The Chicago food community has shown its committment to charitable causes over and over again, and we've already mentioned a few things being done to help disaster-ravaged Japan. This event, however, is in a class by itself. Some of the best chefs in Chicago, including Jimmy Bannos, Paul Kahan, Tony Mantuano, Mindy Segal, Sarah Stegner, Paul Virant, Bill Kim, and of course, Takashi Yagihashi, are coming together at Takashi on April 18th to create a special 6-course dinner. All the proceeds will go the Red Cross. more ›

Luther North stays open, kidneys get swapped and more in a special good news edition. more ›

As if there wasn't already enough reason to head to a show this weekend, more than 200 Chicago theaters will be collecting money for the Red Cross relief effort in Haiti. Although a list of participating companies isn't available, at least one is contributing in a major way - Second City owner Andrew Alexander will match all donations made by Second City audiences. Since SC is being so kind, we figure we might as well shill for them a bit. Click here for tickets to any of their three shows. For a list of everything else of a theatrical nature happening this weekend (or any day), head to the League of Chicago Theatres website. more ›

Still looking for a way to help relief efforts in Haiti? Almost every major television and radio station in the Chicago area is participating in today's Chicago Helps Haiti Relief Drive. Donations will go to the American Red Cross's efforts to help Haiti. ABC 7 has a full list of details of how you can help and where to call. The Chicago Red Cross is also a great resource for continued local efforts to help. more ›

The Red Cross announced its campaign yesterday, promoting pet safety in the event of disasters or extreme weather. Along with the Humane Society of the United States, the Red Cross is urging people with pets to be prepared for emergencies and disasters. more ›

Breaking news: An Amtrak train and a freight train collided at 48th and South Shields Ave about an hour ago, and passengers are being pulled out as we write this. Developing. UPDATE 12:27: Don Rashid from Stroger Hospital is on NBC5 saying that Stroger is in a "stage 3 disaster." The footage is showing color-coded triage areas, and so far the green zone is empty. 12:30 Witnesses are describing a sound "like an explosion" when... more ›

About 40 local Red Cross volunteers are in California helping evacuees. more ›

It was a Tuesday — a beautiful, sunny Tuesday at that. Most likely, most of the United States was getting ready for or just starting an average Tuesday in September. And then, the unthinkable happened. Two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York. Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and yet another plane was crashed in Pennsylvania. The country was legitmately in "shock and awe." However, there were those of us who... more ›

No, don't. If your pipes have frozen during this long cold snap, please do NOT thaw them with an open flame. The American Red Cross says so, too. more ›

With the new Dave Eggers book receiving critical acclaim and with a new documentary, God Grew Tired of Us: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan produced by Brad Pitt, those that were relocated to the United States in 2001 from Sudan are giving a voice to a country that has long been ignored. The so-called Lost Boys are a group of 4,000 Sudanese who were sent to the United States in 2001. The... more ›

This Chicagoist has just arrived home from work around 6:30 when we heard sirens get louder and louder, and then saw a number of fire engines pull up in front of our building at 2626 N. Lakeview. We knew something terrible was happening when we continued to hear more sirens. more ›

The Red Cross is asking, who is that someone in your life who can kiss away the pain? Who will stand by the community forever? And who will take our breath away? more ›

Halloween is more than just an excuse to slut it up; it’s also one of the most important holidays to candy makers. And it seems that sales – especially for Chicago-based confectioners – are up. Crains reported Chicago’s own Tootsie Roll Industries grew its third-quarter earnings, and shares rose 7 percent in October. Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. also posted increases, with shares up 14 percent last month. And, Fannie May, now owned by 1-800-Flowers, is... more ›

And not in a good way. Chicagoist, along with hundreds of other people, were forced to walk home tonight because of a fire on the rear car of a Blue Line train. No trains were running in either direction between Washington in the Loop and Damen Avenue. The alternate route is the #56 bus that runs up Milwaukee Avenue, but that was so packed that the drivers were not even stopping at the stops.... more ›

Hurricanes be damned, the spirit of Mardi Gras is alive and well in New Orleans. This weekend, give it up Chicago style with several fundraising events happening around the city. more ›

chocolate New Orleans” (a vision we wholly support. Hell, Chicagoist sometimes feels like we could stand for some flavor around here). more ›

The mainstream media has moved on to other issues but the effects of Hurricane Katrina are still being felt by people in the Gulf Coast region. Two upcoming shows will try and ease some of the burden for folks who weren’t lucky enough to hit it big at the slots. (Seriously, CNN: was “flooded” really the best verb for the job in that second graf?) The stylish and hip folks at Pistil Magazine will strut... more ›

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As Hurricane Rita gains steam and takes aim at Texas, the Bush administration is still reeling from the criticisms of its failures and slow action in the tragedy that is Hurricane Katrina. Last night Senator Barack Obama addressed the 35th annual legislative conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and condemned the President’s response to Katrina and his efforts, or lack thereof, to deal with poverty honestly in this country. In response to Bush’s... more ›

Tomorrow night is the opening party for a new exhibit at Rogofugi, "Behind Blythe," a show that details the revival of Blythe dolls by Japan's Cross World Connections. The story is that in 1972 Kenner (remember them?) manufactured Blythe, a doll with eyes that changed when you pulled on a string. But it wasn't popular with kids and was pulled from the market after a year. Since then it's only been known by doll... more ›

Got an extra grand? Want to wear flannel? Want to help others? The perfect solution goes on sale Saturday at 10 am. Pearl Jam is playing a benefit concert at the House of Blues here in Chicago on October 5th to help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. All net proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic, and the Jazz Foundation of America. The last two charities... more ›

Sherry Craigie-Curtis relocated to Decatur last week because HurTrina threatened her house in suburban New Orleans. Unfortunately during the hustle and bustle to get out she didn't ">think to grab her wedding ring. On Tuesday Craigie-Curtis mentioned this during an interview that ran that night on Decatur's own WAND-TV. On Wednesday morning someone called the Mid-Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross citing the interview and asking for details about the ring (and for Craigie-Curtis'... more ›

Is there other news to discuss outside of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina? If there is, we’re having a hard time paying attention to it. Despite occurring some 920 miles away, the tragedy in the Gulf Coast region has already become a local and state issue as the massive loss of life and property, the looming health and energy crises and the breakdown of the rule of law have a ripple effect across the nation.... more ›

Along with everyone else, Chicagoist has been watching as Katrina formed, advanced, and finally plowed over New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Our hearts go out to everyone who was there and who lost family and friends, their homes and possessions. In some ways, this storm was reminiscent of Hurricane Andrew, a Category 4 hurricane that immobilized Miami-Dade County (and one Chicagoist staffer) in 1992. Both storms crept slowly towards their target, leaving Miami and... more ›

While the recent Band Aid 20 single did little more than make most Americans say “Wait…Bob Geldof’s still alive?”, music is often the best way to people's hearts, minds and--most importantly: wallets. As private donations to various relief efforts in this country have topped more than $200 million, several local music venues have started efforts to assist those in need. HotHouse in the South Loop leads the pack with a pair of benefit shows. No... more ›

Tomorrow during every newscast between 5AM and 11PM, every radio and television station in Chicago will be encouraging their audiences to call 1-866-278-8354 to pledge money to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. Every half hour or hour anchors and DJs will be providing updates and reminders to call. (But don't call now because the number's not active til tomorrow morning.) If this weren't for such a good cause it might seem annoying but... more ›

The tsunamis that swept across the Indian Ocean from Thailand to Somalia and killed more than 44,000 people so far may seem like a world away, but they are affecting people around the Chicagoland area in many ways. A couple of stories we've read with local ties - Dipak Jain, the dean of Northwestern's business school, has been in Thailand since December 15 to teach at a school in Bangkok. Jain, his wife, and his... more ›

We know a blog about Chicago weather wouldn�t exactly the most riveting site of all time ("It�s cold. Still cold. Cold again today. Rain." ), but this month is the 17th-wettest May in Chicago history! Good god damn, my soaked compadres. more ›