I'm going to the Hideout in Chicago tonight to hear a great local singer. Kelly Hogan has an unbelievable voice, both in range and power, and sings everything from jazz to country and beyond. If there were true justice in the world, SHE would be a star and Britney Spears would be waiting tables. But, c'est la vie!

Anyway--let me also plug the Hideout, a swell family-owned bar on Wabansia in Chicago. A bit out of the way, but worth the trip (and one place in the city where it's easy to park!) They do a summer blockparty to benefit literacy causes and also do some fun holiday programming for families---so other folks besides the over-21 crowd can come and have fun.