For almost a year now, I've been tracking Chicago's annual events and festivals. So far, January seems by far to be the month with the biggest lull. (Event planners take ... Read More

While our new governor Pat Quinn is getting settled in, you can find his most current contact information here.

Today was a sad day for our state. More so than I expected it to be. I'm grateful that we have a new governor, but it's just such a shame ... Read More

The IL State Senate will be voting very soon on whether or not to impeach Governor Rod Blagojevich for so many reasons that it makes my head hurt. I've already made ... Read More

Looking Beyond Pigeons The Chicago Park District published a free Chicago Regional Birding Guide (pdf). The 28-page guide features more than 50 birding sites across the Chicagoland area, including northwest Indiana. ... Read More

The 101st Chicago Auto Show rolls into the city on February 13 and heads out on the highway on February 22. It's hard to imagine a more dismal time for ... Read More

It's every restaurateur's favorite: the Valentine's Day that falls on a Saturday. It also means extra luuuuv for you. (Or not. It's cool. Don't let VD-Day make you feel lame. ... Read More

If you're like me, it's still sinking in that a South Side mom is First Lady. (And, frankly, that a former First Lady is now Secretary of State.) ... Read More

Runners, start your engines. Registration for the 2009 Chicago Marathon opens at midnight (CST) on Sunday, February 1. The registration is capped at 45,000 and fills up quickly, so you'll ... Read More

If you're one of those people who have stood in front of your kitchen counter with a large bottle of ketchup and pretended to thank the Academy, this event might ... Read More

Barack Obama arrives at the Inauguration Ceremony to take the oath of office. See more photos of how his morning unfolded. Pool/Getty Images

More Grounds for a Blagojevich Impeachment? I'm not a WTF kind of girl, but OMG, did you see the Illinois float that we entered in the Inaugural Parade? WTHeck? It ... Read More

"We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to ... Read More

How sweet it is.

The final line-up for the Inaugural Parade has just been announced, and Barack Obama's hometown and our state will be front and center. Three of the first ten celebrants will ... Read More

Are we one yet? (Sasha Obama seems to think we might be.) See more photos from the Inauguration Opening Concert, including ones of Springsteen, Beyonce, Will.i.am, Steve Carrell and ... Read More

It's impossible not to look back on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King without looking forward to the presidency of Barack Obama. There is a certain poetry in the ... Read More

One of the first things that Barack Obama does the day after he becomes President is also the last thing he does as part of his Inauguration schedule: He attends ... Read More

The opening Inauguration concert, called "We Are One," keeps racking up A-list stars. If this keeps up, they'll be elbowing each other off the Lincoln Memorial steps. Steve Carrell, Jack Black, ... Read More

As I've mentioned, I'm not thrilled about Roland Burris becoming our U.S. Senator. I find Burris to be a "useful idiot" in the Blagojevich circus, to borrow AM 890 Roe ... Read More

The Presidential Inauguration Committee announced that you can text "open" to 56333 to receive Inauguration news, updates, transportation info and more via text messaging. Organizers say the sign up is ... Read More

Denzel Washington, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx to Read Historical Passages The long anticipated Inauguration of Barack Obama will open with a party on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial this coming ... Read More

Road to Inauguration This photo of Barack Obama and his younger daughter, Sasha, is a pretty good metaphor for what I hope their lives will feel like in the White House. ... Read More

Road to Inauguration No doubt one of the most exciting aspects of Barack Obama's Inauguration is that Chicago kids are going to be living in the White House. Imagine that. And, ... Read More

Of course, he's not out yet. But, he's one step closer. It's a relief to see the Illinois House of Representatives act in unison (114-1) to end this nauseating political ... Read More

Five thousand Inauguration Day PARADE tickets will go on sale today, January 9, at noon via Ticketmaster or by phone at 202-397-SEAT(7328), 410-547-SEAT(7328) or 703-573-SEAT(7328). They are on a first ... Read More

Oh man, someone's not going to like this. As you may recall, back in 2005, people began seeing an image of Jesus' mom in the concrete that held up the Kennedy ... Read More

"There seems to be near universal agreement . . . that certain conduct (by Governor Rod Blagojevich) comfortably falls within the boundaries of an impeachable offense." -- from the Illinois House ... Read More

Road to Inauguration I started my photo timeline of Michelle Obama with this shot from the day Barack Obama announced he was going to run for President. I adore it for ... Read More

The Year of the Ox will soon be upon us. I was thinking it might be even better if he were a bull, but I'm not going to push it. ... Read More

Dare we wish for a Chicago Cubs season with a happy ending? The Cubs open their spring training against the Dodgers on Ash Wednesday, February 25. Tickets go on sale ... Read More

President-elect Barack Obama continues to push the technological envelope for politicans. He will throw the "first-ever" Neighborhood Inaugural Ball on the eve of his inauguration. According to organizers, "a ... Read More

Okay, I've had enough. No more sitting on the circus sidelines for me. We need a special election to fill Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat. Obviously, Rod Blagojevich doesn't get it. ... Read More

Road to Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 On a frigid day in February 2007, U.S. Senator Barack Obama announced his desire to run for President of the United States in ... Read More

Zamboni peace before the skating storm. (Actually, it's an Olympia, not a Zamboni.) Enjoy Millennium Park's Ice Rink sometime soon. You won't regret it. Unless you break your leg. Then, ... Read More