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 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 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.

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.

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

It’s time to christen the Chicago Weekly blog anew, and inaugurate a new flock of dedicated reporters, just begging to give the South Side of Chicago the news it deserves.

This reporter’s Manifest Statement: To provide South Siders with a taste of what their backyard offers in the forms of performing arts and entertainment; to entice others to experience the beauty of theater and it’s dramatic take on the living that we do every day; to ask other South Siders to inform on events occurring on our turf; and to generally entertain with wild notions of what “performance” can be.

Let’s kick things off right with a great example of strikingly odd performance art: Dream Theatre’s Audience Annihilated Part One: Women Only Train, tagline: “All that happens, happens to YOU!” Sounds pretty terrifying with just the title, but get the premise—one to four audience members will play the lead role in a horror play, themed as “the most unexpected horror experience you will ever witness.” When buying tickets, one has the option of buying a “lead role” ticket or an “Observation Gallery” ticket. Personally, I will only be observing. But I cannot imagine making it through the Halloween season without taking a trip to Dream Theatre to see this, surely, unique event, in which the actors attempt to terrify and generally scar the audience members who ask for it.

Video from no4thwall on YouTube

Here’s a short promo clip for the production. The Dream Theatre’s website also has ticket information and an online ticket sales booth. Tickets are only $13, which sounds like a steal to me—would you rather pay to walk passively through a haunted house, or be the center of attention in a play fully prepared to make you scream and shiver?

That being said, some of us (myself included) are a bit less… courageous in the face of almost certain terror, and would prefer to watch others be scared, or act scared, or act in general. This brings me to the final addition to this blog: The Log (for lack of a better term). This is the final portion in which I will list South Side events and performances going up or running in the near future. If you are aware of a performance going on south of Roosevelt that you’d like to tell South Siders about, be sure to let us know.

Watch for weekly updates to The Log and this CW blog series from yours truly. Now get out and enjoy some of these fall performances!

-Eric Shoemaker

The Log

eta Creative Arts Foundation’s Flow: September 15-October 23

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center’s Wait Until Dark: October 28-November 12

Dream Theatre’s Audience Annihilated Part One: Women Only Train: October 20-31

Filament Theater’s From the Circle: September 30-November 13

The Hyde Park Community Players’ An Evening of Classic Horror and Suspense in the Old Time Radio Tradition: October 21 & 22

DV Team: Siobhan Strong, Valencia, Law Roach, Rukey Styles, Christopher Adams. All Photos by Charles Young

Two words describe the scene at Deliciously Vintage this Wednesday evening: pure glam. With the launch of a revamped website, the Pilsen clothing boutique had an excuse to celebrate…and to do so in style.  I was fortunate to find myself on the guest list and dropped by to join the revelry.

The room throbbed with hip-hop beats and loud champagne-induced conversation.  Clothing racks formed vibrant walls and flukes of pink champagne hovered about the room on silver platters.  Guests were kids in a candy store—a chic candy store.  One woman tried on a vintage studded motorcycle jacket.  Upon examining herself in the mirror, she turned to me “Too bad it’s already sold.” She shrugged with a pout.  Dressing room curtains would burst apart and revelers emerged decked out in prospective purchases: dresses, furs, and blouses. “I got this at DV about two years ago,” said one party-goer in a ocean-blue kimono-style cocktail dress.  Another guest worked the room in a cropped snow leopard coat, streaked hair, black leggings, and studded footwear.

I spied co-owner Siobhan Strong on the opposite end of the boutique, obviously the center of attention amongst a plethora of stylish guests.  I spoke with Strong about the new site, speaking loudly over the festive din.  Said Strong: “At first we struggled with the idea of an online store—we wanted to maintain the client-stylist relationship that comes with visiting our actual boutique.”  The clothing featured on the website will be a handpicked collection, shot as high-fashion editorial, and mirroring current trends.  So what’s on DV’s style radar? Strong responds without batting a lash: “The cape. This season is all about the cape and the cloak. Very much town-and-country with lots of tweeds.”  Strong herself looked dazzling in a vintage beaded mini-dress, vintage Diane von Furstenberg blazer and sky-high pumps.

Deliciously Vintage’s new home page features a video, which fuses print editorial and video advertisement.  A demure girl with doe-like eyes and blond Marilyn Monroe coif lounges on sofa in a pink dress and then lingerie. Eartha Kitt’s “I Want to Be Evil” plays in the background.  Steamy? Yes.  Good girl gone bad? More like, good-girl-trying-to-edgily-expand-her-closet.  I asked Co-owner Law Roach to comment: “The ad just felt right and is just how we want to show the perfect Deliciously Vintage girl,” He paused to great a guest with la bise. “Yeah, some people say it’s a little sexy, but that’s what we wanted. Now let’s get you a drink, girl.”

In addition to the new website, DV is starting a blog, has hired a publicist and is poised for success while dressing the part.

Check out Chicago Weekly’s previous coverage of Deliciously Vintage here and the boutique’s new website here

On October 28th, forty three days after parents at Whittier Elementary School in Pilsen began a sit-in to prevent the destruction of the school’s fieldhouse, CPS delivered a letter signed by CEO Ron Huberman that formalized agreements made eight days earlier. The field-house will be leased to the Parent Committee for $1 a year as soon as the group officially incorporates as a nonprofit, and a library will be built for Whittier students. The Whittier Parent Committee officially ended the sit-in that same day, but some questions remain. The parents’ group issued the following statements qualifying their victory:

1) The location of the library has NOT been determined or agreed upon by the Whittier Parent Committee. The parents DID NOT agree to the library being built inside of the Whittier school as the letter from CPS states.

3) We want to make it clear that we are ONLY ending the sit-in portion of the struggle. The Whittier Parent Committee remains in control of the fieldhouse and the programming that is currently taking place in the fieldhouse. We ARE NOT abandoning the fieldhouse nor are we ending our fight for the library. The negotiations will continue!

In the meantime, Huberman has announced that he will be stepping down as head of CPS on November 29th, his resignation apparently hurried along by Mayor Daley, the Sun-Times reports. The Sun-Times’ sources suggest that Huberman’s replacement will likely be Terry Mazany, a former public school administrator and current CEO of the Chicago Community Trust with a much stronger background in public education.

ALSO:a slight correction. In the original text of this article I wrote that proving all of the Parent Committee’s allegations “would require a thorough investigation into TIF funding records, something no major media outlet has attempted.” While it’s true that thorough database reporting is lacking, there have been some important stories on the issue. Ben Joravsky’s pieces for the Chicago Reader are worth reading.

Read the original CW feature on the Whittier occupation here.

Courtesy of Golden Age

Golden Age, a Pilsen gallery and “concept shop” whose exhibitions we’ve covered before, is moving to the West Loop, according to an announcement posted on their website yesterday. In our October 2008 feature on galleries in West Pilsen, co-founder Marco Kane Braunschweiler spoke highly of the neighborhood around Golden Age. “Where there’s open storefronts [around here], those storefronts often turn into galleries,” he told us. “It seems likely that there’ll be a lot more art spaces.” Things are looking a bit different in Pilsen these days, with galleries moving out or closing right and left.

Golden Age’s last open day at its current location will be Sunday, January 24, and they expect to open at their new (undisclosed) location in the West Loop late next month.

The Chicago Art Department offers a chance to get educated during this week’s Second Friday gallery crawl in Pilsen. Its new exhibition Video Art 101 will teach basic video art concepts, addressing such questions as: What is unique about the medium of video?  What are some of the basic techniques?  What are some of the tools and how are they used? Stop by 1837 S. Halsted St. between 6 and 10pm this Friday to learn the answers.

De Colores, a new restaurant, opened on Halsted on the edge of Pilsen just over a week ago. The menu is Mexican with an emphasis on fresh ingredients prepared from scratch. Our meal began with a smokey salsa that the chef had just worked out, and a citrusy tamarind agua fresca. The entrees came out complex, generously portioned, and deliciously rich.

The space also serves as a gallery, and our waiter told us that they were soliciting local music to replace the Massive Attack that was playing over their stereo.

De Colores will be offering free cooking lessons during the monthly Second Friday gallery crawls, starting this Friday at 8pm with salsa and homemade tortillas.

De Colores, 1626 S. Halsted St. Entrees $8-12. (312)226-9886‎.

The Circle Line, a proposed El line which would connect all other CTA lines 2-3 miles outside the Loop, is just a bit closer to being a reality. You can hear all about it when the CTA presents their findings from the third phase of analysis next week. The open houses will be in three locations, including one on the South Side next Thursday at the Benito Juarez Community Academy in Pilsen.

Benito Juarez Community Academy
2150 S. Laflin Street
Thursday, October 1, 2009
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.