I think I might love winter. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m totally great with this polar vortex. I might even go so far as to say that I love winter. For those playing along at home, Chicago (a.k.a. Chiberia) has been showing off with negative degree weather. Tap-dancing, really. In stompy boots. We’re talking -20 days with a wind chill of close to -50, snow swirling sideways, and winds that sound as if they’d really, really like {Read More}
‘The Lightning Thief’ flashes into Chicago for a wild- and quick- run
January 10, 2019 By 1 Comment
The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical So, there’s this middle grade adventure series loosely based on the antics (and pairings and ensuing offspring) of some Greek gods, and it was turned into a Broadway show. Oh, and it’s also a rock musical. Still with me? Good. Because The Lightning Thief: the Percy Jackson Musical– is absolutely fantastic and deserves a packed house for every night of its short Chicago stay at the Oriental Theatre. Adapted from Rick Riordan’s wildly {Read More}
Everything’s right with ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’
December 8, 2018 By Leave a Comment
File this one under “Things I won’t have to work very hard to convince you to see:” The Play That Goes Wrong, now playing at the Oriental Theatre, is an incredibly fun, incredibly madcap play-within-a-play that’ll have you gasping with laughter. Okie doke. Need more? 8 reasons to see The Play That Goes Wrong, stat: (I almost listed them out of order, a la A Review That Goes Wrong…but decided to give your brain a little rest today. You’re welcome.) 8 {Read More}
September feelings and missing my kids.
September 13, 2018 By 2 Comments
Happy September! I’ve missed you, friends! (And, to be honest, I’ve missed me-as-blogger. Which makes this summer’s experiment a success!) There’s so much- and so many feelings- to catch you up on. Let’s start with: Oh, September. First days of school make me maudlin. Not because I get all “where did my babies goooo” (which I sometimes do), but because it reminds me of all of the moments that have blown by and all of the moments that’ll blow by {Read More}
Time and focus and getting involved.
May 3, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Let’s talk “time.” So, I say this about once a month, but I really need to focus. Working from home- and for multiple publications- it’s way too easy to field emails as they come in, work on articles in 10-minute bursts, and generally make yourself available ’round the clock. Which, unsurprisingly, results in sub-par work, sub-par parenting, sub-par sense of self (nothing is EVER actually finished!), and sub-par…everything else. I’ve decided to actually- for realsies- keep “office hours” this summer, {Read More}
4 Reasons to see Second City’s stellar ‘She the People’
April 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment
If it’s been a bit since you’ve checked out a Second City show in Chicago’s famed Piper’s Alley, a) you probably haven’t had any palatable (read: comfortingly zany) news lately, and b) the UP Comedy Club’s new revue She The People: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Sisters Doing It For Themselves is the female empowerment piece that Judy Blume couldn’t possibly have prepared us for. 4 Reasons to see Second City’s stellar ‘She the People:’ 4 Even though the UP Comedy Club {Read More}
A metaphor. (And trying really hard.)
February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Can we talk metaphors for a second? This week has been a big ol’ metaphor and, as everybody knows, February is the metaphor of the calendar year, and I’m fairly sure you’re asking yourself right about now if this gal is even secure on the definition of “metaphor.” Stick with me, here. So, the other day, I needed to return some library books for the fam. About 20 of them. It was torrentially raining and I wasn’t much feeling like {Read More}
CPS students and ‘Hamilton’ on the stage where it happens
December 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Talk about your next-level field trips. On November 29th, students from 15 CPS high schools got to be in in the spotlight at the CIBC Theatre, where the wildly popular Hamilton has been playing in Chicago to downright frenzied acclaim. 1,900 students and teachers from 25 CPS schools were in attendance for the day celebrating the Hamilton Education Program, now in its second year, and proved to be a captive and supportive audience for their brave, creative, and vocal peers. Inspired by Hamilton and {Read More}
