ARTS Pick: Howie Day

It may have been over 10 years since Howie Day crooned the earworm lyrics “even the best fall down sometimes” over the soaring melody of his acoustic guitar in his platinum single “Collide,” but his star hasn’t fallen yet. The Maine native’s heartfelt songs have gained a devoted audience with four studio albums and strong, […]

ARTS Pick: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Six tweens compete for the title of champion speller in the beloved musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This eclectic group of kids spells through the show while disclosing a variety of humorous, honest and heartfelt stories from their home lives. Audience members can also get in on the academic action in […]

ARTS Pick: Jackie Daly and Matt Cranitch

Though difficult to read and even harder to pronounce, Sliabh Luachra, a region in southern Ireland on the border of Cork and Kerry, has birthed a rich style of music that is easy on the ears. Jackie Daly is renowned for his talented instrumentals, heralded by the New York Times as “probably the best accordionist […]

ARTS Pick: Stewart Huff

Since dropping out of college 15 years ago to become a writer and comedian, Tennessee native Stewart Huff’s star has been rising on the national and international horizons. Get to know his original and refreshing humor at the latest installment of the Laugh Your Ass Off Comedy Showcase, where he embraces his own life experiences […]

Operating system: The all-important role of the sous chef

As anyone who has ever worked in a professional kitchen—or any aspect of the restaurant industry—will adamantly testify: The life of a chef is by no means for the faint of heart. The hours are long and strange. The work relentlessly demanding, ulcer-inducingly stressful. And yet, we’re assured, profoundly rewarding. Nowhere is this dynamic of […]

ARTS Pick: I Love a Piano

A celebration of the music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, The Heritage Theatre Festival’s production of I Love a Piano follows a piano as it moves in and out of American lives from the turn of the century to modern day. The story’s brought to life by Berlin classics such as “There’s No Business Like […]

ARTS Pick: Ike Reilly

With the unlikely style of Billy Joel meets Johnny Cash, Ike Reilly, a former grave digger from Illinois, tells timeless tales of love, lust, drugs and drinking through reckless tunes and poetic lyrics. Reilly may have an unconventional past but it’s birthed a unique perspective on life and lends a finesse to his daring music. […]