Weekender with Alison Cuddy

Weekender with Alison Cuddy

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Weekday mornings and evenings I’m usually somewhere along the near north stretch of Lake Shore Drive, express-bus bound for either work or home. Traffic can be horrific, the bumpy ride can be jarring. But I never tire of this commute: the sometimes scary S-curve, the rosy red neon sign atop the Drake Hotel, the straight shot by the trees, monuments and joggers of Lincoln Park. You can walk or bike by the lake, you can stroll its sandy beaches. But until you’ve driven along Lake Michigan, forget about it! This is Chicago’s first freeway, its vital artery, the Midwestern version of the Pacific Coast Highway. The drive’s been re-named and re-engineered, it’s provided a route for political protesters, and 40 years ago it served as cultural muse. In 1971 the country-rock-folk trio Aliotta-Haynes-Jeremiah had a hit with their ode to LSD (whether or not the song is also an ode to a different kind of trip isn’t clear). This week the trio’s pianist John Jeremiah passed away. Pay your respects by heading out for a tour of the drive while blasting his tune full-volume. The rest of your weekend activity is below.

1. ACRE County Fair Annual Winter Fundraiser

Friday 7pm

Live Music, Art Auction, Live Portrait Drawing, Cornucopia Eating Contest

Heaven Gallery 1550 N. Milwaukee Ave

2. Pete Rock

Friday 9pm

Pete Rock will be spinning classic hip-hop, soul, breaks and rare grooves

The Shrine 2109 S. Wabash

3. Improv Nerd with Jimmy Carrane

Saturday 9pm Interview with Mick Napier

Second City’s Skybox Theater 1616 N. Wells

Hear an interview with Jimmy Carrane here

4. Alien Queen: The Concert

Saturday 9pm

Metro 3730 N. Clark

Hear an interview with the star and co-creator here

5. Windy City Soul Club

Saturday 10pm

Empty Bottle 1034 N. Western Ave

Hear an interview with the Windy City Soul Club DJs here

6. WFMT Live from Mayne Stage

Sunday 11am

Featuring pianist Marie Alatalo of the New Music School of Chicago

Mayne Stage 1328 W. Morse Ave

7. SchadenBears

Sunday 3pm

Chicago Sketch Comedy group Schadenfreude do the Bears play by play

Lincoln Hall 2424 N. Lincoln Ave

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