And so begins my weekend at Chicago Comic Con. I haven’t been back in several years, so it should be interesting, to say the least. I’ll be resurrecting my typical battle plan: Day One – scour the booths for 50% off graphic novels and novelty items, armed with a prioritized list; Day Two – check [...]

Tags: artists, Bruce Campbell, celebrities, Chicago, Comic Con, Ghost of the Robot, James Marsters, nerds, Patrick Stewart, Torchwood, Willy Wonka, Wizard world
Filed under: Chicago, geeky, hobbies, local spot, pop culture, press, sci-fi, tv shows

There are about a hundred different things I could dive into about the first two hours of Doctor Who: Series 6. I could easily spend thousands of words on analyzing clues and subtext, attempting to untangle plotlines and deducing the direction this season will take. But I won’t. As a wise (but maybe not quite [...]

Tags: Chicago, Doctor Who, Series 6, sneak preview
Filed under: Chicago, geeky, pop culture, sci-fi, tv shows

…and guess who got lucky enough to get on the RSVP list?!? This is turning into an annual tradition – last year the husbeast and I got to see the first two hours of Series 5 at a special screening at C2E2. Getting to see events like these on the big screen is great, but [...]

Tags: Chicago, Comic Relief, Doctor Who, Elisabeth Sladen, Hugh Grant, Joanna Lumley, Jonathan Pryce, Rowin Atkinson, Series 6, sneak preview
Filed under: Chicago, geeky, pop culture, sci-fi, tv shows

If it’s not apparent by now, I’m obsessed with cooking. It’s not for nothing that negotiations often take place over food because few things generate a sense of contentment and congeniality more than a good meal. I love how the preparation and enjoyment of food brings people together and creates connections where previously there may [...]

Tags: ancho, candy, Chicago, chili, chipotle, chocolate, dessert, Edible Alchemy, education, ganache, handmade, learning, local food, non-dairy, non-soy, nuts, seminar, series, spicy, teaching, treats, truffle rolling, truffles, workshop
Filed under: Chicago, chocolate, cooking, food, hobbies, local spot, recipes, snacks, teaching

It’s days like today that remind me why it’s worth it to endure the sweltering, humid summers and frigid, bitter winters in this city. Eighty-one degrees, low humidity and a few, fluffy white clouds drifting across a cerulean blue sky. This is when you get to see the city at its best, when the light [...]

Tags: Chicago, Christian Science Center, downtown, Jewelers' Building, Marina City Towers, State Street, Trump Tower
Filed under: Chicago

Attention Chicago-area teachers – Marbles the Brain Store is offering a 10% discount and no sales tax to teachers at their 5 Chicago area stores (55 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL, 4745 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL, Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, IL or 123 S. Washington St., Naperville, IL) today and tomorrow [...]

Tags: Chicago, deals, games, Marbles Brain Store, puzzles, shopping
Filed under: Chicago, hobbies, puzzles