North Shore Views

Grammy Winner Howard Levy To Perform in Winnetka

Winnetka may be a small village but sometimes we get treated to some big talent.

That’s the case this coming Sunday, February 24th when The Howard Levy Quartet will perform at Winnetka Congregational Church’s third annual Jazz Vespers.

You may not have heard of Howard Levy, but he is probably the world’s foremost harmonica jazz virtuoso and has won two Grammy Awards for his artistry. Said Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune, “Certainly no one playing jazz harmonica these days approaches the technical wizardry, stylistic breadth and improvisational creativity of Levy.” Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Howard Levy, music, Things to do, Winnetka Congregational Church

Winnetka Congregational Church Rummage Sale

I love the whole concept of rummage sales. Far from being an anachronism as some might think, they serve several important purposes, all at once:

• They make low cost items available to those who need them.
• They facilitate the re-use and recycling  of usable goods, thus sparing our landfills from more trash.
• They provide a convenient (and tax-deductible) way to get rid of the stuff you no longer need.
• And (in many cases) the proceeds provide funding for local charities and social service agencies.

This week Winnetka Congregational Church will hold its 80th consecutive spring rummage sale. It’s one of the biggest one-day rummage sales in the area (if not the world!), with 31 “departments” including furniture, electronics, toys, hardware, clothing, books, china, crystal and more. It  involves hundreds of volunteers, many of whom have been working at the sale for decades.  And it raises hundreds of thousands of dollars which are donated (after expenses) to nearly 40 Chicago-area social service agencies.

Here are the details of this year’s sale:

When: Thursday, May 10 from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Where: Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka

Two pieces of advice:

Come early for the best selection or come late for the best deals.

Parking in Winnetka on sale day is a nightmare…take public transportation or get someone to drop you off.

Tags: rummage sales, Winnetka Congregational Church

Imuka Singers: From Tanzania to Winnetka

The North Shore is in for a rare treat this Tuesday night when Winnetka Congregational Church hosts a performance by the Imuka Singers, a 30 voice ensemble all the way from Tanzania.

Imuka means “rise” in the language of the people living on the Northwestern shore of Lake Victoria. The Imuka Singers “rise” from the villages of East Africa to brighten the world with their soaring melodies, rich harmonies, exhilarating rhythmic vitality and diverse cultural creativity.

Their music combines the diverse cultures of East Africa to bring together rare singing techniques, electrifying choreography, hand drumming and elements of traditional dance from the oldest African folk songs and dances. The energetic and uplifting music will appeal to all ages.

The Imuka Singers are on their first tour of the U.S. and added Winnetka to their schedule on the request of Dr. Robert Harris, Director of Music at Winnetka Congregational Church after hearing them perform in Chicago. Here are event details:

When: Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm

Where: In the Sanctuary at Winnetka Congregational Church

Cost: No charge, but a $10 donation is suggested

You can learn more about the Imuka Singers here.

Tags: Imuka Singers, performances, Winnetka Congregational Church