Rock Around Chicago

During a recent event at the Chicago Cultural Center, Jake Austen honored former TV producer and Lake Claremont Press author Jack Mulqueen with an award recognizing his work in bringing rock music to television. Also honored were Milt Trenier, a member of the rock 'n' roll act The Treniers, and Clifton James, one-time drummer for Bo Diddley. Austen showed television clips illustrating each of the three award recipients' / guest panelists' involvement in rock on television: Mulqueens' Kiddie-A-Go-Go, The Treniers' appearance on The Colgate Comedy Hour, and Bo Diddley and his band on The Ed Sullivan Show. Although watching self-conscious kids mimic Pandora's Pony on Kiddie-A-Go-Go while future quarterbacks rock out with reckless abandon to Little Latin Lupe Lu is always entertaining, the Martin and Lewis clip with The Treniers was my favorite television clip of the night.

Have you ever seen the Bug Dance? Near the end of their number as musical guests on The Colgate Comedy Hour, the Trenier twins throw a "bug" to one another, taking turns catching the bug and convulsing with a dancing fever until they can retrieve the bug and throw it on someone else. It's like kids passing around cooties times ten. Now I'm not a fan of Jerry Lewis's paroxysms (I'm much more of a Dean Martin kinda girl), but in this case his moves after catching the bug seem fitting and nearly made me laugh out loud.

You won't catch me doing the Bug Dance at any weddings, but you may find me watching rare television clips at The Museum of Broadcast Communications later this year.

*This photo was taken by Kim Scarborough at the event and posted on Flickr.

Today's Chicago Blues Blog

We'd like to welcome the author of upcoming LCP release Today's Chicago Blues (due April 2006), Karen Hanson, to the blog world. Her Today's Chicago Blues blog jumps right in with reports on blues around town, Chicago blues musicians in the news, and even guitarist Jimmy Johnson's take on the new city smoking ban. Hanson is a heartfelt blues fan and writer, working on new ways to enjoy her passion and keep Chicago's blues tradition and thriving present on everyone's radar screen.

Native Chicagoans Encouraged to Apply

Lake Claremont Press is looking for a part-time college intern to assist with general duties of our publishing office, late January through late May, perhaps longer. Flexible hours. Looking for someone with excellent character; strong work habits; positive attitude; an interest in books, publishing, and Chicago; excellent written/oral communication skills; and standard office computer/Internet abilities.

Resumes are being accepted via e-mail: lcp@lakeclaremont.com.

Forecast: Wind, Cold, and Temperature Soup

News that our "mild and stable" temperatures won't last due to that cursed Canadian air is made better only by Temperature Soup. A few of Chicago's finest luncheries offer soup at a price equivalent to the degrees Fahrenheit of the outdoor temperature. On a day like today, 37 cent soup is a good reason to head out for lunch, but you'll be grabbing a puffy coat and running out the door for a tasty tomato basil when it's negative seven. From what I've heard, only Eppy over at Eppy's Deli (224 E. Ontario) will actually pay you to eat one of his five soups when the temperature drops below zero. Then again, those coins won't cover the cost of the sandwich you are required to buy to partake of his Temperature Soup. RJ Grunts (2056 N. Lincoln Park West) also offers Temperature Soups (a broth or a cream) with the purchase of an entrée. Rumor has it Salad Spinners is now serving a Temperature Soup out of all three of their Loop area establishments too.
Who wants sandwiches? The soup's on me.
Love,
The Mooch