The other day I was talking through the thin air on my Star Trek communicator while scanning genetically altered food with a laser when I noticed a guy with a bionic leg riding a gravitationally guided two-wheel vehicle!
Mutants, Androids, and Cyborgs: The science of pop culture films
Oct. 7, 2010
With gusto*, city to seek landmark status for old Schlitz taverns
Oct. 7, 2010
(photo by Lee Bey)
Eight former Schiltz's taverns--the ornate, late 19th/early 20th century drinking houses best-known for a relief of the Schlitz globe prominently displayed on their facades--could take a step toward landmark status today, according to city officials.
Top 5 sources for smoked fish in Chicago
Oct. 7, 2010
Album review: Neil Young, "Le Noise"
Oct. 7, 2010
Aside from the vast back catalog, which remains one of the richest in rock history, and his astounding energy as a live performer, which persists even as he approaches his 65th birthday next month, the most inspiring thing about Neil Young is that he differs from so many of the other legends of his generation by his refusing to rest on his laurels, consistently challenging himself and his audience by pushing to innovate five decades on.
'Jay's Chicago' finds new purpose for old stories
Oct. 7, 2010Robservations on the media beat:
- Jay Shefsky, who's been an award-winning producer and storyteller at WTTW-Channel 11 for almost 25 years, is about to get his own weekly showcase on the public television station. Starting Oct. 15, "Jay's Chicago"will air 7:30 p.m. Fridays -- following Joel Weisman's "Week in Review." (That's the slot previously held by "The Friday Night Show," hosted by the late John Callaway and, before that, Bob Sirott.) The new show will consist of features Shefsky originally wrote, produced and reported for Channel 11's "Chicago Tonight." In a blog he started Wednesday to promote the series, Shefsky referred to the reruns as "creative repurposing."
Jay Shefsky
A second look at my Lollapalooza tax math
Oct. 6, 2010
As noted in an update Wednesday afternoon to Monday's blog post about Lollapalooza not paying city taxes, Department of Revenue spokesman Ed Walsh emailed to say that my reading of the Municipal Code was wrong -- and by no means is that a hard thing to do -- and I cited an incorrect figure for the taxes that a concert like Lollapalooza should be paying.
Revision Street: Voices from the Whittier Elementary School Field House -- Lisa Angonese (III)
Oct. 6, 2010Lisa has been sleeping at the Whittier Dual Language Elementary School field house for three weeks now, where the Chicago Public Schools yesterday had People’s Gas turned off the heat and hot water supply to the building. CPS CEO Ron Huberman claims it was because the donated library books are causing a fire hazard: The moms see it as a deliberate attempt to oust them from La Casita. CPS now says that another inspection of the building will be completed—once the protest ends. Protestors, however, remain concerned that the demolition crew pictured in this post—already on contract with CPS to do the job, employees from Robinette Demolition said—won’t provide an unbiased opinion.
The Whittier Dual Language Elementary School is over a century old (photo by Sarah-Ji)
Citylife: The Capleton aftermath
Oct. 6, 2010Update: Rumors abound that the Capleton show canceled at the Kinetic Playground will take place at a private location but so far there are no specific details. In the meantime, Fitzgerald's, a club in Houston, also canceled the show scheduled there -- and for the same reasons. That show was moved to a sports bar. The Capleton show scheduled this Saturday at the Kinetic Playground has, in fact, been canceled.
The Capleton show scheduled this Saturday at the Kinetic Playground has, in fact, been canceled.