Sloopin,
Hear anything about this year's Bash on Wabash? I've been searching online and can't find much. Typically by now we would have seen posters around the neighborhood promoting the event. What gives?
It's a good question. We usually see stuff by now and after searching the interwebs we didn't find much. The Greater South Loop Association has been the group responsible for this in the past and all we found on their page was outdated information about last years event.
In the comment section of that page, a reader did ask about the dates for the 2011 iteration and an admin said it would be held on August 27th and 28th, 2011. However, that comment was from May 10th of 2011.
Does anyone have the scoop on this years Bash on Wabash?
(Hat tip: LE!)
Last’s Bash was a BUST!
ReplyDeleteRe-organizing this fest is a MUST!
Just from viewing the child play area where kids were falling on the broken asphalt parking lot... I had to carry my crying child away after she smacked her knee... WTF?
Something needs to stand out for this fest, maybe change up the music:
Jazz stage sponsored by The Jazz Showcase
House music stage sponsored by The Shrine
Rock music stage sponsored by Reggie's
with the ongoing construction going on wabash... i doubt anything will happen there
ReplyDeleteHow about making this some truly unique...the Dash Down Wabash?
ReplyDeleteIt's essentially various awesome/ridiculous races. Running with milk glass on your head. Running with egg on a spoon. Roller blade race. running backwards.....etc etc etc...
Have gender and different age groups.
It sarts at 14th and ends at 13th ...in front of the restaurants with outdoor seating. It setups for great viewing and setting.
Put a music stage south of 13th and waalaa--- a truly unique Chicago event/fest...
Can Sloopin organize this?
Until the festival is established, they need to do whatever it takes to make it free. I don't know if it was last year, but I know the prior years were not.
ReplyDeleteI'd go check out Dash Down Wabash. That sounds like a good time. Just don't leave out the beer.
It would be great to get open dialogue with whomever puts on this "Bash"....it could certainly use a makeover and with the new things opening in the area it would seem there are plenty to get involved. Sloopin - Do you have a contact?
ReplyDeleteOf course it's free. The donation is merely suggested.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone even go to it
ReplyDeleteCan there also be a section of the fest that highlights the history of the neighborhood? Specifically the South Side Levee District...
ReplyDeleteInstall beer tents to resemble nasty old saloons called Hinky Dink's and Bathhouse John's, include some "fake" gambling houses, throw in a hooka bar with an "opium den" theme, have some "brothels" set up under the El tracks run by the Everleigh sisters, and have people dressed as old Chicago politicians walking around with cash spilling out of their pockets...
just some ideas that would make a south loop fest unique.
After all the negative press the hood has received lately, don't expect a lot of vistors from other parts of the city to be all that thrilled with the notion of coming to a festival in the "mugging zone."
ReplyDeleteAlso, I can't figure out why our "neighborhood festival" would not take place in either the spring or fall when all the college students (columbia, depaul, Roosevelt, East-West, etc.) are still around.
Bunch of busters. See the great turnout they had at their 'neighbor night out' at Reggies.
ReplyDeletehttp://ow.ly/i/eFOM
A whole 6 people. Way to go!!!
I have gone every year. Last year was pretty disappointing.
ReplyDeleteAnon who said we should make it more of a college oriented festival was a great idea. They should make the festival in early Fall. We have so many colleges and universities around we need to take advantage of that population.
I just sent an email inquiring about the matter to the Bash committe and the the President, Deborah Soehlig. I found the emails on the Greater South Loop Association's website. I'll let everyone know what their response is.
ReplyDeleteBashin,
Brandon
and btw, i have had an awesome time at the past few Bash's!
ReplyDeleteI received a response from Gail Rutkowski, the Bash on Wabash Chairman.
ReplyDeleteIn the email, she cited the sewer construction on Wabash and budget cuts in the Mayor's Office of special events as challenges to putting on the bash once again this year.
However, the committee is still planning to put on the event this year, but on a smaller scale with local vendors and music. They are waiting for approval from the city for the dates of September 17th and 18th.
Ms. Rutkowski suggested we stay tuned for further announcements on the GSLA website or feel free to email them.
Neighbor's Night Out was a great idea, but poorly executed. The only advertisement I saw was on South Loop Connection, and it was less than 24 hours notice.
ReplyDeleteSomebody has raised in the past Q's about what exactly the GSLA does and how its money is used, with no response. This is another perfect example. No update on the website until pressure from people emailing them for some information. They've raised a good chunk of change from past events (i.e. Taste of SL) and made a lot of promises -- is it a question of poor leadership or just transparency?
ReplyDeleteOMG ! it's a conspiracy!!! ... while I have to confess I don't know much about the GSLA ... I figure if you joined the organization and got involved or at least attended meetings, you might find out more. It's a volunteer organization, which are usually starving for people to do stuff, keep things running.
ReplyDeleteIf you're really that concerned that it's some kind of scam, you can do some digging and get copies of their 1099 forms from the IRS, since it's registered there as a nonprofit. But just tossing around accusations without knowing anything is rather lame.
12:43 -- There has been no accusation and, in fact, a number of commenters who do "know" something have pointed out that GSLA has promised certain initiatives (seemingly to be funded by money raised at events) which never materialized. There is no conspiracy afoot, but there is an issue of transparency.Or is accountability also "lame"?
ReplyDeleteOops, I mean form 990 .... not 1099
ReplyDelete... and a quick google turns up their 990 from fiscal 2009 ... posted on their web site ...
ReplyDeletehttp://greatersouthloop.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/2009-GSLA-Return.pdf
Based on Form 990s and other federal tax stuff I've dealt with, tax year 2009 would be the latest they've filed.
I was just at the wicker park fest on sunday and it was amazing! There fest really was all about the music. On sunday they had a band from Oregon that brought a lot of people out. I never heard of them but they were really good. They also have another stage that played dubstep and techno which also had a bunch of people at. There was another stage but never made it to it. The success of the wicker park fest was amazing and I would love to see the bash on wabash step it up and follow the other good neighborhood festivals that go on around the city. Its all about scheduling good acts and having good food while marketing the fest to different neighborhoods around the city to attract more people. If any one knows who I could talk to that plans the fest I would love to get involved because I no some different dj's and good bands personal and we can make this an attractive neighborhood festival that people from wicker park, lincoln park, and so on would want to attend.
ReplyDeleteI was just at the wicker park fest on sunday and it was amazing! There fest really was all about the music. On sunday they had a band from Oregon that brought a lot of people out. I never heard of them but they were really good. They also have another stage that played dubstep and techno which also had a bunch of people at. There was another stage but never made it to it. The success of the wicker park fest was amazing and I would love to see the bash on wabash step it up and follow the other good neighborhood festivals that go on around the city. Its all about scheduling good acts and having good food while marketing the fest to different neighborhoods around the city to attract more people. If any one knows who I could talk to that plans the fest I would love to get involved because I no some different dj's and good bands personal and we can make this an attractive neighborhood festival that people from wicker park, lincoln park, and so on would want to attend.
ReplyDelete