The Chicago Traveler

• Follow a trail of flour, chalk, and toilet paper on the Sixth Annual Great Chicago Anthrax Scare/Santa Hat Run. This four-mile run (for $44) includes a Santa cap, a hazmat suit, and four hours of food and open bar with the Chicago Hash House Harriers afterward. Meet at the Hidden Shamrock by 2 p.m. (Dec 15)
• Aunt Mabel gave you an ugly-as-sin holiday sweater last year. Here’s your opportunity to finally enjoy it. The Second Annual Fugly Sweater Bar Crawl begins at Blarney Stone at 2 p.m. and makes its way through Wrigleyville ‘til 12 midnight. Call for details …read more

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Celebrate the reopening of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in its new facility at the Grand Opening Gala Benefit, including cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. (Nov 29)
The annual World of Chocolate benefit for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is held in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Guests will sample scrumptious chocolate creations from many of Chicago’s finest restaurants, caterers, and chocolatiers. (Nov 29)
Bayside, an alternative rock band from Queens, New York, performs at the House of Blues, while Clay Aiken, the American pop singer of American Idol fame, sings at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. (Nov 29)
Sample some of the …read more

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• The Young Women’s Leadership Council will be hosting its 2nd Annual Fall Fundraiser featuring a performance by Spitfire Comedy, a raffle, and a silent auction at the Mad River Bar & Grille. Selective complimentary drinks and food are included. (Nov 15)
• Jimmy Eat World performs live at the Riviera Theatre, while Ralph Stanley (the best banjo picker in bluegrass) shows off his skills at Fitzgerald’s. (Nov 15)
• This is the last weekend to catch “Runaways” in Humboldt Park. Local playwright Elizabeth Swados’ gritty musical drama takes place on Lower Wacker Drive, featuring hip-hop, rock, R&B, reggae, and mambo …read more

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Paris, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo… Chicago? The City of Big Shoulders joins the bigwigs of fashion this weekend during Fashion Focus Chicago, a six-day, citywide celebration featuring works by more than 100 local fashion designers. Exhibitions, neighborhood shopping tours, demonstrations, student designer events, and free industry seminars are all part of this third annual event. From casual to contemporary, Chicago’s setting trends through its diverse boutiques and shops. Come find your inner supermodel.
Funny story… In 1962, New York Mets shortstop Elio Chacón and center fielder Richie Ashburn would often find themselves colliding when they went after a fly ball. …read more

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“If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”
–John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

Intellectual freedom is the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. While we may not agree with each other’s opinions, we must defend each other’s right to express those thoughts. Our democracy could not exist without the freedom to express different ideas.
Censorship suppresses those ideas …read more

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