Crain's Chicago Business articles from December 2008

Crain's Chicago Business archives from December 2008

Where to be crafty (or pretend); Dabbling in the domestic arts with a bit of help, and no cleanup.(Business of Life)
December 1, 2008... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Chicago caterer Molly Schemper hosts a cookie-baking party for close friends right before every holiday season. The cookies are made with top-notch ingredients and baked in her professional ovens. But are they...

Family value; OBAMA'S ELECTION MAY BRING CHANGE, BUT NOT GAY MARRIAGE-YET.(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Greg Hinz When it comes to the capacity to drink milk, I'll pit the 17-year-old in our house against anyone. Hot or cold, good day or cranky day, the white stuff goes. No matter how many times my partner squawks and asks the kid to...

MarcUSA; Advertising agency, 325 N. LaSalle St., Chicago.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Loerzel Until two years ago, the Chicago offices of ad agency MarcUSA were the sort that could stifle creativity. "It reminded me of a lawyer's office,'' says Nat Sullivan, a creative director. Jean McLaren, the...

Maddock Douglas Inc. Marketing and branding consultancy, 111 Adell Place, Elmhurst.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kevin Davis It looks like a jam session could break out at any minute behind the reception desk at Maddock Douglas. Just beyond the entrance is a stage-like setup for a rock band, with full drum kit, guitars and amps. "We...

Wilson Sporting Goods Co. Athletic equipment, 8750 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kevin Davis Wilson Sporting Goods has transformed a drab space near O'Hare International Airport into a sports fanatic's dreamscape. The 13th-floor lobby is festooned with 1,600 images of athletes and events spanning the...

Abelson-Taylor Inc. Pharmaceutical advertising, 33 W. Monroe St., Chicago.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Loerzel Employees walking on the seventh floor of Abelson- Taylor's offices often look across the atrium and see a co-worker sitting in the cafe on the sixth floor. "People will wave,'' says Beth Hall, vice-president of...

Threadless; Online T-shirt retailer, 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Robert Loerzel At any given time, the odds are good that someone's playing pingpong or pool in the big room at Threadless known as the "atrium/hangout area.'' The walls are covered with artist-in-residence Joe Suta's murals of...

Coolest Offices; Want to see some of Chicago's most inspiring work spaces? At this West Loop rehab, you can see two in one stop.(Focus: Commercial Real Estate)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Kevin Davis The Powerhouse Building in the West Loop was vacant for decades, a historic relic that fell into disuse and disrepair. Once home to massive coal-fired burners and generators for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway...

Gravy train will need push from Springfield.(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... The mother of all infrastructure bills is coming from Washington, D.C., in the form of President-elect Barack Obama's economic stimulus plan. Billions will flow to the states for road building, bridge repair, railroad upgrades and school...

CHICAGO'S STAKE IN DETROIT; Ties to Big Three automakers mean billions for economy.(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: BOB TITA AND MONEE FIELDS-WHITE The collapse of a Detroit automaker would send shock waves through Chicago, from South Side manufacturers to northwest suburban dealerships to downtown TV studios. As General Motors Corp., Ford...

Griffin, CME 'ready' for swaps; Hope to be first to clear credit contracts; is 'buy-side' support enough?(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: ANN SAPHIR In the high-stakes race to become the premier clearinghouse for credit-default swaps, CME Group Inc. and Citadel Investment Group believe they've moved into the lead. Citadel CEO Kenneth Griffin and CME CEO Craig...

Guv gives pass on clean air; Agrees to a delay in emission controls at two Ameren power plants.(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: STEVE DANIELS Gov. Rod Blagojevich has agreed to Ameren Corp.'s request to relax provisions of a landmark two-year-old deal clamping down on pollution from coal-fired power plants, opening the door for the owner of several...

Bold tone shines through at Province; Fuchsia walls foretell an equally vivid menu.(Business of Life)(Randy Zweiben )
December 1, 2008... Byline: ALISON NEUMER LARA It's good to be the boss. Chef Randy Zweiben spent years at the helm of Nacional 27, a Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises spot, but now he's ventured in a fresh direction with Province, which is at the same time...

McD's high-low plan for hard times; Strategy hinges on Dollar Menu, premium coffee.(News)(McDonald's Corp.)
December 1, 2008... Byline: DAVID STERRETT McDonald's Corp. is taking on the recession with a strategy of cheap eats and pricey drinks. Missing from the menu so far are any new entrees. While competitors Burger King and Wendy's have announced new premium...

Pennies from wall street; With markets and economy reeling, many Chicago companies' shares tumble into bargain basement.(Markets)
December 1, 2008... Byline: MEGHAN STREIT Got a couple of spare bucks? Chicago stocks are on sale. Local companies of all sizes have been dragged down by market bloodletting, with shares of at least 27 ending Friday below $5, a threshold that's part of...

On the Move.(People)
December 1, 2008... ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERING HOK CHICAGO, Chicago: Luigi Franceschina, 38, to vice-president and director of retail design, from senior design manager at Starbucks Corp. FINANCIAL SERVICES CLIFTON GUNDERSON LLP, Peoria: R. David...

Former CHX exec takes on private equity.(People)(Occupation overview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Ann Saphir Job: Managing director, Deerfield-based private-equity firm Vernon & Park Capital L.P., since July. Vitals: 37 years old; bachelor's degree in political philosophy, Syracuse University, Syracuse, N.Y., 1993;...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Christina Le Beau Pam Strobel, 56, former Exelon Corp. executive and now Ravinia Festival chair, has admired Abraham Lincoln since childhood. Favorite book: the currently newsy "Team of Rivals,'' the Lincoln Cabinet study by Doris...

MEDICAID MISERY; Nursing homes caught between payment delays, credit crunch.(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Nursing homes and hospitals are buckling under the weight of Illinois' $1.91 billion in unpaid Medicaid bills. The state-run health plan for the poor accounts for the biggest chunk of Illinois' mounting backlog,...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "The Seafarer" 1650 N. Halsted St. (312) 335-1650 www.steppenwolf.org 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 3, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $20-$70 Steppenwolf brings playwright Conor...

St. Nicholas Ball delivers for kids.(Business of Life)(Cole Taylor Bank's Mark Hoppe)(Interview)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Mary Cameron Frey Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the local church's social-service arm, was founded in 1917 by a group of businessmen who combined existing and new services for the community. Today, it provides...

Suburban homebuilder's troubles deepen; Pasquinelli hit with foreclosure lawsuits.(News)
December 1, 2008... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN Lenders are turning up the pressure on Pasquinelli Homebuilding LLC, another local developer buffeted by the housing crisis. In recent months, Park National Bank has filed foreclosure lawsuits on Pasquinelli...

OIL'S SELL-OFF LEAVES GUSHER OF OPPORTUNITIES; A conversation with money manager Ron Kiddoo.(Markets)(Cozad Asset Management)(Interview)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Bruce Blythe Ron Kiddoo, 66, chief investment officer, Cozad Asset Management, Champaign Experience: 40 years Assets under management: $400 million CRAIN'S: Why do you believe U.S. stocks are undervalued? Mr....

Suit reveals squabble over $76-million trust.(Business of Life)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Shia Kapos Donna Haag, a New York fashion designer with Chicago roots, claims her mother and brother conspired to squelch her ability to withdraw millions of dollars from her portion of a $76-million trust fund left by her father,...

Prices are sure to needle you.(Business of Life)(Brief article)
December 1, 2008... Byline: Laura Bianchi The economy may be unraveling, but the seemingly humble hobby of knitting has reached expensive heights. High-end yarns costing as much as $137 for a measly 25 yards-black beaver nose warmer, anyone?-are roping in...

Plenty of ways to help out during these tough times.(Opinion)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Ken Nopar Ken Nopar is a former owner of Edward Fox Photography. We all have been affected by the economic downturn and significant drop in the stock market. Many of us have been forced to make or contemplate making adjustments...

Meter money won't cure city's fiscal ills.(Opinion)
December 8, 2008... Mayor Richard M. Daley got a good price for the city's parking meters. Despite the meltdown in financial markets, Mr. Daley managed to sell the meters for more than $1 billion to a consortium led by Morgan Stanley. The sale proceeds will...

Family bond brings banker to a cause.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Mary Cameron Frey The Illinois chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation was founded in 1973 by parents of children with Type 1 diabetes. It joined 100 other chapters worldwide as part of JDRF International and is...

Deregulation not to blame for causing economic crisis.(Opinion)
December 8, 2008... Crain's story about the "tarnished'' reputation of the University of Chicago's economics department was off-base ("Chicago school loses its place,'' Nov. 17). The story implies recent financial turmoil was caused by "lightly regulated...

GETTING SCHOOLED; Career Education shares get boost after top investor lands boardroom seat, but stock remains near bottom of the class.(Markets)
December 8, 2008... Byline: STEVEN R. STRAHLER An activist shareholder is scoring high marks with Career Education Corp.'s investors. Shares of the Hoffman Estates-based company surged 17% in November after its top shareholder, San Francisco investment...

EMPIRE BUILDER; Throwing money at big construction, whiz-bang technology, Luke McGuinness is creating a hospital-profit powerhouse.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: MIKE COLIAS In his first hospital job, back in 1970, Luke McGuinness fell in love with big construction projects. Providence Hospital was transforming its suburban Detroit campus. Watching new buildings go up captured the...

McD's opposes Obama on unions; Urges franchisees to fight 'card-check' bill.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: DAVID STERRETT McDonald's Corp. is mobilizing its U.S. restaurant owners to fight a measure in Congress supported by President-elect Barack Obama that would make it easier for workers to unionize. In a Nov. 25 memo, McDonald's...

On the Move.(People)
December 8, 2008... FINANCIAL SERVICES FIRST CHICAGO BANCORP, Itasca: J. Mikesell Thomas, 57, to president, CEO and director; CEO at First Chicago Bank & Trust, and continuing as principal at Castle Creek Capital. He was previously principal at First Chicago...

Like it or not, it's time to network; Recession forces even introverts to break out of their shells; in this economy, no one can afford to be shy.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: CLAIRE BUSHEY The phone message just got away from Jana McCann. A self-described introvert, Ms. McCann prefers watching movies with her husband in their Chicago home to chatting up professional prospects. But she lost her job...

Money-saver: thin gift lists.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Names are being crossed off many gift lists this year, and not because anyone's been bad. With Chicagoans in all demographics feeling the pain of a faltering economy, they're finding ways to trim their gift-giving...

STICKER SHOCK; As local businesses slash prices amid economy's retreat, deflation looms.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: MONEE FIELDS-WHITE Tammy Carabas-Brody, trying to shore up sales at her shoe store in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, is slashing prices on her collection of high heels, boots and other footwear by as much as 50%. "The sales...

Buyers are still on the prowl for deals.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Byline: H. Lee Murphy With debt markets seized up, the commonly held notion is that mergers and acquisitions activity has frozen, too. Not exactly. In the first nine months of this year, the number of mergers and acquisitions in the...

You can't sell; Now what? Staying afloat.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Meghan Streit Even if you've done everything right, you may not be able to find a buyer for your business right now. You may have no choice but to hunker down and work harder than ever to endure this downturn. But if you play...

Holiday sustenance at afternoon teas; A moment to recharge, and a few tasty flourishes.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: LAURA BIANCHI Afternoon tea in a luxury hotel is a peaceful reward when you've worked through lunch or spent hours shopping: The atmosphere and service are genteel, the finger foods delightfully fussy. I checked out two traditional...

Riverfront tower stymied; Credit crunch slows Hines Interests' plans for Blair skyscraper.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: THOMAS A. CORFMAN AND EDDIE BAEB Hines Interests L.P. is struggling to finance a $536-million skyscraper proposed for a site along the Chicago River, as the credit crisis delays one of the city's biggest developments and saps...

Getting `the message out about ShopperTrak'.(People)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Monee Fields-White Job: President and CEO, ShopperTrak RCT Corp., a Chicago-based research provider for retailers, since June. Vitals: 50 years old; master of arts in geography, Oxford University, 1979; MBA, Harvard University,...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "Madama Butterfly" Madison Street and Wacker Drive (312) 332-2244, ext. 5600 www.lyricopera.org 7:30 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $44-$197 After Cio-Cio-San is seduced by a naval...

5 ways to boost the price tag for your small biz-even now.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Byline: John Rosenthal So you've decided to sell. Here's what you need to do to get the highest possible price. Hire a broker Most owners sell without using brokers, who charge an average of 10% of the purchase price. But a good...

Four signs that you don't have the stomach to hang in there.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Samantha Stainburn 1. You've run out of ideas. Burned out, you don't know what to change in your business to keep it growing during the recession. But before hanging out the for-sale sign, "take a vacation for a week,'' says...

Dealmakers' favorite fixes.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Samantha Stainburn Before you sell a house, you repaint it. But, to business brokers and investment bankers' dismay, most owners don't take the time to spruce up their businesses before a sale. "They look in the mirror one day and...

Chicago social set sees itself in romance novel.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Shia Kapos Chicago and its social characters star in a just-published romance novel by local author and lady-who-lunches Sherrill Bodine. "The Talk of the Town'' (Grand Central Publishing) is a quick read about fictional gossip...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Laura Bianchi Gary Holdren's late father built an auto parts business from the back of a station wagon into 16 stores and warehouses in Ohio. "There is not one business book written that says something my father didn't teach me,''...

AS BRUTAL YEAR ENDS, GOING BOEING JUST PLANE SMART; A conversation with money manager Tim Hannahs.(Markets)(Interview)
December 8, 2008... Byline: Daniel Rome Levine Tim Hannahs, 39, senior vice-president, Fifth Third Private Bank, Chicago Experience: 15 years Assets under management: $2 billion CRAIN'S: The stock market this year has defied many calls that a...

Exelon CEO needs a connection; Rowe's credibility riding on deal to buy NRG.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: STEVE DANIELS With two strikes against him, Exelon Corp. CEO John Rowe needs to connect on his third swing at making the country's largest electric company even bigger. Mr. Rowe has failed twice in attempts to buy power...

Correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
December 8, 2008... A Dec. 1 article misidentified the location of BorgWarner Inc. It moved from Chicago to Detroit in 2005.

Daley to feds: Bucks stop here; Mayor wants road money in his hands-not the governor's.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: PAUL MERRION Mayor Richard M. Daley is lobbying to keep Gov. Rod Blagojevich's mitts off several hundred million dollars Chicago is poised to get through a proposed economic stimulus package under debate in Congress. ...

O'Hare cargo shipments plummet; Drop in volume could threaten transport jobs.(News)
December 8, 2008... Byline: JOHN PLETZ Cargo shipments are falling even faster than passenger traffic at O'Hare International Airport, straining its finances and threatening jobs in the city's crucial transportation industry. The amount of cargo passing...

RIDE IT OUT OR GET OUT? Boomer-age owners face a tough call: try to sell, or work harder than ever.(Focus: Small Business)
December 8, 2008... Gary Heidt didn't see the recession coming when he decided in 2006 to sell Heidt's Hot Rod Shop Inc. so he could spend more time with his wife and four grandchildren at home in Palatine. "Two of them live two miles away, and they were...

McPier eyes chopper service; Helicopter landing pad would replace one lost when Meigs shut down.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: ROBERT HERGUTH McCormick Place plans to add a helicopter pad to better compete with rival convention halls, boost revenue and fill a void created by the closure of Meigs Field five years ago. The Metropolitan Pier and...

Correction.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
December 15, 2008... Highland Park Ford Lincoln Mercury should not have appeared on Crain's list of largest minority-owned firms, published Nov. 24. The company is not majority-owned by a minority. An updated version of the list appears at...

A retail perk: very nice clerks.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli Sugar, spice and everything nice: That's what store clerks are this holiday season, thanks to the anxious economy and a dearth of seasonal hiring. Clare Hennessy, president and founder of Hennessy Design Group...

Info Junkie.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Christina Le Beau Rita Athas, 61, executive director of World Business Chicago, spends hours tracking business news, including clips packets from Mayor Richard M. Daley, who chairs the non-profit economic development group. "I'm...

Destination: Scottsdale, Ariz.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Lisa Bertagnoli GO: No longer just a haven for retirees, Scottsdale has blossomed into a "real'' town, complete with a thriving cultural and culinary scene; the city hosts the country's biggest food festival in the spring (April...

It's all about rep now for Zell; Tribune Ch. 11 filing wipes out his upside.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: ANN SAPHIR All Sam Zell can salvage from Tribune Co. now is his reputation. Tribune's bankruptcy filing last week will strip him of the rich potential upside he negotiated a year-and-a-half ago when he took over Tribune amid an...

Crain's Picks.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Crystal Yednak Opening "The Nutcracker" 50 E. Congress Pkwy. (312) 902-1500 www.joffrey.com 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday; 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Saturday, Sunday Tickets: $25-$100 Clara, Fritz, the mouse king and...

Struggle to keep charity in the budget; As donors tighten spending, non-profits endure year-end worries.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: LISA BERTAGNOLI Chicagoan Nicole Heinrich just lost her job as a pharmaceutical sales representative for New Jersey-based Inventive Health Inc. That's bad news for Chicago Cares, a community-services nonprofit she's previously...

Got the right stuff?(Focus: Going Global)
December 15, 2008... You might be the best at what you do in your organization, but that doesn't guarantee you're the right choice for an overseas post. While technical ability is important, research indicates that softer skills like empathy and flexibility are key...

Getting Ahead By Going Abroad; An overseas posting can catapult your career, but there are caveats to consider.(Focus: Going Global)
December 15, 2008... Byline: MONICA GINSBURG There was a 17-year wait for a telephone line and not a McDonald's in sight, yet Robert Knuepfer Jr. calls the five years he spent in Budapest with his family on behalf of international law firm Baker & McKenzie a...

Tractor Supply rolls into new territory; Despite downturn, chain eyes northwest suburbs.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: SAMANTHA SLEEVI Tractor Supply Co., a Tennessee-based chain of hobby farming and hardware stores, plans to enter the Chicago market. The company is negotiating to open stores in far northwest Carpentersville and Harvard,...

Dumping Navistar; Navistar's NYSE comeback stalls as recession pounds manufacturers and hedge funds cut holdings of truckmakers' shares.(Markets)
December 15, 2008... Byline: BOB TITA Navistar International Corp.'s return to the New York Stock Exchange has turned into a bumpy ride. Shares of the Warrenville-based truckmaker are down 66% since June 30, when the stock resumed trading on the NYSE after...

Tide of bad construction loans rises; Chicago's rate of 13.7% above national average.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Bad loans to Chicago-area real estate developers continued to pile up in the third quarter, a trend that's expected to carry into next year as the recession deepens. The delinquency rate for construction loans in...

ILLINOIS ECONOMY: 'DOOMSDAY' IS HERE; Leadership vacuum threatens catastrophe.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: PAUL MERRION The corruption scandal surrounding Gov. Rod Blagojevich couldn't come at a worse time for Illinois' faltering economy. Mr. Blagojevich's pre-dawn arrest last Tuesday, followed by the disclosure of shocking criminal...

On the Move.(People)
December 15, 2008... FINANCIAL SERVICES CHARTER ONE BANK, Providence, R.I.: Stacey Reineking Sather, 36, to senior vice-president and continuing as director of public affairs for Charter One Illinois, in Chicago, from vice-president. HADELROCK CAPITAL...

Hefner turns a page after exiting Playboy.(Business of Life)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Shia Kapos A few days after the surprise news that she was hanging up her cap at her family's Playboy Enterprises Inc., Christie Hefner was hard at work-playing host to a gathering of top business executives, politicos, academics...

WITH SHOPPERS TRADING DOWN, PRICE IS RIGHT FOR COSTCO; A conversation with money manager JOSEPH T. SEMINETTA.(Markets)(Interview)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Bruce Blythe Joseph T. Seminetta, 44, president, Premier Asset Management LLC, Chicago Experience: 22 years Assets under management: $365 million CRAIN'S: As an investor in large-cap growth stocks, do you feel you're...

State Farm auto rates on rise; Second hike since August in store as medical costs escalate.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: STEVE DANIELS State Farm Insurance Cos. is hiking auto rates in Illinois for the second time in four months, as claim payments escalate. The Bloomington-based company will impose a 3.2% increase effective Dec. 29, a spokeswoman...

Moral dilemma; ILLINOIS NEEDS TO RAISE CASINO CASH WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO ITS REPUTATION.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Greg Hinz If ever there were a time when the state of Illinois needed money, it's now. Amid a truly horrible recession, the budget is $2 billion in the red and headed south fast. If ever there were a time when the state of...

Quinn should appoint new U.S. senator.(Opinion)
December 15, 2008... Last week's arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges presents an immediate opportunity for Illinois politicians to demonstrate their commitment to changing the system in which Mr. Blagojevich thrived. Illinois still has to fill...

Helping utilities get smart about grids.(People)
December 15, 2008... Byline: John Pletz Job: Managing director of the energy and utility practice, West Monroe Partners LLC, a Chicago-based consulting firm, since August. Vitals: 44 years old; bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Marquette...

Overseeing Overseas.(Focus: Going Global)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Monica Ginsburg Working from his Glencoe home on a typical Monday in November, Harold Sirkin was up at 5:30 a.m. responding to overnight e-mails from Europe and Asia. At 6 a.m., Mr. Sirkin, the global leader of Boston...

A checklist for expats.(Focus: Going Global)
December 15, 2008... To those who haven't experienced it, an overseas assignment can sound like a dream come true. But the realities can fall far short of the fantasy. One of the biggest challenges is keeping your career on track- remaining top-of-mind with...

A stylish beginning in the Gold Coast; Inventive cuisine meets hip atmosphere at Eve; the sides steal the show.(Business of Life)(Restaurant review)
December 15, 2008... Byline: ALISON NEUMER LARA Hip and elegant, Eve is a stylish, exciting addition to the Gold Coast dining scene, lending a bit of cool to a neighborhood dominated by steakhouses and upscale chains. Graphic black and white furnishings,...

HIGH-RISE HEADACHE; Loans almost due, strapped condo builders try to buy time with banks.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: ALBY GALLUN Chicago's downtown condominium developers got all the loans they wanted during the real estate boom. Now they're asking lenders for something else: time. A growing number of high-rise developers, including Donald...

Lampert piles debt on Sears; Retailer's cash crunch could be the Grinch at Christmas next year.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: MONEE FIELDS-WHITE Rising debt and dwindling cash flow threaten to make this Christmas season the last for Sears Holdings Corp. Sears is dipping deeper into a revolving credit line as its retail business consumes more cash. At...

To weather our economic woes, think globally.(Opinion)
December 15, 2008... Byline: Jerry Roper Jerry Roper is president and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. With the turmoil in the financial markets continuing to make front-page news, U.S. businesses are understandably worried about future growth...

Feds probe NW hospital; Medicare inquiry targets relationships with doctors.(News)
December 15, 2008... Byline: MIKE COLIAS Federal officials are investigating Northwestern Memorial Hospital's business dealings with hundreds of affiliated doctors. The Chicago-based hospital received subpoenas in August that "seek information relating to...

COFFEE BREAK.(News)
December 22, 2008... Single-serve machines ranging from $70 to $300 require their own unique packets to make a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Keurig Introduced in 1998, brand accounted for 70% of recent U.S. sales of single-serve coffee makers,...

City feels the O-mentum; Highs. Lows. The Top 10 of '08 [2008 wrap up].(Focus: Year in Review)
December 22, 2008... Byline: John T. Slania With favorite son Barack Obama's election as the nation's 44th president, Chicago's place on the political power ladder is now only one rung below Washington's. The western White House is in Hyde Park. And a number...

Boeing hits bumpy air.(Focus: Year in Review)
December 22, 2008... Byline: John T. Slania The aviation and aerospace giant hit some serious turbulence in 2008. Troubles began with the 787 Dreamliner, the ironically named commercial airplane that is key to Boeing's future. The new fuel-efficient aircraft...