Chicagoist

It's Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Day

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-21T12:30:00-06:00

Heading downtown for the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival? You won't be alone: the Trib reports 800,000 are expected at the fest which has already kicked off and runs all day, climaxing with a parade this evening from 5:30 p.m. til 6:55 p.m. Of course, there are some reroutes and traffic issues to deal with if you're heading downtown for any reason. If you're taking the CTA, be sure to check in here for their bus reroutes and if you're driving, here's a list of road closures, courtesy of the Tribune.

Walton Street, from State Street to Dearborn Street, starting at 4 p.m. Friday until 6 p.m. today
Upper Illinois Street, east of Michigan Avenue, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today
Oak Street, from State to Dearborn, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today
Oak Street from State to Michigan; North Michigan from Oak to Wacker; and Upper Wacker Drive from Michigan east, all from 4:45 p.m. to about 7 p.m. today

If you prefer to enjoy the parade from the comfort of your own home, ABC 7 is airing it tonight starting at 6 p.m. And if you do head down for the fest, be sure to snap some photos and share them in our Flickr pool.

Around Town

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-21T12:00:00-06:00

]]>

Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-21T11:30:00-06:00

Conceptual Art of Block 37 via

In spite of yesterday's ruling that stripped control of the beleaguered Block 37 project from its developer, the project will see the first store opening today after the city gave the project the green light, according to Crain's. Today will see the opening the opening of both the pedway and the Steve Madden store. A spokeswoman for the developer, Joseph Freed & Associates, LLC, said they expect two additional stores - Zara and Puma - to open early next week and several more will follow suit by Thanksgiving.

Both Crain's and the Tribune have good detailed accounts of the latest goings-on with the project, including analysis of yesterday's ruling.

Morning Box Score: College Hoops

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-21T10:40:00-06:00

DePaul's Will Walker takes a shot against No. Iowa (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

No pro sports last night but there was a trio of area college hoops game.

DePaul moved to 2-0 on the year thanks to a 60-52 win over Northern Iowa. The game was part of the the Paradise Jam basketball tournament being held in St. Thomas. The Virgin Islands: a rough way to spend a weekend. Jeremiah Kelly led all scorers with 18 and Mac Koshwal had a solid 12 points-19 rebounds performance. Next up for the Blue Demons is a match-up with #10 Tennessee in the tourney semis.
NIU cruised past Tennessee State 85-57 to get their first win of the season. Three Huskies scored in double-digits: Sean Kowal (18), Tony Nixon (16), and Mike DiNunno (11).
The Loyola Ramblers moved above .500 with their 76-73 win over Holy Cross thanks to a Aric Van Weelden three-point shot at the buzzer. Loyola's three leading scorers were all off the bench: Walt Gibler (17), Marcus Thomas (16), and Van Weelden (11). The Ramblers were down by 8 with a little over a minute to go, but ran off an 11-0 run to close out the game and snatch the victory.

Today's Weather: Opulent

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-21T09:45:00-06:00

Photo by lauren*o

It'll be a through-and-through gorgeous day to get outside for yard work or the kids or whatever you like to do on your weekend. Highs will be in the mid-50s and sunshine will be plentiful. Tonight, under clear skies, temps drop into the upper 30s.

Extra, Extra

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T17:00:00-06:00

Awesome timelapse video by Joshua Mellin

Police went undercover and arrested three men for using Craigslist to set up a series of robberies.
Block 37 hit a huge snag today as a judge stripped the project from its developer and handed it over to CB Richard Ellis.
A public memorial service will be held for CPS Board of Education President Michael Scott this Sunday at the UIC Forum.
Another convention - the World of Wheels - is ditching McCormick Place but this time, it's relocating within the area to Roesmont.
Someone really has issues with WGN Radio's programming.
Skip the insane crowds and help out local crafters by doing some Christmas shopping at tomorrow's DIY Trunk Show. It runs from 10 a.m. til 5 p.m. at Pulaski Park Auditorium. [via GB]

The CNC's NY Times Page Is Live

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T16:35:00-06:00

We pondered the new Chicago section of the NY Times and even reminded you yesterday and...now it's here. I actually picked up a copy this morning but haven't had time to read it yet. However, lucky for me (and all of you, right?) you can also access the content online here. Besides the CNC's NY Times content, the site also features Chicago-centric headlines from other sources as well as links to other helpful Chicago sites (including us!). Of course, if you're reading this then you probably already know that stuff.

So what of the CNC's content? Today's main story focuses on the profits for Chicago Parking Meters LLC, the private company to whom the city's parking meters were leased; company projections are for almost $80 million in revenue for 2010. At that rate, it won't take them long to make up the price they paid for the 75-year contract. So it's a good start. We'll still need more time to see how well the section pans out, and while nothing in today's edition is ground-breaking, it seems it's off to a decent start and at least we know where to look to keep track.

Asian Carp: 'Nice Try, Suckers'

Prescott Carlson — 2009-11-20T16:05:00-06:00

Photo AP/M. Spencer Green

Is it any surprise that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers couldn't properly maintain a levee to hold up against a hurricane when they can't even seem to keep a fish out of Lake Michigan? New word from the Corps in the fight against the Asian carp is that they've discovered the fish's DNA beyond an electronic barrier that was set up along the Illinois River to keep the fish out of the Great Lakes. The new evidence was found a mere 7 miles from Lake Michigan, and at this point if the carp makes its way through a navigational lock it's home free from there, and its feeding habits will wreak havoc on the Great Lakes native species. Cameron Davis, from the Environmental Protection Agency, said that the DNA evidence is "very accurate" in terms of indicating the fish's presence.

Previously it was announced that Congress was providing $6 million in assistance to bulk up the barricade, and just last week the state announced it would be dumping the poison Rotenone into a canal near Romeoville to kill off the fish, but it looks like these measures have come too late. An order has been issued to "clean out" the Sanitary and Ship Canal in an emergency effort.

Henry Henderson, Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council's Midwest Program did not mince words about the Army Corps of Engineers' shortcomings -- in a statement issued this afternoon, Henderson said:

"Today’s announcement that Asian carp have gotten past the electric fish fence is sobering, but predictable. The responsible federal and state agencies have known about this problem for 13 years, but have utterly failed to act with the urgency that this threat requires. The prospect of 100 pound fish off of Oak Street Beach and leaping out at boaters in the Great Lakes should spur action that should have been undertaken years ago. We have seen how zebra and quagga mussels have literally transformed Lake Michigan, and I fear that the Asian carp could do far worse to the ecosystem... The Army Corps of Engineers needs to stop reacting to events, and get ahead of this problem with real solutions...The only thing aggressive about the virtual fish fence has been its multi-million dollar price tag."

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-11-20T16:00:00-06:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Chicagoist.

John Mayer, find tickets for his Battle Studies tour with the AMEX early on sale.
American Apparel, with 4 stores in Chicago, you can look your best after dark.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

If you're interested in advertising on Chicagoist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Mariotti's Photo Scuffle?

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T15:40:00-06:00

Sports blog extraordinaire Deadspin reported earlier today that Jay Mariotti apparently got himself booted from Underground last night for a bit of a scuffle over a cell phone pic. The alleged incident was spread on Twitter last night and Deadspin got the story from a reader this morning. Mariotti (not surprisingly) hasn't responded to Deadspin and the photo hasn't surfaced yet, so we'll just have to make do with this one of Mariotti pulling a Tankboy on someone's couch after a big party. We wonder if Jay's gonna make a hungover appearance on Around The Horn.

Reappointment For Daley's Nephew

aaroncynic — 2009-11-20T15:20:00-06:00

Peter Thompson, another Daley nephew, has been reappointed to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. According to the Sun Times, Thompson helped the mayor rake in $7 million as his campaign finance chief in less than three months. Thompson will keep his unpaid seat on the ISFA until January 1st, 2012. In 2007, when Thompson was first appointed, he said “Finance and investments are what I do for a living. That's my sweet spot.” The ISFA is the developer, owner and operator of U.S. Cellular Field and renovates stadiums in the state of Illinois. The Sun Times reports some of its upcoming plans include potentially replacing the parking lots where Comiskey Park once stood with an expansion on the Gate 5 entrance.

Friday Afternoon Diversion: Earth With Rings

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T15:00:00-06:00

What would Earth look like if it had rings like Saturn? This amazing video shows what it would look like both from outer space and from down here, looking up. So freaking cool. [via]

Chicago Gets Googled

Jake Guidry — 2009-11-20T14:40:00-06:00

]]>

Earlier this week our good friends at Torontoist had a great idea about "Google Auto-Suggesting" themselves and fleshed it out in a rather funny post. The Auto-Suggest feature--essentially the 21st century's version of a palm reader--has been the object of web comedy for a little while (or 12 blog years) and it's the kind of idea that we wish we would have come up with first. But when you aren't innovative, the next best thing to do is copy the idea entirely, right? So, what did we learn about ourselves from Google's Auto-Suggest? We smell like chocolate, Google "gets" the Cubs, and people hate Oprah, Michael Jordan, and us. Ouch.

Cop Arrested For Embezzling

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T14:20:00-06:00

Sgt. John J. Pallohusky, head of the Chicago Police Sergeant's Association, has been arrested for allegedly embezzling over $600,000 from the association. According to the Trib, Pallohusky is accused of spending that money on a variety of things including gambling trips to Las Vegas and to pay for improvements to his own home.

[Sponsored]

2009-11-20T14:20:00-06:00

CPL's Bookamania Brings The Reading Fun For Kids

Staff — 2009-11-20T14:00:00-06:00

Special to Chicagoist from Elizabeth Mikel

If we had kids, we'd certainly be bringing them to Chicago Public Library's Bookamania event on Saturday. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the Harold Washington Library Center will be opening its doors to youngsters aged three to ten for a slew of free book-related events. Thanks to a grant from the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Target Corporation, there will be enough crafts, music, theater, dance, puppetry and magic for all. Life-sized storybook characters from across the world are being summoned for the event. As they scurry between the 24 activities, kids can get their photos taken with the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Max and a Wild Thing, Madeline and others. Several activities will correspond with the work of featured children's authors, illustrators and photographers who will be present on Saturday. Check out a full schedule of events here.

To stave off our anticipation to meet these famous authors in person, we spoke with one of them. Jim Aylesworth has written more than 30 children's books. His most recent work is The Mitten, a new version of the story in which several animals squeeze into a lost mitten. Barbara McClintock is the illustrator.

Chicago Public Library's Bookamania, Saturday, November 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street

Chicagoist: What inspired you to write a new variation of The Mitten?

Jim Aylesworth: I really love folklore, and I know that children love folklore. For many years, I was a first grade teacher. I spent a lot of time with kids and reading out loud to kids. I've gained a sense of what they like, and I want to write something they like. That's the whole point.

C: So what do kids like?

JA: Out-loud sounds, songs, and rhymes and animals. And pretending. Children love to pretend: Animals talking, or a cookie coming to life like the gingerbread man. "The Mitten" has all those things, including talking animals.

C: You've written a lot of children's books. Do you have some sort of process when you sit down to do a new one?

JA: I wish I knew how to answer that. If I were sure of that, I would do it everyday. The best I can tell you is that I spend a lot of time with kids. Because of my experience, I know what kids like more than the average person. The stories I favor are the ones that read out loud well to a group of children. Not just one or two, that's easier. But if you can read and entertain 20 or 30 kids… and that's the amazing thing about children's books. If kids like it, everyone else likes it too.

C: Do you have read kids drafts of your books to see if they like them or not?

JA: A lot of people ask that. When you're a first grade teacher, kids really love you and want to please you. You can't really trust them. And there are no pictures. I always note that a book of this kind is partly text and partly art, and they both have to be really good to make the book successful. I'm not the illustrator, and I have to give credit to the artist.

C: Who is your favorite children's author?

JA: My favorite children's author is probably one of your favorites, too: Dr. Seuss. Of course he was both the artist and illustrator. His work is out-loud, with sounds and rhymes and happiness. And lots of animals and crazy pretending.

]]>

Rockin' Our Turntable: DJ / rupture & Matt Shadetek

Veronica Murtagh — 2009-11-20T13:40:00-06:00

Call it fate or label it luck, some musical pairings were just meant to happen. Solo, Jace Clayton (DJ / rupture) and Brooklyn producer Matt Shadetek have always excelled in their respective electronic pursuits. For the Barcelona-bred, now Brooklyn-based Clayton that means broad ranging, world-influenced heavy bass and for Shadetek, the lesser known (but no less talented) name of the duo, it means a career built on genre-shifting instrumentals. The duo have combined talents in the past, but never with the depth and stunning results of their newest effort, the full length mix album, Solar Life Raft.

Solar Life Raft was released earlier this month, but it could just as easily have come from 1995 or 2020. Combining disparate styles and sounds with effortless elegance, Clayton and Shadetek create an aural journey across borders and through time. Solar Life Raft stays fresh and innovative by culling an extensive roster of guests including fellow Brooklynites Telepathe and Gang Gang Dance, poets Elizabeth Alexander (who spoke at Obama's inauguration) and Caroline Bergvall, London grime producer Mizz Beats and French avant-garde musician Luc Ferrari. The duo reveal their keen production and curatorial talents by combining the unrelated genres of their collaborators into an ingenious and never jarring statement on what electronic music can be when you look past stylistic and geographic borders.

The 25 short cuts that compose Solar Life Raft dip through atmospheric dubstep, Finnish folk, Arabic dance, blip beep IDM noise, reinterpreted classical compositions, bass-heavy grime and Afro-Caribbean dub, all layered with a veil of subtle, minimal details that make the album an intensely immersive work. The words lent by poets Alexander and Bergvall make for two of the album's more startling selections, brief nonsensical musings that interrupt instrumentals but are, at the same time, a vocal extension of the atmospheric compositions they surround.

DJ / Rupture and Matt Shadetek's Solar Life Raft traverses space, time and continents. Engaging from the first beat to the last, it's an album that is best listened to, not read about. So, what're you waiting for?

Devlin & Darko with DJ / Rupture & Matt Shadetek and DJ Trew tonight, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 10 p.m., rsvp@emptybottle.com by 5 p.m. for FREE entry or $10 at door, 21+.

Goose Island Names New Chef

Chuck Sudo — 2009-11-20T13:20:00-06:00

Photo via Hroza's facebook page

Meet Andrew Hroza. The chef and certified Cicerone (the beer equivalent of a sommelier) has just been promoted to fill the formidable shoes of John Manion at Goose Island's two brewpubs. It was announced last week that Manion will be taking over for Bob Zrenner at Branch 27 effective December 2. Hroza's resume includes working as a caterer for musical acts such as Prince and Van Halen.

Friday Flashback - Old School Oprah

Karl Klockars — 2009-11-20T13:00:00-06:00

]]>

Dry your eyes, kiddies - the world will very likely continue to spin after Opes packs her bag and hustles over to the west coast. But while we're all in a collective state of mourning, let's turn to the internet to find us some shining examples of the Way Things Used To Be. Throughout Oprah's long and storied career, through the tabloid weight rollercoaster coverage and the choruses of "look at her hair!" photos throughout the years, we could always count on Ms. Winfrey to bring us the hard news, the soft news, the loopy medical advice, the celebrity softball interviews, and the occasional discussions of va-jay-jay painin'.

Now we take a look back at the joy and mirth she's delivered to us on a silver Oprah platter over the past couple decades. After the jump, a number of videos featuring Opes through the years, but rather than link to a video that's not a young Oprah, let's keep it local with Oprah and ABC-7's Joel Daly from 1984:

Oprah in Baltimore Hosting "People Are Talking"

Oprah with Mel Gibson in full late-80's Glory

Dolly Parton Visits Oprah:

Oprah Promotes a 1988 Show

Oprah Visits Letterman, 1990:

Abortion Law Put On Hold Til 2010

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T12:40:00-06:00

The controversial abortion law that requires doctors to notify a girl's parents or guardians before (if the girl is under the age of 17) before performing an abortion has hit another snag. A circuit court judge has decided to extend a current restraining order on the law through the end of the year. According to WBEZ, the judge, "says he's waiting for briefs from both sides before determining whether the law should stand." Though it was set to go into effect almost three weeks ago, the law, with an already tumultuous history dating as far back as 1984 (before being updated in '95), the law continues to be centered in a tug-of-war.

Today's Transgender Day of Remembrance Honors the Dead

Joseph Erbentraut — 2009-11-20T12:20:00-06:00

The gruesome murder of 19-year-old gay man Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado in Puerto Rico last week has shone new light on the potentially life-threatening dangers facing those who do not easily slide into our society's conventions of gender. He, and 161 others murdered due to anti-transgender violence and prejudice, are memorialized worldwide today as part of Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Mercado was decapitated, dismembered and burned upon murderer Juan A. Martinez Matos's discovery that the "woman" he was propositioning for sex was actually male. In defense of his actions, Matos is reportedly expected to claim a case of "gay panic," i.e. the claim his violence was the result of "a moment of temporary insanity." Speaking on the case, police investigator Angel Rodriguez said, "These types of people, when they enter this lifestyle and go out into the streets know that this could happen." It is not, as of yet, being investigated as a hate crime.

Other victims memorized this year include names like Tyli'a "NaNa Boo" Mack, 21, who was stabbed to death in broad daylight blocks away from a transgender support center in August. Paulina Ibarra, 24, was stabbed later in the same month in her East Hollywood, Calif. home. Andrea Waddell, 29, was strangled before her flat in Brighton, U.K., was set on fire in October. Jeva Padilla, 23, was tortured with burns and mutilated genitals before being shot 40 times in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The gruesome crimes - many left unsolved - span nearly every continent and speak to the transgender community's undeniable position as the most vulnerable component of the LGBT community.

In commemoration of the lives of those lost, Chicagoans are gathering in candlelight vigils today (Friday), including one at the University of Illinois at Chicago's East Campus Quad, 750 S. Halsted, 12:30-2 p.m. and another at the University of Chicago's Bartlett Quad, 5600 S. University Ave. The Day of Remembrance is also central to the Center on Halsted's Night of Fallen Stars, held Saturday at 5:30 p.m. The gala event will feature the talents of many of the city's best transgender performers.

Mercado's death is also being specifically memorialized with a vigil and march Sunday, Nov. 22, from 4-6 p.m., held in solidarity with similar demonstrations nationwide. The march will assemble at the intersection of Division & California before proceeding to the Humboldt Park Boat House.

Don't know much about transgender issues? These events offer a fantastic opportunity to change that. Educate yourself, get out and speak out against gender persecution.

Around Town

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T12:00:00-06:00

]]>

Ethics Committee Shakes Finger At Burris But Clears Him

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T11:40:00-06:00

"Told ya!" (AP Photo)

While we were watching Oprah, the Senate Ethics Committee charged with investigating alleged shenanigans pulled by Sen. Roland Burris leading up to his appointment to his current Senate seat by then-governor Rod Blagojevich officially cleared Burris. Issuing a Public Letter of Admonition (read the full letter after the jump), the committee cleared Burris of wrongdoing but before shaking its finger at him for actions that reflected "unfavorably" and scolded, "...you should have known that you were providing incorrect, inconsistent, misleading, or incomplete information to the public, the Senate, and those conducting legitimate inquiries into your appointment to the Senate." They then sent him to his room without supper and asked him to think about what he did.

Burris' office issued a statement which included a quote from Burris [via Progress Illinois]:

“I am pleased that after numerous investigations, this matter has finally come to a close. I thank the members of the Senate Ethics Committee for their fair and thorough review of this matter, and now look forward to continuing the important work ahead on behalf of the people of Illinois.”

Burris dodged any charges of perjury from his shady testimony before a state house committee last winter because there simply wasn't enough evidence.

burris_112009

]]>

Review: Paramount Room

Anthony Todd — 2009-11-20T11:20:00-06:00

It’s not often that we give a positive review to a restaurant that started flooding during our meal. Heck, it’s not often that we EXPERIENCE a flood during our meal - though the urge to pair up and make like Noah’s animals gave our date a certain sense of urgency. But Paramount Room is an exception. An upscale pub from the group behind the popular Roscoe Village spots Kitsch’n and Volo Restaurant Wine Bar, Paramount Room is a dark, atmospheric dive that, in another time, would’ve been filled with smoke and gangsters.

We were drawn to Paramount Room by the promise of their “famous” $9 Kobe beef burgers, offered nightly. The burger did not disappoint - tender, juicy and filled with a spicy flavor, we’d return for it in an instant. The real surprise, however, was not the bargain burger, but the accompaniment: tempura-fried green beans. The beans are an optional stand-in for French fries, and we’ve been converted. We stole them off of our companion’s plate and were tempted to order an entire plate, but the rest of the menu’s temptations diverted our attention.

Paramount Room sticks to the Gastropub formula, offering well-made, inexpensive-yet-interesting dishes that stick to the ribs and leave you feeling happy. Many of the dishes have an old-fashioned air to them, including steak tartare and oysters on the half-shell, but others are more modern. The aforementioned green beans, ale-steamed mussels, and very respectable hand-cut French fries round out the starters, all priced at less than $10. Decently priced cocktails and an extensive beer list add to the appeal.

You might be asking, “Wait, what about the flood?” About halfway through the meal, the table next to us realized that their feet were standing in about an inch of water. At first we thought something had been spilled, but then we realized that the restaurant was taking on water! Our first instinct was to shout “women and children first!” and flee the scene, but the restaurant handled it masterfully. The table and patrons were moved, the water was cleaned (a cracked foundation being repaired was the whispered cause among the wait staff) and free drinks were offered all around. This is exactly what we like to see when a restaurant experiences a problem - professionalism, good service and compensation.

We’re not the only people to notice Paramount Room - LTH Forum gave them a “Great Neighborhood Restaurant” Award - but many of our friends had never heard of the place. Stop by next time you’re looking for a tasty, informal dinner with a fun vibe - we’ll be back soon.

Paramount Room is located at 415 North Milwaukee. Street parking is plentiful.

Stevenson High School Paper Spiked By Administrators

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T11:00:00-06:00

There's more trouble brewing over the student newspaper over at Stevenson High. Already having been through one controversy last winter over a gossip edition - an incident which led to the resignation of the paper's adviser - this week's edition of the paper has been spiked by school administrators over more controversial stories that were to run. The trouble began with plans for a front-page story about the National Honor Society and freshmen mentors program which included references to students admitting they drank and smoked, behavior that's a no-no for members of those programs. Administrators threatened the paper's staff that they would seek the names of those students and discipline them accordingly. So rather than give up the sources, the staff decided to run a blank front page with a simple note explaining why the story had been pulled. But it didn't end there. The Trib explains:

On Wednesday, the paper's advisers told staff the administrative review board had problems with the blank front page -- plus the pregnancy and shoplifting stories -- and would spike the issue. Administrators said the teen pregnancy story lacked balance, [the paper's editor Pam] Selman said.
The story by Selman quoted a boy and girl at the school who are expecting a child together, she said. The school has seen an increase in student pregnancies this year, Selman said.

Frank LoMante, executive director of the Virginia-based Student Press Law Center, is advising the paper's staff on their legal options and had no issue with the stories that caused the trouble, telling the Trib, "They are balanced, responsible and mild...They carry positive messages: Don't shoplift, and get counseling if you get pregnant."

The Friday Buffet: Thanksgiving Edition

Chuck Sudo — 2009-11-20T10:40:00-06:00

Image via

We've been remiss with filing the Buffet the past two weeks and, with Thanksgiving right around the corner, we thought we'd instead list this week local restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinners, either to dine in or to go. This one's for those of you who think you have no cooking skills or simply don't want to put forth the effort in the kitchen.

Custom House (500 S. Dearborn, 312-523-0200) is offering a 4-course thanksgiving meal for $65 per person; children ages 2-12 $25. The dinner runs from 3-8 p.m.
Lockwood in the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe, 312-917-3404) is putting together a thanksgiving Buffet from 11 a,m, - 5 p.m.. Cost is $55 for adults; seniors 65 and older $45; children under 12 $25. Champagne is included.
The recently opened Streeterville restaurant Markethouse (611 N. Fairbanks Ct., 312-224-2200) is offering a prix fixe farm-to-table Thanksgiving dinner for $24.
The Spirit of Chicago yacht is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner cruise from 7-10 p.m. (boarding is at 6;30 p.m.). Cost is $69.50 for adults; half-price for children 3-11.
Old Town Brasserie (1209 N. Wells, 312-943-3000) is doing Thanksgiving to-go dinners for $29 per person. There's a 2 person minimum and orders must be placed by Monday for pickup on Wednesday.
Italian-Asian fusion restaurant Italiasia (350 W. Mart Center Dr., 312-529-1157) is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. cost is %15.95 for adults; $9.95 children 12 and under.
Trader Vic's (1030 N. State St., 312-642-6500) is hosting a "Staycation" Thanksgiving from noon-8 p.m. Cost is $39.95; children $19.95.

Daley Blames - Who Else? - The Media For Oprah-geddon

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T10:20:00-06:00

Mayor Daley, making the sad trombone face; Photo by our old friend, WBEZ's Kate Gardiner

Mayor Daley, fresh off his smackdown of the media over a question regarding Michael Scott on Wednesday, has wasted no time in lashing out once more. Remember Oprah's big party downtown to kick off her new season and the hubbub the local media - us included, admittedly - caused over it? Daley is saying it was that backlash that's contributed to Oprah's decision to pack up and move out in a few years. Speaking at a United Negro College Fund fundraiser last night, CBS 2 reports Daley said:

"I think she was the most successful woman that we will ever know in the history of this country...That became a big rhubarb in the Chicago press -- beat up Oprah...So you keep kicking people, people will leave, simple as that....I'm just saying that when someone's doing something like that, most cities would love it. … It's just amazing. I don't know why it became so controversial."

We'd like to take this opportunity to revel in our new-found power. If we have the power to force Oprah to leave town, why, we could possibly harness these powers to get other people to leave town! Maybe even, say, elected officials! Hmmm....

Morning Box Score

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T10:00:00-06:00

]]>

Blackhawks Scorch Flames
The Blackhawks are off to a hot start on their Circus Trip as they exploded for five second period goals on their way to scorching the Calgary Flames 7-1. Troy Brouwer opened the scoring with a power play goal halfway through the first period. Calgary answered with a goal in the opening seconds of the second period and then it was all Blackhawks. Kris Versteeg got a power play goal; Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd followed with even-strength goals; Patrick Kane scored a power play goal late; and Versteeg brought the period full circle by scoring another power play goal in the closing seconds of the period. Whew. Ben Eager scored a late third period goal just for good measure. The 'Hawks were efficient as they were actually out-shot by the Flames 28-26; Cristobal Huet got 27 saves, including 6 of 7 on power plays. Next up for the 'Hawks is a trip to Edmonton Saturday night (9 p.m., CSN).

Lakers Overpower Bulls
The Bulls ran into the buzzsaw that is a full Lakers team as Pau Gasol made his season debut with the Lakers and helped them overpower the Bulls by a 108-93 final. All five Laker starters scored in double-figures while the Bulls struggled a bit to keep up. Luol Deng only scored six and Taj Gibsion scored only four in less than 19 minutes on the floor. If there was a silver lining, it was Derrick Rose scoring 20 points, making good on his promise to improve his play. Joakim Noah also recorded a 12-15 line. The Bulls will try to bounce back in Denver Saturday night (8 p.m., WGN).

College Basketball
Long Beach State played Notre Dame tough in the first half, but the Irish, paced by Luke Harangody's 29 points, cruised to an 82-62 victory to remain undefeated.

Oprah-geddon, Day 2: The Announcement

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T09:55:00-06:00

So now the news has sunk in and...well, now what? There's plenty of speculation, mainly around the idea that Oprah will simply relaunch her show on OWN once she closes down shop here. Kind of what Nikki Finke suggested a few weeks ago. So who knows what we'll find out in a few minutes when her show goes on the air, the last live taping of the calendar year (new taped episodes will still be shot). She'll address her audience and we're guessing it'll be mostly the same as what we've already her. But maybe we're wrong. Maybe we'll get specific details about what she plans on doing when that mystical date of September 9, 2011 flips over on the calendar.

Love her or hate her, Oprah has been a big draw for the City of Chicago, perhaps not as big as the ~~Sears~~ ~~Willis~~ Whatever Tower, but she does loom large, as does the economic impact of the jobs at Harpo, Inc. If she does indeed leave Chicago as has been speculated, will she keep the Chicago studio open? What happens to those jobs? While the future of Oprah herself may not seem immediately relevant to many readers, the impact of her departure from Chicago is.

We know most of you are stuck in an office, so below we'll do our best to keep up with what she says about her leaving and her future. But we're not live-blogging Ray Romano. This we promise.

Update: Here we go. "After much prayer and months of careful thought." She mentions the speculation to come from the media. "I could have never imagined the yellow brick road...that led me to this moment." And Oprah gets emotional.

"For some of you...you have literally grown up with me...I want you all to know that my relationship with you is one I hold very dear...and has brought me the greatest joy I have ever known."

"So why walk away: here is the real reason. I love this show, this show has been my life and I love it enough to know when it's time to say good-bye. 25 years feels right...the perfect time."

She wraps up with, of course, no mention of future projects or OWN. No surprise there. A tearful Oprah bids adieu, bowing to a standing ovation from the audience.

Let the guessing game as to what comes next begin.

[Sponsored]

2009-11-20T09:55:00-06:00

Qu'est-ce que c'est? Umami

L. Stolpman — 2009-11-20T09:40:00-06:00

Mmmm, Umami.

Umami (pronounced 'Oo-MAH-mee') seems to be mentioned everywhere lately. It was featured in an episode of Top Chef this season as well as The Next Iron Chef in which the contestants had to make dishes that contained a lot of umami.

Wondering what it is? Umamiinfo.com defines 'umami' as "a pleasant savory taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides, including inosinate and guanylate, which occur naturally in many foods including meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products. As the taste of umami itself is subtle and blends well with other tastes to expand and round out flavours, most people don't recognize umami when they encounter it, but it plays an important role making food taste delicious." Umami is a mixture of these elements (glutamate, inosinate, and guanylate). Sometimes, the taste is described as 'earthy' or 'meaty'. What's difficult about identifying the taste is that it there isn't a substance in which it is clearly isolated like there may be for the other taste receptors: Salty, Sour, Bitter, and Sweet.

What kinds of food are said to have umami? Some examples include:

Seafood: Tuna, Squid, Oysters, Crab, Prawns.
Meat: Beef, Chicken (especially the bones), Pork.
Vegetables: Chinese Cabbage, Mushrooms, Tuffles, Carrots
soy sauce (Kikkoman even advertises its soy sauce as having umami).

What do you think? Do you recognizes umami?

Cook County Passes New Budget, No New Taxes

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T09:20:00-06:00

After all the huffing and puffing earlier this week over the new tax rollback, the Cook County Board still managed to pass its 2010 budget yesterday and there were no new taxes included. The budget, valued at $3 billion, does include that new half-percent tax rollback - from 1.75 percent to 1.25 percent. Though the battle over the veto and override still hovers on the horizon.

So how does the board plan to make up the loss of revenue from the tax cut, estimated at $32 million? It seems they won't fill a slew of vacant jobs and since they won't see the consequences - good or ill - of the rollback until 2011, they say that gives them more time to figure out what else to cut. But the health care system will see $13 million cut and the board set a mandate that departments cut their budget by five percent or risk facing a three percent hit. In the process of passing the budget, commissioners also killed Board President Todd Stroger's plan for a film office.

With the budget done, the board and Stroger can go back to the important things, like campaigning. According to Clout Street, Stroger and all but one of the commissioners - Forrest Claypool - are running for reelection.

Today's Weather: Inspiring

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-20T08:00:00-06:00

Photo by Phototravel1

It's a bit chilly out there but the fog is burning off and there's some blue sky and sun above. It'll be partly sunny today but, hey, any sun right now is a good thing, at a time of year when we see less and less of it. Highs today will be into the lower 50s. In fact, it looks like it'll be fairly pleasant all weekend after a week of clouds and scattered rain. But don't look to far ahead on some forecasts because some folks just have to go and predict flurries for Thanksgiving.

Oprah-geddon: Winfrey To Quit Show In 2011

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-19T18:12:09-06:00

AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato

News has broken that Oprah Winfrey will shut down her show, based right here in Chicago, in the fall of 2011, at the conclusion of the show's 25th season, Crain's reports. The final show will air September 9, 2011. Mark your calendars.

Update: The Trib's Phil Rosenthal confirms and says Oprah will address the decision on her live show tomorrow, the last live show until after the New Year (though new taped episodes will continue to air).

Update 2: Harpo, Inc President Tim Bennett sent a letter to stations airing Oprah about the decision.

Extra, Extra

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-19T17:30:00-06:00

Photo by D-J-C

Pvt. Francheska Velez, one of the two area soldiers killed in the Ft. Hood shooting rampage, was laid to rest today.
The state's unemployment rate hit a new 26-year high in October at 11 percent.
The RTA today gave the official thumbs up to the deal struck with Gov. Quinn that would avoid another CTA fare hike.
University of Chicago paleontologist Paul Sereno and his partner - Hans Larsson of McGill University in Montreal - gave the world our first glimpse at their amazing find: fossils of an ancient crocodile species.
The Bears aren't speaking to NBC ahead of their Sunday Night game against Philadelphia, which the network is broadcasting.
Oak Park is seeking to re-brand its tourism image with a new tagline and logo but the new logo has raised, er, eyebrows.

Predators Play Grinch, But Not In Canada

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-19T16:40:00-06:00

Image via

In a sign of the batshit crazy times we live in, the U.S. Postal Service is cutting way back on the popular service where volunteers answer letters to Santa Claus out of fears of sexual predators getting their hands on the addresses of children who just want a new bike for Christmas. The AP (via NPR) explains:

Last year, a postal worker in Maryland recognized an Operation Santa volunteer there as a registered sex offender. The postal worker interceded before the individual could answer a child's letter, but the Postal Service viewed the episode as a big enough scare to tighten rules in such programs nationwide.

Bummer. The Operation Santa program was actually temporarily suspended last year in NYC and here in Chicago due to predator fears. Now, the USPS has a complicated process that redacts the names and addresses of the letter-writers and uses codes for the post office to know where to send the letters. If it sounds overly-complicated, it's because it is. So much so that it's up to local post offices whether or not they even bother with such a thing anymore. Such restrictions have led to a chain of events that likely means letters that wind up in North Pole, Alaska - which is where many generically addressed letters to Santa end up - will go unanswered.

But it seems the Canadian Post isn't worried about such matters and you can still send letters to Santa through his Canadian bureau.

Santa Claus
North Pole HOH OHO
Canada

See what they did there? We have no idea if Santa's Canadian office will reply to letters from American children, but it's nice to think they would. If one of you tries it out, let us know.

Still No Resolution In Scott Death Probe

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-19T16:20:00-06:00

With questions still lingering around the circumstances of the death of Michael Scott, the Chicago Police is not rushing to issue its ruling. Still, in light of recent discoveries in the investigation, it seems that they may be inclined to issue a ruling in line with the one the Cook County Medical Examiner's office issued earlier this week and has been forced to defend. Among other discoveries:

Searchers found Scott's money clip, complete with cash, ID, and credit cards, undermining any robbery theories.
Gun residue was detected on Scott's left hand.
The gun, found under Scott's body, was registered to Scott.

Still, CPD commissioner Jody Weis is playing it slow and steady, saying, "We want to see whether there is any indication someone might have been with him ... I don't want to make any judgment at this time until we have all the facts. We want to be thorough. We want to be complete. And we will follow the evidence." Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Scott family told the Sun-Times that the family is considering asking for an independent autopsy to confirm the ME's findings as friends and family continue to have difficulty accepting suicide as cause of death.

Someone else having a difficult time with Scott's death is his close colleague Mayor Daley. First, Daley expressed frustration with ME Nancy Jones, saying:

"Enough with the medical examiner. Let's stop this. You want 15 minutes of fame? They gave it to you...The Chicago Police Department has a responsibility to check everything. I'm sorry. They don't rush to conclusions. They cannot do that. You have to look at everything. If something came up at the last minute, and you did not check it -- that is the responsibility of the Chicago Police Department."

And then yesterday afternoon, Daley lashed out at Fox 32's Tera Williams after she asked him how Scott's death might affect his political career. Daley lashed out at Williams and stormed off the podium, ending his press conference.

Holiday Shopping At Do Division

Veronica Murtagh — 2009-11-19T16:00:00-06:00

If you prefer to shop local during the holiday season, then save the date for Saturday, December 5 and the return of the annual Do Division blowout. Merchants, restaurants and bars located on Division St. between Milwaukee and Leavitt will offer deep discounts, original gift ideas, freebies and plenty of opportunities to gather and relax in like company.

A few of our favorite local holiday shopping spots including Penelope's, Doggy Style and Renegade are all taking part and you're sure to find some of your favorites on the full list of participating outposts. As an added bonus, this year Do Division will feature free horse-drawn carriage rides along the strip and gift certificates good at local merchants for shoppers spending over $40.

Pair Fired Over Fugitive Incident

Marcus Gilmer — 2009-11-19T15:40:00-06:00

Via Sun-Times

Remember the crazy story of Robert Maday, the suspect who managed to over-power a pair of investigators, leaving them pantsless, and going (temporarily) on the lam? The fall-out from that incident continues as those two investigators have now been fired. Cook County State's Attorney's office spokeswoman Tandra Simonton confirmed the firings this morning. In late October, Maday was sentenced to 13 years for several counts of robbery charges (the hearing he was originally en route to when he made his daring September escape). Earlier this week, he pleaded not guilty to charges of aggravated hijacking and attempted robbery stemming from the escape attempt. A status hearing has been scheduled for December 23.

Philanthropy For Pachyderms

Tankboy — 2009-11-19T15:20:00-06:00

Isiolo & Kimana say hi to each other at the Elephant Orphanage

When a friend of ours visited Kenya a few years ago she stopped by an elephant orphanage operated by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and fell in love with the cause. In particular she connected with an adorable little blind baby elephant named Ndolo --who was later profiled on 60 Minutes -- and she was deeply moved by the dedication of the people working with the animals and for the Trust. The Trust operates primarily in Tsavo National Park rescuing and raising both elephant and rhino orphans upholding the ivory ban, de-snaring operations, a mobile veterinary project, animal welfare, and general conservation initiatives.

There's a fundraiser in Chicago tonight for the Trust at EQUILIBRIUM Energy + Education in the South Loop. The event begins at 5 p.m., and there's An educational lecture on The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust at 6:30 p.m. There's no admission fee but they will be taking donations aand running a silent auction to benefit the fund.

Thursday Afternoon Diversion: Going GaGa

Tankboy — 2009-11-19T15:00:00-06:00

It's weird to think I've only really been aware of Lady GaGa since inauguration week when I heard "Just Dance" in a D.C. bar and marveled at how the room exploded. While I'm slightly bummed the Fame Monster EP shows the freaky vocal mannerisms and awesome lyrics of "Bad Romance" to be an interesting musical hiccup instead of the harbinger of a bold new direction -- sonically the EP hews incredibly closely to the more straightforward pop of her debut than the interesting tics and treats I was hoping for -- I still think she's just fucking fascinating in that art damaged NYC underground disco freakpunkrighton kind of way.

Anyway, enjoy.

NYT Preps For Chicago Edition

Lindsey Miller — 2009-11-19T14:40:00-06:00

Media junkies of Chicago, get ready. Tomorrow, the first edition of the New York Times featuring the Chicago-centric section (well, two pages, anyway) produced by the newly-formed Chicago News Cooperative will hit newsstands. The CNC will provide the Chicago content for the local edition, which will appear on Fridays and Sundays. Since the initial announcement, the CNC, already heavy on former Tribune folks, managed to poach a few other Tribune writers, including City Hall reporter Dan Mihalopoulos. In the words of Gawker, "New York Times Hires Gang Who Killed Chicago Tribune to Kill Tribune.” However, Gawker also insists that "The Times has always had a very good foothold in Chicago because there is no local alternative for the sort of people who read the Times--curious, smart, and not invested in Chicago's bottomless Second City status anxiety."

The Times offers its "Weekender" package - which would include both Chicago editions - for $5.70 a week. Is it worth it? See for yourself; just don't forget about us here at Chicagoist. [h/t TOC for the reminder]