Here are some things going around town to make you consider giving the weather a big ol' raspberry. more ›

Mark Cuban was in town on Monday when his Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Bulls at the United Center. Of course the local media's questions directed at him regarded another pro sport team. When asked about his pursuit of the Cubs, he reiterated his interest in buying the team and that he wasn't interested in owning any other baseball team. He has not filed his official paperwork, however — Cuban said he was "waiting... more ›

It was a Tuesday — a beautiful, sunny Tuesday at that. Most likely, most of the United States was getting ready for or just starting an average Tuesday in September. And then, the unthinkable happened. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and yet another plane was crashed in Pennsylvania. The country was legitmately in "shock and awe." However, there were those of us who... more ›

It's no big secret here that Chicagoist loves the pets. That's our little lady on a piece of sod on the kitchen table (long story) from last year. Cutetastic, hey? Well, for most people who have lived in any city, it's also no secret that there are a lot of dogs and cats who need some love hanging out in shelters across the city. We can't stand the thought of putting a perfectly good... more ›

We're not sure if you've managed to stay outside R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet, or if you've managed to avoid the real-life "hip-hopera" of his ongoing saga surrounding a sex tape that surfaced several years ago featuring Kelly and an underage girl. If you have, kudos. Every time we think about Kelly peeing on anyone, much less a girl in her early teens, we just cringe. Golden showers are fine if that's your thing,... more ›

Happy Labor Day Chicago! Although for many this is a day of picnics and playing, Labor Day has a bit more history behind it, and a significant role in its creation was played by people right here in Chicago. In the midst of the Industrial Revolution, with workers putting in 12 hour days and seven day weeks and child labor rampant, a small slice of our city lived in relative labor peace for a good... more ›

Don't worry, this isn't a post about Flavor of Love, Age of Love or Rock of Love. But we will look at two recent surveys surrounding the nature of love, romance and relationships. First up is a survey done at Northwestern University that seems really out of whack. The findings of the authors say that people tend to overestimate the pain surrounding a breakup. However we don't think that "on average a group of... more ›

We have a confession to make: we've never been to Pitchfork before. Considering the festival's only been going on officially for two years, it's not all that surprising. Still, being music lovers, we wanted to shed the "Pitchfork virgin" connotation and take the plunge. The only other big music fest we've been party to was the Touch & Go 25th anniversary at Hideout last year, along with the occasional street fest. We picked Saturday for... more ›

As Chicagoist enjoyed a day off yesterday, we also found ourselves reflecting on some of the hallmarks of the holiday, namely fireworks. We spent our care free day away from work and the stresses that usually come with it, taking the opportunity to ride the Damen bus down to 18th Street, where we kept walking until we got to 23rd. After a cozy stroll through Heart of Chicago, we wound up in Little Village, where... more ›

What happens when you remove all the cars from Lake Shore Drive? It gets filled with bikes. Thousands of bikes. Even with a little drizzle enveloping the skyline. And what fills the absence of auto noise and noxious emissions? The sweet smell of the lake, clicking of gears, the squeaks of bicycle chains, the voices of toddlers being pulled along by their fathers and mothers as they ask, “How much longer until the pancakes?” But... 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 ›

The city was abuzz Saturday afternoon with the news that Chicago has made the cut to be the US Olympic Committee’s choice to host the 2016 Olympics. It’s not a done deal yet; the International Olympic Committee still has to choose a final site for the Games, but this latest adventure from Mayor Daley has certainly changed the equation. In bars and coffee shops, around dinner tables and water coolers, and yes, even here in... more ›

We admit to being sort of "eh" about Valentine's Day. Single people hate it for making them feel like losers (except Jen Shefft of course), and people in long-term relationships have to come up with some new way to make the yearly holiday "special." Chicagoist thinks that the only people who really dig little cupid and all of his fancy greeting cards are people who are newly part of a relationship. And lots of people... more ›

If you are anything like Chicagoist, these last few weeks have not been the best. We've been going to bed every night at 10:30 p.m. but haven't been able to stay asleep; we crave carbs and sweet food; and we can't seem to get ourselves pumped about the things we know we usually enjoy. And it isn't just this year; Chicagoist finds itself feeling sort of crappy every winter. Even chipper-as-can-be Katie Couric is feeling the pain. more ›

In the US, February marks Black History Month, and while there are no shortage of opportunities to learn about important and significant people of African descent this month, the purpose and history behind the event is sometimes lost. While Africans have been present in North America at least since colonial times, black history had barely begun to be studied — or even documented — when the tradition formally began in 1926. It wasn't until later... more ›

Though I’m a staunch defender of Chicagoist’s editorial we, and abhor anything that smacks of grandstanding, I’m also not without an ego. So permit me a brief indulgence as (per precedent) I take a moment to rock some first-person singular and say goodbye. more ›

After seeing local newsrooms inundated with Bears "news" stories this weekend, we finally caved. Well, actually, this story is about the Saints, but we're still keeping to the spirit of the game. A linebacker for the unlikely star team got a surprise Saturday when coming out of the Hyatt Regency at McCormick Place: a paternity suit. Danny Clark, who actually started out in the suburbs of our fair city and played at U of I,... more ›

It would be easy to write the obligatory piece about "the man and the dream" today. The fact of the matter is that the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is so much more than just the speech he give at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 in Washington, DC. Although he is remembered in the US as one of the leaders, if not the leader, of the civil rights movement in the 1950's... more ›

Besides being a virtually government-mandated day of family togetherness and quality time, Christmas Day is also a time for traditions. And not just for Christians and garden-variety secular Americans. If you haven't been to temple lately, (or aren't Jewish), you may not realize that many Jewish families here in Chicago have some traditions of their own. more ›

You may not realize it, but 30 years ago today, Richard J. Daley died, leaving the city without the mayor it had known for nearly a generation, and setting the stage for three terms of political infighting, drama, and chaos in City Hall. The Sun-Times has reprinted the report it published that day in 1976, as well as Mike Royko's column about the man, and the myth. We here at Chicagoist have taken our jabs... more ›

It is that time of year again. Lights go up on the houses, department stores start making money, presents are picked out, wrapped, and then returned on the 26th. In other words, the holidays have arrived, which bring with them one additional bundle of joy (besides baby Jesus): The office holiday party! more ›

We’ve experienced renters' guilt by throwing away our hard-earned cash each month instead of pouring it into a home we can call our very own. What with the staggering jumps in home values over the past few years, homeowners who bought a home before the peak of home costs seem to have it made. Higher home values! Tons of cash! Personal piggy bank right there on your lawn! Unfortunately for homeowners, along with the higher... more ›

When Chicagoist was in the eighth grade, we once spent 45 minutes trying to fish a stuck candy bar out of a vending machine with a coat hanger, just to impress a girl. Ignorant jackass that we were at that age, we didn't realize that maybe the most chivalrous thing to do would have been to drop some change in the machine and buy her another. more ›

This morning the Trib’s Eric Zorn discusses what he calls the beginning of “to help my school season.” Now’s the time of year when young kids start going door-to-door selling wrapping paper, candy, etc. to raise money for their schools. While he supports the idea of giving kids some idea of what it’s like to earn money, he avoids putting the guilt on his co-workers or neighbors but hopes anyone selling Girl Scout Cookies stops at his house twice. more ›

Chicagoist would like to open our day by wishing a very Happy Birthday to the woman who makes getting out of bed seem worth it: Ana Belaval, the Around Town feature reporter for WGN Morning News. Though we used to tune in to WGN for the comic stylings of Paul Konrad, we now find ourselves counting down the minutes until they dispense with all the fires, bombings and indictments in the first hour and get... more ›

One of the great things about living in the city is, we never have to go too far for a good cheeseburger. We’re not discounting un-urban environments though; we once lived in the highest town in the continental United States, and found one of the best cheeseburgers ever. more ›

What Happened to Bozo? more ›

As if everyone in the world wasn’t already afraid of ending up old and lonely, there is now proof that it’s even worse than we’d imagined. Not only does being old and lonely totally suck, as researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University recently discovered, it will probably shorten your life. more ›

WORDSFest, a premier collection of local African-American performers and one of the most entertaining events you’ll see this Black History Month, opens tonight at the Theatre Building. The two-weekend showcase shares a path with last month’s Sketch Fest. Each grew from an impulse to bring together and raise the visibility of a talented community, each arrived at the Theatre Building when they outgrew their original space. Both open their arms (and their workshop) to aspiring... more ›

Chicagoist usually isn't in the business of dispensing personal anecdotes, but today is a slow local news day so we thought we'd regale you with our solution to a neighborhood dilemma. more ›