Joe Mangrum spends all day on a work of art, and then it’s gone. He creates sand paintings - improvisational and temporary works in public spaces, as well as museums, galleries and events. Jay Shefsky caught up with him as he made a commissioned sand painting in a downtown office lobby. Read an article and watch a time-lapse video of sand art.

America’s biggest comedy fest enjoys its fifth anniversary year with a diverse group of performers. From the “Just for Laughs” festival, we’ll be joined by Scott Adsit (30 Rock), Brian Babylon (Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me) and renowned improv performer Susan Messing for a freewheeling conversation about Chicago’s key role in the art of comedy. Read a Q&A.

Jonathan Alter is an award-winning author, columnist, reporter and television analyst. Since 2011, he has written a column for Bloomberg View, a worldwide commentary site housed under Bloomberg News. The Chicago native joins us to discuss his new book, The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies. Read an excerpt.

Last Sunday, the Tony Awards had a strong Chicago accent. Steppenwolf Theatre’s Broadway production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? won Tonys for “Best Revival,” “Best Director” and “Best Actor, Tracy Letts.” Before it went to Broadway, the show played at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, and we spoke with some of the principal actors. Watch a web extra video.

The Blackhawks are back in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Legendary Hawks broadcaster Pat Foley is here with a preview.

The world's largest free blues festival, ancient mummies brought (nearly) back to life, and a celebration of Indian arts and culture; Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

Trumpeter Herb Alpert and his Grammy award-winning wife, Chicagoan Lani Hall Alpert, joins us to talk about their legendary careers.

Photographer Jon Lowenstein has been documenting the South Side for over a decade. His latest project, "Chicago's Bloody Year," depicts the intricate and intimate effects of gun violence in the community. He joins us.

Chicago's best young violinists and cellists in concert, a German spring celebration, & lively street fests; Chicago Tonight knows what's going on this weekend.

Johnson Publishing Company is a Chicago media institution, known for its magazines EBONY and Jet, as well as its impacts on the civil rights movement, fashion and politics. JPC chairwoman Linda Johnson Rice joins us.

Chef Rick Bayless shows us how to make Salsa Huevona served over grilled lobster.

The Merit School's Suzuki-Alegre String Ensemble, a diverse group of young violin and cello players, joins us to perform in-studio, fresh off their recent trip to Japan.

Father Andrew Greeley was a provocative and controversial sociologist, writer and social commentator. He took on the church and wrote steamy novels. Greeley died Wednesday night. We look back at some conversations he had here on WTTW11.

Catherine De Orio, the newest host of Check, Please! joins us.

Dramatic works of art by a little-known artist, African-American painter Hale Woodruff, visit Chicago for the first time.

We catch up with legendary NBA coach Phil Jackson to talk about Jordan, Kobe, and his new book: Eleven Rings.