It’s Still Summer!
Frank Brichetto
Chicago Correspondent
Holy cow, it’s September already. It doesn’t seem fair that Summer is almost over, but the coming of Autumn won’t stop us now, will it? Onward for more ADVENTURES!
Yes, I know it’s not October, and I don’t know why, but this Friday, September 6th,, marks the start of Oktoberfest, that annual season wherein almost everyone in Chicago takes some time to celebrate the excellence of German culture, music, food, wine and, of course, German beer. So let’s join our friends of German heritage in Lincoln Square in their annual celebration that has roots going back to 1683, when 13 German families landed in Philadelphia, later founded Germantown, PA, our first German settlement, and in 1688 sent the first petition to Parliament to abolish slavery in the colonies. How’s that for a cause for celebration?
Meet us there at 5pm, when the party starts, at the main gate at Leland and Lincoln Avenues. We’ll eat sausages, sauerkraut, and a few other German delicacies, drink, and perhaps try out a game or two. Maybe we’ll try some dancing? WOW! This is fun. Let’s try varieties of German beer and wine which we haven’t tasted before, shall we?
Saturday, September 7th, is the first day of Ukrainian Village Fest! This party starts at 1pm, which gives us plenty of time to meet at 11am, at Shokolad (Ukrainian for “chocolate”, mmmm) for coffee and just one tasty, shokolad encrusted pastry delight, at 2524 W Chicago Ave., www.shokoladpastryandcafe.com.
We’ll chat as we always do, admire the children, and walk the few blocks to Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church, 739 N. Oakley Ave., to enter the festival right at the children’s play area. Here we are again at one of the first and very best neighborhood festivals Chicago has to offer. Started in 2002, this festival celebrates, in spectacular fashion, the beautiful art forms, rich culture, language, and heritage that Ukrainians have brought to this country. The large stage is full of music and dance, alternating styles and varying from local talent to international stars. Let’s not miss Chicago’s own Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, the world-renown Hromovytsia. The word translates into “thunderstorm”, with the idea that this is an ear-splitting, earth-shaking, giant of a thunderstorm. The name is appropriate, you’ll see. Check them out here: https://www.hromovytsia.com/. Aren’t they amazing?
As we walk through the many displays of Ukrainian art, especially the traditionally embroidered shirts and clothing, we’ll take in the delicate beauty, notice the painstaking handwork, and find out about the uniquely Ukrainian designs we encounter almost everywhere. Are you hungry yet? Yes? I am, and there is no shortage of delicious varenyky, borsch, holubtsi, kovbaca, kvashena kapusta, chebureki and many more to choose from, and several dessert vendors as well.
The kid’s area has rides, games, and fun stuff for the younger crowd, they’ll be good and tired before we head home.
Hi! Sunday, September 8th , let’s meet up, around noon, at the Throwback Music Festival, way up in Gladstone Park, 6030 N. Milwaukee Ave., for a different festival that features bands tossing out music from the 50’s through the 90’s (as well as some that’s newer than that). You skipped breakfast, right? So we can politely call it “brunch” as we walk around, sipping Italian ice, munching on snacks, hot dogs, pizza slices and more from local restaurants and vendors.
Today has a great music lineup: starting at 12:30, The Flat Cats, that swinging jazz and blues band, will have us singing, swinging and dancing before you know it. C’mon, nobody cares if (like me) you don’t really know how to dance; just get out there, whirl around and have fun. After that The Four C-Notes bring back Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, and then at 6:30pm Chicago Tribute Anthology brings back that fabulous “rock band, with horns”, Chicago, with their dizzying array of hit tunes. Finally the show ends with Chicago’s own 7th Heaven. Even if you don’t remember the name, you’ll recognize their songs.
Since we get a half hour break between each show, there’s plenty of time to check out the “Big, Bold and Beautiful” Classic Car Show over at Malec and Sons, and take in the “Miss Throwback Pin-up” contest, for some absolutely good, clean fun.
Yes, Wednesday, September 11th, did you know that it’s Movie Night at Gallagher Way? Neither did I until just recently. Gallagher Way, at Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, shows movies outdoors in the stadium, every Wednesday that the Cubs aren’t playing. Isn’t that cool? It’s free., or you can reserve a seat for $20 per person, which includes a drink, a snack, and dedicated server service. This week we’ll see Rudy, that great inspirational movie about Rudy Ruettiger, who always wanted to play for Notre Dame, but had neither the grades to be accepted nor the physical strength to play football, but persevered, studied, got accepted, and finally suited up. The gates open at 6pm, while the show runs from 7:30 to 10pm. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Find the details at https://www.gallagherway.com/events and we hope to find you in the crowd somewhere.
Saturday September 14th, please, please meet us at Roscoe and Damen Avenues, in the Roscoe Village neighborhood. Skip lunch, meet us at about 3pm, and (as usual), arrive hungry and thirsty.
Why? Because it’s Chicago’s third annual Bourbon and Barbecue Fest, that’s why. What a great idea! There is a stage, of course, with an emphasis on “soulful music”, a broad array of properly smoked and flavored ribs, pulled pork, chicken and more. Make sure you’ve signed up in advance for the whiskey tasting flights, as prices go up at the festival: http://www.bourbonandbbq.com/. Isn’t this just a great way to spend a few hours here at the end of summer’s festival season? We’ll taste our bourbons early, while we eat, and hang out for hours, munching other delights, listening to the music, and walking around the festival. Sit with us for a while, please? We enjoy this so much, thank you.
While it’s not actively celebrated, this Tuesday, September 17th, is Constitution Day, This day should be more important to Americans than Independence Day, in my opinion, as it celebrates the day that our Constitution was signed. Did you know- this is the 232nd anniversary of the signing; the US Constitution is only 4,543 words before amendments, making it the shortest, and oldest, constitution in the world. Despite 11,000 attempts to change it, only 27 amendments have been approved, and one of those negates another (Prohibition and its repeal)?
We’re thinking it’s time to get away from the bustle of the city for a weekend, will you join us? We just discovered Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the first national tallgrass prairie in the US, at 30239 S. State Route 53, Wilmington, IL, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/midewin/. Saturday morning, September 21st, we’ll have breakfast, pack a picnic lunch, drive to the visitor center, and go for a long hike on some of the many miles of trails inside the 18,000-acre preserve. At some point we’ll stop, spread a blanket and eat lunch, but nothing is planned except taking it all in, especially the herd of over 50 bison that roam 1,200 specially designated acres.
This is the only national tallgrass preserve east of the Mississippi, and walking through these trails, with plants that are almost as tall as I am, just amazes me. You too? It’s hard to visualize that this sort of habitat stretched from Ohio most of the way to Colorado, not so many years ago.
We’ll find a room in nearby Joliet, spend a restful night, then go back to the Prairie on Sunday, September 22nd, after breakfast. Let’s see what we can find out about the archaeological dig that is uncovering a native settlement that dates from around 1600. Ask a ranger, will you please, for recommendations on paths to take today? We’ll breathe deeply, go slowly at times, more briskly at others, and just enjoy being alive. Isn’t this just what we needed?
Monday, September 23rd, is the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Fall. Ignore it.
Well, friends and readers, we started the month with Oktoberfest, and, HOORAY! We get to end it the same way. St. Alphonsus Church, 1429 W. Wellington Ave., is hosting this celebration, from Friday, September 27th, through Sunday, September 29th, and we’ll find more bands, more beer, more brats! We’ll be there Sunday to close out the fest in style, dancing along as Ed Wagner’s Lustige Blaskepelle pumps out German, Austrian, and Czech favorites. Don’t miss Beatles cover band American English at 2:30pm, and bring your kids for their last chance at Kinderfest until next year. The fest closes at 7pm on Sunday and we are both exhausted and happy and ready for next month.
Until then, dear friends and readers, remember, Chicago never disappoints an adventurous spirit.
