The neighborhood I live in is, to put it euphamistically, in transition. A few blocks north are the first signs of gentrification, a few blocks south and you're in an area that I wouldn't recommend walking through at night. There is some gang activity, but not much. Mostly it's just white trash screaming at each other. ...

This weekend was the opening of the new modern wing at the Art Institute of Chicago. Since Target was generously covering admission, we decided to head downtown to check it out. This makes Dean's 6th museum trip already. He's been to the MCA twice, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and the Museum of Science and Industry. ...

Yesterday, we went to Chinatown to watch the Chicago Marathon. Since neither TBWITWW nor I have any particular interest in running, we thought it'd be a fairly quick trip to take some pictures, and then we'd explore Chinatown for a while and head home. It turns out that marathons are amazingly fun to watch. The spectators, ...

Summer has barely started, and It looks like it's going to be a killer in Chicago. Literally. Already there have been an increased number of shootings and other homicides. The people of the city don't trust the police or the city government, the police on the street don't seem to trust their leadership, and the only ...

People who use the term "Flyover States" or think "Middle America" is interchangeable with "Dumb-Ass" should be kicked in the nuts. Seriously. Just because you live near an ocean doesn't make you special. You want culture, we've got plenty, and we don't consider it to be just something for the elite. We have some of the ...

A group calling themselves "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War" disrupted Easter Mass at Holy Name Cathedral. Apparently, they determined that the best venue to voice their opposition to the war was: A) In a Church B) In a church that has vocally opposed the war C) During a service D) During a service on one of ...

TBWITWW likes to cook, and for the last year or so, she's been assisting with the culinary program at a store downtown. Ben, the chef who was the coordinator of the program (and a really fun guy), had his last day on Saturday. Last night a few of the "regulars" got together at Suite Lounge to ...