Well, we didn't set out to have a fecal-theme day, but when it rains (poop), it pours (dog poop). A Gold Coast grandmother was fined $400 this week for flinging dog crap at the Latin School. Strange but true! What would prompt such an act? "I had just had it with Latin," she said. Kass works for CPS and is also minister, according to the Pioneer Local. [She says she] "just got tired of......

Need an original idea for a hot (read: nerdy) date or just an escape from the city this weekend that includes dinosaurs? The Walking with Dinosaurs exhibit won't be showing in Chicago, but it is open today through the 9th in Milwaukee at the Bradley Center. Tickets are a little pricey, $35-70, when you could just buy the DVD for less than $50 online and stay toasty at home, but really, how can you......

But these pictures were too gorgeous to pass up. Kristen Plocinik (aka Kudzu Planet) took some amazing photos of an unusual monument at Graceland cemetery. Plocinik nails it when she writes, "All graves are sad in their own ways, but this one's grief seemed especially piercing...."......

Dealing with the death of a pet is never easy, but it can be especially crushing for children, since it's probably their first experience with death. When Naperville freelance writer Melissa Wells' beagle died at age 13 from cancer, she found there were no words for her to console her young sons. As part of her own healing process, Wells decided to write her story down to help her family, and others. The result is......

Can Mike Madigan and Rod Blagojevich please, please get a reality show? That way, when they have a "nonproductive" meeting like they did today, we have a full serving of drama to go with our intense disappointment and frustration? Today's meeting, between Blago, Madigan, Mayor Daley and state legislative leaders, was an attempt to make progress on the state transit funding...oh, let's call it an "issue." (Clusterfuck? Mess? Problem? Bargaining chip? Dick-wagging contest? All......

If you'd like to witness the next time Mayor Daley is at a loss for adjectives, but can't find time in your schedule to go see him speak on the issues live, Chicago Public Radio's got your back. The audio isn't the best on the reporters, but pump up the volume on WBEZ's website to hear the Q&A portion of Daley's press conferences, which the station will be posting as a supplement to regular City......

Who gives last rites to the priest? Who installs a new crown in the dentist's mouth? Who buries the gravedigger? Or, more importantly, who gives the eulogy when a funeral home dies? If you're the family that has held sway over Griffin Funeral Home for 60 years, you give it yourself. The historic, African-American-owned parlor at 32nd and King Drive is closing its doors come New Year's Eve. Griffin has played host to such final......

Obviously still angry about being featured on the cover of Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Marina Towers Condominium Association (which only owns the top 40 floors of the two 60 floor towers) is now claiming a copyright in the name and image of Chicago's famous corn cobs. The entire document can be found here (pdf), and seems primarily to be a response to Marina City Online, a website run by Steve Dahlman, a resident with no......

Londonist got the big scoop of the week with what may be the first images of notorious street artist Banksy in action. They also got on a runaway train without an operator provoking a response from the transport authorities. Elsewhere, London's answer to Central Station is about to open for business, and Londonist got a sneak preview. Meanwhile, spooky goings-on beneath London Bridge, where a cache of skeletons provided an apt story for Hallowe'en.......

Two Ugandan boxers and one Armenian boxer have disappeared from the AIBA World Boxing Championships. Phillip Adyaku, 25, and Sharif Bogere, 19, of Uganda were reported missing yesterday morning, and Vachagan Avagyan, 25, has been missing since Wednesday night. Also missing? Their luggage. Police don't consider them missing persons because there's no evidence of foul play. Ready to drop the d-bomb? It's possible the athletes have defected, and it wouldn't be the first time......

What does the MSM do when faced with a slow news day? They trot out pictures of puppies and ask you to vote on them. Man, are we glad there's nothing like an impending CTA shutdown, a grossly exaggerated tax hike, complaints of police department misbehavior, or anything like that going on.* Thank God for puppies. * The above snark is meant in no way to imply that we don't love puppies. In fact we......

Old Numbering System?...

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......

This week, Phillyist saw the waters of a landmark fountain run red for a Showtime marketing stunt, the Phils pull ahead, and some serious nostalgia. They also got a chance to review an awesome tribute album, reminded folks to see the King and appreciated their beautiful skyline. Chicagoist knows what it's like to like the Cubs. But naming your kid Wrigley Fields? At least they can breathe a little easier now that Grossman's out......

Home for Kitty?...

First person to name the song those lyrics in the headline came from gets a no-prize. Own some of Billy Corgan. Really. It's not a good idea to e-mail a Playboy playmate via Myspace, especially when said playmate is dating the Bears' Adam Archuleta, you're from Aurora, and type in bold threatening capital letters. Some Wisconsinites have a unique take on the designated driver. What did you do on your summer vacation? (via) Give......

This writer-photographer had never been to Lollapalooza and came with mixed expectations. Fortunately, we seemed to choose our acts correctly, and between the tight sets from The Hold Steady and Muse on Saturday and the intense energy offered up by Iggy and the Stooges and Cafe Tacuba on Sunday, we left the weekend without any disappointments. Chicagoist was fortunate enough to secure a few coveted photo passes, allowing us access to the photo pits......

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......

The first day of the Pitchfork Music Festival showcased three classic acts, performing their classic albums. Slint re-created their seminal Spiderland, and while watching their set we realized that they are definitely one of those bands everyone name-checks, but almost no one has actually heard. Kind of like how dudes in the '90s would talk about how awesome Patti Smith's Horses was because that was just the sort of thing you were supposed to say.......

The air couldn't have felt better in Union Park for the first day of the Pitchfork Music Festival. The format of not having bands play all day the first day was perfect, it's nice to see the headliners sans really full porto-o-potties and there were far less people passed out for you to trip on. Seriously, those people are like land mines. Anyway, we will, of course, be bringing you in depth coverage and reviews......

We are one of the few women left in Chicago – and, seemingly, America – that have not fallen under the mighty spell of Oprah Winfrey. Our coworker even snuck a pint-sized black & white TV into her office and watches it religiously; still we have not found ourselves in her thrall. We just can’t work up the enthusiasm for her superwoman, “Secret”-esque lifestyle. And what’s with all the ads in her magazine featuring thin,......

Chicagoist loves parenting in Chicago; we’re happy for now to give up the sprawling lawns of suburbia to enjoy all the city has to offer in the summer months. Recently, we discovered a new favorite: “Niki in the Garden,” an exhibition of sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle at the Garfield Park Conservatory. We know what you’re thinking: why would we take a kid to see some plants and statues? The thirty art pieces created......

Where Can I Get a Tattoo?...

You'd have to be living under a rock or in a cave (hehe) not to know that the new Batman flick The Dark Knight is currently filming in Chicago. Several spots in the Loop are getting a filmic makeover, and we have some (by now nonexclusive) pics of an interior set. Our source has wisely declined to give us the specific location; after all, you wouldn't want director Christopher Nolan all up in your......

Take a quick look through Flickr, and you'll see that the CTA is one of the most popular subjects for photographers' lenses. Interesting architecture, intriguing people, and a nice dose of urban decay all beg to be photographed. We were similarly inspired last weekend while waiting for a brown line train at the Belmont "L" stop. After taking a photo of the view toward the end of the platform, and two snapshots of a glimpse......

One of the reasons we feel fortunate living on the south side is when we want to visit a nearby neighborhood, we can do so with relative ease via bicycle. We're a couple minutes away from Pilsen. Bronzeville is a few pedals from the house. Hyde Park is a quick ten minutes via the lakefront bike path. We've even found great West Indian cooking in Englewood en route to Beverly via Damen Avenue and......

Yes, we know, we too may scratch our eyes out if we hear one more thing about the damn cicadas. But, we're here to inform, so here we go. As we (and everyone else) have mentioned before: The cicadas are coming! But, not as predicted. The original predicted date for the cicada Billion Bug Breakout was May 22, and if you have a calendar, you know that this day has come and gone (with......

We were cleaning the fridge the other day, taking inventory on our beer stock in preparation for the official start of grilling season this weekend, when we came across a beer that we have completely forgot we bought during the winter. Since it was a Sunday, unseasonably cold outside, and the beer in question was another barley wine, we decided to decant that mother and give it a sip or more. The beer is from......

Now that City Council has banned smoking tobacco on Chicago stages, city actors and audiences will have to get used to that cool herbal cigarette smell. If you're Jonesing for the real thing, you’ll have to head out to suburban Next, Circle, and Northlight theaters. Architect David Fisher, of “Leonardo da Vinci Smart Bathroom” fame, is hoping city leaders will go to bat for his next idea: a skyscraper whose floors spin slowly and independently,......

We don't search YouTube very often. To be honest, we're not even sure if we can be considered part of the YouTube generation, or, you know, whatever Time magazine is calling us this week. We do, however, think it is actually pretty cool that the site can bring things that may not have been so accessible before to anyone with a computer, like funny videos of animals at the zoo. The Brookfield Zoo, the Lincoln......