Column: ‘Lorne’ documentary shows us the man behind the ‘SNL’ curtain, sort of Director Morgan Neville’s film is a lighthearted profile of an accomplished person, but it is all surface and pleasant observations.

Want to know more about "Saturday Night Live" creator and boss Lorne Michaels? The new movie "Lorne" tries, with the help of Steve Martin, Tina Fey, Paul Simon, Bill Hader and others. You'll get a lot of enjoyable clips but the man remains elusive. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/21/l...

Column: This year’s Doc10 has films about Girl Scouts, Norman Lear and Billie Jean King Along with a full calendar of documentary films, this year’s festival introduces “Speak Truth,” with screenings accompanied by panel discussions and audience participation.

Is it possible for one film festival to have movies about Salman Rushdie, Girl Scouts, Norman Lear, Billie Jean King, Black soldiers in Vietnam and others? Yes it is and it's @doc10filmfest coming soon to Davis Theater and Siskel Film Center. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/15/d...

Have a kid who plays soccer? You might want to read of one family's travels in "Soccer Dad," a mad trip but also an enjoyable one, into “the byzantine levels of youth soccer in the city and suburbs.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/14/s...

@KoganAfterHours 5-7 pm Sunday @WGNRadio has @CandidCandace on singer Yasmin Levy; producer Mary Bonnett/director Richard Shavin on “The Official Biography,” with Gary Houston; singer Libby York's Ella Fitzgerald b-day at Winter's; @LeahEskin on her novel "Like Wafers in Honey."

Column: ‘All Carry’ is the perfect novel for Masters week, or any week Author Gene Wojciechowski of Wheaton, a longtime sports journalist, has written a golf novel about a set of magical clubs and the value in life of a mulligan.

Tiger and Phil aren't playing in the Masters but Joe Riley is, hitting 400 yard drives using ancient clubs at Augusta in a spectacular, exciting novel, "All Carry," by longtime sportswriter and ESPN star Gene Wojciechowski www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/08/c...

Column: ‘No One Cares About Crazy People’ documentary shines a spotlight on our mental health system The film has strong Chicago connections, based on a book by former Sun-Times critic Ron Powers, with music by Jeff Tweedy and narrated by Bob Odenkirk.

With strong Chicago connections--Jeff Tweedy, Bob Odenkirk and former Sun-Times Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Ron Powers and his family--documentary “No One Cares About Crazy People” is a powerful "call to arms," Saturday at Film Row Cinema. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/07/n...

Column: ‘No One Cares About Crazy People’ documentary shines a spotlight on our mental health system The film has strong Chicago connections, based on a book by former Sun-Times critic Ron Powers, with music by Jeff Tweedy and narrated by Bob Odenkirk.

With strong Chicago connections--Jeff Tweedy, Bob Odenkirk and former Sun-Times Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Ron Powers and his family--documentary “No One Cares About Crazy People” is a powerful "call to arms," Saturday at Film Row Cinema. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/07/n...

Basketball break over, @KoganAfterHours back in business 5-7 pm Sunday @wgnradio.bsky.social with Gene Wojciechowski on his terrific golf novel, “All Carry”; one and only Candace Jordan on city life @candidcandace;David Murray on his book, “Soccer Dad.” Listen in.

Column: Have you heard of Illinois’ highest honor for its citizens? Here are its newest members. Former Tribune critic Blair Kamin and former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White are among the 2026 recipients of the Order of Lincoln.

The Lincoln Academy, born in part by an Audio-Animatronic replica of Abe at the NYC World's Fair in 1964, welcomes a new gang of achievers who join such others as Mike Royko, Walter Payton, Hilary Clinton, Mahalia Jackson and Jack Benny www.chicagotribune.com/2026/04/01/i...

Column: April Fools’ Day is tomorrow, here’s some memorable hoaxes from the past If the first April Fools’ Day stunt is lost to history, there have been some memorable pranks over the years, my favorite involving an invented baseball pitcher with one bare foot.

The dinosaurs are coming! The dinosaurs are coming and other creative pranks from the lively, nutty April Fools' Days of the past, including a baseball pitcher who could throw 168 mph and the return of Richard Nixon www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/31/a...

Column: Of mansions, mahogany and the Astor Club’s new Clubhouse It will only be a matter of time until 1516 N. Lake Shore Drive, one of seven mansions that remain on a street once lined with them, becomes a clubhouse.

One of the seven mansions still standing on Lake Shore Drive, the Blair Mansion echoes a bygone time but also represents, optimistically, a splendid future, with these two people making it happen. just as they created the nearby Astor Club. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/25/a...

Column: ‘Cinematic Immunity’ shows us the action behind the movie-making glitz and glitter Michael Lee Nirenberg takes us behind the scenes of 50-some movies in his new and enlightening book, “Cinematic Immunity.”

A new book takes you behind the glitz and into “a freewheeling community of motion picture technicians and into a wild, pre-gentrified, dangerous era. From "The Exorcist" to "The Godfather" and about 50 other movies I know you've seen. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/24/c...

Column: ‘Cinematic Immunity’ shows us the action behind the movie-making glitz and glitter Michael Lee Nirenberg takes us behind the scenes of 50-some movies in his new and enlightening book, “Cinematic Immunity.”

A new book takes you behind the glitz and into “a freewheeling community of motion picture technicians and into a wild, pre-gentrified, dangerous era. From "The Exorcist" to "The Godfather" and about 50 other movies I know you've seen. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/24/c...

Column: For 40 years, Newcity has been delivering the city’s cultural scene Newcity’s 40th anniversary issue is proof that this publication is a significant part of Chicago’s artistic life — and a survivor.

Newcity is a survivor and happily, creatively so. Its 40th anniversary issue is its biggest yet. It can now be found all over the Midwest and there's a new outpost in Brazil. What's the secret? Reading this may give you a clue. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/18/n...

Column: For 40 years, Newcity has been delivering the city’s cultural scene Newcity’s 40th anniversary issue is proof that this publication is a significant part of Chicago’s artistic life — and a survivor.

Newcity is a survivor and happily, creatively so. Its 40th anniversary issue is its biggest yet. It can now be found all over the Midwest and there's a new outpost in Brazil. What's the secret? Reading this may give you a clue. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/18/n...

Column: A four-part Rupert Murdoch family saga tells us money can’t buy you love Rupert Murdoch’s family is captured in an often overwhelming, frequently perplexing and ultimately depressing four-part Netflix documentary, “Dynasty: The Murdochs.”

Mike Royko called Rupert Murdoch "The Alien" when he came here to buy the Sun-Times in 1984 and in a new four-part documentary you can learn why his children might call him "Daddy Dearest." He made them all billionaire-rich but at a heavy emotional price. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/17/d...

Column: A four-part Rupert Murdoch family saga tells us money can’t buy you love Rupert Murdoch’s family is captured in an often overwhelming, frequently perplexing and ultimately depressing four-part Netflix documentary, “Dynasty: The Murdochs.”

Mike Royko called Rupert Murdoch "The Alien" when he came here to buy the Sun-Times in 1984 and in a new four-part documentary you can learn why his children might call him "Daddy Dearest." He made them all billionaire-rich but at a heavy emotional price. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/17/d...

Column: ‘Dear Rhoda’ is a love story in letters set in roaring 1920s Chicago When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not a text. Not a tweet. But a real, ink on paper letter? It’s becoming a vanishing art. But a pack of letters written between 1924 and 1928 form the foun…

A love story for the ages takes to the stage, featuring letter-writing lovers, rollicking 1920s Chicago, Fanny Brice, Carl Sandburg, Clarence Darrow, the Dill Pickle Club, sex, politics, a pet kangaroo and more. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/c...

Column: ‘Dear Rhoda’ is a love story in letters set in roaring 1920s Chicago When was the last time you wrote a letter? Not a text. Not a tweet. But a real, ink on paper letter? It’s becoming a vanishing art. But a pack of letters written between 1924 and 1928 form the foun…

A love story for the ages takes to the stage, featuring letter-writing lovers, rollicking 1920s Chicago, Fanny Brice, Carl Sandburg, Clarence Darrow, the Dill Pickle Club, sex, politics, a pet kangaroo and more. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/11/c...

Column: Ridge Historical Society celebrates artist Jack Simmerling’s creative life “Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes” takes up most of the ground floor space of the Ridge Historical Society, charmingly housed in a 1922 house.

The life and work of artist Jack Simmerling is celebrated in a wonderful exhibition. As he once told me "I have always been drawn to the past, to preserving it,” and he did so in thousands of colorful and heartfelt ways. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/j...

Column: Ridge Historical Society celebrates artist Jack Simmerling’s creative life “Jack Simmerling: Through His Eyes” takes up most of the ground floor space of the Ridge Historical Society, charmingly housed in a 1922 house.

The life and work of artist Jack Simmerling is celebrated in a wonderful exhibition. As he once told me "I have always been drawn to the past, to preserving it,” and he did so in thousands of colorful and heartfelt ways. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/10/j...

Column: Return with us now to those thrilling songs of yesteryear in ‘Chicago 1971’ “Chicago 1971” is about the summer night when Kris Kristofferson, Steve Goodman and John Prine met.

No one is immortal, but two music-makers originally from Scotland--John Ballantyne and Gus Noble--bring John Prine, Steve Goodman and Kris Kristofferson back to vibrant musical life in "Chicago 1971." www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/04/c...

Column: ‘Sirens in the Loop’ book give us City News Bureau in all its raucous glory “Sirens in the Loop: A History of the City News Bureau of Chicago,” is not at all a textbook, but rather an intimate look at a time long gone.

A new book, “Sirens in the Loop: A History of the City News Bureau of Chicago,” gives you a raucous story. Like a massive high school yearbook, it's peppered with the names of kids-who-made-good: Mike Royko, Seymour Hersch, Pam Zekman, even Kurt Vonnegut www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/03/s...

Column: How Billy Branch bought a harmonica, found the blues and changed his life Chicago blues great Billy Branch says a concert in Grant Park got him hooked on the music many decades ago. His latest album is “The Blues is My Biography.”

Billy Branch is a harmonica playing, singing giant in the blues world, a contemporary of his pal Buddy Guy. Hard to believe that when he came here for college, he had “zero knowledge of the blues, and I mean zero.” It's quite a story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/c...

Column: You can start your St. Patrick’s Day early with Trinity Irish Dance There are, of course, many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, including seeing the Trinity Irish Dance Company perform.

The Irish are coming. The Irish are coming. Mark Howard comes back home, and his innovative, artistic, exciting Trinity Irish dancers kick things off, so to speak, Saturday night at the Auditorium. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/24/s...

After Hours with Rick Kogan 5-7 pm Sunday WGN Radio brings you actor Phil Donlon on St. Baldrick's Foundation; John Ballantyne and Gus Noble of Crazy Heart on "Chicago 1971” March 15 Old Town School of Folk Music; bluesman Billy Branch on career and latest CD, “The Blues is My Biography."

Column: Drinking & Writing’s new musical began with a dream about a woman in a leopard print coat Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda are the founders of the Drinking & Writing Theater and have long been part of the creative life of this city. They have a new show.

The Drinking & Writing gang once gave us a look at what it takes to have a drink at every tavern on Western Avenue and now returns with an inventive new show, a musical based on a woman encountered in a dream. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/d...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...