Last Saturday I went to Chicago's Old Town and Wells Street Art Fairs. I should note that everytime there is a event, festival or outting not in Logan Square, I usually end up walking more than half the way there. Logan Square is just not conveniently located, and when it's a nice day, I opt for walking. So I took the blue line train to the Damen stop and walked all the way from there to Wells Street. For all you non-Chicagoans, that's a bit of a walk.
After a refreshing Starbucks coffee, I met up with a new friend at the Wells Street Art Fair to check it out first. I hadn't even ate breakfast and I was already craving the greasy concoctions of festival food that wafted in the warm breeze. After applying sunscreen to protect my newly freckledy shoulders, I left Wells Street soon after to check out the Old Town Art Fair that took place further north off of Lincoln Avenue.
The two art fairs are not too similar. The Old Town Art Fair is a place for people actually looking to buy art, critiquing each piece with their partner and enjoying a tall lemonade with their upper class friends. Wells Street Art Fair is more of a place to drink beers, enjoy music, eat a buttery corncob from O'Brien's...oh, and check out the pieces of art next to the Budweiser stand. I opted for Old Town early in the afternoon and then hang with the crowds on Wells Street later. (By the way - the Wells Street Art Fair is actually in Old Town and the Old Town Art Fair is nearing Lincoln Park area...odd.)
I gulped down a large lemonade at the Old Town Art Fair. The summer afternoon was sunny and gorgeous - perfect to roam the streets lined with art booths. I picked favorite art pieces and tucked business cards in my pocket...hopeful thinking for the day when I have money to purchase them. Later, I met up with Christina. We decided it was time to try the sangria while we became art critics. Soon we left to head south to Wells Street.
Back at Wells Street Art Fair, I met up with some old KC friends and another KC native. Bruno organized our small group of "used to live and work in KC and now live and work in Chicago." Amber, my old intern coordinator at MMG, was there. It was great to see familiar faces. I hit a point recently where I needed to see someone who already new me - I could be sarcastic and tell inappropriate jokes and not be afraid of judgement just be comfortable.
I had the best time with the KC-turned-Chicago group (plus Christina) on Saturday. We drank the cheapest beer we could find, shared our experiences in the Windy City and relived good times from KC. After two beers, the best guacamole ever (from Adobe Grill stand), two pork tacos and a Twisted Sister red velvet cupcake, we headed to Bruno's rooftop deck for the evening. The cloudy sky looked like rain was coming our way, but it quickly cleared off by the time we settled on the roof. The Chicago skyline illuminated in the clear night sky. I tried to capture it on camera but no photo could portray the moment. Some art just can't beat the real deal. I really needed a day like that.
I'll see you next year, Old Town and Wells Street Art Fairs.
1 comment:
ooo sounded like a good time, glad you got to have a little KC time in the city :-)
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