Friday 16
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In the 70s Richard Hell started in the Voidoids, made a nihilistic call to arms with the album Blank Generation, and did his time as a junkie. Since then he’s written books–Notebooks From the 70s, Soyo, and (with former Television leader Tom Verlaine) Wanna Go Out?–and he’s currently at work on a movie, The Theresa Stern Story. Now he writes poetry; his second reading ever in Chicago is at 9 tonight; he’ll also show a recent short film. Local monologuist Cheryl Trykv opens. At Club Lower Links, 954 W. Newport. It’s $8. Call 248-5238.
Saturday 17
Veggie achievers! “Vegetarianism no longer smacks of penance or self-denial. It is definitely upbeat. Meatless meals are seen as part of an active, exuberant life-style–one that is both youthful and responsible.” So says Dr. Rudolph Ballentine in Transition to Vegetarianism, and more power to him–but a vegetarian Thanksgiving? The Chicago Vegetarian Society is proudly putting on just that. It’s the third annual Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Dinner. The affair, catered by the Chicago Diner, takes place at the North Park Village Hall, 5801 N. Pulaski. Dinner is $20, $16 for members of the society, half price for kids under 12, and free to kids under 5. Make the required reservations at 764-8349.
Seventy-five years (almost to the day) after the death of songwriter, labor organizer, and martyr Joe Hill, the Guild Complex is presenting The Return of Joe Hill, a video documentary by Eric Scholl. Besides interviews, the film includes Utah Phillips, Mark Ross, Dakota Sid Clifford, and Ellen Klaver interpreting Hill’s songs. The Guild Complex (the literary annex of Guild Books) is, as usual, working out of the Edge of the Lookingglass, 62 E. 13th St. Show time is 7:30, and admission is $3. Call 939-2509 for more information.
Fabulist, pedophile, and Jefferson Airplane inspirer Charles Dodgson (better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll) created one of the enduring classics of English literature, Alice in Wonderland. The book is the subject of an ongoing exhibit at the Newberry Library, which owns several first editions; the show will be supplemented by contributions from the private collection of Alice maven Joel Birenbaum, and a variety of illustrations, translations, parodies, and other Aliceiana. 125 Years of Alice in Wonderland: A Collector’s Perspective continues through January 17 in the Newberry’s Hermon Dunlap Smith Gallery. It’s free. The library, at 60 W. Walton, is open 9 to 5 Friday, Saturday, and Monday and 9 to 7:30 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Call 943-9090 for more information.
