Something new on the books

Vacant Borders store comes to life as pop-up art exhibit

02/15/2012

When Borders Bookstore went belly-up last year, cities everywhere began to wring their collective hands. The bookstores were big sales tax generators with big footprints — who would replace them in this economy?
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Sprouting up

New play space aims to give kids a place to let loose in the South Loop

02/15/2012

For families living in the relatively freshly redeveloped South Loop and Near South Side, kid-friendly activities can be few and far between. Sure, the Museum Campus is right in your backyard, but there are few options for a place where kids can just let loose locally.
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Numbers don't tell the whole story

Crane advocates say CPS punishing school for taking in challenged kids

02/15/2012

As the brass at Chicago Public Schools continues to push for shutting down Crane High School on the Near West Side, the district has repeatedly tossed out chunks of information showing just how the school is failing its students.
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Looking for a new West Loop columnist and blogger

02/08/2012

Since time immemorial (OK, maybe not, but for a while now) our intrepid West Loop columnist and blogger AmySue Mertens has covered the neighborhood with her ear close to the ground, listening to community issues and putting things in a residential perspective that we sometimes miss.
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'Rosie' cuts staff

02/08/2012

Oprah’s replacement in the West Loop, Rosie O’Donnell, is cutting staff at her show significantly just four months after the program’s debut.
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Connecting communities - and community groups, maybe

02/08/2012

Last week, we ran a story about former University Village Association Executive Director Dennis O’Neill and his new community group, Connecting4Communities. Though we called UVA founder Oscar D’Angelo for comment, our schedules conflicted and we couldn’t get in touch with him in time for our story. However, after we put the paper to bed last week, D’Angelo faxed us over a copy of a letter that he had sent to O’Neill. In it, he congratulated the UVA’s former head and wished him well in his new venture — but managed to sneak in a jab or two. Read more...

Art student robbed

02/08/2012

A 19-year-old student from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was riding a CTA train on the afternoon of Feb. 4 when two unknown men in the same car approached him and ordered that he empty his pockets.
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Union Station chugging forward

Chicago's train hub plans future, from rehabbed retail to new offices and traffic patterns

02/08/2012

Nobody would be surprised to see Chicago’s Union Station busy during rush hour. On weekday mornings and evenings, the concourse and the second-floor mezzanine become nearly impassable. But even on the weekend, the food court on the second floor still gets decent traffic. Nearly every seat in the dining area is taken.
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Riding out the job market

Long hours, low pay, but lots of love for bike messengers

02/08/2012

A more familiar dorm

Chicago's college-bound Latino youth getting a new housing option

02/08/2012

Concerned that youth from Chicago’s predominantly Latino neighborhoods are struggling to earn college degrees, a Pilsen community group is building a student residence hall that experts say will help close gaps in college success.
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