Inside Magazine:

• Get Lucky’s

• Firehouse #78

• K’s for Kids

• Wrigleyville Real
Estate Update

• Mid-Autumn’s
Night Dream

December 2010 Issue

Big Changes at Wrigleyville Magazine

Download this issue for a special, very

important message from Wrigleyville
Magazine.
DECEMBER 2010

Page 2
 Contents:
Get Lucky’s - Page 4

Historical Wrigleyville Firehouse #78 - Page 8

K’s for Kids - Page 11

Wrigleyville Real Estate Update - Page 14

A Mid Autumns Night Dream - Page 16

Tim O’Riley is the editor-in-chief of Wrigleyville Magazine and also keeps fans posted on all
things Cubs year-round on his Facebook page, Between the Vines (http://facebook.com/between-
thevines). His Facebook page for Wrigleyville Magazine is http://facebook.com/wrigleyvillemag-
azine. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/WrigleyMagazine and http://twitter.com/Cub-
sStories. You can also email him at tim@wrigleyvillemagazine.com.
DECEMBER 2010

Page 3
Get Lucky’s
Take two slices of ultra-thick French bread, put your favorite hand-
sliced marinated meats, cole slaw & fresh sliced tomato inside, top it
off with a fried egg and/or a dash or two of zesty hot sauce, add in
a hearty side of hand-cut French fries, and you’ve got one of Wrig-
leyville’s most popular lunch combos. Anyone who has even just oc-
casionally dined in Wrigleyville would know that we’re talking about
Lucky’s Sandwich Co. (or simply Lucky’s, as it’s known to the locals).
This quaint, medium-sized establishment can be found just south of Wrig-
ley at 3472 N. Clark St. For the past six years, Lucky’s has been serving up
their simple but delicious sandwich concoction along with enough fries to sat-
isfy the heartiest of appetite (well, most appetites anyway, but more on that in a
minute.) It was Lucky’s co-owner and Pennsylvania native Mike Feczko who, in 2004,
brought the idea with him from the Pittsburgh area to Chicago.
Lucky’s was named after Charles H. “Lucky Charlie” Weeghman, a “lunch counter mogul” in his day, who
used part of his fortune to build Weeghman Park in 1914. He moved the Cubs from their original home,
West Side Park, to Weeghman Park after the Federal League, a league Weeghman himself helped to
found, folded in 1915. In 1921, Weeghman used land that he owned in Lake Zurich to host the first state-
wide Ku Klux Klan rally. Soon after that, Lucky Charlie’s lunch counters began their demise and he started
selling his shares of the Cubs to chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. In 1923, he was forced to sell
his last remaining shares of the Cubs to Wrigley and his lunch counter chain was bankrupt. Weeghman
Park, after a short stint as Cubs Park, would later go on to become Wrigley Field.

Lucky’s Sandwich Co. was opened in a building originally constructed in 1914, the same year as Weegh-
man Park. So it’s no coincidence that Lucky’s is considered by many to be the “friendly confines” of lo-
cal establishments. If you’re looking for a place where you can take the kids,
Lucky’s definitely has the atmosphere you’re looking for. From the warm
greeting that you receive at the door, to their inviting, simple dé-
cor, you’re going to feel right at home every time you come to
Lucky’s. Watch your favorite team on one of several TV’s con-
veniently located around the restaurant or enjoy the beat of
the not-too-overbearing mix of classic rock playing in the
background. Lucky’s is the type of place where you can
meet a friend for a quick bite before a ball game, en-
joy the company of family or friends anytime, and a
place where you can get one of the best sandwiches
around, all without ever having to raise your voice.

It’s a concept of simplicity and quality - not quantity

DECEMBER 2010

of customers, along with a friendly staff, and fam-

ily atmosphere that have all contributed to the suc-
cess of Lucky’s. “We do five things amazingly well
- not thirty things okay,” says co-owner Joe DeRo-
sa. Sandwiches, chicken wings, fries, and a small
selection of appetizers are about all you’ll find on the

Page 4
 menu. But they you’ll probably never even
notice. Among the favorites at Lucky’s,
the Fredo (ham, salami, capicola, w/
swiss) and the Two Bagger (corned beef
& pastrami) combo sandwiches are the
two most popular. For those with more
simple tastes, roast beef, turkey, and fried
fish are among the dozen or so sandwich-
es available. Regardless of which over-
stuffed sandwich your taste buds long for, I
highly recommend adding a fried egg. It’s a
taste unlike anything else and will leave you
wanting more. All of course, are topped with
Lucky’s signature toppings of hand cut fries, vin-
egar-based cole slaw and sliced, fresh tomatoes.

If you’re feeling “lucky”, and are extremely hungry, take

a shot at Lucky’s Sandwich Challenge. This idea came
about thanks to a customer who stumbled into Lucky’s one
morning with a slight case of the brown bottle flu caught
the night before. One sandwich led to another, and eventually
a third. DeRosa was so impressed he put the customer’s picture on the wall. Several curious
patrons, after being told what the photo was all about said “I can do that,” and the challenge
was born. While it was immediately popular, little did Lucky’s proprietors know how big
it was about to become.

Just over two years ago, Lucky’s was featured on The Travel Channel’s Man vs.
Food. Thanks to host Adam Richmond, Lucky’s Sandwich Challenge has become
an event. According to DeRosa it has practically turned into a daily occurrence.
“We had maybe 12-13 pictures on the wall and not that many attempts,” explains
DeRosa. “But since Man vs. Food was aired we’ve had between 1,500 and 1,600
people try, and just 73 have succeeded.” If you’ve ever eaten just one Lucky’s
sandwich, you know this is no small feat. The challenge consists of three over-
stuffed sandwiches with all the toppings. Each contestant is allowed 1 hour to finish
everything (even the droppings in your basket). If you complete the challenge suc-
cessfully, Lucky’s will spring for the 3rd sandwich, your photo is permanently added with
the others on the wall, and you’re awarded a Lucky’s t-shirt. If that wasn’t enough they de-
cided to take it a step further: Consume the nearly five pounds of food in 30 minutes or less and
DECEMBER 2010

all three sandwiches are on the house. The most important rules to remember for this chal-
lenge are 1) No leaving the room or taking a bathroom break and 2) Once you eat your lunch
you cannot lose your lunch! But that’s a small price to pay for eternal food glory, right?

Page 5
If you’re not up to the three sand-
wich/thirty minute challenge, a
meal at Lucky’s is still very afford-
able. Every sandwich, regard-
less of your specific taste, is only
$7.00. Add extra toppings like a
fried egg, bacon, double cheese,
hot peppers or onion for a nomi-
nal 50 cents. There is even a kid-
size sandwich for the little ones
or if your appetite isn’t ready to
tackle the more-than-one-pound
of food the regular sandwich in-
cludes. Throw in a soft drink or
even a cold beer and you can still
leave full for around $10.00 per
person.
Ever been strolling down Clark
Street in the early afternoon and
been struck by hunger pains?
If so, you know it can be a little
frustrating. Next time, head over
to Lucky’s. They are one of the
few establishments in the area
that actually serve lunch during lunchtime hours throughout baseball’s
offseason. With the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas days,
Lucky’s is there when you need your sandwich “fix”. Their hours are
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. Sunday thru Friday and 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
on Saturdays.
For those of you who can’t seem to get enough of Lucky’s, fear not.
A second location is in the works. According to DeRosa, “Once we
receive all the necessary licensing from the City of Chicago, we’ll be
ready to go.” The new Lucky’s will located at Maxwell & Halsted, near
the University of Illinois- Chicago campus, and they hope to be up and
running in late January or early February.
Let’s just hope that Lucky’s is never asked to allow a billy goat. Or that
the ghost of “Lucky Charlie” never shows up. “Lucky Charlie” might not
have been so lucky, but with Lucky’s Sandwich Co. right in the heart of
Wrigleyville, the rest of us are. – Karl Kroening
Karl Kroening is a lifetime Cubs fan and occasional contributor
to Wrigleyville Magazine. You can send your feedback to him at
karl@wrigleyvillemagazine.com
DECEMBER 2010
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 Historical Wrigleyville Firehouse #78
Some two decades before Wrigley Field was com-
pleted, after the corner of Clark and Addison was
cleared of several seminary buildings, a much
more diminutive structure was erected
nearby. In 1894, on the northeast corner
of Waveland and Seminary Avenues,
architect Charles W. Kallal com-
pleted his project: two-story, Fire-
house 78. The firehouse is dis-
tinct from a fire station in that
firefighters actually live in the
building. No-frills bunkrooms
offering no privacy are found
on the second story together
with locker rooms on the op-
posite side. Cooking facili-
ties, offices, and equipment
are housed in the “hub” of
the building on the appara-
tus floor below.
Other structures completed in
1894 included the Old Chica-
go Stock Exchange at Columbus
and Monroe, The Pope Building at
633 S. Plymouth Court, and Lambert
Tree Studios at 601 N. State Street.

The maroon awnings that accented the

three second-floor windows on both the
south and west sides of the building have
been taken down. Even though the firehouse
has been dwarfed by many of the structures sur-
rounding it, including the recent addition of apartment
houses featuring rooftop seating for ballgames, it con-
tinues to be bathed in sunlight from both directions. The
front of the building features a fourteen-foot wide over-
DECEMBER 2010

head door painted, naturally, fire engine red. A plaque

with a red light below it is affixed to the right of the front
door which designates the building as an official City of
Chicago firehouse. A green light appears on the left side
of the door. The lights designate the port and starboard

Page 8
sides. Today, a technology-laden, state-of-the-art fire engine makes
its way out of the brick structure when an alarm sounds. While parked
in the station, the engine’s computer must be plugged in to keep it
charged, lest it fail in the midst of an emergency. In years past, a much
simpler time, horses led a pack of firefighters to their appointed site.

On eighty-one days of the year Chicago Cubs fans occupy the build-
ing across the street from the firehouse. The ballpark’s public address
system fills the air with critical line-up information, pitching changes,
advertising, as well as the most popular and timely crowd-pleasing
music. In the 1960s and 1970s fans might have thought they were
attending a Greek wedding as music from a number of ethnic back-
grounds filled the park. An appointed professional reverently sings the
National Anthem, a tradition that began in the early days of this north
side Chicago ballpark. A celebrity belts out “Take Me Out to the Ball-
game” before the bottom of the seventh inning. Crowds in excess of
40,000 cheer their beloved team and boo the opponent in the hope
that the Cubs can somehow defy the odds and win a World Series
championship, something that has not happened for 102 years.

In contrast, Firehouse 78, formerly called hose company 4, is open

twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. A glance at its website yields
the following information for firehouse activity in 1996: Firefighters re-
sponded to 2077 fires and 851 non-fire emergencies while logging
more than 680 hours on these runs.

Most of the buildings that line the perimeter of Wrigley Field, whether
on West Waveland Avenue or North Sheffield Avenue feature rooftop
seating for baseball fans. The three-story apartment building immedi-
ately to the east of Firehouse 78 has several rows of stands that afford
an adequate view from over the left-field wall. No seats rest atop the
firehouse; the only egress to the roof is by way of a very narrow ladder
that runs along the interior wall of a tower where fire hoses are hung to
dry. The tower itself resembles a chimney and, like a circular clothes
line, allows as many as four hoses to dry at a time.

One of the most identifiable means of transportation in the firehouse

is the fire pole. At Firehouse 78 there are two brass fire poles: one is
situated in the locker room and the other in the bunkroom. The nar-
row “pole hole” allows just enough space for firefighters to lurch them-
selves from the hardwood floor of the bunk room to the first floor ap-
paratus room. The hole, covered when not in use by a thin sheet of
DECEMBER 2010

plywood, is octagonal rather than circular. The idea for the fire pole

Page 9
goes back to the era of the horse-drawn firefighting days as every ef-
fort was made to decrease the time it took to respond to a fire.

Most of us have no difficulty naming favorite Chicago Cubs players who

have traversed the outfield over the years: Billy Williams, Rick Mon-
day, Andy Pafko, Jose Cardenal, Andre Dawson, Keith Moreland and
Hank Sauer is just the beginning of a litany of names. But
who could immediately identify anyone who ever served
in this understated brick building? Who would recognize
names such as Mel Roloff, John Burek, Frank Cham-
bers, Joe Templeton, or Pete Castony? How many
could identify the name Tom Prenderdast?

Captain Tom Prenderdast died after suffering a heart

attack while fighting a fire. A street at the corner of
Seminary and Waveland is named in his memory,
an honor from the city of Chicago on behalf of all
those from Firehouse 78 who have fought fires for
the past 116 years.
Waveland Avenue had been open to all traffic until
a few years ago. Wrigley Field was expanded and
the addition of bleacher seats in left field caused a
narrowing of the passageway for cars and trucks.
Today, fittingly, only emergency vehicles are per-
mitted to drive on Waveland Avenue between Semi-
nary and Sheffield.

Over the years, I have tuned in to hundreds of Chi-

cago Cubs game, on television, radio and, today, even
on the internet. I have listened to Vince Lloyd, Lou Bo-
udreau, Steve Stone, Milo Hamilton, Ron Santo, Chip
Caray, Jack Brickhouse, and Harry Caray, to name a few.
Suddenly, I might hear the distinct sound of a siren in the
background. That sound emanated from engine 78 and its
firehouse located on the corner of Waveland and Seminary
Avenues. That sentinel will always stand watch to ensure that
Wrigleyville is safe.

The next time I attend a game I am going to walk over to the left-
field bleachers and look out on Firehouse 78. That experience will
remind me of the rich history of the building along with the heroism of
those who have served there.
DECEMBER 2010

Dr. Thomas G. Lisack is the historical content contributor to

Wrigleyville Magazine. You can contact him at tlisack@yahoo.com.

Page 10
K’s for Kids
On May 6, 1998, Tom Bu-
jnowski took the day off from
his job as a suburban school
teacher to attend a Cubs game
at Wrigley Field. His father
had just passed away following
a 15 month bout with cancer
and Tom wanted to go to the
place where he and his dad had
shared so many great memo-
ries together. It was his way of
both grieving and of honoring
his father. He also chose this
particular day to debut a new
idea which he had been con-
templating for a while. Tom
had designed a set of unique
placards with the letter “K”
on them for himself and oth-
er Cubs fans to hold up in the
bleachers every time a Cubs
pitcher recorded a strikeout
and he decided that this would
be a great day to try them out.
As the game moved along, Tom
would eventually realize that
there was a very good possibil-
ity that he may not have made
enough placards. Beginning to
get a little nervous about this, he
asked those seated around him
whether anyone had any red or
blue body paint. Within thirty sec-
onds, he had vials of both colors.
As the pitcher recorded his 17th
strikeout of the game, Tom was
forced to paint a “K” onto the
chest of a nearby volunteer. He
would have to repeat this with
three more willing participants be-
fore Kerry Wood would be done
for the day. That’s right, appropri-
ately enough, the first time that
Tom Bujnowski brought his “K”
placards to a Cubs game was
the same day that Kerry “Kid K”
Wood, in just his fifth big league
start, would tie the major league
record with 20 strikeouts in a nine
inning game. That’s how and
when the “K” was born at Wrigley.
Tom never went to Wrigley again
after that without making sure
that he brought along enough K’s
to get him through the game. He
took his son’s teams and teams
that he coached, always re-
cruiting the youngsters he had
brought with him to hold up the
placards whenever a strikeout
was recorded by a Cubs pitcher.
He also took kids who wanted to
go but who, for whatever reason,
were never able to get to a game
at Wrigley Field. The kids were
thrilled each time to be the one
chosen to hold up the next “K”.
Tom believed that every kid who
had the desire to spend a sun-
drenched day at Wrigley should
get the opportunity to do so. He
began to put together an organi-
zation to make this happen. Sad-
ly, in 2007, Tom Bujnowski would
pass away before he would fully
get to see his dream of “K’s for
Kids” come to fruition.
As both a tribute to Tom and as
a way to honor his memory,
Tom’s friends and fam-
ily immediately de-
cided to con-
tinue with
the work
that
DECEMBER 2010
Page 11
Tom’s passing had left unfinished. Brad Hofvander, a fan touched by
the K’s for Kids dream, whom Tom had met one day in the bleachers
during a game, along with Tom’s own nephew, Matt Corning, him-
self inspired by his uncle’s efforts and determination, together
picked up the reins of the organization, and spearheaded the
efforts to carry on Tom’s legacy. Today, Brad is the president
and Matt the vice-president of K’s for Kids, Inc., the organi-
zation formed out of Tom’s dream to help underprivileged
kids experience the phenomena that is Chicago Cubs base-
ball. In addition to attending what is, for most, their first Cubs
game at Wrigley, the kids who participate also receive a K’s
for Kids t-shirt and $10 in Cubs Cash ($15 in 2011!) to spend
any way they like within the friendly confines of the ballpark.

The K’s for Kids visits to Wrigley Field are supported by an annual
fundraiser as well as through generous donations from event spon-
sors and private personal donations. Thanks to the hard work of the
staff over the past two years, K’s for Kids was finally able to obtain sta-
tus as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in March of 2010. In most
cases, this change means that private contribution to K’s for Kids
are tax deductible. (Note: Please consult with your tax advisor
as to the deductibility of your potential donation.)

In 2008, shortly after Tom Bujnowski’s death, K’s for Kids

was able to take approximately 50 kids from Maryville Acad-
emy to spend the day at Wrigley Field enjoying a great day
of baseball. This first “outing” was made possible by the gen-
erous donations of friends, family, and other well-wishers
who hoped to see Tom’s dream stay alive. The K’s for Kids
staff soon realized that they would need to do more if they
were to keep their organization, and thus Tom’s dream, going.
On March 16th the following year, the first K’s for Kids fundrais-
ing event was held at The Ram Restaurant and Brewery in Wheel-
ing, IL and was attended by more than 100 people. There were raf-
fle prizes to give away, a silent auction featuring many autographed
Cubs and Blackhawks memorabilia items, and, of course, there was
plenty of food. K’s for Kids raised in excess of $2,500 at this first
fundraiser in 2009, which enabled them to take approximately
50 kids from an organization called Kaleidoscope 4 Kids to a
game later that year.

On March 15, 2010, K’s for Kids held their second annual
fundraiser at The Ram in Wheeling. This year, with aware-
ness of their efforts growing more rapidly and despite a
DECEMBER 2010

fledgling economy, the event drew a crowd of more than 120

people and raised in excess of $3,000. More than 40 kids
from Off the Street Club on Chicago’s West Side were treated
to a game at Wrigley. “Only one or two of these kids had ever
been to a game before in their lives,” says Corning. They were so
grateful, and the K’s for Kids staff grew so close to these kids that

Page 12
day, that they have been invited back by the kids to have Thanksgiving
dinner with them. Corning also says that the kids wear their K’s for Kids
t-shirts and play baseball every day, even when it’s cold outside. “We
touched a lot of lives and that’s what it’s all about”, he said.

K’s for Kids is only getting started with their project. They are currently
busy planning their next fundraiser which will again take place at The
Ram in Wheeling. This year’s event will happen on March 13, 2011. For
more information or to register, click here. You can also add your name
to the list of their supporters on their main
Facebook page, which you can find
here. If you’re on Twitter, you can
follow them by accessing their
page right here. If you’d like
to make a donation to K’s
for Kids, you can do that
as well, using Paypal,
your bank account,
or any major credit
card, right here. Matt
Corning also tells
me that they hope,
in the near future,
to be able to host
their silent auction
online prior to their
fundraisers so that
fans from around the
country and, in fact,
around the world, can
bid on memorabilia items
that they have available.

I’m not sure exactly what Tom

Bujnowski would say if he saw K’s
for Kids as it is today but I would be
willing to bet that, wherever he is, he’s smil-
ing down on his friends and family who picked up his cause, carried it
forward, and continue to make it bigger and better every day. Just like
he never expected to see a 20 strikeout day on that fateful day in May
of 1998, I’m sure he never expected K’s for Kids to have grown into the
wonderful, charitable organization that it is today.
DECEMBER 2010

Tim O’Riley is the editor-in-chief of Wrigleyville Magazine. You

can contact him at tim@wrigleyvillemagazine.com.

Page 13
Wrigleyville Real EstateUpdate
Baseball season is long over for the Chicago MLS. Of these, only four are detached single-fami-
the Cubs, but their hometown ly homes. The rest are condos, duplexes or other attached prop-
neighborhood is still a home erties. For the most part, attached properties in Wrigleyville offer
one- or two-bedroom floor plans. However, there are 16 three-bed-
run for many Chicagoans look- room units on the market right now. Average list price for attached
ing for that perfect property to properties with two or fewer bedrooms is $348,820. Larger condos
purchase in the city. This com- are available for between $275K and $800K,
munity has a variety of condos which will get you a beautiful penthouse
for sale that range from vin- duplex. Average market time for at-
tage greystones to new con- tached properties in Wrigleyville is
struction flats. Most buildings around 200 days.
in the area are three- or four- If a detached house is what
story walk-ups—you won’t see you’re looking for, the av-
residential high-rises in this erage price hovers around
neck of the woods! Finding a $1.670 million in the Wrig-
parking spot in Wrigleyville leyville neighborhood.
can also be tricky, but don’t You can get a three-bed-
worry—many properties have room abode for about $1
million, but most single-
designated garage or street family dwellings listed in
spaces. Parking is often extra, this area have five or more
in addition to the price of the bedrooms with an average
unit, so make sure to read the price of $1,866,000.
fine print.
There are a number of deals cur-
Here is a recent account of what’s rently available in Wrigleyville, in-
happening in the Wrigleyville cluding a gorgeous 4-bedroom duplex
housing market… condo at 928 W. Roscoe that is listed for
Only two attached residen- $399,900. The home offers 2600 square feet of liv-
tial properties closed during the ing space on two levels and has tandem garage parking included in
month of October in Wrigleyville. the price. The property features brand new hardwood floors in the
The units both had three bed- living room, spacious granite and stainless steel kitchen, separate
rooms with an average sales price dining room, family room, bonus storage above the garage and a
of $507,500. The average market great private outdoor deck. Other perks of this unit are ample closets
time for the properties was 158 (a walk-in in the master bedroom), laundry, 3 full bathrooms, wood-
days, after which the homes sold burning fireplace and a fantastic location within walking distance of
for 94% of the list price. the ballpark, restaurants, bars, shops and public transportation. As-
sessments for this Wrigleyville property are $191.40 per month and
DECEMBER 2010

As of November 1st, there were taxes are $7,337.13.

61 active listings in Wrigleyville,
according to reports pulled from All sales statistics were pulled from the MLS of Northern Illinois on 11/1/10
– Service provided to Wrigleyville Magazine by Dream Town Realty

Page 14
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A Mid Autumns Night Dream
If thou shall find thyself with a maiden or lover, one should escort thy
gracious couple to the IO Chicago Theater to look upon a dazzling dis-
play of wit and humor. And of course I mean the Improvised Shake-
speare comedy team.

Located at 3541 N. Clark St the IO Chicago Theater is world

famous for its improvisational actors and has included
such actors such as Mike Meyers, Tina Fey and Chris
Farley. Several alumni of the IO have gone on to Sat-
urday Night Live, The Office and many more shows
that are currently airing.

But back to the Shakespeare. The Improvised

Shakespeare show is one that is truly unique.
Audience participation is limited to only the
naming of the play. One of the actors asks the
audience for the title. On this night someone
shouted “Little Richard III.” It got a chuckle
from the actors and that was the name.

While watching the show I couldn’t help but

be impressed at not only the hilarity of it,
but also the authenticity of a typical Shake-
speare performance. I had read a few of
Shakespeare’s plays during high school and
college, so I had a good grasp of the history.
The cast was all male; normal during Shake-
speare’s time, and each of the actors played
multiple roles, another common trait of his day.
The play was filled with the use of language of
his time along with some more modern words and
phrases to add to the humor of Little Richard III. There
was murder, love, infidelity, deception and surprise. All
of it done with an amazing talent of comedic actors whose
chemistry was very evident throughout.

Occasionally the actors themselves would silently laugh or crack a

smile. I would imagine it would be difficult to remain in character, all
the while not knowing what your fellow actor is going to say next.
The ticket price is $14 a reasonable price considering the show you’ll
be seeing is one of a kind. Drinks are just as reasonable, even a little
cheap.
DECEMBER 2010

The Improvised Shakespeare show has two more upcoming shows on

Nov. 19th and Nov. 26th. Each of those days has two shows one at 8
p.m. and another at 10:30 p.m.

Page 16
I would highly recommend getting Pro Football Tomorrow ($5) features an array of impersonators and
a group of friends together or tak- Monday morning quarterback comics as a NFL satire. Upcoming per-
ing your significant other to see formances for this show are on Nov. 20 and 27 at midnight in the Del
this show. It is a truly unique expe- Close Theater.
rience with laughs every minute.
It’s a show that cannot be dupli- If you want to participate in a show, Improv Jams ($3) is for you. Vet-
cated and that itself is worth the erans of the IO play games with willing audience members to create
price. Along with the laughs. that onstage chemistry. Performances for this are on Nov. 20 and 27
in the Cabarnet Theater.
The IO started in 1981 and has
since expanded to Los Angeles. There are dozens of shows every week, three or four a night and each
Since it’s beginning over 5,000 of them are completely unique. The IO Chicago is a great place to take
people have trained at the IO in a date or a group of friends to sit and listen to the type of comedy that
search of a dream. One of the sets Chicago apart from the rest.
most influential individuals, who
made the IO world famous, was It’s truly a great venue for entertainment and the possibility of witness-
Del Close. Close was a director ing the next Tina Fey or Mike Meyers. There is no place in the city with
and an improvisational genius. so much untapped star potential, and the ability to witness it, than IO
The idea was to create a mind- Chicago.
set in which actors would respect
each other as artists, geniuses Ricardo Torres is the entertain-
and poets, and from that attitude ment columnist for Wrigle-
they will become those things. yville Magazine. You can
And from that--- tada, modern im-
prov was born.
contact him at rtorres02@
mail.roosevelt.edu
There are dozens of shows to pick
from and all are free for IO stu-
dents. The Sketch Comedy Cage
Match ($5) is an ongoing show
on Nov. 19 and 26 at midnight
in the Del Close Theater
and will feature three
comedy groups in a
tournament style
competition.
At the end of
the show one
group moves
on and at the
end of the
whole tourna-
ment, will be a
single winner,
DECEMBER 2010

a champion of
Chicago sketch
comedy.

Page 17
www.WrigleyvilleMagazine.com