Now that we're just a month a way from the much celebrated/maligned vinyl holiday, I think its pertinent to take another, more in-depth look into the list and dig our some unique releases that previously alluded me!

Art is alive when it explores its borders and stretches its edges. That’s exactly what you get with Winning Works at MCA, featuring the Grainger Academy of the Joffrey Ballet - a perfect pairing of up and coming dancers in an iconic institution working together with boundary pushing, emerging choreographers waiting to burst on the scene.

Lunar New Year is celebrated by thousands of Chicagoans from within and without the Chinatown community.

Listen. We're from Chicago. And, in Chicago, tradition is king. Sure, it might now be called the Willis Tower, but you won't catch us saying anything but Sears. It's Comiskey. It's Field's. We go to Jewel. We're a city that works, and a city that loves to be recognized for the things we've done that left a lasting impact on the country and the world. That's why we're proud to hit the floor at the Chicago Auto Show. It's a tradition that's been around for a full 118editions

The MLB has “The World Series.” Professional Golf has “The Masters.” And the NFL has “The Super Bowl.” But why "Bowl"? And why "Super"? The origin of the name is a lot more complicated—and accidental—than the corporate sheen of the event suggests.

It's early February so that means it's time to stop living in the moment and look ahead to that third Saturday in April that half the vinyl record community holds deep in their heart or outward disdains: Record Store Day.

Winter's coming, and you don't get a choice in whether you like it or not. So, let's at least prepare, because not everyone's been through this at least three times a year.

You can tell a lot by the way people orbit a person, and Reiner’s casts oftentimes became like family, or at the very least dear lifelong friends. This was certainly true of the amazing cast of The Princess Bride, who spoke so intensely fondly of him throughout the years. 

Jason Haight-Ellory, Chris Eccleston and Annete Badland at Chicago TARDIS 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor It’s hard to properly convey the privilege of having gotten to see Christopher Eccleston at Chicago TARDIS this year. As fellow Whovians, we are always super hyped to see a Doctor or companion grace the stage of any local convention, and we’ve been privileged to pack into panel rooms where the likes of Tennant, Tate, Smith and Gillian were set to appear. They’re amazing piece

The pair first touched on the core of the show - the changing faces and pathos of the Doctor himself, with Carole adding that the companions have got ‘more and more beautiful over the years.’ Both actresses agreed that it’s a beautiful thing to see the Doctor change the way that they have, experiencing things through the eyes of those young and old, black and white, and everything in between. 

William Shatner at ST-CHI: Trek to Chicago 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor I think this panel writeup might need a preface: William Shatner is legendary, especially to the Star Trek fandom, because he was Captain James T. Kirk. THE Captain Kirk. One of the most iconic characters in our modern culture. William Shatner himself is a treasure, and I just need to clarify that we’re never laughing at the man. Okay, maybe a little bit. But it’s from a place of love. And he’s certainly g

Chase Masterson, Cirroc Lofton and Nana Visitor at ST-CHI: Trek to Chicago 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor One thing is always apparent when you go to Star Trek conventions: fans think Deep Space Nine is the best Star Trek show. Seriously. There are fans that love the other shows better, sure, but when Deep Space Nine is brought up it’s referred to as “the best Trek” more often than any other of the shows. And there has been a lot of Trek . And that must say something about the c

Absorb yourselves in tales from the shows or audio drama, join the parade - craft a popsicle stick Dalek, or hit the dance party in your sci-fi finest - this convention is the definition of familial, cozy and welcoming and it's something we genuinely look forward to every single year

Stashwick continues, “(When I was a kid) I was as much of a Sci-Fi nerd as I was a Sci-Fi/Fantasy nerd, and so you know, I spent a lot of my life just as I’ve said before: either trying to be Han Solo or Peter Venkman (from Ghostbusters). So I either want to be Bill Murray playing  Han Solo or Harrison Ford playing Peter Venkman”

It turns out this is Tim Russ’s first time in Chicago. I’m not sure if he meant for a Star Trek convention or EVER (!) but it’s absolutely a treat to be able to finally see the actor who portrayed one of my favorite Vulcans. His very first question revealed that Russ had previous acting experience with Leonard Nimoy, long before he knew he’d be playing a Vulcan on Voyager. He also had the chance to work with LeVar Burton, Avery Brooks, and Kathryn Mulgrew, all before they end

We got to sit in on the lovely and unusually gangly Doug Jones and the equally lovely and unusually pale Anthony Rapp, known to Star Trek fans for their time on Discovery, but were famous before they ever put on a Starfleet uniform. Doug Jones is known for his portrayal of creatures in many films including Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy, to name just a few of his multitude of roles from advertisements, tv and film. And Anthony Rapp was known for his role as Mark Cohen in Rent on

When a fan asked the guests if they thought Star Trek would still be around in 100 years, they both thought it would. Spiner said, “I’d be willing to say, that I do think that there will be some Star Trek on the air, some new Star Trek,” he continued, “It’s the Great American epic, and I think it goes on and on and on, and so there will always be (new Star Trek).”

T’Lyn was always a special character because when she became a series regular in Lower Decks season 4, she was the first novel Vulcan main character in 23 years. She also filled in as more of a “straight man” to the other Lower Decks characters and their antics. So it was definitely a thrill to get a chance to see the actor who brought T’Lyn to life at this year’s con. 

Christina Chong at ST-CHI Trek to Chicago 2025. Photo: Marielle Bokor The last panel we saw at ST-CHI was with the lovely Christina Chong. Last but definitely not least. As the only panelist that is on a currently running Star Trek , Chong plays La’an Noonien-Singh on Star Trek Strange New Worlds . Not only is Chong a talented actress and a great dancer, she’s also a talented singer with a few albums under her belt–the latest even featuring Ethan Peck.  Chong came onto the ST

You wouldn't think that the holidays and conventions go together. I mean, there's con traffic, some of which kept us from The Breakfast Club even hours before the floor opened, then there's "late November weekend holiday shopping/events" traffic, and never shall the two converge. Not to mention, conventions are a big spend (especially in the merch halls) and we've all got LOTS of shopping to do for the holidays in our very near future. BUT. Sometimes, these things do collide.