Prom Pics and Ice Cream Dreams
Last night, I stood outside amidst the red carpet lights and flashing bulbs (realizing I left my Instamatic camera at home) when a local dude with a frosty accent tapped me on the shoulder and asked "What is all this, eh, big big deal?" Well, all of this, eh, is a big big deal, the second annual Gen Art Chicago Film Festival, launching once again at the historic Music Box Theatre in Chicago's tony Southport Corridor neighborhood on a clear long-lasting June night.
The festival got off on firm footing with the prom date charmer "Bart Got a Room." This warm-hearted comedy delivered a steady stream of uproarious laughter to the capacity crowd, not to mention strategically placed lizards in and around its Florida locales.
I was sitting next to the flick's director Brian Hecker, decked out in L.A. black, and even he chuckled during some of the film's best lines, though I'm sure he'd seen them several times before...
The party moved to a sexy loft space called the Ravenswood Billboard Factory. The Factory is one of the coolest venues where this Chicago blogger has ever nursed a cold Stella Artois (and another, and another). The space was multi-level with indoor and outdoor spaces, decorated with flirty white curtains and lit by pastel-colored paper lanterns. The DJ was hot, and so were the boys and girls. And so was the food! My friend asked: "What do you think these pot stickers were marinated in?" as he ate them two at a time.
Like all great parties, it had to end sometime. So 'round midnight, the bright-eyed staff served ice cream dripped in yummy syrups (I declined, I'm watching my figure) the bartenders switched to serving only Borba water, and all too soon we were back out into the breezy Chicago night, Gen Art gift bag totes in tow, on our way to four more nights of premieres and parties.
- Stuart Ross
