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BY MOLLY WOULFE
Chicago Scene | Sunday, August 03, 2008 | (1 comment(s))
Veteran restaurateur Stanley Wozniak -- long used to hosting VIPs from Rat Packers to Harrison Ford to Jon Bon Jovi -- hit it off last week with an unlikely patron at The Joynt nightclub.
The former owner of Jilly's expected Jackson 5 sire Joseph Jackson to "be demanding" during his 80th birthday party at the new River North hot spot. Au contraire.
"I was thrown for a loop," said Wozniak, Frank Sinatra's one-time road manager. "He's the complete opposite of what I've read about him. I expected him to be a pompous ass. He couldn't have been nicer to my staff and everybody." The birthday boy lingered after the bash ended at 11 p.m., moving from a private room to chat with regulars until 1 a.m. at the main bar.
Michael Jackson's pop -- surrounded by relatives, recording execs and hip-hop artists -- held court at the club July 24 under the glare of TV cameras. A crew taped the private bash for the reality show "Meet Joe Jackson," which follows the ex-Gary resident's efforts to reunite (and re-manage) his sons' band.
The series also will chart Jackson's efforts to launch new talents with partner Rick Neville with Chicago-based Chi-Coast Entertainment.
Due to producers' mandates, TV viewers will have to wait until the show airs this fall to learn which Jackson kids joined Dad to sip champagne and nibble Mediterranean tapas at the red-carpet event. According to Wozniak, they also will learn the ex-steelworker -- who, according to some reports, is a mere 79 -- is far from the overbearing taskmaster portrayed by the media.
Jackson won him over by confiding he's never "taken a dime" of his children's earnings, much less pilfered their accounts, Wozniak said. He also displayed his cell phone, with his nine children on speed dial. Michael, Janet, La Toya and so forth each have an assigned ring tone. "He talks to all of his kids on a regular basis, and they have their holidays together at the Encino compound," the club owner said.
The well-connected Wozniak, who grew up in the Pilsen neighborhood, is first to admit he has a soft spot for guests with blue-collar roots. Among his favorites: Harrison Ford. "He's a carpenter from Chicago, and he remembers he's a carpenter from Chicago," he praised.
Freebie of the week
Happy 75th birthday to the Museum of Science and Industry -- which invites you to join the party. The first 10 readers to call Chicago Scene between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. today will each win a pass good for four free museum admissions plus access to the ticketed "Glass" show. The usual rules are in place. Callers must reach this columnist (not voicemail) at (219) 852-4329 during the set window of time and must pick up their prize at The Times office in Munster. Voicemails don't count, so please don't leave a message. Passes are valid through Sept. 1. Good luck.
Grapevine
Warning: Lollapalooza traffic will snarl downtown traffic this weekend ... Spotted: John Mayer and Jennifer Aniston browsing last week at Prada on the Gold Coast. Clerks won't say how much the lovebirds dropped at 30 E. Oak St., but they can afford it. She earned $27 million last year. and he rakes in more than $10 million per tour ... Blonde ambition: Christina Aguilera is posing for a series of photos to mark Macy's 150th anniversary. Could a visit to the State Street store be in the works? Meanwhile, Jessica Simpson has shot TV commercials for the chain.
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Michelle wrote on Aug 1, 2008 6:59 AM: