This evening, Nov. 19, 130 Chicago-based musicians whose work and travels often keep them from enjoying for a home cooked holiday dinner, are guests of Music Dealers’ 4th annual Harvest Potluck, where they can just relax and have a great time, starting at 6:30 p.m.
“A turkey dinner with all the trimmings is our way showing appreciation for our artist community of composers, independent musicians, bands, singer-songwriters, producers,” says Clay Johnson, CEO of the global creative music company.
Among the special guests attending are rappers Taylor Bennett and JDP and bands Marina City, which recently won the Battle of the Bands for the Warped Tour, Tall Walker, Ayoh and Celine Neon, the all-girl band.
Music Dealers converted the front part of its 7,000-sq. ft. West Loop loft office into a large family-style dining room. Tables formed from workstations are covered with festive seasonal orange tablecloths and Thanksgiving décor. Food is served family style.
The meal has been in preparation for the past week. In her Logan Square kitchen, Emily Balser, Music Dealers’ operations director and the chef du cuisine, roasted 50 lbs. of turkey and made the dressing, sweet potatoes and quarts of gravy.
Rob Lindquist, director of artist services, who organized and is supervising the event, brought in mounds of homemade mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese, while the staff of 20 plus interns brought potluck dishes of cranberry sauce, sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, deviled eggs, green bean casseroles, corn bread, pumpkin fudge, cookies and pies.
Music Dealers is providing beverages throughout the evening and the guests the after dinner entertainment.
Music Dealers is also contributing to the Greater Chicago Food Depository for the first time since it began hosting its annual appreciation dinner.
“The evening is our special treat to the music community, but we asked that each guest bring one non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Depository,” Johnson says.
Tenants in Music Dealers’ office building, of about 1,000 individuals, are also participating in the food drive.
Music Dealers invites its West Loop neighbors, or anyone, to join the drive by contributing a non-perishable food item, from now through Wednesday, Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving.
Update: See the photos from the event here.
Music Dealers is located at 328 S. Jefferson, suite 260. For additional information, phone Lyndsey Ager at 312/533-2342.
