Grand Crossing
New Beginning from Lands’ End: What happens when you give a troubled neighborhood $100 million?
Twelve years ago, when the late Gary Comer visited his former elementary school, he was brought to a room where ten new computers sat unused because the school lacked the funds to power them. Today, Paul Revere Elementary is outfitted with a wireless network, new software programs, and a $10 million investment. Comer, the... »
Ghosts of Fathers Past: Fathers and sons butt heads at eta
“You think six feet of dirt means something?” quips the ghost of Leon Goldwater’s trumpet-toting father in eta’s new production of “Fathers and Sons.” The essence of the story is encapsulated in this sentence. Although the show is not a remake of the original Russian classic, it does explore much of the same emotional... »
Best of the South Side 2009: Grand Crossing and Chatham
In the early 1850s, the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway was one of several connecting Chicago to parts south, and competition was fierce. When the Illinois Central Railroad lost a court battle to cross the LS&MSR tracks with its own, it responded in true Chicago style, kidnapping a guard and laying an intersecting... »
Masters of the Pit: In search of Chicago-style barbecue
Anybody can tell you about Chicago’s culinary specialties. Some cities might stop at a single dish, but between the pizza, hot dogs, and Italian beef, our broad-shouldered town has a rock-solid reputation. Alas, it doesn’t extend so much to barbecue, for which Chicago has a distinctly lackluster reputation. Frankly, it’s deserved. Even though barbecue... »
Brown Sugar Bliss: Caramel and cupcakes delight patrons at a 75th Street bakery
The layout of Brown Sugar Bakery seems specially designed to invoke all five senses in the gustatory experience. Pressing your hands and face to the counter, witness a veritable feast for the eyes, while a tantalizing aroma wafts in from the kitchen, and owner Stephanie Hart chats with customers about her decadent desserts. As... »
Cultural Crock Pot: Café Trinidad offers homestyle island fare
Serial dieters and otherwise picky eaters beware: Café Trinidad serves up generous portions of Trinbagonian food just like your fantasy grandmother used to make. The food is as filling as it is flavorful. You may want to save the calorie counting for when you’re back on campus because each bite transports the palate. »
The Levee’s Gonna Break: Radical love and hate collide in eta’s latest production
When Wesley’s sassy sister-in-law, Lily, comes home for a visit, her agenda includes more than just reminiscences of familial life with her late father and sister; Wesley’s single widower status and indecision about the fate of his daughters provides more than enough fodder for the chiding of firebrand Lily. As the story of the... »
Jazz Dreamscapes: Noted keyboardist Robert Irving picks up the paintbrush for his show at eta
As a musician-turned-painter, Robert “Baabe” Irving III is in famous, if not necessarily good, company. A foray into the visual arts seems to be the cool thing for past-their-prime rockers and strummers to do nowadays—Bob Dylan just had his first public exhibition of prints and sketches, Lou Reed’s second photography book was published not... »
