Dear CIFF, We've got some beef with you. Here's a little list of pet peeves about this year's festival (summed up nicely by Phil Moreheart of Facets): screenings changing times and/or venues without staff knowledge; understaffed box offices; sound drops, framing issues that obscured subtitles, and even simple tasks like turning the theatre lights off before starting the movie. But what happened Monday night at the Malcolm McDowell event was the last straw.... more ›

The power of 300 voices rocked the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during “An Evening of Elegance” at the Chicago Gospel Festival last night, and that was just one act. We heard from Otis Clay, the Bady Brothers, and the Brown Sisters. "The Professor Thomas A. Dorsey Tribute" closed the evening and recognized Chicago’s own Thomas Dorsey, who is considered the Father of Gospel. Dorsey developed gospel music by combining Christian praise with the rhythms of jazz... more ›

This year, Valentine’s Day is going to be such a pain. Now that your standby teddy bear holding a heart is officially out, you’re going to have to come up with something a little more original and sophisticated to do. Roses and chocolate are so boring. Instead, opt for something a little bizarre, a little more erotic. Get an early start this Wednesday with Hot & Bothered: An Evening in Bed. This reading at the... more ›