Friday 14
In 1968 Chicago wise guy Tony “the Tuna” Accardo built a house in River Forest with most of the features considered essential for mob living: restaurant-size kitchen, walk-in vault, and hidden gun racks. A few years ago, he died of natural causes. Today and tomorrow from 10 to 5 furnishings from the house, including a circular banquet table that seats 70, will be sold to the public. FBI agent turned crime author Bill Roemer plans to attend the sale, which happens at the house, 1407 N. Ashland in River Forest. Admission is free; it’s not an auction, but prices are negotiable. For crowd-control purposes, shoppers will be admitted in order of entrance numbers that will be distributed starting at 9 each morning. Call 951-9800 for more.
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The Hemlock Society of Illinois, the group that believes people facing painful terminal illnesses should have doctor-assisted suicide as an option, holds its annual dinner at 5 tonight at the Evanston Holiday Inn, 1501 Sherman in Evanston. The event features a talk–A Medical View of Physician-Assisted Suicide or Going My Way–from Hemlock-USA’s medical director, Dr. Richard MacDonald. It’s $30 for the dinner or free just to hear MacDonald speak at 7:45. Call 477-7228 for details.
The plays of Tony Kushner–imaginatively done but rigorously constructed on the old-fashioned theatrical verities of beautiful writing, crystalline dialogue, and elegant characterization–take on everything from personal relationships to political hegemony. He’ll be signing copies of them at People Like Us Books, 3321 N. Clark, from 4 to 5 today; call 248-6363 for more on this free event. At 7:30 tonight at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall, 5706 S. University, he lectures on theater’s role in addressing social and political issues. Tickets are $15, $10 for students and theater professionals. For $35 you can attend the lecture and meet the playwright at a postlecture reception. Call 753-4472.
The local experimental group Wormwood–Eric Leonardson, Dylan Posa, and Spencer Sundell, all vets of the Chicago experimental music scene–have a new “soundplay” they call The Indifferent Immensity of the Natural World, which they describe as a mix of industrial, improvisational, and ambient music with all sorts of detritus on top, including invented instruments, radio sounds, and synthesizers. Further tarted up with abstract video by local filmmaker Jeff Economy, lighting design by Christiaan Pretorius, and visits by special musical guests, the show plays tonight and tomorrow at 8 at Chicago Filmmakers, 1543 W. Division. Tix are $8, $6 for students, seniors, and members. Call 384-5533 for details.
