Gary, Indiana--The Magic City?

Believe it or not, Gary was named in the Chicago Reader this month as a destination of choice when traveling off the beaten path. I read it and found places I didn't know about even though I was born and raised here. I also recognized tidbits that were left out of the story.

For one, Gary has had many other nicknames including City of the Century, Sin City, and the infamous Murder Capital. The article states that Gary "fell into a depression in the late 1960's." That's not entirely correct. Two unrelated incidents happened in 1967 and 1968 that changed Gary. The first was the election of its first Black mayor, Richard Hatcher. This caused White Flight by the droves. And when they left, their businesses left also. The second was the burning of businesses after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. I think that was the final straw for many remaining White businesses. Prejudice and fear started the depression.

Gary was still considered a Model City in the early 1970's and continued to receive lots of federal dollars. It hosted a National Black Economic Summit in 1972 and people expressed how impressed they were with the city then. Black celebrities came here all the time to visit Hatcher who was also a celebrity in his own right. But when the recession hit the United States in the mid '70's it rang the bell of doom for this city and we have never completely recovered.

The article pointed out places of interest--Miller Beach, Marquette Park, the Indiana Dunes--which are beautiful, better than any beach I have visited in Chicago. It mentioned the two Frank Lloyd Wright houses here also but not the modest cottage where Michael Jackson lived before he became pop king.

Surprisingly, it was a very positive article even if it compared us to Pompeii, "a city of ruins where life seem to have suddenly stopped." Living here all my life, I know Gary as a city of opposites--churches abounding with promises of paradise when you die, vacant houses standing in memorial to broken promises of the past. The citizens who live here either have low expectations and even lower motivation or they possess middle-class aspirations with middle-class displays of ostentation. That's Gary for you, my place.

Free For All Fests Begin

Even if it doesn't say it on the calendar, summer is here. Memorial Day has come and gone. The temperature is stabilized at a hot 80 degrees in the sun. And Chicago freebies are here. So much to do, so little time to do it.

This is when my long distance love affair with the city kicks into high gear. Saturday is the Gospel Fest. I'm trying to decide whether to go on Friday when there is no threat of rain or chance dodging raindrops on Saturday to see my favorite gospel star Donald Lawrence. To add to my dilemma, Tye Tribbett and G. A. may be singing late Sunday night. I'll figure it out.

The Blues Festival is the same weekend as the Printers Row Book Fair, June 9th. Even though I don't recognize any of the musicians (except Koko Taylor, of course) I will hit both. The walk from the Blues Fest in Grant Park to Dearborn isn't that far.

Chicago Printers Row Book Fair

I've been looking forward to this ever since I attended last year. This year it's being help a week later--June 9th and 10th, between 10 am to 6pm. Printers Row is located around Dearborn and Polk. You can't miss it with all the people milling around the booths in the street.

Last year the weather was gorgeous. It was fun meandering around the book stalls. I didn't recognize any famous authors but I did get to hear Nikki Giovanni. She was amazing, so down to earth and revolutionary. She talked mostly about her latest children's book "Rosa Park" and even more extensively about Emmett Till. At the end she nearly cried talking about the memory of her mother that passed a year ago.

There is not much news yet about the speakers. I did note three literary superstars are supposed to be there--Gore Vidal, Walter Mosley and Joyce Carol Oates. I'm going to try and get tickets for either Vidal or Mosley.

The event is free. The books are bargains. The atmosphere is very civilized. If the weather cooperates, it should be a very enlightening, laid back, cultural thing.

Bike the Drive

Indianapolis has the Indy 500. Chicago has Bike the Drive. Yes, it is speed in the slow lane but where else can you get exercise, donate to a cause, and experience a leisurely ride down Lake Shore Drive sans cars and horn blowing. In addition, you can get a cool jersey to announce to the world you were there.

It happens May 27th, the Sunday before Memorial Day. You have to register, of course, sooner rather than later. The fee is nominal--$40 give or take according to circumstances. Cyclists start their engines (non-motor, of course) at Columbus and Balboa as the sun rises, 5:30 am to be precise. Even if it rains, the ride goes on. It's a 15 or 30 mile stretch with three rest stops. Participants won't be allowed to join after 9 am. At 10:30 am car traffic will be allowed back on the drive.

Not a biker? Not a problem. You can join the festivities in Grant Park at the starting line from 8 am to noon. Live music will be provided by World Class Noise to serenade a pancake breakfast. Other family friendly events are promised.

For more information, check out www.bikethedrive.org.

Chicago SummerDance 2007

I was worried that there would be no dancing in the streets this year. Not to worry. Chicago celebrates the 11th Anniversary of SummerDance, the city's popular dance festival, beginning June 14th. The eleven week dance fest features one-hour dance lessons by professional instructors, followed by two hours of live music and dancing in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park, 601 South Michigan Avenue. The garden is a city oasis located between Harrison and Balbo, across from Columbia College.

The festival offers so much. Romance--dancing under the stars to hot licks from local bands. Enlightenment--learning steps to dances of diverse cultures. Fun--watching people of all ages, sizes, and ethnicities get their groove on. Best of all, it's free. What a wonderful way to wind down after work every Thursday, Friday or spend a weekend every Saturday evening, 6 to 9:30 pm, and Sunday afternoon, 4 to 7 pm, weather permitting, until August 26th.

If you work up a thirst from all your gyrations, there is a grill nearby that serves up liquid courage with your hot dogs and hamburgers.

For more information about the various DJ's, bands and featured dance lessons, click on www.cityofchicago.org and search "summerdance" or www.chicagosummerdance.org.

The Chicken and the Hawk

I'm the chicken. After all the brave talk, I chickened out of going it alone. The Hawk is the infamous Chicago hawk that visited the city's premiere outing of Looptopia. It was frightfully cold for a May evening. However, I pledge to make it for Chicago's Places and Spaces. It's a little less daunting to take a tour with 20 or so strangers than to face hundreds of singles on the prowl. And I have arranged to take my posse with me to Chicago's Gospel Fest the first weekend in June. No fear there. With Donald Lawrence headlining that Saturday night, it will sure to be a crowded evening of footstomping, hand-clapping, voices shouting--you get the picture. Let's just hope the Hawk stays away.

One Hot Night

Breaking news. First time ever, if you don't count me winning that TV trivia contest 15 years ago, I won a bona fide prize. I entered my email in a drawing for a free ticket to a charity event and I won! It's Today's Chicago Woman Magazine One Hot Night Top 25 Bachelor Party. It takes place this Thursday, May 10, 2007, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM at the River East Arts Center, 435 East Illinois Street. Tickets are $75 at the door if you're interested in attending. The TCW Foundation awards funding to more than 100 organizations to support various special projects benefiting women in need.

The evening promises to be fun with music from Latin Street Dance Company, Latin cuisine, Corona beer (I'm not a beer lover) and other exotic cocktails. Last year 500 attended the event. Some came from as far as Indianapolis in hopes of meeting their very own bachelor.

I will attend as a journalist and report back all the exciting happenings. I am not looking for a bachelor. I'm thinking of giving them up for my birthday. Besides, then there would be way too much pressure. Since I'm going alone, I can fantasize I'm just there for the story. It's the only way I can make myself go and collect my first ever prize winnings. And, this way I get to have fun because of low expectations.

Taste of Chicago 2007 Acts Announced

Yeah! It's May. Let the festivities begin. Of course, the biggest of all Chicago fests is the Taste of Chicago. In fact, it's the biggest food fest in the world. But it isn't all about the food. It's also about the music. I look forward to the free concerts of famous musicians that would normally cost big bucks to see. Although this event doesn't happen until the end of June, information has finally been released about this year's acts. The schedule is subject to change.

Frankie Beverly and Maze gets the party started June 29th. A lot of baby boomers like this R & B group. I'm not one of them. They're alright, but I'm not going to squeeze myself into that crowd outside Petrillo Shell just to see them. Kenny Rogers headlines the next night with Sara Evans and Craig Morgan doing the honors on Sunday. I'm not a big country fan, so I'll pass these acts too.

In fact, for me, there is no one I've got to see this year at the taste. I may check out Los Lonely Boys who performs on the last night of the festival. More than likely, I'll have to go to the African-Caribbean International Festival of Life that runs from July 4 through the 8 at Washington Park to get my "groove on." Their schedule is yet to be announced.

The Taste runs from June 29th through July 8th. More information on the schedule and the food vendors can be found at www.cityofchicago.org. Click on things to do and then click on festivals. On that page there is a banner of the Taste. Click on that and it will take you to the index.