How Your High School Stacks Up

Chicago does a by-the-numbers evaluation of 233 public high schools in the six-county metro area, looking at school spending, as well as teacher experience, test scores, and other academic...

By Dennis Rodkin

Freeze Frame

As Chicago's real-estate market began to experience the big chill, homeowners worried that this was the beginning of the next ice age. But as our annual house survey demonstrates, there were a few...

By Dennis Rodkin

Stone in Exile

Three years ago, after a simmering feud with Cubs players and management, the popular broadcaster Steve Stone resigned from the Cubs, though his affection for the team and for Chicago never...

By Josh Schollmeyer

A Classic Act

With a passion for tradition, the investment guru Richard Driehaus has become one of the city's most dedicated advocates for historic preservation. This fall, he takes his commitment further by...

By Robert Sharoff

The Deadly Difference

Black women in Chicago are far likelier to die of breast cancer than white women, resulting in a disparity that's nearly double what it is nationally. This pattern of racial inequality shows up...

By Shane Tritsch

October 2007 Table of Contents

Self-Portrait

The architectural photographer Barbara Karant turns her camera on her house in Bucktown—and on her rescued greyhounds.

By Christine Newman

The 17 Faces of Karen

Chicago psychotherapist Dr. Richard Baer, author of a remarkable new book on a woman with multiple personality disorder, talks about his treatment of this astonishing case.

By Debra Pickett

5 Fresh Bars for Fall

The Bamboo Room Schaumburg, The Boundary, Climax, Rockwell Lounge, Paramount Room

By Sarah Preston

All Shook Up

At Martini Park, Planet Hollywood meets Las Vegas meets lounge chic.

By Sarah Preston

To Mexico, with Love

Forty years later, through writing The Defiant Muse, Chicago playwright Nicholas A. Patricca has finally accomplished his goal of getting to know Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.

By Lucia Mauro

World Wide Radio

There's a new radio station in town—sort of.

By Amber Drea

Declining Fortunes

Chicago's annual survey of high-end house sales reveals a rare downturn in volume

By Dennis Rodkin

Vertical Leap

Old loft building instantly elevates Quincy Street tower

By Dennis Rodkin

Throwing Evanston a Curve

Design for Grand Bend condos exploits a sinuous location alongside Green Bay Road

By Dennis Rodkin

Six Pack

Big Burling Place houses only a half-dozen condos

By Dennis Rodkin

Chefs on the Grill - Emmanuel Nony and Kendal Duque

Emmanuel Nony and Kendal Duque unveil an instant classic

By Michael Nagrant

Young Jordan

How Marcus Jordan made his school switch

By Alexander Russo

Where's Obama?

Tracking the Illinois senator on the presidential campaign trail during one busy summer month

By Steve Yaccino

The Audacity of Hillary

Hillary Clinton might be the Dems' presidential front-runner, but the trip to the White House makes a stop in Obama Country. Can the hometown girl beat the state's favorite son on what's now his...

By David Bernstein

Bolingbrook—C'est Moi!

He weeps, he insults, he builds lavish projects, and Mayor Roger Claar sees in his own journey—from chubby outsider to powerful Republican—a parallel to the booming emergence of his town.

By David Murray

Elbow to Elbow

Macaroni and cheese smackdown!

By Miriam Gottfried

Second Chance

Il Covo, a Bucktown Italian spot left for dead six months ago, gets a new shot of energy, Sardinian-style; Anteprima, a smooth new trattoria with a casual vibe, causes traffic jams in Andersonville.

By Dennis Ray Wheaton

Dining Tidbits

Upscale & BYO, Southern Charm, Hangout, Budget Beat

Trend: Panini

Quick panini picks

By Mindy Yahr

Salon

Aristocratic dining in River North

By Dennis Ray Wheaton

Vote Smart!

Good citizens know their presidential candidates!

By Jeff Ruby

Made in Chicago

The week of runway shows featuring Chicago fashion begins October 9th and runs through the 14th.

By Rebecca Little

Road Warriors

26.2 miles. 12 neighborhoods. 45,000 runners. The air horn sounds on Oct. 7th.

Writers on the Record

Victoria Lautman chats with Andrea Barrett.

By Victoria Lautman

Critical Mass

Noteworthy new releases for October

By Mark Guarino, Mirah Kang, and Cassie Walker

Windy Indies

October brings cinema paradiso for film buffs. But for the rest of us, there is a sudden superabundance of esoteric imagery, offbeat venues, and C-list directors and actors. Where’s the best...

By Bradley Lincoln

Crossing Over

After her father, the popular sports reporter, passed away, broadcaster Jennifer Weigel suspended her disbelief and tried to communicate with the dead.

By Laura Caldwell

Sales Check

A roundup of this month’s sales, store openings, and shopping news

By Rebecca Little

Shopper: Tory Burch

Tory Burch has landed in Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Oprah Winfrey's heart. Her genius? Retooling classic American sportswear by adding vintage bohemian details.

By Rebecca Little

Long Division

Once an open roost for gangs, Division Street has achieved near total turnaround with a retail strip that shows little sign of slowing down.

By Rebecca Little

5 Albums that Delight...

Tom Higgenson, guitarist and lead singer for the rising Chicago punk-pop band Plain White T’s, who open for Fall Out Boy on Oct. 20th at Allstate Arena

Idol Hands

MCA curator Dominic Molon discusses key works from the new exhibition Sympathy for the Devil.

By Robert Loerzel

Water, or Whine?

Last year, Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water. Turns out, the joke’s on us: Not only are top sellers Aquafina and Dasani just bottled public water, but the wasteful plastic packaging...

You Should Know ... Eighth Blackbird

Wake up, Chicago. One of the country's most exciting new music ensembles wants some respect from its hometown.

By Nora O'Donnell

Bootie Up

The wish list: Ankle-high boots

By Barri Leiner

Top Design

Three emerging locals. One model. It’s dress to impress, Chicago-style.

By Leona Liu

The Blip - October 2007

Bright spots on the month's cultural calendar

By Cassie Walker