“After Hours” producer Elif Geris gives her second “Around Town” report on Ravinia Festival. Stroll through and relax on the lawn of this romantic park before its summer season ends on September 17th.

Neil Steinberg is the author of Out of the Wreck I Rise: A Literary Companion to Recovery, along with Sara Bader. This book addresses those vying to recover from addiction as a form of support. Neil explains to Rick why exactly he’s chosen to cover this subject. Join Neil, Rick, Tony Fitzpatrick and Carol Marin at the Poetry Foundation, Thursday, September 8th as they perform a reading.

Shawn Shiflett is the author of Hey, Liberal!, a book that highlights Chicago race and politics. Shawn’s protagonist is inspired by himself, a white boy being the minority at a mostly black school.

Author Ron Faiola tells Rick how he came to create his latest book, Wisconsin Supper Clubs: Another Road. His work spans from its photography to its eloquent writing of food, lighting and wood paneling found in these dining establishments.

Dana Montana, the creator of Dancing Horses and Animal Gardens, joins Rick to talk about some of the mystical qualities her Lake Geneva theatre boasts. Those include parakeets eating honey out of your hand.  Then, hear a review of Dancing Horses and Animal Gardens from Rick’s daughter, Fiona, a fond fan of Dana’s.

Author of five novels and Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Keller tells us about her relationship to her novels’ main character, Bell Elkins. Her novels include A Killing in the Hills, Bitter River, Summer of the Dead and Last Ragged Breath, three of the five she’s written most recently. Julia also discusses the novelties of journalism with Rick. Catch her Wednesday at Anderson’s in Naperville, Thursday at the Book Stall in Winnetka, or October 1 at the Oak Park Library.

Author Alison Flowers of Exoneree Diaries: The Fight for Innocence, Independence and Identity shares stories of people like 21-year-old Jacques Rivera of Humboldt Park, wrongfully convicted of shooting someone. She describes how she forged a relationship with four exonerees to write her investigative book.

Folk singer Jim Post performs all his shows in Galena at One Eleven Main Restaurant & Theater. Rick plays you two of his songs now by popular demand.

Author Justin Peters explores with Rick the legalities behind the use of academic journals and creative works, and what Aaron Swartz did to redeem free culture on the Internet, leading him to his demise. Pick up Justin’s book, The Idealist: Aaron Swartz and the Rise of Free Culture on the Internet.

Thomas Allen Pauly shares his background in art, from a horse race winners’ circle, to American Pharoah artwork. Then, former CBS anchor and new Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Arlington Park, Howard Sudberry, talks to Thomas and Rick about reporting on horse races, and the work he does at the park today.