Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Bob Goins

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to guitar teacher Bob Goins who reports suffering recently from a self-diagnosed case of Iron Ass Magnet Couch.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | May 2, 2008 | Comments (0)

Teachers’ Nearby Gigs — 5-13-08 update

(Gigs in Chicago and burbs)

Tuesday, May 13th - Dave Specter with Harlan Terson, Shaw’s, 21 E. Hubbard (312) 527-2722 7P pm
Tuesday, May 13th - Peggy Browning/Maura Lally : songs/pickin’/pints at the Grafton, 4530 N. Lincoln, 9:30 pm
Tuesday, May 13th - Rick Sherry, Devil in a Woodpile, old blues, jazz, hot stuff, The Hideout, 9:30 pm
Wednesday, May 14th - Scott Besaw, Bad Dog Tavern, 4535 N Lincoln, Chicago - (773) 334-4040. 8:30 pm
Friday, May 16th - Steve Doyle w/The Hoyle Bros, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, 5:30-7:30 pm
Friday, May 16th - Typhanie Monique, Andys Jazz Club, 11 E. Hubbard, 5-8:30 pm, $10 cover
Sunday, May 18th - Chris Walz, bluegrass and folk jam, S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, time 3:30. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School, Teacher gigs by Skip | April 12, 2008 | Comments (2)

You missed the U. of C. Folk Festival?

It was February 8-10. Think about attending next year. See “more” below for what you missed. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | February 1, 2008 | Comments (0)

Get the local scoop!

We all have a natural interest in our neighborhoods. Accordingly, a website focused on local news has perked up some interest.
It’s EveryBlock.com. « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 29, 2008 | Comments (0)

More traditional music fun!

Do you enjoy traditional and folk-roots music? Check out the University of Chicago Folk Festival, February 8th -10th. Held on the university campus, the weekend includes many afternoon mini-concerts (billed as “workshops”) and lots of jamming (usually old-time and bluegrass but start your own jam!) on Saturday and Sunday afternoon (Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 E. 59th St.) Afternoons are free! www.uofcfolk.org.

What about barndancing? Chicago and Chicago area barndances (squares and contras) are held regularly on Mondays and periodically other days. You don’t dance? No problem: dances are walked through and experienced dancers will help. www.ChicagoBarnDance.com.

Folk music concerts? Get the monthly Aural Tradition newsletter for almost nothing. Mail only. (773) 493-8672.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 20, 2008 | Comments (0)

40 years of Chicago

Popular music as history? Now there’s a great idea! For the 40th anniversary of the band Chicago, the Chicago History Museum has come up with a commemorative installation at the museum entrance. The display includes objects and materials from their remarkable history from the band’s archive. Wow. Who would have expected this?

The installation will be on display through Sunday, March 30, 2008. Bravo CHM!

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | January 6, 2008 | Comments (0)

Holiday Stuff to Enjoy

Snow Queen at the Biograph! Great for Families

This is a must see. Written by Michael Smith, our long-time friend and colleague, the cast includes three teachers from the school: Cathy Norden, Bob Goins, and Barb Barrow. One of the biggest hits in Victory Gardens history, this year’s production features a magical new scenic design and the same haunting and hilarious music that has charmed young and old alike. The Snow Queen takes her audience on a wild ride into the realm of myth and dream, where a talking reindeer, wooden soldiers, an enchantress, the mysterious Snow Queen holds talking animals, wooden soldiers, witches, and lost children under her spell. This is an adaptation of a Hans Christian Anderson classic, adapted by Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati and acclaimed composer Michael Smith, with design and puppets by Blair Thomas (a founder of Redmoon Theater).

Seeing Snow Queen will be a treat for the family during the holidays: romantic, melodic, and moving. The show is playing through January 6 at the Biograph theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. tickets@victorygardens.org or 773.871.3000

The Not-Your-Grandma’s Nutcracker

See our very own fiddle teacher, Maria McCullough in The Nutcracker! She’s the doll Phoebe in The House’s re-imagined version of The Nutcracker. But this isn’t the ballet you remember. Instead, this production is a fresh approach to on the traditional story, weaving together riveting dialogue, puppetry, music, spellbinding spectacle, and an eight piece string orchestra. Together, they tell a darkly moving story of magic and mystery that you never knew existed. From the creative team behind the recent Chicago hits The Sparrow and The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, This new Nutcracker is a surprising take on a Christmas classic that’s perfect for adults and kids. Wednesdays-Fridays in the The Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets are $29 ($20 students). www.steppenwolf.org or 312.335.1650.

The Not-Your-Grandpa’s New Years Eve

How’s this for an idea? Celebrate the eve with your friends at the Old Town School of Folk Music? We’ll have the Punch Brothers, recently signed by Nonesuch Records. Note that their banjo player, Noam Pikelny, was a student here.

To make an evening of it, think too of having dinner on Lincoln Avenue – the Fiddlehead at 4600 Lincoln has planned two special “tasting” menus, one of which is vegetarian. (See other page). They believe in buying locally; we do too.

Chicago Printmakers Cooperative - 18th Annual Small Print Show

Speaking of buying locally, just a couple blocks away, at 4642 N. Western Avenue, is the Chicago Printmakers Cooperative. Their show highlights a variety of print media, including etching, lithography, woodcut and monotype. Traditional as well as experimental approaches to printmaking are featured by approximately 40 artists. Most featured artwork is under $100; we guarantee that you’ll find wonderful stuff. Note: The coop’s director of Deborah Maris Lader, a member of Sons of the Never Wrong (and one of the School’s very own). Hours: Tues. through Sat., 12-5 pm through December 22nd. 293-2070.

Hear WBEZ’s hour-long Old Town School Anniversary show

WBEZ has produced a program of gtreat stuff including interviews, music, field recordings. Go to their website and check out the program section. Thanks WBEZ!

Unique Gift Idea

Convert your friend/partner/spouse’s favorite audio tape(s) to CD format. An easy choice for this job is Joe Tessone, a friend of the Old Town School, who runs the Mystery Street Recording Company at 2827 N. Lincoln. He charges $20 an hour. You can contact him at joe@mysterystreetrecording.com.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School, Uncategorized by Skip | December 8, 2007 | Comments (0)

Sones de Mexico - Esta Tierra Es Tuya

Sones de Mexico Ensemble is back from Las Vegas, still riding high from their Latin Grammy nomination for their new album – Esta Tierra Es Tuya (This Land is Your Land) – for Best Folk Album of 2007. While the album did not win, the nomination gave the band and their music visibility on a national scale. The title is homage to the contributions of immigrants, with the title song proclaimed both in Spanish and in English. An especially enjoyable inclusion is an adaptation of the second movement of the Brandenburg Concerto, performed with participation by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with whom they have collaborated in the past.

Esta Tierra Es Tuya is available at the Different Strummer. This is musically an exciting album, and in light of current discussion of immigration, an inspiring statement.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | December 3, 2007 | Comments (0)

Paper as Art: Papel Mexicano Exhibit at Columbia College

Paper can be used to create rich and fascinating art — to see examples, think of visiting the Papel Mexicano exhibit at Columbia College.

The art of paper in Mexico is uniquely ingenious, artistic, and varied.The spindley paper mache skeletons and toy skulls that appear surreal or frightening to many outsiders are part of the religious and cultural symbols that characterize the lively arts of Mexico. Exotic winged creatures with long tongues, a plethora of painted masks, papel picado, and amate ritual figures are some of the visual curiosities included in the Papel Mexicano exhibition.

With the help of members of the College’s Latino Alliance and contributions from Chicago’s Mexican Americans have prepared a Dia de los Muertos altar to honor the papermaker Dard Hunter, one of the pioneers of 20th century papermaking in America.

The exhibit opened this week and will run to December 15th at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash, 2nd floor. Gallery hours are 10 am to 6 pm, Monday-Saturday. Information: 312-344-6630 or bookandpaper.org.

Other recent posts:

Celebrate the Holidays with Reggio the Hoofer
The Exquisite Corpse Lives Again!
Filisko and Noden on European Tour
Old Town School Harmonica Student wins Nobel Prize
For something a bit unusual…..
Arlo Leach: Guitar and Jug Band
Cafe Menu Specials
A Walk Through the Blues
Diandra Jones in Ghaha

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School by Skip | November 19, 2007 | Comments (0)