Pencil This In

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on May 2, 2011 6:20PM

Tastings for Charity

The Taste of Columbia is a benefit to support the Columbia Yacht Club's Junior Sailing School through the non-profit Legacy Foundation. Proceeds will help the Sailing School continue to create more outreach programs and scholarships, purchase new equipment, and maintain safety standards of used equipment. Featured chefs joining Columbia Yacht Club executive chef Breanna Beike for this event include Rick Gresh from David Burk'e Primehouse, Socca's Rick Herring, Andrew Brochu of Kith & Kin, City Provisions' Cleetus Friedman, Giuseppe Tentori and Browntrout's Sean Sanders. $50 tickets to this open-to-the-public event are still available online or by calling 312-938-3625. (111 N. Lake Shore Drive, 6:30-10:30 p.m.)

Film

Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich wrote of singer Ron Cooper, "If talent alone were the predictor of artistic success, (Cooper) would have been a star." Instead, Cooper balanced headlining gigs at venues like Green Mill with periods struggling with homelessness and alcoholism, often riding the "L" for hours at a time while waiting for his next gig. Dustin Grove's documentary If I'm Not Home: Ron Cooper - A Jazz Life examines Coopers life through accounts from musicians in the scene who supported him and footage of later performances of Cooper. A preview of the movie screens this evening at Martyr's (3855 N. Lincoln) at 8 p.m., followed by a jazz jam session hosted by Brian O'Hern & Lou Marini. Cover is $10.

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