When Chicagoist was little, we remember catching glimpses of softcore porn on Cinemax when no one was looking. We watched wide-eyed, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. We also remember as girls, learning much from late-night OnTV, keeping the sound turned down and the giggles to a minimum. more ›

As expected, the two book signings Sen. Barack Obama held earlier this week for his new work, The Audacity of Hope, were nothing short of insanity, with people circling around street corners at 57th Street Books in Hyde Park and forming lines six hours in advance at Borders on Michigan Ave. more ›

No matter what you think of him, Barack Obama is an interesting study. So we’re excited to read his new book “The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream”. We’ll do a longer book review once we’ve read it, but we wanted to let you all know that Mr. Obama will be signing copies of his book tomorrow morning at 57th Street Books. We’re including the quip 57th Street posted about his visit, so if you’re all going, read carefully -- there are a few rules to follow. more ›

One of our biggest complaints in pop culture is that movies and books that advertise themselves as disturbing and distressing, really aren’t. Films like “Welcome to the Dollhouse” or “In the Company of Men” always made us yearn for just a little more. Ever since we read “American Psycho” or watched “Happiness”, we knew films and books could sink even lower; and if you’re going to tout yourself as dark, go even darker. more ›

We like highlights, we like getting them, doing them and giving them. There’s a ton of cool stuff going on this week, check out the quick highlights, and let us know which author is going to get your attention. First off, it’s the closing night party for the Literary Gangs. They’ll finish up with a finale including Andy Ross and Jonathan Messinger. You can see the Literary Gangs on Tues., May 16th, 6:30PM, at the... more ›

Aren't you glad you know how to read? Chicagoist sure is glad you do; otherwise, we'd totally miss your sunny dispositions. Tomorrow is your chance to support some fine folks promoting the literacy that so many of us take for granted and see Wendy McClure, one of our favorite Chicago writers. The funny and inimitable Wendy will be at 57th Street Books tomorrow for a reading to benefit Literacy Works, a nonprofit organization that promotes... more ›

Chicagoist will be the first to admit that we often prefer a quiet night with a book or magazine over a rollicking party where we have to, like, interact with real people. We comfort ourselves with the notion that the partiers are missing out on our glorious literary knowledge, but might we be missing out on something ourselves? Well, for those of us book nerds who never get out, and those of you crazy party... more ›

. McClelland, a staff writer for the Chicago Reader, is the Seabiscuit of horseplayers: people who make a living (or not) at betting on horse races, what McClelland calls "the most mathematically unforgiving form of gambling in the world." more ›