Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association
Since its inception in 1989, OPALGA has become one of the largest community based, multipurpose lesbian and gay membership organizations in Illinois.
February Coffeehouse Cancelled
The Coffeehouse scheduled for Friday, February 16th has been cancelled. Please join us on Friday, March 16th for the powerhouse singer/songwriter duo of Brianna Lane and Emily White. They have toured the country and will be at the Buzz Cafe 905 S. Lombard, Oak Park at 7:00 P.M. for the return of OPALGA’s Coffeehouse.
Barbra Wows ‘Em at the United Center
The Voice. La Streisand. Babs. Funny Girl. The Diva. The Greatest of All Time. FOB. Actress/Director. Major Democratic Party Fundraiser. Whatever you call her, one thing is undeniably clear—Barbra has a voice that is an incredibly amazing instrument and a gift for the ages. On November 7 (and again on November 9), ticketholders to the concert of the year all agreed that they were indeed the “luckiest people in the world.”
Whenever Barbra appears, so do the boys and girls, and the gay and lesbian community were out in throngs for Barbra’s first Chicago appearance in 40 years. Before the concert began, they were treated to sightings of Rosie, James Brolin, and countless other stars. And from the opening note of “Starting Here, Starting Now,” they showed their love in a big way. There would be no right-wing hecklers in Chicago. The United Center patrons were there to pay tribute to a legend, and the legend put on quite a show. Appearing more relaxed than usual, she spoke lovingly of Chicago food and made sure to mention the Bears and Brian Urlacher. She even gave a Bulls’ score. By the time she began “The Way We Were,” the applause was already deafening, and this was only the third song! After singing “Ma Première Chanson” in impeccable French, she then introduced her special guests, Il Divo, four gorgeous guys with voices to match. After joining Barbra on “Evergreen,” a crowd favorite, Barbra left for a costume change while Il Divo entertained with their poperatic versions of “Unchained Melody,” “Unbreak My Heart,” and “My Way.” Their harmonies were amazing, but the crowd clearly wanted more Babs.
She returned with a lively version of “Come Rain or Come Shine” and then began her “Funny Girl” medley, which brought the house down. Starting with “Funny Girl” itself, it seemed to many like Fanny Brice herself was onstage. She then delivered “The Music That Makes Me Dance,” a beautiful song that was featured on Broadway but didn’t make the movie. Then, right before intermission, Barbra knocked out a version of “People” that was a showstopper in all senses. The audience could have left then and felt like they had seen a great concert—and that was only Act One!
Lennon and McCartney spoke of 64 as if it were some age near the end of the road, but Barbra showed that, for her, 64 is a great year. The voice may not be able to hit every note as it did over 40 years ago, but what human’s can? At any rate, while she can sing every genre, her fans love Broadway, and this would be her trump card this evening. Joined on stage by Il Divo, she opened Act Two with a version of “The Music of the Night” that was amazing from start to finish. She then followed with the crowd-pleasing “Children Will Listen” and segued into “Unusual Way” and “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?”
It was at this exact moment that the evening took on an almost surreal quality. In previous concerts, her Bush impersonator came on at this point, but since it was election day, he was previously committed, so she treated Chicago to an extra song, her famous “Stoney End” from her first soft-rock album in the 70s. While the selection was an excellent one, her announcement to the crowd that “it looks like we have taken over the House of Representatives, and the Senate is in play” was met with thunderous applause. Could there have been a better combination than seeing Barbra on election day when the nation finally sent Bush a message? I personally don’t think so!
She then concluded Act Two with brilliant versions of “Have I Stayed Too Long At The Fair?” and “A Cockeyed Optimist.” A four-minute ovation preceded the beginning of the encores, which started with a glorious rendition of “Somewhere” with Il Divo. In a tip to the evening’s results, she treated the crowd to her signature piece “Happy Days Are Here Again” and then once again returned to “Funny Girl” for a passionate “Don’t Rain On My Parade.” She tried leaving once again, but the crowd wanted more, and she finished with “Smile,” a tribute to her beloved dog Sadie and to those of us who have lost loved ones.
With that, Barbra was gone, but memories of a true legend in Chicago were fixed in place for years. She looked amazing, and all three Donna Karan outfits were sleekly designed to show off those legs and then some. The clothes were just a sideshow, however, and as people filed out of the United Center, the comments describing Barbra’s voice and the show were amazingly similar in their hyperbole. She came, she sang, and she conquered, and Chicago was grateful for the visit.
January Message From The Co-Chairs
As we begin a new year, and one in which we will celebrate our 18th anniversary as an organization, we must look back on 2006 with a sense of both joy and sorrow. During the last year, two of our dear friends passed away. We continue to miss both Ethel Cotovsky and Rob Ward. They both gave tirelessly to the association and were passionate about our work. Their passing has reminded us of the importance of those who give their time, talent, and treasure for this organization. We also owe tremendous gratitude to all of our general organization and to the Youth Program volunteers, as well as all of the participants in our various programs and events throughout the year. We must also thank our professional staff, Susan Abbott, our Youth Program Director, and Jan Hannigan, our Office Manager.
We also appreciate the work of our Board of Directors, including Treasurer Mike Cochran, Secretary Sherrie Wolfe, and members-at-large Anita Csuk, Lee Latham, Rick McVey, Lisa Pearson, Liz Stallone, Davida Williams, Michael Williams, and JoAnn Ziebarth. In February of 2006, the Board of Directors met to establish its priorities for the organization. They were:
• Membership Development: Recruitment, encouraging broad involvement and retention;
• Organizational Development: Building future capabilities;
• Marketing of the Organization: Building public relations capabilities and identifying appropriate strategies;
• Fundraising: Develop appropriate strategies for diversifying funding sources and approaches;
• Increased and Diversified Programming: Lay groundwork for the future and develop niche programs applying to a variety of subgroups within the organization.
These priorities have driven both the direction and the work of the organization.
Last, we must thank you, our members and supporters, for your continued support. We look forward to serving you in 2007, and we ask you to continue your support and participation and that you introduce others to OPALGA. Together, we can continue to do great things for our community.
Youth Program Volunteer Launches Literary Projects
Anthony Colon, also known as Spizzarri, began attending OPALGA’s Spectrum drop-in group in 2003 at the suggestion of friends. Once he was no longer in the Spectrum age range, Anthony helped to create TGIQ, our drop-in group for adults who are age 21 and over. Anthony has recently published two books, and I asked him to tell us about those books.
Empower: Tell us about your new books.
Anthony: The first one is titled Zero & the Liquid Vein Memory: Poetry from the Inner Cerebrum. This volume of poetry is uplifting, real, and drones enchanting, raw emotion. Like lyrics from any obscure and serene album. Visually stunning, scintillating, and at times biting like unseen teeth from an unknown vista of a piece by Salvador Dali or a tranquil scene from Claude Monet, these pieces will touch your heart as well as your soul.
The second one is titled The Resurrection of the Hearts Eye. This short-story collection is filled with beautiful, surreal dreamscapes of non-realities that ponder and explore the trials and tribulations of human existence. Of the complex errors and solutions inherent in the process of what it means to be human. The positive and the negative and the fusion of the two. We all can learn something about ourselves from these pieces.
Anthony has donated signed copies of both books to the OPALGA lending library, and they are available for purchase from Anthony’s Web site at http://www.spizzarri.com.
January Book Club
The selection for the upcoming OPALGA book club meeting is Fall on Your Knees by Canadian playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald. This novel is a sprawling saga about five generations of a family from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This epic tale of family history, family secrets, and music centers on four sisters and their relationships with each other and with their father. Set in the coalmining communities of Nova Scotia in the early part of the twentieth century, the story also shifts to the battlefields of World War I and the jazz scene of New York City in the 1920s.
The book club will meet on Sunday, January 14, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center, 947 Garfield, Oak Park. Copies of the book are available at http://www.amazon.com, the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake St., Oak Park), and The Book Table (1045 Lake St., Oak Park). Please join us for a lively and interesting discussion!
Two Special Events Coming Your Way
If you are thinking that January is a month during which the busy holiday social season quiets down and you can recover from all of the revelry and good cheer, think again! OPALGA reminds you of two upcoming, exciting events that will be the talk of the town as winter really settles in!
OPALGA Jazz Brunch
On Sunday, January 21, 2007, OPALGA invites old and new friends to relax after the holidays at a brunch at Cucina Paradiso, 814 North Blvd., Oak Park. The brunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will feature jazz music, a holiday gift, and an assortment of delectable dishes. A cash bar will also be available.
Tickets for the brunch are $18.00 in advance or $23.00 at the door. To purchase tickets in advance, call The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273. We look forward to seeing you there!
Brunch with Hemingway
On Sunday, January 28, 2007, OPALGA and the Center on Halsted are joining forces to present a truly special event. At 11:00 a.m., we will partake of a scrumptious brunch at Hemmingway’s Bistro, 211 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. During the brunch, you can socialize with old and new friends, and you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about OPALGA and the Center on Halsted.
Following the brunch, at approximately 1:30 p.m., you will be treated to a tour of the Ernest Hemingway Museum (200 N. Oak Park Ave.) and the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home (339 N. Oak Park Ave.). The Museum includes temporary and permanent exhibits compiled of rare photographs, sample writings, letters, and unique memorabilia collected from the Hemingway family. The Birthplace Home has been meticulously restored to its turnof- the-century grandeur. One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Hemingway spent the first six years of his life in this grand house. Authentic period carpeting, light fixtures, and some furniture owned by the Hemingway family, as well as family artifacts and treasures, are featured in this guided tour.
Tickets for Brunch with Hemingway are $35.00, which includes brunch and admission to the Museum and Birthplace Home. To purchase tickets, call The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273 or visit the Center on Halsted Web site at http://www.centeronhalsted.org. You won’t want to miss this outstanding event!
Queer In The New Year
Okay, so the holidays have passed and you’re trying to figure out where to put all of your loot, who you forgot to call, and how you’re going to make up for those little faux pas. Well, OPALGA has a way to Queer in the New Year. You can start by taking a friend or two to the jazz brunch on Sunday, January 21, at Cucina Pardiso (see enclosed flier). Unwind with your friends, reflect on the holidays, tell a good story or two, and partake in a champagne toast for the new year.
If the budget is tight after all of your generous gift-giving, join us for the start of our 2007 Coffeehouse season on Friday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Buzz Café (905 S. Lombard, Oak Park), featuring Andrea Bunch and Aerin Tedesco, a mesmerizing duo with tantalizing harmony. They hail from the Old Town School of Folk Music, and they are guaranteed to bring down the house Then, you can join us for an educational workshop at the Oak Park Public Library in February. The topic will be finance and investing for “people like us”; how to invest your hard-earned money, lower your taxes, and make sure that your partner and children are provided for, plus other legal aspects of our finances and our lives.
What’s next? March Madness, OPALGA style. That’s right, we’re not talking college basketball, we’re talking a theater outing, potluck, coffeehouse, and drag show. Are you a friend of Dorothy’s? Well, kick off March Madness with some of your friends and ease on down the yellow brick road for the opening performance of “The Wiz” at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. Lions and tigers and city life, oh my! (Saturday, March 3, 7:00 p.m., ticket price TBA.) Then, we have our monthly potluck, the second Friday of the month, and we are happy to announce a lot of new potluck hosts for 2007, so don’t miss these monthly gatherings, all year long. And, finally, there’s the 6th annual OPALGA Dragmania Show. We’re back!!!!!! Your friends and pals Monica Marlowe, Mike Hawk, Johnny E., and other queens and queers are going to don the drag and gay apparel and dance the light fandango. Check the next Empower and our Web site, http://www.opalga.org, for updates on these events. Hope to see you there!
Holiday Party Scheduled for January 21
The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association invites old and new friends to unwind after the holidays at a jazz brunch on Sunday, January 21, 2007. The brunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Oak Park’s popular Cucina Paradiso. The restaurant is located at 814 North Boulevard just west of Oak Park Avenue. Parking is available in the area, and valet service will be provided as well. An attractive and delectable menu has been chosen to satisfy the most discerning palette and is a mere $18.00 per person. A bar will be available for those who wish to have a “spirited” meal.
We hope you will join us! Please RSVP to The OPALGA Center at (708) 848-0273. If you do so before December 25, you will be entered for a chance to win one of several raffle prizes, including an item from Ferencak Galleries and dinner for two at Cucina Paradiso. A complimentary holiday gift will be given to all who attend. See you there!
Message from the Co-Chairs
November was a big month! The winds of change spread far and wide across our country as voters cast ballots in the midterm elections. As you have no doubt heard or seen, the Democratic Party will take control of both the United States House of Representative and the Senate in January. We hope that there will be a friendlier ear for LGBT issues and concerns in the new Congress. We also certainly hope that you were able to get out and vote on election day. It is a right that we cannot afford to waste.
The LGBT community continued to be used as a punching bag for those set on restricting our rights as Americans to participate fully in society. Going into the elections, we had hoped that the citizens of Wisconsin would turn back a constitutional amendment to enshrine discrimination into their state constitution, but the amendment passed despite the work of many dedicated citizens who opposed it. The bright spot among the states where marriage amendments were on the ballot was in Arizona. There, the citizens defeated a marriage amendment proposal. This defeat was not by a large margin. It was actually similar to the margin that sustained a domestic partnership registry in Oak Park in a vote in the late 90s. A victory, no matter how small, is a victory nonetheless. The significance of the Arizona amendment defeat cannot be overlooked. Nor can the fact that the electoral margins in many of the other states were not as overwhelming as in previous years. We may be seeing a slight shift. Let us hope that attitudes will continue to evolve and one day we will be working to remove constitutional amendments that restrict our rights to marry across the country as opposed to fighting to keep these restrictive amendments out of state constitutions.
We were also excited about the victories of Debra Shore and Mary Colleen Roberts. Debra won a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commission and is the first from the LGBT community to win countywide office. Debra and her partner live on the North Shore, but she spent a tremendous amount of time in the area cultivating support for her candidacy. Debra attended this year’s annual OPAL Gala and is committed to becoming a friend of the organization. Mary Colleen Roberts, along with her partner Alison, are active members of OPALGA. Mary was elected to the 11th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. Although anticipating a stint as a new judge in Traffic Court (which is the traditional assignment for new judges), Mary is looking forward to serving the needs of the people of Cook County.
Last, we would be remiss if we didn’t thank those who attended our annual meeting in early November. We had a wonderful turnout, and we hope that the meeting was informative. OPALGA is doing great things, and we want to make sure that you know what is going on within the organization on your behalf. We hope to send out our first formal annual report in February. We also want to congratulate Dr. Cheryl Haugh, who was reelected as Female Co-Cair, and Sherrie Wolfe, who was reelected as Board Secretary, and the four Board Members-at-Large were who were also reelected: J. Lee Latham, Rick McVey, Liz Stallone, and Michael Williams. We look forward to their continued commitment and vitality.
Thank you for your continued support of OPALGA.
Holiday Passion Inspires Christmas House Collection
You are in for a special treat at the December Potluck. It is not a delectable treat, but rather the home itself. This month’s host is Jerry Ehernberger. Some of you may remember when Jerry last hosted a potluck in January of 2005. It was a tremendous pleasure.
In the December 2004 issue of Empower, Jerry wrote, “My passion for Christmas includes a collection of decorations from the 1880s to the 1950s, some being featured in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times, Americana, McCall’s, Better Homes and Gardens, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Twenty-five years ago, I started “The Golden Glow of Christmas Past,” an international club and major network for hundreds of avid collectors, many of whom are “family” and also my adopted family. Struggling with my displays and lights is a labor of love but very rewarding when enjoyed by visitors. You’re welcome to wander both floors and encounter something you might remember from Grandma’s tree!”
If you would like a sneak peek, visit Jerry’s Web site. You will certainly not want to miss our December Potluck. For more information, please see this month’s calendar.
