Making News – Muhammad (“The Greatest”) Ali, triple world heavyweight champion widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time, receives a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Defender, a
Making News – Muhammad (“The Greatest”) Ali, triple world heavyweight champion widely considered one of the greatest heavyweight championship boxers of all time, receives a coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Defender, a Real Times newspaper, on Oct. 16 during its 4th Annual Newsmakers Award & Scholarship Gala in the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. As an amateur, Ali won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. After turning pro, he went on to become the first boxer ever to win the lineal heavyweight championship three times. Radio legend Tom Joyner will be saluted with the distinguished National Newsmaker Award at the Gala. This black-tie event will pay equal tributes to Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th), candidate for president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, in the category of Local Government; Wayne Watson, president of Chicago State Univ., Education; Barbara Allen, film and documentary producer, Media-Communications; and Ald. Anthony Beal (9th), Community Leadership and Service. According to Michael House, Chicago Defender president, the Newsmakers Award is designed to continue the paper’s tradition of honoring and recognizing a variety of world-class citizens and organizations who display the highest level of leadership, whose commitment to excellence is empowering and whose achievements for contributions to improving the welfare of all are unparalleled. “Honorees are selected because they have stood the test of time, are rising to new heights and who daily set the pace,” House said. Actor Harry Lennix, best known for his roles as "Dresser" in the Robert Townsend film The Five Heartbeats and as "Boyd Langton" in the Joss Whedon television show Dollhouse, has signed on as celebrity host/emcee. The awards evening will end with live entertainment and dancing. Partial proceeds will benefit the Abbott-Sengstacke Scholarship Fund for Journalism Students. For more information and/or ticket reservations, contact Adrienne Jones, (312) 225-2400, ext. 170. For Openers – Norman Bolden (of Room 43 fame), popular South Side businessman and activist, has announced his candidacy for alderman of the 4th Ward all while putting the finishing touches on his latest venture – a new, upscale restaurant in the North Kenwood-Oakland-Bronzeville community, Norman’s Bistro, 1001 E. 43rd St. (at Ellis). Bolden’s longtime buddies and fellow entrepreneurs, Marv Dyson, Velma Brazelton and Merry Green, will co-host the restaurant’s grand opening Thursday. The “by invitation only” celebration will kick-off at Bolden’s popular entertainment venue, the just re-opened Room 43 at 1043 E. 43rd St., for cocktails and teasers. Moving on to Norman’s Bistro, only a block west, guests will be treated to samples of his delectable cuisine, champagne and wine courtesy of Remy Cointreau USA and live jazz. The Bistro has been in the works for more than a decade, he says. “It’s been my dream to bring fine dining and an upscale establishment to the neighborhood where I grew up. I know my parents would be proud.” Chicago’s Chef Robert Blanchard has developed a menu of American fare with a Southern and Brazilian flair. The attractive restaurant space is open and airy with large windows and exposed brick walls. It also features an intimate bar in the back room with a widescreen television for sports viewing. This multi-use building also houses several small businesses as tenants. Tho the eatery has been open in preview mode for a couple of weeks, the doors officially open on Friday. Hours of operation: Wednesday-Friday, 3 p.m.-midnight; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for brunch and 6 p.m.-midnight for dinner and late night fare. Call (773) 966-5821. Newsy Names – Forest Whitaker, who won an Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in "The Last King of Scotland," picks up a Career Achievement Award from Black Perspectives of Chicago International Film Festival Saturday at Chase Auditorium … Happy b’day to Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Christine Dickerson Houston, Hank Schwab, Vernell Scott, Cash Crenshaw, Judge Michael Stuttley, Rev. Paul Hobson Sadler, Juanita F. Wilson, Rev. Patrick L. Daymond and Don Davenport … Condolences to Lt. Cynthia Lance, of the Chicago Police Dept., on the passing of her mom, Denice Wilson. Visitation: Wednesday, noon- 8 p.m., Cage Memorial Chapel, 76th and Jeffery Boulevard; visitation, Thursday, 10 a.m., St. Albie’s Catholic Church, 9015 S. Harper; funeral, 11 a.m. … R&B artist Mary J. Blige takes centerstage at the Chicago Theatre Oct. 17 … Deborah Washington, retired 31-year AT&T employee, a mom and grandmom, Roosevelt Univ. grad, NAACP and Chicago Urban League member, DuSable Museum volunteer, among other attributes, is looking to become the next alderman of the 7th Ward where she’s lived for 26 years. Delta Data – Learn about the issues, ask questions and get answers from political hopefuls who aspire for the offices of governor, U.S. Senator, comptroller and treasurer this Wednesday, 7 p.m., at a “Meet the Candidates” forum presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Lambda and Chicago Alumnae Chapters and the Chicago Urban League at Urban League headquarters, 4510 S. Michigan Ave. ABC-7’s award-winning political reporter, Charles Thomas, moderates. Visit www.chicagodeltas.com. Where the Heart Is – If you live or ever lived in the stable far South Side community of West Chesterfield (bounded by King Drive, 95th Street, State Street and 89th Street) you’re encouraged to stop by the West Chesterfield Community Center, 9351 S. Michigan, on Saturday, 2 p.m., for “A Place Called Home: An Afternoon of West Chesterfield Stories II.” Meet the community’s history makers and historians and view their taped interviews, etc. Former residents, please come and share your memories, via old photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, tape recordings, etc. My parents built a three-bedroom ranch-style bungalow home at 9333 S. King Dr. in the late 50s. Previously we lived in a West Woodlawn two-flat at 6627 S. Langley Ave. What warm and wonderful memories I have of those two “old neighborhoods” where I spent my formative years. Gala Girls – Doris Sizer (center), program committee chair of the Chicago Alumni Chapter of Alabama A & M University, presents Annual Awards to Regena Glenn-Caldwell (left), “for Community Achieverment” and Althea Hammond, principal of Brian Piccola Specialty School, “Educator of the Year” during the chapter’s Annual Scholarship Gala at the Four Points Sheraton-Midway Hotel. Glenn-Caldwell was cited for her volunteer work with a number of organizations, including The Links Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Top Ladies of Distinction. Steven Hill is chapter president. (Defender – Theresa Fambro Hooks) It’s Classic! – A long-time fave award-winning on-air radio personality and authority on contemporary music – none other than Richard Steele! – returns once again to host the 2010-2011 Classical Tapestry subscription series which kick-off on Oct. 29, 8 p.m. with van Zweden/ Brueggergosman, J. L. Adams/Mahler/ Shostakovich and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center, Michigan and Adams. The series continues Jan. 30, 3 p.m., with Anthony McGill, Yo-Yo Ma and Emanuel Ax; and March 25 with “An Evening of Jazz” with Branford Marsalis and
Terence Blanchard. The three concerts (prices per seat range from $75-$165) include exclusive pre- and post-concert receptions, complimentary food and beverages with fellow music lovers and post-concert meet-and-greets with featured guest artists. Steele and his co-host, Jim Fahey, Symphony Center Presents’ director of programming, provide an insightful exploration of the music being played that evening, complete with a Q&A session where attendees can ask anything they’ve ever wanted to know about the music, the artists and more. The concerts celebrate the musical talent of today’s leading African American artists through the three unique and diverse concert experiences. For more info and/or to order the three-concert subscription, call Patron Services at (312) 294-3000. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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