Before Wicker Park became Lincoln Park jr., there was a thriving art scene built on industrious artists and upstart companies. Gentrification can't be helped. Artists are heralds for change. They move to poor neighborhoods where the can barely afford rent and studio space. It's in an artist's nature to beautify their surroundings. Souless people flock to where artists are to absorb their culture and commercialize it. Before you know it the property value rises. Artist's are then forced to leave what they started behind and find a new slum to rejuvinate. It's vicious cycle from my perspective, but it also creates value for artists. They can find the beauty in anything.
Pilsen has resisted the change for quite some time now. It has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods in Chicago. The layout, working class residents and proximity to U.I.C. has always had so much appeal to me. The rent has gone up quite a bit, but not like Soho or Manhatan like Buck Town. Pilsen still has one thing Wicker Park has been low on for years now; great art. Most artists from Wicker Park now are hacks, (present company excluded.)
But Wicker Park itself has sold out. Pilsen is still trying, but it's got a sales date on it. Good artists make for good artwalks, and good art walks make for good after parties. Pilsen is running the Art Walk After Party scene like if this was Miami, New York City, or L.A. I was invited to this loft by...I don't even know. Some of best loft parties in Chicago are anonymous. Besides word of mouth...good after party fliers have no dates or address. The email blasts are from Black Berry's and texts come from pre-paid phones. Sometimes the DJs, installation and bands are totally spontaneous. This results in fewer visits from cops and drunk party crashers or the dreaded uninvited gang member or frat head or hipster chick. And last, but not least, there is usually no cover!
I feel very fortunate to stumble on to most of these events, as should you. This was one of the better parties I caught all summer. This was like a who's who of cool. There was only one art installations, people drew on the chalk board and the band was pretty good. The D.J. was on point and the people were cream of the Chicago underground.
View for yourself:
