Glenn Murray, NBC Chicago Street Team

The Urban Beauty Lounge is a “re imagining” of Kreative Soul the all original jewelry and fashion boutique located on the North side. Owner Pilar Audain Reed has been featured on TV in print and been selected to provide he unique designs for a number of events both in Chicago and as far away as Los Angeles. This Saturday the store celebrates the redesign by giving visitors a sneak peak at the Autumn RAWtonomy collection, as well as some of the best silver and semi precious stone designs you’ll find in the area.

Kreative Soul is located at 3744 North Broadway and the celebration starts at noon and goes until 5 PM.

Marcus Riley, NBC Chicago Street Team

People sometimes forget that Chicago is the birthplace of house music. In fact, the Windy City often gets more props for its house roots from places as far away as Europe than it does right here.

But Saturday will provide another reminder that House is still king in the Chi. The Chosen Few Picnic and Old Skool Reunion is expected to draw more than 10,000 people to 63rd and Lake Shore Drive.

The party is in it’s 19th year, and started when the legendary Chosen Few DJ Crew organized a party with around 100 friends and has grown significantly into its current incarnation.

Click here to read the rest of this post and watch video on NBCChicago.com.

D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team

Many city dwellers perceive Chicago’s suburbs as being foreign, out of touch and not very cosmopolitan. The thought of driving 20 to 30 minutes to enjoy an evening out with friends or just a fabulous dinner is not the norm, since the city has so much of that kind of stuff to offer. Of course suburbanites beg the differ and their dining options continue to increase to include fabulous local restaurants with big city appeal. Glen Ellyn’s Glen Prairie restaurant is one of those new upscale places that has both city folks and suburbanites raving.

Glen Prairie Interior

Glen Prairie offers casual sophistication in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. The menu is contemporary American cuisine and their ingredients come from local contemporary American farmers. Starter dishes like “Grilled Sweet Corn and Tomato Bruschetta” and “Buttermilk Fried, Herb Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms” are straightforward and very tasty. The “Wisconsin Pike” and “Bison Ribeye” are entrees that were well prepared and very memorable. Other signature must haves are the “Miller Farms Seared Chicken” and the “Parpadelle Carbonara” served with “Caw Caw Creek proscuitto, slow roasted tomatoes and fresh herbs. Their side dishes are the perfect complement to any meal, but the “Mac N Local Farmed Cheese” is what foodies dream about. A variety of desserts plaster the menu, but their “mini” order option satisfies the sweet tooth with smaller tastings of at least six of their offerings, including the “Bing Cherry, Brioche Bread Pudding”, “Strawberry, Peaches & Cream Trifle”, and “Heavenly Brownie Sundae”. The cocktail menu boasts a plethora of signature martinis and their wine list is solid and affordable. In-fact, expect to enjoy a very pleasant dinner in an upscale environment without breaking the bank.

Glen Prairie is connected to the Crowne Plaza Hotel at 1250 Roosevelt Rd, but this restaurant could just as well be connected to a Four Seasons. The service was great and the surroundings were elegant. It’s about a 30-40 minute drive from the city, but the trip was well worth the trip. Glen Prairie serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a gluten free menu. Click here for more information www.cpglenellyn.com  Also check out www.efete.net and Fete Select TV to get an inside look at the newest and best restaurants in Chicago.

Reggie Brown, NBC Chicago Street Team

A successful playwright once said that an order to get people to come to the theater, you need to provide the audience with comedy, music or nudity. Well this is America dammit and thanks to The Great American Nudie Spectacular, you can have it all in one show! 

Writer/Composer/Director Greg Silva was inspired over a decade ago to create a show with a serious base that could still appeal to a mass audience. Silva set out to challenge the accepted American censorship values that allow audiences unlimited access to scenes and images of violence on television and in film but at the same time censors and increases the motion picture rating to ‘R’ any time that a nude body or body part appears onscreen. Silva presents the question  ‘Why, in America, do we so often regard images of nudity as being more of a threat to ‘family values’ than images of violence?’

The 90 minute show comedically  highlights both liberal and conservative views on sex and violence and the sketch comedy musical revue is said to be reminiscent of  ‘Monty Python’ and ‘Mr. Show’.

“The goal of this show is to make audiences laugh at our common humanity, and thus to demystify our society’s silly bare-skin taboos. Not that we’re promoting universal nudism; there are good reasons for wearing clothes, and the show also addresses this notion. It’s just that we want the audiences to leave our show feeling a little better about their own nakedness.”

Well, there you have it. In the spirit of American summers, head out and peep the  ’Great American Nudie Spectacular ‘ from July 9th-August 2nd:  Tickets are only $20

•National Pastime Theatre:  4139 N Broadway. Shows start Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 6 p.m.
•Theatre Building Chicago: 1225 W Belmont. Shows are Fridays & Saturdays at 10:30 p.m.

Jeff Baraka, NBC Chicago Street Team

Tomorrow night (Thurs. 7/9, 8pm), Stonecutter Records (SCR) & Acoustic Chicago present a live music and visual arts showcase to support Chicago music & art, and build further awareness of the Green Star Movement (GSM). It’s all goin’ down at Lasalle Power Co., 500 N. LaSalle.

The concert will feature live performances by four of the best new musical talents in the city: Anna Soltys, Jen Porter, Whiskey Heartache and Taggart Transcontinental. Tickets are $8 at the door and $5 in advance from the SCR site. There’ll also be a raffle with proceeds going towards the current GSM project at Prescott Elementary School.

Background:

Stonecutter Records is an independent record company, headed by Producer/Engineer Chris Steinmetz, who over the past 20 years has worked with such diverse artists as Kanye West, Ben Harper, Tori Amos, Jay Z, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Mavis Staples, Common, Kiss and Feist. Acoustic Chicago is the fruition of a vision to expose some of Chicago’s finest indie singers and songwriters to a wider audience.

The Green Star Movement is a Chicago-based, non-profit organization, which has recently gained national attention. GSM works to raise awareness of the important role of the environment in daily life, through the creative collaboration of media, art, community and nature.

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

According to the American Greeting Card Association, June is the most popular month to get married. Even though it has passed and the fourth of July is a sign that summer is about half over, it is still hard not to pass a church without a wedding party spilling out of it. It’s the height of vacation season, yet the bean at Millennium Park isn’t just a hot spot for tourists to snap a cheeky pic or two. Author Leah Ingrim of Plan Your Wedding…..In No Time, says a bride spends an average of 250 hours planning her big day - practically a second job! While you’re on your own for finding the perfect cake topper and Vera Wang imposter gown, The James Hotel provides the bride with stress free solutions to help you look and feel your best. And just in case you want to put a little birdie on the shoulder of the person responsible for planning your shower, David Burke’s Primehouse has a fun option that is sure to beat a rousing game of pin the veil on the bride at the suburban banquet hall.

Buffed, Brushed and Beautiful

There are still a lot of people that don’t know The James has a spa by Asha…why is this? After all, its cozy, friendly and the services offered rival any high-end hotel, sans the occasional exclusivity that keeps a local from enjoying their own city.  Of course, the convenience of having  J-bar and David Burke’s Primehouse downstairs provides an opportunity to extend that day with the girls. 

But if you’ve got family coming into town for the big day or need a place to call base-camp, The James Spa by Asha can help de-stress any pre-wedding jitters with a soothing massage, erase the signs of sleep deprivation with a Tourmalinene Charged Radiance Facial, or get that body ready for the honeymoon with the Asha Body Scrub (you know you’re thinking about that bikini.) The Spa can also take care of hair and makeup for the bride and her bridal party, which takes place within a guest room for lighting purposes. The entire list of services is available here: http://jameshotels.com/downloads/gym-spa/thejames-thespa-menu.pdf , so the bride can begin to customize her own experience.

Gather the Troops

Similar to the phrase “if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy,” a body bashing bride is liable to bring down the rest of the group. The James offers a Bridal Bootcamp which is specifically designed to target all those spots that the bride would think of when floating down the aisle at the ceremony, or the beach on her honeymoon.  Enter Jim Karas Personal Training to the rescue. Here’s the skinny:

Bridal Package 1: Includes 1 consultation and 24 personal training sessions with a Jim Karas Fitness Professional. On this program, you will train 3 times a week for 8 weeks. This package is $1,999 when training at their Lincoln Park Studio, $2,239 when training in-home, and $2,239 when training at The James.

Bridal Package 2: Includes 1 consultation and 16 personal training sessions with a Jim Karas Fitness Professional. On this program, you will train 2 times a week for 8 weeks. This package is $1,499 when training at our Lincoln Park Studio, $1,659 when training in-home, and $1,659 when training at The James.

And because safety comes in numbers, the bride can also book individual sessions for $90 plus $30 for each additional person, so start rounding up mama and the rest of the girls. Brides that are having their wedding at The James receive the Bridal Boot Camp session half off the weekend of their wedding!

The Urban Shower

If you can’t stomach the thought of  balloons, Jordan almond party favors and twenty sets of eyes staring at you in silence while you open your gifts, then this one is for you. Having  David Burke’s American Dim Sum Brunch for your bridal shower promises that there will be something for everyone (even your picky friend from Cali), not to mention entertainment as the carts roll by serving up dishes that provide whimsy in presentation and wicked delight as far as taste is concerned. Copious small bites will come your way (think baby pancakes with citrus butter and mini Prime burgers) and what group of women wouldn’t appreciate a sundae/dessert cart?  Of course,  the opportunity to inject mini “fortune” donuts with gooey caramel sauce provides far more entertainment than any shower game every could.

While the shower can take place in David Burke’s Prime House, The James Club or the library/den (two smaller event spaces) offer more privacy.  The entire list of private event spaces can be viewed here: http://www.jameshotels.com/Chicago-Hotel.aspx?name=The-James-Chicago&page=Modern-Event-Space. Director of Special Events extraordinaire, Sinisa Srdic, can help to customize and coordinate all party needs. Pricing structure ranges, but is approximately $44 per person. While almost everyone loves a bottomless Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or just plain ol’ bubbly,  the sommelier can prepare wine tastings as opposed to traditional beverage service.

While flipping through piles of bridal magazines may seem fun at first, consider The James a place where you can mark off multiple items on your to-do list simultaneously – and without compromising quality and experience. If anything, your wedding (and all the events leading up to it) may be the one they’ll be talking about for years to come.

For more information, visit http://www.jameshotels.com

Marcus Riley, NBC Chicago Street Team

Two of the hottest female DJs in the nightclub game — we could be talking about their looks, or their skills — will be in Chicago this week to drop some knowledge on the city’s aspiring female spinners.

DJ Kellie Acreman and DJ Lauren Pope are hosting a ladies only DJ night school Thursday at Enclave (220 W. Chicago Ave.).

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

Marcus Riley, NBC Chicago Street Team

In the crowded field of summer events in Chicago one always stands out — this weekend’s Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party.

Drinks? Got that covered. Live music? Check. Hot singles? Well, let’s put it like this, organizers claim that more than 80 couples have met at the Block Party and were later married at Old St. Patrick’s Church. And we’re pretty sure nobody’s keeping statistics on the plain ol’ hookups that never went anywhere.

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

Paul M. Banks a.k.a. The Sports Bank, NBC Chicago Street Team

On July 1st, “Canada Day” or that nation’s version of Independence Day, the Chicago Blackhawks made the biggest headlines in the NHL when the league officially opened its free agency period. I wanted to see what they did the rest of the week before analyzing their personnel moves- because nothing in life happens in a vacuum.

The Losses:

Leaving the Chicago Blackawks were winger Martin Havlat, who collected a six-year, $30 million deal from the Minnesota Wild. Havlat, who led the Hawks in scoring last season with 29 goals and 48 assists and was one of the most crucial players in the long playoff run, left on (possibly) somewhat bitter terms, as evidenced by his tweets on Wednesday night:

“Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and appreciated by management”

“The real story about what happened in Chicago [will] come out”

“There’s something to be said for loyalty and honor”

Stay tuned. Havlat has one of the best “following to followers ratio” I’ve ever seen: 12 to 7,832. Also among the departed were veteran goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin (Edmonton, four years and $15 million), center Sammy Pahlsson (Columbus, 3 years $7.95 million) and defenceman Matt Walker (Tampa Bay, 4 years $6.8 million).

Matt Walker, no he’s not the drummer from Filter who later joined the Smashing Pumpkins, is a serviceable but not spectacular blue-liner who may find more minutes in Tampa.

The Additions:

The Hawks signed two-time Stanley Cup Champion and 10-year National Hockey League center John Madden to a one-year contract. No, this isn’t the annoying,  still-wondering-why-he-has-a-job-on-television football broadcaster who loves Mexican food and only travels by bus.

Madden, 36, has spent his entire career with the New Jersey Devils, helping the organization reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last nine seasons. The Barrie, Ontario native captured the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2001, given annually to the National Hockey League’s best defensive forward, and was the runner-up in 2003, 2004, and 2008.

But the big prize was right wing Marian Hossa, even though I find the 12 year contract to be more than a bit extravagant.

“To add Marian, an elite and world-class player, and Tomas, a Stanley Cup Champion, to our exciting young core reinforces our commitment to try to win the Stanley Cup,” Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon said. Last season, Hossa, 30, led the Red Wings in goals (40) and finished third in points (71) during the regular season before chipping in 15 points (6G, 9A) while appearing in all 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Hossa is (somewhat dubiously) known as the guy who played on the Stanley Cup runner-up team the past two seasons. This “feat” is newsworthy when you consider you had the same two teams (Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins) playing each other both years, and a different team won each year.

The Hawks also snatched away from Detroit center Tomas Kopecky (TAW-mahsh, koh-PEHTS-kee) He finished second on the team with 109 hits. But I don’t think the Hawks are done dealing yet- And I have a feeling the next signing will be a defenseman. The same position they focused their draft on. So don’t judge the +/- of this offseason just yet.

See more of Paul M. Banks’ work at the Washington Times, Walter Football.com and The Sports Bank

Theresa Carter, The Local Tourist, NBC Chicago Street Team

If you walk by Park Grill tomorrow don’t be surprised to see a few hundred people falling all over each other. It’s not because they’ve brought back the martini lunch and this group’s gotten a little carried away. What they’re really doing is playing a Twister-like game, complete with colored circles and somebody spinning a wheel telling them what to place where.

That’s not to say they’re a bunch of tee-totallers. This event is promoting Seven Daughters Winemaker’s Blend, which you can get at the restaurant. The official Twister game isn’t affiliated with the event, but the wine’s logo is 7 colored circles so they made up their own, very similar, version. They’re expecting about a thousand people total to play the game between 11am and 3pm, and just in case you’re a little too stiff they’ll have complimentary wine tastings. Now that may be worth falling for.

Marcus Riley, NBC Chicago Street Team

I haven’t checked out “Public Enemies” yet, but the reviews from those I know who have, are less than complimentary. I don’t care. I was coincidentally reading the book five years ago when I first moved to Chicago, and was fascinated that I now lived in the same city where a lot of this went down. That alone, and the fact that much of the movie was shot right here in our backyard, is enough reason to support it.

Another way to get your Public Enemies fix is by visiting the Public Landing Restaurant and Banquet Center in Lockport, IL. The restaurant was used as a location in the movie, and all month long, they’re featuring gangster-inspired drinks and food specials.

Click here for the full details on NBCChicago.com.

Glenn Murray, NBC Chicago Street Team

At 9 months old, William Kurk was already banging on the drums. His father was an accomplished drummer/teacher around Chicago, while his mother was a staff writer with Curtom records, as well as a bassist/singer among greats like Jerry Butler, Bobby Hutton, and Ray Charles. Grandmother, Lena Mclin, is a world-reknowed educator/composer who has several works published under Kjos music in San Diego, and has taught a great number of first class vocal talent. The great-uncle, Thomas A. Dorsey, is the inventor/pioneer of Gospel music, fusing blues, jazz, and sacred songs stylings to create the phenomenon we know as gospel today.

In 2005 he started the William Kurk Enterprise Band and continued to explore his original works at live performances and workshops related to his works.

William has performed with The Dells, Chico DeBarge, Jon Faddis, Martha Reeves, Frank McComb, KRS-ONE, Kindred the Family Soul , and Stanley Jordan among other notable artists. Studio credits include his two albums (The Sound: Volume 1+2), Melba Moore, Common, Anthony Nicholson, and Seal among many. A notable side project for William is “Black Slang”, featuring Corey Wilkes, Junius Paul, Anthony Kapers, Yaw, Kevin Nabors, and Phenom.

 A musical director, composer, arranger, and performer the “quadruple threat” continues  his rise in the Jazz world.

William Kurk will be the featured performer at Hot Nights…Cool Jazz.  This Saturday night at Ai Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Lounge 358 West Ontario the event starts at 9PM.  For more information visit www.hotnights.eventbrite.com

Hungry Z, NBC Chicago Street Team

Ask any chef and they’ll tell you, fresher is better. The simplest dish can be transformed into a taste extravaganza if the right ingredients are used. The closer an ingredient is grown/harvested, the fresher the flavor. Glen Ellyn’s Glen Prairie (1250 Roosevelt Road) is taking this concept and running with it. In fact every dish is served up with ingredients from Midwest farms.

With such a focus on local ingredients, a must-try is the cheese board. Served with crostini and cranberry relish, this daily selection awakens your senses. The true standout though is the buttermilk fried, herb cheese stuffed mushrooms. Topped with bacon and chili sauce, these morsels sit on a pool of horseradish and simply burst in your mouth with flavor.

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

Shlomi Rabi, NBC Chicago Street Team

And now, a riddle: What’s white, sleek, bare, chic, and impossibly streamlined? No, it is not the new iconic Art Institute Modern Wing or the Zaha Hadid Millennium Park pavilion or even a new Prada Summer ‘09 must-have. Rather, it is FDM, the latest addition to Chicago’s exclusive posse of sexy restaurants.

Defying expectations without shunning traditions, chefs de cuisine Luis Montero and Angel Hernandez bring something that is sorely lacking in many of the famed Mexican restaurants in Chicago: originality.

Peeling off the stereotypical layers of orange walls, adobe brick arches and massive paintings of cacti commonly found in Mexican restaurants, the chefs, justifiably confident in their creations, left the color and energy to the dishes.

And hombre, que rico!

From the delicious marlin ceviche to the rich sopa Azteca and the delectable uchepos, the appetizers give patrons flavorful bundles that hint at the colors and spices that are to come in the next round.

The pollo al cacahuate spins an innovative take—a non-cream based peanut sauce seldom found in Mexican restaurants—on a familiar dish. The unique texture and flavor of the sauce is carefully calibrated to compliment—not overwhelm—the smoky, tender feel of the chicken.

Sauces play a major part in the menu, as Chefs Montero and Hernandez eschew the cliché moles and salsas in favor (and flavor) of creating something reflective of the wide variety of cuisines within Mexico. For example, the grilled mahi-mahi served over a bed of spinach, was topped with a creamy, ground walnut sauce, and studded with ruby red pomegranate seeds. The sweet and light flavor was a surprise, but a welcomed one at that. It was nice to see (and taste) stale traditions replaced with something refreshingly new.

And the desserts, oh, the desserts. Let’s just say that anyone who can keep their tongues from licking the bottom of the plate holding the chocolate maya custard with chile ancho-orange sauce, or the coconut flan drizzled with fresh fruit, can congratulate themselves for doing the impossible.

Be sure to compliment your food with the trademark rustica drink, and if wine is more your thing, then by all means pore over a wine list extensive enough to satiate event the pickiest of connoisseurs. Abundance, it seems, is a Mexican tradition always worth keeping.

FDM is at 3908 N. Lincoln Avenue. For a full menu list, please click here. For reservations, please click here.

If you are interested in finding out where else Shlomi goes to get his taste buds tickled, haga un click aqui.

D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team

Wouldn’t it be nice if everyday was Friday?  Well supposedly the tropical island of Eivissa evokes the type of energy where every night out seems like a Friday night celebration.  Eivissa, the Catalan name for Ibiza, is known for its summer club parties that attract a ton of tourists and a lot of publicity.  It’s no wonder why the owners of the new tapas restaurant Eivissa are attempting to bring that same type of energy to Old Town.  The concept sounds cool, but can the new kid on the block pull it off?  Maybe for partying, but not so much for the cuisine.

Eivissa Cocktails

Eivissa is located at 1531 N. Wells St.  Log onto www.eivissachicago.com for more information.  Check out www.efete.net for more restaurant reviews and an inside look into Chicago’s newest and hottest restaurants.