Kanye West leads the pack with the most Grammy nominations this year. Kanye is also famous for throwing a tantrum every time he ends up being beaten out by anyone else for any other award. This time around, we think maybe Kanye should be crossing his fingers in hopes that he doesn't win. more ›

Everyone's favorite libertarian think tank is taking its show on the road! The Cato Institute is hosting a luncheon with Robert Novak today at the Drake Hotel. Registration starts at 10:30, but you'll want to get there early, as several senior Cato fellows will be addressing the crowd of local paleoconservatives and free marketeers. Randal O'Toole, an expert on urban growth and planning issues, kicks off the event with his keynote address, The Best-Laid Plans:... more ›

As you all know, we here at Chicagoist are avid Wentz watchers. We’re also big fans of looking svelte in our dungarees, but can these two passions ever meet as one? Fear not, fellow drama and denim lovers – DKNY has the answer to all of your prayers. The New York-based icon of the jean has joined forces with Pete’s Clandestine Industries to (creatively) offer Clandestine Industries for DKNY, a snazzy line of tops, dresses,... more ›

Even though rapper 50 Cent proclaimed to the world earlier this month that he would quit music (and deprive the world of another "In Da Club") if Chicago native Kanye West's new album "Graduation" sold more copies than his new CD "Curtis," the two have reportedly ended their feud via the universal peace maker -- alcohol. The two are both dropping albums on Sept. 11 and have been debating in the press for the past... more ›

Well, it is shaping up to be quite the warm weekend. Any of our lovely readers want to invite us to some type of pool party? We'll bring waterwings shaped like Mayor Daley's face. Someone should really make those. In the event we receive no invitations, we've lined up some other activities certain to help you, and us, take advantage of another weekend. As we mentioned yesterday, Calsfest 2007 is taking place at Cal's Liquors,... more ›

Now we know why Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak kept quiet for so long about who told him CIA Agent Valerie Plame's name; he needed to save that information (at least until 2006) so he could one day publish a tell-all book. Well done, Novak, well done. Novak's book, The Prince of Darkness, (which should not be confused with the Ozzy Osbourne box set of the same name) chronicles Novak's 50 years of work as a... more ›

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires... more ›

From the tallest skyscraper in the City of Brotherly Love to Canadian tourism copywriting brilliance, here's what you should know from our -ist cities: This week, Phillyist took a gleeful listen to the White Stripes' exciting new release, watched in awe as their new tallest skyscraper was finally completed, found a cheaper way to get to Gothamist, invented a tasty new dessert, and brought back their Craigslist Round-Up feature with a bang. Bostonist watches... more ›

Seattlest has a talk with the photographer from last week's "Segway Mom" and then experiences some dissension in the ranks over the question of wine vs. beer. It's not West Side Story, but about as close as they'll get. They're also still waiting on some inbox relief after a spammer is arrested. As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried... more ›

The Midnight Shows are one of those bands trying to revive soul music and give it back its original edge. We're talking about dark alley, drug-deal gone bad, miniskirt riding up the ass kind of soul. We're talking about songs filled with grit, burnishing the edges off a crowd as they work up a sweat. more ›

It really looked like the Bulls were going to get themselves back into this series against the Detroit Pistons ... for a half anyway. In the second half, Detroit stormed back to beat the Bulls 81-74. more ›

After sweeping the Miami Heat and moving past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the days of MJ, the Bulls now face off against the Detroit Pistons. The series opens on Saturday in Detroit. The one-seed Pistons also swept their opening-round series, taking down the Orlando Magic. Both teams have had nearly a week to prepare for what we anticipate will be a much tougher series for both teams. Do... more ›

Learn Something: Looking for a little culinary education in the coming week? Get your cheese and beer on at The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square on March 8. For an even forty bucks you get to meet Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall and learn all about artisan cheeses and gloriously strong stout. New Chef: Never been to Boka Restaurant? Or perhaps you've been but weren't all that impressed. Well, Giuseppe Tentori is the restaurant's... more ›

Metra still can't pay the bills. Bonus time to party on the Dan Ryan local lanes! Prince Charles hates McDonald's. Perhaps he would change his mind if he had a smoothie? Bobby Jenks, hulking pile of muscle that he is, tweaked his shoulder in spring training. So long, Burt. We'll have to find new reasons to use this picture. Lollapalooza 2007 = Pearl Jam. A con man scammed some women out of $1 million... more ›

Between fake terrorist alerts and scandals big and small, this just might be the best Best of the -ists ever. We're exhausted just thinking about it. First up, SFist, who saw their little 'ole site be the center of what was a nice little scandal (even getting their editor on TV) only to find their scandal dwarfed by the even bigger scandal caused by their Mayor boffing one of his aides' wife. We're not... more ›

"When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pilot," started Abeng Stuart (at right in the picture, with partner Dre Palmer), owner of the Bronzeville eatery Wings Around the World. "With these wings, it's the next best thing." Stuart isn't just spouting mere hyperbole. Since opening last September, Wings Around the World has steadily been bringing in customers from all over the city. more ›

As the world holds its breath, teetering precariously on the cusp of the Super Bowl (well, at least in America), the wheels of the -ists keep on turning. Austinist was in a musical frame of mind as they listened to the new Shins album, updated the SXSW band listings and got called "punk rock" for their efforts by MTV. And an ice storm swept through the area. Bostonist said goodbye to John Kerry's plans... more ›

The Sun-Times ran an AP wire story today that's mostly good news with a sprinkle of bad news for lovers of music, though that depends on your persepctive. Overall, music sales were up for the year 2006. While sales of physical albums declined 4.9 percent, digital album sales doubled, and sales of digital singles increased 65 percent. What’s refreshing about this story is that it doesn’t feature any dunderheaded analysis (or fulminating quotes from industry... more ›

EOYW is a day late this week, and your forgiveness is begged. Luckily, most of the shows below are not yet sold out, so our laziness will not be to your detriment. For whatever reason, some of the most talented musicians don’t become well-known until after they contract some life-threatening disease that warrants a tribute album. Alejandro Escovedo managed to recover from his bout with Hepatitis C to release The Boxing Mirror earlier this year.... more ›

If you’re one of those plan-ahead types of people who get started on holiday shopping long before Black Friday, you may want to consider all of the merchandise our beloved Chicago Transit Authority has to offer. If our gift recommendation has you wondering what in the world we’re talking about, you’re probably not alone. Despite providing more than one million rides a day, the CTA only managed to scrape up $20,000 in merchandise sales, of... more ›

Another item for the Cart Before the Horse file: Will Smith was in town last week for the Chicago premiere of his new film The Pursuit of Happyness. In the film he plays real-life Cinderella man Chris Gardner, who went from being homeless on the streets of San Francisco to managing his own very successful investment firm here in Chicago. That's not the real story however. The real story is that Will Smith wants to... more ›

We swore that we wouldn't admit it. But yes, we watched it Monday night. Like a virgin pint of Ben & Jerry's Turtle Soup that's begging to be scarfed in a single sitting, we sat there glued for two straight hours. And like that pint of ice cream, those two hours fulfilled our TV junk food quota ... until next Monday night. more ›

Remember how people used to get spooked when a Friday would fall on the 13th of the month? There’d be a few articles about superstitions or about some dead kid’s mother terrorizing some campers. But lately? Bupkus. We’re bored with Friday the 13th. We crave a greater excitement. And who knows just how to take advantage of that ennui? Satan, natch! Shout at the devil, bitches, because it’s 6/6/06! Truth be told, the 14-year old... more ›

With Memorial Day behind us and a streak of days breaking 80 degrees, we think we can say summer is on its way. And, nothing says summer in Chicago quite like drinking a $6 margarita overlooking the lake. That’s right, we’re talking about Castaways Bar & Grill, and as crowded and cliché as it might be, it’s a Chicago summertime landmark. If you’ve lived in Chicago for more than a minute, then you undoubtedly... more ›

Since we’re on the subjects of boobs and tools this week, we thought we’d point your attention to a Chicago woman who is mad as hell, and not going to take it anymore. We’re pretty sure we can all agree on at least one thing – it’s not OK to randomly grope a woman’s breasts at a bar. We can agree on that, right? (Please say yes.) Well, at least one guy in our fair... more ›

As Chicagoist sits down to enjoy our second cup of coffee for the morning, we couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic for the dude who yesterday walked into a Starbucks on North Michigan Avenue and stole one of those fancy-schmancy stainless-steel coffeemakers. After all, we need our coffee too. more ›

In case you missed it the first time Chicagoist weighed in on the subject, WE LOVES US SOME HAROLD'S CHICKEN!!!!!!! We also love to do the housequake, but that's a story for another time. more ›

Chicagoist has been spending way too many nights at home this winter because who in their right mind would want to travel to this freezing tundra to entertain us anyway? We've been enjoying the great local bands, but national acts are starting to come back with more frequency and, boy, are we are happy. more ›

Down in Nashville there’s an obsession with a dish called “hot chicken.” Legend has it that it started when the girlfriend of a man named Thornton Prince- a notorious womanizer- decided to exert payback on Prince’s whoring around by spiking his fried chicken with enough hot spices to fell an elephant. But the girlfriend discovered the hard way that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold: Prince loved the hot chicken so much he asked for seconds and thirds. more ›

We just can’t get enough of our cigarette stories, eh? We get our half-assed smoking ban. We get the mayor’s cigarette tax hike. And now we get the Illinois Supreme Court overturning a verdict that was supposed to cost Philip Morris $10 billion. more ›