Results tagged “phoenix”

One could argue that glossy pop is the product of an overindulgent mindset, but one would be wrong. Pop takes simple components and weaves them together in surprising and ear-popping arrangements. Listen to something like Beyonce's "Halo," with it's Queen stomps, glacial synths and odd warbles for proof of this. There is no practical reason that song should sound so good with all those disparate elements, but it does.

When last we checked in on Amy Jacobson, things weren't going too well. She went from working the point on the biggest missing person story of the year (before Drew Peterson's skeeviness made Craig Stebic look like a paragon of virtue by comparison) to out of a job, all because of an "what the hell were you thinking?" decision to slip on a two-piece bathing suit, take the kids in tow to Stebic's house and work the case while unknowingly being filmed by CBS 2 cameras.

Mayor Daley has finally announced his pick for new police superintendent: J.P. “Jody” Weis, an FBI agent who was most recently the head of the Philadelphia field office. The City Council still has to approve the appointment, but given that Ald. Isaac Carothers, chairman of the City Council's police committee, says "maybe going to the outside might bring a fresh look — a guy who knows no one and owes no one,” is anyone worried?...

A blue-ribbon committee of business and health care executives announced their recommendation yesterday that an independent board assume oversight of Cook County's health care system. The ten-member committee was appointed by Board President Todd Stroger last spring at the urging of Senator Dick Durbin. Stroger said that he is open to independent management of the county's health care system, stating the obvious to the Chicago Tribune: "It's obvious that the [County] Board does not work...

Google's controversial Street View feature is officially live for the Windy City, igniting renewed concerns about privacy. It's also rolling out in Pittsburgh, Philly, Portland, Phoenix and Tucson today. Privacy has been an issue since Street View launched last spring, though not so much a legal question as a personal one. Google captures the images by having a van with cameras on top of it cruise around; technically, that's no different than standing on...

There are two big happenings tonight in Chicago. One involves Chicagoist's mild obsession, Top Chef, whose finale will be shot live tonight at an undisclosed location. (We'll be live-blogging it.) The other involves one of our esteemed city's baseball clubs ... you've heard of them, right? But since food and sports are both on the mind right now, we would be remiss in not mentioning the culinary wager made between Daley and Phoenix Mayor Phil...

After months of speculation that the Cubs might be put up for sale as part of a restructuring or sale of Tribune Co., almost immediately after the board's approval of Chicago billionaire Sam Zell's offer, news came that the team would in fact be sold. Now the handicapping can begin on who the new owner will be. There has certainly been no shortage of potential bidders mentioned. Of course, that was before the Cubs went...

Spring appears to have, er, sprung, at least temporarily, in most of the Ist-A-Verse, so naturally, we're all feeling pretty good. (Yes, we know that spring doesn't start till later this month. Just let us enjoy our weather!) And that makes us that much more eager to share all of the nifty things we're up to...

Doesn't it seem like last year we were getting used to writing "4704" in the dateline of our checks? Chinese New Year is Sunday. 4705 is the year of William Beavers the boar. This means that thousands of people will flock down to Wentworth to watch the pomp and circumstance of dragon processions, fireworks, marching bands, and — since every year is an election year in Chicago — politicians kissing babies, shaking hands, and buying...

With the Bears' season over, Chicagoist has focused our attention to basketball, specifically the Bulls. With their home arena invaded by Princesses on Ice, the Bulls spent the past two weeks wandering out West in their second extended road trip of the season. Sunday, the Bulls concluded their seven-game road trip by knocking off the Phoenix Suns, handing the NBA's second-best team their first double-digit loss of the season. With that win, the Bulls finished...

In March of 2006 the National Organization on Disability announced its finalists for the Accessibly America Awards. The announcement of the winners came on Thursday. Coming in first place was Berkeley, CA and our fair city came in second. Receiving a $10,000 award from Wal-Mart, our city was recognized for incorporating and continuing to promote the assimilation of the disabled into community life.

Last night a bevy of Chicagoistas were at Schuba’s for the Tomorrow Never Knows mid-winter fest. There were about an equal number of bands. TNK is giving us those hardworking bands, like minor leaguers, who are practicing the fundamentals in the hopes of one day making the big time. Starting the night off were Eagle Seagull out of Lincoln, Nebraska. They have been likened to Arcade Fire and those comparisons are dead on. As we...

Denis Savard can make Blackhawks history with a victory at Minnesota on Tuesday night. On Saturday night when the Blackhawks came from behind to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-3 in OT, Denis Savard became only the second Blackhawks coach to win his first three games as head coach, the first being Sid Abel (1952-53 season). No Blackhawks coach has ever won their first four games as coach of the team. Prior to Savard's promotion the...

No More Skafish?

Chicago Hip-Hop Heritage Month is almost half over. What have you done to celebrate it? If you have yet to feel the flow, here are some recommendations: * There’s still room enough on the bandwagon for you, so pick up copies of Rhymefest and Lupe Fiasco’s new albums. Rhymefest’s Blue Collar dropped earlier this week and Fiasco’s Food and Liquor has an official release date of August 8th though it leaked to the Internet faster...

In a press release that's pretty much an advertisement for Hotwire, Chicago has been named the top destination spot for New Years Eve. Based on Hotwire's top 10 hotel bookings for New Year's, this was the second year that Chicago topped the list. When Chicagoist thinks of NYE destinations we think NYC, Times Square, Dick Clark (Regis Philbin?), the big countdown and ball drop. While New York is still on the top 10 list, Hotwire...

A few months back, A Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics was discussed. Chicagoist whole heartedly endorsed the idea. Da Mere also came out in favor of such a bid. It was pointed out, however, that the newly renovated Soldier Field wasn't large enough to accomodate the opening & closing ceremonies or track & field events. So, while we already have many of the necessary venues we'd have to build an Olympic Stadium in...

First it was a new “Loop Rock Girl.” Then it was the return of “Joey Bag O’ Donuts.” Now, in its bid to return itself to its former glory, The Loop 97.9 is bringing back one of the men who made it all possible: Jonathon Brandmeier.

Chalk it up to the fact that Chicagoist is mildly preoccupied with the real estate industry, or that we're hopelessly addicted to Curbed... but we kinda feel like everyone and their realtor are talking about a "housing bubble" these days. Are home prices really about to plummet across the nation, ending a multi-year boom for the residential real estate sector? Will the granite countertops and stainless steel appliances of today be the worthless Beanie Babies of tomorrow?

The NBA held its annual draft last night. In recent years, this was the biggest night of the year for the Bulls. This year, however, even John Paxon and Jerry Reinsdorf probably made other plans. Because of a trade for Bryce Drew during the Bulls' Dark Ages and last year's trade for Loul Deng, the Bulls were without a pick in the draft for the first time in their 40 year history. Which was probably...

Sure to please Adrian Monk, the obsessive-compulsive genius detective from the TV show Monk, drivers in Chicago will be able to clean up their cars for FREE. Compliments of USA, the network Monk is on, free car washes will be available to the first 120 customers on Friday, July 1, July 8, and July 15. Head over to one of these locations: Car WashLocationTimes White Glove Car Wash1415 W. Shakespeare Ave., Chicago Noon - 2:00...

As a sometime student of the fine art of writing, Chicagoist has often been given the age-old advice: write what you know. Last Thursday, Chicago author David Cowan allegedly took that old platitude (or perhaps its less pithy and more useful corrolary: research that which you want to write about but don't know) a little too seriously. Cowan, author of Great Chicago Fires: Historic Blazes That Shaped a City, is charged with setting fire to a church storage building on the North Side. A former firefighter and also co-author of To Sleep With Angels: A Story of a Fire, Cowan has given a statement to police admitting to setting the fire, from which there were no injuries.

The Bulls magical season came to a close Friday night as the Washington Wizards defeated the Bulls 94-91 in DC, winning the best-of-seven series 4-2. The entire game, it looked like the Bulls would hold of the Wiz and bring the series home to Chicago on Sunday. Up most of the game, the Bulls lost that lead in the final minute. Just about as soon as the final buzzer sounded, talk turned to next season's...

According to reports, the WNBA may be expanding to Chicago. The women's pro basketball league is negotiating with a private ownership group to bring a team to Chicago in time for the 2006 season. Currently, most teams are owned by the league and run by the NBA teams in their markets. The league previously looked into entering Chicago under its typical arrangement, but passed when the Bulls didn't express much interest in sponsoring a team....

We'll say this upfront: The Big News is that it takes Phoenix $2 million a year and 36 employees to handle all their documents, while it takes Cook County $19 million a year and 279 employees to do the same job. Ever earnest and diligent Cook County Commissioner Forrest Claypool produced a report this past week suggesting that if we upgraded our computer systems, we could cut the number of employees and save on the County Budget.

As Chicagoist predicted, the Bulls' draft had its surprises. Wednesday night, the Bulls acquired the Phoenix Suns' 7th pick in return for a second round pick (31st), a future first round pick and cash.