Publications & Sites 
Judy’s top five for April 26, 2012
Updated: May 28, 2012 8:38AM
Ed. note: Here’s Judy’s pick of coming community activities in the Evanston area, spiced with a little commentary.
Yoo-hoo, Mr. Levy cutie … The 34th annual Jo-Anne Hirshfield Poetry Awards winners will be honored at a reception from 2 p.m. April 29 at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. Come offer congratulations to these talented poets from Evanston and Chicagoland. Admission is free. For more information call (847) 448-8600.
I was hoping that the library would ask me to recite my latest poem dealing with important cultural issues of today at this Poetry awards ceremony. But noooooo. Here it is anyway: “More than I yearn for a corned-beef sandwich that’s more formally known as a Reuben/ I am a passionate fan of the Dancing with the Stars guy – the sexy one who’s Cuban.” Love it, love it.
It’s up to you, Ms. Piven. “Encores: After the Theatre and Other Stories,” directed by Joyce Piven, runs from April 26 through May 20 at the Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston. To buy tickets and get more information, call (847 ) 866-8049 or visit www.piventheatre.org.
The title of this production, “Encores,” is a cruel reminder that Judy has never, ever been asked for an encore of anything she has done on stage. Or, in life, either. A depressing thought; however, I’m sure the talented Ms. Piven’s show will jolt me out of this blue mood. Or make it worse (sigh).
Why I talk to myself. The family film “Hugo” (127 minutes, Rated PG) will be shown at 2 p.m. May 5 and May 6 at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. The film tells the story of an orphaned boy secretly living in the walls of a busy Paris train station who gets caught up in a mystery adventure. Admission is free. For more information call (847) 448-8600.
Oh boy, what fun it would be to reside in a busy train station in Paris. Or an artist’s atelier in Paris. Or up in the rafters in the old Paris Opera House (just me and the Phantom). Or down in the depths of the Paris sewers – wait a minute, Judy, I know you desperately want to live in Paris, but even you must draw the line at the sewers. Well, maybe; but, hey, subconscious, get out of my column, nobody asked you, er, me, er – “Vas-t’en!” which means “Go away!” but you, er, I, probably know that.
Hello, Mr. Spielberg, baby. The Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club meets from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. every Tuesday at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1818 Maple Ave. in Evanston for breakfast and a speaker. Membership is open to service-oriented residents and workers of the area. Guests are welcome to attend the meetings. To learn more, visit www.evlrc.org.
The Rotary Club contributes so much to Evanston. And speaking of Rotary (OK, a somewhat cheesy segue), I just bought a 1930s silver rotary phone that I adore speaking on because it makes me feel like a celebrity. In fact, every time it rings I trill out, “That must be Hollywood calling,” which causes my hero to roll his eyes and moan – so cute. Anyway, join the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club, it’s a terrific organization and … sorry, must run, phone’s ringing and it must be … you know the rest. Ta-ta, dahlings.
Never call Judy multi-talented. Evanston Day Nursery celebrates 100 years of providing child care with a benefit from 7 to 10 p.m. May 12 at the Evanston Art Center, 2601 Sheridan Road. An hors d’ oeuvres supper, entertainment by the South Boulevard Band and a silent auction featuring a trip to Disney World, tickets to a Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance and much more will be featured. The cost is $50 per person. To purchase tickets, mail a request for tickets and a check to Evanston Day Nursery, 1835 Grant St., Evanston IL 60201; or call (847) 864-9700.
I was going to donate my one talent, milking a cow, to this silent auction until I realized no one would bid on it. Actually, I came to this “Aha” moment when I told my hero, and he said, “Are you crazy?”
