Team TYKU wants to Getaway with you…and it tastes so good!

Eric Smith, NBC5Chicago Street Team

 On location at Binny’s Beverage Depot with Bianca Berger of TY KU-a premium Asian Wine and Spirits Company.

How did you become State Manager for TY KU?

Bianca Berger(c) TY KU-State Manager

Well, I have worked in the Adult Beverage Industry for over 7 years here in the Chicago area.  About a year ago I was approached by representatives of the brand and then came on board to use my expertise to help launch the beverage in Illinois.  It has been a lot of fun working for this new company and breaking it in this market.  TY KU has given us the freedom and flexibility to try new things in order to build the brand.

What are the most popular types of TY KU in this market?

TY KU LIQUEUR is the most popular type selling in the Chicago area.  It comes in a very uniquely shaped bottle with a bright green citrus tasting liquor inside-that people like.  TY KU LIQUEUR is made up of super fruits found only in Asia-including a combination of mangosteen and gogi berri-natural ingredients packed high in antioxidants and vitamins.

How does the brand differentiate itself?

The New Skin of TY KU

Currently, there is no clear leader in Asian Spirits in this market and this is where we’ve found our niche.  In addition, we are bringing to market a healthier alternative to most adult beverages due to the natural super fruit ingredients.   The TY KU LIQUEUR is packaged in a unique bottle that lights up at the bottom and this is another great selling point.  And our TY KU SAKE is poised for huge growth with it’s unique flavor-offering the same health benefits as wine.

Does TY KU have a target demographic?

No not really.  But we find that we are developing a customer base that is 21-30 looking to experience new flavors-willing to try something different.  And it is very popular among women.  (And this couldn’t be more true-new TY KU Fan-Alicia Tiffany stated, “Personally I liked the fruity sweet taste of the green one…the colors of the drink and the shape of the bottle really stood out.”)

What’s next for TY KU?

At the top of the year we introduced the new TY KU SOJU and have a major push behind this campaign.  And we have just launched the TY KU NINJAGETAWAY Sweepstakes because even Ninjas need a vacation! We are offering TY KU fans a chance to win a kick a$$ vacation to Paradise Island, Bahamas or Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The prize includes 4 days & 3 nights at the luxurious Riu Hotel & Resort, round trip airfare, spa treatments, water sports, beachwear, skincare products & much more! Enter daily to increase your chances of winning. Sweepstakes ends on April 30th, 2010

TY KU NinjaGetaway

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4 Guys, 4 Girls, and A Board Game

Glenn Murray, NBC5 Street Team

Authenticity Preview Party: 4 Guys, 4 Girls and a Board Game

This Saturday at Dream (1750 North Clark) games will be played, disagreements will be had, the audience will roar and if you’re lucky you might walk away with a cruise vacation. No, Dream is not about to move to a talk show format. The lounge will host a preview party for the growing in popularity relationship board game Authenticity. “We had so much fun we decided to do it again” said game creator Sheila Brown. “But this time we wanted to give the audience an even more realistic look at the board game complete with conversations that follow”.

If you don’t know about the game (www.playauthenticity.com) it’s great for couples, (dating or married) to get to questions that you may not ask in general conversation. The topics range from Sex and Romance, Religion, Family, Finance, Life and Real Life Situations. There are also some fun twists in the game like the “Pick Your Pleasure” Section and every turn around the board requires you to plant a kiss on your partner (helpful if you may not provide the “right” answer for your partner). All in all the game is design to help the relationship win.

The brave souls joining me on the panel answering questions from the game include: Theresa Carter (Street Team and Thelocaltourist.com), Melinda Joseph (Raymi Productions), Derrick Lane (Art After Dark), Luke Jensen (Luke Jensen & Company Management and Consultations), Tish Murray (actress, model), Michael Hahn (beyondthegoodlife.com), Zondra Hughes (author and editor of N’Digo Magapaper). The event is hosted by Sarah Vargo of Maven. Doors open at 7PM with a pre event reception and the game panel begins at 7:30. Attendees who purchase a copy of the game that night are entered into a drawing for a 6 day cruise vacation for two. Admission to the event is free. For more information call 1-866-533-9884 or email info@220communications.com.

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Chicago’s Fashion in Focus…the new Dress Code

Eric Smith, NBC5Chicago Street Team

In the fourth year of installment, Fashion Focus Chicago once again lit up the runway with the latest couture fashions this past weekend at Millennium Park. A gathering of the City’s upscale fashionistas and industry insiders, this was a collection of creative intellectuals on the scene-to push the envelope of Chicago’s fashion industry. A call to all in the know that although we are in the Midwest-far away from the East and West coasts, the Windy City is here-determined to make an imprint in the marketplace, and we will do so with our own sense of style and flair.

Fashion in Focus

Within minutes of arriving I was graced with the presence of Melissa Gamble- Chairwoman of the Mayor’s Fashion Council, Jason Felger-Executive Vice President of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Alice Berry-Chicago Native-designer and Fashion Council member and the one and only Mayor Daley who launched the Council and subsequently Fashion Focus Chicago to establish the city as a fashion destination.

Most impressive was the fact that these collections debuted the next rising stars of top students from Chicago’s fashion design schools: Columbia College Chicago, The Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, Academy Chicago and the School of the Art Institute Chicago.

Dress Code 2009

From the looks presented on the runway this evening, the goal of establishing a fashion mecca here is well in sight! To learn more and score event tickets visit
Fashion Focus Chicago.

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Chicago’s Queen of the Burlesque Scene….Michelle L’amour

Eric Smith, NBC Chicago Street Team

On location at the Studio L’amour, West Loop. There is nothing better than an original, and Michelle L’amour is just that-dancer, choreographer, business woman, teacher, promoter and most of all Queen of Tease!

How did you become Michelle L’Amour?
My background training was in Classical Dance. But I didn’t get a chance to do Burlesque until after college when I was asked to choreograph and perform a Burlesque show. I didn’t really know what it was at the time but I said yes because I wanted to dance and perform. Then I heard the music and was completely hooked and knew that this is what I was meant to be doing.

So when you say you heard the music can you elaborate on that?
The music is the classic dirty jazz, bump and grind style music…it’s really great…great drums, horns…

Michelle L'amour

What makes you different than most women in and outside of the business?
Well, one of my goals was to draw attention to the Chicago Burlesque scene and what I was doing here. I really wanted to pull attention to this city because I love this city and I think it’s great and deserves the attention. My first step in doing that was winning the Ms. Exotic World title in 2005, which is like the World Series of Burlesque. And then I did America’s Got Talent the first season so that definitely drew attention here. But I had also been teaching, because this was one of my goals, to educate the people in the city about Burlesque what it was and what it can be today. I’ve been teaching Burlesque for about 4 years now and have since opened my own dance school Studio L’Amour which has been open for about a year.

For those of us who don’t know can you describe what Burlesque is?
Burlesque is all about the tease. Exaggerating your femininity, showcasing the curves and really playing up the fact that you are a woman.

So would you define what you do more as art or entertainment?
I think art can be entertainment. And I think I do both.

How did you take something like this(Burlesque) and do it in Chicago visa vis New York or LA?
I really think that teaching women helped break the ice a bit. If you can get women on your side you are in good shape, we are harder to please. Women learn in class what it takes to do Burlesque, that it is not as easy as it looks and it is my job to make it look easy. So when they come to class using muscles they didn’t know they had, and let things jiggle that they didn’t think they were supposed to let jiggle one gains a large amount of appreciation for the art form. It’s something fun you can bring your boyfriend to-it brings sexuality in a great light.

Well enough read…to hear the entire interview click to download now.

Stay tuned for upcoming events at Studio L’Amour including:

StripTease Classes/Dr. Sketchys-Figure Drawing Class/LipShtick

Naked Girls Reading/Sex Body Fashion Show/The Tassel and Twirl Workshop

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Let’s Kiss an Make Up..Friday Night?

Glenn Murray, NBC Chicago Street Team

Kiss and Make Up With Intimate Evenings features candid, open discussions on relationships and the dynamics of how they work. The company’s goals are to create workshops that build a solid foundation to promote and enhance awareness of self and healthy relationships. These workshops are designed to assist individuals and couples as they navigate through the challenges that accompany love, intimacy, relationships marriage and the pursuit of happiness.
The next discussion will take place Friday, July 24th and will feature the creator of the Relationship Board Game “Authenticity” Sheila Brown. She will discuss the game and allow participates to sample the questions.

The company’s founder Yolanda “Yanni” Brown has been featured at seminars and private events and has expanded her business to included specialized couples seminars. She brings in a variety of relationship experts, utilizes out of the box techniques and is slowly gaining a following with her monthly discussions. Visit the web site at http://www.intimateevenings.com

Kiss and Make Up With Intimate Evenings
Relationship Discussion For Men and Women
Date: Friday, July 24, 2009
Time: 8:30pm – 11:30pm
Dance
1012 West Randolph
Chicago, IL
Admission $7

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Sample City

Reggie Brown, NBC Chicago Street Team

Hear ye hear ye! Friends, spenders, shoppers, lend me your ears!  Change has come to Chicago fashion at just the right time.  For the second time this Spring, four of Chicago’s apparel and accessory showrooms are teaming up to bring you the fashion phenomenon known as ” The Sample Sale”.

Commonly found on both the East and West coasts, shopping a sample sale is  the ideal way to boost your wardrobe without busting your bank. From an average consumer viewpoint the deals are so good they almost don’t make sense . When the sale first premiered weeks ago, I left with an estimated $1000 worth of clothes and accessories for $240. T shirts that you’d find at boutique stores for $60 and up, were marked between $10-$15. Designer underwear from Bjorn Borg a mere $10 per pair compared to their normal selling price, upwards of $35 per pair. One of the other benefits to shopping the sample sale is being the first to be seen in some of the season’s hottest new styles or be the first to take home a one of a kind sample.

Find mens and womens clothing and accessory samples at discounts of up to 80% retail by lines including:

Ted Baker, Bjorn Borg, Superdry, Shared, Triple 5 Soul, 1921 Denim, Serfontaine Denim, Chaser LA, Five Crown T Shirts, Goorin Hats, Tretorn, Enyce, Royal Elastics, and tons more!!  

The $5 racks and 2 for $5 bins are a God send, I stocked up on birthday and graduation gifts to spread the love.

They’re accepting cash only, so make sure you hit up an ATM before you arrive. Take my advice,bring a little more cash than you were planning on spending, you won’t be sorry.

Admission is free and the sale runs from 5-10 pm today and tomorrow only  (June 4th and 5th) so get on over there!

1200 W 35^th st 4^th Floor (On the corner of 35th and Racine)

Parking is available in the lot on the North side of the building.

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Lively Up Your Self!

Reggie Brown, NBC Chicago Street Team

Treat yourself  to a night of  pampering and glamorous  accommodations at  Personal Privilege’s Glam Revamp party this Saturday from 6-10 pm. Owners Avanel Hart and Tracy Lemke are opening the doors to the men’s and women’s boutique to pamper their patrons with an all out array of indulgent activities.

For starters, be the first to peep and scoop new arrivals from Laguna Beach Denim, True Religion and Jay Shoes. Make sure to check out their  $25 and under rack stocked full of women’s dresses and tops to help round out your Spring/Summer wardrobe.

With 25% off all denim for a limited time and free first-time alterations on all denim purchases,  Personal Privilege is trying their hardest to ensure that you’re dressed to impress.

Grab a glass of champagne, lean back and take full advantage of the complimentary airbrush makeup sessions, manicures and mini facials. There’s also a raffle and gift certificate giveaways of up to $200.

Oh, and did I mention that the evening is sponsored by Hypnotiq?

Part of the proceeds of all sales from 6-10, including all raffle ticket sales will be donated to the Network of Strength breast cancer foundation. 

Roll out, I’ll see you there!

Personal Privilege-2145 N Damen

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Mardi Gras: Viewer Indiscretion Advised

Shlomi Rabi, NBC5 Street Team

At first glance, it seems that with the holidays and the awards seasons officially over, all major excuses to indulge in delightfully hedonistic activities have been exhausted.

However, a closer look at the calendar reveals that one more indulgence — and the most delectable one — is left. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for Mardi Gras.

As the most festive day of the year, Mardi Gras celebrates anything hopelessly addictive, senselessly decadent, and outrageously pleasurable. So whether you like boys, girls, or both, here are just some of the events going on in Chicago this Fat Tuesday.

Click here to read the rest of this post on nbcchicago.com.

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Flirting For Disaster, Chicago Style

Shlomi Rabi, NBC5 Street Team

The other day I was in a particularly profound and introspective mood, which got me thinking about the truly important things in life: finding one’s true voice, figuring out the meaning of happiness, and trying to imagine what Ellen would look like if she got a red perm, or, perhaps, a short, spritely Jewfro. With each sip of my Chicagotini (vodka, crushed ice, organic snow flakes, giant ice cubes and natural hail), I could feel myself getting smarter. It was not until Andy came home, turned off the strobe lights, opened a window to let out the smoke, and demanded that I “put on some normal clothes”, that I got off cloud nine and realized that one of the most truly important things in life is finding someone who’ll take you just the way you are.

And a great place to find that special someone is Flirting For Disaster at Hydrate, on Thursday, February 5th. The event benefits the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago , which has been hosting a series of the Flirting events throughout the city since 2001. Advance tickets are $20 and will buy you delicious hors d’oeuvres by HB Home Bistro and Halsted’s, performance by the beautiful divas of Kit Kat , a leather fashion show by Shel-Don, and oh yeah–a room full of potentials! All proceeds from the event will go to facilitating response to disasters in the Chicagoland area, which should be enough reason to get anyone to put on their finest, look their cutest, and start getting their flirt on.

To learn more about Shlomi’s take on the greatest city in the world click here.

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Going up. .

Reggie Brown, NBC5 Street Team

When was the last time you had a chance to kick it in the penthouse of one of Chicago’s hottest hotels? Introducing Vertigo, the newest addition to the Chicago nightlife scene. Located on the 26 floor penthouse of the Dana Hotel, Vertigo provides more than an eyeful inside and outside of it’s space.

With dim sum like cocktail service, drinks are served via drink carts by cocktail waitresses dressed in sleek leather catsuits. If the hunger bug bites, a select menu of small plates and sushi from AjaSteak with be sent up from below with the quickness! Vertigo houses comfortable and stylish leather seating indoors and extends about 1/3 of its space outside where astroturf carpeting, cubic seating and a warming fireplace await you.

Vertigo opens to the Public this Saturday October 10 @ 5:00 Get out and welcome them to the neighborhood!

Vertigo at the Dana Hotel, 660 N State St.

 

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Getting in my pants (and under my skin)

Tom Kolovos, NBC5 Street Team

You may have noticed that I haven’t posted a blog about the “fall must haves” or the “top trends” or anything about those essential new purchases. I’ve not proposed any segment to the producers of the weekend news either, which would explain why you have not seen me on air at NBC5. (That may  also explain why this morning some woman from the Northbrook Court mall did a marketing segment on boots for fall– a trend I told NBC viewers about last fall.)

It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for anyone (involved in any capacity in fashion) to keep a level head. It’s been trying for retailers who can’t budge merchandise off their shelves. It’s been trying for consumers who wish they had kept the receipts and the tags from their last few purchases.

And it’s been an epiphany for fashion critics who had to sit though the ill timed orgy that was Spring 09 fashion week in Milan and Paris. I cannot remember the last time I read fashion review after fashion review that was fraught with the meaning of life. Fashion reviews suddenly turned into tracts on sociology and freakonomics.

It turns out the state of the  global economy is actually forcing most of us to take the meaning of everything, including fashion, seriously. That, at least, is seriously good news.

Thursday morning I flew to New York to meet with a client. Within minutes of landing at LaGuardia, a woman remarked “great pants!” For the rest of the day, hardly a half hour went by that someone, from people with whom I was doing business to strangers on the street, did not say the same thing. There was an audible stir, I kid you not, when I walked into Harry Cipriani on 5th Avenue for dinner. A very good looking twentysomething tried to pick me up later in the evening with the tried and true pickup line “love your pants.”

Okay, I thought the plaid wool pants were really great too which is the reason I plopped down $245 at Marc by Marc Jacobs in Bucktown several weeks ago. I have been secretly pining for the weather to get cold enough to wear them.

At the very moment I feared that fashion (and style) had suddenly become frivolous to everyone (especially to someone like myself who takes it seriously), those damn pants reminded me that fashion/style, or a keen eye for it, has the power to attract, command attention–respect even–and garner favors from corners near and far.

I’ve been making some version of that case to my clients for years. It’s nice to confirm for myself, in spite of the times we now live in, that I haven’t been blowing smoke up anyone’s skirt.

TheBestDressedList.com

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Paradeisos

Reggie Brown, NBC5 Street Team

When I say ‘ Fashion’ and ‘Party’ ‘in the same sentence, you know I’m talking about AKIRA. The stars have aligned in perfect sequence and tomorrow, Sunday September 28th, (My golden birthday), AKIRA’s 5th Annual Garden of Eden fashion show is going down at the Galleria Marchetti.

Tickets are only $15 if purchased in advance, $20 at the door. Word to the wise, get your tickets in advance, I’ve seen the lines from the previous years and they are impressive to say the least. Paradeisos will feature Ford models showcasing the hottest fall fashions from AKIRA inspired by Greek gods and goddesses. The event starts at 4:30 with the fashion show expected to jump off around 6:30.

This is the second consecutive year AKIRA is teaming up with Chicago based Immerman Angels and donating all proceeds from ticket sales and a portion of boutique sales to the not-for-profit organization.  Immerman Angels is a 100% free service that teams up caregivers and cancer survivors with cancer fighters to offer one on one support through their battle with the disease. It’s a great organization that has helped countless people who have had cancer or their lives affected by the disease.

In addition to the fashion show, there’s so much to get into, the evening is packed full of  different activities. There will be a silent auction, an AKIRA boutique, live musical performances and even massages and manicures provided compliments of Zazu Salon. Come on out and celebrate my 28th with me and my friends at AKIRA and Immerman Angels!

Galleria Marchetti 825 W Erie

Tickets can be purchased at AKIRA stores and on the AKIRA and Immerman Angels websites.

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The Fireman & The Shrink Face the Women of Gals’ Guide

Jon Ibrahim, NBC5 Street Team

A couple of weeks ago, me and my partner-in-crime Dr. Paul – a.k.a. the Fireman & the Shrink– were asked to speak about what we know best: sex, dating, and relationships, at a monthly event for Gals’ Guide.com. Gal’s Guide is a Chicago-based Web site created specifically for women making the sometimes daunting transition from college life to big city life, and gives street smart, real world advice on finances, job searching, apartment hunting, beauty and fashion, and my favorite of them all — sex, dating, and relationships.

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Slideshow: Diva Series Event

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The event was hosted by J-Bar, promoted by my good friend Sarah Vargo of Sarah Vargo Promotions, and was executed flawlessly by Gals’ Guide’s creator and fellow Street Team member Blagica Bottigliero.  It was a ton of fun.  I mean come on, I was in a room filled with women discussing sex — how couldn’t it??  Click here to check out pictures of the event taken by the very talented photographer Leora Zellman.

Paul and I got to speak to the women and answer their very candid questions in our fun Fireman & the Shrink style.  I was even put in the hot seat a few times answering questions about what I thought of women who “put out” on the first date, whether I’ve ever used my job as a fireman to get laid, and even if I was gay.  And of course Dr. Paul wowed ‘em with all that scientific stuff that oozes from his psyche like molasses.

Admittedly, even for me it can be a little intimidating speaking in front of so many women when you write what I write, or say what I say.  I didn’t know if I would get out of there alive.  But the women were totally cool with any subject matter, and even initiated it.  I think I somehow even managed to not piss off or offend as many women as I thought I would.  I think that’s a testament to the Gals’ Guide’s members. The site enables strength in women, and that was apparent by the strong secure women that attended the event.  But don’t take my word for it.  You should check ‘em out for yourself!

Make sure to check out Jon’s sex and dating blog “Sex 911: Confessions of a Serial Dater” and his podcasts “The Fireman & the Shrink” and all the other cool sex and relationship content on NBC5′s Better Sex page at www.nbc5.com/bettersex.  You can find out more about Jon at www.jonibrahim.com and email him at sex911@nbc5.com. 

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If I never see your face again (or Exhale to the Chief)

Tom Kolovos, NBC5 Street Team

Given the national reaction to my last blog, I’ve decided that, if you care to indulge me this summer, I’ll be posting more of my running musings on substance, style and popular culture.

Music videos are by definition a triumph of style over substance. You literally have only 4 minutes to savor the hope of attaining your 15 minutes of fame.

There are no more videogenic singers on the planet right now than Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Rihanna, he the Magnum XL cum laude graduate of the Bryan Ferry dripping-with-detachment-school-of-personal-style, she the Barbados born beauty of the legs that start somewhere around her earlobes and end at the floor.

Both are perfectly matched in their vocal inability to (thankfully) make it past the top 12 on “American Idol.”

While they have each made compelling visual statements in their own videos, who knew that they would be so perfectly matched in the most palpably erotically charged and relevant music video of 2008 for the single “If I never see your face again?”

It’s a refreshing alternative to the insufferably pretentious Madonna and Justin Timberlake collaboration “4 minutes to save the world,” which wears its misguided attempt at substance right in it’s title.

“4 minutes” tries to sell us on the (yesterday’s news cliche) Madonna-as-cougar-Justin-as-boy-toy but the sexual tension comes off as pathetically Oedipal.  Justin is no more than the wind machine to her current Stevie Nicks-like inability to move coherently or gracefully. “Stand back, stand back” I keep thinking to myself.

(Note to Mad: You’ve really lost your touch and missed the cultural vibe entirely, just like the other gal who was recently peddling her experience in an effort to save the world .) 

“If I never” on the other hand, has it’s visual finger right on the jugular of the cultural moment. (To anachronistically combine Bill Clinton and Barak Obama’s political playbooks, “It’s about change stupid.”)

Unlike the pedantic “4 minutes,” “If I never” brilliantly oozes studied nonchalance both lyrically and, most importantly, visually. The on screen pairing of Adam and Rihanna is frought with at least as much transgression as that of the anscestoral Adam and Eve.

There’s no apple or serpent here, just a microphone which is audaciously wielded about like a shared sex toy and (given the political moment) as a middle finger to the historical interracial intolerance of the miscegenation laws.

Lyrically, the song reminds me of the best line of dialogue  ever from an American movie. In “The Fabulous Baker Boys,” a film which oddly enough is famous for a scene involving a piano and a microphone, Michelle Pfeiffer confronts Jeff Bridges about their “relationship.” Bemused, he asks her: “Relationship? What relationship? All I did was [expletive] you twice!” 

I assume that’s the exact same response we would get from our current president, as the next election looms, if we were to confront him as an electorate about our collective 8 year relationship.

And if he were ever to find it within himself to say sorry for the economic and military  reality he created and is leaving behind, I can hear Rihanna singing her current solo single “Take a Bow” in its entirety, sort of an “Exhale to the Chief: “Don’t tell me you’re sorry cause you’re not. You’re only sorry you got caught.”

Click here to see the video of “If I never see your face again.”

TheBestDressedList.com

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Fashion Heat Stroke Q&A

Tom Kolovos, NBC5 Street Team

Did you know I take requests?

I will be tackling the following request in my next blog. If you have any other fashion conundrums you think I may be able to solve for you, please hit the contact button on my website or leave a comment here and I will try to accommodate.

Hi Tom:
I’m wondering if you’d consider doing a piece on summer men’s fashion? I’ve been out a lot since the weather has been warm and I have to tell you that it’s rather ugly out there when it comes to men in casual clothing. It seems like there are three options that guys can choose from – 1) polo shirt and khakis, 2) t-shirt, shorts, and bad sandals or flip-flops, and 3) un-tucked ill fitting button down shirts with jeans (the “Entourage” look). Blah and boring.

Even my “rock n’ roll” boyfriend the musician, who does care about what he looks like, has a hard time finding the right summer look. I know a lot of other guys who just don’t know what to do and frankly, I’m no fashion help to them. I can only complain about what I see out there.

So really this is a plea to you. Help a girl out, will ya? I’m sure women and men all over Chicago would be grateful for your advice in this area.

TheBestDressedList.com

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Swinging In The Suburbs

Marcus Riley, NBC5 Street Team (video)

So I set my TIVO and tried to watch CBS’s new show, Swingtown,, last night. The show has received a lot of attention, because it’s rare for the so-called “Tiffany Network” to air such racy fare. If you haven’t heard, Swingtown is based on a group of suburban Chicago couples in the 70s who swing with each other. The producer of the show, Mike Kelley, based many of the storylines on experiences he witnessed while growing up in Winnetka. I watched about 10 minutes of the show last night, and quite frankly, I thought it kind of sucked — not just because it’s on a competing network, but strictly because it bored me. My initial thought when I first heard about the show, was that only an HBO or Showtime could do the subject matter justice, and nothing I saw on the CBS show changed my opinion.

In a coincidence of all coincidences, before I even heard of “Swingtown,” I happened to have just completed a Better Sex podcast on swinging — in Chicago’s suburbs no less. Every few episodes, Dr. Laura Berman and I do what’s called a “Wild Card” segment, where I surprise her with the topic. This week I surprised her by bringing in a swinger for the interview, and we also ran a video camera on the interview. Watch how we start off with some small relationship talk before I drop the real reason why “Stephanie” was there. It’s also a glimpse at why I love working with Dr. Berman — nothing phases her when it comes to sex and relationships, and we just rolled with it.

Full Audio Podcast:

Video Teaser:

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