Albany Park's First World Fest View Full Caption

ALBANY PARK — Despite gray skies and the untimely closure of the Kimball Brown Line station, families from near and far traveled to Albany Park Sunday for the neighborhood's World Fest.

It was the inaugural festival in a diverse neighborhood that could use more placemaking events, community leaders and residents say.

The festival was held Saturday and Sunday at Lawrence and Kimball avenues, and featured local food vendors like Tortuga's Cantina and Tano's Pizzeria, musical acts such as Brazilian outfit Chicago Samba, artisans and carnival rides. IIt was spearheaded by community volunteer-based organization Albany Park Neighbors.

"If you look at all of the neighborhoods around us: Avondale, Logan Square, Irving Park, Jefferson Park ... they all have community festivals, and that’s important for a neighborhood," said Shylo Bisnett, a member of the organization's leadership team. "To be able to come out, invite friends and neighbors, and do something that's fun and positive."

One of the reasons Albany Park hasn't had its own festival until now, Bisnett said, is because its neighborhood organizations "do really critical things for the community, and it doesn't leave a lot of time for stuff like this."

Albany Park Neighbors was able to "pick up the slack," she said. Though she admits the closure of the Brown Line station may have hurt attendance, she and the rest of the organization were pleased with the turnout. Saturday evening the festival was packed thanks to the headlining musical acts, she said.

Mir Naghavi, owner of Albany Park restaurant Noon O Kabab, said he senses that Albany Park will look a lot like Lincoln Square in a few years.

This was the first festival he chose to participate in, partially because his Persian cuisine is not exactly festival-friendly, but he mainly set up shop to be involved in the community, Naghavi said.

Known for its Persian-style beef and rice, Noon O Kabab has operated in Albany Park since 1997, and while Naghavi said he isn't planning on moving anytime soon, he said he still doesn't see a lot of support from the neighborhood residents.

The bulk of his customers travel from the suburbs or neighboring states to his restaurant, he said.

"We're seeing a lot of vendors who are not from this neighborhood, which is beautiful; there's nothing wrong with that," he said of the festival. "But I think it was done too fast. I'm sure a lot of vendors and stores will join in [in years to come]."

One vendor was Maari Suorsa, 27, who sold jewelry made of bicycle tubes and guitar strings under the moniker YesterdayssMakeup.

Though she lives in Ravenswood, she said she came out on her day off from her full-time gig at Trader Joe's to support the community, a neighborhood she said has a distinct family-friendly feel.

"I saw three kids on the sidewalks on those two-wheel skateboards, and one just ran out and was like “Breakfast ready!" Suorsa said. "And I was like, I love that, because it seems more normal to me because I was not raised in a city."

Her Trader Joe's co-worker and friend Abby Pollard, 30, has been living in Albany Park for a year and a half. Pollard sold tribal and Southwestern-inspired crocheted jewelry in a booth next to Suorsa.

"I love it. It’s surprisingly quiet, safe and reasonably priced," Pollard said of Albany Park. "I hope [the festival] does continue and grow because I think there’s a lot of potential here."

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