El Antillano Documentary Screening  
& Fundraiser for SRBCC and Caserío Films

Saturday, June 28 (7:30 p.m.)

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
4046 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL  60639

El Antillano, a film documentary on the life of Ramón Emeterio Betances, is coming to Chicago for a screening and conversation with director Tito Román Rivera. Like Segundo Ruiz Belvis, Betances was an abolitionist and founded the secret society that bought and freed slave children. He was the primary instigator of the Grito de Lares Revolution.

All proceeds of these events will benefit SRBCC programs and Caserío Films, the independent production house behind Román Rivera's El Antillano. There will be only two screenings on June 28, 2014 at SRBCC. Don't miss the critically acclaimed documentary that has been showing at commercial theaters in Puerto Rico since early May 2014. Director Tito Román Rivera will be present to discuss the film and engage the audience in a Q & A session.

Click here to register for the event. 

Come join the circle!

John Yost of Rhythm Revolution will be hosting a Drum Circle in Mozart Park from 4:00-5:30pm as part of Make Music Chicago. Bring your own percussion instrument, or use one that’s provided.

Links: 

• Monthly Drum Circles at Mozart Park
• Event listing on the Make Music Chicago website
• Rhythm Revolution

From The Trust for Public Land's website -- "The 606 is an innovative project on Chicago's Northwest side that will transform nearly three miles of unused rail line into the elevated Bloomingdale Trail, which will be linked to five ground-level neighborhood parks. When complete, it will also feature an observatory, skate park, art installations, educational programming, and other amenities." 

Here's info about The 606 Trail Mix's next event --

Bikes: Gear-up & Get Ready
+ Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail Potluck

Saturday, June 7 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.)

McCormick Tribune YMCA
1834 N. Lawndale

Click here to RSVP

The 606 will be a 2.7 mile long park that is just south of, and parallel to, Armitage Avenue -- so it's very close to where the Armitage Arts Festival will be happening! 

Above: The Bloomingdale Trail (from the606.org)

Links: 

• The 606
• "The 606: Recycling A Train Line To Connect Neighborhoods" by Mike Habschmidt
• "The 606's Western Avenue Bridge Demolition Before And After" by AJ LaTrace (Chicago Curbed, 3/10/2014)
• "Accessing The 606/Bloomingdale Trail: The Western Trailhead" by Joe Robinson (Bike Walk Logan Square, 1/14/2014)
• "The Bloomingdale Line" by Terence Banich (Forgotten Chicago)
• Chicago Park District
• Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail
• The Trust for Public Land

The Borderbend Arts Collective presents a workshop series at Mozart Park that's called "Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys." This series focuses on innovative individuals and organizations that have meaningfully impacted Chicago and its residents. Workshop participants have created artworks (prints, collages, graphic scores, poetry) inspired by those individuals and organizations. 

"Chicago Heroes & Arts Journeys" continues throughout the summer -- with sessions that happen on Fridays (4:30-7:00 p.m.), beginning on June 20th. Click here to find out more about this arts workshop series. You can register for the summer workshop series at the Chicago Park District website. 

pictured above: subjects of "Chicago Heroes
& Arts Journeys" workshops 

Helena Johard and Jakob Anckarsvärd -- June 2014

Art on Armitage
4125 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL  60639

"In the exhibition Carboniferous memories, Swedish artists Helena Johard and Jakob Anckarsvärd examine crude oil through their individual artistic processes. The exhibition aims to shift oil from its industrial meaning to represent both nature’s uncontrolled forces and our minds’ intrinsic, subconscious activity." -- from the Art on Armitage website 

Links:

• Jakob Anckarsvärd
• Art on Armitage
• Mary Ellen Croteau
• Helena Johard
• SALVAGE, an exhibit at The Plant (June 21-October 19)

Above: Oil Rig by Jakob Ankarsvärd 

We're currently developing a map that includes people, arts organizations, businesses, and other entities that are involved with the Arts on Armitage Festival. 

Click on this link to view who is involved with the festival so far. Please check back soon...more updates coming up. 

Monthly drum circles happen at Mozart Park on the third Friday of the month, and the next one happens on Friday, July 18th (7:30 p.m.). Click here to find out more.

Mozart Park is hosting family-friendly performances and arts activities during the Armitage Arts Festival (3-6 p.m. on Saturday, September 6th); that festival programming at Mozart Park will be presented by the Borderbend Arts Collective and Voice of the City. More info TBA. 

Links:

• Chicago Drum Circle Meetup Group
• Drum Circle at Mozart Park on June 21 (part of Make Music Chicago)
• Rhythm Revolution

Weegee's Lounge celebrates its 8th anniversary on Thursday, June 5th. Proceeds will benefit Girls Rock! Chicago. Weegee's Lounge also presents a photo exhibit by Felipe Garcia, and Courtland Green performs during the party. 

Weegee's is one of the Armitage Arts Festival's venues. Armitage Arts Fest performances will happen at Weegee's 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, September 6th. Mark your calendar! Stay tuned -- more info TBA. 

Links: 

• Weegee (Arthur Fellig) collection at the MoMA
• Weegee's 8th Annual Anniversary Party (facebook event)
• Weegee's Lounge Celebrates with Girls Rock! (everyblock.com)
• "Weegee's World: Life, Death, and the Human Drama" (International Center of Photography)

The 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival happens June 13-15, and Rosa's Lounge is one of the essential Chicago blues venues that's hosting amazing concerts during the Blues Fest. 

Rosa's Lounge is one of the Armitage Arts Festival venues. Mark your calendars -- Saturday, September 6th! Stay tuned for updates regarding who will be performing at Rosa's Lounge on September 6th, as well as who else will be performing during the festival. 

Links: 

• 2014 Chicago Blues Festival: Complete Line-up (WXRT)
• Billy Branch
• Billy Branch & The SOB ~ 'Blues Shock' Tour -- June 14th concert at Rosa's Lounge, during the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival
• "Blown away by the Windy City: Iconic architecture, stunning views and gangster tours in buzzy, chic Chicago" by Carol Drinkwater (Daily Mail)
• Chicago Blues Network
• "Chicago: The Best Blues Bars: Having the Blues Never Felt So Good" by Erica Walsh (Travel Channel)
• Delmark Records
• Kinsey Report -- June 13th concert at Rosa's Lounge during the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival
• Melvin Taylor Blues Band perform "Oye Como Va" at Rosa's Lounge
• Melvin Taylor Music
• Pinetop Perkins Foundation
• Quique Gomez & Luca Giordano -- June 15th show at Rosa's Lounge, during the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival
• "A rosy new stage for Sugar Blue" by Howard Reich (Chicago Tribune)
• Sharon Lewis & the Texas Fire: The Real Deal (A1 Blues Podcast #)
• Sugar Blue
• Windy City Blues Society