Storytellers provided some memorable images Tuesday, Jan. 20, at the first anniversary Homewood Stories show at Grady’s Grille.
Greg Weiss’ story included projectile spinach.
Karen O’Donnell, left, prepares
to blow out the candle on
a birthday cake to mark the
show’s first anniversary.
Local storyteller Richard
Aspell holds the cake. (Photo
by Eric Crump/The Chronicle)
Mike Welsh threw a pitch right at the audience. Fortunately, the baseball was invisible, so no one got beaned.
Paul Teodo introduced us to Henry the straw-hat-and-red-kerchief-wearing partially-toothless goat.
Valentine Soposky described her big brother getting a spanking from her mother — when he was 20.
And show founder and host Karen O’Donnell described a public speaking mishap involving spray scrubbing soap mistaken for hairspray.
It was a typical night of funny, poignant stories told by local and Chicago area tellers — with one exception. Several loyal audience members surprised O’Donnell with a cake to celebrate the show’s first birthday.
Deborah Tallgren Okleshen, Richard A. Aspell, Terri Winfree and Kim Daub Olver were in on the cake conspiracy.
O’Donnell also got flowers from Steve Wright and Allen Shechtman to mark the occasion.
“For a moment I was speechless — only a moment,” O’Donnell posted on Facebook after the show.
The next Homewood Stories show will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Grady’s Grille, 18147 Harwood Ave. The shows typically are full, so O’Donnell recommends making reservations by sending her email at [email protected]. There is no charge for admission, but O’Donnell accepts donations to support the series.
More information:
Homewood Stories on Facebook
The Homewood Stories e-newsletter
