Head on down to Hackneys on Saturday afternoon for a free sample of days gone by. more ›

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire." It is hard to go anywhere this time of year without hearing Nat King Cole croon this famous opening line. Sure, we all know The Christmas Song. But how many of us have actually ever eaten a chestnut, roasted or otherwise? Nutritious and delicious, they are a versatile addition to the holiday diet. Roasting chestnuts, a common practice in Europe, really brings out their earthy flavor. It is an art that is not lost on anyone who has ever had the pleasure of partaking in this holiday tradition. more ›

Larkin and her little business have come a long way since then. A manufacturer in Tennessee now produces bookthingys. There are a whole slew of different designs available, and all are adjustable for different sizes of books. The e-reader craze has also affected business - in a good way. Larkin introduced an e-book travel bag line earlier this year, which fit Kindles, Nooks, iPads and Netbooks. She sold out at Printers Row in June and is now selling them on her site. If you’re looking for a good way to carry and protect your iPad, “The Purse of Being a Wallflower” or “Fashionheit 451” might be a good fit. more ›

Anne Lamott takes on subjects with capital letters [Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus], but she does so with self-effacing humor and ruthless honesty—a decidedly lower-case approach to life’s “Big Questions,” noted a reviewer for Newsweek, and with her seventh novel, “Imperfect Birds,” the 56-year-old writer takes on another complicated issue: teenage pharmaceutical drug abuse. more ›

If you keep tabs on The New Yorker editors, the Tribune's Printers Row, or books written about President Barack Obama, then chances are you already know there's a big event tonight. Tribune literary editor Elizabeth Taylor will be joining David Remnick to discuss his new book The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama. Obama's story has been told time and time again since he entered the presidential race more than three years ago, but Remnick is the first author who attempts to provide an in-depth portrait through extensive on-record interviews with those involved in Obama's past and present. Remnick spoke to Obama's friends, teachers, mentors, associates, family and the president himself to explore Obama's path from student, to community organizer, to politician, to president. And naturally, both race and the city of Chicago play a big role in all of it. Here's an excerpt from the book's product description: more ›

The Thetan Level of Printer's Row is about skyrocket: the Church of Scientology will move its Illinois HQ into new digs at 650 S. Clark St. next year. The Church is in the midst of renovations to the seven-story, 50,212 square foot building which, according to the Tribune, "will accommodate worship, courses, spiritual counseling known as auditing, community outreach and church administration." The Church seems to have outgrown its current digs on the North Side on Lincoln Avenue. Rev. Jesse Wells said, "That's one of the reasons we need such a large space, to accommodate all the activities." more ›

Joe Segal's legendary Jazz Showcase has led a somewhat nomadic existence since he opened it in 1947, setting up shop in perhaps sixty different locations. The latest incarnation opened earlier this year in Printer's Row and this past weekend we used a gig by the legendary Benny Golson as an excuse to check out the new digs. Our conclusion: wow! more ›