Poem for a Pandemic: Blessed
Blessed Blessed are the dead and the dying. Blessed, the mourn-filled good-byes to loves behind glass, behind walls. Blessed, neighborhoods of pain, grief communities, lightning-struck homes, annunciations […]
Eight Things I Learned From Cooking My Grandma’s Gołąbki
2020 was hard for us even before the pandemic. Save for a working vacation that was fulfilling on a professional level and fun because I got to do it with […]
Support AND Enjoy Chicago Museums From Home-Here’s How. Part One:”The Big Ones”
As we’re grappling with the news that the pandemic won’t peak until Mid May in Illinois and looking at an uncertain future for so many events and activities in and […]
Essay: Haircuts, Prison, Love and Sheltering in Place
Cathy gave me a haircut today on the back porch. In our 37 years of marriage, that hasn’t happened before, but we’re not leaving the house for haircuts or much […]
Shelter in Place: Staying Sane and Productive, with Terry Galvan (Part 3)
In 2013-14, I spent nine months in the provincial capital of Latacunga, Ecuador, on a Fulbright grant. Social-cultural norms meant that daily life had a lot in common with today’s […]
Shelter in Place: Staying Sane & Productive, with Terry Galvan (Part 2)
A series with contributor Terry Galvan. For FAQs on why I chose this lifestyle, please see part 1. In 2013-14, I spent nine months in the provincial capital of Latacunga, […]
I Voluntarily “Sheltered in Place” for Nine Months. It Went Surprisingly Well. Here Are My Tips
In this series, writer Terry Galvan has volunteered to share their experiences with extended alone time in Ecuador and the things they learned about how to handle isolation. In this […]
The Bright Side: Malört Does the Job–Jeppson’s Makes Hand Sanitizer to Aid Hospitals and Healthcare Workers
You either love it, hate it, love to hate it, or love to give it to some unsuspecting person to try without warning them how polarizing it is. Jeppson’s Malört […]
The Bright Side: North Suburban Round Lake Heights Police Will Escort Birthday Parades for Kids During Quarantine
We’re introducing a new column here in our Beyond section today. It’s called The Bright Side and it will contain things designed to make you smile and restore your faith […]
Poem: Life in the Time of Corona
A Saturday morning in March All is quiet Except for a few cars on the street And the occasional person Head held low against a blustery wind Just the eerie sound of […]
On The Road: Memphis’ Graceland Is a King-Sized Tribute to Elvis and a Bygone Era
There’s hardly anything more American than a road trip, right? Pack yourself and your ride-or-die, and all your various belongings into the car with some extraordinarily unhealthy snacks and some […]
Viewpoint: How Beethoven 250 Made Me Relive Beethoven 9/11
I approached Monday’s Symphony Center concert of Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma performing Beethoven piano trios by with some trepidation. For nearly 20 years those piano trios have […]