Senior in high school has marriage-itis - July 25, 2011 - Dear Amy: I'm a 17-year-old senior in high school, and I've been dating my boyfriend for almost a year.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Hampton: Move Idonije inside - July 24, 2011 - Hall of Famer Dan Hampton would like to see the Bears shift Israel Idonije from left defensive end to tackle.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
How do you explain park deaths? You can't - July 25, 2011 - Why did they do it?
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
The anti-Obama - July 24, 2011 - — When you pick up a glossy, multipage color brochure at a presidential campaign event, you expect to see a candidate's image on the front. The ones stacked on a table inside the Sports Page Grill, where Tim Pawlenty is appearing this...
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
18 Holes with … Gar Forman - July 23, 2011 - I offered to take Gar Forman to a fancy club. Perhaps somewhere with valets, chateaubriand sandwiches and complimentary aftershave in the locker room.
Fire stand up to Man U - July 23, 2011 - Moments after Cory Gibbs gave the Fire a surprising 1-0 lead Saturday over Manchester United on a header in the 13th minute, bubbly team owner Andrew Hauptman popped into the press box.
Auctioneer Leslie Hindman expands to Milwaukee, Palm Beach, Fla. - July 24, 2011 - By the end of the year, Chicago auctioneer Leslie Hindman will open two more auction houses, in Milwaukee and Palm Beach, Fla., as her eponymous firm expects to reap a second year of record sales.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Timing not right for U.S. in 2020 - July 1, 2011 - While a U.S. bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics still seems very unlikely, USOC chief executive Scott Blackmun didn't rule it out this week.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Boulevard parking angers Logan Square residents - July 25, 2011 - The wide, park-lined boulevards of Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood still look much like they did in 1900, helping define a community that honors the best of a bygone era.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Don't be so evil: A guide for bosses - July 25, 2011 - A long time ago, a caveman went up to another caveman and said: "I'll give you some of my woolly mammoth meat if you move these rocks for me."
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Casting announced for 'My Fair Lady' at Paramount - July 19, 2011 - The Paramount Theatre has announced the cast for its first self-produced musical: Jim Corti's fall production of "My Fair Lady."
Why we blunder when we buy - July 22, 2011 - Consumers might say they like easy buying decisions, but they don't.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Don't pass up 2nd chance to crack open a good book - July 24, 2011 - Some of you do your summer reading with sand between your toes. Others read while sitting at a lake in the woods, smelling faintly of mosquito repellent, wondering if there's a bear in the bush.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Sick and wrong: Chronicle of Chicago's Public Hospital - July 22, 2011 - Forget politics. Just for a moment, assume politics doesn't exist in the United States. Pretend there is no such thing as Democrats, Republicans, independents, Libertarians, members of the Green Party or the tea party. Or even the Green Tea Party....
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Forgotten hero saved city streets - July 22, 2011 - The children playing in the street in the photograph know little about the history of their street.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Album review: Jimmie Vaughan, 'Plays More Blues, Ballads & Favorites' - July 25, 2011 - 3 stars (out of 4)
Earnings, stock prices highlight fragile nature of recovery - July 24, 2011 - Last week's earnings reports are further evidence of the pressures on a fragile economy and the adjustments investors are making to their expectations.
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
A quartet of summer film festivals at the Music Box - July 22, 2011 - A master of mind games, humiliation and passive aggression, a French business exec played by Kristin Scott Thomas in the film "Love Crimes" artfully manipulates her doe-eyed young colleague (played by Ludivine Sagnier) and doesn't even try to...
Juan Williams' payback time - July 24, 2011 - Revenge is a dish that is best served cold, an old saying goes. Juan Williams, the Fox News political analyst who was famously fired last fall from NPR, serves up a generous platter of the cold dish in his latest book, if only as an appetizer.
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
One and only cowboy who lays down a beat - July 23, 2011 - Chris Sand, a resident of Dunn Center, N.D., northwest of Bismarck, where he lives in a house he bought for $1,000, goes by the handle "Sandman, the Rappin' Cowboy." This sweet, side-winding little documentary from director Elizabeth Lawrence...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Rulings keep homeowners' lawsuits on track - July 15, 2011 - Federal judges in Chicago and Boston have issued rulings in the past three weeks that keep alive two long-running lawsuits brought by homeowners, including two suburban Chicago residents, who have suffered as a result of the housing crisis.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Here's how Bears can hit ground running after lockout ends - July 24, 2011 - When the Bears finally wiggle out of their lockout handcuffs, they should be ready to start moving, shaking and signing.
Celebrating America's greatest composer: George Gershwin - July 22, 2011 - Seventy-five years ago, George Gershwin played the Ravinia Festival, drawing capacity crowds for a program that included his "Rhapsody in Blue," "Cuban Overture" and "An American in Paris."
Alomar joins Hall's family - July 24, 2011 - COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Maria Alomar couldn't stop crying. Her youngest son, Roberto, was making the speech he'd been planning for seven months, since he learned he'd be joining baseball's Hall of Fame.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Cold truth about air conditioning - July 24, 2011 - Sixteen years after the U.S. Postal Service filed its change-of-address forms and moved out, Chicago's mammoth old post office building has become the new Block 37, a place where grandiose development plans are routinely stamped return to sender...
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
U. of C. professor argues privatization of public assets just like borrowing money - July 22, 2011 - Mayor Rahm Emanuel may want to update his summer reading list with an article by a law professor at the University of Chicago.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
For 15 Vietnam vets, the reunion of a lifetime - July 24, 2011 - On Friday evening, if everything goes according to Jim Zwit's plan, he and 14 other Vietnam veterans will stand next to home plate at U.S. Cellular Field to be honored by the Chicago...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Two Chicago doctors celebrate 10th anniversary of their clinic in Bolivia's rainforest - July 25, 2011 - Centro Medico Humberto Parra is a free clinic founded by two Chicago doctors on land in the rainforest of Bolivia that is exotic yet unforgiving.
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
Out to Lunch: Sam & Harry's Steakhouse - July 24, 2011 - Sam & Harry's Steakhouse
Bell, Grant Park Chorus soothe noisy Millennium Park with gentle Faure Requiem - July 24, 2011 - Gabriel Faure's Requiem is not the first work that springs to mind when one thinks of choral music appropriate for performance at Millennium Park. Much of this sacred masterpiece is serene and restrained, a work of quiet consolation to set...
Top off summer style with classic hat - July 23, 2011 - Think about it, fellas. How many times are you stopped on the street by a complete stranger who tells you you're looking great.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Your cheating heart - July 22, 2011 - Our column about infidelity was quite the feedback generator. Here are some highlights from Facebook and in e-mails.
Problem Solver: No car, but her credit report is dinged - July 24, 2011 - Gloria Gates does not have a driver's license.
Temper those mayoral 'temper' stories - July 24, 2011 - Despite the events of last week, I'm standing pat on my "never" bet in the "Pick the Moment Rahm Totally Loses It Sweepstakes" announced in February by my colleague John Kass.
Bio | E-mail | Blog | Recent columns
How to avoid new-mom angst on Facebook - July 19, 2011 - DEAR JULIA: I am a mom of an 8-month-old and use Facebook regularly. Many of my Facebook friends have babies, too -- and, unfortunately, they brag about their perfect lives. I'm sorry, but when you're up all night with a baby or struggling to get...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Waiting for name to be called on draft day nerve-wracking - April 24, 2011 - The dynamic of the NFL draft goes much deeper than first-round picks walking across the stage in three-piece suits (bought by their agents) to shake the commissioner's hand.
How banks are assaulting the housing market - July 19, 2011 - America's big banks, among others, that helped send us spiraling into the Great Recession are at it again. They're warning of even more dire consequences if we don't follow their advice and raise the U.S. debt limit.
Bio | Blog | Recent columns
Jaycee Dugard and the feel-good imperative - July 15, 2011 - To watch Diane Sawyer's interview Sunday night with Jaycee Dugard was to wonder at times if that was Dugard herself on screen or an actress hired to play the role of the quintessential survivor. Dugard was so serene and lacking in rancor that it...
Beating the Chain's traffic - July 23, 2011 - Heavy boat traffic can discourage fishermen, and nothing is busier than the Fox Chain O' Lakes.
Lessons learned - July 24, 2011 - My dad was good at fixing things — and he got plenty of practice. Our living room was lit by a black clay lamp carved into a lattice pattern. It stood on the table next to the sofa — ground zero for the flying pillow or the flailing...
Program rebuilt for unemployed homeowners - July 20, 2011 - In 2010, the official unemployment rate stood at around 10 percent, and there were 5 people looking for every job that was available.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Men behaving badly - June 3, 2011 - Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York is a very busy man. He sits on several important committees. He's newly married to a high-powered wife. He's planning a run for mayor of New York, which they call "the city that never sleeps" for a reason. In fact,...
Who gets tax credit for purchase of new home? - July 22, 2011 - Q: My husband and I recently filed for bankruptcy after our home was foreclosed. My mother is willing to purchase a home in her name (as an investment property) and rent it back to us, as long as we can come up with the down payment for her...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Google+ invites new look at job search - July 24, 2011 - Q. I have received several Google+ invites to sign up for the free new resource that competes in the social media space with Facebook. Any reason I shouldn't? -- M.H.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Big push for the Half-Trillion plan - July 25, 2011 - WASHINGTON — The debt ceiling looms. Confusion reigns. Schemes abound. We are deep in a hole with, as of now, only three ways out: the (Sen. Mitch) McConnell plan, the G6 plan and the Half-Trillion plan.
Bowman needs to make some moves - June 30, 2011 - Hockey on Fourth of July weekend? You bet. I love Rocky Wirtz.
Can you answer the miracle question? - July 25, 2011 - Do you need a miracle in your life?
The just-vote-no crowd - July 12, 2011 - WASHINGTON — A debt crisis is a terrible thing to waste in a presidential election season, and Democrats and Republicans alike are responding on cue.
Enforcement of rules should be consistent - July 22, 2011 - Q: I live in a 48-unit condominium building that allows owners to rent their units for up to two years in hardship cases only. My unit has been listed for sale for over two years, and I am considering renting the unit and purchasing a home. I am...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Bin Laden's efforts to rebrand al-Qaida - July 5, 2011 - One thinks of that scene from "The Wizard of Oz" where Toto pulls back the curtain and the "great and powerful Oz" is revealed to be only an old man manipulating a smoke and fire machine. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!" bellows...
Couple learns lesson about reviewing a lease - July 22, 2011 - Q: My husband and I rented a house in a particular neighborhood because we wanted our kids to attend that neighborhood school. When we visited the rental, we told the agent about our choice, and made it clear that we were choosing this rental...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Out of the office: Carell enjoying family time - July 22, 2011 - — Steve Carell has come a long way from his days as a waiter at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chicago. It was his day job while he also did comedy at Second City comedy club here. Now he can walk away from plum jobs like his six-time Emmy-...
Can you help a bipolar coworker? - July 25, 2011 - Q. I have a coworker whose mood swings gives me whiplash. One day he seems confident and full of energy. The next day I have trouble getting him to help me put together a memo. We work in a very stressful industry. Is the job making him act this...
'We had bigger goals' - March 21, 2011 - Obviously, the Benet team and community had an extremely rough time with the unexpected end to the season.
Girls soccer | Joe Trost's Corner Kicks: Madison County teams sweep the state tournament - June 9, 2011 - Darren Geisler, an avid soccer fan from downstate Illinois, sent an email last week thanking me for picking Granite City to advance to the semifinals of the Class 3A state tournament last weekend.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Tighter lending standards the new normal - July 22, 2011 - For mortgage borrowers, it's one of those good news/bad news moments.
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Brake dust no big worry - July 23, 2011 - Q: The wheels on my 2011 BMW 128i are almost constantly filthy with soot coming from the disc brakes. I know some soot is to be expected from these brakes. It typically washes off quite easily, but I'm wondering if this is indicative of excess...
Bio | E-mail | Recent columns
Who will bat against 'Alibi' Obama? - July 8, 2011 - "If he popped up in the pinch he should of made a base hit and the reason he didn't was so-and-so. And if he cracked one for three bases he ought to had a home run, only the ball wasn't lively, or the wind brought it back, or he tripped on a...