Chicago is certainly not as green as it could be. The city can always be expected to fudge up certain environmental initiatives — such as recycling — but even so, small companies in Chicago continue to paint more green in their niche markets, regardless of how much progress city hall is or is not making. The Chicago Green Wedding Alliance is one such new company bringing a fresh, green perspective to yet another market. Founded by a group of eco-friendly business owners in Chicago, The Chicago Green Wedding Alliance aims to encourage greener and less wasteful weddings. They group started with a group of environmentally responsible vendors, and continues to add more approved vendors to their list. And, since fall is prime planning time for next season’s weddings, Chicago Green Wedding Alliance is partnering with Fork and the Road for a bike tour for couples interested in hosting an eco-friendly wedding. The Brides on Bikes tour will introduce riders to the city’s top wedding vendors committed to local, seasonal and handmade foods, drinks, pastries and confections. more ›

Man, weddings. They're nuts! Things just never go how you plan. Someone always drinks too much, or brings a date who wasn't invited, or...throws a knife at a kid wrapped in duct tape. Behold today's WTF, from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin: more ›

Officials for the Indiana State Fair win today's WTF award. The pulled this wedding photo (click to embiggen), which was the state contest's highest-scoring picture, because, according to fair officials, people complained about its content. You know, because it's a...married couple sitting? The hell? more ›

Chicago native Jason Kanakis is one of those rare dudes who can honestly call himself a "career musician." He's has toured the world playing with the likes of KT Tunstall, Butch Walker, Rachael Yamagata, Aqualung, and an impressive heap of others. Now based in Los Angeles, Jason has an interesting perspective on how the Chicago music scene shapes up in comparison to the rest of the country, not to mention some pretty weird stories about life on the road. Fresh off a tour with Brett Dennen, Chicagoist caught up with Jason for a quick chat about touring, Chicago's music community, and Singapore's transvestite prostitutes. more ›

Juanita and Michael Jordan have decided to call it quits. After 17 years of marriage the two are separating "amicably" and their lawyers released a statement saying, "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements." more ›

This weekend, we were in one of Chicago’s many fine drinking establishments, arguing with one of our friends about music. In the midst of a second glass of Maker’s, we lamented that the number of “crap” years in Rod Stewart’s career had now outpaced any cred he’d achieved thanks to Every Picture Tells A Story and his work with The Faces. Our friend – citing “the Stevie Wonder question from High Fidelity” – argued that Rod (and other rockers of his advanced age) had earned the right to “take it easy”, and it was perhaps asking too much for him to get his Celtic United-loving ass off his yacht to make some relevant music. more ›

A sense of entitlement abounds this week, as Chicagoland residents defended their rights to pee on the floor at weddings, to expect courtesy from the mailman, to board airplanes without a ticket, to teach neighbors a lesson by planting drugs on their teenage sons, and to smoke crack in the comfort of their own cars: Last Saturday, two men attacked an off-duty police officer who was working security at a wedding after he confronted one... more ›

A few months ago, we questioned some of the "fantasy experiences" that the White Sox offer, particularly the option to get married at the park. We know it might sound like an awesome idea to some guys... but we are pretty damn sure that there are no brides-to-be who would feel the same way. more ›

Note: Part 1 of this series is here. The Chicago Sketchfest brings some of the country’s finest comic troupes to town this weekend and next. Fitting really, since a mid-January Chicago vacation requires a hearty sense of humor. Yesterday, Chicagoist profiled a few up-and-comers but we didn’t want to leave out the veteran performers, the very backbone of the festival itself, and the uniquely wacky groups, the pickled liver of the festival itself. Many of... more ›

This time of year, it seems you’re either on vacation or thinking about it. For those of you lucky enough to be in the first category and lucky enough to Wake Up in the City That Never Sleeps, consider taking in a show at The New York International Fringe Fest. Chicago companies are once again well represented, and you might be the lucky first to see another offbeat hit. Chicago at FringeNYC: The Last Two... more ›

With apologies to Eric Zorn if it weren’t for Phil Rosenthal’s media columns and “The Boondocks” Chicagoist’s Bridgeport correspondent would have no concrete reasoning for actually reading the Tribune. However, when someone (um, Scott Smith) clues us to an article like this from Tuesday’s edition of the World’s Greatest Newspaper (an aside to Neil Steinberg: that’s the Tribune’s slogan) and asks us if we can work a local angle into this we’re happy to oblige,... more ›

Reinsdorf became an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church. Yeah, it's the one where anybody can get an Instant Ordination by filling out a web form. Shockingly, ULC ministers are allowed to officiate weddings! Chicagoist thought the only benefit was the "Clergy" placard for illegal campus parking. more ›

A year ago, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom ignited a national debate by marrying same-sex partners. Thousands of gay and lesbian couples from all over the country were married during the first month. The California Supreme Court later voided the nuptials. more ›

Chicagoist loves to find locally made products that we can spend our money on instead of .. you know.. like eating and stuff. Carry handbags was one we really liked (and bought). Another that we plan on getting some girly tees from after we get paid is Formula Werks. Yet another recent find is Erickson Design's handmade invitations. 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 ›

Rachel Barton Pine is a violinist on a mission spread classical music. And she's doing it by going on rock stations and playing heavy metal songs on her Guarneri violin. more ›

Dear Paige Wiser, more ›