Rock and roll is coming to Ravenswood, and the children of the neighborhood will be the beneficiaries of this sleepy area’s wake up call. The Raven, an indie rock-heavy weekend festival, invades Chase Park August 16 and 17 with all proceeds going to the renovation and expansion of the park’s playground. Melissa Lagowski, founder of festival planners Big Buzz Idea Group, said the neighborhood, the city, and the arts community have rallied around the cause.......

Photo by Stuck in Customs Trib says four, Sun-Times says three people were taken to area hospitals when when a car driven by an elderly woman plowed into a West Rogers Park Starbucks. There is no evidence the driver of the car was intoxicated, or hyped up on cafinated beverages. [S-T, Trib] Get this, a male skeleton -- in full clothing -- has been found near the water processing plant near Stickney. [Trib] Chicago......

Frankly we don't know anyone who saw Speed Racer, the Wachowski Brothers' computer candy summer flick. Did anyone? The would-be Tron for a new generation has been a big hurt for the filmmakers behind The Matrix: according to boxofficemojo the movie has grossed only $43 million to date despite a production budget of $120 million. But the brothers haven't let it slow them down. REEL Chicago reports that their new project Ninja Assassin, which was......

Sure, we’re all about blowing our stimulus package [Ed note: Dirty!], but that doesn’t mean we’re not into stretching a buck. We found a few shopping events going on this weekend that are a bargain-hunter's paradise. American Science & Surplus Annual Scratch and Dent Sale: When we think “scratch and dent,” appliances are the first thing that pop into mind. But American Science and Surplus on Milwaukee is slashing prices on pretty much everything but......

When this Chicagoist writer left a job in Ravenswood late last year, we knew we'd miss our officemates dearly. We also lamented the fact we'd no longer be within walking distance to First Slice Cafe for lunch. The cafe, located on the first floor of the Lillstreet Art Center, is home to a small menu of fine creations, one of our favorites being the Chicago-Style vegetarian sandwich. This sandwich isn't the typical hummus and cucumber......

Today would be an excellent day to take the CTA, if you happen to be planning on driving anywhere from, or to, Lincoln Square or Ravenswood. A water main broke on Montrose under the Montrose Brown Line stop at 1:30 a.m. (or 12:30, if you like to believe the Sun-Times) last night, causing an enormous part of the street to collapse in, and partially submerging several cars. Also causing water to run down Montrose......

We can't stop looking at this kick-ass photo. Thanks, Patrick!......