Chicago blues may be known the world over, but not many musicians have logged the miles to see just how far it has traveled. The exception is Sugar Blue, 60, the famed harmonica innovator and Grammy winner who honed his craft on the South Side from the masters James Cotton, Big Walter Horton, and Junior … Read more
Our top five picks for things to do this week: The original Bastards screens at the MCA … Dennehy gets chatty at the Goodman … a Louvre curator asks the big question … plus, what you get when you team a Sex Pistol and a Stray Cat with a rockabilly rebel
Jim Gaffigan considers his January 29th through 31st standup comedy stint at the Chicago Theatre a very, very big deal. “It’s like playing at Wrigley Field,” says the Chesterton, Indiana, native. For the uninitiated, Gaffigan’s humor falls midway between sweet and sarcastic, wholesome and devious, self-effacing and strange. And he’s better than ever: Last year’s … Read more
Our top five picks for things to do this week: Chicagoan Michael Shannon onscreen … Joffrey’s Cinderfellas on dancing in drag … Joan Didion’s Magical Thinking at the Court … plus freebies and more
SCREEN GEM: With a new book out and a seemingly endless reservoir of ideas, the artist and screen printer Jay Ryan draws worldwide acclaim from his Skokie studio
Our top five picks for the week of 01.06.10 through 01.12.10; plus, freebies for a fabulously frugal start to 2010
The Fiery Furnaces play Lincoln Hall. Just because you’re pinching pennies doesn’t mean New Year’s Eve has to fall to the gutter. Chicago offers a diverse concert lineup that beats overpriced hotel events, so you can stay on budget without staying in. Local jam band Umphrey’s McGee returns to the Aragon Ballroom, accompanied by the … Read more
Don’t-miss things to do for 12.23.09 through 01.05.10: Chicago Guide double dips! Top ways to see out 2009, plus picks for rollicking NYE concerts.
A new documentary examines an activist priest and his controversial limelight
A while back, Ike Reilly got behind on his electric bill. When the ComEd truck arrived to cut off his power, he and a friend took a stand. “We pretended we were in The Grapes of Wrath,” Reilly tells the crowd at iO, where he’s making a guest appearance at the weekly TJ & Dave … Read more
