Craft Brewing‘s New Face in Chicago
On the heels of the major changes with the MAJOR American brewers detailed in previous posting the Chicago Reader’s “Our Town” July 24th column featured a forthcoming northside brewery, Metropolitan Brewing. With their brewery still under construction their beer won’t be available until Fall 2008, but see their Web site for the beer festivals where you may sample their wares.
One more tome on the importance of beer in Chicago that was omitted from the earlier posting was Bob Skilnik’s History of Beer and Brewing in Chicago, 1833-1978.
Who’s Older NASA or Michael Jackson?
NASA, but only by a month, both American icons turn 50 this summer. President Eisenhower created NASA with a stroke of a pen on July 29, 1958. (Michael Jackson was born in Gary, IN on August 29, 1958.)
In celebration of a half century of space exploration and discoveries NASA has planned a year of lectures and workshops. (They’re a serious bunch down there.) Learn more about NASA’s accomplishments, current projects and experiments.
The recent images from the Mars should be enough to earn NASA a place in the minds and imaginations of the American public, but unfortunately the agency is under going budget cuts.
Grab a glass of Tang and explore the “final frontier” with NASA.
What Made Milwaukee Famous…Moves Its HQ to Chicago
On the heels of InBev’s takeover of Anheuser-Busch, Miller Brewing and MolsonCoors announced their merger. The new company, MillerCoors, has selected Chicago as its new home as an act of fair play to each of the partners’ former hometowns. Read the new mega-brewers’ statements on their Web sites. (To visit any of the breweries’ Web sites you must be 21 or older.)
There is certain to be fallout among loyal customers and longtime employees of all three brew houses. just as there was in the 1990’s industry consolidation. At that time Miller Brewing when on a spending spree and bought G. Heileman Brewing (brewer of local favorite Old Style) and many others. Miller closed the regional breweries and added production lines to its Milwaukee stronghold. By ostracizing the market share they thought they were acquiring, Miller inadvertently created an opportunity for small craft brewers like Chicago’s Goose Island Brewing. Follow the link to read about the changes in store for Goose Island’s original brew pub.
The selection of Chicago isn’t surprising. Despite the fact its last large scale brewer y closed over 25 years ago, Chicago is home to Pabst Blue Ribbon (in nearby Burr Ridge) and the Siebel Institute of Technology. For a primer on Chicago and beer consult the Encyclopedia of Chicago (online or at HPL), and for an overview of regional brewers and an introduction to craft brewing see Travels with Barley by Ken Wells.
Exploration in Americana
The post-Independence Day dog days have settled upon us and with them the lingering traces of nostalgic Americana. The following items may fortify that wistful feeling and open a window on a growing subculture which revels in nostalgia.
The Library of Congress announced a recent donation to its Prints and Photographs Division– the original art for Marvel Comics Amazing Fantasy #15.The art work is of considerable importance because it depicts the first appearance of their flagship character Spider-Man. Original comic book art of this caliber usually falls into the hands of private collectors and is rarely publicly shown. This gift is a boon to pop culture researchers and fans alike and is now an accessible portion of the Library of Congress collections.
Follow the link to visit the LOC Web site and explore expansive collection of American history, American Memory, or their daily entry Today in History.
The San Diego Comic Con International, informally known as “Comic Con”, will be host to professionals, fans and enthusiasts of the black sheep of American art forms, the comic book. Over four days, July 24-27, 2008, the industry will celebrate their successes, recognize their colleagues’’ achievements and preview their forthcoming material, which now includes feature films.
Last year four day passes sold out days before the show; this year the passes were gone months in advance and single day passes are nearly gone (only Sunday passes are currently available). For the over 125, 000 attendees it is a chance rub shoulders with their favorite creators, give direct feed back to publishers, or have their own work critiqued. Another popular feature is Cosplay, dressing as a favorite character, and costumes can be elaborate reproductions or a slight upgrades from a towel pinned around your neck.
Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Hinsdale Public Library
The fabled Emerald City will be upstaged Thursday July 3rd when the Village of Hinsdale celebrates the 80th anniversary of Memorial Hall.
As part of the rededication celebration of Memorial Hall, Hinsdale Public Library whisk Dorothy and the Scarecrow away from Oz and bring them to the Hinsdale Public Library Beginning at 3:00 PM they will distribute copies of L Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Local trivia buffs are probably aware that L. Frank Baum’s son, Harry N. Baum, was a long time resident of Hinsdale, and the author often visited Hinsdale, traveling on the Burlington Northern from his home on Chicago’s Westside.