Chicago’s interactive ‘We Gotta Bingo’ dinner theater big on fun
All-in-good-fun games of bingo keep the church lights on, subsidize school field trips, buy equipment for volunteer fire departments and make countless other charitable efforts […]
chicago
Chicago Restaurant Week: From the Farmhouse and beyond
Downtown Chicago might seem about as far away as you can get from rural America, but think again. At Farmhouse Chicago restaurant, an antique tractor […]
Chicago’s Eataly: easy immersion into all things Italian
On the last day of our first trip to Italy, in 2008, my priority was a two-hour bus ride from Milan to Turin and the […]
Chicago’s Field Museum opens vaults on 1893 World’s Fair
At least one-third of America – 25 million people – made their way to Chicago 120 years ago. What they found were astounding and amusing […]
Hemingway haunts: Michigan to Florida, Cuba to Spain
Sixty years ago, “The Old Man and the Sea” was published in Life magazine, and author Ernest Hemingway won a Pulitzer Prize for the work […]
Hot dog! Food trucks add sizzle to go-local menus
With the sunshine of spring comes a huge craving to fire up the grill and plop on the brats. Such simple, brown-and-sizzle pleasures turn extraordinary […]
New Jerry Apps book, events, trips for gardeners
One of my treats on Sundays is reading the latest blog entry by prolific Wisconsin writer Jerry Apps, whose keen observations about life always seem […]
Chicago fans share their fave hidden gems
Spiritual sites, ethnic neighborhoods, down-home food, fine fabrics and Asian art are among your worthwhile reasons for stepping away from the Loop and Magnificent Mile. […]
Chicago food: beyond dawgs, pizza, Bayless
Jazzed-up hot dogs, deep-dish pizza and any product with chef Rick Bayless’ thumbprint are among the foods that make Chicago famous. Add wiener schnitzel from […]
Chicago travel: beyond the Magnificent Mile
For years, I’ve headed to Chicago for day trips or quick overnights – usually taking in the obvious sites and sticking to places tourists congregate. […]