Four years ago we published a post about a barbecue the late mayor Dave Schmidt and Ald. Dan Knight (5th), with the help of a handful of “civilian” volunteers, threw to raise funds for the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society after Schmidt and the Council cut funding to the FAS and various other community groups as part of an effort to get the City’s financial house in order.
They raised over $1,200 that first year.
Over the next two years the entire City Council became involved, along with an additional handful of civilians. And the donations grew as well – aided considerably by our local Whole Foods Market which this year is donating all the food for what is being billed as “Mayor Dave Schmidt’s 4th Annual Grilling for the Arts” that kicks off at 6:00 p.m. tonight in front of City Hall.
For the first time in the brief history of this event, however, Mayor Dave won’t be manning a grill dressed in his standard-issue cargo shorts and Hawaiian shirt, topped off by a chef’s toque or a Detroit Tigers cap. But he will be there in spirit, watching over the aldermen as they briefly increase City Hall’s carbon footprint by incinerating 300 hamburgers and 100 hot dogs.
In honor of Mayor Dave’s penchant for Hawaiian shirts, we understand that Acting Mayor Marty Maloney has declared today Park Ridge Hawaiian Garb Day, and is encouraging residents to show up tonight dressed in Hawaiian style.
WARNING: This isn’t a Jimmy Buffett concert. Males arriving in grass skirts and coconut-shell bras will be prosecuted.
As has been the custom for this event, the food is free but donations are very welcome – all of which will go to the Fine Arts Society to help defray the costs of putting on its summer concerts in the park. Last year the barbecue raised over $2,000 for the FAS, so the Council is hoping to bump that up a good bit this year.
And at 8:00 p.m. the renowned Brian Patti Orchestra will present a musical “Tribute to Frank Sinatra” in celebration of Old Blue Eyes’ 100th birthday year.
It should be a great night and a great event for a great cause in memory of a great mayor.
In the immortal words of Det. Steve McGarrett: “Be there. Aloha!”
To read or post comment, click on title.
5 comments so far
It’s hard to comment on any good these guys do, huh?
Have fun tonight!!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Not sure we follow you on this one, “Grillmaster” – unless you’re suggesting some commentators just can’t force themselves to give the current Council any props no matter what they do?
Concerts in the Park are always terrific. These BBQ’s add a little extra. I miss Mayor Dave! He was a true gentleman.
Correct PW…correct.
‘Dog…was announced last night at the City Council meeting that the BBQ will raise upward $4000. That’s well over last year’s roughly $2400. A good time was had by all…and we raised a lot of money.
We are still taking donations through Friday at noon, folks can contact me or any elected official if they want to give. We’ll arrange for a pick up.
This Friday’s concert will include a tree dedication to our friend and late Mayor Dave and a presentation of the funds raised this past Friday to the Fine Arts Society. I this is scheduled for 730pm in advance of the concert. As usual, all are welcome!!
Thanks to all involved, donors and volunteers alike, looking forward to Grilling for the Arts #5 already!
EDITOR’S NOTE: That’s great news, alderman, and quite a haul for just a couple of hours of food sales and a raffle. Well done!
But if we can offer one suggestion for next year’s event: We know you to be an excellent cook, and we’ve heard rumors of the same about one or two more of your peers. But for that kind of high-volume “short order” grilling, you all might want to try giving that Greek kid from the Second Ward a couple of flippers and plenty of elbow room.
Pub dog. Thank you for giving this Greek kid from the 2nd Ward the props he deserves. I have a long and proud heritage of grill boys, dishwashers and greasy spoon owners behind me. So make way for the Greek in the Hawaiian shirt for next year’s 5th annual BBQ fundraiser. Many thanks to all those who came out to support the fundraiser and to YOU pubdog for generously donating water bottles and other items.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Careful, alderman, or you might ruin our reputation. 🙂
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>