Chicago Police Report A Decline In Murders For First Month Of 2010 ...
With January already over, Chicago police have reported a decline in murders, robberies, criminal sex assaults, aggravated assaults, and property offenses as compared with last year. Murders fell 16 percent, sex assaults decreased by 30 percent, and aggravated assaults dropped 20 percent. Twelve of the police department's 25 districts reported no murders at all in January. In a statement, superintendent Jody Weis said he was encouraged by the numbers. [Chicago Tribune]
Scott Cohen Seeking An "Honorable Way" To Drop Out ...
Photo by: Patrick McDonough/ChicagoClout.
Although the 2005 charges against Cohen were dropped when his ex-girlfriend, Amanda J. Eneman, didn't show up in court, details also surfaced about Cohen's recent missing child-support payments--in excess of $54,000 according to his ex-wife, Debra York-Cohen--and his admitted steroid use. Close advisers have been trying to persuade Cohen to "do the right thing" and step down, warning him that he could be blamed for "bringing down the party," the campaign source said to the Chicago Sun-Times on Friday.
Top Illinois Democrats, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Attorney General Lisa Madigan, have also called on Cohen to step down. "I don't know the man. I didn't vote for him," Durbin said. "I've heard enough. And if there's more--I don't know what it might be--but I've heard enough to suggest that he should have not run for office."
The campaign source told the Chicago Sun-Times that Cohen is looking for a way out "to give him a little dignity." Some of the options Cohen is considering include a press conference with Gov. Pat Quinn or fund-raisers to help him recoup his campaign expenditures, which exceeded $2 million.
Board Says No Conflict of Interest in U of C President's Relationship With Faculty ...
University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer (from University of Chicago News Office)
According to sources and a campus newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, Zimmer has been dating classics professor Shadi Bartsch after separating from his wife Terese, a director at the university's Urban Education Institute, in September. Zimmer, who has been president of the University since July 2006, alerted officials of the relationship to ward off any claims of impropriety, the Maroon reported.
Martha Roth, dean of humanities, said Zimmer met with Bartch twice in 2008 as part of a group effort to keep her on staff, Chicago Breaking News reports. After 10 years at the university, Bartsch ultimately left in fall of 2008 for Brown University only to return in July 2009.
Zimmer has moved out of the president's home on campus, although events are still held there. He will not be involved in any decisions regarding Bartsch's pay or promotions, the report said. There is no policy against this type of relationship and sources say it should have no effect on the president's ability to administrate.
[Chicago Breaking News], [Chicago Maroon]
Man Sentenced to 4 Years for Dumping Friend's Body After OD Death ...
A 23-year-old Northern Illinois man charged with discarding his friend's body in a Chicago alley after injecting him with heroin was sentenced to four years in jail on Friday, Chicago Breaking News reports.
Nathan L. Green of Maple Park pleaded guilty in Kane Court to his connection in the December 2007 death of Michael York, 17, of Elburn, the report said. Due to the low amount of heroin found in York's body during an autopsy, Green was not charged with the more serious crime of drug-induced homicide. Instead Green was sentenced to three years for one count of "unlawful delivery of a controlled substance" and one year for a "November altercation with a Kane County jail guard."
York met Green and three other people at a house in St. Charles on December 15, 2007, to use heroin, according to the report. Green injected York with heroin; when the teen showed signs of overdosing, he was placed in a bedroom by the others. The next morning, upon discovering York had died, Green and another man allegedly drove to Chicago's West Side and dumped his body in an alley.
The teen's death went unsolved for months until one of his friend's contacted York's mother. Three people were charged in January 2009 and two more are awaiting trial.
Around Town ...
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[Sponsored] ...
Lucasfilm: Billboard Company Violating Trademark It Is ...
A local sign company must have been unaware that only the Super Bowl and the Olympics rival George Lucas and Lucasfilm as pit bulls that go after any whiff of trademark violations. Because if not, then Skywalker Outdoor, Inc., shouldn't have been surprised when they were slapped with a trademark infringement suit.
Lucasfilm has held the trademark for the term "Skywalker" since the first (er, fourth) Star Wars film was released over 30 years ago. The suit claims that the billboard company is "confusing fans" and profiting off of the name -- apparently media buyer science fiction geeks are a big market.
The lawsuit says that Lucasfilm first approached Skywalker Outdoor in 2007, and the company had agreed to change their name and remove any mentions of the word "Skywalker" from their promotional materials and website, something they obviously have not done. The company claims that the 2007 agreement was made by somebody at the company who had absolutely no power to make that agreement.
The suit is asking for "unspecified monetary damages," but if past actions are any indication, Lucasfilm likes to go for the big bucks.
The Morning After: Bulls, 'Hawks Losing Streaks Hit 3 ...
Blackhawks Fall To Phoenix
The Blackhawks appear to be struggling towards the two-week Olympic break, losing their third straight game last night, this one a 2-1 shoot-out loss to Phoenix. A rare goal from Colin Fraser got the Blackhawks on the board early, giving them a 1-0 lead. That lead held until late in the second when Phoenix got the equalizer from Radim Vrbata. After a scoreless third period and overtime, the game went to shoot-out where Jonathan Toews scored for the 'Hawks in the first round but neither Patrick Kane or Marian Hossa could find the net and the Coyotes scored twice, giving them the victory. Huet had 21 saves on 22 shots, allowing only the power play goal to Phoenix but allowed both goals in the shoot-out. Despite the three-straight losses, the Blackhawks remain solidly in second place in the Western Conference as they await the two-week break. But first, they travel to St. Louis tonight to take on the Blues (7 p.m., CSN).
Bulls Struggle, Lose To Atlanta
Like their United Center roommates, the Bulls lost their third straight game last night as they struggled against Atlanta who pulled away for the 91-81 win. The Bulls trailed for most of the game before pulling ahead by six at the end of the third quarter. But Atlanta promptly took control again in the fourth, overpowering the Bulls. Luol Deng lead the Bulls with 20 points and Derrick Rose added 19. Despite the losing streak and their 23-25 record, the Bulls are still in the playoff hunt, sitting as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. There's no rest, though, as they return home to face Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat tonight (7 p.m., WGN).
Extra Extra ...
- Sen. Dick Durbin joins the chorus of pols suggesting Democratic Lt. Governor nominee Scott Lee Cohen to step down. [Sun-Times]
- Tribune columnist John Kass offers his mea culpa on missing the Cohen story. [Michael Miner/Reader]
- On the eve of service cuts, CTA unions reveal some details in a proposal they say can save the Way To Really Be Late To Everywhere $90.6 million. [Chicago Breaking News]
- The Bears hired Rod Marinelli as their new
puppet for Lovie Smithdefensive coordinator. [Sun-Times] - Read this Monica Eng article about how the Department of Public Health can pour bleach over perfectly edible food. [The Stew]
- Hot Chocolate has one more chef lined up for their 5th anniversary dinner on the 22nd: Rick Bayless [Inbox]
Thanks for your continued support and readership. Have a safe and wonderful weekend, everyone.
Tollway Worker Perks Raise Eyebrows ...
In a state already plagued by scandal after scandal and corruption allegations galore, it’s never a surprise to hear about someone getting a free ride. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois Tollway workers get just that. The Tribune expose revealed that more than 1400 Illinois Tollway employees receive a gratis I-PASS, which translates into nearly $200,000 worth of free tolls. In addition, 55 tollway agency workers get the use of private vehicles.
A spokeswoman for the Tollway system quickly pointed out that employees have enjoyed a free ride since 1958 and noted that the majority of employees using an agency provided I-PASS either work at plazas or maintenance facilities. As for the cars, their users are reportedly on call 24 hours a day. In the event usage occurs outside of tollway business, employees are required to report it. For some critics though, the system requires more oversight. State Senator Susan Garrent (D - Highwood) was a little less happy, saying in an interview “This is a gigantic perk and a benefit that is not shared with other state employees.”
While we’re not surprised in any way by state employees getting handed an I-PASS on the job, we’re not exactly how scandalous this story rings. On one hand, if these workers are using the passes on the clock and those with cars are on call, it actually makes sense for employees to get a free ride. Many employers offer reimbursements when passing through tolls and things like miles traveled on the clock in a personal vehicle are tax deductible. On the other hand, if the agency can only account for a meager $235 in monies paid back to cover “personal-use tolls,” someone isn’t doing good enough accounting.
Happy Feet At Pritzker Pavilion ...
Chicago has been really into cutting things lately. CTA service. Fireworks. Recycling. So we were pleasantly surprised to hear about a new program the Chicago Office of Tourism is bringing to Pritzker Pavilion and the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink every weekend this month. It's called Chicago Winter Dance, and it's free. We think it sounds swell.
Starting tomorrow, professional instructors will give one-hour lessons focusing on a certain dance style. Then, all dancers can practice their mad whirling and twirling skills with two hours of music. Sound like a similar program with "summer" and "dance" in its title? The tourism office told us organizing the schedule was relatively easy thanks to the 13 years of SummerDance it has under its belt. There are a few key differences, however. Chicago Winter Dance will be on the Pritzker Pavilion stage, not in Grant Park. Wait, dance lessons outside in the cold? No, silly. The stage is heated and enclosed in heavy-duty glass. And since the space is limited to about 200 people, instructors will offer two sessions every Saturday and Sunday; lessons will start at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and music will follow at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. We might try our feet at swing dancing, and expect to see our editor-in-chief at honky tonk. Check the schedule for details about each weekend's dance lessons and music.
Chicago Winter Dance is also bringing more action to the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, head over to the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink for free skating lessons (skate rentals are $10). The rink will stay open later on Fridays and Saturdays for ice dancing performances and themed parties. If you're into dressing up as a 20s-era flapper or a Twilight character, you just might win a "best themed dress" prize. Check the schedule, and prepare your costume accordingly.
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Weekend Dance Party: Designer Drugs and Local DJs Hit Lincoln Hall ...
Lincoln Hall will play host Saturday night to a new and exciting monthly dance party, Delorean Nites. The event, created and hosted by Members Only AV (a.k.a. Midnight Conspiracy), has an impressive bill for fans of indie dance and electro, with Designer Drugs headlining and local faves Midnight Conspiracy, Skyler (of Rehab), Broken Disco 1980 and Punky Fresh offering support sets. For an event in which its lineup could be the liner notes for an 80s sci-fi soundtrack, one begins to understand why the party is named what it is. If tomorrow's festivities are any indication of where Delorean Nites will go, well, Rehab may have a run for its money.
The headliner, Designer Drugs, hail from New York and are most known for injecting indie tracks with some thump and growl, resulting in aggressive, fully-flipped dance remixes. The duo have also recently gone on to producing original tracks perhaps better than their remix work, proving that they have a bright future ahead of them. Their music is not for the faint of heart, however -- tomorrow's show will most certainly have as much of a punk atmosphere as it does a dance one. Be prepared to dance as much as mosh.
While Designer Drugs are the highlight of Delorean Nites tomorrow, the support is no slouch. Midnight Conspiracy, Skyler, Broken Disco 1980 and Punky Fresh will surely properly sauce the dance floor with only the best of indie dance. Get there early, stay late, have fun.
Delorean Nites is tomorrow, February 6, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln, 11 p.m., $10, 18+
Bulls Shut Noah Down ...
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
Expect Tyrus Thomas and Brad Miller, who've both seen their minutes reduced with the emergence of Noah and rookie power forward Taj Gibson, to be asked to step up by coach Vinny del Negro. The team plays four more games before the break. To reinforce their front court, the Bulls may also sign Florida alum Chris Richard to a 10-day contract.
What impact Noah's injury has beyond the All-Star break is anybody's guess. The 10 days off may be enough for Noah, but as the Bulls saw with Andres Nocioni a couple years ago, these types of injuries can take time to heal. Further clouding the impact on the team is the February 19 trading deadline and what kinds of moves the team might make as they try to clear cap room for next season.
Friday Afternoon Diversion ...
Tankboy here. I am a huge David Bowie fan, and I've had a longstanding beef with Vanilla Ice ever since seeing him on MTV denying that "Ice Ice Baby" used the same bass line as "Under Pressure." So my head just about exploded when I discovered X Factor protegees Jedward were mashing the two songs together. My blood boiled. My head exploded. And then I found I couldn't stop watching and listening over and over and over again.
Say goodbye to the rest of your Friday afternoon.
Seriously. WTF!
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The Great Chicagoist Pizza Joint Debate ...
Tuesday is National Pizza Pie Day. That's separate from National Pizza Week which happened last month, or the Great American Pizza Bake next week, or National Cheese Pizza Day (September 5), or National Pizza Festival Month in October, or National Sausage Pizza Day (October 11), or National Pizza with Everything Except Anchovies Day (November 12). We point this out to emphasize the inanity of national "food holidays" and to ask for the idiots who created each of these individual days to incorporate these all under one National Pizza Pie Day. But we digress.
In addition to National Pizza Pie Day, an estimated 58 percent of Americans eat pizza on Super Bowl Sunday. It's the biggest day of the year for takeout pizza. This being Chicago, everyone has a favorite pizza joint, and rarely do two people agree on the same place. Families have been broken arguing this, but a very candid discussion of the Chicagoist staffers in our Internet bunker showed that we might be the exception to the rule. Still, what follows is a wide swath of favorite pizza parlors, with links and addresses if the parlors aren't related to a chain. Fee free to continue the discussion in the comments.
Chuck: "I have three favorites: Vito & Nick's (8433 S. Pulaski, 773-735-2050), Marie's Liquor & Pizza (4129 W. Lawrence, 773-725-1853) and Phil's Pizza in Bridgeport (1102 W. 35th St., 773-548-3203), where I tend to order a sausage pie from them once a week."
Carrie: "For deep dish (which I don't eat too much), I go with Lou Malnati's sausage --- the entire pizza has a layer of sausage on it. 'Nuff said. For thin crust, Coalfire (1321 W. Grand, 312-226-2625) for the Fiorentino (mozzarella topped with tomato sauce, layered with hot calabrese salami & roasted red peppers) or the Margherita."
Megan: "Coalfire is hands down my favorite, but I also like the thin crust from Salerno's in West Town (1201 W. Grand, 312-666-3444). I haven't eaten much deep dish in the two years I've been in Chicago. In fact I just had my first deep dish experience at Lou Malnati's this weekend."
Chuck: "I'm not a huge fan of deep dish; If I want a casserole, I don't want it served in a bread bowl."
Veronica: "I second Coalfire. It's simple, it's delicious, the staff are personable and I always leave feeling just the right amount of full, but never gross. Doesn't hurt that it's within walking distance."
Tankboy: "I've become a recent devotee of John's Pizzeria Ristorante And Lounge (2104 N. Western, 773-384-1755) and their double dough pizzas.They tread the perfect ground between thick and thin and I walk out satisfied every time. If I'm in the mood for a thin slice though I have to admit I always fall for Piece (1972 W
North, 773-772-4422) but that probably has more to do with their beer selection than anything else."
Laura Browning: "Spacca Napoli (1769 W. Sunnyside, 773-878-2420). If you're lucky, they'll have the burrata special. The owner once gave me a very detailed explanation of what burrata is -- let's just say it tastes like the best bufala mozzarella mixed with fresh cream and it is ten kinds of delicious. Spacca Napoli is around the corner from the Montrose Brown Line, but they don't always have the burrata. When they do... those are my happiest days, too. It must be what heaven tastes like."
Marcus: "I love the deep dish stuffed pizza from Art of Pizza (3033 N. Ashland, 773-327-5600). Best I've had in the city."
Rob: "I also love Art of Pizza, no contest. Our typical order: large pan pizza with pepperoni and black olives; or, large pan with sausage and onion. Comes with a free liter of Pepsi. I did my pizza stats for 2009 (yes, I keep track of this stuff) and last year I got delivery from Art of Pizza 34 times. $884: approximate amount spent (including tips) on these pizzas."
Veronica: "Rob and Marcus, you just convinced me to try Art of Pizza. I go by this place all the time and never once thought it might be good."
Marcus: "Benjy's on the Art of Pizza bandwagon too."
Benjy: "Art of Pizza is OK... I'll eat it if I'm in the area, but it's not my top choice. For deep dish, my favorite is Gino's, for thin crust Barnaby's (636 E. Touhy, 847-297-8866) and Tomato Head (823 W. Eastman St., 312-642-6700), and Spacca Napoli for Neapolitan style."
Kevin: "Connie's."
Chuck: "Ugh."
Aaron Cynic: "Dude, fuck Connie's. I ordered a BBQ chicken pizza from them once and it seriously came with fried chicken strips on it. If we're going with chains I'll take Aurelio's any day over anywhere else."
Kevin: "Oh yeah, that place is good, too. I went to high school with one of the Aurelio's owners kids."
Jake Guidry: "There's this real gem of a place right down the block from me, and to make it even better, they just changed their recipe. You may have seen their quaint multi-million dollar ad campaign on television: Domino's. To be serious, though, I haven't had enough different pizza here to make an educated guess (I had Bacci once, and I remember liking it, but I wasn't exactly sober). I have been meaning to try Great Lake (1477 W. Balmoral, 773-334-9270) because I have heard so much about it. Has anyone had it?"
Lindsey Miller: "I've tried (Domino's). But it had been so many years since I had the old Dominos, I couldn't tell much of a difference. The crust has more garlicand butter on it now so it tastes like a bread stick. My friend who for some reason loves Dominos wasn't impressed."
Carrie: "Does your friend have the sense of taste? ;)"
Aaron: "I dig Bacci's just for the sass factor."
Betsy Mikel: "I have never eaten Crocodile's Pizza (1540 N. Milwaukee, 773-252-0880) before, but I'm going to say it's my favorite because it's free. You get a free personal pizza with a drink purchase."
Lindsey: "Crocodile is good. Much more wonderful because it's free."
Prescott: "Me four on Art of Pizza. In my youth I dated a girl that lived in the apartment building across the street, I think I ate there every other day."
Lindsey: "Santullo's Eatery (1943 W. North Ave., 773-227-7960) has the best NY-style that I've tasted in Chicago and they're cheap."
Aaron: "In Chicago my favorite is Damenzo's (2322 W. Taylor,312-421-1142) hands down. They deliver into the wee hours of the night. The pizza is a bit thicker but not sauce heavy. In the south burbs, I gotta go with Serio's Italian Villa in Tinley Park (17801 Oak Park Ave., 708-429-5353), which has the best thin crust pizza I've had to date for dirt cheap. I think you can get a jumbo there that feeds five people for under $20. Honorable mention to the Blarney Stone Pub in Oak Forest (15400 Cicero Ave., 708-535-4800) for the best BBQ chicken pizza I've ever had. Hardly anyone gets that shit right, mostly because so many places forget to use decent BBQ sauce in their pizza."
Kevin: "The $5 "pizza pizza" deals at Little Caesar's in the Bridgeport strip mall (30th and Halsted). Almost forgot about that place."
Chuck: "You're fucking banned from this discussion, Kev."
Kevin: "Chuck Sudo, the pizza snob from Bridgeport. Lunch at Carlito's Way on 31st and Morgan this weekend?"
Benjamin Schuler-Stoler: "Carmen's carmen's carmen's! Mmmmmm: straight up classic good-ass deep dish. (6568 N. Sheridan, 773-465 5257)"
Amy Perry: "I like the Popeye and Berzerkeley pizza at Brick’s (1909 N. Lincoln, 312-255-0851). I also liked Pequod’s (2207 N. Clybourn, 773-327-1512) when I first moved to the city when it was more of dive with customer's photos tacked up on the wall but I still think it has the best Chicago deep dish because of the caramelized crust."
Chuck: "Pequod's is sooooo good. Even with all the improvements it smells
slightly of urinal cakes and pizza sauce."
Julienne Bilker: "For greasy bar pizza, Quencher's (2401 N. Western, 773-276-9730) tater tot pizza! And, as a non-fan of deep-dish (I'm sorry, don't fire me), the best NY-style I've found is at Mangia Roma on Halsted." (1623 N. Halsted, 312-475-9801)
Jake: "Trust me, you aren't the only one who is meh about deep dish. However, I do come from a city whose style of pizza is as thin as a saltine. Actually now that I think of it, Piece is my pick."
Benjy: "Clearly a pizza crawl is in order to settle all this."
City Could Pay $500,000 a Year for Closed Parking Meters ...
Photo by SFMoe
The parking meter lease saga continues, as CBS 2 reports that under the city’s lease agreement with Chicago Parking Meter LLC, it could be paying hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to the company for revenues lost when the city closes metered spaces for street construction, fairs, block parties or other projects. Critics opposed to the lease pointed this fact out as well as 32nd Ward Alderman Scott Waguespack, who voted against the lease. However, this makes of us think of 33rd Alderman Dick Mell‘s remarks during the original vote on the lease about how could he be expected to read the small print. Did those voting for the lease not bother to do just that?
Attorney Clinton Krislov has charged in a lawsuit that the deal is illegal. CBS 2 obtained records that the contract lists street by street the lost income for February, March and April of 2009 totaling more than $106,000. Krislov estimates the city may pay as much as $500,000 a year. A city spokesman said $84,000 was deducted from the company's first claim, to reimburse the city for helping the company through the difficult start-up.
Gays To Picket Holy Name Cathedral ...
In recognition of National Freedom to Marry Day, the Chicago-based LGBT advocacy organization Gay Liberation Network has planned an informational picket of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral for Sunday, Feb. 14. The picket is intended to "highlight the role the Church’s leadership has played in promoting inequality."
GLN co-founder Andy Thayer explains: “In opposition to the desires of millions of lay Catholics for simple justice for all, the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has long aligned itself with, and often led, the forces of hate and bigotry opposing equal rights for gays and women ... “When haters garb themselves in clerical robes, their statements and activities must be exposed."
Thayer has noted the local example of Chicago Archbishop Francis George, who's reportedly worked against the cause of gay rights for some time, including attempts to remove the LGBT community as a protected class in the Illinois Human Rights Act and campaigning in support of California's Prop 8 as head of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. And, obviously, he is far from alone in these efforts - the leading U.S. bishops issued a strongly-worded, 60-page pastoral letter addressing marriage last fall which read:
"The legal recognition of same-sex unions poses a multifaceted threat to the very fabric of society, striking at the source from which society and culture come and which they are meant to serve. Such recognition affects all people, married and non-married: not only at the fundamental levels of the good of the spouses, the good of children, the intrinsic dignity of every human person, and the common good, but also at the levels of education, cultural imagination and influence, and religious freedom."
Though George's name was on that letter, the bishop has shown some signs of breaking from the anti-gay pack: His diocese was "noticeably absent" from contributing dollars to the Catholic-led effort to overturn Maine's gay marriage legislation last year. And he has also supported an outreach program for gays and lesbians in the Church. Is there hope for a gay-friendly Catholic Church?
The Valentine's Day picket begins at 10:30 a.m. next Sunday.
Get to Know Your Local Wine Gal ...
Who to know 
Image c/o Rachel Driver
Rachel Driver
General Manager, Lush Wine and Spirits
What's in your glass?
My glass is very rarely empty, and, honestly, very rarely filled with the same wine. Most recently, despite the frigid temperatures, I have been consuming quite a bit of white wine. Primarily low alcohol European numbers...but my newest favorite is a super quirky white Burgundy Bongran Vire Clesse 'Cuvee Tradition'. It's like capturing wisps of smoke and popping lemon and honey drizzled rocks and prairie grass in your mouth.
Wine Rack Staple
My wine rack always has quirky red blends, usually based on Grenache or a traditional Italian varietal. I like the peppery, crunchy red currant notes. But, I absolutely love dusty little wines that taste like dirt and herbs...never leave home without one.
Favorite Wine Region and/or Varietal
Oh my, so hard to choose favorites. But, if I must, I will go crazy and say Chenin Blanc from Savennieres in Loire Valley, France. These wines are cerebral and laser edged, mineral infused bundles of joy, yet have a delightfully textured palate and layers of wild flavors that I often do not have words for. Love it.
Most Memorable/Enjoyable Wine and Food Experience
Again, with the most bestest, it is hard to pick just one. Alas, the most indulgent, remarkable, and memorable wine experience I have had recently occurred at my past birthday celebration at Schwa. All the Lush ladies and owner, and a handful of very close friends piled in with more bottles than guests. Mr. Michael Carlson pulled us off menu and had surprising, delicious treats on parade...the oddest of which was rattle snake. It tasted like dirt and sand, if you were curious. We had bubbles, and lovely white wines, bottles dug out of cellars, and special occasion only wines. Such excess. And many warm fuzzies. Extremely enjoyable and again, beyond words.
Favorite Chicago BYOB and What are you bringing
I heart BYOB restaurants and frequent them often. At the moment, I am crushing hard on Han202 for their amazingly inexpensive and fresh five course menu. Lively, spritely flavor combinations and well executed fish dishes were the standouts. Gorgeous with wine, too. My pairing included an '83 Riesling Spatlese which was absolutely singing. Mmmm, yummy!
Empty Bottle Features Classical Music ...
Known for local indie rock and experimental jazz acts, the Empty Bottle will mix things up next Tuesday with a night of chamber music by Accessible Contemporary Music’s Palomar Quartet. The two may seem to contradict each other, but the Bottle is actually a fitting venue for Palomar, whose goal is to broaden and diversify the contemporary music audience. And besides, Chamber music is meant for intimate spaces like this modest-sized, dungeon-like venue; as the term suggests, chamber music was traditionally performed in cozy quarters such as palace chambers.
Palomar in whole is a ten-person ensemble, of which Doyle Armbrust (viola), Alyson Berger (cello), Elizabeth Choi (violin) and Blagomira Lipari (violin) will perform as a quartet for the show. The ensemble plays mostly compositions by living composers and even occasionally presents rock-inspired performances. Next Tuesday’s program will include a quartet by Seth Boustead, whose long list of accomplishments in music include co-founding and serving as Executive Director of ACM. You can look forward to hearing Alex Shapiro's Five Squared, an energetic, impassioned piece composed in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Shapiro’s half-sister and her husband. They’ll also perform "Quartet No. 4" by Yuri Falik, as well as one of our favorite pieces by Philip Glass, "String Quartet No. 4," which was written as a memorial piece for the artist Brian Buczak.
Palomar Quartet plays Tuesday, Feb 16 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 8pm, $5, 21+
Openings: The Southern, Prairie Fire ...
The Southern's johnnycakes with pork and chowchow.
Two big restaurant openings are set to happen in the next four days. Well, one of the openings is more of a re-launch, but we're still stoked. Let's talk about that one first.
Chef Cary Taylor's Southern-rooted cuisine at Chaise Lounge was so good that it overcame the deficiencies of that establishment's artificial South beach-inspired atmosphere in the same way that Mark Mendez's cooking at Carnivale has transcended that restaurant's Jerry Kleiner décor. Chaise Lounge morphs into The Southern (1840 W. North Ave., 773-342-1840) today at 5 p.m. with a revamped menu (southern_menu.pdf ) and an interior that should better complement Taylor's cooking and influences, as well as dining well into the late night.
On Monday Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris serve their first dinners at Prairie Fire in the old Powerhouse space downtown (215 N. Clinton St., 312-382-8300). Lunch service starts Tuesday and brunch on the 13th. Stegner and Bumbaris will be bringing the casual, affordable contemporary American cuisine to a downtown audience that can't always make the trek to their Prairie grass Café in Northbrook. Take a look at the menu here (Prairie_fire_menu.pdf) .
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I Fight Dragons Signs To A Major Label ...
We've had a love / wince relationship with I Fight Dragons from the get-go.The band writes really enjoyably punchy pop-rock tunes straight out of the Rivers Cuomo school of music. But they diluted it with cheesy onstage superhero theatrics (that they claim to have since dropped). We really respect their grassroots marketing and excellent grasp of social media -- in no small thanks to consulting services from Natiiv Arts & Media -- and do not begrudge them the success they've received.
Of course we winced when we recently heard they had plans to play onstage with one-hit wonders Cobra Starship and the execrable misogynistic emo poster kids 3OH!3. So it isn't totally shocking that they would parlay their hard won grassroots work and sell it out to Atlantic Records. If you're willing to sell out in one venue you'll probably do it across the board. Which, you know, is totally fair. I Fight Dragons never pretended to be an indie band. The mere fact they hired a consultant at the start of their career indicates they always had their sights aimed higher. We're just a little let down seeing a group that had already proven you CAN go it on your own hand over the keys to a corporate driver.
In an interview with the AV Club this morning lead Dragon Brian Mazzaferri said of the label, "They're really interested in us keeping our creative control, as opposed to some other people, who were like, 'We really like what you're doing, but how 'bout we take out the chip tune?'"
Brian, we've got a whole slew of other local artists who heard exactly the same thing -- for the most recent example of a label giving a band "total creative control check out OK Go -- so, um, good luck with that.
Around Town ...
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Police Net Huge Drug Bust ...
And we mean huge. Yesterday, police arrested a Cicero man who 220 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle; the amount has a street value of over $1.5 million. But that's not all they found. The investigation took the officers to a nearby garage at 26th and Kildare where they found 25 kilos of coke (street value: $3.1 million), four pounds of methamphetamine (street value: $600,000), and a 9mm handgun. Herrera wasn't charged with the Scarface-esque coke discovery in the garage and police say the investigation is ongoing. [Tribune]
Simple Cooking - Spicy Dill Popcorn ...
One of the things we like best about Marcus Samuelsson's New American Table is the variety of types of food - not necessarily flavors, though that's also present, but the different portion sizes and occasions provided for by Samuelsson's recipes. Like most cookbooks, there are sections for each meal, but New American Table also has snacks, small plates, breads, "everyday," "weekend," and "holiday."
Since this is an... ambitious cookbook, some of the snacks are frankly beyond the scope of "simple cooking." While we'll definitely be making trout pierogi or crispy lobster rolls someday, they require some fairly serious work to create a snack. Others fit the definition perfectly. This recipe, an amuse-bouche at his New York restaurant Aquavit, is perfect for munching in front of the TV or for a Super Bowl snack, if you still need ideas. We initially balked at the idea of mixing dill and popcorn, but it turns out to be a savory and delicious combination.
Spicy Dill Popcorn
adapted from New American Table, by Marcus Samuelsson.
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp melted butter
2 tsp chili pepper
1/4 cup chopped dill
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Pour the oil into a heavy saucepan with a cover, and pop the corn over medium-high heat. Shake often, to prevent the corn from burning. Once the popping slows down, take the pot off the heat and transfer the popped corn to a mixing bowl.
Note: if you're not used to popping corn in a pot, this may take a little getting used to. Shake it often, or you will burn the kernels. When you remove the lid, be careful - hot condensation will have formed underneath it.
Toss the popped corn with all the other ingredients. When everything is nicely coated, transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy!
Pitchfork Gets Pavement, Modest Mouse, LCD Soundsystem; Jaws Drop ...
The Pichtfork Music Festival has gotten in the habit of releasing its festival acts in fits and spurts that constantly one-up each other, ostensibly to keep fans excited for the impending summer weekend it inhabits, but after today's initial line-up announcement we're curious how they're going to keep the momentum going to top this.
Pavement has been long suspected of being one of the headlining acts, and that's no surprise given frontman Stephen Malkmus' previous appearance at the P4K a few years back, complete with a guest drumming appearance from old bandmate Bob Nastanovich. Add on top of that Spiral Stairs lounging around backstage a few years ago* and it's obvious the band has long had ties to the fest.
What we did NOT expect was the announcement of Modest Mouse (which, byt the way, please baby Jesus let them play more off The Lonesome Crowded West than recent albums) and LCD Soundsystem (holy dance party in the park, Batman) joining the fest's bill. Rounding out the initial line-up announcement is Here We Go Magic, St. Vincent, Lightning Bolt, Cass McCombs and Sleigh Bells. Not too shabby ... and there's more to come? Whoah.
Tickets go on sale at noon today at the Pitchfork Music Festival's website and we really suggest grabbing 'em now. If this is just the opening salvo, this is already forming up to be the best Pitchfork Music Festival yet.
*Total geekboy fan moment: I've met the Pavement guys a few times over the years since first seeing them in 1994, but this particular time Stairs grabbed me to show off my vintage (read: bought at the show) Pavement T-shirt from back in the day that even he didn't own. Yes, I am a complete dork.
VoteVets Push Back at Mark Kirk ...
The National Republican Senatorial Committee took a swing at Alexi Giannoulias the day after the primaries, launching an ad accusing Giannoulias of alleged mob ties at his families bank, as well as Rod Blagojevich and Tony Rezko. The ad, which played off popular notions of American mafioso lore (with a dash of the Sopranos thrown in for a laugh) caught the attention of the media, and showed what both Kirk and the NRSC had in mind in terms of the tone of this race.
VoteVets, a national 501(c)(4) non-partisan political action committee has launched an ad of its own, nationally, but also in eight states, including Illinois. In the Illinois ad an Afghanastan veteran from Chicago takes issue with Mark Kirk's policies on energy security, as well as the fact that he's taken campaign contributions from multinational energy corporations that have interests in nations that sponsor terrorism. With Rasmussen showing Kirk polling 6 points ahead of Giannoulias and 10 percent of voters undecided, we're sure we'll see more ads taking both candidates to task for their positions, as well as who they're accepting campaign help from.
The Morning After: College Hoops ...
- Notre Dame got a huge performance out of Luke Harangody (37 points, 14 rebounds) as they cruised past Big East foe Cincinnati 83-65. Tim Abromaitis added 22 points.
- It took some extra basketball but Loyola pushed past Youngstown State 92-85. Geoff McCammon led all scorers with 25 points.
- UIC's losing streak reached nine games as Cleveland State upended the Flames 74-63. Jeremy Buttell and Zavion Neely both scored 17 points.
Scott Cohen Defends Himself On "Chicago Tonight" ...
The Scott Cohen clusterfuss is only going to grow. He and ex-wife Debra York-Cohen took to WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" to discuss the charges that came to light yesterday in the wake of his primary win.
Today's Weather: Old School ...
Friday's weather doesn't give a damn who you are or who sent you. It's gonna stay like this, dammit, and you're gonna like it. Temps in the low 30s? You're gonna like it. Snow that accumulates from 1 to 3 inches? Tough, deal with it. Gusty winds? Hey, don't blame me. Overnight lows in the mid 20s? Stop asking questions. Dis right here is how winter gets done, son.
PETA Scores a Win in Forest Park ...
After we reported earlier this week on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals's request that Forest Park pub Doc Ryan's remove the Lobster Zone machine from its restaurant, PETA reached out to Chicagoist to report that Brian Sullivan, owner of the establishment, has agreed to remove the machine. Sullivan spoke with a local PETA activist this week and, noting that he loves animals, told the activist that he doesn't want a machine in his business that tortures animals.
"PETA and lobsters thank Doc Ryan's for doing the right thing and ending a game in which lobsters were exploited," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "The pub's decision also makes good business sense because more and more people are choosing to patronize places that reject cruelty." Doc Ryan's has a veggie burger on the menu is open to including more vegan options for guests to order.
PETA is sending Doc Ryan's flowers to thank him for removing Lobster Zone from the pub.
Extra, Extra ...
- More on the Scott Cohen fiasco as his divorce papers have surfaced.
- The Chicago Reporter examines if residents who live near rail yards face an increased risk of cancer. [via]
- Officials discovered and recovered a vehicle from the Chicago River earlier today.
- How Illinois certifies its election results.
- Sad face: there will be no more candy for Naperville parades.
- Happy face: Jessica Hopper and Miles Raymer play the guessing game for The Reader over the 2010 Pitchfork lineup (the parts that Greg Kot hasn't announced yet). Kudos to the always sharp Jessica for producing a few el oh el moments for us.
- We're not the only ones with an iPhone app. This American Life has one and Chicago Magazine tackles a bunch as well.
- Another reminder that spring isn't that far away: registration for Bike the Drive is open. [via]
Goodman Theatre's Double-Bill Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape: Two Sides Of The Same Lonely ...
photo of Brian Dennehy and Joe Grifasi In Hughie by Liz Lauren
Hughie begins with a dim light barely illuminating a weary man at a desk. The light slowly expands, revealing the man to be the night clerk at a seedy hotel. Enter Erie Smith (Dennehy), the kind of alcoholic whose stumble is easily confused for swagger and a has-been who, we begin to realize, never-was. Though Erie, boisterous and clearly looking for an audience, is in mourning for Hughie, the hotel's recently deceased night clerk, it is not because they were great friends. "Hughie liked to kid himself he was my pal," he says at one point, but clearly Erie is the one kidding himself. He is visibly shaken by the new night clerk's (Joe Grifasi) lack of interest, rambling about his exploits in what is an ultimately tenuous but at least momentarily successful attempt to replace his old one-man fan club.
What makes this show so touching is that it's almost sweet - almost. Grifasi's droopy-dog kind of look made us wonder if his character was stupid, disinterested, or nearing comatose - the contrast with Dennehy's high-energy is funny, but Hughie's humor floats in the shadow of the larger picture. There is a point at which Erie starts upstairs to his room, but even though it's around 4am in the play, we knew there was no way he would actually leave. For a man like Erie, being alone is the most frightening feeling imaginable. It's heart-breaking to watch. Under Goodman Artistic Director Robert Falls, Dennehy and Grifasi bring this show to life while simultaneously knocking the wind out of it.
photo of Brian Dennehy in Krapp's Last Tape by Liz Lauren
Each year, on his birthday, Krapp has recorded himself describing events and feelings of the last year - it's telling that he refers to them as "post-mortems." We were reminded of a line from T.S. Eliot's The Love Song Of J. Alfred Prufrock: "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." Krapp's life is measured in reel to reel tapes, allowing him the dreadful opportunity to relive past heartache and regret - he listens, at times with visible pain, no matter how much booze he's used to steel himself. Besides a few words here and there - mostly grunts, actually - the entire text of the piece comes out of the tape recorder. We observe Krapp observing himself - and lest you think that sounds totally boring, we assure you that it's fascinating. Director Jennifer Tarver has brought out the best in one of the best.
In his program note, Robert Falls describes the link between these two plays better than we can, so we'll leave you with his words. "...we are the sum of our illusions...Without those essential self-created fantasies of ourselves to present to the world, and a mirror to see them in, we are nothing."
Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape, through February 28. Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn. Tickets are $25-$83.
Just Stop Breathing ...
Apparently the National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert meaning long times outside could be kinda/sorta hazardous to your health. There's no official reason given but pollution is the suspected culprit. CBS 2 has more on how breathing outside may be hazardous to your health.
Today in WTFP (In Which the "P" Stands for Politics) ...
Three men enter. One man leaves. Remind us why anyone would want to be Governor of this state again?
Whew! Usually when the primaries are over, we get a few days of rest before the campaigns kick back into gear. But it's already been a busy day in Illinois political news for a number of reasons, which we will quickly burn through here. Since there's so much to process, it's best to break it down into bite-sized, easily digested chunks.
WTF, Scott Cohen - First and foremost among the Gubernatorial stories from today, your Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor has apparently, in his past, brought a knife to a whorefight. If we've said it once, we've said it a thousand times - if you've ever been accused of pulling a blade on a hooker (even if she is your girlfriend), think twice about your political ambitions. Or at least make sure they'll never find the body.
WTFG*, Pat Quinn - We'd tell Scott Cohen to eff off and go home, too.
WTF, Blago - The embattled Hairdo just got a little bit deeper into the puddle of shit today, as he's been indicted anew on charges of racketeering, attempted extortion, and conspiracy to commit bribery, among others. This is all basically a cover-your-ass indictment in case the Honest Services charges get shot down by the Supreme Court, but it serves as a good reminder that we'll get to a trial here one of these days. Blago's lawyer du jour, Aaron Goldstein, said this doesn't change their strategy, which has always been to stick their fingers in their ears and say "la la la you can't convict me you can't convict me" anyways.
WTFG, ILGOP - It's nice to know that, after months of staying consistently on message that your opponent is a know-nothing incompetent moron who will ruin this state if elected, that we can all come together and hug and say "it was all a bunch of shit all along, right guys? We're all equally incompetent!" A nice unity breakfast is a beautiful idea, but you don't expect us to believe that you all really like each other, right? Especially when you all still want the nomination?
And we mentioned Dan Hynes conceding, right? Yeah, it's been a busy day.
*Way to effin' go.
Illinois Supreme Court Again Nixes Malpractice Caps ...
Tort reform is repeatedly put forth by Republicans as part of the solution to the health care problems in this country. But the question of whether or not that would actually work to lower health care costs might soon be moot, as the Illinois Supreme Court ruled today that a current medical malpractice cap law is unconstitutional.
Pushed through in 2005 with the help of a group of downstate Democrats after a contentious battle on the House floor, Illinois passed a law capping malpractice pain and suffering lawsuits at $500,000, and a maximum award of $1 million against hospitals. At the time, State Senator Ira Silverstein called it "feel-good legislation." The law was first ruled unconstitutional by a Cook County in a 2007 medical malpractice trial, and the case made its way to the higher court. The Illinois Supreme Court struck down a similar law in 1997.
Not surprisingly, the American Medical Association disagrees with the decision, saying in a statement:
The cap enacted in 2005 by the Illinois legislature has proven to be a remedy for the clear social and economic problems caused by the state’s broken liability system. Today’s court decision threatens to undo all that Illinois patients and physicians have gained under the cap, including greater access to health care, lower medical liability rates and increased competition among medical liability insurers... It is critical to preserve strong medical liability reforms among the states so no patient is prevented from getting needed health care because of the broken liability system.
Thirty-one other states currently have medical malpractice caps enacted.
[Sponsored] ...
Taking A Dead Man's Wallet. Literally. ...
Ugh, this is not the kind of story we like hearing about. Niles Police officer William Christie has been charged with with theft and official misconduct for allegedly taking money off a man who was found dead at a YMCA. Christie responded to the call when the man was found dead and began acting suspiciously to staff, sealing the room and yet attempting to access the room himself over several days. According to ABC 7:
Investigators say they found more than $2,000 in cash and coins in the room. Surveillance cameras allegedly recorded Christie entering and stealing the victim's cash by loading it into a cardboard box.Police say the day after the recorded theft, a deposit of about $500 was made to the officer's credit union account. On that day, the officer was allegedly videotaped walking into the credit union with a similar cardboard box. According to investigators, Christie stole approximately $1,700 in total.
Christie also contacted the dead man's sister and sent her $274 claiming that was all that was found in his room. If the allegations prove true, we hope the YMCA adds Christie's picture to a Wall of Shame.
Thursday Afternoon Diversion ...
Star Wars tuna? Of course! [via]
Conversing With Obama ...
Perhaps inspired by last week's Q&A with the GOP, President Obama will be holding an event where he will "speak to grassroots supporters like you and answer your questions about our plan going forward." Not sure what that means (answering pre-screened questions?), but hey, he's being proactive again! If you fill like tuning in, it's at the inconvenient time of 4:45 p.m. Chicago time and can be viewed here.
Rockin' Our Turntable: Four Tet ...
So many albums and so many music careers are marked by "the great buildup." Artists are expected with each new release to top their subsequent and if they should choose to explore new territory, fans expect a logical progression. Much effort goes into the layout of an album's tracklisting, ensuring just right placements to hold attention and provide a crescendo of enthusiasm that peaks at the album's close, enticing you to hit play from the beginning and recreate that rush again and again. It's a rare treat then when you find an artist who goes against this grain and realizes that more powerful than the buildup is the breakdown.
Kieran Hebden has been making electronic music for nearly a decade under the name Four Tet, weaving a sonic tapestry from the sounds of jazz, folk, hip-hop and electronica. With each album Hebden drawn from different inspirations with his earliest work being coined "folktronica" and his last studio album, 2005's Everything Is Ecstatic, sidestepping into lengthy vortexes of comparatively darker sounds. Now more than ever, on his long-awaited fifth full-length album, There Is Love In You, Hebden toys with how we mentally process music, starting at a peak and slowly climbing down from above until suddenly you find yourself on the ground, looking back up the mountain you descended with curious reflection.
Remixes aside, for the first time in his career Hebden creates original tracks that feel ready for the dancefloor. There Is Love In You's first three track selections, "Angel Echoes," "Circling" and "Love Cry" are all rhythmic starters, drawing from a combination of DJ-friendly influences like house and techno. But this is still a Four Tet album and Hebden's dancefloor is a sophisticated one that comes with just the right amount of repetition and minimalist undertones.
"Sing" hits right at the album's midpoint, a quirky festival of 8-bit blips that transition "There Is Love In You" from the dancefloor to the descent. By the time "This Unfolds," "Reversing" and "Plastic People" have left their marks, There Is Love In You has become shaded by graceful, sleepy sounds that draw out the last moments of your journey to the bottom, reminding you not to rush but to remember. "She Just Likes To Fight" ambles alongside your final steps with that familiar, quiet brightness that by now Hebden has proven himself a master of.
Across four proper albums as Four Tet, Hebden's career has explored of the breadth of creativity possible in electronic music. But never favoring grandiose statements or singular albums that pack a punch, Hebden has smartly allowed himself room for experimentation. Like a well-executed plan, nine years of musicmaking come together on Four Tet's There Is Love In You and then break down into something truly remarkable, glorious and absolutely memorable.
Four Tet plays two shows with Nathan Fake, Friday, February 19, at Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western, 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., $15, 21+