By Theresa DeMaria   Theresa DeMaria, left, with Priness Yasmin Khan at the kick-off reception for the Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala Stepping into Hilton Contemporary, a gallery exuding elegance and purpose, I felt the anticipation of embarking on a meaningful journey. The occasion? A kick-off reception to herald the upcoming Alzheimer’s Association Rita Hayworth Gala in Chicago on May 11th at The Old Post Office. Hosted by the event’s visionary founder, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of the iconic Rita Hayworth, along with longtime philanthropists and 2024 Gala Chairs L ..read more

    By Adrian Naves       “The land of Lincoln” and “The Prairie State” are some of the nicknames that describe the state of Illinois. Illinois is a midwestern state and a part of the rust belt. Illinois is famously known for the vast farmlands, forests, and wetlands. Aside from that, when folks think about Illinois they immediately think of Chicago and Springfield, but the land of Lincoln offers so much more. On Illinois Spotlight, we take a look around the Prairie State and highlight a city, town, suburb, or county to learn what makes each place in the state unique ..read more

By Adrian Foster   The dramatic solar eclipse as seen from Walton Place earlier this month was awe-inspiring. Local people stood around or sat on low walls, talking, trading glasses, staring at the sky, and watching the action on the street.     We learned the President was to attend a private dinner on East Lake Shore Drive that evening and security was tight. A bevy of unmarked cars was parked on the street and uniformed and plainclothes men milled about. Pretty soon a noisy sixteen-wheeler navigated the narrow roadway on Dewitt before pitching a large tent on the street. &nb ..read more

      By Judy Carmack Bross       Kia Smith, Executive Artistic Director of the South Chicago Dance Theatre   When she was five years old, choreographer Kia Smith lined up her teddy bears on the sofa to explain their roles in her dance company.  The South Side resident always knew what her career would be and lucky Chicagoans will see how she made her dreams come true when her repertory company presents “New Horizons” at the Auditorium Theatre April 27.  Dance Magazine named her one of 25 to watch for 2024, writing:  “Smith’s success lies not ..read more

By Robin Wylly McCown         It most certainly was a different era, architecturally speaking, in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.   At the time, Lakeview was considered a Chicago suburb and a vacation destination for weary Chicagoans tired of the noise and pollution downtown.   It soon became a destination for city dwellers to live full-time.   Beaux-Arts architecture, known for its classical Greek and Roman influences, was a great inspiration in the early days of design in Lakeview.   Buildings were adorned with a plethora of carved emb ..read more

Introducing our newest edition of the Classic Chicago DateBook for 2024. For event submissions, email aedelfosse1@gmail.com or judycbross@aol.com with the following details: -Calendar date, day of week & time of event -Sponsoring organization -Name of event -Event details / schedule of event components  -Location of event -Contact telephone, email and/or website   April 2024   April 19th – May 12th, 2024 Saint Sebastian Players Barefoot in the Park The Saint Sebastian Players’ 42nd season concludes with the classic romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park by Neil Simon. In Bare ..read more

    Fine City Living in Chicago   2450 Lakeview         By Megan McKinney   This is the first in a series of features exploring the co-op buildings of several of Chicago’s finest vintage architects.  First, let us understand what a co-op building—or cooperative housing— is and how it differs from a condominium.  An exact quote from the web tells us that with a co-op, individual “tenants or members collectively own and share responsibility for an entire building or property” rather than merely the unit which each occupies. Today we are explori ..read more

    By Judy Carmack Bross     “Every opera we love was once a new opera, whether Carmen or The Marriage of Figaro. Part of my attraction in coming to Chicago Opera Theater was its commitment to living composers opportunities for amazing new artists,”—Lawrence Edelson, new Edlis Neeson General Director, Chicago Opera Theater. “Fifty & Faboulous Emcee emcee David Cangelosi with Tracy Cangelosi. A singer from Chicago Opera Theater’s very first opera performance, Mozart’s Cozi Fan Tutti was among the guests at “Fifty & Fabulous” emceed by another Chicago opera sing ..read more

By Nick Wilder   In December, 2019 I flew to southern Argentina and crossed Drake’s Passage to Antarctica.  It was an eye opening trip to a beautiful and exotic world I’d never seen.  I planned another trip to the far south this March.  This time the main attraction was to be South Georgia Island known as the site of Shakelton’s grave and millions of penguins.  A month before our scheduled trip I received notification that the highly contagious bird flu had been discovered on South Georgia and our trip was rerouted back to Antarctica.  My second trip to Antarctica ..read more

             There Is No Other      231 South Ashland Boulevard         By Megan McKinney   We consider this to be The West Side Mansion: 231 South Ashland Boulevard, the house in which Bertha Honoré Palmer was raised and Mayor Carter Harrison was murdered.We recently examined with you mansions of the great historic dynasties we “knew” on Chicago’s South and North Sides. Great dynasties. Great mansions. Now is the time for the mansion this writer nominates as the sole contender from West Side Chicago. First of al ..read more