Free stuff is considered necessary, surprising, and sometimes suspect. People never want to take free stuff when it's handed to them on the street. You wonder if the giver is really trying to sell you something, or proselytizing, or both. It's hard on givers as well. You give something away and wonder if someone else may have needed it more.
In a big city like Chicago, there are many public and private resources and organizations that either provide free services or serve as depositories for free goods. The trick is not only to find out about these moments of generosity, but also to understand how to integrate the principles of a true 'gift economy' into one's daily life.
Give or Take: Chicago is the name I have given to an ongoing list of resources that tap into this truly free market. Give or Take will essentially be a searchable directory of:
- places to get free items
- places that give away free services
- places to drop off items you would like to give away
- places that need people to help them serve
My goal is to have a database that is accessible to a broad spectrum of Chicagoans. In this spirit, Give or Take will include listings from both the public and private sectors. Government services, like the CORE Center (a facility run by Cook County that provides free health and social services to people affected by HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases) will be included along side volunteer, from the ground groups like Food Not Bombs (an international group that provides free public meals).
Ideally, Give or Take will be an annual publication with a complimentary internet presence. This will allow us to record a history of past free services and centers, and to update the current listings in an efficient manner.
Give or Take will be available for free, and is intended as a full volunteer effort. This is a new undertaking, and I'm interested in finding more resources.Please contact me if you know of a place or group that should be listed in Give or Take. I am also interested in hearing from people who have ideas about Give or Take's format, or would like to discuss the idea of the 'gift economy', the 'open source' movement, and more.
This project is inspired by many things including Freecycle (TM) , various zine guides to free health services in Chicago (one issued by the A-Zone collective ten years ago and another new one by the Pomegranate Radical Health Collective stand out), the open source movement (software makers sharing to spur new creativity), and participating in potlucks.
To participate, contact Salem Collo-Julin.
Mail: C/O Temporary Services | P.O. Box 121012 | Chicago, IL, 60612
E-mail: salem@temporaryservices.org
Comments
5 comments.
Charles Smith commented, on January 17, 2008 at 11:38 a.m.:
I can remember when all of the Chicago's museums were open for free, and everyone did not have to worry about getting a ticket.
But things had changed, and regrettably, it had changed for the worse, and ended the idea of free admission for Chicago museums, and as a result, some museums in Chicago starting charging admission fees. This happened in the late 1990s when arts funding from the government slashed federal and state subsidies for visual art programs.
But these Chicago museums had fought back slightly. There was a 3-month "free days" event at the Museum of Contemporary Art , where people could go inside for free.
But don't worry. There are other places in Chicago that give away free events.
Charles Smith (cont) commented, on January 17, 2008 at 11:39 a.m.:
CAFE LUNA CHICAGO
1716 W. 99th St . , Chicago , IL 60643
This quasi-intimate cafe in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago gives away several free
events.
Every Wednesday, the Beverly All-Stars perform at the place with no cover charge
at all.
Every Thursday, Tricia Fitzgerald hosts a "Story-Time" for the kids in Cafe Luna also for free.
CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER
78 W. Randolph St . , Chicago , IL 60605
There are a lot of free events given away at the Cultural Center . Some of the more common ones are....
The Dame Myra Hess concerts, held on most Wednesdays at 12:15 p.m.
The Chicago Chamber Musicians and Chicago Composers Forum also host free concerts there.
It already hosted the 2007 John Cage Musicircus this year on October 7, a very large mulitfaceted event of performance art dancing, music performances, spoken word performances, and multimedia presentations. It was also a free event despite the fact that over 200 performers played and sang and danced at the same time.
And even though a lot of performers appeared---even this big event....which is going to happen again in 2009.....is also free!!!
Charles Smith (cont2) commented, on January 17, 2008 at 11:40 a.m.:
Finally........
If you can't pay for tickets for a traditional Nutcracker ballet, you can still be part of this famous Tschaikovsky work in the "Dance-Along-Nutcracker". They already did this event last weekend. This free event is open to all dancers--especially young dancers---no matter how much ballet experience you have. It is a chance for you to be a sugar-plum fairy or a toy soldier as you dance on a ballroom dance floor to live music. No DJ at all! Live music! The performance was accompanied by the Lakeside Pride Orchestra, and was based on an LGBTQ concept in San Francisco about 6 years ago.
CIVIC OPERA HOUSE
20 North Wacker Drive , Chicago , IL 60606
There is one big event that you join in this famous home of Chicago 's Lyric Opera for free. It is held near Christmas time. It is known as the LaSalle Bank's "Do-It-Yourself Messiah", where audience members can sing as the chorus of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. There are soloists and an orchestra, but you get a chance to sing as a chorus--there is no chorus on stage. The climax occurs, of course, when they sing the "Hallelujah" chorus. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 choristers attend this annual Christmas "singing" gathering.
However, at the time of this writing, the event was sold out. So next year, it is best to reserve these tickets in advance.
FINE ARTS BUILDING ,
405 S. Michigan Ave. , Chicago , IL 60605
Every 2nd Friday, the Fine Arts building opens its welcoming doors to visitors to some of their art and music studios, for free.
GRANT PARK
(near the lakefront, around Buckingham Fountain)
Of course, Grant Park, especially in summer, holds a lot of free music festivals during the spring and summer.
The most common ones are.....
The Chicago Blues Festival;
The Chicago Jazz Festival, and;
Viva! Chicago .
HARTZELL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
3320 S. King Drive , Chicago , IL 60616
One of the biggest free events is the yearly "Messiah" happening near Christmas time. Another of their biggest free events is the "The Seven Last Words of Christ", an oratorio by Theodore Dubois, which is performed near the Easter Holiday.
MILLENNIUM PARK
(along Michigan Ave. , in downtown Chicago )
Some of the free stuff given away also occurs in spring and summer.
I especially adore Arts Across Illinois, a free summer festival featuring Illinois ' best independent bands from the jazz, rock, folk, and soul genres. The festival also features costumed personnel, storytelling, dancing and performance art.
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