All in Chicago Tourism

DNC Dispatch 1

On Friday afternoon, I attended a press conference in Chicago's Federal Plaza where Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, updated the media about where the litigation stood over march logistics for next week's demonstrations during the 2024 Democratic National Convention being held in Chicago. Here are my thoughts about what Abudayyeh had to say, together with an three images.

GAYestinian Pride

Today, Chicago’s LGBQT+ Community staged the 54th Annual Gay Pride Parade. In keeping with my activity over the last nine months, I decided to focus on the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who had obtained a coveted slot in the parade’s abbreviated lineup. It was the right decision, because it permitted me to photograph their efforts, as well as the colorful characters lining the parade route, as I walked the route with the pro-Palestinian forces from the start to the finish line.

Columbus Day

I stop to photograph this year’s Columbus Day Parade on my way to my annual physical. The parade is a shadow of the one staged for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; although the film did not identify the parade as the Columbus Day Parade. I ended up racing around so much that the doctor had to wait 20 minutes before taking my blood pressure because I was dripping with sweat when I arrived in his office—112/78.

Here are my thoughts about what I saw and the images I captured.

Chicago Jazzfest (III)

Today, I attended the third day of the 2022 Chicago Jazzfest. The high school students who played on the Harris Rooftop were one of the highlights of the day, while bassist William Parker wins the award for the most invigorating performance of the day. Here are my thoughts on the high schoolers, Parker and the other music I heard over a nine-hour period, together with my images.