Whet Moser

For years Michael Madigan has been the quiet center of state politics, and he's been a player in local politics as well. But as he gets older, questions of succession are inevitable. Read more

Another New York publication has decided that Chicago is exciting, excited, glittery, and elan-tastic, but they can't really put their finger on why. Luckily, we've got the numbers behind the hipness. Read more

The Alinea chef's moment of gastronomic time-travel is due to present its first menu, a tribute to the legendary French chef drawn from his "Le Guide Culinaire," on April 1. But it's not the first time Achatz has served up Escoffier's recipes. Read more

Yesterday's big business news was that Chicago-based Boeing won a $35b contract to replace the Air Force's extremely old tanker planes over the European conglomerate EADS. It's the third time the contract has been awarded, and the latest development in one of Washington's longest, most expensive dramas. Read more

The city is set to break a monthly snowfall record that's stood since the 19th century. Just be grateful that it's not a dark mush of cigar ashes, soot, and "horseshoe particle" like the one that fell back then. Read more