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Link Time! Is Steven Tyler Leaving Aerosmith?
- Joe Perry says that Steven Tyler may have quit Aerosmith — Vulture
- Leighton Meester's music video with Robin Thicke involves a lot of writhing — E! Online
- The team behind the movie Se7en is reuniting for a new film — Cinematical
- Eminem, aka Slim Shady, takes on a horror 3D film appropriately titled Shady Talez. — MTV Movies Blog
- Harriet the Spy is getting made into a TV movie for Disney, but this time, she blogs — TV.com
- Here's what (500) Days of Summer would've looked like without a script — Movieline
- Demi Moore promotes two new movies in December's W magazine — PopSugar
- Ashlee Simpson may be coming to Broadway as Roxie in Chicago — Zap2it
- The 20 worst cover songs ever — EW
Bacon Fat Candle: Love It or Hate It?
Most of you prefer crispy bacon to its chewy counterpart — but how about bacon in candle form instead?
Rather than oh-so-predictable bacon vodka and bacon chocolate, Rick Gresh, the chef at David Burke's Primehouse in Chicago, is serving guests bacon candles. The votives are made of rendered bacon fat and a vegetable-based wick, and as they melt, are poured over dry-aged steaks and rare scallops to impart a rich, smoked aroma.
Chicago High School Has 115 Teen Moms
There's a serious teen pregnancy crisis at Robeson High School in Chicago. Out of 800 female students, 115 are either pregnant or already moms. That's about one out of seven girls.
Front Page: Barack and Michelle Go For the Gold in Denmark
- Michelle Obama promises "take no prisoners" when she and Barack go to Denmark Thursday with hopes of nabbing the 2016 Olympics for Chicago. — CNN
- The US plans to economically isolate Iran if the country does not allow international inspectors in to examine its nuclear program. — Washington Post
- At least 240 people have died in the Philippines as a result of severe flooding.
Do You Shop For Your Pets While on Vacation?
Whether shopping for myself or just wandering around town, it's hard for me to pass by a super-cute boutique. (Don't tell Savvy.) Add to that an adorable doggy display and I'm (almost always) tempted inside.
Now when I'm on vacation, I'm often too busy relaxing to find a lil something to buy for my pooch, but I don't think I could have walked by this spot.
7 Spectacular US Farmers Markets
Last week, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack proclaimed Aug. 2-8 as National Farmers Market Week. In the past year, the number of farmers markets has grown nearly five percent, and there's good reason to get behind them: they're sustainable, community-driven, and personal.
Sorority President Commissions $900K Wax Statue of Herself
It might have been OK to waste funds when former Chicago Housing Authority comptroller Barbara McKinzie worked in government, but her sorority sisters at Alpha Kappa Alpha are not having it! McKinzie, who is the current national president of the oldest predominantly black sorority, is being sued by AKA members for misusing funds. One of the alleged offenses?
Non Voyage: Make Chicago Your Kid's Kind of Town
When you are through celebrating the bright lights of New York, head to the Midwest to give your children a taste of Chicago. The Windy City, which isn't really as breezy as kids might think, offers a scaled down version of big city living with its own unique flavors and sights.
- The newly reopened Shedd Aquarium is one of the hottest destinations for Chicago-bound kids with its up close and personal looks at beluga whales, sea otters and sharks. Try visiting a local aquarium to get an aquatic animal experience. The Shedd's Polar Playzone allows kids to dress up like penguins and practice waddling around with an "egg" between their legs, sliding down ramps and experiencing life in a freezing atmosphere.
- The Crown Fountain at Millennium Park is a big attraction for tots with its 50 foot towers bookending a reflecting pool of water and its video images that spout out water at unexpected times. Recreate the fun water experience with a backyard sprinkler that the kids can run through to cool off on a hot day.
- Fill the kids up on local specialties like deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. Gino's East may make the perfect deep-dish pie in their restaurant, but instead of having it flown in, get your family to create your own perfect cornmeal-crusted deep-dish creation. Chicago-style hot dogs are known for their heaping piles of toppings like mustard, onions, relish, pickles and celery salt, so have the tots race to see who can build the tallest frankfurter.
- Navy Pier has become a giant amusement park for kids, complete with its own 150-foot tall ferris wheel. Recreate the ferris wheel with markers and scissors with these unique instructions.
Casa Verde: The Greenest Home in Chicago Opens Thursday
If you live in the Chicago area, I have plans for you this week. The greenest home in Chicago, the redesigned "2009 Smart Home: Green + Wired," a 2,500-square-foot modular home at the Museum of Science and Industry, opens to the public on Thursday. The house features an eco-friendly baby nursery, a DIY "green" garage workshop, countertops made from recycled glass, a recyclable steel dining table, and "art developed with the power of the sun" — interesting!
The Sears Tower Has a Sky High Identity Crisis
The New York based owner for a Chicago based tower has signed a naming-rights deal with a London based insurance broker. Confused? OK here's all you need to know: the Sears Tower will soon be renamed to the Willis Tower.
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