Padded Pews and Free Brownies
Had we not made an uncharacteristically spontaneous decision to drop in on the first concert in the 2002-2003 Arts Renaissance Tremont (ART) series, my family would have missed the pleasure of an unexpectedly child-friendly cultural experience. But as it happened, we got in the car and drove over to Tremont without thinking it through, and were pleasantly surprised.
The ART series has been bringing fine arts to the Near West Side for more than a decade. Presented in the auditorium, or main sanctuary, of Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ, this season’s series of seven concerts range from the big, bold sound of brass to the subtleties of classical guitar.
Although we were aware of Pilgrim Church’s reputation of hospitality, we would ordinarily have been hesitant to take our small children into a venue where the fine acoustics would be certain to amplify their every whisper and giggle. But there is much to recommend this series as a young child’s introduction to the classical music scene, and the list begins with the family-friendly time of 3 pm on Sunday for most events.
For our concert, the balcony was open, giving our children an excellent view of both the performers and the beautiful Tiffany windows, while preventing them from becoming the main attraction themselves. At the back of the balcony was a wide carpeted space where the young and the restless could stretch their legs quietly without disturbing the remainder of the audience. Every pew was fitted with a thick seat cushion, much to the delight of my bony-bottomed son, who had been on the verge of complaining about sitting through church for the second time in one day. The concert, although relatively short, included an intermission. And last, but certainly not least, there were the cookies. Friendly volunteers convinced us to stop by the post-concert reception, and then generously accommodated our little ones’ unabashed gluttony. After a handful of brownies, they were both quite willing to acknowledge that the music had also been pretty good.
The next concert on the schedule will be Sunday, November 17, when the magnificent Oberlin Trombone Choir will perform at 3 pm. For a full schedule, call 216.861.4887. Pilgrim Church is located on West 14th Street across from Lincoln Park. Admission is by freewill donation.