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Urban Flooding in Illinois

Illinois Issues magazine, September 10, 2015 — Heavier rainfalls and sprawling development have left outdated sewers struggling to keep water out of streets, businesses and homes. Big rainstorms are hitting Illinois more often. In many cities and towns, the sewers can’t always handle heavy downpours. Without anywhere to go, the water fills streets, yards and basements.… Continue reading Urban Flooding in Illinois

‘Rosenwald’ documentary

Chicago Magazine website, September 10, 2015 — In the era of Jim Crow segregation, photos of a Jewish millionaire from Chicago hung on the walls of schoolhouses across the South. The African-American children in these classrooms sometimes asked: Who is that man? “We were told it was the man who built the school,” educator Frank Brinkley recalls… Continue reading ‘Rosenwald’ documentary

CHIRP Radio prepares to go on the air

Crain’s Chicago Business, September 10, 2015 — Chirp, an Internet station that champions Chicago musicians, is getting a place on the traditional radio dial, too. Read the story. (Note: The launch of the station’s FM signal has been postponed until 2016.)

September 2015 theater preview

Make It Better, September 3, 2005 — Read my preview of September 2015 plays.

August 2015 blog posts

Blog posts at Underground Bee: ‘The Freedom Principle’ at the MCA Photos: Sleater-Kinney at Pitchfork Wussy at Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest Photos: Courtney Barnett at Pitchfork Royal Headache at the Empty Bottle

New in Chicago: August 2015

New in Chicago columns from August 2015 at Crain’s Chicago Business: Ugly PowerPoints, tragic brochures: This company says it saves bad design fast This app finds and vets the charity. You write the (virtual) check. What if you could ride your luggage through O’Hare? Brilliant, right? U of C-born app aims to make life easier… Continue reading New in Chicago: August 2015

Fall 2015 pop concerts preview

Crain’s Chicago Business, August 27, 2015 — Read my choices for the season’s best concerts.

‘Now Arriving,’ a new book on Chicago airports

William "Billy" Rose (September 6, 1899 – February 10, 1966)[1] was an American impresario, theatrical showman and lyricist. He is credited with many famous songs, notably "Me and My Shadow" (1927), "Without A Song" (1929), "It Happened in Monterey" (1930) and "It's Only a Paper Moon" (1933).[1] For decades preceding and immediately after the Second World War Billy Rose was a major force in entertainment, with shows, such as Jumbo (1935), Billy Rose's Aquacade, and Carmen Jones (1943),[1] his Diamond Horseshoe nightclub, and the Ziegfeld Theatre influencing the careers of many stars. Billy Rose was inducted as a member of the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.[1] After divorcing comedian Fanny Brice, he married Olympic swimmer Eleanor Holm.

Pioneer Press, August 20, 2015 — There was a time when you could walk into airports without worrying about metal detectors. You could greet friends — or even celebrities — as they exited airplanes, coming down stairs right onto the tarmac. “It breaks my heart that that era has vanished forever,” says Christopher Lynch, who grew up near… Continue reading ‘Now Arriving,’ a new book on Chicago airports

Hideout coming to Riverwalk

Crain’s Chicago Business, August 18, 2015 — One of the North Side’s best-known small clubs is opening a pop-up version of the venue this week on the Chicago Riverwalk. Read this story, which was the first to break the news.

July 2015 blog posts

Blog posts at Underground Bee: The Mekons at Square Roots, Hideout & Poetry Foundation 2015 Pitchfork Fest recap Veruca Salt at Wicker Park Fest Colin Stetson at Schubas Laura Marling at Lincoln Hall