Where Are Tourism Spots South of 59th Street?
September 3rd, 2011 by Shorty
In addition to the ETA Creative Arts Center and the South Shore Cultural Center, where are the tourism spots south of 59th Street?
Images: hydepark and etacreativearts
3 Lessons the Black Community Can Learn from Chinatown
September 2nd, 2011 by Shorty
As your Chicago South Side Resource, I am learning more about Chicago. I am more observant than most when I visit different neighborhoods. It could be because I’m a journalist or it could be because I am uberly nosy. Either way, I have checked out some things in Chinatown that are pretty admirable that, if applied by Black people, could make their economic conditions just a little better. Following are three lessons the Black community can learn from Chinatown.
1. Everyone is welcome to visit, but they are not welcomed to stay
I’ve shopped, eaten and participated in different festivities in Chinatown, and I have seen very few people of Asian descent that live or work there. Remember, this is my observation only. It is a tight knit community. And, to be sure that only a few outsiders can come in, mostly everything is in their language with a few select words translated to English.
Lesson: Stop letting everyone into your community. Yeah, I know that things are much deeper than this, and race, class and politics have a lot to do with much of it. Just know that other people cannot take over if they cannot get in.
2. Chinese money stays in the Chinese community
From my observations, everything Chinese people need is in their neighborhood. As I stated earlier, I have seen mostly people who look like them working in their stores. They probably don’t have to leave the community unless they just want to. And, I have to wonder, how many times does the dollar circulate in their community before it leaves the community? Here’s a random, yet relevant thought: Have you ever seen any Asian people in businesses in the Black community if they were not the owners?
Lesson: Spend your money with Black-owned businesses and employ other Black people. I know this is easier said than done on so many levels; but if you can find good, reliable help, hire it.
3. They control their own media
I personally have never seen or heard of any new stories about Chinatown on any local stations in Chicago and I refuse to pay for cable. I have two thoughts on why this is so. First, this could be because they do not report their “dirty laundry” to large mainstream media sources. Or, they empower their media sources to tell their stories their way. Either way, what happens in Chinatown stays in Chinatown.
Lesson: Create and control your own media. Tell your story with accuracy and honesty to counter mainstream media images and stories. Free social media tools are available or report your stories to bloggers, social media gurus and other online community influencers who care about your community. Ideally, the people telling your stories will live in the communities in which they are reporting.
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The lessons listed about are just a few things I’ve seen as an outsider looking in. And from what I can tell, the Black community would fare much better economically if they practiced the above three lessons from Chinatown.
Images: chicagochinatown, brotherpeacemaker
Celebrating 40 Years The Soul Train Through 9/5/11
August 26th, 2011 by Shorty
Remember Soul Train? The show that started with Black people with Afros, bell-bottoms, stacks shaking their groove thangs to either live artists or the current hits of the day?
Did you know that Soul Train started in Chicago?
To honor the show’s 40th anniversary, the city’s Cultural Affairs and Special Events department along with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture are sponsoring the first ever Soul Train photography show, an exhibition of 55 rarely-seen photos from the Soul Train archives. The images are a sampling of more than 300,000 photographs taken on the Soul Train set during the show’s 1971 to 2006 run. The photo show will be in the first floor gallery space at Expo 72, the city’s exhibition space at 72 E. Randolph.
Hurry! It will only be here through September 5, 2011. Did I mention that it was free??
Have you already checked out the exhibit? How was it?
Bud Billiken Parade – Saturday, August 13th
August 9th, 2011 by Shorty
The Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic, the oldest and largest African American parade in the United States, will be held on Saturday, August, 2011. The parade route begins around 39th & King Drive and ends near 55th & King Dr. at Washington Park. Can you believe it’s been 82 years since Robert S. Abbott, the Founder of the Chicago Defender, started this community tradition?
Pack up your family, chairs and food and march on down to the Bud Billiken for a day of fun and entertainment. You also get to see the programs and activities in different communities.
Image: Chicago Defender Charities
2011 The Black Women’s Expo – August 6-7, 2011
July 27th, 2011 by Shorty
It’s that time again. Time to celebrate the beauty, talents and the empowerment of African Americans at The Black Women’s Expo. This event is filled with education, shopping, entertainment and other fun things to do for women and men. This year Loretta Divine will be hosting the Phenomenal Woman Awards & Gala. Check out their site for more details.
Image: sponsor Chicago
SummerDance in the Parks & Navy Pier – Wednesdays over the Summer
July 7th, 2011 by Shorty
Dancing lessons and free dance will be held in various neighborhoods on various Wednesdays between July 13 and September 7.
Humboldt Park Boathouse on July 13, August 10, and September 7
Jackson Park 63rd St Beach on July 20 and August 17
Athletic Field Park on July 27 and August 24
Ping Tom Memorial Park on August 3 and August 31
Navy Pier Beer Garden on July 13 and August 24
SummerDance moves the fun to the Navy Pier Beer Garden at 600 E. Grand Avenue for Chicago SummerDance at Navy Pier. Professionals teach dance moves from 6 to 6:45 pm and the live music runs from 7:30 to 10 pm. The evenings are highlighted by Navy Pier’s Wednesday night fireworks at 9:30 pm. Admission is free. For more information, call 312.595.PIER (7437) or visit www.ChicagoBestBeerGarden.com.
Dance lessons run from 6 to 7 pm followed by live music and dancing from 7 to 9 pm. Admission is free.
15th Annual Summer Dance – July 7 – September 18th
June 30th, 2011 by Shorty
The Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park will also serve as a venue for World Music Festival Chicago on its opening weekend, September 16 – 18. The events will follow the Chicago SummerDance format with dance lessons and concert performances. World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 will take place September 16 – 22.
Each night of the 11-week series offers an introductory one-hour dance lesson by professional instructors followed by two hours of live music and dancing on the 4,900 square-foot, open-air dance floor designed by artist Dan Peterman out of 100% recycled materials. The dance floor, titled Chicago Ground Cover is undergoing an expansion and restoration and will be completely renovated when Chicago SummerDance opens on July 7.
Chicago SummerDance is located in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, at 601 S. Michigan Avenue. Events occur every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening, from 6 to 9:30 pm and on each Sunday afternoon from 4 to 7 pm, weather permitting. There will be no events Friday, August 5 – Sunday, August 7. Updates and announcements will be available on Facebook at Chicago SummerDance, or on Twitter at SummerDance2011. Weather announcements will be available on the SummerDance Hotline at 312.742.4007.
Image: Gozamos
he Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park will also serve as a venue for World Music Festival Chicago on its opening weekend, September 16 – 18. The events will follow the Chicago SummerDance format with dance lessons and concert performances. World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 will take place September 16 – 22.
Each night of the 11-week series offers an introductory one-hour dance lesson by professional instructors followed by two hours of live music and dancing on the 4,900 square-foot, open-air dance floor designed by artist Dan Peterman out of 100% recycled materials. The dance floor, titled Chicago Ground Cover is undergoing an expansion and restoration and will be completely renovated when Chicago SummerDance opens on July 7.
Chicago SummerDance is located in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, at 601 S. Michigan Avenue. Events occur every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening, from 6 to 9:30 pm and on each Sunday afternoon from 4 to 7 pm, weather permitting. There will be no events Friday, August 5 – Sunday, August 7. Updates and announcements will be available on Facebook at Chicago SummerDance, or on Twitter at SummerDance2011. Weather announcements will be available on the SummerDance Hotline at 312.742.4007.
Taste of Chicago – June 24th – July 3rd
June 20th, 2011 by Shorty
Am I slow or was there a great deduction in the number of days of the Taste of Chicago?
Regardless, there are great things in store at this year’s Taste of Chicago. Check out the restaurants and musical acts that will be at The Taste. Be sure to check it to let us know what ate. We want to savor your flavorful moments with you.
Image: Explore Chicago
14th Annual Black Music Month Celebration Breakfast – June 25th
June 13th, 2011 by Shorty
Can Hip Hop bring people together spiritually?
Hear the thoughts of gospel Hip Hop artist and University Church pastor Julian DeShazier at the 14th Annual Black Music Month Celebration breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the Charles A. Hayes Center, 4859 S. Wabash Ave. DeShazier will deliver the keynote address and, along with flutist Ranosha Hall, will receive the Black Music Month Award.
To order your tickets for the June 25 breakfast, call 312-544-9188. $35 (1 ticket); $70 (2); $105 (3) or $140 (4).
Image: I’m So Pure
2011 Movies in the Park Begins June 14th
June 9th, 2011 by Shorty
The wait is almost over. Movies in the park begins on Tuesday, June 14th. Check out the Movies in the Park Schedule.
“ALL MOVIES ARE FREE AND BEGIN AT DUSK
…you bring the snacks, we’ll bring the stars…”
Call the Movies in the Parks hotline for daily listings and updated weather-related cancellations at (312) 742-1134.
Image: Chicago Free