AUGUST
NPR darling Andrei Codrescu–whose work the New York Times with spot-on accuracy has described as defining “the tensions at play between humor and sentiment, between one-liners and aphorism, between immigrant optimism and dissident cynicism”–makes one of his periodic stops in Chicago tonight. At 7:30, at Barbara’s Bookstore, 1350 N. Wells, he reads from his newest book, a collection of his NPR essays called Zombification. The event’s free. Call 642-5044 for details.
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Barbershop quartet singing is alive and well at the annual Sweet Adelines Show of Champions; if you’re a fan of the genre, it might be worth the drive to Joliet. The Sweet Adelines showcase the distaff side of barbershopping and help raise money for two quartets–Chicago Fire and Midnight Magic–who’ll be representing Chicagoland in the international competition, held this year in Reno. Those two quartets, along with the Melodeers Chorus from Northbrook and the Choral-Aires from Westmont, each 100 strong, perform starting at 8 tonight at the Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago in Joliet. Tickets are $12 and $15; call 815-726-6600.
The proud parents of the United Center worked long and hard to get a first-class act for the opening of their brand-spanking-new arena. But Streisand turned them down, so for a debut act they’re stuck with all-star wrestling. Getting the place off to a classy start: the World Wrestling Federation’s SummerSlam. The main event features Razor Ramon taking on Diesel. Other bouts include a tragic brother-on-brother fight between Bret “Hit Man” Hart and Owen “King of Harts” Hart and Lex Luger versus Tatanka. Matches begin tonight at 6:45. Tickets, $10 to $35, are available through Ticketmaster, 559-1212. The United Center is at 1901 W. Madison.
The 16th annual Chicago Jazz Festival looms this weekend; you can get in the spirit of things with tonight’s accompanying Jazz Club Tour from 6:30 to 11. A full dozen local clubs are connecting themselves with shuttle buses; one $5 ticket gets you transportation and admission into Andy’s, the Underground Wonder Bar, Joe Segal’s Jazz Showcase, the Green Mill, the Bop Shop, and many other fine joints. For a complete schedule of events or more information, call the sponsoring Jazz Institute of Chicago at 427-3300.
Grand prize money totaling $150 dangles before the competitors at a talent show benefiting the Peoples Housing Community Arts Program, which organizes classes and events in the Howard Street area. Hosting tonight’s show is Oba William King; competitors will be people who have previously performed at the Howard Theater’s open-mike nights. They’ll face off in three different age groups–kids, teens, and adults. The show starts at 8 at the Howard Theater, 1627 W. Howard. Admission is two bucks. Call 262-5900, ext. 125, for more.
