From Chuck Underwood:
Here is a YouTube link to the “open” of one of the 3 new national-TV shows that carry the logo you designed for the project. It’s a 60-second segment, and your logo shows up in two spots, the first one about 42 seconds in to the segment. Thought you’d like to see it.
Your local public TV station, WTTW-TV, is supposed to broadcast the 3 shows sometime, but I don’t know when.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubkZGVZd7OI
GREAT CHICAGO FIRE HYDRANTS 2013
My hydrant (to the right of the tree), sponsors Q-BBQ La Grange/Naperville for the Great Chicago Fire Hydrant art exhibit. For more information on the event goto: http://www.greatchicagofirehydrants.com
9/11 may we NEVER forget.
My hydrant (to the right of the tree), sponsors Q-BBQ La Grange/Naperville for the Great Chicago Fire Hydrant art exhibit. For more information on the event goto: http://www.greatchicagofirehydrants.com
9/11 may we NEVER forget.
Celebrations continue at Goombay Bash 2012
BY JANE MICHAELS [email protected]
Lorna Shaw stands in the former Urban Sole storefront with a painted umbrella she donated to the Goombay Bash, an upcoming event to raise money for cancer research. | Rob Hart~Sun-Times Media
LA GRANGE --
The Goombay Bash to fundcancer research is always a great party for a great cause, but last August presented an added opportunity for one Western Springs family to celebrate, which continues this year.
Bruce Harken, who manages the Field Club pool in Western Springs, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2010, recalled his daughter Kate Harken.
But after successful treatment, her dad was cancer-free, and the family couldn’t wait to mark the occasion at the 2011 Goombay Bash in the Grand Ballroom of Chicago’s Navy Pier, she said.
“My mom is an international flight attendant, and she surprised our family members and dear friends at the party with fresh flower leis from Hawaii,” Kate Harken said. “They were just gorgeous."
Family and friends plan to celebrate Bruce Harken’s good health again at this year’s Caribbean-themed gala Aug. 11. His recovery also has inspired his daughter to become a board member for the H Foundation, the La Grange-based group running the fundraiser.
“I wanted to turn the personal journey my dad had been through into something good,” she said. “He’s a terrific success story. Working together, we can do so much more than by ourselves.”
Named after a tropical cocktail blending rum, brandy and fruit juices, the 12th annual Goombay Bash features live auctions, silent auctions, entertainment and a buffet in a colorful tropical paradise. Party-goers trade black ties and formals for flip flops and Hawaiian shirts at the event, in its fifth year at Navy Pier.
“It’s the party of the summer, a magical night,” said Michael LaPidus, owner of Q-BBQ and The Hot Dog Company in La Grange and an H Foundation board member.
“We’re always changing it up at Goombay, and this year, we’re having some interactive entertainment combining music, painting and an auction,” LaPidus said.
An artist will be painting a subject from a different perspective during the evening with audience input, and the artwork later will be auctioned, he said.
LaPidus said items to be auctioned will fit any budget in keeping with organizers’ efforts to keep the evening affordable. Items range from lamps with a starting bid of $10 to vacation packages for thousands of dollars.
“Every year we say we can’t get better, but this year we’ve maxed out on the creativity and uniqueness of the items,” he said.
Kate Harken said friends and businesses she approached to donate items for the auctions, or buy raffle or entrance tickets were very supportive.
“The response has been incredibly favorable because cancer is so personal to so many people. It’s a cause that resonates,” she said. “Because we can demonstrate where our fund raising has gone and the wonderful effect it has in securing grants, it’s much easier for people to donate, and the event is such a blast.”
In 11 years, the Goombay Bash has raised more than $4 million, which has been used as seed money for cancer research projects at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. The projects have, in turn, attracted government or private grants of nearly $30 million for research.
The 2011 event raised nearly $500,000, and “we’re on track from last year and up in a few profit centers as far as donations,” LaPidus said.
WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Aug. 11
WHERE: Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier, Chicago
TICKETS: $150 for gourmet buffet, live music, dancing, auctions, raffle, cash bar
TO ORDER: Call (708) 352-5240, or visit www.GoombayBash.com
TRANSPORTATION: Seats on buses may be reserved for $5 leaving from La Grange and Darien. There are also reduced rates for Navy Pier parking and on accommodations at four Chicago hotels
LA GRANGE --
The Goombay Bash to fundcancer research is always a great party for a great cause, but last August presented an added opportunity for one Western Springs family to celebrate, which continues this year.
Bruce Harken, who manages the Field Club pool in Western Springs, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2010, recalled his daughter Kate Harken.
But after successful treatment, her dad was cancer-free, and the family couldn’t wait to mark the occasion at the 2011 Goombay Bash in the Grand Ballroom of Chicago’s Navy Pier, she said.
“My mom is an international flight attendant, and she surprised our family members and dear friends at the party with fresh flower leis from Hawaii,” Kate Harken said. “They were just gorgeous."
Family and friends plan to celebrate Bruce Harken’s good health again at this year’s Caribbean-themed gala Aug. 11. His recovery also has inspired his daughter to become a board member for the H Foundation, the La Grange-based group running the fundraiser.
“I wanted to turn the personal journey my dad had been through into something good,” she said. “He’s a terrific success story. Working together, we can do so much more than by ourselves.”
Named after a tropical cocktail blending rum, brandy and fruit juices, the 12th annual Goombay Bash features live auctions, silent auctions, entertainment and a buffet in a colorful tropical paradise. Party-goers trade black ties and formals for flip flops and Hawaiian shirts at the event, in its fifth year at Navy Pier.
“It’s the party of the summer, a magical night,” said Michael LaPidus, owner of Q-BBQ and The Hot Dog Company in La Grange and an H Foundation board member.
“We’re always changing it up at Goombay, and this year, we’re having some interactive entertainment combining music, painting and an auction,” LaPidus said.
An artist will be painting a subject from a different perspective during the evening with audience input, and the artwork later will be auctioned, he said.
LaPidus said items to be auctioned will fit any budget in keeping with organizers’ efforts to keep the evening affordable. Items range from lamps with a starting bid of $10 to vacation packages for thousands of dollars.
“Every year we say we can’t get better, but this year we’ve maxed out on the creativity and uniqueness of the items,” he said.
Kate Harken said friends and businesses she approached to donate items for the auctions, or buy raffle or entrance tickets were very supportive.
“The response has been incredibly favorable because cancer is so personal to so many people. It’s a cause that resonates,” she said. “Because we can demonstrate where our fund raising has gone and the wonderful effect it has in securing grants, it’s much easier for people to donate, and the event is such a blast.”
In 11 years, the Goombay Bash has raised more than $4 million, which has been used as seed money for cancer research projects at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. The projects have, in turn, attracted government or private grants of nearly $30 million for research.
The 2011 event raised nearly $500,000, and “we’re on track from last year and up in a few profit centers as far as donations,” LaPidus said.
WHEN: 5 p.m. to midnight Aug. 11
WHERE: Grand Ballroom, Navy Pier, Chicago
TICKETS: $150 for gourmet buffet, live music, dancing, auctions, raffle, cash bar
TO ORDER: Call (708) 352-5240, or visit www.GoombayBash.com
TRANSPORTATION: Seats on buses may be reserved for $5 leaving from La Grange and Darien. There are also reduced rates for Navy Pier parking and on accommodations at four Chicago hotels
Meet Artist Lorna "Rockin'" Shaw
By Laurie Whitman September 6, 2011. La Grange Patch
Lorna Shaw designed and painted six of the 50 rocking chairs that will be auctioned off this Friday, Sept. 9.
As I walked through downtown La Grange recently, admiring the colorfully painted rocking chairs that are in front of many of the local businesses, I found myself wondering about the artists: who painted these chairs, what was the inspiration and how do they do it?
Lorna Shaw, The Creative Scot, lives in La Grange Park and is one of the artists of the La Grange Rocks project, as well as past projects
including the giraffes, the elephants, the easels, the rain barrels and the Adirondack chairs. The public art arena mushroomed for her as a result of
working with some of the students at Ogden Avenue School on a large chalkdrawing.
“One of the moms saw it and contacted the newspaper and everything took off from there,” said Shaw.
It turned out that the Ogden mom also was involved with the giraffe-for-auction project, the first art-inspired auction for La Grange that was held six seasons ago.
Shaw moved to the United States from Scotland in 1995. Nanny by day, self-proclaimed combination of Martha Stewart and Bob Vilas, she has successfully incorporated what she loves into her every day life. Shaw’s
philosophy is that art and creativity go hand-in-hand when caring for children. Art can be fun, can be therapy and can make others happy.
“I always loved to draw," Shaw said. "I always had a thing for art, and like many things, the more you paint, the better you get at it."
This year, Shaw created six of the 50 rockers that have been installed in downtown La Grange since June.
One of my favorites is the Million Dollar Chair. Shaw got her inspiration from a furniture store when she spied a recliner that had a spot for a remote.
She envisioned the newspaper hanging there, ready for the occupant to sit, read and watch TV. She fashioned her rocker with ‘studs’ to resemble leather upholstery. Some of the headlines on the paper are real copy from the paper.
Shaw also drew inspiration from Blueberry Hill Restaurant.
“That was an idea that made design easy–red, white and blue—perfect for the fourth of July and to honor the armed forces. I thought, ‘eagle’ and there it was—the Red, White and Blueberry,” Shaw said.
Shaw is extremely busy from May through September. For the past couple of weeks, she has been repairing and refurbishing her chairs for the upcoming auction this Friday, Sept. 9.
In addition to the rocking chairs this year, Shaw also painted patio umbrellas that were raffled off at the Goombay Bash held earlier this summer. They are beautiful. All umbrellas sold at the Bash and all proceeds for that event
go directly to cancer research.
Shaw utilizes local merchants for her supply and cites Horton's Ace Hardware as her spot for paint.
“Larry is my go-to guy and he always helps me out,” she said.
After admiring the chairs all summer long, this Friday is the chance to bid on one of your favorites. All proceeds go to local charities.
“It's nice to see people getting excited when they start bidding. It's exhilarating, a real adrenaline rush," Shaw said.
The chairs will be on display for browsing at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 in front of Village Hall. The live auction begins at 7 p.m. on the front lawn of Village Hall. If you can’t be there, you can submit a proxy bid by calling 708-285-1430.
So, where do these works of art end up? If you have purchased a chair, or discovered a chair in its new home in your travels around the village, please share it with Patch. You can upload a picture on this story even!
For more information about Lorna Shaw, please visit her website at www.thecreativescot.weebly.com
Lorna Shaw designed and painted six of the 50 rocking chairs that will be auctioned off this Friday, Sept. 9.
As I walked through downtown La Grange recently, admiring the colorfully painted rocking chairs that are in front of many of the local businesses, I found myself wondering about the artists: who painted these chairs, what was the inspiration and how do they do it?
Lorna Shaw, The Creative Scot, lives in La Grange Park and is one of the artists of the La Grange Rocks project, as well as past projects
including the giraffes, the elephants, the easels, the rain barrels and the Adirondack chairs. The public art arena mushroomed for her as a result of
working with some of the students at Ogden Avenue School on a large chalkdrawing.
“One of the moms saw it and contacted the newspaper and everything took off from there,” said Shaw.
It turned out that the Ogden mom also was involved with the giraffe-for-auction project, the first art-inspired auction for La Grange that was held six seasons ago.
Shaw moved to the United States from Scotland in 1995. Nanny by day, self-proclaimed combination of Martha Stewart and Bob Vilas, she has successfully incorporated what she loves into her every day life. Shaw’s
philosophy is that art and creativity go hand-in-hand when caring for children. Art can be fun, can be therapy and can make others happy.
“I always loved to draw," Shaw said. "I always had a thing for art, and like many things, the more you paint, the better you get at it."
This year, Shaw created six of the 50 rockers that have been installed in downtown La Grange since June.
One of my favorites is the Million Dollar Chair. Shaw got her inspiration from a furniture store when she spied a recliner that had a spot for a remote.
She envisioned the newspaper hanging there, ready for the occupant to sit, read and watch TV. She fashioned her rocker with ‘studs’ to resemble leather upholstery. Some of the headlines on the paper are real copy from the paper.
Shaw also drew inspiration from Blueberry Hill Restaurant.
“That was an idea that made design easy–red, white and blue—perfect for the fourth of July and to honor the armed forces. I thought, ‘eagle’ and there it was—the Red, White and Blueberry,” Shaw said.
Shaw is extremely busy from May through September. For the past couple of weeks, she has been repairing and refurbishing her chairs for the upcoming auction this Friday, Sept. 9.
In addition to the rocking chairs this year, Shaw also painted patio umbrellas that were raffled off at the Goombay Bash held earlier this summer. They are beautiful. All umbrellas sold at the Bash and all proceeds for that event
go directly to cancer research.
Shaw utilizes local merchants for her supply and cites Horton's Ace Hardware as her spot for paint.
“Larry is my go-to guy and he always helps me out,” she said.
After admiring the chairs all summer long, this Friday is the chance to bid on one of your favorites. All proceeds go to local charities.
“It's nice to see people getting excited when they start bidding. It's exhilarating, a real adrenaline rush," Shaw said.
The chairs will be on display for browsing at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 in front of Village Hall. The live auction begins at 7 p.m. on the front lawn of Village Hall. If you can’t be there, you can submit a proxy bid by calling 708-285-1430.
So, where do these works of art end up? If you have purchased a chair, or discovered a chair in its new home in your travels around the village, please share it with Patch. You can upload a picture on this story even!
For more information about Lorna Shaw, please visit her website at www.thecreativescot.weebly.com
Artistic talent showcased in La Grange rockers
THE DOINGS, JUNE 14TH, 2011
LaGrange Park artist Lorna Shaw, who also works as a nanny, painted five chairs for the art fest since April 15 and is working on a sixth chair, “Red, White and Blueberry,” in time for the Fourth of July for the Blueberry Hill restaurant in La Grange.
“No, it won’t have any blueberries on it,” Shaw said. “There aren’t any chairs with a patriotic theme. Everybody’s happy to put out a flag. Why not a chair.”
Asking Shaw to pick a favorite rocker is like asking a mother to choose between her children. There is something special to her about each chair, whether it’s the design concept, overcoming difficulties in painting and bringing it to life or just the way it turned out.
While shopping at a furniture store, Shaw said she got the idea for the “Million Dollar Chair,” complete with studs to look like a stuffed leather recliner, a TV remote control on one arm and a newspaper draped over the arm.
The rocker’s title and banner newspaper headline are a bit tongue-in-cheek, the artist admits, and refers to her hopes for the final bid when that chair and about 50 others are auctioned.
“I had fun picking out funny headlines, and some are actually legitimate,” Shaw said, referring to the rocker’s newspaper. “That’s my sense of humor. I like silly things.”
LaGrange Park artist Lorna Shaw, who also works as a nanny, painted five chairs for the art fest since April 15 and is working on a sixth chair, “Red, White and Blueberry,” in time for the Fourth of July for the Blueberry Hill restaurant in La Grange.
“No, it won’t have any blueberries on it,” Shaw said. “There aren’t any chairs with a patriotic theme. Everybody’s happy to put out a flag. Why not a chair.”
Asking Shaw to pick a favorite rocker is like asking a mother to choose between her children. There is something special to her about each chair, whether it’s the design concept, overcoming difficulties in painting and bringing it to life or just the way it turned out.
While shopping at a furniture store, Shaw said she got the idea for the “Million Dollar Chair,” complete with studs to look like a stuffed leather recliner, a TV remote control on one arm and a newspaper draped over the arm.
The rocker’s title and banner newspaper headline are a bit tongue-in-cheek, the artist admits, and refers to her hopes for the final bid when that chair and about 50 others are auctioned.
“I had fun picking out funny headlines, and some are actually legitimate,” Shaw said, referring to the rocker’s newspaper. “That’s my sense of humor. I like silly things.”
Artist lends creativity to outdoor art projects
THE DOINGS, LA GRANGE, AUGUST 26TH 2010
She's not exactly Mary Poppins, but chalk drawings did work a little magic for LaGrange Park nanny and artist Lorna Shaw.
The native of southwest Scotland came to the United States in 1995 to start a new life and began working as a nanny. Caring for children called for being creative, and Shaw's artistic side continued to bubble.
"I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and I've always had an interest in art and music," she said.
Tragedy struck one of the families Shaw worked for when the mom died of cancer five years ago, leaving two young girls with their dad. Drawing everyday subjects provided a little bit of therapy for everyone, Shaw recalled.
"I drew Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore, a frog, or Tom and Jerry and maybe Shrek," Shaw remembered. "It helped the family, and it helped me."
Then Shaw did a large chalk drawing outside Ogden Avenue School, which the older girl attended, and the artist's flair attracted attention. She was asked to design a raffle prize for a charitable event and then was discovered by several La Grange businesses and commissioned for the town's annual outdoor art projects raffled for charity in the fall.
"That's what really started it, the chalk drawing," she said. "Over the years, it's been very gradual with two elephants, three Adirondack chairs the next year, then four easels and now five rain barrels this year."
Word-of-mouth recommendations from the fiberglass art projects also have led to being commissioned to paint a cowboy statue and a giraffe, patio umbrellas, display windows and interior design projects.
"Everyone has had an idea and a concept of what they'd like, but then you have to trust me," she said. "I have to have the creative freedom to do it. It's my own creative path."
Shaw, for example, has created Adirondack chairs with a Blackhawks theme, the Cubs, Disney characters, the La Grange Theatre, the tropics and a black-and-white floral design.
Elephant designs four years ago revolved around Chicago landmarks and a field of flowers with a picket fence.
This year, rain barrel themes ranged from the jungle, aquatic birds and tropical fish to a can of Coca Cola and the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup trophy.
Though the fiberglass art projects require a great deal of time and painstaking effort, Shaw has been pleased with the results, especially the end result of raising money for charity.
"I hope people can understand the work and love and attention to detail that goes into every single item each year," she said of the village's outdoor art program. "At the end of the day it's all for charity. It's nice to see people getting excited when they start bidding. It's exhilarating, a real adrenaline rush.
"What I'd really love this year is for a member of the Blackhawks to announce at the auction for the Stanley Cup rain barrel. That would be incredibly awesome."
After caring for children all day, Shaw goes home to take her husky and rat terrier for a walk and drum up a little inspiration before tackling her latest art project or perhaps writing a little poetry. On Wednesdays, she takes a night off for salsa dancing. Weekends occasionally are reserved for home decorating or do-it-yourself projects.
Shaw is seldom bored, blessed instead with an abundance ideas, just not enough time to carry them out.
"I've been told I'm like Martha Stewart meets Bob Vila meets Supernanny," she said.
She's not exactly Mary Poppins, but chalk drawings did work a little magic for LaGrange Park nanny and artist Lorna Shaw.
The native of southwest Scotland came to the United States in 1995 to start a new life and began working as a nanny. Caring for children called for being creative, and Shaw's artistic side continued to bubble.
"I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil, and I've always had an interest in art and music," she said.
Tragedy struck one of the families Shaw worked for when the mom died of cancer five years ago, leaving two young girls with their dad. Drawing everyday subjects provided a little bit of therapy for everyone, Shaw recalled.
"I drew Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore, a frog, or Tom and Jerry and maybe Shrek," Shaw remembered. "It helped the family, and it helped me."
Then Shaw did a large chalk drawing outside Ogden Avenue School, which the older girl attended, and the artist's flair attracted attention. She was asked to design a raffle prize for a charitable event and then was discovered by several La Grange businesses and commissioned for the town's annual outdoor art projects raffled for charity in the fall.
"That's what really started it, the chalk drawing," she said. "Over the years, it's been very gradual with two elephants, three Adirondack chairs the next year, then four easels and now five rain barrels this year."
Word-of-mouth recommendations from the fiberglass art projects also have led to being commissioned to paint a cowboy statue and a giraffe, patio umbrellas, display windows and interior design projects.
"Everyone has had an idea and a concept of what they'd like, but then you have to trust me," she said. "I have to have the creative freedom to do it. It's my own creative path."
Shaw, for example, has created Adirondack chairs with a Blackhawks theme, the Cubs, Disney characters, the La Grange Theatre, the tropics and a black-and-white floral design.
Elephant designs four years ago revolved around Chicago landmarks and a field of flowers with a picket fence.
This year, rain barrel themes ranged from the jungle, aquatic birds and tropical fish to a can of Coca Cola and the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup trophy.
Though the fiberglass art projects require a great deal of time and painstaking effort, Shaw has been pleased with the results, especially the end result of raising money for charity.
"I hope people can understand the work and love and attention to detail that goes into every single item each year," she said of the village's outdoor art program. "At the end of the day it's all for charity. It's nice to see people getting excited when they start bidding. It's exhilarating, a real adrenaline rush.
"What I'd really love this year is for a member of the Blackhawks to announce at the auction for the Stanley Cup rain barrel. That would be incredibly awesome."
After caring for children all day, Shaw goes home to take her husky and rat terrier for a walk and drum up a little inspiration before tackling her latest art project or perhaps writing a little poetry. On Wednesdays, she takes a night off for salsa dancing. Weekends occasionally are reserved for home decorating or do-it-yourself projects.
Shaw is seldom bored, blessed instead with an abundance ideas, just not enough time to carry them out.
"I've been told I'm like Martha Stewart meets Bob Vila meets Supernanny," she said.
'Stanley Cup' makes the rounds
THE DOINGS, LA GRANGE, AUGUST 26TH 2010
Leave it to La Grange.
As Blackhawks fever reached its height during the championship hockey series, La Grange business leaders thought the town needed a jump on celebrating with the Stanley Cup, so they commissioned their own version of the iconic trophy.
It turned out to be a strategic move, considering the town lacked a team connection to later host the coveted cup.
As part of the La Grange Business Association's annual outdoor art project, several members commissioned one last rain barrel to be hand-painted in May as the final series got underway.
But rather than being anchored to the sidewalks of the central and west business districts with 70 other barrels on display, the Stanley Cup barrel would be going on tour just like the real thing, though perhaps a bit more cumbersome.
"People loved having their picture taken with it," reported Steve Palmer, who first hosted the cup at his restaurant, Palmer Place, 56 S. La Grange Road. "It showed up on quite a few Facebook pages."
Fans, however, may have been a little too demonstrative, said the cup's creator, LaGrange Park artist Lorna Shaw.
"It got a boo boo at Palmer's," Shaw said. "It wasn't solid, because it's a working rain barrel. Inside the cup is PVC pipe, which would connect from the gutter to the rain barrel underneath."
Shaw said she did a lot of searching to find just the right-shaped plastic bucket to replace the cup, which then was trimmed, painted and secured to the rain barrel.
Next stop on tour for La Grange's version of the Stanley Cup is at Urban Sole, 72 S. La Grange Road.
Leave it to La Grange.
As Blackhawks fever reached its height during the championship hockey series, La Grange business leaders thought the town needed a jump on celebrating with the Stanley Cup, so they commissioned their own version of the iconic trophy.
It turned out to be a strategic move, considering the town lacked a team connection to later host the coveted cup.
As part of the La Grange Business Association's annual outdoor art project, several members commissioned one last rain barrel to be hand-painted in May as the final series got underway.
But rather than being anchored to the sidewalks of the central and west business districts with 70 other barrels on display, the Stanley Cup barrel would be going on tour just like the real thing, though perhaps a bit more cumbersome.
"People loved having their picture taken with it," reported Steve Palmer, who first hosted the cup at his restaurant, Palmer Place, 56 S. La Grange Road. "It showed up on quite a few Facebook pages."
Fans, however, may have been a little too demonstrative, said the cup's creator, LaGrange Park artist Lorna Shaw.
"It got a boo boo at Palmer's," Shaw said. "It wasn't solid, because it's a working rain barrel. Inside the cup is PVC pipe, which would connect from the gutter to the rain barrel underneath."
Shaw said she did a lot of searching to find just the right-shaped plastic bucket to replace the cup, which then was trimmed, painted and secured to the rain barrel.
Next stop on tour for La Grange's version of the Stanley Cup is at Urban Sole, 72 S. La Grange Road.
Artwork for The Hot Dog Company, La Grange, IL. on Chicagos tv show, 190 North, July 2011.
At meet the artists 2015, with Andys Frozen Custard sponsors of 1 of 6 of the Free Little Libraries in downtown La Grange.