CHICAGO’S LITTLE ITALY & NAPER SETTLEMENT - MyShadowProductions #181

CIAO !! Hello in Italian, right?

On Saturday August 10, 2024 I went to Chicago again to see what I could see.There was the Chicago Air & Water Show going on. That event is most likely the most popular free “Happening” in Chicago each year. (+/- 100,000 plus people)

Surprise, surprise but I chose not to do that, even though I probably could have found an area outside the crowds with a good vantage point.

I chose to go to Chicago’s Little Italy for the Taylor Street Little Italy Festa.

Side note, my paternal grandparents were from Fonte Alto, Veneto in Northern Italy. I have been fortunate to have visited their hometown, walked through my Nonna’s (we called her Nonni:) family house, viewed their birth and marriage records at the Church as well as meeting relatives. I wonder how I would have “blogged” about those trips, but that was before MyShadow :)

                 Window at Nonni’s Family home in Fonte Alto

Much like my visit to Chicago’s Chinatown, I was a little disappointed but honestly not surprised with Little Italy. There were a lot of green, white and red flags, the mandatory bocce ball court, a little piazza and restaurants, along with the booths and stages set up for the Festa (Festival).

I feel uncomfortable writing and seeing my own words, (not trying to be negative) in reality, Little Italy today is what it is, a name for a neighborhood in the Near West Side community area (one of 77+/-) in the City of Chicago, IL. Wikipedia explains it better HERE :)

Yes, it would be cool (maybe?) to see it in its “hey day”, many Italian families? some Italian being spoken? small markets for food and other essentials? quaint little restaurants with good/inexpensive food? etc. but, not that day. I plan on visiting again after doing more research for other interesting features that I didn’t see that day.

CLICK HERE for Wikipedia’s version of Little Italy.

I did see/hear an Italian singer (Antonío Bevaqua) from Calabria in Southern Italy, Click Here for a short Video, go ahead and sing along if you like/can :) Again, it was early, so the empty seats were probably full as the day progressed, the Air and Water Show ended and sunset approached with entertainers rotating between the 4 stages.

I saw a good amount of people/families, some obviously celebrating their heritage and others just enjoying the vibe of another neighborhood festival, I even had an Italian Sausage sandwich but didn’t wait in line for Italian Lemonade (I think it has basil in it :)

The walk to and from Union Station was interesting as well and the frequent passing of jets overhead were reminders of the Air Show just miles away.

I created THIS VIDEO from my photos during that day’s adventure to Little Italy :)

Now, for something completely different. Where were you on March 29, 2024. My photos help me to remember that I was in Naperville (Aurora’s younger, prettier, richer, “sister” city) for an appointment and after that I walked through Naper Settlement. This is a link to their website. Basically it is an “outdoor museum” of what life was like “back then”.

This link takes you to a Video created from my photos at Naper Settlement including Art in the Visitor Center.

Back to the present :) August 10, the unexpected Public Art was pretty cool!!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer doing what you do, (I bet Fall comes next:).

If you like, listen to this “Curtain Call” from Antonío !!

Any idea where these photos were taken?

Future Posts will reveal the locations :)

CIAO for NOW !!

Oh, and this will hopefully be over after today :)

BONSAI SHOW, MAZE GARDEN, CHILDREN’S GARDEN, Asia Festival at Morton Arboretum - MyShadowProductions #180

Hello everyone, that means YOU !!

On Sunday August 4, 2024 I went to the Morton Arboretum to see BONSAI and a little bit of their Destination Asia Festival as well as the Maze Garden and the Children’s Garden.

I like Bonsai, all types, shapes and sizes, they show me that patience works :) According to the internet, Bonsai is a Japanese term that means “planted in a container” and Bonsai show a balance between nature and art while representing how people can attain peace within.

Oddly, Japanese Kamikazi pilots and infantry screamed “Banzai, Banzai !!” as one last show of defiance before their last acts. A few letters different, similar pronunciation but very different meaning?

Remember the Bonsai World I visited in Costa Rica? CLICK HERE to view the Post with a Bonsai Mundo Video to refresh your memory :)

The Destination Asia Festival was interesting but I didn’t have enough of the “bonsai patience” to enjoy it all. Nevertheless there was this photo op :)

Click Here to view a Video created from my photos of the Bonsai Show and Destination Asia Festival.

A previous “couldn’t resist photo” (below) is in This Post about Isla Ixtapa.

A few Bonsai photos with comments:

In past visits to the Morton Arboretum I passed on the Maze Garden and the Children’s Garden, no specific reasons just one of those “can’t see it all in one day” reasons :)

This Video was created from my photos there.

Here are a few photos with comments:

Overall, a pretty interesting day and the weather continues to cooperate. This visit was all on the East side of the Arboretum, next time will most likely see the West side again and see what seasonal changes are “over there”.

More recently, I had the opportunity to walk around Aurora downtown along the Fox River during the morning and I was a bit surprised by the amount of “wildlife” activity that crossed my path.

Maybe the lower water levels had something to do with it? Maybe the cooler nights had something to do with it? Maybe it is “normal” and I just happened to pay attention :) It seems too that the geese (not a big problem, but they do have a presence) have “left town” for a while, I don’t know the reason for that but I am sure they will return :)

Watch here for a Fox River “wildlife” video created from my photos and short videos.

Thank you, if you made it through the Video, thought it might bring a smile or two. I am pretty sure that when the “floating body” reached the firefighter, I heard the “rescuer” say “Hello!”, my video didn’t pick it up though :)

Let’s keep “moving”, the Sun and Moon keep doing their “thing”, so can we !!

NORTHERLY ISLAND, Chicago - MyShadowProductions #179

Hello everyone!!

My previous Post had a picture of the spot where the Chicago Fire of 1871 started. I have been reading some about the Fire and if I was in High School it would be a great term paper (do they still do them?). But, I am not in High School so I recommend an internet search and there is plenty of interesting reading and maps showing the affected area.

About 10 blocks north of the Fire’s origin is one of just a dozen (+/-) structures that survived in the Fire’s path, Old St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the “Cornerstone  of Irish Culture” in Chicago.

The two different spires on the church caught my attention while exploring different areas on the way back to Union Station after a volunteer shift at GPC. When I googled to find out about the spires and the church it mentioned the Fire and one thing led to another and another and …..

CLICK HERE for a history of the Church.

Across the street from the Church is Heritage Green Park. The Park includes the Gráinne Sculpture, a gift from the City of Galway, Ireland to its Sister City of Chicago.

Along that same “walk” I saw the following Public Art a few blocks away and it was not obvious what it was until I got very close.

Not sure why that spot for that Art but, they didn’t ask me :), just another Term Paper idea? :)

A couple of Saturdays ago on July 13, 2024 I went to Chicago and walked from Union Station to explore Northerly Island (Peninsula?).

It got a little “complicated” for me getting through the maze of paths around Grant Park, the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium but I just kept walking south and found the 12th St Beach, the Daphne Garden and the beautiful Natural Areas in Northerly Island Park.

Full disclosure, I forgot to walk back this way upon leaving, I wanted to wade in the water :(

By the way, Northerly Island is the previous site of Chicago’s old Downtown Airport, Meigs Field. Another Term Paper idea or Click Here for a brief Wikipedia report.

I also created a Video from my photos that day :)

The Fox River (remember that?) has been flowing full lately, here are a few photos:

A few bonus photos from GPC (Garfield Park Conservatory) - To quote a friend describing DBG (Denver Botanic Gardens) - “A RIOT of COLORS” - seems to apply here too?

Adios for now and Hello to August !!

I will try my best, no more term paper “jokes” :)