Before They Were Famous

Before they hit it big in movies and music, books and business, sports and space, Chicago area high-school students such as Harrison Ford, Liz Phair, Hugh Hefner, and Lara Flynn Boyle were simply kids next door, some with gaudy talents already on display, others nowhere close to being voted most likely to succeed

A New Order

Though he was one of its chief architects, rainmakers, and partners, Adrian Smith was recently ushered out the door here at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Is the celebrated 70-year-old architectural firm shrewdly remaking itself for the 21st century—or suffering through an intercity power play?

Who’s Their Daddy?

Michael Wilford insists that he was only a sperm donor to Christin Harris, who gave birth to twin girls in 2003. Now, Harris is suing for child support in a textbook legal battle over who should pay

Love Hurts…Your Wallet

If you haven’t found love yet, fear not-there are plenty of options for finding that special valentine. But it will cost you. JupiterResearch predicted that Americans would spend $516 million on online dating services in 2005. That’s quite a bit, considering that only 16 percent of single Americans are looking for romance, according to the … Read more

How to: Make an Oscar

This year, as it has every year since 1983, the Northwest Side trophy maker R.S. Owens & Company will provide the golde Oscar statuettes for Academy Award winners. Current R.S. Owens president Scott Siegel, son of the company’s late founder, Owen Siegel, talks us through the process leading up to the February 25h event.

Look Who’s Talking

News flash: Some of the bloggers behind Chicago’s newsiest bookmarks haven’t been to journalism school; heck, they don’t all consider themselves writers. So who are these arbiters of information? Chicago asked around.

Long Time Coming

After Jovan Mosley was charged with a murder he says he didn’t commit, he spent nearly six years in Cook county jail just waiting for his day in court. His case highlights problems with our justice system