Acetylated Wood on Thursday; Jens Jensen and the Spertus for August

One last addition to the July calendar - on this Thursday, July 29th,  5:30 to 7:00 p.m.,  the Häfele Chicago Showroom, 154 W. Hubbard will be offering a seminar on Acetylated Wood: Durable, Stable, Sustainable Wood for Windows, Doors & Siding,  by Robin Whitehurst  and Greg Williams.  There are six more events still to come on the July calendar.  Check them all out here.

And then a heads up on what looks to be two great August events:

Jens Jensen Birthday Celebration Tour of Chicago Parks. On August 28th (and then again on September 25th,) the Chicago Park District and Parkways Foundation are sponsoring a day-long bus tour, 10 a.m., to 3 p.m., led by Park District historian Julia S. Bachrach, of parks designed by landscape architect Jens Jensen, including "the Humboldt Park prairie river, Douglas Park's formal gardens and his masterpiece, Columbus Park."

click images for larger view

The tours are among a number of special events marking the 150th anniversary of Jensen's birth.  You can find them on the website of the Jens Jensen Legacy Project, which also includes a brief biography of the architect, a selection of his drawings, a number of essays by Bachrach, including a fine history of Columbus Park, mutilated for the construction of the Congress expressway.  (And, strangely, a "Park Photos" page that appears to be completely uncontaminated by photographs, but why be churlish?)  The cost of the tours is $30.00.  To reserve your space, email Teishetta Daniels or call her at 312/742.4947.

Spertus Architecture - Inside and Out  is the name of a tour of the Spertus Institute's spectacular new, award-winning building by Krueck & Sexton, taking place August 8th at noon, and then again September 19th at 1 p.m., and November 17 at 5:30 p.m. "This behind-the-scenes tour lets you learn about the building’s environmental sustainability, how its contemporary design found a home in South Michigan Avenue’s historic district . . .  Also, discover how ideas central to Judaism’s religious and intellectual traditions are woven into the building’s design."

Since the Spertus has dramatically cut back its hours, this is a rare opportunity to see this exceptional structure.  The cost is $18.00 for adults, $10.00 for students and seniors, and $8.00 for Spertus members.  You can buy tickets on-line, or call 312/322.1773.