When Ira Gershwin sat down and wrote “Summertime (and the livin’ is easy)” in 1933 for a show he and his brother George were preparing called “Porgy and Bess,” living in the summer was anything but easy.
The Gershwins-and some of you, your parents or grandparents-lived in a world where the season was hot and harsh. Air conditioning was rare and expensive, and flip-flops, water parks, wearing shorts to work, sunscreen and all the other casual habits and cooling comforts we now take for granted did not exist.
June 1933 was the hottest June in Chicago history, a meteorological mess that prompted Dr. W.A. Evans to write this in his “How To Keep Well” advice column in the Tribune: “When the weather is very hot the proper policy is one of relative inaction. To secure the greater degree of comfort, inaction should be carried to the nth degree.”
The nth degree? What did he have in mind? Death?
Whatever he meant, we at the Magazine are all for summer action and on the following pages you will find dozens of ways to carry that to the nth degree.
The emphasis is on old-fashioned and familiar summer pleasures, such as outdoor concerts, walks in the park, drive-in movie theaters, minor league baseball, biking, swimming, horseback riding and such exotica as grape stomping and lawn bowling.
Take a look at our section on neighborhood festivals and art fairs and tell us you’re not tempted. These most egalitarian gatherings reaffirm each year the lively diversity of this city and its suburbs. There is no better way to explore a neighborhood you have never visited than during its summer self-celebration.
You will read about one of the most interesting of these, the Geneva Swedish Days Festival, and one of the oldest, the Old Town Art Fair, set amid streets that seem from another century (and some are).
You will have so much to read on the following pages that we think you might consider keeping this issue around until September. You can use it to inspire journeys and when it turns hot, as it surely will, you can even use it to fan yourself.
This summer, let’s not go too crazy, but rather follow the advice of Woody Guthrie when he said, “Take it easy but take it.”
–Rick Kogan
1
BE A KID AGAIN (OR AT LEAST BE WITH ONE)
EVEN SIMPLE SUMMER days require a bit more planning when children are involved. With that in mind, the Chicago Park District has come up with some child-friendly events that are equal parts engaging and educational.
FAMILY ADVENTURE DAY Children of all ages are invited to kayak in Jackson Park’s lagoon, explore the colorful Osaka Garden, participate in an arts and crafts session, learn how to work a compass and use binoculars for bird watching. There’s no charge and families are encouraged to picnic on the island. Noon to 3 p.m., Aug. 20, Jackson Park’s Wooded Island in Jackson Park lagoon, 6401 S. Stony Island Ave.
STROLLER STRUTS These guided walks are meant to give young and old a chance to explore a particular park with an expert and learn something about nature in the city. The free events are for children 3 and under, though some activities make exceptions for older siblings. The walks will be held between July 9 and Aug. 11 at Jackson, Washington and Gompers Parks and at the South Shore Cultural Center.
Call 312-742-5039 to register and get more details.
TODDLERS, TUNES & TURTLES An introduction to nature and music, exclusively for the knee-high set. Parents and children 5 and under get to sing with musicians from the Old Town School of Folk Music. Park district staff will be on hand to introduce children to a host of small animals. Picnicking is encouraged and there’s no registration required for the free events, which go from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Winnemac Park, June 9; Gompers Park, June 16; South Shore Cultural Center, June 22; Humboldt Park Boathouse, July 14; and Holstein Park, Aug. 24. Call 312-742-PLAY for more information.
2
GIDDY-UP!
HORSEBACK RIDING Going deep into the woods and escaping the everyday doesn’t have to be a matter of driving an ATV or trail running. Riding a horse could be the most relaxing way to wander far into the wilderness. There’s a thriving equestrian community both in Chicago and throughout the suburbs.
Plenty of park districts offer lessons for beginners, too. One great spot is in Wheaton, where the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County offers a host of riding programs. Students receive hands-on experience in grooming, saddling and bridling, as well as basic riding skills. The program is open to anyone who is at least 12 years old, and the center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, 630-933-7200, dupageforest.com.
3
A BELL OF A PARTY
THE CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN’S 48-bell carillon is like a giant outdoor speaker, filling the air around the gardens with music.
Every summer, amid its award-winning gardens and landscapes, the Botanic hosts a free carillon concert series where visitors are invited to bring a picnic dinner, listen to concert bells at dusk and tour one of the few hand-played carillons in the nation. Monday evenings at 7 p.m. from June 20 through Aug. 22. Tours begin at 6 p.m.
The Botanic Garden is on Lake-Cook Road in Glencoe, one-half mile east of the Edens Expressway. Call 847-835-5440 or visit chicagobotanic.org.
4
PEDAL THE PRAIRIE
SOMETIMES THE ONLY THING between a cyclist and a great ride is a little variety. For city dwellers, a trip away from the usual routes should include a stint on the 61-mile Illinois Prairie Path (ipp.org), a limestone trail 24 miles west of the city that runs through Cook, DuPage and Kane Counties. Along the way, riders will pass through wild prairie and wetlands where the Wisconsin glacier carved through the Midwest thousands of years ago. Yellow-headed blackbirds and herons may buzz by, and there’s a Native American burial ground near the Geneva spur.
Another option is the Salt Creek Trail, a ride that starts in Bemis Woods South and continues east into Brookfield Woods, right across from Brookfield Zoo (fpdcc.com/home.php).
Meanwhile, bike riding on the downtown lakefront recently got a lot easier. The Millennium Park Bicycle Station is an oasis for the urban cyclist, with a rental shop, lockers, secure bicycle parking, towel service and free valet parking during summer performances at Millennium Park and Grant Park. Closer to the water, rental stations are open at the Wilson Avenue Comfort Station, North Avenue Beach and 63rd Street Beach.
5
DRIVE UP, DINE OUT
SUPERDAWG IS AN OLD-FASHIONED TREASURE ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE, A DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT WHERE YOU CAN PLACE AN ORDER FROM YOUR CAR AND SERVERS WALK THE MEAL TO YOU. HOT DOGS ARE THE SPECIALTY OF THE HOUSE BUT DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE SHAKES, MALTS AND BLACK COWS. 6363 N. MILWAUKEE AVE., CHICAGO, 773-763-0660.
6
MAKE A SPLASH
PORTAGE PARK POOL, CHICAGO The pool hosted the 1959 Pan American Games swim competition and the 1972 Olympic Trials. Luckily, the city has never tried to carve up the massive, 50-meter pool and Portage remains a warm-weather oasis on the Northwest Side. The pool is so big, in fact, swimmers might feel as though they’re swimming in an ocean. There’s also a diving well with platforms and several spray fountains for kids. Free. 4100 N. Long Ave., Chicago, 773-685-7235.
RAINBOW FALLS WATER PARK, ELK GROVE VILLAGE A park district aquatic theme park of the highest order, Rainbow Falls has three water slides, including one that stretches 300 feet. There’s also an aquatic fun house, a three-story building with 70 water “gags” that soak unsuspecting visitors, a 300-foot tube ride, a wading pool and, for the water-logged, a miniature golf course. And those are just a few of the highlights. $10 for non-residents; $6 for residents. Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village, 847-228-2860.
HURRICANE HARBOR AT SIX FLAGS GREAT AMERICA, GURNEE The Midwest’s largest water park has arrived, right beside Six Flags Great America. This 13-acre oasis, open since Memorial Day, is designed to make visitors feel like they’ve stepped onto a private Caribbean island. But this is no mellow adventure. A highlight of the park is Skull Island, which is like a massive treehouse with water slides and interactive hydro gadgets. There’s also a 500,000-gallon wave pool, a 23,000-square-foot activity pool and dozens of water chutes and slides. The admission price of $44.99 ($29.99 for kids and seniors) includes admission to Hurricane Harbor and Great America. 542 N. Illinois Highway 21, Gurnee, 847-249-4636.
7
FLOAT YOUR BOAT
For years, downtown canoe and kayak lovers have been taking advantage of 13 launch and land sites that stretch from Leon Beach in Rogers Park to Calumet Park on the South Side. But there’s also an inland urban adventure, the Chicago River Water Trail, where paddlers pass turtles, ducks and herons and experience one of the more unusual scenic routes in Chicago.
Put-in points on the river have been created at River Park, 5100 N. Francisco; Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell; and Park 526, 6200 N. Lincoln Ave.
Local outfitters also have joined with the Park District to create MOONLIT CANOE AND KAYAK DINNER TRIPS. Geared toward those with a bit more paddling experience, these trips allow you to experience the Chicago River at sunset. A boxed dinner is part of the urban expedition, and participants are required to register in advance. 6 to 9 p.m. July 8 and Aug. 12, Clark Park, 3400 N. Rockwell, 12 & up, $18 per person.
The conservation group FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER also leads a few family canoe trips on the Chicago River. 10 a.m. to noon and 2 to 4 p.m. (2 sessions) June 11 and July 23, River Park, 5100 N. Francisco, children ages 6 & up accompanied by an adult. $10 per family.
8
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
WHAT COULD BE LESS complicated than putting one foot in front of the other? Massive and bustling as it is, Chicago can make you forget about one of summer’s most accessible pleasures: a long walk where the city feels far away. Forest preserves are always a great option, but we’ve happened upon these as well:
THE MORTON ARBORETUM, LISLE Never mind that trip to Wisconsin, The Morton Arboretum is a 1,700-acre swath of Midwestern wilderness with 14 miles of hiking trails. When vacation days are scarce or you just can’t get away for more than a few hours, this is the place to be when you’re craving a camping trip or a summer hike. 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, 630-968-0074. mortonarb.org
CANYON AT CAMP SAGAWAU, NEAR LEMONT Yes, we did say canyon. Estimated to be about 100,000 years old, the canyon is the only one of its kind in Cook County. Your feet may get a little wet but the canyon is worth it, especially if you’re a fan of rare or endangered plants and wildlife. Call ahead to find out the guided-tour schedule.
12545 W. 111th St., 100 yards east of Archer Avenue, or four miles west of Swallow Cliff Toboggan Slides on Rt. 83 near Lemont, 630-257-2045.
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9
WATERMELON, MAN!
SLICED OR SPLIT OPEN. ICE COLD OR SHADE-TREE COOL. YOU’VE WAITED ALL YEAR JUST TO TASTE IT IN ITS NATURAL WARM-WEATHER HABITAT.
WATERMELON SALAD
Serves six
Cut watermelon into 3/4-inch dice to make 12 cups. Chill. Make the dressing, a blend of sesame and yuzu, a type of citrus fruit: Place 1/2 cup yuzu-flavored dressing (found in specialty stores) in a bowl. Whisk in 1 cup vegetable oil. Mix 1-1/2 teaspoons honey, 1-1/2 teaspoons black sesame seeds, 1-1/2 teaspoons white sesame seeds, 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil, 1/2 teaspoon togarashi (Japanese spice), salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste until thoroughly combined. Chill. Drizzle 3 tablespoons dressing over 2 cups of chilled watermelon. Toss to coat. Serve immediately.
-Adapted from Tank Sushi restaurant, Chicago
10
CATCH AN ACT
LONG BEFORE THE box-office blockbuster, there was Theater on the Lake. Now in its 53rd season, the Chicago Park District’s pavilion-style venue brings big-time theater to the downtown lakefront, where Lake Michigan and the skyline provide a dramatic backdrop to critically acclaimed productions. Further north you’ll find another excellent venue, an outdoor amphitheater in Wilmette where drama unfolds under the stars. The stage is between a patch of trees, steps away from the beach, and “The Starlight Concert Series” at Gillson Park is one of the finest summer traditions on the North Shore. There is no charge for admission, though parking is $5.
THEATER ON THE LAKE IN CHICAGO A nine-play subscription is $110. Single tickets are $17.50. Tickets are available at the Chicago Park District Box Office, 541 N. Fairbanks Ct., 4th floor, Chicago, or at Theater on the Lake, Fullerton Avenue and Lake Michigan. Call 312-742-7994 for showtimes.
WALLACE BOWL AT GILLSON PARK IN WILMETTE For “The Starlight Concert Series,” admission is free, parking is $5. Lake Avenue at Lake Michigan in Wilmette. Highlights of the series include an Independence Day Concert and fireworks display on July 3, the Broadway musical “Into the Woods” throughout July, Blue Grass night on Aug. 5, Aloha Night on Aug. 12, and the U.S. Air Force Military Command Band on Aug. 13. For more information, call 847-256-9787.
THEATER ON THE LAKE
June 15-19:
“Curse of the Crying Heart”
June 22-26: “Sulo Latinas”
June 29-July 3: “A Long Way From Chicago”
July 6-10: “Closer Than Ever”
July 13-17: “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”
July 20-24: “Big Time”
July 27-31: “That’s Weird”
Aug. 3-7: “Relevant Hearsay… Stories From 57”
Aug. 10-14: “Detective Story”
11
HAVE A BALL ON THE LAWN
IT’S HARD TO GET more leisurely than the 17th Century sport of lawn bowling. A quiet game of strategy where players roll wooden balls on a patch of grass, lawn bowling has its own small scene in Chicago, led by the Lakeside Lawn Bowling Club.
The club, founded in 1926, plays weekly games in Jackson Park, between 57th Street and South Lake Shore Drive.
Games usually start about 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Free lessons are given at 12:30 p.m. on Sundays and the club will even lend you some equipment. http://members.aol.com/lawnbowling/
12
STOMP!
Try one of the oldest pre-parties known to man. A grape stomp is a centuries-old celebration of the harvest and the wine it brings. Though they’re traditionally held in the fall, a handful of Illinois wineries gets the festivities started early. For the uninitiated, grape stompers literally start the wine-making process the old-fashioned way: by squishing grapes with their feet.
June 11: Owl Creek Vineyard, 2655 Water Valley Rd., Cobden, Ill., 618-893-2557 owlcreekvineyard.com
June 25: Baxter’s Vineyards, 2010 East Parley St., Nauvoo, Ill., 217-453-2528 nauvoowinery.com
Aug. 6: Furrow Winery, 1131 State Route 251, El Paso, Ill., 866-880-9463 furrowwinery.com
13
PICNIC FRIENDLY
DOWN-HOME STYLE AND RUGGED CONSTRUCTION ARE PERFECT FOR A MOVABLE FEAST
THE OUTDOOR EPICURE
North Pond chef Bruce Sherman’s ideal picnic:
– Sandwiches made with fresh pumpernickel, cured wild salmon, baby arugula and pickled pepperoncini
– Saucisses secs (from Olivia’s Market, 2014 W. Wabansia Ave.)
– Champagne-marinated green and white asparagus
– Sally Jackson fresh sheep’s milk cheese (from The Cheese Stands Alone in Lincoln Square)
– Apricot pistachio cream pastry tart (from North Pond)
– Candied hazelnuts and Marcona almonds
– Local strawberries
– Lindt 70-percent bittersweet orange chocolate bar
– Fennel-seed encrusted artisanal bread
– Champagne and Oregon Pinot Noir
– Perrier
14
SEND ‘EM DOWN TO THE MINORS
Some folks don’t feel that it’s summer until they see a baseball game, but the cost of major league tickets can be a bit overwhelming. Minor League Baseball, however, is about as easygoing and fan-friendly as it gets. The Kane County Cougars in Geneva (kccougars.com), the Schaumburg Flyers (flyersbaseball.com) and the Windy City ThunderBolts (wcthunderbolts.com) are three places to start. There’s also the Chicago Bandits,the latest addition to a professional fast-pitch national softball league. The Bandits (chicagobandits.com) are led by former Olympian Jennie Finch and play their home games at Benedictine University in Lisle.
15
DRIVE INTO A PICTURE SHOW
Driving down a country road or catching a drive-in movie have long been rites of summer. But we suggest combining the two for a mellow, old-fashioned adventure. Though drive-ins are an endangered species these days, a dozen were still up and running in illinois when we lasted counted. In fact, four of the theaters are a reasonable hour or so drive from chicago. Still, fleeting as they are, call before you go. Also check drive-ins.com for a comprehensive guide to the outdoor cinema scene in Illinois.
Cascade Outdoor Theatre
28W741 North Ave., West Chicago, 630-231-3150, cascadedrivein.com
Hi-Lite 30 Drive-In
Montgomery Road, Aurora, 630-898-5888, novacinemas.com
49er Drive-In
Calumet Avenue, Valparaiso, Ind., 219-462-6122, 49erdrivein.com
McHenry Outdoor Theater
1510 N. Chapel Hill Rd., McHenry, 815-385-0144
16
LOSE YOURSELF IN A BEACH BOOK
THESE ARE THE BOOKS to read this summer at the beach, in a hammock or while forcing someone to fan you with a palm frond:
“HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE,” by J.K. Rowling (July release) In the sixth installment of the wildly popular Potter saga, Rowling’s cast of characters continues to unravel the mysteries and magic of Quidditch, Hogwarts and the evil Lord Voldemort.
(Note: “Countdown to Midnight,” Oak Park’s festival for the Harry Potter release, will be held from 2 p.m. to midnight July 15 at various Oak Park locations. magictreebookstore.com)
“FIRE SALE,” by Sara Paretsky (June release) Chicago’s own Paretsky returns with a new V.I. Warshawski novel, set on the city’s South Side.
“UNTIL I FIND YOU,” by John Irving (July release) The master storyteller is back, this time chronicling the life of a rootless Hollywood actor.
17
SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM
WHEN PLANNING A CLASSIC summer day, an old-fashioned ice cream cone or sundae ranks right up there with sand castles and floating in a cool pool. Luckily, there are plenty of vintage ice cream parlors in Chicago and beyond. Some shops have been around long enough to have satisfied multiple generations with their homemade fare. Here’s a small sampling of our favorites:
GAYETY’S ICE CREAM (since 1920), 3306 Ridge Road, Lansing, 800-491-0755 gayetys.com.
GERTIE’S ICE CREAM/LINDY’S CHILI (since 1901), 7600 S. Pulaski Rd., 773-582-2510.
HOMER’S RESTAURANT & ICE CREAM PARLOR (since 1935), 1237 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette, 847-251-0477.
MARGIE’S CANDIES (since 1921), 1960 N. Western Ave., 773-384-1035.
ORIGINAL RAINBOW CONE (since 1926), 9233 S. Western Ave., 773-238-7075.
PETERSEN’S (since 1919), 1100 W. Chicago Ave., Oak Park, 708-386-6131.
PLUSH HORSE ICE CREAM (since 1937), 12301 S. 86th Ave. at Southwest Highway, Palos Park, 708-448-0550.
18
DANCING IN THE STREETS
VETERAN FESTIVALS HAVE GOT SUCCESS DOWN TO AN ART
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THE 57TH STREET ART FAIR
You can never have too much creativity, of course, but the explosion of art fairs in Chicago is enough to make a weekender’s head spin. Quality can be hit or miss. Enter the 57th Street Art Fair, the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. This is the fair, founded in 1948, that inspired countless others across the country. But don’t expect a stuffy vibe or much spectacle.
“It’s really a more casual fair than the others,” says Ruth Kaplan, one of the festival’s volunteer committee members. “The purpose is nothing more than the pleasure of having a fair.”
To that end, the fair’s No. 1 priority is providing up to 300 artists a venue to sell their work. “We simply try to have enough money in case one fair is rained out,” says Kaplan. “Then we can cover our costs for next year.”
The small food court at the fair, in fact, is run by Ray Elementary School, which shares space with the 57th and relies on the fair as a crucial fundraiser. “We’re here for the artists and Hyde Park,” Kaplan says. “Maybe that’s why we’ve been around so long.”
June 4 and 5, 57th Street and Kimbark Avenue in Hyde Park. 57thstreetartfair.org
THE LISLE EYES TO THE SKIES
BALLOON FESTIVAL
A few years ago, organizers from the Eyes to the Skies festival ordered a demographic study of who was coming to Lisle. What they found was that Eyes to the Skies was no longer a suburban or even a statewide event. Eyes to the Skies had gone Midwest, drawing people from Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Or, as Mayor Joe Broda describes it: “It put us on the map.
“You have to remember-we’re a community of 20,000.”
What these crowds (typically in excess of 200,000 over the July 4th weekend) come for is what organizers affectionately call a “three-ring circus-type atmosphere.” At any given moment, there could be a balloon launch, a rock concert and lumberjack show all happening simultaneously.
The crowds generate at least $2 million over the holiday weekend. Not bad for an event that, 25 years ago, debuted with 10 balloons and a band playing next to a swimming pool.
July 1-4, Lisle Community Park, Route 53 and Short Street in Lisle. eyestotheskiesfestival.com
AROUND THE COYOTE FESTIVAL
A grammar school seems an unlikely place to find big fans of an art festival, especially one that’s become a large part of Wicker Park’s thriving summer nightlife and party scene. But you’re bound to find some at the Pritzker School in Wicker Park. At Pritzker, artists working with the Around the Coyote Festival also taught an after-school arts program last year.
“The kids loved it,” says art teacher Mindy Schwartz, “and it felt like a real partnership, as opposed to a visiting artist coming in and doing a project that didn’t relate to our curriculum or the needs of the school.”
Around the Coyote began in 1989, when Wicker Park was less gentrified and more of a haven for artists looking for an inexpensive place to live and a thriving creative community to share ideas. Back then, Parisian gallery owner Jim Happy-Delpech came up with a simple plan: Artists would open their studios and let people see their work. These days, it’s grown into a much more formalized event, with exhibitors ranging from painters, photographers and sculptors to actors, dancers, poets and filmmakers.
Around the Coyote has also become a highlight for anyone who loves the neighborhood-festival party scene. But, as teachers like Schwartz will testify, Around the Coyote stays true to its mission by continuing to promote artists and the arts. The festival opened its own gallery last year and artists conduct classes at schools like Pritzker, summer arts festivals for children and workshops for older artists that encourage them to keep at it.
Sept. 8-11, Bucktown and Wicker Park neighborhoods, near the intersection of North, Damen and Milwaukee Avenues.
Other festivals of note:
SUPERMAN CELEBRATION
Action-hero lovers from across the country flock to this quirky festival in far southern Illinois. Back in 1972, D.C. Comics and the Illinois House gave Metropolis their blessing to become the adopted home of Superman. This festival, now in its 27th year, has a friendly party atmosphere to go along with Superman-related events like a mock bank robbery that Superman foils, as well as appearances from various comic book creators.
June 9-12, Metropolis, Ill., metropolischamber.com.
PRIDE OF THE FOX RIVERFEST
Dragon-boat racing is a 2,000-year-old sport that originated in China. Come the second weekend in June, however, it also becomes a main attraction of the Fox Valley. Teams of 20 people paddle extravagantly decorated, 40-foot-long, 1,900-pound boats in head-to-head races down the East Bank of the Fox near Pottawatomie Park. Dragon-less entertainment includes everything from water ski performances to juried arts fairs.
June 10-12, St. Charles, prideofthefox.com.
THE 13TH ANNUAL AFRICAN/CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF LIFE
Festival founder Ephraim Martin launched the Festival of Life 13 years ago with two goals in mind: Unite people with music and promote reggae. The festival has since turned into a fine summer showcase for all music, including calypso, African, R&B and gospel.
July 1-4, Washington Park, 55th Street and Cottage Grove, Chicago. 312-559-1212, 312-427-0266.
-Noah Isackson
PLANNING A PARTY FOR 250,000
ONE OF THE LARGEST and, in its 56th year, oldest festivals in Illinois, the Swedish Days festival in Geneva is still run largely by an army of non-profit groups and volunteers who build their own booths and hand-roll thousands of Swedish meatballs. They also put on a music competition, three parades, an art fair and a dodgeball tournament. Their countdown to this summer’s celebration began the day after last year’s ended, and the preparations haven’t stopped since.
JUNE 28 THROUGH AUTUMN 2004
– Geneva festival organizers clean up after Swedish Days ’04, hold two more summer festivals and send out 2,000 application forms to prospective artists for the Swedish Days 2005 art and craft shows.
– One of those artists is Florida sculptor Dennis Sebaher, who makes lawn ornaments. After a summer selling egret, flamingo and palm tree statues on the Midwest festival circuit, he’s back in his studio and sketching out ideas for new sculptures.
– Bev Gunderson, of Des Plaines, gives a wooden bowl to a carver to shape. Over the winter, she will paint it in the classic Norse floral painting technique called rosemaling, in preparation for the Illinois Norsk Rosemalers Association’s annual competition at Swedish Days ’05.
WINTER 2004-05
– Festival organizers reserve locations, confirm security, brainstorm new activities (Geneva Idol? Mechanical bull?), listen to dozens of music-audition CDs and book 15 acts. (Yes to steel-drum group Od Tapo Imi. Their motto: “If Jamaica can have a bobsled team, the Midwest can have a Steel Drum Band!”)
– One of the acts, the Chicago Swedish Glee Club, selects its program: something Swedish, like “Sverige” (“Sweden-our native land, where our children shall carry on your destiny. And where our ancestors lie in eternal sleep, in the churchyard …”); something patriotic; and showtunes.
– In Florida, Sebaher sculpts hundreds of herons, flamingos, flying frogs and other figures from sheets of white, flat plastic, which he hand-cuts, heats and forms.
– Herb Granquist chooses designs for trophies to be awarded at the Granquist Music Competition, which he started in 1971 at Swedish Days with a few accordion players. Granquist coordinator Rita Johnson sends out entry forms for the 2,300 students who will compete.
– Piano student Rebecca Hof, 17, of Elburn, decides to play Mozart’s “Fantasia in D Minor” in the competition.
– Festival organizers confirm dodgeball tournament, miniature golf, Kids Town, entertainment, venues, portable toilets and security, and locate librarians to read Swedish folk tales.
MARCH-APRIL 2005
– Festival organizers send hundreds of acceptance and rejection letters to artists and crafters.
– Sebaher is accepted. He boxes his ornaments and has them trucked to the Midwest and stored until he drives up in June to start the festival circuit.
– Twenty to thirty accordion students at the International School of Music in Cicero start practicing their Granquist contest pieces (“Arkansas Traveler” is always a hit with judges), but competition for their time, from soccer and baseball, is fierce.
– Festival organizers construct three fence sections-300 pounds each!-for Monster Mural backing; and order 1,000 blue ribbons, 50 huge containers of flowers and 200 signs. They also print and distribute 4,000 kids’ event programs, and 5,000 Swedish Province Passports (to get festival-goers into local stores); establish the main parade lineup; and plan a motorcycle show.
– Piano student Rebecca Hof is struggling with a cadenza in the presto passage of her “Fantasia” and breaks the long succession of notes into segments to practice.
– Bev Gunderson finishes rosemaling her bowl, then starts to varnish and cure it in layers.
MAY
Festival organizers print 10,000 Swedish Days programs; 2,000 art show programs; 3,000 craft show programs; and order 400 T-shirts.
– “Geneva Beautification” volunteers plant more than 10,000 flowering plants in the downtown.
– 20 United Methodist Church members roll and freeze 2,000 tiny meatballs for the Authentic Swedish Buffet.
– Norsk Rosemalers members bake and freeze thousands of fruit- and cheese-filled butter cookies for their koffekof (cozy coffee time) bake sale.
– Referee Jamie Willis conducts a dodgeball-referee training session. (The parents should be OK about the calls, he says, though “some can get pretty competitive even over miniature golf.”)
JUNE
– Movers haul 22 pianos into Geneva High School for the Granquist Music Competition. All pianos are then tuned.
– Geneva Parks District Supt. Sheavoun Lambillote buys 20 regulation dodgeballs.
– Volunteer Ginger Plys puts on a Cole Porter CD, covers her dining room table with hundreds of plastic goodie bags and fills each with toys for the more than 300 young kids expected to scramble through the Rookie Run foot race.
– Men from the United Methodist Church build their food booth for street sales of sandwiches and bratwurst.
– Festival organizers and volunteers:
— Check weather–every day. (“We switch between one meteorologist and another until we hear the forecast we want to hear,” says Sherri Weitl, associate director of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.)
— Print 10,000 parade programs.
— Attach dozens of banners to light poles throughout the downtown.
— Chalk lines for Rookie Run and Dodgeball.
— Move amusement rides into place.
— Erect the central stage and pull up the sound truck.
— Hoist and install electric boards to power the food booths; hook up power and inspect all.
— Muscle 30 “biffies,” or portable toilets, into place all over town.
— Find inevitable errors in printed materials.
— Make last-minute changes; take a last look around.
TUESDAY, JUNE 21
– First day of Swedish Days 2005, which runs through June 26. (300 W. State St., Geneva, 630-232-6060)
MONDAY, JUNE 27
– Planning for Swedish Days 2006 begins.
— Compiled by Desiree Chen