Northwestern, Lurie team up to offer transgender teens voice training
The room filled with voices sliding up and down in pitch and an assortment of buzzings and hummings. It sounded like a cross between opera warmups and chanting. But the...
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Revelation of Chicago Pedway shortcut brings gratitude, more tips
The Chicago Pedway, it turns out, is not just a pedestrian walkway system, but a subject of extreme fascination. All manner of emotions poured forth in response to last week's...
Unraveling the hidden secrets of Chicago’s Pedway
For years, I was mostly proud of my Chicago living skills. I have Lower Wacker Drive down pat. I know of several spots near cultural or shopping venues where you...
Englewood’s Peace House persists in community torn by violence
This is Peace House — a small white frame house whose name is a declaration of intention and hope. The word is looped across a lavender sign on the door....
Blown away by English actors with American accents
One of the many greatly missed pleasures of watching "The Wire" was listening to the linguistic feat on regular display — the American accents of Idris Elba and Dominic West....
Older parents divulge what it’s like to leave home to live near adult kids
A while back, I wrote in this space about adult children moving their elderly parents to live near them. It was an experience a friend was going through as his...
Birders dismayed over unleashed dogs at Montrose Beach
The sandy shoreline of Montrose Beach early in the morning exudes tranquillity. But on several occasions in recent weeks, the calm has been broken by conflicts between two groups who...
Lying to the chronically late for the greater good
OK, so maybe George Washington could not tell a lie. But what if Thomas Jefferson had the habit of being late to every cabinet meeting, running in with his wig...
Artwork featuring wounded soldiers offers insight and opportunity to reflect
The soldier stares straight out from the painting, James Dean-handsome but war-ravaged, lying in a hospital bed holding an X-ray of his spine held together by metal. Michael Fay remembers...
Women writing about life’s twists and turns in ‘At My Pace’
A few months ago, I got a terrifying email. Ellen Morton, who lives in Woodstock, didn't intend it to be frightening. She was just writing to ask if I could...