Chicago tips

Vanessa, The Opera Here October 11, 17, 19.

music (opera), current calendar

Here's a chance to attend the Chicago premier of the highly regarded Pulitzer prize winning opera, Vanessa by Samuel Barber, the American composer.

The fully staged production will be mounted by Chamber Opera Chicago, the only real opera presented by the group this year.  Francis Menotti, the son of the director of the original 1958 Metropolitan Opera production, Gian Carlo Menotti will direct.  Francis was at his father's side during the Met and Spoleto (SC) presentations, so the original will no doubt be much in evidence. (photo at left, courtesy Chamber Opera Chicago.)

The story takes place in an unnamed northern country about 1905 and concerns the complexities of love between two generations of lovers within two families.

Pre performance lectures by Richard Covello,  Opera Canada critic will precede each opera.  They begin 1/2 hour prior to curtain time and are free.

Performances are Saturday, Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 17, both at 7:30PM and Sunday, Oct. 19 at 3PM at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport.  Tickets range from $15-$45.  For tickets and additional information access www.chamberoperachicago.org for ticketmaster or to buy tickets direct, call 312.951.7944, the box office of the theater.  

Race The Chicago River October 5

current calendar

Friends of the Chicago River, a non-profit group that wants to maintain the city's river as a clean, accessible resource for all is sponsoring their 9th annual canoe and kayak race,  The Chicago Flatwater Classic, open to all on Sunday October 5 at 10AM.

The 7.5 mile race, for standard canoes and kayaks, begins at Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell and ends at Ping Tom Memorial Park, 300 W. 19th in Chinatown.

Organizers expect participants, volunteers and spectators will number over 1,000 this year.  Anyone can participate but fees vary, depending on whether or not you're a member of the group.  Rentals are available through a number of local outfitters.  Check out www.chicagoriver.org for details.

You can also organize your own trip or event, large or small, independent of the race.  There are guided tours or you can go it alone.  Your reward is a relatively rare look at the natural wonders of the river landscape as well as an industrial section with its own beauty and, of course spectacular views of the city's skyline.

Check out the many activities available through this group which is dedicated to an ecological approach for this special treasure.  Wildlife abounds along the river and there's even a Fish Hotel where visitors can view a variety of fish via tours beginning at the Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum at 12:30 PM, Thursday through Monday.  It's at the intersection of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue.

It's Lee Godie's 100th Birthday!

art

Everyone at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art wants you to join them this Friday, September 12th from 5-8PM to celebrate.  It's also the occasion for the first major retrospective of Lee's work (over 100 pieces will be shown) since her death in 1994.  This exhibit is curated by Jessica Moss and David Syrek.

Did you ever meet Lee Godie?  She looked like a homeless woman unless you approached and clued into what she was up to.  She hung out along the Michigan Avenue bridge, in front of the Art Institute or the convenient-for-sitting-on ledge adjoining the entrance of Neiman Marcus where she would hawk her art work, sometimes relectantly, depending on her mood.

She called herself a "French Impressionist" seriously, or as a joke but in truth she was a gifted outsider artist.  That's my Godie top left.

There are some outrageous Lee Godie stories around town and if you have one you'd like to tell yourself or just want to listen, Intuit is encouraging you to come early at 3PM on Friday.  The stories will be filmed and added to the Intuit archives.

Beginning at 5, you can have a Godie-style photo taken in our vintage photo booth, (see sample photo of Lee at right from the Lorin Adolph collection) enjoy birthday cake and a signature cocktail or try Chicago's own Half Acre beer.  With all those Godie aficionados out there, this opening is bound to be the place to be Friday night.  It's free and open to the public in the best Intuit tradition.

Join Intuit, while you're there.  Check out www.art.org

Altered Photography Workshop, Saturday, September 20, 2:30-4:30PM

In conjunction with the Lee Godie exhibit, this hands-on workshop will include the use of a vintage photo booth, enabling participants to create their own altered self-portraits.  Lee used this medium herself, as you'll see in the exhibit.  Artist Amy Mayfield will conduct the workshop.  The fee is $15 for Intuit members and $25 for non-members.

Well, It Was Summer...

and I took an unannounced vacation.