You heard it here first: Free wi-fi, courtesy of one of the neighborhood’s leading social network venues (hey, I can’t call the Gold Rush a breakfast joint in a high-tech post like this) and your favorite local magazine. No fee, no passwords, no complications. Just click on the agreement page and mouse away.

This is the first in what we hope will be a network of Advocate- and local merchant-sponsored hot spots throughout our five publishing areas. So enjoy your John Wayne at the Gold Rush while you check the baseball scores or your Google mail. I’ll be the fellow at the back table on Saturday morning trying not to get cream gravy on my Asus Eee.

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And, if you’re a merchant who would like to get in on this deal, email our marketing director, Andrea Lamarsaude, for information.