M Lounge, 1520 S Wabash Ave., will be the setting for the Greater South Loop Association’s Neighbor’s Night Out, May 16, 2013 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. A $10 donation gets you two drink tickets. The donation also includes passed Hor D’oeurves from Artists Cafe.
If you would like to download a flyer to print and post in your building or office, click here.
The GSLA is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization. For more information, visit their .
Glessner House Museum, located at 1800 S. Prairie Avenue in Chicago’s South Loop
neighborhood, will host a lecture by Rolf Achilles entitled “The Glessners’ Kutani ware bowl and Chicago’s take on Japonisme” on Tuesday May 14, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
John and Frances Glessner were among the early connoisseurs of Japonisme in Chicago and their ownership of a Kutani porcelain bowl speaks to their leadership in taste. The recently restored Kutani bowl and Chicago’s nationally influential give-and-take on Japonisme will be the subject of this illustrated talk by Rolf Achilles. Selected pieces from the Glessner collection will be on display, including the first showing of the Kutani bowl after restoration.
Glessner House Museum is a National Historic Landmark and the last surviving work by Richardson in Chicago. Completed in 1887, the museum is recognized nationwide for its groundbreaking architecture as well as its important collection of arts and crafts decorative arts.
The cost for the program is $10 per person and reservations may be made by calling
312-326-1480. The museum is easily accessible by taking the #3 or #4 bus south on Michigan Ave. to 18th Street, and then walking 2 blocks east.
To stay on top of events at the Glessner House Museum, you can find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
The Alliance for a Greener South Loop invites you to go meatless on May 6, 13, 20, and 27 as an easy way to be kind to our environment. Where? When? How? … will YOU go meatless this month?
Want to eat with friends AND support our local South Loop restaurants?
A number of South Loop restaurants are offering discounts or special menus/menu items for meatless diners on Mondays in May. This year the Alliance is trying a meatless meet-up approach to make it more fun, and tasty.
The following dates and restaurants are when/where South Loopers are invited to go meatless, together, for dinner. Discounts apply to all meatless meals on Mondays in May. Special menus may apply to that date only.
Please mention when making reservations or ordering that you are there for a Meatless Monday meal.
May 6, Amarit Thai: 10% discount (600 S. Dearborn)
May 13, Tapas Valencia: 10% discount (1530 S. State) Reservations requested.
May 20, Brasserie by LM: special menus every Monday (800 S. Michigan)
May 27, Zapatista: special menu (1307 S. Wabash) Reservations requested for larger parties.
Also participating: Cafecito: 10% discount (26 E. Congress) Hackney’s-Printers’ Row: Special menu items on Mondays in May (733 S. Dearborn) Flaco’s Tacos- Printers’ Row: Special menu items on Mondays in May (725 S. Dearborn)
Like to cook and eat in?
Email (info@greenersouthloop.com) us a recipe of one of your favorite meatless dishes and we’ll send you a poster like those in the windows of our participating MMM! restaurants, and we’ll share your recipe on our blog. Make this more fun by tagging photos of your veggie meals with #mmmSouthLoop, and we’ll post those photos on Facebook. (New to social media? “Tagging” is when you put the photo on Twitter or Instagram and you put #mmmSouthLoop in the text. Then we can search for mmmSouthLoop to find the photo without you having to send it to us.). Fine print: one poster per person, while supplies last.
You could win this poster!
Visit the Alliance Web site to get a current list of participating restaurants and to learn more about how eating less meat is great for the environment/
PianoForte Salon
410 S. Michigan Ave., Studio 825, Chicago
Only $5 per person.
Stay after for a COOKIES AND MILK reception.
Note: The PianoForte Studios will be relocating to 1335 S. Michigan Ave. this summer. Check back for details. You can read an article on this new space by clicking here.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 6:30 p.m. The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center 1550 S. State Street
Mildred Pierce was a critical and financial hit when released in 1945. It resurrected the career of screen legend, Joan Crawford, who many had written off as a has-been. The movie was a showcase for some new talent too, but it was Crawford’s film and she commands the screen in every scene she’s in.
The straightforward narrative in the James M. Cain novel was changed for the film version. Mildred’s story is told in flashback, a popular film noir convention that works really well and adds to the movie’s texture. The film itself is put together very nicely with the Warner Brothers A-Team pulling out all the stops. Cinematographer Ernest “Ernie” Haller’s black and white photography is beautifully atmospheric. The angles, the contrasts, are seamless and help advance the story without getting in the way. The score by Max Steiner is lush without being overwhelming, at least not overwhelming as far as Steiner scores go (They’re all kind of overwhelming, actually). Legendary makeup artist Perc Westore makes Crawford’s transition from waitress/working mom into successful/sophisticated businesswomen seem natural and believable. Much of Crawford’s look in this film, and for the rest of the decade, is due in great part to the costuming of Milo Anderson. Last but not least, director Michael Curtiz assembled all the pieces together to form a perfect whole, but Curtiz wasn’t at all set on working with Crawford.
Zachary Scott, Joan Crawford, and Ann Blyth
According to Crawford, Curtiz wanted Barbara Stanwyck to play Mildred. He didn’t want to work with a “difficult” has-been. In order to change Curtiz’s mind, Crawford submitted to a screen test. This was unheard of for an established star, but so determined was Crawford to snag the role that she consented. Crawford’s screen test impressed Curtiz enough that he agreed to direct her. And for Crawford, a new career was born at Warners.
Mildred Pierce was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Crawford’s Best Actress Award was the only win, but it propelled her back to the top of the heap, giving fellow Warner contract-player, Bette Davis a run for her money. Ironically, Davis’s career was on a downward arch while Crawford was starring in some critical and commercially successful melodramas. After Mildred Pierce, Crawford starred in Humoresque (1946), Possessed (1947), Daisy Kenyon (1947), and Flamingo Road (1949). Possessed brought her a second Best Actress nomination.
Mildred Pierce isn’t considered a true film noir movie, by some critics. But it sure feels like film noir to this movie fan.
To purchase tickets for the May 14 screening, click here. Tickets are $5 per person general admission $3 for students and seniors. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. To stay on top of film events like this, join the Chicago Film Club Meetup.
To download a flyer to post in your building or office, click here.
The Venue 1550 is located at 1550 S. State St. in the Daystar Center. The Daystar Center offers a variety of educational, artistic and cultural activities, including classes for children that teach practical life skills like social aptitude, creativity and cultural awareness in fun ways; classes for adults that give space for self-reflection and improvement; room rentals for many different-sized groups in several multipurpose rooms. For more information, call 312.674.0001 or visit their Web site.
As you may already know, community garden space in the South Loop is pretty scarce. There’s the Women’s Park and Gardens space, but there’s a 100-person waiting list. Some people have been on a waiting list for years.
The community garden at Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens
The SLoop Garden group has formed to find and develop new community gardens in our neighborhood. The group is in its early formation and they’re looking for input. You may contact them via e-mail at sloopgarden@gmail.com or by phone at 312.504.3538. You may also like them on Facebook and communicate with them there as well.
The Sod Room, 1454 S. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor, is holding a Earth Day Family Festival on April 21, 2013 form 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Billed as a “morning of live music and movement,” the day will also feature snacks, storytime and eco-goodie bags and crafts sponsored by Plan Toys. The cost is $20 per child, $35 for two, and $50 for three children. Tickets are limited and those interested are encouraged to register in person or online at their Web site.
M Lounge, 1520 S Wabash Ave., will be the setting for the Greater South Loop Association’s Neighbor’s Night Out, May 16, 2013 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. A $10 donation gets you two drink tickets. The donation also includes passed Hor D’oeurves from Artists Cafe.
