36 older adults from the 47th Ward enjoyed a creative weekend in mid-October hosted by Chicago Mosaic School; located in a sunny, open loft space on Cuyler & Ravenswood. Chicago Mosaic School is incredibly the only school of its kind in the entire country. The Founder & Director, Karin Ami studied the art of mosaics in Italy, as there was no school closer to home. Due to her dedication, that is no longer the case for those who want to study this ancient art. Teachers and students from all over the world attend classes, study in the extensive library, exhibit their work in the adjacent galleries and find kindred spirits in this artistic community. Karin designed a beautiful mosaic, Roots of Our Community, to honor the older adults of the 47th Ward.
It is truly a beautiful work of art, made more so by the many hands who contributed to its creation in the warm, nurturing and inspiring space that is Chicago Mosaic School.
Please join us for the mosaics unveiling in conjunction with a gallery opening of art by members of the Senior Artists Network who live in the 47th Ward, Thursday, November 8 from 7-9 at Dolce Casa Café
It was a cool evening, but there was a hot spot in our own neighborhood at Revere Park… a foot tappin’, head bobbin’ SRO crowd who showed up for the JazzCity tribute to Women of Chicago Jazz Pian
o, namely Lil Harden Armstrong, Dorothy Donegan, Earma Thompson, and Mary Lou Williams. In the first set of the program, four young musicians, two from Whitney Young High School, one from Northeastern Illinois University, and the fourth from Chicago High School for Performing Arts, gave an outstanding performance of several jazz favorites, including “Autumn Leaves.” In the second set, Bethany Pickens, whose contributions to jazz piano are legend, performed with bass player Ted Brewer and drummer Vern Allison.
JazzCity is a collaboration between the Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Park District. You can find out about remaining performances by calling (312) 427-1676 or visitingwww.JazzInChicago.org. The programs are free but a donation is requested. What great offerings this city has!
Scott Best, executive director of Common Pantry (3744 N. Damen Ave.), can rattle off all kinds of statistics about hunger: the number of households the pantry serves each month, the pounds of food distributed each week, the percent increase in visits since the economic downturn. But numbers don’t begin to tell the pantry’s story. For that, a new book,I Am Your Neighbor: Voices From a Chicago Food Pantry, turns to the clients themselves.
No one ever wants to hear about me. Not in any kind of objective sense, where there’s no judgment, no advice, no warnings. Talking like this? When I can just talk? This makes me think that I really am somebody. — Cheryl
Co-authors David Brown and Roger Wright, acquaintances through Epiphany United Church of Christ, which houses Common Pantry, both arrived at the idea for the book from different directions. Wright, an admirer of Studs Terkel’s oral histories, had the notion that a Terkel-like project, “a book of stories of normal people in their own voices,” could provide an economic engine for nonprofits.
At the same time, Brown, a long-time volunteer at the pantry and vice president of its board of directors, had been searching for a way to counter complaints from residents who were uncomfortable having the pantry in the midst of their neighborhood.
“People didn’t understand what we were doing there,” said Brown. The book offered an opportunity to explain, “This is who we are and who we serve.”
“David brought the idea [of the book] to the board,” said Wright, a former ghostwriter for Gallup Publishing and author of the blog Chicago Guy. “What David does is make things happen.”
Early on, the authors wrestled with the tone of the book; what they didn’t want was a string of “poor pitiful me” tales. “I didn’t want it to feel exploitative,” said Brown, who carefully guards the participants’ anonymity.
Taking their cue from Terkel, the pair opted instead to let the clients guide the conversation.
“The stories in here are what they chose to talk about that given day,” Brown said. “There are some great stories from people who grew up going to Lake View High School, who worked here for some of the manufacturing companies and warehouses.” One of his favorite chapters focuses on a man who grew up in the Lathrop Homes in the 1960s and recounts tales of fetching groceries for elderly neighbors — 25 cents for milk and cottage cheese — and hanging out at the now defunct Riverview amusement park.
We were there when the guy fell from the Bob Sled. We were all there. –Danny
Another had moved to Hollywood in the late ’70s to try his luck as an actor. To pay the bills he delivered Persian rugs to the rich and famous.
I get on all fours with Barbra [Streisand], and we crawl under the piano, we pull the rugs out while the guy lifts this piano. Face to face, inches apart, we’re on all fours, I’m looking into her nostrils. The most famous nose in the world, I guess, after, what, Jimmy Durante? – Carl
“What came out were these vibrant, alive, wonderful human beings,” Wright said. “The result is you get a completely different view of our neighbors at the pantry.”
“People really began to open up,” said Best. “They’ve got a lot to say.”
In arranging the text, Wright performed what he calls “hyper-editing,” providing context where necessary but otherwise removing himself from the picture and letting the stories speak for themselves. “It’s making sure that the essence of the person comes through,” he said. “It’s making sure that I was out of it and they were in it.”
Our high school was in the heart of Manila. We paid only 85 cents for a double feature. And cool! Air-conditioned. In Manila it is very hot! So to refresh ourselves we saw so many American movies. So many movies! We were crazy about Rock Hudson! — Leonora
The book, available at the Book Cellar and via Amazon, has already sold 500 copies, with 100 percent of the net proceeds directly benefiting Common Pantry. “Buy a book and feed a family,” said Brown.
David Brown, at Montrose Green. Credit: Patty Wetli
A launch party/fundraiser, set for tonight at Architectural Artifacts, is sold out, with more than 400 tickets purchased at 100 bucks a pop, double expectations and already surpassing whatever goals Brown and Wright had for the project.
Several neighborhood restaurants are donating their services for the fundraiser, completing a circle that Brown devised back in the spring. President of Harrington Brown real estate development corporation, he also happens to own the parcel of land adjacent to the Montrose Brown Line station — the vacant lot he’s currently leasing to the Peterson Garden Project.
(“I’ve seen him turn a $7 million deal in five minutes, but there’s another side,” said Wright of his co-author.)
Among his conditions in establishing Montrose Green, as the community garden came to be known, Brown insisted on reserving plots for local chefs (yes, the very ones participating in the fundraiser) and dedicating 20 beds to growing produce for Common Pantry.
Elizabeth Wenscott, who oversees the pantry’s gardens along with Lisa Hish, reports that 168 pounds of produce have been harvested over the past nine weeks. “Our organic produce travels 1.1 miles and arrives from plot to plate where it is served for lunch on Wednesdays in less than 48 hours,” she emailed CSJ.
“We’ve gotten lots of tomatoes and zucchini,” said Best. “We have made some unbelievable salads.”
I Am Your Neighbor is the thread that weaves all of these efforts together, with the launch party cementing the link between Montrose Green and Common Pantry.
“The main thing was increasing awareness,” said Brown.”We’re taking a big step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of the pantry.”
Now there’s a story.
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Credit: The Center Square Journal and Patty Wetli
Roger Wright
Purchase “I am Your Neighbor: Voices from a Chicago Food Pantry”
The 47th Ward is holding a Health and Wellness Day at Sulzer library in Lincoln Square this Saturday, September 29. The list of available services is terrific! There will be free flu immunizations; cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and bone density checks; body mass index and weight assessment; optometry and diabetci retinopathy screenings; and prescription check-ups with a pharmacist and consultations with a nurse practitioner.
Stop by and take advantage of the great classes and lectures on offer as well! Here is the schedule:
Plan your day around these informative and interactive presentations!
10:00 Yoga for Health – Come enjoy the benefits of yoga.
10:30 Tai Chi – Learn about this ancient art from Elizabeth Wenscott, owner, Tai Chi Center of Chicago.
11:00Brain Aerobics – Exercise your brain with Joni Gatz-Bauman, long-time brain health teacher.
11:30Understanding the Chakras – Explore the 7 energy centers of your body with Paula Rosenfeld.
12:00Herbal Remedies and Natural Products – Anthony Qaiyum of local gem,Merz Apothecary.
12:30 Oh, Just Bury Me in the Backyard! An inspiring and uplifting presentation by Loretta Downs.
With the advent of the internet, e-readers, amazon, and even Starbuck’s or your favorite local coffee shop as the “third” place to be besides work or home, it may be argued that our local library has lost a bit of its relevance and appeal. Well after several trips to my local library, which, I’ve recently discovered, is the regional library for the city’s north side, I very much disagree.
I love libraries, I think I always have. The hushed quietness, the privacy and coziness found in those little carols, the smell of all those books! Just simply knowing that so much information, so much knowledge, was literally at your fingertips gives me the itch to learn. I was reminded of these feelings a couple weeks ago when my 2 year old daughter and I walked into the Sulzer Regional Library to get our library card – the first one I have had, I’m embarrassed to say, since I can’t even remember when.
The process was easy and swift , then off we trotted to the children’s section. Tables for the little ones strewn with books, puzzles and crayons and a random array of toys pulled little Rachel into the spirit of the library – engagement, learning, discovery. Why had I stayed away so long?
After a bit of playtime, it was up the shiny, polished stairs to the second floor to retrieve the book Mommy had come for. With my reference number in hand, I scanned the shelves and gradually zoomed in to what I needed. How had I gone so long without that satisfying feeling of homing in on the exact item you needed, among thousands of books? Then, since Rachel wasn’t quite as particular as I about the books she wanted to pull from the shelves and hasn’t quite yet perfected her “inside voice”, we headed back down the stairs.
The checkout line seemed long, but moved quicker than any other line I’d been in lately. Plus, alongside the line were the shelves that the books being held for people to pick up were kept, giving Rachel the chance to show everyone in line how well she knew her letters! (Cue proud look on Mommy’s face). Sauntering out the door feeling accomplished and satisfied, I knew we’d be back.
The next trip to Sulzer was for DVD’s for Rachel to keep her occupied on a flight to Philly we had that weekend. It took a bit of digging, but I found Baby Galileo, Thomas the Train, Emmett Otter’s Jugband Christmas and The Snowy Day. It was only when I got to the checkout counter that I discovered I was limited to only 2 DVD’s because I had gotten my library card less than 30 days prior! Slightly disappointed at the time? Yes – but at least I know they are there if I want them; and, as it turned out, she barely even got through Thomas the whole weekend we were away.
After all was said and done, I am now an official and proud library-card carrying resident of the 47th Ward who loves her local, regional library. Sure, you may not be able to enjoy a cup of coffee while you read or have a book appear on the table in front of you in a matter of seconds. But what you do get is a quiet stillness, a respect for and appreciation of the millions of books waiting to be discovered, and a place to be in your community that offers something foreveryone…my 2 year old little girl included.
As a newcomer to North Center and Lincoln Square, I am finding the area is like a small town inside a big city. I love how many people are out walking at all hours, and most of the people I see are friendly and say hello. There is just enough hustle and bustle on the streets to make you feel part of something exciting. The stores where I’ve shopped have been unique and interesting, and the restaurants delicious! I love the fact that there are so many choices.
Our family made a wise choice in moving to North Center from the northern suburbs.We couldn’t ask for a better place to live.
Hot summer nights. No air conditioning. How did we ever stay cool? When my dad came home from work he would take off his cap and say, “Let’s go to the drive in movies” Yeh!
My mother would make popcorn in a huge pot, add some melted margarine and toss with salt. She would put the popcorn in a large brown paper bag that got all greasy from the margarine. The entire kitchen smelled of more great things to come. If we were real good, she would hide some long lasting candy like JuJu Bees in her purse to give us after the popcorn was gone. Sometimes she made beerwurst sandwiches on crusty Italian bread with ketchup. Anything to keep us quiet. We would pack along our most favorite pillows and blankets to be comfortable and just in case we couldn’t stay awake any longer and drifted asleep.
Then we would wait until the sun was beginning to set and drive to the Drive In. Oh the excitement!
My parents never dreamed of hiring baby sitters for my sister, me and my brother. It would cost too much money. So why pay for a kid that will be sleeping during the show? As we neared the admission booths, my dad would tell my little brother to lie down on the back seat floor and my mother would cover him with a blanket to hide him. When we got to the teller, my dad would say “Four please” and hope that they did not notice that big lump on the back seat floor.
More people than us must have had this same idea. As soon as other cars passed the admission booth, cars would stop, pull over, and pop the trunk. Kids of all ages would jump out and run back inside the car. It was so much fun to watch!
Now to find the best seat in the house. My dad had to find a parking spot that was close to the bathrooms and had a good view of the screen. He would roll down his window and place the speaker on the glass and make certain it worked and the volume was loud. It had to be louder than us. That was our sound system.
Sometimes the people in front of you would climb up onto the roof and watch the movie from there. That would make my dad mad because now we could not see the movie at all. Then a whole lot of honking started.
During intermission, we would run to the bathroom. There were lots of kids that would already be in their pajamas. Even though most of the food my mother brought was already eaten, no matter how much we said “Pretty please” we never got any of the expensive snacks from the candy counter.
There was a count down to tell you that the movie was about to begin and you would make a dash to the car. However, it was dark and none of the cars looked like ours. I would get scared. Thank God my mother was a great lookout and would wave and yell for us to see her.
You always hear that there are certain things that help you to stay sharp, and keep your brain healthy. One of those things is learning new tasks, using your mind in new ways. Well, I recently took the opportunity to put this conventional wisdom to the test.
I thought I would try something that I had never done, something completely out of my comfort zone. So, I learned to sew. You see, I have never even taken a Home Economics class. I did not own any needles and thread other than the vanity kit from hotels (I had 3!). My mother-in-law was in town and she is an avid, lifelong quilter. She kept telling me how relaxing and enjoyable quilting was and that I would create something every day. We had gone to a few quilt shows and the artistry and community spirit of the quilters amazed me. Who knew that fabric was so cool? And that quilters were so amazing?
I decided to jump in. We worked together over a few weeks. First, my mother-in-law helped me to get all of my supplies and carefully explained how to use each item. Then (the fun part) I got to pick out fabric that was pre-cut, so I could focus on the actual sewing and matching rather than cutting. Believe it or not, within 3 weeks my quilt top was done! It was gorgeous and I was so proud. Then, a few weeks later – a friend announced she was having a baby, and there was project number 2! I was on a roll. I had the fabric purchasing and choosing down pat. How exciting!
The next part of quilting that fascinated me was the camaraderie of the quilters. It was like you went into an instant community of people of all ages, all interests, and all levels of skill. So, I joined the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild and signed up to attend a day-long workshop. I had never done anything like this, and being a newbie I was a bit freaked out.
Well, I had an absolute ast. I met other quilters who had all types of skills. They were so helpful to me and teaching me their tips and techniques. I had a truly relaxing and rewarding day as I started a new project that inspired me. The fact that I am learning something new, experiencing a new part of the world that I knew nothing about, and have met a new community of people to share that experience with is so inspiring. It is an exciting time for me and I would encourage you all to pick something new and give it a whirl. It works!
How about Scrabble? There is a Scrabble Meet Up Group right in our backyard, at Dolce Casa Café on Damen that meets every Sunday! Or how about heading over to Open Swim at Welles Park and taking a swim class?
There is so much cool stuff happening in our neighborhood, so much to try – the possibilities are endless. Have fun and let me know what you get yourself into! And if you want to start a sewing group – I would love to meet with you! Happy adventures and keep learning!
36 older adults from the 47th Ward enjoyed a creative weekend in mid-October hosted by Chicago Mosaic School; located in a sunny, open loft space on Cuyler & Ravenswood. Chicago Mosaic School is incredibly the only school of its kind in the entire country. The Founder & Director, Karin Ami studied the art of mosaics in Italy, as there was no school closer to home. Due to her dedication, that is no longer the case for those who want to study this ancient art. Teachers and students from all over the world attend classes, study in the extensive library, exhibit their work in the adjacent galleries and find kindred spirits in this artistic community. Karin designed a beautiful mosaic, Roots of Our Community, to honor the older adults of the 47th Ward.
Forward Chicago 