I recently watched a PBS show with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tracing back the family lines of numerous prominent African Americans. Now, I’ve always been interested in finding out my own family roots and I remembered I had some copies of what other people have jotted down about my mother’s side of the family....
Read more »
In the last issue of Time Out Chicago, classical music writer Marc Geelhoed writes about my friend Brandon Mayberry, who is opening up a cupcake store in Chicago (Swirlz Cupcakes, 705 W Belden Ave, opens September 1). Just thought I’d plug it. While we’re on the topic of plugging: Chicagoist is looking for writers....
Read more »
A couple of months ago, I received a call from Nanette Byrnes, senior writer for Business Week. She was doing a story on the metrosexual and wanted to interview me. Yesterday, I saw the article was not only published, but it was the cover story! All excited, I started to read the article, but,...
Read more »
Last Monday I had a rather extraordinary assignment at work. Dutch photographer Jan Theun van Rees came to Symphony Center to take photos of our hidden spaces, which meant I had to take him to the catwalk above the hall. I had never been there myself, so it was a refreshing look at the...
Read more »
Last Friday I went to a concert at the Amphitheatre in Tinley Park featuring the Goo Goo Dolls and the Counting Crows. I went for the latter band; most people went for the former. Lucky for me, the Goo Goo Dolls opened the double-header and this proved useful as I moved from far in...
Read more »
This blog is a broad as the Atlantic Ocean; I cover too many topics and can’t stick to one theme or category. But I have decided to go with it, at least to some degree. I can’t write about just public relations, or just arts management, or just immigration; I’d get bored. Besides, isn’t...
Read more »
It is not my intention to add to the persistent stereotype of beauty pageant participants, nor blonds for that matter, but integrity is not “doing whatever you have to do to achieve a goal.” Last night, Miss Teen Montana stumbled over her words as she tried to describe integrity as the drive to reach...
Read more »
It started with a blog entry and today it was on the influential MusicalAmerica.com: a story about the struggle for ethics in the advertising/editorial realm of magazines. The editor of Fanfare magazine responds to a pitch from a musician to review a recently recorded CD: “Please note that if you don’t advertise, your CD...
Read more »
This morning I met Yo-Yo Ma again and not only does he remain one of the nicest people I have ever met, he articulated some of the most interesting thoughts about culture and multiculturalism in an interview I witnessed. You can hear pieces of the interview this Saturday, August 12, from 8:00 to 12:00...
Read more »
Interesting news from Chicago Classical Music: on Tuesday, August 8, from 2:15 to 3:00 p.m. (central time), renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will be chatting it up with classical music fans. He’s in town to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Ravinia Festival on August 6 in a program that includes a new...
Read more »