Finally
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, I attended a pro-Israeli demonstration outside the Tribune Tower adjacent to the river. The group was spirited. Surprisingly, there was not a single counter-demonstrator. Here are my further thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
DNC Preview?
During Monday’s pro-Palestinian rally, the Chicago Police Department changed the rules of the game in a likely precursor to August’s Democratic National Convention. There were arrests. Here are my thoughts about and images from the demonstration.
Humanities & Happiness
I had the opportunity to attend a conversation between New York Times columnist David Brooks and his wife, Ann Snyder tonight. The focus was on the role of the humanities in our life, particularly as people find themselves midway into their careers or racing toward retirement. Here are my thoughts about and images from the event, which was held in the David Rubenstein Forum on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus.
Biden Meet and Greet
President Joe Biden came to Chicago today for a fundraiser just off North Michigan Avenue. No surprise: pro-Palestinian demonstrators showed up, as did I. Here are my thoughts about and photographs from the demonstration.
Six Months In
Today, I attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration marking the six-month anniversary of the war between Israel and Hamas that began on October 7, 2024. Here are my thoughts about and images from today’s demonstration.
Emmet Cohen
Emmet Cohen brought his trio to the University of Chicago’s Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts Friday night for what was a terrific evening of music. Here are my thoughts about and images from the evening’s peformance.
Way of the Cross
Chicago’s Daley Plaza was served as the first station for the annual Way of the Cross processional through the streets of Chicago on Good Friday ending at Holy Name Cathedral. Here are my thoughts from and images from what was an uplifting event—even for nonbelievers.
Eric Alexander
Late Sunday afternoon, I caught Eric Alexander’s set at Chicago’s famed Jazz Showcase. Here are my thoughts about and images from Alexander’s performance.
Greg and Fred
Saturday night I stopped by Mike Reed’s Constellation Chicago to hear alto saxophonist Greg Ward pay tribute to the great Fred Anderson. Here are my thoughts about and images from the performance.
Green
St. Patrick’s Day is the real deal in Chicago, so I headed out to capture those wearin’ the green on Saturday. Much to my surprise, pro-Palestinian demonstrators ‘crashed’ the festivities mid-afternoon. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
Home-Court Advantage
On Saturday, March , 2024, Chicago’s Palestinian community held a march and rally in their own neighborhood—Bridgeview, Illinois—aka ‘Little Palestine.’ I made the hour + pilgrimage to learn about the community. Here are my thoughts about and images from my adventure.
Listing the Dead
On March 7 in Chicago’s Federal Plaza, pro-Palestinian demonstrators came together for a 24-hour vigil where the names of the 30,000+ individuals who had been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 were read aloud—they were unable to read every name because of time constraints. Here are my thoughts about and images from the vigil
Again?
On Monday, March 4, 2023, pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged rallies outside the Chicago offices of the Egyptian and Israeli Consulates General. Here are my thoughts about and images from both rallies.
A Close Call
The weather was beautiful today and I hadn’t been to a Chicago Pro-Palestinian Saturday demonstration in over a month, so I headed to Federal Plaza, where a group of several thousand assembled for a march to the Offices of the Israeli Consulate General. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
RIP Aaron Bushnell
Members of Chicago’s pro-Palestinian Community held a demonstration outside the offices of the Israeli Consulate General last night to honor Aaron Bushnell and the sacrifice made earlier this week when he chose self-immolation. Here are my thoughts about and images from what was a memorial service.
Tenacity
Chicago’s Ukrainian Community marked the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of the community’s homeland with a rally, march, and mass. Here are my thoughts about and images from the anniversary commemoration.
A Show of Support
Russian dissidents who live in Chicago commemorated the second anniversary of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine hours before Chicago’s Ukrainian Community staged its own commemoration. Here are my thoughts about and images from the Russian demonstration and march.
Winter JazzFest
On February 23, 2024, the Jazz Institute of Chicago held its Winter Jazz Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center. The day-long festival provided a welcome and much needed relief from the Winter blahs. Here are my thoughts about and images from the day.
'Play-Group' Protesters
On Presidents’ Day, I attended what might best be described as a ‘play group” pro-Palestinian rally. The toddlers, elementary students, and high schoolers met in Chicago’s Lincoln Park, appropriately under the Honest Abe’s watchful eye, to show their support for the Palestinian People. Here are my thoughts about and images from the rally.