Culture

Anatomy of an Advice Goddess

Illinois Times interviews columnist Amy Alkon on her career, methodology and the scourge of rude behavior

Every week, Amy Alkon provides IT readers with her spin on romantic problems in her syndicated column The Advice Goddess. The column, which received the first place award for commentary last month fro

History

The makeup of yesteryear

Whale oil, raw beef and other 19th century beauty secrets

I recently learned a new reason why I’m glad I didn’t live in the 1800s — 19th century cosmetics.I became enlightened about this topic after attending an interesting 3½-hour seminar

Food - Julianne Glatz

Can’t beat pasta to beat the heat

It’s too darn hot.I’d like to sup with my baby tonight,Refill the cup with my baby tonight.But I ain’t up to my baby tonight,’Cause it’s too darn hot.From It’s Too

Film - Chuck Koplinski

Sorcerer casts an enchanting spell

Sometimes, having low expectations is a good thing. Knowing that the brain trust behind the National Treasure movies, actor Nicolas Cage and director Jon Turteltaub, were collaborating to turn The Sor

Film - Chuck Koplinski

Salt needs seasoning

Originally tailored for Tom Cruise, Phillip Noyce’s Salt is a Cold War thriller combined with Hitchcock’s wrong man premise fashioned as a piece of pulp fiction. Think The Manchurian Candi

Music - Tom Irwin

End of July jewels

Here we are nearing the end of July 2010 with a good forecast for upcoming live music. As August begins we head into the Decatur Celebration and then the Illinois State Fair as major music fronts, wit