When Bonnie Shifrin was planning son Jonah’s bar mitzvah, one thing was clear: he didn’t want a dancing party, like many of his classmates and sister did, to celebrate the occasion. He chose WhirlyBall amusement center on Fullerton Avenue in Chicago, where guests played bumper-car basketball and other action games. “People are trying to […]
With Hollywood’s award season behind us, it’s time to take a fresh look at films. Now in its third year, the Talking Pictures Festival has something of interest for everyone. From April 14 – 17 at four Evanston venues, there are over 20 programs to choose from. The schedule is loaded with independent, thought-provoking, […]
The movie “Source Code,” which comes out April 1 and was filmed in Chicago, features one of our favorite hotties riding a recognizable, if unofficial, local train. According to Rich Moskal, director of the Chicago Film Office, the movie’s stars, Jake Gyllenhaal and Michelle Monaghan, were in Chicago filming a small portion of the […]
Alexander McCall Smith, best-selling Scottish author of more than 60 books, is as charming and well mannered as his main characters. He’s exactly the type of person you would want to sit down with over a cup of Red Bush tea, especially since his accent induces swooning. Make It Better spoke with “Sandy” about his […]
Listening to the Watoto Children’s Choir, performing locally during the first week of March, is more than entertainment—it’s an education in beating the odds. The choir is part of Watoto Child Care Ministries, an effort to raise thousands of children who have been orphaned by AIDS, war and other calamities into future leaders of […]
This nerve-jangling, otherworldly world premiere travels deep into the emotional desperation of people who exist on society’s fringes. Illinois playwright Brett Neveu gets into the rhythmic thinking of those who survive by conning others. Aged street hustler Eddie Sisson (played with emotional vibrancy by esteemed Steppenwolf Theatre veteran Francis Guinan) has one last shot […]
My youngest son Luke didn’t get the nickname Tasmanian Devil because he likes to sit still. And while he’s almost completely non-verbal, he is wholly capable of communicating his wants and needs (though sometimes not in ways most people expect). No surprise that we’ve been hesitant to expose him to live theater, imagining our […]
Mega snow and mega cold means one thing: warm water (if not weather) getaway. You know your kids will love any waterpark, but which resort has amenities to keep the grown-ups happy, too? Here’s my list of likely contenders from nearest to farthest. Key Lime Cove, Gurnee Less than an hour away, Key Lime […]
Since most football players are beasts, we had fun using animal band names in this list—a trend in the music industry! SUPER BOWL Let the Rumpus Begin 1. Laredo by Band of Horses 2. Location by Freelance Whales 3. Cannibal Queen by Miniature Tigers 4. 8 4 8 by Young Mammals 5. Coronado by […]
Chicago is home to a wide variety of ethnic neighborhoods and touring them can be a wonderful introduction to other cultures and other foods. Tet, the huge Vietnamese celebration of the lunar New Year, is coming up on February 3. Why don’t you use that as an excuse to explore Argyle Street and introduce […]
