Gordon Beckham launched his new charity to raise money for Parkinson's Disease research. HIs grandfather sufferes from the incurable degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system. The Sox second baseman says he'll donate cash to the cause every time he goes yard. You can donate at OutofthePark.org, too. So In the name of research and finding a cure, here's to Beckham, last year's Rookie of the Year, powering his way out of his sophomore slump to hit a few dozen dingers.

On my way to the Sox game Thursday night, I spotted this new sign for Cork and Kerry hanging over 33rd and Princeton attached to the corner bar once home to beloved Jimbo's.
If you don't know the story about the death of Jimbo's, here's the gist.

President Obama has new neighbors.
The first family's pals next door, Bill and Jacky Grimshaw, today closed on a $1.4 million deal for their 6,000-square feet 1906 colonial mansion with an unfettered view of the Obama's Kenwood estate.
The new owners, who plan to spend another $1 million renovating the house, asked their Realtor not to reveal their identity.
"They want their privacy respected. They're not interested in notoriety. They're just a normal Chicago home buyer who happened to buy next to the president," Realtor Matt Garrison said. "They'd probably prefer not being next to the president, but this was the best house available for them to renovate on a big lot. "
The Grimshaws had attempted to cash in on the "Obama factor" by not listing an asking price when the house went on the market in September. They hoped to starting a "nutty bidding war" for the mansion and coach house near 51st and Greenwood.
That plan, however, didn't work.
"We marketed the house worldwide and talked to people all over the world about it hoping a non-traditional buyer would emerge and pay a premium," Garrison said. "But it was sold to an ordinary Chicago home buyer who was in our back yard the whole time ... We're very happy with the price."
The sale did not have to be approved by the U.S. Secret Service and Garrison said he's not sure if the Obamas know who their new neighbors are yet.
"I'm sure if they wanted to find out they could," he said. "That's why it's called the Secret Service."
The Grimshaws made a tidy profit on the deal. They bought the 17-room house in 1973 for $35,000. Bill Grimshaw, a semi-retired political science professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, liked to brag that he had a better house than the president.
Grimshaw said he decided to sell because they were ready to move on.
"There comes a point where the house owns you. It says fix me. Fix my boiler," Grimshaw said when the house went on the market. "This is where we raised our kids and a couple litters of Rottweilers. Giving it up is like leaving a piece of you behind."

Here's a look at the scene from last year's Dark Lord Day at Three Floyd's Brewery in Munster Ind, courtesy of The Happy Hour Guys via YouTube.
Three Floyd's Dark Lord, a Russian-style imperial stout, is regularly ranked as one of the best beers in the world and is only available once year. Thousands of beer geeks show up every year for the unveiling. This year Dark Lord Day is April 24.
Read all about it in today's Sun-Times.

Local H frontman Scott Lucas slurped a smoothie while we talked about things he has learned over the years.
At a tiny table at Filter, the reincarnation of Wicker Park's favorite hipster coffee joint. (Konkol warning: While Filter's second life remains still a hipster fav, it also is a magnet for crying babies.)
the 39-year-old rocker talked about living in Wicker Park, going on tour, love, heart break, why Mayor Daley should be voted out of office and much more. Find the story in today's Sun-TImes.
Typically, I'd leave the music commentary to guys like Jim DeRogatis. But I can't pass up an opportunity to turn you on to Lucas' new project, Scott Lucas and the Married Men.
The album, George Lassos the Moon, is sweet, romantic storytelling -- a true story mind you -- of a guy (Lucas) longing to win back lost love. Most of the songs were written in a weeks time as Lucas' attempted to reconnect his then-estranged girlfriend. (It worked.)
With the Married Men, you see a softer side of Lucas, who's better known for playing loud, crowd surfing, whiskey drinking and at least once angrily chasing an audience member off stage.

Give a listen to Cut a Hole and Extra Special Bitter and Weatherman -- stand out numbers on an album from a band that's unfortunately still flying still under the radar.

Over the last several weeks I've had the pleasure of spending time with an amazing young couple, Aimee and Yuriy Zmysly of Oak Lawn. What I saw was an up close look at unconditional love.
Aimee let me ask her intimate questions about her love for Yuriy, a retired Marine Cpl. who suffered a devastating brain injury at a military hospital after coming home safely from Iraq. You can find their love story in today's Sun-Times.
Already, generous Sun-Times readers -- along with people who follow me on Twitter and Facebook -- have written to say how touched they were by Aimee's devotion to her husband, amazed by Yuriy's determination and even angry about the how the government has treated them.
Many have asked how they can help AImee and Yuriy. Here's how:

Tax deductible donations can be made to Salute, Inc. and mailed to:
Aimee and Yuriy Zmysly
c/o SALUTE, INC.
P.O. Box 236
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Or you can donate online.

UPDATE 5/18/20010
For those of you looking for the entire story, the link above has expired. So, I have included it below. Thanks for reading.