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.