if you make your plans now......

First things first, it is Veterans’ Day and we would like to honor those that have been, are, and will be in uniform. With the politically charged environment that surrounds us these days, it is important to note that Veterans’ Day was originally known as Armistice Day. Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, was regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Thirty-six years later, WWII happened and the day was altered to......

This week is National Wine Week. For those of us who refuse to heed the sage wisdom of George Thorogood and drink alone, here are some ways to enjoy a bottle of wine around town, guaranteed to fall within any budget and get you out exploring the city: In honor of National Wine Week, each day Smith & Wollensky is offering a tasting of ten wines for ten dollars, along with the price of lunch.......

You've probably heard of The Flying Wallendas, but if you haven't, they're a family of famous circus performers who do daredevil, death-defying stunts high up in the air without a safety net. For decades they performed for the Barnum & Bailey Circus, and there are family members who still perform to this day. One of the Wendellas, Mario, was paralyzed from the waist down on January 30, 1962, in Detroit when their Seven-Man Pyramid,......

Chicagoist never gets the last word. Shows run long after we’ve weighed in, discussions evolve beyond our ramblings, companies grow, companies fold, artists work hard to make a living or to make the next news cycle. For our curious and attention-deficient readers, some quick updates on previously reported stories. Art Fairs and Festivals At the eleventh hour, the Merch Mart saved Art Chicago 2006. Soon after the exhibitors packed up came word that Merchandise Mart......

Art Chicago is a go. After days of rumors and uneasy speculation prompted by wrangling with the labor unions, Thomas Blackman’s international showcase will proceed on a slightly smaller scale. Through some combination of serendipity and persuasion most could only dream of, Mr. Blackman arranged a sweet deal with the Merchandise Mart to rent space on the eighth floor for free. Even before this latest episode, Chicago’s largest and most prestigious art fair garnered......

If it isn't the taxes or the Trixies, the insanity that is finding a parking spot in Lincoln Park eventually drives everyone away from this formerly cozy little enclave. Chicagoist hears that such was the case for The Chopping Block, the lovely neighborhood cooking school responsible for teaching hundreds of Chicagoans the proper way to use a chef's knife and how to pick a good wine on the cheap. Yesterday it officially opened its doors......