I attended the Chicago Green Festival Kickoff Gala on May 21, 2001 at the Marom Grand. This event…read morewas excellent. I enjoyed dressing up for the gala and tasting the delicious food from many local green restaurants. These included City Provisions, Dawali, Fig, Lula cafe and sweets from XoXo. I also liked meeting the ladies from Allyu spa. Including the Palo Santo aromatic incense with their card was a nice touch. The gala was nicely organized starting from the blow up screen projector to the group of young men that came by and picked up our plates, cups and forks for recycling. I enjoyed the talk given by Dr. Kevin Danaher on global and local sustainability and appreciate his zeal to bring little bit of San Francisco to Chicago. I also enjoyed Blanca's Alexander candid talk about what inspired her in her life to become an advocate for conscious living. Nonetheless I did see the bar pass some plastic water bottles

For some reason I was under the illusion that I had written a review for this festival, at least in…read more2008. I remember attending that one and liking it. I would have rated it 5 stars. Lots of good green content to fill your mind and soul with. I learned much about new vendors offering innovative technologies to assist in daily household living from a green standpoint as well as advances in alternate sources of power. Information wise and through photos and other marketing, there was much to see. Now in 2012, there wasn't much. Maybe my expectations for it were set too high. I recently returned from living on the West coast. For those that don't know, in many areas of California people are trying their best to be green. Whether they want to do it for the good of the earth, to feel better about doing or get some kudos from all the green loving people, businesses and consumers alike are trying. Upon return back to Chicagoland, I had hoped for more out of Green fest. Instead, there was a ton of marketing for the Ford motor company. As well as these random people that wouldn't divulge who they were with but asking if you would participate in surveys. Jaik S. mentioned if you see anyone's foot touch the carpet where Ford was displayed, someone would eventually ask you to take a survey. Green shit in the sense of the word green. Like vegan food, green vegetable smoothies and living with more greens in your diet. Really? That's all. A few foo foo stores which offer organic products. I didn't connect with any of the content and couldn't find anything that grabbed my attention. Maybe a few vendors. There was one vendor I found pretty funny. It was something like "Green singles dot com". We aren't talking about clean dollar bills, folks. One vendor sold recycled glass for use in homes. When asked what was the difference between their product and Home Depot the guy responded.."Do you want crap or high quality?". What a silly salesperson. Please don't come out to a festival if you can't explain to me benefits of your product and how and why your company claims to be green. I researched the company and later discovered they import granite from Italy and in manufacturing plants here in the U.S. use glass from recycled beer bottles, glass containers, etc to give their granite countertops a more interesting look. In 2008 I spent the whole day at the festival. In 2012, I walked the entire festival in an hour or less. I think we spent the most time in the beer & mead garden. Which by the way, happened to be the most popular area. The largest number of people stood in a tiny 20' x 20' space. Ideas for future Green Fests from Jacob - If Ford or any other car maker decides to be a big contributor to this again, have them show data on fuel efficiency for their new line of alternative energy running automobiles. What to expect for the future of the brand. What new innovative technology they are working towards. Plans for moving towards creating more efficient types of transportation. The savings a person can expect from going to a green vehicle, etc. Passing out free samples of gluten free nachos with salsa or packs of organic popcorn is fine for the average festival attendee, but not everyone. I desire information. Or what is Ford doing for the environment beyond offering green vehicles ? - Alike this, there are companies around the Midwest which currently offer biofuels. How about someone talking about alternative fuels for different kinds of vehicles. I.e. diesel, electric, NGV (natural gas vehicle), bio-diesel. Where can a person find fueling stations, or get reps here from those stations. Map fliers which indicate where in Chicagoland these resources can be found. - Chicago has green roofs, what are people planting up there and where can we find more information about doing it. Are there Chicagoland companies which offer service to get you started, etc? What are current issues concerned folks are working on for the advancement of a Greener Chicago ? At one point a year or more ago I heard something about the possibility of petroleum based plastic bags not being used any longer in Chicago supermarkets, is that real or fake? I realize for some this might have been an eye opener. Every year more people are waking up and realizing how to recycle or searching for greener ways of operating their everyday life. For those this festival is probably a source of information but for someone already doing their part but wanting a bit more, well I hope next years festival is better.

A street art enthusiast smorgasbord!…read more First, Pilsen is a vibrant neighborhood, which appears to be home to many Mexican families. Tons of street art and murals along their main streets and a ton of great smelling Mexican/Latin restaurants. The 16th street murals are along the rail line. It's a little gritty. Yes, there is garbage on the ground. Yes some of the grass is overgrown. But I didn't feel threatened or unsafe at any time. Maybe avoid the area at night and try to avoid getting yourself into a totally deserted spot, but overall like any urban landscape. There are several overpasses, and sadly there are some house-less people, but they were all minding their business and hanging out in their camps. The art is edgy and kinda punk. Multiple themes, from Mexican heritage, death, horror, animals, city life, memorials. And there was a total badass Simpsons Treehouse of Horror montage. This is walkable, but it's better if you do it by car, driving a bit, then exploring each section by foot. It is quite expansive. Just about 3/4 of a mile or a little more out of the main city center and plenty of parking.

Almost walked past this. Opposite side of The Riverwalk. Great detail. Great background view of…read moreChicago skyline! Worth the stop!

This is an amazing piece of work by Taiwanese Artist and Sculptor Ju Ming. It is located in the…read moreAMA Plaza and outdoor seating is offered for individuals to sit and admire and discuss the sculpture of the eleven men cast in Bronze who are dressed in business suits, trench coats and some with umbrellas...obviously as if they were on their way to work in a modern city environment. Upon a close-up inspection recently, I noticed that the eyes were not pronounced and that they seem to be expressionless as the grayness of their cast figures suggest. Almost as if it was just another day going through the same routine- wake up, go to work, eat, sleep---REPEAT. It reminds me in a way of Andy Warhol's Campbells Soup Can-we live from one meal to the next. About the Artist: Ju Ming (1938-) was originally trained as a woodcarver; however, his work evolved into sculpting in bronze in addition to other materials such as styrofoam, stainless steel as well as other mediums. He became well known in Taiwan during the 1970s and later in 1983 in New York City when he had individual exhibition of Living World Series: A Pair of Classical People at the Max Hutchinson Gallery. This piece in particular, is regarded as one of the most important works among the early production of the Living World Series. Ming's Living World Series appears or suggests that his work may evolve from his perception of the world around him; however, he has been quoted as saying that there is no one interpretation or set interpretation designated in his intention to create his sculptures. There are other parts of The Living World Series including "Imprisonment"which has drawn attention to his style of thought provoking sculpture. FYI-This Public Piece of art was purchased by Eagle Holdings, which is the parent group of the Langham Hospitality Group.

You can find these amazing murals at the underpass of Foster Avenue and Lake Shore Drive, Uptown…read moreChicago. They are pretty colorful and really adds life to the concrete walls! The walk from the lake to the residential area is more enjoyable.

I discovered this other little gem today on my way to Sunshine Cafe…read more And I was, just as for the one on 47th street, thoroughly impressed. And smiling. Turning gloomy underpasses into wonderful works of art is one of the best forms of urban improvement I have seen in years. It might seem pretty insignificant in the great scheme of things but to me it's highly symbolic: to revitalize some of the most disregarded spots of the city - ANY city - is definitely a step in the right direction. Underpasses are not doomed to be dark, smelly and forgotten. And when the art on display celebrate the Native American culture it takes a whole new dimension. The result - "Indian Land Dancing" - is a colorful display that interweaves time and heritage, with both distinct tribal nuances and larger Native American symbolism providing the bulk of the imagery. But no stereotype here: the entire project was in the hands of the Native American community who wanted to do 'something very meaningful' and connected to the present. Among other things: a skateboarder glides down the shimmering black mane of woman who hugs a sphere of seven circles representing responsibility to future generations. The underside of his board says "Apache." Woven into the woman's hair, a poem reads, "With our strong arms, we form a circle, and in that circle, we embrace the world." The 3,200 square inch mosaic grace both walls of the underpass, and is the only public display of Native American art in the city. Don't miss it this summer while walking to the beach. It's breathtaking.

Going to a museum is pretty cool, going when it's free is even cooler. Luckily for us, someone on…read morethe street told up this museum was free, and I knew we had to go then! This was a unique museum that I was glad it was free, but I might go back, if I was some cool background pics for the gram.

No I didn't do the walk. Totally wish I had, but throw drunk guys from our party into the mix and I…read morejust didn't want to risk the embarrassment, or see someone's very well-tended garden ruined. However I did enjoy the music and location of this festival. Of course you have your mix of super preppy yuppies and wasty 40-something men looking for 20-something boot-ay, but there's plenty of room to mill around and food fair other than the standard meat on a stick and piles of french fries. And thanks to the bar who so kindly thought to have misting water cascading down from their booth. It was a hot hot day and that cool cool water was just magical : )

A street festival serving Blue Moon? Splendid!…read more The U2 cover band, Elevation, was pretty good - however, the crowd just didn't seem to be feeling it. This was also an educational experience. I never knew that plaid shorts came in such a diverse array - short, long, small plaid, big plaid, men's, women's, kids, bright, dark - OVERWHELMED! I think about 50% of the population at this event were wearing said shorts. Other than the aforementioned attributes, I have very little to say. I was underwhelmed by the selection of things to entertain me. Decent food offerings. Good brews. No little kiosks selling useless crap. No second stage. WAY overpriced.

This abstract sculpture is temporarily located in the wonderful White River State Park, as part of…read moreits outdoor art exhibit. There is a commercial parking lot available as well as a commercial garage to park your vehicle. It is the work of Chicago artist Terrence Karpowicz. It is not an original piece. There is an identical one currently located in front of a Chicago real estate company as part of Art on Clark. It is part of his Athlete Series of sculptures, which use the same stick like figure in deferent sports themes scenes. The original piece was made in 2010 and the one in the park was made in 2017. They both are made of steel and measure 168" x 120" x 96" . The piece was inspired by the thought of giving everything you have to achieve a goal. It looks like a runner with their chest out crossing the finish line, known as a dip. It is a simple piece, but I like it. It somehow gets me in a motivated state of mind. This is a very attractive piece that you must look at while you are in the park. It is located on the median of the White River Pedestrian Bridge leading to the Indianapolis Zoo, along with many other sculptures. Well, as with most public art I have visited and reviewed, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 3 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful art in the area to maximize your time and trip. Luckily, there are a lot of other interesting pieces of art in the park to load your itinerary with in addition to all that White River Park has to offer.

If you are looking up neighborhoods in Chicago for moving or staying during your visit , I'm happy…read moreto tell you to come here! Living : proximity to 3 good public schools and several private schools. 53rd street and 55th street are the more commercial streets , with some businesses along Lake Park. Trick or treating is decent. Visiting: the Sofy and Hyatt place are both comfortable. If you want proximity to U of C and want an air bb, stay closer to 57th street (Woodlawn university , Ellis , Drexel , cottage grove as your cross streets). If you are staying just to not stay downtown but close access to downtown stay between 55-56-57 street station - 47 street on Metra or stay near the 6 bus route. Attractions MSI Lakefront trail Promontory Point Obama's house Obama presidential center and library U of C and its museums Barak and Michelle's first kiss monument 57th Street beach Coffee: my favorites Philz (53 and black stone) Sip n Savor (53/South Hyde Park) Fairground (by u of C) There's a Starbucks in target and a standalone , both on 53rd Food: My favorites Dawn 5 Rabinitos Nella Medici on 57 Cafe 53 Etoo Nandos Peri Peri chicken Jets pizza Valois Pizza capri Cedars Palestine kitchen Small cheval Giordanos Ivd heard good things about Virtue. Hair 57 street salon Cleopatra Transit to downtown Metra 6 bus 2 bus (morning pm rush) 15/55 bus to the Greek line / red line Nice tree lined streets Puppies everywhere Nice green spaces Enjoy

Hyde Park, one of the community areas within the city of Chicago, is one of the more well-known…read moreareas on the south side of Chicago. It's one of the more upper class neighborhoods on the south side. It originated as a Hyde Park Township in the mid-19th century, and was annexed by the City of Chicago. It is one of the city's most diverse neighborhoods, and has been home to many prominent Black residents and celebrities. Perhaps what first brought it to my attention was learning about Leopold and Loeb when I was a teenager growing up in Oregon; not really the best association to have with the Hyde Park-Kenwood area, but there's a lot more to this community than tragic history. Hyde Park is home to a high concentration of higher education institutions, the most prominent being the University of Chicago. In addition are McCormick Theological Seminary, Catholic Theological Union, and the Lutheran School of Theology. It was also the location of the World's Fair 1893, the Columbian Exposition. The Museum of Science and Industry, what was built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the fair, is one of the remaining remnants of that magnificent celebration. I like Hyde Park, and lived there for a few months. It's really densely populated, and has some interesting places to visit and good restaurants. People say the north side is hard to park, but when I was living in Hyde Park it was a constant struggle! There are several parks around here and large ones at that. CTA buses serve Hyde Park, obviously, and there's a Metra route that goes through as well.