The casual observer might say that I am more than a little obsessed with musical theater. And while I in no way possess the expertise of some people I know, I can confidently say that Stephen Sondheim has made one of the (if not THE) most enormous contribution to musical theatre of the 20th century. And…
How to Get Away with Binge-Watching Viola Davis Movies
There are a few different types of actresses-- those that spout over-the-top, highly dramatic acts, no matter what the script calls for; those that blend into the background, who you don't remember until they have another line; and those that can seamlessly shift from "Nurse" or "Woman" to being nominated for an Academy Award for an eleven-minute performance…
Celebrating the Life of Truman Capote
On September 30, we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of Truman Streckfus Persons, better known to millions of readers as Truman Capote. Capote was the author of many unique short stories, novels, plays and movie scripts that are still read and loved today. He was without a doubt a superb writer and a charismatic personality, and these…
LGBTeen Fiction Picks
It's not always easy to direct teens towards good LGBT books. Some books are kid stuff, explaining LGBT issues in terms for teens' younger siblings. Some are too racy, geared toward adults. These books are just right for teens-- packed with enough romance, action, adventure and whatever else you can imagine. is sure to be…
NoveList’s Read-Alikes
Chicago Public Library has a lot of books. No really, I mean A LOT. If you don't walk into a branch with a specific title in mind, you might think, "Where the heck do I start?!" A resource that can solve this dilemma is NoveList, a free database provided to all CPL patrons to help…
May Is Get Caught Reading Month!
The month of May has been known to cause a little bit of spring fever. People get caught skipping work or class, making excuses to get out of commitments, driving a little too fast with windows down and "Happy" by Pharrell blasting on the radio (wait, is that just me?). May also happens to be…
Fifty Years of Beatlemania!
Fifty years ago this April there was a new sound on the airwaves. It came to the United States from Great Britain and was inescapable on the radio and television, often accompanied by the shrill screech of millions of teenage girls. It was the sound of the British Invasion and it was lead by the…
Music to Pump You Up for Spring Cleaning
Believe it or not, the first official day of spring is March 20. It’s so close! I can almost feel it! For some reason, spring is traditionally the time when people do a massive cleaning overhaul on their homes and apartments. Personally, by the time spring rolls around I want to be out of my…
Women of the White City
March is a big month for women in Chicago, as the city celebrates its 177th birthday and the nation celebrates Women’s History Month. Although there has been only one female mayor in our city's history, here are some stories of other influential Chicago women. Seeing with Their Hearts tells the fascinating tale of the relief efforts…
What Do You Know About the Grammys?
The 56th annual Grammy Awards are coming up in a matter of days. At this year’s ceremony there are 88 awards. We all know the “Big Four” general field awards: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best New Artist. And some of the genre-specific awards—Best Pop Solo Performance…
1 - 10 of 12
- Go to page 1
- Go to page 2
- Next page
