L EGENDARY TALK STAR LARRY KING, who retired from his CNN talk show earlier this year but will still be doing specials for the network, will host the grand opening ceremonial gala for the National Radio Hall of Fame Gallery located within the brand new Museum of Broadcast Communications building at 360 N. State on Nov. 5. The controversial Jerry Springer will be among the presenters.

The black-tie affair will celebrate radio’s historic “first generation of stars and shows.” The evening will commemorate such shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Gangbusters,” the “WLS National Barn Dance,” “Suspense,” as well as the late Graham McNamee, Ronald Reagan and H.V. Kaltenborn. The hardworking Bruce DuMont is the founder/president & CEO of the museum.

POLITICAL HAPS: VICE President Joe Biden in town Tuesday on behalf of Obama for America. The reception will be held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel . . . U.S. Rep. Bob Dold, speaking at the Hadassah North Shore Associates and Congregation Beth Shalom Men’s Club breakfast Oct. 23 in Northbrook. Dold, who recently visited Israel, will discuss “What the ‘Arab Spring” May Mean to Israel and the Entire Middle East.” . . . State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka speaking at the City Club of Chicago luncheon Sept. 26 at Maggiano’s.

BROADCAST NEWS: WMAQ-Channel 5’s Zoraida Sambolin is emceeing the Chicago Latino Network’s black-tie awards gala Sept. 23 at the Drake Hotel. Attorney Gery J. Chico will receive a Founder’s award . . . WLS-Channel 7’s Judy Hsu will emcee the Asian Pacific American Community’s “Hello, Maestro!” reception in honor of maestro Mei-Ann Chen, who is the new music director of the Chicago Sinfonietta. The event is Thursday at the Indian Harvest in Naperville. The Sinfonietta’s exec director, Jim Hirsch, will introduce Chen . . . The 8th Annual “Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth My Hero” awards luncheon is Sept. 22 at Harry Caray’s with media darling Merri Dee emceeing . . . WBBM-Channel 2 anchor Rob Johnson is getting an award from the Neumann Family Services Thursday at the Berghoff with colleague Jay Levine and his sweet wife, Mary Ann Childers, emceeing.

MAKING MUSIC & BABIES: R&B artist/”American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino is pregnant with her second child and due in December. She has been on bed rest and reportedly the father is her boyfriend, Antwaun Cook, who allegedly is still married. She already has a 10-year-old daughter, Zion, from another relationship . . . Soulful singer Ne-Yo is now engaged to his girlfriend, Monyetta Shaw, an Atlanta boutique owner. The couple had their first child, Madilyn Grace, last November and are preggers again. She is due to pop sometime in October. Hey, I am glad they are least trying to head to the altar.

NEW CHICAGO BEARS Major Wright and Amobi Okoye, as well as Channel 2’s Megan Mawicke and Athletes Against Drugs’ founder Stedman Graham will be speaking at the AAD’s Teen Leadership and Identity event Sept. 27 before the student body at Evanston High School.

CHICAGO FATHER RIGHTS Attorney Jeff Leving will be appearing on the new Anderson Cooper talk show Tuesday locally on WFLD-Channel 32.

GOOD NEWS: Longtime restaurateur and man about town Jimmy Rittenberg is back working part time at his popular Mother Hubbard’s sports bar since undergoing successful open-heart surgery in July. Rittenberg’s first venture was in the ’70s when he opened the legendary Faces Nightclub on Rush Street. THE RAHM BEAT: Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently lunched at the Feast eatery on Delaware and graciously greeted folks. The mayor and wife, Amy Rule, were at the opening of the Pulitzer Prize winning play “Clybourne Park” Sunday evening at Steppenwolf and will attend the 20th anniversary of the After School Matters event with former Mayor Richard M. Daley and Maggie on Wednesday at Navy Pier.

PEOPLE PEEPING: The Brewers’ pitcher Chris Narveson at Harry Caray’s . . . “Rush Hour” star/comedian Chris Tucker dined at LaScarola with co-owner Armando Vasquez over the weekend . . . Sara Lee exec Jon Harris dined with good friends, former “Today Show” co-host Meredith Vieira and her hubby, Richard Cohen, at the new Quay restaurant last week. Zak Dich, the general manager, gave the group a tour of the digs . . . Fox Sports radio’s Mike North ate at Tavern on Rush with good pal/GM Tino.

BIRTHDAYS: Ed Curran, Gary Cole and belated to journalist Brenda Butler and WGN-Channel 9’s Gloria Brown. On Wednesday: Channel 2’s Bill Kurtis, Bill Murray, Ricki Lake, Don Rose and to golden sweetie Herb Kraus, 90.

Well, that’s Stella in the City!