Tis’ the Season to Dress Ugly

Lindsay Saewitz, NBC Chicago Street Team

It’s time to ditch the designer jeans and go vintage (i.e. grandma and grandpa era) for a day full of holiday drinking at GiveFoward’s 2nd Annual Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl!

This event brings together over 150 young professionals sporting the ugliest of ugly-wear, all for a good cause. Proceeds from the event will go to Streetwise, 2 Li’l Fishes, and The Night Ministry- three organizations working hard to prevent and aid Chicago’s homeless community.

Here’s the deets:
Date: Saturday, December 5th
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Route: Starts at Redmond’s (3358 N. Sheffield) and continues south to Uncle Fatty’s hitting Sheffield’s, Trader Todd’s, and Mad River along with way
Cost: $15 online donation at www.uglysweaterpubcrawl.com gets you a wristband for $2-$3 drink specials; door tickets are $25

As if an excuse to dress up like fool and drink all day wasn’t enough, you can also win MONEY. That’s right- there’s $100 cash prize to the worst dressed (i.e. best dressed?) and door prizes for the first 100 at Redmond’s.

So get your sweatered-self to Redmond’s for a holly jolly time. Check out the Facebook page to find out more or RSVP.

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Attention Windy City Wolverines!

The University of Michigan Club of Greater Chicago is kicking off its new Young Alumni group with what you would expect from a young alumni group…a giant party with lots of food and booze! Join the UMCGC tomorrow, Thursday August 27th at LaSalle Power Company, for the Young Alumni Launch Party and celebrate with Michigan’s second largest alumni group in the country.

The party starts at 8:00 PM and will feature a three hour premium open bar, food provided by Lincoln Park’s newest hot spot Sarks in the Park, and prizes from all around Chicago including a reserved table at Duffy’s for football and dinner for two at Rockit (co-owned by Michigan alum Arturo Gomez).

The cost of the event is $40; tickets can be purchased online by clicking here and will also be available at the door.

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Blago And The Butter Guy?

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

If you were at a block party over Lollapalooza weekend and heard that “special guests” were going to be arriving via limo, logic might lead you to believe that perhaps a band member or two might stroll on through for a little self promoting. But the guests who attended the 14th annual Optimus Block Party last Saturday got a completely different form of musical entertainment when Rod Blagojevich showed up to sing a little Elvis Presley. As if that wasn’t enough to keep you thinking “only in America,” he brought along a Fabio look-alike (his proverbial rabbit in the hat.)

The Optimus anniversary Block Party started on August 1, 1996 as an impromptu casual get-together of clients and industry friends to celebrate the employee purchase of Optimus from their owner, Anheuser-Busch.  ”We had Zimmerman’s, now Binny’s, down on Grand, deliver a bunch of cases of almost every brand of beer except Bud because for the 10 years under A-B ownership, we could only serve their products,” says Optimus owner Tom Duff. ” We got a permit, blocked off the parking lane on the street, and threw a party.  This was all good-natured tongue-in-cheek, we love our A-B friends, and have worked on Bud spots tons over the years.”

Perhaps you’ve never heard of the Optimus Block Party, but rest assured that anyone in the advertising community has seen this baby grow into a man. The bash has become a symbol of the Chicago ad world for the best annual get-together for the entire industry nation-wide. There was an episode of the TV Show “Trust Me” that aired last season starring Eric McCormack (of Will & Grace) that centered around all the characters at the ad agency going to the “Optimus Block Party that everyone goes to.

Optimus is a production and post production company with offices in Chicago and Santa Monica. They shoot, edit, design, color, audio mix and finish various forms of video content, from TV commercials to webisodes to design pieces. The multi-leveled urban studio in Streeterville has the ability to handle the entirety of a production (or individual components) from script to air, all under one roof. Of course, their client list speaks for itself and includes all the top ad agencies that work with clients such as Unilever’s Dove and Suave, Taco Bell, Sears, Nintendo, Aveeno, Coca-Cola, Kellogg’s, McDonald’s, Cricket, KFC, AllState, Safeway, and Harris Bank.

With that being said, attendees of the Block Party are made up of agency clients, post houses, production companies, music houses, the unions, the Film Offices and anyone else in the film and TV world here in the Windy City. And why Blagojevich? “Well, we always try to do something off-beat for our party,” says Duff.

It worked.

For more information on Optimus, visit www.optimus.com

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Sean Paul’s “Imperial Blaze” is Hot like Fire!

Eric Smith, NBC Chicago Street Team

On location at the Millennium Hotel, Thursday August 6.

So what brings you to the Windy City?
What brings me to the city is that I’m promoting my new album called “Imperial Blaze”…comes out August 18th.

I see you’ve sold over 10 millions records. Let’s talk about that journey and how you got started from there to Imperial Blaze.

In Stores August 18th.

For sure…my career started with me just lovin’ music. A friend of mine got into music at the end of high school and it came to pass that I got introduced to studios and people started to like the voice and like the flow. Like the first thing was being on a big stage in Jamaica called “Sting” back in 1998, it featured people like Busta Rhymes from the hip hop world. After that I was able to do a song with DMX who was one of the biggest artists in Jamaica at that time. Then there was a song called “Here Comes The Boom” from the movie “Belly” that Hype Williams produced and what not. And then the song “Deport Dem” really got big in New York City and got a lot of play.

And then about a year after that in 2001 my second album was coming out “Dutty Rock” was comin’ out. The song called “Gimme the Light” got a very big spread. Since I’ve had a couple of songs rank as high as #1 on the Billboard Charts such as “Get Busy”, “Temperature”, a song featuring myself and Beyonce which is a song called “Baby Boy”. A song with Keyshia Cole went to #3 on the BillBoard charts, a song called “Like Glue” went to #7…”I’m still in Love” featuring Sasha went to number 12. So we have a lot of repertoire coming up to this day, man. And those are all different steps, help me to pave the way to be sittin’ here in front of you, ya know what I mean…tellin’ my story of what’s up next in Imperial Blaze.

Now I got started producing festivals with Super Cat. The first time I heard you I was like, “That’s Super Cat!” And they were like…no, no that’s Sean Paul.
The Superdor, Superdor he’s still the Super. Cause you know, he’s my pops in the business! He helped pave the way…I got to give respect to him.

Let’s talk about “So Fine” which is the rockin’ new single out now. Talk about that single and when you know a song is hot and going to blow up.

Well I mean…I try and put feeling into my songs, to my artwork. Feeling is what artwork is about…I think it is about that feeling deep down in your and soul channeling it and bringing it to the rest of world. In “So Fine”, I loved the melody, I loved the chords that was being played in the riddim, so it just took off from there… it’s a club banger cause da riddim is so hot.

So you got any upcoming shows in Chicago?
I’m gonna be here tonight and tomorrow night, so I’m probably just going to go into to clubs and sing and DJ a couple verses, couple line to let people know what’s up. However you can stay in touch with me on allseanpaul.com. It got blogs about reggae and dancehall. It’s got what I been doing lately on it, shows. It’s got a tour schedule dat should be printed up, probably by November this year. People can order my album out August 18th or pre-order it to. Also, like every now and then there’s competitions that run on the site. Like I had an “Ultimate Fan” competition running for about 3 to 4 weeks now, which just ended like this week. So I designed two chains…white gold and diamonds then I gave it to two of my favorite fans who won. Things like that gone happening every now and then on the site.

And one last thing…Sean Paul is it Henriques…? You have a Latin back ground…?
So I got a lot of different blood in me from Black, Portuguese, White from England and Chinese. My father’s family has Portuguese and Black blood. My Chinese and England bloodline comes from my mother’s family.

Well you know, me and my peeps are considering putting together another festival “Metropolatino” and you know we are interested in having you headline to get that moving.

For sure I got that blood there so let’s do it…you can’t keep me out!

Download the audio to hear the entire the Sean Paul “Imperial Blaze” interview!

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Countdown To GALApalooza

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

Whether or not you’re a music junkie, the opportunity to see Grant Park transformed into a playground for party-goers is entertainment in itself. The third annual GALApalooza event is only one week away, giving guests an exclusive sneak preview of the Lollapalooza event grounds in a VIP fashion.

Outdoor lounge seating, cocktails and creative nibbles – you just might forget there’s actually a concert to watch. Lollapalooza artist Vampire Weekend and Chicago sensation Hey Champ will take the stage, in addition to performances by Park District Kids and DJ White Shadow.

Friends coming in to town for the music filled extravaganza? The James Hotel is offering a special overnight package on August 6 which includes two general admission tickets to GALApalooza, overnight accommodations in a king guestroom, and valet parking at The James. Rates start at $579. For more info or to book a room, visit www.jameshotels.com.

GALApalooza takes place on Thursday August 6th at 6 p.m. at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. Lounge experiences are available at the $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 level and single tickets are available for $150. For more information or to make reservations, call Alison Krzys, Director of Communications for Parkways Foundation at 312.742.4807 or visit www.parkways.org.

Since 2005, Lollapalooza and GALApalooza have raised over $4 million dollars for Parkways, which directly impacted Chicago’s neighborhood parks.

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White Nights, Big City

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

Yesterday was Father’s Day, so chances are you spent some time with good ol’ dad feasting on brunch, or firing up the grill. You may not have realized that yesterday also marked the Summer Solstice, a celestial event that prompts longer, light-filled days.

Pane Caldo is celebrating this astronomical occurrence with a special “White Nights”  lunch and dinner experience, available through June 27. Executive chef Maurice Bonhomme got creative in the kitchen and came up with special dishes featuring light and white-colored foods, such as steamed white asparagus with morel mushrooms and truffle dressing, and grilled halibut fillet with with golden beets and a grain mustard sauce. Pastry chef David Same’ didn’t forget about your sweet tooth, so save room for the ice cream bar of white chocolate, muscatel and white cherries.  Wash it all down with (what else) a crisp white wine.

If you’ve never been to Pane Caldo (or need to revisit how fabulous it is), Bonhomme only uses the freshest ingredients, seasonal herbs, organic meats and wild seafood in his preparations. Of course, as the restaurant name suggests, fresh-baked bread is an accompaniment to every table. Another way you can celebrate the warm temps is by dining alfresco on Pane Caldo’s newly expanded outdoor seating area, which has doubled in size this season. If you’re watching you wallet but still want to experience a little of  ”la dolce vita,” then dine early from 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and take advantage of the 3 course prix fixe dinner menu for only $34. It’s cheaper than a trip to Italy, but tastes just as good.

For more information and reservations, diners can visit www.pane-caldo.com or call 312.649.0055.

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Father’s Day Weekend To-Dos!

Stephanie S. Green, NBC Chicago Street Team

Father’s Day is right around the corner and this year, try something different with the father figure in your life.  How about getting him to try something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue?
 
Something Old:   “Real Men Cook” is a time-honored Chicago Father’s Day tradition, and this year, it’s more impressive than ever!  On Sunday, June 21, Real Men Cook moves to an expansive (and technologically and architecturally impressive) venue – Kennedy King College.  The Washburne Culinary Institute provides fantastic cooking facilities and there are ample grounds to allow fathers, foodies and more to spread out at this indoor/outdoor To-Do.  You’ll be amazed by the wonderful variety of food, prepared with love, that you’ll be able to savor!
 
Health and Wellness is an important component at Real Men Cook and at events leading up to the main event.  On Saturday, you can join Real Men Cook’s Father’s Day Wellness Weekend Walk & Health Experience and start your morning off right at the beautiful 63rd Street Beach!
 

Just the Two of Us - Al Hawkins

Something New:   How about an new exhibit at one of many art galleries on the South Side?  Yes – many!  On Thursday, June 18, check out eta’s opening reception for “Through My Eyes,” an art exhibition by Al Hawkins, before taking in the play Pill Hill, opening this week at eta.  Or, at Gallery Guichard, both the novice and experienced collector would enjoy the Collector’s Champagne Preview.   On Friday, June 19, the Bronzeville Art District Third Friday Trolley Tour resumes just in time for this Father Day weekend.  Hop on board and enjoy the ride as you meander through opening receptions at FaiE African Art, Gallery Guichard and South Side Community Art Center. 

Something Borrowed:  Pappa’s gonna be livin’ on borrowed time if he doesn’t take care of himself!  So, on Saturday, June 20, get him (or yourself!) on over to the the Thapelo Institute’s Health & Fitness Experience for African and African American Men.  With a variety of programs offered during a seven hour period – learning opportunities are abundant!  The Thapelo Institute is a taking a holistic approach to dealing with the health issues of African and African-American men.  Free testing for a variety of common issues will be available, and you’ll also find workshops that address body, mind and spirit.  And – it’s Free!
 
Something Blu(e):  So, its Thursday evening, you’ve spent a couple of hours at the Collector’s Champagne Preview, you’ve enjoyed some wine and hors d’ouevres and now you want a little more.  Well, plan ahead and make reservations for dinner at Blu 47 and enjoy a one-set performance by Yaw at Illuminata – A Father’s Day Celebration. If you’ve been to the Events by Eve Summer Breeze Jazz Concert Series, you know that you can expect a mature set of predominately African-Americans, who dress appropriately without being told!  Come in your favorite jeans or come in some sparkles and feel completely comfortable either way!  If that’s not enough blue for you, douse yourself in cool, blue vibe and and energetic sounds at the Close Up 2 Indoor Smooth Jazz Festival.  From Thursday, June 18 through Saturday, June 20, enjoy live entertainment by Detour JazFunk, Corey Wilkes, Marqueal Jordan Project – and more.

Still want a little more To-Do?  Visit www.so-LAZE.com for tons of options!

 
Happy Father’s Day!
Stephanie!

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Tied On Tuesdays

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

While we’re all about the lazy days of summer, who says you can’t throw a little bit of a cerebral flare into the mix? Apparently, the stellar blowout between Joan Rivers and Patti Duke on the Celebrity Apprentice (you’re a po-ka playa) didn’t discourage everyone from learning the tricks of the trade. Citizen Bar’s Poker School 101 started out as a ladies only event, but due to the high demand,  men are now invited to participate in  a little healthy competition.

Citizen Bar owner Jimmy D, professional poker player and Millionaire Matchmaker star, along with additional professional poker players will provide students with a comprehensive guide of poker tips and strategies. Starting tonight, Poker 101 will be held every other Tuesday (rain or shine) from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Lessons are free and winners will have their picture displayed on Citizen Bar’s “Wall of Fame.” Students can take advantage of special food and drink specials like half price bottles of wine and $6 salads (think swimsuit season), while soaking up the summer sun on the roof-top deck.

Space is limited, reservations are recommended. Please RSVP to ieva@citizenbar.com

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Be a Social Contributor

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

Black-tie event season is starting to pick up, but let’s face it; not everyone can spring for the $500+ ticket – no matter how big your charitable heart is! Well it seems as though many organizations are becoming savvy to the fact that many folks (and large corporations) are having to tighten their financial purse strings lately. Here’s a roundup of some fun events happening this weekend that support and celebrate a variety of causes while showing you a good time in the process.

Skyline Soiree – June 5th

The American Cancer Society’s inaugural Skyline Soiree will be held on Friday at the Harris Theatre Rooftop at Millennium Park. The event was created to balance out their annual grandiose black-tie affair, providing a lower priced event that still provides a high level of fun and entertainment. Hosted by the Associate Board of Ambassadors, the whimsical carnival theme will help guests get into the summer spirit.  Festivities begin at 7:00 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres and will include a silent auction, raffle and (of course) carnival games. Tickets are $75 in advance and $95 night-of-event. For more information, please call 312.279.7213 or visit www.skylinesoiree.org.

Lumen

“Let’s Hear it For the Girls” Summer Solstice Fashion Show – June 5th

OK, so this event isn’t exactly charity related, but something should be said for supporting young up and coming Chicago designers, right? Chicago hotspot, Lumen (839 W. Fulton Market) and Outfit Events will present the launch of its monthly female-focused event, “Let’s Hear it for the Girls Party” with a  Summer Solstice Fashion Show featuring summer collections by designers Miriam Carlson, Tiffany Albert, Caroline Borucki and Britney Devaris. If you like what you see in the show, it could very well be your lucky day. Sometime after 11 p.m.,  one piece from each designer’s line will be raffled off! All ladies can enjoy complimentary cover all night long and complimentary champagne cocktailsfrom 9 to 11 p.m.  Remember if you already have plans, this is a new monthly event that you should definitely pencil in your social calendar.  RSVP  required to  info@lumen-chicago.com.

Guiness Book of World Records Bar Crawl – June 6th

This may be the very first bar crawl you’ll ever participate in – or think about joining. Thirsty crawlers from around Chicago are lining up to take part in a once in a lifetime event: The World’s Biggest Bar Crawl. Never mind your liver, at least a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation. This Saturday, Chicago will strive to break a Guinness World Record originally set by 3, 163 bar crawlers in New York City . In order to break the record, all crawlers must visit at least eight bars on the course, with the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishment with an event after party at Stone Lotus Lounge. On crawl day, beginning at 10:00 a.m., participants will earn a participating bar discount card to enjoy $2 drafts, $1 soft drinks, great food and other specials along the way.  Any participants that reach the 8 pub goal will also receive discount cards to use at each sponsor’s establishment, at a later date.

The itinerary involves stops at several food and bev hotspots. Some of the participants include: Bull & Bear, Glascott Saloon, Prost!, State Restaurant & Lounge, Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort, Mad River Bar & Grille, The Coach House, Toasted Ox and more.

The event is expected to have more than 5,000 crawlers on board. A portion of each $15 ticket will be donated to benefit the Children’s Heart Foundation. And, an official judge from the Guinness Book of World Records will be present to make sure that all abide by the official record-breaking rules. For more information please visit http://thebiggestbarcrawl.com/.

Blondes VS. Brunettes Powder Puff Flag Football – June 6th

The longstanding rivalry between hair colors continues with a new fundraiser to Chicago, Blondes vs. Brunettes (BvB). As the name suggests, 22 blondes and 26 brunettes take the competition to the football field in a fundraiser on behalf of The Alzheimer’s Association presented by the Gold Coast Wellness Center. The national organization, began in Washington D.C. over four years ago, brings talented, bright and beautiful women together locally for the ultimate powder puff football game in the hopes of raising funds for patients with the disease.

Game day starts at 1p.m. this Saturday at Diversey Harbor (2601 N. Cannon). A $25 donation will also provide access to the BvB After Party. Fans and patrons can also anticipate halftime entertainment as well as live music from local band Morley Shertz.  After the game, everyone will head over to Sheffield’s (3258 N. Sheffield) for the official Blondes vs. Brunettes After Party, from  3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Expect barbecue, beer and cocktails, as well as $3 Bud Light and Miller Lite bottles in honor of the festivities (those who donated $25 at the game will receive two free beers compliments of Sheffield’s). For more information, please visit http://www.blondesvsbrunettes.com.

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Let the Good Times Roll

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

The Goodman Theater’s annual Gala fundraiser is one of the most anticipated black-tie events, and this year is no exception. Chicago native Mandy Patinkin will headline the affair, taking place this Saturday at the Fairmont Hotel (200 N. Columbus). Known as the “musical force of nature,” Patinkin is a Tony Award-winner for his performance in Evita and an Emmy Award-winning Best Actor for his portrayal of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in “Chicago Hope.” Impressive? Of course, but with a pedigree that includes entertaining audiences through film, television and stage over the past 30 years, recognition is inevitable.

Gala Co-Chairs and Students

The evening kicks off at  6:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by Patinkin’s 7:30 p.m. performance with Paul Ford (recognized Broadway pianist) on the piano. The duo will cover an array of favorites ranging from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim, Harry Chapin and Irving Berlin and Cole Porter. The music continues after dinner, when guests will have the opportunity to put on their own “performance,” dancing to the sounds of Gentleman of Leisure.

The annual Gala is hosted by Goodman Theater’s Women’s board, with proceeds benefiting the Goodman’s Educational and Community Outreach programs. Goodman Women’s Board members Sondra Healy and Cynthia Scholl are the Gala Co-Chairs and Keith Green is the Corporate Chair this year. For tickets and information about the Gala, call Katie Frient, at 312.443.3811 ext. 586.

 

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Time To Face The Music

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

Happy Memorial Day Chicago! It’s time to mark your calendars with street festivals, rooftop cocktail hours and of course, the sounds of summer. So grab a group (and in some cases, a bottle and a blanket) and experience a concert in the city before the curtain closes on summer.

Still Going Strong

Chicago’s acclaimed Grant Park Music Festival, led by Principal Conductor Carlos Kalmar and Chorus Director Christopher Bell, opens its historic Gala 75^th season on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the state-of-the-art Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The opening night concert features Maestro Kalmar leading the GRAMMY®-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and internationally-renowned pianist Stephen Hough through Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Key’s patriotic Star Spangled Banner, as well as one of classical music’s greatest hits, Pictures at an Exhibition composed by Modest Mussorgsky. 

All Grant Park Music Festival performances are free to the public. Open lawn and pavilion seating are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Season memberships to the Festival are available, starting at $80 for a specific night of the week (all Wednesdays, Fridays, or Saturdays) or $135 for a season-long membership for all 31 concerts.  Reserved group seating is also available for most concerts. Membership and group sales information is available by calling 312-742-7638 or by visiting the Festival’s website at http://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com The summer series is short, so catch one before the season ends on August15th.

Northshore Classic

Ravinia’s 2009 season presents a diverse lineup of more than 120 events from June 5 through Sept. 19, with 38 debuts, more than 25 free or specially priced events and over 135 guest artists and ensembles including the summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra featuring Ravinia Festival Music Director James Conlon. Guest artists include Lang Lang, Pink Martini, Herbie Hancock, Yo-Yo Ma, Ramsey Lewis, George Hearn, Jackson Browne, Thomas Hampson, Patti LuPone, Christoph Eschenbach, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Diana Krall, Juilliard String Quartet, Joe Cocker, Susan Graham, John Legend, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Bonnie Raitt, David Hyde Pierce, Carrie Underwood, Matthias Goerne, Elvis Costello and many others.

Tickets to Ravinia events are now available online at http://www.ravinia.org/. Orders are also being accepted now by fax at (847) 266-0641 or through mail by sending a printable online order form and payment to Ravinia Festival, P.O. Box 896, Highland Park, IL 60035. Phone orders at (847) 266-5100 and walk-up sales are accepted throughout the season Monday-Saturday10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays and holidays (closed July 4) 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ravinia Festival is located at Lake Cook and Green Bay roads in Highland Park .

New Kid on The Block

It may not have the history of the Grant Park Music Fest or Ravinia, but Lollapalooza quickly became a legendary festival with a huge following. The third annual GALApalooza, benefiting Parkways Foundation and produced by C3 Presents, will be held Thursday, August 6^that 6 p.m. at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. The concert space is transformed into a lounge-like atmosphere prior to the Lollapalooza festivities. While crews are making final preparations for the legendary festival, GALA-goers will enjoy a chic, open air cocktail party with outdoor lounge seating, an intimate and creative dining experience, and a concert featuring Lollapalooza artist Vampire Weekend, whose self-titled album was dubbed the 10^th best album of 2008 by Rolling Stone Magazine. GALApalooza and Lollapalooza will be their only U.S. shows this year. Chicago sensation Hey Champ, who is opening for Depeche Mode on the Lollapalooza main stage, will take the stage to treat guests to a l set. In addition, GALApalooza features sounds from DJ White Shadow, performances by Park District Kids, and a silent auction and raffle featuring priceless VIP experiences.  

The James hotel is offering a special overnight package on August 6 which includes two general admission tickets to GALApalooza, overnight accommodations in a king guestroom, and valet parking at The James Hotel. Rates start at $579. For more information or to book this package visit http://www.jameshotels.com/. 

Lounge experiences are available at the $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000 level and single tickets are available for $150. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to make reservations, please call Alison Krzys , Director of Communications for Parkways Foundation at 312-742-4807 or visit http://www.parkways.org/.

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Randolph Street Market Festival’s Grand Opening

Laura Lodewyck, NBC Chicago Street Team

Be among the first to visit the return of the Randolph Street Market Festival in this weekend’s Grand Opening event. Featuring an eclectic array of vendors such as the Chicago Antique Market, Indie Designer Market, Fancy Food Market, Vinyl Swap Meet, and Global Good Bazaar, the market attracts shoppers hip to items both ultra-unique and fashion-savvy. Even Oprah’s getting into the action for the first time this year, bringing The Oprah Store’s specialty items into the mix.  Add to your antique collection, get an heirloom sized up by a professional appraiser, hit the bar for a bloody mary, and even make some extra cash yourself by bringing in your unwanted gold jewelery to be sold onsite.

Courtesy trolleys will take you to the Festival from Water Tower Place at the top of the hour from 11am to 3pm (and cart you back with your loot every half hour 11:30 to 4:00). Check out the legendary extravangza for $10 general admission (which earns you a shopping refund voucher with your admisison), or “see for free” the final two hours of the market.

Email me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com and check out my reports with Nude Hippo at NBCChicago.com.

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Young, Modern and Memorable

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

Arturo Gomez and Megan Klehr (Photo by Tyler Curtis)

It’s not every day that you run into billionaire Kenneth Griffin (#97 on Forbes 2008 list of the 400 richest Americans) but he was one of  many donors, art enthusiasts and collectors who attended the sold out Young Modern event last Friday. More than 1,200 guests attended the late night celebration which was part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s two-week festivities surrounding the opening of the new Modern Wing.

Mother and son duo Margo and Jason Pritzker co-chaired the event which included much more than gallery hopping and cocktail sipping.  Those appreciating the art of fashion enjoyed a show featuring local designers Marisa Swystun and Michelle Barone. Music was also a large component and included celebrity DJ’s Tommie Sunshine, Dark Wave Disco and DJ LoPro, with additional performances by Deep Blue Fields, Goran Ivanovic Group, Kalyan Pathak and Jazz Mata. Performance art by Industry of the Ordinary, and Igor Josifov took place in various galleries in the Modern Wing. Famed music and video director Vincent Haycock of Debonair Social Club transformed a portion of the space into a club-like atmosphere complete with multiple bars, lounge furniture and yes – servers holding out pizza boxes offering up slices of sustenance.

Nate Berkus and Friends (Photo by Tyler Curtis)

The event in itself was a work of art and could not have been executed without some of the city’s young executives, artists, entrepreneurs and nightlife impresarios. The Art Institute assembled a host committee which included Toni Canada, Glenn Eden, Claudia Gassel, Roxy Goebel, Arturo Gomez, Ted Haffner, PJ Huizenga, Brook Jay, James Kao, Sam Peter, Eric Sheinkop, Marisa Swystun, Stephen Tourell, Patrick Wood and Alex Zamiar. Sponsors of the event included Deloitte LLP, NAVTEQ, FIJI Water, PricewaterhouseCoopers, POM Wonderful and Grey Goose.

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Bridal Boot Camp

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

With bridal season right around the corner, Lincoln Park’s Equinox Fitness Club is offering a day of beauty for brides-to-be, along with a little butt kicking mixed in to help whip them into shape before their big day.

Equinox Bridal Boot Camp is scheduled for Saturday from 2 – 5 p.m., and you don’t have to be a member of the club to participate.

Equinox certified trainers will start the day by taking the brides through a 60 minute high-energy, muscle-fatiguing boot camp class.

The class is geared to help increased cardiovascular and muscular endurance, burn fat and calories, improve balance, coordination and posture, and gain overall strength and lean muscle tissue.

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

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Theatre for Weirdos

Laura Lodewyck, NBC Chicago Street Team

Collaboraction upturns Theatre-with-a-Capital-T in their 9th Annual Sketchbook Festival, closing this weekend at The Building Stage. Formerly held at the Steppenwolf Garage, Sketchbook feels at home here with the casual party vibe provided by the space at The Building Stage – with tiers of open seating, live bands or DJs to accompany seat-shifting and meandering between pieces, and a byob policy (highly recommended) — Sketchbook careens through a weirdly haunting, high energy program of short, strange performance pieces. The visual elements, supported by performance-inspired artwork decorating the space, add striking images to the pieces: a forgotten Nazi hangs suspended from his “zeppelin” in the ceiling; a giant parachute descends to consume the stage; an enormous paper-mache head is worn by an actor in skin-tight, skin-colored leggings (with a lumpy-stuffed crotch). Sketchbook is indeed a show you have to see to believe. Even better is that the mixed program provides for entertainment that satiates the short attention span — each piece runs less than 10 minutes. Check it out this final weekend, tonight through Sunday. 

Email me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com with any wacky, under-discovered events in Chicago, and check out my reports with Nude Hippo.

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Crochet in Chicago

Damaris Woodbury, NBC Chicago Street Team

With 2009 here, how many of us made resolutions of some kind?  I won’t do this? I won’t do that?  I’ll lose this?  I’ll learn that?.  Sounds familiar, huh?  Well, I decided to not make any resolutions in 2009.  My only goal is to honor my word.  Do what I say I’m going to do and work to create huge possibilities in areas of my life that I feel may be “just good enough for right now.”  That includes learning new things.  One of the things I’ve wanted to learn is how to crochet.  I know, I know, out of all the things I can learn, I choose crochet?! Anyway,  I happened to be sitting in a cafe on Chicago’s South Side and saw that the cafe was being used by Erika and Monika Simmons. 

Simmons Sister, Co-Owners of Double Stitch

The Simmons sisters co-own a business called Double Stitch, for which they crochet clothing and sell it to local boutiques.  They offer FREE workshops on how to crochet and provide the tools to learn.  Beginners and experienced crocheters (is that a word?) are welcomed.  I was surprised to see people of all ages from teens to grandmothers in this workshop.  Somehow, I had the misperception that crocheting was something young adults do. Erika and Monika are very good, patient teachers!  And, they are authors of a book of patterns called “Double Stitch:  Designs for the Crochet Fashionista.” They will be doing a book signing at Macy’s on State Street during their mini-trunk show event on February 18th and 19th from 11am-6pm.  Come and shopt their clothing designs.  Then, buy a book and ask them when the next workshop will take place!

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Celebrity Chefs Indulge Guests at Meals On Wheels Ball

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

The anticipation was high, as I was eager to attend the Meals On Wheels 20th Celebrity Chef Ball this past Friday.  This was a foodie’s dream event – to indulge in cuisine prepared by chefs from Chicago and around the country.  The premium ticket included a four-course seated dinner served by celebrity chefs.  The Indulgence Ball featured food samplings and chef stations from various Chicago restaurants.

The scene was elegant and stylish and was hosted on the 7th floor by Macy’s on State St.  Chefs from notable restaurants such as Perennial, Drawing Room, WAVE, C-House and Aigre Doux prepared and served signature dishes as well as desserts.  Foodie favorites were the Fish Taco by C-House and Duck Croquettes delivered by Perennial.  Cupcakes by Chaos Theory Cakes also got a lot of attention.  Premium cocktails, casino games, raffles and a silent auction made the evening especially fun.  A few local celebrities and a lot of Chicago socialites dressed for success to celebrate the grand occasion.

Meals on Wheels is a non-profit organization that provides funding to programs that support home bound senior citizens and peole with disabilities.  It truly is a great cause and an excellent way to give back to those that have probably helped us at one point or another during our lives.  The Celebrity Chef Ball was a big hit and one of the best charitable events in Chicago.  For more information about Meals on Wheels Chicago visit www.mealsonwheelschicago.org.

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You are SO going to Hell…

Laura Lodewyck, NBC5 Street Team

Shed your saintly skin and indulge in some decadence as you celebrate A Night of 7 Deadly Sins this Saturday at 10:00 pm.

 For one night, the fabulous John Fluevog shoe store (1539 N. Milwaukee) will be transformed into Dante’s Inferno, with 7 stations of sin. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed as their “favorite sin”.  In addition to a surprise guest DJ, highlights of the night will include a lusty 7-Minutes in Heaven Auction, featuring local actress/hottie Nilsa Reyna, as well as performances by Johnny Rivers & The Ripettes Burlesque Review. Prizes will be awarded for the winners of the costume (pride?) and pizza eating (gluttony?) contests.

The first 100 reservations receive a gift certificate to AKIRA, so email dramaqueen_2281@hotmail.com

  ASAP! Dress in costume for a discounted ticket rate of $20, or come-as-you-are with a $30 ticket that includes decadent food, sinful beverages, contests, auctions, and plenty of entertainment. Visit the event website at going.com/7deadlysins.

All proceeds will benefit Chicago Fusion Theatre as they celebrate the closing night of their production of bobrauschenbergamerica, which has been hailed by critics as “…satisfyingly bizarre and frenetically entertaining… a ninety-minute whirlwind of love, loss, sex and art…” The cast of the show will make an appearance, and the evening also includes a local artists’ silent auction featuring interpretations of the late Robert Rauschenberg’s work.

If you’ve got any suggestions for weird and wonderful events that you shouldn’t miss this weekend, write me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com. Be sure to type “Lodewyck” into the Search bar in the upper right hand corner to see my previous blogs, and to watch my segments with Nude Hippo.

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Martini slip-n-slides and lots of underwear…OR:Pimping my Play

Laura Lodewyck, NBC5 Street Team

Ok, Shameless self-promotion time! This weekend, Chicago Fusion Theatre presents bobrauschenbergamerica, a fitting tribute to the profoundly influential visual artist Robert “Bob” Rauschenberg, who passed away this May. Written by Charles Mee (Big Love), the production is presented as a wild collage of characters and stories: where a life-size martini meets chicken jokes; a tongue-in-cheek performance art piece mixes opera and underwear; and the action could be interrupted at any time by either an assassination or a line dance. As Rauschenberg once famously quipped, “If it wasn’t a surprise at first, by the time I got through with it, it was.”

Directed by Court Theatre Artistic Associate Jack Tamburri, Chicago Fusion Theatre’s production is inspired by Rauschenberg’s vibrant aesthetic and boundless generosity. Much like Rauschenberg’s famous “combines”, which incorporated everything from paint and photographs to busted tires and taxidermied animals, this play mixes the mundane and the sublime in a daring exploration of the American experience. It is a love letter to audiences, artists, and America.

Come see ME! in this weird, wild show through September 28 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 7:00 pm). Call the Gorilla Tango Theatre Box Office at 773-598-4549, or visit Gorilla Tango online at www.gorillatango.com.

Type “Lodewyck” into the Search bar to check out my past blogs and pieces with Nude Hippo. Email me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com.

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Chicago Weekend Party Re-Cap!

LaShonda Matlock, NBC5 Street Team

Horseshoe Casino’s grand opening was HOT, with a special performance by DIVA herself Bette Midler! And if that wasn’t enough there were plenty of celebs to go around! *wink*

Tara Reid was either very “sleepy” or just a little tipsy upon her arrival on the red-carpet but she was still very friendly and gave a fab interview. Now if only she could have remembered which direction she was supposed to walk in…..

The Real Housewives of NYC Countess Luann DeLesseps and Bethenny Frankel did their catwalk in Harve Leger and a private label. The two were on location filming season 2 of the Bravo hit! Afterwards the two dined at Sepia and headed over to party at Manor!

John Scunti of Rescue Me was in town for the whole weekend and made no mistake about where he was dining Saturday night- Gibsons Steak House. Scrunti swore up and down he could “out eat me” at any given time…I’m waiting!

Also spotted in the crowd were Noah Beans of Damages with his too cute lady escort, singer Josh Kelley, Susanna Homan and Phil Gordon (congrats on the baby!) professional poker player who happens to be a Cubs fan….but I’ll forgive him!

George Daniels was out and about Friday night as he attended Hale Berry ex/R&B singer Eric Benet’s party at Vision nightclub. My spies tell me Eric was a sad case just walking around the nightclub pouting and then finally sitting alone in the corner! Can you say KARMA boys and girls!

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Come Out & Play! Chicago Events 7/10 – 13

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

“Gigantic, willful, young, Chicago sitteth at the northwest gates.”
William Vaughn Moody “An Ode in Time of Hesitation,” 1901

Downtown Chicago can often seem like a grown-up playground. For example, this weekend there’s Ale Fest at Navy Pier, which for beer lovers is like being a kid in a candy store. The Windy City Corn Hole Classic brings the sidewalk and backyard game that involves throwing corn bags into corn holes to Soldier Field. You can even ride your bike after “curfew” with the 20th Annual L.A.T.E. Ride. Instead of getting in trouble for getting in just before dawn, you’ll get breakfast with a smile.

There’s also a lot to do for real kids. You know, the ones who need naps and get excited about stickers and bubbles and baby pigs and squeal with delight when they get excited. This weekend you can hear lots of that happy laughter as they make wire sculptures and go crazy painting at the Museum of Contemporary Art (who hasn’t heard a child say after seeing an abstract work “I can do that!”?) or see a puppet show in Millennium Park set to Mussorgsky’s “Pictures At An Exhibition”. They’ll also love taking a dog on a cruise or making something to wear out of a paper bag.

For even more ways to act like a kid, no matter how old you are, check out the events calendar. Now go out there and play!

Theresa

Type The Local Tourist into the Search bar in the upper right hand corner of the page to see my reviews, bands of the week, upcoming events, and more or just click here. You can also follow me on Twitter.

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My moustache made me do it.

Laura Lodewyck, NBC5 Street Team

Proving once again that you can put “Fest” after just about any word and succeed in making it an official event, Sausagefest, Pizza Fest and Mustache Fest 2008 are on this weekend. Held by artists Lauren Anderson, Oli Watt, and Ingrid Watt, Sausagefest features sausages, sauerkraut, and beer at an improvised German brauhaus, Logan Square’s Old Gold art gallery in disguise. Bring home an official Sausagefest stein to prove that you were there. 

The second annual Pizza Fest takes over Lincoln Park this Saturday and Sunday with bands, contests (“Best Pizza” for local establishments, and “Pizza Eating” for locals), and lots and lots of neopolitan, deep dish, and stuffed pizza slices. As their website points out, it is pretty incredible that such a pizza-boasting city as Chicago hasn’t held an official pizza-centered event before 2007. Celebrate your Chicago pizza pride and check it out (just avoid the ominious-sounding “Pizza Eating Competition Stage” from 2:00-2:08 pm if that kind of thing grosses you out as much as it does me.)

Sponsored by — who else? –  the American Mustache Institute, Mustache Fest 2008 kicks off in the Chicago area at two locations in Joliet, the Chicago Street Pub and McBrody’s. “Protecting the rights of, and fighting discrimination against, mustached Americans by promoting the growth, care, and culture of the mustache,” the American Mustache Institute promises to celebrate music and mustaches in Chicagoland with some terrific indie rock and some (probably terrifying) mustache contests. If you can start growing now, it may not be too late to enter! Good luck…

Type “Lodewyck” into the Search bar to check out my past blogs and pieces with Nude Hippo. Email me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com with any other wacky weekend ideas!

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Blues and Books; Chicago Events June 5 – 8

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

“Could anything be more indicative of a slight but general insanity than the aspect of the crowd on the streets of Chicago?” Charles Horton Cooley “Human Nature and the Social Order,” 1902

Of all the weekends during the year, all 52 of them, this one is my favorite. At least it’s really high up there. One reason is that this weekend is the Chicago Blues Festival. Seven stages of kick-ass music that can get even the most un-rhythmic to tap a foot and move a little. The other reason? Printers Row Book Fair. Whole city blocks are filled with kiosks and tents and tables, and they’re all filled with BOOKS. Some are cheap; some are rare; some are used; some are new. Actually some aren’t even books. They’re maps or records or magazines or comic books. Sigh. Is it Saturday yet?

Of course, there are a few other things going on. For instance, the Black Thai International Arts Fest is a free open air arts and crafts fair in the West Loop. Friday is Donut Day in Thompson Center Plaza, and Daley Plaza is hosting Chicago Sister Cities International, a multicultural week of performances from Chicago’s sister cities.

Speaking of International cities, Chicago was selected yesterday as one of the final four for the Olympic bid. Love it? Hate it? Leave a comment on the blog.

You may not be an Olympic athlete, but you can still get in shape AND do it with an amazing view. Starting this Saturday there’s a free Workout In The Park. Learn Tai Chi, yoga, pilates, and dance. There are even family workouts so you can bring the kids.

Have a great weekend!

Theresa

Type The Local Tourist into the Search bar in the upper right hand corner of the page to see my reviews, bands of the week, trivia questions, upcoming events, and more or just click here. You can also follow me on Twitter.

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