Chicago

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Nili Yelin, A.K.A. the Storybook Mom. A Wilmette resident and NU graduate, Nili is known throughout the Chicagoland area for her interactive style of storytelling and ability to communicate her passion for literature to her listeners. She has an extensive background in performing and developing her own… Read more »

  I recently read—and enjoyed—the novel, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, a sweet homage to independent bookstores. Given my long-standing love of bookstores (and libraries), it’s not surprising this story resonated with me. I still have fond memories of the book sellers of my youth: the erudite sales staff at Kroch’s and Brentano’s,… Read more »

 Some talk the talk Some walk the walk Sunday some took the plunge. I would do many things to promote literacy and to support the Chicago Special Olympics (my son was a coach when he was in Chicago), but taking the Polar Plunge definitely does NOT fall in that category. Fortunately, there are others, apparently… Read more »

This summer, at my daughter’s suggestion, I started watching Orange is the New Black on Netflix. Pretty soon, I was hooked and binge-watched the entire season over the course of a few days. I was intrigued even further when I found out that this show about life in a woman’s prison is based on the true account… Read more »

More evidence is now in, according to a possibly ground-breaking study published online July 3 in the journal Neurology: tackling brain-stimulating activities from childhood through old age can help delay the onset of memory loss. We need to keep our brain active by doing things, such as reading books, writing letters and solving problems throughout our… Read more »

Choosing a new pair of school shoes, shopping for new clothes and loading up on school supplies were my favorite parts of welcoming a new school year when I was a child…perhaps you felt the same way. A similar shopping expedition with your children or grandchildren is bound to bring back these positive memories.

Bruce Feiler, NYT family columnist and the best-selling author of The Secrets of Happy Families, advises us to tell our story: The most important thing you can do may be the easiest of all. Tell your children the story of their family. Children who know more about their parents, grandparents, and other relatives – both… Read more »

What is it that is deaf, dumb and blind and always tells the truth? * Mother’s Day afternoon found us wandering in and out of the inviting shops that line the street in Lincoln Square, a vibrant Chicago neighborhood. I definitely planned to make a stop at Café Selmarie, a wonderful bakery/restaurant which provides charming outdoor… Read more »