Chicagoist

Monday Afternoon Diversion: Enroll Now!

Kevin Robinson — 2012-02-20T15:00:00-06:00

Australian advertising is clearly way more awesome than American advertising. [ more › ]

City Targets Cab Companies Who Hire Dangerous Drivers

Chris Bentley — 2012-02-20T14:40:00-06:00

You lookin' at me, punk? Chicago taxi companies have evaded punishment for hiring dangerous drivers, despite longstanding laws that impose fines on cab companies who hire repeat offenders. Emanuel administration officials say a new ordinance will clean things up. Enforcement of that ordinance? Optional. [ more › ]

Chicagoist Mix #12: Olin

Jake Guidry — 2012-02-20T14:00:00-06:00

After a few months of dormancy, we're excited to bring back Chicagoist Mix Series. First on our list is techno producer Olin, a.k.a. Jason Garden. [ more › ]

Do This: Chicago Foodies Food Truck Bash

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T14:00:00-06:00

Chicago Foodies have a food truck event set for Wednesday featuring three food trucks, Two Brothers and one Green Lady. Tickets are still available. [ more › ]

Midday News Links: President Obama Returns To Chicago For March Fundraiser

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T13:40:00-06:00

President Obama will swing through town March 16 for a fundraiser at the Palmer House Hilton. [ more › ]

Cubs Implementing "Dynamic Pricing" For Bleacher Seats

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T13:20:00-06:00

The Cubs are implementing a new sliding scale ticket price plan for the bleachers this season that, if expanded to the entire ballpark, could generate up to $18 million for the club in revenue lost to ticket brokers. [ more › ]

The Angel Esmeralda: Nine Stories To Jostle Your Brain

Maggie Hellwig — 2012-02-20T13:00:00-06:00

The Angel Esmeralda has a DeLillo tune to it. The prose is original, succinct, even playful at times. Yet, his stories have become darker with less room for a breath of relief. The reader is left in awe at his genius, amidst an unease that only comes from DeLillo's vigilant human observations. [ more › ]

Pencil This In: Der 3 Floyds Uberfall

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T12:20:00-06:00

The hottest beer in the area has to be Three Floyds Zombie Dust, which makes the cask the Fountainhead is tapping tonight at 7:06 p.m. the place to be. It's part of "Der 3 Floyds Uberfall" at the North Center gastropub. [ more › ]

Around Town: Life By The Tracks

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T12:00:00-06:00

In today's gallery we imagine what it would be like to live in a shack by the railroad tracks. [ more › ]

Rose's Back Improves, Could Play Today

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T11:30:00-06:00

Rose practiced hard for the first time since the injury surfaced yesterday and, barring any setbacks, could be back on the court today. [ more › ]

I Solemnly Swear Not To Make Sh!tty Beer

Paul Schneider — 2012-02-20T11:00:00-06:00

Chicago's craft beer scene is set to explode in 2012. We sat down with the guys behind Solemn Oath Brewery to hear about how they intend to light the fuse. [ more › ]

Parents and Protesters Occupy Elementary School To Fight Turnaround

aaroncynic — 2012-02-20T10:30:00-06:00

On Friday, a group of parents, students and activists staged an indoor sit in and built an accompanying outdoor camp outside Brian Piccolo Elementary School in Humboldt Park to protest the school's scheduled “turnaround.” [ more › ]

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2012-02-20T10:30:00-06:00

Gasol To Bulls Rumors Intensify

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T10:12:00-06:00

Rumors persist the Bulls are in talks to acquire Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, and that Derrick Rose is lobbying Bulls management behind the scenes for the trade to happen. [ more › ]

Man Spends Two Days In Suburban Chicago Hotel With Girlfriend's Corpse

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T09:15:00-06:00

A Joliet man has been held on $75,000 bond after he spent two days in a motel with the corpse of his dead girlfriend. [ more › ]

Baconfest 2012 Tickets Go On Sale Today At Noon

Anthony Todd — 2012-02-20T08:30:00-06:00

Tickets for the very popular event will sell out immediately - be ready to jump on them. [ more › ]

Today's Weather: Peak

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-20T08:00:00-06:00

Happy Presidents' Day, everyone. if you have the day off today, enjoy what's shaping up to be the best weather of the week. [ more › ]

Extra Extra: Parents Hold School Sit-In To Protest Possible Teacher Firings

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-19T16:00:00-06:00

Parents held a 22-hour school sit-in in advance of a vote that could let go of teachers for poor student performance, a shooting at a nightclub left one dead, and other news. [ more › ]

Bridges Still a Barrier to South Side Lake Access

JoshMogerman — 2012-02-19T15:00:00-06:00

There are a ton of new amenities going in along the Lake for South Siders. Too bad lots of them cannot get across the train track maze and Lake Shore Drive to enjoy the goodies. [ more › ]

Afternoon Box Score: Blackhawks Make It Three Straight

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-19T14:30:00-06:00

Duncan Keith and Dave Bolland scored in the third period to give the Blackhawks a modest three-game winning streak. [ more › ]

The Week in Art: February 19-25

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-19T14:00:00-06:00

The Art Institute and Field Museum open new shows, and other arts news. [ more › ]

Illinois Falls to Nebraska, Weber in Danger of Being 'Zook-ed'

Tim Bearden — 2012-02-19T13:30:00-06:00

With the Illini on a slide, how long can Bruce Weber remain head coach? [ more › ]

Cook County Judge Has Taken Over 200 Sick Days

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-19T13:00:00-06:00

The Sun-Times has a story in today's paper about a Cook County Circuit Court judge who, according to sources, has missed 206 days of work in the last year. [ more › ]

Around Town: Talking To God

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-19T12:00:00-06:00

Today's gallery begins with a combination of old and new. [ more › ]

Sunday Diversion: A Tornado On The Sun

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-19T11:00:00-06:00

Here's video from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory that shows how volatile the star that helps provide us with life itself can be. [ more › ]

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2012-02-19T11:00:00-06:00

Restaurant News: Takashi Yagihashi To Appear on Top Chef and Iron Chef America, The Bedford Hosts Oyster Event, and Other News

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-19T10:30:00-06:00

Takashi Yagihashi to appear on Top Chef and Iron Chef America, learn to shuck oysters at The Bedford, and get a cupcake at Southport Grocery when you donate food. [ more › ]

Morning Box Score: Hawks Extend Win Streak, Northwestern Fighting for At-Large Tournament Bid

Tim Bearden — 2012-02-19T09:30:00-06:00

Blackhawks win their second straight, Northwestern defeats Minnesota, and more scores from yesterday's games. [ more › ]

Today's Weather: Obliging

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-19T08:45:00-06:00

It is an absolute perfect day outside right now. [ more › ]

Extra Extra: Post Office Fire Started in Ventilation System

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-18T17:00:00-06:00

Last night's Old Main Post Office fire started in the ventilation system, Chicago has a new Fire Department commissioner, and other news. [ more › ]

Congress Blowing Illinois' Wind Industry Away

JoshMogerman — 2012-02-18T16:00:00-06:00

Illinois led the nation with 404 new wind turbines installed last year, but the wind industry here is in big trouble as Congress whiffs on re-upping a tax credit that had buoyed the blowing boom. [ more › ]

Pitchers, Catchers Report to Spring Training Today

Tim Bearden — 2012-02-18T15:00:00-06:00

The end of winter is in sight—pitchers and catchers reported to spring training today. [ more › ]

Saturday Afternoon Diversion: One Crummy Night... Stand

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-18T14:00:00-06:00

We receive diversion recommendations in our inbox all the time. Sometimes we use them, sometimes we don't. Here's one we found so charming we couldn't wait to post it. [ more › ]

Opening the Vaults: Mummies Opens at the Field Museum

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-18T13:00:00-06:00

The Field Museum uses CT scans to look inside mummies in Opening the Vaults: Mummies , which opened yesterday. [ more › ]

Around Town: Majestic

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-18T12:00:00-06:00

Today's gallery features a couple of amazing architecture shots. [ more › ]

Zola Jesus Brings Electro-Goth Sound To Lincoln Hall

Samantha Abernethy — 2012-02-18T11:00:00-06:00

Electro-goth singer Zola Jesus brings her dark melodies to Lincoln Hall on Tuesday. [ more › ]

Chicago News Cooperative To Shut Down February 26

Amy Cavanaugh — 2012-02-18T10:00:00-06:00

Chicago News Cooperative will cease operations on February 26. [ more › ]

Security Plan Agreed Upon For South Side Irish Parade

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-18T09:30:00-06:00

Under the terms of the agreement, police will enforce the zero-tolerance alcohol policy along the parade route, and Metra will neither allow carrying nor consuming alcohol on trains that day. [ more › ]

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2012-02-18T09:30:00-06:00

Today's Weather: Stuck In The Middle

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-18T08:30:00-06:00

Last Saturday we had a high of 20 degrees. Yesterday we nearly reached 50. Today we're somewhere in between with partly cloudy skies, light winds and more seasonable temperatures. [ more › ]

Extra Extra: Groupon News Edition

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-17T18:00:00-06:00

Groupon will beta test "Groupon VIP," a premium subscription service that would cost $29.99 a year. [ more › ]

Rep. Joe Walsh Says Birth Control Issue "Not About Women"

Samantha Abernethy — 2012-02-17T17:35:00-06:00

Usually we try to be a little more neutral, but this has to be said: It must be really easy for Walsh to not care about whether women have access to contraception. He is, after all, allegedly a deadbeat dad. [ more › ]

Dick Simpson: Chicago Is Most Corrupt City In Country

Chuck Sudo — 2012-02-17T17:15:00-06:00

UIC political science professor and former alderman Dick Simpson released a report earlier this week that calls Chicago the most corrupt city in the country, Illinois the third-most corrupt state, and summarized the report in his Chicago Journal column. [ more › ]