Tree House Animal Foundation presents Lights of Love
Tree House Animal Foundation, a cageless, no-kill shelter for injured, abandoned, and abused stray cats, will hold its sixth annual Lights of Love Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, Dec.16, from 5 to 9 p.m. at 1212 W. Carmen Ave. Admission to this event is free.
The Lights of Love Open House and Lighting Ceremony gives people the chance to honor or remember a beloved animal companion or person. For each $10 donation, Tree House will light a holiday light in tribute of the designated party. The lights at the shelter are symbolic of these gifts, and they are lit during the Lighting Ceremony. In addition to the ceremony, the shelter will also host an Open House, during which donors can tour the facility and meet many residents of Tree House. This evening of fun, food and entertainment features appetizers from Whole Foods and Arya Bavan. The evening’s entertainment will include live music, a silent auction, great merchandise, and the Holiday Raffle Drawing by WGN radio host Steve Dale. New this year will be a mini art auction, painting demonstrations and a bake sale! The shelter has made arrangements for easy parking.
Tree House was established in 1971 as a no-kill, cageless shelter for injured, sick, and abandoned cats. At Tree House, cats curl up on sunny windowsills, sleep in comfortable cat trees, and interact with staff volunteers and other cats. Tree House currently shelters approximately 300 cats, and found loving homes for 450 cats in 2003 and is on target to do the same for 500 cats in 2004. Over 12,000 cats have been adopted since Tree House’s founding. Tree House also sponsors a pet food pantry for low-income families, a volunteer-driven animal-assisted therapy program for the infirm and elderly, and an educational outreach program to local schools to educate children on the benefits of a human/ animal relationship.
For more information, contact: Jenny Schlueter, Development Supervisor of Tree House Animal Foundation, at (773) 784-5488, ext. 231, or email jschlueter@treehouseanimals.org.
Nicole Gallery presents Holiday Magic
Nicole Gallery, 230 W. Huron St., will present the exhibition Holiday Magic from Dec. 10 to Jan. 15. It will feature artists Ifeyinwa Umeike and Fritz Millevoix. The opening reception is Friday, Dec. 10, 5-8 p.m.
Born into the Igbo culture in Nigeria, Ifeyinwa Umeike pays homage to her African heritage with the regional fabrics she subtly incorporates into her gouache-collages. These works depict the vibrancy of daily life in Nigeria. Possessing a batik-like quality, they balance flat design with spatial effects, bright colors with pastels. Umeike participated in several juried exhibitions in Nigeria before coming to Chicago.
Holiday Magic will also feature a series of stunning new miniatures by Fritz Millevoix. He was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. His paintings are alive with pattern and texture. Using a bright and fanciful spectrum of colors, he paints rainforests and other landscapes inhabited by wonderful animals. Villages of purple, orange, and blue homes are teeming with people of all ages. He has illustrated two children’s books, and his work has received numerous awards in Chicago and Haiti.
For more information contact Nicole Gallery at (312) 787-7716. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sunday and Monday by appointment.
Warm up with free musical performances
My Kind Of Town, the lunchtime concert and performance series, continues throughout Chicago Winter Delights until Feb.18. Chicago’s fine entertainers will delight guests with free musical performances that pay tribute to the Great American Songbook and the music that makes Chicago world-renowned. The series will take place Fridays from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in the Chicago Water Works Visitor Center located in the historic pumping station on N. Michigan Ave. at 163 E. Pearson St.
The winter season delights with the following performances: Dec. 10 & 17: Beckie Menzie and celebrated artist Tom Michael will perform holiday favorites. Dec. 24, 31 & Jan. 7: Renowned artist Bob Solone will perform standard Holiday Classics. Jan. 14: Bob Solone will sing the blues. Jan. 21: Bob Solone will dazzle with jazz stylings. Jan. 28: Bob Solone will perform cabaret favorites. Feb. 11 The best of opera with artist to be announced. Feb. 18: A tribute to Broadway showtunes, artist to be announced. For more information, call (312) 744-2400.
Ring in the holidays with ‘The Nutcracker’
A Chicago family holiday tradition, Robert Joffrey’s production of “The Nutcracker” returns for 16 performances only at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., Dec. 15-26. “The Nutcracker” features the full Joffrey Ballet company, plus the Arpino Apprentices, seasonal dancers and a puppeteer- all augmented by four local children’s choruses and 125 young dancers ages nine through fourteen. The Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. Leslie B. Dunner, provides live musical accompaniment of the beloved Tchaikovsky score.
Tickets, priced $15-$90, are now on sale at the Auditorium Theatre box office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by telephone at (312) 902-1500, or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 10 or more should call (312) 739-0120, ext. 20. Please note, the Auditorium Theatre does not allow children under six years of age. There will be special college student “rush” tickets available an hour before curtain for any remaining tickets. Students will need to show a current ID. For more information, please visit joffrey.com or call (312) 739-0120.
Ravenswood Covenant Seniors Holiday Outing
The Ravenswood Covenant Seniors invite you to join them for a special Holiday Outing on Wednesday, Dec. 29, for a luncheon at the Chateau Ritz in Niles, followed by “HMS Pinafore,” by Gilbert & Sullivan, performed by the Light Opera Works at the Cahn Auditorium in Evanston. The group meets at 10 a.m. at the Ravenswood Covenant Church, 4900 N. Damen Ave., and the bus departs by 10:30 a.m. The cost is $65 per person. Return time is approximately 5 p.m.
For more information and to reserve your place for this fun outing, call Mary Smith at (773) 866-0928.
Free orchestra concert
The Protégé Philharmonic of Chicago will present a free concert on Saturday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. in Preston Bradley Hall, the Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Joseph Glymph, Music Director, will conduct. Musical selections will include: Suppe: Poet and Peasant Overture, Copland: Rodeo: 4 Dance Episodes, Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, op.71a, Anderson: Christmas Festival and Sleigh Ride, and a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long. For more information, call (312) 341-1521.
Emmanuel: The Story of Christmas
Tatiana presents a remarkable evening of original compositions and traditional music—wrapped around a moving and highly personal portrayal of the story of Christmas—that brings her audience together to celebrate the true meaning of the season. Joined onstage by additional musicians and singers, Tatiana’s voice soars in compositions that weave a wide variety of textures into a finely crafted musical tapestry. A performance will be held at the Croatian Catholic Mission, 6346 N. Ridge Ave. (at Devon Ave.) on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. Fr. Nicholas Dugandzic invites everyone to attend. There is no charge. Everything will be in English, except for a couple of songs in Croatian.
Christmas Orchestra Concert
The Protégé Philharmonic of Chicago will present a Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec.19, at 3 p.m. in the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave. Joseph Glymph, Music Director, will conduct the concert.
Musical selections include: Suppe: Poet and Peasant Overture, Copland: Four episodes from “Rodeo”; Anderson: Sleigh Ride and Christmas Festival; and a Christmas Carol Sing-a-long for the audience. Special guest artist Miroslawa Sojka-Topór, Soprano, together with the beautiful sounds of Góranie, folk ensemble, will perform with the orchestra and sing several Polish Christmas carol selections.
Tickets are $12 adults, $8 students and senior citizens, and $5 for children under 12. For more information, call (312) 341-1521.
CPC Small Print Show & Holiday Bazaar
The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative 15th Annual Small Print Show & Holiday Bazaar will take place Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 11 and 12, noon to 7 p.m. The exhibition runs through Feb. 26. The Holiday Sale features affordable prints, artist-made books, cards, frames, jewelry, and other holiday gifts by gallery artists, CPC members, students, and invited guests. Bring your "thanks for voting" receipt and receive a free print! Chicago Printmakers Collaborative is located at 4642 N. Western Ave.; call (773) 293-2070 or email: ink1101@aol.com or visit chicagoprintmakers.com. A member of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce, The Chicago Printmakers Collaborative is located right across from the CTA Brown Line stop at Western Ave between Wilson and Leland avenues in Lincoln Square. There is also parking on Western Avenue and all the side streets, and there is a metered lot at the northeast corner of Western and Leland avenues.
The Chopping Block Holiday Classes 2004
Many holiday cooking classes will be offered this season at The Chopping Block. With two locations in Chicago, at 1324 W. Webster St. and at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave., The Chopping Block is a cooking school and culinary store for the home cook. The phone number to both stores is (773) 472-6700. The Chopping Block’s specialty retail store is open Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cooking classes are held daily. Class schedules are available at the store, posted on the web site (thechoppingblock.net) or available by calling The Chopping Block. Individual classes are priced at $50 each, and packages of six or more classes are offered at a 10 percent discount. Totally Hands-On classes are $75 per person. As class size is limited, advanced reservations are required. All classes include open discussions on the featured foods and utensils; recipes; and post-class sampling. Cooking students of The Chopping Block receive special discounts for most retail items.
* Girls' Night: Hip Holiday Hors d'oeuvres
Have the girlfriends over for Girls' Night: Hip Holiday Hors d'oeuvres class at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. $50.
* Holiday Cookies
Learn some great new recipes and techniques at The Chopping Block Holiday Cookies class at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 11 at 10 a .m. and 2 p.m.; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. $50.
* Pride Bake 'n' Take Holiday Cookies
Join Chef Shelley Young in a social evening designed for the gay and lesbian community. Students will bake dozens of contest-winning cookie recipes to take home at The Chopping Block Pride Bake 'n' Take Holiday Cookies class at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. $75.
* Entertaining with Style
Learn do-ahead tips and elegant recipes for a perfect holiday dinner party at The Chopping Block Entertaining with Style class at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. $50.
* Festive Appetizers
Learn how to prepare holiday appetizers at The Chopping Block Festive Appetizers class at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m.; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. $50.
* Holiday Shortcuts
Enjoy 30-minute classes chockfull of quick ideas to help simplify last minute holiday entertaining at The Chopping Block Holiday Shortcuts class at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 18 at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. $10.
* Homestyle Holidays
Join The Chopping Block for a cozy menu of simple homey dishes that will rise to any occasion at The Chopping Block Homestyle Holidays class at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. $50.
* Open for Last Minute Shopping
Stop by on Christmas Eve to do your last minute holiday shopping and store employees will help you pick out the perfect gift for the every chef in your life! The Chopping Block, at 1324 W. Webster Ave. and at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave., will be open on Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
* New Year's Hors d'oeuvre Party
Start your celebrating with a festive collection of appetizers at The Chopping Block New Year's Hors d'oeuvre Party at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 31 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $60.
* New Year's Eve Dinner Party (per person)
Indulge in a multi-course, luxurious meal and complete cooking lesson at The Chopping Block New Year's Eve Dinner Party at 1324 W. Webster Ave. on Dec. 31 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. $100 per person; at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 31 from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., paired with wine $125 per person.
* Sparkling Sparklers
Sample bubbly wines from around the world while learning about sparkling wine at The Chopping Block Sparkling Sparklers class at 4747 N. Lincoln Ave. on Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. $60.
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