Chicagoist Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:00:00 -0600
Extra Extra ...

• Illinois and Northwestern, Ohio State and Michigan will be in different divisions when the Big Ten expands to twelve teams next season. [Sun-Times]
• The Tribune Co. gets a new bankruptcy mediator. [Crain's]
• In other Tribune developments, the reader's Michael Miner looks at a proposed ad-free revamp of the Sunday Tribune. [Reader]
• 85-year-old George Todd, convicted of molesting a 14-year-old girl last year, becomes the oldest man to enter prison in Illinois. [Chicago Breaking News]
• Claire's is opening a "glee"-themed pop-up shop in Water Tower Place modeled after the show's school set. [Crain's]
• For the comic book geeks among our readers and staff, here's a blog dedicated to classic comic book advertisements. Pet Monkeys! X-Ray specs!! Count Dante's book of Martial Arts!!! [Comic Coverage]

[Sponsored] ...
Afternoon Box Score: Sox Sweep Indians ...

If Kenny Williams claimed Manny Ramirez on waivers as a motivation tool, it could be working. The petulant mercurial slugger went 1-for-3 with a bloop single in his White Sox debut, but Paul Konerko provided the late inning heroics in the White Sox' 6-4 win over Cleveland. With Manny Ramirez on deck, Konerko hit a three-run homer off reliever Justin Germano to put the Sox ahead for good.

Starter Freddy Garcia looked more sweaty than big game ready today, lasting four innings and giving up two runs. Alex Rios and Alexei Ramirez also hit home runs for the Sox, while Tony Pena picked up the win pitching three innings of long relief. The White Sox now travel to Boston to take on their crimson hosed counterparts in a series with wild card implications.

Aurora Chick-fil-A Opens In Two Weeks ...

From the inbox: Aurora's Chick-fil-A franchise, which, all due respect to NBC Feast, is actually the Chicagoland area's second location*, is set to open September 16 at 4435 Fox Valley Center Dr..

To mark the occasion, Chick-fil-A will continue its tradition at these openings of giving away a one-year supply of free Chick-fil-A meals to the first 100 adults in line with proper identification. as you can see from the photo above of folks waiting for a Chick-fil-A to open in Fort Collins, CO (and here's a guess that they have Coors in those tents instead of New Belgium), these become events.

The line for the opening will form 6 a.m. September 15. The meting out of the free meals is more skull crushing frustrating than the Bowl Championship series ranking system. suffice it to say that more than 100 folks will likely be on hand to eat chicken sandwiches. So if you're looking for a chance to score free meals, you might want to pack up your tents and bedrolls now. If there's a gust of wind coming from the north, that's Marcus cutting his vacation short to get in line.

*The other Chicagoland Chick-fil-A location is in Racine, Wi at Regency Mall (5812 Durand Ave.).

Madina Lake Release New Single ...

Since Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone regained consciousness after enduring a savage assault that left him hospitalized and in a coma, news for the local pop-punk band has become progressively better. Despite Leone’s extensive injuries from the assault, which were so bad he had to have a third of his skull removed, the music community response was compassionate and vast.

Special concerts were held in order to help pay for Leone’s hospitalization, which came after he intervened on behalf of a domestic violence victim, whose husband then assaulted Leone. Things have been relatively quiet since then, but Nathan Leone, Matthew’s brother and Madina Lake’s frontman, indicated that the band’s moving forward musically.

According to the Madina Lake Twitter feed, a new single, “They’re Coming For Me,” is available to purchase on iTunes. Nathan Leone said on the band’s Tumblr that right now that his brother’s recovery is progressing positively but is still not without the occasional trip to the emergency room.

Concerning the new material, Leone wrote that a new EP, along with a new full-length album titled Word War 3, is forthcoming. “They’re Coming For Me” is taken from War, and it’s full of sonic bombast, with Madina Lake shifting the anthemic aspects of their music a to slower, more mid-tempo rock. There are hints of U2 and Peter Gabriel in “They’re Coming For Me,” but old fans should be able to eagerly hear the connections to their past work.

Download “They’re Coming For Me” at iTunes. Donations for Matthew Leone can be made at Through The Pain.

Maybe Hollywood Holt’s Mixtape Is 2010’s Summer Jam? ...

By now, readers of this here web-rag are probably sick of death of discussing what the jam of the summer was - or if there was one at all - and whether or not Cee-Lo’s rapturously profane “Fuck You” qualifies as a dark horse candidate.

If Cee-Lo’s single from his upcoming The Lady Killer album fits that description, then the tracks from Chicago rapper Hollywood Holt’s new mixtape are like resurrected musical zombies wreaking havoc on listener’s mindgrapes from beyond the grave. Oddly enough, if the title of Holt’s mixtape, which is absurdly long and gleefully profane, is to believed, then we’re listening to the musical scraps of an upcoming official album. If these are Hollywood Holt’s castaways, then we’re positively terrified for what’s to come: this tape features a stupefying amount of excellent, pulse-pounding bangers.

We would’ve been blasted this all summer long had it not for the fact that the tape was only released this past Saturday. But, considering how our brows are as sweaty as Mel Gibson in a Pilsen taqueria, we say if it feels like summer, then it must still be summer. At the very least, Hollywood Holt’s music certainly invokes the season’s party-like atmosphere. The tracks on These Are The Songs That Didn’t Make The Album But Are Still Cold As Hell So Shut The Fuck Up Vol. 1 (whew!) range from loose and limber skitters reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest to harder-hitting tracks like the house-hop of “Body Clash.”

But for our money, the best and most clever track on Songs is “Brains!!!,” which combines two things everyone loves - satiric raps and zombie movie humor - and sets it to a minimalist 8-bit synth-beat practically made to inspire hand-claps. It’s all kinds of awesome, as are the other 14 tracks. If these were the songs that didn’t make the album, then Chicago better get ready for the huge hip-hop bomb Hollywood Holt will inevitably drop on it.

Download Hollywood Holt’s These Are The Songs That Didn’t Make The Album But Are Still Cold As Hell So Shut The F*** Up Vol. 1 over at Hollywood Holt’s website.

Humpday Afternoon Diversion ...

Dear Cee Lo, why why WHYYYYYY did you not release this three months ago and decisively answer the question of who would supply us with the Summer Jam of 2010 long before we had to suffer through Katy Perry's lame attempt at the title. We've been grooving on this song since the first time it hit our ears and now we can finally embed the official video (though we really like the original text based one) for "Fuck You." Video SFW, audio? Not so much so if you're at the office, pop in those earbuds.

Muslim Cleric Sues Illinois State Police ...

Kifah Mustapha, a Muslim Cleric whose certification with the Illinois State Police was revoked in June, has filed suit with the State Police. The revocation stemmed from allegations that Mustapha had connections to terrorism from the right wing Investigative Project on Terrorism. According to the Courthouse News Service Mustapha “confirmed under oath that he never played any role in Hamas, never supported Hamas financially, never traveled to the Middle East on behalf of the Holy Land Foundation, and never raised funds for any organization in the United States to support Hamas;” which is the bulk of the accusations from IPT. Mustapha is seeking punitive damages for constitutional violations and racial and religious discrimination.

CONTEST: Stay Smooth, Baby, Stay Smooth ...

This Saturday, September 4, Lake Michigan will be covered in the sweet sounds of yacht rock. AOR gems from the '70s and '80s will dance gently upon the waves as a legion of smartly dressed smooth operators drink booze and dance upon a yacht. No, this isn't a flashback kids, it's what's likely to go down this weekend at the Stay Smooth XIV: Nowhere Left To Rum party being held at the Columbia Yacht Club. DJs Bald E. (Life During Wartime, Only Children) and STV SLV (Hood Internet) will be waxing poetic with their vinyl for most of the evening, spurring smooth moves to permeate the dance floor. The heat is likely to turn up as the grooves thicken during a live set from Quadrophonica a.k. a. "the finest smooth cover band this side of Lake Smoothigan."

We attended the last Stay Smooth party at the Columbia Yacht Club and it was an evening we'll never forget, depite drinking enough that all memory should have been wiped away like the remnants of a Doobie Brothers party off a glass coffee table. It was a blast and we can't think of a finer way to give the "official" summer season a final send off.

Tickets for the event are $40 ahead of time or $50 at the door, include an open bar and all the entertainment listed above and are still available. We got our hands on a pair of tickets to the party along with a lovely silk-screened poster commemorating the event, are giving them out to one lucky Chicagoist reader! All entries must be received by 12 p.m. CST on Friday September 3. Must be over 21 years old to win. Enter for your chance to win after the jump.

Adoptable Pets of the Week ...

As we've been mentioning, Chicago's Animal Care and Control is swamped with pets after taking in over 50 cats from a local animal hoarder. Last week we featured some of the overwhelming number of cats that ACC needs to adopt into loving homes to make room at the city's shelter. This week, we're taking a look at some of the cats. And don't forget, if you don't see a pet you love here, there are still lots of dogs and cats at Chicago's Animal Care and Control that still haven't been adopted - you can check them all out here. If you got space in your home and room in your heart, won't you consider adopting one of these wonderful pets from Chicago's Animal Care and Control?

Winnie, Sunny D, Jilley, Jerry and June Bug are all right here in your city, just waiting to come home with you. As always, the adoption fee is $65.00 which includes spay/neuter, vaccines, a microchip and a city license, and all cats are screened for FIV. If you have room in your heart and your home for these pets, Chicago Animal Care & Control, at 2741 S. Western Ave in Chicago, is open for adoptions Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. You can visit in person, are call or email Patty Cerny, adoption volunteer, at (773) 230-2542 or email at graz97 [at] aol [dot] com.

If you want to keep up with all the awesomeness at ACC, become a fan of Cherie Travis, Chicago Commissioner of Animal Care and Control on Facebook.

And remember: plenty of the previous animals we've featured are also still available for adoption.

Merz Apothecary Closes Macy's Store, Moves to Palmer House ...

Merz Apothecary, one of Lincoln Square's longest operating businesses, also had a store in Macy Fields for the past seven years.

Note the verb tense. A press release from Merz owner Anthony Qaiyum sent to the Chicagoist tips email reads that Merz is pulling up stakes at Macy's and moving to the Palmer House Hilton in November. "Given that our apothecary was established in Chicago in 1875, and that the Palmer House was opened in 1871, and reopened after the Great Chicago Fire in 1875, we could not pass up this opportunity to have two historical Chicago businesses at the same great location," Qaiyum wrote. "We're extremely excited!"

The new Merz storefront will be located east of the Palmer House's entrance at 17 E. Monroe.

Around Town ...



South Bend Council Pulls Controversial Meeting Video ...

A councilman in South Bend, Ind. - located a two-hour drive east of Chicago - is coming under fire for comments made about an LGBT community group in a video posted on that council's website.

The video, captured via the council's automated recording system before a July 12 committee meeting on an ordinance proposed to ban job discrimination against LGBT people, shows David Varner (pictured at right) describing his experience meeting with the Michiana GLBT Resource Center about his opposition to the bill to other council members. Varner describes the resource center as "those people" and made quotation marks in the air when describing the gay "friend" he brought with him to the meeting - because he didn't want to go there alone. The video, as well as all other videos of council meetings, have since been removed, pending a meeting with the recording program's vendor.

Varner told the South Bend Tribune, who have posted the video on their website -- you can also see it after the jump below -- he did not realize he was being recorded.

"That conversation wasn't meant to be, I suppose, politically correct," he said. "I didn't see that in any way, shape or form as offensive ... I guess if people decide they're going to be offended at anything, then they're going to be offended."

The bill was tabled indefinitely as its supporters were unable to drum up the votes it needed for passage. Indiana is one of 29 states where it remains legal to fire a gay or lesbian person due to their sexual orientation. It is also legal in 38 states to fire someone due to their gender identity. A federal bill granting LGBT job protections - the Employment Non-Discrimination Act - has failed to gain much traction in recent years, but has been supported by President Obama.

In Illinois, our Human Rights Act, amended in 2006, prohibits discrimination against LGBT people in employment and public accommodation. That said, it's worth mentioning Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady, who's consistently polling well, has previously opposed LGBT job protections and also sponsored a bill to limit the act, allowing for certain faith-based non-profit organizations to discriminate against LGBT employees.

Behind the Scenes at Jelly Belly Candy Company - Part 1 ...

It's every kid's dream to get loose in a candy factory. We've toured lots of candy makers, pastry kitchens and storefronts, but we'd never been inside an actual, full-scale candy factory before! Even better, it was a Chicago factory for a product we really love, Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. We've been enamored of these many-flavored lovelies since our childhood, when we used to buy them at movie theaters to get the best bang for our buck. We were thrilled when Bill Kelley, Vice President (and 4th generation candy maker) agreed to show us around the plant. The plant is not open to the public (unlike Jelly Belly's other plants), so it was a special experience.

Goelitz Candies (now under the Jelly Belly Candy Co. label) has been making candy at their North Chicago plant since 1913. Still housed partly in the original building, Goelitz originally made its name with candy corn, their biggest seller in the pre-bean years. They still make lots of different candies (including candy corn) under the "Confections by Jelly Belly" label, but their most important product is the beans.

The process starts on the very top level of the factory. On the roof, a huge 60,000 lb. sugar tank and a 200,000 lb corn syrup tank feed into the top level. Mixed with corn starch, these three ingredients are cooked to form the gel center of a jelly bean. On the day we visited, these same ingredients (combined with marshmallow and fondant) were being cooked into candy corn. All the cooking is managed by computers, but the ingredients are measured and mixed in by hand.

After the goo (called a slurry) is cooked, it is fed to the next level down, where an enormous machine sits chugging away. This is the starch molding machine, and we will sound like huge geeks when we admit that this machine has entered our list of the top 10 coolest things ever. Did you ever wonder how Jelly Beans were formed? We assumed they were poured into molds. Well, kinda. Fixed molds would be inflexible and very expensive - and can you imagine how many would be needed? Instead, they are molded in cornstarch.

Metal dies are pressed into wooden trays filled with cornstarch, forming shapes. As you can see in the pictures, these can take many shapes, including gummy bears and giant rats. The candy is poured very precisely into the starch molds, and it doesn't mix with the starch. Then, the trays are left to cure for a day. A machine dumps out the bean centers and shakes off the starch. At this point, they look like Jelly Beans - the ones we saw were licorice, and tasted great. But, they aren't even close to done. The last step on this floor is the most fun - the beans are sprayed and tumbled with sugar.

Cornstarch is everywhere in this part of the plant - wheelbarrows of it. The factory has to use a special filtering system to keep the air safe. To give an idea of scale - each of the board molds holds 1260 jelly beans, and in a typical shift at the factory, they will process 25,000 pounds of jelly beans. That's 10,000,000 beans per shift.

Tomorrow, we'll see the rest of the process, including candy coating and packaging.

[Sponsored] ...
of Montreal And Janelle Monáe Coming To Chicago ...

Georgia-based indie pop act of Montreal spits out so much material, it’s hard to keep track. Aside from collaborating with numerous bands, these guys have already released nine albums and are moving onto their tenth. Their upcoming full-length, False Priest, will be released to the public September 14 through Polyvinyl Records.

Frontman Kevin Barnes tells Pitchfork that the 13-track album will feature “a lot of very dancey, very funky songs,” which is exactly what we expect from of Montreal.* But the album’s single “Coquet Coquette” doesn’t quite represent this - it’s tamer and more organic than what we’ve seen on previous albums, featuring more live instrumentation as opposed to the electronics they’ve previously relied on. Check it out for yourself - "Coquet Coquette" is free for download through Polyvinyl. And on a side not: though False Priest doesn’t hit the public for another two weeks, the group is already ready to release a new EP, The Controller Sphere, which is as of now written, recorded, and ready to be released next spring.

In support of False Priest, the act is embarking on an extensive US tour this fall, bringing along R&B singer/songwriter/performance artist Janelle Monáe, who they’ve toured and collaborated with in the past and will guest-perform on the upcoming album. Chicago wasn’t originally included in the tour line-up when it was announced back in July, but luckily a September 25 show at the Riviera has since been added. of Montreal is known for their elaborate shows, incorporating performance art, video performances, and gorgeous light shows, so expect a night full of constant visual and audio stimulation. And Monáe wowed a sold-out Schuba's back in May with a spectacular performance, so grab your tickets soon before this show inevitably sells out too.

of Montreal Plays with Janelle Monáe Saturday, Sept 25 at the Riviera, 4746 N Racine, 7 p.m., $22, All Ages

*[Ed. note: I've heard False Priest and Barnes ain't lying. Look for our full review to appear soon.]

10With: Gyros! ...

Did you get your free gyros yesterday? Did you know there were free gyros yesterday? A year ago there was a frenzy of free food giveaways with a proportionate response from the public. This year, Kronos Gyros partnered with charity to fill your face with that beloved spiced lamb/beef mixture served from a cone, and the world didn't seem to take much notice.

Today the Chicagoist Podcast Series heads toward the corporate PR machine to try and break through the walls of media relations. Valerie Lester with Kronos talked with us about the response to free food, aligning with the Fisher House charity, and just who the hell is that Gyros poster model, anyways?

Related: How do they make spindle meat?

To listen, just press play: Valerie Lester, Kronos Gyros

Want these podcasts in your mp3 player of choice? Subscribe via iTunes here or get updates via RSS here. Thanks for listening!

George Clooney Boosts Uneven American ...

George Clooney has often been compared to Cary Grant. That comparison is apt, so far as it goes; any of the Ocean's series attest to that. But, if memory serves, Cary Grant never shot an innocent woman in the back of the head in any of his movies, as Clooney does in The American. That he can do something like that onscreen and yet still maintain our sympathy is proof positive of his charisma. If only the movie surrounding him was so successful.

Jack, played by Clooney, is a weary yet ruthless hitman. He's the kind of rugged, existential figure who's been haunting movies at least since Alain Delon in Le Samouraï. Add a dash of Richard Burton's bone-tiredness in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and you've got Jack. After an attempt on his life in Sweden, he flees to a small town in the Italian countryside. A shadowy patron (Johan Leysen) keeps in touch with him by telephone, dangling a job offer while sternly cautioning him "not to make any friends." But of course, although Jack is a killer, he's only human. Almost despite himself he strikes up an acquaintance with an elderly priest (Paolo Bonacelli, wonderfully droll) as well as a love affair with Clara (Violante Placido), a prostitute.

The movie, stylishly directed by Anton Corbijn (Control), making the most of atmospheric locations, is really two movies--meshing uneasily with one another and, alas, almost canceling each other out. The first, and more interesting, is a restrained character study. Jack is a man forced to exist without any meaningful human warmth or tenderness. His scenes with Clara, where we witness a deep hunger for love locked in a struggle with his steely self-preservation, are scary and gripping. Clooney turns in another stellar performance that cannily balances crinkly charm with cold-bloodedness. It's genuinely disturbing.

But then there's the second movie: a well-staged but rather ordinary suspense tale. The script's red herrings, crudely injected at strategic moments, constantly threaten to obliterate the engaging freshness of the character's interactions. There are plenty of other movies with men shooting at each other on ill-lit streets paved with cobblestones, and when The American falls back into those careworn grooves it's a letdown.

Humpday Morning Diversion ...

We imagine this is how Marcus is spending his vacation with the Chicagoist intern.

[H/T to Gage!]

Morning Box Score: Sox Hold On To Beat Indians, Bucs Pound Cubs ...

White Sox 4, Indians 3: With newly acquired Manny Ramirez waiting on deck for a possible storybook debut for the White Sox, A.J. Pierzynski edited the script. The veteran catcher belted a three-run home run in the ninth inning to provide the difference against Cleveland. But the story of the game was Edwin Jackson. The trading deadline pickup from Arizona continues to give the White Sox more than they bargained for. Jackson pitched 8-2/3 innings of stellar baseball, striking out 11 while showing none of the control issues that plagued him with the Diamondbacks and improving his record with the White Sox to 3-0. Bobby Jenks notched his 25th save.. Manny Ramirez is set to make his Sox debut today.

Pirates 14, Cubs 7: No joy in Wrigleyville last night as Ryan Dempster dug himself a hole early. Dempster gave up two-run homers to Garrett Jones and Neil Walker while lasting only three innings, his shortest outing of the year. Piling on to the Cubs' woes, Pittsburgh now leads the season series against the Cubs 10-4.

"Dry Bomb Run" Arrestees To Not Be Charged ...

Ahmed Mohammed Nasser al Soofi and Hezam al Musri, the two men arrested Monday in Amsterdam for having "suspicious items" in their luggage on a flight from O'Hare, will not be charged with plotting a future terror attack, sources close to the FBI investigation told the Associated Press yesterday. The FBI investigation into the two men found that they do not know each other, the suspicious items found in al Soofi's luggage were not being used for a "dry bomb run," and that al Soofi's and al Musri's change of flight plans to catch direct flights from Chicago to Amsterdam was coincidental.

For international flights, passengers must travel with their luggage at all times. When al Soofi and al Musri made their changes in travel plans while the luggage went to their original destinations, it raised suspicion to TSA security officials. A TSA spokesperson said that it is not uncommon for items such as watches and cell phones to be taped to larger items in luggage bound for countries such as Yemen, but that screeners have been trained to identify such items as a heightened security risk.

The arrests come at a time of heightened security as the country is approaching the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Obama: Combat Operations Over in Iraq, Now to Afghanistan and the Economy ...

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

In his second address to the nation from the Oval Office, President Barack Obama announced the end of combat operations in Iraq last night, while pivoting to Afghanistan and a lagging economy that has plagued the United States since before he took office.

In his remarks, Obama talked about Iraqis taking the lead in the future direction of their nation, and turning to wrapping up combat operations in Afghanistan. Noting the length and scope of the war in the Middle East, Obama mentioned his predecessor by name. “This afternoon, I spoke to former President George W. Bush. It’s well known that he and I disagreed about the war from its outset," Obama said, noting the differences between the two while acknowledging that, for better or for worse, it's become his war to deal with.

Perhaps speaking to those in his own party that are frustrated with the United States' ongoing involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama explicitly said that it was time to move on. "As we do, I am mindful that the Iraq War has been a contentious issue at home. Here, too, it is time to turn the page. ... The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead. And no challenge is more essential to our security than our fight against al Qaeda."

Obama's speech, while subdued, didn't just address America's shift from combat in Iraq to operations in Afghanistan. The president also spoke to the anemic economic recovery that has dogged his presidency thus far and his party's prospects at the ballot this fall. "Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have not done what is necessary to shore up the foundation of our own prosperity. We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk."

With midterm elections just over two months away, however, Obama's primetime speech wasn't given in a vacuum. In fact, Republican House leader John Boehner, R-OH, gave a "prebuttal" to the president's remarks last week, releasing an op-ed column to the press, and following up with a web video and a speech to a veterans group. Like an earlier speech he gave on the economy, Boehner was heavy on criticism of the president, but light on specific policy proposals. In his remarks, Boehner faulted Obama for opposing the surge in Iraq and not giving Persident Bush enough credit for success in Iraq. "Today we mark not the defeat those voices anticipated -- but progress. And I want to thank President Obama for setting aside his past political rhetoric and recognizing the importance of the surge and the diplomatic agreement signed by President [George W.] Bush and Prime Minister [Nuri al-] Maliki," Boehner said. And alluding to the early days of the 21st Century, Boehner slammed Obama on his terror policies. "We see signs of a return to this pre-9/11 mentality in proposals to house terrorists on American soil just to fulfill a political promise," Boehner said. "We are a nation at war. A patchwork of political promises does not represent a coherent strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat."

The total number of U.S. troops in Iraq has now fallen below 50,000 -- the lowest level since the U.S-led invasion in 2003, and those remaining will train, assist and advise the Iraqis.

Aldermen Criticize Weis, Daley Defends Sit-Down With Gang Leaders ...

Police Superintendent Jody Weis's recent tete a tete with local gang leaders has angered some aldermen, who say that Chicago's top cop shouldn't be "negotiating with urban terrorists." 2nd Ward Ald. Bob Fioretti, who is rumored to be considering a run against Daley for mayor, lashed out at Weis Monday for his mid-August meeting. "I can't believe we're sitting down and negotiating with urban terrorists who are killing our kids with guns and drugs on the streets," Fioretti told the Sun-Times. "These are not people the superintendent ought to be negotiating with. They've now been elevated to equals. They're not equals. They belong in jail. It's an admission that the Police Department can't control the streets." Fioretti also questioned Weis's threat of going at gang leaders with federal racketeering charges if they don't back down, wondering why the police superintendent hadn't already applied that tactic. "We ought to be working hard with the feds and U.S. Attorney's office to start applying these RICO statutes now instead of giving them a warning that says, 'If you kill somebody.' That didn't help this weekend." 49th Ward Ald. Joe Moore, a longtime Daley critic, wondered if a crisis of leadership in the department was to blame. "What would accomplish more is to have a Police Department with good morale that believed in their leadership and believed in their mayor. We haven't had a Police Department with that kind of leadership in 22 years," Moore said.

Weis isn't without his defenders. Mayor Daley spoke up in his defense of the meeting two weeks ago at the Garfield Park Conservatory. “We’ll negotiate with anyone to have peace — even during the war. You sit down with anyone. If you save one life — if I can save your son’s life, you’d want me to sit down with them. But, it’s not your son. It’s not your daughter,” he told the Sun-Times, noting that similar tactics have been tried in Boston and Los Angeles.

May Day then turned to one of his favorite topics: gun violence. “They had people there who lost their sons and daughters and telling them what happened to them. What happened to them at the funeral, the wake, what happened to them afterwards. Their son or daughter was gonna graduate — trying to get a personal side to this,” the mayor said. “If you can save one life, you’ll sit down with anyone. If it saves your child’s life, you would want me to sit down.”

9th Ward Ald. and Police Committee Chairman Anthony Beale also defended Weis, saying "I believe the superintendent's intention was to calm our city. You have to think outside the box and talk to the people who can get the message out." Beale isn't the only alderman that defended Weis. Black and Latino aldermen spoke up for the top cop's meeting with gang leaders as well. “Once you talk to people, a possibility of something getting resolved exists. I think he’s made the right step by talking to people,” said 28th Ward Ald. Ed Smith. 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett said that he's heard from residents in his ward as well. “I’ve gotten calls from people related to the gangs [who] want to have meetings in certain communities to try to have truces. The gang leaders don’t want to deal with this kind of pressure, so they’re gonna try to get the kids to stop fighting,” Burnett told the Sun-Times. “To me, that’s a good thing. That means less people getting shot or killed in my ward. ... I don’t think it was negotiating. It was telling them, ‘We’re gonna do anything necessary to stop this killing. And we’re just giving you a heads-up. We’re gonna start treating you all like the mob and do RICO. I think that’s fine.” 22nd Ward Ald. Ricardo Munoz said that "it's not a meeting of equals. It's the broken windows theory taken to the next step. If one of these guys‚ nephews or grandkids doesn't go out shooting this weekend because grandpa got called into a meeting, then it's worked its purpose."

"I said, 'The word you need to remember is RICO ... Go talk to the mafia. They know that word very well," Weis told the press over the weekend, suggesting that the feds would go after gang assets if need be. "We are focusing on group responsibility. If one of these guys should kill another gang member, we are going to come down on them with all the firepower we have." Second City Cop, however, remains skeptical.

Today's Weather: Sluggish ...

What's really sucked about the weather this week has been waking up in the middle of the night and it's still 80 degrees outside, with no rain cloud around. That and it can't make up its mind. Are we still in summer? Or is it autumn?

That's about to change today as today brings some humidity and a chance of thunderstorms with a high of 83 degrees. it's going to stay this way over the next 48 hours before we get to cooler temps over the Labor Day weekend.

Extra Extra ...

• The CBOE will debut an all-electronic exchange in October. [Crain's]
• Porkless bacon? How does it taste? [TOC]
• The late Cara Dunne-Yates, a blind skier, received a posthumous statue in her honor. [Sun-Times]
• A Schaumburg man who's been living in his front lawn won the right to a jury trial over whether the village can order him to clean up his lawn. John Wuerffel will defend himself starting Thursday (Oy!).[Triblocal]
• Drew Peterson will stay in jail a while longer after an appeals court refused to let him out of jail. Gives him more time to write letters.[Chicago Breaking News]
• A suburban school district is using GPS to track students who ride buses. [ABC7]

Dubbel Dutch Gets Grimey This Thursday at Evil Olive ...

If you've got the pre-North Coast shakes, there's a number of options this week that can hold you over until the 3-day fest kicks off this Friday. One option we're particularly excited for is this Thursday at Evil Olive, where Austin-based grime master Dubbel Dutch will spin some of the most fresh tunes for your yearning eardrums.

Dubbel Dutch is a fine extension of a sound the UK has been cultivating for the past few years. Big on the grime/house hybrid, the UK's musical exports remain some of the most forward-thinking examples of dance music. Where L-Vis 1990 and his Night Slugs crew have got the ball rolling, folks like Dubbel Dutch reinforce the transition into US dance culture. His set Thursday will surely be both cerebral and groovy, so get your footwork prepped before a nice holiday weekend.

Dubbel Dutch is Thursday, Evil Olive, 10pm

Chicago Magazine Releases Restaurant Hot List ...

Chicago magazine listed its top 10 hot local restaurants list today and, if anything was gleaned from the list. it's that Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby eat out waaayyyy too much. [Chicago]

[Sponsored] ...
Tuesday Afternoon Diversion ...

Bat-Pug!

[H/T Lisa White!]

Maria's Community Liquors Forces Bridgeport Into Modernity ...

In 1997 I was living in the Ukrainian Village exactly two blocks away from Tuman's, back when it was known - rightly so - as the "alcohol abuse center." $2 Guinness and $3 martinis meant that you could walk in with $10 and leave three sheets to the wind, with change in your pocket for tacos. That year, Tuman's made Chicago magazine's Best Bars issue. My then-roommate and I had moved out of the neighborhood by then, but we went back to visit a year or so after the issue hit the stands. By then, Tuman's was on the road to becoming what it is today - a shadow of its former self. Gold Coast types mingled with bike messengers, neighborhood regulars still clinging to cheap rents, and future drug casualties. The biggest change back then wasn't the variety of red and white wine, but the floor. Instead of rehabbing the old wood, they laid it out in brick. One of the bartenders half-jokingly told me that Bill Tuman did that because it was easier to hose down the vomit at the end of the night instead of mopping it up.

When word spread that Lumpen publisher/gallery curator/union carpenter and renaissance man Ed Marszewski and his brother Mike were rehabbing his mother's bar at 960 W. 31st St., I was struck thinking up parallels to Tuman's that only grew more striking once Kevin Robinson invoked the federal "Back In My Day" Act of 1908."I'm both excited and bummed," he said. Why? "Maria's was kind of my place and now it's cool."

Kevin holds the dive bar to an even higher romantic notion than I. While Kaplan's Liquors (aka Maria's) had most of the elements of a classic dive, it was also in serious need of a makeover. Kevin can wax nostalgic about the smell of 30 years of caked urine coming from the men's room; my natural impulse is to dry heave while grabing a sixer to go. With the Marszewski brothers taking over the operations of the bar from mother Maria, Ed put his carpentry skills to use to bring Maria's kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. This isn't just a makeover - it's a full-on facelift. It's like that cackling crazy lady who walks around the neighborhood with clown red hair was taken off the streets and replaced by Christina Hendricks.

The newly christened Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar retains an accessible feel for longtime residents, newer folks moving to the neighborhood and the artist and hipster communities Ed Marszewski has cultivated in close to 20 years around town. Friday's opening night was one of the most laid back, cool vibes I've had in a bar in ages. DJ Jon Bryl spun an eclectic collection of deep Southern Soul, glam rock, funk, jazz and disco, while Bobby Conn brought the weirdness only he can bring. In the packaged good part of the shop, six-packs of Stone IPA sat in one cooler, spitting distance from another cooler loaded with Mad Dog 20/20, while Sutter Home wines shared shelf space with better quality name brands. A wooden cooler has been refurbished and served to separate the package goods part of Maria's from the newly renovated lounge and bar, with the door to that cooler serving as the entrance.

And what an entrance. The Marszewskis completely gutted the former bar space, removing decades worth of detritus and the collection of over 100 ventriloquist dummies that most likely served to keep the back bar from falling onto drinkers. In its place is a solid oak bar, a beer menu of 99 bottles and ten drafts and a lounge area that maximizes its limited square footage expertly. With the new butcher block tables brought in for larger parties to sit, the lounge reminded me not of any other bar, but avec. This is one laid back lounge.

The aforementioned beer menu has selections that cater to both the wino and beer geek. Heineken, Corona and PBR stand shoulder to shoulder with some strong but basic craft beer selections. The cocktail menu, which was erroneously reported to have been developed by the Whistler's Paul McGee, is probably the most intriguing aspect of Maria's. In keeping with the Marszewski's mission that Maria's is a community bar, the cocktail menu will be an ever-developing beast with recipes provided by local residents. Opening night, I had a Filbert's Highball containing Cuervo, Filbert's grapefruit soda and lime while a friend declared his Dark and Stormy Night in Bridgeport to be perfectly fashioned. Of the cocktails currently on the menu, most of them are simple but tasty highballs that, like the alternate universe Nick the Bartender in "It's A Wonderful Life," are hard drinks for people who want to get drunk fast. They're also reasonably priced, at an average of $6. As the cocktail list evolves, folks whose drinks make the list will have opportunities to debut the drink with a bartending shift.

As a longtime Bridgeport resident, I've seen some good bars come and go in the 'hood. Maria's phoenix-like rebirth is the best thing to happen to the "neighborhood of mayors" since Puffer's became Mitchell's Tap and Bernice's Tavern started diversifying their beer list to accommodate the exodus that followed. Maria's also stands as an example of Ed Marszewski's philosophy of Bridgeport as the "Community of the Future."

Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Liquors: 960 W. 31st St. 773-890-0588. 11 a.m. - 2 a.m. Sunday through Friday, 11 a.m. - 3 a.m. Saturday. the bar and lounge open 6 p.m. daily.

New Drunk Driving Ad From IDOT Will Drive You to Drink ...

The Illinois Department of Transportation's "You Drink, You Drive, You Lose" advertising campaign has had some effective spots since its inception a few years ago. The ads featuring people branded as "losers" or the motorcycle helmets and vehicles filled with beer, are good examples of what works. The existence of visually dynamic, competent ads with real production values could be why this new spot we just saw, hyperbolically called "Dreams Shattered," seems so laughably amateur.

Let's take stock:

0:00-0:02 Shot of grave with digital-looking tombstone from a camera with vaseline smeared around the edges.* Voiceover basically reads the title of the spot.
0:02-0:05 Teary eyed presumed fiancee looking wistfully into the distance.
0:05-0:07 Bad music-video-esque shot of bouncing bachelorette party. What, no plastic penis necklaces or penis popsicles? Voiceover...basically reads a description of the scene.
0:07-0:10 Laughably ham-fisted "Larry the Cable Guy" clone drinking in his truck & driving around.
0:10-0:12 Red light seems to imply that drinking Cable Guy should stop his pick-em-up truck.
0:10-0:17 You can almost hear the blushing bride in the shotgun seat screaming "NOOOOOO" three octaves lower as the camera zooms in to imply Larry smashing into the car.
0:17-0:18 I'm no IDOT official, but that car doesn't look too bad.
0:18-0:21 Woman with ash smeared on her face, looking somewhat bored.
0:21-0:23 Bloody hand pokes out from under a sheet, conveniently near a tiara. Drama!
0:23-0:26 Larry the Cable Guy and his cliche-ridden overall-clad ass gets put into a squad car.
0:26-0:30 Cut back to gravestone, dramatically "engraved" with "KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER BURIED ON HER WEDDING DAY"

We get it! Dial back the pathos! If we drank every time we laughed out loud at this spot, we'd be well into the bottle at the thirty-second finishing line. How much do you think this spot cost IDOT?

Driving drunk is certainly a problem in the state, and we're not laughing at the thousands of people impacted by dipshits getting behind the wheel while wasted. But when the State of Illinois shows us how little they care about the distribution of the message, it's hard to take the root problem as seriously as it should be.

Screwing on our tinfoil caps, maybe they're implying that since they don't care too much about anti-DUI stuff, we can have a few beers and drive, thus upping the civic coffers with DUI fines and fees. Naaaaaah. We're not that cynical. Sadly, believe it or not, this spot represents an improvement.

*Pretty sure this effect is actually called "vignette."

Quick Review: LocalFolks Foods Ketchup ...

LocalFolks Foods is an outgrowth of Homestead Farms in Sheridan, IN. that specializes in sustainable condiments, salsas and pastas. They use heirloom varietals for their products, grown from sustainable and biodiverse farming practices. Everything about their products encourages sustainable practices, down to the recyclable packaging and containers.

LocalFolks' ketchup is arguable the best off-the-shelf ketchup I've ever had and I don't say that lightly. Heinz, Hunt's, Del Monte and other name brands are often sweet, the result of using high fructose corn syrup in the production. Other organically produced ketchups can also be far too sweet. LocalFolks' ketchup is the first I've tasted that highlights umami. Commonly known as the "fifth taste," umami emphasizes savory flavors on the palate. LocalFolks' ketchup is a beast of savory flavor, from the most basic ingredients possible, proving once again that the best recipes are the simplest.

LocalFolks Foods products are available at Green Grocer, Dill Pickle Co-Op, Hyde Park Produce, Olivia's Market and Good Harvest Market.

Kanye West And ... Bieber?! ...

Look Kanye, we're loving the deluge of music you're unleashing for free. It's nice to see you back on top of your game, and believe you me when we say that the spectrum of collaborators you've been roping in is absolutely stunning. And man, that King Crimson sample? Awesome.

But Justin Bieber?!

Do This: &#161Buen Provecho! Pilsen ...

Pilsen's annual ¡Buen Provecho! restaurant tour is fast approaching. Slated for September 16, which also marks the Mexican Bicentennial, the $25 tour of 20 Pilsen restaurants, hosted by the Eighteenth Street Development Corporation, is one of the more thorough neighborhood food tours in the city, and one of the more popular.

The restaurants participating in ¡Buen Provecho1 are a decent array of taquerias, fishmongers, Italian, barbeque and coffeehouse fare. The restaurants include De Colores, Honky Tonk BBQ, Mundial, Café Jumping Bean, Lawrence's fisheries, Kristoffer's Café & Bakery, and others.

Buy tickets here.

Around Town ...



Men Who Flew Out of O'Hare on "Dry Bomb Run" Arrested in Amsterdam ...

Amsterdam authorities arrested two men on terrorism charges after they were allowed to fly out of O'Hare Airport with "suspicious items" in their checked luggage. The men, identified as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al Soofi, of Detroit, MI., and Hezam al Murisi, were allowed to board United Airlines Flight 908 to Amsterdam after the items were found, but deemed not dangerous in and of themselves, according to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson.

Although the names of al Soofi or al Musri were on no-fly watch lists, al Soofi drew the attention of screeners earlier when he checked luggage on a flight to Dulles Airport in Washington, but didn't make connections to flights he reserved to Dubai and Yemen. Prior to landing in Chicago, al Soofi was stopped in Birmingham, AL carrying $7,000 in cash on his person. A search of his luggage found a search of his luggage turned up a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cell phones taped together and several watches taped together. But since there were no explosives, he was released and allowed t continue his travels. A law enforcement official told ABC7, "this was almost certainly a dry run, a test" for a future terrorist act.

Ratatat Hits the Riv ...

Ratatat isn’t known for clever album titles. The NYC-based electronic duo recently released their fourth full-length album, LP4, the follow-up to their similarly blandly-titled 2008 release LP3. But don’t let the uninspired title fool you, because LP4 is bursting with the type of energetic, hip-hop-infused electro-pop fans have come to expect from Ratatat,expanded this time by experimenting with newer and stranger sounds.

The new album is really an extension to its predecessor. After recording LP3, the duo still felt the music flowing through their veins and just kept extending their studio time until another fifteen tracks were recorded. They’ve spent the last two years touring extensively and tweaking and rearranging these tracks. Straying from the typical pre-programmed beats and samples found on their past albums, the new album includes more live instrumentation and even incorporates an orchestra into a number of tracks. For example, “Drugs” mixes a full string section into the already dense layers of elegant piano, medieval synth and funky, exotic percussion.

In support of LP4, the duo is about to kick off a lengthy North American tour, making a stop in Chicago September 10 at the Riviera. For a limited time and in select cities, Ticketmaster is offering a free digital copy of the new album with each ticket order. Unfortunately, Chicago isn’t one of those cities, but they're still offering show-goers a deal on the album: Throw an extra $7 onto your ticket price at checkout and they’ll email you download directions for a high-quality digital copy of LP4. Guess that's better than nothing.

Ratatat plays Friday, September 10 at the Riviera, 4746 N Racine, 7:30 p.m., $21.50+, 18+

Dine Around Town, Earn A Free Chicago Gourmet Ticket ...

Back for its third year, The third edition of Chicago Gourmet is fast approaching. While we do think the $150 one-day ticket is well worth the investment, festival organizers are offering you a way to get yours for free to the September 26-27 event at Millennium Park

Now through September 26th, dine out five times at one, or several, of the participating Dine Around restaurants. Save your receipts, place them in the Dine Around receipt holder (available at the restaurant) and walk on up to the registration table the day of the event to get your ticket. Simple. To help ensure you aren't going broke doing so, most participating restaurants are offering special three-course menus for either $33 or $55. See here for a list of restaurants.

While you are out, don’t forget to snap a photo that shows you, the Dine Around receipt holder and an identifying feature of the restaurant. Upload that photo to the Chicago Gourmet Facebook page and you could win two tickets to the Hamburger Hop on Friday, September 24th and cookbooks from Chef Art Smith and Iron Chef Cat Cora.

Morning Box Score: Cubs Roll, Sox Win Ugly ...

Cubs Rout Bucs: Carlos Zambrano struck out seven over 5-1/3 innings and jacked a two-run homer in the Cubs 14-2 win over Pittsburgh. Aramis Ramirez picked up four RBI and Starlin Castro had 3 of the Cubs 18 hits. The win also marked a successful home debut for Mike Quade as manager. Since taking over the Cubs, Quade is 5-2 as manager. Prior to the game, the Cubs honored newly elected Hall of Famer Andre Dawson.

Sox Win in 11: Brent Lillibridge went from goat to hero during the White Sox' 10-6 win over Cleveland in 11 innings. Per their recent m.o., the Sox made it interesting in the late innings. Lillibridge, brought on as a late game replacement after Gordon Beckham was hit on his right hand by a pitch, committed an error in the bottom of the ninth that allowed the Indians to send the game to extra innings. But he was able to redeem himself and pace the pale hose to victory with a 2-run shot in the 11th. Beckham is listed as day-to-day with a bruised hand. With Minnesota idle, the Sox gained a half-game on the Twins as Manny Ramirez joins the club today for the home stretch.

Rockin' Our Turntable: Sufjan Stevens ...

It's really not hard to see why Sufjan Stevens, an artist known for making grandiose statements with his trademark softly sweet vocals, chose an artist like Simon and Garfunkel to draw inspiration from for his first new recording in five years, the All Delighted People EP. The similarities on All Delighted People and the Simon and Garfunkle song he chose to emulate, Sound of Silence, aren't precluded to their lyrics, but the tone and story of portions Stevens' recording could easily fit in the same catalogue as the famous '60s folk masters.

Overall, we'd say that this EP is pretty good, though standard fair for what we've come to expect from Stevens. Of course after 2005's the all-out dramatic epic album, Illinoise, it will be difficult for Stevens to produce anything even close its caliber again.

Though most of the songs have the barrage of layered vocal harmonies, random pops and whirs of synth, strong bursts of trumpet and trombone and lushly laid string arrangements that have become Stevens' signature, we were continually nagged by the feeling that something in this piece was missing: focus.

The seven-song EP clocks in at over sixty minutes and feels more than just a little forced and convoluted at times with two-versions of the same song and an almost 18-minute, self-indulgent jam at the end. The first or "Original Version" of All Delighted People, which opens the record with thick cooing vocals and sweeping string arrangements, feels appropriately robust in its execution and approach. The second, or "Classic Rock Version," though lyrically almost identical to the first, features less of a prodigious arrangement and scale, but probably a harder-edge sound, and the first ever wanky guitar solo by Stevens. We found no real reason to include both, except for those Steven-ites that truly geek out over every note and cacophonous phrase that differ in the slightest on each version.

The last track, Djohariah, named for Stevens' eccentrically named sibling, is a heady jam more akin to late period Pink Floyd than Simon and Garfunkle. It seems to go on forever, and for no reason, wrapping up after almost 18-minutes. It just really seems as if Stevens had been holding onto these tunes for quite a while and needed a venue to get them off his chest, so to speak. The problem is that these songs take up the majority of the effort and seem pretentious and sometimes superfluous at best.

Brighter moments on the EP are often the most subdued and sparsely arranged. Songs like "From the Mouth of Gabriel" and "Heirloom" flourish among the weeds with a quiet beauty that typifies more of Stevens’ early solo efforts.

The best thing about this EP is you can check it out in its entirety for free here and if you like it you can download it for a mere $5.

[Sponsored] ...
Mell Relative, Once at the Center of Blago Family Feud, Charged With Tax Evasion ...

Frank Schmidt, one-time owner of a Joliet landfill that was at the center of an epic feud between Chicago Ald. Dick Mell and former Governor Rod Blagjoevich, has been charged with federal tax evasion. According to federal authorities, Schmidt has been charged with five counts of tax evasion for failing to pay $2 million in tax on $11 million of income. Schmidt is expected to plead guilty.

In the winter of 2005, then-Governor Blagojevich's administration shut down Schmidt's landfill, charging that he had accepted construction debris without a permit, and accused him of “using his ties to the Blagjoevich family to solicit” business for an illegal-dumping operation. Mell, the longtime 33rd Ward Alderman and the father of Blagojevich's wife Patti, publicly blasted Blago, accusing him of trumping up charges against Schmidt to deflect attention away from the governor's top fund raisers, who Mell accused of trading campaign contributions for state government appointments. Mell accused Blagjoevich of trying to humiliate him as part of a vendetta over a long-standing family feud. Mell retracted his statements after Blagojevich's chief fundraiser Christopher Kelly threatened a defamation suit.

Blagojevich's fundraisers, including Kelly, were eventually convicted of the very actions Mell accused them of. Kelly committed suicide just before he was to begin serving eight years in federal prison on corruption convictions. Blagojevich was eventually tried on more than a dozen corruption charges, resulting in a hung jury and a mistrial. Schmidt sold the landfill in 2008 and dissolved the company, Land Reclamation Services, in 2009.

Bicyclist Struck, Killed on Dan Ryan Expressway ...

AS listed in yesterday's "Extra Extra," Edgewater resident Christopher Hippchen was struck and killed in northbound express lanes of the Dan Ryan expressway while riding his bicycle. Illinois State Police say Hippchen, who didn't own a car and worked part-time as a cook for a catering company at Soldier Field, was hit around 9 p.m. Sunday after being stuck by an SUV near 55th Street. Neither the state police nor Hippchen's friends or family know what he was doing at that location. Keisha West, who was driving on the Dan Ryan at the time, told the Tribune, "he looked like one of those bike messengers waiting at a stoplight. It looked like he was about to dart out." She said she thought she was imagining things.

Illinois State Police Trooper Clare Pfotenhauer told WLS that Hippchen was riding south in the northbound lanes when he tried to cross the expressway and was hit. Neither Hippchen's mother nor his friends know why he might have been on the Dan Ryan with his bicycle. “He just made a bad decision,” Hippchen's mother Shelley said Monday from her home in Homer City, PA.

HIppchen was a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute. He started working at Soldier Field on an internship, and stayed on after graduation. His mother said that he planned to continue his education and become a sous chef. “When he came home to visit, he always had to cook for us,” she said. “He was an excellent cook.”

Today's Weather: Turgid ...

It looks nice outside, but don't let the looks fool you. The heat and humidity will combine to make this one sweatbox of a day, with an estimated high of 91 degrees. The skies will be partly sunny while the chance of rain Wednesday and Thursday rolls in, bringing the temperatures plummeting down to the low-to-mid 70's.