MAY
In 1998, Windy City Hemp Development Board founder Caren Thomas took over a lawsuit filed by late activist Robert MacDonald against the Chicago Park District. MacDonald was denied a permit to stage a march in Grant Park against the war on drugs; his suit claimed the CPD’s permit process could prevent
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citizens from exercising their First Amendment rights in public places. In December 2001 Thomas took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court–and lost. But, she says, “in the Park District briefs to the Supreme Court, they represented a system for granting permits that they now abide by. The effect of losing the case is that we won–we’re treated a lot better.” In other words, this year’s free Windy City Hemp Fest should go off without a hitch. It features speakers, displays, food, and bands and runs from noon to 9 today and tomorrow, May 18, in Chicago at Montrose and the lake, east of Cricket Hill. For more information call 773-381-9330 or E-mail windycityhemp420@hotmail.com.
Seventy-nine-year-old artist Allen Stringfellow is known for wearing bright red and creating vibrant visual work using religious and jazz-world themes. A new exhibit running through June 7 at Nicole Gallery features 46 of his latest collages, including one called DeLisa the Club, which depicts the south-side nightclub that his father–a singer and jazz guitarist–managed. Today from 2 to 4 Stringfel-low will discuss his work and create a new collage using construction paper and images clipped from magazines at a free Sunday Afternoon Salon at the gallery, 230 W. Huron, Chicago. Call 312-787-7716.
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