Jim Belushi still feels bad for tarnishing Santa Claus’ reputation for a bunch of Wheaton kids who probably grew up thinking the Jolly Man did hard time.

Novelist David Daniel’s new book, “Reunion,” published by St. Martin’s Press, is his ninth novel. He has also recently published a collection of short stories, “Six off 66.” Peter Costa, a senior editor at the Community Newspaper Company, interviewed Daniel. This is an edited transcript of that interview.

A roundup of quirky news as reported by GateHouse newspapers.

Like the interplay of colors on canvas, 40 people are blending their respective strengths to create an artists’ association.

The Yellow House Artists will exhibit “Beauty in Our Midst” from now through May 29 in the Peck Farm Park Orientation Barn at 38W199 Kaneville Road in Geneva, where an artists reception is planned from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 18.

It took just "4 Minutes" for Madonna to conquer the Billboard charts again.

Here are five events going on in the area this weekend.

Here are five events going on in the area this weekend.

Here are five events going on in the area this weekend.

It’s 2008 and Bret Michaels is still relevant, new wave is the new emo and the money you spend on gas driving to a concert will cost you more than the actual ticket. Thankfully, a ridiculous amount of really good music has started flying out of studios from Portland, Ore., to Gothenburg, Sweden.

Adrenaline and excitement kept Nichole Cordova perky despite the fact she’d traveled from the East Coast to her home in Los Angeles in less than 24 hours. One day after appearing in New York City on MTV’s "Total Request Live," Cordova, 18, returned to her L.A. digs, completing a whirlwind tour of television and radio appearances after winning a spot in the hottest new girl group – Girlicious.

You might think the Museum of Bad Art is right where it belongs — in the basement of a building in Dedham, right next to the men’s room.

Ladies and gentlemen: Stop your engines! And as you leave the track, try to avoid the mangled wreckage of “Speed Racer,” Andy and Larry Wachowski’s over-glitzed, under-written and just plain annoying remake of the Saturday morning cartoon classic.

The Elgin Choral Union will perform Schubert’s “Mass in G Minor,” Haydn’s “Lord Nelson Mass” and Beethoven’s “Elegischer Gesang” (“Elegiac Song”) next week, joined by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.

Elgin Theatre Company presents “Nunsense II: The Second Coming…,” written by Dan Goggin and directed by Kevin Wiczer. Capping the troupe’s 56th season,  the musical comedy is staged at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from now through May 17 at Theatre 355, 355 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

The summer movie season is here. There’s some big hitters coming, but what’s the most likely bomb?