On Nov. 22, 1981, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood and Ian Stewart showed up at the Checkerboard Lounge, 423 E. 43rd St., to jam with their musical mentor, Muddy Waters. Two WTTW crew members were there and share their memories.
Stories by Marc Vitali
The Rolling Stones and Chicago: 20 Memorable Moments From the Band’s Rich History With the Blues Capital of the World
The Rolling Stones must be the most Chicago-centric band on the planet that isn’t from Chicago. In celebration of the Rolling Stones return to Chicago on their “Hackney Diamonds” tour, here are historic highlights from the many times the world’s greatest rock and roll band visited.
Second City’s New Revue Brings Teamwork, Sex and Plenty of Weirdness to the Mainstage: Review
The show is aptly titled “The Devil is in the Detours.” Scenes cruise along with solid laughs and then take a turn no one sees coming, because it is just so nutty.
Grammy-Winning Violinist Joshua Bell on Performing With the CSO, Getting Goosebumps With ‘The Elements’
Vivaldi composed “The Four Seasons,” Holst convened “The Planets,” and now we can experience “The Elements,” a themed orchestral suite courtesy of violinist Joshua Bell and five composers. The world-renowned, Indiana-born musician returns to the Midwest to perform these works with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Extraordinary Stage Show Mixes Magic With a Bounty of Brainteasers at Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Review
David Kwong is a magician who also constructs crossword puzzles. As he puts it, “I combine the two nerdiest hobbies into one.” In his one-man show “The Enigmatist,” Kwong asserts that the disciplines of puzzle-making and magic-making share DNA.
Rod Blagojevich, Ryan Dempster and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Walk Into a Bar: Reviewing a Strange Night in Chicago Comedy
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog hosted a “Jeopardy!”-style game show in Chicago this week with celebrity contestants, including ex-Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster, actor Samm Levine and ex-governor Rod Blagojevich.
Eagerly Awaited Graphic Novel Embraces Chicago, Art and Monsters — Both Real and Imaginary
Following the release of “My Favorite Thing is Monsters” in 2017, graphic novelist Emil Ferris was dubbed “one of the most important comics artists of our time.” Now Ferris is back with “My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book Two,” which continues the tale of Karen Reyes, a 10-year-old misfit who thinks of herself as a werewolf.
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog (and Comedian Robert Smigel) on the Cubs, Chicago Pizza and Rod Blagojevich
Robert Smigel may be best known as the breeder behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the crass canine puppet whose jokes make Don Rickles look housebroken. We sit down with him before his Chicago show.
Andrew Bird Flies High With Jazz Standards at the Green Mill: Review
Andrew Bird migrated back to Chicago last night, launching his new tour with a pair of shows at the Green Mill Lounge in Uptown. He led a trio of musicians performing jazz standards and a few favorites from his catalog.
Bringing the Bling: Jewelry, Decorative Arts – and Oddities – From Prominent Local Families Flash Brilliance at Historic Chicago Mansion
A new exhibition illuminates the jewels in city collections, both private and institutional. There are enough gorgeous gems and decorative art objects here to fill a whole season of “Antiques Roadshow.”
Michael Shannon Shines Bright in the Dark Tale ‘Turret’ From A Red Orchid Theatre: Review
In the world premiere play “Turret,” humans dwell at the bottom of the food chain, and their days at the top are a distant memory.
Taking a Bite Out of Thanksgiving: Playwright Talks Native Humor, Chicago Audiences and Steppenwolf Run of Broadway Show
Larissa FastHorse is the first Native American woman to have a play produced on Broadway. “The Thanksgiving Play” is now onstage at Steppenwolf Theatre. It’s a satire about earnest theater folks who attempt to stage a historically accurate Thanksgiving play.
Wonder Women of the Ancient World Visit Chicago in ‘Goddesses, Warriors and Governors’ Exhibit
Femme fatales and goddesses play for keeps at a new exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art. These deities and grande dames — etched in rock or molded from clay — are in Pilsen through July.
Mountains of Muscle in the Land of Lincoln — A Trip to the Illinois Bodybuilding Championship in Chicago Illuminates a Dedicated Subculture: Column
Mighty men and well-toned women paraded through the lobby of the Copernicus Center in Jefferson Park last Saturday, crossing paths with fans, supporters and vendors. The muscled masses were competitors in the Illinois State Championship of the National Physique Committee.
Tightly Bound: Inside the Bizarre and Slightly Risqué Art of Chicago Artist Christina Ramberg
“Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective” places an important, underappreciated Chicago artist where she clearly belongs — in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s the first full survey of Ramberg’s work in the nearly 30 years since her untimely death.
Lady Luck Smiles on New Production of ‘Guys and Dolls’ at Drury Lane Theatre: Review
Sin and salvation form an odd power couple in Frank Loesser’s “Guys and Dolls,” a true classic of American musical theater that’s tuneful and fresh nearly 75 years after it premiered. And Drury Lane Theatre’s new staging of the beloved 1950 musical finds the funny in its sturdy old bones.
Mural on the 94th Floor: Chicago Artist Spotlights City Neighborhoods and Her Heritage at the Top of a Skyscraper
High above Michigan Avenue, artist Katie Chung pays tribute to the neighborhoods below. She uses many colors while keeping in mind Obangsaek, a color scheme known as the five cardinal colors of Korean culture.
Discover an Unsung Chicago Artist, Explore Colorful Collaborations at Hyde Park Art Center
It’s an inspiring spring at the Hyde Park Art Center, where two shows by essential Chicago artists are currently in bloom.
Gambling Meets Magic: Australian Magician Offers Insider’s View on Card Cheating and Casino Security
A magician who once worked in casino security is doubling down on revealing the secrets behind card tricks. And there’s a catch: Everyone must sign a confidentiality contract before the show.
A Tip of the Hat to Mister Kelly’s: Legendary Chicago Nightclub Takes the Spotlight Once Again
The Newberry Library is raising a glass to the Chicago nightclub that helped shape American music and comedy. The new exhibition “A Night at Mister Kelly’s” is a swinging selection of artifacts and eye-opening information about the famous hotspot.
Driehaus Donation Adds Luster to a Gem of a Museum in Oak Brook
From its home in Oak Brook, the Lizzadro Museum spotlights a captivating collection of stones, both hand-carved and in their natural state. Jade carvings, cameos and dioramas live side-by-side with fossils and rough minerals.
Chicago Artist Honors Sinéad O’Connor With ‘Psalms for an Irish Girl’
“I’m so proud of being Irish when I think of her, her music, her principles, what she stood for and what it cost her,” artist Tony Fitzpatrick said.
‘Bill W. and Dr. Bob’ – Sobering, Humane Drama Brings to Life Story of Alcoholics Anonymous Founders: Review
In the same decade, two unassuming middle-aged men – Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith – joined forces to create Alcoholics Anonymous. A play at the Biograph Theater explores that time.
New James Bond Exhibit at Museum of Science and Industry Will Leave 007 Fans Shaken AND Stirred
Two large galleries showcase tricked-out vehicles, artifacts and gadgets from 25 films in the series, along with movie clips that set the scene.
What Do Lenny Bruce, Joe Mantegna and Booze Have in Common? 2 Plays About American Trailblazers Light Up the Biograph Theater
Local legend Joe Mantegna is directing “I’m Not a Comedian… I’m Lenny Bruce” starring Ronnie Marmo as the comedian who took a bullet for anyone who values free speech. Marmo also directs and stars in “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” the true story of the dramatic founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby, Breakout Chicago Rock Band, Meets the Moment With Electrifying Show at Schubas: Review
There was a charge in the air at Schubas Tavern on Saturday night. Maybe it was the singer with the electric chair tattooed on his chest. Brigitte Calls Me Baby played its first sold-out hometown show.
