Arts & Entertainment News
Lifelong neighborhood resident Dayna Calderon shared her memories and updates about the McKinley Park Community Area on the Thursday, July 18, Extension 720 with Justin Kaufmann show from WGN Radio. During the broadcast, which also featured other Chicago topics, Calderon expounded on activities in the park and neighborhood, what the future may hold for development and gentrification, and general life in McKinley Park.
"We've got a really strong community right here," Calderon said on the show.
The McKinley Park segment begins at approximately 13 minutes, 45 seconds into Kaufmann's broadcast and runs for 15 minutes. Click here to visit the WGN Radio website and listen to the episode.
Joe Filisko and Eric Noden will perform at the McKinley Park Farmers Market on July 7.Major development projects are champing at the bit to get into the McKinley Park neighborhood, and 12th Ward Alderman George Cardenas is beginning a new practice of public review for each new development proposal. This begins with the McKinley Park Community Development Meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2, when Cardenas invites all neighborhood residents and stakeholders to view plans and interact with developers for three proposed building projects: the $60 million Parkview projects at 2139 and 2159 W. Pershing Road, the overhaul of the ice storage warehouse and U.S. Cold Storage Co. building at 2055 and 2011 W. Pershing Road, and a proposed photo studio at 38th and Hermitage.
A local duo of bluesmen and past farmers market favorites returns on Sunday, July 7, for the Farmers Market Concert: Joe Filisko & Eric Noden. The boys will belt out the blues starting at noon alongside the McKinley Park Farmers Market, which runs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stretch out in the morning with Yoga at the Farmers Market, then stick around for some Bocce Ball with friends and neighbors while noshing on fresh market fruit, pastry, coffee, tamales and more.
Read more: Development Meeting, Music and Kids Fun Lead Events Lineup This Week in McKinley Park
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma treated McKinley Park to a quick pop-up performance in front of the field house at noon on Friday, June 21, as part of the park's Make Music Chicago festivities and Ma's Day of Action with Yo-Yo Ma. Performing John Lennon's "Imagine" accompanied by local pianist Ben Serwer, Ma captivated the crowd before being whisked away to the next of his full day of community appearances for his Day of Action.
Serwer treated listeners to more performance before ceding the piano to a long line of neighbors young and old ready to try out the piano: The instrument will be present outdoors in the park all summer for anyone to play as part of the Pianos in the Parks program. Among others, McKinley Park neighborhood blues musician Eric Noden belted out some ragtime and entertained the crowd.
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International recording artist, music ambassador and master cellist Yo-Yo Ma will perform a free show in front of the McKinley Park field house, 2210 W. Pershing Road, at noon on Friday, June 21. Accompanied by local pianist Ben Serwer, Ma offers this special, last-minute pop-up performance as part of his Day of Action with Yo-Yo Ma, which also includes performances and music-related activities citywide.
Ma comes to McKinley Park thanks to the efforts of the Make Music Chicago and Pianos in the Parks projects, both of which offer more music fun in McKinley Park through that Friday afternoon and evening. Ma's performance is anticipated to be brief as it ties to the pop-up nature of his appearance.
Stick around for the Pianos in the Parks rollout and Make Music Chicago performances starting at 5 p.m., and then enjoy the performance of Beyond This Point and Grammy-winning percussionist Matthew Duvall in the Drumming in the Park program starting at 5:30 p.m.
RELATED ARTICLE: Yo-Yo Ma Stuns in McKinley Park Pop-Up
A huge lineup of music and performance lands in the McKinley Park neighborhood this week, including all the events taking place simultaneously in McKinley Park on Friday, June 21. It's the summer solstice, which brings Make Music Chicago back to McKinley Park, alongside the performance and interactivity of Drumming in the Park and the grand opening of the Pianos in the Parks program. Rumors abound of an internationally known music and recording star making a surprise appearance at McKinley Park: This may be one day you and your family won't want to miss.
Probably the biggest LGBTQ+ Pride Month event on the South Side is the Chicago Reader Pride Block Party on Sunday, June 23, at Marz Communtiy Brewing. This all-ages, all-day, block-long cavalcade of live music, DJs, performance and more benefits numerous local LGBTQ groups and communities of color. On Saturday, June 22, the McKinley Park public library continues its Pride Month event series with the Carol Film Screening as an afternoon matinée.
Read more: Arts Take Center Stage This Week in McKinley Park
