Just in time for Independence Day, Chicago photographer Mariah Karson’s new book “American Legion” is a revealing look at legion outposts and the vets who are members. Make It Better: What sparked your interest in American Legions and Legionaries? Mariah Karson: The project started in 2013 when Stan Klein, the director of Firecat Projects (Chicago), […]
In a city as vibrant as Chicago, making everyday decisions — where to order dinner, get a haircut, push your kids on the swings — can feel downright dizzying. Enter our (eighth annual!) Best Of awards: You shared your favorite spaces and places, we tallied the votes, and together we’ll celebrate all that makes our […]
Everyone’s flocking to Nashville, and Naperville native and No. 1 New York Times best-selling author Emily Giffin is no exception. Her latest novel, “All We Ever Wanted,” which will be released June 26, is set in Music City. When Nina Browning’s Ivy-League-bound son Finch takes a photo of classmate Lyla passed out at a party […]
In a dinner rut? Read It & Eat, an uber-hip culinary bookstore in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, recommends these mouthwatering new cookbooks to reignite your creative spark (and your stove). Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces Bill Kim and Chandra Ram Anyone who’s tired of the usual barbecue fare will find inspiration in this […]
Looking for a new novel to start over Memorial Day weekend? Reading a book about war might sound like a depressing way to spend your precious leisure time, but war has always been an unfortunate part of the human experience. From Ancient Greece to Afghanistan, people have perished fighting for their country or their cause, […]
Jocelyn Delk Adams, Chicago author of “Grandbaby Cakes,” which we named one of the Best New Cookbooks of 2015, and the upcoming “Grandbaby Celebrations,” makes food that honors her family history. Make It Better: Why do you think it is important to honor family cooking and baking traditions? Jocelyn Delk Adams: Before I started my […]
Trauma can destroy lives, yet some people not only survive trauma, but they also bounce back to thrive and grow. For more than a decade, Evanston-based journalist Mark Miller, a nationally recognized expert on retirement and aging, has researched and written about what motivates people to reinvent their lives. His new book, “Jolt: Stories of […]
American culture has always found popularity abroad. Our pop stars, movies, and books are easy exports, heartily consumed across the globe. However, foreign works have a harder time getting a foothold here in the States (unless you’re “Harry Potter”). In today’s global economy — to say nothing of the current political climate — it’s important […]
Are you dependent on that daily cup — or pot — of jo? Well, there are indeed some compelling reasons out there to drink up — like helping you live longer. But, not all coffee is created equal, and not all coffee drinking is responsible coffee drinking. Do you know where your coffee comes from? You should. […]
We asked the landmark Women & Children First bookstore in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood to tell us which books they’re excited to dig into this spring. Here are five to put on your must-read list. Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower Brittney Cooper The popular Cosmopolitan.com columnist embraces the “mad black woman” stereotype and […]
