Sun Spots: War with Peace at Celebrate Hyde Park

Just hangin' around!

(2011 Update: Saturday features Roy Ayers;  Sunday features War!)

Making Peace and Enjoying War

Me thinks the Inaugural "Celebrate Hyde Park" drew a larger crowd than anticipated!  I got there just as War was taking the stage and 53rd Street was packed with people funneling down to the stage at Blackstone!   Marketing for this To-Do seems to have been done the old-fashioned way - maybe a couple of radio spots and locally posted fliers.  When I first got word of it (by mouth), I thought "War?  Hunh?"  But, I quickly changed that tune to "War - HUH:  what is it good for?"  It was good for an absolutely peaceful, beautiful, Sunday afternoon!

Tons of people were at this free To-Do that featured Hyde Park Restaurants and local musicians throughout this lovely Sunday afternoon.  No fences were up, no tickets collected - just people enjoying War favorites.  No fights, no pushing, young, old, rich and poor gathered and the air was truly festive!  Folks were just happy! 

The enthusiasm for War was infectious, and War did not disappoint!  The band was tight, the vocals on point, the performance energetic and the songs took me back to the day!  Despite the passage of time, War's songs were clearly unforgettable as the crowd joined in the singing (with and without invitation) - take a listen to the video below.

My guess:  Next year they move to a larger venue! 

Stephanie!
Soleil's To-Dos
www.so-LAZE.com

 

 

 [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma6LGwP5vwg]

Sun Spots: Mondays w/ Musician's Network MECCA

 Looking for Something To-Do on Mondays?  Look No Further! 

Monday evening was filled with great music at the Museum Shores Yacht Club with Musician’s Network MECCA!  MNM is a "network of Musicians Economically Conscious Creative Association,  committed to the sharing of resources in the music industry."  On Mondays, they bring together some of Chicago’s best jazz musicians at this free To-Do.  

On this particular Monday, I was able to catch Bethany Pickens, who is always a listening pleasure, whether she's playing an original number or a standard.  Panama, featuring Nanette Frank (with Dianne Madison, Mae Koen, Shawn Christopher and Shay Jones), blew me away with Sergio Mendes' "The Real Thing!"  Thank goodness I found my own, personal, tiny dance floor!

MNM offers a wonderful option to Jazzin’ at the Shedd.  Parking is ample at this To-Do (despite the crazy new parking-meters-in-parks thang), as is seating space.  Get there early and sit in the covered space or patio, or bring a lawn chair and set up in the grassy areas.  Cocktails and soft drinks are available for purchase and there is a limited food menu – or, if you prefer, bring your own food and drinks! 

One of the cool things about this To-Do is the wide age range of the jazz lovers!  Jazz vets are clearly in the house, but you’ll also find younger folks represented.  If you’re looking for something laid back for your Monday evening, be sure to give Mondays at the Museum Yacht Club with Musician’s Network MECCA a try! 

Doors open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.  Get the details! 

Stephanie!
Soleil’s To-Dos
www.so-LAZE.com 

  

Sun Spots: Let's Fall In Love

Just hangin' around!

1. 
   

   Goodman Annual Gala - Let's Fall In Love!

   
   

From the moment I received the invitation, I knew that it would be a very special evening - and indeed, it was!  "Birds do it . . . , Bees do it . . . Let's Fall In Love", the invitation read, with each folded page beckoning me to the next.  In keeping with the Spring-like feel of this popular Cole Porter tune, the weather on the evening of the gala was divine - definitely an auspicious beginning! 

Heather Headley (c) Liz Lauren

The Moulin Rouge room and the Imperial Ballroom at the Fairmont Hotel were decked out and well-stocked with hors d’ouevres, spirits and spirited people! But, the highlight of the evening was Heather Headley!  Heather's performance was outstanding and her voice incredible.  She radiated with warmth, love and authenticity and was clearly in a joyous space with her marriage and recent birth of her son.  Heather seems like a truly lovely person, in addition to being so talented! 

Despite current economic conditions, over 550 enthusiastic patrons attended the Goodman Gala.  The Gala guests were fabulously dressed and donned festive attitudes.   The delicious food, divine decorations and fabulous music were all arranged in support of a good cause:  Goodman’s Education and Community Engagement programs.   Each season, you can count on Goodman Theatre to provide culturally diverse productions.  They also reach out to diverse audiences through their Diversity Night and through their marketing decisions. 

Diversity at the Gala wasn't too evident this year, so get ready for next year and we'll make a real party of it! And at $500 per ticket, you'll definitely want to break out your finest for this annual To-Do! 

Stephanie!
Soleil's To-Dos
www.so-LAZE.com 

 

 

 

 

 

Post-Performance

  

 

Sun Spots: Simply Social w/ the Buena Vista Social Club

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="163"] Just hangin' around![/caption]

  

Sun Spots:  Simply Social with Buena Vista Social Club! 

I planned well in advance, including the preparation of an FAQs page.  One key question I didn't ask and answer:  What if it rains?  I was stumped on that one, choosing instead to hold fast to the belief that Saturday, June 26th would be a perfectly gorgeous day for a Simply Social outing at Ravinia Park - and it was!!!

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="230"] Photo by Lee Bey[/caption]

Our group (predominately dressed in red - with no reminders!) assembled on the Metra platform and boarded the Party Train.  Excitement was definitely in the air!  We started the trip with a lot of chatter, along with Pinot Grigio (although people were clamoring for mojitos!), beef and chicken empanadas from Cafe Cubano.  The train ride was festive, which made the time pass amazingly quickly.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="207"] Lounging on the Lawn[/caption]

Once we gained admission to the park, we settled into our spot, set up our tables, Cuban food and mojitos and commenced to grub down!  Before the concert started, there was plenty of time to chill out, wind down, walk around and visit - all with perfect weather.   The park is vast and merits exploration.  On this particular night, "The World's Largest Lawn Party" was taking place, as well as a dance competition!

Ravinia Park provides a host of dining options, from casual special order "lunchboxes," al fresco dining, as well as a nice variety of concession stands - all at reasonable prices.  However, one of the cool things about Ravinia is that you can take just about anything but grills, weed and crack into the park!  (I exaggerate, but there are very few restrictions.)  So, even when dinner came to an end and the two tubs of mojitos were sucked dry, there was still plenty to drink and many people were equipped with snacks to last through the night.



At 7:30pm, Buena Vista Social Club began to perform, providing the perfect soundtrack to our evening!  Now, don't get me wrong, 'cuz lawn tickets are great, but, sometimes you just gotta get the visual effect, too!  Even if you only purchase lawn tickets, you can make your way up to the pavilion and get a view of the stage.  Ravinia also has two jumbo screens on either side of the stage and those can be seen from portions of the lawn.   Pavilion seats allowed me to get an up-close and personal look at those cool, Cuban cats that comprise the Buena Vista Social Club!  It was fun just to watch them enjoying their music and their interplay with each other.

Buena Vista Social Club is comprised of legendary Cuban musicians.   They informally formed in 1996 with new and aging performers.  While some of these performers have since passed, at 80, Omara Portuonda was in excellent form!  I see the group a bit romantically: they remind me of Awakenings and The Twilight Zone "Kick the Can" episode.  How wonderful to have such an opportunity to introduce Cuban music to so many so much later in life!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="291"] Omara Portuondo[/caption]

(Even if you are not yet a legend, don't give up on your dreams, people!)

The Ravinia Park Festival continues through September 6th and there are still a few cool acts remaining, including Sting (oops - that's been sold out for months!), The Temptations and The Four Tops and George Benson, Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin.  View our select Ravinia Park schedule!

Stephanie!
www.so-LAZE.com 

Enjoy more photos by Lee Bey.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="517"] Breathless Anticipation[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Patience[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"] Quality time . . . lasting memories[/caption]

Sun Spots: Somi Shines

Just hangin' around!

 Somi was Somethin' Special! 

Typically, as I upload an event relating to a musical performance, I'll listen to some of the performer's music as I work.  As soon as I heard Somi, I knew I had to attend her concert - and she did not disappoint! 

I would describe Somi's sound as jazzy, influenced by African rhythms.  In fact, it occurs to me that her CD "If the Rains Come First" (which, I am unashamed to admit, I have worn completely thin!) is reminiscent of "Princesses Nubiennes" by Les Nubians - very seductive!  "If the Rains Come First," the thirty-one-year-old's third CD, debuted at #2 on Billboard Magazine's World Music Chart.  Her voice is sultry and smooth and she exudes elegance and confidence. 

Grainy photo, GREAT performance!

Somi was born in Champaign, Illinois to parents from Rwanda and Uganda.  With the exception of a few early years spent in Zambia, Somi remained in Illinois through 1998 and currently lives in New York.  Somi is definitely someone who is on the rise and kudos to Sound Culture and the HotHouse for bringing Somi to her first Chicago performance! 

As for the venue, the Shrine, that's a whole different story.  I had been to the Shrine once before and was pretty determined not to return - and I hope I don't feel compelled to return again.  The venue itself is nice, although its Chuck E. Cheese-ish stage is a little odd.  My biggest issue with the Shrine is that its business practices are geared toward youth who get their "swag" from a very superficial VIP status.  Here's the set-up:  the bar is expansive, but there is not a single bar stool;  there are high-boys on the main floor, but no cocktail tables or chairs; there are two roped-off seating areas that are reserved for "bottle service" only.  Bottle service?  Yes - for $200 you can have a $30 bottle of liquor and be a Very Important Person.  Grown folk don't go for that kind of foolishness - regardless of our wealth.  For the hard-core partiers, I still think the practice is pretty silly, but, whatever.  However, for the Somi performance, it was completely inappropriate and no one (except for family) sat in the otherwise empty "VIP" section.  Ordinarily, given the length of this performance, I may have had 2 or 3 cocktails.  In this case, I refused to have even one - purely on principle.  Be warned:  even at a laid back performance geared toward a mature crowd, the Shrine is standing room only.   But, don't let 'em bully you into a bottle. 

Stephanie!
Soleil's To-Dos
www.so-LAZE.com