Daley Challengers
Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown made her Chicago mayoral candidacy official today.  And Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s wife Sandi says she wants to be the 7th Ward alderman. Rich Samuels has the latest on the lineups for the February municipal elections.

News Analysis with Carol Marin
The Bears' embattled Terry "Tank" Johnson's fate was postponed today at Halas Hall.  The defensive tackle was not cut from the team, but there were no assurances that he wouldn't be cut within the week. Carol Marin and her panel take a look at his behavior and how the sports world is reacting.  Guests: Lester Munson, Fred Mitchell and Eric Zorn

Bears Alumni Club
With a second chance for an overtime field goal, Robbie Gould clinched home field advantage for the Bears playoffs.  On tonight's Bears Alumni Club, Glen Kozlowski analyzes what went right and wrong in yesterday's game.

Playstation Hype
It is this year's hot holiday gift item.  The Playstation 3 is creating a great deal of the hype this Christmas. But why are people willing to pay more than it is worth? Christian Farr will take a closer look.

Critic for a Day
We review "The Pursuit of Happyness," the movie inspired by the story of once-homeless Chicago business mogul, Chris Gardner.  ABC7's Cheryl Burton is our "critic for a day".

Artbeat
The Do-It-Yourself Messiah is one of the most beloved holiday traditions in Chicago, and it returns to the Civic Opera House this week.  Fawn Ring has the story on the Artbeat.

Viewer Mail
We'll get your feedback on some of our recent stories.

Alsammarae Update
The Oak Brook businessman who escaped from an Iraqi jail has told our Elizabeth Brackett he is safe and out of the reach of the Iraqis. Aiham Alsammarae was convicted and then cleared of corruption charges relating to his term as Minister of Electricity in Iraq. But he was still being held in a Baghdad jail facing additional corruption charges when he was spirited away by what Iraqi officials say was an American security company. Elizabeth Brackett will have the details.

Worldwide Chicago with Eddie Arruza
"Made in China." Those three words seem to appear on just about everything we buy. But how do our shopping habits in Chicago impact people and the environment around the globe? Eddie Arruza and his panel will talk it over.

Guests
Lyric Hughes Hale, CEO and Publisher of China Online
Ted Fishman, Author of China, Inc.: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World

Chicago's Sidewalks
A new book covers the sidewalks of Chicago in pursuit of offbeat people and essential places. We'll talk to author Rick Kogan and photographer Charles Osgood. To purchase Sidewalks: Portraits of Chicago, click here.

Complaint Letters 101
If you have a complaint against a company, don't call them. Write them. A new book shows us how to get immediate action through letters. We'll look at some samples and talk to the author of 101+ Complaint Letters That Get Results.

Christmas Lights
The Christmas decorations in one Lincolnwood neighborhood are over the top! Our man "about Chicago," Geoffrey Baer, takes you there.

Homes Featured
6601 North Nokomis Avenue
(Animated figures)

6601 North LeRoy
(Three-story Christmas tree)

6555 North LeMai
(Display preserved from earlier Lincolnwood family)

TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN LINCOLNWOOD:
The Lincolnwood Towers neighborhood is located just west of the Edens Expressway and just north of Devon Avenue. You can enter the neighborhood from Devon on either Longmeadow Avenue (one block west of the Edens) or Leroy Avenue (two blocks west of the Edens).

The Best Christmas Decorations in Chicagoland by Mary Edsey is available for purchase at www.ChristmasHouses.com

Theater Critic Hedy Weiss
Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss will join us with her reviews of three new Chicago productions including Neil LaBute's Fat Pig, just extended for a second time at Profiles Theater.

Frank's Home

All Night Strut

Fat Pig

Debra Pickett Commentary
Debra Pickett will be here with some thoughts about the heroes we choose.

News Analysis with Carol Marin
William "Dock" Walls and Dorothy Brown both hope to unseat Mayor Daley in the coming election. Carol Marin sits down with both of them tonight in our studios.

From the Vault
It was 30 years ago today that Mayor Richard J. Daley died, ending an era in Chicago politics. We'll go to our WTTW Vault and re-live Channel 11's coverage of that day.

Alfred Tatum
There's a new guide that helps educators take a different approach to teaching young black males to read. Author Alfred Tatum joins us in the studio tonight to talk about how his book will help close the achievement gap.

On the ArtBeat
A children's book is finally published 61 years after it was written. We'll talk with the author and artist on the eve of his 90th birthday and meet the star of the book who is now approaching retirement age. Purchase Peter's ABC Book: Peter Learns About Animals, Birds, Fishes, and Insects by clicking here.

Other places to purchase:

Barbara's Bookstore
1100 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL 60301
(708) 848-9140
Barbaras Bookstore website

Prairie Avenue Bookshop [Architecture and design]
418 South Wabash
Chicago, IL 60605
(800) 474-2724
Prairie Avenue Bookshop website

Brent Books & Cards
309 W Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 364-0126

Barbara's Bookstore at UIC
1218 S Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 413-2665
Barbaras Bookstore website

57th Street Books
1301 E. 57th Street
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-1300
57th Street Books website

Seminary Co-Op
5757 South University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(800) 777-1456
Seminary Co-Op website

University of Chicago Bookstore
970 East 58th Street
Chicago, IL 60637-1432
(773) 702-8729
U. of Chicago Bookstore website

Illini Union Bookstore
809 S Wright St.
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-2050
Illini Union Bookstore website

Alpana's Holiday Wines
With so many wines to choose from, how do you know what to buy for the holidays? Check, Please! host and master sommelier Alpana Singh will be here with her picks. You might be surprised how affordable they are.

Alpana's picks for Holiday Wines and Apertifs

• Red – 2004 Crios Malbec – Argentina $13
• Red – 2004 Poggionotte Nero d'Avola – Sicily, Italy $12
• White – 2005 Jezebel Blanc – Oregon $17
• Apertif – 2005 Banfi Brachetto d'Acqui – Piedmont, Italy $13
• Aperitif – Lillet Blanc $17
• Sparking Wine – NV Gruet Blanc de Noir Brut – New Mexico $13

Music of 2006
Buddy Guy is one of the musicians who has visited our studio for a live performance in 2006. We'll take a look back at some of our favorite moments from a year in music.

News Analysis with Elizabeth Brackett
The CTA has had a slew of problems this year, including this week's derailment in the South Loop.  Elizabeth Brackett goes one-on-one with Frank Kruesi, president of the CTA, to find out what's being done to make things better.

End-of-Year Financial Tips
You may have other things on your mind during the holidays, but Chicago Sun-Times financial columnist Terry Savage says this is the perfect time to organize your finances.  Terry Savage will be here with her year-end tax and money tips.  Click here for more on the Illinois college savings program and the Bright Start program.

Freedom Museum
The nation’s first museum devoted to freedom is here in Chicago.  We’ll meet the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum’s resident scholar, Shawn Healy. 

The Train Lady
It may very well be the most creative depiction of Chicago's railroads.  Rich Samuels introduces us to it, and to Elaine Silets, the suburban woman at the controls.

Chicago Stories
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer grew up in Chicago, with a family that appreciated him as no other did.  John Callaway has the story of the Chicago roots of one of the North Pole's most famous residents.

Check Please! Supper Club
We'll go to Foster Avenue for swedish food at Tre Kronor.  Our chef will show us how to make gravlax, a traditional Scandinavian salmon dish.
Recipe for gravlax
Recipe for glogg

The Week in Review with Joel Weisman
Travelers brace for holiday traffic, Mayor Daley reportedly supporting a potential presidential run by Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Jackson's wife, Sandi, officially running for alderman, holiday sales slower than expected, and the Bears sticking by Tank Johnson.

Guests
Mike Mulligan - Chicago Sun-Times; Cliff Kelley - WVON-AM; Bob Reed - Chicago Magazine; John McCarron - Chicago Tribune

Friday Night with John Callaway
At 7:30 pm it's the best of Friday Night! John Callaway looks back at his favorite conversations of 2006.