July 15-21, 2009 by StreetWise

V O L . 17 N O . 29

2 Buy StreetWise only from a badged vendor

J U LY 15 - J U LY 21, 2009

YO&R CITY FROM THE STREETS

M I S S I O N: TO

H E L P P E O P L E H E L P T H E M S E LV E S TO S E L F - S U F F I C I E N C Y T H R O U G H G A I N F U L E M P L OY M E N T

From the Editor S

treetWise got its financial house in order with a little help from its friends. June 27, we did the same with our offices. Volunteers cataloged 17 years of newspapers and magazines. The files had been in two different rooms since our move from our old South Michigan Avenue nearly three years ago. Some were mislabeled, and backup copies had not yet been reintegrated. New, donated file cabinets made a difference. Lined up along one wall, they were cleaned and then slowly, the process began. Old files were emptied and stacked. New hanging folders were labeled. The years began to fill up. It was like looking at history, said Tom Durkin, who meticulously labeled issues involving the death of StreetWise vendor Joseph Gould at the hands of an off-duty policeman. Durkin volunteered after his Schaumburg church urged its members “to find their Calcutta,” in the manner of Mother Teresa. “It’s good to clean your soul once in a while,” added Frederic Hall, who also writes for the magazine.“Do good and good things happen to you.” Sisters Mary and Violet Ricker buy the paper every time they come in from Waukegan. Mary, a high school senior who wants to go to nursing school, always finds enlightening volunteer opportunities, said Violet, who is studying nonprofit management at North Park University, Graylake, and working at Kohl Children’s Museum. “I felt like we were doing our part to give back to the community,” said Whitney St. Pierre, the newest StreetWise board member, who came with her husband Stephen St. Pierre. They got involved through board member Pete Kadens, who coordinated the “Save Troy” campaign after he learned a vendor’s life story through an early-Saturday morning meeting outside our offices. StreetWise board member Pam Frye organized the event, down to color-coordinated tabs for each year.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER BRUCE CRANE BCRANE@STREETWISE.ORG

PHOTOS BY WHITNEY ST. PIERRE

By Suzanne Hanney Editor-in-Chief

STREETWISE STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SUZANNE HANNEY SUZANNESTREETWISE@YAHOO.COM DIRECTOR OF DISTRIBUTION GREG PRITCHETT GPRITCHETT14@YAHOO.COM

PRODUCTION & MARKETING MANAGER BEN COOK BCOOK@STREETWISE.ORG DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT GRACE FEDERIGHI GRACE@STREETWISE.ORG

Stephen St. Pierre, top, and Mary Ricker organize the StreetWise archives

ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVES D. MARTINEZ MARY FAITH HILBOLDT PROOFREADER ROBERT CASS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS ROB FEDERIGHI—PRESIDENT CHICAGOBROKER.COM

JUDD LOFCHIE—FOUNDER LOFCHIE & ASSOCIATES, INC.

PETE KADENS—VICE PRESIDENT ADAM MEEK SOCORE ENERGY DLA PIPER US LLP JUDD R. HORWITZ—TREASURER TIMOTHY RAY JUDD R. HORWITZ & CO. P.C. NEAL, GERBER & EISENBERG LLP RAY GILLETTE—SECRETARY NONPROFIT CONSULTING LEE BARRIE KURMAN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. RICHARD BOYKIN BARNES & THORNBURG LLP

Wanted: StreetWise Ad Representatives Interested in helping fight homelessness in Chicago while making some money at the same time? Do you have strong sales and customer service skills? Help us sell advertising in StreetWise. Send your resumé to advertising@streetwise.org.

& VENDOR SERVICES

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

JONATHAN REINSDORF STONEGATE DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS, LLC PATRICIA TILLMAN VENDOR REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN WARD THE FORWARD GROUP

DANNY K. DAVIS U.S. CONGRESSMAN, 7TH DISTRICT, ILLINOIS

JEANNIE WEAVER AT&T GLOBAL SERVICES

PAM FRYE RETIRED

IRA WILLIAMS CEDA

JOHN J. LEONARD MORGAN STANLEY STREETWISE IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY AND IS SOLD BY THE POOR AND HOMELESS OF CHICAGO. STREETWISE IS A REGISTERED 501(C)3 NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AND IS A MEMBER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN STREET NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION.

1201 W. LAKE, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60607 OFFICE: 312.829.2526 FAX: 312.829.2623

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

On the Street Coalition Supports Quinn’s Veto Pledge State-wide coalition urges the governor and General Assembly to reach bipartisan agreement on a budget that funds human services.

page

Wedding Guide Married Chicago-Style A look at the best places to get married in landmark buildings and mansions around town.

page

INSP Best Vendor Essay

Resuscitating Healthcare

The Big Issue London’s

Uninsured people at John H. Stroger’s Fantus clinic shed light on the President’s plan to reform US health care.

Andy C, recent winner in the 2009 INSP Best Original Vendor

Essay

category,

chronicles early morning London.

page

news

streetwise

entertainment

volunteer

On the Street page 4 Jenny Jones Gives Back page 5 Cover Story page 12

The Playground page 14 Vendor Profile page 15

Ginny & the Chef page 6 DineWise page 6 Health & Fitness page 7 Event Calendar page 10

full listings online at www.streetwise.org

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

On the

Street No vacations for lawmakers until they pass 12-month budget that is morally and fiscally responsible, group says SPRINGFIELD — A statewide coalition representing millions of Illinoisans applauded Gov. Pat Quinn on June 30 for demanding that lawmakers fulfill their shared responsibility to craft a 12-month budget that fully funds vital community-based programs throughout the state. The coalition is urging all 177 lawmakers and the governor to remain in Springfield for as long as it takes to reach a bipartisan agreement on a full, 12-month budget that cuts nonessential services and revenue to close the budget gap. Privately, rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties have admitted that a tax increase will be needed as part of the budget solution. The Illinois House and Senate were scheduled to meet July 14 to override Quinn’s veto. The coalition warns that a Democratic “Doomsday Lite” proposal to cut funding by 30 percent for programs ranging from domestic violence and child abuse prevention to care for seniors and people with disabilities would be devastating. A proposal floated by Republicans to pass a temporary budget based on Fiscal Year 2008 spending would not only lead to harmful cuts in services, but would do nothing to alleviate anxieties of caregivers or families they serve. “The families of the people we serve aren’t making vacation plans, they’re canceling them—and trying to figure out what they’re going to do about child care, about health care, and who is going to have to quit their job to take care of an aging parent or disabled family member that the state is poised to dump out on the street,” said the Rev. Dr. Denver Bitner, head of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). “Lawmakers shouldn’t be making any vacation plans, either, until they pass a budget that is not only fiscally balanced but also morally balanced.” Coalition members say they’ve seen signs of progress. Under mounting pressure in recent weeks, Democrats and Republicans have publicly acknowledged that the state has a moral responsibility to fully fund community-based programs, and they’ve recognized that the proposed cuts are creating anxiety for families that are directly impacted. But coalition members say that Democratic leaders are pushing a “Doomsday Lite” budget that would still have devastating consequences: •15,600 seniors will lose community-care programs that enable them to remain in their homes and out of nursing homes, while another 35,000 seniors will see those services reduced; •88,585 children will lose day-care services, threatening their parents’ ability to work;

Coalition Supports Quinn’s Veto Pledge •12,900 women will lose life-saving breast-cancer screenings, and 45,000 men will lose prostatecancer screenings and prevention servic es; •12,000 teens and adults will lose treatment for drug and alcohol addiction; •60,000 preschool children will lose their earlychildhood education; •11,000 cases of elder abuse will go uninvestigated; •Half of the state’s child-abuse investigators will be eliminated, raising caseloads 20 to 1; •Nearly 14,000 rape and child sex abuse victims will be denied crisis services. The coalition also says a plan f loated by Republican leaders to delay passage of a 12month budget for 30-60 days would only prolong anxieties for families impacted by the cuts and for the 100,000 caregivers across the state who stand to lose their jobs. Without an agreement in place between the governor and lawmakers from both parties on budget cuts and new revenue, lawmakers aren’t likely to meet a new deadline, and would only insist on another extension. Even the possibility of cuts has forced many local service providers to lay off employees and close programs.Those cutbacks would still continue even with a temporary spending plan, and the uncertainty would create greater instability in the state’s infrastructure of community-based service providers. “Governor Edgar [who served from 1991 to 1999] warned that it would be irresponsible of our state to implement a temporary budget, and he’s absolutely right,” said Nancy Ronquillo, head of Children’s Home + Aid, one of the state’s largest and oldest providers of care for abused and neglected children. “We’ve been forced to issue notices of potential layoffs to over 700 employees throughout Illinois. We have nearly 800 abused and neglected children that we have to worry about, and workers who deserve 30 days’ notice before they are laid off. No agency can go through that every month without creating total chaos.” “These cuts aren’t just morally irresponsible, they are fiscally irresponsible, because every dollar we cut from preventative programs ends up costing taxpayers $6 to $8 down the road,” warns budget expert Ralph Martire, head of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability. “When we turn our back on abused children, people with mental illness, our seniors and disabled, they don’t just magically disappear. They turn up again in our special education classes, prisons, emergency rooms, and nursing homes, but at much greater cost to the taxpayer.” Opponents of the cuts are being urged to visit IllinoisCommonGood.org to e-mail lawmakers, or call 888-616-3322. W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Coalition members include (list in formation): • Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. • AIDS Foundation of Chicago • A Safe Haven • Campaign for Better Health Care • Center for Tax and Budget Accountability • Chestnut Health Systems • Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network • Children's Home + Aid • Corazón Community Services • Don Moss & Associates • Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights • Housing Action Illinois • Illinois Action for Children • Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition • Jane Addams Hull House Association • Kids Hope United • Lutheran Advocacy—Illinois • Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois • Lutheran Social Services of Illinois • Neumann Association • Protestants for the Common Good • Rosecrance Health Network • Safer Foundation • Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law • SEIU Healthcare Illinois • Supportive Housing Providers Association • United Cerebral Palsy of Illinois •United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

Jenny Jones gives back to Chicago By Andrea Wozniak StreetWise Contributor enny Jones is at it again. May 6, 2009 Jones gave $5,000 to 25-yearold Amelia de Landa, a volunteer at the Old Irving Park Community Clinic located in Chicago, a free clinic helping low income people . without health insurance. At this clinic a volunteer gynecologist sees women completely free of charge. Amelia used the money to purchase an ultrasound machine and other medical equipment for the Clinic’s women’s health program. Amelia applied for the donation by sharing her dream that she wanted to make reality. “Amelia, I applaud you for being a volunteer. Your gift to the clinic will help women in need for years to come.” said Jones. Jones’ goal is to empower individuals across the country to help better and improve their community by her giving donations to small organizations and projects to help strengthen their program and help the people of their community. Through this foundation Jenny Jones will be giving $2 million of her own money to help people and their community. The grants are given up to $25,000 to individuals who submit the best ideas and goals for their community and the people in it. Jones has come up with a new idea. Jones says, “I am committing $50,000 to giving back to Chicago to help community projects in need.” After hosting her popular national talk show for 12 years here in downtown Chicago, The Jenny Jones Show, she says the city is like her second home. “I want to give love back to Chicago after all of the support they have given me.” Jones says that she is not looking for anything different than her past applicants, but simply looking for someone that could help the most people, and how it will benefit them for given time. Any resident in Chicago is able to apply for this donation that has a desire to better their community, and is not a social service agency. “I want to see how much good you (the people of Chicago) can do, and the number of people you can help.” said Jones. Jones is looking for anyone that wants to better their community organization or project. In the past Jones has given to fire rescue, schools, libraries, associations with schools, and many other organizations. The application to apply for this donation is located on Jenny Jones’ official Web site, www.jennysheroes.com. Simply click on the “apply here” box in the bottom right hand corner. The application is short and should not require a lot of time. After filling out the general information about yourself, and explain what the donation money would be used for, you then have 600 characters to describe your dream to help people and your community. Also you can learn and read more about the past win-

Log on to www.jennysheroes.com to find out how you can apply for the $50,000 that Jenny donates to Chicago annually. ners of the Jenny’s Heroes. Simply go to the official Web site and click on the bottom middle box titled “Meet Our Heroes”. Learn all about each hero’s story and what they did to make their community a better place to be. If you have a dream, Jenny Jones can make it come true. Share your dream with Jenny and get on your way to making your community a better place to be. To learn more about this program go to Jenny Jones official website, www.jennysheroes.com.

Contributing Writers Ginny & the Chef: Originally a professional chef, Chef J now writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column on food and fitness in Chicago. He’s also the president of the Chicago Research Chefs LLC and president emeritus of the Chicago Nutrition Association. Ginny has written nutrition and fitness articles for several local and national publications, such as the Chicago Tribune and On-Health magazine. She has a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science and dietetics and a master’s degree in nutrition communications and marketing. Jacqui Batts, a current StreetWise intern, attended Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep Academy and is currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois in Urbana, Champaign. In

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

addition to interning at StreetWise, she works for the University of Illinois Foundation, as a student development representative. Majoring in English, she also plans to minor in secondary education this upcoming school year. John Godoy is a Chicago-based wellness consultant and personal trainer with a leading preventionbased, integrative health and wellness provider. Andrea Wozniak will be a senior at Bluffton University in Ohio majoring in Communication with a minor in coaching. “When I graduate from Bluffton in the Spring I would like to peruse my interest in the Public Relations field. While at StreetWise I helped come up with new ideas for slogans.” W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Alex Filipowicz was born in 1992. He is a student at Northside College Preparatory high school. He learned to speak Polish from a young age. He enjoys making surreal drawings. He also enjoys listening to obscure music and watching dark comedies. He is learning to play trumpet because he likes ska music. He plans on becoming a fiction writer. Brenna Daldorph, a summer intern at StreetWise, will spend the next month covering topics of immigration for the magazine. She became passionate about immigration issues after first-hand experience volunteering with undocumented migrants crossing the Sonora Desert. Next year, she will be a senior at the University of Kansas

FoodWise with Ginny & Chef J

By Ginny & Chef J StreetWise Contributors (www.ginetics.org, www.researchchefs.us)

The Perfect Pie Chef J recently escaped Chicago’s heat wave with a quick business trip to Florida. It was actually cooler on the East Coast of Florida than down town Chicago last week. He filled me in a cute town he visited called, Vero Beach. The chef recommends the town for a quick fun weekend getaway. Of course I had to know where to go while there, for a great meal. He told me about the Ocean Grill, right on the beach. It’s one of those local treasures. A family owned and operated business. It’s been delighting Vero Beach since the 1930’s. He loved the view and the fresh-caught seafood. However, his voice went up when it came to describing the dessert he tried- “they have the best key lime pie I have ever tasted,” he said.The pastry chef, Barbara Ashley, was the one with the secret recipe. Lucky for him he was there that day. It was the last key lime pie she’ll ever bake there. She was retiring that day! Chef’s talk, about key lime pie, got me to thinking about my first search for key lime pie. I once went on a quest for the best tasting key lime pie in Florida. It was late 1988. I had moved to Ocala,

Florida and lived there briefly. My new neighbor, an Arabian horse rancher, told me about key limes. Those funny little limes seem underdeveloped. They are extra tart and flavorful. Some are slightly bitter. His parents had moved up from Key West in 1975. Both missed the key limes they used to grow in their back yard. My neighbor mentioned a few local shops that made a decent key lime pie. Of course, being a pie lover, I had to go and give them a try.This was the start of my year long obsession with pie. My goal became finding the best key lime pie “ever”! Quickly I realized that the homemade graham cracker is an essential piece to this pie. Some had tried to turn it into cheese cake. That’s a bad idea. I tried vegan versions; another bad idea. Key lime pie needs the eggs. Over a few months I probably tried every place in central Florida. Then my neighbor told me of a place in Cedar Key that grows their own key limes. The limes are grown indoors in a small green house [* key limes hate the cold, as do I]. They use fresh squeezed juice and hand-make their crust. They make only four pies a day. When they’re, they’re gone. A friend and I headed out to find this place. It was a long drive, down many unmarked back roads. Finally, after a 3 hour tour we were in Cedar Key. We found Granny’s Café’s. We got there just as she was cutting into the last pie. I made sure I got 2 pieces. One piece we would eat now. One we would take home. Yes! This was THE best key lime pie. It was light in color, almost white. I have since learned that real key lime pie is not bright green in color.The crust was moist and pliable. The thing I remember the most was the strong aromatic fragrance of fresh limes. It was magical. I am sure Cedar Key has changed since then, but probably not a lot, knowing Florida. I told Chef J this story, and he was impressed. He suggested I take trip up to Vero Beach to try this pie. But, I can’t. The baker is now retired. I think I’ll try my hand at making one, but not anytime soon. It’s more fun to hunt around trying to find a great key lime pie.

Chicago DineWise Berry Chill’s Yogurt Culture Puts Frozen Yogurt Back on the Hot List Okay, we know frozen yogurt had its heyday back in the ‘80s with TCBY and other such shops, so why all the fuss now? The answer is simple: today’s frozen yogurt is wonderfully represented by Berry Chill, a growing collection of whimsical contemporary stores in Chicago. Its yogurt is deliciously and healthfully made—and filling—to the point where it can substitute for a light meal when you’re on the run. And please let healthfulness be a deciding factor: Berry Chill’s frozen yogurt is filled with active cultures and is lactose and gluten free. The joys of Berry Chill derive from both the yogurt and the many toppings you can add to personalize your treat. Start out your adventure by selecting a yogurt flavor. Usually there are four to choose fro m; all have the texture of soft serve and a delightful tanginess that reminds you this is really yogurt, not ice cream or some other concoction. The standard flavor is a refreshing vanilla that goes nicely with all the toppings; the other flavors vary from month to month. In general they’re fruit based: mango, strawberry, peach. For July the special flavors are Peach Mango, Piña Colada, and Strawberry Banana.

Next, choose your toppings, which fall into four categories: 1) fresh fruit; 2) candies, cookies, and nuts; 3) popular cereals; and 4) treats from local bakeries. Depending on your mood and what time of day it is, you may go in any one direction or try something from every category. The fresh-fruit selections, combined with some granola or a trail-mix topping and sliced almonds, can turn your tr eat into a healthy, light meal full of whole grains and antioxidants. Fruit choices include fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, strawberries, mango, and watermelon. Cereal toppings include the adult favorite Kashi GoLean Crunch!, and kids’ favorites such as Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch, and Golden Grahams. The candy, cookies, and nuts toppings place your Berry Chill treat squarely in the dessert category. If you crave Girl Scout Cookies all year, you’re in luck—Berry Chill offers bits of Thin Mints, Tagalongs, and Samoas. Other sweet-tooth choices include mini chocolate chips, M&M’s, mini Oreos, shredded coconut, peanut-butter-covered pretzels, and sprinkles. Finally, Berry Chill showcases toppings from local bakeries and food makers, including Sarah’s Pastries and Candies, Milk W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

Chef J’s Secret Recipe Key Lime Chicken (serves 4) Ginny’s Shopping List: •1 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breast •¼ cup fresh squeezed key lime juice •3 Tablespoon low sodium soy sauce •2 garlic cloves, minced •1 Tablespoon fresh ginger root, minced •2 Tablespoons canola oil

Chef’s Cooking Instructions: •Place key lime juice, soy sauce, garlic, ginger root, and oil in shallow dish. •Mix well. •Place chicken breast in liquid and flip breasts 3 to 4 times to thoroughly coat chicken. •Marinate for at least 4 hours [over night is best]. •Grill or pan cook until done. •Serve with coleslaw and wild rice

N u t r i t i o n a l I n f o

& Honey Granola, and Leonard’s Bakery. If you’re in the mood for something other than a dish of yogurt, try a BC Blast or BC Blender. Both are made from your choice of yogurt and three toppings, but the Blast is served chunky style and the Blender is served like a smoothie. The Fro-J is another refresher, made from your choice of yogurt and freshly squeezed orange juice. We couldn’t help but notice that the State Street location is open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. If you’re out clubbing till the wee hours, Berry Chill is a great way to wind down your evening. Berry Chill www.berrychill.com 625 N. State St. 132 N. LaSalle St. 500 W. Madison St. (312) 266-2445 (312) 553-2445 (Ogilvie Station) (312) 993-9644 Hours: State St.: Sun.-Thu. 8 a.m.-midnight, Fri.-Sat. 8 a.m.- 4 a.m. LaSalle St.: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Madison St.: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Pricing (with three toppings): Cup: small, $3.99-$4.99; medium, $5.49-$6.49; large, $7.49-$8.49 Blast or Blender: small, $5.49-$6.49; large, $7.49-$8.49. Cindy Kurman Barrie and Lee Barrie are the principals of Kurman Communications, Inc., a Chicago-based marketing and public relations agency. Please visit their blog at gotbuzzatkurman.com

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

Health & Fitness

Wedding Day Fit By John Godoy StreetWise Contributor

Let’s cut to the chase – no one wants to look like a train wreck on their wedding day. The photos you take that day will last a lifetime. 30 years down the road when you look back on this momentous day – you want your descendants to say “damn – you look amazing.” Here are 4 steps to make sure this happens. 1) Start early – reality check – the sooner you begin exercising and cutting back on the everyday waistline widening food you eat – the more likely you will succeed in getting the physique you want for the wedding. That said – as the saying goes, “the next best day to begin other than yesterday is TODAY.” 2) Guys, focus on the back of your body when exercising – realistically one of the best results you can hope for with a wedding day training program is to have great posture. By working the back of your body from your hamstrings, low back and core, lats and rear delts you are much more likely to have a powerful, healthy-looking presence. 3) Ladies, the same goes for you – focus on your posture as well as strengthening your core through exercises such as planks, bridges, flat

back leg raises, hip extensions and some trunk rotations. These will tighten up that midsection and make the corset more bearable. 4) Drink plenty of water – seems obvious – but few people follow through on this one. The better hydrated you are – the better your complexion will look at the wedding – it will cut back on the need for all those moisturizers and make-up. For both men and women: Back exercises for the big day

1. Cobra (ta rgets lower ba ck) •Lie facedown on the floor with arms at sides, palms down. •Keeping abs and glutes tight, lift chest off floor and raise arms up and back toward hips, rotating thumbs up. •At the same time, lift legs about 3 inches off floor. Hold for 3 counts and lower back to starting position. •Repeat for 8 to 10 reps. 2. Dumbbell Shoulder Shrug (ta rgets upper ba ck) •Stand with your feet hip-width apart, arms at sides with your knees slightly bent. •Hold a 5-pound dumbbell in each hand with

palms facing in. •Keeping abs tight, slowly shrug your shoulders up toward your ears, keeping elbows straight. Hold for 3 counts and lower. •Repeat for 8 to 10 reps. 3. Seated Row with Bands (ta rgets upper ba ck) •Sit in a chair and tie a resistance band around a sturdy structure, such as a doorknob, at elbow height, 2 to 3 feet in front of you. •Hold one end of band in each hand, palms facing each other. •Bend elbows and pull band toward your ribs, pressing shoulders back and together. Hold for 3 counts. •Repeat for 8 to 10 reps. -Ba ck exercises courtesy of www.fitnessma ga zine.com

Plan Your Budget Wedding: sensible planning alternatives & tips (PRWEB) Budgets may have been cut, but the “I dos” have not slowed down. Wedding Statistics and Market Research shows that although the average cost of weddings decreased 17.5 percent in 2008, most brides reveal that they would rather trim the unessential luxuries in order to save money rather than postpone their big day. To help brides and their families make sound choices, Certified Wedding Planners from Marriott Hotels & Resorts and Renaissance Hotels & Resorts around the world offer resourceful tips. * Time of day: Choosing to have a lunch versus a dinner reception could lessen cost per head significantly. * Be creative: Receptions can take on many creative forms. Consider an afternoon tea or cocktail party - both of which minimize food/beverage costs. Both options are fun and will allow you to enjoy the company of friends and family. * Serving style: Buffets might be a better alternative for larger wedding parties because they require less serving staff and can provide more value for money.

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

* Wedding cake: Shop around and ask for recommendations. In addition to your traditional baker, small home-based bakers or a family friend might be able to handle your needs just as well. * Hors d'oeuvres: Shortening the cocktail hour will reduce the amount of hors d'oeuvres actually needed. * Centerpieces and giveaways: Be creative and think outside the box. Personalized ideas involving handcrafted items, poems, candles and such could have sentimental value at a very low cost. * Photos: In many cultures around the world, it is common practice for the bride and groom to have a photo shoot before the wedding. Tastefully displayed pictures around the reception area can replace flowers or other expensive decorations. * Invitations: Beautifully decorated blank invitations can be purchased directly from print shops and printed on your own printer. Family members with calligraphy skills or good handwriting can chip in to address the envelopes. * Photography: Single-use cameras at guest tables help capture intimate moments that you might miss W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

and are cost effective, helping to cut down the official photographer's time. *Family: Always look for talent within your circle of family and friends. From bakers to photographers, most people would love to pitch in and help on a special occasion.

Inside and out at the South Shore Cultural Center

Tying the knot in Chicago By Tracy Woodley StreetWise Contributor edding planning can often get pricey, with the venue being the biggest expense of them all. How can the happy couple affordably commemorate their sacred union? Here are a couple ideas for how to save and still have that fantasy wedding. If you’re looking for a cultural element to incorporate into the celebration, there are several cultural centers across the city that have space for weddings. The buildings are maintained by public taxing districts or nonprofit community centers, so why not take advantage of what you’re paying for and put your wedding dollars to good use? Chicagoans can brag about having the same wedding venue as Barack and Michelle Obama: South Shore Cultural Center is where the First Couple celebrated their wedding in 1992, and for $2,575, you and your soul mate can be wed there too.That fee is the cost of the complete wedding package offered by the center; couples have the option of choosing caterers from a pre-approved list. A former country club, the center has a ballroom that holds 300 people and features a view of the lake. Now maintained by the Chicago Park District, the center also offers art and recreation-

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

al programs throughout the year. The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., has a social center that can seat up to 300 people for $800, not including the caterer and bar. The building itself has a museum, art gallery, and traditional Irish decor—hand-painted scrolls and ornate knot work—in every room. Its authentic Irish eatery, the Fifth Province Pub (complete with stone hearth), seats 150 to 175, while its slightly smaller Shanachie Room holds 120 guests and costs $450; there are also rooms with 50- to 100-person capacity. For an Irish family looking to uphold traditions and integrate their heritage into the festivities at a reasonable price, IAHC is the perfect option. Rentals include use of kitchen, with bar rentals available on a perperson, per-hour basis. Packages are available by calling 773.282.7035, ext. 10, or by e-mailing roomrentals@irishach.org. You can see the black onion dome of the Copernicus Foundation, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., from the Kennedy Expressway; it’s a copy of the Royal Palace in Warsaw, Poland. The Copernicus Center contains two spaces for wedding parties: King’s Hall seats 118 guests and includes a dance floor and bar area; this space costs $350 for one hour and $100 for each additional hour. The second option is the center’s lobby space, which

J UMLYAY 15-J 27-JUULYN E21, 2, 2009

holds 130 people and costs $500 for one hour, $100 for each additional hour. Named after Renaissance-era Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, the building has been a cultural and civic resource for Poles in Chicago, as well as a community center for northwest-side residents, since 1971. The Chicago Park District’s Douglas Park field house was designed by architects Christian S. Michaelsen and Sigurd A. Rognstad, who are also responsible for the Garfield Park Gold Dome Building, the On Leong Merchants Association Building in Chinatown, the South Loop Club at State and Balbo, and the Humboldt Park and La Follette Park field houses. Chicago-born architects from Norwegian-American families, Michaelsen and Rognstad were known for their use of detailed, intricate, high-quality terra cotta designs on building facades, according to Tim Samuelson, City of Chicago cultural historian. In 1920 Michaelsen and Rognstad were commissioned to remodel a Chinatown restaurant into the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association’s headquarters. At that time there were no Chinese architects in the city, Samuelson said, so the two architects studied samples and met with community elders to learn symbols and colors that were characteristic of Chinese architecture. They also relied on the local terra cotta industry to complete On Leong, a blend of classic Chicago commercial and Chinese formal styles, and its successful completion led to more projects for the two Norwegian-Americans in Chinatown. Al Ramp now runs the successor to their firm. The Douglas Park Cultural and Community Center features a ballroom that holds 250 guests. Located on the west side of Chicago at 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, the building overlooks a monumental garden shelter, known as Flower Hall, and a formal reflecting pool. For weddings booked this year, the cost of renting out the ballroom is $150 an hour. Next year, however, the cost will increase to $210 an hour.

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

The Glenview Park District offers the Grove Redfield Estate, a Tudor-style home that’s part of the 123-acre Grove National Historic Landmark. For a fee of $700 for seven hours on weekdays, and $1,900 for the same number of hours on weekends, wedding parties will have access to the historic home as well as the gazebo and surrounding grounds. The estate was built in 1929 and was first inhabited by authors Louise Redfield Peattie and Donald Culross Peattie, who met as students at the University of Chicago high school; she’s best known for America n Acres (1936), and he wrote An Alma na c for Moderns (1935), which won the Limited Editions Club’s Gold Medal. A large window in the main room is placed in such a way that the moon appears encircled there on the vernal equinox in the spring and the autumnal equinox in the fall. Other Tips: •There are other locations in the city that are perfect for those interested in a unique wedding, although they tend to get pricier than the locations mentioned above. •In Logan Square, the Stan Mansion is open for wedding receptions and parties. The building is decorated with stonework and has high ceilings on the interior. •The Black Walnut Gallery, 220 N. Aberdeen St., is a modern art gallery with space for events and parties of up to 190 people. Guests will be able to enjoy the outside seating space and work from the newest Chicago artists. •There are more ways to save on your big day. Receptions can often be held in the fellowship areas of churches, which is convenient. There is also the option of hosting your wedding reception in your own home. Neighborhood businesses might be willing to create a special offer for you if you are a regular. There are hundreds of ways to celebrate your union with the one you love without breaking the bank.

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

The Fifth Province Room of Irish American Heritage Center

Event Calendar for July 15-21 Thursday

“Sue,” the Tyrannosaurus Rex at the Field Museum

World renowned for songs that fuse traditional Arabic and indigenous music, as well as being an influential example of the Moroccan women's movement, Najat Aatabou comes to Chicago on her first U.S. tour. Opening the evening is the innovative duo of master guitarist Justin Adams and riti (fiddle) master Juldeh Camara. July 16, 6:30 p.m., Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free. For more information call 312-742-1168. Discover the beauty of the tropics at the Summer Tropical Flower Show, which offers an assortment of warm-climate plants, including various begonias and hibiscus. Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Dr. Free. For more information call 312-742-7736. “Dinosaurs Alive” is a global adventure of science and discovery, from the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic period to the monsters of the Cretaceous, “reincarnated” in life-size form on a giant IMAX screen. Audiences will take a journey with the world’s foremost paleontologists as they uncover evidence that the descendants of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us. July 16, 10 a.m., Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield. Regular admission $8-$12; for “Dinosaurs Alive” add $5, $3 for kids ages 3-11. For more information call 708-485-0263. Dance in Downtown Evanston 6:30 p.m. dance lesson, 7:30-9:00 band and open dancing 909 Davis Plaza in downtown Evanston (Davis el stop) All events are free and open to all ages July 16 - Orquestra de Samba featuring Brazilian guest artist percussionist Ari Colares. It’s a Brazilian samba street party in Evanston with a bevy of musicians, dancers and percussionists. July 19- Roots Rock Society A Chicago legend and award-winning band, Roots Rock is a blend of reggae, calypso, soul and African zouk music. July 23 - Sidemen Big Band Eighteen of Chicago’s best professional musicians play your favorite tunes from the big band era.

Friday Italian Style is a cultural showcase highlighting Italy’s food, wine, fashion, design, and tourism industries, and includes fare from local Italian restaurants, luxury autos from Lamborghini, Ferrari, Ducati, and Vespa, jewelry and fashion shows, seminars, fencing matches, a "street" market, movies, music, and more. July 17, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. $15. For more information call 312-553-9137.

Contest: What’s your favorite Chicago? To find the best places in Chicagoland, Placemaking Chicago, a project of the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), today launched the “What Makes Your Place Great?” contest on PlacemakingChicago.com. From June 3 through July 27, 2009, entrants can e-mail original photos or videos showcasing their favorite public places across Chicagoland, along with a 250-word-or-less description, to placemakingchicago@metroplanning.org. Entrants may feature places in the City of Chicago or in Chicago suburbs located in Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties in Illinois; or in Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties in Indiana; or in Racine and Kenosha counties in Wisconsin.) “Show and tell us not only why your favorite place is special to you, but also how it contributes to your community,” said MPC Associate Karin Sommer, who manages the Placemaking Chicago project. “Is it somewhere people go to relax or meet up with friends? What are some unique ways people use the space? And what is it about this

Saturday The popular alfresco series Millennium Park Workouts features 45-minute classes on the Great Lawn in tai chi (7 a.m.), yoga (8 a.m.), Pilates (9 a.m.), and aerobic dance/martial arts (10 a.m.). Instructors from the Lakeshore Athletic Club lead the tai chi, yoga, and Pilates classes, W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

place that keeps you coming back?” Four winners, two photo and two video, will be announced on Sept. 25, 2009. One winner in each category will receive a Grand Prize award, selected by a committee of Placemaking experts; and one winner in each category will receive a People’s Choice award, selected by public vote on PlacemakingChicago.com from Aug. 10 to Sept. 14, 2009. Winners will have the opportunity to showcase their favorite places at an MPC event in October, and they will win prize packages including: Chicago Architecture Foundation walking tour tickets; a trio of “Co-op Hot sauce” made from chiles grown in NeighborSpace community gardens in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood; Passes to the Art Institute of Chicago, donated by the School of the Art Institute of Chicago; MPC roundtable tickets; A gift certificate to Branch 27 Browntrout, or Feast restaurants, or Seven Ten Lanes; and Boulevard Lakefront Bike Tour tickets and membership in the Active Transportation Alliance (a special prize for People’s Choice Award winners).

and each month feature a different type of aerobic-dance or martial-arts workout: capoeira with Marisa Cordeiro in July, samba with Shirley Vieira and Edilson Lima in August, and Zumba with Nancy in September. Saturdays, through September 19, 201 E. Randolph St. Free. For more information call 312-742-1168.

J UMLYAY 15-J 27-JUULYN E21, 2, 2009 7

StreetWise Contributor

50 Years Ago... On July 5, 1959, more than 2,000 people rallied with members and guests of the Chicago League of Negro Voters in Washington Park to support the “proposition of winning full democracy for 20 million American Negroes,” in the words of U.S. Sen. Paul H. Douglas. According to the Chica go Defender, Douglas, an Illinois Democrat, declared, “Politicians tend to meet the demands of voters if these demands are made clear. Negroes in the North should register and vote for their demands. This way they can help their brothers in the South to win greater justice.” Lemuel E. Bentley, president of the League, approached the situation more militantly, saying, “Physical freedom did not come to our forefathers until Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and thousands of other unsung heroes and heroines fought, schemed, died, or escaped to the North to serve as living witnesses against the lie that Negroes loved slavery. It did not come until Negro soldiers fought and died in the Union Army. It did not come until the nearly 4 million slaves refused to cooperate in sustaining production needed to support the Confederate Army. Freedom will not come to us today until we are willing to make similar sacrifices.” Two weeks later, on July 19, Quinn Chapel, the mother church of the African Methodist Episcopal denomination—and the oldest African-American church in Chicago—celebrated its 112th anniversary and burned its mortgage in a special Sunday service.The burning of the mortgage seemed almost ironic: the church was badly damaged by fire in December 1951, which led to the $100,000 mortgage being taken out in the first place. During slavery, Quinn Chapel was instrumental in the abolition movement in Chicago and the Underground Railroad. It was also instrumental in the founding of Bethel AME Church, Elam House, and Chicago Provident Hospital. The church began in 1844 as a nondenominational prayer group in the home of one of its seven members, near what is now State and Randolph. It became the Church of the African Methodist Episcopal in 1847, but its location burned during the Great Chicago Fire. It established its present location at 2401 S. Wabash Ave. in 1891. On May 29, 1959, Chatham Avalon Park Community Council presented an application to the City Council to rezone a 24-block area in order to keep it residential. Supported by aldermen Arthur Slight, James A. Condon, and Thomas Fitzpatrick, the proposal forbade construction of apartment buildings between 79th and 83rd, and South Park and State. The motion was referred to the City Council committee on building and zoning. John J. Thomas Jr., chair of the conservation committee of the Chatham organization, said there was wide support for the measure: 1,500 statements of approval from residents had already been collected. On July 25 the Defender reported another victory by the Chatham Avalon Park Community Council.Alfred Phelps, owner of a moving and storage company at 430 E. 84th St., had left dirt, gravel, refrigerators, and five trucks in an open lot; the Zoning Board of Appeals ordered him to remove everything except two of the trucks. The council’s attorney,Wilson Frost, said that Phelps’s method of open storage was dangerous and illegal—the trucks would attract “undesirable characters,” and the gravel, dirt, and refrigerators were a danger to children. Phelps countered that the lot had been continually used for open storage since 1930. The Chatham council had begun to include African-Americans by 1955. Scare tactics by realtors accelerated white flight in the ‘50s and ‘60s to the point where the neighborhood was 99 percent black by 1990, according to the online Encyclopedia of Chica go. “Chatham has the distinction of being perhaps the only neighborhood in Chicago that developed from a European American middle-class community into one composed of middle-class African Americans,” a distinction the community has worked to maintain.

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.HMDB.ORG

By Alex Filipowicz

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHICAGOPC.INFO

This Week In Chicago

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

7 11

StreetWise Feature Story

Resuscitating Health Care By Jacqui Batts and Suzanne Hanney StreetWise Contributor/Editor-in-Chief

he Cook County hospital system’s Fantus outpatient clinic has been an option for the uninsured since 1940. It now serves 400,000 patients a year, right as health care reform is becoming a major issue for President Obama. The Fantus clinic at John H. Stroger Hospital has been Renee Williams’s health-service choice since 2003, when she was laid off from her job of 32 years, just short of receiving lifetime health care. The county’s health care system is one of last resort for people with no insurance, but accessing it can be almost a job in itself, each visit an allday wait. Williams, 54, visited Fantus four times in May and eight times in June for a variety of concerns: gynecological, orthopedic, asthma, cataracts. Intermittent bleeding she’s had for three years became more intense last December, and now a one-day surgery has been scheduled for July 31 at the county’s Provident Hospital. It used to take four or five days to receive related prescriptions, and another all-day wait to pick them up (the line would be three blocks long if you came at 3 p.m.), but now there’s a two-day mail service.

One time Williams was waiting to see a doctor for an 11:45 a.m. appointment scheduled four months earlier when she was told there’d been a mistake—the doctor was on vacation. “If I was at Rush, they would have called and said the doctor was out of town,” she said.“I have no complaint about the doctors and nurses [at Fantus], but the point of the matter is getting to see them. If I had insurance I would be at Rush.” However, Williams didn’t qualify for full government payment through Medicaid because she had no small children (or “dependents”) at home, and she’s too young for Medicare. Emmanuel Hunter, 56, had the same problem. “I’m not old enough for Medicare, [even though] my body is, and I’m not sick enough for Medicaid.” Hunter was a machine operator and then a health care technician, and believes he hurt his back lifting patients. In 2006 he started seeing doctors regularly at Family Christian Health Center in Harvey for his blood pressure, food allergies, and arthritis. On the other hand,Wilma Elliott, 74, brings her lunch and doesn’t mind waiting for her Fantus appointments. “The County’s been doing good to me,” Elliott said. “They saved my life when I had kidney cancer in 2000—they got that out.” Her condition W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

was diagnosed six months after she retired in 1999, one month short of her 65th birthday and Medicare eligibility. However, Williams’s feelings about health care resemble those of many Americans: “All I want is affordable health care I can pay for myself so that I can choose where I am treated. Here I have no choice.” On June 15 President Obama told the American Medical Association, “We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women, and children…. We are a nation that cares for its citizens.” While Congress is discussing a variety of options, the president has few requirements beyond three main goals, according to the Associated Press. He says he wants to provide coverage for 46 million uninsured Americans, “persuade doctors to stress quality over quantity of health care,” and “squeeze billions of dollars from spending.” The U.S. spent nearly $2 trillion on health care in 2006, but more Americans are uninsured than in the nation with the second-highest tab, President Obama told the AMA. Aside from the human toll, the federal budget can’t sustain the rising costs. Within 10 years, one out of every five dollars

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

StreetWise Feature Story Americans earn will be spent on health care, the president said. Within 30 years, the amount will be one out of every three. Health care costs will be equal to what we now spend on defense, and eventually they’ll be “larger than what our government spends on anything else today.” The president has consistently said his only goals are to control costs and cover the uninsured. Those with private coverage would keep it, while those without would find help through a health insurance exchange. Uninsured Americans could have a “one-stop shop for a health care plan, [to] compare benefits and prices, and choose a plan that’s best” for themselves and their families, he told the AMA. But private insurance companies and Republicans are battling this plan. They fear, “with some reason,” noted The New York Times, “that such an inexpensive public plan would entice or drive tens of millions of Americans away from private insurance, especially if big employers were allowed to enroll their workers in an exchange. The challenge is to craft rules to discourage employers from simply dropping their own subsidies entirely.” Dr. Carolyn Lopez, M.D., is medical director of Near North Health Care Service Corporation. Since the recession began, its clinics throughout Chicago—Winfield Moody, Komed Holman, Louise Landau, Denny, Cottage View, Uptown—have seen a “measurable increase” in the number of patients without insurance seeking treatment. The U.S. has been tweaking its health care “hodgepodge” for decades, Lopez said. The nation needs reform now to move forward. “Medical care is becoming too costly with things that are reasonable but still preventable,” she said. “We can’t compete with countries that have not just universal coverage but universal access. It’s no secret that GM was paying more for health care for every car than it was for steel.” Lopez agrees with President Obama’s cost-cutting ideas, such as making better use of electronic records, and comparative effectiveness research. Universal electronic records raise privacy fears among many, but Lopez said they proved their worth after Hurricane Katrina, when displaced residents couldn’t get prescriptions filled because their records were on paper—in flooded clinics. (Veterans Administration hospital patients had no such problems, since they could tap into the system anywhere.) The president has also talked about research into generic versus brand-name drugs. Lopez said that this “head-to-head” comparative effectiveness research could allow doctors to prescribe less costly medications but also justify the more expensive ones if they were truly more effective. She also agreed with his idea of urging more medical students into basic primary care rather than the more lucrative specialties; primarycare doctors can provide a “medical home” for patient records and can translate doctor-speak. “We would know if they have a pain in the shoulder [or] they need a rheumatologist or an orthopedist. We could help arrange appointments and give the consultant information—to give these medications and why—and we could concur or not with the specialist,” Lopez said. Politicians’ talk about reforming health care can’t come soon enough for Daniel Petrean, who came to Fantus one day at 8 a.m. with his 62year-old father and was still waiting to see a doctor at 4:30. Laid off from work, Petrean’s father has had two heart attacks and needs blood tests every two weeks to prevent a stroke. Like Renee Williams and Emmanuel Hunter, he’s too young for Medicare, and his Medicaid was canceled when another son, who lives with him, turned 18 and became an adult in the eyes of the law. Daniel has a small contracting business, but he hasn’t received much work lately. He took his father to a doctor on a self-pay basis—the visit cost more than $300. Then he remembered the county system. He was a Romanian immigrant 12 years ago. His father came to the U.S. two years later. Now Daniel worries that his father can’t afford to stay here near his three grandsons.“The system in Romania, you go to the hospital if you have a problem and they fix you for free,” he said. “The system in the States, I don’t like it. If you get old here without insurance, you’re screwed.... Insurance [companies] won’t take you if you have a condition—they drop you as soon as you have problems. Ten years ago Bill Clinton was trying to fix this. Here all the politicians talking, talking.”

J U LY N E 15-J 24-JUULY N E 21, 30, 2009 200

WW WW W.. SS TT RR EE EE TT W W II SS EE .. O O RR GG W

Barack Obama campaigned for health care reform, top photo, much as he had done in Illinois. Photo left, Renee Williams is one of 400,000 uninsured people a year who use Cook County's Fantus Health Center. Photos below, Obama volunteer Debby Smith talks with the President during a July 1 town hall in which she told of her battle with kidney cancer and her subsequent inability to get a job or health insuran ce.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REUTERS, AP,, YAHOO NEWS

The Playground

Ask Eugene

Crossword

“all the brilliance that will fit”

Dear Eugene: I have some vacation time coming up that I really want to take advantage of, but I’m on a very tight budget. I would like something tropical and all-inclusive. What are some of my options? -Tim Dear Tim: By far the cheapest vacation that you can embark on is a vacation where you never leave your house, and day dream all day, every day. There is no place as exotic and surreal as the human mind: it can give you every emotion possible. Challenge yourself: bring Abraham Lincoln surfing with you (he would have loved it), slingshot waterballoons at pedestrians with Genghis Khan, or take a “greatest hits” trip through your childhood. Remember that kid who picked on you in high school? Guess who gets to win the rematch in your head? That’s right... Tim comes away with the big V. It’s not sad, it’s just using your imagination. In my mind I know several rare martial arts forms despite the fact that in real life my body can’t actually fly or strike like a overcaffeinated wolverine. I’m also a phenomenal poet, and I’ve walked on the moon a dozen times. Give it a try or I’ll give you your money back.

You can send Eugene your questions at 1201 W. Lake, Chicago, IL, 60607 or e-mail him at supreme_eugene@yahoo.com.

Sudoku Difficulty: Medium

Last Week’s Answers

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

2009 INSP Award: Best Vendor Essay IMAGE. REUTERS/RUSSELL BOYCE

An unidentified Member of Parliament is reflected in a puddle as he hurries into the House of Commons past the Big Ben clock tower in London

Capital Gains By Andy C The Big Issue London t was late, and as I walked down the riverside I heard Big Ben strike four. The sound of the bell, breaking the silence, seemed to be an intrusion. The ring of the tones seemed to echo back from the surrounding buildings and the river. I was just walking in my solitude, my mind elsewhere in some fantasy dream. Thoughts of what might have been. If only things had been different, if I’d walked a different path, who knows where I’d be now? Certainly not walking here. Despite the lateness of the hour, I had not thought of sleep.The full moon was up in all its glory, peeping through the passing clouds, reflecting off the water’s ripples that were teased by the breeze. Black water

turned to orange, then blue and flashing yellow, mixing with the night lights of city buildings. A water light show that few noticed. I halted and stood watching this unique spectacle.There was nothing I had to do, nowhere I had to go, nothing important. I had no plan, no ideas, and could not sleep. Walking on, I came to a spot where I felt good and had a great vantage point. I just sat and watched the river and the sky. In the distance I could see the red and green of a traffic light as it went through its never-ending routine, day and night, traffic or not. When the wind caught the water just right I’d get a brief flash of red or green that lasted a moment before going, lost in the night, in the everchanging moments of the river.

I heard the bells again, and from the position where I sat I could hear chimes from many directions. All the old churches of London. I’d hear a few chimes from one, then from another, and as the wind made subtle changes, the sound would fade. To the east, the sky was becoming lighter, changing from a moonlit grey to a blue. The moon was almost gone now, fleeing from the sun. Slowly the sky grew lighter as it waged a battle between dark and light. On the river, colors changed too. The city began to wake. Early birds started to call, to let the rest know they were still there. I had pulled my jacket tight about me, trying to keep out as much of the early chill as I could. Soon the sound of moving traffic came, disturbing the little peace and tranquility I’d enjoyed. Trains clattered on iron rails, the sound of tortured metal upon metal.The sun crept up in all its glory, chasing the last remnants of night away. People were moving rapidly now. Life had returned. It was time for me to go. All I needed now was for the sun to warm my chilled body. I walked on, slowly, as cyclists, pedestrians, joggers, dog walkers, and late clubbers all went about their business—some off to work, some back to their homes. I still didn’t know where I was going. I could do with some warmth, some food, and a good place to sleep. Some money would be good too! Early-morning London runs like clockwork. At about 4 a.m., the long-haul jets start to come in.All those flights from far-flung places, people coming home. I remember being on some of those. Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jo’burg—so many places a lifetime ago. Now I walk along the river. I need a miracle. I need one every day. I’d witnessed many that night. Reprinted from The Big Issue © Street News Service: www.street-papers.org

Look for the Badge! Please purchase your copy of StreetWise from badged vendors only. For questions or comments regarding our vendor force, please contact Greg Pritchett at (312) 829-2526 or at gpritchett14@yahoo.com.

Where the money goes... Vendors buy StreetWise for 75 cents, and the remaining $1.25 goes directly to the licensed vendor. J U LY 15-J U LY 21, 2009

W W W. S T R E E T W I S E . O R G

15 7