Some things 'bout Chicago

Now I haven't lived in Chicago for very long, about 8 months and a few weeks...whoa, which actually seems pretty crazy... it feels like just yesterday I was running along the interurban trail in Bellingham, WA and having a Pilsner at Boundary Bay...but last night I did have a Pilsner, it just happened to be at Skylark's in Bridgeport, one of the 77 community areas of Chicago, on the South Side, bounded on the west and north by the Chicago river (thank you Wickipedia). This was not my first foray to Bridgeport, and I feel very lucky that I've already experienced parts of this windy city that many natives or longtime residents have never touched. This is mainly due to music and the people I've met while pursuing that lovely thing, and last weekend was just one of those times as I got to play with a lovely goddess Chris, of Judson Claiborne, at the NFX expo at The Benton House.

The Benton House is a non-profit organization that serves the Bridgeport community and is rich in history. It was founded in 1907 by Janett Sturges, and offered day care support for kids whose momma's worked in local factories. They were fed, looked after, and given basic medical care by the settlement house workers. By 1916 they began to offer classes and workshops, and as the years went by, it became a place for theatre and music and enrichment. After we played our set, a few of us sat around drinking PBR and looking at piles of old pictures from the archives. What amazing people they were, and what a wonderful thing still going on in this city, helping to build strong relationships and support this community. It might not be listed in your tour book to Chicago, and it might not be the Cultural Center or The Art Institute, but it is rich and fine. I can't wait to go back.