In what I hope will become a long running series here at Hot Time In Old Town, we introduce 'Giving Back to the Community'. Our first highlight is a special event in honor of Urban Initiatives, a Chicago non-profit that encourages health and education through soccer. Chicago soccer megafan Ben Burton will be a guest bartender at The Kinderhook Tap located at 800 S Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park. A portion of the proceeds from all food and beverage sales and ALL tips will go toward Urban Initiatives. There is no charge to attend the event so if you are going to be hungry and can reach Oak Park on Saturday, why not stop on by so some of the money you were going to spend anyway can go to help spread soccer in Chicago?
Who knows? Your contribution could be the one that generates the funding that gets the next Brian McBride or Eric Lichaj hooked on soccer. Think about how satisfying it will be when the Chicago Fire is running wild in MLS with all homegrown talent and you are chanting your heart out at Toyota Park thinking "This is because I tipped $20 on Saturday 18, 2010 at The Kinderhook Tap".
For more information on Urban Initiatives, please check out their website. It is a great organization and we should give them our full support. If you can't make it this time around, be on the lookout for a Section 8 food drive in January. That will be the next installment in the 'Giving Back to the Community' and we will be sure to pass on all the details.