Reader ianqui took this photograph of a cardboard box getting into the Halloween spirit early - by trying to be the Astor Place cube! Granted, it's not painted black, but white is so much more fetching to passers-by who want to scrawl various messages. We like to think of this box as Alamo-ette. more ›

We've never been all that intrigued by Burning Man, but Limewire has some great photos of the recent annual desert voyage that make it look more appealing than appalling. more ›

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse. more ›

With unseasonable weather descending upon much of North America, schools getting ready to reconvene, and sports seasons getting exciting, it's a busy time of year for us here in the Ist-A-Verse. Luckily, even with all the things we have to do, we still managed to get together to let you know what we've all been up to. more ›

Chicagoist is gearing up for this weekend's annual Air & Water Show along the lakefront. In what's becoming an annual tradition around there, staff member Todd McClamroch even got to fly with one of the participants. Chicagoist's decidedly opinionated readership was also appalled that one of their staffers found a popular local brewpub to be a great place to bring a kid. They also think that an unlikely activist for immigration rights should just take her medicine and offered their own suggestions to how the city should capitalize on the local music scene. And everyone thinks that a suggested tax on bottled water is a great idea. more ›

THEATER: A revival of Patrick Hamilton’s thriller Gaslight has just begun at Irish Rep; some may remember the award-winning 1944 film version starring Ingrid Bergman and Angela Lansbury. The chilling study in domestic domination to the max concerns a diabolical husband who, not satisfied in exploiting his wife’s savings to buy their house, plots her murder. But while he’s out the police inspector comes in to warn the poor bride that her husband is suspected of another “black-hearted murder” committed fifteen years ago... in the very same house! - John Del Signore more ›

Let's take a look back at a week that raised this Zen koan: if Kevin Federline got into a wrestling ring with a wrestler, who would you root for? more ›

THEATER: Though some might balk at an outdoor performance in this muggy, thunderstormy weather, The Drilling CompaNY's version of As You Like It, the next installment of Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot (directed by Jesse Ontiveros), is bound to exude enough cool to counteract the waves of heat rising from the asphalt. It also helps if you show up with your own chair so you don't have to exert yourself in a scuffle to nab one of the limited number available there. - Mallory Jensen more ›

As it gets warmer and we come out of hibernation, we all have the desire to dress up like our favorite furry woodland creatures. Right? Okay, maybe not. However, we're guessing you'll do it anyway. It's a theme, you see, from the people who bring us Zombiecon and Leprecon comes the Horned Ball. Kostume Kult's Annual Spring Ritual & Burning Man fundraiser. more ›

Exhibit: November 18 - December 18th, 2005 // Gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 12 - 6 pm (closed for Thanksgiving Weekend) more ›

Tonight & Tomorrow night @ Volume come witness some large scale art as installation artists show off their works before some of them head out to Burning Man. more ›

Deborah Schoeneman, New York Magazine more ›

Jonny Diamond, The L Magazine more ›

While everyone has thought that various ads on Craigslist seem more cinematic than real (missed connections - that is so romantic comedy...we're not saying it's always good romantic comedy...), San Francisco director Michael Ferris Gibson is making a movie about Craigslist users. Wired says that people who posted ads on August 4, 2003, were asked to participate in what will be a 90 minute DV film, and Gibson and his crew are sifting through almost 2000 postings. more ›

For your case of the Mondays, here's the Catbus from My Neighbor Totoro to cheer you (and me) up. What's a catbus? Here's one answer, here's another. Even Burning Man had a Catbus. more ›