’80s clubber seeks romance at church
In 1985, B.J. Murray was, as his business card said, Grand Poobah of the VIP Room when the late, great Limelight opened in Chicago.
Category: Lifestyles
100 Most Influential African Americans
Rosa Parks. Martin Luther King. Malcolm X. Oprah Winfrey. They are all pioneers who have made an impact on American society. And all four most likely will make the final cut of “The 100 Most Influential African Americans of the 20th Century.”
Breakup makes heart grow fonder
Sometimes love is so overpowering that the only thing you can do is break up. This is the story of Chris and Angel Harold – engaged twice, married once.
Heart-healthy Pattie’s now Quick & Lite
The death of Pattie’s Heart Healthy has been greatly exaggerated. After closing at 520 N. Michigan in February 1997 – thanks to the Nordstrom project – the health-conscious eatery moved two months later to a snazzier location on Michigan Avenue.
Bangkok Cafe offers restaurant flavor at home
Finding a good Thai restaurant in the suburbs isn’t an easy feat. So when you find one that you like, you want to share the news. Frankly, I never knew that the Bangkok Cafe of Arlington Heights existed, even though it’s located just a couple miles east of Woodfield Shopping Center (which I know very well). But there it lies, tucked away in a small strip shopping center at the corner of Golf and Arlington Heights in the northwest suburbs.
Politics as seen by Neeson
“In an America where the Chinese were still stereotyped as meek house servants and railroad workers, Bruce Lee was all steely sinew, threatening stare and cocky, pointed finger – a Clark Kent who didn’t need to change outfits. He was the redeemer, not only for the Chinese but for all the geeks and dorks and pimpled teenage masses that washed up at the theaters to see his action movies. He was David, with spin-kicks and flying leaps more captivating than any slingshot. He was the patron saint of the cult of the body.”
Teen star Portman is bright, careful
Vanity Fair’s May cover girl is Natalie Portman, 17, who stars as Queen Amidala in the “Star Wars” prequel “The Phantom Menace.” Leslie Bennetts’ story presents Portman as a serious high school senior with a grade-point average of 99 (out of 100). The actress excels in her advanced placement classes (which include calculus), takes Japanese lessons and has been accepted for early enrollment at Harvard and Yale universities.
Sushi Wabi is artistry on a roll
I’d never really thought of sushi as a to-go option like I do with Chinese, Thai or Italian. But when you’re craving an uncluttered, fresh and filling meal, sushi – bite-sized creations based on flavored rice and other ingredients, often raw fish – makes a delicious change of pace from a burger and fries.
`Dawson’s Creek’ teens are no angels
People think that teen shows are just for teen viewers. But cop shows aren’t just for cops, just like doctor shows aren’t just for doctors. Between `Party of Five,’ `Dawson’s Creek’ and (the canceled) `My So-Called Life,’ American TV (programmers) have finally discovered that the lives of teenagers make for good television literature.
Twain tracks growing pains in Cosmo
Last year it was Ashley Judd. This year’s “fun, fearless female,” according to Cosmopolitan magazine, is February cover girl Shania Twain.
A. puts spotlight on Asian celebs
A. Magazine: Inside Asian America features “Martial Law” star Kelly Hu as its December/January cover girl. The former Miss Hawaii appears in a fashion layout that showcases Asian-American models posing in a “holiday masquerade” theme.
Sweet confusion over Fanny, Fannie
You have died and gone to heaven. You are inside the West Town factory where Fannie May and Fanny Farmer chocolates are manufactured, and you are thisclose to vats of caramel, chocolate and pecans. Never mind that there is a TV crew filming a news segment (there are no public tours), and you’ve been spotted wearing a hairnet and a white lab coat with the name “Catherine” embroidered over your pocket. Never mind that you’re not Catherine.
Cosmo serves up local single chef
Need a New Year’s Eve date? Then check out the January issue of Cosmopolitan. Chicagoan Shawn McClain is featured as “Cosmo’s Single Guy” of the month.
A 1985 Newspaper Essay, Popularized on the Internet, Comes Full Circle
I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that this is a special occasion.
Briazz has way with sandwiches
I always had a prejudice against pre-packaged sandwiches. Somehow, they always looked like they should be in a machine, waiting for some hungry soul to plop in a few quarters and liberate them.
Seattle Sutton: Healthy meal plan has fast food junkie eating better
My mission, if I chose to accept it, was to try Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating program for a month. The goal wasn’t to lose weight, but to see if a fast food junkie such as myself could train herself to eat nutritious meals if they were cooked and delivered to me. It sounded good. Basically, all I had to do was chew, so I happily accepted the challenge.
More has plenty this month
Twiggy is still looking stylish and mod as the cover girl for the December issue of More. Aimed for women old enough to remember emulating the ’60s model, the mag is living up to its promise of “smart talk for smart women.”
Pitt returns to Vanity sporting his tough side
The last time Brad Pitt graced the cover of Vanity Fair, the flaxen-haired movie star was in his “Legends of the Fall” mode. This time around, in the November issue, he’s sporting a more clean-cut, well-muscled look.
Clooney upfront about criticism of director
Chung Goo Ho remembers of the Korean War, “When it got dark, the soldiers aimed searchlights on us. Then they began shooting at the crowd. . . . To dodge the bullets we tried to hide behind the corpses. . . . My mother was shot. At the time, she was hugging me and my younger sister to her breast to protect us from the gunfire. She was killed by four bullets to her head and her back. My sister and I could do nothing but wait. We had nothing to eat and we drank bloody water out of a nearby stream.”
Oprah graces 2 covers to hype film
Multimedia star Oprah Winfrey can add cover-girl queen to her list of credits. A longtime fixture on TV Guide, People and women’s magazines, Winfrey graces the cover of both the October Vogue and this week’s Time magazine. Both are timed to hype the opening of her film “Beloved” next month.