July 2008

Cover Story

Top Jobs for Tough Times

Top Jobs for Tough Times

With the economy weakening and the unemployment line growing, we searched for—and found—some good news: local employers who aren't just surviving the current economic malaise but thriving,...

Features

Playing the Fields

Playing the Fields

In an era when live major-league baseball has retreated to pleasure palaces packed with flashing videos, blaring music, and gut-busting food courts, has the old-fashioned game lost something?...

Witness at Haditha

Witness at Haditha

When a deadly roadside bomb ripped through a convoy of U.S. marines in Haditha, Iraq, the violent American response left 24 Iraqi civilians dead. In his first public comments on the incident, a...

The Naturals

The Naturals

Don’t hate them because they’re beautiful. These 20 singles—a top table-tennis player, a nightlife impresario, and a gallery owner among them—are smart and talented, too.

Departments

Table of Contents

July 2008 Table of Contents

Contributors

Contributors

Contributors

Bryan Smith, Tyllie Barbosa, Christina Zerkis, Dan Winters, Andrew Schroedter, Brendan Reilly, Miriam Gottfried

Feedback

Feedback

In this month's letters: charter schools, military intelligence, stories, and Bill Ayers

Arena: Money

Disparity Rising

Over the last decade, incomes adjusted for inflation are flat or down for the poorest and up-up-up for the richest—especially in Illinois.

The Closer

Beg Business

Beg Business

Nominations for the inaugural class of the Panhandler Hall of Fame

Page Two

Schooling Democrats

Schooling Democrats

Former CPS chief Paul Vallas is eyeing a run for governor—maybe as a Republican.

The Burnham Gene

The Burnham Gene

Yearlong celebration of Daniel Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago kicks off next June

Events

A Cause for Fun

A Cause for Fun

When Chicago and Shedd Aquarium teamed up to fete the magazine's 2008 Green Awards honorees, ideas about sustainability—and "Be Greenie-tinis"—flowed.

Cheers

5 Great Patios for People Watching

Martini Park, Relax Lounge, The Boundary, Fat Cat Bar & Grill, Eno

Suite View

Suite View

Stunning cityscapes, posh patrons: Hotel bars go from meek to chic

The Three Kingmakers

The Three Kingmakers

Wentz, Westman, Eisler: the proud papas behind the new nightspot Angels & Kings

Arena

Get Out!

Get Out!

Thinking of trying a new sport? Consider one of these seven summertime classics—with tips from pros for having more fun in the sun.

5 Lesser-known, Must-see Bands...

5 Lesser-known, Must-see Bands...

to check out at the Pitchfork Music Festival July 18th to 20th in Union Park (Lake Street and Ashland Avenue; pitchforkmusicfestival.com)—straight from the editor in chief himself, Scott...

The Break Out

The Break Out

From July 2008: Standup comic Hannibal Buress is getting big.

Extra! Extra!

Extra! Extra!

Two Chicago magazine editors wait for their big break in the new Batman movie.

War Games

War Games

A controversial video game comes to Chicago

Indie Streak

Indie Streak

Ever the mavericks, the founders of Steppenwolf make the foray into film.

Where Credit Is Due

Where Credit Is Due

A Mississippi restoration project is raising old Chicago questions about the relationship between Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Sales Check

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

Shopper: Post27

Shopper: Post27

This new West Town shop is styled with 1950s, '60s, and '70s furtniture at astonishingly reasonable prices.

In the Glare

In the Glare

The media madness that envelops Kosuke Fukudome also comforts him.

Blip - July 2008

Blip - July 2008

Bright spots on the cultural radar

Designer T-Shirt Giveaway

From hockey players to famous chefs, we sent four of our favorite Chicagoans to the T-Shirt Deli (1739 N Damen Ave) to create some cool tees. Enter the giveaway for your chance to win one of the...

The Cult of Personalitee

The Cult of Personalitee

It's time to part with that Sigma Chi shirt from 1989 and invest in a new tee—something fashionable, something smart, something contoured to hug the body in all the right places. Here, 20 that...

Reporter

The Finest Thing

The Finest Thing

It seemed an obvious question when the quadriplegic man came to the emergency room at County Hospital. The answer revealed a wonder of pain, sacrifice, and heroism. His doctor tells the story.

Deal Estate

Splendid Blending

Splendid Blending

Conical turret, added in 1991, complements 1887 mansion

Beam Me Up, Scotty

Rustic touches define Pickell's Bannockburn offering

Abel Bodied

Abel Bodied

Home of decorated vet may have welcomed FDR and Ike

Deal Estate Condos

Getting Pilastered

Getting Pilastered

Ornamental columns, other details remain after rehab

Parceled Post

Parceled Post

Developer carves ten condos from former mail center

Cooking in the Jazz Age

Cooking in the Jazz Age

Roomy, updated kitchens enhance already elegant fixtures at Grand Briar

Chicago Guide

The Five

The Five

The best of July theatre

Best of the 'Burbs

Best of the 'Burbs

Janice Borla brings hot jazz to the city

Found Art

Found Art

Contemporary dance troupe Thodos Dance Chicago brings eighth annual showcase to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts.

Freebie of the Month

Freebie of the Month

Multi-instrumental wiz kid Nitin Sawhney accompanies the Grant Park Orchestra at a screening of the 1929 Indian melodrama A Throw of Dice.

Three Questions

Three Questions

Luke Seemann, 32—the founder of chicagobikeracing.com and a member of the local racing team XXX-Athletico—will compete in the city's first-ever Chicago Criterium bike race.

Table

Dining Out: Luxe Lives

Dining Out: Luxe Lives

Forget the recession. In a trio of downtown hotels, three glittering, ambitious restaurants—Mercat a la Planxa, Sixteen, and Lockwood—appear to have done just that.

Bars 2.0

Bars 2.0

No one's been able to come up with an adequate name for them—bastraunts? restobars?—but these restaurant-lounge hybrids have reached a critical mass. Their tantalizing promise of good...

Dining Tidbits

Dining Tidbits

Noodles, Budget Beat, Great Tip

East Meets West

East Meets West

The ultramodern new Japanese meat stronghold Ajasteak gets its Kobe beef straight from Japan.

Southern: Big Jones

Southern: Big Jones

Gumbo ya-ya and mud pie add a modern touch to Big Jones' menu

Front Burner: Graham Elliot Bowles

Front Burner: Graham Elliot Bowles

July 2008: Halibut BLT