Originally known as the “Rat Lady of Chicago,” Amazing Animals founder and owner Samantha Martin has been working with animals for more than 25 years. A feline specialist, she has trained some of her most talented to play music as The Acro-Cats, whose sound is akin to the Shaggs -- without vocals (but if the cats could sing, it might sound something like, "and the meow people meow, what the meow-meow people meow"). more ›

During the waning months of this year's epic presidential election, we saw the national conversation change from the War on Terrorism in Iraq to the global financial crisis. It's easy for those of us without family and friends in armed services to put the war in the back of our minds and focus on issues that hit closer to our homes. Tomorrow at the Chicago Department of Culture and Arts' Theater (78 E. Washington), the Vet Art Project will have a free, public performance created by war veterans in collaboration with artists of various mediums. The Vet Art Project allows veterans to tell their stories and creates discussion of how war touches all of our lives. more ›