Crain's Chicago Business articles from August 2008

Crain's Chicago Business archives from August 2008

Local knowledge.(Focus: Hispanic Business)(National-Louis University)(Christopher Multhauf)(Interview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER How do you increase the number of Hispanic business leaders? By making it easier to get an education. In December 2006, National-Louis University started a community-based MBA program in partnership with El Valor,...

Kids crop up at grown-up events; A social lesson, yes, but not all adults want to hobnob with junior.(Business of Life)
August 4, 2008... Byline: SHIA KAPOS It was a girls' night out-seven friends with long-held plans to go out for Cuban food and dish about careers and relationships. Then chaos arrived in the form of one woman's children, a 3-year-old daughter and a...

O'Hare's toll taker; Ald. Levar collects campaign cash from airport concessionaires.(News)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ROBERT HERGUTH Within the past year, three businesses donated money to Alderman Patrick Levar's campaign fund shortly before or after getting backing for potentially lucrative airport leases from the Chicago City Council committee...

NEW FROM JERSEY; Garden Staters ruffle feathers in Hyde Park.(News)(Antheus Capital LLC)
August 4, 2008... Byline: EDDIE BAEB After becoming the largest private landlords in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood with a single transaction last year, two New Jersey investors aim to put a more visible stamp on the lakefront intellectual enclave. ...

Chicago loses jobs faster; Local unemployment outpaces state, U.S. and other big cities.(News)
August 4, 2008... Byline: MONE FIELDS-WHITE Unemployment in the Chicago area jumped to a five-year high in June, as the economic downturn began claiming jobs in earnest. The jobless rate rose to 7.3% in the eight counties of metropolitan Chicago,...

SECOND SHOT; Potbelly's Lewis gets chance to prove mettle.(News)(Aylwin Lewis of Potbelly Sandwich Works Inc.)(Occupation overview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: DAVID STERRETT Aylwin Lewis has held a CEO title before, but now he's out to prove he can run a company. In three years as CEO of Sears Holdings Corp., Mr. Lewis had to work in the shadow of Chairman Edward Lampert, who...

For The Record.(Briefs)
August 4, 2008... A venture led by concert promoter Jam Productions bought the Uptown Theatre for $3.2 million in a court-ordered foreclosure sale. Jam principal Jerry Mickelson, who declined to comment on the sale, has said he plans to restore the theater. ...

TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE; As Stericycle piles up profits from medical waste, analysts raise eyebrows over lofty share price.(Markets)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Mike Colias Shares of Stericycle Inc. are soaring to new heights just as profit prospects for the medical-waste disposer taper off. The Lake Forest-based company's shares are up 25% over the past 12 months, propelled by a...

Getting more women on boards a matter of business, not morals.(Opinion)(Viewpoint essay)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Amy Osler Amy Osler is executive director of the Chicago Network. Summer marks the traditional end of proxy season, when public companies file their most revealing document, providing a look at executive salaries and perks. It...

Crain's promotes researcher.(News)(Michelle Evans )(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Crain's has promoted Michelle Evans to associate research director from research editor. Ms. Evans joined Crain's in 2006 after receiving a master's degree from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Since then, Ms....

Sugar ethanol venture only sweet for ADM.(Opinion)(Archer Daniels Midland Co.)
August 4, 2008... Archer Daniels Midland Co. knows a good investment when it sees one, so it's no surprise the giant agricultural processing company from Decatur bought into a pair of ethanol plants in Brazil last week. ADM makes a lot of ethanol in the...

No August slowdown for Olympics, politics.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Shia Kapos With the Olympic Games and political conventions just around the corner, Chicago's executive set is finding little time to lounge this summer. There's just too much schmoozing to be done. Jim and Paula Crown will...

Blair fund manager sticks to his `knitting'.(People)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Ann Saphir Job: Co-manager, Small Cap Growth Fund, William Blair & Co. Vitals: 49 years old; bachelor of arts degree in economics, Northwestern University, 1981; financial planner, Capital Growth of Colorado, Denver, 1981-82;...

Need to Know.(Focus: Hispanic Business)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... 1.7 million Hispanics in the Chicago region-more than the entire population of the San Francisco metropolitan area. 54% Percentage who live in the suburbs. $20 billion Combined household income of Chicago-area...

Satellite deal key for Boeing; $7.5-bil. defense contract could put unit back on track.(News)
August 4, 2008... Byline: PAUL MERRION Another cliffhanger Pentagon contract decision is looming for Boeing Co. over a $7.5-billion futuristic communications network that could revive the Chicago aerospace giant's satellite business. Boeing is competing...

ENERGY BOOST FOR RETIRING MINDS; A conversation with money manager Craig Vander Molen.(Markets)(Craig Vander Molen of LVM Capital Management Ltd.)(Interview)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Bruce Blythe Craig Vander Molen, 53, managing director, LVM Capital Management Ltd., Portage, Mich., and Wheaton Experience: 30 years Assets under management: $400 million CRAIN'S: How is surging inflation changing...

On the Move.(People)(Charter One Bank promotes Forrest Vollrath)(Harris Financial Inc. promotes Robert Conrardy)(Midwest Banc Holdings Inc. promotes Jonathan P. Gilfillan)
August 4, 2008... FINANCIAL SERVICES CHARTER ONE BANK, Providence, R.I.: Forrest Vollrath, 44, to senior vice-president of commercial banking, in Chicago, from first vice-president at LaSalle Bank N.A. Also, Todd Kostelnik, 33, to vice-president of...

CME's N.Y. deal hits snag again; Nymex takeover facing renewed member opposition.(News)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ANN SAPHIR New York Mercantile Exchange members are threatening to block CME Group Inc.'s $8.7-billion takeover bid unless they get an extra $408 million from the Chicago firm. "There is a big lobbying effort going on here,''...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)(List)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening Latino Theatre Festival 170 N. Dearborn St. (312) 443-3800 www.goodmantheatre.org 7:30 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m., 7 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $15 The Goodman Theatre...

C-House's star chef lets diners experiment; Minuscule appetizers, desserts allow sampling of inventive dishes.(Business of Life)(Marcus Samuelsson of Affinia Hotel)(Restaurant review)
August 4, 2008... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI James Beard award-winning chef Marcus Samuelsson brings another bright light to the hotel restaurant scene with his newly opened C-House in Streeterville's Affinia Hotel. The contemporary seafooder joins Sixteen...

Olympia Fields tends an Open contender; South Course gets fierce with a long expansion.(Business of Life)
August 4, 2008... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Fans wrung their hands five years ago as the best pro golfers scored low in early rounds of the U.S. Open on the North Course at Olympia Fields Country Club. With Medinah Country Club not the challenge it once was, it...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)(McGuire Engineers' Tony McGuire)(Interview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Laura Bianchi At 63, Tony McGuire is witnessing new excitement in the engineering field, generated by the burgeoning eco movement. "We are getting some young, bright minds,'' says the founder and president of Chicago-based McGuire...

Sheriff's tale; TOM DART'S FIRST TERM HAS BEEN A MIXED BAG OF MODEST REFORMS, PUBLIC SPATS.(News)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Greg Hinz His office just got ripped to shreds by U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, the truth teller of Chicago government. Yet other reformers give him credit for making modest but promising changes in an office that long has...

Taking on Chicago's old-boy network.(Focus: Hispanic Business)(Dominic Delgado)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER Dominic Delgado started out as a union apprentice in the structural steel industry in 1966 after a tour of duty in Vietnam. As he worked his way up from general foreman to project manager, he took out a home-equity...

Where the numbers just don't add up.(Focus: Hispanic Business)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER When it comes to money, U.S. Hispanics are predominantly "unbanked.'' Up to half do not have a checking or savings account, they are less likely than other ethnic groups to have a credit history, and most say...

Nuevo Latino goes formal.(Focus: Hispanic Business)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER Fifteen years ago, Italian food was all the rage. Then it was pan-Asian cuisine. Now, Chicago's restaurant scene is full of Latin-American flavor. But the trend doesn't just show up on your plate. It's also in the...

The manufacturer's dilemma.(Focus: Hispanic Business)(Isidro Molinar )(Occupation overview)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER Five years ago, Isidro Molinar was working in the shipping and receiving department of Hydro-Components Research & Development Corp. in Streamwood, scheduling pickups and signing in materials the company used to...

Restaurants try creative lures.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Olvera Thrifty times are pushing restaurateurs to unusual lengths to draw attention-and customers. "My wife and I used to eat out four or more times a week,'' says Gold Coast resident Domingo Such, a tax attorney at...

Destination: Yellowstone National Park.(Business of Life)
August 4, 2008... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli GET AWAY: The vast Yellowstone Park boasts the lower 48's largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife, bison and wolves included, plus waterfalls, canyons, mountains and, of course, geysers. The world's first...

A new wave of boomers.(Focus: Hispanic Business)
August 4, 2008... Byline: ERICA SCHLAIKJER Want to know what Chicago's workforce will look like in 30 years? Take a walk through Pilsen and Logan Square, or drive through Cicero, Aurora or Waukegan. Since the 1970s, Hispanics have grown from small...

Ex-alderman admits to payoffs.(Briefs)(Arenda Troutman)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Arenda Troutman, a 17-year City Council veteran, pleaded guilty to taking thousands of dollars in payoffs and campaign contributions from developers who wanted zoning changes and other favors. Ms. Troutman, 50, also pleaded guilty to failing to...

United upping fares for shortest flights; Chicago-to-Springfield limo ride beats price of flight from O'Hare.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: JOHN PLETZ United Airlines is raising the top fares on some of its shortest routes to eye-popping levels, crossing the $1,000 mark and giving business travelers pause about booking last-minute flights to nearby cities. A...

Cuban pitches locals; Mavericks owner needs Chicagoans on team to buy Cubs.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: ANN SAPHIR Mark Cuban is trying to woo deep-pocketed Chicagoans to help bolster his bid for the Cubs. The billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner used intermediaries to approach at least three local execs about partnering with him...

ADDED FREIGHT; GATX's Kenney is moving on his promise of a big acquisition.(Markets)
August 11, 2008... Byline: BOB TITA Investors in rail car leasing company GATX Corp. may not have to wait long at the station for the big deal CEO Brian Kenney telegraphed last month. Mr. Kenney offered more than $3 billion for General Electric Co.'s...

Before you start: Retail planning from A to Z.(Focus: Small Business)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... So you want to be a Chicago boutique star? You'd better find a niche if you hope to succeed, says Jason Felger, executive vice-president of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and co-chair of the Mayor's Fashion Council. Develop the...

BOUTIQUE BUST: Ones that didn't make it.(Focus: Small Business)
August 11, 2008... Closed Endo Exo Women's accessories 2034 N. Halsted St. Embelezar Furniture and home goods 1639 N. Damen Ave. Exhibit Women's apparel and accessories 2961 N. Lincoln Ave. Flirt Women's apparel...

Tough time to be in jewels; the vendor's view.(Focus: Small Business)(Occupation overview)
August 11, 2008... Kristen Amato, 33 Owner, K. Amato Before becoming a jewelry designer, I got a chemistry degree and spent three years at Abbott Laboratories doing diagnostic testing on a virus that attacks the immune system. I also spent two years at...

For the Record.(Briefs)
August 11, 2008... The Department of Justice said 11 people who allegedly hacked into the computer networks of nine U.S. retailers, including OfficeMax, and stole and sold more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers have been charged. The charges include...

LIFTING SPIRITS; After losing its bid for Absolut, Fortune Brands gives Sauza, other labels a face-lift.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: DAVID STERRETT Charged with promoting Sauza tequila, Andrew Floor is chucking the sombreros and wild party image. In the past, the liquor was promoted with shot giveaways to guys at bars. Now, acai berry Sauza margaritas are...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)(List)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening Chicago Air & Water Show North Avenue Beach (312) 744-3315 www.chicagoairandwatershow.us 3-9 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Free The show starts with Mrs. Brady,...

Off track; CANADIAN NATIONAL'S FOES OVERLOOK POSITIVES OF EJ&E RAILROAD PURCHASE.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Greg Hinz Pregnant women will have to deliver in back seats. Whole subdivisions will burn. Productivity will plummet as firetrucks and cars alike are stuck in traffic. That's the story that opponents of a pending big railroad...

Rx for poor hospitals; Madigan wants more money for weak institutions.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is breathing new life into her stalled push to get hospitals to give more free care to the poor. A blue-ribbon panel created by the Legislature-and heavy with Ms. Madigan's...

State Farm boosts rates; Insurer cites rising costs to cover claims for first increase in five years.(News)
August 11, 2008... Byline: STEVE DANIELS State Farm Insurance Cos. is raising auto rates for Illinois policyholders for the first time in five years, even as driving declines amid record gasoline prices. With a 3% increase in premiums effective Aug. 25,...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Christina Le Beau Bob Blackwell, 71, spent 25 years at IBM Corp., eventually heading its Chicago consulting business. In 1992, he founded management consultancy Blackwell Consulting Services, now a $33-million enterprise. His...

On the Move.(People)(Charter One Bank promotes Kelly Cotton)(Cortland Capital Market Services LLC promotes Russ Goldenberg)(Rand Financial Services Inc. promotes Debra Polin)
August 11, 2008... EDUCATION Chicago High School for the Arts, Chicago: Jose Ochoa, 34, to executive director, from superintendent of cultural recreation for the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission in Nashville, Tenn. FINANCIAL SERVICES Charter...

Donnelley wedding has guests hopping.(Business of Life)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Shia Kapos British tradition meets Chicago flair this weekend for the grand wedding of Goodman Theatre Board chairman Shawn Donnelley and English author Christopher Kelly. The couple, who have survived a very long-distance...

School built by mom and dad; From corporate attorneys to Montessori founders; demand for day care helps fuel program.(Business of Life)
August 11, 2008... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Two years ago, Montessori Academy of Chicago opened in a Streeterville living room, with 11 infants gathered for day care. This fall, founders Fosca and William Shackleton White will welcome 180 students, from 6...

FEELING CHIPPER OVER BIOTECHS, QUALCOMM; A conversation with money manager Tracy McCormick.(Markets)(William Blair and Company L.L.C.)(Interview)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine Tracy McCormick, 53, principal, William Blair & Co. LLC, Chicago Experience: 28 years Assets under management: $2.4 billion CRAIN'S: Why are you bullish on biotechnology stocks, and what's your top...

Restrooms go high tech.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Laura Bianchi Next time the conversation flags at dinner, hit the bathroom for something to talk about. At Ajasteak, 600 N. State St., restrooms are equipped with devilishly fast Mitsubishi Jet Towels. Insert your hands and the...

Daley has own Olympic task here at home.(Opinion)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Mayor Richard M. Daley did something in Beijing last week that he rarely, if ever, does in Chicago: He rode the city's public transit system. In town for an Olympic fact-finding mission, Mr. Daley traveled, media in tow, in a state-of-the-art,...

LETTERS: Don't ignore benefits of franchising waste hauling.(Opinion)
August 11, 2008... "Daley diving for Dumpsters'' and the Our View editorial "Daley's trash proposition is no treasure'' (July 28), on a plan to franchise the city's commercial waste hauling, lacked the balance I expect from Crain's. While there were valid...

Destination: Malawi.(Business of Life)(Country overview)
August 11, 2008... Byline: Anne Ford GET AWAY: Until recently, Malawi's attractions have stayed under the radar of most safari-goers, though Madonna's adoption of a boy from the southeastern African nation put it in the spotlight. Chief among this landlocked...

MOTO'S TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES; Sales of cable TV boxes peaking as the economy shows decline.(News)(Sanjay Jha of Motorola Inc.)
August 11, 2008... Byline: JOHN PLETZ Now that he's freed himself from the ailing cell phone business, Motorola Inc. CEO Gregory Brown can focus on his next big challenge: how to keep the company's TV set-top box business booming. Motorola last week...

Introducing Bain's new business group.(People)(resume)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Byline: David Sterrett Job: Head in Chicago of Bain & Co.'s new Corporate Renewal Group, since Jan. 14 Vitals: 50 years old; bachelor's degree in public policy, Duke University, 1979; master of arts in law and diplomacy, Tufts...

Datebook.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
August 11, 2008... THIS WEEK AUG. 11: Women's Business Development Center presents Get Them Talking About Your Company. 7:30 to 9 a.m. Women's Business Development Center, 8 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 400. Fee: $35. (312) 853-3477, ext. 0. AUG. 11: Career...

Gleneagles soothes bruised egos; A forgiving course puts the mood back on track.(Business of Life)
August 11, 2008... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY In the southwest suburbs, Cog Hill No. 4 and Ruffled Feathers, both in Lemont, are so difficult that they leave overwhelmed visitors punch-drunk upon departure. But there's a nearby tonic for golfers seeking a respite...

Dine's comfort dishes don't all hit the mark; Order smart to find winners: lamb, chicken.(Business of Life)
August 11, 2008... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Sparse crowds at Dine can be blamed on either its West Town location-squeezed between restaurant rows on Randolph Street to the north and Greektown on Halsted Street to the south-or erratic execution by a kitchen that...

Plan B for Chicago Tech Park: shops; Retail, hotel, housing being considered for Near West Side site.(News)(Chicago Technology Park)
August 11, 2008... Byline: EDDIE BAEB The state agency that oversees the Chicago Technology Park-a Near West Side haven for high-tech startups-is poised to turn a prime site that has stood vacant for decades into a commercial complex anchored by a hotel,...

From boom to bust; After a decade of growth, Chicago boutique owners struggle to stay open as the economy weakens and big designers and chain stores move in on their turf.(Focus: Small Business)
August 11, 2008... When Tricia Tunstall opened p45 in 1997, Bucktown was an emerging neighborhood of young artists, trendy restaurants and packed pubs. Her boutique, partly named for Michael Jordan's second Chicago Bulls jersey number and known for edgy designers...

ONCE YOU'RE OPEN: Survival Tips.(Focus: Small Business)(Business survival)(Brief article)
August 11, 2008... Keeping a boutique successful is difficult. But it can be done. Here are a few tips from owners, designers and retail consultants on how to run a thriving retail business despite the current economic downturn. Pay close attention to the...

HAVE A PLATEFUL OF SARA LEE, A COKE AND A SMILE; A conversation with money manager Bob Acri.(Kenilworth Asset Management LLC)(Interview)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine Bob Acri, 51, principal, Kenilworth Asset Management LLC, Kenilworth Experience: 26 years Assets under management: $400 million CRAIN'S: You've developed an appetite for Sara Lee? Mr. Acri: We...

Auto body shops stalling; High gas prices, sagging economy slowing business.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: MEGHAN STREIT Soko Dimitri says he can't remember a slower summer at Steve's Auto Body & Mechanical in Chicago. Business has dropped by about half and the shop is down to two workers from five earlier this year. "I've never...

Chicago needs rich hospitals to share wealth.(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... Last week Crain's reporter Mike Colias broke the news on Attorney General Lisa Madigan's effort to redistribute the wealth in Chicago's hospital community by requiring rich hospitals to help support poor ones. We applaud that effort, which...

On the Move.(People)(Bank of America Corp. has promoted Kevin Phalen to senior vice-president)(Northern Trust Corp. has promoted Carl Lingenfelter to global manager of strategy)(Joel Warady Group has promoted Chasidy Atchison to vice-president)
August 18, 2008... CONSUMER SERVICES ELYSIAN HOTEL & RESORTS, Chicago: Joe Aguilera, 48, to vice-president of sales, from director of marketing at the Four Seasons Chicago. EDUCATION DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY, River Forest: Arvid Johnson, 44, to dean of...

$12.6 mil. settles suits claiming priest abuse.(Archdiocese of Chicago)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... The Archdiocese of Chicago agreed to pay more than $12.6 million to settle lawsuits by 16 people who said they were sexually abused by priests, and for the first time released a lengthy deposition by Cardinal Francis George. The cardinal agreed...

Roads to lose $366 million; Fed highway money shrinks as gas sales drop, report shows.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: BOB TITA Illinois will get $366 million less in federal money for road repairs next year as a reduction in driving slashes gas tax revenue, estimates show. As motorists cut back on driving or opt for more fuel-efficient...

For The Record.(Briefs)(Chicago's 2009 budget plan)(following the lawsuit filed by United Air Lines Inc., Air Line Pilots Association has called for resignation of CEO Glenn Tilton)(rise in unemployment in Illinois)
August 18, 2008... Declaring that Chicago faces the worst financial picture in decades, Chief Financial Officer Paul Volpe confirmed that the city will begin 2009 with a $420-million budget hole. A preliminary budget for the year beginning Jan. 1 projects a...

Destination: Munich, Germany.(Business of Life)(Country overview)
August 18, 2008... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli GET AWAY: Like many German cities, Munich mixes vestiges of its medieval history with a rebuilt present (the city was heavily bombed during World War II); the laid-back, party atmosphere of the city's beer halls is...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)(Craig Miller, Association for Corporate Growth Chicago)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... Byline: Laura Bianchi As CEO of the Assn. for Corporate Growth Chicago, Craig Miller, 52, "partners up'' his 1,000 members for mergers, acquisitions and other deals. Where he looks: Daily news online from Yahoo, the Washington Post and...

Hotel occupancy to drop; New rooms expected to outpace demand.(Briefs)
August 18, 2008... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Chicago hoteliers will have a harder time filling their rooms over the next few years amid a slowing economy and a surge in hotel openings. The Chicago hotel occupancy rate is expected to fall to 68.2% in 2011, down...

Beer bash: Duo targets Bud Light; But can both Miller and Coors make gains?(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: JEREMY MULLMAN Sales of Coors Light beer in the United States surged 5% in the second quarter, while Miller Lite sales declined 1.6%. That presents a conundrum for the newly merged MillerCoors: how to grow one brand without...

Condo conversions lose appeal in burbs; Sales drop nearly 90% to just 46 units in 2Q.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN Condominium conversion sales of apartments in the suburbs plummeted to just 46 units during the second quarter. The disappearance of subprime mortgages and the slowing economy have dried up the condo...

Coughing up more free care; Non-profit hospitals pony up as critics question tax exemption.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Local non-profit hospitals provided more free care to poor patients last year, but not enough to satisfy political leaders who say the hospitals aren't giving away enough medical services to justify their tax...

Throwing away a $2-mil. athletic field a bad play.(Opinion)
August 18, 2008... Byline: Vi Daley On Thursday, the Chicago Plan Commission will consider the Chicago Park District's application for an artificial turf soccer field in Lincoln Park. In 2006, the park district made an agreement with the Latin School to...

Tougher times on the docket; Local law firms facing slowdown as real estate, Wall Street in slump.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER Looking to cut costs with real estate business hurting, local law firm DLA Piper US LLP recently told 13 new hires in Chicago to not show up for work until Oct. 1, about a month later than planned. "Any firm...

Need to Know.(Focus: Corporate Giving)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... $10.59 billion Total amount U.S. companies donated to charity in cash and goods in 2007. 5.6% Increase in corporate giving since 2006. $6.96 billion Amount U.S. companies gave in 2007 to organizations working with...

Cigar makers huff and puff over smoking ban.(Business of Life)(Daniel Melko of Daimler-Benz AG)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... Byline: H. Lee Murphy Daniel Melko, business manager for a Mercedes-Benz dealership on Chicago's Near North Side, drank cocktails and smoked cigars at Gibsons and Tavern on Rush before the statewide ban on indoor smoking. Now he smokes at...

Shopping is good with euros to spend; Tourists swarm Mag Mile stores with wallets fat from exchange rate.(Business of Life)(Stefano Fante)
August 18, 2008... Byline: RITA PYRILLIS Back home in Italy, Stefano Fante, 51, is a prudent consumer, buying just what he needs and never shopping while on vacation. But a $600 chocolate-brown leather jacket beckoned from the racks at the Cole-Haan store on...

RiverWalk dining all about setting; View, fresh air impress; Cyrano's manages simple, tasty dishes, too.(Business of Life)(Cyrano's Cafe & Wine Bar )(Restaurant review)
August 18, 2008... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI With shoreside views of tour boats plying the water beneath a spectacular cityscape, RiverWalk dining feels like a mini staycation, though the fare isn't as impressive as the setting. Meals are served picnic-style...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
August 18, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie" 111 S. Michigan Ave. (312) 443-3600 www.artic.edu 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Admission: $12 An animator for Disney, Mr. Peet created...

Tough challenges at Springbrook; The course is one thing; try getting a tee time.(Business of Life)(Springbrook Golf Course)
August 18, 2008... Byline: H. LEE MURPHY Springbrook Golf Course in Naperville is a tough approach for outsiders: The park district-owned facility gets such heavy play from discount-eligible residents that tee times are difficult to obtain. Don't count...

Housing market hits real estate maven.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
August 18, 2008... Radio gadfly Joe Aldeguer-you know him from WLS as "The king of real estate! The wizard of creative thinking! The master of making the deal!''-has closed his suburban mortgage-lending business, the Mortgage Exchange, and faced foreclosure on...

WEATHERING THE STORM; After years of stellar returns, non-profits bracing for investment setbacks.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: MONE FIELDS-WHITE After a six-year bull market, endowment funds at some of Chicago's biggest charities and foundations have lost ground over the past year. From the Jewish United Fund to the Art Institute of Chicago,...

Small-fry venture firms thrive; Investors park money in smaller funds even as credit is tightening.(News)
August 18, 2008... Byline: ANN SAPHIR While large private-equity firms such as Madison Dearborn Partners LLC struggle to raise money amid a yearlong credit crunch that has crimped buyout activity, some smaller funds are seeing renewed investor interest. ...