Hot summer day. Imagine wasting money hiring a plane to fly an anti-abortion banner over the beach on such a beautiful day? Somebody did, and I suspect nobody paid much attention. It didn't matter whether they were pro or con. Hot summer day.
McCann
Tonight it was vocalist Tammy McCann and guitarist Mike Allemana. As was true back in the Seventies, you might not think that the two musicians could keep it going for two one-hour sets, but you would be very wrong. Like Ella and Pass, and Eldridge and Peterson, tonight's performers captivated their audience.
Underpass
This ad raises truth-in-advertising issues: The Cubs are playing the Mets today, but the sentiment is nice nevertheless. As of late, I have been thinking about two-level perspective, Kinda fun.
SUVs
Ah, but aren't these the same people I see driving Land Rovers around town. Must be, take a look at the boats that have docked. All it takes is three boats to block everyone's view. Baby, you're a rich man.
Pride
Today was the annual Gay Pride Day Parade in Chicago. Attendance was down; it was an hour shorter by my estimate; the floats and groups never seemed to pause as they had in years past-- possibly reflecting security concerns; and the politicians flocked by even though they have nothing to be proud about. As the Gay community has become more mainstream, the parade has become more corporate and much of the outlandishness has receded with the hairlines of parade participants. Imagine seeing Boeing, Northrup Grumman, Aon, or KMPG at a Gay rights parade in 1969, but then, times have changed since Stonewall.
Judith
Stein has been there since the beginning. She is chief fundraiser, booster, and goodwill ambassador. Everyone in Chicago jazz circles knows the exuberant Stein, who is seen at events throughout the City. Like the Postal Service, wind, sleet, and snow don't slow her down.
Berman
Meanwhile, the crowd was enjoying a delicious dinner from the catering department, as well as the barbecue on the lower terrace. The figs, Italian meats, and cheese looked particularly tempting. And this was the first evening where the skies were that rich blue color that everyone associates with summer.
RL
Of course RL is the restaurant attached to the Ralph Lauren store at the corner of Michigan and Chicago. Lots of stylish people lunching in the dining room and outdoors on the sidewalk terrace. And with stylish people come stylish children.
I had never been in the restaurant, but it is exactly what I expected. Its decor is right of a 1920s men's club.
8thBB
The music is very hard to describe. Certainly there were bits of Ravel running throughout it, but I also heard Joe Sample's piano from the Crusaders, some Philip Glass minimalism, and some nice jazz bass solos. If you pushed me, I'd also say that there were strains of Frank Zappa's orchestral music and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, but on a very unamplified basis. Ulery even sang on the second from last number.
Lit
When I arrived, the light was spectacular, but there were no people. When the people arrived, the sky was a washed out grey, with no shadows anywhere. Some days you just can't win. I walked over the Blues Festival, stopping on the way for a single Dunkin' Donut (230 calories).
Orlando
For the last 23 years, I have lived on the edge of Chicago's Boystown. Tonight the LGBT community held a rally/vigil in recognition of what happened in Orlando, Florida this morning. There was a very heavy police and media presence. Somewhere around 1,000 people turned out to hear speeches from community and religious leaders.
Cooler
Taking Youthful Enthusiasim Under the Arm of Grizzled Experience
First up was Charlie Love. Basic blues, but excellent blues. Charlie called one Steven up from the audience. This Chicago teen had his chops down, performing three or four numbers with a cracker jack band. Steven held his own. And he has the red and orange shirt thing going on for him.
Hotter
Toward the end of his set, Theo asked if three lovely ladies would join him on stage for some hip shaking. A couple of the women who volunteered knew how to shake their hips. I give a lot of credit to the 89-year old lady who jumped up at the opportunity to join Theo.
Hot
"Blow Your Harmonica Son"
The Chicago Blues Festival opened today as temperatures soared above 90 degrees, with the City's streets clogged by pedestrians and vehicles. Even with sirens blaring, the police found themselves stuck in traffic.
Meanwhile, blues music often blared from four stages in Grant Park.
Mallinger
The winter chill returned to Chicago today, but Chicago saxophonist Pat Mallinger brought a trio to the Museum of Contemporary Art warm the day and kick off the Tuesdays Jazz on the Terrace annual series. With Mallinger, were Pete Benson on piano and Matt Ferguson on bass.
Bridges
What started as a cloudy Sunday afternoon turned into glare. Not necessarily a bad thing. The new London House Hotel opened about ten days ago.
GreenRiver
Nothing like a colonoscopy to make me hungry, particularly after the 24-four fast and liquid cleansing. After my last procedure, we went to Michael Jordan's Steakhouse in the Intercontinental Hotel. Michael makes a mean steak.
Today, we decided to try GreenRiver, a restaurant that is on the 18th floor of one of Northwestern Medical's buildings.
1550
1550 North State Parkway is about as classic and high-end as Chicago residential architecture goes. Bordering the southend of Lincoln Park, the building glows in the afternoon sunlight.
