A local Chicagoan, Kevin’s work centers on old textures, animals and vintage design elements. All of his wood block prints are are mounted sealed and stained within the confines of his admittedly tiny Chicago apartment.

His previous works have been featured on HGTV, Fossil, West Elm, Fab, Decor8 and Time Out New York.

Be sure to visit Kevin’s booth at the 2012 Fest!

Spring Break Camp – April 2 – 6  9 AM to 5:30 PM
There’s still time to sign up for Spring Break Camp starting this Monday during the public school holidays. Camp days feature fun and games, sports and field trips for kids ages 6-13. The fee is $71. Contact Victor or Shannon at the field house. (312) 742-7554.

Spring Session Classes Sponsored by the Bucktown Arts Fest – April 2 to June 1
Even though the online registration period has ended, you can still attend our spring classes. Just drop by the park or call them at (312) 742-7554 to get more information! 

Open Studio & Painting Class for Adults: Instructor Connie Hinkle
Mondays – 6:30 – 8:30
Fee: $40
Connie is again making art space and instruction available to the community with her open studio class. This is the same class offered in the Fall and Winter sessions.

Kid’s Afterschool Open Studio & Painting Class: Instructor Connie Hinkle
 Mondays – 3:30 – 5:30
Fee: $20
Ages served: 8 – 13
Connie is ready to help kids between 8-13 love art!

Music Lessons with Bucktown Music
Mondays – Session I: 4:00 – 5:00
Wednesdays – Session II: 5:30 – 6:30
Fee: $45
Ages served: 8 and up

Juan and Luis from Bucktown Music are ready to make your rock god dreams come true. Open to any age and most any instrument, take advantage of their classes offered at a discounted price! This is the same class that was offered in the Winter session. Instrumentation includes guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard/piano, and percussion. The instructor will choose music appropriate for the studentsʼ age and level.

Basketball Championship Game – Tuesday, Apr 3 8 PM
It’s down to the Final Four in the Holstein Park Adult Basketball League — Team X, Bosch, The Lunatics, and Dave and The Other Guys. Stop by the gym for a consolation game at 6:45 PM followed by the The Championship Game at 8 PM.

ONLINE REGISTRATION – Summer Programs – Monday, Apr 9  9 AM 
If you have found your way through the new Chicago Park District website and you have set up a personal account IN ADVANCE, you can now SIGN UP ONLINE for SUMMER PROGRAMS at Holstein Park.

The main programs where registration closes early are:

Summer Day Camp (June 25 – August 3) For kids ages 6 – 13. Camp runs five days a week from 9 AM to 3 PM. (The cost is $293). Campers can be dropped off early and/or stay late (for an additional $48 to $96).

Pool Lap Swim (June 15 – September 3) For adults 18 and up. Weekday mornings (7 AM) and evenings (6 PM) and weekends. The cost is $40.

Learn to Swim Classes (June 30 – August 5) For kids ages 6 to 13. Saturdays and Sundays at 5 PM. Classes are free.

There are no early childhood education or classes scheduled for kids under 6 at Holstein Park this summer. If you can’t sign up online, there is a short walk-in registration period at the field house on Saturday, April 14.

Friends of Holstein Park – Tuesday, Apr 17  7 PM
The Friends of Holstein Park welcomes The Bucktown Community Organization (BCO) to a joint meeting to plan the celebration of Holstein Park’s 100th anniversary this summer. It’s gonna be big, it’s gonna be great, and you’ll want to be a part of it!

Co-ed 16″ Softball League – May 15 to August 21, Tues-Wed-Thurs nights
Victor is still accepting team applications for the Holstein Park 16-inch softball league this summer. League play begins May 15. Games are scheduled Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9 PM. The fee to enter is $252. Call Victor at the field house to learn more. (312) 742-7554.

Little Hitters (Ages 4-9) – Saturday, Apr 21
It’s T-ball for 4-6 year olds and real baseball for 7-9 year olds every Saturday from April 21 through June 16 on the ballfield. And there’s still time to sign up. Call Victor at the park (312) 742-7554. Four year olds gather at 9 AM. 5-6 year olds play from 10:45 AM to 12:15. The 7-9 year-old league runs from 12:30 to 2:30 PM. Batter up!

AND FINALLY . . . We want to welcome our new park district area manager Deb Maddox!

But first, make sure you get familiar with the new Chicago Park District website. Anyone who wants to participate in park programs must now REGISTER IN ADVANCE of the sign-up date. More details are below. Meanwhile…

Sign Up for Spring Session Classes Today! Deadline: March 19
It’s not too late to register for fabulous Bucktown Arts Fest sponsored classes and more!

Drop-In Yoga – Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30 AM
Start you weekend off right with Saturday morning yoga! Zephyr Artistic Director Michelle Kranicke leads an hour of yoga every Saturday in the field house auditorium. (Bring your own mat.) Drop ins welcome! Each session is $12. For more information, call 773-489-5069 or email zephyr@zephyrdance.com.

Friends of Holstein Park – Tuesday, Mar 20 at 7PM
Thanks to everyone for a great turnout last month, and to all the people who are organizing new committees. There are plenty of fun events ahead – The Holstein Park Centennial, Circus in The Park, Apple Pie Contest. Please stop by and get involved.

Browse Summer Programs Online – Monday, Mar. 26
Anyone who tried to sign up online for spring programs at Holstein last month knows the process was hardly seamless. You can save time and frustration by going to the Park District website early to register and BROWSE all available programs starting Monday, March 26. Actual online registration for summer programs does not begin until April 9.

The new website is a little confusing. If you click on activities, however you can see available programs by location, age or category (art, sports, etc). Type in Holstein Park and you should see all the summer programs available. Write down which ones you want, confirm that you are registered, then keep that information handy for the April 9 registration date.

Easter Egg Hunt – Saturday, Mar 31 10 AM
The Easter Bunny will be there. Will you? Please join us for the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Senior Citizens Park. Once again, we will have two different starting times (for different ages). Children under 3 years old can start hunting at 10 AM. Children between the ages of 3 and 9 start at 10:30 AM.

If the weather is nice, we anticipate a strong turnout; but would like to keep participation to around 50 kids for each hunt. Please go to the Friends of Holstein Park website to sign up in advance. A $3 donation is suggested. (This event may be canceled in inclement weather.)

AND FINALLY . . . When you walk into the field house, make sure you notice the “Summer Day Camp” mosaic the park kids made last summer. (How can you miss it? It’s right on the wall.) Many thanks to Bucktown artist Connie Hinkle for directing the project, and to the Bucktown Arts Fest for funding it. It’s awesome!

Spring Session: April 2 – June 1, 2012 

Open Studio & Painting Class

Instructor: Connie Hinkle
Mondays – 6:30 – 8:30
Fee: $40
Ages served: Adults

Connie is again making art space and instruction available to the community with her open studio class. This is the same class offered in the Fall and Winter sessions.

Kid’s Afterschool Open Studio & Painting Class
Instructor: Connie Hinkle
Mondays – 3:30 – 5:30
Fee: $20
Ages served: 8 – 13

Connie is ready to help kids between 8-13 love art!

Music Lessons with Bucktown Music
Instructor: Bucktown Music
Mondays – Session I: 4:00 – 5:00
Wednesdays – Session II: 5:30 – 6:30
Fee: $45
Ages served: 8 and up

Juan and Luis from Bucktown Music are ready to make your rock god dreams come true. Open to any age and most any instrument, take advantage of their classes offered at a discounted price! This is the same class that was offered in the Winter session.

Instrumentation includes guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard/piano, and percussion. The instructor will choose music appropriate for the studentsʼ age and level.

Even though the online registration period has ended, you can still attend our spring classes. Just drop by the park or call them at (312) 742-7554 to get more information!

The Chicago Park District has re-designed its website to REQUIRE users to establish a personal account before signing up for any programs or events. Before registering for Spring programs (Feb. 21), for instance, you should get your account set up in advance. With your account, you will no longer pay for programs via Paypal — the Park District will have its own system for processing credit cards — and you will be able to receive text and/or emails about program changes.

Starting on Feb. 6, you will also be able to search the Spring program offerings at Holstein Park more easily. The park district site is www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Drop-In Yoga – Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30 AM
This Saturday, and every Saturday through the middle of March, adults are invited to join Zephyr Artistic Director Michelle Kranicke for an hour of yoga in the auditorium. Each session is $12. (Bring your own mat.) Call 773-489-5069 or email zephyr@zephyrdance.com for more information.

Teen Valentine Dance – Friday, Feb. 10 4 – 7 PM
Teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15 are invited to celebrate the season with dance and refreshments in the auditorium. The rumor is DJStix will be spinning. But parental permission is required, so get your sign-up form at the fieldhouse.

Family Valentine Dance – Saturday, Feb. 11 3 – 5 PM
The decorations are still up, the dance floor is still warm, so moms and dads are invited to bring their own kids (ages 3 – to Holstein Park for a family Valentine Dance Saturday afternoon. Light refreshments, including a chocolate fountain, will be available.

Paper Crafts Workshop – Saturday, Feb. 11  10 AM – 2 PM
Sponsored by The Bucktown Arts Fest, a Paper Crafts workshop for children (ages 4-5) will be held from 10 AM to 2 PM with an advanced workshop for children ages 8-12 from 11:45 to 12:45 PM. (Younger children should be accompanied by an adult.) Learn more by calling Shannon at the fieldhouse 312-742-7554.

Jewelry Making Workshop on Saturday, March 10 from noon to 4 PM 
Sponsored by the Bucktown Arts Fest, sign up for this fun adult jewelry kaking workshop with metalworker Amanda Hogg! Learn more by calling Shannon at the fieldhouse 312-742-7554.

Friends of Holstein Park – Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 7 PM
Thanks to everyone who turned out for our annual elections in January. It was more exciting than a Florida primary. So now, without further ado, here are Your 2012 FOHP officers and directors:

Michelle Pennington, president; Lucy Jacobs, secretary; Sara Dudnik, treasurer; Jean Alan, Robert Allan, Scott Jacobs, Kathy Rice, Fred Schein and Dave Sundry, directors. Stop by and see how you can join the fun.

Online Registration – Spring Programs – Begins Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 9 AM
Holstein Park has a wide range of programs this Spring (starting April 6) that can only be signed up for online at the Park District site. Arts & Crafts, T-ball, Moms & Tots. Our programs are among the first to fill up, so it is important to search the offerings ahead of time, and be ready to make your selections when the buzzer sounds at 9 AM.

Sign up for these classes sponsored by The Bucktown Arts Fest in the Spring Session 2012!

Kid’s Afterschool Open Studio & Painting Class – Mondays 3:30-5:30 PM
Make Mondays THE time for being creative! Open to ages 8 – 13.

Open Studio & Painting Class for Adults – Mondays from 6:30-8:30 PM
Come practice and learn with artists of all ages and disciplines. Fine arts instructor Connie Hinkle is on hand to help you grow! Serving adults.

Music Lessons with Bucktown Music – Mondays from 4-5 PM, Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 PMClasses of 3-5 members will meet with an instructor for one hour once a week for 10 weeks. Instrumentation includes guitar, bass, vocals, keyboard/piano, and percussion with music appropriate for the studentsʼ age and level. Serving children and adults from 8 years old and up.

** Please remember: Under the new park district web design, you must GET AN ACCOUNT IN ADVANCE to facilitate your sign-up. Good luck!

Special thanks to Holstein Happenings by Friends of Holstein Park for lots of the content here!

Winners will receive a $200 cash prize and complimentary admission into the 2012 festival and will have their poster displayed on Fest materials to possibly include the Bucktown Arts Fest website, 2012 festival materials (posters, t-shirts, hangtags, postcards, program), collateral, press releases and signage.

Now that’s some braggin’ rights!

The purpose of the contest is to design a poster promoting the Bucktown Arts Fest. Just create an original artwork in your media that you think best exemplifies the Bucktown Arts Fest and submit it in JPG format! The deadline for entries is midnight on March 31, 2012. There is no fee to enter.

One winner will be selected. This winner will be announced by May 31, 2012 via an email blast.  

Get all the Poster Contest Guidelines

Who runs the Bucktown Arts Fest?
The fest has no staff – and is run solely by volunteers from the community.

Where do the proceeds of the fest go?
All proceeds of the fest go to support arts and education programming at Holstein Park and the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhoods. Learn more about our programming efforts.

Why is it called Senior Citizens Park?
After the Board of Education closed the Logan Elementary School in 1972, the city moved quickly to develop the property as parkland. By 1977, the city was developing plans for recreational facilities – including shuffle board courts and permanent game tables – tailored to the area’s older residents. The city transferred the property, then known as Logan Elderly Park, to the Chicago Park District in 1979. The following year, the park was officially renamed Senior Citizens Memorial Park at the request of 32nd Ward alderman Terry Gabinski and the Senior Citizens of Holstein Park.

If I am a Returning Senior Artist, which SlideRoom program should I apply to – Returning or Senior?
Please apply to the Senior program in SlideRoom. Inside the application, it will ask if you are a returning artist.

Can I share a booth with another artist?
If both artists are juried in through the Application Process, booth sharing is allowed for an additional fee.

Do I need to fill out any tax forms prior to the show?
Updated 2/29/2012: Artists at the Fest may need to register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and submit Special Event Tax Revenue forms. Though not everyone needs to register/file — some may only need to fill out a special event coupon. General guidelines for those eligible for special event coupons versus filing Special Event Tax Revenue forms include people who do less than 3 Illinois art shows a year and out-of-state vendors. To find out your tax liability, if any, please contact:

Illinois Department of Revenue
Special Events Unit: (847) 294-4475
Taxpayer Assistance: (847) 294-4200
Rev.Specialevents@Illinois.gov

Download the 2012 Special Event Tax Collection Report and Payment Coupon.

Learn about your responsibilities to the Illinois Department of Revenue as a vendor:
http://tax.illinois.gov/Individuals/SalesandRelated/fairs.htm.

I need to file Form IDOR-6-SETR. Where can I get one?

The form will be provided in your Artist Check-In Packet.

Or download the 2012 Special Event Tax Collection Report and Payment Coupon here.

To obtain the correct tax rate or for forms and information on how to file, please contact the Special Event Coordinator at Rev.SpecialEvents@illinois.gov or call (847) 294-4475.

When are invoices sent out? How will I receive it?
Invoices are sent out by email after May 15. For 2012, we will offer payment through PayPal or you can send your check to:
Bucktown Arts Fest
c/o American Eagle Bank
2255 N. Western
Chicago, IL 60647

When are booth assignments sent out? How will I receive them?
Booth assignments are sent out by email after May 15. The announcements are made by email and will be listed under the Our Artists page on our website.

What time does set up start on Saturday morning?
Artist Load In runs from 6:00am – 10:30am. Please be sure to get a copy of your Artist Folder when you check in which includes important information for the weekend – including a parking pass for those who park in the AN Pritzker School parking lot.

We recommend coming early to ensure ease of access and ample time to set up before the Fest opens to the public at 11am. Security is provided at the park overnight on Saturday night to protect your booths.

Is there parking during the Fest for artists?
Artists are welcome to find parking on the street if possible, but we also offer parking at AN Pritzker Elementary School (2009 W. Schiller Street, Chicago, IL 60622). Please be aware that you must place a parking pass in your window to park in the school lot. Passes are found in your artists’ folder at check in.

Where and when do I pick up the rental tent/chairs/table? Or will they be in my space?
Rentals items are delivered on the Saturday morning of load in and will be available to you when you arrive for set up.

If my booth if on the street, is there room on the sidewalk behind to sit/storage/wrap etc?
There is a small amount of room behind the 10×10 tent area – but not a lot. We put up fencing behind the tents to protect the neighborhood grass, so really there is only a little “nudge” area.

Any recommendations for weights for the EZUp tents?
If you are renting a tent from the Bucktown Arts Fest, sandbags will be provided with your rental. These are important to use – especially when leaving your tent overnight Saturday (in case of bad weather).

What happens as far as security Saturday night and load out on Sunday?
We will have security to protect your booth overnight Saturday night. All booths must be packed up and loaded out on Sunday evening. Artists are asked to complete Load Out by 9pm. Any belongings left unattended after that time will not be the responsibility of the fest.

Are there any hotels close to the fest grounds?

History of the Park
In 1854, real estate speculators Sherman, Clark, and Westmore reserved two acres of their subdivision as Holstein Park to enhance the area and its property values. The surrounding area was known as Holstein, an enclave of laborers and craftsmen from Schleswig – Holstein, now a region of Germany.

Although the developers expected the city to beautify Holstein Park, it remained unimproved for more than 40 years.

Finally, in 1901, the city transferred the park to the West Park System, which made initial improvements. By 1910, the West Park Commissioners had created several new neighborhood parks offering residents of the surrounding congested neighborhoods important services and programs such as public bathing, English lessons and other classes, and athletics.

In 1912, the handsome Holstein Park brick fieldhouse, designed by Illinois state architect William Carbys Zimmermann, opened to the public.

In 1917, the park commissioners enlarged Holstein Park by purchasing 16 lots north of what is now Palmer Street. Visionary designer Jens Jensen conceived a plan to combine Holstein Park with the adjacent Logan School. He hoped to build a new school, a separate gymnasium and an indoor swimming facility. He also wanted to create prairie-like playfields, council rings, an outdoor theater and school gardens. Although the commissioners began negotiating with the Board of Education, the plan was never realized. Jensen’s innovative idea was ahead of its time.

The Survey
Today, Holstein Park hosts all kinds of activities designed to serve the needs of families, teens and senior citizens.

To help us better serve the community, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey and then be sure to pass it on in your friends and neighbors.

Take the short survey!

Thank you for your feedback!

The murals will be located on the highly visible walls of restaurants, retails stores, residential buildings and various other locations within WPB’s boundaries. Whitney Tassie, a WPB Arts Committee member and the Director of Monique Meloche Gallery, says the project “will create a visual identity that unifies the neighborhood, catches the attention of residents and visitors, and inspires creative thought.” Eleanor Mayer, WPB Program Manager, adds that the mural program will provide an alternative to the hard-to-erase graffiti tagging that plagues the walls of local businesses and residences.

Murals have been completed at the intersections of Ashland and Julian, Damen and Division, Milwaukee and Concord, Milwaukee and Honore, North and Bell and soon to be completed at Damen and Pierce.

Yum! Bucktown Apple Pie Contest Wrap-Up
Let’s have a round of applause for the 2500 neighbors and friends who turned out this year for our 7th annual Bucktown Apple Pie Contest, the 142 amateur and 16 professional bakers who entered, the dozens of volunteers who made the day a success, our sponsors and park staff!

The winner, in case you are wondering, was Alison Summy, a third and fifth place winner in past contests. In the professional division, the blue ribbon went to Dinah Grossman from Cheap Tart Bakery. The four runner-ups were Adrienne Smith, Kathy Rice, Laura Kaminski and Joan Elias. Congratulations to all.

Dance at Holstein
Wed, Thurs, Fri – November 2,3,4  7:30 PM
The first of two dance performances this month in the Holstein auditorium is “Factor Ricochet”, an ensemble performance of “improvography” featuring Rachel Damon, Adriana Durant, Marc Macaranas and Ni’Ja Whitson. Tickets are $10 – $20 and can be purchased online here.

Drop-In Yoga
Wednesdays, Nov-Dec 6:30 – 7:30 
Stop in any Wednesday at 6:30 PM for an hour of “Drop In Yoga” led by Zephyr Dance artistic director Michelle Kranicke. Sessions are $12.

Friends of Holstein Park Meeting
Tues, Nov. 15 6:30 PM
Come to the monthly meeting of the Friends of Holstein Park for a report on our successful Circus in the Park and Apple Pie Contest fundraisers. Now that the money has been raised, let’s figure out how to get the field house renovation back on track!

Zephyr Dance Concert
Thurs, Fri, Sat, Nov 17-19 7:30 PM and 2 PM
“Smeared Surfaces” is the title of the fall performance series by our resident Zephyr Dance company. Performances are $15 ($10 for students and seniors) at 7:30 PM on Thursday and Friday, 2 PM Saturday. To purchase tickets in advance, click here. For more information, go to www.zephyrdance.com.

The Holiday Show
Sat-Sun, Nov. 26 and 27 11 AM to 5 PM
Skip the doorbuster sales this Thanksgiving weekend and stop by the Holstein Park field house over the weekend to buy original arts, crafts, clothing, jewelry and other holiday gifts from over 50 local artists and artisans. Think global, shop local.

AND FINALLY . . . 
We want to thank all those who contributed to the success of the Apple Pie Contest, including Tipsy Cake for delicious baked goods, Ipsento Coffee, Reza’s for the wonderful rugs that decorated the stage, and Marvelous Masks for the kids face painting. Also the Bucktown Community Organization, Alderman Scott Waguespack, and Printwell, our program sponsors.

Holstein Happenings is a monthly newsletter from Friends of Holstein Park to keep you informed of what’s happening in our park. If you would like to add more names to the Holstein Happenings mailing list, send new addresses to friendsofholsteinpark@yahoo.com.