CHICAGO AWAITS 2016 OLYMPIC HOST CITY DECISION

On October 2, 2009 an announcement will be made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from Copenhagen, Denmark, revealing the city chosen for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Chicago submitted their bid for consideration - first to the US Olympic Committee in April of 2007, who then chose Chicago from other US cities as their pick for a US host city.

Chicago is competing against other bidding cities such as Tokyo (Japan), Rio de Jenero (Brazil), and Madrid (Spain).

Initially, President Obama - a Chicago native - had planned on making a trip to Copenhagen to make a personal bid for the Chicago team, but due to constraints with his health care initiative has appointed First Lady Michelle Obama to go in his stead.

However, it seems as if President Obama is keeping his options open. Reports swirling that the President may take a quick trip if he sees the opportunity to make a personal appearance, thereby doubling the star power by two.

Final presentations by all four competing cities will begin this Wednesday, with the announcement made next Friday October 2nd.

For more information on Chicago's bid click here.

A FEW PICTURE OF THIS BLOGGER WORKING THE CROWD AT THE HRC BOOTH AT THE 2009 ANDERSONVILLE MIDSUMMERFEST IN CHICAGO

And it was a GREAT day to be our and about!!!!

Drew Peterson FINALLY arrested!!!!

Drew Peterson, the former police sergeant who authorities call the prime suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, has been indicted on murder charges related to his third wife, the Illinois state attorney's office said.

Drew Peterson was arrested Thursday on murder charges relating to his third wife, Kathleen Savio.

Illinois state police said Peterson was taken into custody at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday after a traffic stop near his home. Police had staked out his home all day, said police Capt. Carl Dobrich, but waited for Peterson to leave to arrest him out of concern for his three children, who were inside the house.

Wills County State's Attorney James Glasgow said he believes the case is strong and said Peterson is being held on $20 million bond.

"This is an extremely grave and serious matter and it is reflected in the bond," Glasgow said.

Drew Peterson has been an embarrassment for Chicagoans. For most of us who live in Chicagoland that is convinced that Peterson is as guilty as all hell and have been forced to watch him parade around as a free man and a media oddity, tonight's arrest of the son-of-a-bitch comes as welcome news and a source of jubilation.

We will be watching developments on this case VERY CLOSELY.

SIGN OF THE TIMES......

A look at the line of nearly 2000 persons who responded to a Comcast Open House Job Fair held in the Chicago suburb of Oakbrook, IL today. Persons were reportedly in line to interview for open positions from as early as 6 am, although the doors did not open until 10 am.

Luckily the weather cooperated with sunny skies and a high in the mid-fifties.

GOTTA LOVE CHICAGO'S MAYOR RICHARD DALEY

I LOVE this guy! I swear , he has NO filter on his mouth when he is ready to speak his mind - and in frustration he stutters like Elmer Fudd at the audacity of any situation.

Although Mayor Daley has been a fierce supporter of GLBT rights and makes a lot of logical explanations whenever sticky situations arise, his downfall is the (possible) corruption in his administration and the so call 'patronage' staff...a term I never understood.

However, this is not such a sticky point for me as I think a candid politician is as rare as....well....and honest politician.

Anyhoo, Mayor Daley deliver another candid, unfiltered remark today, commenting on today's press conference by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojavich's.

According to CBS2 Chicago:

Responding to questions about Gov. Rod Blagojevich's claims Friday that Democratic lawmakers are trying to oust him so they can raise taxes, Mayor Richard M. Daley said the governor was "cuckoo." He noted that he has called Blagojevich "cuckoo" once before. The earlier comment came in September, when Blagojevich questioned financial statements by the head of the Chicago Transit Authority.

"I've said 'cuckoo' once. I'll say it again," Daley said.

He chirped another "Cuckoo!" to reporters before leaving his Friday morning news conference.

HE CHIRPED ANOTHER "CUCKOO!' TO REPORTERS BEFORE LEAVING HIS FRIDAY MORNING NEWS CONFERENCE?!

Got to love him....got to love him!!!!!!

IN MEMORIUM: Bernard Jeffrey McCullough

Chicago woke up on Saturday to the sad news that one of it's own - Bernard Jeffrey McCullough - or Bernie Mac as he was fondly called, had passed away earlier that morning from complications due to pneumonia.

He was only 50 years old.

Bernie Mac was a son of Chicago, born in the South Side of the city. Although he rose to fame and fortune through stand-up comedy acts, film, and his acclaimed 'Bernie Mac Show', he never turned his back on the city, making Chicago - especially the South Side - his permanent residence. He had suffered from sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body's organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He recently was hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.

Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojavich on Saturday called Mac "a favorite son."

"He never forgot that he was a kid who grew up on Chicago's South Side," Blagojevich said in a statement. "Because of his Chicago roots, we picked Bernie Mac to be the face of the state lottery -- his passion, enthusiasm and humor helped make that one of our most successful, and funniest, campaigns."

Fans and friends of the Chicago comedian are invited to a public memorial celebrating Mac's life.

Services are scheduled for noon Saturday in the 10,000-seat House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St., Chicago, said Danica Smith, Mac's publicist. Donations in Mac's honor may be sent to the Bernie Mac Foundation for Sarcoidosis, 40 E. 9th St., Suite 601, Chicago, IL 60605, Smith said.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTMONT FRONT

Not much happened this week - busy at school and getting ready for August.

My field reporter in Plainfield advised today that she saw a report on the telly last week that explained the reason for the strong skunk smells I mentioned.

According to reports the skunk population was drastically diminished in the early '90s due to an outbreak of rabies. It seems that the population is beginning to grow again, with a jump in numbers up nearly 17% - based on roadkill count.

Contrary to popular belief skunks do NOT spray their trade-mark "musk" willy-nilly, but prefer to use it only as a method of last resort. The recent "rise" in musk odor is attributed to the larger-than-normal road-kills of the poor near-sighted buggers in the areas of (as fate would have it) Lombard, Darien, Downers Grove, WESTMONT and Willowbrook.

Well, that noxious little mystery solved, but it does not help me when I sleep with the windows open! Last Thursday night/early Friday morning the stench was so bad I woke from my slumber thinking that a damn skunk had compromised my patio screen and was riffling through my garbage!!

Oh well, that's life in the 'burbs!!!

MOVIE REVIEW - "THE DARK KNIGHT"

Why even waste my time in a lengthy synopsis? Let me break it down in simple sentences:

GO SEE IT! Run, don't walk......the best movie of the year...

HEATH LEDGER WILL BE NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR. (And this is not a sympathy vote - his performance was bloody awesome. it made the rest of the cast look like amateurs - and theirs were good.....)

The stunts were good - one part even made me think "Whoa - cool!", and a few people in the audience verbalized my sentiment at the same time.

The two-and-a-half hours flew by.

The move - filmed in Chicago - put the Windy City in a good light.

Why are you still sitting there?! Have you bought a ticket yet? Sheesh.....

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY WEEKEND IN CHICAGOLAND!!!

For those of youse who are in, around or nearby Chicago this weekend there is a LOT to see and do!!!!!

CHICAGO PRIDE FEST: Saturday, June 28, the day before Chicago's iconic Pride Parade (Sunday, June 29). Festive ... Jubilant ... Fun ... are just a few of the words to describe this day-long gathering that's a non-stop, early-summer party. Hosted by (and benefiting) the Northalstead Area Merchants Association this equally crowd-pleasing gay and lesbian celebration of community pride will be back bigger than ever in its 6th year! Pride Fest showcases an eclectic lineup of arts & crafts, food and other vendors. It also features entertainment on two stages including one dedicated to some of Chicago's fine performers in the gay community. Click here for more information.






THE 39TH ANNUAL CHICAGO GAY PRIDE PARADE: Sunday June 29 will feature over 250 entries and will be attended by over 400,000 spectators. Among the entries will be marching bands, dance troupes, twirlers, floats by community, media and other such organizations, along with many political figures. For information on this event click here.









TASTE OF CHICAGO opens today June 27th and is considered the world's largest food festival and is the largest festival in Chicago. Every year, millions of Chicagoans, and tourists from around the world flock to Grant Park to enjoy the variety of food prepared by Chicago's most popular restaurants. Events also include live music on multiple stages, informational and family oriented pavilions, and nightly film performances. For more information click here.










CHICAGO CUBS vs THE WHITE SOX CROSSTOWN CLASSIC continues this weekend at U.S. Cellular Field. For information on times and tickets go to the MLB website here.









For other events and happenings in Chicago this and future weekends click here to go to METROMIX Chicago.

Now don't hate because some of us live in Chi-town!!!! Me? I'm scheduled to volunteer at Pridefest and march in Pride. This is gonna be some weekend!!!!!

YOU MUST SHOP ALDI FOR LOW PRICES ON HOUSEHOLD STAPLES

At this time I must 'big-up' (Jamaican to American translation: promote or recognized) a store that is slowly coming across the radar of the American shopper - ALDI stores.

In today's turbulent economic times and high gas prices we all have to look for the best prices on household staples and seek the most cost effective - okay, okay - CHEAPEST way of shopping for everyday items. Up to last year I had never been in an Aldi store. I always wanted to go in and check it out to see if it was the same chain as the one in London an aunt shopped at regularly but never did until another persistent aunt and British uncle dragged me in during their visit to Chicago. It was then I discovered that it WAS the same chain from Europe and the U.K. that sold select items at discount prices.

The chain originated out of Germany and grew into a international empire with stores around the world. (Click here to read the Wikipedia account of it's history.)

Aldi is a great place to find basics staples such as milk, eggs, bread, spices, household cleaners, etc. For example - a can of evaporated milk (that I use in my morning coffee) that regularly sells for $1.25 can be had for 69 cents in Aldi. A 3-pound bag of onions that sells for $2.99 in the supermarket can be had at Aldi for 99 cents. That's $2 less than the normal price! Of course, one of the ways Aldi achieves their low costs is with a no frills approach - pallet stocking of items, store or no-name branding, minimum staffing needed, you have to pay for plastic bags or carry your own, etc.

The bottom line is that this is one place I encourage all who looking to save pennies - click here to find an Aldi store near you.

SOMETHING TO MOTIVATE YOU TOWARDS THE WEEKEND

I'm not sure who some of these are but WHO THE HELL CARES?!!!! ENJOY!

Jensen attwod of 'Noah's Arc' fame

Justin Timberlake

CHICAGO TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND IT'S AILING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

Today I had to make a trip into the Windy City at noon and decided the best method would be to drive partway and use the public transportation system for the remainder of the trip downtown to avoid road congestion and high parking fees. Although I could have taken a Metra Train directly from Westmont to Union Station I decided to stick to a tried and true method - from Westmont I drove to the Cumberland Ave Blue Line station via I-88/I-294/I-90, parked and took the 'L' in to the Loop, and did the reverse on return.

My trip to the city was uneventful; however, the return trip at 5 pm put me in the height of evening traffic - which is an oxy-moron in Chicago as traffic is ALWAYS a bad state no matter what time of the day/week/year it is.

It took me 1.5 time slonger to drive home compared to my inward trip to the station. This led me to fume for the umpteenth time over the congestion of the expressways in Chicago and why it seems to get worse and worse each year.

According to quip I head on a sitcom recently "there are two seasons in Chicago - winter.....and road construction."

Wry, but true.

According to a report issued late last year Chicago ranks 3rd as worst in traffic delays amongst 437 urban areas studied in the continental United States. Chicago is just behind New York and Los Angeles when it comes to delays and slow moving trafic. The report attributed this dismal state due to a lag in the building of new roads to increasing traffic, and to a failing public transportation system. Personally I believe that until the Regional Transport Authority - the board overseeing public transportation for the Chicagoland area gets it's act together - Chicago will never be chosen as the pick city the for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

One of the main concerns of the deciding Olympic committee is moving large amounts of sports fans from venue to venue and although we've countered that concern with proof of how we handle hosting major sporting events by moving large crowds without incident (such the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, The Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, and the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field) we haven't proved that we can move the even larger crowds an Olympic event will attract.

And rising gas prices will only burden and already old and strained public transportation sytem.

On the bright side - rising gas prices WILL put a strain on the public transportation system and in an election year may FINALLY light a fire under the dormant derrierre of state legislature to invest serious captial in to making the Chicago transport system the envy of other world cities.

Hope, however, is the sustinance on which politicians greedily feed, leaving us with the bare bones of reality once elected.

Click here to see that video clip on the report on congestion in Chicago filed on CBS Chicago in September 2007:

CHICAGO PRIDE SET FOR JUNE 28/29

The HRC is seeking volunteers to participate in this year’s Chicago Pride Fest celebrations. This year the event is being held on Halstead between Grace and Addison, right smack in the middle of Boystown, between 11 am through to 9 pm on Saturday June 28.

Chicago Gay Pride will be held on Sunday June 29^th beginning at 12 noon. As usual - they're looking for volunteers to help in this years march.

For more information or to sign up to volunteer click here.

MORE PICTURES FROM A PEDETRIAN TOUR OF CHICAGO

Just a few more pictures I took during my "pedestrian tour" of the Windy City on Wednesday May 21. I've added web-links on points of interest in this great city.



















The statute of American hero Nathan Hale, stands on guard in front of the Tribune Building on Michigan Avenue.

A view of the John Hancock Building taken from the base of Chicago's Water Tower located on Michigan Avenue.

A memorial to America's sixteenth president Abraham Lincoln, located in picturesque surroundings of Grant Park .

The Wanderer in front of Buckingham Fountain..........

...and a closer view of the fountain.

And not trip would be complete without a visit to Chicago's Boys Town, replete with metal signposts on either side of the road proudly displaying the colors of the LGBT community..


For more information on visiting the Chicago - the Windy City or Second City - click here.

QUICK PICTORIAL OF PEDESTRIAN TOUR OF CHICAGO

I just got in from my visit to the city and wanted to share a few pictures before I do a report - it has been a long, LONG day with a lot of walking - but so worth it.....












A view of the Wriggly Building (left) and the Tribune Building (to the rear) from across the Chicago River.

A view of the Trump International Hotel and Tower under construction. Upon completion the the tower will be 92 stories tall and will be the tallest residential building in the world.

This modern sculpture is located in front of the NBC Tower beside the Tribune Building; shot from this angle it looks like Zeus long down on the city..
















A view of the skyline reflected in the Chicago Bean....





















One of the faces in shown in the Crown Fountain spitting water to cool the wary traveler visiting Millennium Park.


More to come tomorrow.....

"I'm going to a town..."

Today I have a friend visiting from the sunny isle of Jamaca. They've never been to the Windy City before so I am doing the tour-guide thing and showing them around the Second City - the lake shore area, the museums, the skyscrapers - the entire nine yards.

Of course this will be done all from the comfort of a speeding car - the only way to get in at least 30% of the sights of such a large city!

Maybe even a visit to Boystown to see what the merry lads are up to? Then again, the highs today may only reach 60 and if there's no shirtless, hot lads to see - what's the point?

(The food, the ambiance, the architecture, the lakefront......doofus.......)

ANOTHER GRAY DAY IN CHI-TOWN

Today began as usual - same ole', same ole'. Got out of bed, stretched, wiped the crud from my eyes and pondered, "dear God, what am I going to do today?" I thumped the bed trying to rouse the 13lb hairy mutt I shared my apartment with who slept in his own world under my bed.

"Oi dog," I called as I thumped the bed repeatedly, "wake up ya' lazy bugger...."

From the depths of the ragged comforter which he daily burrowed into for rest came the deep growl of a very cranky animal. He sounded worse than I do when I realize I actually have to wake up and face reality.

"Ah, screw you," I said as I walked to the bathroom to go through my usual ritual.

As I stood performing mandatory bodily morning functions I remembered the noxious fumes that woke me during the night. "I don't know what I'm feed that damn dog," I thought as I washed my face in an attempt to remove traces of sleep from my mind and spirit.

I shuffled into the kitchen to make a cup of coffee I glanced outside and noted that although it was well after nine in the morning outside was lite with a bleak sky.

"Great," I thought, "just another friggin' gray day in Chicago..now what?"