Johanna at the Green Mill

WRBNeighbor Johanna Nauraine sent us this message today:

I just wanted to let you know that I'm one of the headliners in an upcoming jazz concert at the historic Green Mill next Saturday afternoon, April 4th at 12:30. You won't see this performance listed on the Green Mill calendar because we have special arrangements to perform there - negotiated by nationally known jazz singer, Spider Saloff who's been teaching our jazz class (this is our class performance).

If you have time to stop in and say hi and listen awhile, please do. If not - I have two solo shows coming up at Davenport's Piano Bar in June. Save the dates! June 7 at 5:00 p.m. and
June 14th at 7:00 p.m.

So, come on out and support Johanna in the wonderfully restored Prohibition-era decor of Uptown's Green Mill at 4802 N. Broadway Ave.

TWR National Historic District in the news

Read all about it in this Sun Times article, and many thanks to Bill Cunniff for a well-written story. Photo of the 6700 block of N. Talman from the Sun-Times.

Shady Rest

A pine-shaded stone bench in front of Park Gables, just north of Indian Boundary Park.

Bold Plans. Big Dreams.

Do you know about the Burnham Plan Centennial? No? Click here to learn all about it. As part of the Centennial, members of WRBN and RP/WRHS have been attending workshops and sharing our neighborhood history with the Indo-American Heritage Museum to create a tour of Devon Avenue which will take place on May 16 as part of the 11th Annual Great Chicago Places & Spaces (GCPS) festival .

Kumbha Mela

Anyone who's visited West Ridge knows that our Devon Avenue offers the experience of a trip to the Subcontinent, minus the inconvenience of an international flight. And, as we've mentioned before, the word "bungalow" has deeps roots in India: in Gujarati it's known as bangalo, from Hindi, bangla is a "low, thatched house," and the term "Bengalese," is used to describe a "house in the Bengal style."

On Friday I was the guest of members of our local Indo American Heritage Museum at the opening event for this wonderful photography exhibit:

Sacred Waters: India’s Great Kumbha Mela Pilgrimage, March 6 — July 19, 2009

Journey to India with photographer Jean-Marc Giboux, and discover the creativity and splendor of the largest human gathering on earth, the Kumbha Mela pilgrimage.

Four times every 12 years, for just a few weeks, enormous and vibrant communities form at rivers believed to transform into divine nectar. Witness these fleeting, joyful gatherings, and discover their dazzling processions, theatrical performances, and the athletic and devotional practices of holy men. Then, proceed with the pilgrims to the culmination of their journey—a bath in sacred waters.

Through photographer Giboux's arresting images, glimpse the diversity of India and the complexities of Hindu religious life, on display at The Field Museum.

On another note, only vaugely related to bungalows (see November 11, 2008 post), while at this event I was excited to see Maria Pinto, Mrs. Obama's couturier of choice, looking every bit the designer in a fab, fitted green suit.