Chicago Guide: Seriously Risky Flights of Fancy
Our top five picks for things to do this week: The Flying Wallendas aim to cheat death in Lookingglass’s Hephaestus; plus, Sonny Rollins rolls into town, 2010’s Golden Gloves contenders, more
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Fans of Minnesota Twins Baseball Say 'So Long, Metrodome!'
This year, the Minnesota Twins inaugurate Target Field, a new baseball-only venue to replace the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Last weekend, I attended an exhibition game between the Twins and the St. Louis Cardinals at Target Field, and saw outdoor Major League Baseball in Minnesota for the first time since the Metrodome opened in 1982…
Books We Like: 'Grounded' by Seth Stevenson
If you’re a fan of the Ad Report Card at the online magazine Slate, then you’re already familiar with the writing of Seth Stevenson, who has been the column’s main contributor since 2003. Today, his first book—an epic travelogue titled Grounded: A Down to Earth Journey Around the World—came out…
Best things to do in Chicago in April
A cultural short-list for April, in order of buzz
On opera’s rising star Andriana Chuchman
The rising diva has that rare combo of theatrical attributes: She can play smoldering or slapstick
On the life and work of photographer Beatrice Tonnesen
Camera Obscura: As the Victorian age gave way to the 20th century, a beautiful young Chicago photographer named Beatrice Tonnesen made her mark with a brilliant idea: using live models in advertisements. But Tonnesen’s pioneering role, like her artfully composed images (which often were usurped by well-known illustrators), faded into history—that is, until an inquisitive collector rescued Tonnesen from obscurity
Matisse Returns to the Art Institute—This Time to Cheers, Not Jeers
As winter gave way to spring, Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917 settled in at the Art Institute of Chicago for a three-month stay. The city immediately embraced the exhibit: its gala grand opening on March 19th lured enough of the “beautiful people” to raise $500,000 for the museum. Chicago, however, did not always welcome Monsieur Matisse so cordially…
'The Celebrity Apprentice,' Episode Four: Blagojevich Fired!
Last night’s episode started, as it always does, with Donald Trump asking each team to choose its project leader, but, in a twist, he did not describe the task first. Michael Johnson snapped to the opportunity, immediately nominating Rod Blagojevich for the men…
Tonight on TV: New Medical Drama from the Cast-Out Creator of 'Lost'
The other night, I got an out-of-the-blue e-mail from Jeffrey Lieber. A couple years ago I wrote a story about Lieber, the Evanston native and University of Illinois grad who penned the original pilot that would eventually become the television series mega-hit Lost…
Love It or Hate It? Dog & Pony Stages Another Promenade-Style Show
When Dog & Pony Theatre Co. premiered As Told by the Vivian Girls in 2008, I had little experience with promenade staging. The action moved around the performance area and the audience moved with it. But that’s not all…