A smorgasbord for the mind, the 2005 Chicago Humanities Festival has rolled into town. This year’s theme is Home and Away, concerning “the role that ‘place’ serves in the creation of our sense of rootedness and belonging.” Sounds like Pretentious-English-Major-speak, but an impressive slate of writers, musicians and performers are addressing such hot button issues as globalization, mobility, national identity, and bridging regional differences. Most tickets are $5, a bargain that ensures many sold out... more ›

Tickets for the Chicago Humanities Festival go on sale to the general public today. The city's annual celebration of culture, literature, art, and social sciences runs from October 29 to November 13, with speakers and performances all over the city. This year's festival theme is "Home and Away"; presenters will address the role that place serves in the creation of identity and belonging. There is also an accompanying children's festival featuring interactive programs in theater,... more ›

We kind of thought we'd be hearing more about this, but for some reason it's been pretty quiet. Susan Orlean will be in Chicago on Sunday as Victoria Lautman's guest on "Writers on the Record," a radio interview show. more ›