More than a week's worth!
I can't believe I never got around to posting about last weekend, and here this weekend is all over but the shouting, as they say.
Last Saturday was the 2nd Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival. According to reports, three times as many people showed up this year as last (and that was unexpectedly huge!), so it was a good thing that there were many more venues. I did a tremendous amount of dashing to and fro last year, so this year I took advantage of the multiplicity of shows to give myself plenty of time between each (though I definitely wished that I could clone myself).
I went first to the David & Alfred Smart Museum, where Nicole Mitchell, a jazz flutist, was playing in the sculpture garden. I got there early, and grabbed a bite to eat from their café, then got a good seat in the courtyard, and enjoyed the sun and the music:
Then I jumped on the free trolley, and went to the Hyde Park Art Center. I got there while 79-year-old saxophonist (and keeper of The Velvet Lounge) Fred Anderson was playing:
He was followed by Cory Wilkes with Kahil El'Zabar:
Nice thing about being at the Art Center is that between sets you can have a gelato at the Istria Café (yes, I did - it was hazelnut/black raspberry, thank you very much!) and also check out the art.
After that set, I went home to put my feet up for a bit and relax until my evening outing to the Checkerboard. I knew that last year there were long lines, so knowing that I wanted to get in for the scheduled 8:00 performance, I went over around 7:00. They were packed, but I was near the head of the line, so figured I'd get in after awhile. I stood around chatting with some folks, and then we did get in, around 7:30, while the first set was going on. I ended up staying all night. I heard first Greg Spero, with Corey Wilkes sitting in:
,
then Joan Collaso and the Larry Hanks Trio:
,
and finally Willie Pickens (here with Marlene Rosenberg and Avreeyal Ra):
I'd originally thought about heading over to International House for the midnight jam session, but the word was that they had an overflow crowd there, so Willie was prevailed upon to play a bit longer than planned, and I got home and stayed home 'round midnight.
(More Jazz fest photos here.)
On Sunday, I went back to the Art Center, as there was an event to kickoff Chicago Artists Month. All of October there will be events going on all over the city (I should say, even more art events than usual, as there are always a lot anyway). There was some rather outré performance art; these kids seem to have mixed reactions, from intrigued to "what the heck?":
.
Friday, I drove down to Springfield for a conference. I stopped at a rest area along the way, one that backs onto a small river, and has a staircase that you can go down and walk around the woodsy area:
The conference was excellent. Good speakers, useful information. At the dinner, we gave an award to the Cook County Public Defender, Ed Burnette, who has been going toe-to-toe with the ever-annoying president of the County Board. The conference was over on Saturday around 1:00, but instead of heading straight home, I decided to play tourist. It's ridiculous how often I go to Springfield and don't do tourist stuff. I was, in part, inspired by the fact that our ever-annoying governor has decided to slash the Park Service's budget, which means that a lot of the historic sites are having their days cut back and some may close altogether.
Being an architecture buff, and a particular fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, I had to go to the Dana-Thomas House (which may be closed after November 30 due to aforesaid budget cuts). I couldn't take any photos inside (it's not allowed), but here is the exterior:
Then I went back in time, and stopped by Lincoln's home:
and his law offices:
I managed to find a used bookstore, too. Not a proper one, though. It has a dog, not a cat!
(More Springfield photos here)
Today, I went up north for the annual Lake County Women's Coalition Tea, this year honoring Women in Law Enforcement.
Now I have to do my homework for Italian class, and start getting ready for Charleston. I can't believe I'm leaving in just a couple of days! Looks as though the weather will be generally pleasant, but I'd better pack the umbrella. I'd also better figure out what books to bring to a) read, and b) release. By the way, I've booked a Gullah Tour for Friday at 11:00, if anyone is interested in joining me.
Last Saturday was the 2nd Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival. According to reports, three times as many people showed up this year as last (and that was unexpectedly huge!), so it was a good thing that there were many more venues. I did a tremendous amount of dashing to and fro last year, so this year I took advantage of the multiplicity of shows to give myself plenty of time between each (though I definitely wished that I could clone myself).
I went first to the David & Alfred Smart Museum, where Nicole Mitchell, a jazz flutist, was playing in the sculpture garden. I got there early, and grabbed a bite to eat from their café, then got a good seat in the courtyard, and enjoyed the sun and the music:
Then I jumped on the free trolley, and went to the Hyde Park Art Center. I got there while 79-year-old saxophonist (and keeper of The Velvet Lounge) Fred Anderson was playing:
He was followed by Cory Wilkes with Kahil El'Zabar:
Nice thing about being at the Art Center is that between sets you can have a gelato at the Istria Café (yes, I did - it was hazelnut/black raspberry, thank you very much!) and also check out the art.
After that set, I went home to put my feet up for a bit and relax until my evening outing to the Checkerboard. I knew that last year there were long lines, so knowing that I wanted to get in for the scheduled 8:00 performance, I went over around 7:00. They were packed, but I was near the head of the line, so figured I'd get in after awhile. I stood around chatting with some folks, and then we did get in, around 7:30, while the first set was going on. I ended up staying all night. I heard first Greg Spero, with Corey Wilkes sitting in:
,
then Joan Collaso and the Larry Hanks Trio:
,
and finally Willie Pickens (here with Marlene Rosenberg and Avreeyal Ra):
I'd originally thought about heading over to International House for the midnight jam session, but the word was that they had an overflow crowd there, so Willie was prevailed upon to play a bit longer than planned, and I got home and stayed home 'round midnight.
(More Jazz fest photos here.)
On Sunday, I went back to the Art Center, as there was an event to kickoff Chicago Artists Month. All of October there will be events going on all over the city (I should say, even more art events than usual, as there are always a lot anyway). There was some rather outré performance art; these kids seem to have mixed reactions, from intrigued to "what the heck?":
.
Friday, I drove down to Springfield for a conference. I stopped at a rest area along the way, one that backs onto a small river, and has a staircase that you can go down and walk around the woodsy area:
The conference was excellent. Good speakers, useful information. At the dinner, we gave an award to the Cook County Public Defender, Ed Burnette, who has been going toe-to-toe with the ever-annoying president of the County Board. The conference was over on Saturday around 1:00, but instead of heading straight home, I decided to play tourist. It's ridiculous how often I go to Springfield and don't do tourist stuff. I was, in part, inspired by the fact that our ever-annoying governor has decided to slash the Park Service's budget, which means that a lot of the historic sites are having their days cut back and some may close altogether.
Being an architecture buff, and a particular fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, I had to go to the Dana-Thomas House (which may be closed after November 30 due to aforesaid budget cuts). I couldn't take any photos inside (it's not allowed), but here is the exterior:
Then I went back in time, and stopped by Lincoln's home:
and his law offices:
I managed to find a used bookstore, too. Not a proper one, though. It has a dog, not a cat!
(More Springfield photos here)
Today, I went up north for the annual Lake County Women's Coalition Tea, this year honoring Women in Law Enforcement.
Now I have to do my homework for Italian class, and start getting ready for Charleston. I can't believe I'm leaving in just a couple of days! Looks as though the weather will be generally pleasant, but I'd better pack the umbrella. I'd also better figure out what books to bring to a) read, and b) release. By the way, I've booked a Gullah Tour for Friday at 11:00, if anyone is interested in joining me.