The Courier News :: Entertainment ::

Seniors have a ball, stay in shape

By JIM DAROW For The Courier News — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Who would have thought the simple act of rolling a ball toward a smaller ball would be fun and part of a low-key fitness program? Talk to any of the players on the local, national and international scene about why they're having a ball playing boccie and many say it's easy, it's fun and it's great exercise.

Gotta Go

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Adopt-A-Pet coming up Saturday at West Dundee mall; Ride for PADS in Elgin is Wednesday

Local artist opens studio for 3-D designs

By JULIE MULLEN For The Courier News — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Hollywood celebrities once clamored for her designer ice cream cakes. But Keren Navarro decided to take her art in a new direction, using a harder, albeit less tasty, substance as her medium. She landed in the Fox Valley area a little more than a decade ago and began designing three-dimensional art unique to the Fox Valley market.

Elgin Public Museum part of Museum Madness

From Staff Reports — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Forty-one Chicago-area museums have come together for the seventh annual "Museum Madness" summer program.

Celebrity News

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Angelina Jolie has left the building. Oh, and so have the twins. Before dawn Saturday, the Hollywood superstar and her newborn twins left the French Riviera hospital where she gave birth a week ago, the hospital said in a statement. "The mother and her babies are doing very well," reported the Fondation Lenval hospital, located in the southern Mediterranean city of Nice.

Pitchfork's first night belongs to Burma

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Jim DeRogatis: "Sun is falling down/Sky is falling down/Seasons falling down/Air is falling down," Boston art-punk legends Mission of Burma sang in "Weatherbox" Friday night, midway through the opening set of the fourth Pitchfork Music Festival, as their guitars, bass, drums and tape loops evoked the fury of bombs falling in the midst of an earthquake during a vicious thunderstorm.

Celebrity News

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Salma Hayek has called off her engagement to businessman Francois-Henri Pinault, her representative said Friday. The couple shared their plans to wed in March 2007, and welcomed a daughter, Valentina Paloma Pinault, several months later. Also ... Jimi Hendrix is coming to Guitar Hero.

Consider the Pitchfork Music Festival

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

There's Lollapalooza, the corporate-sponsored music festival in Chicago's Grant Park in early August. Then there's the alternative to what used to be the alternative event of the summer. The Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park this weekend will feature alternative acts of all sorts.

The Westbury dream three years in the making

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

For three years, Westbury has had the same members. For three years, members have played shows and written music. After three years, their work has led them to Medusa's in Elgin for their first album release party at 9 p.m. today.

Hemmens theater group returns in 'Hair'

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The stage went dark 13 years ago for the Elgin Summer Theatre troupe. Its victorious return this weekend will be marked by a Broadway musical celebrating its 40th birthday. The theater company will present Hair this weekend and next at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Dinner and show at Algonquin steakhouse

By JEANIE MAYER For The Courier News — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

For a table-side show and tasty entrees in a friendly atmosphere, stop in at Kobe Japanese Steakhouse in Algonquin. From the flaming onion volcano to the 2-foot-long sushi boat, it is all about the "wow" factor at Kobe, which seats about 90 people at its seven hibachi grills and sushi bar.

Cable shows garner bevy of Emmy nods

By LYNN ELBER The Associated Press — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Basic cable has long been the domain of low-rent fare such as The Real World and Silk Stalkings, or kids' stuff like SpongeBob SquarePants. For the award-winning shows, you had to pay a premium. But fork over the roughly $40 average fee for monthly basic cable these days and you're going to get among the best that television has to offer -- at least according to no less an authority than the TV academy's Emmy voters.

Celebrity News

The Associated Press — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A Nebraska man has sued custom car and bike-maker Jesse James, claiming the former television host failed to deliver a custom automobile despite paying more $420,000. Also Michael B. Jones, of Omaha, Neb. filed the suit on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against James and his company, West Coast Choppers Inc.

American English brings Beatles tunes to Aurora

By RANDALL G. MIELKE For The Courier News — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Not a band to rest on its laurels, Beatles tribute band American English is expanding its musical repertoire.

Datebook

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A roundup of area festivals, arts and crafts, auditions, music and stage performances, comedy and art exhibits.

Writer likes his superheroes with a backstory

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Sure, Batman will get all the press this weekend as The Dark Knight swoops into a cineplex near you. But if you like your superheroes to be a little less somber, "put on your cape and drive your Batmobile to the nearest bookstore," said Chicago novelist John McNally.

Top Dish

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

KOBE FILET AND LOBSTER: A 4-ounce steak filet and a whole lobster served with soup, salad, a shrimp appetizer, veggies and Japanese green tea. Ice cream is included for dessert. $51.95

Nas still has attitude on new 'Untitled' CD

By BRETT JOHNSON The Associated Press — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Don't be fooled by Queens Get The Money, the bracing opener of Nas' now-untitled ninth solo album. It sounds like nothing else on the CD. The Jay Electronica-produced cut -- built on a few simple piano twinkles and no drum track -- is by far the most left-of-center music the veteran Queens rapper ever has rhymed over.

Mellencamp transitions from rocker to songwriter

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY The Associated Press — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Although John Mellencamp recently was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the veteran doesn't consider himself a rocker -- at least not anymore. These days, Mellencamp uses the phrase "ex-rock star" to describe his place: "I am trying to make the transition from rock star to songwriter in public," he said.

Randy Travis keeps the faith

By MICHAEL McCALL The Associated Press — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

When '80s country star Randy Travis mounted a successful comeback in 2002, he did so by singing gospel music to a country beat, a gambit he repeated over several successive albums. Therefore, his solid new album, Around The Bend, is being billed as his first country music album in eight years.

Batman sequel turns brooding into pop art

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

It has become standard operating procedure to envision superheroes as tortured figures -- even Will Smith's satirical Hancock came with emotional baggage -- yet no superhero movie has been as doom-laden as The Dark Knight. It's a comic-book adaptation in which returning director Christopher Nolan makes judicious use of shadowy Chicago locations and imbues each scene with foreboding.

Gotta Go

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Larkin Center yard sale is Friday in Elgin; Administer Justice Fun Fair is Saturday in West Dundee

Illinois cashes in on Caped Crusader

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Batman might be a vigilante, but there's little doubt he's a hero to the state's film industry. Filming of the latest Hollywood movie based on the Caped Crusader, "The Dark Knight," generated about $40 million in revenue in Illinois, making it the largest movie made in the state, according to the Illinois Film Office.

Cast creates place of acceptance in 'Joseph'

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The Rising Star Theatreworks cast of 50 to 60 students from different backgrounds is united for a common goal -- producing the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, a light-hearted interpretation of the biblical story of Joseph.

Ex-Elginite pays homage to mystery genre

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

As the United States went to war in Iraq in 2003, Will Dresser found himself unemployed and watching hours of television news every day. Dresser was transfixed. The elusive nature of truth on both sides of the conflict, the representation of different cultures involved and the idea of religion at its center -- it was the stuff of best-selling novels. So the former Elgin resident began to write.

Celebrity News

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Andy Dick was arrested in California early Wednesday for investigation of drug use and sexual battery after the comedian allegedly pulled down a teenager's top, police said. The former co-star of the TV sitcom NewsRadio was released from a detention center after posting $5,000 bail. Calls to his representatives seeking comment were not immediately returned.

'Mad Men,' 'Damages' make Emmy history

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

LOS ANGELES -- "Mad Men," AMC's sleek drama set in the advertising world circa 1960, and FX's legal thriller "Damages" made Emmy nominations history Thursday as the first basic cable programs to gain best-series nods.

Call it a comeback for Elvis Cole

By CHRIS TALBOTT The Associated Press — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Little in life is as satisfying as a new Elvis Cole novel. Each installment of Robert Crais' 20-year-old series is like meeting a good friend you haven't seen in a long time. In Chasing Darkness, Cole is trying to prove he wasn't wrong after police accuse him of helping free a serial killer.

Elgin dancers aim for national contest

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Members of The Centre of Elgin's adult tap class have danced their way into their first national competition. The group will compete later this month in the Novice Parent Act category at Cathy Roe's Ultimate Dance Challenge in Mason, Ohio.

Gotta Go

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Brown bag lunch Thursday at Elgin's Old Main; Midsummer Wildflower Walk is Saturday at Bluff Spring Fen

Celebrity News

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Lucy Liu had some trouble learning her lines for the hit summer animated film Kung Fu Panda. But that wasn't her fault -- a lot of the time, she said, there weren't any lines to learn. "Working without knowing what you are doing from start to finish is very difficult," Liu said. "It was really improvisation. It was exciting. It keeps you on your toes."

'Dark Knight' showcases Chicago architecture

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Can a city be the star of a movie? Chicago nearly is in "The Dark Knight," the hugely anticipated sequel to "Batman Begins." The movie opens at local theaters next Thursday at midnight.

Celebrity News

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Sir George Martin, the classically trained producer who helmed the Beatles recordings from their mop-top phase through their late musical masterworks, was honored Saturday night in Los Angeles. Martin, 82, received a career award from The Recording Academy's Grammy Foundation, which provides education programs for future music professionals and works to preserve musical history.

Madonna the latest star to be sold out by a loved one

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Paige Wiser: It comes out Tuesday, but details from Christopher Ciccone's tell-all Life With My Sister Madonna already are leaking. (It turns out that Madonna has kissed John F. Kennedy Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, among many, many others.) Who knew that sibling rivalry could be so profitable?

Body & soul in St. Charles

By JULIE MULLEN For The Courier News — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

In 2000, aesthetician Beverly Miller opened a tiny day spa with 100 clients and a passion for skin care. Since then, the business has been expanded twice and not only offers outer beauty regimens, but inner ones, too. Tranquility Skin & Body Care Center, 113 N. Second Ave., is in the Century Corners shopping complex in downtown St. Charles.

Kyra is close to ideal

BY CINDY PEARLMAN — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Cindy Pearlman: Kyra Sedgwick cannot get closure. It's not that she's having problems with her TNT hit "The Closer," which returns at 8 p.m. Monday for a new season. This is personal. "My son Trevor just went off to college," says a wistful Mrs. Kevin Bacon. "It's so tough when they go away, but it's also part of life. I set Trevor up in his room last year when he went to college for the first time, and it was heartbreaking when I said goodbye. All I wanted to do was break down into hysterical tears.

Cole comeback includes arboretum stop

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A lot has happened in the life of Paula Cole since she took home the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1997, an award she earned with her second release - the breakthrough album "This Fire."

Paramount in Aurora rolls out season

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

In putting together its 76th season lineup, the Paramount Theatre came up with a true international flair. In just the month of October, the theater offer a taste of Germany (Max Raabe and the Palast Orchestra, out of Berlin), South America (Luis Bravo's Forever Tango) and Elizabethan England (author Philippa Gregory's talk on her book The Other Boelyn Girl) before heading back to the United States for laughs with comedian Sinbad.

Celebrity News

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A developer who owns Bruce Lee's old home in Hong Kong lobbied the government Thursday to turn the property into a museum. Yu Pang-lin met Thursday with Hong Kong's commerce and economic development secretary about his plans for the two-story house, used as an hourly motel. The 86-year-old developer-turned-philanthropist had put the property on sale to raise money for victims of the recent earthquake in China's southwestern Sichuan province. He changed his mind after fans of the late martial-arts celebrity expressed concerns that the building could be destroyed.

Sonny Landreth plays Clearwater

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

One of Eric Clapton's favorite musicians will take the stage at Clearwater Theater in West Dundee on Saturday night. That musician then will give a lesson to aspiring guitarists on Sunday at Judson University in Elgin.

Da Jazz Room gets things swinging

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

His voice blended smoothly with the Frank Sinatra tune that played softly in the background. Sinatra is Pietro Verone's favorite -- the kind of music he likes to hear inside his new Douglas Avenue restaurant in Elgin.

Influences breed inspiration for Terra Sol

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Trying something new seems to be the ever-present motto from the up-and-comers in the music scene. Audiences and critics usually respond with vigor and receptive ears. If the model holds true, Terra Sol will be the next local music machine to claim the spotlight.

OPERA Sundays

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano will continue offering live jazz music from 7:30 p.m. until closing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Celebrity News

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Robert Downey Jr. is trading Iron Man's metal suit for Sherlock Holmes' deerstalker hat. Downey is following his action blockbuster Iron Man with the title role in Sherlock Holmes, a mystery drama based on Arthur Conan Doyle's detective and an upcoming comic-book about Holmes by Lionel Wigram, one of the movie's producers. Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) is directing the Warner Bros. film, which is set to begin shooting in October, the studio said Thursday.

Motown-inspired group gets crowds in the mood

By RANDALL G. MIELKE For The Courier News — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Maurice Rayford, leader of the singing quartet The Moods, a Motown and rhythm and blues group that will perform today during Downtown Alive!, believes the type of music his group sings endures because the songs have meaning.

Datebook

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A roundup of upcoming festivals, auditions, music, stage, comedy and art exhibits.

Little Owl Restaurant a Geneva landmark

By JEANIE MAYER For The Courier News — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The Little Owl Restaurant has been in operation in Geneva since 1920, when it was operated by Arbizzani's grandfather and then his father. Arbizzani said the menu is "ambitious" for a pub, because it offers more than 60 items, including burgers, salads, sandwiches, sea scallops and ribeye steaks.

Top Dish

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

OWL BURGER: One-third pound of top ground chuck served with sauteed onions on a Vienna roll. Comes with coleslaw, pickle and choice of side dish. $8.95

High Fives

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The top fives in television, films, music and videos.

Nelson teams with Marsalis on 'Blues'

By STEVEN WINE The Associated Press — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

There's a newcomer to the jazz scene, and his name is Willie Nelson. Prediction: He's going to be big. Two Men with the Blues features Wynton Marsalis and his quartet with Nelson and his harmonica player, Mickey Raphael, during a two-night stand recorded in January 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The site is New York City, but the music is New Orleans jazz and R&B, with only occasional nods to Nashville and Austin.

Beck returns with sullen words

By SOLVEJ SCHOU The Associated Press — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

In 1994, Beck was a baby-faced 24-year-old riding into the sun on the coattails of his tongue-in-cheek funk anthem Loser. He's now a father of two, a husband and nearing 40. On Modern Guilt, his aptly named eighth studio album, the singer sighs with the sentiment of a 21st-century man whose fantasies have lapsed into frustration.

Day of discovery

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Ever wonder how a Hokey Pokey Elmo doll works? The secret lies under the red fur and plastic that covers its limbs. The mechanism is called cam, a moving piece of machinery. Squeezing Elmo's hand activates the mechanism and makes the Sesame Street character sing and dance, according to the Toys: The Inside Story exhibit at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford.

Gotta Go

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: AAUW garden walk is Saturday in Elgin; car wash fundraiser is Saturday

An affordable day trip

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

You can't escape the more than $4-a-gallon gas price, but a trip to the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford doesn't have to be an expensive day trip.

No glasses needed for tour of past 3-D pictures

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

There is something about the promise of a 3-D movie that keeps luring us back to the technology. First there were the schlocky monster movies of the 1950s, such as Creature from the Black Lagoon and It Came from Outer Space. Campy and crude, they established 3-D's gimmicky reputation.

Celebrity News

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The hospital where Angelina Jolie will give birth says it has covered the windows of her room with a special material to prevent paparazzi from taking pictures of the actress and her partner, Brad Pitt. Also ... Weeks after giving birth to daughter Maddie Briann, Jamie Lynn Spears is showing off the newborn, sharing memories of a "perfect" delivery and longing to be a Southern soccer mom.

Author traces how Kama Sutra became worldwide epic

By DINESH RAMDE The Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

There's something almost magical about the words "Kama Sutra." They conjure up images of hidden passion, of mystical eroticism, of countless lovemaking positions that are impossibly acrobatic. But the magic comes from mythology. The original Indian text was indeed a book of love, but it was relatively tame, nowhere near as sex-charged as its reputation might suggest.

New season of 'Springer' cuts down cast of characters

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Robert Feder: The biggest freak show in town is about to get a little less freaky. When "The Jerry Springer Show" begins production of its 18th season next month, it'll be missing many of the oddballs and bizarre characters who've been regulars on the Chicago-based syndicated gabfest lately.

It's all Greek to me this weekend in Elgin

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Elgin's St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church's Greek Fest. The festival will open Friday and continue through Sunday on the church grounds, 525 Church Road, off Illinois 31 and Interstate 90, in Elgin.

Gotta Go

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Pie-baking contest in Union on Sunday; Peck Farm Park Butterfly House tour Saturday in Geneva

Celebrity News

Wed, 9 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Matthew McConaughey's longtime model girlfriend, Camila Alves, has given birth to the couple's first child, a 7-pound, 4-ounce boy. Also ... Prosecutors have filed felony charges against Nate Dogg, who authorities suspect threatened and stalked his wife. The rapper, whose real name is Nathaniel Dwayne Hale, was charged Monday.

Amy Jacobson sues CBS 2 for airing bikini video

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Robert Feder: One year after a secretly recorded videotape of her in a bikini derailed her career as a Chicago television news reporter, Amy Jacobson is fighting back. On Monday, Jacobson filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 for airing the tape of her at the home of Craig Stebic, the southwest suburban Plainfield man whose estranged wife, Lisa, has been missing since April 2007. The tape of her at Stebic�s backyard pool led to her termination after 11 years as a reporter for NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5.

Celebrity News

Tue, 8 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Nicole Kidman gave birth Monday to a baby girl named Sunday. In a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press, Paul Freundlich, a publicist for her husband, Keith Urban, said: "Nicole and Keith Urban are delighted to announce that Nicole Kidman gave birth to a baby girl on Monday morning, July 7, 2008, in the United States. Sunday Rose Kidman Urban weighed 6 pounds, 7� ounces."

Family's towing business becomes reality TV series

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

While other little girls played with Barbies, Marci Gratzianna learned to drive a truck. "The first time I got to drive a tow truck, I was 9, " Gratzianna remembers. "I used to go out on calls, and they're like, 'Do you even have your license yet?' "

Celebrity News

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Magic Johnson's normally publicity-shy wife Cookie is emerging as a spokeswoman in a campaign urging black women to get tested for HIV. Cookie Johnson is appearing with the former LA Lakers star in a five-year, $60 million public service campaign with ads directed by moviemaker Spike Lee. Also ... Supermodel and DeKalb, Ill., native Cindy Crawford has been making appearances this weekend in Madison, Wis., to raise awareness of pediatric cancer.

Elgin opera student seeks her break

By JULIE MULLEN For The Courier News — Sun, 6 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Not every teen wants to win American Idol. Some, like Elgin's own Victoria Narayan, hopes to catch a break in the opera world. The 17 year-old was recently given the chance of a lifetime to attend the Opera Institute for Young Singers this summer.

Gotta Go

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Girl Scouts Golf Classic is Friday in Huntley; Junie B. Jones coming to store in West Dundee mall

Celebrity News

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Brad Paisley says he got to mark a biggie off his wish list when Andy Griffith agreed to be in the video for his new single, Waitin' On a Woman. Also ... The Emmy-winning daughter of the late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is getting her own doll. The 10-inch Bindi Irwin doll sports khakis, puffy pigtails and hiking boots. Crikey, there's even a talking version.

Reader Reviews

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

These days, everybody seems to be a movie critic. And with the summer blockbuster season here, there isn't a lack of film fodder to discuss. Here at The Courier News, we're giving everybody a chance to talk about newly released movies.

Haysbert on '24' presidency: You're welcome, Obama

BY SCOTT SONNER Associated Press — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Dennis Haysbert likes to believe his portrayal as the first African-American U.S. president on Fox�s ��24�� may have helped pave the way for Barack Obama. ��If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,�� said the actor.

Celebrity News

The Associated Press — Sat, 5 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

A-Rod and the Material Girl? That's a lot of hits. Reports that Yankees superstar Alex Rodriguez and Madonna have become close just as their marriages are disintegrating have both the celebrity gossip industry and the sporting world -- each a chatty bunch -- buzzing with questions about the two "friends."

Dormlife's originality breeding success

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

An unlikely group makes up the surprise success story Dormlife. Comprised of a warehouse worker, a mental health board employee, a waiter and a music student, all in their early 20s, this band has been changing the current of underground music since 2003. And, interestingly enough, they've never lived in a dorm. The band took shape when frontman Sam Swanson, then a member of Midwest Blue, decided it was time for a change.

High 5s

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The top fives in television, cinema and song.

Fourth of July celebrations galore

From Staff Reports — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

There's nothing more patriotic than an old-fashioned Fourth of July parade, and Elgin has one of the biggest, drawing about 15,000 people to its historic downtown. Elgin's parade is just one of the many events celebrating the quintessential American holiday, its birthday party.

Kids say the darnedest things about the fourth of July

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

It's a day of parades and picnics and concerts and fireworks. But why do we celebrate the Fourth of July? Some visitors at the DuPage Children's Museum in Naperville last week took some time to ponder that question.

Regina's offers regional Italian in a cozy atmosphere

By JEANIE MAYER For The Courier News — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

For an authentic Italian dining experience that's as comfortable as your own table at home, make plans to visit Regina's Via Trent Uno in West Dundee. The interior of Regina's is warm and inviting and makes you feel like you have entered the home of owners Philip and Regina Campanella.

Top Dish

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

VITELLA ALLA MASCARPONE (VEAL MASCARPONE): Veal medallions sauteed with mushrooms in a sweet marsala wine sauce served with side pasta. $17.95

Brookfield Zoo brings back the stingrays

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

You don't have to take a Caribbean cruise to get close to a stingray or shark -- even close enough to touch. Families and children can pet a live shark or stingray without getting their fingers bitten or stung at a current exhibit at Brookfield Zoo.

Longtime Bozo the Clown Larry Harmon dies

Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Larry Harmon, who turned the character Bozo the Clown into a show business staple that delighted children for more than a half-century, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 83. His publicist, Jerry Digney, told The Associated Press he died at his Los Angeles home.

Reunion time for Morris Day and the fellas

By RYAN PEARSON The Associated Press — Fri, 4 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Inside a red brick Hollywood rehearsal studio, The Time keep on ticking. The seven-man funk band from Minneapolis has reunited once again, 18 years after their last studio album, and sound crisp as can be as they jam through Cool from their 1981 debut album.

Flying this weekend? Here are some tips

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Flying this weekend? Good luck to you! It doesn't take a pilot to know that three-day holiday weekends typically are the busiest times at airports. To make it a smoother process, here are some travel tips.

Celebrity News

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

The father of a 13-year-old girl who may be Lindsay Lohan's half-sister said the family went public with the story after Lohan's father, Michael, repeatedly refused to provide support. The Montana girl's family is looking into legal options to pursue once they establish that Michael Lohan is the father, Daryl Kaufmann said in a phone interview.

'Hancock' lacking in Will power

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Hancock, about a wayward superhero who hires an image consultant, could use an image consultant of its own. How did a major summer release, which must have gone through countless story meetings, test screenings and marketing strategy sessions, end up being so confused? (Maybe I just answered my own question.)

'American Girl' underestimates young audiences

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl would be the perfect movie for history-minded 6- to 9-year-olds if it wasn't aimed at the intellectual level of a toddler. The story of a resourceful, overdressed little girl who wards off the unpleasantness of the Depression one act of kindness at a time, Kit Kittredge stars Abigail Breslin in the title role.

Beastie Boy talks about his hoop film 'Gunnin'

By JAKE O'CONNELL The Associated Press — Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Adam "MCA" Yauch and the Beastie Boys have always been hoop fans, with lyrical references to ballplayers from Latrell Sprewell to streetball legend Hawthorne Wingo. Now Yauch is bringing that love to the big screen with the documentary Gunnin' for That #1 Spot.

Celebrity News

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Brangelina's twins aren't here yet, but the big day is drawing closer. The seafront Lenval hospital in Nice in the south of France said Tuesday that Angelina Jolie had checked in at its Santa Maria maternity clinic to be kept under doctors' surveillance and get some rest before she gives birth. "There's no urgency. It's been planned for a long time," said Nadine Bauer, a hospital spokeswoman. "She's very well. Everything is fine."

Stevie Wonder gives Taste-y performance

BY BOBBY REED — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Saturday afternoon Stevie Wonder returned to Taste of Chicago with a concert that was generous, adventurous, populist, humorous and amorous. "A lot has happened over the past 20 years, but I'm still looking good," Wonder quipped during his introductory comments, alluding to his 1988 appearance at the free Grant Park festival.

Celebrity News

Tue, 1 Jul 2008 04:00 CST

Court records show Britney Spears is house hunting -- preferably for something greener, quieter and with a bigger backyard.Documents released Monday show that Spears seeks a house with a larger yard that's closer to parks and recreation areas for her children, Sean Preston and Jayden James. Also ... Chris Kattan, a former cast member of NBC's Saturday Night Live, tied the knot with model Sunshine Tutt in Yosemite Valley, Calif.

Without a home

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

There are many ways to become homeless -- the loss of a job, foreclosure, debt, mental illness, fire, the fury of nature. The current flooding in the Midwest is causing a new wave of homeless people. So have any number of national disasters such as Hurricane Katrina almost three years ago.

Celebrity News

The Associated Press — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Amy Winehouse was packing a punch at the Glastonbury music festival. After taking the stage Saturday, the troubled singer climbed down into the pit and scuffled briefly with a reveler. It was unclear what sparked the altercation, but witnesses say a fan tried to grab Winehouse. Also ... Former American Idol Ruben Studdard has married Surata Zuri McCants at a church in a suburb of Birmingham, Ala.

Old stories take on new life with Hamilton Wings

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Place a group of teenagers in a pub for the 60-and-older crowd and what do they do? Mingle. That's what participants of Hamilton Wings' Students Creating Opera to Reinforce Education program and Oak Crest Atrium Apartments residents did one recent Tuesday. Hamilton Wings is a nonprofit art-based program that teaches socially and economically challenged youth leadership skills, builds self-esteem and promotes academics.

Gotta Go

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: Anderson Animal Shelter golf outing set in Elgin; 'FORE! Our Girls' golf classic is July 11 in Huntley

Celebrity News

The Associated Press — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Uma Thurman, star of the Kill Bill thrillers and My Super Ex-Girlfriend, will marry financier Arpad "Arki" Busson, according to a report Friday in the New York Daily News. Stephen Huvane, the publicist for Thurman, did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages from The Associated Press on Friday.

Brookfield Zoo brings back stingrays

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

You don't have to go on a Caribbean cruise to get close to a stingray or shark, even close enough to touch. Families and children can pet a live shark or stingray without getting their fingers bitten or stung at a current exhibit at Brookfield Zoo. The tropical-themed "Sharks! at Stingray Bay" has a 16,000-gallon saltwater tank with 28 inhabitants: nurse and white-spotted bamboo sharks, cownose and southern stingrays and horseshoe crabs.

Kids get free time all summer at MSI

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Summer has never been better for children who love learning, as kids get in free at the Museum of Science and Industry through Sept. 1.

Celebrity News

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Another chapter has been added to the Lohan family saga -- and this time, it may be another Lohan. Michael Lohan, father of actress Lindsay, said in a statement Friday that he's looking into a woman's claim that she had a daughter by him. Lohan said he once had a relationship with a woman named Kristy, whose last name he did not provide, and that he hadn't seen her in 12 years.

Fans line Lockport streets to see Johnny Depp

Staff reports — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

"There he is! There he is!" The excited scream ripped through the stifling summer afternoon, alerting the crowd of onlookers. People were crammed onto a stretch of sidewalk on 11th Street, waiting to see actor Johnny Depp. He was scheduled to film the final local scenes of the movie "Public Enemies."

Bartlett fair now is Festival of the Arts

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Six years ago, the Arts in Bartlett council took a leap. The Bartlett Chamber of Commerce wanted to spice up its summer festival and asked the newly formed group to organize an art show. And, the Fine Art Fair was started. "We didn't have a clue how to do it," said Cecilia Green, director of the Fine Art Fair. "We got some help from someone who knew how ..."

A 'burbs'-eye view of the Taste of Chicago

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

The Taste of Chicago isn't just a Chicago tradition. It's a tradition for thousands of suburbanites who trek to the Loop for the music, the crowds and, of course, the food. The Taste of Chicago opens today and runs through July 6.

Fox & Hound offers billiards, darts, ale

By JEANIE MAYER For The Courier News — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

It may not be modeled after any specific pub on the British Isle, but the Fox & Hound Pub and Grille in Aurora offers a distinctive English feel with warm, wood-paneled walls, a deep mahogany, full-service bar and 36 different draft beers on tap.

Top Dish

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

BABY BACK RIBS: A full slab of barbecue pork ribs with homemade sauce, served with coleslaw and Texas toast. $17.99

Finger-lickin' fun at Naperville's Ribfest

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Naperville's Ribfest is one huge, finger-lickin' festival of food and entertainment. Seventeen vendors from around the country will sell barbecue ribs, pulled pork, chicken and sauce -- and compete for bragging rights. Not into barbecued meat? There will be more food from non-ribbers ...

Celebrity News

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

As Paris Hilton's sidekick on The Simple Life, Nicole Richie showed a flair for comedy -- and an impish glee at cracking jokes at others' expense. The 26-year-old celebutante again will display a caustic streak in an upcoming guest spot on NBC's Chuck, portraying the mean-spirited high school nemesis of undercover CIA agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski).

Ribfest Schedule

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

JULY 3

Men Dream of Flying chases perfection

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

One minute with Men Dream of Flying's front man Cooper Sanz of Algonquin and it's difficult not to imagine success in the band's future. With an obvious passion and infectiously happy demeanor, Sanz seems to love what he does. And he has surrounded himself with equally talented and passionate band members. Sanz will be the first to say Men Dream of Flying is nothing short of a group effort.

Datebook

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

A roundup of festivals, auditions, music, stage, comedy and art exhibits in the area.

Reader Reviews: 'Get Smart' astute, funny

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

We went to see the new movie, Get Smart, this past weekend. It is based (obviously) on the TV show from the '60s. This movie was great and very funny. We thoroughly enjoyed it. It was totally funny on its own, in an updated way, yet managed to retain the references to the TV show, which, c'mon, we were looking forward to and expecting.

Judas Priest's 'Nostradamus' tells fascinating tale

By WAYNE PARRY The Associated Press — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

I had a premonition Judas Priest would make an album like this. But not even the 16th-century seer credited by some with predicting events centuries later could have known it would be this good. The two-CD set marks the British metal quintet's first concept album, a fascinating telling of the life and times of Nostradamus, the self-proclaimed prophet, his predictions and turbulent life.

Amos Lee best at matters of the heart

By CRISTINA BLACK The Associated Press — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Since he broke out nationally with his self-titled 2005 debut, Philadelphia native Amos Lee has faced a steady stream of Norah Jones comparisons. He insists he's not merely a male version of that blockbuster songstress. Until now, he hasn't moved far from the easily palatable folk-pop with a jazz tinge that she popularized earlier this decade. And his third album strays only slightly from the usual mellow approach.

High Fives

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

The high fives in TV, film, and music and videos.

Social issues, issues of the heart conflict

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Nothing Special Productions, like its five founding members, is heading in a new direction with its latest production, a drama based on the Vietnam War. Eroica, by Chicago playwright David Alex, will be performed in early July at Elgin Art Showcase to benefit the Easter Seals Jane Shover Center in Elgin.

From futuristic junkyard, Pixar makes treasure

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

How far has Pixar Animation Studios come in terms of humanizing technology? "WALL-E," Pixar's science-fiction romance, is more charming when the robots - not the humans - are on the screen. Thankfully, people aren't on the screen much - indeed, they're nowhere to be found for the first third of the film.

Hollywood bombast by way of Russia in 'Wanted'

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

"Wanted" is rough, relentless and self-consciously R (certain words are used with more regularity than flair). Yet it's also the first film since "The Matrix" to truly capture that picture's warped, screen-bending, action-movie ethos. Like the "Matrix" pictures, "Wanted" slows down time, so that we can follow the curve of a bullet and the split-second decisions the characters make before the bullets hit.

'Hit and Run' hard to put down

By BRUCE DeSILVA The Associated Press — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

John Keller, a professional hit man, is on his way to Des Moines to take a life -- one last job before retiring to spend more time with his stamp collection. Keller is the consummate pro. He's killed hundreds of times, yet the police don't even know his name. But you know how it is with that final job. Something is bound to go wrong. Keller's seen enough TV crime dramas to know it, too. He even jokes about it, but you can tell the thought has him on edge.

Celebrity News

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Grammy-winning singer India.Arie will make her Broadway debut in a revival of Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf, produced by Whoopi Goldberg. Also ... Ruben Studdard won the affection of millions of people on American Idol, but this weekend, he is giving his heart to one woman.

HBO, 'SNL' to replay classic Carlin this week

FROM SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTS — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

If you�re a fan of the late comedian George Carlin or a newbie wondering what all the fuss was about yesterday, you can relive the glory years or get an education in the next few days as two networks dig into their vaults for some classic Carlin.

Gotta Go

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Coming up: The Guess Who perform Friday in St. Charles; Adopt-A-Pet program slated Saturday at West Dundee mall

Fox adds Chambers to 'Good Day Chicago' cast

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Robert Feder: As WFLD-Channel 32 gears up for the expansion of "Good Day Chicago," the Fox-owned station has added a new face to its morning show. Kori Chambers, just in from WDIV-TV in Detroit, will "handle a variety of reporting and anchoring responsibilities," according to an announcement by the station.

Celebrity News

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

New book coming from 'Marley & Me' author

Stage show lets us go 'Walking With Dinosaurs'

FROM SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTS — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

If you thought �Jurassic Park� was the closest you�d ever get to a �real� dinosaur experience, mark your calendars for �Walking With Dinosaurs: The Live Experience� � based on the six-time Emmy-winning BBC television series (and seen on the Discovery Channel) � coming Aug. 7-17 to the United Center.

Celebrity News

The Associated Press — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Today's celebrities: McConaughey photog claims surfers attacked him; Nugent sells game trophies as he plans another move; Brian Wilson joins Newport lineup

Comic George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero

By KEITH ST. CLAIR The Associated Press — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

George Carlin, who died of heart failure Sunday at 71, leaves behind not only a series of memorable routines, but a legal legacy: His most celebrated monologue, a frantic, informed riff on those infamous seven words, led to a Supreme Court decision on broadcasting offensive language.

Celebrity News

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Soul diva Amy Winehouse has damaged her lungs by smoking crack cocaine and cigarettes, her father said in an interview published Sunday. The Sunday Mirror quoted Mitch Winehouse as saying that Amy has an early stage emphysema and an irregular heartbeat, and has been warned that she will have to wear an oxygen mask unless she stops smoking drugs.

Don Imus once again brings race to airwaves

FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

NEW YORK---- Don Imus has once again injected race into his radio show.

Unbridled art

By JULIE MULLEN For The Courier News — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

It's not easy to find a mother who enjoys messes. But it's Beth Oberle's thing, and the mother of two is inviting others to join in on the mess-making fun. Oberle, who opened My Eclectic Mess on May 1, has been creating works of art in the crafting room of her St. Charles home.

Students one with nature at Max McGraw Wildlife

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

The average passerby on Illinois 25 might miss the small canopy announcing its name, only seeing a thick forest of trees. Once inside the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, visitors will find 1,224 acres of lush, green Illinois prairie grasses and woodlands punctuated by 31 lakes.

Ellen, Portia de Rossi planning dream wedding

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have set a wedding date, and to hear the talk show host tell it, the ceremony is going to be a doozy. DeGeneres, who won her fourth consecutive Daytime Emmy for talk show host Friday night, told reporters backstage at the Kodak Theatre that she and de Rossi are planning their "dream wedding."

Celebrity News

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:00 CST

Steve Carell stepped out of The Office to join the fight against cancer at a Boston benefit that featured a screening of his new movie, Get Smart. The screening was held Thursday night to benefit The Zachary Carson Brain Tumor Fund. Also ... Add a musical composition to all the tributes at next year's 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.