We love to read and write, and not just our own posts here on the World Wide Webs. We’ve been working on our first novel for years. It’s a love story involving time-traveling unicorns and so far we have about 850 pages of it written, but we don’t know when we’ll get it published (fingers crossed!). As such, we have a soft spot in our heart for local writers who have been a tad more successful. Luckily we live in a city that gives us a chance to here these talented scribes read! more ›

Pack an umbrella, bring your galoshes, and dress in layers. It's been that kind of week. Here are some events to brave any extreme in weather. more ›

"Museum of Modern Ice", was officially unveiled in Millenium Park Friday. Canadian artist Gordon Halloran, who started as an abstract painter, created the work out of large pieces of colorful ice, and according to the Sun-Times, "he and a team of six have been working 12 to 14 hours a day since mid-December to ensure the project is complete [in time for its] unveiling." The exhibit stays up through the end of February. more ›

The Museum of Science and Industry is raising its prices. Adult Chicago residents will now pay $12 (up from $10), adult non-Chicagoans $13 (from $11), Chicago children $8.50 ($6.25), non-Chicago children $9 ($7), Chicago seniors $11 ($8.75), and non-Chicago seniors $12 ($9.50). more ›

• Mattell will make a collectible Barbie based on locally-based sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (Barbie Dream Gamekeepers not included).
• For the curious: the man whom the Bishop Ford Freeway is named after.
• Mayor Daley open to the idea of closing half-empty schools.

The Museum of Science and Industry announced today that a fully-functional, three-story "green" home will be built just east of the museum on its Jackson Park grounds in Hyde Park this spring. The foundation is currently being laid, and it will be open to the public from May 8, 2008 through January 4, 2009. The 2,500-square-foot home will exhibit some of the latest environmentally-friendly technologies and offer a primer on incorporating these innovations into our homes. more ›

The debate over the Chicago Children's Museum plan to relocate to Grant Park has escalated since Monday’s neighborhood meeting at Daley Bicentennial Plaza. There, museum officials introduced plans for a more sunken, environmentally friendly design adjacent to the Plaza. The Museum’s growth has been remarkable. Founded in 1982 in two Chicago Public Library hallways, it’s since moved three times, most recently to Navy Pier in 1995. Twelve years later, they’ve apparently outgrown that tourist magnet.... more ›

Spring is just around the corner, but that means that we still have just enough winter weather to push cabin fever into high gear. Fear not, we here at Chicagoist will gladly provide you with some activities that get you out of the house, but also keep you warm — a little something to pass the time until we can put that parka away for the season. Get out of the cold and into... more ›

With the second Body Worlds exhibit expected to attract the same droves of visitors to the Museum of Science and Industry as the first installment did, everybody seems to be noticing something — museums are cool. And because museums are cool, people brought attendance to them in Chicago up 6 percent from 2005 to 2006. more ›

When we start getting a little crazy from family overload we find it is best to get out, go to a show or meet up with some friends. We thought we would make it a little easier for you this weekend, here a few things going on around town. As always, feel free to add more events in the comments section. On Christmas Eve, entrance into the Museum of Science and Industry is free. Their... more ›

Chicagoist loves us some comics. So we were particularly pleased to see one of Chicago’s most famous practitioners of the art form, Chris Ware, receive a $50,000 grant for his work along with local artist Nick Cave (not that one) and 11 other visual artists. more ›

This week, three Chicago museums who have taken flack for their high ticket prices and inaccessibility to regular working folks are expanding their free days. Just when you thought you should get outside more, museum officials are urging you to get back in the shark tank, descend into a submarine, or see some impressionist masterpieces. General admission to the Shedd Aquarium is free through Friday. Visiting the marine mammals and sharks in The Oceanarium and... more ›

The Museum, Libraries and Archives Council asked librarians all around the country, what are the books you have to read before you die? Topping the list is "To Kill a Mockingbird" also on the list is "A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" by Alexander Solzenhitsyn, our One Book, One Chicago book for Spring. We've read sixteen of the thirty books, check out the link and see how many you have to go before... more ›

Your big Valentine’s Evening need not be threatened by a lack of ideas or lack of cash. You can impress that special someone tonight for absolutely free! Yes, that sounds like bad email spam but it’s true. Many of our favorite museums are free on Tuesdays. more ›

.. or at least they go less than they used to? Or something? Wait, what's going on here? 9 out of the 10 largest museums in the city saw a decline in visitors last year, but one had a huge leap. The Museum of Science & Industry saw a 34% increase in attendance. People must have really liked that video game exhibit they had last year! more ›

Attention short story fans! (And by "short story fans" we mean enthusiasts of the short story, not story enthusiasts who are short, nor short story cooling mechanisms--though you are all welcome here as well!) You have until noon today to enter here for your chance to win a delightful bundle of Paris Review goodies, courtesy of Picador and in honor of tonight's Stories on Stage event. Three winners will be chosen and notified this afternoon by email. more ›

If you were to compare the museums of Chicago with people you went to high school with then The Museum of Contemporary Art would be the kid in black clothes who mutters “This is bullshit” under his or her breath during pep rallies. You know, the one who always made it a point to mention oppressive CIA-supported regimes whenever you discussed the American Revolution in your U.S. Government classes. But here’s the thing: you needed... more ›

To drum up one last batch of publicity for Body Worlds, The Museum of Science and Industry will keep the exhibit open for 59 and a half straight hours this, its closing, weekend. The exhibit will open Saturday morning at 9:30 and stay open until 9:00 Monday night before moving on to Philadelphia. And also, starting today, the admission price for the exhibit is reduced from $21 to $16 for adults, $11 to $9 for children and $17 to $15 for seniors and college students. 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 ›