By The Forest Preserves of Cook County

The Forest Preserves of Cook County is teaming up with the Prairie Research Institute of the University of Illinois to create a comprehensive plan for the management of its natural and cultural resources.
The Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan will draw together two traditionally separate disciplines. “Natural resources” include the land, water and wildlife communities inhabiting the Preserves’ nearly 69,000 acres. “Cultural resources” include archaeological sites and artifacts left by early human societies who lived on these lands.

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Posted on November 21, 2013

By Jeff Quitney

“Public domain film from the Prelinger Archives, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and mild video noise reduction applied.
“The film was silent. I have added music created by myself using the Reaper Digital Audio Workstation and the Independence and Proteus VX VST instrument plugins.”
In two parts.
1. The process of making newsprint paper, starting with the spruce logging in Canada, for the Chicago Tribune.

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Posted on November 20, 2013

Plus: The Menurkey For Thanksgivukkah

1. Cosmo Kramer Was Not Available For Comment.
“McDonald’s this week launched a pilot program under which patrons can build their own burgers,” the Tribune notes.
“The test, at two restaurants in the U.S., lets customers pick from a variety of toppings. To accommodate the change, and speed food delivery in general, the chain has begun outfitting stores with larger ‘assembly tables’ that can hold more ingredients.”
No worries – it’s all supervised!

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Posted on November 19, 2013

By Helene Smith

Bar & grill.
(ENLARGE FOR PROPER VIEWING)

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Posted on November 15, 2013

By The American Anthropological Association

In just a few short days, more than 6,000 anthropologists will descend upon the city of Chicago to unleash their expertise on a myriad of topics. Want to know how to go from geek to chic? Just how will society be able to adapt to climate change? How can we make our educational system better? Wondering what professors actual do in their retirement? Interested in how one can nail a dictator?
Come find out at the 112th AAA Annual Meeting!

Historically the AAA Annual Meeting has approximately 800 scholarly sessions, 200 special events, and 60 exhibitors; it’s the largest global anthropological event of the year.
The 112th AAA Annual meeting will be held at the Chicago Hilton November 20-24. The 2013 annual meeting theme is Future Publics, Current Engagements.
“Hot button” topics include education, immigration reform, health care, climate change, armed conflict, and much more.
Event highlights include:

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Posted on November 14, 2013

Largest Temporary Art Installation Ever To Take Place In Chicago’s Neighborhoods

“[F]eaturing dozens of works on display now through next fall along Logan, Independence, California, Western and Garfield Boulevards,” the city says.
Let’s take a look and add value to the city’s announcement through the wonders of images, links and video.
*
Note: “Several of the sculptures were previously on display for a year along the lakefront until last September, in an exhibit curated by Chicago Sculpture International.”
*
Logan Boulevard:
Eric Lindsey, Expanding Universe, at Rockwell

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Posted on November 12, 2013

By The National Veterans Art Museum

The National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM) will celebrate the first anniversary in its location of 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue with a reception to unveil its newest art exhibition, Esprit de Corps, an exhibition highlighting the spirit of creative resilience.
The show will be open to the public through August 1, 2014. Esprit de Corps is sponsored by Omicron, Bank of America and Paratech Incorporated.
Drawing on breakthroughs in using art to assist with reintegration of veterans and for therapeutic expression, Esprit de Corps traces the process and roles of therapeutic art from the act of initial perception through expression of experience to an ultimate communal sharing and understanding of the real impact of war.
Highlights of programming based on Esprit de Corps include a series of therapeutic art workshops as well as an expanded and interactive arts and civics education programming.
Esprit de Corps features art by nine veterans of Vietnam, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror. The NVAM will be free and open to the public with programming and light refreshments from 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. on Veterans Day, November 11, 2013. A keynote address by Dr. Jack Bulmash, Chief of Staff of the Hines VA Hospital will take place at 6 p.m. A color guard by the JROTC from Taft High School will take place at noon.
Featured artists include Joseph Fornelli, Jerry Frech, Jonathan Hancock, Peter Sullivan, Benjamin Suarez, Thomas Gilbertson, Theodore Gostas, Richard Williams and Erica Slone.

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Posted on November 11, 2013

By Helene Smith

Air patrol.
(ENLARGE FOR PROPER VIEWING)

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Posted on November 8, 2013

Bollywood By The Lake

Coming December 20th.

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Posted on November 7, 2013

Legacy Of A Chicago Chef

We’ll leave it to others to do the heavy lifting on Charlie Trotter; fine dining is not our specialty around here. But we can offer the uninitiated a glimpse of what Trotter and his restaurant were like through some video culled from YouTube.
1. From the chef’s table.

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Posted on November 6, 2013