When it came to online dating, Old Town's Sarah Press found that Cupid's arrow missed its mark more often than not.

"There's something kind of off about online dating where you're paying a subscription for each month but there's really no guarantee you're meeting anyone, you're having any fun," the 26-year-old said.

Now, she and fellow University of Chicago grad student Alan Illing are out to turn the industry on its ear.

The pair joined forces to co-found Project Fixup, a pay-as-you-go online dating startup that Press said is designed to make online dating a more personal experience.

"It's really about us doing the work to introduce you to a person that you have something in common with, that you're attracted to, and that lets you do something fun that you'd like to do anyway at a convenient place and time," she said.

Members fill out a brief questionnaire, complete with a headshot, the kind of date they'd like to go on, and when they're available to go out.

"Our site's not built for engagement, it's built for dating and real-world connections," Illing said.

"It's not a very detailed profile," Press added. "It's just kind of people being honest in the questionnaire, letting us know a little bit about who they are and what their interests are."

That's something that appealed to busy professionals like Meghan Stegemann and Will Del Genio, both of whom signed up for the site hoping it would take some of the hassle out of happily-ever-after.

"I'd never done online dating before because I thought it was weird," said Stegemann, a 29-year-old Lincoln Square resident who is an associate director at a non-profit and single. "This to me didn't seem as last resort to me. You're not spending all this time poking each other and winking. You get right down to business and figure out if it works or not and that's just more my personality."

"All you have to do is just fill out a little bit of a profile and the amount of work you have to do to get a date is extremely minimal from there on," added Del Genio, a software engineer.

Software designed by Illing takes over from there, matching people up based on common interests and suggesting tailored dates such as a specific type of bar or restaurant.

If two users decide they want to go on a date, each pays $15, money that comes with what the company calls "awesomeness guaranteed."

Basically, if you don't have fun on your date, you get your money back.

"We're only making money when our members are actually having a good time," Press said.

"There's a lot less sort of BS going on trying to contact people, set things up, gauge interest to the point where you're meeting in person," said Del Genio, who is in a relationship with someone he did not meet on the site. "I like that a lot."

So how's it working out so far?

Press said 750 people have signed up for the site, 200 have gone on dates, and nobody's asked for a refund. But that's not to say the site is the be-all, end-all when it comes to dating, something both founders acknowledge.

"We don't believe that there's a formula for love, and even if there were, we don't claim that we would have it, and we don't think that anyone else has it," Illing said.

"It doesn't have to be like necessarily an end game that you're going to meet the love of your life right away," Press added. "We think that dating's supposed to be fun. Either way, we're young, we're trying new bars, we're meeting new people, it's a good time."

Matt Linder is a RedEye special contributor.

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Beyonce co-directed and co-produced "Life is but a Dream" (8 p.m. Feb. 16, HBO; 2 stars out of 4), supposedly an intimate look at her life and work. But the HBO special comes off more as another managed attempt to forge the legend of Queen B.
 
Sure, old home videos show that Beyonce always has been a star, but instead of sharing some honest feelings with us, she sticks to hokey platitudes like, "My feelings get hurt like anyone else."
 
We do see how she's able to work it on stage; her work ethic is killer. And she's a powerhouse entertainer, to be sure. We see a recording sequence where she gets upset at herself and curses, "Oh shit!," and then busts out with laughter.

That's the Beyonce I wanted to see more of in this special. Aside from that candid, refreshing moment, I don't think I know Beyonce any better.
 
She mentions her miscarriage and talks about her love for husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy. She admits her drive and professionalism come from her father and reveals the relationship with Matthew Knowles suffered as a result of the decision to break from his management in 2011.
 
Still, she should quit while she's ahead. Part of that sequence is as overdone as an Oprah interview (which, by the way, will air on "Oprah's Next Chapter" at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 on OWN--Beyonce all the time!)
 
"I'm so fragile at this point," she says as she talks of her father. "I feel like my soul has been tarnished."
 
Oy Bey. Put a gag in it.

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Winter storms get me a little hot under the down jacket, eight sweaters and six pairs of socks. I know I'm not the only one. There is always a big baby BOOM-shaka-laka nine months after a blizzard. You know who you are!

I don't care how much technology surrounds us or how evolved we claim to be as a species, but humans go cray for the weather. I never have to go outside to know if there is even the slightest hint of precipitation-my Twitter and Facebook feeds will be packed with alerts of "It's snowing!""Rain!" or "I'm so confused, what is this falling from the sky?!?"

The weather is something big and out of our control. We are primal beings, and we are fascinated. It's from this primitive place that our lust emerges. Weather reminds us in the simplest of ways that there is something bigger than ourselves. That some things aren't super certain.

A light dusting of snow may not cause a significant change in your life, but it will alter your decisions that day. You can't stop the snow from coming down, so you just have to find ways to deal with it. And that turns us all on.

There's something about the drama of it all. The wind is howling atmospherically. The dropping temperatures mean body heat is key. You really don't want to deal with going out and doing anything ... not in that mess, no way. You've got to find something to keep you busy. And getting busy is the best solution.

Why do you think the shelves in the liquor store are so bare right before a snowstorm? I'll tell you why. Because I just visited that liquor store. Here is what is in my snow preparedness kit: alcohol, hot chocolate, fixins, frozen pizza, candles, a big blanket, Netflix and a flashlight. Sometimes it's just alcohol. But I am always prepared.

Even The Weather Channel wants a piece of the action. They're starting to name winter storms. Nemo? Not so great. Let's name them after characters from romance novels. Fabio? Dorian? Let's get it on ... I mean with it. Let's get with it.

I'm sure it was really difficult being the president of the El Nino fan club in high school, and mastering the names of cloud formations probably didn't get you a ton of tail in college, Weather Channel. This is your chance to shine, guys!

It's February, which means we have only a month or two left of this sweet, chilly action. Summer doesn't have to be the only season that's hot.

Ana Fernatt is a RedEye special contributor.

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Gay marriage is essentially one House vote away from becoming legal in Illinois after Thursday's vote by the Senate. We asked RedEye's gay contributing columnists to tell us how they feel about the Valentine's Day developments-and what comes next.

A WEDDING FANTASY

We are getting closer! Hopefully, I soon can legally marry my partner and have the wedding of my dreams. The ceremony at Madonna's father's winery! Sixteen Candles rocks the reception! The Puppet Bike makes an appearance at the after-party! Then a honeymoon in Italy.

This was only a fantasy when it looked like we could never marry, but now the possibility is close to being a reality. More likely, my partner and I will have a quick courtroom ceremony followed by a Groupon dinner ... but the party isn't the point. The point is we are so close to being able to get married and have access to the same rights that hetero couples take for granted.

I won't list all the legal stuff that comes with marriage, but I will say that I hope Illinois becomes the tipping point for national legal recognition. Maybe I will book Sixteen Candles, after all. -Jason Steele, @cbqsteele

CLOSE TO HISTORY

Gay marriage passes the Senate on Valentine's Day! That is so ... well ... gay. I may have to go home tonight and drink Scotch alone in the dark just to keep it real. But in all seriousness, it does feel pretty historic.

I've written my legislators so many times now it seems like we're on a first-name basis. (Sen. Watkins, dinner sometime?) My best friend always says, "Act like you've been here before, people," but I'm from Missouri, where they wanted to ban the word "gay," so this is definitely new territory.

As a lawyer, I feel like marriage equality is just constitutionally obvious. But as a gay, I feel like HOLY [BLEEP]! This is my life. This is a big deal. The House is no slam dunk, so I'm not ring shopping yet (oh, also because I'm single), but if this thing gets to Gov. Quinn's desk, you'd better believe I'll be busting out the rainbow champagne. They make that, right? -Annie Reed, @annie_e_313

A LONG WAY TO GO

As the state's marriage bill keeps moving, all I can think about is the Supreme Court's Loving v. Virginia decision, which in 1967 invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage. I think about this not only because I am gay, but also because I'm interracial.

Growing up in America, I have always had the knowledge that two of my identities-race and sexuality-historically have been discriminated against in the realm of marriage. When I was a kid, my family faced discrimination due to being mulitracial even 30 years after that landmark court case. And I think back to it now, because my family experiences with discrimination taught me that just because something becomes legal doesn't mean everyone instantly starts liking you.

It reminds me that we still have work to do-even if marriage becomes legal everywhere-to make sure all people are treated equally in all aspects of their lives-gay or straight, interracially married or not. -Zach Stafford, @zachstafford

YOU'RE NEXT, DOMA

At long last, Illinois has begun the process of fully recognizing the relationships of all of its citizens with the Senate's passage of the marriage equality bill. While it still has to go through the state House and be signed by Gov. Quinn, it is exciting to be able to see from here the chapter in our state's history where same-sex couples are separate and unequal come to a close.

As a child, no one ever says they want to be "civil unioned" or "partnered." Our society recognizes the importance of marriage as a sign of commitment and love-love we all share, no matter what our sexual orientation.

And while this is a good start to true equality for people like me and my husband, we still must keep fighting on the federal level not only for recognition but also for the more than 1,100 rights and benefits that would come with the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. -Waymon Hudson, @waymonhudson

IT'S ABOUT TIME

Well, I'll be. The great liberal state of Illinois finally is catching up with its East Coast brethren on the gay marriage front. It's about time. I mean-hello!-even Iowa recognized that the civil rights of gay people are important. Iowa! I'm thrilled with the Illinois Senate for taking this important step for gay rights.

We sometimes downplay the importance of marriage-and rightly so; gay people (and straight people) certainly have more important issues to worry about-but I firmly believe that the kind of political and formal validation that comes with gay marriage is tremendously important in the overall fight for civil rights.

Say what you will about marriage as an institution or that the government has a say at all in our love lives, but as the Illinois Senate proved Thursday: Love is a fundamental human right, and one that should not be denied on the basis of sexuality. Bravo, Illinois. What a terrific Valentine's Day present. -Anna Pulley, @annapulley

RIGHT THING TO DO

After enduring eight years of my partner's nagging, sloppiness and arguments, I am so ready to make this official and get married. It's encouraging to know that I potentially can have that option one day very soon.

Marriage symbolizes completion and recognition, and someday it'll feel great when I can say out loud that I have a legal husband, not a partner. Not only is this politically smart, but morally it's the right thing to do.

We know in our hearts that none of us gets ahead when some of us are stuck with second-class status. As this bill moves on to the House, a simple "yes" vote would say something truly epic about who we are. We are not second-class citizens anymore. -Lenox Magee, @lenoxmagee

Students at Columbia College and Loyola University pay the most per month to keep up with their student loan debt, according to a new White House website.

The College Scorecard, released on the White House's website earlier this week, reports vital data about colleges and universities nationally, including costs, graduation rates and the average rate of students who are unable to pay off loans after graduation.

According to the site, Columbia College has the highest median borrowing rate in the Chicago-area, with students paying $302 per month over 10 years in federal student loans. DePaul ranks second at $283, followed by Loyola at $276. Columbia has an 11.4 percent rate of students who default on student loans within three years, with 4.4 percent and 5.7 percent of students at DePaul and Loyola defaulting respectively.

DeVry University tops the list of schools with the highest default rate with 24.1 percent of students defaulting on loans within three years. On the low end, the Moody Bible Institute has a zero percent default rate, and Northwestern sits at 1.8 percent.

A full list of data and comparisons can be found at the White House's website. 

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Not everyone has been on a great date, but we've all definitely been on bad ones. Ones that were so bad, they left a sour taste in our mouths for the place we had the date at. This is a story about one of those dates.

Have your own Date Diary to share? Email your story about the date that ruined that one place for you to jgalliart@tribune.com. Don't forget to include your first name and age.

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EAT

Browse and Snack

Hotel Lincoln 1816 N. Clark St. 312-254-4700

Nibble on complimentary bites from Boka Restaurant Group and sip bubbly from Illinois Sparkling Co. at the inaugural President's Day Pop-Up Market, where you can browse vittles and wares from neighborhood retailers including Do-Rite Donuts, Salted Caramel, Bonobos Guide Shop, Piper Boutique, Heritage Bicycle Shop and a dozen more. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday. No cover.

Fishy Business

Frontier1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-4322

Whether or not you observe Lent, you won't miss the meat at Fish Fry Friday, which features a rotating roster of varieties-through March 29-served with hand-cut fries for $12. Fish fries kick off tonight with whitefish on the menu. 4 p.m.-midnight. Friday.

DRINK

Going Strong

Delilah's2771 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-472-2771

Sample 100 beers from more than 50 breweries-and meet reps from many of the participating houses-at the fifteenth annual Vintage Strong Beer Fest. The lineup includes strong ales, barrel-aged beers, unfiltered beers and vintage dated brews including a J.W. Lees Harvest ale aged in used Lagavulin scotch barrels, a 1998 King & Barnes Christmas ale and ten vintages of Sierra Nevada's Bigfoot barley wine. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday. $20.

Ring That Bell

Mac's American Pub1801 W. Division St. 773-782-4400

Raise a glass with Rob England of Bell's Brewery during a tap takeover featuring six varieties for $4-$7 including Hopslam, an annual, limited quantity double IPA; Smitten, a new golden rye seasonal ale; and Captain Spontaneous, a dry-hopped pale ale not likely to be brewed again; plus three year-round brews. 7-10 p.m. Friday. No cover.

DO

Tax-Free Luxury

900 North Michigan Shops 900 N. Michigan Ave. 312-915-3916

Get your savings on during a President's Day weekend "tax-free" sale where your purchases from 37 retailers-including J. Crew, Michael Kors and Max Mara-are discounted by 9.25 percent, the equivalent of the Cook County sales tax. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Monday; Noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Participating retailers: shop900.com/taxfree.

Like a Prayer

Hideout1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433

Heavy topics get the light treatment at the God, Sex and Death Variety Hour, where local comedian Danny Black hosts humorous takes on the subjects by Chris Bower, Richardson Simon Seng, Daniel Shapiro, Mason Johnson, Ray Holleb and Chris Condren and DJ Bloodshot Scott provides the backbeats. 7 p.m. $5.

The Life Aquatic

Shedd Aquarium1200 S. Lake Shore Drive 312-939-2438

Go aquatic on the cheap during Illinois Resident Discount Days, where you get free admission into the Waters of the World, Amazon Rising and Caribbean Reef exhibitions and can add additional attractions such as the Abbott Oceanarium, aquatic show and Jellies special exhibit with $8 discounts on multiple package options. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Monday. Free-$26.95. Tickets: sheddaquarium.org.

Service with a Smile

Bar Deville701 N. Damen Ave. 312-929-2349

Service industry professionals get revenge on clueless customers during Review Revue, a comedy show where local bartenders Brian Bolles and Sophie Burton host servers, chefs, mixologists and restaurateurs reading the most hilariously scathing bar and restaurant reviews they've found on the internet. Down a $3 Malort shot, $6 Green Chartreuse shot or $4 Lost Coast Great White-but tonight of all nights, don't forget to tip. 9:30 p.m. Sunday. No cover.

REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY

Air Jordan turns 50 on Sunday. Dine at Michael Jordan's Steak House (505 N. Michigan Ave.) that day and score a free slice of chocolate cake.

Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.

I get obsessed with things that are really funny. Funny things, you see, make certain chemicals in your brain go all goofy, thus giving you joy. That's why I follow politics, because the comedic value of politics is of titanic, gobsmacking proportions. Case in point: the media and conservatives' sincere belief that Florida Senator Marco Rubio can reach young and minority voters because he likes Tupac.

This is so hysterical I almost fell out of my chair into another chair just so I could fall out of that one too. What is it with tragically unhip political parties and their inability to process the difference between being cool and being a dweeby shill for plutocrats and multi-national corporations?

As a white boy who grew up taking in practically everything Tupac ever committed to audio, paper, film or Kleenex, this offends me deeply. Normally, it's up to us rural-bred white kids to glom on to the cultural influences of brilliant black artists and listen to them until the CD melts. But when some hack politician claims to love the same artist while ignoring the overwhelming message of status quo resistance this politician works tirelessly to perpetuate? It's worse than your mom listening to Pac!

Marco Rubio, who claimed he preferred Tupac to Biggie because of the former's lyrics, probably should sit down with his Walkman and actually listen to those lyrics. Tupac's most famous pop hits aside, his oeuvre is replete with radical leftist questioning of the status quo. Just listen to the song "White Man'z World," Senator Rubio, and tell me how exactly those lyrics fit in with your thinking on supply-side economics and the dismantling of the social safety net. Tupac, were he alive today, likely would advocate taking the money of your top donors and redistributing it to the blighted urban communities the Republican Party is dead-set on keeping from voting through whatever electoral chicanery it can legally manage.

It's one more example of conservatives' indefatigable propensity to co-opt icons of the left while entirely misunderstanding what those icons are actually saying. It's like when Ronald Reagan used Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." It's like when the gun lobby claims Martin Luther King Jr. would advocate for less restrictive gun laws. It's like when any Republican anywhere invokes hip-hop as a badge of credibility when the entire history of the musical form, from Public Enemy to Jay-Z, is a backlash against the racist, exploitative legacy of that party's antecedents. Hip-hop began as a musical insurrection against the historical legacy of Jim Crow policies that reigned from Mississippi to Chicago city planning commissions.

The rage that fueled the genre, that turned it into the musical force that conquered the world, is a backlash to the political and economic class that so effectively has exploited the working poor and minority communities from which the form draws its most powerful voices. This is the same political and economic class whose taxes Senator Rubio wants to cut further. Because the form has gone mainstream, politicians now think it's acceptable to ignore the critique of race, power, and capitalism inherent in hip-hop.

Take it from the guy whose mom's favorite song was "Hit 'Em Up."

Stephen Markley is a RedEye special contributor.

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Good luck trying to explain the Blackhawks' ridiculous start to this year's abbreviated NHL season.

Fortunately, you don't have to. Just know the Blackhawks are hotter than Kate Upton in a see-through bikini doing yoga, which is to say they're playing well enough to quicken the pulse of Chicagoans regardless of age or gender.

After the lockout delayed the start of this season until late January, the Blackhawks have rattled off a run that is unprecedented here locally.

In case you've been under a rock, the Blackhawks are undefeated in any game that doesn't involve a glorified skills competition (i.e. a shootout).

Putting this in context, the Blackhawks' 12-0-3 start is the rough equivalent of the Cubs or White Sox starting a season by winning their first 50 games in a row. If that happened, the entire city would have a collective heart attack.

Goaltender Corey Crawford has gone from an afterthought whom many die-hard Hawks fans were looking to run out of town last season to a savior whose name belongs in the same breath as guys like Esposito and Belfour. Jonathan Toews has proven as worthy as the captain's "C" as anyone who has ever rocked the Indian head sweater. Patrick Kane has made it through the first two months of the season without doing Patrick Kane-y things off the ice. And if someone dare messes with any of the aforementioned fellas, guys like Brandon Bollig and Jamal Mayers make sure opponents don't think to do so again.

In other words, if you've left your Hawks jersey in the closet since 2010's Stanley Cup championship run, now's as good a time as any to bust it out.

And if you haven't done that already, you probably should soon, because this Hawks team is as close as Chicago is going to get to tasting playoff glory for a while.

The Cubs are perpetually rebuilding, the White Sox don't have what it takes to get past Detroit, Derrick Rose isn't coming back anytime soon and the Bears are an enigma wrapped inside a burrito of mystery that won't be answered until a year from now.

Anything good in life is worth waiting for, and never has that axiom rung more true than with this year's Blackhawks. Make sure you jump on the bandwagon before it's too late.

Matt Lindner is a RedEye special contributor.

EAT

Hail to the Chief

Silver Cloud1700 N. Damen Ave. 773-489-6212

Celebrate our country's forefathers with a Presidential lunch or dinner that includes a chicken sandwich or meatloaf plate, a slice of house-made apple pie and a can of American brand beer or-since an inordinate amount of Presidents favored Kentucky spirits-a Bulleit bourbon cocktail. 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. $17.76.

Take Five-Courses

Kendall College900 N. North Branch St. 312-752-2328

See what all the fuss is about Nordic cuisine at the Monday Night Dining Series where culinary students prepare and serve a Scandinavian menu featuring Norwegian spinach soup, cured salmon tartare, roasted pork belly with rutabaga mash, Finnish beet salad, Swedish carrot cake and non-alcoholic beverages. 7 p.m. $38. RSVP: kendall.edu.

DRINK

Heart Some Comedy

DMK Burger Bar2954 N. Sheffield Ave. 773-360-8686

Guffaw it up for a good cause at Grass-Fed Laughs, which features sketch comedy by Kelly McGuigan and Mary Catherine Curran of Sweet Tired Kitten and the 4 Days Late ensemble. Admission includes your first drink and all proceeds benefit local organization Open Heart Magic. 10 p.m. $20. RSVP: ewinter@dmkrestaurants.com.

DO

Act Now

Collaboraction1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. 312-226-9633

It's opening night for "Crime Scene: A Chicago Anthology," Collaboraction's new, interactive, devised work which blends interviews, articles and online commentary with enactments of three Chicago crimes to explore the influences of poverty, segregation, news media and pop culture-and how our city might approach effective change. 7 p.m. $25; $15 for students, teachers and theater professionals. Tickets: collaboraction.org.

Words with Friends

REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY

Register now to create your own St. Patrick's Day green pint glass during March workshops at Ignite Glass Studio: igniteglass.com.


Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.

Dave Kunesh first dabbled in the world of tattooing before he was a teenager.

As a kid, he stumbled upon a tattoo catalogue that his dad, who toyed with the idea of becoming an artist himself, had left behind in the basement. Kunesh, now 40, started drawing designs from that catalogue when he was bored but soon shelved it and turned his attention to airbrushing T-shirts and walls.

When he was 20, he painted a mural at a tattoo shop in Berwyn. He hung out at the shop for a few months and became friends with a tattoo artist, closely watching him work.

The shop got busy and needed another tattoo artist, so Kunesh, then 21, gave it a shot. After a month of training and three practice tattoos on his dad, brother and friend, he took on actual customers and has been tattooing ever since. His star client is Derrick Rose, who has the image of a wizard on his arm along with a reference to his nickname, Pooh. Rose also has a Kunesh portrait of Malcolm X on his calf and a picture of the city skyline on his hand.

"Tattooing is cool and it affords a lifestyle that I can do my art always," said Kunesh, who goes by his childhood nickname, Shred, and owns Shred's Inferno in West Lawn. "I don't have to clock in to a 9-to-5, come home and try to juggle things and doodling here and there. It's something that is full-on for me."

The art of tattooing has become big business in TV land too.

What once was TLC's niche with "LA Ink" has expanded to at least a handful of reality shows on different networks. Oxygen's "Best Ink" and Spike's "Tattoo Nightmares" were renewed for second seasons. VH1 started airing episodes of its new series "Black Ink Crew" while Spike recently picked up "Tattoo Rescue" and held a casting call last month in Chicago for the third season of "Ink Master."

The shows put the lifestyle, industry and competitiveness on display just as much as the artistry itself. 

"It is hard work, and anybody who thinks it's not is kidding themselves," said Hannah Aitchison, an artist at Deluxe Tattoo in Lakeview and a judge on "Best Ink."

She estimates she works about 80 hours a week preparing for tattoos and inking clients. 

Many artists spend the majority of the workday at tattoo shops, holding what feels like a vibrating brick in their hands as they contort their bodies to ink customers at the proper angles. 

As the buzz of tattoo machines rings in their ears, artists try to engage their clients, keep them entertained and distract them to manage pain. 

After tattoos are completed, the artists often are hunched over tables for hours, drawing designs and portraits. In their spare time, many paint in mediums such as watercolor and oil.

Take home pay for tattoo artists vary widely based on factors such as hourly rates and location. The typical salary in the U.S. can range from $20,000 to $47,000, according to payscale.com. But some artists make even more money. 

Shops usually have a minimum fee, and artists set hourly rates for tattoos. Chicago's Taylor Street Tattoo has a $60 minimum while High Voltage Tattoo in L.A., where "LA Ink" was filmed, requires at least a $200 charge. Aitchison said her typical hourly rate is $200, while High Voltage Tattoo artists charge nearly double. Even the tips fluctuate-many clients pick a random amount, not a percentage.

In Chicago, tattoo parlors, not the artists, have to be registered with the state and licensed by the city. 

Aitchison was working a series of unfulfilling jobs as a single mother when her brother, a tattoo artist, suggested she try tattooing. As a kid, she drew and killed time with a box of crayons. She even had done portraits, illustrations and graphic work for extra money but never pursued an art career.

She started a yearlong apprenticeship, like most artists do. She shadowed artists, learned the technical aspects of the trade, practiced drawing tattoos and cleaned up after people at the shop.

First, she practiced on grapefruits and bananas, but gradually got more experience, practicing on another apprentice and eventually moving on to tattooing strangers.

She's been tattooing for 17 years. One day, an ex of "LA Ink" star Kat Von D referred her for the show, and Aitchison appeared on the first two seasons. 

She said misconceptions persist about the industry.

"Probably the biggest stereotype is we're a bunch of party animals who goof off," Aitchison said. "The guys I work with are as serious as a heart attack about the job."

What they value is the freedom.

"I don't have nobody breathing down my neck. I don't have to wear a crappy uniform. I don't get paid a minimum wage," said BJ Storms, 31, a tattoo artist at Code of Conduct in the South Loop.

Storms, whose first professional tattoo five years ago was an image of Beyonce he put on his own thigh, has dealt with strange tattoo requests.

A few years ago, a 6-foot-4 man came into a downtown tattoo shop wanting a tattoo that read "I hate my mom" on his forehead, Storms said.
Storms complied-but only after he pissed off the customer by asking whether he was sure he really wanted the tattoo.

The job itself can be rewarding when the customer chooses the artist over others and is happy with the finished product.

"They trusted my ability to do something on them that's there for life, and that's awesome," Storms said.

lvivanco@tribune.com

Love bacon and have $100 to burn? Then you've probably already marked your calendar for Wednesday, when general admission tickets for Baconfest 2013 on April 20 go on sale.

Tickets will be available for purchase online starting at 12 noon on Wednesday on ticketing site Eventbrite.com. In past years, they've sold out within a matter of hours. The $100 (plus fees) general admission ticket buys you access to the fest during either the lunch session (12:30-3 p.m.) or dinner session (6:30-9 p.m.). A portion of proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

More than 100 chefs from local restaurants are lined up to pass out samples of bacon-inspired dishes at either the lunch or dinner sessions. A number of restaurants that opened within the last year are appearing at Baconfest for the first time, including Bang Bang Pie Shop, Baume & Brix, Belly Q, Bel 50, Firecakes, La Sirena Clandestina and Maison at the lunch session and Dragon Ranch, Little Market Brasserie, Carriage House and Trenchermen at the dinner session.

There are even some chefs on board representing restaurants that haven't open yet, such as former Vie chef Nathan Sears representing his in-the-works project The Radler and D.A.S.

Check out the full lineup on baconfestchicago.com.

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EAT

Four Score

Markethouse 611 N. Fairbanks Court 312-224-2200

To celebrate the restaurant's fourth anniversary, executive chef De'Ann Wellwerts offers $4.44 small plates including boar belly crostini with tomato jam, mac 'n' cheese gratin with applewood-smoked bacon and butterscotch bread pudding, plus $4.44 Marketini cocktails made with vodka, apple liqueur and cranberry juice. 4-11 p.m.

DRINK

Brews, Games and Sitcoms

Headquarters 950 W. Wolfram St. 773-665-5660

Sample more than 30 arcade games and a range of brews at the arcade bar's Build Your Own Flight Night, where you can assemble tastings of five craft beers for $11. Then, settle in for Sitcom Wars, where you can view screenings of both "Sanford and Son" and "Seinfeld" and vote for your favorite. 5 p.m.-2 a.m. No cover.

Guest Spot

Drumbar 201 E. Delaware Place 312-943-5000

Former Violet Hour bartender Troy Sidle-now of the NYC bar Pouring Ribbons-joins Drumbar's Craig Schoettler as guest bartender. Taste their concoctions ($14-$18) including Sidle's Haberdasher (bourbon, Fernet Branca and chartreuse cream) and Schoettler's Rooibos (gin, gingerbread rooibos tea, pistachio, vanilla and cinnamon). 5 p.m.-midnight. No cover.

Hawks and Hooch

Market 1113 W. Randolph St. 312-929-4787

Catch the Blackhawks action (7:30 p.m.) on 20 TVs with audio and order gameday specials including $4 Bud Light drafts; $6 Ketel One, Jack Daniel's and Captain Morgan cocktails and $3 fireball shots. Got tickets for the game? Take the West Loop bar's free shuttle to and from United Center. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. No cover.

DO

Modern Love

Theater Wit 1229 W. Belmont Ave. 773-975-8150

Check out the Midwest premiere of "Completeness," a rom-com by Itamar Moses ("Bach at Leipzig,") about two grad students-one, a computer scientist; the other, a molecular biologist-who are smart about their work but clueless about each other. 7 p.m. $30; $20 if you're under 30.

REDEYE TIP OF THE DAY

Tickets are on sale for the Wicker Park Bucktown Mixologist Mashup at Dolphin March 28: drinkofwpb.eventbrite.com.

Julia Borcherts is a RedEye special contributor.

She's a survivor-a difficult feat in show business even if you did leap to fame at age 19 as Beyonce's sidekick.

In just a few short years, Rockford native Michelle Williams went from directing church and community choirs to winning a Grammy as part of pop trio Destiny's Child. Since then, in addition to her work as a solo gospel and R&B artist, Williams has spend some serious time on stage--in the title role of Broadway's "Aida," as Roxie Hart in the London production of "Chicago" and as Shug Avery in the national tour of "The Color Purple."

Now she's co-starring as love interest Sandra Isadore in the national tour of "Fela!," the Tony Award-winning tale of Afrobeat legend and political activist Fela Kuti. We talked to Williams by phone about visiting Chicago, shaking it with Beyonce at the Super Bowl and why "Fela!" will make you want to get up and dance.

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Fela!
Go: Wednesday through Saturday at the Arie Crown Theater, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive
Tickets: $20-$85, 800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com
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On her roots as an artist:"I grew up in church where the music just was in my soul. My mother, she raised us on gospel music. And then, my dad was the one who raised us on jazz, rock, hip-hop, R&B, soul-from, shucks, Iron Maiden to Sting to Chaka Khan to The Winans."

Her must-visit spots in Chicago: The Original Pancake House, Garrett Popcorn Shop, the Lakefront Trail, The Underground ("I'm great friends with Billy Dec here, so of course I get spoiled at all his establishments) and the Viagra Triangle for people-watching. "You see the most interesting combinations of people, like 80-year-old men with 18-year-olds."

On the reported magical powers of "Fela!":"There are times where I'm standing on the side of the stage watching and I'm always almost in tears because the dancing and music are so powerful and moving-the drums and how people just let go of themselves. They told us of a lady in Los Angeles who saw the show. She had cancer. The music moved her so much, she got on the stage and started dancing with the cast! And they were all, 'Who is this woman?,' but it makes you just want to get up with them and dance. She goes to the doctor the next day for a check-up and when she gets the results, she has no cancer. So she feels like that dancing or whatever spirit was there during 'Fela!' healed her of her cancer. I'm telling you, there is something magical about this show."

The most challenging part of playing Sandra:"Just staying aggressive, because there is a soft side of me and I could see how I could go easy on Fela. But I've gotta stand my ground with him."

On concerts vs. musicals:"Well, performing in a musical, obviously, you've got to know what you're doing. You can't put your mic in the audience and say, 'Hey, sing along.' Although, this show, 'Fela!,' is different, 'cause it's based off of his last concert at The Shrine in Lagos, so it's kind of like a concert. But to me, normally, in a Broadway show, it's just, stick to the script, literally."

How she got her big break: "A friend of mine-he's actually from Chicago-was [Monica's] keyboardist and he found my number, he said, in the bottom of a moving box somewhere and he said, 'Let me call this number and see if it's still hers.' Once we connected and caught up, he was like, 'I'm on tour with Monica.' I said, 'Oh, really? If she needs a background singer, let me know,' not thinking that he's going to call me back days later saying, 'Look, you gotta get to Atlanta tomorrow because she's having auditions.' His cousin-her name was Gladys-happened to work for United Airlines and she got me a buddy pass for Atlanta. I auditioned and I got the gig. One of the dancers for Monica was Destiny's Child's choreographer, so when Destiny's Child went looking for new members, she recommended me."

On the pros and cons of being linked to Beyonce:"[People] think wherever I am, she must be. Like, am I going to pick her up out of my back pocket somewhere? We all have individual lives. But the benefit for me is just great friendship, outside of anything. We are truly, truly friends."

On performing at the Super Bowl: "We could not wait because [Beyonce] really wanted it to be a surprise! ... It's the biggest thing that you could ever do, career-wise, because there are millions and millions and millions of people watching the show. ...There was no nerves-at least, I wasn't nervous. [Laughs.] It was great."

On those rumors of Destiny's Child performing on Beyonce's Mrs. Carter tour: "We haven't had that talk yet, but I'm sure if that's what she wants-and literally, if our schedules work, because for me to even do the Super Bowl, I was in rehearsals for 'Fela!' at the same time as flying for her to the Super Bowl. But I'm sure that if she wants us out there for something, we'll make it work."

CTA riders, this is not the way to ring in the new year. Chicago police issued two separate alerts last week warning riders about recent cellphone thefts on the Red and Pink lines.

Police said a group of men have been snatching electronic devices from riders on trains and platforms between 55th and 95th Streets on the Red Line since early this year.

This weekend, police released a photo of a suspect they say has been using a gun to rob riders of their cellphones on the Pink Line since late last month.

Cellphone theft, especially thefts of iPhones, long has been a problem on the CTA. In 2011, a 17-year-old boy was charged with first degree murder after he allegedly knocked down a 68-year-old woman and killed her as he stole an iPhone at the Fullerton stop.

Thefts, including those of cellphones, were up nearly 16 percent in 2012 compared to 2011, the CTA said. Robberies, which involve force or intimidation, were down 21 percent, according to the agency.

The CTA announced last week it will spend seven months retrofitting older train cars with high-definition cameras that already are on the new rail cars with the aisle-facing seats on the Pink, Green and Red lines.

Cameras across the CTA have helped police identify 14 suspects in 15 cases in the last eight months, the agency said last week.

Riders can do their part as well. Here are some safety tips from Going Public: If you need to use your phone, make sure not to do it by the door, where a rider can snatch it and run into the station. Try to find a place where your back is to the wall, and be aware of your surroundings.

Above all, ask yourself if that call can wait.

Stationary

A weekly dispatch from a CTA station of note

This week: Cottage Grove Green Line

If you're the type of CTA rider who gets anxious waiting eight minutes for a train, the Cottage Grove Green Line stop in Woodlawn is not for you. The train to the Loop runs about every 20 minutes from Cottage Grove during morning rush hour and every 20 minutes from the Loop to Cottage Grove during evening rush hour. The station saw about 423,000 entries last year, up 1 percent from the previous year. These numbers are expected to rise in May, when the CTA shuts down the southern portion of the Red Line to overhaul its track and riders flock to the Green Line. Workers at the Cottage Grove station Monday were making network upgrades for phone lines, CTA Train Tracker displays and the PA system, the CTA said.

Next up: Thorndale Red Line

tswartz@tribune.com | @tracyswartz

The bar where Austin Harvey works goes through one keg of Chicago-based Virtue Red Streak cider each week.

That might not sound like a lot, but consider Harvey's employer- Goose Island's Clybourn brewpub, where the cider holds its own between drafts of made-on-premises special release beers and favorites such as 312 wheat ale.

"[Cider] is on the same trajectory craft beer took," Harvey said. "It's something that's certainly welcomed to the table or the tap handle."

Nationwide, hard cider is the popular new kid on the block. Sales have gained steam in the past few years, especially among millennials and those with gluten sensitivities, since cider is naturally gluten-free. U.S. cider production increased 65 percent in 2012 over the previous year, according to Nielsen data, though it's nowhere close to rivaling beer as America's booze of choice. In Chicago especially, cider makers have found drinkers thirsty for something new.

"[Chicago] was one of our first markets," said David Sipes, a cider maker with Angry Orchard, a division of Sam Adams that launched nationally in the spring and currently is the best-selling hard cider in the country. "There are sophisticated consumers [in Chicago] that are more likely to know cider and there's certainly an established and aware craft-brewing community."

Members of that community-about 2,000 of them-turned out for the first Cider Summit Chicago, held in a Navy Pier convention room Feb. 9. More than two dozen producers from as near as Chicago and Michigan to as far as New Zealand and Spain poured glasses of their ciders, which ranged in color from apple-juice yellow to rose pink to cloudy brown. The ciders' tastes, too, were varied, from crisp and bubbly to slightly sour and funky.

It was discovering this rainbow of ciders that gave Virtue Cider founder Greg Hall-a former Goose Island brewmaster whose father, John, founded the Chicago brewery-his cider epiphany. He traveled to England in 2000 and stumbled upon a cider festival, where more than 40 ciders ranging in style and flavor were on cask. When he came back to the U.S., he couldn't find that same diversity.

"You'd walk into a place like Binny's and there would be 5,000 wines and thousands of beers and 500 whiskeys and only four ciders," Hall said.

That's quickly changing. As manufacturers see increased demand for ciders on both shelves and taps, everyone from independent producers to the major beer makers are bringing new styles to market.

In the next few months, Chicagoans will see new releases from Angry Orchard, Virtue Cider, Michigan-based Vander Mill and Uncle John's, as well as Vermont-based Woodchuck. Cider makers have expanded beyond apple-based brews to include pear, raspberry, apricot and peach juices in their blends. Uncle John's will release an apple-blueberry variety this summer, while Angry Orchard Elderflower cider hit shelves in six-packs this month. Piggybacking on a technique that's usually associated with craft beer, both Woodchuck and Virtue have experimented with aging their ciders in barrels, resulting in Virtue's The Mitten-on tap now-and Woodchuck's Private Reserve Barrel Select.

And while these techniques, styles and even packaging often are designed to court craft beer drinkers, many cider makers agree that the process is closer to winemaking than beer-brewing.

"We're fermenting juice," Sipes said. "It's an acid balance which, in the case of wine, comes from the grapes you select, and in the case of cider, which apples you select."

Each blend of apples and strain of yeast results in a different flavor, meaning some ciders are best sipped with certain foods, while others pair well with dessert or are designed to be enjoyed solo. It's this versatility, said Greg Hall, that explains the current cider boom.

"Today's drinker drinks everything. They might go to one bar and start off with a cocktail and then have a meal and have some wine, then watch a game and drink some American lager," Hall said. "They drink everything, and they drink cider too. It may not be their main drink, but it's going to be one of them."

kbernot@tribune.com | @redeyeeatdrink