Canadian rocker Neil Young's astonishing career is still going strong after close to 60 years. As he turns 75 November 12, here's a look at his best work. Books Young has written two critically acclaimed memoirs: Waging Heavy Peace and Special Deluxe. Music Young's music has earned him many accolades. He's in third place for…
Everything Old Is New Again: Modern Films Based on Classic Stories
Did you know that it's been 25 years since Clueless first hit the big screen? It's still pretty sweet. Alicia Silverstone's portrayal of Cher Horowitz, a modern version of Jane Austen's matchmaking heroine Emma, charmed audiences in the mid-1990s. The success of Clueless sparked a trend. A number of films based on literary classics…
5 Resources: Knit to Be Happy, Healthy and Hip
Springtime in Chicago often includes stretches of chilly, dreary days, which feel heightened this year by the specter of the Covid-19 crisis. If you're looking for a cozy indoor activity that’s been shown to provide mental health benefits, consider knitting. (Need more inspiration? Check out The Health Benefits of Knitting.) Since the early 2000s…
Queen Victoria: Books and Movies in Honor of Her Bicentennial
Queen Victoria 200th Birthday Anniversary
Top Picks: Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, the Canadian-born singer and songwriter, turns 75 on November 7. Her career spans 50-plus years and covers a wide variety of musical genres, from folk to pop to jazz. A winner of multiple Grammy awards across several categories, Mitchell considers herself "a painter derailed by circumstances," according to the 2017 biography Reckless Daughter. However, the world sees her as…
Listen to a Left-Handed Musician on Left-Handers Day
Did you know August 13 is the 29th annual Left-Handers Day? Lefties make up just 12 percent of the population, according to World Book Online. Given that statistic, it's interesting to note that a number of famous musicians are left-handed—especially guitarists. Playing the guitar when you're a lefty presents a specific challenge: Most guitars are built for…
Celebrating Harry and Meghan’s Big Day!
Anticipation for the May 19 wedding of H.R.H. Prince Harry of Wales and his American bride-to-be, actress Meghan Markle, is reaching fever pitch. Though the recent birth of Prince Louis of Cambridge has moved Harry down a notch to 6th in line for the throne of Great Britain, fans remain royally enthusiastic as details emerge. Not so long…
5 Articles: Time Magazine Turns 95
Time magazine marks its 95th anniversary this month, on March 3. Choosing five articles to highlight the occasion initially felt daunting, until I considered that March is Women's History Month. I immediately wondered how often Time's annual Person of the Year issue has featured a woman. It didn't take long to discover that individual women…
#TBT: Molly Ringwald Is 50
Fans of director John Hughes' iconic 1980s films may be startled to realize that actress Molly Ringwald is blowing out 50 candles on February 18! Ringwald shot to fame as the star of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. To some, she remains an adorable redhead navigating the perils of teen angst in…
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…
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