There was a bomb scare in the 7300 block of N. Damen Ave earlier this week. There's one problem: According to posts on The 'Broken Heart' of Rogers Park and the Rogers Park Bench, it was a bong. Oops.

Here's a behind-the-scenes look at a ballet class taught by Ashley Wheater, artistic director for the Joffrey Ballet, posted on the j-Pointe blog.

Andre, from Chicago Flair, by Andre, seems to have a couple of new neighbors.

Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue writes about some of the similarities between the 2008 Cubs and Cubs teams of old in honor of the club's 10,000th win.

Jim Doherty muses about the impact of writer Philip Marlowe in his post, "The Marlowe Paradigm," on The Outfit.

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Whet Moser

Name of Blog: Chicagoland

Real Name: Whet Moser

Start Date: March 2007

Your Life Story in a URL: I spend my days and nights in front of a computer, so my life story isn't especially interesting. So... OnlineExclusive.net?

Why do you blog? I try to follow the cabinet of curiosities model--assembling a collection of stuff that hopefully reflects some vital balance between importance, humor, obscurity, vitriol, and beauty. When that doesn't work, jokes and vanity will usually get me through the day.

What topic gets people going on your blog? Not much, actually, which means I'm either very convincing or very boring.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? People should check out Robot Wisdom, which is pretty much defunct, for its historical importance to the form. City of Destiny is like what Richard Nickel might have done if he'd had Flickr. LeeSandlin.com isn't a blog, but there's lots of amazing writing there.

What have you learned from blogging? The good: concision. Most stuff I read and write is longer than it needs to be. The bad: Dilettantism is seductive, and thoughtful, long-form essays and reportage are good antidotes. I'm still learning how to balance the two.

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- Phil Miller from The Lou Brock Fan Club wrote a lengthy defense of Chicago Cubs player Ryan Theriot in his very first post. Welcome to the blogging world, Phil!

- There's a new round of free Starbucks Pick of the Week songs, available on iTunes. Read about it on Starbucks Gossip. (Note: The blog's author is from Evanston, Ill.)

- Ben Bowman, producer of the NBC 5 Chicago 4:30 a.m. newscast, recently launched his blog, Ben's Breakfast Blog. His recent rant about Crocs -- the shoes, not the animal -- is hilarious.

- Marcus Gilmer, a Chicagoist contributor, posted about ESPN's canceled interview with Barack Obama.

- Last, but not least: We don't usually link to ourselves, but Chicago Tribune TV blogger Maureen Ryan wrote a great post about TV stars and their plastic surgery.

Did I miss anything? Of course I did. In the future, if you want to suggest a post, either submit it to me directly or post the link on one of the comment boards.

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Andrew Reilly of SouthSideBaseball.com

Name of Blog: South Side Baseball

Real Name: Andrew Reilly

Start Date: June 2007

Your Life Story in a URL:
OnSecondThoughtGoAheadAndQuitYourDayJob.org.

I earned my bachelor's in information systems and built a nice career as a software engineer before realizing I in fact hated information systems and software engineering. By some twist of luck, skill or low admissions standards, I was accepted into the graduate journalism program at Columbia College Chicago and ran with it from there.

Since then I've been afforded the opportunity to learn up-close -- and rattle incessantly -- about some of my favorite things while interacting with some wild and interesting people. It's not always fun, but even at its worst it's a better time than systems design ever was - although admittedly less profitable, hence the ".org."

Why do you blog? There are elements of sports beyond wins and losses that are more significant than a lot of people either acknowledge or understand, and for whatever reason I just can't shut up about them. There's a lot involved in being a fan, especially a Sox fan, and in some ways the actual games have become secondary to the idea of the games to the point where it's hard to understand what we're clinging to anymore. Memories? Possibilities? Civic pride and the projected economic benefits of creating an arena-related TIF district?

I don't claim to have the answers, but it's nice to at least explore the questions. And, you know, it's also pretty awesome when Paulie goes 2-for-3 with a walk and three RBI.

What topic gets people going on your blog? For some reason a live blog I did last season for a Sox-Athletics game has proven to be wildly popular; your guess is as good as mine on that one. Beyond that, the emails I get are usually about trade rumors, potential lineup moves, or why I'm an idiot for not acknowledging the numerous World Series titles the Good Guys are so obviously poised to bring home.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? The ones I read are all pretty well-known, but Tim Bogue's photoblog tebogue shows off some excellent Chicago pictures every now and then.

What have you learned from blogging? Like any other writing endeavor, you have to develop your own voice and bring something unique to the larger conversation to be worth reading. Enough people are already out there rehashing box scores and headlines or writing love notes to their favorite teams and players, and if that makes them happy that's great, but I don't see much of a point in trying to scream over the crowd. In the scheme of things, the only two differences between reading my site and talking to some dude at a bar are that you don't have to wait until 11 for South Side Baseball to open its doors, and that I have better taste in music than most jukebox owners.

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- Mike Miner over at the Chicago Reader questions Charlton Heston's true legacy in his post, "The Legend of Charlton Heston."

- What really is a Chicagoan? Mike Doyle wonders about his status as a Chicagoan on his blog, Chicago Carless. (For reference, he's an ex-New Yorker.)

- Local filmmaker Steve Delahoyde was profiled at The Bastion.

- We can think of a few reasons why this telephone doesn't work.

- The CBB photo of the week: Melissa Stone submitted this photo to Gapers Block.

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Todd Andrlik, left, with Ernie Banks

Name of Blog: Todd And = Marketing + Media

Real Name: Todd Andrlik

Start Date: July 2006

Your Life Story in a URL: YesAnd.com.I performed improvisational comedy for 14 years and "Yes, and..." is the foundational philosophy for all scene building. Essentially, it's a collaborative effort by all performers on stage to support anything that happens and move the scene forward.

Aside from its improv applications, I firmly believe that "Yes and" is practical for business and life in general.

Why do you blog? I’m passionate about marketing and media. The blog is my canvas for sharing and archiving personal thoughts and discoveries about what I call the “very serious but often comical crossroads of marketing and media.”

What topic gets people going on your blog? My topics cover practically everything marketing and media, including advertising, public relations, design, technology, web, traditional vs. new media, etc. I also cover a few personal interests like history, music, newspaper collecting, personal finance and politics.

In terms of what gets people going, I’m trying to capture the eye-candy market with lots of marketing-related videos, images, charts, etc. As the creator of the Power 150, a ranking of the world’s top marketing and media blogs, which is now hosted by Advertising Age, I also get a lot of traffic from anything related to the list. So, I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? I’m a big fan of the blog exitcreative by Clay Parker Jones, a Chicago advertising/branding guy. I like the way he thinks.

What have you learned from blogging? By blogging about marketing and media, I’m forced to stay hip with industry trends and issues. I fully understand and appreciate the new rules of marketing and PR. As a result, I’m able to successfully implement exciting new strategies and tactics, and keep my company at the forefront of the marketing revolution. Like the title of Seth Godin’s new book, I’m making a “Meatball Sundae,” by mixing common products and services (meatballs) with cool new tactics and tools (sundae toppings).

I also read a lot of blogs by other agency executives, corporate marketers and consultants who are surprisingly generous with their respective expertise. With the amounts of professional education I’m gaining from the blogosphere, I prescribe blog reading to all who will listen – especially high school and college students – as a great way to immediately put your finger on the pulse of an industry.

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In today's real estate market, it's important to keep up with emerging trends and news. Here are some of the best real estate blogs from around Chicago that will help you do just that:

- YoChicago - The Web site of New Homes Magazine, YoChicago offers updates, news and features on Chicago real estate happenings.

- Chi Town Living - The weblog of chitownpropertygroup (CPG), a local real estate sales and services group.

- The Chicago Real Estate Local - An everyday look at living in different neighborhoods throughout Chicago. Run by Eric Rojas, a Rubloff agent.

Have we left anything out? If you agree, disagree or have no opinion, we want to know. The comment board is always open.

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Each week, Chicago's Best Blogs will link the best posts from around the local blogosphere.

Here are a few recent ones:

- Whet Moser from Chicagoland posts about "the structural deficit that ate Chicago," about the Cook County deficit.

- Barack Obama? Nude? Speaking of politics, Billy Joe Mills from Urbanagora wrote a post titled, "Obama's Public Tax Nudity." (That headline should have gotten Billy some clicks!)

- Lizzie Garrett from DESIGNwatcher critiques the decor -- and the meal -- at local restaurant Sepia.

- Bad Kermit from Hire Jim Essian! definitely enjoyed Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome's opening day home run. Unfortunately, the Cubs ended up losing the season opener.

- A Chicago L map...on your shoes? I know this post is more than a month old, but you have got to take a look at these kicks!

Did I miss anything? Of course I did. In the future, if you want to suggest a post, either submit it to me directly or post the link on one of the comment boards.

If you'd like to suggest a blog not listed, you can do so right here!

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Blogger of the Week: Reckless Chef Jenny Aprahamian with her flour

Name of Blog: The Reckless Chef

Real Name: Jenny Aprahamian

Start Date: January 2008

Your Life Story in a URL: I tried incorporating cupcakes, argyle, video games, marathons, bacon, Ohio sports teams, and rockets all into a URL, and it didn't work so well, so I'll opt for GoesBetterWithBacon.com. Because what doesn't go better with bacon? (The answer: vanilla cupcakes)

My roommate would argue that I'd be better suited to ICatchFireOften.com, but I'm going to stick with the bacon thing.

Why do you blog? I've wanted my own cookbook since I was a small child, but alas, I'm no Martha Stewart or Nigella Lawson. I'm not nearly as precise or polished, and I've almost burned down my kitchen about five times. The great thing about blogging is that you can do whatever you want with it; I can post about my unorthodox techniques and kitchen misadventures, but still put the recipes (and pictures) out there for people to see.

What topic gets people going on your blog? Cupcakes and alcohol are really popular, especially together. I found out that people actually read my blog when I posted a recipe for Irish Cupcake Bombs.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? Bake & Destroy is one of my favorite Chicago food blogs, but Natalie isn't exactly unknown – she's just awesome.

A lesser-known local blog of choice? Cap's On Tap, which is not really about food at all, but is pretty fantastic anyways.

What have you learned from blogging? It's definitely brought out my creative side. I pay more attention to how my food looks, and I'm working on becoming a better photographer. I'm also trying out more inventive recipes and learning more about cooking in general. At some point, I hope to learn about fire safety.

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Since we launched Chicago's Best Blogs, we've received a ton of great submissions. Too many to post right now, in fact.

But, in true blogger style, we wanted to share at least some of these picks with you:

- Sandy Weisz from Chicago likes I've Been Reading Lately - "Levi devours books like others devour candy. Fortunately for the rest of us, he types up the best of what he reads and posts it, along with commentary and reflection, on his delightful blog," Weisz says.

- Karen and Ken Reeve enjoy DGReport - "Many of her topics, while using Downers Grove as a starting point, really speak to topics near and dear to us all - schools, children, and our local towns," they say.

- Brett Taylor dropped us a line about The Brickyard - "The Brickyard is a Chicago Cubs and sports parody blog -- read: fake news -- and also occasionally stumbles onto some real news and insight," he writes.

- Maureen Kelleher recommends The Marshfield Tattler - "A slice of life in Back of the Yards, written by 'a white chick... hoping to be something more than just another gentrifier,' " she says.

- Chicago Tribune reporter David Jackson likes Windy City Cop - Sarcasm and silliness from one of Chicago's finest.

- Fellow Tribune staff reporter Sam Roe recommends songs:illinois - He says, "It caught fire in Sweden, and the Swedish ministry of arts (or something) is flying Craig [Bonnell] over to Sweden this summer to talk to other music journalists."

What do you think? Agree? Disagree?

If you'd like to suggest a blog not listed, you can do so right here!

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