Hot in the city The city will be hot and busy this weekend. The annual Taste of Chicago kicks off today in Grant Park and the world's biggest food festival will not be for the fainthearted. If the temperature is expected to reach 100F, the temperature down by the 75 food booths will be way higher than that as the local restaurants fire up a whole host of not so healthy goodies. 350,000 people are expected today alone. LL Cool J, LeAnn Rimes, Donna Summer and Santana provide some of the entertainment. I think I'd rather eat alone thank you.

Then there is part 2 of the inter-city Sox v Cubs match at US Cellular Field. The three game series starts today. The White Sox have the best record in all of North America, sorry the world. Meanwhile my last season's love affair with the Cubbies hasn't rematerialised. I have yet to go to a game this season, although I have turned down a couple of invites to see the Sox, which are the hottest tickets in town. Well, a Charlton fan doesn't change their spots, so Go Cubs!

Further north in the City this weekend around Halsted and Broadway streets in the locale commonly known as 'Boystown' is the Chicago Pride Celebration. Probably a different kind of person you'll meet here than at the baseball or food festival me thinks.

Me? Well I will be throwing some money down the toilet at Arlington Park race course tomorrow. This pretty track about 20 miles north-west of the city was rebuilt in 1989 after it burnt down. With music, barbeque specials and beer (more), it seems that I can get the best of all worlds there with a little bit of the gee-gees thrown in as well.

Other Chicago news today was the announcement of two pre-season friendlies taking part at Soldier Field in July. Real Madrid will play Mexican's best club side Chivas Guadalajara on July 16th, which I think I might be away for unfortunately because Real have promised all of their star names. And then on July 27th Chicago Fire will host AC Milan. Meanwhile Chelsea will play DC United in Washington that same week. This trip is the brainstorm of the Anschutz Entertainment Group.

AEG are also behind the Real Madrid tour and their game against AEG owned LA Galaxy means that West Brom's pre-season tour to California could be dropped. Bryan Robson's men were due to play against MLS sides LA Galaxy and Club Deportivo Chivas USA.

AEG own 5 MLS sides: Chicago Fire, LA Galaxy, DC United, San Jose Earthquakes and the Metrostars in New Jersey. They also own the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and have a big involvement in the countries largest (if not the best) Basketball team Los Angeles Lakers.

How long until they own a Premiership club I wonder?  ¶ 16:46