Pushing buttons: Chicagoans help us wear our pride
Dave Hoekstra: A playful twinkle dots the eyes of Christen Carter, owner of the Busy Beaver Button Co. She is sitting at the kitchen table of her Logan Square apartment with the company's operations manager, Alex White. They are both rock musicians, but by day they produce custom lapel buttons from the basement of Carter's apartment. The company rolls out 6 million buttons a year.
Dave Hoekstra: A playful twinkle dots the eyes of Christen Carter, owner of the Busy Beaver Button Co. She is sitting at the kitchen table of her Logan Square apartment with the company's operations manager, Alex White. They are both rock musicians, but by day they produce custom lapel buttons from the basement of Carter's apartment. The company rolls out 6 million buttons a year.
Renovated Morse Theatre reborn as live music venue
Dave Hoekstra: There’s a new player on the Chicago concert stage. The Morse Theatre, 1328 W. Morse, reopens Thursday as a resplendent music hall, restaurant and broadcast studio. Jazz drummer Winard Harper christens the 299-seat performance space, followed by the Taj Mahal Trio on Friday and Saturday night. On Oct. 19, WFMT-FM (98.7) launches a Sunday classical series, “Live From the Morse.”
Dave Hoekstra: There’s a new player on the Chicago concert stage. The Morse Theatre, 1328 W. Morse, reopens Thursday as a resplendent music hall, restaurant and broadcast studio. Jazz drummer Winard Harper christens the 299-seat performance space, followed by the Taj Mahal Trio on Friday and Saturday night. On Oct. 19, WFMT-FM (98.7) launches a Sunday classical series, “Live From the Morse.”
Need fresh produce? Head to the Loop
Dave Hoekstra: Chicago's Downtown Farmstand carries a joyful air. The sun dances through large windows along 66 E. Randolph, illuminating bushels of fruits, vegetables and herbs, all produced within 250 miles of the city. There's organic baby food as well as honey from the roof of nearby City Hall.
Dave Hoekstra: Chicago's Downtown Farmstand carries a joyful air. The sun dances through large windows along 66 E. Randolph, illuminating bushels of fruits, vegetables and herbs, all produced within 250 miles of the city. There's organic baby food as well as honey from the roof of nearby City Hall.
Lolita's Chicago-tini
Dave Hoekstra: There are old-man bars. And then there are old-man baseball stadiums. Comiskey Park was a great old-man stadium. I felt like a stadium cobweb at Wrigley Field on Wednesday when the young man in front of me turned around and said he hoped the Cubs would win. "You've been through so much," he said. I needed a drink.
Dave Hoekstra: There are old-man bars. And then there are old-man baseball stadiums. Comiskey Park was a great old-man stadium. I felt like a stadium cobweb at Wrigley Field on Wednesday when the young man in front of me turned around and said he hoped the Cubs would win. "You've been through so much," he said. I needed a drink.
'Million Dollar Quartet' rocks the house in stage musical
Musically, the likes of the Million Dollar Quartet will never pass this way again.
Pair creates food encyclopedia
Dave Hoekstra: When culinary luminaries Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page are in town to promote their new book The Flavor Bible, it seems appropriate to have lunch at an old testament to Chicago dining. "I can smell it steaming," Dornenburg says after a cook arm twists him into a double cheeseburger at Billy Goat.
Dave Hoekstra: When culinary luminaries Andrew Dornenburg and Karen Page are in town to promote their new book The Flavor Bible, it seems appropriate to have lunch at an old testament to Chicago dining. "I can smell it steaming," Dornenburg says after a cook arm twists him into a double cheeseburger at Billy Goat.
Reporter wears Cubbie heart on his sleeve with henna
Dave Hoekstra: Henna art has been found on statuettes of women dating from 1,500 to 500 B.C. along the Mediterranean coastline. The skin markings are still used today to denote social celebrations. Since it seems like 500 B.C. was the last time the Chicago Cubs celebrated a World Series, it was only natural that I would acquire a Cubs henna.
Dave Hoekstra: Henna art has been found on statuettes of women dating from 1,500 to 500 B.C. along the Mediterranean coastline. The skin markings are still used today to denote social celebrations. Since it seems like 500 B.C. was the last time the Chicago Cubs celebrated a World Series, it was only natural that I would acquire a Cubs henna.
Trader Vic's makes comeback
Dave Hoekstra: The South Pacific charms of Trader Vic's will sail on North State Street. The legendary restaurant will reopen in late November at Newberry Plaza, 1030 N. State, in the spot best known as the onetime home of Arnie's. The space most recently held the Grotto Italian steakhouse.
Dave Hoekstra: The South Pacific charms of Trader Vic's will sail on North State Street. The legendary restaurant will reopen in late November at Newberry Plaza, 1030 N. State, in the spot best known as the onetime home of Arnie's. The space most recently held the Grotto Italian steakhouse.