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......

Maybe it's just that we're ready for the weekend (and ready for this site to say "yes"), but it seems like this whole day is just a jerk. Time: Move faster! Weather: Be a little nicer! World: Be more fair! Especially Illinois. Fermi Lab is laying off 200 full-time employees--about 10 percent of its staff--due to cuts in the federal funding to the Department of Energy. Staff members who still have jobs will have......

It was just announced Sonic Youth will headline the Pitchfork Music Festival's opening night, July 13, with a performance of Daydream Nation in its entirety. Holy shit, is that awesome or what? Apparently it's the North American debut of the whole Don't Look Back concert series concept, and it will be co-sponsored with All Tomorrow's Parties. When we were in London last year, bands like the Lemonheads and Mudhoney were doing concerts under this moniker......

Whew! We made it through all the familial obligations of the holiday season. It’s a dead week at work and that means we need some stuff to do at night. This week offers a lot of possibilities for getting together for a pint or two before we even hit New Year’s Eve. If the Christmas hangover is gone, head over to the Hideout tonight for a Boxing Day Show with Kelly Hogan and Scott Ligon.......

Jagshemash! Borat is a hit. It's getting rave reviews, grossing millions, and definitely the most quotable thing we've seen in ages. But Borat seems to have missed most of the -ist cities, and we were all wondering how the film would have been different if he'd made his way around the world on the -ist tour. In Shanghai, Borat would be observing Inane Learnings of Penis Photos for Make Benefit Glorious Flat World of......

Remember when Modest Mouse rocked? Oh wait, that never happened. Well then, remember when they were interesting and you would think, “Wow, do I wish Modest Mouse would just rock the fuck out?” We do. In the years since we’ve gotten many promo packages from bands promising to bridge that mythical gap, but it wasn’t until a friend of ours turned us on to Oxford Collapse that we believed it was possible. Oxford Collapse is......

Touch & Go finally released the set-times for this year's big ol' anniversary show/Hideout Block Party. Saturday is THE day to go, but all three days have got stellar acts. Come to think of it, while Saturday hosts the heavy-hitting legendary bands, Friday night is the one to don the ol' dancing shoes and get your groove on. We are so psyched for this. Friday, September 8 9:00pm !!! 8:00pm Ted Leo + Pharmacists 7:00pm......

As if 130 bands, overpriced food, kids’ shows, an art exhibit, and people watching weren’t enough, Lollapalooza 2006 will serve up afternoons of interactive entertainment on the Mindfield Stage. Good to see three local comedy offerings on the bill but, with all due respect, they’re pretty much the opening act everyone’s sitting through to get to the headliner. To any of our readers coughing up $60 or more just to see Chicago comedy in Grant......

Chicagoist will be the first to admit that we often prefer a quiet night with a book or magazine over a rollicking party where we have to, like, interact with real people. We comfort ourselves with the notion that the partiers are missing out on our glorious literary knowledge, but might we be missing out on something ourselves? Well, for those of us book nerds who never get out, and those of you crazy party......

It's that time of year fondly known as "Spring Break" when the kids head to the tropical sandy beaches of... Chicago?! This year, our freezing city plays host to an alternative spring break for gay youth, ages 13 to 23. Events are jam-packed over the next two weeks, starting tonight at the Center on Halsted, Chicago's gay and lesbian community center. Throughout the festivities, five lucky Spring Breakers will participate in a MTV-style "Real World......