I recently bought a 3-disc compilation of House music.

In 1979, Chicago was infamous for hosting a "Disco Sucks!" rally in the middle of a White Sox doubleheader. The fans grew so excited over burning of disco records that they rioted, rushed the field, and the second game had to be cancelled.

A few years later disco was mutating into House and, as the liner notes suggest, there was "House Nation" everybody was as one, etc. etc. The usual dance cliches (Tear Down The Walls! Feel The Love Within The Bass!)

so anyway (it's early a.m., ya gotta give me a pass with my transitions between paragraphs) the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs hosts a program called Chicago SummerDance. Thursday through Sunday there is a dance lesson of some sort of dance (Salsa, Tango, Swing, etc.) and then a few hours with a live band. This year they've added DJ sets on Wednesdays-no dance lessons. I went with some friends from my hip hop class last night.

First of all, in the middle of the week, 6:30-9:30 p.m. is an ideal time to go dancing.

Second of all, because it's free and in the middle of a park, there is a truly diverse crowd. Not just racially (although it was) and socially (it was) but there were old people there, kids, homeless people and at least two women in floral print suits who shouted "We're in town for a convention!" at us, all shaking it on the portable dance floor.

If you attended raves in the early 90's, you're old enough to have kids now and indeed lots of former ravers were there with kids who were having a hell of a time blowing bubbles, playing with glow sticks, etc.

Nice to have something put on by the city that's totally free and totally works. I'll be back.