Today, writer, director, comedian and all-around entertainment legend Mel Brooks turns 92 (impressive, but not as much as a 2000 Year Old Man). As a child in Brooklyn, he fell in love with the movies and live theater. He grew up to be one of only 12 people to earn an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar…
Caught Reading: CPL Book Club Edition
When I started working at West Belmont Branch on Chicago's Northwest side a year ago, I was pleased to find a well-established book club full of passionate readers. The West Belmont book club members gather to catch up and, of course, drink coffee and eat delicious carbs of the cake or cookie variety. But our…
Quiz: How Well Do You Know Stephen King?
It's a good year for Stephen King fans. Carrie, the first Stephen King film adaptation, came out over 40 years ago, and Hollywood keeps turning back to his prolific catalog for inspiration. King adaptations are so hot right now with The Dark Tower hitting the big screen this week and the much-hyped It remake coming out in early September. Sure…
#TBT: Twin Peaks and Other Hits of 1990
The long-awaited continuation of the iconic television series Twin Peaks is set to debut on Showtime this month. When it first premiered in 1990, David Lynch's lush, atmospheric drama had everyone wondering, "Who killed Laura Palmer?" The series was short-lived, producing only two seasons and the movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, but it influenced a whole…
#TBT: Chuck Berry Turns 90
Happy birthday to one of the undisputed kings of rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry! This icon turns 90 October 18. For this Throwback Thursday, let's take a brief look back at Berry's legendary career. Chicago's own Chess Records put out Berry's earliest records, which were notable for merging white country music with black rhythm and blues. 1950s hits like "Maybellene" and…
Caught Reading: Perkolator Coffee, May 2016
Some people seem to function just fine without a cup of coffee in the morning. I am not one of those people. Thankfully, I am not alone. Chicago has many wonderful coffee shops catering to folks like me in need of a strong Americano. And what goes with coffee? A good book. Here's what I caught you reading…
Jessica Jones Readalikes
Are you jonesing for more Jessica? Since its premiere on Netflix, Jessica Jones has been getting so much buzz. Not only is this new series part of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's drawing many viewers who don't know the first thing about comic books. Jessica Jones is a female P.I. who drinks too much, keeps loved…
#TBT: James Dean’s Final Ride
James Dean rocketed to fame in the early 1950s with three iconic roles playing angry and disillusioned young men. He was a Midwestern boy with dreamy Hollywood looks and the rebellious nature of the Beat Generation. Dean's career came to a sudden end when he crashed his Porsche Spyder on a California highway on September 30, 1955. For this Throwback Thursday…
H.P. Lovecraft at 125: Cthulhu Lives
A sickly child, a reclusive adult and a writer of weird, dime-store fiction. All of these are descriptions of H.P. Lovecraft, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century whose work shapes horror, science fiction and dark, literary fiction to this day. August 20 marks the 125th anniversary of his birth. Let's take a…
Studs Terkel: A Chicago Hero
"Why are we born? We’re born eventually to die, of course. But what happens between the time we’re born and we die? We’re born to live." —Studs Terkel, 2003 I didn't know much about Chicago's history before I moved here in 1996. Someone told me I should read Division Street and I'd know everything. While that…
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