Sam Cooke Way

Bronzeville Stretch Renamed

The late, great soul legend Sam Cooke got his own street in Chicago earlier this month. Let’s take a look.
1. “Nearly 80 years after he moved to Chicago as a child, legendary soul singer Sam Cooke was honored with the renaming of a street Saturday afternoon near his boyhood home in Bronzeville,” the Sun-Times reported.
“The renamed street, a stretch along 36th Street, runs near the site of the deceased musician’s family’s original home at 3527 Cottage Grove. ‘Sam Cooke Way’ begins at Cottage Grove and runs east past another one of his boyhood homes at 724 E. 36th St.
“The celebration was led by the Chicago Blues Museum and Erik Greene, Cooke’s great-nephew.”
2. Uploaded to YouTube by ToiTalese429. Part 1:

Posted on June 28, 2011

The Weekend in Chicago Rock

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Les Savy Fav at the Green Music Fest in Wicker Park on Sunday night.

Posted on June 27, 2011

The Week in Chicago Rock

By The Beachwood Rock Local Affairs Desk

You shoulda been there.
1. Fireworks at the Beat Kitchen on Monday night.

Posted on June 24, 2011

About Pete Wentz’s Favorite Chicago Bar

Besides his own

“Spin asked rocker and Wilmette native Pete Wentz to name his favorite spots in the Chicago area in honor of this summer’s Lollapalooza,” Luis Gomez reports for the Tribune. “Wentz, who will perform with his new band, Black Cards, at Lolla on August 5, of course named the bar he co-owns, Angels & Kings, but mostly recommended a few places off the beaten path.
“His favorite spot for dinner? ‘Chuck Wagon is my jam,’ said Wentz of the Wilmette fast food restaurant. Wentz said his favorite dive bar is Empire Liquors in Wicker Park and his favorite place to shop is the Belmont Army Surplus store in Lakeview.”
Um, Empire Liquors and the Belmont Army Surplus store are hardly “off the beaten path.” But that’s only the beginning of the problems with Mr. Wentz, the Tribune and Spin.

Posted on June 23, 2011

When Clarence Clemons Worked For Fox Chicago

Doubled as reporter and delegate at 1996 Dem convention

“Hey, who needs Ted Koppel’s take on political conventions when you’ve got E Street Band member Clarence Clemons covering the Dems’ gathering,” the Tribune reported on August 21, 1996. “Bruce Springsteen’s sax player is headed to town to handle special-correspondent duties next week for Fox Thing in the Morning.”
TMOVIDEO2 uploaded this video to YouTube, explaining: “Clarence was our guest reporter, filing stories for the morning show at the Chicago Democratic convention . . . late evening parties etc. I was lucky enough to be his cameraman for the week.”

Posted on June 22, 2011

Neko Case To Perform Free Concert At Poetry Foundation Open House

By The Poetry Foundation

Singer-songwriter Neko Case will perform an intimate concert before 180 fans as part of the Poetry Foundation’s Open House at 61 West Superior Street. The special show will take place Saturday, June 25, at 8:30 p.m. in the new building’s performance space.
Ninety pairs of free tickets to the performance will be awarded via a lottery drawing. Fans may enter the lottery by going to poetryfoundationnekocase.eventbrite.com.
The Poetry Foundation will accept entries from 12:00 p.m. on Monday, June 20, to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21. A drawing will take place after the entries have been received, and winners will be notified by email on June 22.

Posted on June 21, 2011