The Loneliest Man in the World
 

I love this story. By all accounts, this guy sounds like a solid, quality individual. He lived his life correctly (if not right). He went to school, got a good job, and gave back to his community. He loved baseball and showed his love and respect for the game by teaching to youth. What could be better?

Things were going great. His Cubs were a game away from the World Series and he was able to score a really good seat. No rooftop this Bartman!

So he goes to the game and it's beautiful. His Cubs are winning and his new scratchproof lenses allow him to see clearly his team coming within five outs of overcoming decades of soulshattering humiliation. What great seats, what a great game. The only thing that could make it better is a souvenier . . . Oh . . . my . . . God . . . here it comes . . . he's about to catch a foul ball at the biggest game he's ever seen. And at that instant before he caught the ball, his life had never been better.

And in that split instant after he obstructed the catch, his life changed forever. He jinxed a team. Or perpetuated the jinx, or was simply inevitable. Either way, his life has changed in just a moment. His life is no longer defined by his previous good works and good qualities. He cannot stay at home, he cannot go to work, he subject to death threats. His friends and enemies alike mock him. He is a billy goat.

What a great story. We have done Our work well.

The Loneliest Man in the World
 

well, worse. he dropped it. plus, he had headphones on so, at the exact moment he could hear the radio guy talking about " some idiot" in the stands that cost the Cubbies the out....

The Loneliest Man in the World
 

I have to agree. He wasn't the only one in the stands going for the ball. What's more, I don't think that anyone who was in his place would have done otherwise.

He certainly didn't cause the string of fuckups that allowed the Cubbies to go from a three-run lead to down by five in a single inning.

In still blame the assholes back in the 40's who wouldn't let Sam Yiannis bring in his goat.

The Loneliest Man in the World
 

Right. It's all so perfect. And despite others going for the ball, he is The One.

The Loneliest Man in the World
 

That was you talking to him through his headphones, huh, Shifter?

*calm monotone* "Look at the shiny white ball. You know you want it. Just reach out and grab it. That's it..."

The Loneliest Man in the World
 

Quite perceptive, Mr. Hand. And have you noticed they never show pictures of the scoreboard when Mr. Bartman was performing his task? We have Our means of communication. We are sooo sneaky.

Hey greedy, baby I got yo money!
 

Just in case any of y'all missed this on the Trib's site today, a story about a lawsuit by one of Winston & Strawn's top rainmakers. Uhm, against the firm. This is one of my favorite places, so I take no pleasure in posting it.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...l=chi-news-hed

Basically, an old friend of Jack Welch, generated 90 million in revenues over 10 years, had his terms changed when Welch retired, yada yada yada. Sounds very messy.


Hello

Hey greedy, baby I got yo money!
 

Yeah, just heard about this. My sources there tell me that they are not really concerned about it (they are younger), unless a settlement or judgement cuts into their bonuses... In which case, good luck getting people to do your work after you cause $$$ to come out of their pockets.

Secrets of an incestous city:
 

Ahh, more on the Man Behind the Curtain and his friends and relatives.

As previously noted, the man who pull's Daley's strings is Jeremiah Joyce. One columnist or another gets around to explaining this about, oh, every 2 years. Need primary campaign workers? Hundreds are available anywhere in the city if Joyce is willing to order out the troops. Need a contract at, e.g., Navy Pier? Ditto. Cleaning contracts? Paving contracts? Property contracts? Trucking contracts? Joyce, Joyce, Joyce and Joyce. Etc. ad nauseum.

I'm sure any relationship between Jeremiah and the fire chief has been mentioned once or twice in the media over the last few years already. AFAIK, they are cousins or something. Still, I couldn't help but notice one connection I'd never heard. Not only is Eileen Carey his sister in law (AFAIK); not only is the fire department head his brother or cousin or something (AFAIK); but, as it turns out, the downtown district chief (who got off duty, uhm 1/2 hour before the county building fire), is also related to the Chief... and thus to Jeremiah.

Of course, he's got a kid who is a politician (and another who is an ex con). Woo hoo, sound like anyone else in Illinois?

Madigan/Madigan?
Hynes/Hynes?
Mell/Blagoyevich?
Daley/Daley?
and Joyce/Joyce/Joyce/Joyce/Carey. And those are only the ones I've heard about in political office and/or top administrative (or, er, emergency) posts.

Nightclub fires, collapsing porches, burning government buildings... where does it end? Surely not with a, truly, finally, outraged Murphy. I get the feeling Devine had to make a few phone calls to find out how much *outrage* he could express about his near-death experience. But Murphy though. Dead man that he surely almost is, God bless him.

Is this what it takes for someone to quit toeing the line? Do the questions only come once you have to watch them carry your employee's bodies out of their workplace?

Yo, Say Hello For Me. If anyone sees the next Harold please give me a shout so I know where to send the check. Chicago is a frickin national embarrasment. And all Kass can write about is Gryzb now working for Higginbotham. Puh-thetic.

FWIW, all statements are only AFAIK, and not completely verified via, for instance, checking birth certificates and records. I almost guarantee I got something or other wrong in there. But even if I'm only half right, I've had enough. I'm joining my friends in the suburbs, cuz I've had enough.

So, any thoughts on La Grange, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale or Downers Grove? Aside from them being nice and quiet and having good schools and good train service?

Hello

Secrets of an incestous city:
 

And then, today, the paper reports that 270,000 Chicago public school students are eligible to transfer to better schools under federal guidelines. Apparently, their current schools suck that much.

Being a natural math genius, I did some quick math. That would be 10% of Chicago's current population.

Not 10% of Chicago's youth. Not 10% of Chicago's public school students. Not, whatever whatever, you hear me.

1 of every 10 Chicagoans is, right now, supposed to be in a failing public school.

Holy fuck.

Edited to add the "supposed to be" part, for obvious reasons I guess.

Uh oh (SABW)
 

Correct as usual, Wonk. I see in the Trib. today that Sidley expelled one of the BW tax guys for "breaches of fiduciary duty and violations of the partnership agreement." Says BW lawyers issued about 600 legal opinions re: tax shelters since 1996. At least three of the former individual clients are suing so far... with a lot more angry rich people and the G still out there...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...i-business-hed

(Free sign-up site, but all local denizens should have done this already)

Uh oh (SABW)
 

The joys of the national law firm. the two big boys in the law biz slapped down so far on the tax front both have hometown ties. Sidley, one of Chicago's finest for years, brought low by a NY partner and Jenkens & Gilchrist, a Dallas powerhouse, dragged into the crapper by a Chicago partner.

Oh, the shame of it all. Kinda makes me feel good to be in-house.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Seeing as the local legal front is not exactly newsworthy right now (until Sidley decides to launch some more tax partners), I thought this might be a good opportunity for us Chicagoans to share with our friends from out-of-state our recommendations for places to go and things to do should they come to town.

I know we went through some of this on the FB, but putting some useful info. for them on hotels, bars, restaurants, sights, things to do, shopping etc. over here might be easier to locate (and might increase the post count, NTTAWWT).

So feel free to chime in, and I'll post some of my local favorites later on.

To any of our regulars from out-of-state, let us know when you're in town or if you have any specific questions we can answer...

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Ahhh, repeat info from the FB, but avoid any french hotel like the Sofitel by Water Tower or Le Meridien on Rush. The first had me waiting on a valet for an hour (true story), the second only had smoky rooms.

Generically speaking, definitely do the Fairmont or the Swissotel if possible. But, if you have to be at a certain place at a certain time, and it ain't by the east loop, maybe don't.

Tourist stuff? Everybody likes Michigan Avenue, right? And Navy Pier is sorta charming in the summer on some nights.

Otherwise, the 18th street overpass from Calumet to Soldier field is a great tourist stop. Chicago was founded by pioneers who just absolutely could not stomach the Yankees or Red Sox. These paragons of virtue lived at Michigan and Randolph for awhile but they were recalled to the east coast when the democrats started yet another war with our peaceful canadian neighbors.

Having barely fled 2 miles along the shoreline to the beach *around* 18th street (the lake has been filled in since), they were massacred by the angry canadians and their peaceful indian allies. Andrew Jackson, one of Chicago's original bosses, was reportedly so infuriated at the outrage, that immediately after the war of making-sure-the-British-got-the-point was over, he still ordered the massacre of thousands of British soldiers at the massacre of New Orleans.

How to get there? Take Michigan south to 18th street. Make a left. Go past Prairie to Calumet. Drive 1/2 block south.

Notice the lighted concrete footbridge? Well start walking.

Look for the sign that says "Future site of the Ft. Dearborn Massacre National Historic Massacre Site".

Or you could just get a good steak at, e.g., Gibsons and save yourself the gas money.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Normally I would cast off your opinions as knee-jerk neo-conservative reactions against the french*, but I have a friend who waited three hours on a Sofitel valet...

*that's a joke

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Can we start posting jobs? It seems that that's all the Texas board does.

And we all know I need a new job.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

In spite of its unfortunate rise in popularity, I'll still put in a plug for my favorite bar, The Redhead piano bar. Coltrane, if you are ever in the neighborhood on a quieter night, it's worth a stop in. And if you're drunk and horny enough, there's usually a good cougar population, so you can fulfill that Older Woman fantasy.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Texas is soooooooooo screwed up. I mean, case in point number one:

Ahh, forget it.

I get the feeling that a lot of employers waited to lay people off until the economy looked like it was picking up (i.e., until now). They apparently wanted to try and be sure people could land on their feet. Not totally sure, but I've seen and heard a few stories lately along these lines in Chicago and the East coast.

And about 3 times as many stories of people leaving voluntarily to lateral in and out, now that lateralling around seems possible again.

Hell(der, don't mess with Less!, either)o

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

I don't live there, but I've stayed in some hotels... Downtown I like Hotel Burnham (and someone here learned me on the history of that one). Michigan Avenue, Park Hyatt Watertower (in top 5 of favorite hotels of all time). Lakeshore, W Lakeshore.

Favorite deep dish pizza goes to Gino's.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Speaking of which, has anyone here not mentioned how excellent the book is? Never again will I set foot in the Palmer Place. Not even for Friday Fish.

OK, so business ideas for Chicago, seeing as how Coltrane needs a new job and all the 30ish people I know are sick of working for the man.

Two ideas. 1. Either an upscale club/eatery/series of clubs/eateries on Cermak to cater to the McCormick Place and burgeoning south loop populations, or.....

open up something like a Sequoia (think DC riverfront) on the South Branch. You develop that right, you could be a bazillionaire.

No? Maybe a starbucks franchise then?

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Just be sure you go to Gino's EAST, ncs. There is a "Gino's" on the North Side, but they seem to have constant rodent issues with the city and had some litigation with Gino's East...

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

That's not exactly the kind of "job" Coltrane's looking for Wonk, but it can't hurt...

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Yes, sorry, Gino's East. I think it is the original one, but feel free to correct me. I ate there last St. Patrick's Day. Scrumptious.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Yo, keepin the info comin here. Must see type things if you have, say, 5 days in Chicago as an adult include something on this list or other:

The Art Institute on South Michigan. Mo Monets than the National Gallery I think, though my little sister has brought me to love that Mary Cassatt stuff too.

The Museum of Science and Industry (for kids). Visit the U505, captured in WWII by a task force headed by Rear (or Vice) Admiral Gallery, a native Chicagoan. One of 3 brothers who rose to flag rank in the navy. A 4th was a very nice parish priest at a south side church. The 5th child, a girl, was a nun. Before you ask, no unseemly behavior ever alleged against any. One of the navy brothers wrote a series of childrens books on the navy that I read a long time ago. The centerpiece was a sailor nicknamed Fatso (Hi Bilmore!). OK, I apologize. That was just mean.

U of C's Stagg field? Underneath is where nuclear research occurred. Naaaah, the Rockefeller chapel and the north side of the midway is a better visit to an imposing college.

Sears Tower? Lotso security checks these days.

Music? Well, no CBGBs or nuthin, but the Cabaret Metro also pretty much defined underground around here/there/everywhere back in the day. I'd send you to the outdoor jamming field on 5th Ave. (true story as of 4 years ago), where lotso blues, rhythym and rappas appear for the naborhood, but I'm not even sure if its still there. Even if it is, the naborhood ain't for visitors without guns. Schubas is a great joint too.

Wrigley Field? Sure.

The Henry Horner homes on West Madison? Site of the "there are no children here" book that, I think, started Oprah's book thing? Or not. The neighborhood felt a lot crazier around '95/'97 when 11 year olds used to drag race stolen cars around the projects until they crashed. I'm sure its a priceless visual experience in any city.

The Stockyards? Mostly gone, but if you must, south on Halsted to something like 48th or 49th. The stockyards used to be divided up into 4 residential areas for something like "lithuanians", "polish", "irish" and "wealthy" people. Or something like that. Visitation parish was considered the bomb.

Our Lady of Angels? Don't even think of it. The Italians are long gone.

Christ, the city changes so fast that its like everything is gone that was there. The Levee district? Condos. and that was like the 3rd incarnation of the red-light district, and it ended almost 100 years ago.

The Coliseum? 14th or 15th and Michigan, but gone. Site of something like the most Republican or Democratic conventions. By far. Also the site of Coughlin and McKenna's annual democratic orgy, back when democrats admitted they existed.

The bridges? Aah, that's right. Check out the bridges and the architecture everywhere. Nothing like it. 333 w wacker is still the most beautiful modern office building in the world, bar none. But the Rookery on LaSalle is stunning as an old masterpiece.

Anyway, blah blah blah. Maybe specific questions would be better.

Hello

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Concur on Gino's East. Best pizza I've ever tasted.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

is Lizard Lounge still around?
Elkheart is something to see, even if just for how strange people are. Isn't there some really odd-ball home just a little north of Elkheart?

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Ahhh, the good ole wicker park 70's redux scene.

Not there anymore as far as I know.

Irv Kupcinet Dead at 91
 

Legendary Chicago newspaper columnist Irv Kupcinet is dead at age 91...

http://www.suntimes.com/special_sect...up/xkup11.html

Irv Kupcinet Dead at 91
 

I listened most of the afternoon to Roe and Gary talking about Kup. Does anyone else listen to Roe and Gary? They are kind of predictable at times, but still do a pretty good job of cracking me up more than the rest of talk radio.

Chicago Tourism By the Insiders
 

Woo Hoo, I'm quoting myself! Couldn't help but notice this mention of, uhm, then-"Captain" Gallery, in today's Tribune article:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...l=chi-news-hed

Wierd that. Don't remember seeing it mentioned in the major media previously.

Seyfarth Reputation
 

What is Seyfarth's rep in the Windy City? In particular, I'm interested in their long-term prospects (are they going to Altheimer?), what partnership prospects are like there, and insight into their compensation structure (it looks like an associate needs to bill 2500 hours and rank among the top 3 of all associates at their level just to receive a total compensation equal to the base compensation of other BigLaw firms.) Thanks.

Seyfarth Reputation
 

Seyfarth is well thought of in town, particularly in the labor/employment context which has been their primary niche. They sound pretty solid, as they have been positioning themselves as an acquirer of smaller firms rather than a target for the big boys. Seem to recall them absorbing another firm earlier this year...

As for compensation, IIRC, they are a step or two below top BIGLAW salaries for Chicago. Can't vouch for their compensation structure in practice, i.e. with hours worked and bonuses factored in, but perhaps someone else can.

Seyfarth Reputation
 

Seyfarth doesn't pay top-tier salaries, and they never have. On the other hand, they have not laid off people the way many of the top-tier firms did. Nor are they in danger of going Altheimer.

If you are interested in doing labor/employment law or government contract work, Seyfarth has one of the premier practices in the city.

In most other practice areas, they tend to be also-rans, although their entreprenuerial practice has to have improved recently by the absorption of D'Ancona & Pflaum, one of the better boutique firms in Chicago.

I am told by those in the know there that Seyfarth is more of a "lifestyle" firm, in that the hours aren't quite as brutal as at other firms. On the other hand, if you want the high-end bonus, be prepared to work the hours.

Happy Thanksgiving
 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and here's to the economy picking up so many of our friends and colleagues out of work get picked up soon...

Market Update
 

Small comfort to those still looking, but anecdotal evidence I'm seeing is that things are starting to pick up here in Chicago...

My shop is apparently starting to bring in laterals at an increased pace, returning to normal, and business seems to be improving... Hearing the same from friends and other sources, particularly on the lit. side.

My contacts and I are also getting more headhunter calls, FWIW, mentioning specific opportunities rather than just calling to say hello.

Sounds like good news. What are other people hearing?

Sen. Paul Simon dead at 75.
 

Sen. Paul Simon has died after heart surgery at age 75.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...wsbreaking-hed

While I didn't agree with the guy a lot politically, he always seemed like a decent, honest and caring politician. A real rarity and a class act.

On a lighter note, I also thought he looked like Orville Redenbacher...

Cheezborger Cheezborger Cheezborger
 

Sam Sianis, local restauranteur and owner of the legendary Chicago dives the Billy Goat, has filed suit against a Florida restaurant chain called Cheeburger Cheeburger for trademark infringement for allegedly appropriating the Billy Goat's well-known catch phrase.

The phrase was, according to the complaint, popularized in a sketch on Saturday Night Live in the 1970's. The sketch, written by Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci), was purportedly written based on Novello's visits to the Billy Goat Bar under the Michigan Avenue Bridge...

What apparently set the suit a-flying was the Florida chain's intent to open a Chicago-area outlet.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...l=chi-news-hed

Market Update
 

My group at my shop is about as busy as it's been for the last 18 months. That is, not very, but enough that there's not concern about profits or layoffs or anything like that. We continue to see signs or and hear rumors about increased in business, but I've heard that since February at least, and there hasn't been a whole lot of evidence of it actually happening yet. But, yeah, outlook, laterals and headhunter calls are all definitely up.

Former Governor Ryan Indicted
 

In a move that should surprise no one, the Feds indicted former Governor George Ryan today on a 22 count indictment for various offenses, including enriching himself in office. Ryan will be defended by top defense counsel and former US Attorney Dan Webb of Winston & Strawn...

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/ryan17.html

Happy Holidays Everyone...
 

Thanks for making our first year at LawTalkers and my first attempt at moderating so much fun...

Best wishes to you and your families.

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka,

Mr. Hand