* My intern for next year, Kevin Fanning, needs a place to stay in Chicago this weekend. Kevin wants to go to the holiday party Sunday night, but requires a crash pad. If you can help him out, please use the “Contact Me” button just under the blog’s banner and I’ll forward your info to Kevin. We’ve already found a place for Paul, who relinquishes his princely crown in January. Thanks for any help you can provide.

* From a press release…

The Web site chicagoclassicalmusic.org — of which the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is proud to be a member organization — has been revitalized and now features many exciting special offers such as free classical music downloads and exclusive “Hot Deals” on concert tickets and recordings.

Beginning December 5, in celebration of the new redesign, chicagoclassicalmusic.org offers free music downloads, the first of which features the fifth movement of Mahler’s Third Symphony with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and CSO Principal Conductor Bernard Haitink.