
If you're ready to head out on the highway with style, you can grab your checkbook and buy the AMC Pacer used in Wayne's World from the Volo car museum in Volo, Illinois. The car, which in the movie Wayne and Garth tooled around Aurora and the Kennedy, is up for grabs for a measely $15,000. If you have a little more cash burning a hole in your pocket, spend $1.2 million on a prototype Shelby GT-500 convertible Mustang, or spend some dough on a 1951 Studebaker painted to portray a Gotham City police car for the Batman movies. Excellent!
Anne Holub on Thu December 16 2004Offbeat/Misc. Events
Just CHIL
"Chil.us examines Chicago's status as a global city. The current condition of the Chicago Megalopolis is revealed with maps, diagrams and statistics." An incredible collection of info about our city, beautifully presented by UrbanLab. [Via Fueled By Coffee]
Andrew Huff on Thu December 16 2004Resources
Sleep-deprived improv? Sweet.
Looking for something to do next Tuesday, for oh, say, twenty-four hours? The Second City is presenting its third annual benefit performance, "The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters To Santa." Beginning at 8:30 Tuesday night, a group of Second City all-stars takes the stage—and doesn't leave it until 8:30 the next night. Proceeds go to gifts for needy Chicago-area kids. (If improv isn't your bag, you might be enticed by the prospect of Jeff Tweedy in your living room. The Wilco frontman does a guest spot during the evening, and there'll be a silent auction to win a private performance for you and twenty of your friends.) Further details in Slowdown.
Kris Vire on Thu December 16 2004Theatre/Dance
Brown Extra Crispy
The UPS processing plant in south suburban Hodgkins was the site of an exta-alarm fire last night. Several truck trailers burned after a fire started in the receiving area. Lots of destroyed or damaged packages -- hopefully none were yours. (Apparently the Hodgkins facility is UPS's largest, containing 2 million of the company's 25 million square feet of floorspace.)
Andrew Huff on Thu December 16 2004In the News
Spamalot In Depth
If you were too late to get Spamalot tickets this fall, you can at least read about the makings of the theatrical adaptation of the Monty Python and the Holy Grail in this week's New Yorker. Investigated back in its early rehearsal stages by Chicago-native writer man Dave Eggers, the musical looks to be full to the brim with Python laughs (and whether you find those laughs funny is up to you). A bonus to online readers is a special Python Q & A with Eggers and Matt Dellinger. Spamalot opens at the Shubert Theater on December 21st.
Anne Holub on Thu December 16 2004Theatre/Dance
Sing Along to the Radio
Looking for something to do tonight? Head to the Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., for WLUW's 4th annual Holiday Sing-Along! Join the Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Clyde Federal, Canasta, Tijuana Hercules and the Astronomer featuring Charles Kim will perform "seasonal favorites," and host Elizabeth Conant will lead the crowd in holiday songs between acts. The merriment starts at 9pm. Admission is $10, 21 and over.
Andrew Huff on Thu December 16 2004Radio/TV
What's In It For Us?
The Tribune is running a new ad campaign to try to rebrand itself as a hip newspaper. The ads feature the tagline, "What's In It for You?" and were designed by J.J. Sedelmaier, who's best known for TV Funhouse skits on "Saturday Night Live."
Andrew Huff on Wed December 15 2004Print/Magazines
PhotoBlogger Directory
Local photobloggers Rod from Photovox.com and Bob from notraces.com have launched Chicago.Photobloggers.Org, a new directory whose purpose is probably clear from the title. Check it out -- and if you're a photoblogger, join up.
Andrew Huff on Wed December 15 2004Photography
Wingman for Hire!
Seems that lots of people are getting into the matchmaker business these days. Now, you can hire a wingman (or wingwoman) to chat up someone who strikes your fancy up in the club. One Chicago business that's doing well is Mr. Right Now, Inc. which hires out wingpersons for $50 an hour (though they don't seem to have a web presence). Now if only I could get that Coors Wingman song out of my head.
Anne Holub on Wed December 15 2004In the News
CTA's budget cuts may experience delay
The service cuts and layoffs that the CTA has been warning us all about if it doesn't get additional funding may be put off for a while, according to the Sun-Times. Illinois Senate President Emil Jones said that funding the CTA is going to be a "top legislative priority" for next year, and with this promising development the CTA board is expected to delay cost-cutting measures for at least six months when it holds a meeting tomorrow.
Jim Allenspach on Wed December 15 2004Transportation
New Urbanism in Grayslake
Fantastic architecture community site Archinect points us to this article from today's Daily Herald about anti-sprawl development in Grayslake. "Interspersed with about a dozen shops, the buildings will be grouped around an open area.... Energy-efficient and oversized by traditional condo standards, the allure is expected not only to be the space within, but that without — an open environment with trails and lakes in a protected natural habitat." Fantastic. Hopefully, this type of planning will continue to grow in popularity.
Ken Meier on Wed December 15 2004Arts/Architecture
Winter Solstice in Chicago
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Chicago. They'll provide: shadow puppetry, chestnuts (yes, roasting on an open fire), a gospel choir, and a big bonfire. You just bring your bad self over to the North Park Village Nature Center this Saturday.
Brian Sobolak on Wed December 15 2004Outdoors/Environment
Is it just me, or is this kind of messed up?
Today's "Rattle & Reel" Movie Matinee for parents/caretakers and babies at the Landmark Century is Vera Drake. Great movie, jaw-dropping performance by Imelda Staunton, but the idea of sitting next to a baby during a movie about abortion seems weirder than watching a porn with your parents. Anyway, the show starts at 11:00 AM. Tickets are $7.50 for grown-ups, but the little ones are free.
Gordon McAlpin on Wed December 15 2004Film
For Those Who Know
As we've mentioned previously, Chicago is enjoying a bit of a renaissance within its electronic music community. With consistently varied nights happening at spots like Sonotheque, Rodan, and Danny's Tavern, radio shows on WNUR and WLUW, as well as solid press coverage, more and more people seem to be supporting local promoters. But, where does one go for updated information on area happenings? Luckily, the folks at Chi-Tech, Modsquare, m50, Subsystence, Chicago Modular, and Upcoming do a good job of covering these frequently-esoteric events. Also, like we do with Slowdown, most of these sites accept submissions, so be sure to share your listings!
Ken Meier on Tue December 14 2004Music/Clubs
The Great Chicago Fire Sale continues
In case you haven't been keeping up with The Great Chicago Fire Sale, a bunch of new items have been added to the eBay auction in the last week. Among the new items you can bid on: a behind-the-scenes tour with the gardener from the City Escape retail store; a concert dedicated to a person of your choice at the Chicago Botanic Gardens; and a Lake Michigan cocktail party/cruise (watch out for bridges!). Oh, and in case you were wondering, the original Playboy Bunny costume sold to someone on Sunday for $6,000.
Jim Allenspach on Tue December 14 2004Business/Shopping
Still Not Posting Bills
Peter Margasak, former music columnist (and still reviewer) for the Reader, has a radio show on WLUW (Tuesdays, 11am), and it's about to get bigger, according to Chicagomuzik. The show, "Mosaic," will double to two hours starting January 3. Margasak also has a blog, Worldly Disorientation, in which he talks about music and doles out mp3s -- for "auditioning purposes only." Right.
Andrew Huff on Tue December 14 2004Music/Clubs
More power than anticipated
This morning two people took a cop car on a brief joyride downtown, and ended up crashing it into the front door of City Hall. Atomly saw it all happen, and took pictures of the wreck. Update: NBC has the story.
Jes Davis on Tue December 14 2004In the News
Pedway navigation
Winter is descending; if you work downtown it's time to consider the pedway again as a slightly warmer means of getting around. Last year, Alice Maggio did a two part article on the pedway that's worth revisiting