Fatherhood for Rose
BULLS SUPERSTAR DERRICK ROSE is going to be a daddy. According to my sources, Rose, 23, and his girlfriend of almost 4 years, the beautiful Mieka Blackman Reese, 24, a budding Chicago stylist, are expecting their first child probably in October. One source tells me that their “mutual families are very excited and looking forward to the baby’s arrival.” Derrick and Mieka first met at a party at Excalibur on North Dearborn. Rose is even modeling on Mieka’s website. Rose, who had missed 12 consecutive games with a groin injury, played for the first time on Sunday against the New York Knicks, who squeaked past the Bulls 100-99 in overtime. In December, Rose signed a five-year, $94.8 million contract extension with the Bulls and a $260 million Adidas endorsement deal. So Pampers will not be a problem! Congrats to the happy parents to be. Reached out to Derrick Rose for a statement and he is not giving a statement.
ACTOR BILL MURRAY visited the new Laugh Factory Chicago at 3175 N. Broadway before attending the Cubs opener last week, and he was thoroughly surprised when PR maven Betsy Shepherd arranged for his sports hero, Hawks legend Bobby Hull, to greet him and presented Murray with an autographed jersey. Renowned impressionist James Stephens III is at the Factory starting Tuesday.
SAY WHAT! MADONNA’S little fast-tail 15-year-old daughter, Lourdes Leon, is a smoker, even though it is illegal at her age. Well like momma . . . like daughter. Leon will be on the road with her mom when Madonna starts her 50-Country Tour kicking off next month in Israel. Hey, I am sure that stress will have her lighting up for sure!
NBC’S “THE VOICE” JUDGE Cee-lo Green is busy writing a book on his life between rubbing his perfect white Persian cat Purrfect, which folks are now saying is a rent a cat from the Benay’s Bird & Animal Rentals in L.A. . . . I don’t believe it! . . . Studmuffin actor Michael (“Takers”) Ealy, a former beau of Halle Berry and is starring in “Think Like A Man,” opening in theaters nationwide April 20, stars in the new TBS network show “Common Law” this summer.
HONOREES: Cook County Board prez Toni Preckwinkle will present Blue Bow awards to state Senators Jacqueline Collins and Mattie Hunter and state Rep. Esther Gola at the Children’s Home +Aid “Champions for Children” luncheon Wednesday at the Palmer House Hilton. By the way, dapper Palmer House exec Ken Price is excited that his nephew, Brett Lemick, is part of the cast of the new NBC reality show “Escape Routes.”
LT. GOVERNOR Sheila Simon and Preckwinkle are the guest speakers/honorary co-chairs of the Women’s Business Development Center’s 24th Annual Child Care Business Expo June 2 at the UIC Forum.
ON THE TOWN: Milwaukee Brewers’ pitcher Chris Narveson enjoyed lunch at Harry Caray’s on Kinzie . . . Judge Greg Mathis along with U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife, Ald. Sandy Jackson, dined recently at the Tavern on Rush . . . Actor Troy (“Boss”) Garity relaxed at Sunda . . . “Friends” star David Schwimmer ate hearty with “Windy City Live” contributor Billy Dec at his Rockit Burger Bar . . . Marc Schulman’s red, white & blue cheesecake in honor of Pat Brickhouse’s birthday was a big hit at Wrigleyville’s Deuces . . . Ashanti lunched at Gibsons. KEEPIN’ YOU IN THE MIX: The renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance theater opens Wednesday at the Auditorium . . . The melodious Roberta Flack Friday at The Venue at the Horseshoe Casino . . . Comic Ralphie May April 26-29 at Chicago Improv in Schaumburg . . . The band Creed at the Chicago Theatre April 13 and at the same theater May 15, Steve Winwood . . . Platinum Productions present bluesman Otis Clay with guest host George Daniels May 5 at Northwestern’s Thorne Auditorium . . . Smooth R&B legend Smokey Robinson will rock the audience June 4 at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “Annual Corporate Night” fund-raiser . . . “Fastus, The Musical” debuts April 16 at Davenport’s Piano Bar. STELLAHOLICS follow me on Twitter. BIRTHDAYS: Steven Seagal, radio’s Stan West and belated to Mildred Bowden. On Wednesday: Richie Sambora, Larry Engelhart and Diana E. Harris.
Well, that’s Stella in the City!