Call it the official beginning of summer for Chicago’s Latino community. The Cinco de Mayo festivities that will be held all weekend long kick off a string of parades, music festivals and family events that will last well into mid-September. Like the 4th of July in this country, most of these parades and festivities celebrate Latin America’s independence from Spain more than two centuries ago. Others, like the Puerto Rican Day Parade and festivities in Humboldt Park in mid-June, reaffirm a community’s contribution to Chicago’s colorful ethnic quilt. And yet others, such as the Pan-American Festival, are organized for purely commercial reasons. (Although the same could be said of most Latino-themed events.)
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that is remembered more by Mexicans and Mexican-Americans in the United States than by Mexicans in Mexico. And it could very well be because Ignacio Zaragoza, the general who led the Mexican Army against the French in Puebla 136 years ago, was a Mexican born in Texas when the Lone Star State was still a part of Mexico.
Two different battles will be waged this weekend as part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations. One for your five senses. (After all, most Latino celebrations are an explosion of taste, color and sights.) The other battle will be waged for the pockets of the Latino consumer (and most probably yours, too).
Here is just a sample of all the events scheduled for this very hectic weekend:
Dances, fests and parades
13th Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival: Sponsored by Heftel-owned WOJO-FM, WLXX-AM and WIND-AM, this yearly festival offers quite a spicy and diverse menu of Mexican and tropical music, games, prizes, food and other family-oriented activities. Ranchera heartthrobs Pedro Fernandez and Angeles Ochoa, hard-rockers El Tri and a special appearance by Don Francisco, the host of “Sabado Gigante,” the most popular variety show in Spanish-language television, headline the two-day event. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the East building of McCormick Place, 23rd and Lake Shore Drive. $5. 312-751-5560.
Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce’s Cinco de Mayo Festival: Part of the chamber’s official Cinco de Mayo festivities, this weekend-long event is geared more toward local talent and family fun. Corporations will show their wares, the smell of tacos and gorditas will waft in the air and you’ll be listening to tons of nortenas and rancheras as well as other styles of Mexican music. Don Francisco is also scheduled to make an appearance. May 1-3, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Sunday. For a full schedule of events, call 773-762-6565.
Cinco de Mayo Parade: Organized by the Cermak Road Chamber of Commerce and the Club Puebla (a civic organization made up of Mexicans born in Puebla), the parade will begin at 11:45 a.m. Sunday at the corner of Damen Street and Cermak Road, and end at the corner of Kedzie Street and Cermak. 773-762-6565.
La Ley’s Cinco de Mayo Festival: Chicago’s No. 1 Spanish-language radio station, WLEY 107.9 FM (and WOJO-FM’s main competitor), hits back with its own festival Sunday at the International Amphitheater. Heavy on the Norteno and tejano sound, the program features the likes of Laura Flores, Michael Salgado and Lupe Esparza, former vocalist of banda supergroup Bronco. The free event will start at noon and end at 8 p.m. 312-920-9500.
Salsedo Press May Day Blast: Celebrate International Worker’s Day and Cinco de Mayo with this all-night party organized by Chicago’s leading Latino printing press. Music by Sones de Mexico and Ghanatta-African High Life. Saturday, from 9 p.m. until heaven knows when. Free entertainment, beer and snacks (although a donation of $15 is requested). 3139 W. Chicago Ave. 773-533-9900.
Restaurants
Dos Hermanos: Has created a special celebration of Mexico’s Cinco de Mayo for Tuesday. The celebration will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature: complimentary appetizers such as quesadillas, and spicy chicken wings as well as draft beer specials. Guests will be eligible to enter a drawing for Levy Restaurants dining certificates and other prizes. Located on the second floor of the Sears Tower, 233 South Wacker Drive. 312-993-0527.
Frida’s: From Friday through Thursday, in addition to regular a la carte choices, Frida’s will be offering a salad of mandarin oranges, jicama and cilantro in a light vinaigrette dressing; poblano peppers filled with a sweet and savory mixture of pork, apples, raisins, cinnamon and spices; and Frida’s unique version of traditional Mexican flan with fresh strawberries. Live music from the Jason Stone trio. 312-3FRIDAS.
Hacienda Tecalitlan: Chef Dudley Nieto, a Puebla native, has been one of the foremost defenders of Mexico’s traditional cuisine. That is why he held the first ever Mole Festival last March at this elegant restaurant located at 820 N. Ashland Ave. As a result of that festival, he organized the first-ever Mole Contest and the results can be tasted from 3 to 5 p.m Saturday. 312-243-6667.
Hat Dance: Join Chef Luis Rodriguez in honoring Cinco de Mayo with a traditional fiesta of food, music and fun through Sunday. Rodriguez will offer a menu of favorite dishes including a recipe that has been a family tradition for 75 years, Pastel de Chocolate San Marcos (Mexican chocolate cake with mango cream). The restaurant will also host the “Cinco de Mayo festival of Avocados” during these two days. 325 W. Huron. 312-649-0066.
Havana: Special dishes include braised ox tail with jalapeno and fiery rioja sauce; fricassee of spiny lobster over coconut rice with vanilla citrus butter; and turkey medallions with roasted poblano mole sauce served with anatto rice and fried plantains. Plus tequila drink specials. Havana is open 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday; 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday. 230 W. Kinzie St. 312-595-0101.
Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant: The special Cinco de Mayo menu includes such main course specialties as baked Chilean bass with a cilantro sauce, breast of chicken shredded with Mexican chorizo, onions and tomatoes, lobster enchiladas and fresh Cactus salad. 4821 N. Elston Ave. 773-777-5304.
Other stuff
Ethnically Speaking: 1412 Leonard Pl., Evanston. Will showcase on Saturday and Sunday fantastic Oaxacan wood carvings, woven Zapotec rugs, hand-woven headbands crafted by the Trique Indians and a limited collection of art work crafted by the Huichol Indians among other Mexican indigenous works. 847-491-0714.
Kohl Children’s Museum: As part of the Cinco de Mayo festivities, the museum presents Mexican Heritage Celebration, Tuesday through Thursday. At 11 a.m. and again at 3:30 p.m., museum visitors will be invited to make traditional tin ornaments and good luck charms while grooving to the sounds of traditional Mexican music. At 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, children’s entertainer Matt Lewis will stroll around the Museum serenading the visitors with traditional Mexican songs. 165 Green Bay Rd., Wilmette. 847-256-6056.
Latino Horizons: In its 25th year, this celebration of Latino culture and its contribution to science and the arts organized by the Museum of Science and Industry will focus on the role Spanish-language radio plays in this city’s competitive media market. As part of the museum’s temporary exhibit “Sounds of Chicago,” visitors will see how an actual community radio station comes to life. Visitors will also enjoy a diverse array of musical styles performed by local musicians and groups. Performing this weekend: Oxib K’ajau, Chicago’s Guatemalan Folkloric Ballet and Puerto Rico’s Yuba troupe, starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday; Sones de Mexico and the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 773-684-1414.
Newberry Library: Join Juan Reynoso and his Ballet Folklorico Cinco de Mayo for a dance celebration at the library’s monthly Children’s Hour at 11 a.m. Saturday. Admission is free. 312-255-3510.
