Air Check Dear Member, The Guide The Member Magazine for Whether March, as the old saying goes, “comes in like a lion and out like a lamb” or vice versa, one WTTW and WFMT thing is certain: in Chicago, its arrival means that spring is just around the corner. While we wait, Renée Crown Public Media Center WTTW and WFMT have got you covered. This month, Geoffrey Baer takes you on a journey to the 5400 North Saint Louis Avenue British Isles to highlight the work of a pioneer of contextual urban design, Chicago, Illinois 60625 Robert Adams, who has made “a place at the table” for architecture that extends the vocabulary of classical and traditional buildings in today’s Main Switchboard (773) 583-5000 built environment. Tune in on the evening of Thursday, March 23 and Member and Viewer Services visit the companion website on wttw.com. (773) 509-1111 x 6 On WTTW11, join us for the dramatic season finales of Mercy Street WFMT Radio Networks (773) 279-2000 and Victoria, followed by a special on-air after-party with the cast as Chicago Production Center they look back at memorable moments from the series. A new special (773) 583-5000 celebrates Ken Burns: America’s Storyteller; travel expert Rick Steves pays a visit to WTTW to explore the history and traditions of European Websites wttw.com Easter; we bring back a beloved and newly remastered music special, Roy wfmt.com Orbison: A Black and White Night, and revisit two popular installments of Soundstage featuring Tom Jones and Blondie. From the creator of Last President & CEO Daniel J. Schmidt Tango in Halifax comes a new Masterpiece drama about the literary Brontë sisters, To Walk Invisible, COO & CFO one of several specials to mark Women’s History Month, including an American Masters profile of Reese Marcusson country legend Patsy Cline. And we take a nostalgic trip back in time with a new documentary tracing the history of Wisconsin’s “old-fashioned” supper clubs. The new WTTW PBS Kids 24/7 channel is Guide Staff now a big hit with our youngest viewers on TV and online and, in March, look for a fun quiz, “Which Publisher Victoria Character Are You?”; and an interview with Cécile Fromont, a University of Chicago art history Anne Gleason Art Director professor who appears in the Henry Louis Gates, Jr. series Africa’s Great Civilizations on a new section of our website called Playlist (wttw.com/playlist). WTTW Contributors On WFMT, the Saturday Metropolitan Opera broadcasts continue; this month’s Met highlights are Julia Maish Dan Soles Rossini’s dramatic William Tell and Matthew Polenzani starring in Mozart’s Idomeneo with James Levine WFMT Contributor conducting. We’ll present some special live Impromptus from Levin Studio: Carl Grapentine hosting Andrea Lamoreaux the Valparaiso Chorale, members of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and winners of the Distribution Manager Marilyn Horne Song Competition. And from Ganz Hall at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, we Pat Sheppard have a recital by pianist Vassily Primakov, paying tribute to his former teacher, Vera Gornostaeva. On Advertising Sales wfmt.com, we’ll celebrate Women’s History Month with a story on 10 Composers Changing Contemporary WTTW: Douglas Carleton Classical Music (Who Also Happen to Be Women), and, while Rick Steves is in town, WFMT will get the (773) 279-2128 lowdown on his favorite European music venues and festivals. Be sure to check wfmt.com daily for WFMT: Paul Ansell classical music news and features as spring approaches. (773) 279-2101 Sincerely, The Guide: The Member Magazine for WTTW and WFMT (ISSN 2329-1338) March 2017 Volume 32, Number 230 Dan Schmidt President & CEO The Guide: The Member Magazine for WTTW and WFMT is published monthly (for contributors of $40 or more annually) by Window To The World Communications, Inc., 5400 North Saint Louis Ave., Chicago, IL Inside the Guide 60625-4698. Periodical postage paid at Chicago, IL and additional mailing 3 Member Connections 14 Multi-Channel Primetime Grid offices. 4 Member Perks 17 Do it Yourself Saturdays POSTMASTER: Send address 5 TV Listings 20 At-a-Glance changes to The Guide: The Member Magazine for WTTW and WFMT, 5400 6 WTTW Digital Channel Highlights 21 Radio Listings North Saint Louis Ave., Chicago, IL 8 WTTW Kid Grid 31 Sponsors 60625-4698. Copyright 2014, Window To The World Communications, Inc., Chicago, IL. ON THE COVER: British architect Robert Adam and WTTW Host and Producer Geoffrey Baer at the Adam Architecture studio in Winchester, England. Photo: Tiddy Maitland-Titterton 2 MARCH 2017 MEMBER CONNECTIONS Live Concert: Keyboard Works from Across the Centuries Meet Nature Cat at WFMT’s monthly live series, The PianoForte Salon Series, continues its Healthy Kids Day! season and you’re invited to be part of the live audience! Join WFMT for a performance and conver- WHAT sation with Michael The PianoForte Salon Series Tsalka, harpsichord and Photo: David Beecroft WHERE modern piano, perform- PianoForte Studios ing keyboard works from 1335 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago across the centuries and world. WHEN Pianist and early key- Friday, March 3, 12:00 pm board performer Michael Michael Tsalka Tsalka has won numerous prizes and awards in Europe, the United States, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. A versatile musician, he performs with equal virtuosity a wide span of repertoire from the early Baroque to today on the harpsichord, fortepiano, clavichord, square piano, chamber organ, and modern piano. Dr. Tsalka was born in Tel-Aviv, Israel. WHAT After obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Tel-Aviv University, he continued his studies in Germany and Italy. Meet Nature Cat at Healthy Kids Day! Admission to this concert is free. For program information, visit pianofortefoundation.org. WHERE West Cook YMCA Independent Lens: Screening & Discussion 255 S. Marion Street in Oak Park Join us for a screening and discussion about the Independent Lens documentary Ovarian Psycos. This WHEN film follows a new generation of fierce, unapologetic, and feminist women of color from the Eastside of Los Sunday, April 23, 11:00 am-3:00 pm Angeles who confront injustice, build community, and redefine identity through a raucous, irreverently named bicycle crew: The Ovarian Psycos Join WTTW and Nature Cat at the West Cook Cycle Brigade. WHAT YMCA’s 3rd annual Health & Wellness Fair and Independent Lens Through the Screening & Healthy Kids Day! Get a jump on creating a Photo: Michael Rains personal stories of Discussion healthier spring and summer at this free family- the crew’s rabble- Ovarian Psycos friendly event! rousing founder, Nature Cat, a WTTW/PBS Kids series you can Xela de la X, activ- WHERE watch on WTTW11 and wttw.com/kids, is about a Chicago Cultural ist, poet M.C., and house cat who dreams of exploring the great out- Center single mother; 78 East Washington doors. In each episode, once his family leaves for Xela, a founder of the Ovarian Psycos, and her street artist and the day, Fred transforms into a “backyard explorer daughter Yoli. Street in Chicago original Ovarian extraordinaire.” Nature Cat can’t wait to get outside Psyco, Andi Xoch; and a bright-eyed young woman from the neighborhood, Evelyn WHEN for a day of backyard nature excursions and (Evie), the film traces how the “Ovas” emerged from the diverse, youthful, Latino, Saturday, March 18, bravery, but there’s one problem: he’s still a house 2:00 pm working class, immigrant neighborhoods of Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, cat with no instincts for nature. Don’t miss this a community situated within the historic legacy of the Chicano/a Civil Rights chance to meet and greet this fun and friendly Movement that emerged from L.A. in the late 1960s. walkaround character. Join WTTW for this free screening and discussion in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs For more information, please visit and Special Events. For more information and to RSVP, visit wttw.com/events. wttw.com/events. Celebrate Earth Day with Nature Cat! Meet walk-around character Nature Cat in celebration of Earth Day 2017 at the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s Earth Day event! This fun, family morning will feature eco-friendly games, crafts, and – of course – Nature Cat himself! Nature Cat, a WTTW/PBS Kids series you can watch on WHAT WTTW11 and wttw.com/kids, is about a house cat who Celebrate Earth Day dreams of exploring the great outdoors. In each episode, with Nature Cat! once his family leaves for the day, Fred transforms into a “backyard explorer extraordinaire.” Nature Cat can’t wait WHERE to get outside for a day of backyard nature excursions and Congress Park Elementary School bravery, but there’s one problem: he’s still a house cat with 9311 Shields Avenue in Brookfield no instincts for nature. Don’t miss this chance to meet and WHEN greet this fun and friendly walkaround character. Saturday, April 15, 10:00 am-1:00 pm For more information, please visit wttw.com/events. Nature Cat 2017 MARCH 3 MEMBER PERKS 2-for-1 Tickets to The Orion Ensemble The Orion Ensemble, winner of the prestigious Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming, welcomes back guest violist Stephen Boe for its third concert program of the season, “Connections,” which takes its name from a work written for Orion, Robert Kritz’s Connections for clarinet, violin, viola, cello, and piano (2001). Also on the program are Gustav Mahler’s Quartet in A Minor for violin, viola, cello, and piano; and two works by Rebecca Clarke: Trio for violin, cello and piano (1921) and Prelude, Allegro, and Pastorale for clarinet and viola (1941).