Kids & Family - Oct. 12, 2009
Human collaborates with robot on new kids' CD
Tim Knuth plays all of the instruments himself on his new CD for kids, but he invented "Robot Tim" as a way to explain to kids how one person can make multiple sounds on a recording. Human Tim and Robot Tim play together at Beat Kitchen in Chicago on Sunday, Nov. 1, and will play numerous gigs in Chicago and Milwaukee in the coming year.
Tags: kids' music, tim knuth, human tim, pop of the tops, robots, chicago, folk

Politics - Oct. 3, 2009
Chicago's Olympic loss leads to political pain
Chicago's failed bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics was a defeat for the city, the region, the country and President Obama. It also left some of Milwaukee's business and civic leaders wondering what might have been.
Tags: chicago, olympics, 2016, obama

Politics - Sept. 30, 2009
Chicago can't squander Olympic opportunity
Nearly as many Chicago residents oppose Mayor Richard Daley's Olympic plans (45 percent) as support them (47 percent), according to the latest poll by the Chicago Tribune.
Tags: olympics, olympic games, olympics 2016, chicago 2016, chicago

Dining - Sept. 3, 2009
Madison's Ian's Pizza on its way to Milwaukee
UW grads know it well. And soon, Milwaukee will be introduced to the slices of Madison-based Ian's Pizza.
Tags: ian's pizza, madison, by the slice, prospect/north, East Side, new restaurants, chicago, mac and cheese, brick3

Travel & Visitors Guide - July 19, 2009
Potter exhibit charms Muggles and magical folk
Writer J.K. Rowling's magical world is taken to a new place with the world premiere of "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. The exhibit runs through Sept. 27 and is the only Midwest stop on the U.S. tour
Tags: harry potter: the exhibition, harry potter, j.k. rowling, museum of science and industry, chicago, muggle

Travel & Visitors Guide - July 8, 2009
On the ledge of the Sears Tower
Last week, the Sears Tower Skydeck unveiled the new glass boxes that hang off the side of the building and allow visitors to step "over the ledge" for a breathtaking, horrifying view. I had to check this out.
Tags: chicago, sears tower. skydeck, glass boxes

Summerfest Guide - July 1, 2009
Earth, Wind and Fire burn Chicago out of the Midwest
Starting right on time, both Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire took to the stage for an initial 30-minute collaboration. With early 20 musicians on stage, seven original members and more than 80 years of combined touring experience, the stage was littered with instrumental skill.
Tags: earth, wind and fire, chicago, marcus amphitheatrer

Travel & Visitors Guide - June 16, 2009
Road trip: A day in Chicago
Don't let the big buildings fool you, Chicago is a perfect day-out vacation. The key is to make your outing a surgical strike. Don't try to do too much in a single day and do some basic planning before you go.
Tags: Chicago, Windy City, Art Institute of Chicago, Artists Cafe, Shedd Aquarium, The Plaza at The Park Grill, Millennium Park

Music - May 31, 2009
Sunday Sound-off: What do you think of the Summerfest line-up?
Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, Chicago, Bob Dylan, No Doubt, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, The Fray, Kid Rock. Do any of those names get you fired up? If so, you're in luck, because these are the headlining acts that will perform at the Marcus Amphitheater during Summerfest 2009, June 25 - July 5.
Tags: Summerfest, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Stevie Wonder, Kiss, Chicago, Bob Dylan, No Doubt, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, The Fray, Kid Rock

Bars & Clubs - May 15, 2009
On the town in Milwaukee: Beer spoiled or selection savvy?
Maybe it's this city's German heritage or the boisterous obsession with microbrews, but in Milwaukee, Belgian rarities are more and more the norm. Long lists of authentic Belgian and German brews are standard at places like the Palm Tavern, Sugar Maple, Roman's Pub and Von Trier. Café Centraal stocks nearly 90 beers, each paired with its namesake glass.
Tags: cafe centraal, palm tavern, the publican, chicago, beer lists, belgain beers, german beers, german restaurants, sugar maple, roman's pub, von trier

Music - May 13, 2009
Springsteen treats Chicago to 'a show for the ages'
When Springsteen and friends visited the United Center Tuesday night in Chicago, age was an unavoidable sub-plot in a spectacular show. The crowd was a mix of mostly baby boomers, some with kids in tow, and Gen Y hipsters who may have discovered the band from parents, aunts, uncles, older siblings or the most recent Super Bowl and found a new hero in substitute drummer Jay Weinberg, the 19-year-old son of Max Weinberg.
Tags: bruce springsteen, united center, chicago, working on a dream, max weinberg, jay weinberg

Travel & Visitors Guide - May 5, 2009
Chicago's favorite casino is in Milwaukee
Chicago Tribune reporter Jason George analyzed nine casinos within 100 miles of Downtown Chicago. He also ranked them, listing them "in order of (his) affection." His favorite was in Milwaukee.
Tags: Potawatomi Bingo Casino, Chicago, casinos, Dream Dance, Jason George, Tribune, Hammond, Horseshoe, Four Winds, gaming, poker

Travel & Visitors Guide - May 2, 2009
Growing Power plants change in Chicago
In addition to Allen's epitomized two acre Milwaukee urban farm, he expanded projects to include three separate operations in Chicago, Ill. Each project, emphasizing a different aspect of community gardening, sustainability and neighborhood redevelopment, exemplifies the methods used in the original Milwaukee farm.
Tags: growing power, will allen, chicago, cabrini green, jackson park, grant park

Arts & Entertainment - April 21, 2009
"Talk Like Shakespeare Day?" Oy vey
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley declared Thursday to be "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" in honor of the great playwright's 445th birthday. Although Shakespeare's birthday is not known for sure, many scholars believe it was April 23, 1564.
Tags: shakespeare, talk like shakespeare day, mayor richard m. daley, chicago, ren faire

Music - March 10, 2009
Summerfest welcomes The Fray, Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire
Today Summerfest announced a few big names for the Big Gig '09.
Tags: summerfest, the fray, jack's mannequin, chicago, earth, wind, fire