Oak Park's Mahoney in Steppenwolf's 'Seafarer'
When John Mahoney needed a refresher course on how to do a Dublin accent, he went straight to an expert -- Irish actor Gabriel Byrne. Mahoney, the Oak Park actor best known for his role in "Frasier," was working on his brogue for the new Colin McPherson play "The Seafarer," which begins previews Dec. 4 at Steppenwolf Theatre.
• Season brings holiday activities to suburbs
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FOOD
Beer: a perfectly food-friendly beverage
When it comes to pairing beverages with food, many beer drinkers swear their brew hold its own against its cousin, wine, stereotypically considered more refined. Take Greg Browne, brew master at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville, who compared the process of making wine with that of making beer.
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• Good food to go with good brews
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• Potpourri
HEALTH & FAMILY
Laugh to live, live to laugh
Jeff Hayes felt uncomfortable being forced to laugh in front of all those other people. They felt likewise. They had to give an enthusiastic thumbs-up greeting to a woman in a pink hat with polka dots all over it. They had to make silly faces. But, after the first five minutes Hayes embraced the silly atmosphere, as did everyone else at laughter therapy, and his fake laughter turned real.
• Respect, patience keep conversations enjoyable
• Health & Family Calendar
HOME & DESIGN
Containers showcase nature all winter
Luther Burbank, American botanist and pioneer in plant science, said, "Flowers are sunshine, food, and medicine for our souls." That goes double in winter. And lately, containers and window boxes that used to go dark every fall are becoming winter showpieces, brimming with lush evergreens, red berries, pinecones, and faux-nature objets d'art.
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• To learn more
• Tips on winter window boxes
NORTH SUBURBAN FOCUS
Get chopping: Cut your own Christmas tree
If it isn't already a family tradition, this may be the year to begin cutting down your own Christmas tree at an Illinois farm. Getting back to simple things, like a family day out of doors, is a good way to begin the holiday. "It makes everybody slow down," said Linda Haas, landscape designer at Spring Bluff Nursery in Sugar Grove. Many farms offer hot drinks, petting zoos, gift shops, and Santa visits.
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