Category: Entertainment

Goodman Theater features Henrik Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People”

February 19, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theater features Henrik Ibsen’s play, “An Enemy of the People” ROBERT FALLS DIRECTS A NEW ADAPTATION OF AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE, HENRIK IBSEN’S TIMELESS MASTERPIECE, APPEARING MARCH 10 – APRIL 15 AT GOODMAN THEATRE ***PHILIP EARL JOHNSON AND SCOTT JAECK LEAD THE 14-MEMBER CAST ALONG WITH CHICAGO FAVORITES DAVID DARLOW, ALLEN GILMORE, LARRY NEUMANN, JR.,…

Entertainment, News, Theater

Cloverfield “franchise” destroys a great original theme

February 14, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cloverfield “franchise” destroys a great original theme Some one should explain to J.J. Abrams that it isn’t enough to just put a word in a movie title to create a franchise that will excite the public. I loved the 2008 movie “Cloverfield.” But the two films int he so-called “Cloverfield franchise” don’t even come close…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, General Topics, Movies, Opinion, rayhanania, Television

Tomasulo’s Man of the People offers refreshing chuckles in mad, mad, mad, mad world

January 22, 2018August 20, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Tomasulo’s Man of the People offers refreshing chuckles in mad, mad, mad, mad world “Common sense perspective” returns to American TV late night comedy in Pat Tomasulo’s “Man of the People” on Saturday nights at 10 pm on WGN TV. Tomasulo is the only host on TV offering original comedy that isn’t driven by the…

Blogger, Comedy, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Opinion

Tomasulo’s Man of the People offers refreshing chuckles in mad, mad, mad, mad world.

January 22, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

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Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo Jan. 25 – 28

January 16, 2018January 16, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo Jan. 25 – 28 CHICAGOLAND FISHING, TRAVEL & OUTDOOR EXPO ANNOUNCES 2018 FEATURES AND SEMINARS Chicagoland’s Ultimate Winter Fishing Event Brings “The World of Sportfishing” Indoors to Schaumburg January 25-28 Returning to the Midwest this month, the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, is taking over the Schaumburg Convention…

Entertainment, News, Travel

Double dipping tipping is getting out of hand

January 9, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Double dipping tipping is getting out of hand Service industry businesses like restaurants, limousines, hotels and cruise lines are getting into the habit of imposing a 20 percent “tip” for services rendered to customers. But they are still asking for an additional “tip” when the bill arrives. A “tip” is supposed to reflect a customers…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Entertainment, Opinion, rayhanania, restaurants

Holidays today are not like holidays of the past

January 3, 2018November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Holidays today are not like holidays of the past It was so much better in the “old days.” Movie theaters were more enjoyable and traveling on airlines and even cruises were simpler. We knew what we were getting upfront for the single cost we paid. Today, traveling is a gamble, and going to the movie…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Movies, Opinion, Orland Park, rayhanania, Technology, Television, Travel

DeYoung rocks Star Plaza

December 20, 2017December 22, 2017 Steve Metsch No Comments

DeYoung rocks Star Plaza Former Styx frontman sounds good as ever By Steve Metsch It’s been 40 years since Styx released its “The Grand Illusion” album, but you couldn’t tell that by listening to Dennis DeYoung’s voice. DeYoung, the former frontman for the popular rock band from Chicago, played the entire album and a slew…

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Commentary, Entertainment

Exorbitant Hamilton tickets reflect founding father’s life

December 5, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Exorbitant Hamilton tickets reflect founding father’s life “Hamilton: The Satirical.” More tickets were announced available this week to the politically partisan Broadway musical “Hamilton: An American Musical.” But only the super rich will be able to afford seats that allows them to see the whole stage and even the cheap, obstructed seats will still cost…

Blogger, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, National, Opinion, rayhanania, Theater

Netflix increases fees as programming drops

December 5, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Netflix increases fees as programming drops Netflix raised fees, again. But if they want to keep me as a loyal subscriber, they need to be loyal to me and produce some kickass programing. Dropping Kevin Spacey from “House of Cards” is a major blow, and the garbage they are offering the wake of another favorite,…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, General Topics, Movies, Opinion, rayhanania, Technology, Television, Videos

All you can eat Brazilian steak houses

November 25, 2017December 19, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

All you can eat Brazilian steak houses One of my favorite restaurants is the Brazilian steakhouse where waiters serve the Churrascaria food selections on skewers one slice at a time with a huge salad bar in the background. Texas de Brazil is at the top of the list but I have enjoyed them all including…

Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Opinion, Orland Park, Photos, rayhanania, Restaurant Review, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Chicago releases its 2018 Special Events Schedule

November 15, 2017September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Chicago releases its 2018 Special Events Schedule Year of Creative Youth January–December 2018 Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2018 as the “Year of Creative Youth.” The $2 million investment by the City of Chicago will include a Creative Youth Festival across the Millennium Park Campus, performance…

Entertainment, Events, Festival, Government, News, restaurants

New TV Sitcom “The Mayor” gives politics a funny edge

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

New TV Sitcom “The Mayor” gives politics a funny edge Bernard David Jones brings his comedic acting chops – perfected during his time spent at CollegeHumor – to primetime TV in one of Fall TV’s new comedy series The Mayor (TUESDAYs (9:30|8:30c) on ABC). The new ABC comedy revolves around young rapper ‘Courtney Rose’ (Brandon Michael…

Books & Films, Comedy, Entertainment, Humor, News, Television

Emanuel unveils Chicago’s first public arts plan

October 27, 2017October 27, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Emanuel unveils Chicago’s first public arts plan MAYOR EMANUEL AND THE CITY OF CHICAGO UNVEILS THE FIRST PUBLIC ART PLAN Recommendations serve to advance public art throughout the city Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced Chicago’s first Public Art Plan. The plan lays out recommendations that…

Chicago, Entertainment, News

Biding time while waiting for my favorite TV programs

October 23, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Biding time while waiting for my favorite TV programs The latest trend as cable TV programs rise in popularity and quality is that their seasons are shortened to only a few episodes. For those of us used to 25 to 30 episode seasons, it’s disappointing that we’re seeing fewer episodes for originally programming on HBO,…

Books & Films, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Television

Cable and subscription TV are cheating the consumer

October 15, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Cable and subscription TV are cheating the consumer We pay a lot for subscriptions to Hulu, Netflix and cable TV providers like Xfinity and DirecTV, so why can’t we get what we were promised? Access to great basic programming and a commercial free experience? By Ray Hanania One of the appeals of subscription television is…

Baby Boomers, Blogger, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, Features, Opinion, rayhanania, Television, Videos

The Primal Cut Steakhouse Restaurant review

October 14, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Primal Cut Steakhouse Restaurant review There are a lot of great restaurants in the Chicagoland suburbs, but one of my favorites for steaks is The Primal Cut Steakhouse in Tinley Park. The steaks are always cooked perfectly and they are tasty. This is a must-visit place for steak lovers in Chicagoland’s suburbs By Ray…

Blogger, Business, Commentary, Editors Pick, Entertainment, food, Opinion, rayhanania

Why did Blade Runner 2049 do so bad at theaters?

October 9, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why did Blade Runner 2049 do so bad at theaters? Movie Review: Blade Runner is a science fiction film based on the 1968 novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by SciFi author Philip K. Dick. The lead character is Rick Deckard whose job as a “Blade Runner” is to terminate (retire) old replicants (bio-robotic…

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