Frozen Yogurt Experience

I just had the most expensive FroYo on the planet.  This just will not do.


Must. Find. Cheaper.

Mr. DuSable.

The DuSable Museum of African American History is a highlight so far since being in Chicago.  The museum is named after the first non-Native American settler to live permanently in Chicago.  He was African American, and subsequently written out of history (seems to be a common theme in African American history).  The collection is pretty phenomenal for starting as the personal collection of Margaret Burroughs and growing to the size it is now. They have a photography exhibit on loan from the Smithsonian right now called "Let Your Motto be Resistance" as well as a real-life Harold Washington, swear to goodness, that talks and moves and uses hand gestures.  In case you didn't know, Harold Washington was the first and only African American mayor of Chicago in the 80's. Pretty big deal.  It was also a pretty big deal when he died of a heart attack while in office so seeing him in the "flesh," if you will, is a little disconcerting, but more silly than anything else.  I can't wait to go back and spend my Sunday in the museum.  Anyone who comes to visit, be ready to spend a few hours in this gem. Read up.


http://www.dusablemuseum.org/

Hell yeah.

Brother Outsider

I must admit, I was a little embarrassed about my complete lack of knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement when we were invited to this film about the life of Bayard Rustin and had never heard of him.  I guess that's kind of the point of this film. No one knows about Bayard Rustin.  The film, with its incredible amount of footage and documentation, reveals how crucial a role Rustin played in the organization of the Civil Rights Movement, and more specifically, in the March on Washington.  The fascinating thing about the film, which was admitted in the forum discussion after the showing, is that it emphasizes Rustin's importance in the Civil Rights Movement, before discussing his role in the LGBT community.  Strategic in the sense that homosexuality is still a taboo in our society.  The film tracks Rustin's life from his non-violent, civil rights organizing days, through his political stint in Washington to later in his life, when he takes up the fight for the LGBT community.  Most interesting is how the film portrays Rustin alongside Martin Luther King Jr.  A woman in the audience said something that really struck me. She said, "as an older African American citizen, I don't want to know anything bad about MLK. We don't want to know anything bad about him."  I don't know that the response she got necessarily gave the film enough credit for acknowledging exactly that issue.  Although the film presents Rustin as a forgotten about, behind the scenes, diamond in the rough, I thought the status of MLK was not compromised at any point.  Everyone has to play the game at times, including those who's mission is to change the game.  King's decision to separate himself from Rustin based on the threat of Rustin's homosexuality, was a tactful decision that may or may not have needed to be made for the civil rights at that time.  Regardless, Rustin is someone who deserves that credit the film offers and I am now the proud owner of the film for anyone who was to borrow it! (Coming your way, Papa J.  Watch it, love it.)


Check out the film's website: http://rustin.org/?page_id=2

Near North Side

Our venture today, Near North Side.  A gentrified area of Chicago where Cabrini Green, an extreme example of public housing or "project", formerly stood. Just a few stops from downtown Chicago, or the Loop, the Near North Side, which at one time was the city's biggest manufacturing district, is now a ritzy, yuppy hangout for the beautiful people.  We took a little walk through the 2nd biggest Whole Foods in the world, which was slightly mind-blowing.   I haven't made up my mind as to whether or not it is a good thing or not, but I bet I will have an opinion as we get deeper into the city.

Improv

Improv workshop with the urban studyers.  You really get to know people in ways you wouldn't expect.  It is so fun to see people outside their comfort zone.  Especially when you start talking about Michael Jordan's 30 whores and kitty-shooting, machine guns.  Making stories, one word/ person at a time is sheer madness, but my favorite, the game of encouragement really offers the greatest life-skills.  
Here's the game.  A product is proposed in response to an everyday nuisance.  For example, pit stains.  Now the ultimate goal of the game is to make every individual person feel like a winner/ genius.  As the team , is brainstorming ideas for an advertisement campaign, every idea that is offered receives the most enthusiastic and positive response possible from everyone else.  Gosh, it feels so good when people commend your idea to have Denzel Washington as the spokes person for your line of "Pants glue." Cheering and applause gets you further than you might think.  Thank you Chicago for having the best improv scene in the country.


Check it out:  http://chicago.ioimprov.com/
http://www.secondcity.com/

Stories at the Moth

Turns out, storytelling is something to revel in. 

For those of you who don't know, The Moth is a nationwide event that allows amateurs to try their hand at storytelling in front of an audience.  Tonight's theme, "Love hurts."  Anyone in the bar can sign up to tell a story but only ten names are picked randomly.  Storytelling is my new favorite form of comedy. I couldn't believe how talented people are. Next month, I am in.

Check it out: http://www.themoth.org/about