CHICAGO, Ill. -- While libraries are filled with scores of books about Chicago's colorful history, few acknowledge the political, social, and economic impact of the city's once powerful brewing industry. When the Haas & Sulzer Brewery opened its doors in 1833, the town's population of only 200 managed to guzzle down its first year's output of 600 barrels in record time. Chicago was on its way to becoming the beer-drinking town that it is today, says Bob Skilnik, author of the just-released BEER: A History of Brewing in Chicago (Barricade Books, ISBN 1569803129).

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- Penny Webster, author of "Allergy Free For All Ages: Milk-free, Egg-free, Nut-free Recipes" offering safe food alternatives for severely allergic kids and adults that are delicious enough to satisfy the whole family, today announced that millions of individuals are now living on restrictive diets due to food allergies or intolerance.