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Chicago Cubs Meltdown
2007-06-02 22:41:00
What the fuck is going on?In the wake of two separate meetings with team management, coaches and players all one can do is ask what the hell is going on around Wrigley Field these days.Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett throw down, with each other, after throwing the game away with their respective bonehead moves. No suspensions, but fines were handed out.A fan even ran out onto the field during yesterday's game. I watch enough games to know that not many fans make their way onto the field. Must have been a visiting Sox fan thinking he was at a Sox-Royals game.Then good 'ol Lou throws his hat down in fury and decides to make a big sandcastle out of the 3rd base umpire in today's game. Obviously he was ejected and is probably looking at a suspension for his actions. He did admit a major revelation that only confirms things are not very healthy in the Cubs clubhouse--he was going to raise hell with the umpire regardless of a safe/out call. He was looking to vent and found hi...
More About: Chicago , Chicago Cubs , Chica

Chicago Cubs Look to Sweep White Sox
2007-05-20 16:08:00
It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon to watch baseball, especially after watching Derrek Lee's pinch-hit grand slam to seal the win in the bottom of the 8th inning.That was definitely one of the better Cubs -Sox games that I have seen in quite some time. Several lead changes, plenty of homeruns and decent infield defense on both teams (despite a few errors) made it quite entertaining to watch.And how many games have you ever seen when the catcher and pitcher, Jason Marquis, homer in the same game. Shit, how many games have you seen Marquis homer? He rocked out his third career homer to deep straight-away center field yesterday, in an effort to break the then-tied game and position himself for the win. Crede would hit a 2-run homer though to tie it again at 5-5 and Marquis didn't last in the game much longer than that.Obviously if you're a Cubs fan, the first two games of the series have been great. But it'll only get better if the Cubs can sweep the Sox today at Wrigley.
More About: Chicago , Chicago Cubs , White , White Sox

Chicago Cubs vs. White Sox
2007-05-19 21:18:00
So we're just a few minutes away from the 2nd game of the Windy City Classic showdown, between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox.I actually had the opportunity to go to the very first interleague match-up between the Northsiders and Southsiders that counted. Both teams used to play each other for a while in exhibition games, but when interleague play was introduced, the results counted.Personally, I don't hate the White Sox . I do have great disdain for their fans. The average Sox fan is so bitter and angry at Cubs fans, they can barely think/speak objectively to realize we are only fans of a team. We're not exactly their enemy, and frankly, we're not a threat to their playoff chances. But they are so bitter that the North side of the city is what it is. They are so bitter that the Cubs continue to dominate the headlines and attention, not just of Chicagoans, just people around the country.Let's face it...people are making trips to Chicago to see a game at 35th Street. ...
More About: Chicago Cubs , Chicago White Sox

R. Kelly--The Martin Luther King and Ali of Today!!
2007-05-17 15:59:00
Man, Chicago is so lucky to claim R. Kelly as one of its own! There is nothing better than a boasting and bragging about those than have risen to fame and fortune, claiming roots in the Windy City.And R. Kelly is just that man! Seriously man, he's larger than life. Don't believe it? Ask him."I'm the Ali of today. I'm the Marvin Gaye of today. I'm the Bob Marley of today. I'm the Martin Luther King , or all the other greats that have come before us. And a lot of people are starting to realize that now." Nope, that's not my description of him...that would be his own words describing himself.Perhaps we should kindly remind him that if it weren't for his acts of indecent liberties with a MINOR and his own ego, he would have faded out of pop culture even faster than MC Hammer.Kelly will arrive in court again Friday. He is currently facing 14 charges of child pornography for taping himself doing "naughty" things to a minor.
More About: Today , R Kelly

Taste of Chicago Performances Announced
2007-05-16 15:54:00
Petrillo Music ShellAll of the concerts are Free admission!(schedule subject to change)Fri. June 29, 2007 CITY OF CHICAGO and V103 PRESENT MAZE featuring FRANKIE BEVERLY5:30 P.M.Sat. June 30, 2007Chica go Country Music Festival CITY OF CHICAGO PRESENTS Kenny Rogers Look-alike contest Kenny Rogers3:00 P.M.Sun. July 1, 2007Chicago Country Music Festival CITY OF CHICAGO and BEST BUY PRESENT Sara Evans & Craig Morgan3:30 P.M.Walk the Line (big screen in Butler Field)6:30 P.M.Mon. July 2, 2007 CITY OF CHICAGO PRESENTS BROADWAY IN CHICAGO Broadway's biggest and best shows will be featured in the Broadway In Chicago concert. The concert will be headlined by the casts of WICKED and THE COLOR PURPLE, along with the Show Choir of the Chicago Children's Choir. Featured musicals subject to change.6:00 P.M.Tues. July 3, 2007 CITY OF CHICAGO PRESENTS GRANT PARK ORCHESTRA MACY'S INDEPENDENCE EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR8:00 P.M.Wed. July 4, 2007 CITY OF CHICAGO & 93XRT PRESENTJOHN MAYERRobert R...
More About: Performances , Taste , Form

Bill Clinton to Make Chicago More Green
2007-05-16 15:47:00
The Clinton Climate Initiative has announced that it will be renovating city-owned buildings in several world-class cities, including Chicago . Former President Bill Clinton announced that his foundation will spend $1 billion to renovate and update municipal buildings in New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Berlin and Tokyo.The makeovers will include replacing heating, cooling and lighting systemswith energy-efficient networks; making roofs white or reflective to deflect moreof the sun's heat; sealing windows and installing new models that let more lightin; and setting up sensors to control more efficient use of lights and airconditioning.Clinton's foundation said the planned changes have the potential to reduceenergy use by 20 percent to 50 percent in those buildings. The reduction couldmean a significant decrease in heat-trapping carbon emissions, as well as costsavings on utility bills.Clinton also stated that although major megapolitans attribute roughly 1%...
More About: Green , Make

Chicago 2016 Summer Olympics Status Update
2007-05-16 15:30:00
Well, do we get it or don't we? Easy 'feller...Chicago will learn if it's a finalist when the International Olympics Committee (IOC)reveals the list next summer.The IOC actually began the bid process well-ahead of schedule, a full two months earlier than expected. A timeline was shared with the public which details the laborious bid process. The finalist will be declared October 2, 2009.It is expected that Madrid, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro will submit official bids. Adding to the list are the prospects of Rome, Prague, St. Petersburg, Doha, Qatar, and Baku also formally applying.Again, this is no easy process...there's a long road ahead of us.The interested cities must then submit an application file, based on an IOCquestionnaire, and a $150,000 application fee by Jan. 14, 2008. The IOCexecutive board will review those files for approximately six months todetermine which cities should be finalists, a designation that implies the cityis capable of hosting the Olympics.That beg...
More About: Summer , Update , Status

Driving to Chicago--Better Learn to Drive
2007-05-15 17:27:00
Drivers around Chicago recognize that other Chicago drivers are not always the nicest. They're defensive drivers and when they need to get over, they move. As a general understanding, Chicagoans are not offended by other drivers who make a quick lane change to get over, resulting in being cut-off. It's just what you have to do, so there's no point in getting that pissy over something that everybody does. But to survive on Chicago's roads, you do have to have a sense of toughness. It's not a necessity, but you better know how to drive and what you're doing. If not, you'll earn a few car horns and perhaps even a few "friendly" fingers.So where do Chicago's mean drivers rank compared to other cities? According to a Prince Market Research study:1. Miami2. New York3. Boston4. Los Angeles5. Washington, D.C.6. Phoenix7. Chicago8. Sacramento9. Philadelphia10. San Francisco11. Houston12. Atlanta13. Detroit14. Minneapolis-St. Paul15. BaltimoreAnd the nicest drivers...?The most courteo...
More About: Driving , Drive , Better , Learn

CTA Finally Considers Public Restrooms
2007-05-14 21:35:00
OK honestly, who has traveled on any of the CTA rail and/or bus lines and barely made it to a restroom? Whether it's having to go #1 or #2, or worse yet #3, people have to go. I never realized what a problem this was until I turned 21 and started commuting around the city and suburbs after a long day or night drinking. It's almost impossible for me to make it--no joke.Try going to a Cubs game, drinking before/during/after the game and then expect to make it on the Addison bus line to the Blue Line to the Cumberland Station and then home??? Right.Try going to the Taste of Chicago , drinking a few brews then taking the Metra back to Joliet?? (Yeah, the Metras have public restrooms on some cars, if they're operable though)It's unheard of really. What simple explanation is there for why public restrooms aren't at least accessible to patrons at the CTA rail stations?!!? There is none, don't even try.A growing number of major cities and mass-transit agencies are installingautomated p...
More About: Public , Public Transportation , Finally , Rest

Chicago Bulls Avoid Elimination...For Now
2007-05-14 04:43:00
What looked like may be a total Detroit Pistons sweep, the Chicago Bull s managed to force a game 5, winning 102-87.Former Kansas Jayhawks guard Kirk Hinrich scored 19 points and tabbed 10 assists.
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Chicago's 1st Looptopia Big Success
2007-05-12 15:09:00
It takes a pretty cool city to be able to pull an all-downtown loop, all-night outdoor party. It also takes a pretty cool city of people to be able to handle enjoying an all-downtown, all-night party.Chica go hosted it's first Loop topia, an all-night party that included everything you imagine: circus, film screenings, visual presentations, drag show, awesome light show, musical performances, art shows and even sword fighting. The events began at 5pm and ran through the night, ending at 7am.The Looptopia, "America's first dusk 'til dawn artistic and cultural celebration," is actually a European idea that is quite popular in major world-class cities. The fact is, there are many mid-sized American cities that just couldn't pull this type of event off. Whether overall lack of interest to revel throughout the night, or the idiots that would actually ruin the events and cause trouble.Not to kick Kansas City down (although something tells me I will often throughout the existence of this...
More About: Success , Downtown

Illinois Tollway Oasis: Goodbye Krispy Kreme, Hello Dunkin' Donuts
2007-05-11 17:57:00
I never realized until I left Chicago, just how popular Dunkin' Donuts is. A friend of mine who travels to New York City regularly on business said Dunkin' Donuts is huge on the East Coast. After he visited Chicago's downtown loop and saw all the Dunkin' Donuts establishments there, he immediately said "we're East Coast." Chicagoans, take that for what it's worth, maybe we are a little East Coast at some things.And to add to the Dunkin' Donuts love...the Illinois Tollway Authority just ended the contract agreement with St. Louis based Krispy Kreme to set up shop at the Tollway oases. This means Dunkin' Donuts will again return to a local Tollway oasis near you!Don't even try to battle me on this one either...best coffee ever!
More About: Dunkin Donuts , Hell , Good , Oasis

Chicago Spire Zoning Approval
2007-05-10 15:50:00
The Chica go Spire , a 2,000-ft. condominium skyscraper (which will be the nation's tallest building), is one step closer to becoming a permanent fixture in the already-impressive Chicago lakefront skyline.Yesterday, the Chicago City Council approved a zoning change and the Chicago Parks and Recreation Department approved a land parcel transfer.Though the finances of the building are still being finalized and arranged, construction is set for the Chicago Spire in the upcoming weeks.
More About: Architecture , Downtown

Be Prepared for Chicago Cicada Invasion
2007-05-08 23:00:00
If you're planning a trip to Chica go in the coming weeks, be prepared for quite a surprise--cicadas! Great news for people who live west of the Mississippi River is that they don't have a clue what this infestation of periodical cicadas is like. Think locusts, but thousands of them. Heck, probably millions easily.They grow as nymphs in the dirt. Day and night, these nymphs crawl out of the Earth soil and start climbing up any object it can find--trees, houses, plants etc. After a few hours, the nymph will crack and a cicada with bright red, beaty eyes and large wings surfaces. This is when these insects really get interesting.Now that they have wings, they can make that god-awful, high-pitch piercing sound and fly around. I remember the last periodical cicada hatching very well. I was 10 years old and scared as heck. These things were everywhere. As you'd ride your bike down the street, they'd fly into your face. When you're just walking down the street, they'd stick in your h...
More About: Invasion , Sion , Pare

The Chicago Ambassador's First Post
2007-05-08 15:40:00
Welcome to The Chicago Ambassador!! So here's the deal, I was born and raised in Chicago on the northwest side of the city. I'm a graduate of East Leyden High School. I have lived in Schiller Park, Aurora and Shorewood. And I've paid more money in tolls, since I don't own an I-PASS, than anybody ever should have to pay to the State of Illinois.I sadly have to admit that in order to attend the University of Kansas, I relocated to Kansas in 1998, and now live in Kansas City.Since the first hour of arriving in Lawrence, KS...I have talked up Chicago as the greatest city in the world to anybody, and everybody. Don't believe me?!!? Ask my friends, Chicagoans and non-Chicagoans alike. Ask my co-workers. Ask my students. Ask my family. Ask my neighbors. Ask fellow bar-flies. Ask the guy who sat next to me at a Kansas City Royals agme.I cite random trivia, statistics, history and data about Chicago and its residents to anybody who will listen. I constantly compare Chicago to ...
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