The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has just announced its 2008 / 2009 season. Tickets are already on sale, so here are a few Chicagoist recommendations to keep in mind: more ›

Like his old man, Mayor Richard M. Daley is determined to transform public housing as part of his legacy (here's hoping it turns out better than Sr.'s effort -- several detractors don't have high hopes). His plan is creeping forever forward -- it's currently many years behind -- and the city will eventually replace CHA high rise projects like Robert Taylor Homes and Cabrini-Green with mixed-income housing. 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 ›

It wasn't so terribly long ago that in order to watch any sort of semi-obscure Japanese cinema you'd have to be prepared to invest in a region-free DVD player and sit through discs with dubious subtitles (when they were subtitled at all). Even a filmmaker like Kurosawa wasn't immune. Luckily for cinephiles the situation has really changed, and access to Asian cinema in general is better than ever. more ›

Somebody's been keeping track of our eyelash-blowing habits because the Mountain Goats recorded a song about Super Tuesday, and it's all about satanic symbolism. "Vampires only kiss you if they've sharpened up their fangs." Oh, mama. more ›

Chic-a-go-go Host Mia Park more ›

Tomorrow Liar's Club is hosting the Fourth Annual Toy Drive To benefit the Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Playroom. They are hoping to provide toys and supplies to the KidsRehab program at the hospital. The folks at Liar's Club told us, "KidsRehab works with children who have sustained serious injury and need extensive physical, occupational and psychological rehabilitation." They need a whole bunch of stuff for the kids in the program (look after the jump for... more ›

If green is the new black and localvore is the word of the year, then what does it mean when eating locally is not only not necessarily better for the environment, but could actually be worse? An article in the NYT challenges the notion that "fresh" and "local" add up to "green." The article presents data from UC Davis's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. Tom Tomich, director of the program, told the NYT that... more ›

We haven't had a school night in close to twenty years. But if we did, we'd still be tuning in to Channel 11 at 7:30 this evening to catch "Foods of Chicago: A Delicious History" (the program will also air at 9:50 this evening). If you want to find out where chicken vesuvio, saganaki, the cafeteria, and the brownie were created, then this is the program for you. Host Geoffrey Baer (and you can still... more ›

The Reeling Film Festival is in its last days, but there's still time to catch what's sure to be one of the most fascinating movies in the program. Quearborn & Perversion, a new documentary by Columbia College alum Ron Pajak, tells stories of lesbian/gay Chicago life spanning the years 1924-1974. It's surely a beautiful irony of history: what is today the epicenter of the Viagra Triangle was, in the 50's, the epicenter of gay life;... more ›

Expanding on a program already used by over 2,000 companies in the Chicago area, the IRS is increasing breaks offered to income tax payers on commuting costs. more ›

There isn't total agreement on just how "green" Chicago is (though if anyone knows, it would be Blair Kamin). The city hopes to make some progress in Al Gore-ifying the city with its two new programs. more ›

We admit to having mixed feelings about the beast that has become Wicker Park's Around The Coyote Festival. We don't dig all the suburbanites stumbling down the sidewalk in an effort to discover "culture" in the space of a few days. At the same time we have plenty of artist friends that look forward to the event as a chance to sell some of their work and mingle with the public. So, weighing that, we've... more ›

Here’s the premise: Take 40 kids aged 8 to 15. Throw them into a ghost town in New Mexico sans parents, without iPods, minus Lunchables, and let them go at it. Build your own city! Form a government! Be bold and prosper, you say! What’s that a recipe for? Some (OK, many) say child endangerment and labor violations; CBS says buzz. And if buzz translates into viewers, well, CBS, you’ve got it made with “Kid... more ›

For all of our talk about the great food in the city, Chicagoist has been known to slack a little from time to time. For example, it probably isn't the best use of our money or daily caloric intake to chow down on the Thai lunch special from down the street a couple of times a week. But we do anyway. And we know a lot of parents probably operate similarly; they know a Lunchable... more ›

A love for reading, at least for us, comes with a love of writing. But if you're not still in college or involved in a writing community, how do you find a way to channel and hone your craft? StoryStudio Chicago is here to help. With a writing cafe every month, and classes ranging from beginning writers to portfolio and novel editing, the program, four years old, is like a mini-college unto itself. Jill... more ›

We don’t know about you, but Chicagoist always feels healthier just by walking around a farmers market. And that’s even before we get home and sample any of our beautiful bounty. That’s especially true at the Green City Market, which features products from local, small-scale, certified organic/sustainable vendors twice at week at the south end of Lincoln Park. Perhaps it’s the colorful array of produce, soothing live music, pristine flowers and giggling kids here that feed our inner Pollyanna and make us feel that, yes, things really are going to get better (the occasional sighting of a hunky local chef doesn’t hurt either). Heck, even the dogs are down with the program and get along. more ›

NPR Host Peter Sagal — Again
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It probably comes as no surprise when we say that we Chicagoistas have a touch of the news junkie to us. And even though we haven't been posting up on the "Family Secrets" trial too much this week, we certainly haven't been ignoring the largest Mob trial the city has seen in decades. All the talk about This Thing Of Ours (...omerta...) reminded us of one of the most infamous events in journalism history,... more ›

This sounds pretty cool -- the State of Illinois' third annual small-business challenge cited 13 winners for its $10,000 Innovate Illinois grant program. You can find out more about the program here. Don't stop believin' in anonymity when it comes to the mob -- as the much-anticipated Family Secrets mob conspiracy trial opens, jurors will share their backgrounds, views on issues and reading habits-but not their names. It's Police Superintendent Idol! Three and "possibly... more ›

Something’s buzzing in Millennium Park this summer, and it isn’t the type of bug you’re thinking of. The Old Town School of Folk Music’s Wiggleworms program heads outside this summer for free daily morning concerts; it’s the hippest place to see and be seen for the toddler set. The concerts follow same format as traditional Wiggleworms classes: interactive folksy kids’ songs, a chance to play along with simple instruments passed out to the crowd, and... more ›

Maxwell Street, 1941. Sunday mornings are a good time for shopping. Especially if you're looking for things like random socks, hubcaps, lamps, or eyeball tacos. The Maxwell Street Market isn't what it used to be back in the days of the early 1900's, or even before the UIC Expansion starting in the late 60's. Hell, it isn't even on Maxwell anymore - it's on Canal Street at Roosevelt. Regardless of where progress has pushed... more ›

Northwestern University has decided to discontinue its Jazz Studies undergraduate major for next year after closing the search for a new director. The jazz department had been searching for a new leader since the departure of its director, Don Owens, in 2005. Jazz studies enrollment has been around 12-14 students in the last couple of years with only two freshman entering the program this year and no prospective students passing the auditions for next year's class. The previously enrolled students will be able to complete their degrees and the Music Department will continue to carry a jazz minor and operate the jazz band. more ›

A new Google maps mashup seems to be rolled out every week, with everything from places to find your drink of choice to the best bike routes magically cropping up on the internet atlas of choice. However, thanks to Apartment Therapy: San Francisco, we found what might be our favorite merger yet: Housingmaps.com, a site that plots craigslist apartment listings on the map. After choosing a city, you can select to search for apartments, rooms,... more ›

The Chicago Architecture Foundation architecture river cruise season opens on April 28. Warm up your arm! The US Air Guitar tour will be here on June 15. The Chicago Craft Mafia has a new show called "Spring Loaded" taking place on Saturday, May 5. The show will also be a fundraiser for Rainbow House. The 2nd Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition is taking place at the Morpho Gallery from April 20 - 28, with the... more ›

The “‘Check, Please’ effect” is defined as “a surge in business for the three highlighted restaurants (featured on any given episode) after the show appears with later small surges whenever the program is rerun, which is multiple times on WTTW.” The term “surge” is a generous one. If unprepared, a smaller restaurant is mobbed and taxed beyond its capabilities. Albany Park’s Noon-O-Kabob is often presented as exhibit “A” for the effect’s existence. More recently... more ›

It's been another spring week of wacky weather here in in the Windy City. And just like the sunshine, our elected leaders have been coming out to shine. Let's take a look back at some of the more notable events thus far: Black Business Group Doesn't Like Blago's Tax Plan. The Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE), a group representing African-American businesses has reviewed the governor's proposed budget plan, and they've given it what... more ›

University of Illinois Athletic Director Ron Guenther will not be punished for his actions during the Illini NCAA Tournament loss to Virginia Tech. During the game, Ron Guenther was playing the role of frustrated fan rather than Athletic Director, as he was heard screaming advice at Coach Bruce Weber. It is reported he did not just stop there; he also berated players for poor performance, including calling forward Warren Cater an idiot. The Illini were... more ›

Well, another week has descended upon the city by the lake, and the politicians, like the rest of us, are frolicking in this wonderful spring weather like cowboys at the beach. Let's take all the newsy tidbits that came across our desk this week and rustle them up, like the spring cattle they want to be. Who knows? Maybe one of these stories will fatten up into a vitriol-filled post we can use as a... more ›

You know what Chicago needs? More news programs. We just can’t get enough of morning news, along with news at 4, 4:30, 5, 5:30, 6, 9 and 10 p.m. And that’s just the networks. You cable and satellite-lovers must be in headline heaven! more ›