Chicago.com
The Old Town School of Folk Music, at more than 50 years strong, is nothing less than a Chicago legend. Its annual festival, now in its thirteenth year, is making a case to be the same.
Spanning just two days over the July 10th & 11th weekend, the festival makes sure to pack the most programming it can between noon and 9:30 p.m. each day. Featuring entertainment on six stages–internationally influenced music on the Main Stage, fun for children at the Kids Tent, eclectic beats at the Dance Tent, talented faculty showing off on the Staff Stage, open jams and sing-a-longs at the Gazebo, and Chicago-area Latino artists in the Nuestra Musica Tent–the festival makes sure to draw from a wide array of musical perspectives. Welles Park, on Lincoln Ave. between Sunnyside and Montrose, is the center of all the stages and vendors.
Occidental Brothers Dance Band International
It’s time to bring out your mini flags and sparklers, cause the 4th of July is right around the corner!
Get ready to celebrate the 4th with a spectacular display of fireworks along Chicago’s lakefront.
It all starts at 9pm on Sunday, July 4th. The three simultaneous displays will be viewable at Navy Pier, north between Montrose Ave. and Foster Ave., as well as south between 63rd St. and Promontory Point.
Patriotic music will be broadcast live on 101.9 The Mix, and WGN-TV will do a special broadcast from 8:30 to 9:30pm.
Get the whole family together to enjoy the festivities!
It was a scathingly hot day during the kick-off of the Taste of Chicago on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of people packed Grant Park and the surrounding area to sample the delicious offerings of this year’s vendors. The 53 represented restaurants lined the streets in decorated booths. Some vendors shouted or sang to draw in customers.
Taste favorites Harry Carry’s, Eli’s Cheesecake, and Lou Malnati’s had long lines of eager customers in front of their booths. Another popular vendor, Rainbow Cone also had quite a crowd of people craving cold items to beat the heat. Tons of people were walking around with ears of corn from Abbey’s Pub, or Italian ice from Franco’s. Newcomers Iyanze, a West African restaurant, thrilled Taste goers with their interesting selection of foreign delicacies. Beverages included Pepsi products- 20 oz. bottles are 5 tickets.
We tried several “Taste Of” portions at different booths. Here is what we tried and what we thought:
Star of Siam – Pad Thai – 4 Tickets: “It’s spicier than I remember, but still very delicious. I got a few nice pieces of tofu in my portion which I really enjoyed.”-Zoe
The Grill – Gazpacho – 3 Tickets: “I love gazpacho, this is fantastic!” -Bela
Cubby Bear – Garlic Fries – 3 Tickets: “They’re good, but they should be warmer…” -Vujadin
Bacino’s – Stuffed Spinach Pizza – 4 Tickets: “The top is soft and the bottom has the perfect crunch” -Bela
Iyanze – Bissap Sorbet (frozen hibiscus tea with whipped cream)- 3 Tickets: “It’s very refreshing!” -Bela “I like how it’s sweet and flower-y. It’s such an interesting and pleasant flavor” -Zoe
Vermilion – Grilled Shredded Tandori Turkey – 4 Tickets: “It’s good. It tastes like grilled turkey” -Vujadin
Franco’s – Watermelon Italian Ice – 4 Tickets: “It’s a good flavor, messy to eat though.” -Bela
Eli’s Cheesecake – Plain Cheesecake – 3 Tickets: “Simple and delicious.” -Zoe
There are a lot of great options this year at the Taste of Chicago’s 30th anniversary event. For more information be sure to check out our Taste of Chicago preview and our Taste of Chicago FAQ.
Above: Chicago.com interns Zoe and Bela enjoy some Bissap Sorbet
Above: Taste goers cool off by Buckingham Fountain.
Above: people enjoying all that the Taste has to offer.
It was a beautiful day at Daley Plaza to celebrate Arab culture at Chicago’s Arabesque festival. The white tents for the event mixed with the farmer’s market booths drew both old and new festival go-ers. Ethnic music gave the atmosphere an authentic feel as people browsed the many vendors around the plaza. In its 4th year, Arabesque is a cultural treasure not to be missed.
Created to celebrate the cultures of 22 Arab countries in a non-religious and non-political setting, Arabesque showcases the music, food, dance, and crafts of its heritage. “It brings people into the spirit of the countries” said Diala Atassi, a coordinator for the event, “and this year it’s even more interactive.” The interactive aspects of the festival draw crowds of people, especially the music and dance performances. But the ethnic food and shopping also are popular reasons to visit the event.
Vendors whose products come from Arab nations as well as hand made crafts luer in shoppers who are interested in unique and authentic gifts. From instruments to hookahs, to art, jewelry, and even furniture- there are wonderful things to discover at every booth. One vendor in particular, Emily’s Treasures has been a part of the festival for 3 years. At this booth you can find La Cove dead sea products from Jordan as well as a dazzleing selection of hand made jewelry, evil eye products (used to ward off negative energy), and scarves. Emily’s Treasures has so much to offer and 25% of their profits benefit women in the Middle East who are affected by war.
Another vendor, Hands Along the Nile sells hand made quilts, blankets, and bags. They also have hand made cards and gift items from abroad. Nearby, Akbik Gallery from Evanston showcased its furniture (pictured above) and accessories for its 4th year at the festival. The furniture, pillows, decorations, and jewelry are exquisitely ornate. Liz Wolter, a jewelry designer and interior design consultant displayed her speciality- jewelry reconstructed from antique pieces with a modern spin. And for all of your hookah needs Arabica’s booth had great deals on hookahs and accessories. I bought some lovely grape shesha for a fantastic price, and I got a coupon from the booth manager for next time.
The more interactive booths included eyebrow weaving, instrument practice, and henna tattoos. Unreal Tattoos does henna at its booth for $10 and up. Henna tattoos are non-perminant intricate tattoos that last for about two weeks if taken care of properly. Owner Michael Chesler enjoys participating at the Arabesque festival, “It’s wonderful!” he said enthusiastically, “and it’s great that we’re combined with the farmer’s market today. We love being here and our customers are fantastic.” After talking to Michael, I got a cute little henna tattoo on my left hand and I am throughly pleased with the result. Getting a henna tattoo is a great way to experience a part of Arab culture at the festival- I highly recommend it. Below: a festival go-er’s right hand and wrist decorated with henna by Unreal Tattoos.
Not only are the shopping and interactive activities at Arabesque unforgettable, but so is the food. The food vendors offer traditional dishes such as falafel, hummus, tabbouleh, and baklava. There was a huge line at I Dream of Falafel, which continued to grow as the festival went on. The traditional sweet and savory food items were popular, but for the unadventurous festival goers- the farmer’s market provided local favorites. The great thing about having the farmer’s market and Arabesque at the same time is that you can shop for authentic gifts and get produce for tonight’s dinner at the same time- when else does that ever happen?
You can also check out the many organizations who participate in the event. The United Holy Land Fund, the South Yamen American Aid Association, and Arab American Family Services are some of the organizations with booths this year. Also, more corporate sponsors are participating this year. Sponsors such as Verison Wireless, RCN, and State Farm Insurance have booths along the bazaar area.
As Arabesque continues to grow as a Chicago festival, the heart of the event’s purpose reaches more and more people. “We try to be as inclusive as possible” said festival coordinator Majdel Musa, “there are 22 countries represented, there is plenty of culture to show- there’s really no need to get into religion or politics here.” Which is exactly the festival’s purpose: showcasing and expressing Arab culture without involving religion or politics, just celebrating the cultures of Arab nations with everyone. And the future of Arabesque is looking bright, “every year we get more interest from vendors and corporate sponsors” Musa said. As the festival continues, the organizers hope an understanding of Arab culture will grow and with it an embrace of acceptance in and around Chicago.
Celebrate Arab culture this weekend at Chicago Arabesque. The 4th annual festival is free and takes place at Daley Plaza in the heart of Downtown from 10am-6pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Explore the music, food, art, and dance aspects of Arab culture. The festival is presented by the Chicago Commission on Human Relations Advisory Council on Arab Affairs, which states that it is “a non-religious, non-political festival that will promote public awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of the Arab world.”
There are dance, music, and spoken word performances daily. Enjoy beautiful performances including: a traditional wedding dance, an exotic fashion show, belly dances, a performance by the Chicago Public Schools Arabic World Language Program, and classical Iraqi and Egyptian music.
As you explore the event, you can sample traditional cuisine including sweet and savory baked goods and classic Arab favorites. Browse authentic products and crafts from Arab artisans such as jewelry, rugs, quilts, paper goods, gift items, and works of art. Immerse yourself further in the culture with demonstrations of “henna, calligraphy, and dabke (a traditional Arab line-dance).”
A great event for families, Chicago Arabesque is a cultural event not to be missed!