Chicago Maritime Festival
Chicago, Illinois
2007 Chicago Maritime Festival
Saturday, February, 24 2007

http://www.chicagomaritimefestival.org/2007/

The Chicago Maritime Festival benefit concert, on July 16th, aboard
the tall ship Windy was not only a great concert but also a fine sail!
The weather was a bit hot at first, but away from the dock, the wind
blowing over the waters of Lake Michigan cooled everyone down nicely.
Capt. George and the crew of the Windy, again, treated concert goers to
2 hours of windy Great Lakes sailing. Tom and Chris Kastle started out
the musical part of the cruise with some Great Lakes songs followed by
a rousing set of sea shanties, forecastle tunes, and instrumental
pieces, by Cztery Refy. Tom and Chris joined Cztery Refy near the end
of the sail to sing a round of shanties, trading off verses in English
and Polish. The seafood fare by Don's Dock was exceptional and a fine
time was had by all. Special thanks to the tall ship Windy, Don's Dock
Seafood, the Joseph Conrad Yacht Club, and the Chicago Cruising
Association

With fascinating seminars, world class maritime concerts, exciting
and informative workshops and exhibits the Chicago Maritime Festival,
since 2003, has produced the most diverse maritime program ever staged
in the Great Lakes. The development of a vigorous outreach program
during the last 2 years to area schools, libraries, and senior centers,
has extended the impact of the festival to a wider audience and has
enhanced the public's understanding and appreciation of Chicago's
maritime heritage. This indoor festival held in Chicago's "off season",
is a wonderful way to meet maritime minded (or nautically curious)
folks from all around the region and across the sea.

The festival is organized by the Chicago Maritime Society, the
Chicago History Museum, and Common Times. The seminars are presented by
individuals and organizations including the Underwater Archaeological
Society, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, National Weather Service,
International Shipmasters Association, Chicago Maritime Society,
Friends of the Chicago River, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Michigan Maritime
Museum, and others. Activities for kids have included model boat
building, lakeside biology, knot tying, and seeking maritime careers.
The performers are among the best in the World and have hailed from all
across the United States as well as England, Scotland, Canada, and the
Netherlands.

The 2007 Chicago Maritime Festival will return to it's home at the
newly renovated Chicago History Museum. Thanks to the Latin School of
Chicago for hosting the 2006 event.