Kate planned this one!
Kate, Ed and Max were joined by me, Bill and Jo.
flickr album Greater Grand Crossing 'Hoods
Greater Grand Crossing 'Hoods packet
We met at 5 Loaves Eatery. It was kicking pretty hard on a weekend morning. There was a wait. Bill, Jo and I got there earlier than team Kate/Ed/Max, so we sat for a bit. Apparently, as Kate and Ed were extracting Max from the car, an SUV rolled up, window went down, and a nice gentleman told them that their friends were already waiting for them in the restaurant. You guys, who was that? We didn't talk to any fellow. How did he know that we were all together? He thanked Kate and Ed for patronizing the restaurant, then drove away.
The folks at 5 Loaves were super nice. A couple of kids at the next table taught Max how to do some version of Miss Mary Mack. The fried chicken was maybe the best I've ever had in my life.
The weather on this day wasn't awesome. And the locations of the sites were pretty spread out. So this 'Hoods we conducted mostly by car.
We drove by the Gwendolyn Brooks house first.
Then we started hitting spots that had been bought up by, then re-purposed by, Theaster Gates. He's an artist who's working hard to bring function and purpose and beauty back to some of these empty buildings on the South Side.
We drove by his Archive House and Listening House. They both house small art libraries and host events.
Then we went by his Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative. Formerly a housing project, now townhomes that house artists.
The Stony Island Arts Bank is technically in South Shore. We visited it previously on THAT 'hoods. Also during an Open House Chicago. BUT, it's a Theaster Gates project. So we were being completionist. It's a former bank that now houses art exhibits, as well as several cool libraries. The day we were there, there was a DJ spinning records from their extensive record collection. It's free. Check it out.
Gates has more projects on the burner. Watch out for future openings.
And we finished up at Lems bbq. This has been on my list for a LONG time. Great, classic, south side bbq. Smoked in the big fish tanks. Order through glass. Pay through bars. It's a machine. The line moved so fast. Know what you want to order before you get to the front! I got a collection of rib tips and sausages to bring home to husband. Just delicious.
Greater Grand Crossing obviously has some vibrancy. There was a sexy bakery called Brown Sugar bakery across from Lems that I'd love to check out. A few other shops and restaurants,etc. But there is also a LOT of vacancy. Thus Theaster Gates and his attempts to create neighborhood pride, solutions, economic opportunities, etc. There's just not a lot of money in Greater Grand Crossing. Here's hoping that better days are on the horizon.
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