Chicago takes its architecture seriously — very seriously. 

That's why Target may be in for a battle today as it goes before the permit review committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks to seek permission to place its very recognizable bullseye logo on Sullivan Center, a building in Chicago's Loop that’s recognized as a national and Chicago historical landmark.

“The building is renowned for its expressive exterior and the freshly restored cast-iron decoration that wraps around its base,” the Chicago Tribune reports. But the building, formerly known as the Carson Pirie Scott Building, has also been empty since 2007. 

The new Target store's planned location for the logo is actually inside the building, the paper notes, but it would be visible through the building’s large rotunda windows.Continue reading...

Playboy needs some good press.

A month after Hugh Hefner, with the aid of investors, took the brand private again, the Playboy name has appeared most often in the news with regard to the outbreak of Legionnaires’ Disease at its namesake mansion in Los Angeles.

Providing what some might call symbolism others just plain bad luck, the source of the illness has been traced to the hot tub at the hotspot's famed grotto — something of a PR headache on the eve of the octogenarian's June wedding.

Now, rumors are saying it's "inevitable" that the Playboy brand will abandon its hometown Chicago for the sunshine of L.A. And while the brand denies any such plans, the magazine's editorial director has already made the move.

Despite Playboy PR's statements to the contrary, in a memo sent out after he confirmed the relocation on his Facebook page, Playboy Editorial Director Jimmy Jellinek didn't deny that a bigger move was afoot.Continue reading...

It was arguable whether Charlie Sheen was winning or losing his ongoing kamikaze battle with CBS before the weekend. But there’s no disputing how awful the wacko actor was on the first leg of his personal-comeback stage tour, which kicked off in Detroit on Saturday.

Taking his manic meltdown on the road did little to revive his personal brand — it's one thing to gawk at his rambling rant on Twitter, but parlaying that into a 20-city “My Violent Torpedo of Truth / Defeat Is Not an Option” tour? As the fans' reaction above show, it was an epic flameout from beginning to sooner-than-expected end.Continue reading...

Chicago's Goose Island craft beer brand has been bought by its distribution partner, Anheuser-Busch, for $38.8 million. Goose Island's two brew pubs, one of which recently collaborated (above) with past Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard, are not part of the deal.

Naturally, not everyone was thrilled with the news, particularly fans of its brews such as Honkers Ale and Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall, who is being replaced by his second-in-command (and, payout notwithstanding, being gracious about it).

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, President Obama today announced he will be visiting Ireland in May. His trip will include a visit to Donegal, where his great-great-great-great grandfather was born.

In keeping with its annual tradition, the water in the White House fountain is bright green today, but that's not America's most famous annual green dye job pegged to St. Paddy's Day.

That honor goes to McDonald's, which every year since 1961 has dyed the Chicago river green to promote its limited-edition Shamrock Shake and raise money for its Ronald McDonald House charity — a move that isn't perceived as entirely green, even as the chain itself adopts more sustainable practices.Continue reading...

Former White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel — the next mayor of Chicago — acknowledges outgoing mayor Richard Daley in an acceptance speech. His victory at the polls, called "a remarkable victory" by the Chicago Sun-Times, will bring the first new mayor to the city in 22 years.

Chicago might want to change its nickname from Chi-Town to Couponland. The windy city likes online couponing – and did so years before Groupon hit the radar.

The windy city counts 43 daily-deal group-buying site headquarters including two of the oldest, FatWallet (est. circa 1999), and MrRebates (b. 2002), as well as two of the largest, Groupon.com and CouponCabin.com. 

"Chicago is the cradle of civilization for the daily-deal industry," says Dan Hess, CEO of Local Offer Network and Chicago-based deal aggregator Dealradar. "It gained an early lead and continues to lead the pack." 

The raison d’être for Chicago’s deal fecundity?Continue reading...

Last week we looked at two product placements in movies starring this weekend's lead men. Did you know which was what?Continue reading...