The Park District released a 20-30 year plan yesterdayto transform Northerly Island into a nature preserve, complete with an outdoor hiking shelter, man-made reefs for snorkelers and divers, and a green outdoor concert pavilion to replace Charter One Pavilion. more ›

Northerly Island - home to 12th Street Beach, a temporary Charter One Pavilion, the Adler Planetarium and the vacant remains of Meigs Field - needs a makeover, according to the Chicago Park District. The man-made island would have temporarily housed a 20,000 seat Olympic beach volleyball stadium along with a canoe and kayak slalom course, but we all know how that panned out. Tonight, Chicagoans will get a chance to hear ideas and provide feedback to the Chicago Park District on the fate of the island. more ›

With the 12th Street Beach just south of Northerly Island, it has become a hot spot to listen to the music coming from the Charter One Pavilion. As many as 1,000 teens might gather on any given evening. But after about a half-dozen fights broke out amongst the crowd Thursday evening, police are now saying they will shut down the beach if further trouble erupts. more ›

Oh man, we almost forgot about the Children's Museum debate! Luckily, Alderman Brendan Reilly wants to keep it front and center, which is why he sent the Museum a list of 24 possible places it could relocate that aren't Grant Park: more ›

Mike Madigan made it seem like he was ready to deal this week, with a letter to state legislators saying that he'd endorse a bill to expand gaming in the state in order to fund roads and schools. In announcing his "compromise", he said he is "willing to embrace compromise and offer a sincere, serious proposal that will receive my full support and backing." That expansion may not happen, though, as some lawmakers have enough... more ›

October in Chicago makes us feel like kids again. This month, the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and the Park District have filled the calendar with Halloween-themed activities perfect for the toddler set and their kid-at-heart parents. Here are our favorites in the lead up to the big holiday. The park district (along with Walgreens) is sponsoring events to get you in the spirit at over forty different neighborhood parks from Bessemer to Oz throughout... more ›

They didn't coerce anyone out of this one -- Chicago mob kingpins guilty in decades of crime. And a relative of a mob murder victim wasted no time applauding the guilty verdicts in the Family Secrets case. Signed, sealed, can't be delivered --Heavy rain forced Stevie Wonder to cancel his concert Monday at the Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island. It was rescheduled for tonight. David Letterman and Oprah are BFF now. Screw The... more ›

As a boater on Lake Michigan, you're entitled to profanity-free air. At least that's what a group of 300 boaters and motorists, who came together to protest on Sunday night, are saying. They're, as the punny Trib puts it "honking mad" about the youth-infecting rap music that's been occurring at Northerly Island for the past two weeks. There were apparently complaints after the show on Aug. 26, which included Wu-Tang, MF Doom and Pharoahe Monch.... more ›

There is nothing more that we want to get done than this installment of Empty Out Your Wallet, so we can get outside and enjoy this day. Leave it to the Ticketmaster gods to curse us once again with numerous great shows making our job harder. The show that our readers were looking forward to last week, The Flaming Lips at the Aragon, goes on sale at 11 a.m. on Saturday. This should be a... more ›

It seems sort of cruel to make everyone get up so early tomorrow after a night rockin’ out to Spiderland, but we’re gonna give some reasons why it may be advisable to set that alarm and crawl out of bed for a few minutes to spend money. The Cure has been one of our favorites since we picked up that Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me album at the mall with our allowance money. We... more ›

We’ve divided this week into the old, the in-between, and the young because we felt that the myriad of choices out there this weekend needed some sort of random pronouncement that really means nothing at all. Sorry ‘bout that, we may have just watched too much CSPAN yesterday and lapsed into nothing speak. The Old Psychedelic Furs June 29, House of Blues, $24.50-$26.50, 18+, on sale Friday at 10:00 a.m. Def Leppard, Styx, Foreigner –... more ›

We’re not big fans of the outdoor music sheds, but Chicagoist’s suburban upbringing is dotted with warm remembrances of the old Poplar Creek Music Theater. Soon, the tweens of the Northwest suburbs will have similar memories of sitting on the grass as they listen to major label acts they’ve overpaid for, thanks to the Prairie Creek Music Theater, which is scheduled to open next May. According to an article in the Sun-Times by Jim DeRogatis... more ›

Chicagoist grew up in a “wooded area” where birds crashing into giant glass windows was a regular occurrence. Unfortunately, for most of these birds, the blow would often mark the end of their little worm-eatin’ lives. But in the city, the future of crash-and-burn birds is looking a little better, as many can now receive a second chance on life at the bird hospital in the old Meigs Field terminal on Northerly Island. more ›

So recently, Chicagoist reported that the much-vaunted 2016 Summer Olympics stadium contender was moving from around Soldier Field/McCormick Place to Washington Park on the South Side. Hrm, the woefully underfunded South Side instead of hoity-toity Lincoln Park or the crowded lakefront? That changes things a little, we said. We stroked our collective chins. Debates raged, and dander flew. Now Daley & Co. have added more fuel to the fire by making their bid public. more ›

Mayor Daley must long for the halcyon days of 2003. Back then, he didn’t have to exert himself by exercising a veto, he just got the City Council to do what he wanted with a wave of his hand. And when he wanted to close an airport, he just sent a coupla guys out ‘dere to bulldoze the t’ing. But this is 2006. And not only does he have vetos to levy and Jesse Jackson Jr. on his ass about it, but he’s also got a hefty fine to pay. more ›

Tickets are still available for one the year's best opportunities at some serious people-watching: The Green Tie Ball. more ›

Thirty-six years ago Vashti Bunyan released an album that was haunting and different than all the other folk musicians out there. She has been touted as creating "psych-folk" and then, like many musicians, the singer kind of forgot about her voice amidst lukewarm sales and everything that life throws at us. Now she's back with Lookaftering and is playing a pair of shows with Archer Prewitt. Monday/Tuesday, Lakeshore Theater, 7 p.m., $15 advanced/$20 door, All... more ›

The Bean is finally finished, and it’s getting the royal treatment today at a dedication ceremony. The sculpture has already become a Chicago icon and will be featured on the uniforms of Team Chicago at this summer’s Gay Games VII. more ›

Oh, what to do with that ol' Miegs Field airport terminal ... and what to do with all those injured, urban birdies around the city? How 'bout this? Convert part of that building on Northerly Island into a bird hospital. Bingo! more ›

We've talked more about Chicago's endangered buildings than those sparkling new ones. Consider the sturdy construction, fine craftsmanship, and sentimental value, it’s not hard to see why. But don’t believe today’s architects lack imagination. They’re working around rising material and labor costs, risk-averse patrons and mounting pressure to deliver on time and under budget. more ›

Two pieces of good news this morning for anyone hoping that Chicago becomes a nationally-known mecca for fans of live music: more ›

Sunday evening instead of donning the required hawaiian shirts and leis for Jimmy Buffett, Chicagoist decided to feed our inner rock beast by seeing Def Leppard at Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island. 18 years after our first experience with the British group, we were not disappointed. The bands vocals were more processed than we remembered, but we have become a little more savvy since then about live music. more ›

Though the summer’s not quite over yet, yesterday’s Chicago Tribune took a look at what’s next for Chicago’s newest music venues. more ›

When Jack Johnson's caravan rolls into town for his sold out show at Northerly Island on Sunday night, they will do so using biodiesel fuel. Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel made from domestic, renewable resources that contains no petroleum. The fuel is less toxic than ordinary table salt and biodegrades as fast as sugar. more ›

Don't even remind us that summer is coming to an end, we just want to continue having fun in the sun. With that in mind, here are a few of the shows going on around the city this weekend. Friday and Saturday there is the Riverview Music Festival benefiting NGBC at DeVry University's campus. Bands slated include: Liquid Soul, Nicholas Tremulis Band, and Poi Dog Pondering (Friday) and Cathy Richardson Band, The Freddy Jones... more ›

If last week’s Sugar Water Festival at Northerly Island had you yearning for more neo-soul stylings, then you’ll want to spend your Friday nights in August at the DuSable Museum of African-American History for the 4th Annual Neo-Soul Explosion. Organizers of The Neo-Soul Explosion brag that it’s the place in Chicago to see rising stars in soul, jazz, and funk. That’s usually a risky statement to make but the NSE has delivered the goods in... more ›

Some of you may know that way back in 1904, Chicago was supposed to host the Olympics... until St. Louis stole the games away! So Chicago has yet to host the Olympics. more ›

Chicagoist made the trek from CTA's Roosevelt Station to Charter One Pavilion on Northerly Island to check out the free seats on the beach in order to experience the outside of Chi-town's newest venue and to hear Modest Mouse, of course. Arriving early, we staked out a prime location where we could clearly see the big screen TVs. Outside the venue on the beach there is fantastic people watching, our gorgeous skyline, and the sound... more ›

The reviews are in on Northerly Island and they’re so glowing, we’re wondering if Da Mare is making a list of other underused airports he can bulldoze. Expect complaints from Burt Natarus’ constituents any day now (we know that’s not his ward over there but those people seem to complain anytime someone seems to be having too much fun downtown). more ›

In addition to MOBFest, one of the other "big stories" in music this weekend might be the inaugural shows at Meig...er, Northerly Island. (That name still reminds us of when Gary Harbor was renamed Buffington Harbor before they put Trump’s gambling boat in the water over there). Chicago plays two shows on Friday and Saturday with Earth, Wind and Fire while Brian McKnight drops some Smoove B style on the lakefront this Sunday. Since the... more ›