Photo Credit: Malingering

As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried to stay on the good side of Jack White (unlike a DJ who played the unreleased new White Stripes record on-air), detailed the rules and regulations behind sidewalk cafes , and beat up a little more on their favorite political whipping boy.

Phillyist denied the sudden onslaught of summer by taking a look at their snow-covered downtown. But, as much as they may deny it, they know that it's warm outside, and that means baseball, even if it's not particularly baseball. When the Phillies aren't depressing them, though, they're catching awesome live shows, eating awesome Spanish food, admiring responsible dog owners, and reminding their readers to support small bands.

Torontoist had one hell of a busy week. Besides being the first media outlet to get photos of the interior of the gorgeous Daniel Libeskind redesign 0f the largest museum in Canada, they found their prime minister on Facebook (sorta), and interviewed the brain behind PostSecret, Frank Warren. They launched a new feature, Touch Up Toronto (inspired by Londonist's project over the past year). Finally, they decided to give up on Amato, their (now ex-)favourite pizza place in the city.

DCist spent the week asking the tough questions, like whether cops on Segways are hilarious, or helpful, and whether the good people behind Esquire magazine actually know where the best bar in D.C. is. More seriously, they also questioned a plan to close a popular nightclub because a shooting happened outside it, and a heated debate emerged after they wondered if unsupervised kids were back to throwing rocks and attacking people in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Finally they launched their new wine column, because the real question is, what are you drinking tonight?

Austinist was thrilled that a local landmark finished renovations, but saddened that another classic watering hole might close because of zoning problems. Tickets for the Austin Film Festival went on sale, and a bunch of extraordinary students from the University of Texas embarked on a 4,500-mile ride to Alaska. Local police turned down a chance to be on "Cops", which was still not as disappointing as the Texas House failing to get rid of its speaker. Austinist finally learned what $335.9 million worth of assorted drugs looked like, and are awfully fond of a local buzz band.

If you wear Hooker shoes at Dodger Stadium, LAist is going to catch you (and no Kosher Hot Dogs? What's with that?). Huge news in town is that Kobe Bryant is leaving the Lakers (or maybe... not). In other sports news, bikini races at Hollywood Park anyone? Unfortunately at the Silver Lake Trader Joes, you need to race across the street if you want to stay alive. To rest off all those sporty activities, Los Angeles has another movie theatre full of posh fun including alcoholic drinks, assigned and cushy seating and free parking.

A lot of things to watch at SFist this week. There was a little whale watching, with a mother and calf that had lost their way. With shock, awe, and amusement, they checked out Google's new "street level view" maps. SFist watched and positively reviewed the RiffTrax show. They saw an L.A. paper's take on perhaps their most famous 'hood, The Haight. The whole nation watched on pins and needles as a Bay Area resident won the national spelling bee. All of this while the city ran from zee-oh-em-bee-eye-ee-ess.

Bostonist watched as the Red Sox' Kevin Youkilis continued his consecutive game hitting streak to 23, and started up his very own blog (they even created a slick "has a posse" graphic), took a lesson from Chicago voting (vote early and often) and figured out how to make those 25 all-star votes count best for the Sox. Baseball isn't the only sport in town - the Patriot's Tom Brady is on the platform of a candidate in the commonwealth, or, more precisely his "equipment." The Mooninites attack Boston again, this time using fax machines. And Passim is named top hub club, but it's not the 70's anymore.

Londonist are beginning to think they live in the world's most surreal city. First, there's the High Court judge who speaks in poetry. Then, there's the man who ate a corgi to protest about Prince Phillip shooting animals. And if the royals aren't killing foxes, the suburban giant cats are.

Gothamist marked the final week of May with Manhattanhenge, that day of the year when the sun is lined up with streets perfectly. Gothamist wondered if a Harlem minister's suggestion that the way to save Harlem would be to boycott businesses made sense and thought about the many faces of Rudy Giuliani. The hungry Big Apple blog also enjoyed a delicious meal at Bo Ssam and was impressed by a middle school's noble fight against graffiti. And then there was the City Council fight over naming a street after a radical black activist, that prompted a number of verbals fights, including "jokes" of assassination and criticism of Thomas Jefferson.

Also, check out other favorite stories from Houstonist, Shanghaiist and Sampaist!

Photographs, top to bottom, from Torontoist, Chicagoist's third anniversary invite, Dapper Dan J for SFist

Gothamist headed into the Memorial Day weekend with a number of tasks accomplished. They worried about Long Islanders giving New Yorkers a bad name. They tried a juice cleanse diet. They chatted with Steve Guttenberg. They lamented the crowded L train. They wondered if old, gritty New York was better than safer, shiny New York. And they cooed over baby falcons born on the Throgs Neck Bridge.

Londonist took a tour of their city's great landmarks this week. They visited Trafalgar Square, which, for two days only, was carpeted in grass. On to Greenwich, where a mysterious fire caused severe damage to the Cutty Sark ship, while another vintage vessel sailed along the Thames. Finally, from rags to riches when a hobo who has lived on Hampstead Heath for nearly twenty years was granted ownership of the land.

Three things on Chicagoist really had people talking this week, and it's about time they had a long, restful weekend. This week, the Feds subpoenaed their governor's campaign fund records, there was a big debate about whether the Macy's/Marshall Field's boycott is working, and the CTA threatened to raise fares and cut services... again.

Torontoist celebrated their holidays last weekend (crazy Canadians!) in style: with front porch fireworks. This week, however, perhaps because of the grumpiness of returning back to work, Torontoist was pretty indignant: they got pissed off about Audi vandalizing their public space, some douchebag blaming gun crime in the city on women, and some other douchebag who literally had beef with the mayor. Their commenters endlessly debated potential reform to Ontario politics and the collapse of some gorgeous historical buildings.

Bostonist has been absolutely hopping with breaking news. First, the circuits of the subway system crackled, nearly squashing a commuter between two doors and trapping a group of riders on a train. Then, the city streets got hot when a gang member shot a police officer. In the political realm, the battle over gay marriage heated up – thanks to an impending gay divorce. And, in sports, Bostonist's hopes were dashed when the unlucky Celtics discovered they won't be getting a hot draft pick. So much for wearing green all the time!

Austinist had a chat with Chalk director Mike Akel, who's probably glad that school's out. Another local institution, the Bass Concert Hall, also started its break to begin extensive remodeling work. The Austinist and KEXP-sponsored weekly music residency continued to be a big success. Elsewhere in Texas, a student protest didn't go as planned.

Seattlest got a little excited about the NBA bingo game this week as the top two picks went to the Pacific Northwest. Goats came down from the hills to graze on pets and Seattleite babies. A small group of bikes braved an elevated highway at night and the world as we knew it ended.

Sampaist didn't have a long day weekend, except for the students who are still occupying the São Paulo University dean's office. While the cops weren't getting them out, Sampaist was having drinks at the opening of Brazil's biggest bookstore and fighting for cheaper tickets to see the Blue Man Group.

A Reggae/Jazz festival, an event dedicated to the history of restaurant cafeterias, and a ton of other great festivals are making up this holiday weekend for LAist. For Angelenos leaving town, choices of wine country or crazy times in SFist territory were only the beginning of the list. Travel is good, but moving is too—so why not use abandoned grocery carts to hall your stuff around? A new local magazine is hitting LA with rumored problems (not that the eponymous city mag doesn't have their own), and never moving in were the short-lived Doc Martens ads featuring dead punkers that offended many (and it's hard to offend in a town where the County Coroner has a gift shop). And of course, whether it be movie premieres of Knocked Up, a CalArts graduation or a Chicken Car, the LAist blogarazzi was out in full swing.

On Phillyist, they were talking to their former news anchors, girls were rocking for girls to rock, bees were swarming, Katie was visiting, and they were trying to find out where to grill on the holiday, while not forgetting the real meaning of it all.

Oh No Ed Jew! SFist was all over a member of the city's board of supes who had his office and house raided by the FBI on accusations of taking big bags of cash. Or his house? Now Mr. Jew's jettsetting to China, seemingly playing "catch me if you can," despite being wanted for questioning. Speaking of jet planes—transportation's always big for SFist, but on May 22, it was crazy—"Transportation Tuesday!" Stories on cars (State Senator Migden wasn't driving too well – was it the cancer meds?)! Trucks (blowing up and closing major highways)! Planes (SFO not rated so high by JD Power)! And, of course, Muni (an awesome idea on how to revolutionize it)! And, in response to the city's paper of record announcing 25% layoffs, SFist asked its readers: "Why Aren't You Paying For The Chron?" Whew, an exhausting week: but nobody needs this break more than a girl that had been a fake student at Stanford for the past school year!

Want to know what's going on in the rest of the Ist-A-Verse? Check out this week's favorites on Houstonist, Shanghaiist, and DCist.

Top image of baby Falcons by by MTA Bridges and Tunnels Maintainer Danny Castoria. Photo of Segway mom via this LJ user, via this Seattlest post.

Compiled and edited by Jillian Ashley Blair Ivey.