Except in a few forward-thinking cities, advertising eyesores are as much a part of the urban fabric as cabs and skyscrapers. But we'd be happy to tolerate the newest marketing in Chicago, where today's high is forecast to be 34: Stove Top Stuffing will be blasting hot air into 10 bus shelters until the end of the month.

Kraft, the company that makes Stove Top, has hired the advertising agency that controls bus stops in the city to add heat-channeling metal plates to the roofs of shelters in downtown Chicago, though we're still trying to figure out exactly where all the hot spots are. (At least a couple are along Michigan Avenue and along State Street.)

The idea behind the so-called experiential ads is that you'll feel warm and fuzzy when waiting for your bus, just like you do when you're gobbling down holiday fixin's. Kraft also plans to hand out sample size cups of stuffing this month to drive home the connection. Whatever: We're just trying to warm up, thanks!

Related Stories:
· Hot Food, and Air, at Bus Stops [NYT]
· Three Is a Trend: Billboard-Free Cities [Jaunted]

[Photo: arekd]]]> pbb 2008-12-02T10:05:23-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/1/165339/194

As if you needed anyone to tell you: The US is now officially having a recession, and these headlines agree.

Spirit Airlines has announced its latest fare sale with a possibly racy name, though you can't argue with one-way trips for $28 plus tax. Chicago is letting visitors ice skate for free, and in New York you can try a synthetic rink for just $10. Meanwhile Ryanair apparently has enough money saved up that it's launched another bid to buy up Aer Lingus while the economy is in the tank.

But in the recessionary world, one thing does remain constant: You can still get trapped on a tarmac for nine hours!

Related Stories:
· "Ocho's Crazy 8's Tournament" [Spirit Airlines]
· The Ice Is Right [Chicago Sun-Times]
· New York Gets Its First "Fake Ice" Rink [BT]
· Ryanair Returns with Bid for Aer Lingus [WSJ]
· Diverted Plane Stuck on Tarmac for Nine Hours [KCAL]

[Waiting for skating in Chicago: liz_noise]]]> pbb 2008-12-01T17:00:23-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/17/85812/707

After announcing big-time plans to crack a market not on the coasts, Virgin America says it may decide not to fly into Chicago O'Hare. If the carrier can't work out a way to lease gate space at the airport soon, it may give up the effort, despite having already secured the right to five takeoff and landing slots.

CEO David Cush told the Chicago Tribune:

I'm guessing we're a couple of weeks away from making a tough decision. ... There is a solution to this problem. I just don't know how we get there.

City officials say they're doing their best to broker a deal, but it seems United, American and Delta, all of which have cut back service to ORD over the past few years, aren't ready to rent gates to the competition. If Virgin can't crack the legacies soon, Cush says his airline will simply grow its operations on the East Coast instead.

Related Stories:
· No Gates at O'Hare Leaves Virgin in Lurch [Chicago Tribune]
· Virgin America Pushing First Flights to 2009 [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-11-17T08:59:33-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/7/143951/269

On Tuesday, 52 percent of the nation decided (though it may not have loved him necessarily) to elect Barack Obama the nation's 44th president. "Our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared," Obama told the crowd at Chicago's Grant Park that night at a massive rally watched by millions around the world.

Hit Grant Park today and you will probably find many tourists, but no leftover Democratic parties. Good thing Chicago's Craigslist is there to find that hunk you met at the rally. Here were some other places Obama fans met that night--may you all find a love as publicly adorable as the new First Couple:

Sidetrack Bar: This LGBT meat market shows music videos on every video screen. But if you tear yourself away... 3349 N Halsted St.

Wow Bao: Make personal history at this Asian fusion Loop stop. Order the coconut cream bao, we hear they're spectacular. 835 N. Michigan Ave.

Third World Chicago: This coffee shop in Obama's soon-to-be-former neighborhood (also the home of the University of Chicago) isn't the classiest joint in town, although that works for some people. 1301 E. 53rd St.

Related Stories:
· Text of Barack Obama's Victory Speech [America.gov]
· Obama-mania Sweeps Africa [Jaunted]
· Actual President Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: barackobamadotcom]]]> egw 2008-11-07T15:30:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/5/74012/1946

Democrat Barack Obama took to a stage facing Chicago's Grant Park last night.

Obama was declared the president-elect shortly before 11 pm Eastern by the major networks and took Republican John McCain's concession call shortly after, before addressing supporters on the same ground where crowds turned into rioting mobs during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

Democrats also picked up seats in both houses of Congress in races largely shadowed by a long, expensive and bitterly fought presidential campaign. In fact, last night's coverage was everything the campaigns weren't: Cautious, measured and gracious. There have been no major calls for recounts yet, although delayed returns on California have both supporters and opponents of Proposition 8 mumbling about irregularities. 2008: The year C-A needed the recount?

Related Stories:
· Watch Obama's Speech From Grant Park [YouTube.com]
· [91% reported] Gay Marriage Ban Leading [LAT]
· Possible Presidents '08 coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: NYTimes.com] ]]> egw 2008-11-05T08:00:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/11/2/20266/0976

Zagat recently released America's Top Restaurants 2009, a comprehensive guide to all the restaurants Americans can no longer afford. But wedged in between the Jean Georges and the Nobus of the country, our eyes stopped on one of the book's few entries that boasts a score in the price category we can get behind.

Hot Doug's not only serves up some of Chicago's best hot dogs, but they do it in style, with duck fat fries on the side and daily specials like foie gras and duck sausage with black truffle butter.]]> BS 2008-11-03T11:00:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/30/201624/87

The end of the World Series always marks a tough time for American sports fans, with baseball over, football not entirely interesting yet and basketball and hockey barely getting started.

But there's one upcoming event this winter that any sports fan should be able to appreciate: The NHL Winter Classic. Held on New Year's Day, it pits two of hockey's greatest rivals, playing outdoors, in a baseball stadium, in the middle of winter. Now there's a sporting event only America could be crazy enough to dream up.

The game, which began as an experiment last year, when Buffalo hosted Pittsburgh at Ralph Wilson Stadium, will move to a (slightly) less snowy environment, with Chicago's Wrigley Field getting made over into an ice rink; the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Redwings. Pack a coat!

Related Stories:
· NHL Winter Classic [Official Site]
· Philly Announces World Series Victory Parade [Jaunted]
· Sports Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Wikimedia]]]> BS 2008-10-31T10:05:05-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/