Review: UIMA Presents Two Perspectives on Abstract Art
When going to an exhibition that presents abstract art, two questions always come to mind: Can contemporary abstract art still create an element of surprise? And is it still a […]
The Complete (Chicago) Beer Course: Cream Ale
When COVID-19 closed taprooms and cancelled festivals, I looked for ways to still engage with Chicago’s craft beer scene. I therefore decided to finally work my way through The Complete Beer […]
Review: Lefse, Lutefisk, and Other Norwegian Things, For the Love of Cod, by Eric Dregni
For the Love of Cod: A Father and Son’s Search for Norwegian Happiness Eric Dregni University of Minnesota Press Eric Dregni is only partly Norwegian but that hasn’t stopped him […]
Preview: Compelling Hand Drawn Out of Line Is Delightfully Surreal
I’m a huge fan of games like Inside—side-scrollers that mix puzzles with a little bit of platforming, where the entire adventure is underpinned by a cryptic story that is told […]
GALLERY: Garfield Park’s Saturation Is a Colorful Stunner
Spring’s in full swing and we’re coming on in to summer, and as we continue to see things open, so too we’ve seen the beautiful blooms all over the city. […]
Review: A Family Drama with Flashes of Magic, The Water Man Marks David Oyelowo’s Directorial Debut
With its slightly enlarged heart in the right place, the directing debut from actor David Oyelowo, The Water Man, is an engaging, creative family drama with flashes of fantasy to […]
Dialogs: Should Social Media Be Regulated? CHF Panel Considers a Thorny Question
Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are private entities even though we may think of them as similar to public “marketplaces of ideas.” A panel of three experts on […]
Feature: Chicago Embraces a Major Talent: Clarice Assad
One of the more recent arrivals to Chicago’s vibrant art music scene is a product of a musical family in Brazil. Clarice Assad had lived in Chicago on and off […]
Review: Did You Miss Smokefall the First Time? Catch Goodman’s 2013 Story of Love and Pain Streaming Now
Violet is pregnant with twin boys, due to arrive soon. She talks and sings to them constantly, introducing them to their family and friends and to their lives to come […]
Review: Private Arts, The People’s Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America, by Lisa Z Sigel
The People’s Porn: A History of Handmade Pornography in America By Lisa Z Sigel Reaktion Books Masturbation is the only sex act that’s both universal and forbidden. Universal in that […]
Review: Say No! More Is About the Power of “No”
Sometimes it’s hard to say “no.” People naturally want to please others or avoid conflicts. But it turns out saying “no” is exactly what you need to do sometimes. That’s […]
Review: Before Your Eyes Is an Incredibly Impactful, Innovative Experience
Before Your Eyes is a game that got a lot of heads turning, even before its release for its unusual mechanics. In Before Your Eyes, players control the story and […]