Ominous News

Snap is officially scared. According to Chicago Tribune‘s Theater Loop blog, American Girl Place will be closing its basement theater show in September "to find new entertaining experiences for our guests" that won’t include live performers.

This can only mean one thing: puppet shows…

On the Money

When Sony asked Allan Loeb to write a script about card counting in Vegas, the Highland Park native had plenty to draw upon: namely, a gambling compulsion of his own.

Love Can’t Wait: Last-Minute Valentine’s Ideas

If you’re as far behind on Valentine’s as I am—sorry, Boyfriend—you’re still looking for gift ideas. (Good thing he’s more forward-thinking than I am; a bouquet of roses was waiting for me when I got home last night, and he’s had reservations at a surprise restaurant for months. Go ahead: Insert gagging sounds here.) I know it’s uncool to admit you like Valentine’s—I’m with you. But let’s be honest: You’re secretly hoping for a romantic night out. It’s OK. We won’t tell anyone. But we will tell you where to get your last-minute V-Day on, with options for everyone from the haters to the hopelessly in love. As of this writing, the spots below were still taking limited reservations, but be sure to call ahead…

Celebrity Beat: Golden Grammys

This past Sunday, I attended the 50th annual Grammy Awards in L.A., where it was a balmy 80 degrees—but who’s keeping track? This was my fourth time out (it’s a pleasure trip, and I pay my own way), and it never gets old. I’ll leave the debate over the Grammys’ relevance to other folks. I’m a sucker for awards shows—writers’ strike and all—but give me the Grammys over the Oscars any day; my concerts-to-movies ratio is around ten to one. Not to mention the fact that Chicago made an especially strong showing this year…

Grammy Gallery

Last Girl Standing spent last weekend in sunny L.A. (lucky Last Girl!), where she attended Sunday’s 50th annual Grammy Awards. Look for a full report later this week; in the meantime, ooh and ah (or get smug and snarky) over the photos in her Grammy gallery