Thursday, April 30, 2009

Saturday at Blue Moon: jazz and reading

Just got word that Blue Moon has a new band playing this Saturday night at 7 p.m. (or at least the band is new to me): Prosaic. Wish I didn't already have tickets for another event that night. I hope they'll be back again so I get a chance to check them out.

Earlier in the day, the Great Books Reading Group will be discussing "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson at 10 a.m.

concert in Pullman Sunday 5/3

Just got this from a friend in Pullman:

***** SPECIAL ORGAN CONCERT Sunday 5/3 at 4 p.m. ***** at Greenstone Methodist Church featuring noted organist James Russell Brown (presented by Chicago-Midwest Chapter Organ Historical Society), a tribute to church member & organist Bill Lang (deceased last year), suggested donation to benefit the organ maintenance fund $5.00.

James Russell Brown has performed at National Cathedral, Harvard University, University of Vermont, University of Connecticut, Stetson University, and in the Chicago area with The City Musick, Chicago Baroque Ensemble, His Majestie’s Clerkes, and Bach Week in Evanston, and in solo recitals at Holy Name Cathedral, St. James Cathedral, Fourth Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Church (Evanston), and other locations. He is the Director of the Organ and Early Music Program at the Music Institute of Chicago where he also teaches organ and harpsichord. Since 1985 he has served as Organist and Director of Music for St. Giles Episcopal Church, Northbrook . In 2008 he joined the faculty at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb where he teaches both organ and harpsichord.

The Greenstone church is located 11211 S. St. Lawrence Avenue in Historic Pullman (Chicago). Free on-street parking; refreshments following. For further info, call 773-785-1492 or 773-370-3305

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

good news from I-Go

For those of you who could occasionally use an additional car or are debating whether to replace an old one that isn't used a lot, I just heard from good news from I-Go: I-GO is partnering with the Chicago Park District to bring three new car locations to Horner Park in Albany Park; Ridge Park in Beverly; and Independence Park in Old Irving. We’re excited to work with the CPD in our ongoing efforts to bring car sharing to all neighborhoods across Chicago. Details to be announced in the May newsletter.

That's some of the best news I've heard this year. Stay tuned for more info.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

cozy house

This place in Virginia makes a Pullman rowhouse look big. It's a compact home with character.

silly Saturday

Pit bulls in Spamalot.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

a White House seder

This is the first time a sitting U.S. president has hosted a Passover seder, another step in the right direction towards cultural inclusiveness.

looking for a special meal on Easter?

Koda will be open in afternoon and early evening.

Potemkin village

Eric Zorn summed it up well. All that apparent enthusiasm for the 2016 Olympics was just a shallow illusion. Shocking!

Do the vast majority of us support the Olympic bid? There are plenty of reasons NOT to do so.

sar-Kass-m

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-chia! More Kass silliness....

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

high tea

If you're looking for a special treat this Saturday, try high tea at Cafe 103.

urban farms

I'll be curious to see if this idea is adopted here. It could help to solve a number of problems. It could provide jobs in communities that have vacant land and few jobs. With farmstands, it would offer a source of fresh produce in areas that lack healthy options. Could be a win-win if we do it here.

Jazz Links jam session TONIGHT

Are you a young musician looking for a jam session? Do you know one? Read on. Here's a bit of info from the Jazz Institute of Chicago:

Through a partnership with the Chicago Cultural Center, the Jazz Institute of Chicago has initiated a monthly jam session for young jazz musicians in Chicago. Students are given the opportunity to perform with world-class professionals in the Jazz Links house band, led by pianist Ken Chaney. As a free event, the jam session is both an educational experience for the students and an inter-generational community event, where parents, teachers, students and the general public witness the development of young talent before their eyes and ears. If you've come to a jam session you know that there is some serious talent in the next generation of musicians, and they improve every time you see them.

Jazz Links Jam Session tonight, 4/8, 5-7 PM
Randolph Cafe, Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St

Monday, April 6, 2009

last week's circus

Chicago has been quite the circus in the past week. On Thursday alone, we had the huge mid-day demonstration at City Hall and Daley Plaza by Chicago police and firefighters, the Blago indictments and associated media circus around the Federal court house, then the evening anti-Olympics protest at the Federal plaza.

Yesterday, there were plans for pro-Olympics groups running and cycling along the lakefront, to coincide with the IOC evaluation team's tour of potential venue locations. The weather may have put a damper on that. In mid 30s temps, rain and wind, I don't know how many people were motivated enough to get out there.

Will it be a circus again this week? Stay tuned...

Saturday, April 4, 2009

silly Saturday

Excellent blog post on April Fool's pranks - lots of funny stuff. The Xbox one is excellent.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Beverly Branch Library closes 4/4 for moving

The Beverly Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 2121 W. 95th St., will close on Sat. 4/4 and remain closed while collections and other materials are transferred to the new library building at 1962 W. 95th St, which is scheduled to open in June.

meanwhile, in Evergreen Park

Opinion on the South Side Irish parade is apparently mixed. Stay tuned...

funky Friday

More from Senegal's Baaba Maal. If you enjoy African percussion, I think you'll like this one.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

the circus resumes

After a long lull, the Blago circus is revving up again.

missing teenager is home

Tonight on my way home, I was talking to a friend on the train about all of today's downtown street theater and free speech. I happened to mention this morning's unusual event - being handed an Amber alert flyer by a family member of a teenage girl reported missing last night from the 9500 block of Damen.

My friend said that he knew the family. His wife heard this afternoon that the girl was back home. He described her as a mixed-up 13-year-old who ran away and decided to have an adventure downtown. I was glad to hear that she got home safe.

anywhere but here

Toni - Well said.

Tonight's anti-Olympics protest at the federal plaza was vocal and well organized. The police presence there seemed almost as large as that at the noontime protest at City Hall and Daley Plaza. I was there in support of our officers and firefighters. The fact that they've been 2 years without a contract is a disgrace.

The track record of Mayor Daley and the city with major projects like Millennium Park does not inspire confidence in the likelihood of building multiple sports venues, an Olympic village, transit improvements and other necessary changes on time and without significant budget overruns. There's a very real possibility, based on the last few Olympics, that Chicago could end up incurring enormous debt without enough of an increase in tourism revenues during and after the games to avoid making our current budget deficit much worse.

I'd be happy to see Rio get the 2016 Olympics.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

no April Fool's joke

This idiot was seriously lucky that nobody was killed in this freak accident. I'll bet her neighbor doesn't want to talk to her now.

into the 21st century....someday

Working on projects at home early this morning, I lost track of time and ended up rushing to get to the Metra station on time. I waited....and waited...and the train arrived almost 30 minutes late, after several messages saying that the train was delayed "due to late arrival of equipment. Got the reason why later on. Wish I'd had notification like this, or, even better, this. I have not been a fan of Twitter so far, but delay notifications would be extremely useful, unlike much of the fluff there.

I appreciate the fact that Metra usually runs on schedule, but too many aspects of their service are antiquated and inefficient. After seeing conductors unable to collect a substantial number of fares on many runs in recent years, I'd imagine that any investment in faster, more modern fare collection technology would be recouped in a reasonable time span. Train Tracker would be a VERY welcome update to at least dip a toe into the pool of modern technology.

more April Fool's fun

The Economist opens a theme park. Don't forget to click on the different sections of the map at the bottom of the page. IMO, that's the best part.

piano prodigy

Here's the world's next great concert pianist.