Friday 3/15 – Thursday 3/21
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16 SATURDAY In 1831, Ohio-born Elsie Armstrong left her drunken husband and took her eight sons to live in Deer Park, Illinois, near Ottawa. Her sons grew up to work on the Illinois and Michigan Canal and to found the town of Morris, and in 1957 their mother’s story inspired Keith Clark to compose “The Ballad of Elsie Armstrong.” Today, singer Christine Gaylord and fiddler Joe Wadz will perform the ballad at the Newberry Library, preceded by a “first-person interpretation” of Armstrong’s life by actress Connie Piazza and a lecture by the Canal Corridor Association’s Ron Vasile. After the music, independent scholar Willa Cramton will speak on the experiences of pioneer women in general. Women Pioneers in Northeastern Illinois: Elsie Armstrong and Other Strong Women is free and runs from 10 to noon at the library, 60 W. Walton. Call 312-255-3700 for more info.
Molive chef Joey Rosetti reveals his recipe for osso buco at tonight’s session of Cooking With Inspiration Cafe. He’ll also demonstrate how to make black mussels in tomato broth with andouille sausage, leeks, and garlic. Class runs from 7 to 9 at the cafe at 4554 N. Broadway, suite 207; since Rosetti’s donating his time, the $35 fee ($100 for three classes) goes to support the cafe’s job training programs for the homeless. You can sign up at 773-878-0981, ext. 203.
