Stories by Chloe Riley

Afternoon tea in the parlor and dressing in black tie just to have dinner at home: that was everyday life for the fictional, aristocratic Crawley family. Starting today, Downton fans can get an up-close look at those fashions in a new exhibit at the Driehaus Museum. Brandis Friedman takes us inside.

Rob Zombie made a name for himself as a purveyor of monstrous rock ‘n’ roll and scary movies. He also helps create haunted houses around the country. We speak with Zombie on location in west suburban Villa Park, the site of his "Great American Nightmare." 

Rob Zombie made a name for himself as a purveyor of monstrous rock ‘n’ roll and scary movies. He also helps create haunted houses around the country. We spoke with Zombie on location in west suburban Villa Park, the site of his "Great American Nightmare." 

There was no public countdown, no fanfare this time. And yet, a corpse flower is blooming – right now – at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Watch a livestream of the rare event.

The city's fall theater lineup has already produced some knockouts, according to Chicago Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss. Here she reviews Paramount's Theatre's "Oklahoma!," Raven Theatre's "Direct From Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys," Timeline's "The Price," and the House Theatre's "The Revel."

Struggling artist Frank Dudley visited the Indiana Dunes 100 years ago and discovered his life's work – painting the fragile and constantly evolving landscape and promoting and preserving the dunes. We look at the enduring impact of Dudley's dramatic oil paintings.