Open Door

Contrary to the reported rumor that Double Door, Wicker Park's premier live music venue, is shutting down in the near future, the club insists that it won't close its doors. "In a sense, what the news said was true, in that our rent was being raised," says Phil Kosch, who books local bands for the club and helps out with promotions. "I first found out on the news and I was like 'Holy Shit,' but then everyone here was like, 'It's cool, don't worry.'" Negotiations regarding the club's lease extension are underway. "From my understanding," Kosch says, "They're [the principals] working it out now. Double Door will live on. That's the word from the owners. Nothing is going to change."

King Kong

Chicago Social magazine publisher Stephen Kong, whose publishing company, Modern Luxury, owns four other publications, hinted in this month's letter from the editor at the possibility of starting a new magazine. He writes that "friends have asked me to do it for a long time now...and it's for a strong segment of the population that needs a good magazine." Hmm, what strong segment could that be? Possibly a segment that is trying to get married now? The entrepreneur remains tight-lipped about the new project. "All I can say right now is that we're really excited about it and that we have a really great title for it." Kong plans to make the official announcement in next month's Chicago Social and he projects that the new magazine will officially launch in September.

Book him

Chicago author Stuart Dybek's collection of short stories, "The Coast of Chicago," has been chosen for the next installment of the citywide book club One Book, One Chicago, as announced by Mayor Daley and Chicago Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey. "We were thrilled to have the opportunity to pick a Chicago writer that deserves more recognition than he necessarily gets," says Ruth Lednicer, director of marketing and spokesperson for the Chicago Public Library. "We wanted a book that is Chicago-focused, and his really grasps the feel of the neighborhoods in Chicago."

(2004-03-09)

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