HAPPY HOUR EXTENDED!

Tony Lossano & Amy Zanglin, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

Amy from NUDE HIPPO here! Hey Chicago – So on a beautiful Chicago evening I wandered myself into Melvin B’s on State Street (R.I.P. buddy) to chat with some fellow Chicagoans as they were engaging in on of my favorite past times. Happy hour. My problem with happy hour is that I tend to get *too* happy and I’m done for the night and have to go home early.

I think I nearly made a new co-worker quit a couple of years ago, after a particularly *happy* happy hour, I was dragging him around with me bar hopping, while I spoke German to everyone pretending I wasn’t from the country…I think he thought I was a lunatic; and without taking the proper precautions when drinking I can be!!

Top two things I’ve learned:

1. Food
2. Water

Eat plenty of food beforehand and during to absorb alcohol and then drink plenty of water while drinking to keep yourself from getting dehydrated (which is where most of a hangover comes from) and you should be good to go!!

Watch more videos and read the NUDE HIPPO Blog at NBC5.com/nudehippo

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Annual CIMA Charity Holiday PartyRockin’ the REAC with DJ Skribble

Blagica Stefanovski, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

“Oh What a Night….”

Last Thursday, over 800 interactive media planners, consultants, agencies, clients and anyone under the sun who works in the Chicagoland online (aka the folks that bring you ads on Google and cool creative ads on MSN) space took over the River East Arts Center for the annual CIMA Charity Holiday Party. DJ Jumpin James opened the night with his tunes, then internationally known DJ, DJ Skribble topped off the night with a three hour set of jams. A portion of the night’s proceeds went to i.c. stars.

A good time was had by all and yes, it is true. I initially denied Andrew Shue at the door.

Click here to check out the party pictures …

Along with the cool video footage here…

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This week’s band: Reverie

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

Once again, the entire lineup at a Chicago music venue has been featured on TLT! This time it’s the Cubby Bear. On Saturday, four great bands take the stage at this popular spot in Wrigleyville: Algren, Lucid Ground, Bullet Called Life, and this week’s featured band, Reverie. (Tickets are only $7!)

Opinion Polls & Market Research

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Holiday Gift Ideas

Amy Tara Koch, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

There may be snow on the ground and holiday stress is mounting, but finding that perfect holiday gift doesn’t have to add to your stress level.

Here’s some gift ideas for the kids, a spouse or any special person in your life.

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A Sura Thing!

Shlomi Rabi NBC5 Street Team

At first she seemed rather benign. For real. She was tall. Very tall. She was a good 6 inches taller than I am, with heels (me, not her.) She was dressed in a skintight dress (think white on rice, red on rose, wrong on pleats), sleeveless, with a low, plunging neckline that accentuated her big, round, supple eyes. She was blonde, maybe not natural, but it worked. And she was very, very pretty. Most amazingly? She was not a tranny. Girl was the real deal. We were both standing at the bar, it was night’s end and we needed to close our tabs. I was surprised I hadn’t seen her all night seeing how it’s not every day that one sees beautiful, drunk giraffes. We were both trying to catch the bartender’s attention, but to no avail. At that point I realized that she was staring at me. I looked over, she smiled. She then knelt down and got close to my ear. “Can I ask you a question?” It was then, when she got really close and I could see her face, that I realized her eye shadow was all shades of wrong (think “Deep Autumn Red” meets “Summer Slut Orange”.) This girl was dangerous. “Actually, it’s more of a request” she adjusted her earlier question. “Sure”, I responded, suspiciously. “Can I lick your head?”. There was only one right answer: “Yes!!!” And she did.

That said, on nights that I don’t want to have my head licked, there is one place that not only guarantees you won’t get licked, but you’d be licking the plate- Sura Restaurant (not to be confused with the hot mess with a similar name in Lakeview.) The Korean restaurant on 2257 W North Avenue in Wicker Park opened only a few months ago, and I must say that I can’t get enough. From the scallion pancake to the brown rice bee-beem-bap that is served in a sizzling hot pot (don’t lick that though.) The ingredients are fresh and light, the presentation is minimalist and clean, and the seasoning is just right. It’s b.y.o.b, so make sure to bring a bottle or ten. And just to walk on the safe side, should the beautiful blonde girl sitting on the table next to yours get drunk, wear a hat.

Deliciousness Served

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Tastings, Shopping, Beer Bus & More – Chicago Events Dec 6 – 9

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

“I am going to St. Petersburg, Florida, tomorrow. Let the worthy citizens of Chicago get their liquor the best they can. I’m sick of the job–it’s a thankless one and full of grief. I’ve been spending the best years of my life as a public benefactor.” Al Capone, 1927

Capone’s gotta be rolling in his grave with all this easily accessible alcohol. For instance, this weekend there’s a wine bottle signing, and a bourbon bottle signing, and wine tastings and auctions at ten and eleven in the morning (it’s noon somewhere, right?). House of Glunz is hosting a champagne & caviar tasting, and for a full fledged champagne & caviar dinner visit The Signature Room. If you’re really committed to drinking, take a bus to the Three Floyds Brewery. There will be mimosas and bellinis on the bus and beer at the brewery, plus you’ll get champagne as you see “Scrooge! The Musical” before heading back to the city.

If you see a posse of Santas stumbling through downtown, it’s not because you’ve had too much of the strong stuff. Every year, a group of revelers dress in Santa costumes and participate in a massive pub crawl called SantaCon. Might be best to keep the kids away from the route, unless you want them to think they’re getting shots of whiskey and beer nuts for Christmas.

Instead, take them to Roy’s, where they can make their own gingerbread houses. You could also bring them to Navy Pier for a holiday concert and visits with Santa and Frosty. Satisfy the sports fans by having breakfast at The Cadillac Club in Soldier Field. Besides Santa, Robbie Gould will be on hand to say hello.

This season is mainly about giving. Give of your time by volunteering with Open Books. They need help sorting 10,000 books to be shipped to Chicago schools and reading programs. Give one of a kind gifts by shopping at the – you guessed it – One Of A Kind Show. Located in the Merchandise Mart, this show is one of the premier showcases of unique items.

Be sure to visit the events calendar for more things to do, and have a great weekend!

Theresa

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Holidays Crash into Logan Square Auditorium

MaureenVana, NBC5 Street Team

Revolver Magazine is hosting it’s Crashing Through the Holidays tour which hit Logan Square Auditorium just after Thanksgiving on Saturday November 24th. The tour was kicked off here in Chicago and is headlined by The Acacia Strain with support from Despised Icon, Full Blown Chaos, and The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza. Fans turned the north side auditorium upside down ringing in the tour on a good note.

If you weren’t dancing or trying to mount the stage then you were hugging the walls that night. The pit spanned the entire auditorium forcing those who attended with hopes of watching and bobbing their head a bit to duck and cover. Those who braved spots near the stage defended themselves against somersaulting stage divers and crowd crashers who thundered through to sing with the bands.

See Pictures From Crashing Through the Holidays Tour

All the groups got into the small venue feel by feeding of the crowd’s energy and dishing it back to them full force. If you were pressed up into the stage you may have been holding up one of Despised Icon’s vocalists, or singing into The Acacia Strain’s mic while fans piled on your back. At Logan Square Auditorium on the brisk evening of Saturday the 24th, if you didn’t get kicked in the face you then you weren’t having a good time.

Band of the Night Pick: The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza

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Between Barack And A Hard Place

Marcus Riley, NBC5 Street Team (video)

I’m almost ashamed to admit that although I’ve lived in Chicago for almost three years, it’s taken me this long to visit The Second City.

But on Friday, I finally got around to checking out the famed theater, and can say unequivocally that the wait was worth it. Ever since its 94th revue, “Between Barack and a Hard Place,” opened on March 22, it’s been packing in the people. The night I attended was no exception as a raucous crowd jammed the North Wells Street theater.

The show consists of a variety of skits, and uses the love affair with Chicago’s own Barack Obama as a jumping off point to riff on a variety of other topics that exemplify a nation divided. The shows press release describes it as “Red state versus blue. Smokers versus non-smokers. Art lovers versus philistines. Dozens of potential presidential candidates versus each other. And the terrorists versus .. well, everybody.”

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Images: Between Barack and a Hard Place

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Many of Saturday Night Live’s former and present cast cut their teeth at Chicago’s Second City, and the same unabashed wit and irreverence the TV show has become known for is displayed on abundance on the Chicago stage. And while it may be difficult at times for SNL to bring the funnies on a consistent basis every week, it appears the 6-person cast of “Between” has honed its act to perfection over the several month run. Not to say every show is the same — several of the skits incorporated a good deal of improv, including two of the cast members who do an excellent take on a couple of grizzled old blues musicians.

Forget reality TV. Forget the movies. Forget the nightclubs. Some of the best entertainment in town can be found in Old Town.

The Second City
1616 N. Wells St.
(312) 664-4032
http://www.secondcity.com/?id=theatres/chicago/mainstage

Senator Barack Obama will be at The Second City with the cast of Between Barack and a Hard Place, benefiting Obama for America on Friday, December 7, from 5 – 6:30 p.m. Tickets are a measly $750 and RSVP is required. To purchase tickets, visit https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/secondcity.

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Hannah’s Bretzel Chicago Organic Goodness That Feels Oh So Bad:)

Blagica Stefanovski, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

I love those days when I discover something by accident, then wonder where that discovery’s been all my life.

I had a meeting over on East Wacker last Friday. The meeting ended around lunchtime and I was starving. I decided to use the handy dandy Chicago Pedway I mentioned in my earlier post. It was chilly outside and I took advantage of being underground as much as possible. The Pedway took me over to the Illinois Center. I was familiar with the direction in which I was going and assumed I’d plop down for lunch at the Cosi. Wrong.

As I came out of the East Wacker Pedway doors that connect the Illinois Center to the Hyatt, I saw it: Hannah’s Bretzel. I remembered reading up on this new organic restaurant in Crain’s Chicago Business, but forgot the location (there are actually two locales, the other is on Washington and Wells). I was lucky enough to be in the restaurant around 2:00, so the typical lunch crowd was gone. The menu is huge, everything is organic, but it’s not like you are eating grass. This stuff is 100% goodness. They even had my favorite brand in the fridge, Lorina (mix this with vodka if you want a fun spin on a cocktail).

I settled on the Italian Parma Ham + Fresh Mozzarella sandwich. Good Lord, it was good. Before I even bit into my sandwich, the entire staff of Hannah’s Bretzel made me smile. With each sandwich, you are offered soynuts, almonds or homemade chips. Because it was my first time eating there, the chef threw in everything. Then, Danya, one of the gals behind the counter, wanted me to try their homemade scones. In the bag in went. After that, Danya’s co-worker, Jana (pronounced Yana), had me sample one of the team’s homemade cookies. Wow. Their excitement for the food and company made me excited to try everything. Speaking of team, here is a shot of the Hannah’s Bretzel Illinois Center crew:

I paid my fare, sat down in their cool European style long tables and munched away. I was in food heaven. There are CS Magazines around the area as well. I also saw people watching the news on the flat screen that was beyond the registers. All and all, everything was delicious – I actually wrapped half of the sandwich in my purse for eating later, in addition to the scone. I had that for breakfast the day next with coffee. Good gads.

As I left, the team handed me a freshly made cookie. It was so fresh, the chocolate chips were gooey and ready to be devoured. Now, don’t expect to get tons o’ freebies when you visit, but I guarantee a good, solid lunch that will leave you thinking, ‘And this is organic?” Darn tootin’! Hannah’s offers breakfast options, too.

To the team that took care of my appetite so well that day, thank you and see you again soon!!

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This week’s band: Bullet Called Life

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

New: vote on this week’s band!

From Bullet Called Life:

“…a vintage Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ vibe all the way to the bar” – Mike Meyer, Illinois Entertainer

2007 marks the seventh year since the inception of Bullet Called Life, a rock band hailing from the south side of Chicago. The band is comprised of four guys in their early twenties whose sound, a rich and rhythmic fusion of classic rock and blues, extends well beyond their years drawing influence from the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Who, Black Sabbath, and Pink Floyd. The band is always working on touring and look out for a Bullet Called Life show in your town soon.

Currently unsigned and independent, their original material has appeared on two compilation albums with Green Street Records, a label based out of the University of Illinois.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

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Toast to Bourbon at the Border

Micaeh Johnson, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

The year 2007 brought me an up close and personal look inside the Chicago theater circuit. By the end of the year — and just in time for Eclipse Theater’s wrap of their Pearl Cleage Series — I was honored that I was able to recognize and compliment actors and actresses whom I had come to love in 2007. Many of the clever, energetic and stellar talent who had performed works of Pearl Cleage throughout the year recently joined me in the audience to cheer on their colleagues, and most importantly, give praise to a wonderful playwright, Pearl Cleage, at the opening of “Bourbon at the Border.”

“Bourbon at the Border” takes on serious themes with a semi-comical flare, alcohol abuse and each victims’ and family members’ relationship with it, civil rights and where it dropped the every day fighters of yesterday in today’s society, mental illness and how blacks dealt with the underlying white racism as they traveled north.

The story dissects four characters — two couples and one set of friends who relate to modern day times on opposite ends. One couple flourishes in what appears to be a vast amount of opportunity and blissful times while the other can only find themselves challenging the norm while dealing with the harsh reality of their collective civil rights past. Set in none other than Detroit, the couples through tears, laughter and violence are able to gain knowledge of one another and reach turning points where no one can unlearn what they have discovered about the other by the time the curtain drops. “Bourbon at the Border” is full of cheers, suspense and surprises — a perfect end to a comprehensive look into the talent and life of Pearl Cleage by the Eclipse Theater.

For more information about tickets and a look into Eclipse Theater, the play writers and actors’ lives, visit: http://www.eclipsetheatre.com/.

UP NEXT: special staged reading, “From the Page to the Stage: A Look at the Novels of Pearl Cleage” on Saturday December 8, 12 p.m. at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater. Call 312-738-0704 for reservations. Suggested $5 donation, which will include a post-show discussion with the artistic team. A selection of excerpts from Pearl Cleage’s award-winning novels and essays will be adapted to the stage and performed by various members of the Eclipse theatre company in this exclusive staged-reading event. This event will conclude Eclipse’s year-long playwright scholar series, which began with a symposium in March 2007 featuring Cleage in Chicago, and continued this past summer with a staged reading of her play “Chain.”

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One of a Kind!

Amanda Hunt, NBC5 Street Team

Christmas is coming…. fast… and you’re still searching for the one of a kind item that will make your mother-in-law like you! She still thinks you were a mistake so be sure to not make one and pick up the perfect gift at The Merchandise Mart, One of a Kind show and sale December 6-9, 2007. Four days of unique items, exceptional prices and redemptive gifts at your disposal and in perfect timing for the last minute shopper.

Tickets are $10 and shopping opening day benefits Children’s Memorial Hospital. Give a gift while you get your gift- remember this is Christmas.

Here’s a holiday tip: if you are already ahead and made your mother-in-law a granny, be sure to dress the tot in featured designs by Manuela Capiak. Her winter collection is fresh, innovative and sure to impress. See for yourself at www.heartfeltbymana.com and Merchandise Mart this weekend.

Merry Christmas!

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Les is More.

Amanda Hunt, NBC5 Street Team

It is stated that most Americans #1 fear is the fear of speaking in public… even more then dying. Being a woman and communications major I found the knack of “speaking your mind” to come easy, however my professor jokes ” people would rather be in the coffin then give the eulogy”. So, what do you do if you suffer from sweaty hands, heart murmurs and overwhelming nausea every time you think of talking in front of a crowd. Chicago icon and world renowned motivational speaker, Les Brown has the antidote and he has been sharing his secrets with hundreds of people who are anxious to conquer their fear of public speaking.

This month of November, Les Brown conducted a Speaker Training Summit in Orlando, Florida. I had the pleasure of witnessing his talent and coaching first hand in July at his San Diego Summit. I arrived early to the four day session and was impressed to see the room fill up with people holding vast backgrounds. Folks from England, others from Colorado, actors, seniors, executives, and at home moms sat eagerly and attentively as Les Brown and personal mentor Mike Williams, dig in and share what should be behind the art of speaking and in the heart of the speaker.

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Slideshow: Les Brown

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Day two we chip away at technique, diction, and delivery. Day three, those who had no gift of gab, were giving speeches to a room of strangers. Day four, Les Brown unleashes the charming smile and witty mind he is known for and assures us that we too can achieve great heights in life and in speaking, if we stick to it.

Questions were answered, friendships were made, the coveted speakers manual was released and everyone left with their goals ready and having found their voice. Truly an impressive weekend, especially mastermind Mike Williams display of timeliness, transparency and attention to detail.

In the age of “Survivor” and “Fear Factor” mania, conquering hurtles in life is a big deal. If you have something to say, but fear having to say it, check out http://www.lesbrown.com/ for March 2008 Summit details.

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