August 21, 2008
And the masthead keeps on changing: The Chicago Tribune's new managing editor is Jane Hirt, founding editor of RedEye. [Editor and Publisher]
That Noelle Brennan. It's like she thought of everything!
In a city legendary for finding a way to make any city job a patronage gig, the federal hiring monitor wants to know how the city plans to lay off well over 1,000 people without it becoming a political purge. "We are aware of the potential for abuse. We're talking about how we can prevent that from happening -- what sort of process and procedures we can put in place to make sure layoffs happen in a nonpolitical way. We haven't come to any conclusion yet," Brennan told the Sun-Times.
Mayor Daley doesn't think it will be an issue, however. “A layoff is done because of union rules. I don’t know where you get that,” he told the press at a ceremony for graduating firefighters held at Navy Pier. "That's just a phony headline. It's done by union rules. I'm sorry. About 99 percent of the people are unionized in the city of Chicago. So, don't make up phony stories." Anthony Boswell, director of the city's Office of Compliance, which is charged with ensuring that the city follows the hiring rules spelled out in the Shakman decrees.
Image via AP
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While nothing tops the gravity-defying vertical runway show Marshall Fields busted out five years ago, the Fall fashion event Macy's is throwing this year is getting us almost as jazzed up. The historic department store, now celebrating its 150th year in business, will host an 80s-themed “Pop Candy Arcade” fashion extravaganza this Friday that will feature the store’s new looks, as well as allow us to revel in retro-mania.
The event kicks off at the Chicago Theatre with a choreographed fashion show in which models strut down the runway to live performances by -- wait for it -- Cyndi Lauper and M.C. Hammer! Yes! The party keeps rolling at Macy’s on State Street with tunes spun by DJ Berrie. Tickets start at $47 and are still available.
We’ll be the one in the front row She-boppin’.
Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, Friday, August 22, 8 p.m., benefits the Art Institute.
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August 21, 2008
The Indiana Dunes are home to wildly growing marijuana, according to the National Parks Service and Indiana law enforcement. Officials have apparently found plants growing throughout the park and its adjacent properties. Officials said they aren't sure yet just how many plants are in the 15,000-acre park in northwest Indiana. And—in a straight-faced move—they're asking for the public's help in finding it. If you find wild marijuana growing in the park, officials ask that you...
Continue Reading "If You Find Free, Naturally Occurring Weed In Indiana, For God's Sake Call the Cops"It's none other than country music star Toby Keith, the one who sang about putting a boot up terrorists' asses. Keith not only recently outed himself as a Democrat but has also thrown his support behind Barack Obama. Just when you think you've got a guy figured out...The endorsement comes after Keith caused a fuss with his declaration on Glenn Beck's radio show that some blacks may feel Obama acts too white.
The Sun-Times ran an article today asking why Wilco isn't opening up the Chicago date of Neil Young's tour. Do they hate us? Are they annoyed we keep bringing that whole Bennett thing back up? Is Tweedy just a cranky-pants? None of the above. The answer is that the band is actually afraid we might get sick of them. According to the Sun-Times: Wilco’s publicist Deb Bernadini says the answer is pretty simple: Chicago...
Continue Reading "Wilco Snubs Chicago. NOT!"
Forgotten Chicago, a website dedicated to the city's historical and oft-overlooked nooks and crannies, is organizing a walking tour of Ogden Avenue in Lincoln Park this weekend. On this tour, we'll show you every remnant of the former street, and discuss the reasons for its extension and removal. We'll take a look at the surrounding environment, including a portion of a demolished bridge, a former coach yard, marginalized and "converted" industry, and one of the...
Continue Reading "Ogden Walking Tour Sunday"
What more can we add to what's already been said about Showgirls, except that it meticulously catalogs every single reason why this country is so fucked up? John Waters has described it as "funny, stupid, dirty and filled with cinematic cliché; in other words, perfect … it will be great trash forever" while acclaimed filmmaker Jacques Rivette calls it "one of the great American films of the last few years ... Like every Verhoeven...
Continue Reading "Showgirls Gone Wild"An Orland Park man is facing animal cruelty charges after police discovered two sheep tied together in the back of the man's Worth autorepair shop. Senad Abdalla, 25, is also charged with violating the village's ordinance against keeping livestock. The sheep, who hadn't been well cared for, were taking to the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League. [Trib]
Gio's Café and Deli in Bridgeport holds a soft spot in our heart. Years after we moved to the neighborhood, Giovanni Liuzzo, Ignacio Bautista and their staff still make the best Italian food in Bridgeport. Gio's was the subject of our very first post here on Chicagoist. Since then we've introduced numerous friends to the place and its charms. These days it's quite hard to get a seat, so we order takeout. Breaking from tradition...
Continue Reading "One Great Sandwich: Gio's Panino di Avolo"
Unlucky 13. Foreboding as we come down the home-stretch and find ourselves knee-deep in the team medal rounds. While some teams, like the beach volleyball team of May-Treanor/Walsh won gold for the US, some teams, including one with a few Chicagoans, weren't so lucky, including one absolute shocker. Hey, they can't all be Gold and nothing's wrong with Silver. At least in the opinions of those of us who have never made the Olympics. All...
Continue Reading "Chicago Olympians: Day 13"Chicago Tribune editor Gerry Kern sent an email to staffers yesterday outlining his big plan for the future, which is to "strengthen our bond with readers by giving them the news, information and irresistible storytelling they desire in their lives. We will enlighten, provoke, surprise and entertain them. We want them to say, 'This is my Tribune and I can’t get along without it.'" His full missive plus his "Vision for reinventing the Chicago Tribune"...
Continue Reading "Trib Editor: Give the People What They Want"
Emil Jones, defending his decision to bequeath his office to his son, Emil Jones, III, told the media yesterday that keeping it in the family is a political tradition. "'I recall John F. Kennedy, president of the United States, when he became president, he recommended his brother. Right? And his brother was elected,' Jones said, in an apparent reference to Sen. Ted Kennedy, who followed his brother as a senator from Massachusetts." Then he confused...
Continue Reading "Threemil, Meet Your Opponent"Mercat a la Planxa's Jose Garces flays Bobby Flay on Iron Chef [Philly City Paper] Applebee's "owns riblets." Wonderful; another reason not to go. [NYT] Joanna MIller delves into a vegetarian nicoise salad. [My Vegetable Blog] A teaser for Paul Kahan's upcoming the Publican. [Drive-Thru] Food Chain on Alliance Bakery Break-In [Food Chain] TOC reveals the secret of Carnivale's Mojitos. [TOC] Chris Borelli of the Tribune braves the opening of the Aurora Sonic [Tribune] TOC's...
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Photo by Jack Cantey It's sunny now, but look for showers this afternoon and evening, with wet weather continuing through Saturday. We haven't had real rainfall in about three weeks, which is an unusually long dry spell for August. [WGN, NWS, Accuweather]...
Continue Reading "I Saw a Highway of Diamonds with Nobody On It"