AltWeeklies Wire
Lisa Loomer's 'Distracted' Tries a Twist on the Old Theme of Addictionnew
Over the last half century or so, the family that self-medicates has become a trope of American literature. Hell — it's become a trope of America, and our theater's been the source of some of its most potent expressions.
Chicago Reader |
Tony Adler |
02-16-2010 |
Theater
Secret History of Chicago Music: Shel Silversteinnew
Everybody knows Shel Silverstein as a cartoonist and author. But how many remember him as a musician? Born Sheldon Alan Silverstein in Chicago in 1930, as a young man he hawked hot dogs at both Chicago ballparks and began his music career with the 1959 album Hairy Jazz.
Chicago Reader |
Plastic Crimewave |
02-08-2010 |
Books
What Sort of Woman Reads 'Playboy'? Meet Peggy Wilkinsnew
Teen detective Nancy Drew, of all people, led Peggy Wilkins to Playboy. It was July 1978 in Michigan, and 13-year-old Peggy was a huge fan of the TV series. That summer the actress who played Nancy, Pamela Sue Martin, appeared on the cover of Playboy.
Chicago Reader |
Katie Buitrago |
02-08-2010 |
The War on Women
Sexist Beatdown: The Soft Boner of Classic American Literaturenew
Why don’t we sit around praising the “unwieldy, impossible machines” (or, you know, penises) of white, heterosexual guys who are still writing masturbatory prose about lesbian threesomes involving strap-ons, after all these years?
Chicago Reader |
Amanda Hess |
01-11-2010 |
Commentary
During an Election It's Just as Interesting to See Who Doesn't Stop Bynew
On Sunday, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections cosponsored a campaign forum in a banquet hall on West Devon that got contenders for U.S. Senate, county board president, sheriff, judge, and water rec commissioner promising to look out for the rights and interests of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani communities.
Chicago Reader |
Mick Dumke |
12-22-2009 |
Politics
Can Alexi Giannoulias Shake Off His Problems to Win Obama's Old Senate Seat?new
Victory in the race for state treasurer transformed Alexi Giannoulias into a promising young progressive with big prospects—until the media began reporting that his family's bank had given a series of loans to figures involved in organized crime or political corruption.
Chicago Reader |
Mick Dumke |
12-07-2009 |
Politics
Do Government Subsidies for Film Production Create a 'Race to the Bottom'?new
Especially now, when so many traditional jobs have been lost, "everybody wants to be Hollywood east," Cornell University professor Susan Christopherson says. It's "sexy meets desperation." More than 40 states are actively vying for movie production business, upping the ante on subsidies in what she calls a "race to the bottom."
Chicago Reader |
Deanna Isaacs |
11-30-2009 |
Movies
Inside Chicago's Charcuterie Undergroundnew
The charcuterie resistance is growing. Professional restaurant chefs without legal licensing or dedicated facilities cure their own meats out of view of the health inspectors all the time.
Chicago Reader |
Mike Sula |
11-30-2009 |
Food+Drink
Does 'Mother Jones' Know Best?new
Foundation funding and collaboration, touted as the way forward for news, have their own pitfalls.
Chicago Reader |
Michael Miner |
11-30-2009 |
Media
The Bad Lieutenant Gone Wildnew
When I first read about Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, it was described as a sequel to Abel Ferrara's 1992 cult favorite about a drug- and gambling-addicted police detective in New York City. When I next read about it, it was described as a remake. Now that I've seen it, I can report that it's neither.
Chicago Reader |
J.R. Jones |
11-23-2009 |
Reviews
Mozzarella is Fast, Easy, Inexpensive and Delicious to Make at Home? I Beg to Differ.new
"I don't think it's going to work," I finally admitted to my friend Emily as I tried for the dozenth time to stir the mess of milk solids in the bowl together into cheese.
Chicago Reader |
Julia Thiel |
11-16-2009 |
Food+Drink
Chicago Chefs Invest in Rare Breed of Pig Said to be the Wagyu of the Pork Worldnew
Mangalitsas are an old Austro-Hungarian breed that had no presence in the United States until about three years ago. Like other old breeds, Mangalitsas are lard-type pigs, fattening well -- if slowly -- and producing juicy marbled meat.
Chicago Reader |
Mike Sula |
11-16-2009 |
Food+Drink
For Gucci Mane, the Quantity is the Qualitynew
He's not the best MC and he's not the worst, but Gucci Mane is crazy enough to put out four albums' worth of free material in seven days and that's good enough for me.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
11-09-2009 |
Music
Bang! Bang!'s Former Frontpeople Leap into Uncharted Waters as My Gold Masknew
Late last year Bang! Bang! just sort of fizzled out; after nearly a year of inactivity, they got together for one final show this past August. In the interim, Gretta Rochelle and Jack Armondo had formed a new band by the name of My Gold Mask. They released an album this past spring, and then got married in June.
Chicago Reader |
Miles Raymer |
11-09-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Bang! Bang!, My Gold Mask
The Ponys Ride Againnew
Why did one of Chicago's best-loved garage bands disappear at their peak? And after two years, what's bringing them back?
Chicago Reader |
Brian Costello |
11-02-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: The Ponys
