Spare A Few Dollars For StreetWise

Like its vendors, StreetWise has made it through some tough times - the organization was in imminent danger of going out of business back in 2009, but quickly received more than enough donations to keep it afloat. In a continued effort to keep the non-for-profit healthily funded, a few local bands and House Call Entertainment are teaming up to host a benefit show.

The show will take place this Friday at the Beat Kitchen. Headlining will be eager folk-pop-rockers The Future Laureates, who just returned from an East Coast tour. Preceding them will be Detroit rockers The Hand Grenades, as well as local folk pop acts Bassel and the Supernaturals and Tree. Fifty percent of the night’s proceeds will go straight to the non-for-profit.

For those of you who’ve been stuck under a rock, StreetWise is a locally-focused magazine that was founded in 1992. Aside from the publishing aspect of the business, it provides job training, social services and a source of income for the homeless. The vendors you see on the street pay 90 cents for each magazine, sell it for $2, and keep the profit.

Maybe you do business with your neighborhood vendor, and maybe you just pass by and avoid eye contact. We’re not judging, jerk. Either way, Friday’s show is a good opportunity to take in some tunes while contributing to a worthy cause. And if you can’t make it out to support the organization this time around, keep in mind that the StreetWise Gala is also just around the corner.

The StreetWise benefit show is Friday, August 19 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont, 9 p.m., $8, 21+