While SFist cringed at the fatal dose of crime littering the Bay Area, it found solace in Hillary Clinton's San Francisco campaign headquarters opening, which featured loads of exposed mammary glands. In other news, SF Taxi Commission ruled that Satan's cab must keep its (in)famous medallion number, 666; and in an un-fashion-forward frenzy, San Francisco Fashion Week (chortle) bars bloggers from covering and getting smashed at their shows and parties, respectively. Also, they found a... more ›

Last Friday marked a milestone here at Chicagoist, and we didn't even notice it. On July 13, 2006, we debuted this very column. Truthfully, we never planned on it actually becoming a regular staple of the site. We were only looking to file something on that fateful day, and figured that "Beer of the Week" would run its course in short order with a few glances. However, we seemed to strike a nerve with readers with the next week's selection. By the time we hit you with the one-two punch of Goose Island Matilda and Point Honey Light, there was no turning back. In the past twelve months, we've run all over the city — OK, we've only gone as far north as Hopleaf and Simon's — looking for selections we feel worthy of the "BotW" designation. Ironically, this column has helped us reduce our alcohol consumption. more ›

Ryne Sandberg's having quite a summer. On July 31st, the former Cubs second baseman was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. On Sunday, the Cubs retired Sandberg's jersey number. more ›

Some bank robbers prefer masks. Others may choose to don a jaunty ski mask. The two men who attempted a heist on the North Side opted for the clever disguise of ... more ›

Who knew that an unassuming ensemble show in the University of Chicago's Reynolds Club would spawn the most celebrated improv community in the world? On July 5, 1955, the Compass Players performed an improvisational revue skewering the day's headlines, the intensely serious nature of U of C students, and irresponsible spouses. Future celebrities on stage that night included Roger Bowen of M*A*S*H fame and Hollywood Golden Girls Elaine May (who envisioned Gene Hackman in drag for The Birdcage) and Barbara Harris. The talent behind Compass would launch Second City, which would feed prime time sitcoms, Saturday Night Live and countless movies. more ›

We don't normally go to Bill Zwecker for breaking news, but we'll give credit where credit is due. Though the AP wires just picked it up this weekend (thanks to a press release from Disney), Zwecker reported back at the beginning of April about Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Timed to coincide with the end of his Overlooked Film Festival wrapped up in Urbana, the announcement also... more ›