You don’t have to unsubscribe from the New Yorker just yet, but Chicago now has its own long-form magazine—if “magazine” is the right word for The Chicagoan, a print and digital publication that’s charged itself with “documenting the arts, culture, innovators and history of Chicago and the greater Midwest.” Under publisher and editor J.C. Gabel, the man behind now-defunct arts and culture magazine Stop Smiling, the non-profit organization has released its first issue, a 200-page glossy with essays, interviews, fiction, and poetry centered on and around Chicago.

“The Chicagoan,” the magazine’s opening “case statement” says, “was founded to provide an outlet for the vibrant culture of the city and the Midwest that is too often stinted, distorted or ignored by nation publications.” With 26 stories and almost 200-pages of ad-free content, the first issue meets that goal pretty well. “Each piece included in this first issue, we feel, couldn’t have appeared anywhere else,” writes Gabel, and he’s probably right—what other Chicago publication would give 25,000 words for a feature? Even at 47-pages, though, Josh Schollmeyer’s oral history of Siskel and Ebert looks like it’s well worth the read.

The big question for The Chicagoan will be whether it can survive in a time where publications like the non-profit Chicago News Cooperative have had to suspend operations because of funding issues. The non-profit organization plans to publish print issues biannually, an electronic-exclusive long-form piece monthly, update coverage on its website daily, and hold events throughout the city regularly; all of which looks like its going to be funded through donations and annual memberships.

The magazine itself, which features a 1929 image of a tough-guy newsvendor on its cover, is sold like a book and runs for $20 at independent booksellers like 57th Street Books and the Seminary Co-Op here on the South Side. Its cover hearkens back to the original incarnation of The Chicagoan, a Depression-era, New Yorker-style magazine that went under in 1935. (The University of Chicago Press, which published a well-received book on the magazine several years ago, has a nice online collection of old covers here.)

Avoiding the old Chicagoan’s fate will be a tough task, but still, if publications like The Believer can do it, there’s no reason The Chicagoan can’t. As Gabel said in an interview with Time Out Chicago, “If this thing doesn’t sell, then we didn’t do a good job.”

You’ve done well, Mr. Gabel. Best of luck.

Happy New year, theatre-goers! Yes, it is a bit late for that sentiment. Nonetheless, it is a good new year, full of new performances for you and I to go see. Let’s have a short review of the Log for this year before I dive into the topic for this post, which is Jedlicka Performing Arts Center and their new production, “A Grand Night for Singing.”

We have some interesting plays going on right now in several places. The Jackie Alexander play “The Legend of Buster Neal” is up right now at eta Creative Arts- Jackie is an award winning playwright whom eta has worked with before, namely on last year’s production of “Birthright”. Jackie’s plays are not something to miss! Also going on at the moment is Court Theatre’s new adaptation of Ralph Ellison’s classic “Invisible Man”, which is an epically proportioned performance that may catapult this text into award-winning theatre. Let’s not forget the Hyde Park Players who charm us with their homey-styled performances. Two Inge plays are going up at once with HPP- go out and support the little guys who make the real theatre world proud.

Finally, we get to Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, out on the fringe of the Weekly’s territory. JPAC is always putting up exciting productions of musicals, such as last year’s “Phantom”, which employed more gallons of fog machine liquid than actors- not to downplay the magnificence of the performance itself.

If you enjoy a large musical feeling without wanting to go downtown and paying through the nose to get it, head over to JPAC. Their current production, “A Grand Night for Singing”, is a revue of Rodgers and Hammerstein tunes, sure to give you that happy, old theatre world feel, sure to make you dance into the streets when it’s over. Here’s an interesting version of the revue, as performed at the University of Kentucky: http://youtu.be/jFpza3lVep8 . JPAC is sure to bring a similar, large musical feel to the play. S

One of the great things about JPAC is that it is located at a small college, which ensures that the students get to see quality theatre on a regular basis. Support for JPAC always feels good.

Go out and see a play before the winter comes back and snows us all in!

-Eric Shoemaker

The Log:

A Grand Night for Singing @ JPAC: Jan 13-28

Downward Facing @ Dream Theatre: Jan27-Feb20

Bittersweet Love: Two One-Act Plays- Glory in the Flower & The Strains of Triumph @ Hyde Park Players: Feb 10-12

Invisible Man @ Court Theatre: Jan12-Feb19

The Legend of Buster Neal @ eta Creative Arts: Jan12-Mar4

A Weekend of Original Workshops @ University Theater: Feb2-4

Drawer Boy @ Filament Theater: Jan19-Feb25

Via General Economy Exquisite Exchange

At the entrance to G.E.E.E., a new exhibit at the Hyde Park Arts Center, a sign declares, “neighborly currency is the operative currency.” It’s true. G.E.E.E., or General Economy Exquisite Exchange, is all about things we share with neighbors. More than that, the exhibit questions what else we exchange when we buy or sell something.

G.E.E.E., which advertises itself as a “post-retail space,” is an exhibit that focuses on bartering. Visitors can take home any item so long as they leave another of equal value, or deposit sufficient cash into the provided piggy bank. If an item was donated to G.E.E.E., visitors are welcome to take it home for free. The exhibit operates on an honor system, though visitors are encouraged to record their exchanges in a logbook. At the end of each month, the exhibit’s curators make large charts on brown paper which show the exchanges made. Sometimes the visitors write little messages, such as “Happy Holidays!” in the logbook. These missives are dutifully copied to the charts as well.

The items featured at G.E.E.E. are supposed to be the types of things that you’d share with a neighbor–seeds, jam, cookbooks. Inside, the exhibit feels like the home of your artist neighbor. Whimsical art lines the walls, and a bookshelf is broken down into sections entitled “New Years Resolutions” and “Vegetarian and Healthy Cookbooks.” In August and September, a rooftop garden lets visitors pick their own black cherry tomatoes. In the winter, different plants, equally welcoming, bloom inside. Some of the larger plants are decorated with ornaments made from pomegranate slices. These ornaments recall the legend of Persephone and serve as a welcome reminder that after every cold and dormant season comes spring.

A placard at the entrance of the exhibit, near these plants, offers a quote from Marcel Mauss’s The Gift: “They exchange rather courtesies, entertainments, ritual, military assistance, women, children, dances, feasts.” Another sign, chalked by the exhibit’s curators, reads, “Trade with transparency, kindness, and <3.”   Overall, G.E.E.E. encourages us to reflect upon what we usually exchange when we buy our commodities, and the ways in which this experience could be different.

Yesterday, City Council approved a map for Chicago’s 50 aldermanic wards. The decision comes after a many-month saga of debate both in and out of city hall.

“This has taken longer than the Sistine Chapel,” said 40th ward alderman Pat O’Connor to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Discussions got so heated in early December Aldermen almost came to blows in a racially tinged argument. According to the Sun-Times:

[Richard] Mell was described as genuinely “afraid somebody was gonna hit him.” A police officer was summoned to the third-floor to restore order. At one point, Ald. Pat O’Connor (40th), Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Council floor leader, told Mell to shut up because he was exacerbating racial tensions, a source said.

Luckily, the new map passed without too much bloodletting. However the map puts six incumbents on the chopping block, including Alderman Bob Fioretti who attempted to delay the vote by employing a parliamentary maneuver. Mayor Rahm Emanuel promptly used a different parliamentary maneuver to counter Fioretti’s motion.

In the subsequent vote, the city map passed by a 41 to 8 vote; it takes exactly 41 aldermen to skirt a costly referendum; a referendum in 1991 cost taxpayers a whopping $20 million. So when it is time for Chicagoans to vote on March 20th, they will not be forced to choose between two rival versions of the map.

Some major changes are being made. As a consequence of Chicago losing over 200,000 African Americans in the past decade, the black caucus will lose one aldermanic seat. Conversely, the Latino Caucus, due to their 25,000 person increase, will get 13 Hispanic wards as opposed to their current eight. Englewood downsized from six wards to five.

But City Council isn’t completely out of the woods; although a referendum is being avoided, other parties could potentially file a lawsuit against the city if they deem the map unfair.

For previous coverage, check out our article.

Although the weather has grown colder and winter with its wind and ice stands threateningly around the corner, there is still time to take a walk outside and enjoy the Chicago’s urban landscape. First on your list of destinations should be the neighborhood of Pullman where the Historic Pullman Foundation leads neighborhood tours.

Before beginning your wanderings, be sure to stop first at the Historic Pullman Foundation’s Visitor Center, located in the Arcade building on the corner of 112th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. Open on Tuesdays through Sundays from 11am to 3:00pm, the Center has a host of information about Pullman’s history and the efforts to preserve historical buildings and sites. Pullman, which was established in 1880 by railroad industrialist George Pullman as a place of residence for his employees. Dubbed as “the world’s most perfect town” in 1896, Pullman was intended to be the model town with 1000 neat, brick houses complete with a small yard and beautiful public buildings. Today, the Visitor Center houses some keepsakes from the neighborhood’s inception from original furniture, railroad travel souvenirs, and models of Pullman train cars.

Of course, the best way to get a picture of Pullman is to see the buildings themselves. Many of the original homes are still standing and the Historic Pullman Foundation and its volunteers have worked over the years to prevent the destruction and dismantling of various landmarks, such as the Hotel Florence and the Clock Tower and Factory. These preservation efforts make Pullman the perfect haunt for history and architecture buffs, especially those interested in America’s Industrial Revolution.

Currently, there are two types of tours available. Those looking to explore on their own can pick up a map at the Visitor Center, which lists the must-see sites and provide a comprehensive introduction to Pullman. Just in time for the holiday season, the Historic Pullman Foundation is also offering their annual Candlelight Walk. Held on Sunday, December 11th starting at 3:30pm and ending at 7:00pm, visitors will be able to join a guided tour through the neighborhood decorated for the holidays. Advance tickets cost $35 and include the tour, hors d’ouevers, and dessert afterwards. The Candlelight Walk makes a perfect way to enjoy an afternoon complete with history, food, and holiday cheer before the Visitor Center closes for the holidays. With the beauty of both the decorations and the architecture of the buildings themselves, a visit to Pullman is the perfect supplement to any weekend on the town.

Historic Pullman Foundation, 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. (773)785-8901. $35 pullmanil.org

The day after Thanksgiving is touted as the biggest shopping day of the year, but skip the mobs at the department stores this year. Instead, head to the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen for a new take on holiday shopping. This Friday through Sunday, from 10am-5pm, visitors will have the chance to peruse shelves of authentic Mexican folk art, a perfect opportunity to find home decorations and gifts for family members and friends.

Mercado Navideño, translated as “Christmas market,” harkens to the street markets found in Germany and Austria in celebration of the holiday. While it will be held inside the museum’s confines rather than the thoroughfares of Pilsen, it nonetheless promises the same variety found in any Christkindlmarkt. Past Mercados Navideños have showcased colorful weavings and fabrics, delicately painted figurines, sturdy pieces of pottery, intricate carvings, gorgeous jewelry, and books on Mexican food and culture. This year promises a unique collection of goods crafted by regional artists in Mexico, guaranteeing a collection of offerings that will make an impression to gift buyers and recipients alike.

Entry to the museum and the market is free, and as an added bonus, members of the museum can receive 30% off on all purchases on Friday between 10am-12pm and 25% off on the other days and times. Even if holiday shopping is not high on your to-do list right now, a quick visit will still leave you with an inside look at a rich and diverse collection of crafts and wares. Plus, those still hungry for more Mexican art can stop by the museum and take a stroll through the museum’s current exhibition, especially Claro y Oscuro featuring Chicago artist Elsa Muñoz and closing the same day that the market opens.

In one visit, you can get a helping of beautiful things, burn some calories, avoid the crazy mobs, and find the gifts that will make your gift recipients the envy of every holiday party. What better way to start of the holiday shopping season and digest your Thanksgiving meal than to dive into Mercado Navideño?

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. (312)738-1503. Free. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Courtesy of University Theatre

It has suddenly become winter- there are no leaves left on any of the trees because the cold winds blew them off one day last week, when Chicago’s weather just decided to give up and slide into frigidity. But not to worry—there’s still some time to catch the end of the autumn theatre season here on the South Side. I’m going to get out and see University Theater’s “The Homecoming” this Saturday, as many of you should.

Harold Pinter is absolutely one of the greatest of modern playwrights, and “The Homecoming” is perhaps his greatest work—therefore, it is well worth seeing. The story focuses on a family: one of the sons brings home a wife, much to the jealous rage of his brothers and father, who immediately plot his downfall…and perhaps the seduction of his bride. Strange! Yes. But full of dramatic possibility. This production is directed by Will Bishop, who directed the successful “Red Light Winter” last winter quarter with UT. We can only hope that he keeps a similarly poignant and surprising style with “The Homecoming”.

Courtesy of University Theatre

This production will be top-notch. The set looks pretty fantastic, the cast is talented. Tickets are only $6. You read that absolutely right, SIX DOLLARS! You can reserve them online by clicking on the link below in The Log.

There’s not much time left before winter strikes! Due to the holidays beginning, Thanksgiving being next Thursday already, I won’t be posting a blog. Enjoy your holiday and look for the next post coming the week of the 28^th of November.

-Eric Shoemaker

Because many shows are closing and the winter season is beginning, The Log has been updated to include shows for early next year- look forward to those while catching the final performances of shows this year!

The Log…

The Homecoming @ UT: Nov17-19

Henry V @ UT: Nov 30- Dec 3

The Violet Hour @ UT: Dec 1-3

Coriolanus @ CES: Dec 1-4

An Iliad @ Court Theatre: Nov10-Dec11

Broke-ology @ eta Creative Arts: Nov3-Dec18

It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play @ Beverly Arts Center: Dec 2-4, 9-11

A Grand Night for Singing @ JPAC: Jan 13-38

Downward Facing @ Dream Theatre: Jan27-Feb20

Bittersweet Love: Two One-Act Plays- Glory in the Flower & The Strains of Triumph @ Hyde Park Players: Feb 10-12

There is an ivy colored brick building on 5638 S. Woodlawn Avenue in Hyde Park. Once a mansion in its glory days at the turn of the century, it has now been converted into a multi-purpose space for cultural and arts events. Inside, there are brightly colored walls and hardwood floors with a variety of resources, including a radio station, artist studios, and a community museum. Rechristened as the Southside Hub of Production (SHoP) and home to a collective of artists, educators, writers, film makers and beyond, the building recently held its grand opening at the beginning of October and has hosted a slew of events since. From film screenings to workshops, exhibitions of artwork to potluck dinners, SHoP caters to a variety of interests and to people of all ages.

Here’s a glimpse of upcoming events:

• Today (Thursday), from 8:00 to 10:00 pm, Origins, an art exhibition sponsored by Beats & Pieces, a community service organization run by University of Chicago students, will feature works, poems, and performances from students and artists from Chicago at large.
• David Drake, pottery maker and poet, will make his first visit to Chicago on Friday to discuss his art and his pieces, which are now found all over the country in museums and private collections.
• For those with a soft spot for cartoon figures and eastern European history, stop by at 6:30 on Saturday for an hour and a half of animated films created in the 1960s when the Berlin Wall still stood. Entitled Grafiky Soumraku: Eastern European Animated Films, this screening includes segments from different countries and different years.

Behind the scenes, SHoP is still developing some of its facilities and working hard to continue to bring a slew of interesting programs and events to the South Side community. To that end, SHoP is seeking yearlong sponsors to support its efforts to be a cornerstone of the art community and has launched an online Kickstarter campaign, lasting for the next twelve days to raise money. Even if you can’t make it to an event, you can still be a patron of the arts by helping SHoP reach its goal of $8000. In any case, no matter what you choose to do, there is plenty to see and do almost every day for anybody who has even a remote interest in the arts or beyond.

For a complete list of events and information about supporting SHoP, visit: http://southsidehub.org/

As another day begins I’m proud to say I’ve survived until 8^th week as a UChicago student. My brain, although fatigued, is mostly still ready to fight but I’m really not sure if my stomach can take it. That’s why I’m passing on dining hall food this Thursday and heading over to Cedar’s Mediterranean Kitchen for an event that will allow me to revive my stomach until I get to gobble down turkey on Thanksgiving and help out some genuinely needy people in the process.

This Thursday, November 17, Cedar’s Mediterranean Kitchen, located at 53^rd & Woodlawn, will donate 15% of their proceeds from customers with a special flyer to help fight homelessness in a nearby south side Chicago neighborhood.  The event is part of the Student Public Interest Research Groups’ campaign to raise awareness and fight the problems of hunger and homelessness and even falls during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week which runs from November 12-20, 2011. This money that is raised during this event will be donated to the Maria Shelter, which functions as both a homeless shelter and domestic violence center in Englewood. The Maria Shelter provides safe and secure housing and food for women and their children, as well medical and psychological treatment, counseling, and educational opportunities for both mom and her kids.

Remember, to have 15% of your bill benefit the Maria Shelter you must have a flyer. You can either print out a copy of the flyer here or they will be available at the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness table in the Reynolds club Monday and Tuesday afternoon from 1:45 – 4:00pm. At the table you can make a monetary donation if you wish (no pressure) directly towards the Maria Shelter and learn more about hunger and homelessness in the Chicago area.

I’m definitely passing on breakfast burritos, greasy pizza, and questionable soup, but even if you’re sitting down to a nice home cooked meal I hope I’ll see you at the event.

For more information about the Maria Shelter: http://www.instituteofwomentoday.org/iwtPrograms.php

Courtesy of Gordito1869/Wikimedia Commons

Three days ago in our very own Chicago, a grand event took place. One that had been widely publicized, even garnering an event page on the prestigious Facebook. What am I talking about? Did Obama come to Hyde Park? Not exactly. I’m referring to Una Noche de Paella, at which Mexican Consul Eduardo Arnal Palomero indeed played chef for the day at the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), cooking up some of his delicious paella.

Let’s first get down to the facts. A rice dish (in simplest terms), paella is traditional to the Valencia region of Spain, and generally contains vegetables, seasonings, seafood, meat, beans…and obviously rice. It is famous for being cooked in a large, round, shallow pan—an all-too important fact since the dish got its name from the Latin term patella meaning pan, although many Arabic-speaking nations take the credit, citing their own بقية (baqiyya), meaning leftovers (which they would essentially mix together in a Moorish dish similar to the paella), as paella’s real etymological ancestor.

To my own knowledge, Palomero has not won any prizes in paella-making. The official Guinness World Record holder for the world’s largest paella is still Juan Galbis, who made a dish that fed roughly 100,000 people back in 1992 (picture above). Galbis then broke his own record in 2001, that time feeding 110,000 people. It should be noted that this accomplishment was entirely self-proclaimed by Galbis on his website and not supervised by any Guinness specialists. Maybe Palomero was trying to bring the paella back to the global spotlight, perhaps even claim Galbis’ unrivaled title? It would make sense, seeing as the paella has lost its competitive charm over the years. It is commonly considered merely a delicious main course dish without any competitive appeal. Even hot dogs have a better competitive reputation than paella!

With NMMA’s emphasis on Palomero’s “delicious” paella, they could have also been trying to put out the message that not only can paella last as a competitive art, but it can also prosper in the sphere of subjective competitions, up there with Iron Chef and the UK’s National Chili Awards’ Amateur Sauce Contest. Or “delicious” paella, rather than “average” paella or just “paella,” was a better business move to get more people to attend. Who wants to pay $125 for “average” paella? You better be getting something “delicious”! Since the NMMA is “a first voice institution for the Mexican community,” perhaps this event was Mexico’s way of challenging Spain in claiming the better tasting dish. But Palomero simply could have wanted to spend some quality time with and befriend Chicago residents. As the saying has it, the way to someone’s mind is through their belly.

Uh-oh! Looks like Palomero has some competition, as professional chef Ayo makes what Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi calls “the best paella”:

I would have done some hardcore investigative journalism on this story, but how awkward would it have been to call the NMMA and say: “Hello. I would like to inquire as to why Mr. Eduardo Arnal Palomero has been invited to cook me and my friends his ‘delicious’ paella? What exactly are his qualifications to act as chef? And what makes his paella so ‘delicious’?” So I’ll leave it a mystery—plus, who doesn’t love a good mystery? Why was the Mexican Consul brought to cook his special paella? Was it simply an act of altruism?  Were there other intentions?  I guess we’ll never really know.

Courtesy of the Court Theatre

Court Theatre’s “An Iliad” opened this week- Thursday, precisely! Court states, “Directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, An Iliad illuminates an ancient classic by taking a harrowing look at the human cost of war.” Of course, we all know the story of Homer’s Iliad, but have we ever heard it from the perspective of Homer? No! And have we ever seen any one person try to take on the retelling of the entire epic by himself? No! And have we ever witnessed the double-Jeff-Award-winning-talents of Charlie Newell wrassle with Homer’s classic poetry? Well, I haven’t. It’s been a while since Court put on a classical work- since “Thyestes” in ’07-’08. In my opinion, it will be a treat to see the classical retake Court’s stage.

Here’s an Interesting Video on the design behind “An Iliad”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzyhJ7tL3pw&feature=player_embedded

In related news, UChicago’s Classical Entertainment Society (who will soon be putting up Shakespeare’s “Coriolanus”) is sponsoring a Homerathon of the Iliad! This means that, for a full 24 hour period, the Iliad will be read aloud on Court’s stage, in celebration of the opening of the play. Various players, from Classics professors to University Theater students to walk-ins (yes, people who walk in can participate) will have the opportunity to read from the perennially entertaining work. Sounds cool, eh?

Equally cool are two plays closing this week, Jedlicka’s “Wait Until Dark” and Filament’s “From the Circle”. From here until December, the darkness will get longer and the number of productions will flux- so get out and see one.

-Eric

The Log:

Wait Until Dark @ Jedlicka Performing Arts Center: Oct28-Nov12

From the Circle @ Filament Theater: Sept 30-Nov 13

An Iliad @ Court Theatre: Nov10-Dec11

Broke-ology @ eta Creative Arts: Nov3-Dec18

The Homecoming @ UT: Nov 17-19

Courtesy of mlk.uchicago.edu

Some may think the beginning of November is too soon to start thinking about the upcoming holidays in December, let alone Martin Luther King Day, a whole two months away. UChicago begs to differ. In anticipation of the MLK Day Celebration, scheduled to be held at Rockefeller Chapel on January 12 (for those early planners out there), the University has created the Dream Wall

Last Monday, the Dream Wall made its first appearance on the Quad. Resembling a moveable chalkboard, it attracted plenty of visitors of all ages. After a few hours, the board was covered with Post-Its with handwritten sentiments. From now until December 7th, the Dream Wall will appear in various locations and offer the opportunity for anyone who is passing by to share an aspiration (or ten), from the goals and hopes for yourself or the world at large. As the Dream Wall makes its rounds, the accumulated notes will be collected and eventually displayed at the MLK Day Celebration.

Those who miss the Dream Wall on campus can still participate by submitting their dreams online through Twitter (#MLKDream) or on dream.uchicago.edu. If sending dreams via the internet is not quite your style, submissions will also be accepted by mail. All contributions sent in by December 23rd will be included in what will sure to be an exceptional display.

For more information about the Dream Wall and submissions, see http://mlk.uchicago.edu/page/voice-your-dream

Courtesy of America: Now and Here

The truck parked outside of the Smart Museum yesterday was not there to make a delivery – at least, not the kind of delivery one would expect.

“LOOK FOR THE MOMENT WHEN PRIDE BECOMES CONTEMPT,” and a quote attributed to H.G. Wells, “HUMAN HISTORY BECOMES MORE AND MORE A RACE BETWEEN EDUCATION AND CATASTROPHE,” read some of the statements printed along the length of the truck. The large, capitalized block letters boldly demanded the attention of the passerby.

The tractor-trailer is part of the touring art installation “America: Now and Here,” led by artist Eric Fischl. The culmination of this project is planned for fall 2012, when a convoy of six 18-wheelers will journey cross-country. The trucks will stop in eight yet-to-be-determined regions, linking together in each location to serve as a gallery and event space. Along with this mobile museum of art, the installation will include programs to involve the public in a mission of creating dialogue about America.

The current Chicago installment, featuring the tractor-trailer whose exterior was designed by artist Barbara Kruger, is a precursor to the 2012 road trip. The truck has been traveling through the city since November 4^th, and is spending its last day here today at the Hyde Park Art Center, on view from 8am till 9 pm.

The unadorned design of the text on the Kruger truck lets the statements themselves be the viewer’s focus. The back of the truck reads, “PLEASE KEEP YOUR DISTANCE;” while reminiscent of the standard safety warning on the back of trucks, it clearly invited further implications and interpretations. True to the installment’s mission, these statements provoke the viewer to think critically about what they mean in the context of America’s current state.

The truck delivers not commercial goods, but an innovative artistic vision coupled with a challenge to engage in discussions about the world in which we live.

For more information on America: Now and Here, visit www.americanowandhere.org

Courtesy of the Chicago Arts District

It’s Friday! Friday! Gotta get down on Friday. I realize I’ve just committed a cardinal sin of blogging because I’ve probably just alienated all of my readers by starting a post with Rebecca Black lyrics, but for those of you who are still reading this, hear me out. Miss Black may have made some mistakes in her time (namely deciding to make music) but we should all take her nasally words of wisdom to heart—when this Friday rolls around everyone should be partyin’, partyin’.

This weekend, the Chicago Arts District Neighborhood (previously named Pilsen East) will once again host its monthly 2nd Fridays Gallery Night. As the name suggests, on the 2^nd Friday of every month galleries and receptions open their doors to display unique artwork of all mediums, including paintings, sculptures, live performances, poetry and short story readings, and more. The event spreads across 30 locations around the Halsted and 18^th Street area and showcases the work of artists from Chicago neighborhoods and beyond. Plus entrance to all of the galleries, receptions, and performances is completely free.

The 2^nd Friday Gallery Night for November will be held this Friday the 11^th from 6-10pm. If you do find the time to visit the event you’ll have the opportunity to explore an array of studios including Mambo Marilyn’s, which features Haitian Art in the form of Vodu altars and beaded work; The Bad Grammar Theater Chicago where authors will read published work every half hour; and a gallery featuring the work of Brian Manci. Not only will this night highlight very unique and interesting artwork but there’s also a chance you could meet and talk with creators of some of your favorite pieces as many of the artists attend the event and remain in their galleries for the night.

Upon arriving in the neighborhood this weekend, make sure to stop at 1821 S. Halsted Street to pick up a map to help you find your way around the area and from one gallery to the next. Also if you’re looking for more information about the event and the other artists featured that night visit the Chicago Arts District website at http://www.chicagoartsdistrict.org.

Courtesy of UCDancers

With the UCDancers’ annual Winter Show audition tonight from 7:00-9:00pm at the Bartlet Arts Rehearsal Space (BARS), I thought I would shed some light on the UofC’s oldest dance organization.

Unlike many dance groups on campus, UCDancers focuses on contemporary and modern technique while emphasizing student choreography and improvisation. Approximately three times a week, the student organization holds free jazz/modern classes for all levels of experience. In the beginning of the fall quarter, interested students can sign up as prospective choreographers, which gives them the chance to teach one of the group’s weekly classes and possibly choreograph a routine for the Winter Show—the culmination of each and every dancer’s hard work. The event this year, titled Wanderlust, will be held March 2-4, 2012 at BARS and will feature student choreography and one professionally-choreographed piece.  But no worries—all dancers don’t have to be in the show. They can just easily take the weekly classes for some fun exercise if they don’t want too much commitment.

The always-handy YouTube provides some UCDancers back in 2009 practicing for their show:

Video courtesy of jesshester88 on YouTube

To keep up to date with UCDancers read their blog at http://ucdancers.blogspot.com/ and keep your ears open for more info on the Winter Show.

This week’s issue of the Weekly featured eta Creative Arts Foundation and the expansion project that they are running. Some supplementary material that eta provided fell by the wayside in the course of writing the article, so I want to share that with you now, in photo form.

There are some very exciting things happening at eta, as always. I fully encourage you to go over there and see what’s up.

Courtesy of eta Creative Arts

This is an artist’s rendering of eta’s new space, which will go up across the street from their current location at 7558 S. Chicago Avenue. Pretty spiffy, eh?

Courtesy of eta Creative Arts

Courtesy of eta Creative Arts

The next two pictures are of eta’s gallery space: the event, “Music Mondays”, is held on the 2nd Monday in each month and takes place in the gallery.

Courtesy of eta Creative Arts

Courtesy of eta Creative Arts

These last two pictures are production photos of “Broke-ology”, eta’s new mainstage show, the details of which are listed below in the Log. Go check it out! eta is a great venue that gives a platform for new writers and actors to show their talent in a neighborhood of the city that is in need of artists. Show your support for this mainstay of the South Side.

There are several excellent shows this week, including The Physicists and Broke-ology. Since it might be raining all weekend, it’s the perfect time to get out and see some performances. And look forward to the opening of An Iliad at Court Theatre next week!

-Eric Shoemaker

The Log

Wait Until Dark @ Jedlicka Performing Arts Center: Oct28-Nov12

From the Circle @ Filament Theater: Sept 30-Nov 13

Broke-ology @ eta Creative Arts: Nov3-Dec18

An Iliad @ Court Theatre: Nov10-Dec11

The Homecoming @ UT: Nov17-19

Although I found myself remaining in Hyde Park this weekend at the UofC, some of my friends took a trip to Pilsen and returned with two white paper bags filled with pastries. The baked goods, from Nuevo Leon Bakery, came in an array of shapes, colors, and textures. For just a little over six dollars, there were enough portions to serve eight people and still have leftovers. After a longwinded search for clean plates and knives, we split the freshly baked goods into bite sized portions.

Our makeshift dessert spreads covered all ranges of flavors and forms. A flat golden brown pancake surprised us with its cornbread flavor and denseness. Under a delicate dusting of powdered sugar, jelly rolls leaked fruit preserves from its ends while an empanada kept its apple filling sealed tight within its flaky pastry shell. One bun had concentric circles of a crisp, sugary topping with dough so light and airy that it weighed almost nothing. Coconut covered a ball of lemony cake that had been filled with a thin layer of raspberry jam. The most popular item among us was a donut sandwich whose middle was filled with a smooth, creamy custard.

While eating these delicious creations was no substitute for seeing Pilsen in the flesh, it did provide a sneak preview of sorts. The Mexican desserts highlighted one of the many reasons why Pilsen should be on everyone’s “to explore” list, even if you live in the neighborhood. On some level, the goods were familiar, resembling foods that we had eaten without much thought or found in local bakeries in our own hometowns. However, it was clear that they were imbued with their own unique, nuanced flavors and steeped in equally unique cultural traditions that could not be found elsewhere. The desserts are now long gone, but what remains is the awareness that there is a neighborhood with plenty to eat and plenty to explore.

On Friday, November 4^th, Trinity United Church of Christ will be hosting a free screening of the documentary “Hip Hop Rev,” sponsored by the 20 Something Ministy and the Trinity Justice Watch Team.

“Hip Hop Rev” (official trailer below) focuses on Lennox Yearwood Jr., a Louisiana-born civil rights and environmental activist, the founder of the human rights organization Hip Hop Caucus, and a Christian minister. It follows the reverend to his birthplace, specifically to post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, the birthplace of Hip Hop Caucus. The documentary shows a year in Yearwood’s life, during which he also embarked on a national Clean Energy Bus Tour under the Alliance for Climate Protection, the brainchild of former Vice President Al Gore. Yearwood has earned his respect among circles of both politicians and activists for his persistent determination and for choosing to work amongst the people instead of from within a church.

Video courtesy of HipHopCaucus on YouTube

The hour-long film was commissioned by Discovery Network’s Planet Green channel, a platform that focuses on the progress in the sustainability movement.

After the screening there will be a period of bible study and a social justice panel featuring the night’s sponsors. They plan to discuss the prison industrial complex and economic justice, among other issues.

Fellowship Hall, Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St. November 4. Friday, 7pm. (773)962-5650

Although mention of refugees may conjure images of foreign conflicts and far-away lands, an upcoming charity dinner aims to bring the issues to the forefront of minds here in Chicago.

Partnership for the Advancement of Refugee Rights, an UChicago student organization, is hosting the November 19^th event. The Eat So They Can charity dinner aims to raise community awareness of refugee issues in Chicago and worldwide, with all proceeds going to local nonprofits.

The two beneficiary nonprofits, RefugeeOne and Heartland Alliance, will use the funds to provide food vouchers or direct meals to refugee families in Chicago in need of assistance. RefugeeOne is a refugee resettlement agency that provides assistance in areas ranging from finding housing to obtaining medical care to approximately 2,500 people a year. Heartland Alliance is a human rights organization with a wider scope, though it likewise provides crucial services to refugees in the Chicago area.

The event will include a buffet of multi-ethnic food, and PARR hopes to welcome a speaker from each of the nonprofits to give more information on the refugee issues in which they are involved in Chicago. PARR will also be sharing information on refugee situations worldwide.

The event is co-sponsored by a number of other RSO’s, including SJP, UCIRR, the Human Rights Program, ACLUofC, and UCDems. Tickets will be on sale for $5 in advance in Reynolds Club from November 14^th-18^th, or may be purchased at the door for $6. Eat So They Can will take place Saturday, November 19^th from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in the Library and Library Lounge of Ida Noyes.

Hannah Fullmer

I stared at the painting for nearly ten minutes. I didn’t move or blink; I just stared. I must have looked a bit ridiculous with my neck bent, head tilted far back so I could take in the whole painting at once, but I was entranced. A canvas, which stretched floor to ceiling, featured an intricate white skull, highlighted by neon yellow, blue and pink. The black light installed just above the canvas intensified the three hues. The painting was captivating, and, like most of the artwork in the 25th Annual Dia de los Muertos Exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art, it was hauntingly beautiful.

The exhibit collected Day of the Dead related artwork by artists from across the country and Mexico, featuring vibrant artwork in a variety of media: sculptures, paintings, needlework, and wall installations, to name a few. In one installation, twenty or thirty clay body bag tags hung from white ribbon of varying lengths, creating a cloud dripping to the floor.

Hannah Fullmer

Another portion of the exhibit included examples of altars created in the same manner as those erected for the real Day of the Dead holiday. These altars were produced by artists and commemorated local individuals and important other figures in the artists’ life that have passed away. Other facets of the exhibit include a community commemoration wall which allows museum-goers to post a small note on the wall remembering a loved one. Finally, visitors could also watch a demonstration on how sugar skulls are made. Afterwards, sugar skulls were available for purchase from the gift shop, with the option to have them personalized for a small wait.

Overall, the Day of the Dead exhibit was a beautiful and interesting sampling of Mexican artwork and more importantly Mexican character and culture. If you find that you have spare time on an upcoming November weekend, head to Pilsen and soak up some of the artwork this museum has to offer.

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. (312)738-1503. Free. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org