“Good Fortune” Screening at Overflow Coffee Bar March 22, 2012

Good Fortune is an award-winning documentary

Overflow Coffee Bar, 1550 S. State St., will be screening the acclaimed documentary Good Fortune on Thursday, March 22, 2012 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (CT).

Good Fortune explores how massive, international efforts to alleviate poverty in Africa may be undermining the very communities they aim to benefit. Through intimate portraits of two Kenyans battling to save their homes from large-scale development organizations, the film presents a unique opportunity to experience foreign aid through the eyes of the people it is intended to benefit.

On the outskirts of Nairobi, Silva’s home and business in Africa’s largest squatter community are being demolished as part of a United Nations slum-upgrading project. In the rural countryside, Jackson’s farm is being flooded by an American investor who hopes to alleviate poverty by creating a multi-million dollar rice farm.

Interweaving meditative portraits of its characters, Good Fortune examines the real-world impact of international aid. With a broad scope and intimate style, the film portrays gripping stories of human perseverance and suggests that the answers for Africa lie in the resilience of its people.

7:00 - Pre-screening Networking. Bring business cards and get to know the other people who’ll be watching the film.
7:30 - Welcome and Introduction.
7:40 - Film begins.
8:53 - Film concludes. Bathroom and coffee break.
9:05 - Discussion.

While Overflow encourages the use of public transit (Red Line, #29, #62 and other buses are close), limited parking is available in the rear of the building on a first come first served basis. Bring $3 for your spot. No one will be in the lot to take it. You can pay at the ticket check-in table.

For additional information and to reserve your tickets, click here.

The Chicago Marathon: It’s Back!

The 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon (its official name) will take place this Sunday, October 9. If you’re traveling in and out of the South Loop, it’s best to leave early and come back late. Expect traffic detours, to accommodate the race, to cause some minor headaches. According to marathon organizers, 45,000 runners are registered for the 26.2-mile road race. There are runners from all 50 states and 109 foreign countries participating this year.

South Loop Drama
We love watching the Chicago Marathon as the runners come through the South Loop. With barely two miles left in the race, things can get pretty dramatic on S. Michigan Ave. around 18th and 16th streets. From 16th St., we saw last year’s winner, Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya, run by looking like he was running a 5K, not a marathon. Wanjiru died last May after falling off of a balcony in his home in Nyahururu, Nairobi, Kenya.

Weather Watch
The weather is expected to be warm with the temperature to be in mid-60s when the race starts at 7:30 a.m. It could reach 80 by noon, but it won’t be anything like the 90 degrees experienced in 2007 when 3 ½ hours into the race organizers canceled the event. Over 300 people were taken away for medical treatment on that day.

Course Race Views
We like to watch the race from 16th and S. Michigan. Where’s your favorite spot to watch the Marathon? To find a spot to watch the race check out the course map by clicking here.

Olympic Gold Medalist and Chicago Marathon Winner Sammy Wanjiru Dies in Fall

Domestic Dispute May Be Cause
Sammy Wanjiru, the 24-year-old Chicago Marathon winner died in a fall from a balcony. Details are unclear, but according to some reports, Wanjiru was involved in a domestic dispute. In October, Wanjiru won the Chicago Marathon for a second time. Wanjiru was the first Kenyan to win an Olympic gold medal in the marathon.

Camera crew filming front-runner, Sammy Wanjiru, eventual the winner of the 2010 Chicago Marathon

Check out the video below of Wanjiru running up S. Michigan Ave. in the South Loop, just minutes from the finish line. Wanjiru's marathon performance in the Chicago Marathon was the fasted ever recorded.