KUDOS

Dear Fred Burkhart,

I have come to your home on many occasions, meeting you informally. Your home proved to be a place where I recaptured myself, a place of finding myself again. I came when I first moved to this city, and felt myself return amidst the new city lights and new city faces. I called myself a traveler, for my years as a child were spent moving. When I got my first big job and was overwhelmed with the responsibility of day to day life in a suit, I again found myself on your porch. I regained myself yet again. I found who once again I was looking for. When I had my first child and was feeling like I had lost myself in the loneliness of laundry, dishes and diapers, I found myself in the car driving to a familiar spot - a spot that had so many times in the past helped me regain the importance of growing up. Though I have a lot more growing to do - I am only 28 - I looked forward to it knowing that when I felt the demands of life had finally swallowed me, I could go and reconnect with what was important. I will miss your home. I will miss the faces, all different, but so much like my own - all looking for a way to reconnect to their souls.

I know my name will not be familiar when you read it at the end of this letter, but know that I received your e mail and prayed for you and your daughter on many occasions. Thank you for opening your home to me and for unknowingly sharing many of my great accomplishments.

I wish you all the luck.

Gratefully Yours,

Tabitha Sorrentino

i'm emily, you met my girlfriend and i, alexia, last sunday when we wandered in for the first time. i just wanted to thank you for such a fantastic evening. yr photography is exquisite and the whole vibe at yr home is very welcoming and intimate, you have much to be proud of. i want to again thank you for such a wonderful evening. its been a long time since i've felt that alive. so many times i find myself behind the retail checkout counter wondering what's more important, the length of a life, or the life of a life. that night i lit another cigarette and enjoyed the show. i was inspired and glad to be around my people again. and i have you to thank. so having said that, ill see you on sunday - be good to yrself-

"Dearest Fred"

Dearest Fred of our Underground,

I always carry with me the way that I felt the very first time I walked in your doors. The excitement and the feeling that "this is where it's at!!" I could not contain myself the next week with anticipation of Sunday. I thought it can't get better than this, but it always would. I remember the first time that I read in your home, I was terrified. I've always had a fear of speaking in public and those first few words that trembled past my lips were eased after I looked out into the crowd and saw the eyes, not judging but proud and loving. Walking threw your doors was like a new experience every time. The amazing art that danced on your walls and the photos that sometimes puzzled and other times, well.... you weren't really sure what to feel :) !! I don't know how others feel about it or what their interpretation of the experience is, and for that matter I don't know that it makes any difference. I've been exposed to some of the most amazing people, you being one of them. I will keep you and Trinity in my prayers.

Love Always,

Delaney

excerpts...

i know many of my friends feel like the burkhart underground is a second home to them, a place where they can always feel welcome and feel like a part of a community when their friends or family aren't giving their support. and every time i am there, i feel like it is so great to see someone carrying on the tradition of supporting young people in the arts. IT IS YOUR HOUSE and a great one if I might say so. You are the only place I have found in Chicago that provides the real artistic environment that we all seek. If your establishment/coffee night is lost, then many of the artists that so admire you and seek to learn from you, and hope to learn from others, will also be lost. Not that you can't learn from others elsewhere, but this place feels comfy, I don't feel like I have to be held to a set of rules (artistically) or pretend to be anything or anyone I'm not. We can all just be ourselves there and relax for awhile. The people are warm and kind and not stuffy or arrogant. No one cares if you clap or not, because everyone knows why we're there. We wouldn't just show up on your door step if we didn't think you had something special there. We want and need more people like you, and more homes like yours. If you go we'll all be back at the local coffee shops where no one leans across the table to find out your name or who you are as a person. That's what's great about your place, people actually care about each other. And you've got more friends than you know. i hope you continue supporting the true artists of the world and i hope you and your daughter will be ok. I was upset when I read the email about you closing your doors. I only went to your home one time a few weeks ago, but it was an experience like none other. The way you welcome all people into your home to share music and poetry and art makes me feel like the world is a good place... and there are not many experiences that make me feel that way. I came into your home, made my donation, played chess with my friend, played and sang some songs at the open mic, listened to you read some Leonard Cohen ("God is alive... magic is afoot") and stayed for the very talented featured act. I truly felt like I was with a good community of people. I usually do not go to places where there are people in their late teens because I am 25, but I think it is great that you open up your house to everyone, because there is a shortage of places in Chicago where people under 21 can read poetry or play music. After the first time I went to your home, I knew I would come back many times. I am in my mid 50's also free of drugs and alcohol for 15 years. I started going to coffee houses at the end of the beatnik generation and continued through most of the 60's and some of the 70's. I appreciate what you are doing and enjoy coming to your home and bringing some young performers and listening to others who perform there. I especially appreciate the fact that it is a drug and alcohol free environment. I will see you Sunday...sober as usual and grateful for the place you are providing... I have only been to your home once, but when I went I was welcomed with open arms and ears. I don't think that I can say that of any other place in which I have read my work. I appreciate your generosity in opening your home. Moreover, I admire the manner in which you are teaching your daughter.

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	Return to NEWSLETTER LOVE IS LIVING "Dear Fred Burkhart" *Not everyone loves me. Not everyone sends me loving thoughts. But fortunately there are enough of you that do!* Dear Fred Burkhart, I have come to your home on many occasions, meeting you informally. Your home proved to be a place where I recaptured myself, a place of finding myself again. I came when I first moved to this city, and felt myself return amidst the new city lights and new city faces. I called myself a traveler, for my years as a child were spent moving. When I got my first big job and was overwhelmed with the responsibility of day to day life in a suit, I again found myself on your porch. I regained myself yet again. I found who once again I was looking for. When I had my first child and was feeling like I had lost myself in the loneliness of laundry, dishes and diapers, I found myself in the car driving to a familiar spot - a spot that had so many times in the past helped me regain the importance of growing up. Though I have a lot more growing to do - I am only 28 - I looked forward to it knowing that when I felt the demands of life had finally swallowed me, I could go and reconnect with what was important. I will miss your home. I will miss the faces, all different, but so much like my own - all looking for a way to reconnect to their souls. I know my name will not be familiar when you read it at the end of this letter, but know that I received your e mail and prayed for you and your daughter on many occasions. Thank you for opening your home to me and for unknowingly sharing many of my great accomplishments. I wish you all the luck. Gratefully Yours, Tabitha Sorrentino "hey fred" hey fred- i'm emily, you met my girlfriend and i, alexia, last sunday when we wandered in for the first time. i just wanted to thank you for such a fantastic evening. yr photography is exquisite and the whole vibe at yr home is very welcoming and intimate, you have much to be proud of. i want to again thank you for such a wonderful evening. its been a long time since i've felt that alive. so many times i find myself behind the retail checkout counter wondering what's more important, the length of a life, or the life of a life. that night i lit another cigarette and enjoyed the show. i was inspired and glad to be around my people again. and i have you to thank. so having said that, ill see you on sunday - be good to yrself- emily "Dearest Fred" Dearest Fred of our Underground, I always carry with me the way that I felt the very first time I walked in your doors. The excitement and the feeling that "this is where it's at!!" I could not contain myself the next week with anticipation of Sunday. I thought it can't get better than this, but it always would. I remember the first time that I read in your home, I was terrified. I've always had a fear of speaking in public and those first few words that trembled past my lips were eased after I looked out into the crowd and saw the eyes, not judging but proud and loving. Walking threw your doors was like a new experience every time. The amazing art that danced on your walls and the photos that sometimes puzzled and other times, well.... you weren't really sure what to feel :) !! I don't know how others feel about it or what their interpretation of the experience is, and for that matter I don't know that it makes any difference. I've been exposed to some of the most amazing people, you being one of them. I will keep you and Trinity in my prayers. Love Always, Delaney excerpts... i know many of my friends feel like the burkhart underground is a second home to them, a place where they can always feel welcome and feel like a part of a community when their friends or family aren't giving their support. and every time i am there, i feel like it is so great to see someone carrying on the tradition of supporting young people in the arts. IT IS YOUR HOUSE and a great one if I might say so. You are the only place I have found in Chicago that provides the real artistic environment that we all seek. If your establishment/coffee night is lost, then many of the artists that so admire you and seek to learn from you, and hope to learn from others, will also be lost. Not that you can't learn from others elsewhere, but this place feels comfy, I don't feel like I have to be held to a set of rules (artistically) or pretend to be anything or anyone I'm not. We can all just be ourselves there and relax for awhile. The people are warm and kind and not stuffy or arrogant. No one cares if you clap or not, because everyone knows why we're there. We wouldn't just show up on your door step if we didn't think you had something special there. We want and need more people like you, and more homes like yours. If you go we'll all be back at the local coffee shops where no one leans across the table to find out your name or who you are as a person. That's what's great about your place, people actually care about each other. And you've got more friends than you know. i hope you continue supporting the true artists of the world and i hope you and your daughter will be ok. I was upset when I read the email about you closing your doors. I only went to your home one time a few weeks ago, but it was an experience like none other. The way you welcome all people into your home to share music and poetry and art makes me feel like the world is a good place... and there are not many experiences that make me feel that way. I came into your home, made my donation, played chess with my friend, played and sang some songs at the open mic, listened to you read some Leonard Cohen ("God is alive... magic is afoot") and stayed for the very talented featured act. I truly felt like I was with a good community of people. I usually do not go to places where there are people in their late teens because I am 25, but I think it is great that you open up your house to everyone, because there is a shortage of places in Chicago where people under 21 can read poetry or play music. After the first time I went to your home, I knew I would come back many times. I am in my mid 50's also free of drugs and alcohol for 15 years. I started going to coffee houses at the end of the beatnik generation and continued through most of the 60's and some of the 70's. I appreciate what you are doing and enjoy coming to your home and bringing some young performers and listening to others who perform there. I especially appreciate the fact that it is a drug and alcohol free environment. I will see you Sunday...sober as usual and grateful for the place you are providing... I have only been to your home once, but when I went I was welcomed with open arms and ears. I don't think that I can say that of any other place in which I have read my work. I appreciate your generosity in opening your home. Moreover, I admire the manner in which you are teaching your daughter. Add your own thoughts... Send an E-Mail to: