By Dan O’Shea

In honor of Chicago Craft Beer Week, running May 16 to May 26, here is a list of a few of my favorite Chicago beer things:
Favorite Chicago Beers of 2013 So Far: Spiteful Ghost Bike and Malevolence; 18th Street Brewery Sinister’ Pipeworks Raspberry Truffle Abduction; Begyle Neighborly Stout.
Favorite Chicago Beers of 2012: Revolution Very Mad Cow and E. Norma Gene; Goose Island Baudoinia; Half Acre Big Hugs, Two Tugs and Akari Shogun; Pipeworks Coffee Break Abduction; Finch Secret Stache Stout and Fascist Pig.

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Posted on May 17, 2013

By ChiTownView

“I was strolling up State Parkway on Chicago’s Near North Side. After stopping to pay my respects at the former Playboy Mansion, I was heading up to some Louis Sullivan-designed row houses. As I approached North Avenue, a sign caught my eye. It said ‘Wooden Alley.’ Ah-ha, this was something I had heard about; this was the last alley in Chicago that was still paved with wooden blocks.

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Posted on May 17, 2013

One Of America’s Best

“When Dr. Jan Brunstrom-Hernandez was born prematurely and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, doctors told her parents she had a zero chance of survival,” AP reports. “She survived, thrived, and now treats cerebral palsy patients in St. Louis.”

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Posted on May 16, 2013

By The Milwaukee County Zoo

On Saturday, May 25, the Milwaukee County Zoo will offer special activities highlighting the importance of the Matschie’s tree kangaroo, a critically endangered animal from Papua New Guinea. This day marks the second annual celebration for the National Tree Kangaroo Awareness Day.

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Posted on May 15, 2013

Breaking New Ground In Chicago

“With over 60 vendors peddling their wares at the Broadway Armory Park, each with their own brand of heat of all makes, models, and sizes, there was something for sneakerheads of all ages and something for every collection,” freshness reports.
Let’s take a look.
1. The Promo Video.

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Posted on May 14, 2013

Plus: GMOs That Are Really GEs

Mmmm.
1. Tests Reveal Honey That Isn’t; Fly-Attracting Effectiveness Not Yet Assessed.
In the course of reading an update on the latest attempt by lawmakers to require labels on all “genetically engineered” foods (below), we discovered a related story: almost all store-brand honey sold in the U.S. isn’t, in fact, honey.

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Posted on May 13, 2013

By Steve Rhodes

Last month Alisa Hauser reported for DNAinfo Chicago that “Sprint customers have been experiencing difficulty in some parts of Chicago as the company works on what it calls ‘network upgrades.'”
I was actually relieved to hear that Wicker Park was one of those areas because I thought it was just me – that my crappy cell phone had finally crapped out.
But no.

Sprint spokeswoman Kelly Schlageter said Sprint has not had any cell sites down as a result of the network upgrades.
“However, during the process, some customers may experience difficulty making or sustaining a phone call,” she said.
For example, the sites in the 60622 area code completed their upgrades Wednesday night “so customers should begin noticing that their service is not only back to normal, but also that they have [a higher-speed] 4G LTE signal,” Schlageter said.

If only. I’ve got news for you, Kelly: The problem is worse than ever and people around here are pissed.

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Posted on May 9, 2013

Plus: Where Cheaters Eat

1. McDonald’s Is Gonna Regret This.

We salute the courage of Ohio kidnap victims & respect their privacy. Way to go Charles Ramsey- we’ll be in touch.

— McDonald’s Corp. (@McDonaldsCorp) May 7, 2013

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Posted on May 8, 2013

CPS Aggravating The Situation

1. Public Service Video/Lakeview Action Coalition & Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

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Posted on May 7, 2013

Collectors And Creators

It was over the weekend. Here’s what you missed.
1. Northern Bohemian’s Two-Part Tobacco Disease Acquisition Report.

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Posted on May 6, 2013