Latest news with #TheGoldenGirls'
Chicago Tribune
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
David Cerda put some of his own story into ‘Scary Town.' It's not an easy story.
Theater creator David Cerda's family history, a roller coaster of long-held secrets, explosive holiday gatherings and shocking revelations, could easily be the subject of a Lifetime movie. He admits that Lifetime's melodramatic style might be a funny way to tell his story, but for anyone familiar with Cerda's body of work as artistic director and resident playwright of Hell in a Handbag Productions, it's no surprise that he took a more unconventional approach with his new semi-autobiographical play, 'Scary Town.' Co-founded by Cerda in 2002, Handbag specializes in campy pop-culture parodies, from its series of so-called 'lost episodes' of 'The Golden Girls' to holiday perennial 'Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer' and recent Broadway send-up 'Poor People.' Typically featuring actors in drag, absurd plots, witty one-liners and cheeky innuendos, Handbag shows have drawn a loyal following among the LGBTQ+ community 'and cool straight people' over the years, as Cerda said in a recent interview. Written by Cerda and directed by Cheryl Snodgrass, 'Scary Town' parodies the style of Richard Scarry, a prolific 20th century children's author and illustrator best known for his cheery depictions of anthropomorphic animals. Colin Callahan plays the protagonist and Cerda stand-in Deven Bunny, a moody 13-year-old who feels out of place among the relentlessly optimistic residents of Merry Town, where he shares a burrow with his dysfunctional family of 368 bunnies and counting. When Deven discovers a secret about his parentage, he embarks on a quest to learn the truth about his past. This 'adult children's play,' as Handbag bills it, blends whimsy and dark humor to tell a heartfelt family story. In a recent interview at the theater's home base in the North Center neighborhood, Cerda recounted the real events that inspired the play. Born in 1961, he grew up as the oldest of four siblings in Hammond, Indiana, an industrial city that borders Lake Michigan and the Illinois state line. Childhood wasn't easy; his parents often fought, sometimes violently, and both struggled with substance abuse. Plus, he was bullied by schoolmates for being a 'really obviously gay kid.' While working on a school project at age 13, Cerda was surprised to find that his birth certificate listed his mother's maiden name, rather than his father's name, as his surname. When he asked his mother about it, she angrily dismissed the question. Although it continued to bother him, he didn't get any more information until he was an undergraduate at Purdue University Northwest and started going to gay bars in Calumet City, a southern suburb of Chicago then known for its lively nightlife. One evening, a stranger approached Cerda and said she recognized him from family photos; she turned out to be his half-sister. It took about another decade for his mother to admit to Cerda that he had a different father from the siblings he grew up with, a fact that finally came out in a confrontation that he described as 'a big 'August: Osage County' moment.' After many more years of twists and turns, including several connections made through Facebook, Cerda learned that his biological father was a Hispanic man whom his mother met while working at a nightclub in Calumet City. He was already married to someone else, and she didn't tell him when she became pregnant. 'My grandparents were horrified because he was a brown man. It was 1960, and there was no way they wanted her to have the baby,' he said. Some details are still hazy for him, but Cerda understands that he was taken from his mother and raised by Catholic nuns in an orphanage for the first six months of his life. 'My mom fought to get me back. She fought the Catholic church and fought the system, and she succeeded, and I was told that's not easy to do, but it was under the condition that I live with my grandparents while she went to beauty school.' This early period of separation left its mark on Cerda. He lived with his grandparents, whom he adored, until he was four, and he believes he's blocked out the memory of leaving their home to go live with his mother. 'It was really hard for me to accept love, and it kind of still is, but I'm a lot more open to it. And talking about it really helps because a lot of people feel that way.' After his mother passed away in 2016, Cerda finally met his biological father, a decision he made after his half-sister sent him a photo of his dad that was taken in his 20s. 'That moment just blew my mind because he looks so much like me, and I've never had that,' Cerda recalled. 'It was really profound for me, and that's when I decided I have to connect with this person.' The father who raised him is also still alive, and Cerda has maintained relationships with both men. 'Suddenly I have two dads, and my mom's gone. I just miss my mom because we argued a lot, but we were so much alike in the respect (that) she was a free spirit,' he said. 'It really kind of breaks my heart that she was kind of a dreamer, and she never got to fulfill any of those dreams.' Cerda has chased his own dreams and overcome many struggles since moving to Chicago in 1981. He spent his first decade in the city working in bars and nightclubs, where he learned about queer culture and classic movies from older gay men. 'I was part of the new wave, artsy punk scene, and I found great solace in that and with those people,' he recalled. 'I was able to express myself through my look because my self-esteem was just so low that I didn't entertain the idea of writing or performing.' Even after he changed jobs to work in telemarketing, 'I was drinking myself into oblivion,' he said. 'I came out in 1980, so I watched a lot of friends die (of AIDS).' He put off getting tested until the early 1990s, expecting to test positive 'and just party until I die.' With this nihilistic outlook, 'you just don't picture yourself past 40, let alone 60.' However, his test results were negative, and after sharing the good news, his doctor asked if he wanted to do something about his drinking. 'I just paused, and I said, 'Yes, I would,'' Cerda recalled. 'It was like a spiritual moment. I don't believe in organized religion, but I do believe in a higher power, something bigger than me, and I just thought at that moment, 'I'm here for a reason.'' This conversation prompted Cerda's journey into sobriety, and a few years later, he met Chris, his partner of nearly 29 years. Around the same time, he wrote his first play, a sobriety-themed take on 'The Stepford Wives,' and he also started acting and writing for Sweetback Productions, a company founded in 1994 by Kelly Anchors and Mike McKune. One of the things that attracted Cerda to Sweetback was its willingness to cast actors who were often overlooked by other theaters — people 'whose professors told them, 'You're too gay to be a leading man. You're just a character actress. You're too heavy to be a leading lady.'' Although he later had a messy split with Sweetback, Cerda instilled these shared values into Handbag's work from the company's inception. (He and Anchors have since reconciled, and she's an understudy in 'Scary Town.') 'We call the (Handbag) ensemble the Island of Misfit Toys,' said Cerda. 'Things have changed since we started, and now theater's open to different body shapes and different types and different gender expressions. … People are a lot more aware, but we were one of the first people to do that. We cast transgender people; it wasn't a statement when we did it, it was just they were great and they're our friends.' Long an itinerant company, Handbag moved into a new rehearsal space, fittingly dubbed 'The Clutch,' three years ago. 'Scary Town' is the first production to be staged there, and Cerda aims to make it a more permanent home for Handbag performances — though he says 'The Golden Girls: Lost Episodes' audiences are too large for the intimate space. He also hopes the Clutch can serve as 'a safe space to create queer art' during a time when the LGBTQ+ community is 'under attack.' He elaborated, 'I think a lot of young people are just terrified, and especially trans people. We need to make resources available to them. I know so many talented young people. I think they just need to know it's OK to be scared, but take that and create something with it. You can protest in the streets, but you can also protest on the stage with your art.' Beyond Handbag, Cerda continues to work with other local theaters on occasion. This spring, he stars opposite Esteban Andres Cruz in A Red Orchid Theatre's Chicago premiere of 'Six Men Dressed Like Joseph Stalin.' In this dark comedy by Dianne Nora, Cerda's character is a strict, Stanislavski-style actor who's forced to train a younger performer to play Stalin's body double. As for his artistic home, Cerda acknowledges the challenges of operating a small theater (Handbag's annual budget is under $200,000). Production costs are rising, and audience habits have changed since the pandemic, but he's still dreaming up new possibilities for the company and remains committed to mentoring younger artists. 'In my old age, I want to give everybody else a hand up,' he said. 'I still have a lot of ideas and spark, and I think that helps keep me young.'
New York Post
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Princess Diana's trip to gay bar with Freddie Mercury resurfaces as new book details late royal's night out in drag
Princess Diana's night out at a gay bar with Freddie Mercury is making headlines again as a new book recounts the late royal's escape from the palace dressed in male drag. The story is one of many enmeshed in Diana's mythology dissected in 'Dianaworld: An Obsession' (out Tuesday) by biographer Edward White, who cites actress Cleo Rocos' 2013 memoir for evidence of the princess' wild London night. In 'The Power of Positive Drinking,' Rocos claimed that the she, along with her friend Kenny Everett and Mercury, disguised the late Princess of Wales in drag so she could go to one of London's most popular gay bars, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. 10 Princess Diana's night out at a gay bar with Freddie Mercury is making headlines again as a new book recounts the late royal's escape from the palace dressed in male drag. UK Press via Getty Images 10 The story is one of many enmeshed in Diana's mythology dissected in 'Dianaworld: An Obsession' (out Tuesday) by biographer Edward White, who cites actress Cleo Rocos' 2013 memoir for evidence of the princess' wild London night. Getty Images The trip allegedly happened in 1988 after Rocos, the princess, the Queen frontman and Everett spent an afternoon 'drinking champagne in front of reruns of 'The Golden Girls' with the sound turned down' so they could improvise dialogue with 'a much naughtier storyline.' When Diana — 'in full mischief mode' — learned of her friends' plans to go to a gay bar that evening, she insisted on going. Rocos and Everett attempted to dissuade her, with Everett telling Di that the bar was 'not for you ' and 'full of hairy gay men.' The princess was intransigent. Mercury then supposedly chimed in with, 'Go on, let the girl have some fun,' and the matter was settled. 10 The trip allegedly happened in 1988 after Rocos, the princess, the Queen frontman and Everett spent an afternoon 'drinking champagne in front of reruns of 'The Golden Girls' with the sound turned down' so they could improvise dialogue with 'a much naughtier storyline.' Getty Images 10 When Diana — 'in full mischief mode' — learned of her friends' plans to go to a gay bar that evening, she insisted on going. Edward White Everett decided that, if the show must go on, he would disguise Di in drag: 'a camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses.' 'Scrutinizing her in the half-light we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just . . . JUST, pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model,' Rocos recalled. 'She did look like a beautiful young man.' As the group 'inched through the leather throngs and thongs' at the Royal Vauxhall, Diana's friends were terrified the ruse would collapse. 10 'Scrutinizing her in the half-light we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just . . . JUST, pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model,' Rocos recalled. 'She did look like a beautiful young man.' Getty Images 10 As the group 'inched through the leather throngs and thongs' at the Royal Vauxhall, Diana's friends were terrified the ruse would collapse. Getty Images 'When we walked in…we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it,' Rocos remembered. 'We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren. Diana and Freddie were giggling… Once the transaction was completed, we looked at one another, united in our triumphant quest. We did it!' Per Rocos, the princess sent Everett's clothes back to him the following morning with a note: 'We must do it again!' 10 'When we walked in…we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it,' Rocos remembered. WireImage 10 'We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren. Diana and Freddie were giggling… Once the transaction was completed, we looked at one another, united in our triumphant quest. We did it!' Steve Jennings/ The story has been disputed by Mercury's former assistant and friend Peter Freestone, however. 'No, not at all,' Freestone replied when asked by Express Online in 2019 whether the night out ever took place. 'Maybe Diana went with Kenny but Freddie wasn't there. He never met her.' As White wrote in his new book, Diana's trip to a London gay bar with Freddie Mercury 'sounds far-fetched, like one of the many apocryphal yarns of royal transformation that litter folklore and fairytales.' Yet, it also fits with Diana's documented penchant for escaping royal life undercover so she could experience the wider world. 10 The story has been disputed by Mercury's former assistant and friend Peter Freestone, however. UK Press via Getty Images 10 'No, not at all,' Freestone replied when asked by Express Online in 2019 whether the night out ever took place. 'Maybe Diana went with Kenny but Freddie wasn't there. He never met her.' Redferns '[T]here are other, slightly less fantastical, tales about Diana disguising herself on nights out, such as when she accompanied Hasnat Khan to Ronnie Scott's jazz bar in Soho, the princess obscuring her true self beneath a wig and glasses,' White emphasized. Apocryphal or not, the story — which inspired the cabaret musical, 'Royal Vauxhall' — 'has been taken up as an illustration of her connection with the gay community and a metaphor for her own search for a family in which she felt truly accepted,' White added.
Epoch Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
‘Murder by Cheesecake': Return to a Golden Age of TV
Given the craze over cozy mystery novels and the enduring popularity of the TV show 'The Golden Girls,' it's hardly any wonder that a book like 'Murder by Cheesecake' would be far behind. I'm actually a little surprised that a book featuring these characters has taken this long to appear. But does the author, Rachel Ekstrom Courage, manage to recapture the magic? Premiering on NBC in 1985, 'The Golden Girls' was a smash hit sitcom beloved by millions of viewers. In an era of television centered around family stories like 'Family Ties,' 'Growing Pains,' and 'The Cosby Show,' 'Golden Girls' featured a family of a different sort. Spanning seven seasons, the show followed the lives of four mature women—Dorothy Zbornak (the incomparable Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (television legend Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). They shared a home in the senior-living haven of Miami. Each character brought a unique charm: Dorothy's sardonic and razor-sharp wit, Rose's endearing naivety, Blanche's Southern belle allure, and Sophia's dry, candid humor. Golden Girls tackled topics like love, loss, and societal issues, typically through witty banter over coffee and cheesecake in the kitchen of the shared home. On a personal note, it was one of my late mother's favorite shows. We used to watch it together when I was a teenager. "The Golden Girls" played by (L–R) Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, and Betty White. Touchstone Pictures/MovieStillsDb Do the 'Girls' Work in Book Form? 'Murder by Cheesecake,' the first novelized version of the show, transports us right back to that famous yellow kitchen featured in the show, where Rose is having deep anxiety about a family wedding gone awry. Her cousin Nettie can no longer marry in their hometown of St. Olaf due to a fire at the only local hotel. The four women brainstorm solutions to the problem until Rose mentions that Nettie's fiancé, a nervous but charming man named Jason, has family from Miami. So, why not host the wedding in Miami instead? It'll be tricky, especially with the need to recreate every peculiar St. Olaf custom. That includes an ostrich ride and the traditional Welcome Tuna Tea, but Rose and the girls are willing to accept the challenge. Related Stories 11/16/2024 6/9/2014 Rose becomes a whirlwind wedding planner, assigning roles to her friends and baking an epic number of cheesecakes for the reception. Accommodations are problematic, but Jason's family offers to host the event at a family-owned hotel in Miami. Nettie and Jason are grateful but wary—afraid that the family's tendency to be overbearing and controlling might interfere with their special day. Dorothy and Blanche must also come up with dates for the big day. For Blanche, this likely won't be much of an issue (those who know the show will get why). Dorothy reluctantly resorts to a VHS dating service to try to locate a suitable beau. She might've hit the jackpot with a handsome man named Henry, who's into gourmet cooking and the saxophone. When the event kicks off, the girls meet Jason's glamorous sister, Patricia, who manages the hotel with an iron will and a cloud of perfume. Tensions between the Midwestern simplicity of St. Olaf and Miami's flashy luxury are evident, but Rose is determined to merge both worlds for a perfect wedding. 'What could go wrong?' quips Dorothy. As if fate hears her, Rose soon stumbles across a dead man in the hotel freezer with his face covered in one of her cheesecakes. Miami Magic The magic of the original series had much to do with how these characters play off one another in difficult situations. They're excellent foils, and I was pleased to see that Courage maintained the feel of the dialogue from the original show, including some great zingers. For example, Sophia's first reaction to the body is to helpfully offer the services of a shady cousin who 'knows how to make a situation like this disappear.' When Dorothy first mentions the dating service, Rose cautions to watch out for the Ted Bundersons out there. 'Don't you mean Ted Bundy?' asks Dorothy. Rose being Rose, she explains Bunderson was a man who wooed a friend in St. Olaf who only dated her to steal her cow figurines! Shocking! While the book drags a bit at the start to get the wedding details and the new characters in place, it thankfully begins to pick up pace once the body is discovered and the mystery begins. Courage wisely tells the story mainly from the point of view of Dorothy and Rose, thus avoiding some of the more awkward thoughts of sex-positive Blanche and the Sophia's blunt Sicilian attitudes. Fans will love the book. Non-fans? Even if you've never seen the show, there's a reason why these characters resonate with audiences so effectively—they're charming, relatable, and a joy to spend time with. Well-recommended. ' By Rachel Ekstrom Courage Hyperion Avenue, Apr 15, 2025 Paperback, 336 Pages What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Book Review: 'Golden Girls' inspired 'cozy mystery' is no comedy, but still a nostalgic nugget
In 1985, a sitcom about four women who were considered past their prime debuted in prime time. 'The Golden Girls' turned out to be a ratings hit for NBC for seven seasons. After 40 years, people of all ages are still thanking Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty and Betty White for being their friend. The comedy continues to find fans on Hulu and has spawned a pop-up restaurant and a fan convention. A whodunnit read — 'Murder By Cheesecake: A Golden Girls Cozy Mystery' doesn't seem like a far-fetched tie-in. The central mystery arises when a man Dorothy meets through a video dating service turns up dead in a hotel freezer face-down in cheesecake — a macabre use of the characters' favorite dessert. It's the hotel where Rose is days away from staging a giant wedding for relatives from her often-mentioned hometown of St. Olaf, Minnesota. The homicide, of course, throws everything into disarray. Because Dorothy was the last person to see the man — who had jilted her mid-date — she becomes suspect No. 1 with Miami police. Meanwhile, Rose is trying to keep the nuptials of her younger cousin and her fiance on track with all the required St. Olafian customs. Be forewarned: 'Murder By Cheesecake' feels more like a mix of 'Murder, She Wrote' and 'Miami Vice' than a 'Golden Girls' episode. Rarely do the characters talk in sitcom rhythms of two lines, a beat and punchline. Sarcasm and sass were what made the original series sparkle. In this genre, some of that is there but not as sharp as on the hitcom. Sophia, known as a comeback queen, sometimes comes off more mean than amusing toward daughter Dorothy. Still, the plot does a decent job of leading readers on a twisty chase to figure out who the victim was and who the murderer is. The women decide to play amateur detectives to clear Dorothy's name. And it's a hoot while reading to picture it: Dorothy, Rose, Sophia and Blanche donning disguises and clumsily snooping in the hotel manager's office and the victim's home. Even though their climactic showdown with the culprit seems pretty outrageous, it's fun to see four 'old ladies' get an action-hero moment. There's no doubt author Rachel Ekstrom Courage is a true 'Golden Girls' devotee. She takes the time to describe even the furniture in the women's home to bring us fans back to that familiar kitchen and living room. References to plots and recurring characters from the show are sprinkled throughout the pages. The novel is primarily told through the angst-ridden thoughts of Dorothy and Rose. Unfortunately, Blanche and Sophia feel more like sidekicks. But, it's likely that if this book is the first in a series, then those two will be at the center of things next time. With the show's cast all deceased, 'Murder By Cheesecake' is an especially pleasant, breezy way to have 'the girls' back again for a little while. ___ AP book reviews:
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Daywatch: What Pritzker texted about Johnson
Good morning, Chicago. Gov. JB Pritzker, in a text exchange with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, expressed concerns about Mayor Brandon Johnson's ability to keep United Airlines' headquarters in Chicago, another stark shot from the governor amid his ongoing friction with the mayor. The back-and-forth between the two statewide public officials occurred last month as rumors were reignited that the prominent airline company might move to Denver because of a recent property purchase near that city's airport. Pritzker stressed the importance of ensuring Johnson did not do anything to 'push them out' in the text conversation, which the Tribune obtained through a Freedom of Information request. While ego matches between Chicago mayors and Illinois governors are nothing new, they can at times be a political liability for the two leaders occupying those seats. Johnson allies have warned of repercussions for Pritzker, suggesting the Democratic governor who is mulling a possible run for president in 2028 could be vulnerable in a presidential primary if he doesn't repair his rocky relationship with Chicago's Black mayor. Read the full story from the Tribune's Jeremy Gorner and Alice Yin. Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including yesterday's breath of fresh air for the White Sox and what to do this weekend, including a flower show you shouldn't miss. Today's eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History King Charles III was briefly hospitalized for observation yesterday after experiencing 'temporary side effects'' related to a scheduled cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The king's health has been closely watched ever since early last year when he announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Charles, 76, stepped away from public duties for about three months but continued fulfilling state duties, such as reviewing government papers and meeting with the prime minister. Betty White is making her mark on the nation's snail mail. The beloved actor of 'The Golden Girls' fame was celebrated with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo yesterday. A Calumet City day care facility is being sued after 2-year-old Jaylin Branch Jr. died after experiencing a seizure in their care last month. Jaylin, who had epilepsy, was taking a nap at Grandma Jones Daycare when he had a seizure and choked on his own vomit Feb. 20, according to attorneys representing Jaylin's mother, Jasmine Bailey. After a long and complicated process to get approved for the transplant under public insurance, the brothers had an appointment in a Chicago hospital in April to go forward with more tests for the organ exchange. But on March 3rd, González was arrested by immigration authorities and now awaits deportation at Clay County Detention Center in Indiana, leaving Pacheco, once again, desperate and fighting for his life. The two are pleading with immigration authorities to release Jose Gregorio González on humanitarian parole to donate the kidney. 'After that, I will return to Venezuela,' González said from a call in the detention center. 'Los dos lloramos cuando se lo llevaron, él sabe que él es mi vida,' Pacheco said, or in English, 'We both cried when they arrested him because we both know he is my lifeline.' A Skokie man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud case that involved a 58-foot party yacht known as the 'Flying Lady,' a onetime fixture in Chicago's summer boating scene adorned with a pink stripper pole attached to the afterdeck. Sean Burke became just the seventh pitcher in the last 100 years to start on opening day with fewer than 20 career innings pitched in the majors. Burke showed the poise of a veteran when yesterday's game against the Los Angeles Angels at Rate Field could have gotten away from the Chicago White Sox early. Related: Column: After a disastrous season, opening win a 'breath of fresh air' for Chicago White Sox — and their fans Photos: Chicago White Sox start their 2025 season at Rate Field With the victory, the Cubs avoided their first 0-3 start since 1997, when they went 0-14 to open the season. Players are saying the right things as the Cubs face a challenging schedule in the first month, preaching the importance of not looking ahead and focusing on one game at a time. That doesn't change this being a win-now season, and the expectations for what this group can accomplish are heightened. The live music picture has more or less taken shape for this summer. What's coming? This summer may not have the biggest of the big blockbuster concerts compared to last summer — farewell, Eras Tour — but that still leaves Beyoncé, AC/DC, The Weeknd, the recently announced Lady Gaga and lots more. It begins with the most concert-packed May in memory: Along with the first three of the aforementioned, Paul Simon is playing what's likely his farewell Chicago show at Symphony Center, Post Malone is at Wrigley and Sueños returns to Grant Park. Later in August, Oasis, My Chemical Romance, The Lumineers and System of A Down play back-to-back-to-back nights at Soldier Field — me, I'm gonna try not to even leave my parking space. Look for Riot Fest announcing its bands soon. We're all still feeling the loss of Pitchfork. Our list also covers much of spring; it begins with concerts as soon as Sunday. Many tickets are already on sale. The woman convicted of killing Tejano music legend Selena Quintanilla-Perez has been denied parole after spending decades behind bars for fatally shooting the young singer at a Texas motel in 1995, the state's parole board announced yesterday. After a yearlong search, the Sundance Film Festival announced yesterday that its new home will be Boulder, Colorado, keeping Sundance in the mountains but moving it out of Park City, the Utah ski town that had for decades provided the premier independent film gathering its picturesque snowy backdrop. Also around the area this weekend, a new musical about The Kinks is in previews on Navy Pier and Snow Patrol plays at Salt Shed.
