Common Cause
While some Chicago students are leisurely wasting their days with less-than-profitable pursuits of skateboards and video games, others are meticulously planning their future and running modest businesses on the side. And this is thanks in part to hometown hip-hop hero Common, whose concert at the House of Blues on Saturday helps benefit his own Common Ground Foundation as well as NFTE Chicago, a nonprofit that helps Chicago youth create individual business plans and start their own financial ventures. "They can range from web design to catering," says NFTE Chicago Executive Director Christine Poorman of the kids' up-start businesses. "A lot of the kids are doing something to do with the music industry. A lot of them are interested in hip-hop, which is the exciting connection of having Common at the show." The doors open at 6pm for the sold-out show, with support from Office, Reese and DJ Ken.

Ash Art
What happens when a "recycling nut" experiences a smoking ban? Evidently she comes up with a way to make art out of something that is not inherently beautiful (or even clean)—ashtrays. Chef and owner of West Town Tavern, Susan Goss, collected hundreds of ashtrays (ninety-five percent of them washed) to eventually be exhibited at a West Town art gallery, The Architrouve. The ashtrays (some ceramic, some glass, some still emblazoned with the Camel label) will be sorted through and then chosen by local artists for "creating." After the exhibition they will be auctioned off for charity—proceeds go to the Erie Neighborhood House. Impressed by talk of a moving dinosaur diorama made from the would-be-trash, Chef Goss admits her own artistic ability "revolves around carrots and stuff like that." So, she has contributed in the only way she knows how; she will cook up "smoky" appetizers for the auction including pork butt biscuits and ash-rind goat cheese.

(2008-01-08)

about Newcitychicago | about Newcity magazine | advertising | privacy policy | FAQ | employment