Here are some of the best ramp dishes we've encountered around Chicago along with some suggestions for cooking the trendy weed at home. more ›

From high-profile releases to film sales to schlock, we've got you covered. more ›

What is better than comfort food? It could be a home-cooked meal just like mom used to make or a specific brand of food from your past. Even Chicago chefs are taking note of how much throwback food can please: Grant Achatz' upcoming "Childhood" menu at Next, rumored to emerge in mid October, and the childhood menu at pop-up Gypsy prove this point. If you don't have the golden ticket to visit Next during those childhood-themed months or can't make it to the pop-up, a reversion to childhood that's totally acceptable can happen at home too: by bringing back the old snacks you attacked when getting home from school. Here are a few ways you can celebrate your younger years: more ›

Yesterday's earthquake on the East Coast cracked the stone of the Washington Monument. more ›

It's great when someone else does the legwork to find us tasty things to drink, but credit needs to be given - Grubstreet Chicago hoofed it all over the city looking for the best in Spring cocktails, and they found some doozies. Many Chicagoist favorites, including Sable, The Bristol and Lula Cafe are on the list, along with some surprises, like a Ramp Gibson from Hearty. more ›

Sons and daughters of the world, this Sunday is the time when the institutional forces of card companies, restaurants and FTD join up to force you to worship your moms. Know what? Even the most cynical of us knows that she deserves it. So take her out somewhere nice on Sunday! Here's a list of some great mother's day dining events - and best of all, they all still have space. Make your reservations now. A great tip: If you can't find something you like, drop the idea of brunch. Mom can stay up a little later, and there are still PLENTY of reservations to be had for dinner at all of your favorite spots. more ›

We can't quite believe we're posting this, but based on the sheer volume of news coverage over the past few days, some people must care about this huge wedding that's happening on Friday across the pond. Frankly, we're almost tired of hearing about it - the number of press releases pushing special wedding cocktails that we've gotten have just about pushed us over the edge. On the other hand, we're as interested in pretty dresses and flower tossing as the next man, though, and if there are good drinks involved, you might be able to get us on board. Might. Anyway, a lot of decent bars and restaurants are offering neat events specials, if you want to watch the blessed event - they might even make it worth it. more ›

Today in "Extra Extra:" Rahm Emanuel offers to make a charitable donation... if his Twitter doppelganger outs himself. more ›

Today in "Extra Extra:" Navy Pier is under new management. Rahm gets an endorsement. more ›

Howard Brown Health Center stays open and the Bears stay in Bourbonnais for training camp for two more years in today's "Extra Extra." more ›

Tonight, our thoughts are with the family of Reader reporter Cliff Doerksen, who passed away Friday. more ›

A nice bus driver, Toni Preckwinkle keeps up with the TCB and a new poll looks good for Rahm Emanuel in today's "Extra Extra." more ›

Every Monday at this time we list the posts from our weekend staff that were the most notable or popular for the benefit of those who didn't check in on the site over the weekend. Here's what you missed: more ›

Every Monday at this time we bring to you in a neatly packaged roundup the posts from our weekend staff that stood out while you were away, This is what you missed: more ›

We'll wrap up this week and turn things over to Prescott and the weekend crew with some late-breaking news. more ›

Campaign cash shenanigans in Niles leads off today's "Extra Extra." more ›

Sometimes, you don't want to cook a giant turkey (or tofurkey) and would prefer to have someone else do the work for you. This year, there are some great Thanksgiving options to peruse at restaurants all over Chicago! In fact, there are so many that we couldn't fit all of them into one post. Stay tuned Monday afternoon for even more events and offers - and make your reservations early! more ›

Today in "Extra Extra:" a coyote in the South Loop, a negative review for the North/Clybourn Station and Ryne Sandberg gets a new job. more ›

More analysis of last night's election from around the web today in "Extra Extra." more ›

• Alderman Robert Fioretti's reason for backing out of the mayoral race: he has throat cancer. [Sun-Times]
• BIO International will bring its annual biotech convention back to McCormick Place in 2013 and 2016. [Crain's Chicago Business]
• Ben Joravsky lists why he's sucking it up and not voting for who he really wants to tomorrow. [Reader]
• Declan Sullivan, who was tragically killed last week while filming Notre Dame's football practice on a scissors lift during a wind storm, was buried today. [Tribune]
• A local fraternity that talks frankly and honestly about sex. [Tribune]
• Ofelia Garcia, who masterminded the acid attack against Logan Square social worker Esperanza Medina, was sentenced to 44 years in prison. [Sun-Times]
• Speaking of Medina, she and fellow acid attack survivor Karli Butler, who survived an acid attack four years ago, have become fast friends and activists to prevent future attacks. [WBEZ]
• We've got snow in the forecast later this week? Already? Cheezis!! [Chicago Breaking News]
more ›

The wind is howling and the witches are running for Senate: Halloween 2010 is upon us. If your cinematic chills can't be satisfied with just renting a horror movie, such as the ones we love, then you have more than a few opportunities to get out and get scared by something on the silver screen this weekend. Here is our guide to all the scary movies in theatrical exhibition during this weekend of Haloween 2010. more ›

• Flights out of O'Hare resumed this afternoon after this morning's Chiclone pre-show. [WBEZ]
• A grand jury indicted Alan Kustok in the shootign death of his wife. [Chicago Breaking News]
• A 70-foot blue spruce from McHenry has been chosen as the official city Christmas Tree. [Chicago Breaking News]

• Kate McGroarty, winner of the Museum of Science and Industry's "Night at the Museum" contest, begins her 30-day stay today. Somewhere, Prescott weeps. [Chicago Breaking News]
• Sami Samir Hassoun, accused of plotting to detonate an explosive device near Wrigley Field, has plead not guilty. [Sun-Times]
• Gapers Block's first installment of its "Classroom Mechanics," an oral history project focusing on teachers, begins today with a compelling story. [GB Mechanics]

• The Town Hall police station at Addison and Halsted is closing in a month. [Tribune]
• First Lady Michelle Obama is promoting early voting on African American radio stations. [Sun-Times]
• U of C trustee Steve Stevanovich is being sued over his ties to a Ponzi scheme. [Crain's]

• Midway Airport has the highest number of delayed departures in the country. [Chicago Breaking News]
• Rick Morrissey thinks Todd Collins should be released by the Bears. What ever gave him that idea? [Sun-Times]
• School districts, realizing cell phone bans may be futile, are now using them as academic tools. [Tribune]

• To mark five years of writing about food in Chicago, Michael Nagrant is tweeting his top 250 dishes in the city. Follow using the hashtag #MikeNagrantsbestchicagofood250. [Michael Nagrant Twitter]
• The KFC Skinwich hoax lives on in t-shirt form. [The Stew]
• A little change can mean a lot of benefit with regard to "fat layering." [The Mess Hall]

• For the one in your life whose eyes are bigger than his stomach - Gluttony Pants. [Betabrand]
• Half Acre is releasing three new specialty brews. [Drive-Thru]
• Michael Nagrant's been eating his way through Las Vegas. [New City]

• Mike Sula, in keeping with the Reader's "road trip" theme this week, took a road trip to June, a Peoria restaurant that splits the fine line between molecular gastronomy and the localvore movement that he surmises may be the best new restaurant in the Midwest. [Reader]
• Sula also likes the gyro jibarito at Thamara Dominican Restaurant in Humboldt Park. Next week, Megan will calculate Sula's reduced life expectancy. [Reader]
• Rachael Ray crowned her favorite Chicago hot dog today. Whatever. At least she had the good sense (or savvy producers) to put Superdawg and Jimmy's Red Hots in her final three. [The Stew]

• Mayor Daley's son Patrick has been called back to active duty in the Army. [Clout Street/Tribune]
• A woman who abandoned her 3-year-old nephew at a south side firehouse Monday night said she was in the military and had to catch a flight later that night to Virginia. [Chicago Breaking News]
• After being played by the International Olympic Committee, Pat Ryan is getting back into the insurance game. Ryan is starting a new firm, Ryan Specialty Group. [Crain's]

Large buffets and family dinners are a major part of the holiday season. But let's say you aren't going home for Christmas. Maybe you don't celebrate the holidays. Or you're part of a family that doesn't want to cook. Maybe you had your painstaking Christmas dinner ruined by the Bumpus' dogs and wind up with the rest of the family in a Chinese restaurant ordering a Peking duck where the head's removed at the table with a cleaver. more ›