Goo Goo Dolls not ready for shelf

May 31, 2002July 18, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

Back when the Goo Goo Dolls debuted, they were a straggly threesome that put little thought into on-stage wardrobe. They just rocked the house like the best little garage band from Buffalo, N.Y., that they were. These days, the look is more refined with expensive haircuts, leather pants and even a little eye liner. But the sound hasn’t changed much. Sure, there are more ballads than before, but the deliciously raucous rock ‘n’ roll spirit remains the same.

A fly spy: “Undercover Brother”

May 31, 2002July 26, 2023 Jae-Ha Kim

The opening of “Undercover Brother” perfectly sets the tone for this comedy. Driving a vintage Cadillac, Undercover Brother has one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a filled-to-the-rim drink. As the car executes a few 360-degree spins to avoid a car crash, our cool hero has a smile plastered on his face and not a hair of his retro ‘fro out of place. Not a drop of the soft drink spills on the car’s upholstery.

9/11 tragedy trinkets move into mainstream

May 30, 2002September 2, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

Exactly how do you sell a tragedy? A handful of entrepreneurs already has figured it out. The Australian fashion chain Quick Brown Fox carries a line of beaded handbags depicting planes crashing into the World Trade Center. One can be yours for about $87.

‘Blind Date’ no stranger to players here

May 22, 2002July 16, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

Shadow T. Carr, 28, bills himself as a 1988 Buick Grand National. Would-be contestants wait to audition for a spot on the syndicated show “Blind Date” recently in Chicago.

Workplace safety has reached a new low: lunch

May 22, 2002August 19, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

A downtown office worker was so offended by the smell of a colleague’s spicy lunch, she called security. Now that’s passive aggressive.

Jessye Norman’s charisma is difficult to ‘Miss’

May 19, 2002August 27, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

It’s never a good sign when a diva doesn’t like the way you address her. For instance, if you refer to opera star Jessye Norman as “Jessye,” she has no qualms about expressing her distaste. “That’s Miss Norman,” she tells the reporter in a deliciously regal voice that sounds much deeper than her sweet soprano singing voice would indicate.

Coke hopes for taste of success with vanilla

May 15, 2002April 27, 2023 Jae-Ha Kim

Vanilla gets a bad rap. Vanilla ice cream is dismissed as bland. Boring celebrities are put down as vanilla. And let’s not even get into Vanilla Ice. But Coca-Cola hopes to boost the hip factor of the much maligned flavor with its latest soft drink, Vanilla Coke, which debuts today at stores nationwide.

‘Angelina Ballerina’ keeps author on her toes

May 10, 2002August 8, 2011 Jae-Ha Kim

When she was a little girl growing up on the North Side of Chicago, children’s book author Katharine Holabird imagined herself as a beautiful, graceful ballerina whose jumps were as light as a feather.

“I was a theatrical, melodramatic child,” says Holabird, phoning from Los Angeles. “I was also a tubby little 4-year-old waltzing around the house who thought I was this beautiful archetype–a ballerina.”

‘X’ marks the spot for IMAX sports thrills: “ESPN’s Ultimate X”

May 10, 2002July 27, 2023 Jae-Ha Kim

There are many dangerous sports. Athletes have been paralyzed in gymnastics and football. And the dangers of boxing don’t need to be explained. But there’s nothing like the litany of thrilling events at an X Games competition to make you wonder, “Why would anyone do that?”

Speaking with … Cee-Lo

May 10, 2002August 22, 2022 Jae-Ha Kim

Cee-Lo has 50 tattoos, a bald head and a repertoire of songs that could fill several albums. For now, Cee-Lo–who is best known as one of the members of the Atlanta hip-hop band Goodie Mob–is content to tout his debut solo record, “Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfection.”