Arts & Entertainment News
Marz Community Brewing Co. at 3630 S. Iron St. in the McKinley Park Community Area of Chicago received the nod from Chicago magazine as one of the city's Best New Bars in an article published November 12. The top 20 list from writers Amy Cavanaugh, Karl Klockars and Tal Rosenberg highlights the best new watering holes across Chicago, with the Marz tap room being the only South Side pick on the list.
The article spotlighted the highly creative and varied brews from Marz, calling the tap room "one big beautiful freak-out dropped into an industrial corner of the South Side."
Read more: Marz Tap Room Lauded as One of Chicago's Best New Bars
12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas is again hosting his annual Thanksgiving Turkey Raffle from the 12th Ward office in the McKinley Park neighborhood, Cardenas announced. More than 2,000 turkeys are ready to be donated to area families in a giveaway that's open for entries until Thursday, November 21.
"It is important to me that we do our part to ensure every home has the essentials to have a happy and joyous holiday," Cardenas said. "Over the years, the Turkey Raffle has become something families can rely on and trust."
Read more: Turkey Raffle Offers Thanksgiving Birds to McKinley Park, 12th Ward Residents
The South Side Weekly has highlighted McKinley Park neighborhood businesses Butterdough and Pochos as two picks for their "Best of the South Side" issue, lauding the two eateries for their innovative cuisine.
Butterdough gets the nod as the "Best Window Into Baking" based on its flawless, evocative pastries in a piece by Jocelyn Vega, while Pochos lands "Best New Brunch" in a review from Joshua Falk.
Read more: Pochos, Butterdough Pegged as "Best of the South Side"
At its meeting on Wednesday, September 4, the McKinley Park Civic Association hosted a presentation by the Open Center for the Arts, which is looking to bring a mural project to the neighborhood. The viaduct on Damen Avenue just north of Archer Avenue is targeted for an overhaul with original art and a community message, said Open Center for the Arts Executive Director Omar Magaña.
"The design shows the legacy of the cultures that have passed through McKinley Park," Magaña said. This will include the area's original Native Americans, Polish and German immigrant populations drawn to work at the Chicago Stockyards, and today's big cadres of Hispanic and Chinese-American residents, he said.
Read more: Arts Group Pitches Damen Viaduct Mural to Civic Association
The long-neglected Marshfield Courts lot at 1642 W. 35th St., Chicago, received an overhaul and cleanup, thanks to the efforts of McKinley Park neighborhood artist Juan Chavez and sponsor Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. A program of the beer company's community day outreach, the event on July 13 featured a cleanup of the lot and installation of mural artwork, followed by an evening hangout with DJs, food and drink.
"I didn't understand why or how it was abandoned," Chavez said of the City of Chicago-owned lot. "The Marshfield Courts have been sticking out like a sore thumb since I moved to the area 13 years ago."
Read more: Marshfield Courts Gets Face-Lift with Help from Local Artist
