Friday 10
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Last year, Blue Chicago put the spotlight on the west-side sound. This year, its Blues Women Weekend focuses on the south side. “The west side is more straight Chicago blues, like Buddy Guy’s biting guitar style,” says the club’s publicity director, Linda Gain. “But the south side is a little more polished, it’s more R & B and soul.” Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, the Staple Singers, Chaka Khan, and Earth, Wind and Fire all hail from south of Madison Street. Blue Chicago owner Gino Battaglia scouted that area for this weekend’s lineup, which features Patricia Scott, Joanna Graham, Brandy Suddutch, and Gwen Little, all backed by Buddy Scott and the Rib Tips. The doors at 937 N. State open at 8 tonight and tomorrow; the music starts at 9. There’s a $6 cover and a two-drink minimum. For more call 642-6261.
“Legislation doesn’t pass by itself, it needs citizen involvement,” says David Patt, executive director of Citizens Information Service, a nonprofit group that encourages greater citizen participation in government. “Even when an alderman has an idea, he has to get support from his colleagues and from citizens’ groups. That’s what lobbying is about, and it requires a lot of time. In the city, it’s people talking not just to their alderman, but to other aldermen, department heads affected by the legislation, and the mayor.” To make the process easier, CIS is sponsoring an all-day seminar, How to Lobby Your City, State and Federal Legislators, at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Kent College of Law, 77 S. Wacker in room 203. Registration begins at 8:45 AM, and it’s $ 15 per person. For more call 939-4636.
“I have followed my instincts and sought to rescue the suffering when I could,” wrote Chicago lawyer and author Clarence Darrow in his autobiography, The Story of My Life. A steadfast opponent of capital punishment, he defended communists, socialists, the poor, blacks, and unionists. Darrow’s admirers, friends, and followers will gather at 10 this morning, the 51st anniversary of his death, at the Darrow bridge in Jackson Park behind the Museum of Science and Industry. This year’s theme, The Death Penalty: Is It a Stain on Our Democracy?, will be pursued after the gathering in a free panel discussion in the Columbia Room of the museum, 57th Street at Lake Shore Drive. For more call 368-1500.
Thursday 16
