Column: How Billy Branch bought a harmonica, found the blues and changed his life Chicago blues great Billy Branch says a concert in Grant Park got him hooked on the music many decades ago. His latest album is “The Blues is My Biography.”

Billy Branch is a harmonica playing, singing giant in the blues world, a contemporary of his pal Buddy Guy. Hard to believe that when he came here for college, he had “zero knowledge of the blues, and I mean zero.” It's quite a story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/25/c...

Column: You can start your St. Patrick’s Day early with Trinity Irish Dance There are, of course, many ways to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, including seeing the Trinity Irish Dance Company perform.

The Irish are coming. The Irish are coming. Mark Howard comes back home, and his innovative, artistic, exciting Trinity Irish dancers kick things off, so to speak, Saturday night at the Auditorium. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/24/s...

After Hours with Rick Kogan 5-7 pm Sunday WGN Radio brings you actor Phil Donlon on St. Baldrick's Foundation; John Ballantyne and Gus Noble of Crazy Heart on "Chicago 1971” March 15 Old Town School of Folk Music; bluesman Billy Branch on career and latest CD, “The Blues is My Biography."

Column: Drinking & Writing’s new musical began with a dream about a woman in a leopard print coat Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda are the founders of the Drinking & Writing Theater and have long been part of the creative life of this city. They have a new show.

The Drinking & Writing gang once gave us a look at what it takes to have a drink at every tavern on Western Avenue and now returns with an inventive new show, a musical based on a woman encountered in a dream. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/d...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

Column: The Chicago Reader bursts back in a ’50 Years’ book and a lively new issue “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader” is a big, beautiful book that coincides, serendipitously, with the “rebirth” of the Chicago Reader itself.

The Reader Lives! with new owners and a lively new issue. But for those of us of a certain age, a stunning new book captures how important and entertaining and illuminating and fun the Reader's first 50-years were. Where did you find your first apartment? www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/17/c...

@KoganAfterHours 5-7 pm Sunday @WGNRadio has Paul Teodo storytelling at Carnivale, with Susana Mendoza/Arny Granat, @carnivalechicago; new Drinking & Writing @SmallBeer show @Neo_Futurists; Mark Jacob, author of a “Free Chicago: 50 Years of the Reader.” chicagoreader.com

Column: Telling the amazing story of Black jockey Isaac Burns Murphy Author and performer Nancy Hays first encountered his remarkable story in a small museum at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

Nancy Hays is bringing the amazing, inspiring, exciting story of America's greatest jockey, a Black man named Isaac Burns Murphy, back to life in a new book, a show in Highland Park and, maybe one day a movie. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/11/b...

James ‘Boz’ O’Brien, owner of the Reilly’s Daughter tavern in Oak Lawn, dies at 75 His was a family-friendly place and you could walk in on any night and run into pals and politicians, neighbors and labor leaders, or, for a time, members of the 1986 Super Bowl Bears.

Gone to soon at 75, but what a life Boz O'Brien had and shared with anyone who ever walked into his Reilly's Daughter, filled with fun and food and music and memories for a few generations and still in the family. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/10/b...

After Hours with Rick Kogan returns, Sunday on WGN Radio 4:30ish until 7 p.m, with bluesman Billy Branch; John Davies on movie “Phunny Business”; John Holden on Edgewater’s theater history; correspondent Candace Jordan of party/social scene; Nancy Hays on book/show about famous Black jockey.

Column: ‘I Bid You Peace’ documentary explores the accusations that ended the Frugal Gourmet Jeff Smith was better known as the Frugal Gourmet, and he pioneered the food-on-television trend with his show on WTTW. But accusations of sexual assault later ended his career.

He was known as the 'Frugal Gourmet' and pioneered the food-on-TV revolution. But Jeff Smith had dark sides. Sometimes drunk on air and accused of having sex with teenage boys, his career crashed in 1997 and a new documentary has the sad story. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/04/f...

Column: Who’s that new anchorman? He’s no Walter Cronkite. The new CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil recently compared himself to Walter Cronkite. That’s not a smart move, if you ask me.

For decades the three major networks had a monopoly on news. That has been broken for keeps and new guy Tony Dokoupil is making an awkward start in the CBS anchorman chair once held by "the most trusted man in America." www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/03/c...

Column: Who’s that new anchorman? He’s no Walter Cronkite. The new CBS News anchor Tony Dokoupil recently compared himself to Walter Cronkite. That’s not a smart move, if you ask me.

For decades the three major networks had a monopoly on news. That has been broken for keeps and new guy Tony Dokoupil is making an awkward start in the CBS anchorman chair once held by "the most trusted man in America." www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/03/c...

Column: Inside the Green Mill, the Malört and stories flow in a new movie “The Green Mill: A Real Chicago Joint” will premiere at the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square, both telling some history and focusing on the present of this Uptown treasure.

New movie by former bartender Paul Carr takes you into the venerable Green Mill and gives you stories about ghosts, gangsters, music, and Malort from owner Dave Jemilo and others who worked there. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/28/c...

Column: Nearing age 100, it’s springtime for Mel Brooks in new Judd Apatow documentary Mel Brooks is the centerpiece of a thoughtfully thrilling documentary now airing on HBO Max, “Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!”

Over four terrific TV hours that captures his long and laughter-filled life, Mel Brook amazes, sharp as ever and saying, “Sometimes my comedy is just to celebrate the joy of being alive” and using humor as “a defense against the universe.” www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/27/m...

Column: A photographer travels the Illinois high school basketball circuit Vincent Johnson’s book “Illustrious” captures high school gymnasiums across the state — your memories may be pictured here, too.

Have camera, will travel.
Photographer Vincent Johnson has captured the excitement, thrills, agonies and meaning of high school basketball from cities and towns across the state www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/h...

Column: A photographer travels the Illinois high school basketball circuit Vincent Johnson’s book “Illustrious” captures high school gymnasiums across the state — your memories may be pictured here, too.

Have camera, will travel.
Photographer Vincent Johnson has captured the excitement, thrills, agonies and meaning of high school basketball from cities and towns across the state www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/21/h...

Column: Was tiny Walter Eckersall the city’s greatest football player? “Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports” is a new book about a long-forgotten player who predates the Bears.

What would Dick Butkus say about Walter Eckersall who, at 5'6" and 135 pounds, give or take, was regarded as our greatest football player? He also started the Golden Gloves and drank with Ring Lardner. Read all about it in Chris Serb's new book. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/20/c...

First half alternative, @KoganAfterHours 5:30-7 pm Sunday
@wgnradio.bsky.social Kathleen and Beth Rooney on book “Leaf Town Forever”; @paulmarinaro.bsky.social on CD, “Mood Ellington,” and release concerts @LiveAtStudio5; Marc Smith on new show, “Shards of Me and My…,” Jan. 21-25
@kimballart

Column: Defying the calendar and playing on, jazzman Bobby Lewis is turning 90 As you know if you ever saw him in a nightclub or plan to see him at Winter’s Jazz Club, Bobby Lewis is defying the calendar.

Bobby Lewis has been making music for 80 years and as he celebrates his 90 birthday with concerts at Winters, he is as fresh and exciting as ever, maybe even more so. Admire and enjoy. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/b...

Column: Defying the calendar and playing on, jazzman Bobby Lewis is turning 90 As you know if you ever saw him in a nightclub or plan to see him at Winter’s Jazz Club, Bobby Lewis is defying the calendar.

Bobby Lewis has been making music for 80 years and as he celebrates his 90 birthday with concerts at Winters, he is as fresh and exciting as ever, maybe even more so. Admire and enjoy. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/14/b...

Column: Chevy Chase and Seymour Hersh get the documentaries they deserve A look at two new documentaries: “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” about Chevy Chase and “Cover-Up” about Seymour Hersh.

Two very different people--comic Chevy "SNL" Chase and investigative reporter/writer Seymour "My Lai" Hersh (with deep Chicago roots)--get the TV documentaries they deserve and give viewers deep insights. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/13/c...

Column: Chevy Chase and Seymour Hersh get the documentaries they deserve A look at two new documentaries: “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” about Chevy Chase and “Cover-Up” about Seymour Hersh.

Two very different people--comic Chevy "SNL" Chase and investigative reporter/writer Seymour "My Lai" Hersh (with deep Chicago roots)--get the TV documentaries they deserve and give viewers deep insights. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/13/c...

In appreciation: Chicago singer Josie Falbo had a voice bigger than her fame Jazz singer Josie Falbo died on Jan. 1 after a year-long fight with cancer. She was 82 and had just released a new album.

Singer Josie Falbo was a child of Taylor Street and had, critic Neil Tesser says, "a beautiful voice, angelic at the top of her range, but earthy too...she could sing pretty much anything, from rock n’ roll in her youth to the whole jazz songbook. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/07/j...

Who We Lost in 2025: Actors to astronauts, remembering those departed in this last year George Wendt. Shirley Mordine. The Royal George. Remembering some of the people, places and events that had been a part of this city.

Yes, it's a list of many of the people that we lost in 2025. But no tears. Explore the lives of these artists, actors, an astronaut and others. Their lives and what they created can enrich your new year. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/23/w...

Millie Hefner Gunn, first wife of Hugh Hefner and mother to Christie, dies at 99 She helped support and shape the magazine that would become Playboy Enterprises, but never tried to capitalize on Hugh Hefner’s subsequent fame after their divorce in 1959.

Her early support and encouragement helped fuel Hugh Hefner’s ambitions. How admirable that this woman defined herself away from the glare of fame, raising two children and living 99 lively years. And that smile! www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/m...

Final @KoganAfterHours of 2025, Sunday 5-7 pm @WGNRadio, brings you sisters Kathleen and Beth Rooney on their book, “Leaf Town Forever”; Paul Barosse and Victoria Zielinski on new show, "Quick! Before We're Cancelled!" @Studio5, and Father John Cusick on the meaning of Christmas.

Column: Nick Digilio is surviving the movie critic world and has ’40 Films’ to prove it This memoir of sorts, published by Chicago’s Eckhartz Press, takes us through years of his career and introduces us to dozens of movies along the way.

Nick Digilio fell in love with movies as a kid and he's still in the business to telling you about them, on his podcast and in a lively new book. Read all about it...and him, right here or ink on paper in the Sunday Tribune. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/11/n...