Natalia Avilez, NBC Street Team
Natalia Avilez
Age: 28
Sign: Leo
Day Job: Airport Agent
Hood: Schiller Park
Watching: News
Reading: Keeping the faith
Favorite Movie: GIA
Hang: The gym
Quote:“I don’t believe in guilt, I believe in living on impulse as long as you never intentionally hurt another person, and don’t judge people in your life. I think you should live completely free.” – Angelina Jolie
Angie Gormas
Age:37
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Architect
Hood: Lincoln Square
Watching: The Daily Show, Colbert Report, Chelsea Lately
Reading: Running With Scissors, Into the Wild, Prep, Middlesex, Dwell magazine, Time Out, Vanity Fair
Favorite Movie: Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Best in Show, Wes Anderson films, Pedro Almodóvar films
Hang: Webster Wine Bar or any wine bar, Long Room or any bar with Belgian beer, Art Institute, MCA or anywhere with good art (but what is good art?), Architecture Foundation tours, my neighborhood
Quote:If we, citizens, do not support our artists, then we sacrifice our imagination on the altar of crude reality and we end up believing in nothing and having worthless dreams. ~Yann Martel, Life of Pi
The Sports Bank, NBC5 Street Team
Paul “The Sports Bank” Banks
Age: 30
Sign: Pisces
Hood: Wrigleyville, but originally from SICA
Reading: Stephen Colbert, “I am America and so can you”
Favorite Movie: Eight Men out
Quote:“I don’t wish to comment further at this time” –Bill Belichick
Megan Bowers
Age:21
Sign: Aquarius
Day Job: NBC5 Intern
Hood: Streeterville
Watching: You
Reading: Your Mind
Favorite Movie: Some Like It Hot
Hang: Ten
Quote:“You can’t see the train wreck when you’re on the train.” (Thanks Mom)
Blagica (blah-gee-tsa) Bottigliero (aka The Balkan Bombshell) (Video)
Age: 30
Sign: Aries
Day Job: Web Geek &Founder:CondoPerks.com
Hood: South Loop
Watching: Real Time with Bill Maher, 20/20, Everyday Italian, The Office, Red Wings and a bit of E! when I need my celeb fix
Reading: “Freakonomics”, The Chicago Journal, Magazines: Inc., Business Week, The Economist, Wired, Crain’s Chicago Business
Favorite Song of the Moment:“The Eye of the Tiger” (it’s been stuck in my head since watching “Rocky Balboa”)
Favorite Movie: “The Sound of Music”, “A Christmas Story” and”Amelie”
Hang: I’m a mixed bag. From indie movies to hidden gems, I explore the fun things most folks either forget about or don’t bother checking out.
Quote:“You don’t go to school to learn, you go to think” – My Dad
Reggie Brown
Age: 27
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Do Gooder
Hood: West Town
Watching: The Soup, Real Time With Bill Maher
Reading: The Audacity of Hope
Favorite Movie: The Last Dragon
Hang: You can find me at Sonoteque Sundays =
Quote: We’re all in this together so help each other out.
Cara “Cara’s Basement” Carriveau
Age: Timeless
Sign: Gemini
Day Job: Radio Personalilty & Podcaster. You can hear me on 101.9 WTMX “The Mix” (over the years I’ve worked at other Chicago radio stations including WLUP, WRCX, WIIL, WABT, etc). I host a podcast called “Cara’s Basement” and co-host another podcast called “Fitness From The Inside Out”. I also provide artist interviews for The Chicago Music Guide. I do other kinds of voicework – for instance, if you go to a show at the Rosemont Theatre you’ll hear my voice in the lobby welcoming you. And I’m the phone voice of the Rosemont Theatre and the Allstate Arena.
Hood: ‘burbs
Watching: I have a toddler so lots of cartoons. When I have control over the remote (rarely) it’s anything having to do with home improvements or the afterlife.
Reading: Goodnight Moon (did I mention I have a toddler?).
Favorite Bands: Way too many to list here, but my top five include Lovehammers, Led Zeppelin, UFO, Pearl Jam & Foo Fighters
Hobbies: I absolutely love music and having the opportunity to interview the musicians I admire is way cool. Conquering the internet has been a goal of mine. You can find me pretty much anywhere you look online. Myspace, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Go ahead, google me…
Websites:www.CarasBasement.com& www.CaraCommunications.com & www.MySpace.com/CaraCarriveau
Theresa Carter: The Local Tourist, (Video)
Age: 37
Sign: Taurus
“Job”: I have the best job in the world – promoting Chicago with TheLocalTourist.com
Hood: Lakeview East
Reading: Crain’s, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, etc.
Favorite Song of the Moment: This week’s featured band on TLT!
Favorite Movie: Anything with Jason Statham – I don’t care how bad it is.
Hang: Chicago!
Quote: Love like you’ve never been hurt, work like you don’t need money, and dance like no one’s watching. OR We’re Chicago. We can do anything.
Chasity Chaos
Age:Depends, what club are we going to tonight?
Sign: LEO, check the tat on my back!
Day Job: All I ever do is write and talk
Hood: North Side
Watching: Since I am typing this right now… my computer. Duh!
Reading: Lolita and Alice In Wonderland… Don’t ask!
Favorite Movie: Almost Famous. Can you guess why?
Hang: Anywhere that I can get on the VIP list!
Quote:”My mind is pregnant with thoughts and I am ready to give birth. Are you ready to come and catch this baby?”
D.C. “Fete TV” Crenshaw
Age:Doesn’t really mattter!
Sign: Pisces
Day Job: Still trying to figure that out!
Hood: Lakeview
Watching: 24, Entourage, Law & Order, Criminal Minds, CSI NY, Desperate Housewives, Some Reality TV
Reading: Barack Obama Dreams of My Father, Baby Book for Father’s To Be
Favorite Movie: Life is Beautiful, Forest Gump, The Others
Hang: Anywhere that has good food, good friends, good cocktails, and a good vibe
Quote:Think about what you really enjoy doing on a daily basis and then figure out how to make money from doing it.
Fayth
Age:Old enough to know better
Sign: Aries; rising and moon – uh-oh!
Day Job: Dir. of Operations for an IT & Management Consulting firm />
Hood: Gold Coast/River North
Watching: Not much TV, but NBC5 News, Real Time With Bill Maher, and
the first, middle or last 1/2 hour of whatever I land on while channel
surfing.
Reading: Every music resource I can get my hands on, NME, CMJ, and an
attempt at The Devil In The White City for 2 years!
Favorite Movie: The Big Lebowski, A Night On Earth, and I’m still
trying to figure out Lost Highway, but the music is great!
Hang: The Silver Cloud in Bucktown & Luxbar in the Gold Coast
Quote:Let’s go check it out…
Jim Grillo, CMP
Age: 44
Sign: Sagittarius
Day Job: Internet Entrepreneur
Watching: Entourage and Deal or No Deal
Reading: One of 25 daily e-newsletters I receive in my email box
Favorite Movie: This is Spinal Tap
Hang: where I cant be found
Quote:Live in the present, it’s here!
Links: www.hereschicago.com
Hungry Z
Age:30
Sign: Tauras
Hood: West Burbs
Reading: James Patterson
Link:
Hungryz.com
Quote:From my stomach to yours.
Amanda Hunt (video)
Age: 26
Sign: Virgo
Day Job: Director of Operations, VasSol Inc. & Public Speaker
Hood: Bronzeville
Watching: Girlfriends, The Game, Desperate Housewives
Reading: Why We Want You To Be Rich- Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki
Favorite Movie: The Counte of Monte Cristo
Hang: Sensual Pleasures- I go where the senses are pleased: Spas, Bed and Breakfast, Specialized Dining and Deserting and of course Chicago Boutiques. What woman is not happy shopping…. Spice up your life, Cool down your days, Check out my blog.
Quote: “Live on Purpose”
Jonny I.
Age:Year of the Rat
Sign: Taurus
Day Job: Firefighter / Sex Columnist
Hood: Unitos Estatas
Watching: NBC, of course
Reading: Anything with lots of pictures
Favorite Movie: Godfather
Hang: Everywhere
Blog: www.nbc5.com/sex911
Quote:“Success with sex and dating isn’t about what you learn, it’s what you unlearn.”
Izzy
Age: 29
Sign: Scorpio
Day Job: Freelance Relationship Facilitator
Hood: Downtown
Watching: Cathouse Season 2, The L Word, HBO’s Real Sex Series, Smurfs
Reading: You mean, like books?
Hang: Where da ladies at?
Background: I just got out of rehab, which was the best day of my life. I learned a lot about myself. I mean I haven’t stopped drinking or anything, but the food was great!
Quote: “Instead of getting married again, I’m going to find a woman I don’t like and just give her a house.” — Rod Stewart
Brook Jay (video)
Age:Ageless
Sign: Taurus and I mean it!
Day Job: Founder and CMO of All Terrain Inc.
Link: Allterrain.net
Hood: Humboldt Park/Wicker Park
Watching: Not to much time for tele … but always enjoy Scrubs, Sex and the City Re-Runs
Reading: Currently – The Devil in The White City By Erik Larson Movie (s): Scarface, Serial Mom, Lost in Translation, Grandma’s Boy (sorry but it is FUNNY)!
Hang: When home: Amazing Dinners with friends and out all over town, When working: Red Carpets, Green Rooms, celebrity chef kitchens, New Clubs and Restaurants, Back Stage often: Vegas, LA, Portland, Seattle, NYC, Miami: The World!
Quote: “Yesterday is History, Tomorrow is a Mystery, But Today is a Gift. That is why they call it The Present!!”
Micaeh Johnson, (Video)
Age: 29 (barely)
Sign: Cancer
Day Job: PR Nut
Hood: West Side – Throw it Up!
Watching: Grey’s, Law and Order on NBC and TNT, The Real Housewives of Orange County
Reading: Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Elle and XXL
Favorite Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Hang: If it feels, looks and tastes good — I am there
Quote: Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.
Kaylee King
Age:21
Sign: Scorpio
Day Job: Columbia College Student
Hood: The land of Golden Retrievers, new babies, and UGG Boots… Lincoln Park
Watching: Flight of the Conchords, The Tom Green Show
Reading: Rolling Stone Magazine, Q Magazine
Favorite Movie: Y Tu Mama Tambien
Favorite Food: Lebanese… I have to represent the heritage!
Quote:“When I was a kid, I didn’t know nothin’ about nothin’ until rock and roll got into my house” -The Boss
Tom Kolovos, (Video)
Age: 43
Sign: Aries
Day Job: Fashion editor, writer and stylist
Hood: Lakeview
Watching: Ugly Betty, Best Week Ever, Meet the Press
Reading: Leisurely making progress into Alice Munro’s “selected stories.”
Favorite Movie: Dangerous Liaisons, The Palm Beach Story
Hang: The Magificent Mile, Lakeview
Listening To: Susan Werner’s “I can’t be New” is in heavy rotation these days.
Interests: Design, fashion, architecture, pilates, my family (and not necessarily in that order).
Quote: “The moment one definitely commits oneself, providence moves too” — Goethe
Link: www.TheBestDressedList.com
David Leonard
Age:31
Sign: Virgo
Day Job: Promotion Director
Hood: Bronzeville
Watching: Lincoln Heights, Martin, The Wire
Reading: 48 Laws of Power
Favorite Song of the Moment: Throw Some Ds
Favorite Movie: “Bad Boys”
Hang: W Hotel
Quote:“The Object of the Game Is To Get Out The Game”
Laura Lodewyck
Age: 29
Sign: Pisces
Day Job: acting/teaching/temping/the whole cliche
Hood: Lakeview, baby
Watching: X-Files & Arrested Development (yes, still)
Reading: The Rachel Papers by Martin Amis
Favorite Song of the Moment: Sweet Transvestite from Rocky Horror
Favorite Movie: The Long Kiss Goodnight (a little-known action movie featuring Gena Davis as an assassin with amnesia!)
Hang: Avenue Tavern has awesome nachos & martinis (you might not think so, but they make a fab combination)
Quote: The guy’s either going think ‘here’s another guy with a fake ID’, or here’s McLovin, 25 year old Hawaiian organ donor. Okay? So what’s it gonna be?
Lola
Age: 23
Sign: GEMINI
Day Job: Marketing/Brand Management
Hood: Lakeview East (Uptown if I’m trying to be cool)
Watching: HBO HBO HBO!!!!!!!!!!!!, reality television (if only to make conversations with boring people less painful)
Reading: A steady stream of novels, collections of short stories, anything about the human experience
Favorite Movies: The Truth about Cats and Dogs, Marie Antoinette, Delovely, Match Point, Annie Hall
Hang: Places that mix interesting people with food, coffee, and/or libations.
Quote: “Be Happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam
Tony Lossano (Nude Hippo)
Age: 36 1/4
Sign: Aquarius
Day Job: Producer of The Melissa Forman Show
Hood: Borderline of Chicago, but STILL Chicago
Watching: Studio 60, House, Heroes, Boston Legal
Reading: Daddy’s Boy, Newsweek, Pizza Menu
Favorite Movie: Lost in Translation, Love Actually
Hang: Always a new place
Quote: “…do it, don’t do it, it’s entirely up to you!”
LaShonda J Matlock
Age:27
Sign: Cancer
Day Job: CBS Radio WBBM-AM Assitant Producer/ Publisher “The E-Biz”
Hood: South Side!
Watching: Life In The Fab Lane- Kimmora Lee Simmons
Reading: E.A. Walls Budge “An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary Vol. 1″
Favorite Movie: Sixteen Candles
Hang: Room 21, Bon V, Le Passage or any place with FOOD!!
Quote:Yes, excellent my evil plan is working!! (The Simpsons Mr. Burns)
Katrell Mendenhall
Age:29 Forever
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Makeup Artist
Hood: West Loop
Watching: Girlfriends
Reading: US Weekly
Favorite Song of the Moment: Anything by Robin Thicke
Favorite Movie: LOVE JONES
Hang: Anywhere with great food.
Quote:“Lessons are repeated until learned.”
Susan Noble
Age: 39 with another 10+ years experience
Sign: Pisces or Curves Ahead
Day Job: Retired
Hood: West Loop
Drinking: 2005 Sam’s Cuvee Pinot Noir Patricia Green
Cellars
Reading: The Bible, ‘The Audacity of Hope’ by Obama,
David Baldacci
Watching: ‘Heroes’, ‘Studio 60…’, ‘Friday Night
Lights’, ‘Top Chef’, ‘Entourage’
Favorite Movie(s): Anything with Jodie Foster or Sir
Anthony Hopkins or Robert Redford
Song(s): ‘Clair de Lune’ by Debussy, ‘Linus and Lucy’
by Guaraldi
Hang(s): Waveland Golf Course [summer] or Goose Island
Brewery [anytime]
Quote: ‘Life is good’ by Jake
Shlomi Rabi
(Video)
Age: 18 (for ten years now)
Sign: Libra but with an Aries rising
Day Job: Fine Arts/ Marketing, Susanin’s Auctions
Hood: Lakeview
Watching: My cats as they’re ruining my furniture. *sigh*. Either that
or Scrubs, The Daily Show, Project Runway or anything on HGTV
Reading: Whatever is closest to the bed. Either one of the four
squillion subscriptions that appear to land in my mailbox, or Susan Sontag’s “On
Photography”
Favorite Movie: “A Night in Paris”, naturally. No! I’d say anything by
Wong Kar-Wai, the man can do no wrong.
Hang: Considering my gender, I find that question entirely
inappropriate. Oh wait, you mean where I hang out? Hmmm… I’d say anywhere without an
extensive beer list; anywhere that serves frothy drinks, preferably
with dessert, or make that two desserts; anywhere where the music is good
enough to make me do “my move”.
Quote: “Finish your vegetables.”
RIKKI
Age: 22
Sign: Libra
Day Job: stripper/student
Hood: The dirty streets of Arlington Heights
Watching: Baseball
Reading: Cosmo/whatever I get in the mail
Favorite Movie: Old
School
Hang: bars
Quote: “I am not fran drescher!”
Marcus Riley (video)
Age: 37
Sign: Scorpio
Day Job: Web Development Manager, NBC5.com
Hood: South Loop
Watching: Entourage, The Office, 30 Rock, Weeds, Real Time With Bill Maher, Cheaters, Frontline
Reading: Siddhartha — well, trying to.
Movies: Saturday Night Fever, Love Jones
Condiment: Pico de Gallo
Hang: I’m well-versed in the art of the hook-up — not the kind that sometimes happens at 3:30 a.m. at the Hunt Club, but rather, the various restaurant/club openings and special events that I’m lucky enough to have access to through my job. See my world through my camera and video lens.
Quote: “I hate to have to be the one to show you this.” — Joey Greco, Cheaters.
Lisa Robertson
Age:23
Sign: Aries… Watch out!
Day Job: Event Planner
Hood: Gold Coast
Watching: People with unique fashion habits
Reading: Wall Street Journal everyday
Favorite Movie: Definately a Harry Potter kinda girl!
Hang: With fun people at the hot spots in the city
Quote:Smile… You’ll live longer!
Janelle Rominski, (Video)
Age: 24
Sign: Pisces
Day Job: Promotions Director
for 102.3 XLC and 1220 WKRS and Promotions Assistant for 95 WIIL Rock
and AM 1050 WLIP.
Hood: Gurnee, Illinois
Watching: Miami Ink, Deal or No Deal, Desperate Housewives
Reading: Rolling Stone, Blender and Revolver magazines constantly!
Favorite Song of the Moment: Anything by 40 Below Summer
Favorite Movies: Wizard of Oz and Sound of Music
Hang: You can always find me at a good rock or heavy metal
concert. I love taking band photos for my new company Music Craving
Productions. I’m also around the northern suburbs with 95 WIIL Rock
at station broadcasts.
Quote:Rock on!
Shreyas Shah
Age:how old do I look?
Sign: Aries
Day Job: Publisher
Hood: South Loop
Watching: South Park
Reading: Good for Party blog
Favorite Movie: can’t say, got my degree in them
Hang: outside as much as I can
Link: Goodforparty.com
Quote:I am devoted to the virtues of celebration, the art of leisure, and the science of working smarter
Irit Silverman (Video)
Age: 27
Sign: Leo
Day Job: Television Production
Hood: Downtown
Watching: I proudly admit to watching the OC and Gilmore Girls
Reading: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Favorite Movie: Sweet Home Alabama (the small town girl meets big city
fashion scene hits home), Good Will Hunting (there’s a reason Matt and
Ben’s
careers took off after this movie- great script, great acting, great
movie),
Almost Famous (gotta love a good rock and roll life on the road story),
Goodfellas (I know, you didn’t expect that one)
Hang: I like fashion and runway shows- we have our own style in Chicago
and
I think the only reason people say we are behind LA is because we have
to
wait for the seasons to catch up before we can wear most of the styles
without frostbite as an accessory. I’m always up for something fun;
going
out to bars/clubs, coffee (but tea for me) with friends, and movies are
always good bets. But concerts, special events, plays, art exhibits,
exploring the town- anything to do that’s new and different definitely
has
to be thrown into the mix. I love to travel- but am always happy to
call
Chicago home!
Projects: I have been painting since I was 2 years old and
recently/finally
decided to make a business out of it- check out my work at
www.myspace.com/bluedogpaintings
Quote: “Life is a journey, not a destination” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ben Soldinger (video)
Age: 35
Sign: Sagittarius
Day Job: Partner in an international accounting firm, LJ Soldinger Associates
Hood: Long Grove, IL
Watching: Boston Legal, Gene Simmons – Family Jewels, Smallville, Sportscenter
Reading: Chicago Tribune, Time, Men’s Vogue, Wine Enthusiast
Favorite Movie: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly, A Few Good Men, Shane, Blues Brothers
Hang: I will be spending time at restaurants, lounges, ballgames, blues clubs, and rock concerts
Quote:“What comes around goes around. Instant Karma’s gonna get ya.”
Erik Sorensen (Video)
Age: 25
Sign: Scorpio
Day Job: Editorial/Advertising/Children’s Book Illustrator and Graphic Designer
Hood: Beverly
Watching: Seinfeld, Conan O’Brien, E! True Hollywood Story
Reading: The End Of Marketing As We Know It, The Tipping Point
Favorite Movie: (Recent) “Closer” (All-Time) “The Wizard of Oz”
Hang: The Improv Olympic, Uncommon Ground, The Suite Lounge, The Metro
Quote: “Impatience never commanded success.”
NiCole Thomas
Age: Timeless
Sign: Leo/Virgo= Lioness
Day Job: Writing and Reporting
Hood: South Loop Represent!
Watching: Gyaruu Girls, News, Fashion, Music, World Trends, Chicago Life, and You.
Reading: Currently : Masquerade, The Dream Giver, American Fuji, and True to da Game II
Favorite Movie: Friday After Next, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, House of Flying Daggers, Joy Luck Club, Nightmare on Elm Street I, Coming to America, Broadcast News, and Imitation of Life.
Hang: Chicago, NYC, and Tokyo
Quote: “Be yourself, you already have everything you need to accomplish your dream.”
“Hajimemaste”
LeeAnn Trotter (Video)
Age: Ageless
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Entertainment Reporter, NBC5
Hood: South Loop
Watching: 30 Rock, 24, America’s Funniest Videos
Reading: Running with Scissors
Favorite Movie: The Shawshank Redemption, Kill Bill
Hang: Love going to lounges, checking out new restaurants, museum and art gallery hopping.
Quote: “Girls just want to have fun!”
Maureen Vana
Age: 25
Sign: Cancer
Day Job: Image Technician
Watching: Metalocalypse
Reading: Stephen King’s The Dark Tower VII
Favorite Movie: Death Trance
Hang: Pool halls and concert venues
Quote:“It is in changing that we find purpose.”
Naywri Wright
Age: Ageless
Sign: Libra
Day Job: Events Promotion
Hood: Woodlawn
Watching: ESPN & MTV
Reading: Indigo, & Rolling Out.
Favorite Movie: Kiss Of The Dragon
Hang: Enclave
Quote:“Use your talents & gifts because somebody is looking for your help.”
Check out the weekly “Word On the Street” segment on “