As much as I miss John Callaway -- and I do miss him terribly -- I'm glad he doesn't have to witness what's happening to WTTW-Channel 11, the public television station he served so well for so long before his passing a year ago this month.
Friday Foodie Forecast: Tony Mantuano at Arlington Park, Burgerfest and more
Jun. 4, 2010No one (especially me) likes to dine with an overly picky eater. Anything unpronounceable or unfamiliar is off-limits, and they relegate non-recognizable items to the outermost limits of their plates. But even the most adventurous eaters have a soft spot for all-American, reminds-you-of-summers-with-Grandma comfort food. Over the next week, there are several events offering the chance to explore new cuisines, or maybe just grab a delicious burger and a beer.
Frisbee Friday: July in June
Jun. 4, 2010How much do I love this? Let me count the ways... (11)
Thanks to my pal Andrea Scher for dropping this in my twitter box. I now gladly toss it your way....
Miranda July Makes Art that Requires People
And as an extra bonus, tossing one more gem your way:
Summer sippers for the whole family
Jun. 4, 2010
Sips of Summer at Terzo Piano (photo by Joseph Storch)
The official beginning of Summer is still a few weeks away, but the recent spate of warm days leaves me no choice: let this be open season on colorful, refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. These are glasses filled with promise; only freshly-muddled mint, bright squeezes of lime juice, homemade simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water) and NO high fructose corn syrup. While Argo Tea just launched an entire line of summer tea drinks filled with seasonal fruit, fresh agave nectar and lively citrus, Terzo Piano in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute offers the chance of not only killer views of Millennium Park, but a quartet of seasonally-inspired non-alcoholic libations. Grapefruit-lime, pineapple-sage and pomegranate-thyme all offer their own clean-tasting effervescence, and best of all, you can throw back as many as you'd like and not need a designated driver. If you want to see how they make some of these terrific drinks, watch the video here after 10:30 p.m. tonight.
Revision Street: Padraig O'Hara (late forties)
Jun. 4, 2010Piles. Of. Things. Sit everywhere in Paidraig’s West Ravenswood abode. He has high hopes for the flotilla that just set out for Gaza. “One of them’s from Ireland—The Rachel Corrie!” He enthuses. The ship is named for the 23-year old American activist killed by an Israel Defense Forces bulldozer while attempting to level the home of a Palestinian man in 2003. “They thought it got sabotaged, but it’s under way. Under sail, as they say. I have this video—the live stream. . .” The ship was one of six carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, a flotilla attacked on May 31, a few days after we spoke, resulting in nine deaths.
The lanky activist and computer programmer clicks off the video and shuffles into a back room. “I’m not doin’ so good,” he calls out, referring to a recent surgery that’s left his knee in poor condition.
Let me just get my pretzels, here.
How involved in Palestinian/Israeli issues are you?
Me? Much as I can. I grew up in a super Jewish neighborhood. Some of my closest friends were not Irish—they all wanted to drink and fight. I’m only half Irish I guess, because it just didn’t appeal to me. You know what I mean? So I had more Jewish friends than Irish friends when I was growing up.
Being half French, I’m really more of a blend.
Frozen custard, just like Leon's
Jun. 4, 2010
Chocolate frozen custard from 2 Sisters (machine by Leon's)
Nightclubbing: Tom Schraeder; Emmanuel Vinson and Pocahaunted; Mannequin Men; the Do Division Festival, and more...
Jun. 4, 2010Here is a look at my picks for the best live music this weekend.
Tom Schraeder
I've long pegged Americana singer and songwriter Tom Schraeder as one of Chicago's most talented up-and-comers, with a sophisticated style that belies his startling youth (and no, the 23-year-old muso has never gotten extra points for once having been my next-door neighbor; I've tried to forget all those nights he spent on his stoop strumming Dave Matthews songs on his acoustic guitar). Now, the wildly ambitious Schraeder and his band, His Ego, are celebrating the release of a strong new indie album entitled "Once Lace, Now Cotton!" with a show that starts at 10 tomorrow night (Saturday, June 5) at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln).