Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/260419
P epe Vargas started his career as a politi- cally active law student in the '70s in Argentina, but the Colombia native has found his true calling in Chicago as one of the city's most highly regarded ambassadors of Latino culture. Vargas arrived in Chicago in October 1980, eventually enrolled at Columbia College, and graduated with a degree in broad- cast journalism. That's where he discovered a love of film—from Citizen Kane to the works of Roman Polanski—that led him to establish the Chicago Latino Film Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary April 3–17 at the AMC River East 21. From a first-year attendance of 500 to last year's 35,000, the festival continues to grow, with a scheduled 2014 slate of more than 100 fea- tures, shorts, and—in honor of the anniversary—a special program with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of 11 films from Latin America and Spain that have been nominated or have won Oscars in the Best Foreign Language category. Vargas maintains a laser focus in putting together the festival ("It's an extremely complex process and a test of endurance," he admits), which is why, in his off hours, he relishes the quiet of Edgewater, where he resides in a high-rise on the lake. On a break from carrying out his duties at the Film Festival and as execu- tive director of the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, Vargas opens up about some of his favorite places in his far North Side nook. "I bought a condo in Edgewater in early 2007, and I'm happy there. Lake Michigan is a magnificent piece of the landscape of Chicago, and I enjoy being close to it. I actually lived in the neighbor- hood back when I arrived in Chicago in 1980—but at the time it was a very depressed area. Now it has changed dramatically. The beaches are clean; the train stations are new. It's like day and night. I live right in front of Foster Beach, close to the path, so I'll often ride my bicycle down to Navy Pier. I love all of the beauty and freshness in the air, continued on page 64 "Edgewater feels like home." AS THE CHICAGO LATINO FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY, FOUNDER PEPE VARGAS SHARES HIS PASSION FOR THE DIVERSITY OF HIS FAR NORTH SIDE NEIGHBORHOOD. BY J.P. ANDERSON FROM LEFT: Pepe Vargas, founder of the Chicago Latino Film Festival; the Foster Avenue underpass boasts a mural celebrating Chicago's Native American community. 62 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM NATIVE 062-064_MA_SP_Native_Spring_14.indd 62 2/11/14 12:00 PM