(Legendary Chicago-based photographer Art Shay has taken photos of kings, queens, celebrities and the common man in a 60-year career. In this week's look at his photography archives, Art looks back at the career of a public relations giant.) more ›

In these lean times, taxpayers are likely to be skeptical of a no-bid public affairs contract for $45,000. If only RTA had some sort of community relations department to handle the fallout. more ›

Last week, I was berated, quite aggressively, by the greatest chef in the Western world. In some circles of foodie-ism, that might be some sort of perverse claim to fame, like finding and saving Anthony Bourdain's used cigarette, but in my world, it was frightening and unpleasant. More importantly, it forced me to reflect on the food/media world in which I live, the hype that sustains restaurants, and the fundamental responsibilities of chefs, restaurant owners and service staff. Oh, and I got to peek inside The Aviary. Want the whole story? more ›

Groupon CEO Andrew Mason offered an apology for the company's much-maligned Super Bowl ads, saying that the company will work to pull the commercials from circulation. more ›

It seems like the press is finally catching on that Governor Blagojevich doesn't like to venture into the public eye very much (except for Blackhawks games), where reporters might have a chance to ask him some questions about the spate of federal investigations, the inaction of the state legislature, or the recent indictment of his former chief fundraiser. An Associated Press story from yesterday outlines several "feel good" photo ops that most politicians would flock to but that Blago readily avoids. more ›

Obama has done it. Durbin has done it. Now Daley’s gonna do it. The “it” in question? Lobbying for alleged murderer Hans Peterson’s extradition to the United States. The story’s old hat by this point: Peterson supposedly confessed to killing dermatologist Dr. David Cornbleet last October in his office on Michigan Avenue. Unfortunately his confession fell on French ears, as Peterson had fled to the isle of St. Martin, where he invoked his Gallic heritage... more ›

From a public relations standpoint this has not been a banner couple weeks for the Chicago Police Department. First, the Reverend Al Sharpton opens a Chicago office for his National Action Network in order to address the issue of police brutality in Chicago. Days after Sharpton opened his office, 42-year-old Gefery Johnson died from injuries sustained after police Tasered and forcibly arrested him. Days after that, 18-year-old Aaron Harrison was shot to death by police... more ›

We aren't naive. We know the police protect and serve, that it's a largely thankless task, and recognize their achievements when we can. Overall, though, this hasn't been a good year for the Chicago Police Department, public relations-wise. So if there were a list of the bad seeds in existence, wouldn't you want to know the names? Wouldn't you know who's out there perverting their oath to protect and serve? Judge Joan Lefkow thinks so.... more ›

Did you know that the hat Brian Urlacher wore to the Super Bowl media day cost him $100,000? No, it wasn't some bling-encrusted, endangered-species-skin fashion statement. In fact, the hat itself was most likely given to him for free by VitaminWater. But his wearing of the hat cost him $100,000 because it violated the league's sponsorship rules. That's the largest non-suspension fine in league history! See, the NFL has a little deal with Gatorade that... more ›

Surfing between the Police reunion on the Grammys last night and an all-new evening of animation on Fox (and if Family Guy's "My Drunken Irish Dad" song isn't being sung en masse this St. Patrick's Day, we'll be sorely disappointed), Avenues' chef Graham Elliot Bowles took on Bobby Flay on "Iron Chef America." Knowing that the Tribune had Bowles' appearance featured in yesterday's Sunday magazine, we didn't buy the Sunday paper yesterday and stayed away... more ›

You know those days when your life adds up to nothing? When you scan your years, and you see nothing but incoherent days and inebriated nights? When your creative mind is as empty as a Pabst Blue Ribbon at 6:00 in the morning? Well, if you happen to be having one of those days today, you might want to stop reading. When we checked out the website for freelance writer Elaine Soloway, we became overwhelmed... more ›

Try as they might to spin things in a positive manner, it has NOT been a good year public relations-wise for the Chicago Transit Authority. Remember in the spring when they proposed so many "doomsday budget" scenarios that they came across like a spoiled child begging for more allowance money while not doing any more work around the house? Those were good times. Or when CTA Board Chair Carole Brown started her own weblog... more ›

This week Chicagoist will be making a couple appearances on panels on blogging. If you're interested in hearing more about the blogging process and a bunch of nerdy mumbo jumbo (not to mention watching us try to be serious and not make fools of ourselves), you should check it out. First off, tonight, we'll be participating on a discussion about Writing for Blogs. This is a showcase of the Independent Writers of Chicago (IWOC) meeting.... more ›

As you may know, and we can't even begin to explain how wonderful we think you are if you don't, a big expensive store in a big expensive city in France denied Oprah Winfrey entrance to their store this summer. Oprah arrived 15 minutes after the store's posted closing time, or employees were preparing a public relations event, or Oprah was too black or too ugly or whatever—they didn't let her in. The media went... more ›

Fans of Marshall Field’s might want to get their shopping done this weekend as there’s no telling how much longer the name will remain. On Wednesday, shareholders of Federated Stores, Inc. voted to approve the takeover of May Co., parent of Marshall Field’s stores. We’ve been following this story but we weren’t too concerned that anyone would think changing a 124 year-old Chicago institution would be a smart idea. But comments by Federated’s CEO Terry... more ›

With more court action overshadowing his latest release, Chicagoist is almost—almost—starting to feel sorry for R. Kelly. Yesterday a Cook County judge ordered Kelly to give a deposition in a civil case brought against him by a woman who claims he videotaped her without permission; the woman was of legal age at the time (and my God we can’t believe that’s a clarification we actually have to make). Kelly’s lawyers argued that the statute of... more ›

For all the talk about how Version Two of The Ballpark Formerly Known As Comiskey completely changed the landscape of the Bridgeport neighborhood, the truth is that outside of the late, lamented McCuddy’s (the bar most long-suffering Sox fans bring up as Exhibit A of the old Bridgeport nightlife: “Babe Ruth drank beers between innings there when the Yankees came to town!”) Comiskey Park/The Cell has always been a victim of its surroundings. Where... more ›

A few weeks back Chicagoist Prime made her first ever pilgrimage to the Ballpark Formerly Known as Comiskey and had to admit to having some fun at the game, particularly when the fireworks exploded whenever a White Sox player hit a home run. From there she intimated that both the Cell and Wrigley Field are fun in their own ways. She then went with her entourage to Rock Bottom Brewery after the game, unaware... more ›

Wondering about the look of the CTA buses with an express lane for Chicago Card users? Then wonder no more! Chicagoist ended up riding one of these new buses into downtown today and got to see it in action (or possibly “inaction.”) We picked up the 156 LaSalle bus at North and LaSalle. While we were waiting, a CTA employee told us we would be boarding one of the new express lane buses. We... more ›