Once upon a time there was a festival celebrating the art of storytelling. Now, in its tenth year, the annual SKALD Storytelling Festival returns to the Department of Cultural Affairs to spin yarns that would make Homer blush. Actually, SKALD refers to an ancient Scandinavian poet, bard, or storyteller, so this storytelling fest is set to make Grendel blush, we supposed. more ›

Here are some things in the news while we do spit takes at the ticket prices for the upcoming Van Halen tour. A $300-a-year parking permit created for realtors, home health care providers, and social workers to plug a $2.4 million hole in the city's 2007 budget only generated $15,900 in revenue. Facing increasing criticism in allowing BP to increase the amount of pollution it can discharge into Lake Michigan, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels... more ›

No, "Chicago Treasures" is not a citywide treasure hunt. It’s a lecture series — spawned by the Chicago History Museum and hosted by "Eight Forty-Eight"s Steve Edwards — that brings together two influential Chicagoans for a conversation centered on a single theme. This Thursday’s segment will pair local chef Rick Bayless with Rafael Pulido, aka “El Pistolero,” a Spanish language radio personality, for a discussion about the deepening connections between Mexico and Chicago. Bayless is... more ›

The Chicago Public Radio site has streaming audio, so you can listen at work. We'll be listening in from New York, because, as Rachelle tells us, NYC doesn't have $6 all-you-can-eat fish fries on fridays during Lent, damnit. more ›

Stories on Stage, Chicago's only live dramatic short story reading series, is sponsoring its third short story competition. The competition, entitled "Now Hear This," is open to all writers within the Chicago Public Radio listening area. On November 7, the winner of the competition will get their story read by a single actor, who works with a director on interpretation and presentation of the story. The deadline to submit a story is July 19. Chicagoist thinks if we were a better writer and we won the competition, that it would be awesome to hear one of Chicago's top performers read our story. more ›