My dad loves basketball, and unfortunately for him, his three daughters are not and were not ballers by any means. I always wondered if he wanted a boy. Not sure his son would have been a baller either, but maybe my imaginary brother would be more interested in the actual sport.
Dear Chicago Star family:
I love living in Chicago but I get very nostalgic during the holidays for my hometown of Dupo, Illinois. It’s the summer celebrations, like Memorial Day, that really make me wistful for days gone by in this small railroad town of 3,000 people set near the banks of the Mississippi River in S…
Dear Baseball, can we talk?
My mom and dad divorced when I was 2. I don’t remember this, but do remember that, for my formative years, I felt like I was split in two. I shouldn’t complain, I know how lucky I was to have two parents who loved me, but sometimes I wish I'd had them both together in the same space.My dad, …
We here at Chicago Star want to thank you. Thank you for welcoming us into your homes and communities. We hope our positive, uplifting news makes you proud to be a Chicagoan and will help you rediscover the city that you call home.
Struggling to stay awake in the pews? Maybe church hopping is for you. This month, I gently, and quite delicately, delve into the topic of religion and I will go so far as to suggest attending a variety of churches (socially distanced of course) to hear different sermons, rather than going t…
I’ve had the unique ability to observe and learn about life from Prince Philip for the past 13 years.
April 9, 1926, Hugh Marston Hefner was born. Today, he would've been 95 years old. I still miss him and always will. Playboy has played the biggest role in my life, bringing me from St. Louis to Chicago, honoring me with a centerfold and 9 covers, taking me around the world on promotions, in…
Now the real work begins for Harry and Meghan. The drama surrounding their interview as the impact of “The Oprah effect” begins to fade. The answers to questions about the royal family that have never been spoken, at least not in public are now out there for all to evaluate.
His dating profile name was Yum Tasty Animals. That should be the end of the story, but sadly, it’s not.
I once had a man tell me it was his Christmas wish for me to stop calling him. No, it was not my ex-boyfriend, it was my prospective client. Which is worse? My love life or my career?
Ask any Chicagoan if spring in Chicago actually exists, and you’ll get a range of responses.
After unexpectedly crying at the end of the rom-com "Always Be My Maybe" in July of 2019, I realized I might be a smidge lonely and definitely a smidge dramatic. Who knew a rom-com with Keanu Reeves would have so much influence on me?
As a Jewish senior (67, but I don’t look it and have a very young spirit), I’m looking for my “person”. The pandemic has truly exacerbated my sadness and loneliness; I lost my sister in April to cancer and my parents are deceased as well. I do not want to go through anything traumatic again …
I am a storyteller and stand-up comic living in the Gold Coast. I have performed all throughout the city (Second City, Zanie’s Rosemont, The Laugh Factory) as well as a couple of comedy festivals—all pre-COVID.
It occurred to me recently that many of my friends or work associates don’t know me by my actual first name. They simply call me “Coach.”
We lost a good one last month. A moment of silence, please, for a true Chicago icon: Lawry’s The Prime Rib.
This month I went on a mission to check out Soldier Field and my beloved Chicago Bears football team. More specifically, what was it like to be around the stadium on a game day when no fans were allowed to attend?
In mid-March, as Chicago’s restaurants and other meeting venues began to close, our organization, Skyline Village Chicago, was discussing new ways to connect with and reach out to our members.
Hello there! I'm "Candid" Candace Jordan, a new contributor to Chicago Star.
As this issue comes out in early November, we will be right smack in the middle of election mania—sure to be a volatile, if not hostile, period of time (I hope I am wrong).
Many of us stayed away at first, preferring the comfort zone of our normal cashier line, while occasionally glancing enviously at “the early pioneers” who dared traverse the still virgin territory of self checkout.
With the virus still among us, proper elevator etiquette has taken on new rules.
When there’s a birthday, there’s cake. And candles, topped with tiny triangles of fiery plumes. There’s also the song, followed by the customary display of the celebrant making a wish and blowing out the candles.
He gave me the side eye as we passed on the sidewalk. It’s a new age look that new mask wearers have adopted.
I didn’t want to leave Florida. I could have stayed in the Sunshine State for a few more months. My wife, however, had different ideas, so I’m back.
By Jon Cohn It is a bizarre and unsettling time. Our lives in the New Eastside and Streeterville neighborhoods have been turned, if not upside down, at least swished around like fruit in a smoothie blender on high speed. Through it all, though, we have learned some different terms and ideas …
By Jon Cohn, April 1, 2020 I am a coach, so competition is always running through my mind even during these difficult times. I started to think of the items that are the most necessary while I am hunkered down at home. I started playing a game. I thought of all the essentials. I started wi…
by Jon Cohn It’s all about the brackets in March. Bracketology, to be precise. No, it’s not about shopping hints from the fix-it folks at your local hardware store. And these brackets will definitely not be sold on the Home Shop- ping Network. The brackets that come to the forefront thi…
by Jon Cohn If you are a hard-core golfer stuck in the throes of long Chicago winters, there is no need to worry. It’s not necessary to plan trips to warm exotic locations to play your favorite game. You can put the plane ticket away, cancel hotel reservations and killer greens fees and tell…
Roe v. Wade remains one of the nation’s most controversial Supreme Court decisions. “Roe,” a play by Lisa Loomer showing at Goodman Theatre until Feb. 23, looks into the lives of those who were a part of the famous decision. Plaintiff Norma McCorvey (Jane Roe), and her legal representative …
After a white Christmas, there may be a Blue Monday. Blue Monday is the name given to what some consider the most depressing day of the year—usually the third Monday in January. The idea originated with a Welsh academic as a marketing plan for a travel company, according to the British ne…
The challenge is on, and it won’t be easy. The problem? This month features Restaurant Week. One of Chicago’s most celebrated winter events is about to kick off and it will provide the greatest of challenges to those still fighting to keep those resolutions of eating a little less and …
by Jacqueline Covey For 17 years, January Doorperson of the Month Justine Kotlarz has worked at 247 E. Chestnut St. greeting residents, tending to their needs and handing out cookies—to those with two and four feet. About two months ago, Kotlarz lost her brother Nick Bolhak. “My brother got …
by Jon Cohn If this month’s topic was a gymnastic event, the judges would give it a degree of difficulty rating in the high 9s. Figuring out the best way to talk politics with friends or family members during the holidays may be a near herculean task. It’s like a female gymnast fighting des…
By Jon Cohn I recently checked out the Maggie Daley Park kids playground. Oh, to be young again! The playground of my day was a couple of chain swings, maybe a teeter-totter (remember those things?) and a really COOL jungle gym. Fast forward some 50 years and welcome to today’s state-of-th…
(Published Aug. 31, 2019) By Jon Cohn In an unofficial tabulation of informal voting done by this column—with apologies to runner-ups May, November and December—the month of September has won Best in Show as the overall most enjoyable month of the year. If you are reading this column in the …
(Published Aug. 1, 2019) By Jon Cohn One of the Midwest’s great summer events descends upon the city as the Chicago Air and Water Show rears it’s noisy, but exciting, head on Aug. 17 and 18. Huge crowds are expected and the Chicago beachfront will be packed, which could present some interes…
Don’t want to fight the crowds at Cloud Gate to get a selfie? Looking for a special spot or event not typically on the tourism map? Get off the beaten path and get in with the locals with this quick guide. Wally Braun, a Chicago resident and official city greeter, has some suggestions. By Wa…
(Published June 30, 2019) By Jon Cohn Stress is something nearly everyone has to deal with. Thankfully, in this modern age, there are plenty of potential remedies available. Varieties of yoga, mental meditation and restorative mindfulness practices (not sure what mindfulness is, but if it wo…
(Published June 13, 2019) State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, is asking residents to join him for a “Coffee Talk” on Saturday, June 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Dollop, located at 345 E. Ohio St. in Streeterville, to provide an update about the progress that has been made in Springfield du…
(Published May 30, 2019) By Jon Cohn Summertime is upon us, and with it comes one of the great pleasures of the long days and warm weather: outdoor grilling. That scrumptious smell of steak, burgers, chicken or fish cooking on the grill. Rubbing them all with your favorite sauces, maybe some…
Jon Cohn Let’s talk for a minute about man’s best friend. No, not the cell phone, but instead our beloved fine, furry, fluffy friends. We all know, of course, dogs are part of the neighborhood scene here in Chicago. Most love the idea. The unique connection of man and dog goes without sayin…
(Published April 30, 2019)By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer Following Sen. Kwame Raoul’s election win as attorney general, the 13th District Democratic Legislative Committee appointed community organizer Robert Peters to the role in the Illinois Senate. By state law, a term of less than two year…
(Published April 30, 2019) By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer After State Rep. Christian Mitchell accepted appointment as deputy governor in January, he left his seat open with two more years to go in his term. Democratic committeemen from the 10 wards in Illinois House District 26 appointed Kamb…
By Jon Cohn I’m not sure how the great tradition of the “pub crawl” started. I’m not even sure that Chicago is the home for these particular events, but based on the number of them coming up we might as well be. For those not familiar with this unique concept, let’s loosely call it a form of…
By Leontina Richardson | President of Stepping into Etiquette Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. If you’re in a new relationship, this day might be a big deal because you want to do everything right. How do you do that? Ask rather than assume. If you are exclusive with someone, you might e…
Leontina Richardson, president of Stepping Into Etiquette Let’s face it: There’s going to be at least one gift under your Christmas tree this year that you’d rather sell on eBay. We’ve all been there. But the reality is, you still need to write that person a thank-you card. Although you woul…
The weather is cooling off and the leaves are starting to change, which means it’s time to stay inside all day Sunday and watch football. This can be daunting for someone who may only be a casual fan or has never watched the game. If the latter sounds like you, and you find yourself at
Chicago Star Media editor and publisher Elaine Hyde discusses quantum physics with Chicago entrepreneur Jay Schrankler and scientist Anna Grassellino on May 5.
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