Illinois toppled Northwestern 89-83 in overtime last night, snapping a two-game losing streak and handing Northwestern a loss in their first game as a top 25 team after a 40+ year absence from the polls. The Illini trailed by nine at the half but a big run to open the second half put them in a back-and-forth game with the Wildcats and forced overtime. The teams continued the close battle until Illinois sank five of seven free throws in the final minute of play to clinch the game. John Shurna led the Wildcats with 27 points but Mike Tisdale's 31 point, 11 rebound performance - with 20 more points from Mike Davis - paced the Illini to the big win. The two teams square off again January 23. more ›

Belle Diablo, Windy City Roller more ›

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Chicago Calling, a collaborative festival linking Chicago-based artists with international friends and counterparts, continues tonight and Saturday, the exclamation point to Chicago Artists Month 2007. The festival as exchange program is perfect for an age where Skype, Google Talk, and unlimited wireless plans have dissolving the distance between us and our European, African, and Asian friends. If you’re commuting through the Thompson Center tonight, stop by the front plaza to hear Jennifer Karmin’s “Beast Poem,”... more ›

Although we're not usually huge supporters of ye olde credit card companies, American Express is doing well by us in its effort to help restore historical sites in a partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. From 2006 to 2011, the Partners in Preservation program will be dishing out $5 million dollars to specially selected historical sites across the country. This year, preservation efforts are focused on Chicago and four surrounding counties, where 25... more ›

Londonist are starting to think their city is getting just a little bit too expensive, when even Christian Slater can't afford to go out there. And there's no escaping, as local singer Lily Allen discovered when she was barred entry to the US. The British mapping agency caused further bad karma, by blocking a 3-D representation of London in Google Earth. But the smiles returned to Londonist's faces as they interviewed Baroness von Reichardt,... more ›

The power of 300 voices rocked the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during “An Evening of Elegance” at the Chicago Gospel Festival last night, and that was just one act. We heard from Otis Clay, the Bady Brothers, and the Brown Sisters. "The Professor Thomas A. Dorsey Tribute" closed the evening and recognized Chicago’s own Thomas Dorsey, who is considered the Father of Gospel. Dorsey developed gospel music by combining Christian praise with the rhythms of jazz... more ›

Well, we've been hearing about Looptopia for awhile. A big overnight festival held in the Loop, blah blah. We didn't think too much about it. We pretty much dismiss the Loop after 5 p.m. and give it up for lost on the weekends. Looptopia is obviously working hard to change all that. It's going on this Friday through early Saturday morning and since we're going to be down there, we decided to check out the... more ›

Today’s your last chance to visit ARTropolis. It’s “Student Day” at Art Chicago, where students, professors, and professionals discuss the basics of an arts career. A pass admitting two people to five fairs is $15. The Illinois Bureau of Tourism has announced its Seven Wonders of Illinois, the top regional attractions selected by popular vote. Cubs fans hit the polls early and often, naming Wrigley Field Chicago’s top attraction. Wilmette’s gorgeous Baha'i Temple represents... more ›

Because of the weather it's a little hard for it sink in: spring is coming. And with spring (for us, anyway) comes an overwhelming wanderlust, not just the desire to get out of our coats and gloves but also to see somewhere new. While you could be a bachelor in Paris or take a romantic snorkel for two someplace, you could just as easily stay in town and still see 24 countries that span Europe.... more ›

Crispin Hellion Glover's appearance in Chicago this weekend at The Music Box promised to be a unique experience, but even a full knowledge of the man's past history, and a genuine appreciation for his independently released book and recordings, could not prepare us for his film What Is It?. Glover's slideshow/book reading was entertaining for the most part, though he could've cut two or three selections and tightened the whole thing up a lot more.... more ›

Most of us know Crispin Glover from the role which he will be forever associated with: that of Marty McFly’s dad in Back to the Future. (His most famous line of dialog, of course, “Get your damn hands off her!”) But aside from the dozens of quirky performances he’s given over the years (the Christmas-obsessed weirdo in Wild at Heart being our favorite), Mr. Glover is also an accomplished artist, writer, musician and filmmaker. He... more ›

L.A. Times editor Dean Baquet resigned his post yesterday. The Trib reported that the L.A. Times reported that Baquet was "forced to resign at the request" of the new publisher, David Hiller. Hiller replaced former publisher Jeff Johnson, who was replaced because of his continued resistance to the Trib's Co.'s continued calls for job cuts at the paper. Whew, we need to take a deep breath. more ›

What do you get when one of the world’s most celebrated cellists and one of the world’s most entertaining city governments join forces? Answer: a year-long celebration driven by a truly remarkable cultural exchange. Named for a network of routes from Rome to Japan traversed by explorers for over a millennium, Silk Road Chicago is our hometown showcase of art, music, theater, dance, and delectable dishes from half a world away. As anxiety persists over... more ›

The Silk Road Theatre Project is truly blessed. Dedicated to showcasing Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Asian playwrights chronicling the people of the Silk Road and their descendents, the company took residence in the First United Methodist Church (a.k.a. The Chicago Temple) three years ago. Despite religious differences, church and company leadership forged a mutual respect born out of shared goals. Both groups value storytelling as a powerful tool to foster harmony in a diverse society.... more ›

If you ever doubted how seriously everyone out in L.A. takes the Oscars, look no further than the Oscarbeat blog. more ›

A smorgasbord for the mind, the 2005 Chicago Humanities Festival has rolled into town. This year’s theme is Home and Away, concerning “the role that ‘place’ serves in the creation of our sense of rootedness and belonging.” Sounds like Pretentious-English-Major-speak, but an impressive slate of writers, musicians and performers are addressing such hot button issues as globalization, mobility, national identity, and bridging regional differences. Most tickets are $5, a bargain that ensures many sold out... more ›

One of the best weeks for live music in the city wraps up this weekend with two fests: Adventures in Modern Music at Empty Bottle and Estrojam 2005. more ›

Chicagoist has mixed feelings about the proposed Fordham Spire (a.k.a Chicago’s next tallest building). It’d be an innovative structure by a celebrated “star-chitecht” that plays well with its neighbors. But does Chicago need another insanely tall skyscraper? Is this a fitting next chapter in the history of Chicago architecture? Three free, informative exhibits at the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s ArchiCenter provide some perspective. In 1972, five up-and-coming architects wrote “Five Architects”, a manifesto detailing how they’d... more ›

Last weekend, the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago opened its doors to the public. The first such museum “between the coasts” is also the newest Chinatown attraction, occupying the former Quong Yick wholesale headquarters. Saturday afternoon was a celebration of three years’ planning, fundraising, and extensive volunteer work. The Museum and its Foundation are entirely volunteer driven, and Chicagoist was briefly reminded of this Saturday while a group of them reattached the front door. more ›

Yesterday, The Mayor’s Office of Special Events announced the musical lineup for this summer’s Taste of Chicago. It’s the usual mix of artists that fall into two categories: it-would-be-cool-to-see-them-live and all-you-have-to-do-is-ask. more ›

For anyone who still hadn’t seen it, the line that can be drawn as the shortest distance between the two points of gospel and soul music was sketched quite neatly in a sequence from the film Ray. As Jamie Foxx’s Ray Charles is wooing his soon-to-be wife he steps into a version of “I Got A Woman” that’s even more tinged with the rhythm and movements of gospel than the version eventually laid down on... more ›

Remember the ol' TGIF theme song on ABC? (Or when people actually watched ABC?) "It's Friday night and the moon is bright/ Gonna have some fun, so you how it's done... TGIF!" And while the days of pre-"I Love the '90s" Urkel and the chubby/non-coke-using Olsen twins are gone, Chicagoist still takes those silly lyrics to heart, constantly humming them come week's end. Yes, good friends, the weekend is almost here. And here are a few random tips of how to fill the next two lazy days... more ›

After yesterday�s �curiosities� we were beginning to doubt the Tribune�s commitment to Sparkle Motion. Um, the Loop. Anyway, they get back in the groove today with an �Unusual Tour.� While it�s pretty tough to get off the beaten path while on the city�s most beaten path, the Trib gives it a good try. As promised, the recap; drum roll, please. more ›