Jeff Banowetz

Jeff Banowetz is a freelance writer for the Pioneer Press.

Lake County Film Festival brings independent movies to the area

October 19, 2022 at 4:34 p.m.

The Lake County Film Festival, held Nov. 4-14, will screen a variety of short films, feature-length movies and documentaries. One of those films is "Jacir," which tells the story of...

Fox Valley Orchestra latest concert will be ‘No Strings Attached’

October 19, 2022 at 4:33 p.m.

Naming a classical music concert often involves trying to put into words the complex emotions that the pieces draw upon. But in the case of "No Strings Attached," the next...

Pop diva Taylor Dayne comes to Aurora

October 19, 2022 at 4:02 p.m.

Singer Taylor Dayne, best known for her chart-topping hits in the '80s and '90s, will perform Oct. 27 at The Piazza in Aurora. If you were at a high school...

Prepare for the Day of the Dead at Waukegan festival

October 12, 2022 at 2:26 p.m.

September and October are busy months for Maria Calderon. She and her husband, Carlos, have become the go-to makers of sugar skulls in the Waukegan area, hand-crafting the traditional Mexican...

Crystal Lake Park District debuts Flannel Fest, a lumberjack show

October 11, 2022 at 8:12 p.m.

This is the time of the year when you'll find lots of festivals centered around apples, pumpkins and fall colors. Crystal Lake wanted to do something a little bit different....

Oakton Community College is holding workshops for those interested in working in the cannabis industry. In this photo from April, LuShonda Young replants clippings during a Botany and Cultivation of Cannabis class at Oakton's Des Plaines campus. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Interested in a cannabis industry career? Oakton Community College to host workshops

October 10, 2022 at 10:00 p.m.

Reese Xavier knows firsthand the complexities of navigating Illinois' developing cannabis industry. He began researching business opportunities in 2016. He joined a group that applied for a craft license in...

Brightside Theatre’s opens ‘proper’ 10th season with ‘She Loves Me’

October 6, 2022 at 3:28 p.m.

You probably know the story of BrightSide Theatre's upcoming show, "She Loves Me," even if you aren't familiar with the 1963 musical. The tale of mistaken identity originated in the...

In new season, DuPage Symphony gets ‘up close and personal’

October 5, 2022 at 4:55 p.m.

For its 69th concert season, the DuPage Symphony Orchestra will be getting "up close and personal" with a variety of composers. But perhaps most importantly, the orchestra is looking to...

Lake Forest Orchestra presents ‘Legends and Fairy Tales’

September 28, 2022 at 4:03 p.m.

Lake Forest High School junior Aidan Watts will be debuting with the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra Oct. 9 in its performance "Legends and Fairy Tales." Aidan Watts has been playing...

Naperville Hispanic Heritage Festival returns for second year

September 15, 2022 at 7:56 p.m.

The Naperville Sister Cities program was founded in 1993 by then-mayor George Pradel and a group of citizens to promote the "development of greater friendship and understanding between the people...

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