Friday 7/5 – Thursday 7/11
6 SATURDAY Now in its tenth year, the five-day African-Caribbean International Festival of Life attracts a wide variety of roots, reggae, world beat, and gospel musicians. This weekend’s 70-act roster includes Third World, Yellowman, Karma Sutra, Shirley Bell, and Calypso Rose. Tonight’s headliners are London-born dancehall crooner Maxi Priest and reggae superman Mutabaruka; also performing today are local R & B artists Public Announcement as well as Felony, True Enuff, Swing, Big Huss, and many others. The festival–which includes food, crafts, and other entertainment–began Thursday, July 4, and runs through tomorrow from 10 to 10 daily (the music starts at noon) in Washington Park, 55th and South Cottage Grove. Tickets are $8, or $20 for a four-day pass. Call 312-427-0266 or visit www.martinsinterculture.com.
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10 WEDNESDAY Florence Nightingale was more than just the founder of the nursing profession, says Australian scholar Val Webb. Nightingale’s career as a nurse “was a result of her reformist search to expand career opportunities for women in the 19th century.” Webb drew on accounts of Nightingale’s religious activities, as well as her letters and diaries, for her new book, Florence Nightingale: The Making of a Radical Theologian, which paints the “lady with the lamp” as an intensely spiritual social activist, feminist, intellectual, and reformer. Webb will discuss her book tonight at 7:30 at Women & Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark. It’s free (773-769-9299).
