You, to the rescue

The economy is primed to take down some of our favorite museums, theaters—even hot-dog stands. But, this time, the bailout’s up to you. Read these stories and flex that consumer muscle.

Save this…

	…shopping district: Store owners talk frankly about the state of business in an off-the-beaten-path area.		…performance venue: This Wrigleyville performance venue gets lost in the Cubs crowd.
	…newspaper: Drop 75 cents for the paper just once a week—you might get hooked.		…hot-dog stand: A plea to patronize Max’s, the last hot-dog stand in the Loop.
	…museum: The recently shuttered Freedom Museum lives on.		…orchestra: The Chicago Philharmonic needs your donations to stay on a high note.
	…feminist bookstore: Women and Children First fights tooth and nail to survive.		…record label: Flameshovel Records speaks out as the industry model shifts.
	…farmers’ market: This South Side market needs your help to survive.		…gay bar: Uptown’s gay Brit pub is deserving of your dough.
	…grocer: A plea to save West Town’s local and organically minded grocery store.		…comedy club: Lakeview’s fledgling improv theater hopes to become less recession-stressed.
	…gallery: Help this female-artist–promoting space.		…children’s theater: If Chicago Children’s Theatre doesn’t get some funds fast, its camp for autistic kids might not happen.

Back in the black: Bakeries, bike shops, personal trainers and comic-book stores are flourishing during the downturn.

Let them die: These annoying businesses need to go.

Bring it back: Here are a few of the culturally important venues, institutions and curiosities we’d love to see make a comeback, at least for a day.