Mint Juleps, Southern Food and Great People Highlight Kentucky Derby 135 Party in Naperville

Some thought is was a longer shot than Mine That Bird to think that I would find enough people interested in the Kentucky Derby here in the Western Suburbs and Greater Chicagoland area to pull off a daylong traditional Derby Party.  I’ve always liked longshots and Saturday turned out to be the perfect day for bringing a little Derby tradition to our Naperville home.  With much thanks to my wife and fellow co-hosts of Tim Courtney, John Dallas Jr., Eric Broughton and Jason Jacobsohn… better known as the Fantastic Five.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned in our previous posting, the was plenty of fresh mint juleps and Kentucky food, including Keene’s Kentucky Country Ham from Bardstown, Derby biscuits, Derby Pie from my mom’s own recipe, Roasted Garlic and Marscapone Cheese Grits, Fried Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, Corn Casserole, homemade Kentucky Beer Cheese and much more.  I would like to publicly thank my wife for all of her efforts, support and tolerance in the construction of this genuine Kentucky experience.  I’m from Kentucky and she’s from New York so let’s just say she was a great sport.  I also want to thank my mother-in-law who was in town and provided allot of great help.

To get everyone in the full spirit, we featured a special bourbon tasting which consisted of 8 different Kentucky Bourbons.  In addition to the bottle of Willett Pot Still Reserve we contributed, other guests opted to bring a bottle as well.  In the end, we had the following Kentucky brands:  Willett, Jefferson’s Reserve, Bulleit, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and Evan Williams.  Judging by the bourbon levels in each bottle on Sunday morning, the clear favorites were the Willett Pot Still Reserve and Woodford Reserve.

In our party’s “winner takes all” betting pool on the Derby race, I will say that nobody picked the 50-1 shocker of Mine That Bird.  Of course, at the end of the day a great Derby Party is all about a gathering of great people and I want to thank everyone for coming out to Naperville to share in this wonderful tradition. 

 

 

 

Countdown to My Old Kentucky Derby Party at My Naperville Home

Being a Kentucky native, you might imagine how homesick I tend to get this time of year as we approach the rich tradition of the Kentucky Derby, or as Kentuckians refer to it… the first Saturday in May.

Though the actual Kentucky Derby, traditionally the fifth race of the day, lasts only a couple of minutes, Derby Day in Kentucky is the culmination of the month-long Kentucky Derby Festival.  Throughout the month of April, there are countless Kentucky Derby Festival events, including steamboat races, hot-air balloon races, concerts, parades, celebrity galas, formal balls, plenty of fireworks, lots of indulgent Southern food and much more.

Churchill Downs opens its traditional Spring meet the Friday before Derby Day, which is known as Oaks Day, which ends with the running of the Kentucky Oaks.

I am asked all the time how many Kentucky Derbys I’ve attended at Churchill Downs and, as any Kentuckian would understand, it’s only been one.  Let’s just say my job out of college put me at the epicenter of the VIP Kentucky Derby experience.  Nonetheless, most Kentuckians prefer to by-pass the crushing madness of Churchill Downs in exchange for a hosted Derby Party.  Kentucky Derby Parties are legendary and full of tradition. 

I’m excited to be launching a Kentucky Derby Party tradition this year at my Naperville Home.  Wish I could invite everyone, but space is limited at “My Old Naperville Home”.  But “weep not more” my friends as here is some insight into what I have planned for the big day.

First, my guests will begin arriving around post time for the first race of the day, around 12:00 EDT/1:00 CDT.  ESPN is covering breakfast at the Downs as well as all races leading up to the actual Kentucky Derby race. 

The menu will include plenty of Southern Bluegrass Tradition:  Country Ham I’ve shipped in from Keene’s Hams in Bardstown, Kentucky Derby Breakfast Yeast Biscuits, Garlic Cheese Grits, Fried Chicken, Kentucky Beer Cheese, Derby Pie and much more.

Our guests will certainly get in the spirit with a nearly 200 year-old recipe for Mint Juleps, which consists of a minted sugar syrup blended with fresh mint, crushed ice and straight Kentucky bourbon.  Additionally, we will also have a bourbon tasting line-up for 5-10 lesser-known Kentucky-based brands.  

Speaking of bourbon, did you know that 90% of all bourbon whiskey in the world is produced in Kentucky?  There are over 80 Kentucky-based bourbon brands who export their tradition all over the country and world… even Tennessee.  Bourbon is known as the official American Spirit and takes its name from Bourbon County in Kentucky where some of the earliest whiskey was placed into charred oak barrels for transport from which bourbon derives its color and distinctive flavor 

I grew up very close to bourbon country and even as a child I can remember riding past the  Jim Beam distillery on the way to my grandmothers house and smelling the familiar bourbon mash in the air.  Makers Mark  is located just outside of my mother’s hometown of Lebanon. 

If you are interested in the history and tradition of bourbon, you should consider making a trip to Kentucky to cruise the Kentucky Bourbon Trail where you can visit and tour eight distilleries.

As for me, it’s back to the last minute details as Saturday approaches.  SM

International Artists Headline Naperville’s Von Heidecke School of the Chicago Festival Ballet Benefit on Sunday, October 12th

In the coming weeks and months you will begin to hear allot more about an exciting project I am working on with Naperville’s own Kenneth von Heidecke.  What many people may not know is that in addition to building his Von Heidecke School of the Chicago Festival Ballet in Naperville, he has long been honored as an internationally renowned figure in the ballet world. 

The Von Heidecke School of Ballet is holding a  very special benefit this Sunday, October 12th at the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet from 3:00 – 5:00 PM.  You have the opportunity to witness up close an array of national and international professional opera, dance and musical talent, including:

Viktoria Vizin, Hungarian Mezzo-Soprano who sang Carmen at the Lyric Opera, Royal Opera and will be debuting at the Metropolitan Opera this season.

David Yonan, German Concert violinist about to embark upon a world tour playing Paganinni.

Christine Steyer, Recently awarded the Founders Award at the IX Altamura Caruso International Voice Competition and 1st place at the National Opera Association Competition.

Elise Paschen, Celebrated writer/poet and daughter of legendary Primar Ballerina, Maria Tallchief.

Valerie Maze, The Lyric Opera’s Pianist who has worked with numerous national and international operas.

Teanna Zarro & Matthew Frain, Performing the pas de deux from Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet as choreographed by Kenneth von Heidecke.

String Trio, Providing background and chamber music.

You won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to experience world class performances while at the same time supporting an important Naperville arts institution.  I will be there and I hope to you see you there too.

For more information, CLICK HERE SM

Gavin DeGraw Truly Rocks Naperville During 2008 Last Fling Concert

I’ve always been a fiercely independent person who has never had any problem going to a movie or concert by myself.  As a songwriter and composer, music has been my lifelong passion since I first taught myself to play the piano and guitar as a child.  Last night was no exception as I found myself heading over to Rotary Hill for the Gavin DeGraw concert at Last Fling. (photo from www.gavindegraw.com)  

Having heard some of Gavin DeGraw’s work over the past couple of years, I was very interested to see how his combination of rock, soul and funk translated on stage.  By the time the final chords of his hit song “Chariot” ended in his final finale last night, I sat in awe as a total fan contemplating the best Last Fling concert I had ever attended. 

Aside from his considerable talent, there was a wonderful youthful energy at the show which generated authentic excitement when taken in comparsion to the usual national nostalgia acts Last Fling is famous for.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed seeing legendary bands like .38 Special and Cheap Trick over the years, but the energy was much different on this evening.  Being among the thiry-something crowd, I often find myself caught in the middle enjoying both younger and older acts.  

Hailing from Fallsburg, NY, DeGraw took to the stage with a band which might geographically provide some hints as to the roots of his musical style.  With a keyboard player from New Orleans, a bass player from Arkansas and a lead guitarist from North Carolina, it was clear that DeGraw’s devotion is to a soulful brand of southern rock.  Yet, his music is very approachable for the masses. 

DeGraw has mastered the stage like a pro as was evidenced by his considerable and regular connection with the audience, which included a mediated proposal from one of the young audience members who tossed a note onto the stage asking a girl out to homecoming.  He also told a story from earlier in the afternoon in which the concert promoter mistook him for the opening act, Absentstar, shortly after exiting his tour bus after arriving at Rotary Hill.  A good story, but it left me wondering if this was a regular template “story” he might use to thank the opening act each evening.  Nonetheless, his stage presence definitely comes across as humble and genuine. 

DeGraw opened the concert on electric guitar, but quickly settled into a shimmering sparkling silver miniature baby grand style piano.  Despite his talent as a multi-instrumentalist, perhaps his greatest instrument is his unique soulful and gritty voice.  In a nutshell, in a live setting he certainly knows how to work out a song and seems to enjoy unleashing each and every note.

I want to pay special compliments to his sound and lighting engineer.  The opening act’s sound, engineered by the general house sound guy, was absolutely horrible.  Tragically, most opening acts suffer from not receiving “the treatment” from the sound folks.  Of course, DeGraw, had his own sound and lightning engineers who took the show very seriously.  I watched them working their magic from where I was sitting, just a few yards to the side of the front of the house sound pit.  Both lighting and sound spent the entire show bobbing their heads and working thier boards like an instrument in their own right.  The end product shined radiantly from the stage.  The crew is always the unsung heroes of a good show and I wanted to be sure they got their credit. 

The crowd delivered an enthusiastic wave of energy to DeGraw and company throughout the entire set and the sight of glowing cell phone screens shimmered within a large radius surrounding the stage.  While my folding chair was just behind the standing room only section, I would have moved down closer to the stage if I had the show to do over again.  Everyone stood throughout the entire show, which was great as I’ve received complaints in the past from fans who streamed into Naperville for one of the festival concerts and were irritated by the apathetic folks sitting in front of them.  Fortunately, this was a true fan’s show and I hope the Last Fling organizers continue to bring fresh acts like this in the future.

To Gavin DeGraw, thanks for a great show and hopefully we’ll see you again soon!  SM    

Naperville’s ThinkingGlobal Arts Foundation to Present ‘Celebration of Peace 2008′ on September 15 – October 29th

Martin Luther King III, Robert Thurman and a Special Film Festival Among the Highlights

Naperville is truly blessed to count among its residents a number of inpiring organizations seeking to promote and celebrate cultural understanding and appreciation within our community.  The ThinkingGlobal Arts Foundation is a shining example.  Among their many beliefs is that every good thing starts with a dream.

For the second year in a row, the ThinkingGlobal Arts Foundation will bring their dream of promoting peace and understanding within our community through their Celebration of Peace 2008.  The goal of the Celebration is to educate and inspire residents to embrace Peace in their daily lives through personal reflection, service, reconciliation and environmental awareness.

I believe the ultimate measure of any community is the investment of involvement by it’s people.  In the end, it’s not what we get in life… it’s what we are able to give which matters the most.  Communities are made rich not by the level of material success, but by the wealth of culture and diversity which affords us the opportunity to achieve a greater level of enlightened peace and understanding within our own lives.  Money is not what makes the world turn round, rather it is the love and appreciation we have for ourselves and others that matters most.  After all, when we delve beneath the surface of our cultural differences  we discover the commonality we all share as human beings… leaving “culture” not as something foreign but as yet another rich expression of the human experience.   

To learn more, visit ThinkingGlobal Arts Foundation or take a look at the Schedule of Events for the Celebration of Peace 2008.  SM

Tornados Lightning Rain and Wind Create One Stormy Night in Naperville and Chicago Area – Emergency Broadcast System and WMAQ NBC Channel 5 Fails Viewers

August 4, 2008 – It’s been one stormy night in Naperville with numerous tornado warnings, high winds, sheets of blowing rain and plenty of strobe-like lightning.  I’m already hearing chainsaws in the neighborhood likely tending to downed tree limbs. 

It started with obscure warnings breaking through on cable television from the emergency broadcast system which was illegible at best.  We then turned the channel to WMAQ NBC Channel 5 and just as the specifics of the tornado warnings were flashing across the screen, the show went to a commercial break and the sevre weather news disappeared to make way for a Coca-Cola commercial.  Not a very responsible act to viewers in the middle of what we experienced this evening.  It’s disconcerting to see the almighty ad dollar can trump the wrath of deadly storms and tornados ripping through the area.  Thank you Coca-Cola and NBC Channel 5.  Needless to say, as the house shook, we did not hesitate in getting the boys out of bed and down to the basement.    

I captured the picture above from from my front porch after the system moved eastward with lingering lightning filling the skies.

Naperville Ribfest – A photo essay

We just got back from the 2008 installment of Ribfest and to those still considering a trip to Naperville for the annual barbeque and music extravaganza, here’s a quick photo essay to give you feel for this epic summer festival.

In the coming days, I’ll be writing more about my assessment of this year’s offerings as well as my personal favorites.  Ribfest runs through this Sunday, July 6th.

To the right is a collage of a few of the ribbers from all over the country who are waging their 2008 campaign for Ribfest Champion.

 

  The ribbers from Pigfoot Barbeque engage in their labor of love over the hot wood and charcoal grills to bring to life their own unique combination of flavors.

 

 

 

Though the national musical acts take the stage at night, there is life music on the main stage and second stage throughout the day from local and regional acts.  The size and setup of the Ribfest main stage gives you an idea of the number of attendees who make their way through the gates at Ribfest.

 

To the ribbers, making money is not the only business at hand.  The true passion of these smoke-filled souls to win the trophies in being selected as best ribs and best sauce.  Teams at Ribfest come from as far away as Australia. 

Ribfest is full of repeat Ribfest ribbers which enables you to zero in on your favorites year after year.  It’s like a giant restaurant that opens for only four days each year.  As for my own taste, I’ve identified my consistent favorite and will be writing more about them in the coming days.

 

 

 At the end of the day, this is the biggest reason Ribfest is such a big hit.  We have created an annual family tradition which lives year after year.  Though the boys are more interested in corn dogs and chicken fingers right now, we are slowly cultivating their taste for the main event.  It seems like yesterday we were pushing them around Ribfest in strollers.  These days are fleeting and we must cherish each and every day taking nothing for granted in this lifetime.  Perhaps the true mission of Ribfest is to bring families and friends together for a little sensory overload and enjoyment.  May the tradition live for many years to come.  SM

See you at the Naperville Exchange Club’s Ribfest – Plus Chicago Examiner posting

Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy 4th of July holiday.  It may come as no surprise that as I write my family is assembling for our annual pilgrimage to the Naperville Exchange Club’s Ribfest.  I wrote a posting a couple of days ago for the Chicago Examiner to provide the inside perspective into Ribfest as well as my Top 10 Tips for Surviving Ribfest.

You can access the posting on my Naperville Examiner Page.

See you at Ribfest!

“Portraits of Downtown” Naperville Photography Exhibit Now Open Through July 28th at Art and Frame Naperville

I’m pleased to announce that “Portraits of Downtown” is now open through July 28th at Art and Frame Naperville.  I want to thank those who braved the ominous weather and a busy summer weekend evening to drop by the opening yesterday. 

I also want to personally thanks Agatha Blaszkowska, owner of Art and Frame Napeville, for her support, encouragement and efforts in assembling this special exhibit which is truly a timeless celebration of Downtown Naperville.  I met Agatha and discovered Art and Frame Naperville while shopping around for the best framing solution for the Naperville Corporate Center photography installation.  After looking all over town, I went with Art and Frame for the strong customer-focus, quality of work and excellent pricing.  I’ve been extremely impressed with their work and would not hesitate in recommending Art and Frame Naperville whether you are looking for local artwork or a wide spectrum of framing and preservation options.  It’s clear to see how Agatha has built a loyal customer base.  Many have asked me about the exhibit, why I’m doing it and whether or not I’m a professional photographer by trade.  The answer is the exhibit has provided me a way to combine my artistic passions with my passion for Naperville to create a celebration of our community.  These photos represent the Downtown Naperville I see through my own eyes.  Engaging in opportunities like these enables me to advance my own life mission in humbly sharing my art, in its various forms, with the world.  Through art, I’ve always been able to make greater sense of the world around me and to share these perspectives with others is my personal measure of success.While the prints are available for purchase, my greatest hope is that you will drop in to take a look whether you intend to acquire anything or not.  I know Agatha would love to have the opportunity to meet you. 

If you head over to Art and Frame Naperville, it can be a little confusing to find.  Take Mill Street from either direction to Fifth Avenue, then turn West on Fifth Avenue behind Naperville North High School and drive down the long row of strip mall shops until you see the Art and Frame sign at the entrance.

Much like my love of artistic expression, my motivation for the World of Naperville, my role as the Naperville Examiner and my overall online/offline activism, my goal is to simply express my passion for our community to the rest of the world.  We live in a busy stress-filled world and I believe strongly in the lost art of “community” in all of its beauty and simplicity.  If you have a long-running passion for Naperville or merely a fleeting interest, you will always find a friend in me and the World of Naperville. 

“Portraits of Downtown” is open now through July 28th at Art and Frame Naperville (702 West Fifth Avenue, behind Naperville North High School) M-F 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM and Saturday from 9:30 – 4:00.  SM

 

    

An Open Message to the Gin Blossoms After Lackluster Performance at 2008 Naper Days Festival

Dear Gin Blossoms,

I became a fan of your music back in the early 90s during my college days at the University of Kentucky.  In the mid-90s I had the good fortune to sit in the front row at one of your concerts with the Goo Goo Dolls in a large venue.  The show was great, the performance was full of energy and the musicianship was solid.  Given your trademark sound, melody, harmony and hooks there has always been a wonderful consistency to your music.

So you might imagine how excited I was to hear a couple of months ago about your scheduled performance at our very own Naper Days Festival here in our community of Naperville, IL.  With company in from out-of-town, we spent the whole day in Downtown Naperville yesterday building up to the anticipation of your show on the grounds of Naper Settlement.  In a way, I hope that you might have paused for moment as you stood on stage facing the Mitchell Mansion and the grounds of Naper Settlement, which I was told you had ventured around prior to the show, to realize that history doesn’t have to be something that is lost in the past. 

Here in Naperville, we take great pride in our town, our history, our passion as we look toward the future.  I only wish you could have taken a little more pride in your performance at Naper Days.  As I stood there listening to your catalog of familiar tunes as well as some excellent new songs, I was in disbelief over the flat notes, missed notes, sloppy musicianship, massacred harmonies and general stage apathy.  The expression “going through the motions” would have been a compliment.  I thought to myself throughout the evening that you can pay the band to play, but you can’t pay them to care. 

The complete and utter lack of motivation was echoed toward the end when Robin Wilson informed the audience that “If you see a ferris wheel this summer, there is a good chance there might be a Gin Blossoms concert nearby”.  

Granted, I know that you’ve played larger venues in front of larger crowds… there were days when your music received greater airplay and you enjoyed more widespread popularity.  But rather than lament the past, why not take pride in the present and be thankful for the fact you still have an audience, great music to your credit and an opportunity to take the stage to perform and make a good living doing what you love.  Be proud of your music, your history, your present and your future.  Even more, don’t take a single day for granted. 

To the organizers of Naper Days, thank you for another great festival and thank you even more for bringing bands like the Gin Blossoms to the stage.  Please don’t take this posting as any form of discouragement toward future bookings.  You are on the right track coming into line with Ribfest and Last Fling entertainment which we Napervillians cherish.  In the end, you can pay the band to play and hopefully future acts will better appreciate the opportunity.  SM