Marc Vitali

“No city compares to Chicago,” Chicago Blues Hall of Famer Lonnie Brooks told WTTW News in 2001. “Chicago’s the blues capital. Everybody left the South to come here and record for Chess Records, and they stayed here.”

“Chicago in Color,” is a modestly-scaled gem with many facets of lively color. There are views of familiar places seen through fresh eyes, but the book’s strength lies in the smallest of details: minimalist compositions of nature or infrastructure linked by a colorful photographic palette.

A still from Theatre Y’s production of “Rhinoceros.” (Karl Soderstrom)

Fonts on display in the “Letters Beyond Form: Chicago Types” exhibit at the Design Museum of Chicago.

Is there a better way to rile your belligerent out-of-state uncle than investing in culture that brings people together? Brighten your Black Friday – and Saturday and Sunday – by taking part in a communal experience in the arts. Preferably something that would make your uncle cry uncle.

A performance of “The Four Phantoms in Concert.” (Dave Burke)

(Courtesy of Mariachi Herencia de México) After you’ve experienced Joffrey Ballet’s Chicago-style “The Nutcracker” and the Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” multiple times… what to do?

Video: Steve Albini talks about the importance of punk rock in his life.

The Chicago cast of “Shucked.” (Photos by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

Jazz band The Salty Dogs play what was then called the Hunt Club in 1954 or 55. (Courtesy of FitzGerald’s Nightclub)