It looks like the kids will play after all.
The Inner City Little League will get under way on June 19, thanks to the collaborative effort of the Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Housing Authority, Cubs and White Sox.
As we first reported in April, the death of Police Cmdr. Michael Tolliver–who ran the league–put the continuation of the league and other CHA children’s programs in jeopardy. On Thursday, Tolliver will be honored at Comiskey Park as part of the Little League’s opening ceremony, which coincides with the Cubs-Sox weekend series on the South Side.
Sox manager Jerry Manuel and Cubs manager Don Baylor, along with several of their players, will be on hand to practice with some 350 CHA kids on Thursday.
“We’re very excited the program was able to take flight,” Park District spokesman Angelynne Amores told Inc. “And we think the kids will be excited (about Thursday’s ceremony).”
Does too
For anyone who thinks size doesn’t matter, wanna bet? A huge sample chunk of the giant Millennium Park sculpture by Anish Kapoor that was to be displayed in the Cultural Center couldn’t fit through the door (it was 2 inches too big). So for one day only on Friday, you can see the shiny 1,200-pound steel thingamabob outdoors at the center’s Randolph Street entrance. Beginning Saturday through Aug. 13, see various smaller models of the sculpture and of Frank Gehry’s music pavilion in the center’s second floor exhibit space.
Lights, camera, action
Brace yourselves: Word out of Hollywood has Imagine Entertainment developing a movie project for potty-mouthed rapper Eminem. It’s not much of a stretch. It’s about a white rapper growing up in Detroit and his trials and tribulations making it to the top. Dr. Dre will help Eminem (his real name is Marshall Mathers, get it?) with the soundtrack.
This just in
John Callaway’s retirement from WTTW-TV Ch. 11 sure didn’t last long. Beginning July 10, he’ll be back at the station, hosting a weekly series of local half-hour documentaries titled “Chicago Stories.” Callaway also has signed on for occasional one-on-one interviews with notable Chicagoans. Attention John: We’re already booked through the end of the year.
This also just in
If you happen to be flying over Harry Caray’s River North restaurant and can’t find the place, they’ve made it easier. A giant reproduction of the Harry Caray patch the Cubs wear on their uniforms has been propped on the roof so people in neighboring hotels can easily spot the eatery.
Say what? I
Inc. hears those on hand for the Hollywood premiere of “Gone in 60 Seconds,” the car-theft movie starring Nicholas Cage and Angelina Jolie, were taken aback by the inebriated state of Jolie’s hubby, Billy Bob Thornton.
Say what? II
While most of us get a trap and a jar of peanut butter, it took the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C., a total of seven people to cage a raccoon atop the U.S. Capitol dome. (It wasn’t, by the way, a rare flying raccoon: It got there by crawling up scaffolding being used for repairs).
Losers!
Travel & Leisure Mag’s reader survey of World’s Best Service is out and so is Chicago. Not a single Chicago hotel made the worldwide list. In fact, only three American spots were listed and two of them, the Ritz-Carlton on Maui and the Four Seasons Resort in Hualalai were Hawaiian. The third is The Greenbrier, in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. No Chicago place made the top 10 in the “Continental United States” list either.
The quote
“People knew my butt before they knew my name.” That’s actress Jennifer Lopez commenting on what remains her most recognizable asset (no pun intended).
… but who’s counting?
Thursday birthdays: Former First Lady Barbara Bush, 75; actor James Darren, 64; actress Julianna Margulies, 34; artist LeRoy Neiman, 73; comedian Joan Rivers, 63; singer Boz Scaggs, 56; singer Nancy Sinatra, 60; comedian Jerry Stiller, 71; actor Keenen Ivory Wayans, 42. Special shout-outs to Dorothy A. Maresh, who turns 79, and to Angie and Carl DiPrima, celebrating their 70th anniversary.
And a very special shout-out to award-winning Trapeze sports editor Ted Nelson, who graduates Thursday from Oak Park-River Forest High School.
Dear Inc.sters . . .
We received this e-mail from little Lauren Sowa after we wrote about “Desperation Blvd.,” Judy Tenuta’s new film about a child star who has a hard time finding work as an adult: “I made the movie with Judy Tenuta. I play her as the child star. I have great pictures on the set if you want to see them. I live in Wood Dale. My friends are going to see me in the movie. Can you put me in Inc. too?” Guess what, Lauren, you’re in Inc.
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Send comments and tips to Warren & Armour at chicagotribune/go/inc or e-mail inc@tribune.com and catch the duo’s act on WGN-TV Ch. 9’s “Morning News” every Thursday.
