Here Comes the 2013 Bash on Wabash

Celebrating its 10th year, the Greater South Loop Association will be presenting its annual Bash on Wabash street festival on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25; 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. The Bash on Wabash is located between 14th St. and 14th Pl.

For all ages
This year’s Bash features attractions for all ages, including a wide variety of musical acts, activities, food trucks, a kids stage as well as the participation of over 30 vendors. Admission is a $5 suggested donation. There is a $2 fee for the kids stage. A portion of the Bash proceeds will be donated to the South Loop Community Church Food Pantry.

Games and attractions
Games and attractions include free sumo wrestling, mechanical bull riding, psychic and tarot card readings, a dunk tank, animal costume contest, and aerobic, strength, yoga and dance classes. The kids stage is open 12:00 p.m. – 7 p.m. and includes face painting, hula hoop lessons, drum circle, bounce house, live music, balloon artist, arts & crafts, circus lessons and more!

New faces, new energy
This Years’s Bash On Wabash committee has plenty of new faces including T.J. Sagen, chairman of the event. Sagen has extensive experience in music management. He currently represents the Grammy-nominated rock band Disturbed, an act that has sold over 14 million albums worldwide. Other artists he represents include, Sevendust, Art Of Dying, W.E.R.M., The Lifeline, The Scissors and singer/songwriter Jess Godwin. He has also been a part of some of the world’s largest music festivals, including Europe’s Rock AM Ring and Download Festival.

Sagen has assembled a group of volunteers with experience in event and project management, writers, financial professionals, and musicians to ensure that this year’s event is a success.

All concerts sponsored by Reggies Chicago and Budweiser.

For more information, including the entertainment schedule, Bash on Wabash Web site.

Half-Way To The Bash: Battle Of The Bands at Reggies

The Bash on Wabash planning committee will be holding a “Battle of the Bands” competition February 28, 2013, at Reggies Chicago, 2105 S. State St. at 6 p.m. Cover charge at the door is $10. This musical event is suitable for all ages.

The Half-Way to the Bash event, marks that we’re half-way to the Bash, which will be celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary this summer. Bands featured included, Tracer Bullet, Ockhams Razor, J Harmony, Gina Venier, and Ivy Dye.

Schedule

Doors Open: 6:00 pm

First Band: 6:30 pm

Second Band: 7:15 pm

Third Band :8:00 pm

Fourth Band: 8:45 pm

Fifth band: 9:30 pm

Winners Announced: 10:00 pm

Guest judges to be announced. Bands will receive 1 extra point towards scoring with every 10 people that they bring. The top two bands will be awarded an opening slot at the Bash on Wabash

For information on the Bash, visit the Bash Web site, like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter. The Bash on Wabash is the Greater South Loop Association’s (GSLA) annual street festival that showcases and celebrates the Greater South Loop neighborhood.

Food Trucks at the 2012 Bash on Wabash!

Food truck roundup at the Bash
Have you had a tamale on Taylor Street? A cupcake on Clinton? A sandwich on State? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you’ve probably enjoyed a meal or a tasty treat from one of Chicago’s food trucks. The recent rise of food trucks in the city is one of the things that makes living in Chicago fun and exciting. Food choices range from simple to gourmet, comfort to healthy. In other words, there’s something for everyone.

Wagyu on Wabash
At this year’s Bash, you’ll be able to enjoy food and treats from some of the best food trucks around. You can feast on pancakes from Babycakes, “samiches” from SamichBox, and delicious frozen treats from Starfruit. And that’s just Saturday’s lineup! On Sunday there’s homemade cupcakes from GiGi’s Bakeshop, Wagyu Beef and other tasty meats from Wagyu Wagon, and awesome tamales from Tamale Spaceship!

GiGi’s Bake Shop at the 2011 Bash

Food Truck Schedule and Twitter Handles—Tweet them and say you’re coming to the #Bash12!

Saturday August 25, 2012
Babycakes-@BabyCakesTruck
SamichBox-@SamichBox
Starfruit-@StarfruitCafe

Sunday August 26, 2012
GiGi’s Bakeshop-@GigisBakeShop
Wagyu Wagon-@TheWagyuWagon
Tamale Spaceship-@tamalespace101
The Bash on Wabash is the South Loop’s annual street festival that benefits the Greater South Loop Association. For more information, please visit the GSLA website. For up-to-the-minute Bash info, visit their Facebook page.

2012 “Bash on Wabash” Coming August 25-26

The South Loop’s Summer Street Fest
The Bash on Wabash is a lively experience celebrating the cultural diversity of Chicago’s fastest growing neighborhood. The excitement happens on South Wabash Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets. The Bash on Wabash is Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26 from noon to 10 p.m. both days.

Roasted corn, inflatables, a mechanical bull!
Benefiting the Greater South Loop Association, the Bash mirrors the South Loop’s vibrancy, offering something for everyone, all on hand for you to see and experience firsthand. Fresh roasted corn and beer and wine is available to highlight the end of the summer season. A fun kids’ area with inflatables and Corn Bags Tournament is featured throughout the weekend, as well as a 5K run on Sunday. Grown-up fun includes a mechanical bull—“ride ‘em cowboy”—and sumo wrestling. To top it off, revelers enjoy a variety of live music, including some of Chicago’s hot local acts from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Something for everyone

A scene from the 2011 Bash

“The Bash is a great family and neighborhood event,” according to GSLA President Gail Rutkowski. Rutkowski is the founder of the Bash. “It started out as a group of neighbors getting together in the early days of the South Loop’s development. Now that the neighborhood has grown, it’s part of Chicago’s family of summer festivals.” South Loop resident and frequent Bash attendee Pam Wynn says, “As our family has grown, so has the Bash. We look forward to attending each year and enjoying all the festivities with our neighborhood friends. With food, music, kids’ activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.”

Saturday Headliner Jessica Lea Mayfield

Music Matters at the Bash
Music is an important part of the Bash and the artistic talent assembled this year is especially good. “The line-up is filled top to bottom with the most exceptional talent I have seen in a long time,” so says T.J. Sagen, current band and personal manager at Jeff Battaglia Management in Chicago. “Each artist has a uniqueness which makes the musical aspect of this year’s festival extremely exciting.” Sagen is also a board member of the GSLA, as well as manager of Grammy-nominated hard-rock band Disturbed and singer/songwriter Jess Godwin.

Godwin is performing at this year’s Bash on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Sagen says, this about Godwin: “Her image is powerful, her lyrics beautiful, and her voice can quiet a room.” When asked about performing at street festivals in Chicago, Godwin said, “Attending street festivals is one of my favorite things to do in Chicago. I’m so honored and excited to be amongst so many other talented artists who get to perform at the Bash on Wabash!”

Sunday Headliner JD McPherson

Saturday headliner Jessica Lea Mayfield is sure to wow the crowd. “Those who have not had the opportunity to see Mayfield are in for a real treat,” according to Sagen. On JD McPherson, Sunday’s headliner, Sagen ends on this note: “People young and old will love McPherson’s soulful, old school, rhythm and blues, rock and roll style. This is one artist I strongly recommend to everyone. I can’t think of a better musician to cap off the Bash on Wabash.”

Overflow Coffee Bar to sell Ten Thousand Villages fair trade products

Overflow Coffee Bar is now a retailer of products from Ten Thousand Villages. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer of artisan-crafted gifts, home decor, jewelry, personal accessories, textiles, art and sculpture from across the globe. Featuring products from more than 130 artisan groups in some 38 countries. Overflow is part of a network of more than 390 retail outlets throughout the United States selling Ten Thousand Villages products. For more than 60 years, Ten Thousand Villages has been establishing long-term buying relationships in places where skilled artisans lack opportunities for stable income. All artisans are fairly paid for their products.

For more information about Ten Thousand Villages at Overflow, please contact Ryan at ryan@overflowcoffeebar.org. Ten Thousand Villages products will be available on Saturdays from 8:00am to 6:00 p. m. As sales increase, Overflow will add new hours.

During the month of August, Overflow is donating 5% of all gross sales from these new products to the Greater South Loop Association to help make the Bash on Wabash a success. Overflow will have Ten Thousand Villages products available for sale at the 2012 Bash on Wabash, August 25 and 26.

Overflow Coffee Bar is located at 1550 S. State St. You can find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

GSLA’s “Neighbor’s Night Out” this Thursday at Weather Mark Tavern

The Greater South Loop Association’s next “Neighbor’s Night Out” event will be held July 26, 2012 at Weather Mark Tavern, 1503 S. Michigan Ave. at 6:30 p.m.

A $10 donation will get you two drink tickets good for any beer, wine, or well drink on the menu. This includes all available craft beers. An appetizer buffet will also be included, as well as gift certificate give-aways from local South Loop businesses. If you have a dog or cat, you’ll want the $300 gift certificate for a professional dental cleaning from Metropolitan Veterinary Center. Gift certificates from Glessner House Museum, Organizing With You, Urban Re-Mix,and, Well Future Pharmacy (our newest neighbor at 1442 S. Michigan Ave.) will also be given away at this event.

After the NNO event, the GSLA encourages you to stay, grab your friends, and play team trivia at Weather Mark, starting at 7:30 p.m.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the 2012 Bash on Wabash (August 25-26), they’ll be opportunity to do so on Thursday at Weather Mark.

The GSLA is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization. It is comprised of an alliance of South Loop residents and businesses. The overarching mission of the GSLA is to maintain and improve the South Loop as a vibrant and diverse, inclusive community.

Board Holds Annual Election

Following is a release from the Greater South Loop Association on their annual elections.

The board of directors of the Greater South Loop Association received nominating petitions for the board of directors and held an election on Saturday, October 9, 2010 at Britten located at 1420 S. Michigan Ave.

Deb Soehlig will continue to serve her second year of her term and has served on the board for a total of 5 years to date. Priorities for this year will include our "Shop the South Loop" initiative, hosting candidate forums for the upcoming aldermanic elections and, as always, "bringing neighbors together."

• Effective October 9th, Gail Rutkowski continues as vice president, Eric Westberg, secretary, and Bob Wilson, treasurer
• Other directors on the board are Dennis Beninato, Jeanette Johnson, Jeff Key, Joe Leamanczyk, Mark Stern, and Norma Jordan.
• Bill Van Emburg is newly elected to the board and will focus on safety and community policing efforts. Bill manages the "Prairie District Neighborhood Watch" and looks to offer his leadership to other areas of the South Loop that are looking to establish similar programs.
• Special thanks to Gail Moody who has served as the Bash on Wabash Volunteer chair for the past two years. We wish her continued success in her new job at Private Bank!
• We invite all community members to attend community events, neighborhood and association meetings, and by supporting our local businesses.

For more information, please contact Jeanette Johnson at 312-296-7563 or info@greatersouthloop.org.

www.greatersouthloop.org

Bash on Wabash Volunteers Party

Thank You Bash Volunteers

The Greater South Loop Association would like all volunteers to join them for an evening of food and wine as a special thank you for the role they played in this year's Bash on Wabash. The GSLA could not have pulled off such a large event without the help of volunteers.

This "thank you" event will be held at South Loop Wine Cellar at 1442 S. Michigan Ave. on Thursday October 7, 2010 from 6-9 p.m. Food will be provided by Weather Mark Tavern. The South Loop Wine Cellar will be providing the wine.

RSPV, Please
To RSVP for this event, please click here. When you RSVP, you'll also be able to take a survey about the 2010 Bash. The GSLA would really appreciate your feedback.

Sunday at the 2010 Bash on Wabash: See You Next Year!

The 2010 Bash on Wabash, the South Loop's premier outdoor event, ended Sunday at 10 p.m. It was a full day packed with food, music, games, and vendors selling jewelry and apparel. There were also several nonprofits promoting their organizations. Check out the photos and videos below to experience some of the fun.

Dobrila Pintar (right) from Eleven Eleven Jewelry sells her custom-made jewelry.

Amanda Neely (on right in brown tee) talks with some visitors about Overflow Coffee Bar.

Folks came out to listen to Sunday-night-headliner Cracker, whose latest album Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey is available at most retail outlets. I followed the crowd and listened to the finale. Check out the video below for a listen.

Crowds gather at the south music stage while the sun is still shining

Crowds wait for the headlining music act Cracker

After Cracker played their last song, the crowd slowly dispersed. At 10 p.m., the 2010 Bash was officially over. Check out the video below to see how it all ended.



Now that the Bash is over, it starts all over again. See you at the Bash on Wabash in 2011.

You're Invited to the Bash on Wabash

Still Time to Volunteer

Want to join all these happy, smiling people? Check out this link to the Greater South Loop Association (GSLA) Web site for information on how you can help out with this year's Bash on Wabash. With less than ten days to go, volunteers are still needed to distribute posters.



The Bash on Wabash is the South Loop's premier outdoor event; this year promises to be the biggest and best Bash yet. The GSLA is a not-for-profit neighborhood organization. According to the GSLA's own Web site, "The overarching mission of GSLA is to maintain and improve the South Loop as a vibrant and diverse, inclusive community. One of the ways GSLA achieves this mission is through it’s promotion of the Bash on Wabash 2010."

Bash Poster Volunteers Wanted

The Greater South Loop Association (GSLA) is looking for volunteers to post and distribute posters to promote the annual Bash on Wabash. Those interested should drop the GSLA an e-mail at info@greatersouthloop.org and they will arrange a time and place to meet you with posters. The 2010 Bash will take place over the Labor Day weekend, September 4-5.

GSLA is looking for volunteers to post and distribute Bash on Wabash posters.

A food vendor serves up some eats at the 2009 Bash on Wabash

Bash on Wabash Volunteer Kickoff

The Greater South Loop Association (GSLA) August social event was held at the Whole Foods Market, 1101 S. Canal St. The event also  marked the volunteer kickoff for the annual Bash on Wabash. The Bash on Wabash is the South Loop's premier summer festival.

Food and wine was provided by new GSLA business members Whole Foods and Showcase Icon Lobby Lounge. Twenty-five dollar gift cards to Showcase Icon Lobby Lounge were distributed to those in attendance.

South Loop neighbors mingle

Volunteers were encouraged to pick up posters and postcards to promote the Bash. At this year's Bash, there will be two music stages featuring popular bands like Sixteen Candles and Sunday headliner, Cracker.

Volunteer for the Bash on Wabash

Click on poster to enlarge.

This year's Bash on Wabash ( September 4-5), the South Loop's premier neighborhood festival, promises to be better than ever. Want to volunteer? If interested, visit the Bash Web site and fill out the volunteer form. Fax completed form to 312-987-9009. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Moody (gailm1031@yahoo.com) or Gail Rutkowski (gail.Rutkowski@att.net).

The 2010 Bash is featuring two music stages. On Saturday night, 80s cover band 16 Candles will headline. On Sunday night, Cracker will be at the top of the bill.

More pics from the Bash

These sausages (beef, lamb, and pork) on pita with fire roasted peppers and artichokes were a big hit.

The Bash on Wabash: Sweet Corn Chicago. Roasted corn was a welcome addition to this year's Bash.

Volunteers Karl Urban (left) and Jeff Key (founder of the Bash) sample the food.

Bash volunteer and South Loop resident, Gwen Carrion samples the roasted corn.

Scenes from the Bash on Wabash

There was plenty of good food and music Saturday at the Bash on Wabash. The Bash continues on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. and ending at 10 p.m. Be sure to stop by and mix it up with your friends and neighbors.

This year there are more activities for children and families. Also new at this year's Bash, a corn bag tournament. And where else could you play bags in the shadow of the L? How Chicago is that?

10 things to do in Chicagoland this weekend

The summer isn't officially over in Chicago and there's still plenty to see and do. Concerts, festivals, movies, and more. And don't forget the Bash on Wabash this Saturday and Sunday right in our own neighborhood. They'll be plenty of music, food, and drink, as well as activities for children.

Check out some of this weekends highlights here. You'll also find some great places to eat here.

Bash on Wabash this weekend

The Greater South Loop Associaton (GSLA) is hosting the sixth annual Bash on Wabash September 5-6 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Wabash Ave. between 13th St. and 14th Pl.

Sweet corn Chicago

The Bash on Wabash is a celebration of the "vibrancy" of the South Loop. The Bash will feature local artists, area restaurants, and live entertainment, offering a variety of musical styles. A kid's area and corn bags tournament will be held throughout the weekend. New this year is fire roasted corn on the cob, highlighting the end of the summer season. The fire roasted corn has been incorporated into the new logo and tagline: Bash on Wabash: Sweet Corn Chicago.

Volunteers wanted

If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Gail Moody, volunteer coordinator at gailm1031@yahoo.com. For more information about the Bash or the GSLA, click here to visit their website.

Meet Jeff Key

This is one in a series of articles focusing on small businesses and entrepreneurs in the South Loop.

"I remember ten years ago when there were no banks, restaurants, or dry cleaners."

So says Jeffrey (Jeff) A. Key, an early "urban pioneer" in the South Loop. Like many people who moved here in the late 1990s, Key realized that the South Loop had the potential to be a truly vibrant neighborhood. With its proximity to public transportation, major highways, cultural points of interest, the South Loop is living up to the potential Key saw a decade ago.


A native of Cleveland, OH, Key graduated from Cleveland-Marshall law school and was managing editor of the Law Review there.  In Chicago, Key started a business as a discovery consultant and represents one of the largest sporting goods companies in the world. 

The first thing Key did when he settled in the South Loop was get involved with the local community. This involvement developed into his helping establish the Greater South Loop Community Association (GSLA), and serving as board president. He's no longer the GSLA president, but has been a board member since his presidency ended in 2004. Key's founding of the Bash on Wabash, the South Loop's annual festival, may be his most enduring legacy to the neighborhood. This year's Bash is September 5-6.


One of Key's passions is education in the area of business entrepreneurship. In his career, Key has come in contact with many successful and not so successful entrepreneurs. He observed and chronicled what made some people succeed and some fail. This interest led Key to join the  Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative Foundation (ELIF) as its Deputy Director. The ELIF has developed curriculum that can be used in high schools across the country. Instead of using text books, students hear from real entrepreneurs in person and via the web.


It's hard to believe that when Key moved to the South Loop there were no dry cleaners. Today it seems we have one on almost every corner. Key believes that for the South Loop to continue to thrive, people have to "remain open to change." He noted, that without willingness to change, the South Loop, and the city in general, could end up like Cleveland or Detroit. Both cities have enormous potential, but have been "riding the down escalator for decades."

Entertainment lineup set for Bash on Wabash

Live acts to perform

Over ten live acts are set to perform at this year's Bash on Wabash, September 5 and 6. The Bash will be held on Wabash between 13th St. and 14th Pl. Among the live acts to perform are Sixteen Candles, Bright Like Japan, Hairbanger's Ball, and The School of Rock. For the complete lineup, check out the Greater South Loop Association (GSLA) web site.

Volunteers still needed

If you have a few hours to spare on September 5 and/or 6, please think about volunteering. This will be my third year volunteering and it's really a great way to meet your neighbors and have fun in the process. For more information, please contact Gail Moody at gailm1031@yahoo.com.

For a video preview of Bright Light Japan, click here.