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Silver Room Reviving Its Wicker Park Block Party in Hyde Park

By Sam Cholke | July 8, 2016 6:36am
 Silver Room is moving its annual block party to Hyde Park from Wicker Park.
Silver Room is moving its annual block party to Hyde Park from Wicker Park.
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Courtesy of the Silver Room

HYDE PARK — The Silver Room is trying to raise $6,000 to bring its annual block party to Hyde Park after the store’s own exodus to the neighborhood from Wicker Park.

The annual event seemed likely to be over after its 12th year in 2014, but store owner Eric Williams is now reviving the block party for noon-10 p.m. July 16 at 53rd Street and Lake Park Avenue.

“It’s not a money-making festival, it’s not a beer festival, it’s a celebration of our culture — our diverse culture — from the art to the fashion to the dance for all ages,” Williams said in a plea for money to move the fest. “It’s the most inclusive thing I could think of.”

The festival is free, so the donations help pay for the sound system, permits, security and other costs, according to the event’s GoFundMe page. As of Thursday, $1,790 had been raised toward the $6,000 goal.

The lineup is not yet finalized and even in its early stages is almost too long to list in its entirety, but includes Ron Trent, Danny Krivit, Francois K, Herb Kent, Obi Soulstar and at least 55 other acts for the one-day event.

The official block party is only one day, but there will be a lead up with an artist talk on disco with the Frankie Knuckles Foundation at 5:30 p.m. July 15 at the Stoney Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Ave.

The party keeps going late July 16 with an after-party from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. at the Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave.

The block party is also trying to collect 100 paintings by Wednesday to display at the block party. Artwork submissions are coordinated through the event website.

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