City in Waiting

You wouldn’t expect Chicago to figure prominently in a book called Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789-1815. And indeed the book—the latest entry in the Oxford History of the United States—frequently looks eastward as Washington, Jefferson, et al. strive to form a cohesive nation under their new…

'The Celebrity Apprentice,' Episode One: Blago Squeaks Through—Barely

Since being ousted as governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich has been mostly unemployed. What the future holds for him is unclear—and it certainly won’t be determined until after his upcoming trial for corruption—but if last night’s premiere episode of NBC’s The Celebrity Apprentice is any indication, Blago should cross “waiter” off his list of potential future jobs. . . .

Amanda Majeski Rocks the Lyric Opera

This past Tuesday, during the run of the Lyric Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, the Northwestern graduate and Gurnee native Amanda Majeski stepped into one of the leading roles as an understudy and wowed the crowd.

There Will Be ‘Flood’

Our top five picks for things to do this week: It only reads like a rundown of deadly plagues. Highlights include a song cycle about hypochondria, a behind-the-scenes chat on DNA testing, and a new play by Rebecca Gilman that should open the critical floodgates.

From Beer to Eternity

Our top five picks for things to do this week: Highlights include a green-tinged pub crawl courtesy of the Chicago History Museum, Stephen Sondheim live at the Harris, and a screening of William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, with Penny Arcade, as part of the second annual CIMM Fest.

Winter’s Best Week Ever

Our top five picks for things to do this week: We’re not sure what’s in the water (er, slush), but this week offers an unparalleled lineup of concerts, screenings, and more—your best bets yet for conquering the winter blahs. Bonus: five freebies we would have paid for (but don’t have to)