The Occupy movement brought the idea of the 99 Percent to the fore in 2011, and confused journalists and politicians with its passive resistance to ideology. Read more
Theo Epstein takes the reins of the long-suffering Cubs, ushering in a new era of superstar management. Meanwhile, a Cub you might remember from his sole MLB at-bat keeps trying to return. Read more
2011 was a long, fascinating year for Groupon, Chicago's biggest Web 2.0 company and the fastest-growing one in history: preparing for its IPO, fighting off the SEC. If corporations are people, puberty is no less awkward for them. Read more
One of the most important lessons from the 2010 Census became clear in 2011: a Latino baby boom means that one-third of children under the age of five in the city are Latino. Read more
Talk of the weather will do: July brought a host of weather stories, including some ominous clouds that may represent an entirely new kind of cloud. Read more
Mayor Daley leaves office, ending an era in Chicago politics: "It's all television money and polling now. It's not parades. It's not torchlights and songs." Read more
The final Cabrini-Green high rise is demolished over the course of the month, bringing to a close one of the most complex chapters in the city's history. Read more
Gov. Quinn brings the age of the death penalty to a close, representing a long-fought-for victory for activists and a tremendous amount of work by the city's best journalists. Read more
The top story of February was probably the biggest yet least surprising story of 2011: a former Daley fundraiser officially becomes Da Mare-elect, and faces a lot of problems left over from Da Mare. Read more
