Even a Place for a Nap

About to leave the park and head over the bridge to the Art Institute Modern Wing, we see how highly this park is valued in the huge organization of the Chicago Park District. As far as I know, no other park has classy pennants with a park logo. This is not to say the attention is undeserved, because this park is exactly what every park in every town should be or at least would like to be: it is a people magnet. People come to ooh and aah, they come to eat at a great restaurant, they come to take pictures and to see flowers and to visit and to throw Frisbees.

Oh, yes, and some come to take an nap in the warm sunshine. Sleep well!

Flowers, Present & Future

Visitors to Millennium Park are always graced with beautiful flower beds, changed as appropriate for the flow of the seasons. My spring visit featured a two-tone collection of tulips in full bloom set in an immaculate bed, attractive from every side.

Meanwhile, the new bridge crossing the street to the Art Institute's Modern Wing allows a peek over a service area wall to see stacks of the summer plantings standing calmly on Sunday afternoon, likely waiting for Monday morning and planting.

Big Tall Neighbors

The Sunday I was at Millennium Park was totally sun-kissed. Why I would write that, I have no idea, as the two photos would certainly speak for themselves.

Millennium Park is at the northwest corner of what has long been Grant Park, right at the foot of the Prudential Building. As everyone in Chicago is aware that the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Center are both well over 90 stories, it is a bit surprising to know that fifty years ago, the Prudential Building was the high-rise, with a popular observatory on an upper floor -- the 47th floor, I think; about half as high in the sky as the observatory at the Hancock. Long closed, that would be a neat vantage point to see this wonderful new park.

Cloud Gate, or The Bean

Following the rock and roll of the Taste of Glen Ellyn, the photographic weekend continued on Sunday with a visit to Millennium Park, the striking new configuration of a portion of what was once called Grant Park along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.

The day of statues of generals on horseback or of statesmen giving speeches seems rooted deeply into the past. Modern statuary is much more often a form of so-called 'Modern Art,' some of which I love and some of which I confess not to understand much. The key location in Millennium Park is titled 'Cloud Gate,' but I doubt if the majority of Chicagoans would have any idea of that official title. Most everyone calls it 'The Bean,' and since you see the sculpture here, that nickname needs no explanation.

Striking, interesting, reflective: this work is so alive and so interactive that it is hard to image how anyone would dislike it. The highly-polished surface reflects the surrounding skyline, the blue of the sky on sunny days, the clouds . . . and the people visiting the park. Day and night, one of the things you see constantly is the amateur and the professional photographer, armed with upscale DSLRs or simple point-&-shoots or, for that matter, camera phones, each getting a creative viewpoint on the eye magnet called The Bean.

Some even like to take photos of people taking photos. We will look back in on the Park in some upcoming posts.

Shindig Dancers

As promised, one more look at the exciting stage show presented by the New Invaders. Not on stage for all songs but brought up for the rocking dance tunes, the pair of Shindig dancers, Roberta and Carla, add to the atmosphere of fun and enjoyment at every show.

For those of you too young to remember, there were several rock & roll television shows in the 60s, from The Monkees to Hullabaloo! (yes, including the exclamation point!), Dick Clark's Bandstand and an afternoon show called Action. That third title was another Dick Clark show which featured Paul Revere & The Raiders, red coats and all. Freddy Cannon was another contributor, and his hit song Action ("Let me take you where the action is . . ."). And the list should also include The Ed Sullivan Show. The Really Big Show not only brought the Beatles to New York, it also forced the Rolling Stones to change the words of one of their risque songs. Imagine Mick Jagger singing "Let's spend some time together."

And one of the popular shows was called Shindig. It featured lots of music and lots of go-go dancing. Throughout the decade, young rockers were quite able to tune in and see great music several nights a week. Roberta and Carla bring high energy to the stage and keep the go-go tradition alive.

Loads of fun at a New Invaders concert. Why not try them out for yourself this summer season?

Rhythm Section

Completing the regular lineup of the New Invaders would be what is commonly known as the "rhythm section," which in rock & roll terms usually features the bass guitar and the drums.

In the Invaders' versatile lineup, drummer Heath Chappell is free to step front & center during the course of the concert to sing lead on certain songs. Since guitarist Joe Garcia is comfortable behind the drum kit, Chappell gets to enjoy the change of pace while several members of the band are on the move to differing spots on the stage.

Dave Nuccio, who spends most of his time on bass, gives the group a pair of lefties, another unique fact about the Invaders. Nuccio moves to keyboards at times during a show.

One more post will follow with an additional touch of the '60s adding lots of visual appeal to the New Invaders' lineup.

Dual Guitars

The power of much 60s rock is based on having at least one guitar with an artist who can carry the show with the rhythm and the lead lines. No great group was lacking a lead guitar who could rip out a memorable lick and the drop of a guitar pick. The New Invaders, a group with considerable versatility, has a pair of guitarists who fit the bill.

Lefty Joe Garcia not only drives many of the songs with the guitar, but also moves to bass guitar on certain songs and even sits in behind the drum kit during the course of the night. This allows the bass player and drummer to move to different locations on the stage and adds to the range of music the group can handle.

Jim Herter, seen here with the guitar at rest while he plays the flute, also works saxophone and harmonica into his contributions. His rocking lead lines warmed up the night at the Taste of Glen Ellyn, and he capably fills the role of lead vocalist on certain songs as well.

The tight rocking group's bassist and drummer will be featured in the next post.