Digg.com, one of the web’s top destinations for tech news, political opinion and funny videos threw a party in Wrigleyville Wednesday evening, drawing a male-heavy, youngish crowd of nearly 300 avid members of its user community for free drinks, announcements from the Digg team and a chance to mingle with site founder and web celebrity Kevin Rose.

Major public announcements included a new partnership with the Chicago Tribune and a revamped online store for Digg.com merchandise. Digg CEO Jay Adelson also spoke about a new feature in the pipeline that will let users create their own sub-Digg’s for topics of their choosing.

Adelson was tight-lipped, however, when asked about recent rumors that Digg was being acquired by search giant Google.com for $200 million.

“There is no word,” he said. “We commented on one of these rumors before and it got us in trouble. There is nothing to say.”

Read Full Story »

The airline industry isn't just trying to stay aloft with its passengers. It is also battling to preserve the near $5 billion in revenues generated each year through the transport of goods such as electronics, fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.

Last year, the airline cargo business expanded by its smallest margin in three years, less than one percent, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In the first quarter of this year, revenue from cargo was down 1.4 percent over the year earlier period.

When Olympus Partners, a major private equity firm based in Stamford, Connecticut, acquired a majority stake in the privately held Jessup, Maryland-based Ann's House of Nuts last week, managers at the buyout firm were placing a big bet on a nut company with little-to-no recognition among ordinary consumers.

Jessa Brinkmeyer said customers find that going green can be gorgeous in her eco-smart fashion boutique.

"When you walk in, you realize you don't have to sacrifice anything in terms of style or fashion in order to be green," she said. "People are pleasantly surprised and shocked about what is being done with these fabrics. It's not boring and basic or uncomfortable and ugly - it's beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. It's like walking into any other boutique."

Evelyn Thompson combines her love of Chicago ethnic neighborhoods with her interest in ethnic eating.

Thompson teaches a class on ethnic foods at the University of Illinois at Chicago but leads tours for everyone to grocery stores that feature Thai eggplant, fiber-laden cactus pears and vegetarian raisin sausage among their staples.