Features

The Rising Significance of Race
by Gretchen Reynolds
William Julius Wilson helped set the national agenda and elect Bill Clinton with his theories on poverty and race. Now, at the height of his influence, there’s a small problem: He’s changed his mind.

‘Home’ Movies
by Richard Lalich
How director and John Hughes protégé Chris Columbus discovered fame, Chicago, and the advantages of being normal

Report From the Front
by Robert Sharoff
At the Howard Brown clinic, AIDS is only one of the battles that is being fought.

Cold Comfort
by Dan Santow
From a New Year’s Day canoe trip to a peppermint-oil massage, from ice diving to a cozy cup of cocoa – here are 27 great ways to savor the season.

The Gold Rush
by Henry Hanson
When the big chill of winter descends on the city, the rich and famous make great escapes.

At Home
by Brenda Shapiro
It’s the season for family affairs, for meeting and eating. Our recipes are for cooks with busy lives.

Departments

Letters

Frontlines
The search for comfy shoes, good laws, green things, and cool trends; Scoops du Jour, by Carla Kelson
Art Works
by Henry Hanson
Benetton goes around the world – take a look; Jeanette Pasin Sloan bares all on canvas

Media
by Greg Hinz
How the classic New York paper is moving into the high end of the Chicago media market

Prime Time
Hot dates around town this month

Chicago Woman
by Marcia Froelke Coburn
Is it politically incorrect for a true liberal to defend DCFS?

Metro
by Mark Jannot
A look inside the mansion – and the ambitions – of Richard Phelan

Movies
by Penelope Mesic
The women in Gas Food Lodging are looking for someone to love.

Books
by Penelope Mesic
Richard Stern takes on the tricks of aging.

Real Estate

by Dennis Rodkin
The success of Little Italy produces two spinoffs.

Budget Beat
by Anne Spiselman and David Novick
You can buy your goose and eat it, too, in Cicero and Berwyn.

Dining
by Dennis Ray Wheaton
Le Perroquet: A bird of a different feather

Back Talk
by Henry Hanson
Neil Simon, Nancy Goldberg, Helen Harvey Mills, Jay Gatsby, Stephen Wade, Jan Wong