Sometimes we here at Chicagoist find ourselves neglecting things -- the litter box, our family, other people’s children; so for this month’s Convince Us we need suggestions for reading biographies. We haven’t read many biographies, either auto or otherwise, and we feel the need to see what real life is like instead of the make-'em-ups. So give us your suggestion of a biography we should read; we’ll pick one, read it, review it and post... more ›

Chicagoist had tomorrow marked on our calendar almost since the start of the Grant Park Music Festival season. That's when the Grant Park orchestra takes to the Pritzker Pavillon stage for a program of Brazilian and Portuguese music. Last week, the Reader's Peter Margasak reported over on his must-read blog that the featured performer, the Portugese fadista Cristina Branco, would be replaced by her more popular contemporary, the Mozambique-born Mariza (Nunes). more ›

Last night, some of Chicago’s best-known music writers and editors got together to answer a simple question: how does an unknown band get nice things written about them? The discussion, presented by the Chicago Music Commission was titled “Pitching Your Story: Media and Local Music” with Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot serving as moderator. In attendance were Scott Plagenhoef of Pitchfork Media; Peter Margasak of the Chicago Reader; David Jakubiak, with the Chicago Sun-Times;... more ›