Eataly scopes out Chicago locations, Urban Union launches a new brunch menu, and other news. more ›

Crain's Chicago Business is reporting that the building that houses the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, located at 1431 W. Taylor St., has been threatened with foreclosure. Bridgeview Bank, which holds the loan, is also threatening to liquidate the sports memorabilia in the museum to help pay off the mortgage. In a letter obtained by Crain's, the bank informed Taylor & Bishop LLC that the loan had matured on July 5, and that if it wasn't paid by this Friday, it would be forced to foreclose. The NIASHF was founded in 1977 by George Randazzo, and the building it's currently housed in was dedicated in 2000. more ›

It is Street Fest season. And with the Taste giving way to a patchwork of neighborhood festivals and block parties throughout the summer, the Trib’s architecture writer Blair Kamin is waxing poetic on the positives of street closures. Can you blame him? Sure, the shifting weekend barriers are yet another driving irritation, but who doesn’t love the respite from traffic, parking, and noise when the fest is in your hood? Why not make those happy feelings permanent in places throughout the city? more ›

Where Can I Get a Tattoo? more ›

"Only the Asbestos Remains" by marinaro500, who notes "Taylor Street Housing Projects are falling! Last week there were warning signs for asbestos." more ›

The last time Chicagoist tackled eating on the Southwest Side, our map reading skills were called into question. So, knowing that this week's installment of "Cheap Eats" is located in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood, we'll let you debate whether this qualifies as a south side cheap eat, or a west side cheap eat. We're here to tell you about the food, which is worth the trip, with or without a compass. When Chicagoist last... more ›

In an effort to hype its Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park this summer, organizers are tying themselves in to some already existing arts events in the city this summer. According to Pitchfork Media, the Chicago Cultural Center’s Lunchbreak series, in the weeklong run-up to the fest, will be devoted to bands handpicked by the owners and operators of several clubs affiliated with the League of Chicago Music Venues like Schuba’s, the Hideout, Metro, Martyr’s... more ›

Chicagoist is one of those people who actually pours over census data in its spare time. As a result, we've come to view Chicago area population estimates with skepicism, such as those 2004 numbers announced yesterday. The big story is that once again, Cook County lost about 20,000 people, while the Collar Counties gained about 65,000 people. more ›

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon begins in Grant Park near Buckingham Fountain and travels north through River North, Old Town, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville, before heading back downtown. The race continues south through some of Chicago's most historic and diverse neighborhoods, including Greektown, Little Italy's Taylor Street, the Hispanic Pilsen area, Chinatown, Bridgeport, the Gap District and South Commons. Runners return downtown along picturesque Lake Shore Drive, the Museum Campus, Soldier Field and Lake Michigan, with a spectacular finish back in Grant Park.