Who Makes What

Our roundup of area paychecks is back, naming names and giving dollar amounts for more than 250 sports figures, business people, government workers, creative types, and more. We've also got the...

Many Happy Returns

Whether helping a wage earner plot a savvy investment strategy or a wealthy entrepreneur preserve his riches, these local financial pros earn high marks by giving smart advice and putting their...

By Shane Tritsch

American Gigolo

Fifty years ago this April, a young man from Woodstock, Illinois, named Johnny Stompanato was stabbed to death in the bedroom of his lover, the movie goddess Lana Turner. Stompanato was a minor...

By Richard Babcock

The Shining

Now in their second year, the Green Awards prove there is no end to our citizens' eco-accomplishments. With nearly 100 nominations to choose from, we narrowed the list down to five remarkable...

April 2008 Table of Contents

Contributors—April 2008

Dick Babcock, Lisa Predko, Shane Tritsch, Christopher Benson, Christine Newman, Cassie Walker, Nora O'Donnell

By Graham Meyer

Feedback

In this month's letters: Intelligent news, reportorial duty, recipes, Melman, ads, and elk

Tax Appraisal

The latest hike by the Cook County Board will give Chicago the highest sales tax of any major U.S. city. But, wait . . . things could be worse. Here's some geographic context.

By Beth Marino

A Simple Plan

Every move in this modern house has been calibrated to achieve a light, effortless minimalism, often with a punch of color and a flash of futurism or humor

By Christine Newman

Drink Local

The return of the local bar

By Sarah Preston

On the Road

A West Coast quest to find himself led Whiskey Road's Matt Miller back to Bucktown

By Sarah Preston

The Five

A rundown on the fairs that make up Artropolis

By Ann Wiens

Solo Show

If you see only one play this month, make it this one

By Lucia Mauro

Three Questions

U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner Charles Simic

By Robert P. Baird

Who's Who

An artist bio in brief: Derek Trucks

By Kevin McKeough

Found Art

Uncovering Chicago's best-kept secrets: Carrie Hanson, artistic director of local dance company The Seldoms, devotes her latest full-length dance to ... trash.

By Lucia Mauro

Your Best Offer: The Green Edition

Three real-estate agents provide Deal Estate with their assessments of an energy-efficient house

By Dennis Rodkin

Eco Chamber

Modular prototype slated for the Museum of Science and Industry

By Dennis Rodkin

He's Green to His Roots

Fountain View's Ranney carries on a family tradition

By Dennis Rodkin

No Mud Hut

Irish developer's condo tower pairs contemporary good looks with an array of green amenities

By Dennis Rodkin

Second Nature

Related Midwest plans a Peshtigo encore for 340 on the Park

By Dennis Rodkin

Seventh Heaven

When the magazine's seven Chicagoans of the Year for 2007 gathered in January for a celebratory meal at the Four Seasons, the afternoon's main course was a hearty serving of inspiration

By Geoffrey Johnson

A House Divided

A new problem surfaces among four Democratic legislators who share a house on Capitol Hill: presidential politics

By Andrew Schroedter

Hands Off, Harvard!

Harvard's star-studded faculty includes several other distinguished profs who were fixtures at the University of Chicago. The latest raid? Law professor Cass Sunstein

By Graham Meyer

The Rezko Refund

For 17 lucky charities, political contributions collected by Tony Rezko have been the gift that keeps on giving.

By Esther Kang

Rooms With Memories

The grand Blackstone hotel was a favorite of U.S. presidents, movie stars, smart-set Chicagoans, and jazz musicians. Now, after decades of decline, it's beautifully buffed up and back in business

By Christine Newman

Dining Tidbits

For April 2008: Park 52, Schwa, Haussmann Brasserie, Curio Cafe

Dining Out: Olive Branches

One's Greek, one's Turkish, and never the twain shall meet. But two smart neighborhood spots bring out the glory of their hallowed Mediterranean ground.

By Dennis Ray Wheaton

Bring Your Own Good Bottle

A handful of smart ideas for our favorite BYOs

By Miriam Gottfried

Any Minute Now

A look at Mercat a la Planxa, at the newly remodeled Blackstone Hotel

By Jeff Ruby

Trend: Rillettes

The word means something along the lines of "planks," but this rich concoction is anything but hard.

By Jeff Ruby

Place Your Bets

Examining Chicago's odds of snaring the 2016 Olympics, factoring in thongs, apathy, and Coolio

By Jeff Ruby

5 More Spots to Get Your Whiskey Fix

Delilah's, Five Star Bar & Grill, Stanley's Kitchen & Tap, Duke of Perth, Twisted Spoke

By Sarah Preston

5 Albums that Inspire ...

Darlene Jackson (a.k.a. DJ Lady D), Chicago's house music queen, who appears at The Note April 9th

Critical Mass

Noteworthy new releases in April

Writers on the Record

Victoria Lautman chats with author Elizabeth Strout.

By Victoria Lautman

The Long Road Home

We chat with art rocker, spoken-word maven, and Glen Ellyn native Laurie Anderson

By Nora O'Donnell

The Buzz Bin

According to art director and designer Chris Tag, man bags have been both ugly and boring—up until now.

By Cassie Walker

Sales Check

A roundup of sales, store openings, and shopping news in April 2008

By Rebecca Little

Big Sound

Indie rock's zest for horns and strings explained

By Kevin McKeough

Women Who Kick Ass

Everywhere we turn, it seems as if our city has produced another hard-core female athlete: a tough, toned woman who can bench-press more than your boyfriend (and look hot doing it). Meet four...

By Anne Halliday and J D Koziarski

You Should Know … Doug Fogelson

First the Walker, then the Getty. What's next for this young photographer? Books that promote other artists, that's what.

By Gina Bazer

Weeknight Find: Great Debate

The Strangerer, a fascinating Theater Oobleck play that earned rave reviews last year, returns for a six-week run at the Chopin Theatre.

By Robert Loerzel

Shopper: Pivot

Owner Jessa Brinkmeyer discusses the city's first—and only—eco-friendly clothing boutique.

By Rebecca Little

Irvin, Inspired

The head of state of New Orleans jazz, post-Katrina

By Neil Tesser

The Haunted

Playwright Ifa Bayeza didn't set out to write about Emmett Till. Then Emmett reached out to her, she says, and refused to let go.

By Christopher Benson

Imaginary Friends

We're not sure what to do now that the sketch comedy group Schadenfreude has returned. Laugh? Hide our children?

By Anne Halliday

Draft Picks

Just short jaunts from Chicago, these six drive-worthy microbreweries offer behind-the-scenes tours—and plenty of samples

By Jennifer Wehunt

The Blip - April 2008

Bright spots on the month’s cultural radar