Judging by the feedback received during and after our Simply Social evening, our inaugural outing was quite a success!  Festive attitudes filled our Metra car as we enjoyed chilled Chardonnay and sandwich wraps while being entertained by Vo Era.  The registration process went smoothly and we arrived at our destination all too soon!  We were pleasantly surprised to find that because of the size of our party (over 100 people) Metra made a special, unscheduled stop at Ravinia Park, rather than drop us off a few blocks away!  So we quickly grabbed our bags, bottles and chairs, anxiously anticipating the next phase of our excursion!

 

 

Our timing was perfect, as we were at the front of the line to enter our chosen gate!  Thanks to some savvy planning (and payment of $75 for Ravinia's Evening Star Membership), two of us gained early entry and staked out a huge swatch of land to accommodate our 140+ guests!  We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day, so the slight wait for our caterers to set up our food, dessert and drink stations was easily tolerated as we also set up our chairs and blankets.  (It also helped that we were able to snack on tasty sandwiches on the ride to the park!  Next year, we'll make it even easier by passing wine and appetizers during the set up period.)

 

 

Our caterers really set it out! Chef Dee of 350 Degrees Chef Services had ample amounts of tasty Chicken Satay and Confetti Slaw on hand; Chef Tsadakeeyah's Jerk Tofu Wraps (accompanied by Sweet Potato Fries) were so good that people didn't even realize they were eating tofu!  Baked herbed chicken wings and pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, fresh basil and asiago cheese also lasted through the night.  Those who missed the ridiculously delicious chocolate-covered (milk & white) strawberries that Nticing Ngredients prepared may have been left a little disappointed, but their feeling were soothed by the banana pudding, strawberry banana pudding and sweet potato cheesecake!  Wine, soda, and water flowed for the entire evening!

 

Then, there were the performances!  India.Arie was outstanding, performing some of her most famous hits and new material.  She filled the stage with her warm aura and unmistakable, yet humble, confidence.  We had a special treat when her mother joined in her performance, clearly demonstrating that the apple didn't fall too far from the tree!

 

John Legend began his set by serenading our group.  Okay, maybe not Simply Social specifically, but it was pretty cool that he began his performance at the edge of the Martin Theatre, almost directly in front of our group!  By all accounts, his performance was outstanding!

 

Ravinia Park is a venue that every Chicagoan, at some point, should take advantage of.  Their music programming is diverse and runs throughout the summer season.  With lawn seats available for only $27 and an open policy that allows you to bring in almost anything, it is an affordable and beautiful way to spend a summer evening!  There are still a number of cool shows coming up, including Lang Lang and Herbie Hancock on Tuesday, July 28; Monday, August 3 for the Doobie Brothers; Friday, August 7 for the Temptations and Four Tops; and, Wednesday, September 2 for Patti Austin & Ramsey Lewis. Be ready to join us next year for another Simply Social outing and remember - it's not just about the music that you hear, but also the music that you make! 

A Song for Coretta 

By Pearl Cleage
Directed by Sarah Moeller 

In 2006 when Coretta Scott King was memorialized at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, hundreds converged at the site to pay their last respects, many of them standing for hours in the rain.  It is this scene that moved award-winning author and playwright Pearl Cleage to scribe her latest play, A Song for Coretta, now showing at the Eclipse Theater Company.  Less of a story about the immediate impact left by Coretta Scott King's direct actions and more of a story about the far-reaching influence of the symbolism of her strength and womanhood on everyday citizens, A Song for Coretta presents the wide spectrum of black women's voices touched by that legacy.

The first of those many voices is exclaimed by Zora.  Played effortlessly and convincingly by Niccole Thurman, Zora is a journalism student at Spellman, the leading black women's college in Atlanta.  Arriving on the scene excited and equipped with recorder in hand, she is ready to document the emotions and thoughts of those gathering to honor one of the Civil Rights Era's leading icons.  Thurman's youthful energy solidly represents that segment of the population that is filled with hope, appreciative of the legacy of Coretta Scott King and eager to make their own mark in history. 

Zora's first encounter of the evening is with Helen, a poised, upright and ultimately outspoken senior who - to the thrill of Zora - proudly divulges that she actually had the opportunity as a young child to meet Mrs. King during the early days of the Montgomery Bus Boycott.  Helen's humble account of her exchange with King begins to paint the picture of the impact that the "First Lady" of the Civil Rights Movement, her contemporaries and the events of that era possibly had on African American men and women of Helen's age.  At 57, Helen - played by Eclipse Theater Ensemble member Taylar -- serves as the virtual self-appointed "elder" amongst the small gathering of mourners that evening.  While she displays the classic matriarchal mentality often seen in such roles - full of warmth and wisdom - both her wisdom and warmth are challenged by the presence of the youngest member of the group, Keisha.  Although Helen's reverent and righteous image is one that is valued in the community, the image as portrayed in the production seems somewhat dated -- her costume and carriage more representative of a senior citizen of the Civil Rights era itself rather than one of current times.  Nevertheless, her character introduces a valuable lesson about actions speaking louder than words when notions of justice and judgment arise out of the conversations that transpire over the evening.   [continued]