The last time I saw Chicago reclusive author Clive Javanski was at the Bucktown Arts Fest in August. Shufflin’ around, looking at artwork, he had a journal in one hand, and after he sat down with me, a beer in the other. Some folk band was playing a song about a girl, a farm and the smell of earth after rain. Or something like that. I first met Clive at Mickey’s, the saloon down the street from my apartment (mentioned in an earlier post). He lives and writes above an area bar (not Mickey’s). He doesn’t drive and rarely goes out, and when he does, it’s usually within a several block radius of his home – which includes Holstein Park, home of the fest.…
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Ask Liffey, part 1. What kind of beer do you like? First, let me say I’m not a beer expert and despise beer snobbery. I drink what I’m in the mood for. Sometimes it’s a can of MGD at a summer barbecue. Sometimes I like Harp. I had one recently at a fake Irish bar in the area and rather enjoyed it. The most recent six-pack I purchased was Robert The Bruce by Three Floyds in Munster. Sometimes I like dark beer, sometimes I like light. If it’s a party I’ll pretty much drink anything offered except maybe for Meister Brau. And even then you never know. What kind of gal do you fancy? I’m partial to brunettes but it’s like my beer –…
I was flipping through Chicago radio stations the other day and twice came upon Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” in the period of 30 minutes. That’s just ridiculous. Surprisingly, one of the accused wasn’t WXRT, which I rail on quite often because supposedly they’re cool and eclectic but really aren’t. Sure, they have a fine alternative HD feed but unless you own one of those radios or aren’t too far from the source you ain’t hearing that music. Point is, that should be their No. 1 music feed and what they currently provide on 93.1 should be the “No. 2” station. But HD radio is for another discussion. Bad, Chicago radio, bad. Sometimes I even think the small, NWI station Z107.1 is more eclectic.…
The Dodgy 