‘Murray the Hump – Dafydd Wigley and the gangster in the family’
Sunday April 29, 6:30pm
The Red Lion Lincoln Square
4749 North Rockwell, Chicago

“In 1932, following the imprisonment of the notorious Al Capone, gangster Murray the Hump was named Public Enemy Number 1 by the FBI. His real name was Llewelyn Morris Humphreys and he was the son of a Welsh speaking couple with deep roots in Montgomeryshire.”

This documentary filmed in and around Chicago was recently screened on S4C in Wales. We have been lucky enough to get our hands on a copy and are having a pub night at The Red Lion Lincoln Square (the scene of the crime where we met the documentary film crew last summer).

For More information about the documentary please visit: http://www.s4c.co.uk/ffeithiol/e_gwreiddiau_murray.shtml

Vote For Katherine Jenkins on ABC’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’

As the Chicago-Welsh gangster Murray the Hump used to say ‘Vote Early and Vote Often’ for our Welsh girl Katherine Jenkins on ‘Dancing With The Stars’.

She is doing pretty damn well and hopefully she will make the final! Best not leave anything to chance though, I don’t want to have to say it all failed because of you.

If she makes the final, a pub night down at the Red Lion is in order I recon.

Now get voting from 9pm (CST) at: http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars

Coldplay feating special guest ‘Marina and the Diamonds’
August 7th & 8th
The United Center
1901 West Madison Street, Chicago
Last year she toured North America supporting Katy Perry, this year it’s Coldplay! She’s not doing bad for a lass from Abergavenny

“Oh my god, you look just like Shakira No no, you’re Catherine Zeta Actually, my name’s Marina”

Marina and the Diamonds
Saturday July 21
Park West
322 West Armitage Avenue, Chicago
Abergavenny’s own Marina Diamandis is back in Chicago! Catch her at this solo show at an intimate venue before she goes off and gets all out of our league at the United Center in August supporting Coldplay..

Handcrafted British Tribute Cheeses from Harmony Specialty Dairy Foods in Stratford, Wisconsin include: Abergele, Caerphilly, Cheshire & Double Gloucester style cheese.  Prices are fairly reasonable.  For further details visit: http://www.harmonyspecialty.com/products.html

Having a party this year? Welsh it up a bit with this damn fine Welsh style cider from Madison, Indiana.

At $6.99 a bottle the price isn’t bad either.

For more info visit:

http://www.thomasfamilywinery.us/cider

Welcome to the Chicago Tafia Welsh Society!

The Chicago Tafia was born in 1999 as the result of a discussion between a couple of ex-pats wondering aloud, “why do the Irish and the Scots have some kind of setup in the States that they can turn to for help and settling into a new country and the Welsh don’t?” It dawned on us that maybe we should stop complaining and do something about it to help future Welsh ex-pats navigating the roads of Immigration and settling into the city of Chicago.

The Tafia has now been going for close to a decade, and has come a long way from its early roots. Our website offers helpful links for Welsh Immigration and Travel, local British Import shops, photos of recent events, and other Welsh Societies. Our group’s activities are wide-ranging with social get-togethers for pub nights, gatherings to watch Welsh sporting events, musicians & films, celebrating St. David’s Day, and promoting Wales at the Chicago Celtic Festival to name but a few.

Over the years, the Tafia has also been involved with the organisation of over a dozen concerts at prominent Chicago venues for Welsh male voice choirs, including: the Pendyrus, Penrhyn, Bangor, Black Mountain, Burlington and CF1 choirs.

The Chicago Tafia has also been involved with a number of other projects to promote Welsh awareness, including working with the Illinois General Assembly in the signing into law of Bill HR0149 that proclaimed March 1, 2007, and each year thereafter, as St. David’s Day in the State of Illinois and recognizing the Welsh contribution to the state. In 2009 & 2010, we partnered with the British Consulate-General in Chicago and Colliers B&K to illuminate the iconic Chicago Wrigley Building red, white, and green (the colours of the Welsh flag) on Saint Davids Day on Sunday, March 1.

Our events are as varied as the culture of Wales, and throughout the year we are sure to have something for everyone. From waking up at 7am on a Saturday to watch rugby or staying out until the wee hours to watch Welsh bands, to a Dylan Thomas poetry reading or a Welsh Choir performing at a Chicago Cathedral, the Tafia gathers wherever something Welsh is occurring. Just look for the dragons!

We look forward to seeing you soon as one of our many events.

Hwyl

Dave Parry
The Chicago Tafia Welsh Society