A week’s worth of developing stories, events, and signs of the times, culled from the desks, inboxes, and wandering eyes of the editors
Notes
Who Defends the Public Defenders?
“We’ve talked about an injunction to stop you all from not funding me,” an incensed Amy Campanelli threatened the Cook County Board of Commissioners last week. Campanelli, the county’s beleaguered public defender, is right to be so aggressive about funding for her office; it has faced excessive budget cuts and an ever-declining staff practically since the beginning of the millennium, even as its caseload and mandate has expanded—as of last year, her office represented half of all criminal defendants in the county. Campanelli compellingly made this case to commissioners looking to slash the department’s budget even further after getting themselves into a fiscal mess with the Pop Tax. She refused to cut ten percent from her budget on request from Finance Committee Chairman John Daley, saying it would leave her with fewer than four hundred full-time attorneys and require her office to pay outside lawyers more to do the same job. The crisis is likely to further dent the public image of board president Toni Preckwinkle, which took a nosedive in the wake of the Pop Tax fiasco, since Preckwinkle has repeatedly claimed that criminal justice reform is a “hallmark” of her administration. It is markedly more difficult to make that claim after being responsible for a budget in which the public defender’s office is further diminished.
The DOB’s Demolition Derby
According to Judy Frydland, the Commissioner of the Department of Buildings (DOB), 359 vacant buildings in Chicago have been torn down so far in 2017. The number was 253 for the entire year of 2016. Based on data obtained from the DOB, the demolished buildings were concentrated in the West Side, the Southwest Side, and the Far South Side. The demolition program allows intervention by the city before vacant homes “get into such a state of disrepair,” said Frydland. Such language, as well as the spike in the number of buildings demolished, reminds us of the DOB’s press release in February 2016, announcing the department would fast-track demolition of vacant buildings “in high crime districts as quickly as possible” as a way to ward off gang violence, since vacant buildings are often occupied by criminal organizations. This reminds us, too, that it’s not as if vacant buildings themselves are the root of these problems.
Toil and Trouble at Bubbly Creek
The Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 branch swung into action this past weekend when someone noticed several animals in Bridgeport’s Bubbly Creek covered in what appeared to be oil. Scientists and service workers began their work in uncovering the source of the leak and taking steps to care for animals affected by the presumed spill. All the while, rumors are circulating that the EPA is considering closing their Region 5 branch—a step that would do a great deal of harm, were a similar spill or other environmental disaster to occur in the future. The Trump administration has shown little concern for the frequency of such disasters, and the need for a skilled and efficient staff to address them. Scientists, at least, are still working hard to determine the source of the spill in Bubbly Creek.
Calendar
BULLETIN
Radical Impressions: Excavating the Anarchist Past on Chicago’s Near West Side
Towner Fellows’ Lounge, Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. Wednesday, November 1, 4pm. Free. (312) 943-9090. bit.ly/RadicalImpressions
Chicago’s Near West Side was historically one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city, encompassing Greektown, Little Italy, the Maxwell Street flea market, and the Jane Addams Hull House. In this talk, Olga Herrera walks us through the unique history of the area, and how it shaped labor activists such as Lucy Parsons and the Industrial Workers of the World. (Bridget Newsham)
Activation of Bryn Mawr West and East
CPL South Shore Branch, 2505 E. 73rd St. Saturday, November 4, 10:30am–12:30pm. Free. (773) 664-1347. bit.ly/BrynMawrActivation
The Planning Coalition and Southeast Side Block Club Alliance invites residents of Bryn Mawr West (71st to 75th, Stony Island to Jeffery) and Bryn Mawr East (71st to 75th, Jeffery to Yates) to this “activation” meeting to begin establishing an Area Council to represent the voices of the community amid all of the change happening in the greater south lakefront area. (Sam Stecklow)
Native American Heritage Month Celebration With Queen Yonasda Lonewolf
CPL South Shore Branch, 2505 E. 73rd St. Saturday, November 4, 2:30pm–4pm. Free. (312) 747-5281. bit.ly/Yonasda
CPS’s American Indian Education Program, with Northwestern University, hosts Black and indigenous activist, organizer, musician, and artist Queen Yonasda Lonewolf as a keynote speaker in its celebration of Native American Heritage Month. (Sam Stecklow)
Kevin Coval Reading and Book Signing
Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, 238 W. 23rd St. Saturday, November 4, 2:30pm-4pm. Free, with registration strongly encouraged at bit.ly/CovalSigning. (312) 949-1000. ccamuseum.org
Kevin Coval, the creative director of Young Chicago Authors and celebrated local poet, will be reading from his recently-publishedA People’s History of Chicago and signing copies afterward. (Sam Stecklow)
Rare Book Tour
Lutheran School of Theology, 1100 E. 55th St. Saturday, November 4, 4pm-5:30pm. Free. (773) 256-0700. bit.ly/LSTRareBooks
As part of its celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the Lutheran School of Theology will be opening its rare book collection for a tour lead by Dr. Ralph Klein, the collection’s curator. (Sam Stecklow)
What Can the Law Do for LGBT Rights? With Chase Strangio
Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality at the UofC, 5733 S. University Ave. Tuesday, November 7, 5pm-7pm. Free. (773) 702-9936. gendersexuality.uchicago.edu
ACLU attorney Chase Strangio, best known for being on Chelsea Manning’s legal team, leads a conversation on “constraints and possibilities inherent” in LGBT advocacy strategies and narratives. (Sam Stecklow)
Michelle Commander – “Afro-Atlantic Flight”
Seminary Co-op, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. Wednesday, November 8, 6pm–7:30pm. Free. (773) 752-4381. semcoop.com
During this talk, Michelle D. Commander, an associate professor of English and Africana Studies at the University of Tennessee, will discuss her new book Afro-Atlantic Flight, which analyzes the relationship Black Americans have with “imagined Africas” and the importance of refiguring widespread U.S. narratives about slavery. (Bridget Newsham)
The Wall of Respect Book Release and Discussion
UofC Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture, 5733 S. University Ave. Thursday, November 9, 6pm–8pm. Free. (773) 702-8063. bit.ly/WallOfRespect
Join the editors of a new book about the Wall of Respect mural that was painted on an abandoned 43rd Street building in the 1960s. The Wall of Respect: Public Art and Black Liberation in 1960s Chicago is an in-depth illustrated account of the mural’s creation that collects essays, poetry, and primary documents into one text. (Sam Stecklow)
Beyond One Chicago: Resisting Divisions of the Prison Industrial Complex
UIC Student Services Building, 1200 W. Harrison St., conference rooms B & C. Friday, November 10, 6:30pm. Free. bit.ly/BeyondOneChicago
Community and advocacy organizations BYP100, Mijente, OCAD, and Critical Resistance are hosting this event on “resisting criminalization, gang databases, and policing,” which will feature the release of a new report on the use of gang databases by the Chicago police. (Sam Stecklow)
Learn to be an African Heritage Cooking Superstar!
St. Ailbe Church, 9015 S. Harper Ave. Saturday, November 11, 12pm–3pm. Free. RSVP at bit.ly/ATOAHTraining
Loved this year’s Weekly article “Tradition in the Kitchen” and want to get involved in more A Taste of African Heritage cooking classes? Join the Ridgeland Block Club Association in the kitchen at St. Ailbe Church to learn how to teach your own A Taste of African Heritage class. “Get equipped with the skills, knowledge, and recipes to bring ‘Health through Heritage’ back to the community at your church, mosque or community group.” (Andrew Koski)
Clearing/Ford City Bus Tour
Corner of 63rd and Central. Sunday, November 12, 1pm. $20. forgottenchicago.com
The bus tour will roll by architecturally significant factories and homes in the Clearing Industrial District, which once produced toothpaste, linoleum flooring, and more. The three-hour tour, which will provide plenty of stops for photographs, will also visit the Ford City defense plant that cranked out B-29 bomber engines during World War II and other points of note. (Joseph S. Pete)
VISUAL ARTS
A Night of Kwynology: Poetry Reading and Open Mic
Rootwork Gallery, 645 W. 18th St. Wednesday, November 8, 6pm–9pm. $5 donation. (917) 821-3050. bit.ly/Kwynology
Pilsen’s Rootwork Gallery will host a poetry night featuring an open mic followed by a performance by celebrated South Side poet and speaker Kwynology. She’ll be reading from her book and She wrote. Come out to hear her poetry, or to perform your own. (Michael Wasney)
Chill Set, Teen Night at the Museum
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Friday, November 10, 6pm–10pm. (312) 738-1503. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org
The National Museum of Mexican Art will be hosting Teen Art night in honor of Día de los Muertos. There will be a live art battle, button-making, live music, dancing, and more! If you’re a teen and you’re into art (or even if you’re not), come on over to the Pilsen museum to celebrate Día de los Muertos the right way! (Michael Wasney)
YCA On The Block: Pilsen
La Catrina Café, 1011 W. 18th St. Friday, November 3, 6pm–8pm. Free. Runs every Friday for the next five weeks.
Hosted at La Catrina in collaboration with Yollocalli Arts Reach and La Catrina Café, Young Chicago Authors will be hosting free open mics and workshops every Friday. Come through and learn how to write poems and hear others perform. (Roderick Sawyer)
Clinard Dance: The Sounds of Pilsen Days
La Catrina Café, 1011 W. 18th St. Saturday, November 4, 7pm–10pm. Free. sites.google.com/view/pilsendays
One week after Akito Tsuda returned to Pilsen for the release of his photographic book, Pilsen Days, Clinard Dance will be performing a new interdisciplinary dance piece inspired by Tsuda’s work, occurring in fifteen-minute intervals over three hours. Swing by during any of these times—or in between—to enjoy the performance as well as the exhibition. (Roderick Sawyer)
MUSIC
$5 Fridays: Color Card, Easy Habits, Skip Trace
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan Ave. Friday, November 3, doors 7pm, show 8pm–11pm. $5, free for Lumpen Radio members. Buy tickets online. (773) 837-0145. bit.ly/CoProFridays
Lumpen Radio debuts $5 Fridays with three local bands at the Co-Pro; they promise “bleary rock music and lasers.” Color Card, Easy Habits, and Skip Trace will no doubt provide the bleary rock music; it’s unclear whether they or the Lumpen team are responsible for the lasers. (Julia Aizuss)
I Got Life – The Music of Nina Simone
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West. Friday, November 3, doors 7pm, show 8pm. 21+. $17–$45. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Singer Jaguar Wright and bassist Gerald Veasley, both jazz and soul artists hailing from Philadelphia, front an ensemble whose presentation and re-imagination of Nina Simone’s oeuvre will, The Promontory promises, result in “more than a concert.” (Julia Aizuss)
Bully
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Tuesday, November 7, doors 7:30pm, show 8:30pm. $18–$20. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
Bully may have been formed in Nashville, but they have real Chicago roots—while in college, founder, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Alicia Bognanno interned at Electrical Audio, the legendary recording studio complex founded by Steve Albini. Most recently, the band returned to Electrical Audio to record their sophomore album Losing, which was engineered by Bognanno and released by Sub Pop on October 20. They’ll be returning once again next Tuesday; don’t miss out. (Andrew Koski)
Turnover
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Friday, November 10, doors 7:30pm, show 8:30pm. $18–$25. 17+. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
Turnover is touching down in Chicago this November as part of its U.S. tour. And the indie darlings are bringing friends: special guests Elvis Depressedly and Emma Ruth Rundle are starting the night off. Bring your own friends for a music-filled night in the historic venue. (Michael Wasney)
The Dojo Presents: Queendom Come
The Dojo, message on Facebook for address. Saturday, November 18, doors 8pm, workshop 8:30pm, music 9pm–1am. $5 donation. BYOB. thedojochi.com
The queens in question at the Dojo next month will be Jovan Landry, Tee Spirit, Freddie Old Soul, DJ Gr-illa, and host for the night Fury Hip Hop. In perhaps less queenly but reliable fashion, F12 Network will be hosting a workshop again at 8:30pm, and nonprofit organization Activist In You will be vending throughout the night. (Julia Aizuss)
STAGE & SCREEN
Filmversation and Forum about Gentrification
South Side Community Arts Center, 3831 S. Michigan Ave. Friday, November 3, 7pm. Free, registration required. (773) 373-1026. bit.ly/Filmversation
Tom Freeman of the North is a film by Mo Rabbani showing a young Black man’s struggles with the changes impacting his neighborhood from gentrification. A panel discussion moderated by Pemon Rami, featuring representatives from multiple community organizations, will follow the screening. (Nicole Bond)
The Belle of Amherst
Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. Thursday, November 2–Sunday, December 3. $35–$68, discounts available for seniors, students, faculty, and groups. (773) 753-4472. courttheatre.org
Emily Dickinson could not stop for death, but you should stop by the UofC’s Court Theatre to see William Luce’s play about the revered poet’s reclusive life in Massachusetts. Kate Fry stars as the prolific Dickinson who “dwells in possibility” and famously characterized hope as a “feathered thing that perches in the soul.” (Joseph S. Pete)
The Edge of Each Other’s Battles: The Vision of Audre Lorde
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl. Tuesday, November 7, 7pm. Free. southsideprojections.org
The DuSable and South Side Projections’s Margaret Burroughs Centennial Film Series comes to an end with this 2002 tribute to Black feminist writer Audre Lorde. Focusing on the “I Am Your Sister” conference in 1990, the documentary powerfully covers her poetry and politics as a whole. (Julia Aizuss)
Re:sound Live!
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Wednesday, November 8, 7:30pm. $25. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
Part of the Third Coast International Audio Festival’s two-week curated live podcast festival, Re:sound Live!—described as a “narrative mixtape”—brings together disparate storytellers and podcast hosts for an evening of live original stories and audio experiments. (Sam Stecklow)
The Revolution Will Not Be Improvised
The Revival, 1160 E. 55th St. Every Saturday through November 11, 7:30pm. $5–$15. the-revival.com
Ever since Gil Scott-Heron, people have speculated on what the revolution will not be. The Revival’s Fall South Side Sketch Comedy Review adds to that conversation and wrings needed laughs out of the current sociopolitical climate. Max Thomas, Elias Rios, Jared Chapman, Lexi Alioto, Sara Savusa, and Mo Phillips-Spotts blend improv humor and music under the direction of Molly Todd Madison. (Joseph S. Pete)
Spotlight Reading Series: “Trouble in Mind”
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. Shore Drive. Saturday, November 11, 3pm. Free, reservation required. (773) 753-4472. courttheatre.org
Alice Childress’s Trouble in Mind offers a satirical take on racism in American commercial theater, spoofing a “progressive” Broadway play about race that’s anything but. The staged reading will revive a play as part of Court’s Spotlight Reading Series, which aims to bring the works of people of color to the fore. (Joseph S. Pete)
eta Family Theatre Initiative: “The Tiger Who Wore White Gloves”
eta Creative Arts, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave. Through Saturday, December 23. $40, discounts available for seniors and students. (773) 752-3955. etacreativearts.org
Nora Brooks Blakely’s musical adaptation of a book by her mother Gwendolyn Brooks was already a fitting choice, in the year of the Brooks centennial, to start off eta’s 2017–18 season. Even more fitting, given Brooks’s dedication to youth poetry, is that the musical will launch eta’s partnership with the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation. The initiative will encourage Chicago students to read the book and then to see the musical. (Julia Aizuss)
FOOD & LAND
The Illinois Soil, Food, Water, and Composting Summit
Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Friday, November 3, 8am–4pm. $25, includes breakfast and lunch. sevengenerationsahead.org
This daylong summit boasts a dizzying array of panels and breakout sessions, on composting, soil conservation, water quality, and local food economies—and how projects within these realms can lead to “eco-effective, socially-responsible, and economically viable results.” The price of registration includes breakfast and lunch, as well as entrance to a networking social at the day’s end. (Emeline Posner)
Sowing the Seeds: Chicago’s Leadership in Food & Agriculture Education
Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, 3857 W. 111th St. Monday, November 6, 2pm–5:30pm. Free. Register at chicagolandfood.org/event/4509
Bringing city, business, and educational leaders together for a series of talks, the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network is looking to spark a conversation about the state of food and agriculture education in Chicago. The event will include a tour of the event’s fitting venue, Chicago’s High School for Agricultural Sciences, and talks by Chancellor Juan Salgado, University of Illinois School of Agriculture Dean Kim Kidwell, and chefs from across Chicago. (Emeline Posner)
November preSERVE Garden Day
preSERVE Garden, 1231 S. Central Park Ave. Saturday, November 4, 10am–12pm. slowfoodchicago.org
The preSERVE community garden, founded by The North Lawndale Greening Committee, NeighborSpace, and others, is looking for help its last harvest and winter preparations on this last autumnal weekend. Come dirty your hands, join in on a potluck after the hard work’s done, and maybe even carry some fresh goods—parsley, leeks, collards, and more—home with you. (Emeline Posner)
Dolores
Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street. Friday, November 10 through Wednesday, November 15. See website for showtimes. $11, $6 for members. (312) 846-2800. siskelfilmcenter.org
California grape boycott organizer Dolores Huerta, who teamed up with Cesar Chavez to found the nation’s first farmworker’s union, has been hailed as a real-life superhero. She’s the subject of Peter Bratt’s documentary, recently brought back to the Siskel due to popular demand. It features on-screen interviews with Huerta herself, as well as with significant historical figures like Gloria Steinem and Hillary Clinton. (Joseph S. Pete)
Olmsted and Beyond: Parks & Open Spaces on the South Side
DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl. Tuesday, November 14, noon–1pm. (773) 947-0600. dusablemuseum.org
At this short, lunch-hour lecture, photographer/architecture critic/new DuSable Vice President/possible Renaissance man Lee Bey will walk attendees through the South Side’s green and open spaces and the history of their development. No need to pack walking shoes, though—Bey will use slides and, presumably, his own photographs, to cover all that ground. (Emeline Posner)