Roosevelt University is offering a course on the Occupy movement called “Occupy Everywhere” that examines the movement and the issue of economic inequality in the U.S. more ›

The Joffrey Ballet’s Nutcracker first premiered in Chicago in 1996, and is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary at The Auditorium Theater with 20 performances from Dec. 9 till Dec. 27 more ›

Although Seller’s writing style is simple and her book is easy to read, she doesn’t simplify any of its complexities. She continuously explores the relationships between her family, marriage and her neurological condition. Do her childhood experiences explain why she has trouble recognizing people’s faces, even those of close friends and family? Or is her brain’s mixed-up wiring completely unrelated to what might be wrong with her parents? Is her desire for a perfect family the reason why she entered into an imperfect marriage? more ›

If you've spent any time riding the El around the Loop downtown, you've noticed the ghost sign on the north side of the building at Van Buren and Wabash advertising an entire chain of Tiki bars right in downtown Chicago. Offering "Cantonese food, exotic drinks in a Polynesian atmosphere," the Pago Pago ghost sign is a landmark to any longtime Chicagoan. There doesn't seem to be any information about Pago Pago, aside from speculation and an attempt to track down what was once clearly a Tiki empire in the city's business district. more ›

Contempo kicks off its season this Saturday night with the new-music collective's resident ensembles eighth blackbird and the Pacifica Quartet performing music inspired by visual arts. more ›

• Playboy Enterprises, Inc. has named Scott Flanders, president and chief executive of Freedom Communications Inc., as their new CEO.
• A new judge has been assigned to the Drew Peterson case.
• You can no longer sue a bowling alley if you fall in rented bowling shoes.

• Now that Mother's Day is over, let's focus on finding something to do with dear old Dad on Father's Day for a bit of bonding. How about robbing banks together?
• Lafayette, Indiana police are looking for information regarding the theft of a life-sized dog statue taken from in front of the public library. The sudden appearance of a life-sized dog statue atop a keg inside a Purdue frat house just a coincidence.
• Chicago's Roosevelt University is adding an athletic program after 20 years without one and are just working out some minor snafus, like not having any athletic facilities.

• Police shot and killed an 18-year-old man late last night after the man had opened fire in a South Side convenience store, injuring four.
• Carlos Hernandez-Garcia, 19, has been charged in a hit-and-run that occurred Monday night and killed two pedestrians.
• WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight talks to Gary Goehl, who knows a few things about Chicago corruption, and his recent NY Times op-ed.

The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) is holding its annual Cookbook Expo this weekend in Chicago. And, for the first time, they're opening it up to the public. This is your chance to hobnob with some of your favorite cookbook authors and chefs, who will be on hand to sell and sign their latest books. The event runs from 5-6 p.m. tomorrow at the Hilton Chicago. Even though it's free, reservations are required; e-mail... more ›

Discussions about Black History Month have become as complex as discussions about race. Debating the labels ‘black’ and ‘African-American’ lead to debates about biracial identity and, recently, whether Senator Obama, Joe Biden’s “first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” friend, is actually African-American. In the same vein, Black History Month has increasingly been relabeled African-American Heritage Month and African Heritage Month, terms emphasizing the present and future as... more ›

En route to Milwaukee to visit relatives, a 42-year-old woman gave birth to a baby girl on a Mexicana Airlines flight from Guadalajara, Mexico. The plane landed at O'Hare, and officials say the 7-pound, 8-ounce baby was delivered on the aircraft by an obstetrician. Obstetricians on a Plane is currently in the works. more ›

"Only the Asbestos Remains" by marinaro500, who notes "Taylor Street Housing Projects are falling! Last week there were warning signs for asbestos." more ›

Three photography shows have come across our radar within the last day and we'd like to share them with you. They're each very different from one another but all seem worth checking out. The first is helping celebrate Black History Month. "The Journey: The Next 100 Years" is a photo exhibit on display at Roosevelt University and shows life in the black community, Chicago through the eyes of African-American photographers. The opening ceremony is on... more ›

If you want to help Hillary Clinton raise funds for her 2006 senate reelection campaign, which is probably slang for her 2008 presidential campaign, then you have two opportunities to help out Chicago's favorite daughter who now represents another state. Clinton will be attending a fundraiser at crobar this coming Saturday night between 8:30 and 11 PM. If that wasn't enough for you to plop down your hard earned cash, Biz Markie will be... more ›

Before a certain sports team and its star player made international headlines, most outsiders associated Chicago with tales of mythic gangland figures like Al Capone or Terrible Johnny Torrio. Chicagoist saw proof of this many years ago on a family vacation to San Francisco when we encountered a street performer dressed as a clown. While making a balloon animal, the clown asked us where we were from. When we said Chicago, he said “Oh? Gangsters,... more ›

earlier this week, and we admire her eloquence and thoughfulness about her writing. She reads--both in her writing and her spoken reading--like a poet, which makes for a great bookstore event. See for yourself at Women & Children First tonight at 7:30. more ›

Chicagoist often gazes through Brown Line windows at the ever-so-dismal remains of the Cabrini Green community, and has wondered time and time again just what went wrong with some of the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) most ambitious, and notorious, housing projects. For that reason, Roosevelt University's The Promise of Public Housing, 1936-1983 is situated firmly atop our “Damn, This Exhibit Looks Cool” file. Compiling more than 80 photographs culled from the archives of the CHA... more ›