Real name: John Schroeder

Start date: 3 May 2005

Your life story in a URL: HowManyCamerasDoYouHaveWithYouToday.com because I typically bring multiple cameras with me wherever I go.

Why do you blog? The photoblog started out as a place to put my photos online. I take a few hundred photos per month and when I first started the upswing in photography in 2005 I didn't really have any other way to display them. Photoblogging seemed to be the way to do it then. Now Flickr has become the medium of choice for most people for uploading photos. I still like to keep my photoblog going because maintaining it has become almost as much of a hobby for me as photography; and of course to continue to display my photos.

What topic gets people going on your blog? I'm not sure if there are any topics that people are excited about on my photoblog, but something unique about it is that it features mostly film photography, which some people seem to like.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? I don't really take the time to read actual blogs, I mainly just look at photoblogs. I have a lot of photoblogger friends in the area, and it's hard to choose just one, so here are 3 people that I shoot with on a semi-regular basis: W of WVallen.com, Mike of MikesRightBrain.com and Archie of WhateverLand.com. All three of them are great people and great photographers.

What have you learned from blogging? I've learned that it can be hard. It's not easy to be creative everyday and to maintain a daily posting schedule, and there have been times where I wanted to stop because of the time commitment it takes. There is a great community of people out there that make everything well worth it though.

Sure you may pass through or by Union Station every day, but do you know anything about it? Brush up on your history and learn why it’s the subject of the 2008 Burnham Competition at ArchitectureChicago PLUS.

Curious as to how the Beijing Olympic Games are affecting Chicago’s chances? Check out Chicago 2016 Blogging Beijing, the city’s guide to everything Olympic.

Name of blog: DailyCandy.com/Chicago

Real name: Emily

Start date: DailyCandy: 2000; Emily: 2006

Your life story in a URL: www.GoodThingsCome.com

Why do you blog? I write because I want to help raise people's awareness about the amazingness that is Chicago. There's so much going on in this city that people don't know about. Every DailyCandy article is an opportunity for someone to explore and to discover. People should take advantage of what the city has to offer, and as someone who dedicates her life to exploring, I want to help spread the news.

What topic gets people going on your blog? It varies. I think reader feedback is dependent on people's belief systems. Some people get offended or heated by a political remark; others respond angrily to a foie gras reference. Positive or negative, I love getting feedback. It lets me know that readers are really paying attention.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? The Drive-Thru section of Gapers Block.

What have you learned from blogging? I never stop learning. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is the importance of knowing who my readers are. The more I learn about them, the more apt I am to give them what they want. When people get what they want, they're happy. I've also learned that people truly listen to what DailyCandy has to say. It pushes me to find the best of the best.

Real name: Matt Bartosik

Start date: April 29, 2007

Your life story in a URL: ImNotLostIMeantToTakeTheLongWay.com

Why do you blog? I've enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. Stories, plays, personal journals, I've always been fascinated by the power and possibility of the written word. I get a nerdy thrill from finding the right combination of words to express an idea or feeling.

I'm not afraid to admit it; I'm also addicted to the Internet. That sounds sad, I know. But I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and the 'Net always provides something new to discover or a new person to meet. I am glad to say that I have several dozen friends, scattered throughout the country and beyond, thanks to the Web.

Blogging combines my two addictions. It satiates both my desire to write and my craving for information. I was born and raised here in Chicago, but the more I write about this city, the more I learn.

What topic gets people going on your blog? My blog is geared toward tourists and adventurous locals, so blog entries concerning current events and entertainment venues often attract a lot of attention. However, there are occasionally articles which, for a reason completely unknown to me, are picked up and swept off their feet.

For example, last year, my posts about Beatnix, the Chicago River and the Abegweit (home of the Columbia Yacht Club) were among the most popular. This year, the Chicago firefighter calendar seems to be a popular topic, but the reason for its fame probably isn't much of a mystery.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? This is so difficult because I'm usually the last one to find out about great blogs. I've recently befriended (or 'Net-friended) Mike Doyle, a former New Yorker and the writer of Chicago Carless. I don’t have a car either, so that's what initially drew me to the blog, but it's so much more than that. Mike can get quite personal at times, and I enjoy that because I feel like I really know him and therefore value his opinions.

What have you learned from blogging? Despite having grown up here, I get lost ALL the time. I have as much sense of direction as a plastic bag in the wind. However, writing about Chicago every day has forced me to learn the street grid and the neighborhoods. I have also acquired a great deal of information about my sweet home Chicago via the surprisingly large community of Chicago bloggers.

-- Find out what those behind The Chicago Architecture blog think about one of Michigan Avenue’s newer features.

-- The North Lawndale neighborhood proved it knows how to start the week right by hosting Junta Hispana in Douglas Park on Monday. If you missed it, don't worry -- Chicago Photos has a great image from the event.

-- Windy City Rock puts it best, "A venue can make or break a show." Which spots are better than others? Check out the blog's list of the top five places to see a show in the city.

Our last Tweetup went so well, the Colonel decided to host another. (Here are some photos from the June Tweet-up.)

Join him at the Clark Street Ale House on Thursday, August 14 from 6 p.m. to whenever. Paper hats may be provided, but feel free to bring your own!

And in case you missed it, check out some photos, videos and general buzz from the Tribune Tower tours earlier this month.

Jim Bowman, a former priest and religion writer for the now defunct Chicago Daily News, provides a critique and collection of local religion coverage on Blithe Spirit, the Blog.

Under the banner of the Martin Marty Center, an esteemed institute for religion research at the University of Chicago Divinity School, scholars, students, clergy, and their faithful post thoughtful essays twice a week on Sightings.

Christian Century, the mainline Protestants’ biweekly go-to guide for news and information publishes every other week but updates Theolog more frequently with thoughts and commentary on the Christian landscape of Chicago.

Christianity Today compiles a similar blog for the evangelical Christian wing. But since editor Ted Olsen took a sabbatical last fall, the Weblog, as they call it, hasn’t been updated. Stay tuned for his return. It will be worth the wait.

Dr. Hesham Hassaballa, a pulmonologist at Rush Memorial Hospital who occasionally writes for the Chicago Tribune Perspective section, posts his perspectives about Islam regularly on God, Faith and a Pen.

Alan Perlman of Highland Park makes sure the humanistic perspective of the Godless population is represented on The Jewish Atheist.

What do you do with a year’s worth of junk mail? You shred it.

Any Chicagoan will be looking for familiar buildings and icons in the new Batman movie “The Dark Night.” But if you need a little help knowing what you should look for, check out The Chicago Traveler’s post.

If you’ve been around Chicago long enough to have missed the pizzas made by the family-owned Turano Baking Company, you’ll be glad to know they're coming back.

How “walkable” is your neighborhood? Check out this map that color-codes the most walker-friendly areas in Chicago.

Name of blog: CTA Tattler

Real name: Kevin O’Neil

Start date: June 2004

Your life story in a URL: CTATattler.com says it all!

Why do you blog? Blogging is a creative outlet for me. It allows me to use my reportorial and writing skills to tell stories. Plus I feel I’ve created a community for thousands and thousands of CTA riders.

What topic gets people going on your blog? Lately the hot topic has been bus bunching. Generally, people rant about what the CTA is doing -- or not doing -- to improve their commute.

What’s your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? I love R.O.C.K. on the CTA-- the guy takes cell phone photos of riders and makes up stories about them.

What have you learned from blogging? I’ve learned that loyal blog readers will have no problem telling you exactly how much they disagree with something you wrote. I’ve also learned that when you get a good loyal following, they expect the best from you, and that helps me do my best.

Name of blog: LiteralDan

Real name: Dan

Start date: January 2008

Your life story in a URL: WaitWhatWasTheQuestion.com

Why do you blog? Blogging gives me a nice outlet for describing the crazy things that happen around here on a regular basis, and having a regular audience from all over the world really keeps me honest in my effort to sit down at the computer each day and write out at least one little thing.

Writing every day helps me straighten out my thoughts and opinions, and cementing this habit is hopefully training me for bigger and better projects later on. Plus, I figure that if nothing else comes of it, all the entries about my kids will serve as a nice baby book of sorts some day.

What topic gets people going on your blog? Everyone's seems to be pretty easy-going so far, because I don't think I've really started stirring any pots yet. People mostly come to vent and to laugh about their children and their amusing/frustrating habits. I get pretty positive feedback on most of my general life observations and other bits as well.

What's your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? I stumbled upon a very new blog, Righteously Indignated, recently and I've enjoyed it a lot. Short, sweet, and to the point each day.

What have you learned from blogging? I've learned how hard it can be to discipline yourself to write something every day when so many other things require your attention; how much fun it is to get to know people around the world who have only a few common interests with you; and I've also learned a lot more about social networks than I ever thought I would. It's been a great experience so far and I plan to keep this up for a long time.

Teach yourself to paint with the online guidance of Christine Kane at Let's Paint Nature. Learn how to paint a heron with this step-by-step guide that includes tips and tricks.

Ever think your e-mail inbox is overwhelming? Read what Ed Brill has to say about a New York Times column that discusses ways to cut back on receiving--and sending--e-mails.

Who would think something so ugly could be so popular? Perhaps that's just the ticket with these creatures from Uglydolls that Shop Girl in Chicago discovered.

If you're looking for a quick bite after work, check out Chicago Burger Project's review on the miniburgers at Morton's, 65 East Wacker Place.

Can't get enough of the Cubs? If you're looking for one comprehensive site, check out Cubs Blog Army, which provides RSS feeds of dozens of Cubbie blogs.

Name of blog: Proud Italian Cook

Real name: Marie Renello

Start date: August 2007

Your life story in a URL: FeedYourPassion.com

Why do you blog? My passion has always been cooking and the world of blogging has been my creative outlet for this little hobby turned obsession!

What topic gets people going on your blog? I can’t say there’s one specific topic, because the subject of food in general is a very personal thing and stirs up many emotions along with fond memories that people have of special traditions and events in their lives.

It could be a post about something as time consuming as making 300 homemade raviolis that will stir up conversations, or something as simple as a dessert/drink I recently posted about called “Affogato,” which simply is hot espresso poured over cold gelato. I was amazed at all the comments that came from that post, from people literally all over the world.

Sometimes it might even be a photo, or a certain ingredient that I used, or even a special pot or pan, that revs up a topic for conversation.

What’s your favorite local blog that nobody has heard of? Coco Cooks -- A ChiTown food blogger who’s a creative cook, baker, cake decorator and, an all around interesting person.

What have you learned from blogging? Besides a whole lot of tech-y stuff, I’ve learned how blogging connects you with so many wonderful and interesting people with various nationalities, customs and backgrounds. On any given day I could be talking to people in several different countries. I can truly say I have made friends all over the world and I’m always learning new things from them, which in turn has truly fed my passion for cooking and blogging. And as an unexpected bonus, I’ve come to know the “people behind the blogs.”