Bulls unveil license plate

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

B ULLS LICENSE PLATE: Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, Bulls Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and the team’s president Michael Reinsdorf (Jerry’s baby boy) today will unveil the new Chicago Bulls permanent Illinois license plate at the Thompson Center. And the good news is that from each plate sold, $25 will go to the support of public education. Folks attending the game tonight against the Pacers can purchase random number Bulls plates or order vanity or personalized plates. “Go, Mighty Bulls!”

GOV. QUINN is the guest speaker at the Downtown Leadership Club’s breakfast at Berghoff restaurant today. This breakfast is in honor of Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) and is composed of business people from his ward who appreciate his leadership.

THE OPRAH show is flying in the history-making “Mississippi Freedom Riders of 1961” for a taping Thursday, one of which is Paul Green, 71, a retired math professor from Washington, D.C., and father of Joanna Green DePorter of Harry Caray’s restaurant. The Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode buses into segregated Southern states and risked their lives fighting for the rights of African Americans to be treated equally. They are celebrating their 50th anniversary next month.

STELLAR REMINDERS: Col. Pamela Melroy, a space shuttle astronaut commander for NASA who has been aboard three missions, will be honored at a luncheon at the Standard Club Wednesday sponsored by the Women’s Board of Adler Planetarium . . .
“A Night with Roger Ebert,” a gala tribute to the Sun-Times’ world-renowned film critic, is June 9 at Navy Pier in the Grand Ballroom and sponsored by Access Living. Ebert will receive the Lead On award, which is named after the late Justin Dart Jr., a pioneer in disability rights. The event chair is Thea Flaum.

ANOTHER ONE Bites the Soulful Dust: In my Feb. 1 column, I reported that the legendary soul food restaurant Army & Lou’s on the South Side had closed its doors after 50-plus years of serving up some of the best soul food ever to come out of a kitchen. I hated when I got that news because my late parents, Peter James and Mamie Foster, often stopped by Army & Lou’s to have dinner after they would close their popular school store for the day on West 8lst Place many years ago. Now comes word that another iconic soul food eatery, Izola’s on East 79th Street, owned and operated by Izola White for over 50 years, has shut its doors. Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel visited Izola’s in October when he started his “listening tour” of the city for his campaign.

But I am happy to report that another soul food restaurant opened in January in the Morgan Park community. The new “E & B” restaurant at 1316 West 111th Street is co-owned by W. Bill Williams Jr., who is also vice president of sales for the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau, former Illinois Senate Prez Emil Jones, Dennis Sterling and Donnie Curtis. Already, Mayor-elect Emanuel has discovered the place and stopped by a week before he was elected and has been back since the election to meet and greet patrons. And President Obama recently sent a picture of the family and signed it: “All the Luck! Barack,” which is now prominently displayed on their VIP wall.

“A lot of the retired movers & shakers in media, as well as politics, are regulars at the restaurant and since the eatery is in the 34th Ward, we have dedicated the ‘Aldermen’s Corner,’ a private dining room, to 34th Ward Alderman Carrie Austin,” says Williams. Hey, given today’s economy and lack of jobs, this is nice news. And a few more folks are now employed.

JUST IN: The multi-award-winning and best-selling gospel duo, Mary Mary, will be the special guests at “The Music Experience” event Thursday at the International House at the University of Chicago and hosted by Dedry Jones. The sister act will sing a few tunes from their new CD, “Something Big.”

GIVING BACK: Bravo and a toast to doctors Steve Stryker, Wilson Hartz (who looks like Richard Gere), and Rob Kelsey, who led a team of more than 30 doctors, dentists and nurses on a medical mission to Guatemala where they performed over 50 surgical and 125 dental procedures, on poverty stricken adults and kids. Most all of the medical angels are based out of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

THE BEARS’ D.J. Moore and Kahlil Bell will participate in the inaugural Chicago United Hoops Classic prep school basketball tourney Saturday at DePaul U and a VIP reception/auction will be held this Thursday at Stan Wozniak’s The Joynt on North Dearborn.

BIRTHDAYS: Frank DeRone and Carol Burnett. On Wednesday: Crooner Jimmy Damon and Todd Lizak.Well, that’s Stella in the City!