Call It by Its Name: Wednesday Was a Fascist Riot
Wednesday left us in shock. Rioters stormed up the steps, climbed up the walls of the U.S. Capitol, broke windows and battered through doors to get into the building. Then […]
Essay: Return to Kenowhere
I had no idea when I wrote about Kenosha just a few weeks ago we’d be where we are today. I had no idea I’d be trolling Twitter and see […]
Essay: The Road to Kenowhere Leads to Me
By now, if you’re on social media, especially Twitter, you may have noticed that Kenosha is trending on Twitter. In fact, Kenosha made the national news–or rather, an author at […]
Eight Things I Learned From Cooking My Grandma’s Gołąbki
2020 was hard for us even before the pandemic. Save for a working vacation that was fulfilling on a professional level and fun because I got to do it with […]
Essay: Haircuts, Prison, Love and Sheltering in Place
Cathy gave me a haircut today on the back porch. In our 37 years of marriage, that hasn’t happened before, but we’re not leaving the house for haircuts or much […]
Shelter in Place: Staying Sane and Productive, with Terry Galvan (Part 3)
In 2013-14, I spent nine months in the provincial capital of Latacunga, Ecuador, on a Fulbright grant. Social-cultural norms meant that daily life had a lot in common with today’s […]
Shelter in Place: Staying Sane & Productive, with Terry Galvan (Part 2)
A series with contributor Terry Galvan. For FAQs on why I chose this lifestyle, please see part 1. In 2013-14, I spent nine months in the provincial capital of Latacunga, […]
I Voluntarily “Sheltered in Place” for Nine Months. It Went Surprisingly Well. Here Are My Tips
In this series, writer Terry Galvan has volunteered to share their experiences with extended alone time in Ecuador and the things they learned about how to handle isolation. In this […]
Viewpoint: How Beethoven 250 Made Me Relive Beethoven 9/11
I approached Monday’s Symphony Center concert of Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma performing Beethoven piano trios by with some trepidation. For nearly 20 years those piano trios have […]
Trump Delivers ‘Greatest Hits’ Speech to Conference Before Fundraiser, Thousands Protest Throughout the Day
President Donald Trump finally came back to Chicago – a city he loves to hate – on Monday morning for his first official visit since he took the oath of […]
Viewpoint: Fringe FOMO and the Decline of Arts Journalism
I went to Edinburgh this August with the goal of reviewing a small part (namely circus, my professional specialty) of the famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival in a mad rush. Maneuvering […]
Viewpoint: Art and Politics Tangle Around the Irish Troubles … in Books, on Stage and Screen
The Irish are known for their devotion to language and their love of talking. In his one-man show, On Beckett, multitalented artist Bill Irwin pays homage to the Irish playwright […]