Archives for August 2006
Find your Dutch roots on the Internet
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. That’s [...]
Plugging cupcakes
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. Find out [...]
The metrosexual in Business Week
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, alas, [...]
Hidden spaces at Symphony Center
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 building [...]
Dvorak and the Goo Goo Dolls
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 the [...]
Repositioning the blog: clearer boundaries
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 everything [...]
Of planets and integrity
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 a [...]
Two blogs, two exposés on journalism ethics
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 may still [...]
Talking cultural advocacy with Yo-Yo Ma
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 noon [...]
Yo-Yo Ma chat on Chicago Classical Music
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 work [...]
