Friday 27
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WFMT’s Ray Nordstrand, a friend and mentor to many of Chicago’s folk performers, gets honored at a dinner tonight at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Bonnie Koloc and Corky Siegel will perform; Rich Warren (Nordstrand’s successor as host of the Midnight Special on WFMT) and Old Town School executive director Jim Hirsch emcee. Tickets are $75. It starts at 8 at the school, 909 W. Armitage. Call 525-7793.
Saturday 28
The Prairie Fire Organizing Committee is attempting to drum up support for 15 activists for Puerto Rican independence who are in prison for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the government. At a workshop from 1 to 4 this afternoon members of the National Committee to Free Puerto Rican Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War will talk about the independence movement in general, the status of the prisoners, and efforts to free them at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center, 1671 N. Claremont. It’s $3, $10 if you want a copy of a book about the prisoners, Can’t Jail the Spirit. Call 278-6706 to register.
The new Chicago Children’s Museum on Navy Pier promises a safe Halloween for kids with the Greatest Pumpkin Party, which features trick-or-treating, mask making, ghost stories, and two buffet suppers (one for the kids and one for adults). It’s from 5:30 to 8 at the museum, 700 E. Grand. Admission is $75 per family; proceeds benefit AIDS PAC. They’re suggesting reservations at 853-3131.
Chicago’s annual Celebrity Chair Auction raises money for Christopher House and CYCLE, two social service agencies for disadvantaged kids. Chairs to be auctioned off have been autographed by celebrities as diverse as Colin Powell, Boy George, Tom Hanks, and Muhammad Ali. Sixty smackers gets you admission to the auction and food from a consortium called the Women Chefs of Chicago. It starts at 6 tonight in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton, 160 E. Pearson. Call 527-5948 for details.
