NEOCON started on a brisk, but soggy, step last week when a band of hardy hikers did a quick 45-minute opening-day lap around the Loop.
Heading up the group of several dozen was lawyer/environmental leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose family owns the Merchandise Mart, host of the annual commercial furnishings exposition.
”The point is to raise environmental awareness in the design community,” said Kennedy of the early morning hike, which looked more like a grownup field trip than a group of activists.
”It is important for the environment that every group, but particularly designers, recognize how important the issue is,” said Kennedy, whose presence barely caused a second look from passers-by.
Maharam/Vertical Surfaces, a textiles and wallcoverings manufacturer, charged hikers $15 for the benefit walk. Tagging along were such executives as John Loring, design chief of Tiffany & Co., who donned a company baseball shirt for the occasion. As ”protest” groups go, this was a tame one. The only real demonstrating was done by Loring, a Chicago native, who pointed out urban landmarks along the way.