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Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 789
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 04:24 pm: | 
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just got back from chicago, had a descent time. went to the house of blues for the first time. i am not really a blues lover but i'll try just about anything once this dude named buckwheat zedco performed... it was ok, but i'm not an expert on blues so i don't know what's good or bad. one things for sure there where more white people in there than black people and that was surprising to me. i didn't go to the restaurant part of the building but went to this other sea food place, i forgot what it was called bu it had a red fish skeleton for the logo, that place was descent. chicago all in all, is a cool city ... i like the L-Train, i wish detroit had a system like that. and if anybody plans on going there this month, the art museum is free  |
Grind
Regular Poster
Username: Grind
Post Number: 175
Registered: 04-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 04:27 pm: |
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Only part of Chicago I've seen is O'Hare. I've been meaning to do a proper visit for some time. |
Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 3538
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 04:32 pm: |
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Did you see Cynique??? |
Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 791
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 04:39 pm: |
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no, that would've been really nice if i did. i was with my new girl friend and to be honest, the thought of breaking that king sized bed apart was mainly the only thing on my mind once the cold wind hit my face. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7368
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 05:04 pm: |
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I'm glad you enjoyed your little Chicago soujorn, Dobes. Chicago is sooo much better to visit in the summer than winter. All the cold weather we've been having is rather discouraging to even the most heartiest of souls. I forgot all about the House of Blues, and actually this establishment doesn't restrict itself to blues artists but I guess you caught them on an off-week. I don't do that trendy Chicago circuit that much anymore so I don't really know know what's going on. And at this point I'm more interested in the theater scene. August Wilson's last play is currently appearing here and I might try to catch it before it leaves and I have tickets to see the Color Purple musical when it hits town. I assume you liked the Art Institute but you really should've checked out the King Tut collection at the Field Museum. But I guess you preferred the charms of your Cleopatra. |
Viqi_french
Regular Poster
Username: Viqi_french
Post Number: 59
Registered: 07-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 10:44 am: |
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Doberman, Dr. King once called Chicago one of the most segregated cities around. Unfortunately, not much has changed from what I see.
You won't see a near-equal number of blacks using the establishments downtown; we're usually just lightly sprinkled in. It's hard to explain... It's not that anyone's rude to you, indeed many act friendly. Sometimes you just catch a vibe that makes you wonder, 'Why am I here where I don't blend in?'
By the way, there are a few spots in the 'hood where you can find blues. But these places will rarely be found on a map you buy here...
Did you all buy a map downtown? If so, does it trail off at the edges where most of the blacks live? lol That was my experience when I bought one when I moved here a decade ago. It's like the (predominately black) South and West sides of town aren't important.
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Doberman23
Veteran Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 795
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 02:21 pm: |
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well now that you mention it, i didn't see many black people at night in comaprrison to white people, but i didn't pay attention to it at that time. during the day i saw a bunch of black kids going to a cultural center or something like that. as far as the art museum goes, there was plenty of african art and i saw quite a few paintings by black artist and it was free to get in, so why more blacks weren't there i dont know. i think it's an even mix in detroit.
and i'm sorry but unless i'm knowing someone from the "hood" i am not trying to act like i'm all familiar and getting over adventurous. not that i'm scared, but i am safe. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 3681
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 03:05 pm: |
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it was ok, but i'm not an expert on blues so i don't know what's good or bad. one things for sure there where more white people in there than black people and that was surprising to me.
(You should have told us you wanted to see some blues. Somebody could have pointed you to some good blues.
Young blacks don't like the blues. I don't know--think it reminds them of slavery or something. It has been that way for a long time. I went to see Willie Dixon in Chicago back in 1982 and besides me, Willie and the band, there wasn't no blacks in there and the place was packed.
Buckwheat Zydeco is not the blues, by the way. He's that Cajun music--what do they call it? |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 1830
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 03:32 pm: |
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"one things for sure there where more white people in there than black people and that was surprising to me."
Well, from that comment, it's very obvious you don't get out to these particular genres of music, blues and jazz. If you did, you would not have made that comment. But you did admit you were not much of a blues fan. Honest confession. If it were not for white people and the Japanese, neither genre could financially survive. Being that I have been a blues and jazz fan my entire life, of the countless clubs, shows and concerts I have been to, I don't ever recall seeing an overwhelming majority black crowd. For some very strange and inexplicable reason, black people, as a group, do not aggressively support the art (blues and jazz) which they themselves created.
Every black partner I have who is into the music has always complained and shook their heads in disappointment and frustration at the lack of black support for these two indigenous forms of American music. It's depressing. Whenever I go to check out the music, besides the members in the band (and myself) -the percentage of the audience is never under 80% (I've seen it as high as 95%) white. When Wayne Shorter came to San Diego about six months ago, there was a total turn out to see his quartet. But besides me, there was about four other blacks there. That was that. Unfortunately, nothing was unusual or strange about the number of blacks in attendance.
As far as Chicago is concerned, Cynique is right. You should go during the warmer months. Next to New York city, the next place you want to be for music is Chicago! Chicago has a very rich tradition of music and art. The yearly Chicago Blues Festival is legendary for it's show casing of the outstanding blues masters. It's also the home of the AACM. Check out Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge for some very hard core improvised music. The Blue at Ohio, The Green Mill, The Cotton Club, Buddy Guy's Legends and Joe Segals Jazz Showcase (it has an incredible history reputation for featuring great artists such as Dexter Gordon, Joe Pass, AEC, Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Lacy, Ira Sullivan, et al) are music venues that must not be missed while in Chicago. And the Jazz Record Mart has ongoing vignettes of creative improvised music featuring a lot of musicians out of the AACM. It's unfortunate you did not get the opportunity to visit any of the aforementioned places.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7402
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 05:27 pm: |
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Yes, NTFS, it's too bad that the blues doesn't resonate with young blacks, but as far as jazz goes, some of them do start coming around when they reach their 30s, and begin to diversify their taste, checking out the less cerebral jazz-fusion music. The tradional, straight-ahead jazz and Mississippi delta blues are about as appealing to the hip-hop generation as Beethoven and Mozart. Very unfortunate. Schools should start including these 2 genres in their music appreciation courses, or maybe incorporate a history of them into their black studies programs. |
Jackie
Regular Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 434
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 06:50 pm: |
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Hey Cynique, I know you're not an expert on Chicago but what the heck...I thought I'd run this by you. My cousin stumbled across some slides that belonged to my great grandfather. The slides were labeled Chicago Projecting Co., 225 Dearborn St. The slides were of elaborate and detailed paintings or pencil sketchings of The works and life of Christ. Have you heard of this company ? I couldn't find anything on the internet. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 7403
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 07:37 pm: |
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I never heard of this company, Jackie, but you might want to ask viqi_french. She apparently lives in Chicago and might at least have a Chicago phone book. That address is located in the down town area, but - if the slides belonged to your great grandfather, the place may have gone out of business. |
Jackie
Regular Poster
Username: Jackie
Post Number: 436
Registered: 04-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 - 08:35 pm: |
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Ok, I will ask her. I think she left a link to her blog somewhere on this site. I'm quite sure the place doesn't exist anymore...but I'd like to know the history of it. Thank you. |
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