You are invited to the “Greatest Show Unearthed” Saturday, Aug.17 in Lemont in the parking lot at Talcott Square, Stephen and Talcott streets. Representing Forest Park will be Howard Hansen with his Las Rydes (Last Rides) Hearse Show buddies. This year marks the 15th annual “convention” of the hearse enthusiasts, and they do have a lot of fun. You are invited and are promised an unforgettable afternoon.
Are you concerned about those Coopers Hawks Pat Braniff saved a few weeks ago? Well, the fledglings have outgrown the nest and flown off to make homes of their own. Pat gently lowered the nests so we could get a closer look at them. You’ll notice the twigs are carefully cross-hatched. The parents do that so the babies will get their feet tangled in them and not fall out of the nest.
Mark your calendar now for the Historic Restaurant Crawl on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 1- 4 p.m. The restaurants featured this year are Brown Cow, Jimmy’s Place, Junction Diner, and Skrine Chops. Tickets for the event are $25 for non-members of the Forest Park Historical Society and $20 for members with a $5 discount for kids. There will also be a raffle for a $25 gift certificate for each restaurant. Raffle tickets are $1 each /6 for $5. Call (708) 232-3747 for reservations. The event will be held rain or shine, you can register the day of the event at Centuries & Sleuths, 7419 Madison Street. The Historical Society is a 501 (c) 3 organization.
The Church of Beethoven will hold “services” Sunday, August 17 at Open Door Theater, 902 South Ridgeland. The Chicago Harp Quartet will play four harps on stage in an intimate show, sure to be beautiful, beginning at 10 a.m.
Open Door Repertory Company has been performing at that same location (902 South Ridgeland) since 2011. Now playing is “Clara” a world premiere biography /musical about Clara Ward, a gospel singer who brought gospel music to the crowds. She went on to arrange a Broadway musical, appeared on major television shows, sang with the Philharmonic, and sold more than a million copies of a gospel song. But, in my opinion, the show at the Open Door was thrilling because of the energy and enthusiasm of the entire cast: leads, dancers and singers.
The two young girls who played Clara and her sister, Jillian and Joshlyn Lomax, will have you sitting there open-mouthed. And everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives. Gertrude Ward, stage mother, Toni Fountain—superb!! Loud and bossy, her secret comes out later. The members of the cast were real people, all sizes, all types of looks, and overflowing with talent. Congratulations to the author/directors Mckinley Johnson and Eric Troy for an unforgettable evening.
Apologies to Dianna Bugajsky for omitting her recent birthday, so, happy birthday, Dianna. This week’s birthday celebrants are Grant Neubeiser, Sandy Boy, Reid Thompson, Maureen Harnett, Colleen Murray, Rocco Cirrintano, Angela Tricoci, Kevin Nutley, Donna Prochazka, Tom Curry, Betty Breseman, Mary Bosley, Christine Cassiani, Dorothy Grams, Barbara Lambke, Eileen Pfaff, Lisa Cozzi, Terry Hemstreet, Lindsay Pritchard, Anthony Bower, Donald Childs, Madison Crowe, Amanda McAdam, Kaitlin Smith, Ida Hanson, and Alice Nolan. Happy anniversary to Edward and Marie Zamora and Joyce and Pat Oberg.
