Curious City - Love It Or Hate It; Malört Is Chicago’s Drink
The bitter liquor has been around for about a century, but Malört’s rise to Chicago icon status is a more recent story.
Curious City - Four Dances Invented in Chicago, Plus a Traditional One Chicagoans Keep Alive
We waltz with the musicians and dancers who popularized dances in Chicago, and we feel the beat with the people who keep La Danza Ateca alive in Pilsen.
Curious City - Four Dances Invented in Chicago, Plus a Traditional One Chicagoans Keep Alive
We waltz with the musicians and dancers who popularized dances in Chicago, and we feel the beat with the people who keep La Danza Ateca alive in Pilsen.
Curious City - What Happens To Unidentified Or Unclaimed Bodies in Cook County?
When someone dies in Cook County and there’s no one to identify or claim the body, a small army of people from the public and private sectors work to find out who the person is, if they have any relatives or friends, and ultimately give them a dignified burial.
Curious City - What Happens To Unidentified Or Unclaimed Bodies in Cook County?
When someone dies in Cook County and there’s no one to identify or claim the body, a small army of people from the public and private sectors work to find out who the person is, if they have any relatives or friends, and ultimately give them a dignified burial.
Curious City - Chi-Town Is A Pie Town, But We Search Out The Best Single-Slice Pizza In The City
A New York transplant loves everything about Chicago, but misses the easy access to a big slice of pizza on a paper plate. Our city’s tavern style and deep dish don’t lend themselves to the “slice to go” concept, but slice shops have gained traction over the last few years. We go on a hunt for the city’s best slice, and even get initiated into an underground pizza club.
Byzantium And The Crusades - FREE BOOK ON MY WEBSITE
I wanted to let you know my book The Byzantine World War is available for free here. It's about the reign of Romanos Diogenes and his defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 which led to the First Crusade. It’s a thrilling story and the book has nearly 400 Amazon reviews, so why not click on the link and download it for free! Hope you enjoy it!
Please take a look at my website nickholmesauthor.com where you can download a free copy of The Byzantine World War, my book that describes the origins of the First Crusade.
Curious City - Why Is The Only North American Baháʼí Temple In Wilmette?
The huge, gleaming Baháʼí House of Worship for North America definitely stands out from its suburban lakefront surroundings. It’s the oldest Baháʼí temple in the world, and it’s also known as the holiest. But why is it in Wilmette, Illinois? That answer involves a trip to the temple, a celebrity run-in, and some good old-fashioned research.
Curious City - Chicago’s Infamous Dojo Wars Part 2: The Fall of Count Dante, the Deadliest Man Alive
In the 1960s, Chicago was becoming known as a center for Karate teaching and international tournaments, and the main person behind this movement was John Keehan. In the last of this two part series, we delve into Keehan’s devolution into a persona he created, Count Dante. He was at the center of Chicago’s “Dojo Wars,” which would end up taking a dark turn.
Curious City - Chicago’s Infamous Dojo Wars, Part 1: The Rise of John Keehan, Karate Sensei
In the 1960s, Chicago was becoming known as a center for Karate teaching and international tournaments, and the main person behind this movement was John Keehan. He was a revered black belt instructor who was also often an instigator in Chicago’s “Dojo Wars,” a series of brawls and incidents between competing martial arts schools. In part one, we follow Keehan’s rise as a sensei, and his efforts to bring more violence to the art, both on and off the mats.