February
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
It is February in Chicago. On this particular day, it is 14. I am reminded that my Uncle Harry, had he not retired, would be spending this month calving. Now this is a 24-hour-a-day endeavor, with only spots of sleep during that season.
So in Chicago, in february we sometimes think about Ravinia Festival.. For those of you who have not had a chance to sample it, it is an excellent outdoor (with pavilion for the performers) concert site. Everybody brings a picnic dinner (or supper, for those of you out west), sometimes rather elaborate, and a bottle of wine or sixpack or lemonade and has a grand old time.
It is the summer home of the CSO, and we have recently heard Tony Bennett (yes, after all these years), Peter Paul and Mary, and the highlight of recent times was Dave Brubeck his own self. He still has energy, but might have taken out a few notes (he is 89, after all). Also on that same program was Ramsey Lewis. That is of the Ramsey Lewis Trio, among other things.
My favorite is the live show of Praire Home Companion. If you happen to be listening on the radio to the live show when it originates from there, you might occasionally hear the train in the background. Many take the train up from suburbs to the south of Ravinia Park or down from the north and Chicago with their picnic baskets.
So that is a good chicago february thing to do. Me, I resist going to southern climes to get away from the chicago winters. My theory is that when you get back, you have to get used to the cold all over again. Why torture yourself?