Well, just when I thought we were going to have a break in the weather, I was surprised by this beautiful Indian Summer. This gives us another couple of weeks to take advantage of some of Chicago's great offerings like Millennium Park. Millennium Park has the coolest fountains in the world! Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and inspired by the people of Chicago, The Crown Fountain is a major addition to the city's world-renowned public art collection.

The fountain consists of two 50-foot glass block towers at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers project video images from a broad social spectrum of Chicago citizens, a reference to the traditional use of gargoyles in fountains, where faces of mythological beings were sculpted with open mouths to allow water, a symbol of life, to flow out. It is so artsy and there is a great meaning behind it too!

Speaking of artsy and full of meaning, those crazy kids at Hell in a Handbag Productions have gotten themselves into something that may just be able to apologize for. Submitted for your approval, Hell in a Handbag Productions presents Six twisted tales of terror and suspense that will take you to another dimension where laughter and fear walk hand in hand, meeting at the oh-so familiar corner of Parody and Homage, where your favorite episodes of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery collide. This is a great bunch and will be a must see. The Twilight Gallery opens October 7th at the Theater Building, 1225 W. Belmont. If you have any questions call 312-409-4357 or e-mail info@handbagproductions.org

On the music front, I just got hold of the new release of Melissa Ethridge's Greatest Hits-The Road Less Traveled. The Road Less Traveled is a compilation of 17 tracks over Melissa's 17 year career; including two covers of songs she holds dear to her, Refugee and one all new track entitled "I Run for my Life", about her recent battle with breast cancer. The album encompasses nearly two decades of the music, life and journey from this gifted singer/songwriter, who is undoubtedly, is one of the most celebrated talents in the gay community. "The Road Less Traveled" is available at a store near you.

Here is a Human Interest story if I ever heard one. Singer/songwriter Ellie Lawson planned the release of her CD "The Philosophy Tree." She was dropped by her record label, so the release was postponed. Long story short, she was on a flight from LA to NY and sat nest to Tony Okungbowa, the DJ on the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" Ellie played him her music on the her iPod, he liked it and so did DeGeneres, who invited Lawson to perform on her show in April of 2005. Barnes and Noble was the next to get behind her offering her an exclusive deal to distribute "The Philosophy Tree". This is a great CD, and you can get it at Barnes and noble or go to www.ellielawson.com