'America's Got Talent' to Hold Chicago Tryouts

NBC's top-rated summer show will be holding auditions in Chicago at McCormick Place on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27.

Last season, "American's Got Talent" had three unique finalists: A comedian, a family dog act and a one-of-a-kind musical instrument. The winner? A group of dogs that danced, performed jump rope tricks and even some gymnastics. "Chicago is an important city for 'America's Got Talent,'" said senior casting producer Jason Shuler. "We have had several top talent audition at our Chicago open calls. Among them are Chicago group Footworkingz and the piano player from Edon from our most current season." Notable winners who auditioned in Chicago: Neal E. Boyd from season three and Kevin Skinner from season four. The show will be holding auditions on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27 at McCormick Place, 2301 Lake Shore Dr. Entrances can be found at Gate 4 or …

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Broadview Hair Cuttery Robbed at Gunpoint

Another hair salon was robbed yesterday, but this time in Broadview. The Hair Cuttery robbery is the latest hair salon in the Chicago area to be robbed.

A Hair Cuttery in Broadview was robbed on Wednesday morning, according to a stylist at the salon. The man entered the salon at 118 Broadview Square and displayed a black handgun before demanding cash from the register. The man then put the cash in a black backpack and fled the scene, the employee said. "It was the same guy I saw in the news," said stylist Lisa Burke regarding the robber. "It was definitely him." A call to the Broadview Police Department was not returned prior to publication, but Patch will update this story as more information is available. The Broadview robbery is the latest instance of a Chicago area hair salon being targeted in recent weeks. On Jan. 14, a man robbed a Hair Cuttery in the 8300 block of Golf Road at …

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Former Skokie Resident Recounts Nazi March That Never Happened

The Chicago Tribune's art critic recounts what it was like growing up in Skokie during the planned Nazi March by the Nationalist Socialist Party in the 1970s.

First Couple of 2013 Marries In Cook County

Stephen Pyo and Angela McKinney lined up two hours before the County Clerk's office opened Jan. 2 to become the first couple to marry. They walked away with lots of gift certificates.

  Angela McKinney, wearing a white lace wedding gown, and Stephen Pyo, wearing a gray suit, arrived two hours before the Cook County Clerk's office opened on Jan. 2 in order to become the first couple to obtain a marriage license, and get married, in 2013. Cook County Clerk David Orr performed the ceremony himself, and a judge waived the 24-hour waiting period, according to a statement from the Clerk's office. Orr waived the $60 marriage license fee and provided the couple with donated gift certificates, including a complimentary weekend for two at the Palmer House Hilton; two tickets to "The Jungle Book," courtesy of Broadway in Chicago; and dinner for two at Frankie's Scallopine, a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant. Pyo, 47, a computer …

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Commit to a Healthier You in 2013

Life Time Fitness holds Commitment Day 5k Run around the country, including Chicago, for members to commit to a healthy lifestyle in 2013.

Life Time Fitness trainer Karie Stringer sees the annual uptick around New Year’s Day and into the first three months of a new year. There’s a big push from members and new members with New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. Stringer doesn’t necessary think losing weight is a good New Year’s resolution. It’s all about being healthy, she said. “I’m looking for people to change their lifestyles,” the Algonquin-based endurance coach said. She is also the Run Club coordinator for the Algonquin fitness center. Life Time Fitness Commitment Day, a 5k run on Jan. 1 in downtown Chicago, is the perfect way to make that change. About 300 members of the Algonquin fitness center will be joining people from across the suburbs to run or walk in the 5k …

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Hundreds Busted in Holiday Retail Theft Ring

More than 100 people were arrested in a complex retail theft scheme that involved operations in various counties and neighboring states, the Cook County State's Attorney announced today. Malls in Skokie, Niles and Schaumburg were among the few targeted.

A holiday sting operation led to the arrest of more than a 100 "grinches" following a month-long undercover investigation, the Cook County State's Attorney announced today. According to authorities, thieves were targeting stores at Old Orchard Mall in Skokie, Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, among others, and stealing mass amounts of designer clothing only to be sold at a reduced cost on the black market.  The investigation, dubbed "Operation Whoville," involved a series of separate covert undercover sting operations at six Chicago-area malls that included North Riverside, Orland Square, Woodfield, Gurnee Mills, Aurora Outlet Malls and Old Orchard, authorities said. Arrests were also made at stores on Michigan Avenue and State Street in …

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Two Downtown Skokie Restaurants Receive Bib Gourmand Award

Out of 64 Chicago-area restaurants, two downtown Skokie eateries made the cut and received Bib Gourmand designation. See which two made the list here.

Crain's Business Chicago is reporting that 64 Chicagoland restaurants received a Bib Gourmand designation from Michelin on Wednesday. The Bib Gourmand award targets restaurants that you can get dinner for two and wine or dessert for $40 or less, minus tax and tip. Of the 64 Chicago-area restaurants included two downtown Skokie businesses made the cut - and one of them isn't Libertad (which was recently rated by Chicago Magazine as one of the top 20 new restaurants.) In fact, it was Yolo, located at 5111 Brown St., and Kabul House, also in downtown Skokie, and located at 4949 Oakton St. While Kabul House is easy to spot, Yolo is hidden off downtown Skokie's busiest business anchor on Lincoln Avenue and Oakton Street, or just around the …

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Woman In Labor Votes On Way To Hospital

A 21-year-old south suburban woman found time to vote in her first presidential election, even as her baby was beginning to make its way into the world.

OUTSIDE CHICAGO, IL -- The contractions were coming five minutes apart, her water had broken—but a local woman took a detour while en route to deliver her first child, a daughter.  Galicia Malone, 21, popped into Precinct 88 around 8:30 a.m., to cast her vote at the aptly named New Life Celebration Church, in south suburban Dolton.  “I never voted before so this made a major difference in my life,” Malone told a WBBM reporter, as quoted by CBS. “And I wanted this to be a stepping-stone for my daughter.” As she worked her way through the ballot, her contractions increased in frequency and intensity.  “I was just trying to read and breathe, read and breathe,” she told the reporter. “That’s what I kept telling myself, ‘Read and breathe, read …

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Chicago Airports Have Flight Emergency Advisory In Effect

Due to Hurricane Sandy and Frankenstorm on the east coast. check for flight cancellations affecting O'Hare International Airport.

While the East Coast girds for power outages and damage from Hurricane Sandy, officials at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport could be bracing for their own flood of issues. O'Hare has issued an airport emergency advisory and warned service will be limited due to severe weather in parts of the country.  About 5,000 flights have already been canceled nationwide, with an unknown number connected to O'Hare. Thousands more were expected to be grounded Monday and Tuesday, according to Huffington Post. To check on your flight status, view FlightStats or your airline's website.  An independent site, FlightAware, also carries information on canceled flights but was overwhelmed with requests Sunday afternoon. Sandy is barreling toward the …

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Downtown Chicago Columbus Day Parade Info, Time

Many school districts have a holiday from school; a parade takes place in downtown Chicago. Here's the info, as well as fun activities for kids.

Most school districts in the area have a holiday on Monday for Columbus Day.  To make it a learning experience--and let the kids enjoy some fun too--here's information about celebrations organized by the Chicago area Italian-American community, as well as links to information about Columbus and his voyages.  The following information comes from Casa Italia, home of the Italian Cultural Center in Stone Park.  On Monday, Oct. 8, the activities begin with 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 W. Lexington in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. It will be followed by a 10 a.m. wreath laying ceremony at  the Christopher Columbus statue in Arrigo Park, Chicago (just outside the shrine). Activities are organized by the …

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