Attack of the Giant Torso!

"Agora" by Magdalena Abakanowicz

South Grant Park, Chicago IL

It's a quiet Saturday afternoon in Grant Park. The bare trees cast thin shadows along the sidewalks. The grass is scattered with crisp leaves like confetti on New Year's Eve. At the south end of the park near Roosevelt and Michigan Ave. stands 106 cast iron molded torsos known as "Agora."

Creator Magdalena Abakanowicz constructed the pieces between 2004 and 2006. in November of 2006, the pieces were installed and the exhibit opened to the public. Magdalena ,along with her three assistants, developed the molds for the cast iron by hand. Each torso is unique in it's own way. The cast iron is surfaced with rust. the texture is that of tree bark.

Viewing the work from the sidewalks doesn't give it justice. To experience what Magdalena set out to do, one must walk through the maze of giants. The sculptures are in a walking motion and are facing every direction. In some areas, there are clusters of them and in others they are spread out. Even the tallest of people feel small when walking near "Agora." It feels like you're lost among a crowd.

The feeling every individual receives after wondering through "Agora" is the true art of this exhibit. The giant legs are nothing more than a catalyst even though they are amazing to view.

It's Always Sunny on FX.

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (FX Thursday 10 p.m. E.T.)

With all the reality shows and more and more washed up celebrities thinking they can dance for a general T.V. audience, it's a relief that FX's It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia exists.

Revolving around a pack of friends known as "the group," this creative show has light heartedly tackled topics ranging from the past gas price hikes to cannibalism and human hunting. The self-centered Phillies own a less-than beat down bar known as "Paddy's Pub." The well dressed set picks up the hole-in-the-wall feel with the neon bar lights, aged tin posters, and vacant capacity.

The mentor of the group is Frank, Danny DeVito, who is the senile legal father of characters "sweet Dee", Kaitlin Olson, and Dennis Reynolds, Glenn Howerton, and the alleged biological father of Charlie Kelly, Charlie Day. Dennis' childhood friend Mac, Rob McElhenney, makes up the last member of the group.

The driving force behind the comical 30 minute series is that each character wants nothing more than to satisfy their own needs, even if it's destroying another character's dreams or plans. In one episode from the most resent season, season five, Frank and "sweet Dee" team up to sell for-closed homes to first time home buyers. Frank plays the "bad" realtor and Dee plays the "good" one. Their plan is to sweat the customer into buying the house, but their plan is soon destroyed by Charlie, Mac, and Dennis who find the house has a pool and want nothing more than to swim on the hot summer day.

The dialogue goes off into these little rants by all the characters at points in the series and at first the topics seem totally ridiculous such as referring to Hulk Hogan's skin as "that of a hot dog," but it works. The actors have the ability to pull it off because of the types of characters they have created.

The show has gained a strong following since its start in 2005 and for good reason. People watch the show to let loose and relate to these wacky characters. Inside all of us is a selfish being and while watching It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia one is able to connect with that side of them in a comedic way.

Kuma's Corner is THE Chicago Burger place!

Kuma's Corner

773 604- 8769

2900 W. Belmont Ave.

Chicago IL, 60618

www.kumascorner.com

Vegetarians need not read! If you're hungry, I'm both excited and sorry for the discovery I'm about to share with you! I have found the burger joint to end all other burger joints! A half pound of freshly ground Angus beef cooked to order with your name on it. An atmosphere like no other. For four years, it has captured the city's attention and has been crowned "Best Burger" by Time Out Chicago. Simply put, Kuma's Corner is the best burger joint in Chicago.

With 21 burgers on the menu and a "Burger of the Month," this place has got what you're looking for. Not only is the beef fresh and juicy, and cooked to a perfect combination of season and flavor, the style of each burger is as distinct as its name. They're named after heavy metal bands. To name a few, there's Pantera, Black Sabbath, YOB, Slayer, and Dark Throne. My personal favorite, the Mastodon, includes a homemade BBQ sauce, frizzled onion strings and melted cheddar cheese. All of the burgers come on a fresh pretzel roll with web fries, homemade potato chips, or a side salad. The prices of the burgers range from $10 to $13. Kuma's most famous burger is the "Kuma Burger." It's your simple hamburger but with a fried egg on top. It may sound off putting, but the egg enhances the flavor of the beef and creates a great mix. It's like the "Aerosmith"/ "Run DMC" mash-up of the burger world. If you're not in the mood for a burger, then you're still in the right place. Kuma's appetizer menu consists of the most succulent buffalo chicken strips, fresh oysters, and the newest addition the pulled pork fries (fries topped with BBQ puled pork, green onion, shredded cheese and then melted all together).

Kuma's also has a great beer selection which includes 40 bottled and six beers on tap. All of which are local or microbreweries. It works well for beer fanatics who want to try something new and different or people who are just getting into it.

The food comes first, but a close second is the atmosphere. Metal blasts from the speakers over the bar while Kuma's fan art adorns the backs walls. Pictures of all 21 bands featured on the menu surround the small restaurant. Tucked in the corner is the kitchen that can be seen from the tables and bar. Being only 6 feet by 16 feet, the kitchen sometimes becomes over crowded and backed up, but I find this to be a great way to try some of the different beers. Be patient when you visit. It gets crowded and I've waited for over an hour in the past. Just remember back to your childhood. The best presents from Santa always seemed to be wrapped the hardest but the reward was worth it.

There is a strong metal following at Kuma's but don't let this intimidate you from visiting if you're not into that kind of stuff. I've gone and sat next to a 60 year old grandma wearing a knit sweater on one side and a guy with holes in his ears big enough to walk through on the other; both of which were lightly head banging to some "Devourment" and "Plague Bringer." Good food will do that. It brings people together and Kuma's Corner is a prime example of that. A "medium well" prime example. Bon appetite!

Ideas Flourish But "Surrogates" Still Misses Its Mark

In the future, the majority of humans live through controlled robots known as surrogates. These robots let their user experience every aspect of its being. Human go through life without fear of losing it. Crime, disease, racism, and other social no-no's have been drastically lowered since the start of the surrogate program.

FBI agent Greer, Bruce Willis, and Peters, Radha Mitchell, are called to a surrogate murder in which the users died while "plugged in." This is unheard of because human users are suppose to be protected by dozens of fail safe programs. It is now up to Greer and Peters to track down whoever committed the crime.
There is this resistance that is against using these surrogates. These humans live in pockets throughout the world and have beliefs on the way life should be that resembles some type of a neo-amish community. The Prophet, Ving Rhames, leads the all human community. This resistance group becomes the number one suspect in the murder.

Director Jonathan Mostow does a fairly good job depicting this future world that is run by machines. There are charging stations throughout cities, upgrade centers that offer "Free Breast Upgrades", salons that surrogates can go to to be mechanically detailed from cheek bone modifications to installing smaller noses. The surrogates themselves are semi slow and resemble a giant Barbie doll which helps tell them apart from humans. Mastow also adds this notion that your surrogate doesn't have to resemble who your human self real is. This is an awesome little tid bit that soon becomes over used by the middle of the story. Throughout the second and third act, it feels like a game of "Clue" mixed with "Total Recall."

The story is filled with great social commentary. The world is out of touch with human contact. With technology overwhelming the population, many people become fixated on only living through the surrogates. This becomes one of Greer's desires. He wants to feel human contact again but hardly gets it. His physically and emotionally scarred wife Maggie, Rosamund Pike, locks herself in her room while he faces her surrogate on a day to day basis.

This great idea becomes overshadowed by pointless car chases and mediocre twists. The movie falls short in the action department. This shouldn't be an action movie. There is no need for robots being ripped in half or pile driven through mall windows. Willis and Pike do a good job creating this relationship based on artificial means and the story would have played out better if it kept focus on that.

I give the slight advantage to telling you to "SEE THIS" because the idea that living through a machine, because we have become numb to the feeling not because it protects us, is a good story and kept me entertained.

"Surrogates" (Directed by Jonathan Mostow, 2009) 1hr 29 min

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