Weekend Getaways

Whatever your passion—architecture or antiques, pro sports or history, outdoor adventures or romantic wineries—the Midwest offers nearby destinations to satisfy even budget-conscious travelers.

Geoffrey Johnson and Jennifer Wehunt

Charting A New Course

For a decade, Illinois has been experimenting with a new approach to public education: privately managed charter schools. Now, with two Chicago champions of the charters—President Barack Obama...

Dennis Rodkin

What Bill Ayers Wants

The sixties radical stayed quiet during last year’s presidential campaign, but as a prominent education professor, he’s speaking out now about his prescription for fixing the public schools

Debra Pickett

The Green Awards

Your nominations in hand, we canvassed the Chicago area for our most earth-friendly individuals. Meet our 2009 class of honorees, six people who are more than green—they're good.

What Arne Learned

President Obama’s new secretary of education takes the lessons of Chicago Public Schools to the big stage

Jennifer Tanaka

April 2009 Table of Contents

Contributors

April 2009: Erika Dufour, Dennis Rodkin, Debra Pickett, Jennifer Tanaka, Cassie Walker, Nora O’Donnell

Graham Meyer

Feedback

In April’s letters: divergent opinions on Michelle Obama and some second opinions on our health care coverage

Vetting Vets

Animal care varies by quality and price. Here are 23 of the best pet docs in the Chicago area

Robert Krughoff

Life in the Big City

What does it really cost to live here, anyway?

Katherine Hajduch

The Capital Song

Learn your state capitals, punk-rock style.

Jeff Ruby

Testing . . . Testing

Would loosening Illinois eavesdropping laws curb political corruption?

Ben Strauss

They Took Us There

The magazine's latest Chicagoans of the Year led a Ritz crowd in a joyful celebration of worthy acts

Bridget Maiellaro

5 Bars We’re Obsessing Over in April

Sarah Preston

Gotta Have Faith

Sarah Preston

Beer Market

Wall Street is struggling, but at a new stock market–themed bar in River North, the beer flows fast and cheap

Sarah Preston

Mongo Home

Two former competitors give a joint venture a second try

Rebecca Little

New Books

Entrapment And Other Writings, Mr. America, The World In Half, and Now Hiring: White House Dog

Duck!

In his new book, The Foie Gras Wars, the Chicago Tribune reporter Mark Caro examines the hoopla surrounding Chicago’s fiercest food fight

Jeff Ruby

Travel Mode

Pack a bag. We're going to show you how to road trip in style. PLUS: Check out our great roadtrip soundtrack

Barri Leiner

Soul Savers

A concert’s mission: to revive the glory days of soul

Patrick Sisson

Penny Pitch

So far, Chicago theatres seem recession proof. So why do the biggest ones want tax breaks?

Robert Loerzel

Found

Precious local artifacts at the new Holocaust Museum in Skokie

Bridget Maiellaro

Sales Check

A roundup of this April sales, store openings, and shopping news

Bridget Maiellaro

Upbeat

The one accessory you can't leave home without: a great soundtrack. We asked our editors for their favorite road trip tunes, and then we compiled a playlist.

First Class

A runway show celebrates 75 years of student fashion in Chicago

Cassie Walker

The Blip

Bright spots on the month’s cultural radar

New Deal Halves Price

House built for FDR aide originally listed at $10.9 million

Dennis Rodkin

Breaking Even

Sellers receive exactly what they paid for home in 2004

Dennis Rodkin

After The Fall

Study measures decline in home prices since market peaked

Dennis Rodkin

Putting Up The Ritz

Luxury residences arise at Terra site

Dennis Rodkin

Here’s The Lowdown

Price cuts bring condos in line with area homes

Dennis Rodkin

Busting a Gut

Extensive overhaul breathes new life into tired building

Dennis Rodkin

Detoxing Your Home

A smart guide to spring cleaning—for your health and the environment

Lizzie Garrett

Dining Tidbits

The Sit Down, Abigail's, Fuego, Market

Singled Out: Takashi's Noodles

Takashi’s Noodles is a timely, useful, and pretty cookbook

Jeff Ruby

Pour: Domaine la Garrigue Cuvée Romaine

Its lively acidity boots up ripe dark fruit and herb flavors with remarkable depth

Dennis Ray Wheaton

Odyssey: Seeing Red

Chicago’s most extreme Bloody Marys stretch the definition to extremes. Here, a primer

Kim Conte

Rock of Ages

A new play retells Czech history filtered through rock songs of the times

Catey Sullivan

Under the Influence

We examine the influences informing the musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Catey Sullivan

Harry, Help Us

Our top five magic requests for Harry Potter in 2009

Kelsey Peters

So Bad It’s Good

Six years and several albums later, with the genre intact and universal order restored, the eclectic trio The Bad Plus returns to town on the heels of its new album

Mark Loehrke