Latest news with #Subterranean
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Levitt Pavilion's summer series to be unveiled during free concert reveal
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The 2025 Elchelberger Concert Season will be announced during a free concert at the Levitt Pavilion on Thursday night. Season schedules will be available at 6 p.m., followed by a performance by Dayton's improvisational rock band Subterranean at 7 p.m. There will also be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new concession stand. The free concert series usually runs from late May/early June through much of September, with shows normally scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The series usually spotlights holidays or events, such as the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, Juneteenth and Pride Month. The 2024 season featured three special 'Amplified' concerts focusing on blues, funk and reggae that featured a DJ, two openers and a headliner. University of Dayton hosts preview of James Bond-themed concert Subterranean has a 10-year-long history throughout the Midwest, performing at multiple festivals including The Werkout, Resonance, The Mad Tea Party Jam and Hookahville. People looking to attend the Levitt Pavilion Dayton should be aware they can bring in their own food, beverages, and/or lawn chairs. They can also rent a chair and buy food from the concession stand, if they'd like. The pavilion is located at 134 S. Main St., across the street from the Dayton Convention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Robert Gomez: Chicago's Riverwalk vendor process is shrouded in secrecy. It's time for real reform.
There is no accountability in how the city of Chicago awards vendor contracts on the Riverwalk. There is no transparency, no oversight and no way to appeal decisions. Even when those decisions push out high-performing Latino-owned businesses and leave public space vacant, the people responsible are shielded from scrutiny. The Riverwalk belongs to the public. It is city-owned space that generates public revenue and should reflect public values. Right now, it does not. The process for selecting vendors is hidden from view, managed by unnamed committee members who are not required to disclose how applications are scored or why decisions are made. Vendors are not allowed to ask questions or challenge outcomes. The rules are not public. The standards are not clear. The decisions are final. I know because I went through it. Twice. I own Beat Kitchen on the Riverwalk, which we operated for three seasons. A month ago, the city told me we were being removed. There was no explanation, no feedback and no opportunity to respond. Our business was one of the top revenue producers on the Riverwalk. We were the only Latino-owned vendor among the major operators. Despite a smaller footprint, we matched the revenue of the largest players. We did it after being denied basic signage and other forms of support. We did it through strong service and local partnerships, bringing thousands of the most diverse group of Chicagoans and tourists to the Riverwalk every week. Beat Kitchen on the Riverwalk was grounded in the same approach that has defined our work in the city for decades. Our music venues, the original Beat Kitchen in Roscoe Village and Subterranean in Wicker Park, have supported artists across genres for over 30 years. We've helped shape Chicago's independent music scene, not just participate in it. That same commitment extends to the food we serve. At street festivals and on the Riverwalk, we put thought into every menu, drawing from regional and cultural traditions that reflect the neighborhoods we serve. We don't treat public space like a temporary booth. We build with care and hire staff members who reflect the city. The city's own request for proposals for the Riverwalk said these things matter. It asked for vendors who understand the community, contribute to Chicago's cultural life, represent one of our 77 great neighborhoods, and bring quality and care to their operation. We did all of that. But we have no idea if any of that mattered. The criteria were shrouded in secrecy. The decision-makers weren't identified. The outcome offered no explanation. When the selection process fails to acknowledge the values it claims to prioritize, the problem isn't with the applicants. It's with the system. I invested more than $350,000 in that location. The city initially promised running water, drainage and electric connections. Then it backed out. I hired engineers and contractors to design and install a custom drain system beneath Lower Wacker Drive. I also purchased $70,000 in patio furniture after the city initially committed in my lease to providing it. I paid for it upfront from a city-mandated vendor, expecting to use it at my location, when, in fact, the city gave most of the furniture to other vendors on the Riverwalk for their use. Before our five-year lease ended, I asked for a two-year extension. The first year was lost because the city failed to prepare the space. The second was lost to COVID-19, like so much else across Chicago. Neither was within my business's control. Still, the city denied the request without explanation. There was no one to ask, no one to appeal to and no system in place to challenge the decision. The city delayed the application process for Riverwalk vendor spaces until after our lease had ended, and the 2024 season was already underway. I asked to continue operating during the evaluation period, as is common at places such as O'Hare airport and Navy Pier. The city declined, and our location stayed closed for the entire season. The review process began late, involved only two applications and still took more than 12 months. When I asked who was evaluating proposals or what criteria would be used, the city refused to provide any answers. Public records requests were also denied. That delay cost the city an estimated $800,000 in rent, tax revenue and revenue share in 2024. With the 2025 season already underway and the location still closed, the city is on track to lose another $1 million. These are real financial losses tied directly to decisions made behind closed doors. The public deserves better. A Latino-owned business that consistently met and exceeded expectations was removed without explanation. In response to a direct appeal from the Latino Caucus, the city claimed there were 11 minority-owned vendors on the Riverwalk. Seven of those businesses had already closed. The few that remain operate in smaller, less visible spaces. The highest-revenue locations are overwhelmingly white-owned. The city speaks often about equity, but the results here tell a different story. This is the moment to fix the system. The goal of reform should not be to revisit one decision, but to build a system that current and future Riverwalk vendors can trust. If my speaking out draws attention to this process's failures, it serves a purpose. The city cannot keep running a vendor process that is closed to the public, unclear in its rules and impossible to challenge. The selection process should be paused immediately. Scoring criteria must be published. Decision-makers should be named and held accountable. Meetings should be open to public review. Vendors deserve a process that is transparent, consistent and fair. The current system looks less like public service and more like old-fashioned patronage. This is not about one business. It is about a system that protects insiders, avoids accountability and ignores public interest. If the city is serious about reform, it must start with the Riverwalk. Robert Gomez is a Chicago-based entrepreneur and owner of Beat Kitchen, Subterranean, Bar Sol Mariscos on Navy Pier and other local hospitality venues. He co-founded the Chicago Independent Venue League and serves on the mayor's Cultural Advisory Council.
Axios
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Weekender: 40 things to do in Charlotte this weekend, including the fair and festivals
We are wishing there were more hours in the weekend to fill a schedule up with all of these events from Friday to Sunday. Friday, April 18 ⚾️ Take the family out to a ballgame and watch the Charlotte Knights play the Nashville Sounds at Truist Field. | $38+ | 7:04pm | Details 🎶 Party to hit Lady Gaga songs all night long at The Underground. | $26+ | 9pm | Details 🎬 See the film "Subterranean," about hobbyist cavers breaking records in Canada, during the Whitewater Center's film series. | Free | 8:15pm | Details 🎨 Enjoy a visual art workshop at Loyd Studios. | Free | 6-9pm | Details 👕 Bring a shirt to get printed at Macfly Fresh Printing Co. in Camp North End, and stick around for an open mic session. | Free | 4-9pm | Details 🍹 Step on the rooftop of State of Confusion for live music and drinks. | Free | 7-10pm | Details 🎊 Check out the last weekend of Charlotte SHOUT! in Uptown with hundreds of events and attractions, including a mini golf course, live music and pop-up markets. | Prices vary | Runs through Sunday | Details 🎡 Take the family to The Charlotte Fair at Charlotte Motor Speedway. | Prices vary | Runs through Sunday | Details 🎭 See Broadway musical "Kimberly Akimbo" at Knight Theater. | $40.23+ | Times vary | Details 🤩 Admire thousands of lights at the Tianyu Lights Festival, with live performances, lantern displays, the Illuminated Playground and more at Concord Mills. | $20+ | Runs through June 22 | Details 🤣 Laugh the night away to jokes from comedian Luenell at The Comedy Zone. | $46-$59 | Times vary | Details 🌼 Go to Daniel Stowe Conservatory for their Spring Festival, with face painting, guided trail walks, spring crafts and live music. | $0-$19 | Runs through Sunday | Details 🏐 Play an adult field day game of kickball at Friendship Sportsplex, and follow it up by checking out the food trucks and other local vendors. | Prices vary | 2-6pm | Details Saturday, April 19 🍪 Learn how to bake and decorate bunny cookies at Sweet Spot Studio. | $70 | 11am | Details 🎩 Take a "spirited stroll" through Charlotte's historic cemeteries at Elmwood Cemetery. | $15 | 1-4pm | Details 🛍️ Shop from The Chamber by Wooden Robot market, with handcrafted goods, musicians, food trucks and drinks. | Free | 2pm | Details 🤩 Pull up to Wooden Robot Brewery's FAFO Art & Music Fest with local artists, DJs, vendors, tintype photography, and food and beer. | Free | 6pm | Details 🫖 Enjoy an afternoon spring tea at The Ballantyne with savory treats, pastries, desserts and sparkling wine. | $70 | 1pm | Details 🧀 Eat your cheese fix at the grilled cheese festival in South End, and pair it with Bloody Marys, mimosas and craft beers. | $25-$50 | 1pm | Details 🥚 Take the kids to an egg hunt and story time in Huntersville at 10220 Independence Hill Road. | Free | 9am | Details 🎥 Join an audience for the live taping of "Late Night Regrets" with comedians and live music at B Sinima Studios. | Free | 8pm | Details 🎉 Vibe to throwback party jams from a live DJ at Monday Night Brewing, and stick around for beer pong and giveaways that benefit a cat rescue. | Free | 2pm | Details 🍸 Sip on martinis that you can pair with other tastings and light bites on the garden patio of DTR Dilworth. | $50 | 1pm | Details 🍹 Learn how to make cocktails from Bob Peters at the Goodyear House's Greenhouse. | Free | 3pm | Details ⚽️ Cheer on Charlotte FC as they take on San Diego FC at Bank of America Stadium. | $41+ | 7:30pm | Details 🎭 Take the kiddos to see "Dog Man: The Musical" at Ovens Auditorium. | $36+ | 3pm | Details 🎤 Test your lyrical skills at a cyper hosted by Hip Hop Smoothies in Camp North End. | $20 | 9-10am | Details 🏓 Play a game of pickleball at Tipsy Pickle for a chance to win tickets to Lovin' Life Music Festival, and stick around for themed drinks and giveaways. | Prices vary | 4-11pm | Details 🏃♂️ Run in Charlotte Racefest's half marathon or 10K relay at Symphony Park in SouthPark. | $60-$100 | 7:30am | Details 🍃 Shop for 4/20 deals at Happy Camper's Dispensary in NoDa, and stay for music and food. | Free | 12-8pm | Details 🍻 Sip on Delta 9 seltzers at Sycamore Brewing for their 4/20 Fest while you vibe to live music. | Free | 5pm-midnight| Details 🍾 Vibe to R&B music and sip cocktails on Imperial's rooftop in Uptown. | Free | 3-9pm | Details Sunday, April 20 🐣 Head to Sip City Market & Bottle Shop for an Easter egg hunt and market with vendors selling flower bouquets, infused treats, skincare, drinks and 4/20 goodies. | $0-$20 | 12pm | Details 🥞 Eat from an Easter brunch buffet with live music and the Easter Bunny at The Ballantyne. | $48-$105 | 10:30am | Details 🥅 Cheer on Charlotte Independence as they take on South Georgia Tormenta FC at American Legion Memorial Stadium. | $13-$66 | 4pm | Details 🎤 Sing along to a live band playing hit Taylor Swift songs at The Underground. | $35.25+ | 6pm | Details 📚 Pull up a chair and start reading in That's Novel Books Silent Book Club at Camp North End. | Free | 9:30-11am | Details 🧠 Test your knowledge of trivia with Mindless Minutia at Ri Ra Irish Pub. | Free | 5-8pm | Details 🧘 Unroll a yoga mat to relax with a guided flow and journal session at Freedom Park. | $22 | 2-3:30pm | Details 🥂 Pull up with your friends to a day party at Pinhouse, with music from a live DJ and drinks from the bar. | Free | 4-10pm | Details
CBS News
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Chicago independent music staples SubT, Val's halla Records team up to pay tribute
CHICAGO (CBS) – Two cornerstones of the Chicago-area music scene are coming together to create a unique listening experience and pop-up record store event. On Saturday, Feb. 8, Val's halla Records will set up shop inside the Subterranean music venue in Wicker Park. The event is part of a six-month tribute to the music venue's 30th anniversary. Since its opening in 1994, the SubT has been known to book artists on the precipice of mainstream stardom, such as Lizzo, Tame Impala, and Chappell Roan. An extensive collection of records will be available to browse, including a curated selection of artists who have performed at the Subbertanean (SubT) over the last three decades. Val's halla Records has been a staple shop in Oak Park since 1972, offering new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes. "It's an interesting feeling being around for 30 years. There are so many other clubs, and great clubs have gone by the wayside, and it's tragic when that happens," Robert Gomez, owner of the SubT, said. "Where it gets exciting for me is when you have an artist who appreciates where they started, even after playing in front of thousands." Gomez said The Lumineers gave the SubT a shoutout when playing at Wrigley Field. "Those moments make 30 years more meaningful," he said. One of the event's purposes is to emphasize the "deep connection between live performances and the records that preserve them," according to the press release. It is also a "testament to the independent artists who keep Chicago's music scene thriving." Trevor Toppen, who calls himself the "steward" of Val's halla Records, says the two are part of an "ecosystem that exists for local artists." The original owner, Val Camilletti, died in 2018. In the era of streaming music, which some say is more of a passive listening, vinyl and live music tout both as active listening experiences. "It's all interconnected and it's why I'm so excited to celebrate with the SubT," Toppen said. People can also experience "Val's Vintage Sounderator," a listening booth built from a repurposed walk-in freezer from the 1940s. "When you sit inside the refrigerator because the speakers are, you know, right here against you. It really blocks out all the rest of the sound. It sounds amazing," he said. Three Chicago-area bands will also be performing: Ricky Liontones Revue, Sharp Pins and Ur Mom. There will also be special drinks and "other surprises." The record pop-up is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the SubT's first-floor lounge at 2011 N Ave.
