Chicago.com
Last year's Takin' It to the Streets crowd.
The epic lineup for America’s biggest hip-hop festival, Rock the Bells, was announced a few weeks ago, and to the dismay of many Chicago hip-hop fans, the tour isn’t making a stop in the Midwest for the first time in years.
Mos Def
Not to be missed, then, is Chicago’s biggest summer event for aspiring rappers, emcees, producers, and simply hop-hop aficionados: Takin’ It to the Streets – Urban International Festival, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 19. With heavyweights Mos Def, Brother Ali and Tinariwen hitting the stages, among dozens of other performers, the event is the only one of its festival kind in Chicago. It’s not just the music that sets Takin’ it to the Streets apart, however: the festival has a very distinct socio-politcal purpose, with a Muslim concentration setting the stage for social change. Although not all of the performers are Muslim, they all share a common trait of social conscientiousness and spirituality–factors that go unnoticed in the typical street festival.
You can expect four diverse stage offerings at the festival: the Unity Stage, Hip Hop Pavilion, World Music Stage, and Streets Stage. It’s not only music that will be showcased on these stages; rather, everything from yoga to a workshop titled “Healin’ the Hood” will go on throughout the day to encourage social consciousness and change. Outside of the stages, activities will include faith and justice dialogue, an international bazaar, a health and wellness fair, 3-on-3 basketball, a family zone, and a prayer center.
In its tenth year, Takin’ it to the Streets will provide a unique experience for the whole smorgasbord of summer festival-goers: the religious and non-religious, the hip-hop fans and the hip-hop haters, the meditation-minded and the partiers. Just bring an open mind.
For the complete schedule of events and for more information, head to http://www.streets2010.com
There was a little drizzle and a lot of fun at the St Patrick’s Day Parade 2010 in Chicago. We started out the “jolly green day” by watching the Chicago River being dyed green,which has been a yearly tradition since 1961. The river went from green to really green at 10:45a.m. We watched it all go down from the upper level bridges at Michigan Avenue, but the view from Columbus Drive is beautiful too. Once we wiped off the green mist from our faces the Chicago.com crew, Vujadin, Wanda, Jarred, Pasqual and I, went to our float and waited for the festivities to begin . The parade began promptly at noon and started at Balbo and Columbus.
Chicago.com was riding the float with the Sons of Sligo hockey team and my buddy Vince LiFonti- insurance agent/Matador dancer for the Chicago Bulls tagged along to join in on the fun. “The sons of Sligo” have been a staple of the parade for 28 years. The donations from our float go to great charities like ICE program and the Special Olympics. The ICE program is a non for profit organization that helps low income students who excel academically who participate in youth and high school hockey. In between Vince kissing strangers, wearing “Kiss me I’m Irish” shirts, and the hockey team shooting balls at Ned Colleran, goalie and Sons of Sligo family member, we had a great time at the parade.
Once the parade was over, we kept the celebration going and headed to the after party at Gingers Ale House, on Ashland and Grace. It’s not just cozy Celtic decor or live Irish music that make this place a favorite of mine. Add corned beef sandwiches, the best fried pickles in town, a perfectly poured pint of Guinness from my man and owner Tony, that makes this joint a truly great “pub”. A true Irish pub has heart. Stop by Gingers Ale House you’ll understand what I mean by heart when you’re there. It’ll become a favorite of yours too. They have a great menu from corned beef sandwiches served on marbled rye to authentic fish and chips and awesome Irish sausage wraps (great flaky crust!). After some heavy drinking and great music I worked up a second wind appetite. So my beautiful girlfriend and I ordered Sheppard’s pie. All in all, it was a great end to a great night.
Stay tuned for clips of the Parade highlights and great times with great friends coming soon to Chicago.com/videos.
