Of all the egregious things the city can do to property owners, from jacking property taxes to the current favorite, the misuse of TIFs, none seems more unfair and ripe for abuse as eminent domain. For the uninitiated, eminent domain allows the city government to seize ownership of private property, paying the owner whatever the city deems as "market value". It's supposed to be used for the "greater public good", such as the expansion... more ›

August 8. August 8 is the day some have been waiting for and some have been dreading. The day Whole Foods will open in the South Loop's Southgate Market. We originally disliked the idea. Then we were pissed when it didn't open in the fall. We also worried that Whole Foods might give up on us all together when their profits were falling. But yuppies, hippies, and everyone in between rejoice: South Loop Whole... more ›

Well, the list started leaking last week for the (far superior) North Stage at this year's Wicker Park Summerfest, and now we have the full line-up. Not bad ... not bad at all. We're looking to sipping beer with the hipsters AND the yuppies that weekend. more ›

This week we turn our attention — and our beer-hunting skills — to the neighborhood Nelson Algren lovingly wrote of. Well, not that particular Wicker Park. That one's been gone for years. We don't presume to know what Algren would have thought of modern-day Wicker Park, but we're sure he would have dug around to find its seedy underbelly, somewhere between the designer handbags and strollers. Would he have written of the ambivalent detente between... more ›

We like to think we still have a little of the hippie in us. There’s an occasional Dead song we won’t shut off when we hear it, and we have the cutest little tie-dye we’re too ashamed to wear, but can’t seem to throw away. With all the arguments about hipsters and yuppies; we long for the day of patchouli, smoke ‘em ups, and grilled cheese sandwiches in parking lots. more ›

LAist has so much fun this week! They go to E3, where they overhear the timeless remark "Man, this is where nerdy girls get laid." Is that a promise? They also give us this week's best CDs and make us realize that LA is the best place to use Zillow. Ah, Houstonist. They're biking to work, that is, if they can figure out how to get there. That's right, Mapquest says "Houston had the... more ›

Frankly, Chicagoist has grown sick of the whole yuppie versus hipster versus Gamera versus Donkey Kong debate so we decided to investigate whether or not it was even possible for all of these groups to coexist peacefully. We found our answer in the most unlikely location. Liar’s Club. Chicagoist has hung out at Liar’s Club pretty much since it opened and we can even be found in the DJ booth from time to time. Amongst... more ›

Sure you may call us hipsters or yuppies or whatever, but Chicagoist thinks we’re above social labels. And, no matter what you call us, truth is, we’re sometimes a little late to the party. We know Rainbo Club at 1150 N. Damen is nothing new, but it wasn’t until recently that we stopped by. And while we enjoyed many aspects of this cozy little bar, there’s one thing we really must emphasize: hygiene matters.
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Lava is closing tonight. We really wish we could get upset about this, and start ranting about how the goddamned yuppies are ruining Wicker Park and driving all the “cool kids” out, but we just don’t care all that much, And, it seems, neither does anyone else really. more ›

Are you finally going to heed those voices in your head this year? Your siblings asking you to stop buying them sweaters they won’t wear, your parents begging off the coffee table books, or your significant other wincing at the edible lingerie? Haven’t you promised yourself you’d get them something new and unique? Chicagoist has plenty of gift ideas, and so does the local arts community. A few of this weekend’s arts events are geared towards holiday commerce and helping you find that perfect, one-of-a-kind gift to impress friends and loved ones while expunging those pesky voices. more ›

There's been some lamenting lately both in print and on-line about the steady decline of taverns in city. Years ago when this writer lived in "Liquor Park" there was a nice selection of dives that offered the opportunity to treat the liver like a one-night stand for under ten dollars. The Artful Dodger closed its doors nearly two months ago. Nick's on Milwaukee used to house Club Dreamerz. Estelle's was seemingly raided by the cops every other weekend, and Tuman's Alcohol Abuse Center served $3 Guinness pints to bikers and yuppies alike; both are shadows of their former selves. All these dives had nasty bathrooms, sweet jukeboxes, cheap drinks, enough second-hand smoke floating around to kill a rhino, and laid-back character in common. more ›

Remember that guy you knew (of) in high school that had a pet iguana? He had a certain independent spirit – the kind that says, “Yeah, I can love a reptile, so what?” He also spent most weekends with said reptile wondering why no one ever came over. more ›

Bronzeville seems to be getting all the pre-gentrification/new-business-opening buzz these days, but Chicagoist remembers a time (all the way back in the springtime) when Pilsen was the place to be for the hippest of Chicago hip. more ›

Way to go, us. Norquist praised the organization, or lack thereof, of Wicker Park, which mixes stores, homes, offices, and trendy salons, where yuppies and hipsters exist in peace. Ah, home sweet home. more ›