EP3 is Secret Colours' follow up to their 2010 self-titled album, and it continues to display the bands fondness of sounds rooted in '90s shoe-gaze, '60s British invasion, and early 70’s english metal. more ›

A 42-year-old letter from Pete Townshend about playing with the Kinks in Chicago reveals a treasure trove about a long gone Chicago rock venue. more ›

We've already tripped all over ourselves about how terrific Great Northern is. In fact, here's a sampling of our past praise: more ›

Hey everyone -- you may have noticed that we've made a few small changes to our commenting and feedback systems: 1. Commenters now have profile pages with a bit of information about them, and links to their recent comments, along with comments other people have left in response. If the commenter is also a Chicagoist author, the page will include a list of their recent posts. Here's mine. You can register here -- it's fast... more ›

Here we go again. Another cute and trendy breakfast/lunch/brunch spot in the Logan Square/Bucktown corridor serving some good, but also some majorly mediocre food. Before we get too down on the newly opened Vella Cafe, however, let’s make one thing clear: the one-room eatery under the Blue Line Station at Western just opened a mere couple of weeks ago, so there are some obvious kinks in service and stock to work out. We just hope the kinks in some of the dishes are worked out too. more ›

For the past 14 years, The Sea and Cake has been increasing Chicago's indie rock cred with every album release. For the past four years, however, the band as a whole has been silent, while lead vocalist/guitarist Sam Prekop performed and recorded as a solo artist. This is why tonight's show at the Empty Bottle, which serves as an album release party for The Sea and Cake's latest release Everybody, has been highly anticipated. The... more ›

This week's theme: soul food, y'all. We ate enough of it last week to pine for the days of Ms. Biscuit on South Chicago Avenue (located next door to Mr. Biscuit's Hand Car Wash and Auto Detail). Here we go. City Mouse: Chef Gilbert Langlois (Rushmore, SushiSamba Rio) describes his new North Center-based concept Chalkboard as "new American cuisine," drawing inspiration from French country, classic Southern, and the less spicy elements of Creole for his... more ›

Southgate Market, the ginormous shopping mall being built in the South Loop, will have a few stores open for shoppers in a few short weeks, just in time for the holidays. However, the mall's centerpiece retailer -- you know which one -- won't be one of them. In today's Bright One, a Whole Foods spokesperson said that the 55,000-square-foot store won't be open until May, as they work out the kinks and figure out... more ›

Now that the primaries are over, we can all take a deep breath before we look ahead to the November election. However, there are still plenty of questions that need answering. Will Stroger be on the November ballot? We all know that he is currently recovering from a stroke, but what we don’t know is just how serious his condition is, and if he will recover well enough to stay on the ballot or serve... more ›

This year’s Double Door Halloween show seemed a little bit weirder than previous incarnations. It could’ve been because Chicagoist decided to stay stone cold sober to really see what the show was really like, or it could’ve been the girl in the stall of the men’s room exhorting her date to “Stick your finger all the way to the back of your throat and just get it all out.” Irregardless we had a great time. more ›

Though it may have been Lollapalooza in name, it wasn’t exactly Lollapalooza in spirit as Chicago hosted what may become the next great destination rock festival after organizers work out some of the kinks in the festival's rebirth. If nothing else, Lollapalooza organizer Capital Sports Entertainment deserves credit for making the fest happen at all considering Chicago’s long-standing animosity to rock acts. But a lack of musical diversity and the tightly controlled atmosphere meant the... more ›

You have been dwelling in karaoke obscurity for long enough, my friend. Chicagoist knows how you’ve spent your nights at Louie’s Pub perfecting your craft with nothing more than canned music and your own flop sweat to support you. We’ve noticed how you rocked the crowds last Sunday night during Stanley’s Kitchen’s live band karaoke. Now you’re ready for the big time and the national spotlight. One question though: you can do a British accent right? more ›