He's only 25 years old, but composer, poet and conductor Matthew Aucoin is already a major sensation in the classical music world. And now, Lyric Opera of Chicago has commissioned the young composer to write an opera. Second Nature receives its world premiere this week at Lincoln Park Zoo. We speak with this classical phenom on Chicago Tonight.

Julian Bond, the civil rights activist, professor, and politician, died Saturday in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. He was 75 years old. In 1976, Bond and journalist John Callaway sat down for an interview at WTTW. We remember Bond's legacy, and revisit his discussion with Callaway on national politics.

We discuss the touring production “Crime Scene: Breathe Life” with Collaboraction artistic director Anthony Moseley and performer Sir Taylor.

Geoffrey Baer visits an artist under glass, gets that sinking feeling at a Jackson Park garden, and reveals the hej hej history of the Andersonville neighborhood's name.

From a free outdoor horror show to '80s fashion finds to aerial feats along the lakefront, we've got your weekend picks.

A rare survey of the painter Archibald Motley draws to a close later this month at the Cultural Center. Chicago Tonight revisits the brilliantly colorful canvases of this often-overlooked African-American painter, whose variety of subjects and captured the Jazz Age like no one else.

After World War II, many artists broke with traditional methods of creative exploration. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago was one place where independent-minded American artists honed their skills. A new exhibition at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art considers some of the artistic voices that rose in Chicago in the 1950s and '60s. Join us for a closer look.

Police in Hamburg, N.Y. have confirmed they are investigating an alleged incident at the home of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, but won't provide details. Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter Dan Mihalopoulos traveled to the Buffalo suburb to cover the story. He joins Chicago Tonight with more.

The Chicago River buzzes with life. There are new sections of the riverwalk downtown, kayaks on the river, water taxis – the city is embracing its river like never before. But what about that other hard working river, the Calumet, on the Southeast Side? Jay Shefsky explores the area with a couple of local kayakers.

From hot dogs to marching bands to the art of Japanese flower-arranging, this weekend’s lineup goes a little bit global, a little bit foodie, and a lot entertaining.

Thousands of people walk past dozens of statues in Chicago without a sideways glance. But what if one of them called you with their story? That's the idea behind Chicago Statue Stories. We'll hear how 30 statues have come to life around the city.

This fall, the Chicago Architecture Biennial will assess architectural projects and experiments from around the world. We'll get a preview of what to expect and find out the results of a competition to add kiosks to the city's lakefront.

Geoffrey Baer answers viewer questions about a dreamy memorial, Soldier Field no-man's land, and railroad ruins on Chicago's South Side in this encore edition of Ask Geoffrey.

A distinctly American arts movement was born in Chicago in the 1960s and remains influential to this day. We take a closer look at revolutionary experiments in art and music highlighted in "The Freedom Principle,"  a new summer show at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

There's been a roar of outrage over a Minnesota dentist's killing of a lion named Cecil. Joining us to discuss the big-game tourism trade and changing attitudes about it, is Terri Colby, who was with the Chicago Tribune from 1995-2009, including time as an editor for the Tribune's Travel section.

During a recent walk around Lincoln Square and North Park, we spotted loads of colorful flowers decorating front stoops, gardens, walkways, windows, and along the street. We'll keep snapping photos of colorful Chicago, and we invite you to join us. What's blooming in your neighborhood?