Chicago mayor announces plans to renovate Navy Pier, build arena

CHICAGO | Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a multimillion-dollar renovation plan Thursday that includes remodeling Navy Pier and building a 10,000-seat basketball arena near McCormick Place that would be the home court of DePaul University's basketball teams.

OFFBEAT: Schererville TV chef joins Emeril at 2013 Housewares show

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Valpo Mayor and 'Talent' Producer share 'Gong Show' tie

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Hammond School of Martial Arts-CTI holds grand opening

HAMMOND | In the seven years Humberto Prado has had his martial arts school, he's pulled up the stakes twice.

Chicago partnership is saving migratory birds

Linda Day Harrison remembers the words that started Lights Out Chicago.

OFFBEAT: Joan Lunden launching Twizitt line of 'safe' cookware

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Obama shifts G-8 from Chicago to Camp David

Annabel Perez-Juliano, of Chesterton, exits a westbound train Saturday at the McCormick Place NICTD/Metra Station in Chicago. The South Shore, Metra, Amtrak and Canadian National trains all pass under McCormick Place, which was going to host the G-8 and NATO summits. The White House is movin…

Obama shifts G-8 from Chicago to Camp David

Metra South Shore Line train conductor Randy Jackson, of Chesterton, ensures all passengers are on board an eastbound train Saturday during a stop at the McCormick Place NICTD/Metra Station in Chicago. The South Shore, Metra, Amtrak and Canadian National trains all pass under McCormick Place…

NWI commuters, airfields on alert for restrictions caused by NATO summit

The South Shore Line commuter railroad will not make stops at McCormick Place on Saturday or Sunday because of the NATO summit, said John Parsons, planning and marketing director for the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District.

Adventures in Everyday Living: Shorelines, Thursday, March 1st

Tomorrow, at a theater near you, the opening of The Lorax movie and a party for Dr. Seuss's 109th b-day at Fernwood Botanical Garden in Niles on Saturday; also very secret exclusive Paparazzi opening Saturday in Valpo. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore Magazine

Adventures in Everyday Living: Shorelines, Thursday, February 23rd

News from the Shore in-box includes debut of Laura Caldwell's 13th book. Roger Ebert shouts out to University of Illinois alums to save the student paper and Harbor Country artist Roger Harvey prints for Art Attack. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore Magazine

Adventures in Everyday Living: Shorelines, Thursday, February 16th

Kate Upton of the Whirlpool Uptons is on the cover of the swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated; Food Network Chef Anne Burrell and partner Avec Chef Koren Grieveson lunch at the bar at Bartlett's and a geeky Chicago Auto Show this year. --Pat Colander, Associate Publisher and Editor, Shore Magazine

Auto dreams in reach for show attendees

CHICAGO | Bill Artus' auto show visits span nearly five decades, but he said the glitzy annual displays of fresh vehicles don't take away from his experience.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Bill Artus, of Highland, checks out the specs of a Chevrolet Cruze Dusk concept car Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Automobile fans wait for the gates to open Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Bill Artus, of Highland, left, and his friend John Downs, of Lansing, scope out the new 2013 Chevrolet Spark on Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White takes a peak inside the Ford Explorer Police Interceptor on Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Ten-year-old Philip Strimbu, of Mishawaka, tries out Ford's ST Simulator at the opening day Friday of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Bill Artus, of Highland, left, and his friend John Downs, of Lansing, scope out the new 2013 Chevrolet Spark on Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show.

Opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show

Morton High School sophomores Andrew Brown, left, and Tim Skalba look for fellow classmates Friday at the opening day of the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. The trip to the auto show was a school field trip.