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On the Cover
Graffiti 4 Social Justice........ 6
Farmers markets missing Link to end food deserts?.... 4 No money, no problems: Free & cheap staycations.... 13 Chicago protests Arizona’s immigration law.................. 4
Prom too pricey for some, Five unprom nights............ 10 The Chicago Theatre’s with Conan O’Brien...................... 5
Public Affairs Protest of Arizona immigration law by Terence Byrsa................. 4 Farmers markets Link to end food deserts by John Campos.... 4
Chicago Grid Mission Statement The Grid is a monthly Chicago newsmagazine, which sifts through local politics, news, art & entertainment from the millennial perspective in order to mobilize a conscious, DIY citizenry. The Grid redefines our priorities by investigating and spotlighting human rights issues, threats to liberty, digital memes and local culture.
Editorial Policy
Commentary on AZ law...... 11
Table of Contents
The
Photo by Dylan Heath
Tag—you’re it. This stick figure with a hobo bundle ”is art that’s usually written on freight [trains],” said Justin Grey, Alternatives, Inc. volunteer. See “Graffiti 4 Social Justice” on p. 6 for more on tagging.
Arts & Culture Chicago’s with Coco: review of Conan O’Brien by Philip Hayek............................ 4
Commentary Bigotry changes, Humanity doesn’t: From the Coliseum by Terence Byrsa................. 11
Features Graffiti 4 Social Justice by Dylan Heath............................................................................... 6 Prom too pricey for some seniors, Five unprom nights by Lynda Lopez.......................... 10 10 Things Every Chicagoan Should Know......................................................................... 10
e-dentity World Wide Grid Guide Links to resolve your e-dentity crisis............................................. 12
The Chicago Grid reserves the right to publish any editorial content and advertisements provided they don’t discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, physical or mental disabilities, or sexual orientation. Views expressed on the Editorial page reflect the opinions of The Grid editorial board. The Grid encourages and prints Letters to the Editor. Letters should be sent by e-mail to editor@thechicagogrid.com and should not exceed 400 words. Letters may be edited for grammar, style, length and libel, but not for opinion. Authors may request their names be withheld from being published, but must sign their full names when submitting letters. All content and images © 2010 The Chicago Grid, used with permission or used under the Fair Use Act.
Staff
Editor & Publisher Kristina Zaremba kristina@thechicagogrid.com Public Affairs Editor John Campos john@thechicagogrid.com Contributor Dylan Heath Contributor Terence Byrsa Contributor Lynda Lopez Contributor Philip Hayek
#FollowMayJune People The Grid recommends you follow on Twitter............................... 12 Layout & Design Kristina Zaremba
DIY Seven cheap & free summer staycations............................................................................. 13 Need to Know directory Instructions for your indie life...................................................... 14 For instant Gridification, visit thechicagogrid.com.
The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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Public Affairs Locals protest AZ immigration law By Terence Byrsa Contributor One day before Arizona signed its controversial Senate Bill 1070 immigration law, Chicagoan Marty Kantor stood at Clark and Addison Streets, moving on occasion within a small area outside Wrigley Field amid the din of vendors, Cubs and Arizona Diamondback baseball fans, and a man with a megaphone. Kantor was silent and nondescript—except for the yellow Star of David with an “AZ” in the center, pinned on his jacket. “German citizens,” Kantor said, “were required to wear colored stars and carry proof of their status. Now American citizens in Arizona will be required to do the same—wearing the badge of the brown of their skin.” Signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer on April 30, SB 1070 amends Arizona’s enforcement of immigration legislation. It is said to be the attempt of a state to secure its border from illegal immigrant infiltration; it is also said to be racist in its requirement of anyone of darker-than-white complexion to prove with documentation that they are American citizens or legal residents. A little closer to the stadium another man spoke more specifically to the Diamondback organization, informing us that he, a Cubs fan, had come down to the park and bought a ticket, only to tear it up. The ownership of the Arizona franchise, while publicly holding reservations about the legislation, financially supports the legislators and governor who authored it. The rally at Wrigley Field on April 29, organized by the Chicago Workers Collaborative (chicagoworkerscollaborative.org), made public the protest to the legislation and organizations supporting it in any way. Calls to boycott products and services with Arizona as their home base echoed around
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The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
Photo: Creative Commons
Peppers at a city farmers market.
Farmers markets Link in ending food deserts? Photos by Terence Byrsa
Marty Kantor wore a Star of David with an “AZ” on it to protest Arizona’s new immigration law on April 29. the stadium and was the constant message in the prop plane’s banner overhead. There were Chicagoans like Kasia from Poland passing out fliers. There were George, a Korean-American, and Carlos from El Salvador, long-time American citizens and volunteers in the immigrant cause, holding a large banner that read, “Shame on AZ/No More 1070/Reform—Not Racism.” Another man held a placard that read, “Where Are Your Papers, Pilgrim?” On the flip, annoyance was evident as the crowd gathered on the major throughway into the park: “Can’t get rid of these people around here—they’re always standing around!” The voice continued bellowing, “Get the fuck outta here, assholes!” Emotions run high when livelihood is at stake, or perceived to be at stake. The strongest legislation against immigrants in this country in over half a century is sure to spur further court battles and demonstrations. See ‘Bigotry changes, humanity doesn’t’ p. 11 for Commentary on this event.
g Link card accepted at five city markets By John Campos Public Affairs Editor The Illinois Link food assistance card or nationally-known SNAPS food program is now accepted at five of the city’s 19 farmers markets and six independent markets. Low-income residents can now use Link to buy fresh, organic produce while supporting local farmers and diminishing food deserts, areas with limited or no access to healthy foods in a 2-mile radius. Recipients can See Human Services, use their cards to p. 15 for more on access a variety of applying for Link fresh foods such as breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, poultry, dairy products and also seeds and plants to grow food. To combat the epidemic rise of food deserts in the city and to build better eating habits in low-income communities, Experimental Station has partnered with Wholesome Wave Foundation, to provide an incentive program for those who use Link at markets. Each day a Link cardholder spends $5 or See “Farmers Markets,” p. 15
Arts & Culture
Chicago’s with Coco By Philip Hayek Contributor He promised me the greatest night of my life…and delivered. Conan O’Brien actually promised the Chicago Theatre to give the best show ever on May 20. The hyperactive red ostrich put on a memorable, intimate conversation between Conan and the sold out audience that’s one of the funniest things I’ve experienced. The “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television” Tour was a 100 mph combination of special guests, hilarious songs, and classic Conan. Andy Richter was there to help things along, Tim Meadows showed up to say hello, and we all found out that La Bamba tastes like Funyons after Conan licked his face. Conan ripped shit on guitar with covers of the White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” and Willie Nelson’s “On the
Photo courtesy Chicago Theatre
Road Again,” while La Bamba, Pender and the rest of the “Tonight Show” Band…excuse me, the Legally Prohibited Band, backed him up. Although prohibited from performing any of his old bits from “Late Night” and the “Tonight Show” because they are NBC property, Conan was able
to find a loophole and bring back the “Walker Texas Ranger” Lever, now dubbed the Chuck Norris Rural Policeman Handle. As an audience member of “Conan in Chicago” back in 2006 where Conan hosted a week of “Late Night” from the theater, I can attest that Conan’s much-anticipated
Artist’s Agenda She & Him concert 6:30 p.m. on June 7 Pritzker Pavillion at Millennium Park Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. Free. Blues Fest 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on June 11-13 Grant Park Five stages of downhome music, ten hours a day, three days straight—no wonder Chicago is home of the Blues. Fine Arts Building open galleries 4:30-9:30 p.m., second Friday monthly 410 S. Michigan Ave. at Congress Parkway Browse art, music & theater galleries.
Humboldt Park Art Fair noon-10 p.m. on June 12 Humboldt Park boathouse 1440 N. Sacramento Ave. Ten indie films, DJs & 12 bands play throughout. Dozens of visual artists on display. Open mic noon to 3 p.m. Visit graffitizone.org for details. Writer’s reading group 7-8:30 p.m., fourth Monday monthly Argo Tea Cafe, 958 W. Armitage Ave. at Sheffield Avenue Read or listen. Contact Joe at jacaesar@gmail.com with questions.
Submit events to editor@thechicagogrid.com by the fourth Friday of each month.
Photo: tour blog
return had the roof blowing off the place again. This is why Conan O’Brien loves Chicago audiences. He and we are intimate friends, mutually giving each other the greatest nights of our collective lives. My God, what a perfect relationship.
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The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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Graffiti 4 Social Justice
Story & Photos by Dylan Heath
Left: Hip-hop arts instructor Justin Grey fills in the word “true” on a wall non-profit, youth and community program-based Alternaitves, Inc. Above: Another practice wall.
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I do it because my parents got divorced . . . weren’t around a lot. I had nothing else to do. I’d rather be here then be at my home. —17-year-old member of Alternatives, Inc.’s hip-hop arts program
“
J
ustin Grey sits in an old theater that was gutted and painted black on a Thursday evening. The building, near the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Sheridan Road, is owned by Alternatives, Inc. Justin respects Bombers. Bombers blast their graffiti all over to get their tags seen by everyone. He likes Piecers too—taggers who make masterpieces. Piecers plan their tags with intricate lettering and a variety of colors and characters. Bombers like their tags quick, gritty and dirty. They also have the biggest chance of being caught and arrested. The best taggers, Justin said, can both Bomb and Piece. Bombers throw their names everywhere. They race to see how many walls they can paint for the rush. “It’s like a battle of who can put the most up,” he said. People use nicknames or random characters or certain four letter words to keep some anonymity. “[Graffiti walks] such a thin line because it’s an illegal art,” he said. To some people, nothing is more obscene and disgusting than spotty spray paint on the side of a brick building. But others,
like Justin, think it’ a beautiful expression of free speech. Alternatives, Inc., an organization that provides the Uptown neighborhood’s youth with something to do after school, was established in 1971. It helps children learn new skills and develop self-esteem. It’s programs are, well, alternative. It teaches circus acts and clowning. It teaches hip-hop choreography and break dancing. Justin teaches the art of graffiti. Jesse Livingston, a skinny 32-year-old
with long blond hair stuffed under an old, brown Rastafarian hat, teaches music. In 2003, Jesse started volunteering his time for Justin’s project. That lasted two years. Now he works there part-time. “I handle all the musical aspects. So if anyone’s interested in rapping, DJing or musical production, I’m their mentor,” Jesse said. Jesse also works with kids on their visual art and break-dancing skills, but he said his strength is in music. As taggers grow older they usually start to mellow out, Justin said. After taggers are caught too many times, judges start to notice and it becomes more difficult to get charges dropped. Some become graphic artists; some open T-shirt or art stores. Justin is 27 now. He has run the hip-hop arts program at Alternatives since 2001. Justin said it’s hard to improve graffiti skills in Chicago. Everything is cleaned The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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1.1 “Thief” scratched into a subway step. Tags in small places that people don’t see and don’t care about last longer, Jackson Elliott said. 2. 2 A corrosive chemical is used to “etch” windows, which is the only form of tagging that results in a felony. 3. 3 The Latin Kings’ five-pointed crown in marker at the Winona Street red line marks territory. Repetition of gang symbols takes precedence over craft.
2 off or covered up before a tagger can see the work in the day time. The city has its own vandal clean-up crew, the Graffiti Busters. Armed with a high powered sand blaster and brown paint ( Justin calls the color “doodoo brown”), the Graffiti Busters ride around in a van cleaning up any tags. “That sucks… spend all night and you don’t even get your daytime pictures, that shit sucks,” he said, but he understands it’s just their job. Maybe they even like the art, he said. “[Some of the neighbors] think this is sort of an illegal training thing…not true,” Justin said about his program. Instead the program teaches kids the art and ethics of tagging. Most illegal tagging is a misdemeanor, punished by a few hours of community service and a court date, he said. But some more destructive vandalism can be disciplined more severely. Etching, done when taggers spray a corrosive chemical onto windows, is destructive and can’t be buffed out. “Most of the time, property owners have to replace the windows,” he said. Etching gives graffiti artists bad names, Justin said, because it makes everyone look like vandals in the eyes of business owners. But it’s can also be a political message because, as Justin said, a multi-million dollar corporation can afford to replace the damaged glass. “I think it’s actually pretty cool looking . . . [I] don’t mind it on vacant, abandoned property,” Justin said. The main room is full of noise—children laughing, people talking. The DJ plays Kraftwerk and MF Doom over the sound system. On one side of the room three rows of teenagers dance, following the choreography of
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The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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1 the
a kid in front of the group. On the other side, a circle of break-dancers forms. Each takes a turn in the middle while the rest bop up and down on the outside oh-ing with approval. Littler kids run around in between the dancers. One has a mohawk that has started to grow out. He rolls around on wheelie shoes. Someone throws a football and the boy on wheels glides across the dance floor and catches it. Outside, people hang out on the corner all night. Police patrol the area, searching for gang members and drug dealers. Street fights periodically break out. Last August, one fight made the news. Twenty or 30 teenagers ran back and forth down the middle of the street, throwing bottles at each other and yelling obscenities. Condo owners filmed the action from above. Police rolled in, sirens blearing, to break up the fight. That was a block away from Alternatives.
Justin sits at some tables with four or five younger boys drawing on some paper. He wears a gray sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His long, black hair is pulled back under a backwards ball cap. He has paint on his hands. There is a box full of empty spray paint cans on the chair next to him. Each can is covered in cheap, throw away paint. The cans look like a shimmering oil slick with spots of random colors. Justin grabs a can and a Marvy DecoColor brand marker and draws a face with vampire fangs over the paint. He puts it back in the box and pulls out another one, repeating the process with a new face. He divides his time among several different tasks simultaneously. Some of the kids hold up their artwork, bubble letters spelling out their signatures; Justin approves. Two teenagers come in late and ask for time towards their community service. Justin
—Justin Grey before painting the banner ‘Hip-Hop 4 Social Justice’
“
“
What do you think social justice is? What’s social justice for us? I want you to know, so you’re not just painting.
Left: Taggers take their time to create the art and “just slap it up,” Justin said. A tagger left this US Postal Service sticker of what looks like a 1960’s yearbook picture in black marker on the construction scaffolding in front of the Carson Pirie Scott building in the Loop. Jackson Elliott, a volunteer for Alternatives, Inc., says this tag “is more about someone’s personal ethos. . . It’s something that could be mass produced with too much ease” to be about the art of tagging. rips into them. “You got to give back to the community…people got to clean shit off our street,” Justin tells them. But he gives them a chance and writes their hours up. Justin finishes another can. Justin calls the graffiti he teaches art projects. The children learn design and can control, the ability to manipulate the spray paint coming out of the can. They also learn the culture behind the art. On the blustery afternoon of Halloween, Justin gathers a few kids, some 94’s (Montana Colors Barcelona brand cans of spray paint), and a square of canvas out in the back alley of Alternatives. The concrete ground is riddled with ghostly outlines of old graffiti projects, straight lines of paint blurred at the ends, where the artist sprayed over the side of the board. People come out to play basketball with the broken hoop—half the back board is missing. The kids, one already dressed as Michael Jackson for trick-or-treating, learn the techniques of tagging: hold the can upright and back from the canvas; paint in horizontal, smooth lines; keep everything level and clean. Justin said he wants the kids to know what they’re doing. “What do you all think social justice is?” he asks. Like the cops, one kid said. Sure that’s part of it, Justin said, but “what’s justice for us?” he asks. “I want you to know, so you’re not just painting,” he said. Before he starts, he gives them just one more piece of wisdom, “If anyone sees you do this stuff to the wall, graffiti, you get in trouble…but it’s beautiful right?” Justin starts with a sketchy outline,
“Hip-Hop 4…” The air smells sickly sweet with paint. He hands the can to one of the middle-school-aged kids and tells him to fill it in. Justin sprints off to take care of something else for the program. The kids pass the can around, with varying skill levels. One makes quick straight lines with the paint, one goes down instead of side-to-side, one just sprays randomly. Justin jumps back out the door and grabs the can. “…Social Justice,” he finishes sketching. Getting ahead of himself, he almost doesn’t leave enough room for the “Justice.” Then, fill the words in, outline in black, quick sketch of some arms (one holding a microphone, one holding a spray can), some quick stars in yellow, blue clouds in the background, and a quick outline again, this time in green. The kids half-way lose interest. Michael Jackson, dressed in a suit jacket and shiny shoes, starts to dance. He jumps and spins on his toes and throws his hat. Some of the kids start tossing the basketball around, one a little too hard. Michael Jackson, a little teary eyed, gets mad and starts pushing the kid who threw the ball. Justin stops them. “You can’t be fighting for dumb stuff. You got to have some good reasons,” he said. Justin would say the banner, “Hip-Hop 4 Social Justice” fights for a good reason. The banner will go up behind the DJ booth at any shows Alternatives has. Specifically, it’s for a protest against Fort Benning, a controversial U.S. Army post in Georgia, he said. A 17-year-old boy, who will remain unnamed, sits one table away from Justin on
the Thursday night in the Alternatives, Inc. main room. He works on a few different designs. He said it’s just some simple stuff; one straight letters, one bubble. He works with markers and office paper. “This is graffiti right here,” he said pointing at a bottle of Faygo Moon Mist, a soft drink whose flavor can’t be derived from the label. The brand name is written in bubble letters. The same lettering the teen was drawing earlier. He spoke the words, but the sentiment comes from Justin’s teachings. The boy has been tagging for five years. He was caught nine times. “Graffiti gets you into other things—drugs, stealing,” he said. Police caught him stealing three times and gave him probation and 20 hours of community service, so he’s lying low right now. He said he hasn’t tagged anything for months. “I do it because [my] parents got divorced . . . weren’t around a lot. I had nothing else to do,” he said. He likes Alternatives. He likes the atmosphere. “I’d rather be here then be at my home being all bored. If I’m at home, my mom would be bitching at me ‘Oh, do the laundry. Do this. Do that.’ I come here if I’m angry,” he said. Alternatives is a safe place for Uptown’s youth to be kids. And Justin’s Hip-Hop arts class is a safe place for them to learn how to tag. The black walls are full of canvases of student paintings. They have all types of media and subject matters. Outside, in the alley, a mural painted by the students covers the brick wall. Pieces of See “Graffiti,” p. 11 The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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10 Things Every Chicagoan Should Know 10. All FOIA logs now online Mayor Daley announced May 13 that the city will post all Freedom of Information Act requests. Visit Data.CityOfChicago.org to browse.
6. Chicago got its nickname as the Windy City because of all the hot air coming out of it during the run up to the 1893 World’s Fair, not because of the weather.
9. Homelessness Prevention Chicago residents who are or are at-risk of becoming homeless and make less than 50 percent of the area median income may apply for emergency financial assistance from the Heartland Association non-profit organization. Visit HeartlandAlliance.org or call 311 and select the Homeless Prevention Center’s “short-term help” option for more.
5. Chicago Abortion Fund Need-based service assists low-income women in obtaining safe and discounted second-trimester abortions. Not a clinic. Generally open a week. Call (312) 663-0338 and listen to the message for details. First-come, first-serve regardless of circumstances of pregnancy.
8. All Kids insurance program This state program offers uninsured children under 18 comprehensive healthcare that includes doctors visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, vision and dental care and medical devices like eyeglasses and asthma inhalers. Parents pay reduced monthly premiums (about $15-40 with $2-10 co-pays). Call (866) 255-5437 or visit AllKidsCovered.com to apply. 7. Family Care insurance program This state program offers reduced healthcare coverage to parents and other guardians living with their children 18 years old or younger. Plans includes many of the same provisions as All Kids. Call (866) 255-5437 or visit FamilyCareIllinois.com to apply.
4. ‘Need to Know’ Watch this newsmagazine for alternative perspectives on national and local news, culture and health every Friday on PBS or visit pbs. org/wnet/need-to-know to watch online. 3. End-of-life Options and Resources Hemlock of Illinois provide terminally-ill patients with information on end-of-life options and resources. Visit FinalExitNetwork.org for more. 2. Millennium Park is the number one Memorial Day 2010 travel destination, says a Priceline.com sampling of 30,000 online hotel booking requests. 1. Little Village Toxic Tours The Little Village Environmental Justice Organization gives guided tours to local drum manufacturers, plastics recycling sites and brown fields on the West Side. Hear about first-hand struggles for health and human rights. Call (773) 762-6991 or visit lvejo.org/campaigns/toxitours.htm for more.
Prom too pricey for some seniors By Lynda Lopez Contributor
With college expenses looming in the near future, Michelle Kilbourn, 18, recently decided not to attend her senior prom. Kilbourn, a senior at Avon High School, went to her junior prom and regrets spending so much money for just one night. “If prom was free, I might have gone again,” Kilbourn said, “but junior prom set me back hundreds of dollars that I couldn’t afford.” In the city, prom tickets can be priced at more than $100 per person, and that’s in addition to the cost of formal wear and shoes, flowers, hair and nail services, and transportation. Prom can cost some students more than a thousand dollars, says USAToday. Daisy Rios, 18, a senior at DeVry Advantage Academy, also decided not to go to
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The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
her prom this year. “If I were to go to prom, I would have to spend a lot of money to buy a dress and everything else that I would need,” Rios said, “I didn’t think it was fair for my parents to waste money that they don’t have.” The Glass Slipper Project, a nonprofit organization in Chicago, makes prom a realistic goal for young women. Students can visit one of the organiza-
Un-prom nights • Host a LAN party—challenge your friends and family to remote or face-toface rounds of video games on your Wii, Playstation or Xbox. • Go clubbing—Club Mambo at 3336 N. Milwaukee Ave. is 17+ and Club Volkan at 2501 S. Kedzie Ave. is 18+.
tion’s boutique days to pick out one prom dress and related accessory free of charge, although the 2010 giving season has ended. The formal dresses, shoes, purses, jewelry and unopened cosmetics and hosiery are acquired through donations. Visit glassslipperproject.org for more. “Prom is expensive, any way you look at it,” Kilbourn said. “There is no cheap way out of it.” • Maximize the After Party—prioritize your funds on a trip to an amusement park, beach, camp site, zoo, museum, bowling alley, concert or festival instead. • Throw a movie & dance party—each person can contribute music, movies, games, snacks and decorations. • Relax—take a bath, read a book or go for a walk for a stress-free evening.
Commentary Bigotry changes, humanity doesn’t From the Coliseum By Terence Byrsa I’m the son of a son of immigrants and the son of a daughter of immigrants. All of my family came from See ‘Local protest’ southern Italy and p. 4 for an article Sicily. Two millennia on this event. ago immigrants from other continents traipsed the very same turf. In 1850, in the United States there were around 4,000 Italians; by 1910, this population in the U.S. grew to over two million— many of them “WOPs” (Without Papers). Today we’re in the midst of another large wave of immigration; this time it’s from Latin America, predominantly Mexico. Times are as they always have been: legally or illegally, people will move, seeking a better life. Cultures and attitudes change—we welcome or don’t welcome certain groups, depending on…things. Stereotypes usually rule and what we think about a person can be based on presuppositions about their membership in a particular group. Our natural rational capacities are put on hold and we can forget some very simple truths, like history: just over 150 years ago most of today’s southwestern United States belonged to Mexico. One took from the other in war. Reality is what it is. People will move from one place to another, willingly or unwillingly, pushed or kicked off their land, dragged out in chains, or clamoring to get out on the next boat, plane or truck. Human beings need to be what we are best at—being human. Compassion and reason need to be used more than fear and ignorance, the birth parents of bigotry. Human violence against human beings has been used to justify horrors of all kinds and is the only possible spawn of bigotry. Legislation in Arizona can state “reasonable suspicion” and “reasonable means,” but
can open the door to racial profiling and the violation of civil liberties of American citizens. But even still, this is not merely an issue of protecting Americans against the Ignoranti we elect; it’s about seeing ourselves as part of a larger picture where fence-building and fear-mongering are as shocking as film footage of liberated Auschwitz survivors or an African-American hanging from a rope. There is a very tricky balance we seek between security and liberty, and realities of terrorism all over the world make it more difficult. I don’t pretend to have the answer, but if we’re not questioning things as we move along, we risk the destruction of anything resembling a civilized society. The historical record shows that when human rights are violated in one group they will be violated in others. Xenophobia and isolationism don’t work as national policy platforms because they fail to recognize the humanity we share.
City Council Meeting 10 a.m. on June 9 121 N. LaSalle St., room 107. Stream this and archived meetings online at chicityclerk.com/City_Council_Video_Archive.php. Submit your events to editor@thechicagogrid. com by the fourth Friday of each month.
“Graffiti” from p. 9
plywood full of practice tags surround the broken basketball hoop. The students have permission to be there. This activity is not illegal. It is a protected place for them to practice what most of them would be doing anyway. Justin is just happy to provide the security for them and to teach them about the art. He enjoys what he does. “I like applying paint to surfaces. I can’t say addictive or anything like that,” he said. To him it’s more like a hobby. But it’s been 16 years since he learned how to tag from his brothers. “Not just my brothers— my neighborhood,” he said. And he hasn’t stopped yet. “It’s like a passion of mine, just like anybody else playing basketball or these guys break dancing,” he said as he looks up at the circle. They continue to jump and move as the person in the middle spins on his back. The kids are running around laughing. They tell jokes and good-naturedly push each other as Justin Grey finishes one more face and picks up another can. Taggers see the city differently. Every surface is a canvas. Every brick wall a potential piece of art. Perched precariously on rooftops they peer down at a sleeping city: two, three, maybe four o’clock in the morning. Taggers continually fight to get people to say, “How did they get up there?” “People do it to get up, mark their names to say ‘I’m here’ or ‘Hi.’ When people write their name, it’s stating they were around the area. Any prime space that’s visible...is always a good spot for people to mark their tags,” Justin said. Graffiti uses time as a medium more than any other visual art form. Each tag is usually cleaned off or painted over shortly after it’s thrown up. The tags pictured might be gone, but they could be replaced by something more interesting. Dylan Heath is a contributor and the editor of the New Stone Circle literature and arts magazine. This is his first story for The Grid. The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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e-dentity World Wide Grid Guide g Links to help resolve your e-dentity crisis
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CityOfChicago.org City’s official site has info on employment, affordable living and commerce, licenses, health, safety and government.
SourceMap.org Tool to help individuals, businesses and governments map where track the origins of their goods.
ExploreChicago.org City’s official tourism site has info on things to do, attractions and events, plus fun facts on the city and links to tons of other city sites.
GoodGuide.com Guide to safe, healthy, green and animal-friendly products.
CleanPowerChicago.org Community coalition of individuals and organizations that work toward ending toxic coal plant emissions (See April 26 issue of The Grid for more on clean power). Chicago Reader classifieds Best and most entertaining classifieds outside of Craigslist. Visit classifieds.chicagoreader.com or pick up a free copy.
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@LeahSoleil Local Twitter personality, social media guru @MrBrownThumb Local urban gardener-blogger @DirtOnGreen Green living blog by Chicago Now @TamaleTracker Updates on where tamale guys are @WaitWatcher Updates on line lengths at hot spots @Me3dia Editor of local ezine GapersBlock.com @ChicagoCurrent News & commentary on city politics @WindyCityNews Local news aggregator @FunSherpa Leisure directory, like a hotel concierge @ExploreChicago City’s Office of Tourism
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The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize y dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn n skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gri cally. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. G our brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Em yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion so ustice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make mo Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Beco dependent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a diffe hampion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save m Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Sim life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change liv Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. ime. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dre Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make no little plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. Realize your dreams. Change lives. Make a difference. Champion social justice. Think Gridically. Make le plans. Do it yourself. Simplify life. Become independent. Empower yourself. Learn new skills. Get organized. Save time. Save money. Make money. Go green. Grow your brand. R
How I spent my summer staycation g No money, no problems—free, cheap at-home get-aways await. Full Moon Jam
FREE The Full Moon Fire and Drum jam happens every full moon during the summer half a mile south of Foster Ave. Beach on the lakefront. All jams are a leave-no-trace, family event, and end at 10:15 p.m. Schedule—7:45 pm on Thurs., May 27; 8 p.m. on Mon., June 28; 7:45 p.m. on Mon., July 26; 7 p.m. on Tues., Aug. 24; 6:15 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 23; and 5:30 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 24.
Downloadable Tours
FREE Downloadable tours feature local experts talking about the city in five languages: English, Spanish, German, Chinese Mandarin and Japanese. View pictures while listening to enhanced versions, or take self-guided tours. Visit downloadchicagotours.com for more. Choose from History of Chicago Blues—narrated by Buddy Guy, Millennium Park—guided by park creators including architect Frank Gehry, or Chicago for Kids—a stay-at-home audio tour that includes history and culture games.
Family Adventures
Photo: Creative Commons
Fire-spinning at a recent Full Moon Jam.
Neighborhood Scavenger Hunts
FREE Discover hidden gems and interesting facts while competing with friends on a free neighborhood scavenger hunt. Hunt—Andersonville, Albany Park, Chinatown, Lincoln Square, West Loop, West Ridge/Devon Avenue, Wicker Park & Hyde Park. Visit the Visitor’s Center in the Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St.) after June 1 for a guide. Downloadable guides available soon; visit ExploreChicago.org for more.
Chicago International Film Festival screenings
FREE All films screened 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St.), most with an encore showing 2 p.m. on Saturday. Visit ExploreChicago.org for dates and titles.
Chicago Greeters
FREE Parties of six or fewer can take two- to four-hour walking and public transit tours through more than 25 neighborhoods or on 40 popular interests including fashion, film, ethnic Chicago and public art. Open to locals during June and July only. Make reservations 7-10 days in advance at ChicagoGreeter.com or call 312-744-8000.
$12, lunch and transportation included All tours 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Friday ( June 25-Aug. 27), & Saturday, Aug. 28; depart from the Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St.). Visit ExploreChicago.org or call 312Wright’s Robie House. 742-8497 for tickets. Highlights—Garfield Park Conservatory ( June 25, Aug. 13); behind-the-scenes of Bronzeville’s U.S. Cellular Field ( July 2, 16); Pilsen’s Natl. Museum of Mexican Art and murals ( July 9, Aug. 6); Hyde Park’s Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House ( July 23, Aug. 20); Lincoln Park’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ( July 30, Aug. 27); and Jackson Park’s 1893 World’s Fair site (Aug. 28).
Summertime Sampler Tours
$20 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays Excludes lunch and refreshments. Tour—Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln Square ( June 11, July 23, Sept. 3); Art Around Town ( June 25, Aug. 6); Bucktown, Humboldt Park & Logan Square ( July 9, Aug. 20); Greek Town, Chinatown & Little Italy ( June 4, June The Chicago Picasso. 18, July 2, July 16, July 30, Aug. 13, Aug. 27). Visit ChicagoNeighborhoodTours.com for tickets.
Need someone to do it all with?
$29 Meet Joe. Joe will talk to you about the kind of people you like and, for fees starting at $29, he’ll arrange a fun, social meeting with a person or small group that matches your preferences. No dates, profiles or surveys, just Joe. Visit MeetJoe.net for more.
<CLICK> the links in this story for instant Gridification. The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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Need to Know:
Instructions for Your Indie Life
Make Money Meet Business Consultants The Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection offers assistance with business start-up and licensing information, business violations and citations, permits and other resources. Call (312) 744-5506 to make an appointment. Experienced Business Mentors The Service Corps of Retired Executives (500 W. Madison St.) connects wouldbe and current business owners with more than 11,500 volunteer business counselors. Call (312) 353-7724, or visit scorechicago.org for more. Women’s Business Development Center Assists in development and marketing of emerging and existing woman-owned businesses. Services (in Spanish or English) include business assessments, loan assistance, workshops, and individualized counseling. Call (312) 853-3477 or visit wbdc.org for more. Veterans Business Outreach The VBO Program provides business plan preparations, comprehensive feasibility analysis, entrepreneurial training and counseling, mentorship, and referrals to eligible veterans who own or want to start a small business. Call (810) 767-8387 or visit vetbizcentral.com for more. Small Business Alliance Loans SBA makes loans up $15,000 for startups, $25,000 for existing businesses. Visit accionchicago.org for more. $1,000 Business Grant Get a $1,000-grant & shared workspace to jumpstart your business idea. This is a grant, not a loan—no repayment. Visit scalewell.com to submit your idea. Grow Your Business The Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity offers businesses expansion incentives, technological support, access to capital, global marketing expertise and job training for workers. Visit www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo for more.
Employ Illinois Business Loans The State Treasurer’s Office invests millions annually in low-interest loans to large and small-business owners and child-care providers. Visit treasurer.il.gov for more.
Twelve Museums for Free Get free admission for up to four people at twelve of the city’s best museums at any Chicago Public Library location by checking out free Kraft Foods Great Kids Museum Passports.
Employment agencies Visit thecityofchicago.com/employment/ for a directory of more than 40 employment agencies.
Shop Bulk with Friends & Save Save big on groceries, clothes and household goods when you start a Costco (2746 N. Clybourn) club to shop bulk with friends. Buy one membership for $50 and shop as a group. Member must be present and pay for order in full, so arrange to break down receipt and split up shared purchases. Vehicle strongly recommended.
Save Money Cut Your Wireless Bill Citizen Utility Board’s Cell Phone Saver (citizensutilityboard.org/cellphonesaver) analyzes digital copies of any major provider’s cell bill to determine and recommend the most economic plan for you according to average voice, text and data usage. Free Directory Assistance Instead of paying up to $2 to call 411, try 1-800-FREE411 for residential and business listings, or 1-800-goog411 and 1-800-555TELL for business numbers. Books Cheaper Before you shell out more paper for textbooks and bestsellers browse the 30,000 free e-books (many in Kindle format) from Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) or the more than 25,000 free ones at ManyBooks.net. Then search I-Share (alliance of 76 Illinois libraries), visit a local book exchange (swancc.org/directory/books.html), rent books from Chegg.com, buy and sell used media through Amazon Marketplace, or download a paperless version to digital readers like Kindle ($249, amazon.com). Discounted Theater Tix & Gift Certificates Goldstar.com and ChicagoHalfOff.com offer tickets and gift certificates to local restaurants and merchants for 50 percent off or more. Check out the Featured and Clearance pages, respectively. HotTix.org has half-price tickets to more than 200 Chicago theatres, or visit their walk-up locations at 72 E. Randolph St. and 163 E. Pearson St. (in Water Works Visitor’s Center).
Green living Ever Wish You Had a Car? Zipcars are shared sedans, station wagons, SUVs, pick-ups or minivans parked throughout the city. Members can reserve cars (from $7/hr or $68 /weekday, gas and insurance included) at Zipcar.com and drive for a free 180 miles or more per day. Must be 21. Text cta2009 to 30364 to earn $75 toward driving. For greener chauffeured trips, check out Going Green Limos’ (goinggreenlimousine. com) hybrid transport options. Be Rewarded for Saving Water Single-family and two-flat homeowners can lower their water bills by voluntarily installing a water meter. The city’s Meter Save program charges participants only for actual water used and guarantees that metered home will pay no more than yearly assessed rates for seven years. Visit metersave.org or call 311 for more. Dispose of Hazardous Waste The Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility (1150 N. North Branch on Goose Island) accepts household chemical waste on Tuesdays 7 a.m.-noon, Thursdays 2-7 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Visit swancc.org/hcw/hcwcollection.html for a list of accepted items. Conserve Power, Enter CUB Raffles Individuals are eligible to win a month of The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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free electricity or compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs). You’ll also be eligible to earn up to 10,000 CFLs. Visit cubenergysaver. com/contest to register.
Human Services —FOOD Nutrition Assistance (Link Card) The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly Food Stamps, helps low-income people and families buy healthy food. Visit the state’s Dept. of Human Services’ site (www.dhs.state.il.us/) and click “Food” to apply. See “Farmers markets” on p. 4 for more on Link.
Nutrition for Women, Infants & Children WIC helps pregnant women and mothers with children under the age of five eat well by providing coupons to buy nutritious foods like milk, juice, eggs, cheese, cereal, dry beans, pees and peanut butter. Also educates families about nutrition, fitness, breastfeeding and health care. Visit the state’s Dept. of Human Services’ site (www.dhs.state.il.us/) and click on “Pregnancy & Parenting” to apply. Common Pantry Provides emergency food monthly to individuals and families within the boundaries of Diversey (south), Kedzie (west), Ravenswood (east), and Lawrence (north), who are below the poverty line. Distribution is 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on
Wednesdays at 3744 N. Damen. Visit commonpantry.org or call (773) 327-0553. —UTILITIES Apply for Free Emergency Cell Phone Low-income residents may qualify for a free cell phone with 60 pre-paid monthly minutes. Apply at safelinkwireless.com. —HEALTH Rape Crisis Hotline Survivors of sexual assault and their significant others can call 1-888-293-2080, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to receive free confidential assistance from volunteers staff trained in sexual assault crisis intervention.
Know Something Others Should? Submit Need to Know information to editor@thechicagogrid.com.
“Farmers Markets” from p. 4
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There was a $5 difference between 20 lbs of food from Dominick’s and 20 lbs of food from markets. —Dennis Ryan, Experimental Station
City markets that accept Link
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more at a participating market, Wholesome Wave Foundation matches them with $5 in “Link Bucks,” coupons that can be used at the end of the month when funds are usually depleted. The incentive coupons are a means of further assisting cardholders in healthfully stretching their food dollars. Experimental Station, which founded and runs the independent 61st Street Market, will match every transaction of $25 or greater at 61st Street Market with $25 in “Link Bucks” that can only be used at that market during the 2010 season. Incentive programs have been proven to be key in getting more people to the farmer markets, said Dennis Ryan of Experimental Station. A total of nine city markets have incentive programs (all five city-ran markets with EBT and four independent markets). In a comparison done by Experimental Station, there was only a $5 difference between the cost of 20 lbs of food from Dominick’s and 20 lbs of food from markets. With this small margin and incentive programs in place, there is an obvious benefit to going to a fresh market over a local grocery store for access to healthier, fresher produce. “The markets are one, if not the only, access point for fresh, healthy foods,” Ryan said. Ryan also said that eating healthier foods can lead to eating smaller portions: “If your body is getting everything it needs from nutrient-rich foods, your body doesn’t crave more because it is getting what it needs in a smaller amount.” The Link card debits food transactions from a need-based monthly allotment. Accepting Link requires a system to process electronic balance transfers (EBT). EBT access is possible through a partnership among Experimental Station, the
Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOSE) and the Dept. of Family & Support Services and a $35,000 grant from the Dept. of Community Development. The city and Experimental Station strategically picked the five city market locations to maximize Link cardholder participation. “We did choose Daley Plaza because it was strategically located in the center point of the whole city,” said Veronica Resa, senior MOSE Public Information officer. “It is reachable by every train line and many bus lines and many people come downtown to do their errands and business.” The efforts to establish EBT at the city markets has been a little over a year in the making. The addition to include all 19 city markets is contingent upon the success
All 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., except Daley 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Beverly—Sundays, 9500 S. Longwood Dr. Lincoln Square—Tuesdays, 4700 N. Lincoln Ave. South Shore—Wednesdays, 70th & Jeffery Boulevard Daley Plaza—Thursdays,50 W. Washington St. Division Street—Saturdays, 50 W. Division St. of this year’s pilot program. The May 13 launch at Daley Plaza city market was well received and successful said MOSE’s Resa. Markets and food stamp recipients had done well with the paper food stamp system. But the phase-in of the electronic system correlated with a substantial decrease in food assistance shoppers purchasing produce from farmers directly. When payment was in the form of an actual paper stamp, it was more common for food stamp recipients to shop at markets, Ryan said, but the market saw a huge decline when the system went electronic. The Chicago Grid May 24, 2010
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The Chicago Grid cordially invites you to the
Michael Jackson
Memorial Pub Crawl
1958-2009
7 p.m.-Midnight
Sat., June 26
Bars & admission TBA
Registration open soon. Visit thechicagogrid.com often for updates.