Nearly 2,000 runners took off this morning at O’Hare for the Athens Sister City Shuffle 5K run on O’Hare’s newest runway: 9L/27R. It was a bit warm, but most were there for the highlight of being able to run or walk on a runway. more ›

For a sizable chunk of the US population, Christmas is a time for... wondering when it's going to be the 26th. Jews have the stereotypical routine of Chinese food and a movie (Chicagoist has deemed Charlie Wilson's War the family-friendly-but-still-interesting-enough-not-to-bore-dad-who-likes-foreign-films movie of the season), but what to do for the rest of the day? more ›

We promise we love many elements about the Christmas season: the festive decorations, the spirit of togetherness, the delicious foods ... but other elements make us want to stab our eyes out. At the top of our list are awful Christmas songs. While there are some songs that make us reminisce about our childhood (anything from the A Very Special Christmas album is fair game), there are others that almost induce involuntary vomiting. We polled the Chicagoist office to compile a list of the Worst Fucking Christmas songs, and here's what was said. (You can wage your own bets about which Chicagoist writer said what): more ›

Oh, look, it's time for another sensationalist story about the internet. Let's see... sexual predators on the web? Nah, that's too played out. We know: Hate speech! Let's get to it. Trib says: "It might come as a surprise to the soldiers who defeated fascism in World War II, but the United States has become a refuge for Nazism and other brands of extremism over the last decade. On the Internet, that is." We say:... more ›

It's been a long time since Chicagoist was on a good scavenger hunt. Too long. But the lucky folks at the University of Chicago have an opportunity to do so every year. The 21st annual University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt (aka Scav Hunt), where UC students partake in a 4-day scavenger hunt that takes them around campus, the city, and on road trips (not to exceed 1000 miles), began first thing yesterday morning. The 300+... more ›

There's a stretch of freight train track and pothole-marked road that runs parallel to 41st Street that makes a great shortcut to the southwest side via bicycle, particularly on days where we don't want to fight the congestion of Archer Avenue. A service road at 41st and Ashland allows freight rail employees easy access to the rails. It also dumps us off at the Ashland Avenue Swap-O-Rama. If you've never been to the Swap-O-Rama, you don't know what you're missing. What we were missing was Kiki D's Carnitas, located across the street. After the meal we had this weekend, we wished we'd kept missing it. The sign that once announced its presence is long gone, but the steady foot traffic from Swap-O-Rama customers keeps Kiki D's from totally fading in the background. Service is no-nonsense: walk in, take a number, give your order, follow the line to the check-out counter and avoid the kids hopped up on Mexican soda scurrying around your feet in the process. Meats and homemade pork rinds fill display booths, whetting an appetite that doesn't know what this place has in store. more ›

One of our favorite writers J.G Ballard once wrote, “It is a curious paradox that almost all science fiction, however far removed in time and space, is really about the present day.” In no other medium is this quite so true as it is in film. We wouldn’t be the first to point out that watching Star Wars tells us a lot more about the year 1977 than it does about a galaxy far, far... more ›

We at Chicagoist are suspending our policy of trying not to add more momentum to Rachael Ray's unstoppable takeover of the United States. (About the only thing that would kill it at this point would be a leaked Internet video involving sheep, salad tongs and some damn good reasons for that insidious grin.) Ms. Ray is hooking up with Delta Airlines in order to promote seven new daily flights between Midway Airport and LaGuardia, raising... more ›

Robert Feder composed a lede so perfect we must pay it tribute: “On the eve of Valentine's Day, Bonneville International is renewing its commitment to Love FM.” How sweet. It's heartwarming when faceless international media entities can show the L-O-V-E to their S.O.’s, even when they are in 23rd place in the Chicago radio market. more ›

Chicagoist can't get that damn story out of our head now, but "Circle of Life" was the first thing that we thought when we heard that former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa is about to sign a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers in hopes of returning to "the show." more ›

Chicagoist, unfortunately, has partaken in the snack box on a United flight. For those of you who have made the same mistake, you understand. And for those of you who haven't, don't. more ›

We had every intention of going out to eat last night. We were planning on scouring the latest issues of Time Out Chicago, doing a couple of Metromix searches and discovering the latest delicious-but-not-too-expensive-or-mainstream dining spot. Preferably on the North or Northwest side of the city. But we didn't. Instead, we got home and didn't leave. more ›

The village of Lincolnwood has filed complaints against the ultra-sexy Purple Hotel on Lincoln and Touhy. The complaint cites "dangerous and hazardous conditions" at the hotel, including 53 separate violations like missing fire extinguishers, mold, rat droppings, food on the floors in the bar and restaurant, and "flying insect infestation." more ›

This is the intro to Patrick Crowe's website that tries to convince people that Oprah would be a great presidential candidate. This is also where Crowe is trying to get you to buy his new book, "Oprah for President: Run, Oprah, Run," where he's trying to get you to buy T-shirts, buttons and bumper stickers of the same nature, and where he tries to start a guerilla campaign of getting people to write "Oprah for President" on dollar bills. He even wants you to write letters and volunteer for the cause. Big whoop, right? Just another nut who has spent 2 years of his life on a worthless cause? more ›

Chicagoist hopes you enjoyed your weekend, perhaps catching some good music at the Pitchfork Festival, watching the Cubs sweep the Cardinals, or just sitting inside on top of an air conditioning vent. Because any kind of good vibes you have left over will be squashed when you check out today's headlines: more ›

Should the White Sox again find themselves in the World Series this October -- and why shouldn't they? -- they now know they'll have home field advantage, on account of the American League's 3-2 victory in last night's All Star Game. It didn't look quite so promising for a while, however. more ›

We remember our first “real kiss”. It was a bajillion years ago, on a hot, sticky, summer night. We were at Great America, exhilarated after one last, wet ride on Logger's Run. We remember an unmemorable boy sticking a dry and bumpy tongue into our virgin mouth. We were disappointingly shocked, wondering out loud to our tittering friends, “wait, this is supposed to feel good?” more ›

What happens when one super-trendy spot is replaced with another? Will the hip cosmos implode? Chicagoist isn’t really sure, but the space at 3317 N. Broadway seems to have a rotation of stylish concepts coming through. Previously Valhalla Wine Shop, the space now hosts Wakamono – and has gotten a facelift to boot. more ›

The people of Chicago have spoken. And apparently, we think a few rounds of Dance Dance Revolution is perfect for getting our swerve on. We saw this press release over at ABC7 listing some of the winners of AOL City Guide Chicago’s “City’s Best 2006” poll. While we quibbled with some of the choices (Home Run Inn for Best Pizza?), the choice of ESPN Zone as the “best spot for first dates” floored us. Sure,... more ›

The recent spring-like weather almost inspired Chicagoist to dust off our running shoes, but then we thought, nah, we'll write about running instead. Springtime signifies the start of the running season for all but those diehards who actually run through the winter months. more ›

While Wednesday's game was a lot closer than Tuesday's, the results were ultimately the same as the White Sox took a 2-0 series lead by beating the Red Sox 5-4. more ›

Outside of iPods in the gym, it’s rare that physical fitness and rock and roll intersect. Frankly, Chicagoist prefers it this way, as the results can be a bit dicey. Sure there’s punk rock aerobics, but there’s also sweatin’ to the oldies. more ›

Adam Kempenaar and Sam Hallgren, Cinecasters more ›

Hey, you! Yeah, you in the band. We know you’re usually pretty tired from having to be your own roadie and all but Chicagoist wanted to remind you that you’ve got until tomorrow to enter Metromix’s Rock ‘n’ Vote contest. Judges will pick their ten favorites from all entries received then Metromix readers will vote for their top four to play a concert at Metro. What might the future hold for the winners? How about... more ›

Chicagoist was sitting around with some of our comic-geek friends the other day and talking about the new Keanu Reeves movie Constantine that hits the big screen this weekend. We thought we’d share some of the comments overheard during that conversation from people looking forward to this film: ... Anyway, the filmmakers seem to have made every effort to replace all the interesting aspects of the Alan Moore-penned comic with the most common denominator. Sting-resembling... more ›

We're always in favor of more places to see movies, especially if those places are in close proximity to alcohol. So the news that Smartbar is now hosting a FREE Tuesday night movie night (via DVD projection) called "The Reel Deal" was welcome indeed. Bad news: you have to be 21+. Good news: they're showing two (tenuously thematically connected) classic cult films per night (plus an entire showing of the BBC's The Office on March... more ›

We're not huge fans of the "look and laugh at this dip-shit criminal" news stories. They're too easy or something. But we need to post quick before we start pre-partying for tonight's Chicagoist party and just couldn't pass this one up. more ›

Nike's Run Hit Wonder tour make a stop in Chicago this Thursday evening. During this event, runners will participate in either a 5k or 10k race, while rocking out to live performances along the course by washed up music acts like Devo, Tommy Tutone, Flock of Seagulls and Tone Loc. No word on whether the music is supposed to inspire the runners to do better or force them to run away faster. Chicagoist wants to know why A-Ha was left out? What other one-hit wonders should they have included? more ›

Yow. We thought we got off track without our computers, but we bet there were a few full-on freakfests last night at the Trib offices. The Trib website apologizes: TO OUR CUSTOMERS The production of Monday's print edition of the Chicago Tribune was delayed significantly because of an extended computer system failure Sunday night. Many subscribers therefore will not receive their Monday newspaper until as late as Tuesday morning. And the content of Monday's edition... more ›

Who�s psyched for the All-Star Game tonight? We are. Last night�s Home Run Derby was so best, with Oriole shortstop Miguel Tejada setting two (admittedly meaningless) derby records: 27 total homers, and a 15-run second round. Hot damn, Miguel. Sammy Sosa was eliminated after hitting only 5 home runs in the first round. Tepid damn, Sammy. more ›