Join Chicago NABJ (National Ass’n of Black Journalists) at Allstar Bar & Grill, 205 W. Wacker, on Dec. 15, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., for a “party with a purpose.”
Join Chicago NABJ (National Ass’n of Black Journalists) at Allstar Bar & Grill, 205 W. Wacker, on Dec. 15, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., for a “party with a purpose.” Members’ cost: $5 and the rest of y’all are asked to donate $10 at the door – all to go for journalism scholarships. Come and holiday hobnob with a growing guest list that so far includes Ch. 7’s Cheryl Burton and Karen Jordan; Ch. 9’s Allison Payne; Ch. 32’s Robin Robinson; Ch. 2’s Ryan Baker and Dorothy Tucker; Ch. 5’s Christian Farr; the Chicago Defender’s Kathy Chaney and “Teesee”; Chicago Public Radio’s Richard Steele and Natalie Moore; RedEye’s Kyra Kyles (she’s Chicago-NABJ’s prexey); V103’s urban radio pioneer Herb Kent; and NBC legends Art Norman and Warner Saunders. Appetizers served ‘til exhausted and a cash bar is available. Guests will be treated to great music and networking galore. See ya!
Parting Gesture – As one of his last official acts, former Cook County board President Todd H. Stroger presented a resolution to Jessie “Ma” Houston, international director of the Prison Outpost Ministry of Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, after her testimony about the life and legacy of her "running buddy," the late Dr. Margaret Burroughs, founder of DuSable Museum and South Side Community Art Center. The resolution cited Dr. Burroughs’ passion for the arts and for her writings. “Dr. Burroughs was a passionate worker,” said Stroger. Reflecting on the time when he worked at the Park District, he remembered “how she was always a strong advocate to the arts. I know some young artists about my age benefited from her. She will be missed and her passion and hard work will be missed. Hopefully, we will have somebody to pick up that and push for the arts as she did.”
Our Sympathy – to Joslyn DiPasalegne, event planner and niece of the Defender’s founder, Robert S. Abbott, on Saturday’s passing of her husband of 22 years, Juan, a retired business exec who served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era. The lifelong Chicagoan died in their Hammond, Ind. home after a valiant battle with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer. Juan received a B.A. degree from the Univ. of Chicago and a Master’s in Business Administration from Loyola Univ. Final arrangements are pending … Also, condolences to the family of Judge Glenn T. Johnson, 93, former Illinois assistant attorney and second African American to serve on the Illinois Appellate Court, who died of natural causes in his Hyde Park home. Judge Johnson is noted for having hired more African American law clerks than any other Illinois appellate judge; two of his fclerks, P. Scott Neville Jr. and Joy Cunningham, are now appellate judges. Judge Johnson’s funeral was at Woodlawn AME Church. His first wife, the late Atty. Evelyn Freeman Johnson, was my very favorite Sunday School teacher way back when at Olivet Baptist Church
On Air – Norman’s Bistro was the site for a 190 North television show taping. A Ch. 7 camera crew visited Norm Bolden’s up-scale dining spot, 1001 E. 43rd St., and conducted an interview with the entrepreneur which airs Dec. 19, 10:35 p.m., and showcases some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, including succulent barbeque jerk baby back ribs; beef, sausage and shrimp jambalaya; global garden salad and grilled tilapia with black beans and rice and a tasty assortment of desserts. Look closely and you’ll spot some diners you probably know – Merry Green, of The Black Women’s Expo; LeAnne Muller Wharton, 87.7 FM; Stephen Mathis, digital media specialist; Redessa Harris, publicist for Norman’s Bistro; and Chicago Defender staffers Jasmine Allgood, Alvita Rhone and this scribe. Hats off to Chef Robert Blanchard on his delicious cuisine. Call (773)
966-5821 … Evelyn Holmes and Hosea Sanders host Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. edition of Heart & Soul, Ch 7’s series of specials that tap into Chicago’s vibrant African American community. Cheryl Burton and Jim Rose contribute. This edition shines a light on a Chicago Bear who has a lot of heart himself, both on the field and off. Israel Idonije founded the Israel Idonije Foudation to reach out to disadvantaged kids here and ‘round the world. Idonije shares the excitement of the work he does with the foundation during the off season, including his trip to Nigeria to help youngsters needing medical attention and his White House visit with students from Roseland. Also the show targets the inspirational story of Cheryl Hyman, who, after dropping out of high school, went on to become the chancellor of the City Colleges of Chicago where she oversees 120,000 students and manages a $500 million budget. Next up, True Star Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides a creative outlet for elementary school students, founded by two women in their 30s. Finally, Heart & Soul points the camera on X’ernona Woods, author of Save that Penny for a Sunny Day. The program looks at how Woods, a Chicago Public Schools alum, is educating young people on the importance of being financially literate. She’s been presenting workshops to grade school children on how to save their money and invest. During her presentations, kids get the opportunity to visit the Federal Reserve Bank’s Money Museum to gain a greater understanding of the value of the dollar. Heart & Soul, which encores Sunday, 2:30 p.m., is featured on-demand at abc7chicago.com.
Newsy Names – DuSable Museum presents Dr. Margaret Burroughs: In Her Own Words, a day-long celebration, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., on Saturday, at the museum, 57th and Cottage, featuring films, children’s workshops, symposia, music and spoken word performances. Free admission: rsvp @ (773) 947-0600, ext,. 627… Jazz singer Senabella performs sultry sounds from her new CD, Love Is, Dec. 19, 3 p.m.-8 p.m., at Sweet Georgia Brown’s, 4167 W. 183rd St., Country Club Hills. On tap, free samples of Remy Martin cocktails and other give-aways … Artists Cheryl Toles and Melvin King are exhibiting in tandem on Thursday at eta Gallery, hosted by Creative Artists Ass’n … Gov. Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, Pres. Toni Preckwinkle and other city, county and state officials and were on hand when Green Park Eco Garage, the city’s first LEED Gold registered, fully-automated parking garage with space for over 100 cars, broke ground at 1868 N. Milwaukee Ave. Next year, holiday shoppers, business owners and visitors to the Bucktown area will have better and smarter ways to park and won’t have to agonize as much in their search. The garage will open in the fall of 2011. The project of Chicago-based VLF Development LLC, Green Park will utilizie a patented, fully-automatic parking system that takes the aggravation out of parking and adds customer-friendly features, such as the ability to reserve parking spaces online or through Smartphones. to enhance the parking experience. Internationally recognized as the standard for building sustainability and environmental conciousness, a LEED Gold certification represents one of the highest levels of achievement … Happy b’day to Carol (Kay) Bell, Sandra Enimil (Aya), Frank McGhee, Dori Zollar, “Big John” Wilson, Yvette J. Moyo-Gillard, Harold Lee Rush, Helen Burleson, Jacque Carter, Georgia Sanders, Angela Ingram, Connie Jenkins, W.L. Lillard, Jocklyn Batey, State Rep. Connie Howard, Angelique Tribett, Diana Muhammad and Thomas Marks.
Curtain Call – eta Creative Arts Foundation presents the world premier of Obie award winning playwright and performance artist Daniel Beaty’s Tearing Down the Walls, about finding the courage to transform pain into power, opening Thursday at eta Square and directed by Kemati J. Porter and Anthony P. Brooks. Show times: 8 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 3 p.m., Sundays. All seats are $10, Dec. 9-19, in celebration of the holidays; Thursdays at 8 p.m. are $10 throughout the year. General admission, $30 with special student, senior and group rates. It runs through Feb. 13, with no performances Dec. 23-31. Call (773) 752-3955 or visit www.etacreativearts.org.
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