Feature: Chicago Embraces a Major Talent: Clarice Assad
One of the more recent arrivals to Chicago’s vibrant art music scene is a product of a musical family in Brazil. Clarice Assad had lived in Chicago on and off […]
Review: Did You Miss Smokefall the First Time? Catch Goodman’s 2013 Story of Love and Pain Streaming Now
Violet is pregnant with twin boys, due to arrive soon. She talks and sings to them constantly, introducing them to their family and friends and to their lives to come […]
Review: Private Arts, The People’s Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America, by Lisa Z Sigel
The People’s Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America By Lisa Z Sigel Reaktion Books Masturbation is the only sex act that’s both universal and forbidden. Universal in that […]
Review: Say No! More Is About the Power of “No”
Sometimes it’s hard to say “no.” People naturally want to please others or avoid conflicts. But it turns out saying “no” is exactly what you need to do sometimes. That’s […]
Review: Before Your Eyes Is an Incredibly Impactful, Innovative Experience
Before Your Eyes is a game that got a lot of heads turning, even before its release for its unusual mechanics. In Before Your Eyes, players control the story and […]
Dialogs: The Pentagon Papers 50 Years Later with Geoffrey Stone and Guests in CHF Event
Fifty years ago, Daniel Ellsberg, an economist and military analyst, created a national controversy that resulted in a landmark press freedom decision by the US Supreme Court. He did it […]
Review: Lost Words: Beyond the Page Is a Unique and Affecting Adventure
There’s a few experiences I can think of that are pretty universal but also hard to accurately describe or portray. Growing up, love, loss–big subjects that are easy to get […]
Review: Godzilla vs. Kong Brings Epic, Splashy Action and Even Some Surprises to the Monsterverse
The current rundown that makes up Warner Bros.’s “Monsterverse” franchise has always felt a bit like it’s flying by the seat of its pants in terms of connecting the storylines […]
The Complete (Chicago) Beer Course: Altbier
When COVID-19 closed taprooms and cancelled festivals, I looked for ways to still engage with Chicago’s craft beer scene. I therefore decided to finally work my way through The Complete Beer […]
Review: Blockbuster Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes at MSI is the Whole Package
Back in my middle and high school days, the world was pretty different. Everyone says that, and for the most part, is right, but what I’m talking about is the […]
Essay: The Sights and Sounds of Baseball, Fans Optional
Some guy on ESPN the other day was complaining again about men who bring a mitt to Major League Baseball games, and I just don’t get it. Maybe that’s because […]
Review: The Father Brings an Emotional and Stirring Story to Screen with Heartrending Results
It’s not always easy to adapt for the screen a work originally written for the stage, and the degree to which any such adaptation is successful relies on both the […]