There is a rich history of protest music in this country, and these songs have carried social movements and inspired change. In celebration of One Book, One Chicago, I'll highlight some noteworthy protest songs. "Strange Fruit," which was originally a poem that became a song, was first recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939 and would…
Meet Chicago Children’s Author Tom Watson
I love books that make kids think, “I can do that, too!” And no one works harder to turn their readers into writers than Chicago author Tom Watson. Watson tells stories about Stick Dog and Stick Cat, two clever animals who get in lots of trouble but always get themselves out. The drawings in the…
Leap into The Nutcracker
The ice rinks have opened, Zoolights has the Lincoln Park Zoo lit up, and with the Joffrey Ballet's Nutcracker opening Friday, the holiday season is upon us. Whether you plan to go to the theater, watch a recorded version at home or dance-along, 'tis the season to catch Nutcrackermania! First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia…
7 Winter-Themed Teen Reads
It’s winter and baby it's cold outside! It's that time of year when the cold can be teeth-chattering, snow is in the forecast and staying warm is on the top of everyone’s to do list. What better way to keep warm than by staying indoors and curling up with a good book while sipping on…
Vegan Comfort Food: Delicious Plant-Based Holiday Meals
Worried about feeding the omnivores in your life this holiday season? Or are you just looking for some options for your vegan guests? Luckily plant-based cooking has come a long way since the days of tofu surprise and boiled lentil casserole. There are so many meat and dairy substitutes that delicious comfort food can also…
Quiz: Musical Families
We've learned a lot about the Staples family through this season's One Book, One Chicago selection, I'll Take You There. From their humble beginnings singing on the living room floor to their rise to becoming one of the most important groups in the civil rights movement, the book tells the story of their journey and…
America’s Music Preservationists: The Lomaxes
Did you know many of America's best-loved songs were discovered by a father and son, John Lomax and Alan Lomax, who spent their lives tracking down and collecting recordings? Born in 1867, John Lomax was captivated by the sound of cowboys singing as they passed near his family’s Texas farm. From childhood, he collected lyrics on scraps of paper…
Harold Washington: Gone But Not Forgotten
This November marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Harold Washington, Chicago's first African American mayor. Mayor Washington attended a ribbon cutting in the Kenwood Oakland neighborhood the morning of November 25, 1987, and returned to City Hall, where he suffered a fatal heart attack. Chicagoans from every walk of life mourned this charismatic…
Math Is for Girls: What to Read If You Like Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures was a bestseller and turned into an acclaimed movie, and deservedly so. It's about the African American female mathematicians who were instrumental in getting the United States to the moon, despite being disrespected by their superiors and then ignored by history. Unfortunately, Anonymous was a woman, and they were not the only women…
Books to Celebrate Small Business Saturday
After the behemoth bargains at all the big box stores on Black Friday, and before the e-commerce deals on Cyber Monday, check out Chicago's neighborhood gems on Saturday. American Express launched Small Business Saturday to help support local businesses that strengthen communities. Last year, small business owners generated an estimated $15.4 billion. Locations across the city…
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