Since its publication in 2003, Erik Larson's The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America may just win the prize as the book most often seen in the hands of CTA riders. Its the 1893 Chicago World's Fair setting, visionary Daniel Burnham, and a charming serial killer have proven an irresistible mix to more than just commuters, propelling the book from regional phenomenon to bestseller status. more ›

We wouldn't even post this if a) we didn't know for a fact that Jerry O'Connell is off-script funny via A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T. and b) Tom Cruise wasn't such a douche. more ›

For those interested in learning more about Scientology off the job, the church is expanding its Chicago presence. The Church of Scientology is setting up shop at the former Artcraft Building in the South Loop, at 650 S. Clark. When the flagship center opens next summer there will be activities, social services and, presumably, auditing. The building’s previous tenants, ACORN and the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, moved out because the space and crumbling façade needed attention... more ›

We often fall back on really out-of-date stereotypes, like that the majority of all journalists are men, or that Tom Cruise is a good actor. One of them — that, unless it's spring break, airline passengers are primarily businessmen — is being directly challenged by American Airlines. more ›

No, we aren't referring to the NSA, or to the Cubs' talent scouts. We here at Chicagoist feel that it's never too early to get into the Halloween spirit. And that's why tonight you'll find us at the wonderful Siskel Film Center for the 6:00 screening of the original 1956 classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's the next feature in the Tuesday night Fall Lecture Series; this semester the theme is Science Fiction Movies.... more ›

As more and more details are revealed about Q101’s new morning show, we’re more and more perplexed. more ›

In the biggest celebrity-related Chicago film news story since Crazy Tom Cruise hit town to kiss-and-make-up with Uncle Steven, the organizers of the Chicago International Film Festival announced that their annual lifetime achievement award will go to Dustin Hoffman. This year’s fest will run from October 5th through the 19th and will screen Hoffman’s Stranger Than Fiction, which lensed here back in May and co-stars Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. It was written... more ›

There was no couch-jumping, but Steven Spielberg’s visit to Chicago this weekend was still full of exclamation points. Spielberg was in town to receive the Golden Hugo Lifetime Achievement Award at the Chicago International Film Festival 2006 Summer Gala. Held at the Sheraton Chicago on Saturday, Spielberg was honored by video tributes from notables including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jude Law, George Lucas and Roger Ebert. Even Tom Cruise made an appearance on the video. So, when... more ›

As discussed previously, former Chicago restaurateur and presumably current maker-of-sweet-love-down-by-the-fire Isaac Hayes left the cast of South Park in a blaze of self-righteous glory. more ›

It started with some cartoons. more ›

You can trust Chicagoist when we say that tending bar can be a rewarding but sometimes thankless job. Still, some nights we wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Even though our "barside manner" sometimes resembles more "bizarro world Nick" from It's a Wonderful Life than Tom Cruise in Cocktail we were shocked, shocked, we say, that no one even thought to mention the Bridgeport bureau for mention as one of the city's best bartenders for 2005. Shite, our excellence has been sustained over a period of years. Then we took a deep breath, came back to reality, and said, "Wait a minute. It's Metromix!!" The same people who weighed in on this probably wouldn't recognize a dive bar when they walk into one. more ›

Let’s say you’re releasing your first solo album (although many folks have accused your entire recorded output up until this point as basically being solo work.) Let’s say that this album is ostensibly a chance for you to distance yourself from your previous band. Let’s say that this band had a pretty popular signature sound and, after one attempt to follow that sound up with something similar exploded upon takeoff, you’ve decided to regroup, retool and release something largely unexpected. more ›

Back in April, we wondered if genius or madness would show up on June 24th when Lauryn Hill was to take the Taste of Chicago stage. In today's Sun-Times, Bill Zwecker answered the question with the news that Lauryn Hill has “reportedly” been replaced in the Taste of Chicago lineup by LL Cool J. more ›

Michael Mann’s skill for finding the noir-ish Los Angeles of In A Lonely Place and Chinatown among the fake tits and fake friends of modern-day L.A. remains his calling card. But before hitting the L.A. streets, Mann flexed his muscles on the urban landscape of Chicago with the television show Crime Story and the movie Thief. Hallmarks of Mann’s films can be found in both works: the career criminal pulling one last job; the hunter... more ›

Okay Illinoisians, brace yourselves. Chicagoist is getting just a little sick of Barack Obama, or at least the media's portrayal of him. In fact that's it. We like Barack. We don't like the fellatio the media continues to pass as news. Did you see the cover of today's Red Eye (click quick, it won't be up next week)? For chrissakes, "The fabulous life of Obama"? And that fucking Tom Cruise shot. Can we get some fucking reporting on this guy? more ›