Category: music

Talented Singer/Songwriter Releases New Music: A Conversation with Ann Marie Boyle

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, music

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” I’m taking a break from writing about nature in Chicagoland to share an interview with my talented friend, Ann Marie Boyle. She has just released an outstanding EP, Hide and Seek. More nature stories coming soon. Ann Marie Boyle is a talented singer, songwriter, and … Continue reading Talented Singer/Songwriter Releases New Music: A Conversation with Ann Marie Boyle

Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, @FPDCC, astronomy, biking, birdwatching, books, botanical gardens and arboretums, bouldering, camping, canoeing, canyons, cemeteries, Chicago, chicago park district, Chicago Parks, Chicago River, Chicago stories, climbing, conservation, conservatories, cross-country skiing, Des Plaines River, Driftless Region, election candidates, eskers, fall colors, family and friends stories, far, far away from Chicago, farms, fens, fiction, fishing, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY, FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF KANE COUNTY, Forest Preserve District of Will County, Forest Preserve of Cook County, Galena Illinois, gardening, ghost hunting, glacial kames, hiking, holiday gifts, horseback riding, Iceland, Illinois, Illinois Department of Natural resources, Illinois Nature preserves, Indiana, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, insects, Iowa, Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Jordan, Kansas, kayaking, kids activities, Lake County Forest Preserves, Lake County Illinois attractions, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lee County (IL), local history, MCHENRY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT, meteorology, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, museums, music, National Park Service, Native American History, nature art, nature calendars, nature centers, Nature Conservancy, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, orchids, Pennsylvania, pets, photography, poems, politics and the environment, prairies, presidents, product reviews, Rockford, Illinois, settlers and Indians, skywatching, sledding, snowshoeing, social issues, social justice, South Dakota, spring wildflowers, train travel, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. history, Upper Peninsula of Michigan, volunteering, waterfalls, winter activities, Wisconsin, zoos

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” Today is the eighth anniversary of the founding of my blog, “Nature in Chicagoland,” and I’m so happy to have written nearly 300 articles about woods, wetlands, prairies, lakes, and other natural areas in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana. I’m pleased that my articles on … Continue reading Celebrating the Eighth Anniversary of My Blog, Nature in Chicagoland

Books Make Perfect Stocking Stuffers: Here Are 40+ Suggestions—Ranging From Chicago Area Nature and Cultural Spots to Fiction, Music, Radio, and History

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, books, Chicago, Chicago stories, conservation, Driftless Region, fiction, hiking, holiday gifts, Illinois, kids activities, local history, music, photography, U.S. history

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER & AUTHOR OF THE "NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND" BLOG UPDATED DECEMBER 2025 Need some ideas for holiday stocking stuffers? If so, this article provides some great suggestions. Over the years at my "Nature in Chicagoland" blog, I’ve had the chance to interview several authors about nature (including tallgrass prairies and dragonflies) and … Continue reading Books Make Perfect Stocking Stuffers: Here Are 40+ Suggestions—Ranging From Chicago Area Nature and Cultural Spots to Fiction, Music, Radio, and History

Celebrating the Artistic Excellence of My Beloved Friend, David Fode

by anders458, posted in family and friends stories, Illinois, music, Uncategorized, Wisconsin

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND Today is the one-year anniversary of the sudden passing of my friend, David Fode, a talented artist, who was an even better person. We were friends for nearly 40 years. Beyond simple friendship (which is really never that simple and which takes a lot of … Continue reading Celebrating the Artistic Excellence of My Beloved Friend, David Fode

Michael McDermott’s Memoir, Scars From Another Life, Tells the Story of His Addiction and Redemption

by anders458, posted in books, Chicago, Chicago stories, Illinois, music, Uncategorized

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND I'm taking a break from nature stories to write about a great memoir by Michael McDermott, one of my favorite singer-songwriters. More nature coming soon. Singer-songwriter Michael McDermott should be a dead man based on his stories of rampant drug and alcohol abuse in his … Continue reading Michael McDermott’s Memoir, Scars From Another Life, Tells the Story of His Addiction and Redemption