What Drove Michelangelo?
Thursday, March 6, marks the 550th anniversary of the birth of Michelangelo Buonarroti. He won't be blowing out any candles, of course, but his work retains its grip on the public imagination. Last year, nearly seven million tourists streamed into the Vatican, home of his Sistine Ceiling and 'Last Judgment' frescoes. Two million flocked to the David in Florence in 2023, the most recent year for which there are statistics. Museum exhibitions of his work routinely draw crowds.
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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Remembering Jim Dooley of The Dooley Brothers, the man and his music
Death arrives with regularity, but sometimes it can produce something in addition to tears. And so it was last week when Mike Dooley let me know that his brother, Jim Dooley, had died on Aug. 8 after a lengthy battle with colon cancer. 'Jim was a talented musician, superb vocalist, brilliant guitarist,' Mike wrote in a message, along with his son Mick and Jim's daughter Claire. 'And a prolific songwriter, poet, artist, nature photographer, husband and father.' Sad for a moment, then I smiled, as I was tossed back in time. Jim, Mike, Joe and Bill were The Dooley Brothers band, as entertaining and durable as any band in the city's musical history. They have been at it since the 1960s, a duration that earned them the title, bestowed by an NPR voice, of 'the longest continuously running band in the Chicago area after the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.' I first saw them at … well, I don't remember the exact spot or year. It could have been any number of places because this band's list of previous venues played represents a sort of history of clubs and saloons. Here are a dozen, so let your memories flow: The Abbey, Amazing Grace, Barbarossa, The Bulls, Byfield's, Earl of Old Town, Holstein's, Saddle Club, Stretch's, Backroom, Four Farthings … and on and on. They performed at FitzGerald's in Berwyn when the club opened in 1980 and played at the club's St. Patrick's Day party for four decades. They played at libraries, festivals, senior centers and country clubs — thousands of gigs. I wrote about them nearly 40 years ago, when they had been in the music business for 20 years. They were playing at the bygone Roxy when Jim told me, 'It's been difficult to pin a label on us … We were always open to all forms of music and like to think we grew more diverse, independent of the scene around us.' Never difficult to appreciate and admire, the Dooleys were children of River Forest. There was one grandfather who performed Irish ballads on Lake Michigan cruise ships and another who was a fiddler in his native Ireland before joining the Cicero fire department. Their parents were Thomas Dooley, a photo engraver at this newspaper, where he composed and set the colors for the Sunday comics, and Avis, a portrait artist with a studio on Michigan Avenue. The family home was filled with music, and the brothers taught themselves to play and recorded songs on a reel-to-reel tape recorder. As he started in college in 1966, Jim, along with brothers Joe and Bill, founded their original musical group. They named it The Dooley Boys and started playing at colleges and various coffeehouses and nightclubs in and around Chicago, notably in the club-peppered Old Town and Rush Street neighborhoods. Youngest brother Mike joined a few years later and the band became The Dooley Brothers. They were never easily categorized but rather open to many styles. Jim explained that after they first visited Ireland in 1977, 'We were really exposed to traditional Irish music. And we fell in love.' They focused on that sound for a while, playing a six-month engagement at the bygone Kilkenny Castle Inn on the Northwest Side. 'But then we started sneaking in swing music and then it was back to the old mixed bag,' said Jim. That became one of the principal joys of this band, their eclectic taste. Folk, jazz, swing, folk … they could do it all, and recorded it on four albums. The first was jazz-rock, the second all-Irish. And the third? 'Next, we'd like to come out with a swing album,' Jim told me years ago at the Roxy. 'And then an album or original tunes. And if we're not really famous in five years, we're going to become baseball players.' They never did become famous (or rich), but they kept playing, as they married and had children and were often joined on stages by other local performers and eventually by more family members. In reviewing the group, I wrote, '(The band) provided a generous mix of Irish tunes, light jazz, swing, do-wop and blues. It was all sentimental and accessible stuff, but it was done with such forceful harmonies, clever arrangements and frequent instrumental flourishes that it was surprisingly fresh and entertaining.' Brother and band member Bill Dooley stopped performing a while back and died in November 2024. The band had by then been bolstered by Mike's son Mick, who joined in 2015. In the wake of Jim's death, he wrote of his uncle, in part, 'Jim's legacy will echo throughout his social circles and beyond, in the thousands of souls he touched in performance and friendship, those good times they had, living life, feeling the good vibrations of live, local music at bars. Singing, dancing, laughing with real people. Experiences that can't be outsourced to social media.' Jim's daughter Claire, born to wife Anna, began playing with the band in 2020 and she says, 'The honor of my life has been performing with my dad on stage, playing guitar with him at our house, and our voices harmonizing together. As our voices harmonized together, so did we.' There's a new album that has been in the works, and there will be a celebration of life for Jim sometime in the coming months. There will be, it goes without saying, music and tears. Memories and smiles, too.
Time Business News
4 days ago
- Time Business News
Mike Wolfe Project: A Journey of Finding Stories in Old Things
The name Mike Wolfe is familiar to millions of people around the world, thanks to the hit TV show American Pickers . But his work goes far beyond television. The true Mike Wolfe Project is about discovering, saving, and celebrating history in everyday objects, forgotten buildings, and overlooked communities. For Mike, antiques are not just 'things.' They are stories waiting to be told. From old motorcycles to rusty signs, each piece connects the past to the present. His lifelong project is about teaching people to see value where others might see junk. Mike Wolfe's passion began in childhood. While many kids collected toys or baseball cards, Mike was fascinated with discarded bikes, broken machines, and forgotten objects. He would search through alleys and garages, bringing home pieces others had thrown away. This curiosity became a lifestyle. Instead of letting history rot in barns and sheds, Mike wanted to give old items a second life. What started as a hobby eventually grew into a career and then into a mission—the Mike Wolfe Project. In 2010, Mike Wolfe introduced his passion to the world through American Pickers , a History Channel show that follows Mike and his partner Frank Fritz as they travel across the U.S. searching for antiques. The show quickly became popular, not because it was about 'junk hunting,' but because it revealed the human stories behind each item. From vintage motorcycles to antique toys, every find represented a piece of American culture. The show highlighted what the Mike Wolfe Project has always stood for: preserving history, one pick at a time. One of Mike Wolfe's biggest projects is Antique Archaeology, his store with locations in Le Claire, Iowa, and Nashville, Tennessee. Unlike a regular antique shop, Antique Archaeology feels like a living museum. Visitors walk in not only to buy items but also to learn about their stories. Each piece is carefully selected, often rescued from barns or garages across the country. The store is proof that the Mike Wolfe Project isn't just about collecting—it's about educating and inspiring people to value history. Mike Wolfe believes that saving history isn't only about objects; it's also about places. A big part of his project involves restoring small towns and historic buildings. He has invested in old properties and supported local communities by encouraging preservation. To Mike, old buildings are just like antiques: they carry stories, character, and cultural value. By saving them, he helps keep the spirit of small-town America alive. This part of his project goes beyond personal passion—it's about building a future rooted in respect for the past. Mike Wolfe has a deep love for motorcycles, especially vintage ones. For him, motorcycles are not just machines; they are works of art that represent freedom, craftsmanship, and adventure. He has collected, restored, and celebrated rare bikes for years. In many ways, his motorcycle collection is another branch of the Mike Wolfe Project. Just like antiques, these bikes tell stories of design and innovation from decades ago. The true heart of the Mike Wolfe Project is not profit—it's perspective. Mike has inspired millions of viewers to look at objects differently. A rusted sign may seem worthless to some, but to Mike, it could represent a piece of forgotten advertising history. A broken bicycle may look like junk, but to him, it tells the story of craftsmanship and childhood adventures from the past. By sharing this way of thinking, Mike encourages people everywhere to respect history and see beauty in overlooked things. Although American Pickers made him famous, Mike Wolfe has continued to expand his projects. He has written books, given talks, and worked on documentaries. He also uses social media to share his finds and promote the importance of preservation. Through these efforts, he continues his mission of connecting people with history in fresh, creative ways. The Mike Wolfe Project doesn't have an ending—it's an ongoing mission. As long as barns, garages, and old towns exist, there will always be stories to uncover. Mike's future plans focus on growing Antique Archaeology, supporting community restoration projects, and continuing to inspire people to value history. His vision is clear: every forgotten object deserves a chance to shine again. 1. What is the Mike Wolfe Project? The Mike Wolfe Project refers to Mike Wolfe's lifelong mission to preserve history through antiques, restoration, and storytelling. 2. Is the Mike Wolfe Project just about American Pickers ? No. While American Pickers is a big part of it, the project also includes Antique Archaeology, motorcycle restoration, and community preservation. 3. What makes Mike Wolfe different from other antique collectors? Mike focuses on the stories and cultural value behind items, not just their price. He sees history in objects many people overlook. 4. Does Mike Wolfe still own Antique Archaeology? Yes. Mike continues to run Antique Archaeology, with locations in Iowa and Tennessee, as part of his larger project. 5. Why does Mike Wolfe invest in small towns? He believes saving old buildings and supporting communities is just as important as saving antiques. Both are part of preserving America's history. The Mike Wolfe Project is not a single store, a single TV show, or even a single passion. It's a lifetime journey built on respect for history, love for storytelling, and dedication to preserving the past. From his childhood curiosity to American Pickers , from Antique Archaeology to restoring small towns, Mike has shown the world that treasures aren't always shiny or new. Sometimes, they're hidden in dust and rust, waiting for someone to bring them back to life. In the end, the Mike Wolfe Project is about more than antiques—it's about honoring history and inspiring others to see value where no one else does. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
‘Outlander: Blood Of My Blood' Is An Entertaining Prequel With One Big Problem
Outlander: Blood Of My Blood Credit: Starz I tend to view prequels with a healthy dose of skepticism. Every once in a blue moon, one comes along and not only justifies its existence, but blows my mind in the process. Most of the time, prequels are little better than fan-fiction. Better Call Saul somehow managed to be every bit as dramatic and compelling as its parent show, Breaking Bad. The series maintained suspense by introducing a handful of really compelling new characters whose fates remained a mystery. Just as importantly, the show's writers resisted the temptation to make it little more than a vehicle for Breaking Bad callbacks. Better Call Saul brought back characters from Breaking Bad judiciously and with purpose. Jimmy and Mike, in particular, were given a great deal more depth than they ever had in the original series. Another great example of a prequel done right is Andor, Tony Gilroy's exceptional companion series to Rogue One which was itself a prequel to A New Hope. Star Wars has lots of prequels and prequels of prequels. It's less known for profound character studies and brilliant explorations of revolution and political upheaval, but Andor managed to do all that and more in its 24-episode run. Of course, we knew the fate of Cassian Andor, and the Empire and the Rebellion, but the show helped fill in so many gaps, while giving us a darker (and better written) portrayal of a galaxy far, far away, that it quickly became my favorite piece of Star Wars media since the original trilogy. But Better Call Saul and Andor are diamonds in the rough. Far too often, prequels are little more than another way to squeeze more content out of an IP. A prequel faces many hurdles. It's rarely as good as the original but always compared to the original. A prequel often gives us too much information, like explaining how the Force works in Star Wars. It rarely stands on its own two feet as a story, with many of its best gags or moments inextricably tied to work that came before. Unlike a sequel, a prequel isn't tasked with ending a story, but rather with making up some new story altogether which can somehow lead to the one we've already been told. This can make many prequels seem hamfisted or unsurprising. Which brings me to Outlander: Blood Of My Blood. Outlander: Blood Of My Blood Credit: Starz I Wanna Go Back, When You Were Mine Spoilers follow. The new series takes place some years before the events of Outlander, though given that these are stories about time-travelling 'before' and 'after' are rather hazy prepositions. We are introduced to Jamie Fraser's parents, Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) before they become his parents. We are also introduced to Claire Beauchamp's parents, Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) and Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield), though in the timeline of the prequel their daughter has already been born (though we get to see how they meet during WW1 briefly before the main story kicks off). The casting is quite superb. It's so uncannily good that it throws me off at times. Hermione Corfield's Julia looks and sounds and acts so much like Claire (Caitriona Balfe) at times that they could have just as easily cast her to play a younger Claire rather than her mother. It's quite extraordinary. I'm less thrilled by how similar their personalities are. Mothers and daughters are often quite different people, but with Claire and Julia, the apple didn't fall far from the proverbial tree. Claire and Julia Credit: Starz I rolled my eyes a few times at how Strong and Independent Julia happens to be, a generation ahead of Claire, who was already quite uniquely strong-willed and opinionated for her time (and took those views back with zeal to the 17th century where they were even more foreign). To have her mother not only look but act and think almost exactly the same is peculiar. Sure, kids learn from their parents and often hold similar views, but just as often they fight to distinguish themselves from their parents or even rebel against them, even if only intellectually or politically. A more conservative, traditional Julia would have helped make her more distinct and feel less like a clone of Claire. It doesn't help that Jamie's mother, Ellen, is also fiercely independent and progressive for her time. The daughter of a Scottish laird, she was promised by her father that she would never have to marry. And so the two main female protagonists each possess strikingly similar personalities, very out of place for their respective times, that also happen to mirror Claire's personality from the original show. Brian and Jamie Fraser Credit: Starz The fathers, meanwhile, are both handsome, progressive, noble and brave. Again, the casting is exceptional. Jamie Roy looks a lot like a young, dark-haired Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). His voice sounds like Heughan's as well. And he is every bit the gentleman, chivalrous and kind and self-sacrificing. He's the one man, it turns out, that might tempt Ellen away from her commitment to spinsterdom. But her family loathes the Frasers and the Frasers loath the MacKenzies, so we have two star-crossed lovers. It's Macbeth meets Romeo and Juliet. In some ways, the fact that Jamie and Claire's parents are all so fierce and good and independent and stubborn makes sense. They passed these qualities down to their children. In other ways, it strikes me that this makes Claire and Jamie much less unique. This is all made much, much worse by the fact that Claire's parents end up time-travelling . . . directly into the same time and place as Jamie's parents during the early days of their forbidden courtship. If you told this story chronologically rather than having this be a prequel, it would seem very strange. You'd have these two couples meet thanks to pretty random time-traveling, and then (I assume, I haven't watched the whole season) fall in love and make some babies, and then somehow they separate and then . . . miraculously . . . their babies, born in different centuries, end up falling in love a generation later. MORE FOR YOU Now, Claire is hardly special at all. Her parents always wanted to visit Scotland and go there on honeymoon there, so her trip there with Frank was just a weird repeat of theirs. Only now, she didn't go to Scotland because of all the wonderful stories they told her but because Frank was researching his genealogy. Recall Claire of the first season. She really knows very little about Scotland. Frank is always teaching her things. Isn't that a little odd given her parents' story? They even went through the same exact stones that Claire travels back through! Meanwhile, we are given a long parade of characters from the main show, only in younger actor's bodies. Murtagh is a dashing young man played by Rory Alexander. Colum MacKenzie is played by young Seamus McLean Ross, who reminds me of a young (and Scottish) Joaquin Phoenix; Sam Retford plays his brother Dougal, with a full head of hair and a full belly of fire. There are even young versions of Ned, Angus and Rupert. The characters face some of the same problems I noticed in Dexter: Original Sin. That was an enjoyable prequel, but the younger versions all started to have the 'high school play' effect. It's not that any of the casting is off. I'm pleased with all the actors. But it's just a lot of 'Oh look, that's young Angus! Oh look, that's young Colum! Oh look . . . ' and so on and so forth. The first two episodes of Blood Of My Blood still get a lot right. I enjoyed the setup, introducing us first to Jamie's parents and secretly to Claire's parents (as a maid in the Fraser household and the bladier of House Grant) before revealing their story in the second episode. You meet both Julia and Henry as characters in the past before realizing later that they came from the 20th century. That's clever, and would have been even better if we were given more time to make this connection on our own, with perhaps a midseason reveal that they came from the future. The costumes and music and cinematography are all great and lovingly crafted, though at times a shot here or there looked weirdly fake. We're not quite at Outlander levels of detail and production value here, but it's close enough for cannonballs. I also love that the show takes place in Scotland rather than the New World. I've had a harder time staying invested in Outlander's main story ever since it left Scotland for the high seas and the Americas. As much as I might gripe that we're treading old ground or hewing a little too close to the characters in the original show, it's still good to be back. I'm not sure what to think of Blood Of My Blood just yet. I remain optimistic despite my worries. I'm not sure this is a prequel that will justify its existence beyond throwing fans a fun new story. Who knows, maybe that'll be enough.
