It surprised us to learn that only two years after Richard Warren Sears moved to Chicago and joined forces with Alvah C. Roebuck, their catalog featured fine art. Perhaps the oil paintings for sale in that 1895 catalog weren't what the Sears Catalog ended up being known for (we still remember it primarily as a compendium of fantasies about what Santa might, in our wildest dreams, bring us). The point is that it would not have been surprising when, in 1962, Sears asked someone to curate and acquire a 2,700-piece art collection to be merchandised nationwide, with costs as low as $5 down and $5 per month. It does seem surprising, to many of us today, who they chose to head it up: Vincent Price. more ›

One of Chicagoist’s few lingering memories of grade school was dental hygiene films. Those things scared the bejeezus out of us. Rotten teeth loomed large in darkened rooms, while Vincent Price’s voice double warned us of the horrors of plaque. Keep that shit up long enough, we were taught, and you get zero teeth. Oddly enough, that’s what a local dental practice’s patrons ended up with, as well as mountains of debt. more ›

Last week, the first dates for Bob Dylan’s 2005 Tour were announced and they include a five-night run at the Auditorium Theatre. What’s that you say? Big deal? Dylan tours all the time? Well, yes. But it’s not every day that you see a double bill of Dylan with Merle Haggard and the Strangers. Throw in previous tour mate Amos Lee and you’ve got “The Bob Dylan Show” from April 1st through April 6th. more ›

Chicagoist loves this city. But you knew that right? And while we love it 24/7, we’re especially partial to the nighttime hours. Maybe it’s the way the city sounds a bit different…maybe it’s the look of the skyline as you cruise down the Drive…maybe it’s the drink specials that don’t start until after 6 PM…in any case, Chicago at night still gives us the feeling that an Algren story is going to break out at any moment. more ›