Everyone has a spelling bee story. Perhaps, like your dear writer, your third grade self knew you would not be able to spell n-e-i-g-h-b-o-r-h-o-o-d and requested a bathroom break at just the right time. Maybe, like other Chicagoist staffers, you missed toboggan, dyeing or colossal. Or maybe you never made it past the first round. Well it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all in the past. You have been handed a second chance to prove it to the world that you do NOT suck as spelling. The Whistler is hosting its first annual spelling bee on March 2. So you have just enough time to start studying your Dictionary.com app before bed every night. And for the record, the words have been meticulously culled from “dictionaries, current popular fiction, sci-fi conventions, lists of ingredients, how-to manuals, bus stops, closing credits, Facebook posts” and the like. The Whistler has a long list of words that need spelling and are looking for people who can get the job done. more ›

There’s nothing better than listening to an artist / designer talk about their creative process—the inspiration, the tears, the glory. But when you add in some random crazy-ass comedy, ‘80s jams, and deliciously crafted cocktails, the result is a brilliant alternative to an uptight theory lecture—The Show ‘n Tell Show. more ›