Martial arts flair made in Chicago
Crouching tiger, not-so-hidden Madonna. That’s the vibe Madonna wanted for the “Sky Fits Heaven” number of her Drowned World Tour. Never mind she had never taken a kung fu, tae kwon do or karate class.
Year: 2001
What’s a girl to do?
Lady Madonna is no stranger to Chicago. She got a good dose of the city when she filmed “A League of Their Own” here in 1991. But when she hits town this time, it’ll be her first concert tour stop as a married mother of two young’uns. Think that’ll cramp her style when she’s here next week for her two sold-out concerts? We doubt it very much.
A student’s dilemma: PC or laptop?
Pencils. Check. Paper. Check. Books. Check. Computer? Wait a minute. A computer is a handy gadget to have around the house for games and bookkeeping, but families increasingly view it as a must-have for school. In fact, computer classes are a part of kindergartner Sean Hlavin’s curriculum, say parents Debbie and Brian.
Can’t-miss meals for the picky lunch bunch – Does your kid scoff at typical lunchroom fare? Win over finicky eaters with entertaining and healthful treats
Let’s face facts. There’s a 50-50 chance that the lunch you pack for your child will actually be consumed by him. She may trade it for a Backstreet Boys poster. Or throw it out and buy a burger instead.
Aw, yuck! Kids grade lunchroom menus
By Jae-Ha KimChicago Sun-TimesAugust 22, 2001 Leave it to kids and they’d likely want cupcakes, milkshakes and pizza for lunch every day. We checked with a few pint-size and teen food critics to see how […]
Don’t buy our albums, stars urge
For years, Christina Aguilera had tried to prevent the release of “Just Be Free,” a collection of recordings Aguilera made when she was 14 and 15 years old. The diva-in-training, now 20, recently settled with Warlock Records on the condition that the album would contain a message that says in part: “I made the recordings as a possible stepping stone to a career in music, which is my ultimate passion. They were made just so that I could get my foot in the door of the music business. I did not intend that the recordings would be widely released, especially after I signed with a major record label.
Director Kevin Smith strikes back
These are fighting times for Kevin Smith, the director and star of “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” First the gay and lesbian anti-defamation organization GLAAD had a bone to pick with him. Then Tim Burton got into the act.
Real World Confidential: Griping, groping on North Avenue
You’ve got to feel a little bad for the Chicago cast of “The Real World.” The seven young ‘uns probably thought they’d get to live rent-free for the summer in a way-cool house in way-cool Wicker Park, hang with a Pumpkin or two and use the MTV soap opera-style documentary to launch their 15 minutes of fame.
Russell Crowe’s Garage-band sound goes over big at House of Blues
He came out in a thong and little else. Unfortunately for the capacity crowd of (predominantly) women who came Monday night to see actor Russell Crowe in the first of two sold-out House of Blues shows, the thong wasn’t on the studly Oscar winner. It was worn by an aboriginal dancer who seemed to scare some members of the audience with his jolting moves.
Summer sexoscopes
Do the stars line up for a summer romance? Or have you been stuck with a dud rather than a stud? Will your love stick around? Or will you need to change your name/phone number? We certainly don’t have the insight (or advertising budget) of TV’s Miss Cleo, but with only a little summer left, we’ll try our best to assess your sextrology. (Note: No astrologists were harmed in the making of this chart.)
Five Questions with the Barenaked Ladies
Their overnight success took more than 13 years to happen, but the Barenaked Ladies have arrived. A band that gets a kick out of writing lyrics such as, “I just made you say underwear,” the Ladies will perform Aug. 24 at the Tweeter Center in Tinley Park. Vocalist Steven Page (middle) called from the road to sound off on rental cars, “Planet of the Apes” and why Debbie Gibson rules.
Tents on the beach
Standing about 5-feet tall and measuring 5-feet wide, the triangular giant baffled a team of curious researchers (OK, a photographer and me). We had seen these creatures before on grassy knolls, peaked mountains and even backyards. But we had never before seen them in such an incongruous location–the lakefront.
Five questions with Usher
When he acts, Usher Raymond IV goes by his full name. But when he sings, no last name is necessary for the 22-year-old hottie. It’s been three years since Usher released a new album, but that all changes when his sultry “8701” hits stores Tuesday. Read on for his thoughts on boy bands, acting and those rumors about his dating TLC’s Chilli.
Mad for Madonna’s muscles
Think Madonna’s got arms to die for? Well don’t die, sweetie. Exercise! The diva credits her awesome biceps to yoga. She loves it so much that she even wrote a song (“Shanti/Ashtangi”) based around a chant she used while doing yoga.But some of us would rather pull our teeth out than strike a yoga pose.
Five questions with Ho-Sung Pak
Ho-Sung Pak went from portraying a Ninja Turtle to choreographing the kung fu segments for Madonna’s current tour. As co-owner of martial arts gym Pow! in the West Loop, Pak splits his time between L.A. and Chicago.
The incredible disappearing photobooth
When Lilia Chacon and her good buddy Katie Carrillo ran into that rarity known as a photobooth, they knew what had to be done. ”We put our $3 into the machine, went in and mugged it up,” says Chacon, a reporter for Fox News Chicago. ”This was about 10 years ago when we were both single. It’s a carefree, fun reminder of who we were at that stage of our lives. We split the photo strip in half so we each have two shots.”
Where the boys are
You haven’t had a date since Dubya’s dad was in the White House. The last time you went dancing, stonewashed jeans were in style. And your idea of a great evening is whining to anyone who’ll listen about the dearth of available men in Chicago. Wake up! It’s time to get back in the game. No matter how much women complain to the contrary, this city is full of eligible men.
Get a whiff of this: summer scents
The nose knows when it’s summer. For some, it’s the tangy smell of barbeque that clues them in. For others, it’s that telltale scent of chlorine in the swimming pool. Fact is, people smell better in the summer than in the winter. We’re not talking body odor here, but rather the olfactory senses.
Five questions with Joe McIntyre
“If I wasn’t performing I’d be on a farm somewhere,” says Joey McIntyre. “I don’t know how to do any of that stuff, but I could learn. Or hire someone. I’d sit back and have some lemonade on the porch.
The ice-cream man cometh
Nothing signifies the arrival of summer like a big, refreshing bowl of ice cream. Whether it’s the tinkling of the Good Humor truck or simply the sight of scoops being doled out at Ben & Jerry’s, ice cream brings us to a place that makes us feel young and carefree.