College football season kicks off this weekend, and that means that across the city, fans will be flocking to countless bars to watch their favorite teams. Chicago is second to none when it comes to its school pride, as nearly every sports bar and neighborhood tap affiliates itself with some college team -- at least in Lincoln Park and Lakeview. If you're trying to find the hideout for a particular school, keep your eyes peeled......

Each year Chicagoist reaches into our deep war chest and pulls out a wrinkly Thomas Jefferson two dollar bill and head to MudBug Off Track Betting on Weed St. for the Kentucky Derby. We admit that we probably have no place in a betting parlor with such a minimal understanding of the sport. The page in the newspaper dedicated to horse racing is Greek to us. What the heck is a quiniela anyway, and what......

The lines began on Monday afternoon, the auditions on Tuesday. The casting director for the reality TV show* "The Biggest Loser," where fat contestants compete for a $250k by losing weight, say they were impressed by the turnout of people in Chicago. Really? What do they expect from the country's fattest city? More than 400 people from across the Midwest lined up for a chance to be on the show, which they say would help......

We’re still suffering from a White Sox hangover so the very thought of staying out all night to see live music has us feeling a little nauseous. But if you’re a Cubs fan or looking for some good live music with your Halloween festivities then there are plenty of options this weekend. We love a good cover song and the notion of bands masquerading as other bands is a natural for Halloween. Beat Kitchen hosts......

Last night on "Rock Star: INXS," Chicago’s Marty Casey clinched a spot in the final three, which means he’ll go on to the finale show and have a shot at becoming INXS’ new lead singer. And honestly, we’re feeling a bit conflicted about the whole thing. We’ll leave it to the "Rock Star" website to give you the full recap and just bullet point it for you here: * Marty: Loved by the audience, disliked......

Did anyone else catch Dennis DeYoung and Billy Corgan singing Christmas carols on WGN this morning? Wow. It was…a little awkward. While both are talented in their own right, they’re not exactly born to duet with each other as DeYoung’s vibrato drowned out the less robust vocal stylings of Corgan. But if two of the biggest egos in Chicago rock are able to peacefully coexist in the same studio then yes, Virginia, there is a......