How to Do Everything Better

Who couldn't use a little good advice? We went directly to the experts and solicited their best tips on how to improve our lives in myriad ways, such as impressing wine-snob friends, winning...

Ten Modern Masterpieces

Call them the best of the 21st century if you'd like. These innovative new buildings illustrate Chicago's enduring power to attract great design.

Jay Pridmore

Ale Raisers: Best New Bars & Clubs

Where to do your drinking now: our picks for the city's hottest new spots

Sarah Preston

Campus Revolutionary

Last year, after taking over as the head of Northwestern University's highly regarded Medill School of Journalism, John Lavine vowed to "blow up" the curriculum, changing its emphasis to new media...

Dirk Johnson

Out There

When the brilliant and erratic Jeff McCourt founded the Windy City Times in 1985, he began a 15-year run that changed the way gays were regarded. But his volcanic personality caused...

Robert Sharoff

September 2007 Table of Contents

MacWho?

With the new theatre season upon us, thespians across the city are prepping the opening-night ceremonies they believe avert catastrophe.

Lucia Mauro

Strum und Drang

Projekt Revolution gathers a passel of alt-rock bands united by tortured souls, mournfully catchy melodies, and aggression-venting guitars.

Kevin McKeough

The Weasel's Guide to Jury Duty

A lawyer weighs in on getting out of jury duty.

Jeff Ruby

Cookbook Confidential

Food historian Penelope Bingham dishes on the heritage of American meals, from Buckeye Cookery to Betty Crocker.

Debra Weiner

Wanted: GOP Candidates

Lost amid the presidential hoopla is the U.S. Senate race here; can the GOP find an opponent for Durbin?

David Bernstein

5 Bars for Great First Dates

Guthries Tavern, English, Lucky Strike Lanes, Chaise Lounge, and Flatwater

Sarah Preston

Envy of the Neighborhood?

Curtained-off cabanas are ubiquitous in South Beach; now Chicago is jumping on the bandwagon. The latest place banking on semiprivacy is NV Penthouse Lounge (116 W. Hubbard St.), whose owners were...

Sarah Preston

Violet Beginnings

Nightlife impresario Terry Alexander's new spot has Wicker Park seeing purple.

What Your Wheels Cost

The price of owning a car is skyrocketing, taking a significant chunk out of the family budget. And with gas prices on the rise, there seems to be no brake in sight.

Barbara Nellis

Best Western

A bustling retail corridor blooms on Madison Street in Forest Park, Oak Park's neighbor to the west.

Karin Horgan Sullivan

Cube Funnies

Second City comedians and staffers at CareerBuilder.com have written a new office survival handbook.

Claire Zulkey

Who's Your Daddy?

In this town, genealogy rocks.

Barbara Nellis

Writers on the Record

Victoria Lautman chats with Edwidge Danticat.

Victoria Lautman

The Blip - September 2007

Bright spots on the month's cultural calendar

Edited by Cassie Walker

Conversation with ... Sarah Ruhl

Wilmettte-born playwright Sarah Ruhl writes a dark new play.

Mara Tapp

Inking Out Loud

Chicago tattoo artist Hannah Aitchison talks about starring in LA Ink, a reality show on TLC.

Chauncey Hollingsworth

How to Face Fall

How to wear the season's makeup trends. PLUS: Five items our makeup artist can't live without

Barri Leiner with Leona Liu

Super Bowl Stumble

Another Super Bowl season? The Bears will have to defy history.

Jeff Fleischer

Sales Check & The Buzz Bin

A roundup of this month's sales, store openings, and shopping news

Rebecca Little

A Striking Silhouette

Keep your style dramatic and unimitable

Cassie Walker

Shopper: Gray

When Laura Schoch launched Gray, she did it with black, white, navy, and brown in mind. Along the way, pops of color started creeping in.

Rebecca Little

Weeknight Find

A classically modern collaboration

Nora O'Donnell

Science

A Nobel will pack on the pounds?

Graham Meyer

More Than Once

The indie movie Once has finally delivered the music of Glen Hansard and The Frames to mainstream ears. They headline the Hideout’s annual block party in September.

Mark Guarino

Critical Mass

Noteworthy new releases for September

Leona Liu & Mark Guarino

Dial M for Myth

In a forthcoming exhibit, a young film curator casts Alfred Hitchcock in a surprisingly democratic light.

Tom Mullaney

You Should Know ... Devin Hester

Meet the NFL's most intriguing fall story line.

Noah Isackson

Private Eyes

When thieves stole the remains of the showman Mike Todd in 1977, Anthony Pellicano—later the "detective to the stars"—stepped in to solve a case that had baffled police. Turns out Todd and...

Geoffrey Johnson

High Hopes for HighGrove

Wary of suburban sprawl, a Kendall County clan designs an innovative housing development to replace the farm it has nurtured for generations.

Dennis Rodkin

Over the Store

Developers add residences atop onetime retail shops

Dennis Rodkin

Making An Entrance

Two new buildings provide a West Side neighborhood with a dramatic new portal

Dennis Rodkin

Aria Area

Curtain goes up on condos in Lyric Opera's former warehouse

Dennis Rodkin

Pride and Joy

Way to go, Clarendon Hills. A charming French bistro with dynamite pâtés and onion soup gratinée just put you on the map; Rogers Park rolls out the welcome mat for a Viet/French combo.

Dennis Ray Wheaton

Shell Games

From mussels steeped in vindaloo sauce to a classic marinière, there's a prep for every palate. We scoured the area for unusually good ones, and found five places that dazzled—including one we...

Dining Tidbits

Alla Famiglia, Italian, Fondue, Budget Beat

Bench Marks

A rant on rotten seating

Penny Pollack

Chefs on the Grill - Richard Sandoval

This Month: Richard Sandoval. This innovator of modern mexican cuisine masterminded the menu for the Mexx Kitchen at the Whiskey Sutton Place Hotel, 1015 N. Rush St.; 312-475-0300

Michael Nagrant