FLOW Builds Successful Writers

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By Kristin Boza

For Love of Writing, or FLOW, is a south side group dedicated to supporting writers on their journey from conceptualizing to publishing — and a lot in-between. The core group of six African American women writers are Tina Jenkins Bell, Lydia Barnes, Chirskira Caillouet, Dr. Janice Tuck Lively, Sandra Jackson Opoku and Bettina Walker. The women started meeting in the mid1990s as a way to workshop their writing projects and support one another in their writing endeavors.  

The support FLOW was so valuable that the core group decided to relaunch in 2012 as FLOW II, allowing associate members to join and participate in the group’s philosophy. “We wanted to recreate that safe, constructive, supportive space for nurturing and completing writing projects and supporting members by participating or hosting launches,” said Jenkins Bell, FLOW president emeritus. “FLOW II added to the original mission, writer’s retreats, professional development workshops and seminars for south side communities, single author salons, networking, and sharing publishing resources and information.” 

Associate members, from new writers to experienced, have an incredible opportunity to learn from accomplished female writers on the south side. The achievements of the core FLOW group are too many to list, but here’s a few highlights: Jenkins Bell is publishing a mini-memoir in 2019 titled “Devil’s Alley” which will appear in the “Love in a Silent Storm” anthology. Walker and Barnes have poems in “Revise the Psalm: Work Celebrating the Writing of Gwendolyn Brooks.” Jackson Opoku wrote “The River Where Blood is Born,” which earned her the American Library Association Black Caucus award. Caillouet is a poet, both on the page and stage and participated in the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards. Tuck Lively earned a 2016 Pushcart Award nomination for her short story “Dust Tracks.”  

The FLOW network has provided publishing and funding opportunities for its members. “Because of our individual author salons, at least three of our members have completed novel manuscripts. We’ve met and networked with various publishing professionals,” Jenkins Bell said. “Members of the group are always willing to listen, read, or critique work on an as-needed basis.”  

Aside from personal and professional development, FLOW is determined to make an impact on the community as well. Their writers have partnered with Chicago Public Libraries, Soulful Chicago Book Fair, Bookie’s and the University of Chicago Logan Center for the Arts to offer craft and professional development workshops.  

“People don’t understand that there are many layers to being a writer,” said Barnes, current FLOW president. “The business part of writing, like selling your story, is daunting. We want to help people through that jungle of getting the story out to the world and discovering the various paths to do so.” 

While honing their craft and navigating the business angle of publishing, FLOW writers also have developed strong relationships with one another to create a trust and a sense of security within which they provide feedback.  

“We operate as a family, so we’re very honest and constructive with our critiques,” Jenkins Bell said. “But we won’t lie to you. We want people to gain confidence in what they’re writing.” 

Associate members of any gender or race are welcome to FLOW II. Programming for associate members is varied and will appeal to writers of any level of experience. For more information FlowAuthors.com. 

BAPA Board Member Profile: Craig Huffman

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By Grace Kuikman

Craig Huffman, a BAPA Board member since 2016, moved to Beverly/Morgan Park from Hyde Park in 2008. Huffman and his wife, Rebeca, learned about the neighborhood when visiting friends. “I fell in love with the community,” Huffman said, citing the mix of small town feel and big city appeal that has drawn so many people to the Village in the City.

Soon after the Huffmans settled in their East Beverly home they joined BAPA. Supporting your neighborhood organization is, “the right thing to do,” Huffman said. Even though he didn’t know a lot about BAPA’s work when he first came to the community, he has since learned how much BAPA does to preserve and protect our community. When he got the call inviting him to consider serving on the BAPA Board, he said yes,

The expertise Huffman brings to BAPA includes wide experience in board governance and management including not-for-profits, financial analysis, and facilities maintenance – especially helpful as BAPA owns an old building.

A managing partner and co-founder of Ascendance Partners, a commercial real estate investment firm, Huffman brings exceptional insight and experience in this field to BAPA’s board. Ascendance Partners was established in 2006 with a focus on commercial real estate investments that target industrial, retail and office opportunities throughout metropolitan Chicago.

In addition to his commitment to BAPA, Huffman serves on a number of other boards including the Healthy Communities Foundation, a public policy organization that works for prison reform, and an organization that helps ensure that children from low families have access to higher education.

Huffman’s reputation for hard work and deep insights about Chicago communities were certainly factors to him being appointed to the diverse committee of Chicago business and community leaders invited by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to help make the case for moving Amazon HQ2 to Chicago.

In that capacity, Huffman has participated in briefing sessions and opportunities to advocate for Chicago as the best place for Amazon to locate.

Huffman called Amazon a “major player in commerce” citing its enormous span of influence, from affluent communities to poor ones. “Amazon is redefining what many of us know as conventional retail,” he said. Finalists cities should be announced soon, and the selection may be made by the end of this year. Huffman said he’s “hopeful” that Chicago will be selected but adds “We’ve got some tough competition.”  “I think Chicago is the best city in the world, but people in other cities feel the same way,” he said.

Huffman’s experience and perspective gained in his career, in board work and as an active member of the community help shape the programs and goals of BAPA.

“Beverly/Morgan Park is a great community because of the level of the people who are here, and BAPA is a reflection of that,” he said. He encourages neighbors to actively support BAPA. “The more people getting involved in BAPA, the more we’re invested in making sure Beverly/Morgan Park remains a great community.”

The Huffmans have two children, Sofia, 11, a student at St. Barnabas School, and Solomon, 9, a student at Sutherland School.

For more information about supporting BAPA, call BAPA Executive Director Susan Flood, 773-233-3100, or visit www.bapa.org.

See What’s Inside Our Iconic Buildings: Open House Chicago Architecture Tour Comes to Beverly/Morgan Park Oct. 13 & 14

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On the second weekend of October, more than 250 of Chicago’s most intriguing buildings will open their doors for the Chicago Architecture Center’s (CAC) annual Open House Chicago (OHC) tour. For the first time, Beverly/Morgan Park sites are included in this free, behind-the-scenes event.  

One of the world’s largest architecture festivals, Open House Chicago is a free, two-day public event taking place Sat., Oct. 13 and Sun., Oct. 14, with most sites open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.   

“Open House Chicago gives Chicagoans the rare opportunity to discover hidden gems in architecturally significant buildings all across the city,” said Lynn Osmond, President and CEO of the CAC. “But attendees are discovering not only what is near their homes, they are exploring new neighborhoods across town and in the process changing preconceived notions about their neighborhoods.” 

The Beverly Area Planning Association and 19th Ward office worked with OHC planners to identify Beverly/Morgan Park locations for this year’s event.  

“We are thrilled that people from all over Chicagoland will have a chance to get an inside look at the diverse architecture and historic buildings that make Beverly/Morgan Park so amazing,” said BAPA Executive Director Susan Flood. “Being on Open House Chicago’s map has the potential to bring more than a thousand new visitors to our neighborhood. BAPA is proud to be a partner in this citywide event.”  

Persons interested in OHC can pick up a program that details all the citywide locations at any of the participating sites.  

Neighborhood sites and OHS touring hours: 

Givins Castle, 10244 S. Longwood Dr., Chicago’s most famous castle, built 1887 by real estate Robert C. Givins as an extravagant private residence. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., 1 to 5 p.m.  

Vanderpoel Art Association Gallery, Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Dr., features an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century art including many pieces that depict Chicago scenes. An exhibit of works by the Chicago Society of Artists will be on display during OHC. Open Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Optimo, 1700 W. 95th St., the headquarters and production facility for Chicago’s only custom maker of men’s hats, located in a century-old firehouse renovated by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is a working museum of hatmaking. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

Driscoll-Graver House, 10621 S. Seeley, designed by John T. Hetherington in the Tudor Revival style and built in 1922, the house is home to Ridge Historical Society. Open Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery, 9030 S. Hermitage, a crafty adaptive reuse of an industrial building is home to Chicago’s first meadery and winery. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., 1 to 5 p.m. 

Ingersoll Blackwelder House, 10910 S. Prospect, an elegant Victorian home built in two stages beginning in 1874, and home to several historic community leaders. Currently owned by physicists, the house will showcase three quark-inspired outdoor sculptures by Guy J. Ballaver during OHC. Open Sat. and Sun., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Morgan Park Academy Alumni Hall, 2153 W. 111th St., a stately neo-Gothic building built in 1927 and showcasing dramatic spaces that include the historic library with a vaulted ceiling, grand fireplace and wrap-around mezzanine. Open Sat. and Sun., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Morgan Park United Methodist Church, 11030 S. Longwood Dr., designed by village architect H.H. Waterman and built in 1913, the Prairie Style church features Art Nouveau windows, curving pews and a stained glass dome. Open Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun., 1 to 5 p.m. 

Wintrust is the presenting sponsor of Open House Chicago.   

Cherished Angels Brings Solace to Grieving Parents

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By Abby Johnson 

They are Angel Moms and Angel Dads. Once a month, they gather at Little Company of Mary Hospital’s (LCMH) Family Birth Center, 2800 W. 95th St., for the Cherished Angel monthly perinatal loss support group. This is a safe zone, a place where the loss of a child through miscarriage, stillborn or infant death can be felt- and grieved.  

Dr. Kathryn Gardner, a volunteer on the LCMH Perinatal Loss Committee, leads these sessions. She is a psychologist who helps women cope with fertility, pregnancy and perinatal loss. The grief and anger that follows a perinatal loss can be overwhelming, she said, adding that Cherished Angels provides a needed outlet. 

“People don’t know what to do when this kind of thing happens to them,” Gardner said. “They’re experiencing such turmoil that just taking the step to look for help can be too much.” 

Gardner believes every woman should receive specialized care. When LCMH contacted Gardner with their idea for the Cherished Angels program, she was thrilled and immediately hopped on board. It was the perfect opportunity to show parents that there is hope, and that peace can be found. 

This month is especially important for the Cherished Angels. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a good time for spreading the message that resources are available.  

“It’s common to feel lonely after experiencing something like this,” she said. “This group helps show the Angel Moms and Angel Dads that they’re not alone. Other people are going through the same thing. There are others who understand.” 

Even those who aren’t comfortable talking openly about their pain are welcome at the coping sessions, said Gardner.  

“If you’re someone who just wants to listen, that’s fine, too,” she said. “Everyone is welcome to speak as much or as little as they like.” 

This month’s Cherished Angels support group will take place on Thurs., Oct. 20, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the hospital’s West Pavilion. Guest speaker Rachael Sedor will discuss skills for coping with anxiety and anger, as well as her own experience with perinatal loss. 

Last month marked the one-year anniversary of Cherished Angels. Gardner’s main goal remains the same: To provide emotional support for parents during this difficult time. 

“I just want everyone to know that tranquility is within reach.”  

For more information, email cherishedangelsupport@lcmh.org. 

Salon Professionals Bill Expands Domestic Violence Awareness

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By Kristin Boza

Domestic violence awareness is at the forefront of the Beverly/Morgan Park community, thanks to the efforts of local domestic violence non-profit groups A New Direction and Chicago Says No More. In fact, State Rep. Fran Hurley and State Sen. Bill Cunningham sponsored an amendment to an existing cosmetology training law that was passed in Jan. 2017 and will be in effect by Jan. 2019 requiring an additional hour of training for licensed salon professionals on becoming more aware of domestic violence.  

“The Illinois salon professionals bill is a truly transformative piece of legislation,” said Jessica McCarihan, president of A New Direction and a member of the steering committee of Chicago Says No More, which, along with Ald. Matt O’Shea, Hurley, and Cunningham, was responsible for the legislation and curriculum. “There are over 80,000 salon professionals in the state of Illinois, all of whom will soon know how to support and connect with their clients who may be affected by domestic violence. The number of people who will be helped through this training is amazing. The awareness creation, education on the issue and the connecting of survivors to much-needed resources is imperative to help break the cycle of violence now and for future generations.” 

Joan Each Rowan, owner of Everything’s Relative Beverly, 10548 S. Western Ave., and Everything’s Relative Oak Lawn, has advocated on behalf of domestic violence victims throughout her career and has made it one of her missions in life to ensure that those who need help getting out of an abusive situation are aware of their options. 

“I’ve been a hairdresser for 44 years, and the industry has always been very aware of domestic violence due to the fact that we are in a ‘high touch’ industry — we’re constantly with women,” Each Rowan said. “We’re aware of when people are being abused, and not just physically.” 

Each Rowan and her colleagues have heard numerous tales of domestic abuse, from women fearing their husbands will see that they spent money on their hair, to men calling the salon angrily wondering why their wives changed their hair color from blonde to brunette.  

After having another local domestic violence activist, Rita Ryan, talk to her salon staff over 20 years ago about recognizing signs of abuse, Each Rowan began a path of advocacy that hasn’t let up.  

“I realized that we all need awareness, so I decided to [talk about it] more regularly. We started putting cards with resource numbers to call in our bathrooms at the salon, and to this day we still find that we have to refill the cards quite often,” she said. “I’m thankful for the #MeToo movement, Chicago Says No More, A New Direction, and many other people and organizations that have been working on bringing awareness long before we had a law.”   

It’s important to note that the new law does not teach hair dressers and others with a cosmetology license to be mandated reporters or counselors; rather, hair stylists will learn to recognize signs of abuse so that they can discreetly offer resources. “We’re teaching them to be aware if they have a client with hair ripped out of her head, or the client says that she ‘fell down’ again. Hair dressers learn that if a client is avoiding eye contact or sitting in the chair shamefully that they can bring up potential resources by saying ‘you know, I have some stuff in the bathroom with phone numbers you can call if you need help.’ That’s the kind of conversation they are learning to have,” Each Rowan said. 

Each Rowan stresses that the beauty shop is a safe place and gossip is strictly prohibited among staff. “Our goal is for our clients to be safe. By educating the staff, you can change the world,” she said. “In the middle class society where we live, there’s shame brought on when admitting that the person you love is abusive. The reality is that we are trying to get out and talk about it. We have to stop it, because it’s not stopping on its own.”    

For more information on domestic violence awareness, Everything’s Relative Beverly is hosting a workshop on Mon., Oct. 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. In collaboration with St. Bernadette Parish, this event intends to inform attendees about domestic violence. Call the salon at 773-941-6565 for more information. 

“Joan and her salons and staff have made this issue a priority for decades, and we at A New Direction and Chicago Says No More are truly grateful,” McCarihan said. 

For information about AND’s services, visit www.anewdirectionbmp.org.

Call for Nominations for Bungalow Awards

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It’s time to celebrate Chicago’s historic bungalows and their owners’ dedication to renovating and restoring them with the 14th Annual Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Bungalow Awards. Created by the Chicago Bungalow Association with the support of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the awards honor the creativity and efforts of bungalow owners for home improvement and restoration projects both large and small. 

Awards are given in the following categories: 

Exterior Rehabilitation demonstrating appropriate rehabilitation projects and/or compatible additions. 

Interior Rehabilitation demonstrating a contemporary use of space while maintaining significant features.  

Interior Restoration accurately recovering the details and forms of the Chicago bungalow. 

Small Project preserving historic detail and form while improving a room or the exterior at a cost of $5,000 or less. 

Green Project demonstrating energy-efficient design and renovation while maintaining classic features. 

Landscape Design demonstrating a creative design solution and enhances the bungalow’s overall visual impression. 

Window Restoration preserving historic detail, materials and repair/restoration methods of original wood windows.  

“The number of Driehaus Award nominations from throughout the City increases each year,” said Mary Ellen Guest, CBA Executive Director. “This is a reflection of homeowners who take pride in caring for their bungalows.” 

The first place winner in each category will be awarded $1,000 and a handcrafted bronze plaque. 

Nominations must be of CBA-certified brick Chicago-style bungalows located in the City of Chicago. Nominations can be made by bungalow owners themselves, a neighbor, friend or neighborhood association. Nominated projects can be whole homes, single rooms, or small projects and will be judged by a panel of architects, preservation experts and civic leaders. Any project completed within the last five years is eligible.  

All nominations are due by Tues., Oct. 30 and on-site viewing of the finalists’ bungalows will be conducted on Fri., Nov. 9 and Sat., Nov. 10. 

Nominations can be submitted online at www.chicagobungalow.org, or mailed to CBA at 53 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 740, Chicago, IL 60604. Submissions must include before and after photographs of the project.

Quality Instruction, Versatile Choices, Artistic Challenge Are Hallmarks of BAC School of the Arts

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“I love staying connected to where I first fell in love with ballet,” said Megan Wright, ballet instructor at the Beverly Arts Center (BAC), 2407 W. 111th St. Wright, a Beverly/Morgan Park native and now a resident of the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, took her first dance classes at the BAC when she was a child. The love of dance fostered at the BAC led Wright to study with Ballet Chicago, the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theater. She danced professionally with several companies including the Los Angeles Ballet.  

Wright has been teaching and choreographing at the BAC since 2008, using her experience in dance study and performance to lead classes of all levels for children and adults. This fall, she is among 36 BAC instructors who will be teaching more than 125 classes in a wide variety of visual and performance arts. 

For most of the BAC’s 50-year history, its popular School of the Arts has been providing quality arts education to students at all skill levels. Instructors are required to have a degree in the discipline in which they are teaching, and most of them also have professional experience in their field. Registration for fall classes is in progress and the session begins the week of Sept. 10.  

Like Wright, BAC Music Coordinator Prentice Johnson attended the BAC as a child, first singing with the Chicago Children’s Choir and later taking private piano lessons. Remembering her own experience informs Johnson’s appreciation for leading the BAC’s music education program and as an instructor. “It’s exciting to be in on the beginning phase of children’s music experiences and to see their talent develop as they grow,” Johnson said. “The BAC is a great place to do that.”  

Johnson joined the BAC School of the Arts staff in 2009, and teaches private violin and group strings classes in addition to overseeing the music curriculum. She has seen the BAC’s music offerings expand to include a wide variety of instruments and skill levels.  The BAC’s solid music program and outstanding opportunities to gain performance experience have enabled many of Johnson’s students to be accepted into top music institutes including the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Juilliard School in New York. 

This fall, the BAC expects between 600 and 700 students to enroll in classes in music, dance, visual arts, film and theater arts. Theater students age 5 to 18 will perform in a full scale production of “Oliver.” New classes include Jazz Funk which blends jazz dance with hip hop, Intro to ukulele, playwriting, Folk Arts and Crafts, and book arts. Jeremy Handup recently joined the faculty as film coordinator and will be offering new film classes; he earned his BFA in Photography/Video from Cornell University and his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  

Visual Arts Coordinator Jake Saunders is a professional artist whose prints and drawings are shown in galleries nationally and internationally. Saunders received a BFA in printmaking from Ball State University (Indiana) and MFA in studio art from the University of Connecticut. His first experience with the BAC was as the winner of the Alice and Arthur Baer Award in the 2017 BAC Arts Competition and Exhibition. He has been on the BAC School of the Arts faculty for nine months and recently moved to Beverly/Morgan Park.  

Saunders’ focus for the visual arts program is providing “Serious classes for people who are serious about learning.” He is strengthening the visual arts curriculum with more classes in art fundamentals and opportunities to build skills, including new painting and drawing classes.  

Registration for the BAC School of the Arts fall session continues through the week of Sept. 10. For people who want to stretch their creative experience without committing to an eight-week class, the BAC will offer two dozen short term Pick and Choose classes later in the session. Schedules and registration are available at the BAC, 2407 W. 111th St., or online at www.beverlyartcenter.org. For more information, call 773-445-3838.  

Covenant Closet Offers Free Clothing Swap

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By Kristin Boza 

Kids grow fast and clothes aren’t cheap. Not only that, the piles of outgrown clothes have a tendency to quickly take over closets and basement storage bins. Beverly Covenant Church, 10545 S. Claremont, is offering a free solution to every member of the Beverly/Morgan Park community through its Covenant Closet initiative. On the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon, anyone and everyone is invited to drop off their gently used clothes and/or shop the closet for the clothing they need. Depending on donations, there is clothing available in newborn sizes all the way up to adult sizes.  

Janet Borggren, chairperson of Beverly Covenant Church, helps church volunteers organize the closet and bring awareness to its existence. The clothing swap has been around for decades, informally through the Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) program that meets at the church. Last year, the group decided to expand the offering to anyone in the community as a way to recycle and reuse clothing while also saving money. 

“Literally everyone is welcome to shop the Covenant Closet. I envision this as a modern version of hand-me-downs; everyone still needs the clothes, but may not have the connections to share with other families. We’re able to make those connections,” Borggren said. “We operate under the idea that people should ‘take what you need, give what you can.’ We want to turn the Closet into something that the community can use.” 

Borggren shared the story of one family that used the Closet through the MOPS program. “Beth Nelson is a church member, former MOPS mom and mother of three daughters. While sorting clothing donations one day, she came across an old favorite! It was a dress she had taken from the Closet when her youngest daughter, Emily, was a toddler. When Emily outgrew the outfit, Beth donated it back. It had obviously been used by at least one other family and was back for another round. The dress was still in great shape, as all of its former owners outgrew it well before it was worn out.” 

The Covenant Closet is looking to build momentum to maintain a wide variety of clothing for all ages. It will be open Sat., Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to noon. Stay up to date on the closet by visiting their Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/BeverlyCovenant, or calling the church office, 773-445-4319

Community Choir Recruiting Singers

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Come sing with us! 

As the Beverly Morgan Park Community Choir celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019, it invites singers who’ve performed with the group in the past as well as new members to join. The Choir, sponsored by the Beverly Morgan Park Community of Churches, began in 1999 to celebrate the millennium in song. An instant audience favorite, the Choir continues to perform an annual concert each spring. 

The season will begin on Jan. 6 with music pick up between 3:15 and 5 p.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 9815 S. Campbell. Rehearsals are held each Sunday through Mar. 31 and the anniversary concert will take place at 4 p.m. on Apr. 7 at St Cajetan Church. 

Auditions are not required. Male voices are especially needed, though all voice parts are welcome. Music is provided to Choir members. 

For its 20th anniversary, the Choir commissioned a special five-movement piece that will debut at the concert. Inspired by passages from Psalms, the composition was written especially for the voices of the Choir by Dr. Stuart Scott.  The work is influenced by the jazz tradition and moves from somber to jubilant.  

The Choir’s long time accompanist, Dr. William Crowle, will also debut a work based upon the benediction. 

Visit www.BMPCC.org for more information or e-mail bmpcchoir@gmail.com to get on the Choir’s mailing list. Follow Beverly Morgan Park Community Choir on Facebook for the latest updates and information on the upcoming season. 

Beverly Arts Center Celebrates 50 Years of Fine Art

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The Beverly Arts Center (BAC) is 50! In honor of that milestone, Fifty Years . . . Fifty Families, an exhibit of photographs by Diego Martirena, will highlight a cross section of families who have had an impact on the BAC.  

“These 50 families represent the thousands of people who have taken classes, come to concerts, volunteered their time, donated and supported this ever changing organization,” said Shellee Frazee, BAC Artistic Director.  

Twenty five photos set in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s will pay tribute to the early years of the BAC, and 25 photos will feature the facility, staff and artistic disciplines. The exhibit opens Sun., Sept. 9 with a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Simmerling Gallery, and continues through Nov. 4.  

All year long the center has been celebrating its golden anniversary at various events and programs, and the fun will culminate with the BAC Birthday Bash on Sat., Sept. 29, 12 to 4 p.m., at the BAC, 2407 W. 111th St.  This free, all-ages event features birthday cake, children’s activities, and live music by the power pop rock and roll band Pat Egan and the Heavy Hearts. The birthday event and photo exhibit will be open during the Beverly Art Walk.  

Whether you’re a student of the arts or simply a fan, the BAC is a welcoming destination for live music, theater, art exhibits, films and literary events.  

The 400-seat Baffes Theatre is a great place to see music and shows. Coming up are Journeyman: A Tribute to Eric Clapton, Sat., Sept. 15; and Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a tribute to 1980s glam, dance and totally rad music with Lisa Rock and Sari Greenberg, Sat., Sept. 29, 8 p.m. preceded by the Get in the Groove pre-party with vendors and a costume contest, 6 to 8 p.m. 

Also showing in the Baffes Theatre are the BACinema film screenings of first run, indie, foreign and art house movies at 7:30 p.m. every other Wednesday and on selected weekends. On the film schedule this fall are the silent film classic “City Lights,” starring Charlie Chaplin as the Tramp, Wed., Sept. 5; “Driftwood,” an award-winning dialog-free feature film, Wed., Sept. 19; and four movies for Ominous October: “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” the first horror movie every made, on Oct. 3, the 1973 classic “The Exorcist” on Oct. 17, “Hereditary,” a special screening of the 2018 horror film starring Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne on Sat., Oct. 20, and the 2010 film “Insidious” on Halloween Oct. 31 (October’s scary movies are not suitable for children). Regular movie tickets are $6 ($5 for BAC members) and popcorn is only $2. 

Supporting the arts in the community could not be more fun! The annual BAC Brewsfest, a fundraiser featuring craft beers, food trucks and live music by Harlem Natural, is the place to be Sat., Sept. 22. The BAC will be serving 40 brews from top breweries including Horse Thief Hollow, Open Outcry Brewing Company, Wild Blossom Meadery, Revolution, Sierra Nevada, Pollyanna, Church Street Brewing Company and Flossmoor Station.  

Voted #1 at the Battle of the Bands held in August, Harlem Natural explores the roots of classic rock, reggae, blues and jazz and adds new music to their play list every week. The band’s philosophy is “If you love it, we love to play it for you.”  Opening for Harlem Natural is winner of the Battle of the Bands People’s Choice, Analog Chain, an alternative rock band that focuses on music from the 1990s and beyond.
VIP admission is $50 and includes a Brewsfest t-shirt, private music reception, food pairings and beer sampling for one hour before the event opens. General admission is $35 and all attendees receive a commemorative tasting glass. 

For more than four decades, the Beverly Arts Center has been awarding some of the region’s most generous cash prizes for visual arts. Applications are now being accepted for the 42nd Annual BAC Art Competition and Exhibition, which is open to artists from within 100 miles of Chicago. The juried competition features a variety of 2-D and 3-D media and offers $5000 in prizes. The application deadline is Oct. 15 and the exhibit opens Nov. 10 with a reception and announcement of winners. Details and applications are available at the BAC website.  

For information about the Beverly Arts Center, to buy tickets or to enroll in classes, call 773-445-3838 or visit www.beverlyartcenter.org.