Call it a case of criminal mindlessness: Two boys, from privileged backgrounds but claiming poverty, get lost not in Yonkers, but in their own petty drama. “You’re so independent?” asks adolescent slacker Warren, surveying buddy Dennis’s untidy, stark apartment. “Yeah, because my parents pay for this apartment,” twenty-something small-time drug dealer Dennis replies, wholly believing […]
Remember the movie “Julie & Julia”? Regular gal Julie Powell decided to cook her way through Julia Child’s cookbook and became a renowned food blogger in the process. Today, food blogs are mainstream but continue to be a great resource when you want a recipe stat. One of the wonderful aspects of food blogs is […]
LYFE Kitchen has claimed a very unusual space for their new site in Evanston: the’60s-era round building that once housed bank tellers. Now, a different story is being told in the totally rehabbed space, filled with bright, optimistic colors and sunlight. Eero Saarinen would be proud. Even if the company ethos of LYFE Kitchen is […]
Milwalky Trace (that’s how it’s spelled, folks…not a typo!) is a small restaurant with big, bold flavors. The compact menu is packed with winners. Located in downtown Libertyville on the main Milwaukee Avenue business strip (known as the “Milwalky Trace” back in the 1800s, it was the trail that led from Chicago to Milwaukee), this […]
Last month, fans of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” said goodbye to Sandra Oh and her uber-talented character, Dr. Cristina Yang. Their loss is Chicago’s gain. It might be surprising to some that a popular TV actress would leave a show that’s still doing well, even 10 seasons in, to star in “Death and the Maiden” at […]
If you’re Sting (aka Gordon Sumner), you might tour for funsies with Paul Simon, as he did very successfully earlier this year. Or perhaps, you’ll plumb your childhood memories and write a musical bound for Broadway. Sting’s “The Last Ship” had its star-studded opening in Chicago last night prior to its Broadway debut this fall. Sting and […]
I’m a food tourist. I spend part of every vacation dragging my family to visit the local food markets and grocery stores. Nothing in Paris makes me happier than the organic market on the Rue de Raspail, where I can happily ogle the goat cheeses for hours. And no trip to New York could be […]
Summer brings movie and TV stars, including Michael Cera and Sandra Oh, to Chicago stages. But local stars, like Joyce Piven, are still big attractions on the North Shore. Heading north for summer fun? Check out the American Player’s Theatre in Spring Green, Wis. Death and the Maiden June 13–July 13 Sandra Oh of “Grey’s […]
Summer festivals are often the best places to people watch and check out the latest trends. When it comes to festival fashion, an underlying theme this summer is “everything old is new again.” Some of your favorite styles from the past are back but freshened up for 2014. Here’s your festival fashion cheat sheet! 1. […]
Venturing out to a music fest? Here are a few tips to make your outing rock even more. Val’s Fest Tips: Bring: sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, water-bottle strap, comfortable shoes, backpack/crossover bag for hands-free carryall, pen (to mark the lineup), layered clothing, earplugs, Advil, snacks, cell phone portable battery charger, bandana (many uses) and a Chilly […]
