Joe Arce

CHICAGO – Actor Harry Connick Jr. flashed the HollywoodChicago.com lens a welcoming smile while signing autographs for fans in the name of his new film “New in Town” on Jan. 28, 2009 at the Shops of North Bridge mall on downtown Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.

CHICAGO – “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” star Kevin James made an appearance in Chicago on Jan. 13, 2008 at the first-ever “Deputy Mall Cop Tryouts” for a Chicago Blackhawks children’s charity. The HollywoodChicago.com lens captured his exclusive portraits.

CHICAGO – Singer, actress and fashion icon Jessica Simpson sports a fancy greeting for the HollywoodChicago.com lens on Dec. 6, 2008 at the launch of her new “Fancy” fragrance at Macy’s on State Street in downtown Chicago.

CHICAGO – After hearing comical interpretations of leverage from HollywoodChicago.com readers – including “taking someone’s pet hostage,” “having goons, paying them well and feeding them well” and a “push-up bra” – Academy Award-winning actor Timothy Hutton jumped into his “Leverage” character and said it’s just one matter-of-fact word: “power”.

CHICAGO – Legendary adult film star, feminist and best-selling author Nina Hartley was in Chicago for a three-night, sold-out sex education workshop series at The Pleasure Chest from Dec. 3, 2008 to Dec. 5, 2008. Hartley paid a visit to the HollywoodChicago.com celebrity photographer’s studio to shoot some of her new no-nudity publicity.

CHICAGO – “Rescue Me” star Denis Leary takes a moment out of his busy schedule on Dec. 5, 2008 to explain “why we suck” before a packed book signing for his best-selling book “Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid” at Borders on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. Leary starred in 52 episodes of “Rescue Me” from 2004 to 2007.

CHICAGO – Music producer and “American Idol” judge Randy Jackson got up close and personal with the HollywoodChicago.com lens before his book signing on Dec. 3, 2008 for “Randy Jackson’s New You Plan” at the Borders on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue.

CHICAGO – Luis Guzman, Freddy Rodriguez and Elizabeth Pena were in Chicago on a snowy Dec. 1, 2008 for the red-carpet premiere of the new Chicago-filmed movie “Nothing Like the Holidays” at the Music Box Theatre.

CHICAGO – “The Apprentice” star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth posed for the HollywoodChicago.com camera on Oct. 22, 2008 before beginning her two-day Chicago book tour to promote “The Bitch Switch” at Borders in downtown Chicago.

CHICAGO – Actress Chelsea Handler strikes a pose for the HollywoodChicago.com lens at a Borders in Chicago before a book signing on Oct. 26, 2008 for her best seller “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea”. Handler also performed a benefit for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation on Oct. 25, 2008 at the House of Blues in Chicago.