June 2009 Archives

REMINDER TO VOTERS: Please make sure to vote for your favorite MAIN DISH between the TWO matchups--Darius vs. Joelen and Amy vs. Joey.

Knives down, hands up! Our chef-testants were fired up today--and even the ones competing next week got in on the trash talking action. Thanks to everyone's hard work today.

By Thursday, our celebrity chef and judge Rick Bayless will name his favorites and decide who will move on.

But vote on your favorite main dish between Joelen and Darius and Amy and Joey by leaving a comment! Every vote counts. If you are eliminated by Chef Bayless, you can be "saved" by the public and return to the final round of competition as a wildcard. The Virtual Kitchen Stadium Finals will have the two chefs who won their challenges, and one eliminated chef with the most votes. Voting will close for all the chefs before the final round and at that time we will name the wildcard.

If you're not on ChicagoNow yet, when you get to the comment boxes please sign up for a profile. It takes a second and it's free (and don't worry, we won't sell your info to a Nigerian doctor who needs thousands of dollars).

Today's secret ingredient was cherries. Let's see what they came up with ...

TAKE REDEYE'S VAMPIRE QUIZ

Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) need to come out of the coffin.

Call me a traditionalist--or just call me gay.

Edward Cullen and Stefan Salvatore are hot boys, but this fang-fan prefers his vampire stories with more gay flavor than "Twilight," the CW's upcoming "The Vampire Diaries" or other upcoming vampire projects provide.

Continue reading on Show Patrol.

Well it all started with this:

1. 
   Mofierce Hey a totally naked man just went running by TGI Fridays onto Michigan Ave with security guards in hot pursuit! Crazy! 30 Jun 2009 from txt

-- this quote was brought to you by quoteurl
So Scott Kleinberg, @redeyechicago, just had to ask:

1. 
   redeyechicago So here's my obvious question ... you see a naked dude running down Michigan Avenue. What do you do? Take a photo? Run with him? Smile? 30 Jun 2009 from HootSuite

-- this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

And here are some of the funny responses we got:

Prepare for battle, Joey, Amy, Joelen and Darius! (Meet our chef-testants.)

Today's secret ingredient is inspired by summer. They're now popping up at local farmers markets, bestowing us starved Chicagoans for a brief fling before you have to go back to buying them for $9.99/lb from Cali in a few weeks. It will no doubt be at many 4th of July celebrations this weekend. It's good in pie and Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

Your challenge: Make a dish with cherries. Easy as pie, right? Nope! It can't be a dessert; it has to be used in some savory way. You will be judged on how creatively you use the secret ingredient, your explanation and how it looks.

For those of you watching at home, the contest is over at 8 p.m. Check back here by 9 p.m. to see the dishes and vote. Our guest judge, Rick Bayless, will also weigh in!

1. After all the City Series hoopla, the Sox are five games out of first. Your forecast for them?
BRIAN MOORE
After all is said and done, the White Sox still will fail to make the playoffs and have a worse record than the Cubs. They just aren't that good.
 
 EVIL SUPER COMPUTER
 I don't forecast, I program, and I've got a lot of pain in store for them. Kansas City Royals-like pain.

That is just the appetizer, folks. The rest of this edible edition of Five on Five is below. Think you can outwit us? Give us your five answers in the comment box. Or visit our Facebook Fives and answer one question while scoring other readers' comments.

**UPDATE: The CTA has scheduled a hearing on the proposed elimination of the No. 200 and the No. N201. The meeting will be held July 23 at 6 p.m., at the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Avenue in Evanston.

Written comments may be submitted up to July 28 via e-mail or by writing to the Chicago Transit Authority.

What if your bus line was eliminated? Consider this: The CTA is mulling elimination of the No. 200-Main Shuttle, which travels along Main Street in Evanston to Skokie during rush hours.

The bus route has been logging fewer than 100 rides per day since January, when Rand McNally moved its headquarters to a different Skokie location, according to the CTA. The CTA plans to hold a hearing about the bus route this summer.

Robert Pattinson and Cam Gigandet star in 'Twilight.'

Bet you don't know as much about our fictional fanged friends as you think.

Sure, our bloodthirsty buds are everywhere, but RedEye is separating the Johnny-Come-Lately fans from the Bram Stoker-philes when it comes to vampire lore.

Take our quiz with scores ranging from "Bite Me" (the highest) to "You Suck" (lowest). Warning, this bad boy is on the advanced side, so it's no stake through the heart if you flunk. And remember: you cheat no one but yourself if you google the answers.''

Let us know how you scored in the comments.

Photo by pasco33

Finally, Judgment Day is here--that is for RedEye's Virtual Kitchen Stadium's inaugural group of chef contestants. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed us at redeyemunchtime@gmail.com. We're really happy (and of course not surprised) to see so many foodies and home cooks out there. We're sorry we couldn't reply to everyone but wanted you to know to keep doing what you do--someday we might ask you to step into the ring!

Meanwhile, meet the first four chefs who will be battling for virtual supremacy this week. Follow the madness on Twitter (@redeyemunchtime) for minute by minute accounts of our contestants (perhaps some Twitter trash talk?) And make sure to keep checking us out here on the blog for the winning dishes. Winners will be named every Thursday of the week. Naming the winning dishes will be a very special celebrity guest judge--Rick Bayless! Check out his comments and pick for winning dish on the blog.

Here are this week's contestants:

*This is a headline that inevitably comes up during brainstorming for any story chef-related in the RedEye newsroom. It finally gets to see the light of day.

'Twas a glorious day to be riding a float at Pride Parade yesterday -- but not such a glorious day to be stuck behind the barriers that ran the length of the parade route, unable to cross the street for hours.

Jenna Blick of Lakeview wrote to RedEye with her tale of parade woe. She said she secured a spot on the east side of Halsted Street before the parade began, but soon discovered that her friend was on the west side of Halsted -- and there was nowhere for them to cross to meet up.

"I understand the police need to keep people out of the street," Blick, 28, wrote, "but they need to have some 'crossing points' where they open the barricades and spectators can cross the streets to meet their friends, let alone go home after they've had enough!"

Ryan Lin shares of a bite of his Italian Sausage Sandwich with girlfriend Sharon Chang at the Taste of Chicago Monday afternoon. The couple, who are from Seattle, are both first time Taste-goers and say that the sandwich has been their favorite taste.

I wrote earlier about Rick Bayless being a natural when it comes to social media.

You hear that? That's the Munch Time bell ringing and it's time to get our cheap lunch on. Today I'm heading out to Stanley's at 1558 N. Elston Ave. Now we all know Stanley's is the place to get cheap produce. But did you know it's now a place to get cheap lunch? I was tipped off to Stanley's thanks to our own Practically Green blogger, Supriya Doshi, who told me about the potato chip machine. (Thanks Supi!)

Let me tell you why I love being RedEye's social mediaologist. It's because when I put out a call for photos or comments or videos -- or anything else -- via Twitter, Facebook or any other means, you respond so quickly I can barely keep up.

Marianne Velonis, 30, senior strategist, and Amanda Latifi, 27, strategist, inside their office called Boudoiffice (Leonor Vivanco/RedEye)

Can you pimp out your office like celebs do their homes on MTV's "Cribs"?

For many of us, our office or cubicle is our second home. We spend more time sitting in uncomfortable chairs with our eyes staring at the computer screen than we do on our plush couches channel-surfing.

But how decorative and cozy can a cubicle possibly be? Only if we could create a bed under our desk like George Costanza...

In a hip and funky space in the Aon Building surrounded by windows, Marianne Velonis and Amanda Latifi created the must-see Boudoiffice. Check out their digs after the jump.

Submit your office by leaving a comment.

1. Worse for Cubs fans: Losing to the White Sox or Mark DeRosa becoming a Cardinal?
BRIAN MOORE
Losing to the Sox is unparalleled in Cubbie nation. Unless they stop serving beer at Wrigley.
STICK FIGURE
Losing is always the worst. It makes people so sad. Boo-hoo.

Come on, people. You can do better than this, right? Submit your answers to all five questions in the comment box below. You also can do the same for one question at our Facebook Five site, where you can grade other users' answers.

"When are you planning to have kids?"
It sounds like a non-threatening question, part of the flow of a friendly conversation, but for some couples who have made the choice not to have children, those seven words can be the source of intense anxiety.
Answer honestly, and the barrage of follow-up questions they're likely to receive--"Why not?" "Who will take care of you when you grow old?" "Aren't you being selfish?"--can come off as insensitive, intrusive and accusatory.
That's the subject of the cover story in today's RedEye.

A Chicago woman wrote to "Going Public" with a complaint about a bus driver. The operator's number has been redacted.

"She drives the 95th Street bus that passes Little Company of Mary Hospital. Sunday morning my 5-year-old found me unresponsive and I was taken to the hospital only to be rushed out -- no belongings whatsoever. Not even my glasses and I'm blind as a bat.

I was wearing a blue paper hospital scrub because my clothes were wet. I had no money, no cell phone, and no ride. I walked to the nearest bus stop only to encounter the world's cruelest bus driver.

I'd hope that the operator would let me ride for free seeing my pitiful circumstances. I'd hoped to quietly board the bus, politely ask for help, sit down and not draw attention to myself. I was in a desperate situation and it showed. Instead, the bus driver belittled me and mocked me. 

She told me I should go into Applebee's and beg for change. She threatened to call the police on me. She wouldn't allow the passengers to help me. She said the money they'd offered me wasn't enough. ...

A hibiscus-ginger-cardamom mojito from Nacional 27 (Elizabeth Myers/RedEye)

I've got a confession: I've never tasted a mojito. I love mint flavor in my ice cream with some chocolate chips but whatever you do, keep it out of my cocktail glass! So I guess that makes me not so trendy--and that's the subject of RedEye's cover story today. Summer drink trend predictions are out, and they run the gamut from fruity concoctions with fresh produce to (gasp!) beer cocktails.

Michael Jackson performs on stage during his "BAD" concert tour held at Wembley Stadium in London on Jul. 16, 1988. He breaks a world record with 504,000 people attending seven sold out shows at Wembley Stadium, more than any other artist.(Getty Images)

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

 

I am currently rounding up my week long birthday vacation in Las Vegas.  The level of fun has been truly astonishing.  Let's just say, I am not ready to let the party stop.  So...I'm not going to!  This upcoming weekend is one of my favorites in the calendar year.

So I'm a little behind on my New Yorkers and I just got through the June 22 issue, which has a hilarious little satirical tale about a Mormon family from Utah visiting relatives in Massachussetts, portrayed as a sort of Gay-topia.

An excerpt:

So we're driving through upstate New York, and getting closer to Massachusetts, and we're all singing one of our favorite travel hymns, "Jesus Is Under the Hood." And, as we're singing, my kids are also trying to spot license plates from different states, and seven-year-old Ethan shouts, "I see a new one! Look, Daddy, on that license plate it says 'Massachusetts--The Anal Sex State'!"

"Mike?" my wife said.

"I see it, too!" four-year-old Ruth cried, and then she asked, "Daddy, what's anal sex?"

"Is it something the Pilgrims brought over from England?" Ethan asked.

I don't like to lie to my children, so I replied, "Yes, it is."

"Like scurvy," Beth said.

Oh, and it gets better! If you haven't already seen it, I encourage all to read the whole story.

 

Correction: In my "Beyond Boystown" story in Thursday's RedEye, one of the event listings was incorrect. The Center on Halsted is not hosting a presentation by Jeanne White and GlaxoSmithKline HIV reps today (Friday). That event happened last year. It seems some links got crossed. Very sorry for the bad intel!

Michael Jackson performs onstage at the 1995 Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, CA on September 7, 1995. (Getty Images)

Instead of doing our weekly news quiz, we decided to honor Michael Jackson by reliving some of his classics. Listen to a six-second clip and see if you can remember the names of his classic hits...

1. Watching a baseball game at U.S. Cellular Field is like ...
PHILLIP THOMPSON
... taking a bath in your own sweat?
 
SUPRIYA DOSHI
... going to the circus--complete with a few clowns.

We need more answers like these--or better. Add yours to the batch in the comments box below, then go to the Facebook Fives and throw one into the ring as you rank others' answers.

Ah, to be a newsmaker. Sometimes things go your way, and sometimes, well, they don't. Here's a look back on a few of the week's newsmakers. RedEye broke them down into categories. It's up to you to decide who had the worst week.

Pain in the commute
PARKERS: A study released Tuesday by the Active Transportation Alliance says the 75-year parking meter privatization deal that took effect in February will hamstring efforts by the city to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and pollution, and make streets safer for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and mass-transit riders. Ouch!

PUBLIC TRANSIT: The amount of public funding that Chicago-area transit agencies can expect to receive this year was slashed by $67 million Thursday at a meeting of the Regional Transit Authority.

See what our readers thought after the jump. Share yours in the comments.

Also... if you want to relive the music, check out all the tribute shows the networks have lined up on Show Patrol.

In this 1972 file photo, Michael Jackson sings in his home in Encino, Ca. At age 13, he was the youngest member of the music group Jackson Five, (AP)

King of Pop Michael Jackson died tonight in a Los Angeles hospital. He was 50.

Fans worldwide are collectively mourning. In Chicago, we are sharing our sadness and fond Jackson memories through the mediums that connect us all: ChicagoNow, Twitter and Facebook.

I had always thought I was the weird one, who re-watched Jackson's videos, tried to learn the dance moves, and sang along to my Discman. But guess what? We all did that. This outpouring of memories from Chicagoans has made me realize how deeply his work influenced our lives and culture. He was, without a doubt, a superstar.

Please join me, in the comments section of this post, in remembering Michael Jackson.

Once the news broke, celebrities became fans too, sharing with other Michael Jackson fans their grief.

1. 
   aplusk Now the ap confirms aswell. Rip Sending love and light to family and friend but especially his kids. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   mileycyrus michael jackson was my inspiration. love and blessings 25 Jun 2009 from mobile web
3. 
   StarJonesEsq "Death comes to all. But great achievements build a monument." He IS and WAS the greatest entertainer of all times...Peace to you brother. 25 Jun 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   MCHammer I will be mourning my friend , brother, mentor and inspiration.. He gave me and my family hope. I would never have been me without him. 25 Jun 2009 from web
5. 
   KimKardashian Music will never be the same... 25 Jun 2009 from web
6. 
   mrskutcher I am greatly saddened for the loss of both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Especially for their children! 25 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
7. 
   johncmayer I truly hope he is memorialized as the '83 moonwalking, MTV owning, mesmerizing, unstoppable, invincible Michael Jackson. 25 Jun 2009 from Tweetie
8. 
   sevinnyne6126 r.i.p. Michael Jackson *my love and prayers go out to the Jackson family.. "you are not alone" -mj 25 Jun 2009 from web
9. 
   lancearmstrong Terrible news about Michael Jackson and Farah Fawcett. My best to their friends, fans, and families. 26 Jun 2009 from UberTwitter

-- this quote was brought to you by quoteurl

AP/Mark J. Terrill
Update: 5:23 p.m.: The LA Times reported Jackson died after arriving at the hospital in a coma. Rest in peace, King of Pop. Continue reading on the Kyles Files.

Athletes in the Dew's Tour Nike 6.0 BMX Open take advantage of practice time on the vert course Thursday afternoon. The competition, which features four different courses, starts Friday afternoon in Grant Park. (Elizabeth Myers / RedEye)

I haven't been to the Taste of Chicago since I was a child when I didn't dare indulge in anything but hot dogs and lemonade. The Taste opens tomorrow, and I plan on going back this year, but it won't be for the basics. Taking the time to compile a personal check list of bizarre, oddball foodstuffs was difficult, but may prove invaluable over the next few days. Here's to trying something new and diving off the deep end -- in some cases, quite literally.

5. Mango-cumin dusted fries -- Vermilion
The office is abuzz over Vermilion's specialty fries, and for good reason. Mangos are tasty, yes? And french fries: also tasty. May there be no competition between fresh fruit and fried food at this year's Taste -- it's combining like terms of awesomeness, really.

Reader Peter Scott sent me a link to a blog post written by Boner Petit, a Chicago improv group. This particular post deals with the "top 10 most horrifying events witnessed on public transportation."

Apparently, the CTA is terrifying. Now, it's your turn to name the most horrifying CTA event you've witnessed.

1. What awaits the Bulls on draft day?
BRIAN MOORE
Letdowns, disappointments, blown picks ... and that's just during pre-draft meetings.

STICK FIGURE
Ooooh. Sounds fun. A party, perhaps? Save me some chocolate ice cream, please.

We draft you to answer these five questions too. Give us your best responses in the comment box below, then visit our Facebook Fives, where you submit just one answer then rank others' answers.

As part of my story in today's RedEye about the gay community on the South Side, I talked about the black Pride events that take place the first week of July, as soon as June Pride month is over.

In reporting the story, I thought the biggest conflict would be that there are two separate black Pride organizations (Windy City Black Pride and Chicago Windy City Black Pride-SGL), resulting from a rift among board members a couple of years ago. But most of the people I spoke with said that, while the rift is unfortunate, having two sets of festivities means there are more events for people to choose from, which is a good thing.

The larger conflict, to my surprise, seemed to be about whether there should be a separate black Pride celebration at all.

"I think it's ridiculous," said one South Shore woman. "It's so segregated."

Anna Pulley, of Sex and the Windy City

Playboy.com has a new list of America's Best Sandwiches--and Al's Italian Beef was there repping us in the Windy City. What's your favorite sandwich? Our Twitter followers weighed in with a wide variety of choices as diverse as Chicago itself. Of course my fave is a bahn mi from Nhu Lan. What's your favorite Chi-town sammy? 

Listen to Love in October's "Soft Errors"

By Michael Schmitt
For RedEye

Members of the Chicago band Love in October aren't actually from the Windy City. In fact, they aren't even from the U.S.

Erik Widman and his brother, Kent, started the group in 2006 after coming to America from Sweden for school. That international influence adds a certain flair to the group's indie dance rock, which can be heard on the band's eponymous EP that was released in May. RedEye recently talked with Erik Widman.

Storm clouds pass over the near south side of Chicago, dropping rain, Wednesday, June 24, 2009. View is from the Adler Planetarium looking west towards Soldier Field. (Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune)

The Infrastructurist recently wrote about 11 "beautiful train stations that fell to the wrecking ball." Two former Chicago stations made the list: Grand Central Station and Central Station.

Which current train stations would you like to see meet the wrecking ball?

The free-wheeling days of chasing Pride parade floats to snag a string of rainbow beads are over.

After a dancer fell from a float and cracked her leg bone at last year's Chicago Pride parade, and as more people bring their children to watch, the city asked organizers to erect barricades all along the parade route.

Matthew Nachel wrote to "Going Public" with a question about cellular service on the CTA. The CTA responded below.

"I just read that now AT&T will be able to work in the Red Line and Blue Line CTA tunnels. Can you see if Sprint will try to work in the CTA Blue Line tunnel? My cell phone does NOT work in the CTA Blue Line tunnel!"

The CTA responded: "The decision to add wireless service is up to the service provider. At this time, Sprint has not expressed interest in adding service to the CTA subways." 

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

 

Another weekend, another barrage of festival activity.  From the strangest little cluster of tables in Lincoln Park to the most amazing hidden gem off the Pink Line, the Chicago festival season has proven to be nothing short of a complete surprise...each and every weekend.

Let's compare notes!

Word on the tweet is that Chicago is experiencing power outages. Here are some suggestions for passing your time:

5. Play with the static on your TV screen

Paul Ludwig wrote to "Going Public" via Twitter with a question about why buses seem to disappear from the Bus Tracker. "Going Public" has experienced this a few times as well. The bus will appear on Bus Tracker, then disappear, or it won't show up on Bus Tracker at all, and it's a surprise when the bus arrives at the stop.

The CTA responded: "Bus Tracker is very popular with customers. The vast majority of comments CTA riders have provided related to Bus Tracker are positive feedback on the service and questions on when certain routes would be added.

However, for riders who have seen bus information disappear briefly from the next bus arrival screen, it's important to remember that the Bus Tracker system is based on cellular communication and occasionally a bus loses communication, just as a cell phone does.

When the Bus Tracker arrival grid is not able to show information for a bus displayed a few minutes earlier, this is often the case.

In addition, if a bus is more than 150 feet off route (due to a reroute) or if the bus has not moved in more than 10 minutes, it will be dropped from the Bus Tracker view.

If a rider notices a bus that seems to have lost communication, they can contact the CTA with information regarding the incident at 888-YOUR-CTA or feedback@transitchicago.com.
The information will be forwarded to the Bus Tracker technical team for investigation."

RedEye's cover was pretty hot today, huh? Because really, we're not watching 'Transformers' just for the 'bots.

See what other headlines we came up with after the jump.

Can you do better? Leave your suggestions in the comments!

(And in other 'Transformers' news, Kyra Kyles names some cartoons that should never, ever be made into movies. Smurfs, anyone?)

1. Who's your designated hitter for the Cubs?
JIMMY GREENFIELD
Ed McMahon. Too soon?
 
BRIAN MOORE
Michael Barrett, for infinity.

This blog post wouldn't be complete without readers' answers to all five questions in the comments box below. Do it! Also, try your hand at the Facebook Fives, where you answer one question and give a thumbs-up or down to fellow users' responses. Give your friends hell!

What's next for the gay rights movement?

That's the question some leaders in Chicago's gay community tried to answer Monday night during a panel discussion at the Center on Halsted. About 30 people gathered to hear the thoughts of Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network; Tania Unzueta of the Chicago Dyke March; and Christopher Clark, a senior staff attorney at Lambda Legal.

It's been almost a month since the California Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8 and the Illinois State Legislature ended its session without voting on the much-anticipated civil unions bill. So what's next?

A March on Washington, for one. The National Equality March is set to take place Oct. 10-11 to demand "equal protection in all matters governed by civil law in all 50 states," according to the march's official Web site.

But no more Mr. and Ms. Nice Guy, Thayer said.

"I want it to be an angry march," he said.

Here's what else the panelists had to say.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt aims his video camera at the press during the premiere of his newest film, (500) Days of Summer, asking for opinions on love. "We're making a documentary," Gordon-Levitt explained, while posing for pictures with director Marc Webb at the Music Box theater in Chicago and opens on July 17. (Elizabeth Myers/RedEye)

In Tuesday's paper, we asked our readers to text in their thoughts on Monday's news that Chris Brown pleaded guilty, thus avoiding jail time. And boy did they respond. Here are more answers we couldn't fit in the paper.

Now that lunch is a distant memory, your mind (and stomach) wanders off to "What the heck am I gonna make for dinner?" Here at RedEye Munchtime, we've got your back. We're gonna start hooking you up with easy dinner ideas. So step away from the phone, stop placing your order for the 1,000th pizza this month and check out our easy dinner ideas that require 5 ingredients or less. Other than salt and pepper, our recipes will never have more than 5 ingredients so all you have to do is dig into your fridge or pantry or at the most pick up an item or two at the grocery store on your way home. And then faster than you can say "15 minutes for Chinese" you'll have dinner!

One rider wrote to "Going Public" with complaints about her Pink Line commute.

"I ride the Pink Line. I am constantly annoyed by the loud music coming through some of the other passengers' ear phones. It's so loud sometimes that I can still hear the tinny, monotonous sound even after moving to the other end of the car. These passengers may as well have radios on their heads. Can't anything be done? Must I wear earplugs to avoid hearing annoying music on the 'L' each morning and each afternoon?
.
I saw an ad for the Chicago Young Republicans on the Pink Line today. It was not only offensive and insulting, but blatantly desperate. Can't we find better ads than those for a beleaguered political organization who's first move would be to eliminate public transportation altogether???"

Here is today's "Going Public" column. I received quite a few e-mails and Tweets today in response to the column. These responses are after the jump.

1. What happened to Tiger Woods in the U.S. Open?
SUPRIYA DOSHI
His streak could only go on for so long.

BRIAN MOORE
Clearly, somebody drugged him.

Time for you to take your shot. Give us your answers in the comment box below, then visit the Facebook Fives to submit your answer to be judged by other users, and vice versa.

More than 10,000 potential contestants wait outside the United Center Monday, June 22, 2009 to audition for American Idol. The doors opened around 8 a.m., but eager contestants were lining up the night before.

We're on the case here at the RedEye FSI labs, and today we're taking a crack at this fridge sent to redeyemunchtime@gmail.com. You can do the same by sending us a pic of your fridge to the same e-mail.

Now on to the analysis:

Happy Monday Chicago! Today my fast foodie adventures have taken me to Bucktown, home to my favorite spot for tacos at 5 a.m. when I should be taking my ass home. But tacos in the middle of the night always sound good at the time, no? Anyway I'm getting off topic. You can't go wrong with Mexican when you're looking for a cheap and fast lunch but why not treat yourself to something different, delicious and of course, cheap?

Hit the jump for pics of my cheap lunch pick:

Today's RedEye explored a different kind of relationship in Chicago: Polyamory.

Unlike swingers, who swap or add partners to spice up their sex lives, polyamorists maintain multiple intimate relationships that are emotional as well as sexual--"swinging with breakfast," some call it.

What do you think of the idea?

1. How could Kerry Wood's return to Wrigley Field have been any worse?
BRIAN MOORE
He could have peed his pants. Literally. He got the figurative pottypants out of the way early.
BAG BOY
He could have played exactly the same but in a Cubs uniform.

That's Part 1 of ChicagoNow's bonus Five on Five answers, the rest are below. And below that you can add your own answers in the comment box. You also can get in on the action by answering our Facebook Five question of the day here and ranking other users' answers.

Ali Razavi of Chicago's West Loop exercises Tango, his Rottweiler, around other dogs at Mondog Beach in Chicago, Ill. on Sunday, June 21, 2009. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)

The cool thing about "Going Public" reporter and columnist Tracy Swartz is she gets results.

I asked her this silly question when I moved from an apartment near the Red Line to one near the Blue Line. And she actually got the CTA to answer it!

Christopher Lindholm of Wilmette wrote to "Going Public" about the lack of accessibility at the Purple Line Central Street station. "Going Public" traveled to the station and took photos of the entryways. Photos after the jump.

"Hey CTA! I'm writing this to bring attention to a serious problem at the Central Street station on the Purple Line.

This station is in close proximity to the Evanston NorthShore hospital but for some reason there are no elevators here and I have observed a lot of people with canes and crutches struggling to get up and down what I consider to be very dangerous steep steps.

While I understand that there is a budget crunch with respect to capital projects, this station should get immediate attention before there is a serious fall or accident!

As this station is a single island station, all it needs is one centrally located elevator. I sincerely hope someone will take notice of the situation and get some elevators here pronto!!"

It's time to find out. If you did, you should rock at this quiz. If you didn't -- it's time for you to go to RedEye remedial school. Tell us how you did in the comments!

Sarah Lewis wrote to "Going Public" with a question about the Brown Line. The CTA response is after the jump.

"What is going on with the Brown Line at 9:00 a.m.? Why are the trains four cars long? This still happens to be rush hour and the train ride is less than comfortable. We are all shoved in those cars like sardines.

Cutting the train down to half capacity at this time of morning is not a good idea. At least make it six cars long or make the trains shorter after rush hour."

Bad weather in Chicago... so what else is new? It's time to turn it into an art form. RedEye readers everywhere sent in their photos of today's storm via #redeyeweather and redeyetalk@gmail.com

via email to redeyetalk@gmail.com from @mcapp22: Here are a few pictures taken from our apartment as the storms rolled through this morning. -Mindi 

SHADE: Get one of 100 sun-protective hats from the Headwear Association noon today at Oak Street Beach (1000 N. Lake Shore Drive).

VISIT: Get free general admission today to the Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S. Lake Shore Drive).

DRINK: Celebrate Father's Day by picking up a free 10-ounce hot or cold latte Sunday at Dunkin' Donuts.

Nia Vardalos [from 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'] dined at Lou Malnatis in the South Loop last night 6/18 with a large entourage. via redeyetalk@gmail.com

Desmon Sanders wrote to "Going Public" about frustration when his Red Line train waits for the Brown Line to arrive. The CTA response is after the jump.

"Can some please tell me why every time I ride the Red Line the idiotic train conductor stops and wait for the Brown Line to arrive?

This always lays me over and causes me to be late EVERYDAY to work. I almost want to wake up earlier so I can avoid this but with my luck it would happen on the other train.

Again why do they do this, and does anyone else feel my need to shout?"

1. What are the symptoms of a Crosstown Classic hangover?
TRACY SWARTZ
Fanxiety--an unpleasant feeling associated with uneasiness, fear, worry and Cubs.
 
THAT GUY
You feel just incredibly average.


Time for you, readers, to crush these two. Show off your answers in the comment box below, or go to our Facebook Fives, where you can deliver your best shot on one of the questions and rank other users' answers. Now, get to it!

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

 

What happens when real life and festival life collide?  You have a REALLY BIG Sunday ahead of you.  Four festivals this weekend, lovely readers...I'm going to need some friends!  PLUS, it's my birthday weekend, so come help me celebrate.

Make sure to add @redeyelivetweet to your Twitter, then hit the jump for awesome, interactive details. 

Listen to A&R's "Chique Chick"

@GinosEast: George Lopez and Kevin Nealon at Gino's East on Superior @redeyechicago

See a photo after the jump.

Angie, who typically rides the No. 148 from Irving Park Road to Michigan Avenue and Ontario Street, wrote to "Going Public" about brake problems on her bus. The CTA response is after the jump.

"Is it me or do the new CTA buses have brake problems? It's almost impossible to stand on a bus these days without bumping into someone else or almost falling. The drivers seem to be slamming on the brakes all the time or they just can't get them to work properly."

Baseball fan Sam Harris, 12, from of Buffalo Grove, Ill. wears a modified Sammy Sosa jersey while he watches batting practice before a interleague baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, Thursday, June 18, 2009, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Jimmy Fallon attends the UJA-Federation of New York's 2009 Leadership Awards Dinner at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers on June 9, 2009 in New York City. Getty Images

Have you seen any famous people yet? There are a bunch scheduled to be in the city over the next few days. RedEye and Metromix have the info on some of the Hollywood types expected to be around town, but we want to hear from you. Keep your eyes and ears open, people, and please, please, please send us a pic if you snap a celeb.

Here are just some of the folks expected to be around ...

By Jason Steele

I'm not so much into sports.

I enjoy going to one Cubs game a year, but it's more about the atmosphere and the hot dogs. My attention span starts to drift around the seventh inning.

Every so often, I'll surprise myself by getting into a winning game; such was the case recently with Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals, part of the reason being that I'm from Pittsburgh.

When it comes to sports, I have a mental block regarding the rules of the game. I don't know what a touchback, a force play or a pick and roll is--although I can think of a naughty explanation for each.

Quiz yourself. Do you know what's legal or illegal in Chicago? Leave how you did in the comments! (If you  need a cheat sheet, check out RedEye's cover story today.)


You wake up at the crack of dawn, drag yourself out of bed and stumble outside to let your dog do his dirty business. The deed is done and you reach into your pocket for a baggie when--damn! Forgot the baggie. So you leave your doggie bomb on the grass and head home.
Question: Are you breaking the law?

Fans of mixed-martial arts know Clay "The Carpenter" Guida.

Born in Round Lake and training out of a gym in Tinley Park, Guida has been working his way up the ranks of Ultimate Fighting Championship since entering the organization in 2006.

In town to promote his upcoming match against Diego "The Nightmare" Sanchez in the Season 9 finale of Spike TV's "Ultimate Fighter," Guida took a break from training to talk about his opponent and what he's learned as an MMA fighter.

1. What would be a better name for Cubs-Sox series other than the Crosstown Classic or City Series?
BRIAN MOORE
The Crosstown Crash.

JIMMY GREENFIELD
Nightmare on Addison and 35th Street.

Apparently, that's the best these two could come up with, but wait, there's more below. Add your answers in the comment box below. You can also visit the Facebook Fives, where you can answer one question and score others' remarks. Oooh, how delicious.

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

 

I think I deserve a badge or a sticker.  At the very least, I've earned a cookie for conquering seven festivals AND an 8 year old's birthday in the 'burbs over one weekend.  Seriously, Red Eye, send me a cookie!

Hit the jump for a full recap of my weekend's debauchery.

 

 

Listen to American Taxi's "The Mistake"
 

By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

American Taxi may be inspired by '60s garage-rock, but they can play with just about any band.

"We have played with Sum 41, Smoking Popes, The Ataris, Plain White T's and Filter," guitarist/lead singer Adam Krier told RedEye. "The interesting thing about that is those bands are all so different, but we were able to find our niche among the shows."

Krier took time from recording a release due later this year to talk about the band's live shows and signing to a major label.

 

As I was riding my bike to work this afternoon--Bike to Work Week, you know--I passed a guy on a bike. Within a minute, he was furiously pedaling past me, as fast as he could possibly go.

I caught up to him pretty quickly. I do the constant, smooth pedaling thing. He was doing more of a pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal ... coast. But we hit a red light, and he sneaked through the intersection ahead of me. I caught up again. We repeated this pattern for almost 2 miles until I finally hit a stretch without lights so I could pass him. He didn't look too happy.

Remember this oldie but goodie? Back in 2006, RedEye reader Joe Benarroch proposed to boyfriend Jason Fournier in Kyra Kyles' Going Public column. Jimmy Greenfield captured it all on tape. Warning: This is a tear jerker.

Popping the question in a RedEye column? You can't get a more "Chicago" proposal than that. But, popping the question at the John Hancock center comes pretty darn close. Mike Hines, a RedEye assistant editor, wrote this story in 2008 about how one dramatic Signature Room proposal almost went awry:

Angela Henderson wrote to "Going Public" to commend a bus driver. "Going Public" regularly accepts compliments of bus drivers. We publish some of these praises in the paper under the "Commendation Station" feature.

"Speaking as a native of Chicago, it's not too often that you encounter a CTA bus driver that is knowledge, courteous, and value to keep commuters safe.

Contrary to popular belief, yesterday riding the No. 10 Museum of Science & Industry bus I met a bus operator (operator # 44494/bus run KO75).

He knew the whole city, gave out an excellent easy to follow directions, could muti-task like a pro, while also explaining the history of Chicago's transit, birth of the CTA -- all this while driving us safe to our destination in the rain.

Additionally, he is a model employee that we all, CTA in particular, could learn from. In my opinion, he definitely deserves recognition."

Today's fridge had us at a loss for words--there's food in there! Want us to take a crack at your case? E-mail your fridge to redeyemunchtime@gmail.com.

 

Kevin Sims (cq) of Portage, Indiana displays his Cubs' hairstyle while waiting to enter the ballpark before the Chicago White Sox play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune) play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. (Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune)

The sked is set, according to the Tribune. Who do you want to see?

Here are our interns' top five "Who I'd Like to See at Lollapalooza" lists:

You might have already read this in the paper today, but I wanted to bring the conversation online. I've already received an e-mail on our Great Debate and I'm curious to see what you guys think. The question: Is a phone in the toilet worth rescuing?

Here's what photo editor Chase Agnello-Dean and I had to say on the matter, along with a reader comment. We want to hear what you think. Hit up the comments, people! 

1. What dangers await at Wrigley Field for an afternoon game after a night game the day before?
JEN PATTERSON
A complete mudslide.

BRIAN MOORE
The biggest danger by far is if Wrigley ran out of beer the night before. Imagine the riot.

That's Part 1 of ChicagoNow's bonus Five on Five answers for Wednesday. Read the rest below, and add your answers to the comment box. If you can't do that, you can answer just one at our Facebook Fives.

The New York Times said in 2004: "For vivid reporting from the enormous zone of tsunami disaster, it was hard to beat the blogs."
At the time, the paper, writing about the deadly tsunami that hit parts of Asia in December 2004, called the technology "a ready medium for instant news of the tsunami disaster ... "
Fast forward to 2008-09, when blogs exist, but it's Twitter that breaks the news. "If I didn't hear about something important happening by watching my Twitter stream, it's the first place I go to get an idea of what's going on," Michael Arrington wrote on blog TechCrunch.
Here are five big events in which Twitter played a major role.

So who's shocked by the New York Times report that Sammy Sosa tested positive for steroids in 2003? Anyone? Anyone? That's what I thought.
After Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez were outed in recent months for positive tests, nothing's shocking in baseball anymore.
So that raises big questions for folks in Chicago.

We here at Munch Time got excited when we read about Denny's new all nighter rock star dishes. Unhealthy diner food and musicians? Our minds are still blown. Also I haven't been to a Denny's since I was able to go to bars (ah Denny's and IHOP, what would I have done without your late night hours) so who knew they had such a menu?

(Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)
"We are living in a free country and we have the freedom of speech and we have to use this freedom to express what people in Iran can't and that's democracy and they don't want any more dictators." --Ghazal Banisadr, 37, Streeterville

From #swineflu to #flight1549 to #mumbai, twitter has proved itself as an incredible communication tool over the last 12 months.

That was reinforced today by the U.S. State Department, who asked Twitter to delay scheduled downtime so that Iranians, in the midst of an election dispute, could still have daytime service.

Right now, #IranElection is the no. 1 trending topic. I've seen avatars go #GreenForIran. How do you think this social media movement will change the way you get your news? Has it already?

Scattered showers brought out the umbrellas Tuesday afternoon. While rain was light during the day, it turned heavy in early evening. Rain is expected to continue through Thursday. (Elizabeth Myers/RedEye)

Doris Dirks wrote to "Going Public" in response to today's Tribune article about the state of CTA stations. Which CTA station is in need of repair? Feel free to send pictures to support your argument.

Doris wrote: "Thanks for mentioning the sorry state of the Purple line Foster stop. Since the first heavy rain of the spring, caution tape and rotting wood has added to the mix. Waiting for the roof to collapse this week..."

The Foster stop on the Purple Line

I got a few responses to today's column about CTA etiquette. Have an etiquette beef? Feel free to post here.

Kevin Bilbro of Edgewater wrote, "As each train pulls into a station, the following announcement, or something similar, needs to be played: 'Please allow the passengers to exit the train before entering, instead of causing the usual cluster-f#@$ by entering as the doors open.' This message should also be placed on the doors in huge letters."
 
The following etiquette annoyances were received via Twitter:

@zoblue taking up two seats: one for you & one for your luggage. No! Also crowding the train exit doors. Ugh!

@hirechelsea The asshole singing aloud with his headphones on, typically attempting to rap.

@whet if the bus starts to fill up, sit down. you're not being chivalrous, you're just in the way.

Lou Piniella vs. Ozzie Guillen. North vs. South. Pinstripes vs. Pale Hose. And of course: Die-hard fans vs. die-hard fans. The Crosstown Classic is here, folks! Or as RedEye called it on today's cover: "Clash reunion." Does it even matter that both teams are a few games back in their divisions? Of course not! This is Chicago, and city pride demands we care about the outcome of these games!

Brian Moore (sports editor): Does anyone have a fork I can have? (Note: He asks this question almost every day around dinnertime)

Supriya: I have a fork ...

Brian: Is it one of those forks you took home and washed?

Keep reading the RedEye fork debate on Supriya Doshi's Practically Green blog.

Here's this week's "Going Public" column. Letters are after the jump. What's the worst etiquette breach on the CTA?

What would Emily Post say if she rode the CTA? Surely the Mistress of American Manners would wince if she saw riders taking up multiple seats or overheard their loud cell phone conversations. She probably wouldn't want to make acquaintance with bus passengers who block the exit or train riders who clip their toenails in between stops.

"Going Public" typically gets a few e-mails or tweets a week about etiquette mishaps on the CTA. Here are the best of the worst.

1. What's the best way to watch a Cubs-White Sox game?
BRIAN MOORE
At Leo's place. His sobs make Ron Santo's yelps downright poetic.

LEO EBERSOLE
Drunk and mildly apprehensive.

Was that as anti-climactic for you as it was for us? If so, answer these yourself in the comments box below. Too much work? At our Facebook Fives, the name of the game is to answer just one and to rate other readers' responses. Be ruthless, people!

The "Word on the Street" blog will no longer be updated. I've taken over the "Going Public" blog, which you can find on the Chicago Now network at http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/going-public/

Feel free to post your questions and comments to that blog.

Thanks,

Tracy Swartz
"Going Public" columnist

The "Word on the Street" blog will no longer be updated. I've taken over the "Going Public" blog, which you can find on the Chicago Now network at http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/going-public/

Feel free to post your questions and comments to that blog.

Thanks,

Tracy Swartz
"Going Public" columnist

The "Going Public" blog has a new place and a new face. We're on the Chicago Now network, and you can find us at http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/going-public/

Feel free to post your questions and comments to that blog.

Thanks,

Tracy Swartz
"Going Public" columnist

Kelly Armstrong wrote to "Going Public" with advice to bus drivers: It's Bike to Work Week, be careful. Anyone else experiencing bike vs. bus woes?

"Someone should remind the CTA bus drivers that today is the beginning of Bike to Work Week.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't two different buses hit riders during this week last year? I would think the CTA would remind them, but apparently not.

On my ride today, the No. 56 bus pulled away from the stop at North and Damen on Milwaukee right in front of me!

I had to swerve into the southeast bound lane of Milwaukee to avoid being hit by the bus.

Luckily, there were no cars coming towards me so I managed to avoid being hit! You'd think CTA bus drivers would be on a higher level of alert this week. Bicyclists, beware!"

 

Happy Monday! Next up on FSI is this fridge sent in by a reader who e-mailed us at redeyemunchtime@gmail.com. Care to share the contents of your office fridge? E-mail us at the aforementioned address. We might spotlight you here. And don't forget to come back and comment on how right--or wrong--we were!

I can barely type this blog post because I'm slipping into a food coma and the coffee I picked up from the super cool Coffee Studio isn't helping. But Munch Time has great Andersonville lunch time deals for you. See the lengths we'll go through to make sure you're well fed?

Andersonville is such a great 'hood cause at your fingertips you can get falafel, burgers, baked goods, Italian sweets, Thai, sushi--anything your little stomach desires.

Today I couldn't decide between hot dogs or falafel. So I did what any hungry person would do: I got both.

Casting directors for NBC's "The Biggest Loser" are coming to Chicago to find contestants for the ninth season of the weight-loss show.

Get the full scoop on Show Patrol.

Bethenny Frankel of "The Real Housewives of New York City" will be at the Borders in Oak Brook (1500 16th St.) tonight, signing copies of her book "Naturally Thin" at 7 p.m.

Stephanie Yiu/RedEye

RedEye Web guru Stephanie Yiu spotted Fergie at O'Hare this weekend and did what any self-respecting pop culture fan would do: She took the singer's pic on her phone.

She got this awesome photo that shows two things -- No. 1: Fergie is a lot shorter than I thought. And No. 2: O'Hare apparently isn't always the last place on Earth that I'd rather be. 

I think it's great she took this photo. But I wonder if I would have had the gusto to join in the swarm. What about you? Have you ever gotten a good shot of a celeb? Or do leave that work up to the paparazzi?  

Let us know what you think, and if you want to share a celeb photo you've taken, please do!  

(P.S. Stephanie also posted this photo to her Twitter feed. You can follow her at @crushgear.)

1. How are you preparing yourself for this week's Cubs-White Sox series?
BRIAN MOORE
I've been hitting myself with a bat for days. It'll prepare me for banging my head against the wall.

BAG BOY
I bought a stash of vomit-resistant bags.

Your turn, readers. Show these guys how it's done by answering the five questions in the comment box below, or you can try your luck with one question with our Facebook Fives.

 

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

 

Seven festivals this weekend...SEVEN festivals, two days!  And I am counting on you to get me through them all.  I'm serious.  I'm looking for promises of beer and good conversation to keep me trekking.  Send me a message!

Hit the jump for this weekend's 50Fests schedule of events.

Posted 3:50 p.m., June 12

There were rumors Heidi might strip for Playboy. While People.com said neither her rep nor the mag would comment, People reports it's confirmed she's posing for the September issue.

The magazine will definitely give her more exposure.

Getty file photo

Posted 3:07 p.m., June 12

She's back! Kristin is in full force this coming season of "The Hills."

Check out the preview:

Posted at 1:32 p.m., June 12

I couldn't even bring myself to watch more than 5 minutes of "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here."

Sorry but I tried because Speidi was on but they were um, horrible. It was an exaggerated version to create drama on the show: Spencer's mad because the other contestants are not as famous as Speidi. Heidi cries over her shampoo. They quit, no they don't, yes they do. Get off the show already!

Even more drama about who would replace them. TMZ apparently asked about Audrina, who was rumored to have dated Chris Pine. Her manager told TMZ: "Not in a million years. Audrina is moving in a completely different direction than those two ... she's a star."

To that Spencer told TMZ: "Heads up, Audrina. Just because you have a one night stand with a guy who's in a movie called 'Star Trek' doesn't make you a star. You're just a ho."

Ouch! But true Spencer style.

Now Holly is on there...how much are these people getting paid? Or maybe the Montags will do anything for a little press, photo op, TV exposure.

It's time to find out. If you did, you should rock at this quiz. If you didn't -- it's time for you to go to RedEye remedial school.

1. What's your prediction for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals?
BRIAN MOORE
Bag Boy takes a puck to the mouth--not at the game, but after he throws his autographed Blackhawks puck at his TV after Detroit wins and it bounces back.

BAG BOY
Is there any doubt Detroit will win and further twist the knife in Blackhawks' fans' wounds?

Two bonus ChicagoNow answers, two boneheads for readers to beat. You can do better by entering your answers to the five questions in the comment box below. Or, go to our Facebook Fives to respond to one question and rank other users' answers.

In our feature today about the "The New Dude-itude," Stephen Markley and Supriya Doshi answered the question: "Does reverse sexism exist?" Readers emailed into redeyetalk@gmail.com and tweeted #redeyetalk to share their thoughts:

Jason D. Burley wrote: "In the case of our gender, it's frowned upon to say that we are victims of sexism. We are supposed to "man up" and take all of it in stride. That's a good for dealing with it short-term, but in the long run, that is very harmful. So harmful that some men get depressed and for that same reason, they don't get treated. So support groups for men is very useful because it allows us to be us. Nothing is held in and it's liberating."

According to the Washington Times, Michelle Obama's press person says the first lady does not wear fur. To quote the Times column from today:

"Mrs. Obama does not wear fur," Mrs. O's deputy press secretary Semonti Mustaphi confirmed.

What do you think? Should the first lady wear fur?

SALADS: Find a Chicagoland Panera to sample free salads and smoothies today, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The salads you'll get to try: chopped cobb, strawberry poppyseed and chicken salad, and fuji apple and chicken salad.

More freebies after the jump.

Julie DiCaro of ChicagoNow Cubs blog A League of Her Own joins us.

1. How glad are you that the Detroit Tigers are leaving town today?

JULIE DICARO
Not nearly as glad as I am that I'm not the one going "home" to Detroit.

BRIAN MOORE
I'm actually a little sad. The odds of an extinction-level-event meltdown from Ozzie drops drastically.

Readers, you can do this too by leaving us your five answers in the comment box below. Or, visit Facebook Fives to take your best shot at one answer and rank other readers' responses.  

 

 

By Matt Kuhnen
For RedEye

If Button Pushers was a mathematical equation, the band would look something like this: The Beatles + Steely Dan x Pink Floyd  divided by   sci-fi geek = Button Pushers.

"Our songwriting definitely starts with The Beatles, just because we arrange the vocals to harmonize and create the melodic hooks," said keyboardist/vocalist Johnny Bliss.

"We definitely focus on the vocal melody as the most important thing."

Bliss recently chatted with RedEye about the band.

 

Today's fridge comes courtesy of a reader who e-mailed us at redeyemunchtime@gmail.com. Want to share your office's healthy (or not so healthy) habits? E-mail us!

Now let the overanalyzing begin!

 

(AP, Getty)

Celebs have it all. Or at least we think they do. So when things don't go exactly their way,
we admit we get a tiny bit excited. It reminds us that they're like us in that sucky things
 happen in their lives too.

If we were them venting about how much their life sucks, here's what we think they would say.

Check out the festival guide from our friends at Metromix!

I think the best part about this 50Fests trek is that I am discovering sides of Chicago that I haven't seen before.  I'm venturing out to new neighborhoods and surrounding myself with unfamiliar people and places.  There is something new around every corner in this city.

The John Hancock Center on Chicago's Gold Coast is partly enshrouded in clouds early Wednesday morning June 10, 2009. (Nancy Stone/ Chicago Tribune)

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You heard it here first: Miming is gonna be huge in Chicago. OK, maybe not. But it does seem like there's been a lot of mime-like activity in the city lately. Here's our argument for the sweeping generalization that miming is making a comeback in Chicago:

Exhibit A: The Chicago leg of the U.S. Air Guitar Championship. As RedEye reported this week, the event Saturday at Metro showcased 17 aspiring rock stars living out their version of the American dream and competing in the fine art of playing air guitar. 

Exhibit B: The Chicago Air Sex Championship. Metromix is working on an item about this upcoming event, where competitors simulate sex--often as part of a comedic skit--with an imaginary partner for two minutes. You can get the inside scoop here.

So there you have it, Chicago. What do you think about mimes in general? Lovable? Funny? Creepy? Let us know in the comments below!

After reading our cover story on DIY weddings, RedEye readers told us how were able to have a dream wedding without breaking the bank.

Newlyweds Yen and Nick Azzaro kept their budget under $8,000 at their June 8 wedding. They emailed us at redeyetalk@gmail.com and shared some tips:

• Create a open BYOB bar. And instead of a band, "we danced to what we wanted on our iPods," Yen wrote.

RedEye is at the forefront of social media in Chicago. With nearly 11,000 followers on Twitter, a huge Facebook audience and popular groups at Flickr and Last.fm, we're always looking for ways to interact with you.

Women, we need to have a talk -- specifically about your Facebook pictures.
I notice that you have a lot of pictures "tagged" on your Facebook profiles, either by yourself or your friend. I also notice that 95 percent of your 3,187 pictures are of you and your girlfriends holding shots or mixed drinks or wine and smiling at the camera, all dressed up, prior to going out for the evening...

What's Markley got to say about this? Read the rest on his blog, Off the Markley.

1. What would you do to fire up the White Sox?

BRIAN MOORE

Just remind them how they are still the second choice among baseball fans in Chicago.

BAG BOY
This bag is what your fans are going to have to start wearing unless you step it up. They won't wear it as well as me, of course.

STICK FIGURE
For every game you win, I'll share an M&M with you. Don't win too many, though, I'm not allowed to have a lot of candy.

Well, there you have it. The first of ChicagoNow's bonus Five on Five answers. Read the rest below. You might be able to do an even better job by entering your answers in the comments box below. Or, just try your hand at one at our Facebook version, where you supply an answer and rank others' efforts.

The premiere for "We Believe," which explores the relationship between the Cubs, their loyal fans and Chciago is at 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 12 at the Chicago Theatre.

Fans can come early to watch their favorite players and celebrities walk the red carpet prior to the 7:15 VIP screening.

For free tickets or more information, Click here

Chicago, let your voices be heard. But please, only if they sound good.

Get the full deets on the Chicago 'Idol' auditions on Show Patrol.

"I don't think it should be a surprise for anyone to hear that I'm gay."

That's the first quote Rolling Stone is using in excerpts promoting its interview with "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert. While everyone is buzzing about the text of the interview, which hits newsstands this week, we couldn't help but notice the cover looks pretty darn similar to another famous interview the mag did back in the day. What do you think?

This cover is totally going to be tomorrow's Whoville, BTW.

Hey Chicagoans, how would you plan a trip to the city that doesn't scream "I'm a tourist"? Kyra's trying to find some fantastic local spots that would wow a visitor. Share your Chicago favorites by commenting on her post.

Here is my June 9 print column. (More after the jump.) Have you ever seen a CTA operator use a cell phone?

Texting while driving is spelling trouble for some CTA bus and rail operators.

The CTA has cited 104 bus drivers and four rail operators for improper use of a cell phone while on duty this year from January through May, according to CTA statistics.

That's a jump from last year, when 36 bus drivers and 10 rail operators got in trouble in connection with cell phone use.

1. What do you imagine it is like at a doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field?
SCOTT KLEINBERG
Picture any game, twice as boring.

BRIAN MOORE
Better than a doubleheader in Detroit, worse than a doubleheader at Wrigley. 

STICK FIGURE
Like a three-hour tour of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

Show these jokers how it's really done by leaving us your answers in the comment box below, or you can deal with just one at Facebook Fives. Read the rest of the ChicagoNow bonus answers below.

Do you ever watch "Top Chef" and shout, er, say at the TV "Break down a chicken in 20 seconds? Pfft, I can do that." Do you make five-course meals in your stainless steel kitchen at home for your inner circle? 

Show us your skills! RedEye is looking for Chicago's best home cooks to participate in a virtual Kitchen Stadium. 

38 Special lead singer Donnie Van Zant collides with a fan as he falls off the stage during the band's opening performance on the "Can't Stop Rockin" tour featuring REO Speedwagon and Styx Sunday, June 7, 2009 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas. (AP Photo/The Courier, Eric S. Swist)

Next on Fridge Scene Investigation: Here's a fridge e-mailed to redeyemunchtime@gmail.com. Want us to overanalyze you? Send your office fridge to the above address or post a pic by sending a message to our twitter feed at @redeyechicago.

Check out awesome Chicago-area commericals from back in the day after the jump.

It's always amazing to me how conversations in the RedEye newsroom start with one subject and end on a completely different one.

We were talking about this story that says you can now get good deals on cars from dealers who are closing shop. That led us to the question of whether you can get replacement parts for said cars (you can), which led us to a conversation about used car parts. Naturally, we started talking about Victory Auto Wreckers in Besenville because that commercial has been around forever. And now I'm compiling a list of other throwback commercials.

Happy Monday Chicago, your postess with mostest here (get it? I post and I host you here at RedEye's Munch Time? Oh forget it.) We're starting a new feature here--our neverending search for lunch for $7.50 or less. Every week, we'll hit up a different 'hood and try to find a great lunch that won't break the piggy bank. Know of any good meal deals? Let us and everyone know by posting below or e-mailing us at redeyemunchtime@gmail.com! At the end of the week, we'll pick the best.
 
So today I'm going to start close to home--Lincoln Square. I have lived here for most of my life, save for a few years in Detroit and Urbana for college. I love the Square. Within 15 minutes of walking around, you'll see tons of options, from Thai to German. I had a hard time trying to decide where to eat and what to share with you fine readers today.
 

Mia Perkins, 30, of Wicker Park wrote to "Going Public" with a question about pets on the CTA. The CTA's response is after the jump.

"I have a 7-pound dog and for the past year have been taking him on train and bus rides in his soft carrier with no problem. Recently I was told at the Damen/North Blue Line stop that he had to be in a hard carrier and was not allowed to board, which caused me to miss an important meeting.

When I contacted the CTA to find out why the change they told me that animals are not allowed AT ALL on trains or buses as of a notice last year. I had a friend call later asking if animals were allowed and another person advised her that as long as they are in a carrier and not taking up a seat they are. So which is it? Also I was not allowed to file a complaint and was given the voicemail of a superior who never called me back."

Anika Noni Rose poses for portraits in the the Tribune Tower Thursday, March 26, 2008. Rose has roles in an upcoming HBO series "The Number One Ladies Detective Agency" which starts Sunday and an upcoming role in a Disney movie. (Chase Agnello-Dean/Redeye)