GSLA’s February 20, 2014 Neighbor’s Night Out: Jazz at PianoForte

Greater South Loop Association’s Neighbor’s Night Out, February 20, 2014, will feature a jazz piano performance by Reginald Robinson. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 7 p.m. Reception includes wine and appetizers (contributed by Kroll’s South Loop). PianoForte is located at 1335 S. Michigan Ave. Tickers for this event at $10 per person and can be purchased online at the PianoForte Web Site.

About Reginald Robinson
20 years after Reginald Robinson’s emergence as a young, self-taught, against the grain pianist and composer, he has become an internationally recognized pianist, recording artist and educator.

His love for music started in 1984 with his brother Marlando playing Big band jazz records at home and then on to ragtime two years later in 7th grade when a city funded arts program (Urban Gateways) gave an assembly with a small jazz ensemble. The assembly was led by jazz trumpeter Orbert Davis and included in the band other jazz luminaries like Ari Brown. In the middle of the show the group played a sample of Scott Joplin’s “The Entertainer” and after hearing it Reginald decided this was the kind of music he wanted to play. Later that year his parents purchased a small electronic keyboard and the following year a real piano. With his parents not being able to afford him a music education, he began to teach himself how to read and write music. This involved self-quizzing from music education books, creating his own piano exercises and studying published music scores and recordings.

In November of 2011 Reginald was featured in a theatrical production called Keep a Song in Your Soul.

Click here to enlarge and/or print flyer for posting.

About PianoForte Foundation
PianoForte Foundation is dedicated to preserving and promoting the art of the piano in Chicago and creating a vibrant piano community that closely connects audiences and artists.  We bring excitement and appreciation for piano music to a diverse audience through high-quality concerts, festivals, competitions, education, outreach, and public broadcasts.

About the GSLA
The GSLA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit community association focused on the overarching mission to maintain and improve the South Loop as a vibrant and diverse, inclusive community. Social events generally located at area businesses to create an opportunity for residents to visit a new business and meet new South Loop neighbors. For more information, visit the GSLA Web site.

#FF Follow Friday

Jazz Night at Donna’s Café featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St. Follow @donnascafe on Twitter.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave. Follow @waffleschicago on Twitter.

Mixing the batter at Waffles

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave. Follow @weathermarktav on Twitter.

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan Friday selling some great cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop. Be sure to contact GiGi for your holiday sweet treats. Besides cupcakes, GiGi makes tarts, cakes, puddings, and cheesecakes. For special orders, contact GiGi at 312-613-0956 or at her Web site.

The McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park opens this Friday at noon. Skating is free if you have your own skates, skate rentals are $10. The rink is open Monday – Thursday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Located on Michigan Ave. between Washington and Monroe Streets, the rink will be open for the winter season until March 11, 2012.

#FF Follow Friday in the South Loop

Jazz, featuring the Randy Ford Trio at Donna’s Café every Friday 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. BYOB with a $5 minimum purchase. Donna’s Café is located at 1255E S. State St.

Fish Fry at Weather Mark

Friday Night Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern. All-you-can-eat fish fry for $9.95. Fish fry includes Cruzan rum battered fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave.

Dinner at Waffles. Waffles is open till 8 p.m. on Friday nights. Dinner specials will be served along with the rest of their regular breakfast and lunch menu. Waffles is located at 1400 S. Michigan Ave.

Second Annual South Loop Art Walk, Friday, October 28, 2011, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.. Check out eight participating art galleries in the South Loop, plus several neighborhood businesses offering special discounts. Click here for details.

GiGi at 13th and S. Michigan

GiGi’s Bake Shop food truck should be at 13th and S. Michigan tomorrow selling some great Halloween-themed cupcakes. Follow the “purple bus” @gigisbakeshop.

Three Peas Art lounge offers a comfortable and unique environment to view art, meet friends, and enjoy some great liquid refreshment. Three Peas Art Lounge is located at 75 E. 16th St. They are open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays.

This Weekend In The South Loop

Trader Joe’s Grand Opening!
Ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Trader Joe’s is at 7:45 a.m. Friday, September 9. Probably the most anticipated business opening in the South Loop will finally be a reality. Second Ward Alderman, Bob Fioretti will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting, along with other South Loop community leaders.


Karaoke and Jazz

This Thursday Donna’s Café will have karaoke at 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. On Friday, Donna’s continues with jazz at 6 p.m – 9 p.m.

Family Fun
The annual Festival on Prairie Ave. is this Saturday from noon – 6 p.m. The family-friendly event is on Prairie and 18th St. There is a $5 donation.

Friday Fish Fry
It’s all-you-can-eat Friday Fish Fry at Weather Mark Tavern this Friday and every Friday. For $9.95 you get fish, fries, and red cabbage coleslaw. And don’t forget the homemade tartar sauce!

Art Opening
The Prairie Avenue Gallery is showing a new exhibit of mixed-media art this Friday from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served.

#FF Follow Friday

Randy Ford at Donna’s Cafe

Jazz at Donna’s
Donna’s Café at 1255 S. State St. presents “Jazz Time Friday,” July 29, 2011. From 6 – 9 p.m. Come down and enjoy the “cool sound of hot jazz” with the Randy Ford Trio. Bassist, Randy Ford has played bass and performed backup for many famous soloists and musical acts, including Denise Williams, Mel Torme, Della Reese, Redd Holt Unlimited, just to name a few. “Jazz generates a mood better than any other music and is a perfect backdrop to anything you want to do,” according to Donna Adams, co-owner of the Donna’s Café. For more information, call 312-461-1005.

Friday Fish Fry
Weather Mark Tavern’s Fish Fry Friday―$9.95 for all the fried fish, French fries, and red cabbage coleslaw you can eat. Weather Mark Tavern is located at 1503 S. Michigan Ave.

Summer Loving Begins Today!
Grease Sing-Along comes to the Music Box Theatre. The 1978 musical will “have lyrics scrolling across the bottom, in case you’ve forgotten any.” The showing includes a costume contest. So get those tight pants, poodle skits, and hair goo ready! July 29-30, 8 p.m.; July 31, 6 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door. The Music Box Theatre is located at 3733 N. Southport Ave. For more information, call 773 871-6604 or visit their Web site.

Fifth Friday Bash Five Fridays in on month is a rare occurrence, so Oak Street Beach Food & Drink, 1001 Lake Shore Drive, will be celebrating the Fifth Friday Bash on July 29, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The next fifth Friday won’t happened again until 2015. For more information, call 312-988-4650 or visit their Web site.