Ten Awesome Things to Do in Scottsdale’s Desert ParadiseMira Temkinon July 15, 2021 at 2:07 pm

When the temps go up in Scottsdale, the prices go down. So bring on the heat and save big bucks on that luxury vacation you’ve been dreaming about. With rates 60% off peak season, forget about that three-digit number on the thermometer and plan a trip now. Check out ItsThatHot.com for easy, breezy trip-planning with everything from hot resort rates to chill desert experiences.

1. The Phoenician – A Luxury Resort Collection, Scottsdale

The sprawling Phoenician Hotel stands against the backdrop of the Camelback Mountains. Photo by Mira Temkin.

Get ready for the time of your life! The AAA Five Diamond Phoenician is now welcoming guests back to a true luxury experience. Choose from a range of accommodations…more than 600 spectacular guest rooms/suites as well as 60-Canyon Suites with exclusive services, private pools and cabanas. Bring the gang and hang out at the Phoenician Athletic Club, a new two-story facility where you can do it all. Play tennis, pickleball, work out or up your skills in the game room. Like to hit the greens? Tee up for a premier golf experience at the 18-hole Phoenician Golf Club, showcasing the unique beauty of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.

Dine Divine

Hungry? The Phoenician offers eight different venues that feature sumptuous steaks, bold, American cuisine and poolside options.

Charred Hanger Steak with wild mushroom, pickled blueberry and sunflower pesto. Photo by Mira Temkin.

Go casual, yet refined at Mowry & Cotton, and indulge in a menu that combines bold, simple flavors of Modern American cuisine with traditional cooking under fire, coal and smoke. Chef Tandy Peterson’s approach uses the large, hearth oven that that stands as the focal point of the restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Recommended is the Charred Hanger Steak with wild mushroom, pickled blueberry and sunflower pesto which was rich and succulent. Save room for the warm S’mores Pie.

The Spa of Spas

Get the treatments you deserve at the new, three-story Phoenician Spa offering a contemporary approach to relaxation, fitness and beauty. Using desert botanicals, savor a range of treatments, therapies and salon services and feel totally relaxed. Try the Personal Remedy facial and come away with skin that feels fresh and rejuvenated. Then chill out at the rooftop pool with mountain views, feeling at one with the desert. Visit the Drybar for a blowout/hair styling, nail salon; aromatherapy blending bar and the fitness center for personal training.

2.Sip and Savor at LDV Winery

Wine concierge Grant Gibson can recommend a host of vintages. Photo by Mira Temkin.

Head to LDV Winery in downtown Scottsdale for a pairing of their finest vintages. While their vineyard is located in the Chiricahua Mountains in Southeastern, Arizona, you can enjoy their hand-crafted, estate-grown Rhone-varietal wines by the glass or bottle right there in town. Share the bounty with your pals or a plate of “little bites” to munch on while you’re sipping on the patio. Grant Gibson, wine concierge, explained how the volcanic soil of the region as well as the high elevation contributes to the wine’s unique flavors. What’s more, LDV is also Arizona’s only vegan winery.

Dining Recommendations

3.The Herb Box

Go big at The Herb Box. Photo by Mira Temkin

Plan to be wowed at this farm-to-table restaurant where you can watch the food being prepared outside window at the Herb Box. Savory twists on tried-and-true cuisine along with fresh, seasonal ingredients combine regional flavors with uber-creativity. Start with the Crisp Brussel Sprouts Chips, served with yellow pepper aioli. Dee-lish and healthy, too. Recommended entrée is the Chimichurri Beef Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Fries and Happy Garden Salad, so plentiful. The Herb Box is known for its shared plates, bowls and flatbreads. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

4.Farm & Craft

Think sustainable, gluten-free and organic food and you’ve got the focus of Farm & Craft community-style dining. They believe in a seasonal Wellness Menu that drives four paths to optimal health. Try the Wild Mushroom Flatbread with caramelized onions, sesame cashew salad or a roasted beets bowl for great taste and nutrients. Kombucha Cocktails are out of this world.

5.Postino’s Wine Bar, Highland

Continuing to expand their locations, Postino’s Highland is the newest jewel in the crown. Housed inside a restored midcentury modern bank, Postino’s Wine Bar is the perfect place to sip and savor. Famous for their luscious bruschetta, go with the Brie, Apple and Fig Spread, Ricotta, Dates and Pistachio, Artichoke Spread and Smoked Salmon and Pesto. Everything was perfect-o! For a light lunch, go with the Raspberry Chicken Salad sandwich. Pair your meal with one of Wine Merchant Brent’s picks for wine or beer and dig in!

6.Wonderspaces – It’s Virtual Art and More

Watching a virtual reality movie. Photo courtesy of Wonderspaces.

A really cool place to hang out is Wonderspaces, a year-round, evolving art show featuring extraordinary artwork from around the world This interactive, Instagram-friendly series of installations is the first permanent location of the popular art pop-up. Get your I-phones ready for awesome selfies. Experiences like the Virtual Reality movie where a dog jumps into your boat as you drift along and self-drawing art will amaze you! It’s all inside Fashion Square Mall.

7.Indulge in the Ultimate in Luxury at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Located on 65 acres in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, you’ll find the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, a AAA Five Diamond luxury resort that caters to your every need. Known for its uncompromising standards of excellence, the luxury resort features five distinctive restaurants and lounges, two Tournament Players Club golf courses, Well & Being Spa, five heated outdoor swimming pools and five tennis courts.

Check out the Ironwood American Kitchen which serves all-day fare in a warm and inviting atmosphere overlooking the resort’s South Pool. The menu features a variety of hearty, wood-fired specialties such as flatbread pizzas, sandwiches and oven roasted nachos, as well as mixing bowl salads and chef Sean Mayhew’s famous Bechamel-drizzled potato chips. Take time to watch the exhibition kitchen and interact with Mayhew and his team. With summer rates starting at $199, the newly renovated Princess packs in fun for your whole gang.

Dine at Scottsdale’s best Mexican restaurant

Under the direction of Chef Richard Sandoval, La Hacienda at the Princess serves the best Mexican cuisine in Scottsdale. Look for innovative flavors featuring seasonal, indigenous ingredients. Sandoval’s philosophy embraces the concept of “Old Ways, New Hands”, sharing old classics in exciting new ways. Emphasis is on tableside preparation to delight your senses, starting with guacamole. Local favorites include grilled skirt steak served with cactus pico, fajitas and barbecued seabass or short ribs. End with their iconic flaming coffee, served tableside, with tequila, coffee, cream, cinnamon in an unforgettable presentation.

8.Hit the water!

Think you can’t kayak or raft in Scottsdale? Head out to Salt River just 20 minutes outside the city and you’ll find there’s no shortage of outdoor adventure in the Arizona desert. Check out REI- Co-op for a full itinerary of challenging and fun adventure trips, including guided tours, mountain biking, curated experiences and more on the water and off. Let their nature experts show you their knowledge of the Sonoran Desert as you bike, raft and hike the great outdoors. Kayak down the Lower Salt River and bask in the serenity of the clear waters. Take in the blue herons and bald eagles with magnificent views of four mountain ranges. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot a group of wild horses grazing in the shallow waters.

9.Go True North at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West

Photo by Mira Temkin

The spirit of the American West is alive and well at the nation’s best Western museum and Smithsonian affiliate. Explore the outstanding art exhibits, rare Old West artifacts and movie posters that bring Western heritage to life. Check out the collection of saddles and wonder about the adventures the riders had seen. You’ll get a feel for the culture of cowboys and Native Americans who settled this country. Walking distance of Scottsdale’s numerous art galleries and restaurants.

10.Scottsdale’s Newest Dining, Shopping, Entertainment Scene — Arizona Boardwalk

Welcome to the Arizona BoardwalkThis is the place to play! Arizona Boardwalk features eight different attractions with more than 10 shops and restaurants.

Go Deep at OdySea Aquarium

The 16-acre complex is the largest aquarium in the Southwest and the fourth largest in America, all developed by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Featuring high-tech, high-entertainment, oceanic adventure with floor-to-ceiling windows, you can view aquatic life many fun ways. SeaTREK was way cool, where you descend deep into the water and meet marine life face to face, if you dare! The OdySea Voyager takes you on a rotating aquarium experience with sea turtles, sea lions and sharks. You can even watch the actual feeding. Check out the award-winning bathrooms for more surprises.

Butterfly Wonderland – A Rainforest Experience

What a feeling to walk into Butterfly Wonderland, the largest indoor butterfly conservatory in America and see thousands of butterflies flying freely. Get up close and personal with reptiles and amphibians, all in the magic of the rainforest. Be sure to catch the “Flight of the Butterflies” movie in their immersive 3D theater.

Plan your trip to Scottsdale soon. For more information, go to ExperienceScottsdale.com.

Ten Awesome Things to Do in Scottsdale’s Desert ParadiseMira Temkinon July 15, 2021 at 2:07 pm Read More »

5 Most Expensive Houses on the Market in Lincoln ParkOlessa Hanzlikon July 15, 2021 at 2:51 pm

I can 100% say that I’m guilty of driving around Chicago looking at the massive houses and apartments that line the city streets. It’s sort of like therapy for me. And I always think to myself, one day I’ll own one of these. I’m sure I’m not the only person who has driven by those expensive properties and gawked. It’s hard not to look, am I right? And I’ve always wondered, how rich do you actually need to be to afford one of these? Trust me when I say this…however much you think that beautiful white brick stone costs, triple that number. No, actually, quadruple that.

So, we’re going to look at the 5 most expensive houses currently on the market in Lincoln Park. From the “cheapest” costly one to the you might need to sell your kidney and more expensive one. I gathered these from Zillow, but I’m sure there are even more extravagant ones on the market from different sites. We’ll take a look at square footage, style, amenities, and of course, the ridiculous prices.

#5. 2550 N Lakeview Ave Unit S3502, Chicago, IL 60614

Price: $4,500,000 | Sqft: 4,500 | Bed/Bath: 4 bed, 5 bath

Located on the 35th floor, this 4,500 square foot home is the epitome of urban living for the modern sophisticate. The residence has two private terraces, a custom-built office, and multiple living spaces. It also has access to luxurious amenities and services like a large private park, indoor pool, fitness center, club rooms, dog run, theater, first-rate door staff, valet, and more. Inside, the elegant foyer gives way to the main living and dining spaces. To the west, there is a custom-built office and three additional en-suite bedrooms with large, floor-to-ceiling windows. Just off the family room is the kitchen with a large center island, stainless steel appliances, and a butler’s pantry. Separated from the rest of the unit by the foyer is the east-facing primary suite. This suite features a marble bath and several closets. The unit’s best features are of course the floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for panoramic views and the amazing terraces.

View full listing here.

#4. 1810 N Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614

Price: $5,795,000 | Sqft: 6,600 | Bed/Bath: 6 bed, 6 bath

This home features high ceilings, custom windows, intricate moldings, stone, tile, and cascading center staircase. The main entry has an exterior heated limestone entry, a foyer, 12′ ceilings throughout, and a separate formal living room with a shared fireplace between the dining room, music gallery, and butlers pantry. The kitchen has a massive quartzite island with a ton of cabinetry and storage, 60′ Wolf Range, separate full-sized fridge and freezer, beverage centers, 2 dishwashers all overlooking a large banquette/eat-in area, and a large family room with access to a teak terrace with a built-in grill. The 2nd level features 4 bedrooms, including a master with custom built-ins, floor to ceiling windows, a private terrace overlooking the backyard, an ensuite bathroom with separate vanities, a soaking tub, an oversized shower, and a large walk-in closet with a separate prep vanity. 3 additional bedrooms, including 1 with an ensuite bathroom and full laundry room complete this level. The top floor has a built-out office and an additional bedroom/guest suite with a full bath. The lower level has a mudroom with additional laundry and direct access to the attached 2 car garage with a heated driveway. Another family room houses a built-in bar with 3 full-sized wine refrigerators and a limestone fireplace, plus access to the backyard. This level also has the 6th bedroom/craft room with a full bathroom. The residence also comes equipped with an Elan security system.

View full listing here.

#3. 1857 N Orchard St, Chicago, IL 60614

Price: $6,695,000 | Sqft: 9,000 | Bed/Bath: 8 bed, 9 bath

The main level of this modern residence houses living and dining spaces with huge windows for amazing light. The kitchen has two islands – one with a built-in breakfast table, 6-burner stove & griddle, double ovens, steam oven, and a prep sink. There is also a butlers pantry that has a prep sink, built-in espresso maker, and wine refrigeration. The adjacent great room backs up to the deck and yard-allowing for true indoor-outdoor living. There also is a separate, fully enclosed office. A beautiful central glass staircase takes you to the bedroom level where you will find four bedroom suites including the master with closets, a hidden desk/office nook, and a spa-quality bath. The laundry is also on that level. The penthouse level has a large family room/hang-out space with another set of doors opening directly onto the rooftop terrace. Two additional bedrooms that share a Jack and Jill bath can also be found on this level, as well as a powder room and a kitchenette. The lower level has a media room, separate playroom, and space for a pool table. A temperature-controlled wine room, two guest suites that share a bath, a powder room, and a second laundry room complete the lower level. The house is complete with a Savant system controlling all lighting, sound, and HVAC. There is a true sport court with a snowmelt system as well as a turf deck over the attached 4 car garage.

View full listing here.

#2. 1950 N Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614

Price: $15,000,000 | Sq. ft: 8,000 | Bed/Bath: 6 bed, 8 bath

On the main living level, each indoor space flows to the outdoors with full-height French doors. The center entry with double front doors leads to a foyer. Located on either side of the entry foyer are the formal living room and dining room. The living room is anchored by a wood-burning fireplace with a limestone surround and hearth and features double-height windows overlooking the yard. Next to the living area is the study. The kitchen, dining, and family room are the heart of the home. The kitchen features high-end appliances and a family dining table. Outside, a separate grilling area, additional paved basketball court, and lower side yard complete the all-purpose yard. The second floor of the home features a master bedroom suite comprising a comfortable sitting area, main bedroom, his and her walk-in wardrobe, and a marble master bathroom with a spa bath. There are 3 more bedrooms that complete the second level. The lower level has a large guest suite with a king-size bedroom, an ensuite, a sitting room, and a private entrance. Also located on the lower level is a second guest bedroom and bathroom, a recreation family room, a fitness studio, laundry room, lower level office, gift wrap room, and two large storage rooms. The home features Control 4 home automation which controls the lights, shades, televisions, and music.

View full listing here.

Now to see what you all have been waiting for….the MOST expensive listing (per Zillow) in Lincoln Park. Before you look, think about what you could do with this kind of money!

#1. 1932 N Burling St, Chicago, IL 60614

Price: $45,000,000 (!!!!!!!) | Sq. ft: 25,000 | Bed/Bath: 6 bed, 11 baths (not sure why you need that many bathrooms)

Sited on an enormous 177’x149′ parcel totaling more than eight city lots, every step has been taken to provide complete privacy and tranquility. Manicured grounds with multiple fountains, a reflecting pool, and a hand-forged antique garden pavilion transport you to another world. Absolutely no expense (literally) was spared inside or out throughout this mansion. Grand in every way, but not overwhelming, the design is perfect for large-scale entertaining as well as intimate everyday living.

Zillow doesn’t provide a ton of pictures or more information about this mansion, so all I can say is WOW. We covered this property a few months ago when it hit the market. This property is so grand, it reminds me of the Great Gatsby. From the pictures, every single possible detail has been accounted for and thoroughly thought over. It’s truly a work of art. There are even 7 fireplaces, your very own reflecting pool, and a f*****g garden!

View full listing here.

Photo by Ryan Heuer on Unsplash

*All home images taken from Zillow.com*

5 Most Expensive Houses on the Market in Lincoln ParkOlessa Hanzlikon July 15, 2021 at 2:51 pm Read More »

Chicago Cubs: 3 trades with Oakland Athletics to blow it upRyan Heckmanon July 15, 2021 at 2:16 pm

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

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Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

After an All Star break that was full of plenty of excitement for baseball fans, the Chicago Cubs come back to reality. Kris Bryant’s performance in the 2021 MLB All Star Game was somewhat forgettable and Craig Kimbrel pitched one-fifth of an inning.

There wasn’t much to watch if you’re a Cubs fan, which only fits the mold of what has been happening on the North side for the past month and a half.

The Cubs are 2-8 in their last 10 games and have fallen hard and fast in the NL Central race. At this stage, the Cubs aren’t necessarily admitting defeat, but they also are not considered “in” the race. After leading the division for a little while early in the year, the Cubs are now reeling and will face a tough trade deadline ahead.

The Cubs will sell. Make no mistake. They will be sellers. How aggressively will they sell? That’s the real question. One team that will buy, and potentially from the Cubs, is the Oakland Athletics. They seem to be a perfect partner for the Cubs.

The Chicago Cubs may be able to pull off a big trade with the Oakland Athletics prior to the 2021 deadline.

Oakland is in a tight race out in the AL West, as they are currently 3.5 games behind the Houston Astros. Funny enough, the Astros and Athletics could be after similar trade targets this year as well.

The Athletics’ farm system isn’t exactly chock full of top-100 prospects right now, but they do possess a few guys who could become much more exciting as time goes on.

If Oakland and Chicago engage in serious talks, the Cubs may end up signaling a fire sale. This could be the year they finally blow it up. It seems like forever ago since the 2016 World Series honeymoon occurred, but the truth of the matter is, the Ricketts haven’t cared a whole lot since winning that title.

Now, they face the reality of blowing things up in a big way. These trades with Oakland could end up providing some significant value if the Cubs were interested.

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Chicago Cubs: 3 trades with Oakland Athletics to blow it upRyan Heckmanon July 15, 2021 at 2:16 pm Read More »

FACT: I DO Like the Beatles!on July 15, 2021 at 1:54 pm

Getting More From Les

FACT: I DO Like the Beatles!

FACT: I DO Like the Beatles!on July 15, 2021 at 1:54 pm Read More »

Alden Global Capital is in the business of making money, not journalismon July 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Cheating Death

Alden Global Capital is in the business of making money, not journalism

Alden Global Capital is in the business of making money, not journalismon July 15, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Koeosaeme’s Annulus builds a cohesive world of glossy, blissed-out reveriesJoshua Minsoo Kimon July 15, 2021 at 11:00 am

Japanese producer Ryu Yoshizawa has a rich career that includes making music for business conglomerates Square Enix and Lotte, spending 17 years and counting in sound artists’ group Office Intenzio, and providing live support for synth-pop pioneers Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi. His output as Koeosaeme has been varied too. His 2017 debut under that alias, Sonorant, features confetti-blasted footwork abstractions; 2018’s Float is all brooding drones and minimal electronics; and 2019’s Obanikeshi embraces full-blown sound-collage frenzy, with kaleidoscopic productions that often move at breakneck speeds. On his new record, Annulus (Orange Milk), he dials things back, pairing glossy instrumentation with sparse arrangements; each track is deliberate, unhurried, and above all lush. There’s a greater sense of continuity than on his previous releases, largely due to how spacious and airy each song feels. This lightness is key, causing every small sonic variation to feel like a crucial development, and “1520219:44” provides the album’s first taste of such economical sound slinging. Atop winding percussion and the faintest of ambience, a flurry of mouth noises–clicks and spurts and spitting–creates blissed-out reveries in a dizzying array of flavors. “12520219:05” is more straight-ahead in its dreaminess, adorning synth pads with Harold Budd-esque piano ambience, but even as the song gets busier, a sustained string note reins it in. This sort of careful balancing act defines every track, and it’s necessary to maintain the overarching playfulness of Annulus. Yoshizawa’s charming way of handling MIDI instrumentation throughout the album–mirroring percussion and vocals on “2720217:06,” for instance, or marrying electronic blips with a lumbering beat on “122202115:12”–elevates these tracks from mere curios into fleshed-out explorations of density, rhythm, and timbre. He also brings a beautiful mix of the traditional and the contemporary into play, with throat singing and various Asian percussion instruments melding with retrofuturistic synth flourishes on “1214202018:07.” Yoshizawa constantly aims to surprise, and with Annulus, he does so while delivering a cohesive vision. v

Koeosaeme’s Annulus builds a cohesive world of glossy, blissed-out reveriesJoshua Minsoo Kimon July 15, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

Ari Brown belongs in Chicago’s canon of great tenor saxophonistsSteve Krakowon July 15, 2021 at 11:00 am

Since 2004 Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) has used the Secret History of Chicago Music to shine a light on worthy artists with Chicago ties who’ve been forgotten, underrated, or never noticed in the first place.

The Windy City has lost most of its legendary tenor saxophone players: Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, Fred Anderson, Von Freeman. Luckily, several titanic Chicago saxophonists are still among us, including avant-jazz legend Roscoe Mitchell, genre-crossing out cat David Boykin, and the versatile but underappreciated Ari Brown, whose thoughtful playing bridges the nimble intricacies of bebop and the wooly eruptions of free jazz.

Brown was born February 1, 1944, and grew up on the south side of Chicago, where he learned to groove from his father’s jazz records. He began as a pianist, playing for soul, blues, and R&B artists around the midwest (Gene Chandler, the Chi-Lites, B.B. King, Lou Rawls, Chuck Berry, the Four Tops), and in 1965 he switched to tenor saxophone. At that point he was attending Woodrow Wilson Junior College (soon to be renamed Kennedy-King), where he met a crowd of future legends, including Jack DeJohnette and several founders or early members of the brand-new Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians: Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, and Joseph Jarman.

Brown would join the AACM himself in 1971, but he felt out of his depth at first. “The meetings were kind of intimidating to me, because all these musicians, they were already made musicians,” he told the Tribune‘s Howard Reich in 2018. “I was just a new face in the crowd. When I joined the group, Muhal wanted everyone to have a group and feature their own compositions and so forth. And I was really scared, because I hadn’t written a composition. I had never led a band before. So I’m not sure what I did. But I guess it worked.”

Revolutionary soul-jazz group the Awakening, which included several AACM affiliates (and appeared in a previous Secret History), enlisted Brown for its two groundbreaking albums, released via the Black Jazz label in 1972 and ’73. Sadly, in 1974 Brown suffered a major setback: a terrible car crash in which he lost several teeth. He was unable to play saxophone as he recuperated, so at first he fell back on his piano skills. After seven months, he tried to return to his horn and discovered that someone had added insult to injury–the instrument was gone, stolen from his home. Undeterred, Brown borrowed his father’s sax and got his chops back into shape.

In the late 1970s, Brown began playing mostly jazz, gigging with the likes of McCoy Tyner, Don Patterson, and Sonny Stitt. In 1979 the great drummer Elvin Jones asked him to be his touring saxophonist, a gig that would continue on and off for more than 20 years. All this time, Brown also held down a day job: he’d earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the VanderCook College of Music in Bronzeville in 1968, and in 1974 he began work as a teacher for Chicago Public Schools. The multitasking Brown even appeared on the 1976 LP Flowers by Windy City soul and R&B group the Emotions, which went gold.

In the 1980s and onward, Brown would perform all over the world. He started his own regular group, the Ari Brown Quintet, and continued to gig widely with other projects and bandleaders. His resume is vast, but highlights include the AACM Experimental Orchestra, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, Lester Bowie, Anthony Braxton (for his 1990s Charlie Parker Project), Donald Byrd, Malachi Favors, Von Freeman, Roscoe Mitchell, David Murray, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, and Orbert Davis‘s Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. In 1989 he joined drummer Kahil El’Zabar in his Ritual Trio, which is still active (albeit with a different lineup).

Though Brown appears on more than 75 records, he didn’t make an album as a bandleader until 1995. That year he recorded Ultimate Frontier for Delmark, working with several frequent collaborators: his brother Kirk Brown on piano, Yosef Ben Israel on bass, and Avreeayl Ra on drums. The music honored bop’s past while looking forward to the freedom music it had spawned, and it led to several more Delmark albums: 1998’s Venus, 2007’s Live at the Green Mill, and most recently 2013’s Groove Awakening.

Brown continues to teach, and has nurtured generations of musicians at Columbia College, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and other institutions. He’s played venues and events as diverse as the Smithsonian Institution, Steppenwolf Theatre, the Village Vanguard, the Newport Jazz Festival, and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Despite working more as a sideman or in support roles than at center stage, Brown has received plenty of recognition throughout his career, including four awards from the National Endowment of the Arts. In 2018 the Tribune declared him one of its Chicagoans of the Year in the Arts.

Brown was part of the ensemble on the 2020 album Cloud Script by bassist Joshua Abrams, and he’s continued to perform as the pandemic allows. In March 2021, he and Kirk recorded a duo set at Constellation that was streamed as part of the virtual series Chicago Takes 10, and in April ’21 he played a string of limited-capacity shows at the Jazz Showcase. In June he participated in Elastic’s streaming Z Festival, playing in a band led by bassist Marlene Rosenberg, and on September 4 he’ll perform as part of a Millennium Park jazz concert during the Chicago in Tune festival. If you get a chance to catch this forward-thinking living legend onstage, don’t pass it up. v

The radio version of the Secret History of Chicago Music airs on Outside the Loop on WGN Radio 720 AM, Saturdays at 5 AM with host Mike Stephen. Past shows are archived here.

Ari Brown belongs in Chicago’s canon of great tenor saxophonistsSteve Krakowon July 15, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

Candace Parker makes a historic (cover) shot for Sky, WNBAAnnie Costabileon July 15, 2021 at 4:30 am

LAS VEGAS — The sports world woke up Wednesday to Candace Parker’s making history as the first woman and WNBA player to grace the cover of an NBA 2K video game.

The response was instant and the praise universal. Parker eclipsed the hype surrounding the 17th WNBA All-Star Game that pitted Team WNBA against Team USA.

“It’s a signal and a sign around our players and the league,” WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said. “It’s a signal that the WNBA is here to stay and the next 25 years are going to be really interesting.”

In her first All-Star appearance in 2013, Parker finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. On Wednesday night, Parker played in her sixth All-Star Game, and she had five points, five rebounds and five assists. Team WNBA won 93-85, and Arike Ogunbowale was named MVP.

Engelbert said after the game that she never saw so much defense played in an All-Star Game.

Parker’s performance with the Sky left no question in anyone’s mind that she belonged on the All-Star roster. Despite sitting out eight games with a high ankle sprain at the beginning of the season, Parker’s impact on the team can’t be overstated.

Without Parker, the Sky had a seven-game skid. Upon her return, they flipped the script with a franchise-setting seven-game winning streak. Parker is the franchise player the Sky have needed since they traded away Elena Delle Donne, but even better. In her 14th season, Parker is the Sky’s second-leading scorer behind first-time All-Star Kahleah Copper with 13.3 points. Parker also has pulled down 8.8 rebounds and dished out 3.8 assists. The Sky are 10-10 at the Olympic break but 9-3 with her on the floor.

Parker’s NBA 2K22 cover is not only a signal of what’s to come for the WNBA, but what the future might hold for the Sky.

“Candace’s impact on basketball is like very few in the game,” Sky coach and general manager James Wade said.

Sky owner Michael Alter said Parker’s image on the cover reinforces what the organization has been building. But what stood out more to Alter was the support shown by the entire team.

This year’s Sky team has a unique connection and one that is not a given for every organization. Almost every member of the Sky was in Las Vegas supporting Parker, Copper, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley, who won her third three-point contest.

“I am blown away by the cover, truly,” Diamond DeShields said. “As someone who grew up playing video games, that’s literally always been a dream. I’m just amazed, to be honest.”

Parker is the biggest piece of the Sky’s puzzle and their pursuit of another history-making moment, winning the franchise’s first WNBA championship. The focus for the team coming out of the Olympic break needs to be on developing consistency. When the Sky has clicked on all cylinders, their offense has run at a high pace and their defense has been disruptive. When that happens, they are a top team.

They need to figure out a way to be that squad through four quarters.

Candace Parker makes a historic (cover) shot for Sky, WNBAAnnie Costabileon July 15, 2021 at 4:30 am Read More »

Dick Tidrow, former Cubs & White Sox pitcher, dies at 74Janie McCauley | Associated Presson July 15, 2021 at 4:34 am

SAN FRANCISCO — Dick Tidrow, a former major league pitcher and longtime member of the San Francisco Giants’ front office, has died. He was 74.

The Giants announced his death Wednesday on behalf of the Tidrow family. He died unexpectedly Saturday in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

“Our entire organization is heartbroken by the news of Dick’s passing,” Giants President and CEO Larry Baer said. “So much of our success over these past three decades is directly linked to Dick’s contributions. He will be truly missed by all of us and our thoughts are with Mari Jo and his entire family during this difficult time.”

Tidrow pitched parts of 13 major league seasons for the Indians, the Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and Mets. The 6-foot-4 right-hander had a 100-94 career record with a 3.68 ERA over 620 appearances with 138 starts.

Tidrow most recently served as the Giants’ senior adviser to the President of Baseball Operations, He spent 28 seasons in a half-dozen roles with the Giants after joining the franchise before the 1994 season as a major league scout.

The former pitcher’s guidance was crucial during the Giants’ three World Series championship seasons of 2010, ’12 and ’14. The 2010 championship was the first for the franchise since moving West in 1958.

“Dick was a unique and special person whose influence and impact was legendary throughout the game and whose fingerprints are all over our three World Series trophies,” said Brian Sabean, the Giants; executive vice president and senior adviser. “On a personal level, we shared some incredible highs and lows together and I’m forever grateful for his 40 years of friendship and support.”

Before returning to his native San Francisco, Tidrow worked as a special assignment scout for the Yankees from 1985 through 1993.

“Crushing! Yet another great baseball man we have lost!” former Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen posted on Twitter. “The ‘ninja’ was so influential with all of us. His random times he’d pop up, maybe say a few words that might help you out, say a few words that you might not of wanted to hear at the time. But he ALWAYS was HONEST!”

Tidrow was born on May 14, 1947, in San Francisco. A former Marine, he attended high school and college in the East Bay suburb of Hayward, graduating from Mount Eden High in 1965 and Chabot Junior College two years later.

He is survived by wife, Mari Jo, three children — Andy, Matt and Richelle — and one grandchild, Trista.

“Dick was truly one of a kind. He is loved and missed beyond measure and irreplaceable in our hearts and lives,” Mari Jo Tidrow said.

Services were pending.

Dick Tidrow, former Cubs & White Sox pitcher, dies at 74Janie McCauley | Associated Presson July 15, 2021 at 4:34 am Read More »