Pols catch Hawks fever

Heart of the 'hood

06/16/2010 10:00 PM

FELICIA DECHTER

No Comments - Add Your Comment


Rep. Mike Quigley (D-5th) drinks in the Blackhawks victory with the Stanley Cup.

Blackhawks fever is everywhere, and our local pols are getting in on the act. One lucky guy is lifelong Hawks fan Rep. Mike Quigley (D-5th), who has been “giddy” since he hoisted the coveted Stanley Cup into the air while celebrating with the team in the locker room after its championship game in Philadelphia.

“Witnessing the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup was incredible,” said Quigley, the co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Hockey Caucus and a regular hockey player. “Getting to hoist the Cup was unexpected and a dream come true. Forty-nine years of frustration were gone, just like that.”

Quigley, who recently played a charity game at the United Center against Blackhawks alumni, as well as a lawmakers versus lobbyists match-up in Washington, even delivered improvised remarks on the House floor about Chicago’s champions, at one point bursting into “My Kind of Town” lyrics. And the congressman must have psychic abilities too, because last fall, Quigley gave the Top 10 Reasons to love Chicago and closed by saying, “I look forward to coming back next summer with Chicago’s Stanley Cup.”

Then there’s Ald. Tom Tunney (44th), who was munching on breakfast at his Ann Sather restaurant in Lake View when he was pleasantly surprised by a couple of limos pulling up.

“I knew it was somebody,” Tunney said. He was thrilled when he found out it was Blackhawks captain and Stanley Cup MVP Jonathan Toews, who showed up with family and others.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Tunney, who even scored a Toews’ autograph for an employee’s son. “And there was the ripple effect throughout the weekend. Business was hopping.”

And you’d actually be seeing two Blackhawks-related pictures this week in Skyline if Tunney had taken a picture with Toews at the restaurant. But alas, vanity stepped in and stopped the usually well-coiffed alderman from doing so.

“I looked like a wreck,” Tunney laughed.

SOIREE DE MUSCALE My favorite pianist, Lake View resident Hubert Clay, will tickle the ivories during an evening reminiscent of the Grand Salons of the 1890s at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Epworth United Methodist Church, 5253 N. Kenmore.

Joining Clay will be flutist Daniel Duell; tenors Rodney Holt, Lon Ellenberger; sopranos Pamela Sue Fox and Mary Ringstad; organist Jerry Jelsema; and Sandi Roberson on French horn. Parking is free, but there’s a $10 suggested admission donation, which supports the maintenance and restoration of the church’s historic organ.

SHIRLEY YOU MUST GO to hear the Old Town Triangle Association’s Shirley Baugher speaking at the free, Get Up and Go series, 12:15 p.m., June 22, at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph.

Baugher, who knows Old Town better than anyone I know, is one of several featured neighborhood reps who’ll share info about the history, culture and attractions in their communities. And mark your calendars now because on Aug. 3, featured will be none other than the North Dearborn Association’s Carol Truesdell, knower of all things Gold Coast.

FUNNY GUY Lincoln Parker Brendan McGowan performs stand-up comedy at 9:30 p.m., Saturday, at the Red Bar Comedy Club, 157 W. Ontario St., as part of the TBS LOL Lounge.

“Since I was a kid, I told people the only thing I wanted to be was a comic,” said

McGowan said he’ll tell stories about his family, and “crazy things” that have happened in life.

“It’s going to be a fun night,” said McGowan, who was ranked the ninth best comedian in Chicago by comedy.com.



No Comments - Add Your Comment