Open Studios Time!
And whatever you do, and wherever you go on this two weekend art crawl, don't miss the painstakingly crafted, multi-colored etchings made by prolific artist Stephanie Martin. Martin specializes in nature prints, beautifully drawn and expertly printed from copper...
Last Month at Manresa
The finish to a dizzying, delicious and rococo sequence of plates at Manresa. Chef David Kinch swept us away with a dessert of sweet corn ice cream, interspersed with roasted and raw nectarines, in a sauce punctuated with caramelized corn kernels and infant pea...
The Debt – film review
I think it's time to take Helen Mirren down a peg. I know, I know - I have just committed a cinematic cardinal sin. Mirren resides in the hallowed domain roughly between Katherine Hepburn and Meryl Streep. Her mere presence in a film is expected to elevate its...
Soul Shaker! @ Zelda’s, Sept. 17
If you haven't yet caught her act, this is your chance. I'm talking about mega-babe Carie McAlpine, and her ultra-cool sidemen, who are about to tear down the house at Zelda's this weekend. Dripping sensuality McAlpine's smoky alto can wail and moan while covering...
Rita’s Book – Riffs & Ecstasies
The inimitable Rita Bottoms, ah what a broad! As head of McHenry Library's Special Collections for many years, Bottoms moved and shook with literary giants and cranky academics alike. She handled every ego with diplomatic skill, almost as well as she handled many...
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.