Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox) celebrates Irish and Irish American culture through events, music, theater, literature, and language. It’s truly one of the city’s hidden treasures, which is why I’m thrilled to spotlight what they do in this episode.

Home to Fifth Province Pub, Mayfair Theatre and plenty of meeting and event spaces, the Irish American Heritage Center is a wonderful place for community, culture and music. Bonus: It’s in a giant, century-old, north side, school building, which makes it look and feel unique and very Chicago.

Joining me for conversation over bangers & mash from Fifth Province Pub are Brian Esterline (Hospitality Manager) and Ki Wolf-Smith (Board of Directors).

Meet me on a Friday after work for a Guinness and Tullamore Dew?

Car Con Carne (a Q101 podcast) is presented by Alex Ross Art. Visit Alex Ross on YouTube (@TheAlexRossArt) to keep up to date with one of the comics industry’s most important and celebrated creators.

##

The summer season at Ravinia kicks off next month… and there’s no place more comfortable to see outdoor shows.

Your Ravinia Ticket gets you a free ride in Metra’s UP North Line… e train ride to and from the park on Metra’s Union Pacific North Line. Just show your same-day concert ticket to the conductor, and you’re good to go!

Go to ravnia.org for the full season schedule and tickets!

##

A smart home connects virtually all of the technology in your home. With an Easy Automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation. Experience seamless control over audio/video, lighting, climate, security, and more. Embrace the future of smart living – your home, your rules.
Get a quote by visiting Easy-automation.net, or call Dan at 630.730.3728

TRANSCRIPT
WEBVTT

00:00:00.420 –> 00:00:03.540
This is Car Con Carne, a Q101 podcast.

00:00:03.860 –> 00:00:09.020
I’m James VanOsdol, Car Con Carne, presented by Alex Ross Art, alexrossart.com.

00:00:09.340 –> 00:00:14.440
If you’re watching on Facebook or YouTube, here’s a little bit more about what Alex Ross is all about.

00:00:42.000 –> 00:00:43.760
So what is a smart home?

00:00:44.361 –> 00:00:47.061
A smart home connects virtually all the tech in your home.

00:00:47.301 –> 00:00:55.881
With an easy automation-installed smart home system, you and your family can control nearly every device and system in the house in ways that are easy and fun to use.

00:00:56.321 –> 00:01:05.641
Transform your living space with cutting-edge home automation and experience seamless control over audio, video, lighting, climate, security, and more.

00:01:05.681 –> 00:01:07.181
Embrace the future of smart living.

00:01:07.201 –> 00:01:09.061
This will change the way you live.

00:01:09.081 –> 00:01:13.021
This will change your home in every way, and it’s easy to get started.

00:01:13.041 –> 00:01:23.981
Talk to my guy Dan at Easy Automation, 630-730-3728, 630-730-3728, or go to the website, easyautomation.net.

00:01:25.481 –> 00:01:33.201
So if you’re watching this, you can see through the moon roof, actually, I guess it would be a sun roof, because it’s the sun coming in, and you can see it everywhere.

00:01:33.421 –> 00:01:34.441
It’s a beautiful day.

00:01:34.461 –> 00:01:35.601
I’m recording this in mid-May.

00:01:36.281 –> 00:01:38.621
Ravinia season is just a couple weeks away.

00:01:38.641 –> 00:01:39.241
It kicks off.

00:01:39.841 –> 00:01:42.361
Now is the time to start thinking about outdoor shows.

00:01:42.381 –> 00:01:52.461
There is no better place to sit, hang, dance outside to live music than Ravinia, ravinia.org to check out their entire summer schedule, to buy tickets.

00:01:52.781 –> 00:01:55.201
And if you want to make life easy, jump on Metra.

00:01:55.201 –> 00:01:57.241
It’s free if you take the Union Pacific North Line.

00:01:57.581 –> 00:02:01.901
Just show the conductor your same-day ticket and you’re good to and from Ravinia.

00:02:02.181 –> 00:02:03.581
That takes a lot of pressure off, right?

00:02:03.601 –> 00:02:04.741
It’ll take you right to the park.

00:02:05.101 –> 00:02:08.381
ravinia.org, my God, the Beach Boys are coming.

00:02:08.461 –> 00:02:13.421
Violent Femmes, Roger Daltrey, Los Lobos, so many great shows.

00:02:13.441 –> 00:02:16.181
No surprise, it’s Ravinia, ravinia.org.

00:02:16.701 –> 00:02:28.281
So it is Car Con Carne right outside the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox, a space that celebrates Irish and Irish American culture through events, music, theater, literature and language.

00:02:28.301 –> 00:02:33.861
It’s also home to the Fifth Province Pub, the Mayfair Theatre and lots of awesome meeting and event spaces.

00:02:34.261 –> 00:02:39.081
If you’re watching this on YouTube or Facebook to my right in the front seat, it is Ki Wolf-Smith.

00:02:39.381 –> 00:02:42.161
He is on the Board of Directors for the Irish American Heritage Center.

00:02:42.481 –> 00:02:44.001
And in the back, he is Brian Esterline.

00:02:44.021 –> 00:02:45.341
He is the hospitality manager.

00:02:45.641 –> 00:02:48.961
All things food and bev inside the Irish American Heritage Center.

00:02:49.941 –> 00:02:52.841
What a fascinating and wonderful building this is.

00:02:52.861 –> 00:02:54.101
I got the tour.

00:02:54.121 –> 00:02:56.741
I want to talk about everything about this space.

00:02:57.341 –> 00:02:59.761
Truly a hidden gem more people need to know about.

00:02:59.841 –> 00:03:01.821
I’m thrilled we’re doing this episode.

00:03:02.101 –> 00:03:03.241
More people need to know about this.

00:03:03.781 –> 00:03:06.121
But you brought food, so we should start eating that.

00:03:06.141 –> 00:03:08.381
I mean, I don’t want to bury the lead here.

00:03:08.401 –> 00:03:11.681
We’ve got food from Fifth Province in these handsome bags.

00:03:11.701 –> 00:03:12.301
It’s for you.

00:03:13.121 –> 00:03:14.281
Are you going to have to get it out?

00:03:14.581 –> 00:03:14.901
Yeah.

00:03:15.441 –> 00:03:16.961
So Brian, you’re food and bev.

00:03:17.001 –> 00:03:17.781
What are we eating?

00:03:18.101 –> 00:03:23.341
We have our meatloaf with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

00:03:23.421 –> 00:03:24.661
Which is perfect for a hot car.

00:03:24.941 –> 00:03:25.481
Yeah.

00:03:25.561 –> 00:03:26.881
It’s our Saturday special.

00:03:27.241 –> 00:03:28.041
Here’s the bangers.

00:03:28.061 –> 00:03:28.781
Pass this up to you.

00:03:29.761 –> 00:03:30.341
That’s the meatloaf.

00:03:30.361 –> 00:03:33.641
And then we also have bangers and mash, which is more of an Irish traditional.

00:03:33.661 –> 00:03:34.101
For sure.

00:03:34.121 –> 00:03:37.261
All right, so, oh, here’s the meatloaf with asparagus.

00:03:38.361 –> 00:03:39.301
Oh, look at those potatoes.

00:03:39.381 –> 00:03:39.621
Yep.

00:03:39.961 –> 00:03:41.161
And then bangers and mash.

00:03:41.221 –> 00:03:42.301
That’s a classic.

00:03:43.061 –> 00:03:46.681
Just good stick to your ribs comfort food right there.

00:03:46.701 –> 00:03:49.461
Good Irish sausage and potatoes.

00:03:51.181 –> 00:03:51.801
I’m excited.

00:03:52.721 –> 00:03:54.961
Do we have, what else is in there?

00:03:55.001 –> 00:03:56.001
Are these both bangers here?

00:03:56.081 –> 00:03:56.361
Yep.

00:03:56.541 –> 00:03:56.841
Nice.

00:03:56.841 –> 00:03:57.141
All right.

00:03:57.161 –> 00:03:57.901
We’ve got a lot of them.

00:03:57.901 –> 00:03:58.881
I’m going to start with the bangers.

00:03:59.341 –> 00:03:59.481
Sure.

00:03:59.501 –> 00:03:59.741
Let’s do it.

00:03:59.761 –> 00:04:00.121
Let’s do it.

00:04:00.141 –> 00:04:02.381
I’m a sausage guy.

00:04:02.401 –> 00:04:03.181
I’m from Chicago.

00:04:03.201 –> 00:04:03.721
That’s true.

00:04:03.941 –> 00:04:04.681
This is the city.

00:04:05.121 –> 00:04:05.881
This is the city.

00:04:06.621 –> 00:04:09.341
We get our sausages from Winston’s on the south side.

00:04:09.921 –> 00:04:10.301
Nice.

00:04:11.161 –> 00:04:14.561
And you’ll find very quickly here, it’s a balancing act trying to eat in the car.

00:04:15.361 –> 00:04:16.541
It’s part of the hilarity.

00:04:16.561 –> 00:04:17.821
It can hold up too if you eat it.

00:04:18.201 –> 00:04:18.561
I got it.

00:04:20.421 –> 00:04:20.781
The hilarity.

00:04:21.061 –> 00:04:21.681
The hilarity.

00:04:21.801 –> 00:04:22.081
Right?

00:04:22.101 –> 00:04:22.581
You want a banger?

00:04:22.661 –> 00:04:23.241
Oh, I’d love one.

00:04:23.681 –> 00:04:23.901
Yeah.

00:04:23.921 –> 00:04:25.221
This is has a little onion gravy.

00:04:25.981 –> 00:04:26.721
Oh, is that what this is?

00:04:28.781 –> 00:04:31.901
You had me at sausage and you really sealed the deal with onion gravy.

00:04:32.601 –> 00:04:33.141
Look at this.

00:04:34.961 –> 00:04:35.981
Yes, indeed, my friends.

00:04:36.001 –> 00:04:37.861
This is how you spend a Friday night on.

00:04:37.881 –> 00:04:42.021
These are freshly cooked like my fingerprints have just been steered off.

00:04:42.681 –> 00:04:48.241
Yeah, you got to do with onion gravy.

00:04:48.281 –> 00:04:48.921
That’s solid.

00:04:50.421 –> 00:04:52.381
Are we cross pollinating or can I just double dip?

00:04:52.561 –> 00:04:53.061
Double dip.

00:04:53.081 –> 00:04:53.461
Double dip.

00:04:55.241 –> 00:04:57.421
Because this onion gravy, I could drink the onion gravy.

00:04:58.821 –> 00:05:05.721
Let’s start by talking about Fifth Province, food, beers, tons and tons of Irish whiskey.

00:05:06.021 –> 00:05:07.121
Talk a little bit about the space.

00:05:07.961 –> 00:05:14.701
Well, the Fifth Province is closed for COVID like everywhere.

00:05:15.021 –> 00:05:24.001
We opened it back up and we expanded the menu and mostly has a lot of traditional Irish things, but then some American kind of gastropub things too.

00:05:24.781 –> 00:05:27.741
And we expanded the beer menu.

00:05:28.221 –> 00:05:29.121
We have our own beer too.

00:05:29.141 –> 00:05:31.181
We have a Fifth Province ale, which is really cool.

00:05:31.321 –> 00:05:32.041
Who do you do that with?

00:05:32.361 –> 00:05:33.581
We do that with Lake Effect Brewing.

00:05:34.201 –> 00:05:37.341
And then we recently expanded our whiskey list.

00:05:37.361 –> 00:05:40.381
We have over 60 Irish whiskeys, which is really cool too.

00:05:40.401 –> 00:05:42.461
We have live music every Friday and Saturday night.

00:05:42.801 –> 00:05:44.881
We’re recording on a Friday, there’s live music happening.

00:05:45.501 –> 00:05:47.301
They’re about to happen as we’re recording this.

00:05:47.521 –> 00:05:47.961
That’s right.

00:05:47.981 –> 00:05:50.301
And then we also have a concert tonight in the Mayfair Theatre.

00:05:51.281 –> 00:05:54.581
It’s the Bow Tides are playing tonight, which brings you more.

00:05:54.601 –> 00:05:55.961
It seems like there’s always stuff going on.

00:05:57.261 –> 00:06:02.601
Almost to the point where it’s hard to keep track of everything, with the music and events.

00:06:03.041 –> 00:06:08.061
Yeah, and don’t forget the traditional fest, the sessions on Thursday nights too.

00:06:08.281 –> 00:06:09.121
So what are those?

00:06:09.181 –> 00:06:09.901
Brian mentioned those.

00:06:09.921 –> 00:06:10.561
What are those?

00:06:11.681 –> 00:06:15.581
So that’s a traditional Irish session.

00:06:15.601 –> 00:06:20.321
So it’ll be like fiddle players, flute players, barong players, and they come in.

00:06:20.341 –> 00:06:25.961
Anyone can come in and join and just participate and get in a big circle around the fireplace in the Fifth Province.

00:06:25.981 –> 00:06:28.181
So that’s a blast.

00:06:28.201 –> 00:06:28.501
Magic.

00:06:28.521 –> 00:06:29.041
Oh, it’s great.

00:06:29.061 –> 00:06:31.661
Yeah, it’s like a jam session but with Irish traditional music.

00:06:32.701 –> 00:06:37.561
So this is centered around the Irish American community, but really this is all just community period.

00:06:37.581 –> 00:06:38.361
That’s right.

00:06:38.381 –> 00:06:39.621
Especially for the neighborhood here, yeah.

00:06:39.621 –> 00:06:42.421
Yeah, and people can just come in and feel warm and welcome.

00:06:44.161 –> 00:06:46.941
The first thing I saw when I walked in was the bar.

00:06:46.961 –> 00:06:48.181
I’m like, oh, that’s the place I want to hang out at.

00:06:48.201 –> 00:06:49.001
Yeah.

00:06:49.841 –> 00:06:52.901
Yeah, the bar, it’s a really cool space.

00:06:52.921 –> 00:07:03.621
It was built by just like the neighborhood working class of Mayfair up here and the Irish founders of the Irish Center, which kind of volunteered their time to build it.

00:07:03.841 –> 00:07:08.121
The bar top itself is the old chalkboards from the school that this used to be.

00:07:08.141 –> 00:07:11.421
Yeah, so I failed to mention that this is an old Chicago school building.

00:07:11.441 –> 00:07:16.821
If you drove by and had never seen the space, you wouldn’t be wrong to think, oh, that’s just a school.

00:07:16.841 –> 00:07:21.341
But when closer looking, oh, this is a former school that’s been transformed.

00:07:21.781 –> 00:07:27.141
So to your point, the bar is made of the old chalkboards from the building when it was a school.

00:07:27.801 –> 00:07:28.921
I think that’s called upcycling.

00:07:39.981 –> 00:07:41.661
We were doing it before, yeah, absolutely.

00:07:41.681 –> 00:07:45.641
When it comes to navigating your career, it really isn’t a linear path.

00:07:45.661 –> 00:07:51.461
You just have to make the best choices with the information that you have at the time and just trust in the journey.

00:07:51.541 –> 00:07:53.601
Our job security is ourselves.

00:07:53.661 –> 00:07:55.421
It is our ability to bounce back.

00:07:55.541 –> 00:07:59.461
And if there’s one thing that I’ve heard is that I’m always going to rise to the top.

00:07:59.561 –> 00:08:01.881
Brown Ambition, wherever you listen.

00:08:03.741 –> 00:08:04.921
So, all right, we’ll take a step back.

00:08:04.941 –> 00:08:07.981
I’m going to keep eating these sausages because, oh my God, these are good.

00:08:08.441 –> 00:08:10.781
And they’re nice and crunchy too.

00:08:10.801 –> 00:08:13.781
I mean, this is a problem.

00:08:13.801 –> 00:08:14.821
Can I pass another one back to you?

00:08:15.701 –> 00:08:16.341
I’m not sharing.

00:08:16.361 –> 00:08:16.941
I’m sorry, Brian.

00:08:18.141 –> 00:08:19.701
I made the decision right from the get-go.

00:08:19.721 –> 00:08:20.941
There will be no sharing of mine.

00:08:22.981 –> 00:08:26.261
The building itself, it’s like it’s a century old.

00:08:27.361 –> 00:08:28.301
100 years this year.

00:08:28.321 –> 00:08:29.901
Yep, 100 years this year.

00:08:31.181 –> 00:08:33.121
When did you take over this space?

00:08:33.921 –> 00:08:36.861
The Irish Center was taken over in 1985.

00:08:37.581 –> 00:08:40.621
It was an abandoned building for, I think they said, 14 or 15 years before that.

00:08:40.641 –> 00:08:45.741
It was broken windows and all kinds of brickwork done.

00:08:45.761 –> 00:08:52.141
And then a bunch of people from the neighborhood, the Irish and Irish immigrants, who put their money together to get the place.

00:08:52.481 –> 00:08:57.281
And then they just put their volunteer and volunteer their time and their money to build it into what it is.

00:08:58.101 –> 00:09:04.241
There’s old scrapbook photos of rooms just full of old furniture that were just piled in there and left and just covered in dust.

00:09:04.261 –> 00:09:11.361
It was incredible the work that those founders put in and all that volunteer work to make the place what it is today.

00:09:12.121 –> 00:09:12.821
I was fascinated.

00:09:12.841 –> 00:09:15.901
I went on the tour and I kind of knew what to expect, but I didn’t.

00:09:16.481 –> 00:09:23.841
And just everything that’s here, the library I want to talk about, because what a resource and what a lovely room and space that is.

00:09:24.381 –> 00:09:33.041
I’m looking through the glass cases at these old hardbound Irish books that probably are from the turn of the century, the previous turn of the century.

00:09:33.581 –> 00:09:38.081
And it’s just, what a thrill to be able to look at that past.

00:09:39.061 –> 00:09:39.501
Absolutely.

00:09:39.521 –> 00:09:46.021
It’s a beautiful space and the people who take care of it are all volunteer based and they do it out of, it’s their passion, right?

00:09:46.041 –> 00:09:50.501
It’s their passion to preserve and to collect and to bring these things in here.

00:09:50.521 –> 00:09:52.781
So we have them for generations to come.

00:09:54.781 –> 00:10:00.421
And as I was saying to Brian, I mean, a lot of the stuff that’s in this library doesn’t exist online.

00:10:00.441 –> 00:10:01.701
There’s no way it could exist online.

00:10:02.241 –> 00:10:13.021
The fact that it’s being preserved and is available to the public, I think it’s a public service almost to be able to share those old books that you can’t find anywhere.

00:10:13.381 –> 00:10:13.661
Yeah.

00:10:13.901 –> 00:10:14.661
Yeah, it’s special.

00:10:14.981 –> 00:10:15.821
It really feels it.

00:10:15.841 –> 00:10:27.621
And what’s fun for me is the disconnect my brain has walking through these halls because there is that Chicago school vibe, but it’s not a Chicago school.

00:10:27.641 –> 00:10:30.601
And these rooms that were classrooms are event spaces.

00:10:31.001 –> 00:10:31.521
And bars.

00:10:31.721 –> 00:10:32.721
And bars.

00:10:33.021 –> 00:10:33.961
Don’t forget the bars, yeah.

00:10:34.281 –> 00:10:35.301
You cannot forget the bars.

00:10:35.321 –> 00:10:35.881
They’re always there.

00:10:35.921 –> 00:10:38.041
The gymnasium is the Aaron room now.

00:10:38.381 –> 00:10:41.041
You saw that upstairs above the theater.

00:10:41.061 –> 00:10:43.501
It’s a wedding event space.

00:10:43.921 –> 00:10:45.481
My wife and I actually got married up there.

00:10:46.301 –> 00:10:47.081
What a cool space.

00:10:47.101 –> 00:10:47.801
Yeah, it was really great.

00:10:47.821 –> 00:10:49.081
And it holds like 300…

00:10:49.261 –> 00:10:50.081
300 seated.

00:10:51.741 –> 00:10:55.601
So are you most busy with events or concerts?

00:10:55.681 –> 00:10:59.361
Or is it just kind of equally distributed through the weeks and months?

00:10:59.381 –> 00:11:01.101
It really is pretty equally distributed.

00:11:01.121 –> 00:11:03.161
We have concerts all the time.

00:11:03.761 –> 00:11:04.921
Three, four a month.

00:11:05.181 –> 00:11:08.101
And that’s going to be more and more of air conditioning in the theater.

00:11:09.481 –> 00:11:10.801
That’s an important consideration, yeah.

00:11:10.841 –> 00:11:11.481
Yeah, it really is.

00:11:12.081 –> 00:11:16.361
And we have so much money into the sound system, and that a few years ago too.

00:11:16.381 –> 00:11:20.621
So that’s something we’re trying to fill the space up as much as we can.

00:11:21.261 –> 00:11:25.801
So let’s talk about the Mayfair Theatre because this was the high school auditorium.

00:11:26.481 –> 00:11:29.061
And you turned it into a music venue, which makes so much sense.

00:11:29.221 –> 00:11:30.301
So you’ve got great sidelines.

00:11:31.701 –> 00:11:33.841
The room probably holds, what, 600 people?

00:11:33.921 –> 00:11:35.241
Over 650.

00:11:35.261 –> 00:11:37.021
Over 650 comfortably.

00:11:37.301 –> 00:11:38.481
Yeah, it’s all seated.

00:11:38.861 –> 00:11:43.261
And if we close the balcony and we have a curtain, we can partition it down to a smaller space.

00:11:44.341 –> 00:11:46.541
We can do some smaller acts in there as well.

00:11:46.941 –> 00:11:48.301
What a lovely, intimate room.

00:11:48.321 –> 00:11:49.161
And of course, there’s a bar.

00:11:52.461 –> 00:11:57.281
So as we kind of look ahead calendar-wise for live music, who’s coming up?

00:11:58.241 –> 00:11:59.001
Is it all Irish?

00:12:00.201 –> 00:12:03.181
We have some shows we haven’t announced yet, but we have some cool stuff coming up for sure.

00:12:03.661 –> 00:12:07.001
And then we have a lot of Irish things as well.

00:12:07.021 –> 00:12:08.001
Then we do a halfway to St.

00:12:08.021 –> 00:12:08.881
Patrick’s Festival.

00:12:09.281 –> 00:12:09.881
We do a St.

00:12:09.901 –> 00:12:10.921
Patrick’s Day Festival.

00:12:12.861 –> 00:12:15.441
We do our Christmas Bazaar that’s coming up.

00:12:16.141 –> 00:12:19.061
It’s a wise way yet, but quite a few events.

00:12:19.861 –> 00:12:22.201
We’ll have some bigger acts that are coming up as well, too.

00:12:22.841 –> 00:12:25.841
I think this is just, I said it, it’s a hidden gem.

00:12:26.381 –> 00:12:28.921
You can park here because it’s an old school.

00:12:28.941 –> 00:12:32.541
You’ve got massive parking lots on either side of the building, north and south.

00:12:34.221 –> 00:12:36.821
There really is something for everyone, and you don’t have to be Irish.

00:12:36.861 –> 00:12:39.321
I’m not, and I love this space and want to keep coming back.

00:12:39.561 –> 00:12:43.261
I’ll come back for the 60 Irish whiskies and the bangers and mash, if nothing else.

00:12:43.281 –> 00:12:44.561
I mean, I’m good.

00:12:44.601 –> 00:12:46.181
That’s great, but live music, too.

00:12:46.201 –> 00:12:50.281
I mean, that space looks like a wonderful place to hear a live band.

00:12:50.701 –> 00:12:51.541
It’s awesome.

00:12:51.561 –> 00:12:53.941
The halls echo music perfectly.

00:12:53.961 –> 00:12:55.781
It’s a beautiful venue for music.

00:12:56.721 –> 00:13:00.101
And as Brian was mentioning, like some of the shows, we do like different theme festivals.

00:13:00.881 –> 00:13:05.781
You’ll see, keep your eyes out, you’ll see like a Cash for Kids charity event where it’s all Johnny Cash themed.

00:13:06.401 –> 00:13:08.061
We just did a John Prine one.

00:13:08.461 –> 00:13:09.981
Another one was the Allman Brothers.

00:13:10.541 –> 00:13:16.181
So there’s, we’re always looking for different things, different bands to celebrate.

00:13:16.801 –> 00:13:20.201
If you’re into Irish music, you will never have a shortage of it here as well.

00:13:21.501 –> 00:13:29.281
Afford Anything talks about how to avoid common pitfalls, how to refine your mental models and how to think about how to think.

00:13:29.301 –> 00:13:35.721
Paula, while certainly you can mess up on a million dollars a year, it is far less likely than it is on $30,000 a year.

00:13:36.081 –> 00:13:41.301
I would meet wonderful people that were struggling with a budget that was super tight.

00:13:41.521 –> 00:13:42.641
It was 100%.

00:13:42.741 –> 00:13:44.641
You need to make more money.

00:13:44.661 –> 00:13:47.061
Make smarter choices and build a better life.

00:13:51.201 –> 00:13:52.621
It is, yeah, it’s wonderful.

00:13:52.761 –> 00:13:55.301
And Kai, when do you get involved as a board member?

00:13:56.141 –> 00:14:04.401
So I’m one year on as a board right now, but I’ve been involved in the building for several years, volunteering different events.

00:14:04.461 –> 00:14:09.501
And then also, like I said, I was married here.

00:14:10.421 –> 00:14:14.341
I’m in the neighborhood, so this really is kind of a community thing that drew me in.

00:14:14.561 –> 00:14:23.721
And it’s a special place, and I want to help ensure that it’s here for, again, like generations to come, because it truly is a hidden gem in Chicago.

00:14:24.301 –> 00:14:29.001
And just for perspective, for people who don’t know the area so well, it’s right off the Kennedy.

00:14:29.401 –> 00:14:31.881
I mean, it is literally, you get off at Wilson and you’re here.

00:14:33.101 –> 00:14:34.501
It is so easy to get to.

00:14:34.941 –> 00:14:36.541
And from the north side, I mean, it’s a piece of cake.

00:14:36.561 –> 00:14:40.961
But I mean, even if you’re coming from the south side or the burbs, it’s right at the exit.

00:14:41.401 –> 00:14:46.541
Yeah, we got the little brown plaque on the Kennedy there, or the Edens, I think, on the side.

00:14:46.581 –> 00:14:48.581
Yeah, that says Irish American Heritage Center.

00:14:49.101 –> 00:14:52.401
So a lot of people I’ll talk to that don’t know this place, they’ll be like, oh, that’s the spot?

00:14:52.641 –> 00:14:53.241
Oh, interesting.

00:14:53.261 –> 00:14:55.941
And then they’ll come in and then they’ll fall in love with it and become regulars.

00:14:55.961 –> 00:14:57.921
We’re just two blocks away from the blue line, too.

00:14:58.301 –> 00:14:59.041
Mm-hmm.

00:14:59.241 –> 00:15:00.501
Yep, the Montrose stop, yeah.

00:15:01.261 –> 00:15:02.901
So what makes this place special?

00:15:04.481 –> 00:15:06.241
Well, the people, the community.

00:15:06.461 –> 00:15:07.821
You know, that’s what really makes it.

00:15:08.701 –> 00:15:10.661
The founders didn’t put all the work into it.

00:15:11.981 –> 00:15:12.661
And they still come.

00:15:12.681 –> 00:15:15.261
A lot of them will be here tonight for the dances.

00:15:15.281 –> 00:15:22.641
Well, the spaces rented out are used by the Trinity Irish dancers, the Shannon Rovers.

00:15:22.661 –> 00:15:25.541
Shannon Rovers, they come here and practice their bagpipes.

00:15:25.561 –> 00:15:26.441
I bet that’s a blast.

00:15:26.461 –> 00:15:27.961
It’s really cool.

00:15:28.501 –> 00:15:35.561
When we do have our festivals and they’re all here at the same time and all of their families are all here at the same time, it’s a lot of fun.

00:15:35.841 –> 00:15:42.321
It seems like the country of Ireland has contributed in some way, shape, or form to what we’re looking at here.

00:15:43.381 –> 00:15:44.861
What’s the relationship with Ireland?

00:15:46.501 –> 00:15:49.481
Brian, you might be able to speak better on this, but they…

00:15:49.781 –> 00:15:58.541
We are a non-profit, so they’ve helped us with different projects that we’ve had around the building, some improvements that we might have needed.

00:15:58.561 –> 00:16:05.321
They’ve come to visit us quite a few times, so it’s pretty special when you have some of their…

00:16:05.341 –> 00:16:09.441
not like the Prime Minister, but some of their higher-ups that come…

00:16:09.641 –> 00:16:10.501
I bet that’s a big deal.

00:16:10.521 –> 00:16:11.121
Yeah, it can be.

00:16:11.241 –> 00:16:13.281
They stop by the consulate first, and then they come here.

00:16:13.421 –> 00:16:13.721
Yeah.

00:16:14.581 –> 00:16:15.201
That’s awesome.

00:16:15.261 –> 00:16:15.521
Yeah.

00:16:16.501 –> 00:16:19.281
The bar is only open Thursday, Friday, Saturday?

00:16:19.421 –> 00:16:20.401
That’s correct, yeah.

00:16:20.421 –> 00:16:22.181
Okay, and that’s evenings only, 6 p.m.?

00:16:22.401 –> 00:16:24.101
Yep.

00:16:24.121 –> 00:16:24.961
Great place to hang out.

00:16:25.241 –> 00:16:27.521
In the cold weather months, there’s a fireplace?

00:16:27.721 –> 00:16:29.201
Yeah, the fireplace is amazing.

00:16:29.801 –> 00:16:31.501
We have our bands play in front of the fireplace.

00:16:32.441 –> 00:16:38.901
Who doesn’t want to gather in front of a fire and have a Guinness or a Tullamore Dew or whatever?

00:16:39.021 –> 00:16:39.281
Yeah.

00:16:40.501 –> 00:16:41.401
Actually, that sounds good.

00:16:41.421 –> 00:16:44.001
We’re going to stop recording.

00:16:44.021 –> 00:16:45.061
Let’s do exactly that.

00:16:46.721 –> 00:16:47.841
Oh, we also have meatloaf to eat.

00:16:47.861 –> 00:16:48.581
How are we going to do this?

00:16:49.021 –> 00:16:56.621
All right, so over 60 traditional Irish whiskeys, Ballyhoo, Bushmills, Eagans, Jamison, Jamison Castmates, Prepper 12, Tullamore Dew.

00:16:56.641 –> 00:17:01.641
I mean, Brian, were you involved in the sourcing of all 60 Irish whiskeys?

00:17:02.801 –> 00:17:11.361
Yeah, it was quite an adventure to figure out what whiskeys to choose from and just try to find as many as we could from all the different distributors that there are out there.

00:17:12.341 –> 00:17:14.421
So we’ve been doing it over the past four months.

00:17:14.441 –> 00:17:15.821
We’ve been building it up and building it up.

00:17:16.441 –> 00:17:21.781
We have over 60 now, which I don’t think there’s another place in Chicago that has as many Irish whiskeys as we do.

00:17:22.161 –> 00:17:29.841
Well, just like you have the library full of Irish resources, the bar should be a resource for Irish libation.

00:17:29.861 –> 00:17:30.741
It just makes sense.

00:17:30.761 –> 00:17:38.101
Alright, so Mayfair Theatre, people can find out who’s performing on the website.

00:17:39.401 –> 00:17:45.181
And then the museum is available for curated appointment viewing.

00:17:45.581 –> 00:17:46.421
That’s correct, free.

00:17:47.881 –> 00:17:48.701
Super cool stuff.

00:17:48.721 –> 00:17:53.521
Now, I got the private semi-curated tour before we started recording.

00:17:54.941 –> 00:18:03.341
It looks like a throne, but it’s a chair that was created for William Howard Taft, President Taft, when he went to Chicago for a visit.

00:18:03.841 –> 00:18:07.241
And it was this handcrafted chair, and that’s on display.

00:18:07.261 –> 00:18:08.041
You can’t sit in it.

00:18:09.741 –> 00:18:14.001
But it has his monogrammed initials on it.

00:18:14.621 –> 00:18:16.921
Of all the things I expected to see, that wasn’t one of them.

00:18:16.941 –> 00:18:20.121
And that was just one of the fun things in the library.

00:18:20.141 –> 00:18:21.381
And then there’s that book.

00:18:21.401 –> 00:18:22.341
What was that book we saw?

00:18:22.361 –> 00:18:22.861
A colleague book?

00:18:23.001 –> 00:18:23.361
Yes.

00:18:24.561 –> 00:18:27.241
It looked like something magical to me.

00:18:27.441 –> 00:18:28.161
It kind of is.

00:18:28.281 –> 00:18:29.021
It kind of is.

00:18:29.041 –> 00:18:30.241
Like without the context.

00:18:30.261 –> 00:18:34.741
It’s just this visually striking tome in a glass case.

00:18:34.761 –> 00:18:38.681
This wildly colorful tome that comes in its own case.

00:18:39.161 –> 00:18:40.701
Just so much fun stuff to see.

00:18:42.021 –> 00:18:45.101
There’s a devotion to history here.

00:18:45.121 –> 00:18:46.581
And Chicago as…

00:18:47.141 –> 00:18:49.861
Let’s talk about Chicago as an Irish city, an Irish community.

00:18:52.001 –> 00:18:53.141
Yeah, absolutely.

00:18:53.321 –> 00:18:56.461
We are the hub on the north side, for sure, for Irish community.

00:18:57.981 –> 00:19:02.361
There’s, like tonight, there’s a group of people who play 25.

00:19:02.521 –> 00:19:03.941
It’s an old-time group.

00:19:03.961 –> 00:19:06.521
And they get together and play an old Irish card game.

00:19:07.321 –> 00:19:12.141
You know, there’s obviously the library and the museum with all the care that’s being taken in there.

00:19:12.741 –> 00:19:16.741
And then, yeah, the bands, the music, it’s a great…

00:19:17.081 –> 00:19:18.741
There’s dancers practicing tonight.

00:19:19.161 –> 00:19:20.241
I saw them walk in.

00:19:20.541 –> 00:19:21.921
There’s Irish music.

00:19:22.761 –> 00:19:24.821
The School of Irish Music is practicing tonight.

00:19:25.121 –> 00:19:26.961
There’s the concert tonight.

00:19:27.241 –> 00:19:29.301
There’s the town hall tonight.

00:19:29.421 –> 00:19:33.161
There’s the regular music in the Fifth Province tonight.

00:19:33.181 –> 00:19:34.981
There’s a lot happening all at one time.

00:19:35.121 –> 00:19:38.341
The website for the Irish American Heritage Center is?

00:19:39.081 –> 00:19:40.921
irishamerican.org.

00:19:41.901 –> 00:19:42.541
Sounds good to me.

00:19:43.641 –> 00:19:44.081
Perfect.

00:19:44.261 –> 00:19:46.181
And again, 4626 North Knox.

00:19:46.861 –> 00:19:53.521
What a great hang, what a great resource, what a great place for people to just embrace one another.

00:19:53.541 –> 00:19:53.941
I love it.

00:19:54.081 –> 00:20:00.241
Yeah, and if you’re craving a bag of potatoes, you can come and get them at the gift shop, at our gift shop, any day.

00:20:00.321 –> 00:20:00.961
What are potatoes?

00:20:01.421 –> 00:20:03.881
They’re like potato chips, but they’re from Ireland.

00:20:04.741 –> 00:20:05.421
They’re delicious.

00:20:05.921 –> 00:20:11.541
By the way, in contrast to the car we’re in right now, the air conditioning in the gift shop?

00:20:11.721 –> 00:20:12.281
Spot on.

00:20:13.081 –> 00:20:14.161
It’s one of my lasting memories.

00:20:14.621 –> 00:20:16.721
They really had the air conditioning dialed in in there.

00:20:17.441 –> 00:20:19.801
They’re working hard in there.

00:20:19.821 –> 00:20:22.501
You want people to be comfortable as they’re walking the aisles.

00:20:22.661 –> 00:20:23.981
You want them to stay a little while.

00:20:25.221 –> 00:20:29.321
Pick up a bag of potatoes or an Irish wool sweater or whatever.

00:20:30.681 –> 00:20:32.601
You need a sweater when it’s that cold in the gift shop.

00:20:32.621 –> 00:20:35.541
Where else are you going to get your Guinness hockey jersey?

00:20:35.701 –> 00:20:37.381
That’s exactly right.

00:20:38.621 –> 00:20:40.261
As mentioned, you have so much going on.

00:20:40.701 –> 00:20:41.921
I’m going to let you guys get back to it.

00:20:41.921 –> 00:20:45.161
Thank you so much for sharing details and sharing food.

00:20:45.981 –> 00:20:48.281
Bangers and mash, that’s the way to go.

00:20:48.721 –> 00:20:49.261
Thanks, guys.

00:20:49.281 –> 00:20:50.641
Yeah, thank you very much.

00:20:52.041 –> 00:20:54.101
John brings his skewed sense of humor.

00:20:54.221 –> 00:20:56.841
Jeff brings tips to cut strokes off your next round.

00:20:57.101 –> 00:20:59.701
Together, it’s those weekend golf guys.

00:20:59.701 –> 00:21:04.361
They’ll pay a lot of money to PXG and Titleist and Calloway and…

00:21:04.381 –> 00:21:06.101
How many yards do you think you’re going to pick up with that extra?

00:21:06.121 –> 00:21:07.601
I think I can get an extra 5 to 10.

00:21:07.621 –> 00:21:08.821
What if I give you 15 to 20?

00:21:08.841 –> 00:21:10.281
Can you pay me more?

00:21:10.301 –> 00:21:12.281
Jeff Smith teaches on the sliding scale.

00:21:13.021 –> 00:21:16.741
Those weekend golf guys, the podcast, part of the Believe Network.

00:21:16.921 –> 00:21:20.601
Just search B-L-E-A-V on YouTube or wherever you listen.