Chicago seemingly got the shaft in a Daily Beast piece published yesterday and misleadingly titled: "America's Top 20 Gayest Cities," but given the piece's problematic focus on only one of any number of metrics of queer life, we wouldn't take it too much to heart. Home to our raucously rainbow-infused annual Pride, the annual International Mr. Leather and a robust local queer scene, we know in our hearts Chicago is here and queer to stay. more ›

Author Richard Florida looks at America's "psychogeography" and says personality types tend to cluster—and that understanding those clusters can help us understand the economies and futures of different regions. more ›

A smorgasbord for the mind, the 2005 Chicago Humanities Festival has rolled into town. This year’s theme is Home and Away, concerning “the role that ‘place’ serves in the creation of our sense of rootedness and belonging.” Sounds like Pretentious-English-Major-speak, but an impressive slate of writers, musicians and performers are addressing such hot button issues as globalization, mobility, national identity, and bridging regional differences. Most tickets are $5, a bargain that ensures many sold out... more ›

Tickets for the Chicago Humanities Festival go on sale to the general public today. The city's annual celebration of culture, literature, art, and social sciences runs from October 29 to November 13, with speakers and performances all over the city. This year's festival theme is "Home and Away"; presenters will address the role that place serves in the creation of identity and belonging. There is also an accompanying children's festival featuring interactive programs in theater,... more ›