Friday 10/4 – Thursday 10/10
In his new book, When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor, Harvard professor, sociologist, and former University of Chicago faculty member William Julius Wilson examines what happens when blue-collar jobs leave the city and middle-class residents desert urban communities for the suburbs. Wilson, whom Time named one of America’s 25 most influential people, will discuss his findings tonight at 7 at Breasted Hall in the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th. It’s free; call 752-4381.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
5 SATURDAY Monday marks the 125th anniversary of the great Chicago fire, which in 36 hours destroyed 25,000 buildings over 1,000 acres and caused $200 million in damage–in 1871 dollars. Today’s commemoration at Rosehill Cemetery will begin with a slide show and lecture in May Chapel on the exhibit “Night of the Orange Rain: The Great Chicago Fire and Rebirth of a City,” a photographic survey documenting the fire’s devastation. Speakers include Chicago Fire Department historian Kenneth Little and Northwestern University professor Carl Smith, who wrote a book on the fire. After the lecture a parade will march to the cemetery’s Fireman’s Benevolent Monument for a memorial service honoring firefighters who died in the line of duty. The events begin at 10 at the cemetery, 5800 N. Ravenswood. It’s free; call 561-5940.
7 MONDAY An estimated 3,000 women in the U.S. lose their lives to domestic violence each year. To remember those victims and observe the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Friends of Battered Women and Their Children will light up a one-mile stretch of Lake Shore Drive tonight with 3,000 luminarias (paper bags with sand and candles inside). There’s no march or speakers, just a silent vigil that starts at 5 when the candles are lit and ends at 9 when they’re extinguished. It takes place on Lake Shore Drive between North Avenue beach and Fullerton Avenue. It’s free. Call 274-5232 if you’d like to volunteer to help light the candles.
For the last three years the owners of Rosa’s have been fighting a liquor license battle with the city that resulted in a 30-day suspension. Now that the legal disputes are over there are bills to pay and fun to be had. Tonight marks the end of the suspension and the beginning of Rosa’s Family Reunion, a four-day event featuring blues performers, door prizes, a silent auction, a screening of a documentary about the club, and most important, mama Rosa’s cooking. It starts at 6 at Rosa’s, 3420 W. Armitage, and includes performances by Lurrie Bell and Mack Simmons’ Mojo Kings. The suggested donation is $10; call 342-0452 for more.
