Chicago tips

Chicago Greeters Are On The Job

I've been travelling a lot lately with horrific stories to tell about cancelled flights, lost luggage, etc.
I'll spare you that and instead tell you about something cheerier.

Once again I was keeping an eagle eye on the luggage carrousel at OHare when I spied a hopeful sign right there in the middle, indicating that a group called Chicago Greeters is on the job to help visitors.  The Chicago Office of Tourism sponsors this free service which offers two to four hour visits to various neighborhoods.

Many volunteer greeters have expertise in particular neighborhoods or field of interest and the group asks that you or your visitor fill out an online form to enable them to give you the best match for your request.  You may include 1-6 people per visit.

Check out their website, www.chicagogreeter.com and do the following:  click on "Greeter Visitor Registration" in the right hand column;  then click on the purple oval that says "Visitor Registration Click Here".  (shortcuts for info).

There is also a last minute weekend visit available.  Click on "InstaGreeter", also in the right hand column.  As you know, Chicago loves visitors and this is a swell way to connect.

Try Al-Khyam For Delicious Yogurt And So Much More

food and drink, culture, shopping

Taking a hint from Peter Condic (see post dated April 2)  I high tailed it to Lawrence and Kedzie as quickly as possible to check out a swell Midddle Eastern food resource, Al-Khyam at 4738 N. Kedzie.  Armed with a variety of brands in quart containers, I approached the man at the counter for his expert opinion, settling on the Tazah brand.  It's really excellent.  Check out the photo at left so that you can pick it out easily from its' bretheren.

A mainstay in this largely Middle Eastern neighborhood, Al-Khyam has been in the area since 1986 and takes up a large portion of  the block with a daunting array of exotic foods.  There are fig and quince jams, both rose and orange blossom water, pomegranate molasses and impressive looking 6 pound cans of vegetables, including one of grilled eggplant pulp.

The pastry assortment is astonishing, including date, walnut and pistachio mammoul, a semolina-based filled pastry or "moon cake."  Many varieties of baklawa and other luscious looking temptations fill a huge display case in the front of the store.

A handmade-looking metal store fixture with numerous windows affords views of all kinds of seeds and nuts at reasonable prices.  A large quantity of spices are also well-priced for budget minded shoppers.  In the same area is a display of traditional Turkish water pipes, the perfect off-beat gift for those who have everything.

Al Khyam grocery and bakery, 4738 N. Kedzie.

Peter Condic Is My Urban Hero

culture

This afternoon I was driving north on Elston between Armitage and Fullerton when Peter Condic appeared, rapidly driving his exceptional tricycle in the bike lane.

It was hard to miss it with its' American flag and flashing yellow light up top.  I waved frantically at him frantically to stop, which he did graciously.   That's how I discovered that he was driving from his home near 31st and Halsted to Kedzie and Lawrence where he likes to buy yogurt at Al-Khyam.  This is a relatively short trip;  he has gone south to Indiana for lottery tickets and north as far as Dempster, all on this magical vehicle.

You might be able to tell that the trike's storage area consists of an old filing cabinet.  Peter has added homemade fenders and has rigged up a strobe with a 12 volt battery.  It has a 22.32 sprocket (but I'm not sure what that is), a speedometer/pedometer and a clock which is a wrist watch attached to the handlebars.  He's somehow tilted the rear wheels 9 degrees to provide additional stability and if you approach from behind, that's quite apparent.  He wears a sturdy woven straw hat from China.

If Peter encounters bad weather he takes temporary shelter under the overhang of any nearby building.  He pointed several out to me and it's clear he's got an eagle eye for these refuges.

He participates in the Critical Mass Bike Ride, the group ride that takes place the last Friday of every month, leaving from Daley Plaza at 5:30 PM.  He told me about another participant he particularly admires, a woman who rides through the rain with one hand on the handlebars and another holding an umbrella.

I'm not sure of Peter's age but I'd bet he's a senior citizen and as such, even more of an inspiration for us all.

We said goodbye.  "Have a good day and a good life," said Peter.

Wow! A Big Top Rises In Millenium Park

current calendar, culture, parks

A coup by the Chicago Children's Theatre has brought us a  brilliantly colored "Big Top" as a venue for the group's upcoming production of  "Go, Dog. Go!", an adaptation of P.D. Eastman's children's classic with original music by Michael Koerner.  The huge tent just went up in Butler Field in the park, directly south of Monroe Street and between Michigan Av. and Lake Shore Drive. 

Dates are April 13- May 20 and tickets are on sale as you read this, either by calling 312.334.7777 or accessing the theatre's website, www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org.  Performances are held mornings, afternoons and evenings, depending on the day.  The full schedule may be viewed on their website. Ticket prices vary.  The play is suitable for age 4 and up.  Target will sponsor a family matinee series on Sunday afternoons with 2 for 1 ticket prices, depending on availability. 

When I stopped by today Michael Andrew Currey, the production manager was arranging to install sandbags to hold back spring rains and keep everything dry during the month plus run and enabling the play to go on, rain or shine.

A gala benefit is scheduled for Saturday, April 21.  For info, call 773.227.0180, ext.50.

The bright gold and fuschia tent looks pretty spectacular, especially against the loop skyline.  It was rented from the Giovanni family in Florida and shipped here especially for "Go, Dog. Go!"

"Go Dog.  Go!" by Chicago Children's Theatre in Millenium Park at the Big Top.  312.334.7777.

Two Chicago Architecture Foundation Events

architecture, culture, current calendar

Are you aware of the Chicago Architectural Foundation and its' many exciting projects?  This is the group that sponsors the architectural tours of the Chicago River that will begin again soon.  The foundation is at 224 South Michigan where there are always interesting exhibitions and lectures.

Right now through April 29th there's an exhibit in the Atrium Gallery entitled, "Prairie Skyscraper: Frank Lloyd Wright's Price Tower."  The tower, in Bartlesville, OK is celebrating its' 50th anniversary  this year.  The exhibit includes photographs, documents, reproductions of drawings, building components and furnishings, illustrating Wright's belief in merging architecture, design and art.

An exhibit catalog is available at the Chicago Architecture Foundation shop.

There's also an evening lecture on Thursday, March 22 at 6 PM, entitled, Frank Lloyd Wright: Designing an American Way of Living.  Virginia Terry Boyd, Professor, Design Studies, University of Wisconsin, Madison will emphasize Wright's interest in new spatial arrangements, aesthetics and affordability in his fervent and radical concept of American housing.

The lecture will be held in the John Buck Company Lecture Hall of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan.  Call 312.922.3432 or access www.architecture.org. for all kinds of aditional information.

New Crowd, Old Statesman

art, culture, parks

A new sculpture to add to my favorites list.  Magdalena Abakanowicz'  "Agora" or meeting place is a riveting assemblage of iron figures recently installed at the southern-most edge of Grant Park, at the confluence of Roosevelt Rd and Michigan Av.

I went to explore on a cold sunny day and because of this I was alone at the site but I felt observed because of the crowd already assembled.  I've noted real people coming for a closer view in recent weeks and this day there were tracks in the snow so it's clear the city has a welcome addition.

If you're lucky enough to be there when the sun is out you'll enjoy the interplay of light and shadows but a somber day will have its' own allure.

What does it mean?  Different things to different people, so visit and let me know what you think.

An old favorite of mine but virtually ignored except for art historians is the magnificent statue of Abraham Lincoln at the south end of Lincoln Park, east of the Chicago History Museum and just north of North Avenue at the end of either Dearborn or State, I forget which.  It's by the famed sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens who used a life mask of the statesman made in 1860 by Chicago sculptor Leonard Volk in his work.

Walk all around and you'll note that it holds its' integrity from all angles.  The statue was completed in 1887.  The enormous chair adds to the monumentality of the work.  You'll have fun finding it because it's more or less hidden away.  So much so that an occasional homeless person finds refuge on the bench area that surrounds The Great Emancipator.

"Winter Delights" Nixes Hibernation

culture, current calendar

Chicago Winter Delights is going on right now and will continue through February.  The city has divided hundreds of programs into 10 major categories including food, dance, ethnic celebrations, family entertainment, fashion, handmade projects, history explorations, jazz, blues and gospel rhythms, opera and classical performances and theatre discoveries.

To explore all these options just log on to www.cityofchicago.org/Tourism.  You'll be deluged with possibilities right away because of the multitudes of links.

For visitors there are discounted hotel and airfare rates, all accessible through this site.

You might want to stop off at the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center at 77 E. Randolph or at Chicago Water Works Visitor Information Center at 163 E. Pearson which are open from 8AM to 7PM, Monday-Thursday and until 6PM on Friday; Saturdays 9-6 and Sundays 10-6.  Ask for the free booklet pictured above.

An-My Le Photos / Museum Of Contemporary Photography

photography, culture, current calendar

The Museum of Contemporary Photography here in the South Loop is a wonderful resource.  It was founded by Columbia College in 1984 and is the leading photography museum in the Midwest.  As such it exhibits local, national and international work and projects. The permanent collection shares this focus.   

Just opened is an exhibit of the work of acclaimed photographer An-My Le, entitled Small Wars.

An-My Le was born in Vietnam in 1960, lived in France for a portion of her childhood and came to the U.S. in 1975 as a refugee.  She received BAS and MS degrees from Stanford University, a MFA from Yale University and a Guggenheim fellowship in 1997.  Her work is in the collections of  the Whitney Museum, MOMA, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, among others.

The current exhibit includes images relating to the war in Viet Nam and current interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Her approach to both is oblique.

"Instead of addressing her subject by creating reportage images of actual shocking events, she photographs places where war is psychologically anticipated, processed and relived."  The exhibit is impressively thought provoking in a broader sense than the experience one might find viewing more common images of the horrors of war.

Concurrently a related exhibit entitled, "War Fare"  includes photographs by Sarah Pickering, Ashley Gilbertson, Sean Hemmerle, Martha Rosler and Sean Snyder.  All may be seen through January 6.

Karen Irvine, will discuss both exhibits, Tuesday December 5 at noon in the galleries.  Karen is the curator of both exhibits and a terrific lecturer. 

You can have a fine time on the museum's website  http://www.mocp.org perusing their permanent collection.   Works of noted photographers may be seen there along with their bios. 

The Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan, M-F 10-5; Thurs. til 8, Sat, 12-5.

Swim In A Vintage Pool Or Just Peek Inside

architecture, culture, services

I'm guessing that you've abandoned Lake Michigan for the season;  however, here's an elegant alternative.  This pool is an architectural gem that many locals don't know.  It's tucked inside the Intercontinental Hotel, the building with the Art Deco facade and an historic Chicago Landmark just north of the Tribune Tower.

The Roman style pool was built in 1929 as a facet of  the Medinah Athletic Center.  Here, you'll discover vintage tile, European style resort furniture, palms and decorative elements of another era.  There's an adjoining and up to date fitness center.

A local membership for the center and the pool combined is $295 for 3 months, $555 for 6 months and $955 annually.  Corporate memberships (for three or more) are a bit less.  Alternatively, you can swim in the pool once for $15 or purchase a packet of 10 passes for $120.  They're good for a year and this dramatic change of venue might get you through some dull gray days.  What a fine holiday surprise for the right person!

The swimming pool and fitness center at the Intercontinental Hotel, 505 N. Michigan Av., 312.944.4100.

Those Silken Steps At The Art Institute

culture, current calendar

Wow!  Try approaching the Art Institute from Adams Street.  You'll love the impact of this new take on banner ads, all touting the Silk Road activities at the grande dame of art  here. 

There's a huge calendar of events to choose from among the various sponsors.  Check out the Silk Road project initiated by famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma at http://www.silkroadchicago.org.  Click on "event calendars", top right.  That's the best way since other pertinent sites don't seem to be up to date.

The Chicago Symphony, the city via its' Office of Tourism and the Chicago Cultural Center as well as the Art Institute are  sponsors of this vast project which will eventually reach other cities.  The idea is to familiarize people of all cultures (and there surely are many in Chicago) with ideas from the past as well as modern day interpretations.  Travellers on the Silk Road included Ghengis Khan and Marco Polo.

Silk Road are at galleries and other venues all over town and they change constantly.  All this will cease in June of 2007 and you've missed much already so keep checking that magic website  to keep in touch.