Don’t be afraid step right up!

Ashley Lobo, NBC Chicago Street Team

Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, the circus is about to begin!

Those are the words that greet you at the All-New Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The world famous entertainers are in Chicagoland this month, taking their high-flying acrobatics to the Allstate Arena (Rosemont) until Nov. 16, and then moving to the United Center from Nov. 18-30. (Schedule, tickets)

Click here to read the rest of this story and to watch the video on nbcchicago.com.

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20 Regions of Italy in River North

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

A trip to Italy may not be on your travel agenda in the near future, especially with the state of the economy. However, thanks to a new River North Italian hot spot, you can experience Venice right here in Chicago.

Ristorante Prosecco (710 N. Wells St.) is a chic yet unpretentious white tablecloth restaurant in the heart of the River North gallery district. Prosecco offers sophisticated, regional comfort foods from Italy’s 20 regions, as well as the largest selection of Italian sparkling wine in Chicago. The interior of the restaurant was designed based on the beauty of Venice and the soft color of a glass of prosecco.

Read the rest of this story on nbcchicago.com.

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Chicago Style Pizza Has World Pizza Championships Buzzing

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

The Italians created pizza, but can you believe that they had never heard of Chicago style pizza?  That’s until Leo Spizzirri made some noise amongst the best pizza makers in the world.  Leo, the Executive Chef for Giordano’s 46 locations, is now a member of the World Pizza Champions team.  He is considered to be one of the best pizza makers in the world, and his specialty is stuffed pizza.

Leo has been trained by 9 time pizza champion, Tony Gemignani, and is also certified in Classic Italian Pizza, Pizza in Pala, and Pizza in Taglia from the Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in Carole, Italy.  Gemigiani tagged Leo to be a part of the World Pizza Champions after many conversations about Chicago style and tasting the stuffed pizza.  Chicago style pizza wasn’t recognized in any of the World Championship competitions, but Gemigiani wanted to change that.  

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

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A New Spotlight “Shines” Bright for This Urban Roadhouse

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

The Mrs. and I like hanging out in the Wicker Park area often for breakfast, brunch or lunch. That area has been bustling since the revitalization period started to take place when I arrived in Chicago about nine years ago.  We have some favorites on West Division Street such as Milk and Honey, Crust, and Smoke Daddy BBQ.  But now I can add a new spot to our list of Wicker Park places that I had never tried before — Moonshine! 

Moonshine, surprisingly has a cool and hip vibe that makes it a nice place to dine or watch the game. The menu consists of specialty thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, appetizers and several hearty entrees.  While searching for a better brew to pair with its upscale bar cuisine, Moonshine decided to make beer in-house instead of looking elsewhere. 
They tapped brew master Reverend Bob Kitrell, a former Goose Island brewer, to handcraft quality beers with spirit and soul.  Although I’m not much of a beer drinker, I thoroughly enjoyed the two brews that I gulped down, while watching the thrashing of Ohio State at the hands of USC. 

Moonshine’s current brews on tap are Sin City, Chronic, and Alpha Dog.  The Alpha Dog went nicely with my mahi-mahi tacos.  Reverend Bob brews his beers primarily in the American tradition, using ingredients from the Midwest whenever possible.  Drawing from his own experiences is what made him an award-winning Brew Master.

But what makes Moonshine a great place to hang out is their music. There’s nothing like kicking back a few while listening to the DJ spin a mix of classic R&B, house and current hits.  Good food, great brews and jammin music…nuff said! 

Check out Moonshine at www.moonshinechicago.com
1824 W. Division St., Chicago, IL (773) 862-8686

As always, check out Fete Select TV for an inside look at the newest and best restaurants around the globe.  Or check out www.efete.net for more restaurant tips.

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Mercat a la Planxa on Fete Select TV…Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

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

Sept. 16th  marked the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month which is celebrated in the US – a national holiday that began under President Lyndon B. Johnson and highlights the significant contributions Latinos have made on US culture.  Coca-Cola and Fete Select TV celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an inside look at Mercat a la Planxa.  Inspired by Catalan cuisine, acclaimed Executive Chef Jose Garces’ new restaurant shows us why Latino chefs are making a huge impact on fine dining.

View Fete Select TV below and see why Mercat a la Planxa is one of Chicago’s best new restaurants in the city.  Check out more hot new restaurants on Fete Select TV at www.efete.net

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This “House” Packs “Power” and Elizabeth Taylor History

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

Longevity in any industry is rare nowadays, but especially within the restaurant industry.  A combination of great food, service, location and price is what every restaurant owner desires, in order to make their venue last.  Chicago restaurant veteran Jimmy Alexander has been doing it for years, and now has another winner with his new restaurant Powerhouse.

Built in a historic landmark in Chicago’s Fulton River District, Powerhouse gets its name from the Western Railway power plant.  The main dining room vibe reminds me where powerful business meetings take place, but the separate bar area is much more casual and contemporary.  The menu, by Executive Chef Jeff Mauro, is packed with an array of traditional American dishes with a powerful twist.  One of my favorites was the Tartare of Hawaiian Ono, an appetizer item.  The Lemon Risotto and Wild Boar Rack and Loin were also very tasty and enjoyable.  One of the highlights of the menu was the famous Alexander salad dressing on their Romaine Hearts salad.  

Mr. Alexander explained that the salad dressing has been on the menu at all of his restaurants since the 1950′s.  In-fact, Conrad “Nicky” Hilton enjoyed the dressing so much, that he had it shipped to his 1950 wedding with Elizabeth Taylor, for their dinner reception.  Now that’s a history lesson for you.  The desserts are plentiful with a selection of cheescake, cake and sorbet, but the winner hands down were the Sweet Potato Doughnuts!  Being a doughnut connoisseur, I have to say that these were the best doughnuts that I’ve ever had.  Period!  Gotta try the doughnuts folks.

Powerhouse is located at 215 Clinton Street between Randolph and Fulton.  It’s open for lunch and dinner and their casual bar is a great place to watch the game.  You can check out their web site at www.powerhouserestaurant.com or call (312) 928-0800 for reservations.  As always, check out Fete Select TV for an inside look at the newest and best restaurants in the city.

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Silents Ready To Raise The Volume

Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team

Things haven’t been so quiet for The Silents lately, and that’s a good thing.

Set to release their debut album “Sleep Walker” on Sept 9th, the band has generated an early buzz that’s more like a swarm. The praise has been met with especially open arms considering nobody knew whether or not the album would even be completed. Now all the hours spent working with Andy Gerber at Million Yen Studios (Local H, Smoking Popes,Cheap Trick,The Tossers) are beginning to pay off.

“The album was recorded over the course of two crazy years in our lives,” says Velten (Vocals, Guitar). “We didn’t have any money, so we never knew when or if the album would be finished. One day, we woke up and it was there.” Now with the wheels in motion, the Chicago-based rock quartet aims to unleash their brand of grunge-infused art rock upon the masses.

I previewed, er, “pre-listened” to the album over the weekend and grew more interested as the songs spun on. Each track takes you through a range of dynamics that lures you in gradually, and pays off big in the end – like the salad before a steak. Or for you health nuts – the rice cake before the salmon filet. Whatever the case, “Sleep Walker” provides you with a well balanced diet of rock that leaves you wanting desert.

Fresh off a performance at Chicago’s Metro, the band sets out for a string of out of state shows starting September 19th until the 22nd. Those that are able to, should catch them while they can.

Things like this never stay quiet for long.

For more info on the release and show info visit: TheSilents.net or Myspace.com/TheSilents

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UR Chicago Magazine Goes On Indefinite Hiatus

Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team

18 months after taking over as publisher of UR Chicago, En Prise Entertainment has regrettably pulled the plug on the print edition of their beloved magazine , citing printing costs in a difficult economical time as the primary culprit.

Founded in 1997, The popular lifestyle and entertainment magazine reached a monthly circulation rate of 45.000 copies and has been an editorial hub for all things art in Chicago for years. Keeping the city’s hipsters and artists updated with trends in nightlife, music, theater, art, film, dining and fashion isn’t an easy task – (especially on a monthly basis); but the publication’s enthusiastic and up-to-speed staff have been steadily providing a labor of love that will undoubtedly be missed.

Before you drain your tear ducts completely, though, you should know that UR Chicago will be concentrating all of its future efforts into the online realm via their website, URChicago.com. The site will update daily with album, book, film and gave reviews in addition to cluing Chicago in on the “what’s what” of indie nightlife.

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WAVE Makes Tea Time a Sexy Experience for Guys and Gals

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

The first time that I had tea was at the Ritz Carlton here in Chicago.  My wife treated me on my birthday afternoon to little sandwiches, cookies, tarts, champagne and of course tea.  It was a really nice and we both enjoyed ourselves, but I probably wouldn’t go back unless it is with her.  The idea of “tea”, especially among guys, is perceived as girly, quite stuffy and pretentious, and for the most part it is.  However, WAVE Restaurant in the W Lakeshore Hotel, is attempting to change that perception and make “tea” time sexy and unisex.

WAVE Executive Chef Kristine Subido created the uni-tea experience.  No white gloves or a full room of ladies here, but feminini-tea and masculini-tea are encouraged.  Along with a selection of loose leaf teas you’ll find tea-infused vodka elixirs (mar-tea-nis), bubbly and a selection of hand-crafted beers.  The menu prepared by Chef Kristine appeals to both men and women.

Mar-tea-ni selections include Raspberry Nectar and White Ginger Pear.  The Masculini-tea (beer choices) includes Goose Island, Pere Jacques and Chimay, Red.  The Tea-ni-bites are tailored to Guys and Gals selections.  The Guys menu include grilled beef tenderloin, beef tartare and mini Angus beef sliders.  The Gals savory treats consists of chilled shrimp and cucumber salad, smoked salmon cannolli, and curried deviled eggs.  Their Sweet Bites are scones, tarts, tea cakes, and macaroons.  The cuisine, cocktails and vibe at unitea is a place where friends can go hang out on a fall afternoon.  In-fact, unitea is a place where the fellas can go hang without having the ”girly” stigma that surrounds tea time.  Unitea is available at WAVE Restaurant in the W Lakeshore Hotel Wednesday – Sunday from 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm.  For more information log onto www.waverestaurant.com.

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Food Network Star Creates Delectable Dishes for W Hotels in Chicago

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

 

Celebrity chef, author and Food Network star Dave Lieberman has partnered with W Hotels to create exclusive dishes for both IN ROOM DINING and their newly designed LIVING ROOM lounge menus. “Cravings by Dave Lieberman” features globally-inspired foods with a twist. Each Chicago hotel will choose four dishes created by Dave to feature through April 09.  Each new menu item takes inspiration from one of the W’s upcoming global destinations; from Atlanta to Austin, Milan to Marrakech, Santiago to Spain and everywhere in between. Menu’s will change seasonally.

I had the pleasure of tasting four of the menu items at the W City Center last week and they were pretty darn tasty. The “Truffled Taleggio Grilled Cheese” was different from any grilled cheese that I’ve ever had, but not to be outdone was the “Meatball Hoagie” with red paper tomato sauce and provolone. The “Chicken Kebabs” on the menu were inspired by the upcoming W Marrakech. All of the menu items feature foods with unexpected flavors and ingredients that add a personal twist. Also be sure to order their specialty cocktails in the LIVING ROOM or WHISKEY BLUE. The best of the cocktails are the “Strawberry Basil Lemonade” and the “Forbidden Fruit Punch” (made for two).

Check out “Cravings” at the W City Center or the W Lakeshore. Also check out Fete Select TV to get a firsthand look at Chicago’s newest and hottest restaurants.

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Beat Kitchen Serves Up Four-Star LP

Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team

While the streets State and Madison have stood at the heart of Chicago’s grid system for over a century, “State and Madison,” the band, is anything but stationary. In fact, change might be this act’s most distinctive characteristic. Those attending The Beat Kitchen (Chicago) on Saturday will get an early ear full of what I’m talking about.

In what might be their most musically mature album yet, the 4 piece Indie-Rock band is set to release their new material; and with a music scene that’s plagued with 2 dimensional bands and label hungry copycats, S&M’s “Become The Not Found” LP is a strong dose of originality – and exactly what the doctor ordered.

Photo Credit: Laura Meehan

The forthcoming LP will be released first as a limited edition vinyl (250 copies) equipped with B-Sides and a drop-card for digital versions of the songs.

“The songs on this record are so different from one another,” says singer Nickolas Blazina. “They shouldn’t make sense together, but somehow as a record, it works. It’s some of the heaviest stuff we’ve done, but also some of the more delicate. I think the B-Sides on the vinyl will highlight that best.”

The Chicago-based band is known for delivering pop-infused Indie-Rock with a signature punch, an always infectious live show, and consistently giving back to their loyal fans

Of course, if you’re the type who doesn’t believe everything they read, listen for yourself, and then head over to The Beat Kitchen on Sat. August 9th to hear what it sounds like when State and Madison intersects with Belmont and Hoyne.

State and Madison (CD Release)
The Beat Kitchen
2100 W. Belmont
Chicago, IL 60618
Doors @ 5:30 pm | Show @ 6:00 pm
Tickets: $8.00 Adv. / $10.00 Dos. | All Ages

www.StateandMadison.net
www.Myspace.com/StateandMadison

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PIE Chicago is the New Hot Specialty Cafe

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

I recently had a chance to check out PIE, the hot new specialty cafe downtown.  Located at 615 N. State St., PIE specializes in making homemade pies from classic recipes.  The idea was actually conceptualized by co-owner Mike Hines, as he was showering.  He said that he was craving one of his Grandmother’s homemade pies, but wasn’t able to find a homemade pie that measured up.  So voila, PIE was born.

 

Dobra, their dessert chef, prepares the pies off site. Customers are able to sample pies once inside the specialty shop or take home a mini pie instead of a whole pie.  PIE has a simplistic but elegant layout that triggers your senses when you walk inside.  PIE features at least seven different flavors each season,  which include apple cranberry, banana cream. strawberry rhubarb, Mississippi mud, and lemon meringue.  If you’re not in the mood for pie, try their quiche, cookie and bars, or macarons.  The coffee shop located inside PIE and a 5000 square foot garden in the back of the cafe will make it a popular hang out to relax and enjoy this summer’s weather.  Check out their web site www.piechicago.com and get an inside look on Fete Select TV. 

 

 

 

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A Revolutionary Way To Think About Health & Fitness

Cara “Cara’s Basement” Carriveau

Okay, there are a gazillion gyms in Chicago. I’ve had memberships over the years to 5 different area health clubs. I have to admit I only hired a personal trainer once and when I did it was the owner of the Powerhouse Gym in Crystal Lake (it’s no longer there). He did it as a favor to me, charging me half price, but his attention to me was also only half there. When we worked out he often stepped away to greet members and answer the phone. When I asked for help with my diet he went to his computer and printed off a list of foods to eat. I thought to myself, “Where’s the PERSONAL part of this training?”.

Now that I’m married to a health & fitness expert with over two decades of experience including personal training, I understand that all personal trainers are not equal. Just yesterday my husband was blindly contacted by a company looking for a personal trainer. He’s not even interested in doing that anymore but looked at the job qualifications out of curiosity and it indicated that applicants could be “working towards their certification” – in other words, an uncertified personal trainer could be hired by this gym to train people. Huh?

 

My husband Bill Busch does something that most personal trainers cannot do. It’s called Muscle Activation Techniques. It’s a very effective way ofdealing with weaknesses and in my case eliminated my back pain which is totally awesome! He’ll tell you he’s treating the weakness and the fact that the pain goes away is simply a side effect – but I’ll take the pain-free result any way I can get it. He still trains people, but don’t call him a personal trainer. He’s more like a personal fitness mechanic. His actual title is MAT Specialist.

Check out his Fitness From The Inside Out podcast. It will make you think twice before hiring a personal trainer, that’s for sure:

You can meet Bill Busch and many other health industry experts at the 2008 Avenue Health Fair at the Oak Park Library, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park, this Saturday 10am-2pm. It’s free with complimentary health screenings and hands-on mini workshops. Kids are welcome. Bill Busch will be part of a panel of experts adressing obesity and stress. Be sure to look for us at the Fitness From The Inside Out table.

Type my name in the search bar or click HERE to see/hear more of my posts including interviews with The Bravery, Lovehammers, Triumph’s Rik Emmett, Shooting Star, Mike Tafoya comedian Lee Camp & more.

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The Hilarity Of Chelsea Handler

Janelle Rominski, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

I have to hand it to her – Chelsea Handler handles herself quite well. After checking out her book tour and show schedule on her Myspace page, I thought Chelsea would be a walking zombie when I saw her perform at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan last week. I was wrong.

Chelsea Hanlder is a comedienne, author and host of Chelsea Lately, the television series on E! Entertainment.

Hailing from Livingston, New Jersey, Chelsea was born to a Jewish father and a Mormon mother. She is also the youngest of six children. Her unique upbringing has helped her career in comedy because she has plenty of interesting stories to tell.

Chelsea came out and took immediate control of the stage. The theatre was packed and the overly-excited audience seemed ready for some good laughs.

I love attending comedy shows. I had never been to a comedy show fronted by a female before, so I was excited for what was to come.

Chelsea broke out with a comic bit on growing up and discovering masturbation. She touched on some intimate times with exes and the surprises that came along with hooking-up. She also spoke candidly about how her father thought she was a lesbian. Her self-deprecating humor had everyone laughing up a storm.

Her show assistant, a.k.a. her “Little Nugget”, Chuy was not at the show. However, she made sure he was there in spirit. Chuy also appears on the cover of her latest book.

Prior to the show, Chelsea held a discussion and book signing at the Borders in Oak Brook. After her show she signed books for hundreds of her fans.

You can learn more about Chelsea from her two books. She is on tour in support of her second book release, Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea. Her first book release was My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands.

Want more Rominski reads? Read more right HERE!

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Headbanging, Finger Tapping, and Cellos

Maureen Vana, NBC5 Street Team

Apocalyptica brought Chicago an evening of hair tossing metal complete with matching skull thrones, a clear acrylic drum set, and…. four cellos. The band who gained notoriety with their string renditions of Metallica songs has long moved on from a cover band to an original force. The group has worked with a variety of guest artists including Dave Lombardo (Slayer) and Ville Valo (HIM) and is currently on tour with their sixth studio album, Worlds Collide.

See photos from Apocalyptica at the House of Blues Chicago

The group played primarily new material from the recent US release including tracks “Grace”, “Ion”, and “Last Hope”. Other original material included “Bittersweet”, “Betrayal/Forgiveness”, and covers of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”, “Seek and Destroy”, and “Nothing Else Matters”. A combination of the band’s energy and humor made the hour and fifteen minute set slip by leaving us all wanting more. Apocalyptica played two encores for the craving fans and left the stage with a bow and hi-fives to the crowd.

Sunday evening was an exciting break to get a dose of metal with something a little different from the guitar ruling genre. Apocalypica’s mix of classical beauty with the speed and edge of hard riffs transformed on stage to an experience unlike hearing them on CD. After witnessing these Finnish rockers live I can strongly say, yes, I would like some distortion with my cello please.

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Plenty of “Heart” in the City @ United Center

 Dave Leonard, NBC5 Street Team, (Video)

When you’re involved in “the industry”, sometimes you can get a little spoiled or even jaded attending concert after concert and event after event.  Things kind of become “old hat” and you feel like, “Oh I’ve been here before”.  This could be even more so stated for my wife and I as we attended the “Heart of the City” tour this past weekend during its two Chicago stops.  We’ve both worked closely (in different capacities) with the two “New York Giants” of the Hip-Hop & R&B game…her with Jay-Z, me with Mary J. Blige.  We weren’t like most fans in attendance who spent their hard-earned dollars to see two of the greatest do their thing, but we are fans nonetheless.  When “Hova” and “MJB” hit the stage of the United Center, all those indifferent thoughts were put to bed and we once again witnessed why these two are two of the greatest who’ve ever picked up a microphone and Chicago showed them the love they deserved.

When 8pm hit, the Chicago Bulls theme song began to play and some fans were surprised by an opening set from songwriting phenom, The Dream (Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body, Rhianna’s “Umbrella”) who also served as a host for the show.  Dream set things off on a high note with his hit single “Shawty Is A Ten” with several provocative female dancers in tow.   He followed that up with his current single, “I Love Your Girl” and finished it off with the even more risque “Falsetto” which contained more bumpin’ and grindin’ then an R. Kelly concert.

Dream ended his set with a witty dialogue to kill time and then after he exited the stage the countdown literally began to the main event.  After a 15 minute intermission, the lights went out and a video interview montage with Mary J and Jay-Z appeared on opposite sides of the stage.  This sent the super diverse crowd which ranged from the barely post teen to the “old school” into a frenzy.  As the video faded into a helicopter view of the New York City skyline, the large curtain onstage dropped to the ground revealing Mary and Jay standing back to back in their shining glory.

The two icons appropriately kicked things off with their classic collabo “Can’t Knock The Hustle” off of Jay’s legendary debut album, “Reasonable Doubt”.  From that point on they enticed the crowd by making brief appearances in each others sets on songs like Mary’s “Real Love (Remix)” sans Notorious B.I.G. and Jay’s “Song Cry” from “The Blueprint” album.   However it was ladies first as Mary tirelessly performed hit after hit…sometimes only enlisting accompanying vocals of the sold-out crowd on songs like “I’m Goin’ Down”, her rendition of Chaka Khan’s “Sweet Thang” and the mad black woman’s anthem, “Not Gon Cry”.  We even got treated to a little bit of theater on songs like “Your Child” as she had an interpretive drama ensemble act out the lyrics.  Mary commanded the audience as she ran through her entire catalogue bringing the house down on songs like “No More Drama” and ending things on a happy note with her single “Just Fine”.

After Mary ripped the roof off the United Center, u would think the crowd would’ve been exhausted….wrong!!! The video montage started again and chants of “Hova, Hova, Hova” began and the calls were answered.  As the small orchestra began to play, “Jigga-man” himself rose from underneath the stage displaying the all too familiar “Roc-A-Fella hand signal”.  Jay kicked it off letting us know that the “Roc Boys” were definitely in the building and like Mary, he effortlessly smashed his entire catalog…barely breaking a sweat.  At one point he even took us to the club and played classics like “Who U Wit”, “Money Ain’t A Thang”, and “Feelin It” before he let the crowd decide he was going to perform “Big Pimpin’”.  As he has on many other tour stops Jay couldn’t resist a little hometown politics as he asked the crowd if they were ready for change and threw up a huge pic of Barack Obama which drew thousands of applause and cheers.

After Jay performed his “Encore”, my wife and I decided to make our way to the door to beat the parking lot pimpin and gridlock.  As we made our way through the aisles, Mary and Jay re-united one last time to perform the title track for the tour.  The love was definitely in the room for these two music icons and all those who paid $150 and up for their concert tickets definitely got there monies worth and then some.

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My favorite food is snacks

Laura Lodewyck, NBC5 Street Team

I’m not the big plate of pasta girl. Not that I have the super model stamina to live on nothing but olives and champagne and diet pills, no; I simply like my big plates to be filled with lots of tiny different foods. In other words, as my brother says, “My favorite food is snacks.” So true.

Given this, tapas is the obvious choice as my restaurant favorite. Now I know that life is subjective and everyone has a right to an opinion, blah blah blah, but if you don’t like Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, I don’t trust your opinion on taste or fun, and I’m not even sure that you are human. Sorry. Maybe it’s partly due to the fact that every time I’m there I’m celebrating, and maybe it’s partially that we always drink a lot of sangria, but I’m all about their patatas bravas. I’m not entirely sure if it’s an actual “authentic” recipe like you might find if you visited Spain, but I don’t care. And although I’ve met with argument on this one, I’ve found that Ba Ba Reeba is also the most affordable and best bargain for what you get. (And we always get a LOT.)

Then there’s Emilio’s Tapas and Cafe Iberico, which are always fun — but when are sangria and cheese not fun? Emilio’s queso de cabra is a hot goat cheese garlic tomato mess of deliciousness, but overall Emilio’s is somewhat pricier. Iberico’s fine, but just not my favorite. I feel like I always get caught in the corner seat by the bathroom directly beside an incredibly loud stranger. My disapproval stems partly from the fact that I typically enjoy taking the role of Incredibly Loud Stranger myself, but also because there seems to be something about the acoustics in that place that elevates the drunken roar of diners to an impossibly loud pitch. It defies physics.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to 1492 Tapas, so I’ll have to give it another try, especially given that I walk by it daily and the promotions (Monday specials on sangria and beer, Tuesdays wine and martinis, etc) are enticing. I remembered enjoying it, but I don’t remember much else. Perhaps it was those drink specials.

Lucille’s Tavern and Tapas is also enjoyable, but given that they also serve French onion soup, it’s somewhat less true to the tapas theme. Ole Lounge is relatively new and has some fancy-pants delicious drinks, and Arco de Cuchileros is always yummy and bills itself as the “most authentic” tapas restaurant, which I appreciate.

What have a missed? Tiny Twist in Wrigleyville, where we found it’s not so easy to get a table, and Sangria on Weed Street, which I have yet to try because everything (including the giant rotating bubble-letter sign and the fact that it’s on Weed Street) leads me to believe it’s more club-y and less tapas-y. Which is totally fine, but just not what I’m looking for in my tapas restaurant.

Besides, I already have a favorite…and I apparently don’t like change. I’m always up for a suggestion, though! Email me at llodewyck@nudehippo.com.

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R&B’s Best Kept Secret Returns

Dave Leonard, NBC5 Street Team, (Video)

From the moment I met this soul diva back in high school, I knew she had a voice sent from heaven.  Rhythm & Blues runs through her blood (literally) and you can hear it in every lyric and every note she delivers.  She’s had three major album releases, which in this day and age of the music business is rare…most artists get one shot.  She’s hit three in a row…So why is Syleena Johnson “R&B’s Best Kept Secret”??? Well, the secret is finally out.

Chi-town’s own soul siren is “delivering” another chapter in the book of Syleena with her fourth album release, “Chapter 4: Labor Pains” set to hit retail and online distributors on September 2nd, 2008, the day after Labor Day.  There is more significance and irony to the title because the release date is also Syleena’s “born day” and like her previous releases, the inspiration for the album is drawn from life experiences such as becoming a wife and a mother over the past year.

In this day of digital downloading and decreasing album sales, this album is even more of a “labor of love” since this is Syleena’s foray into the independent route.  She recently launched her own label Aneelys Records (Syleena spelled “Backwards”) which came via an exclusive worldwide distribution deal through Federal/Universal Music Group.  Instead of having a major machine with the major marketing dollars, all the risks and hard work will be taken on by Syleena and her “A-Team”.

Syleena kept the production in-house (so to speak) by enlisting hometown producer Toxic for her amazing lead single, “It Is True” which is now getting rotation at Urban AC radio outlets.  This heavenly ballad professes Syleena’s true love for her new family in a beautiful and compelling way.  The listener will get drawn in from the opening angellic harps backing Syleena’s sultry voice as she weaves a tale about “girl meets boy”, they fall in love, and grow old together. 

Although a lot of Syleena’s music deals with the pains and struggles of women, one continuous message throughout her music and everyday life is the strength she gets from God.  “Labor Pains” I’m sure will be no different in that regard.

As always, support your local artists and make sure you check out “Labor Pains” when it drops.  Real Rhythm & Blues is coming back!

www.myspace.com/syleenajohnson  

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“Live Life” Benefit Concert Sunday Night!

Cara “Cara’s Basement” Carriveau, NBC5 Street Team

I lost my father to cancer.  I know far too many relatives and friends diagnosed with cancer.  While it’s no long the “c” word whispered secretly, cancer affects a staggering amount of people and it’s imperative to raise money to help find a cure. 

This Sunday night I’ll be the emcee of a night of music benefiting the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The Chicago Music Guide presents Live Life is at Joe’s Bar in Chicago. Come experience live music from Paris Delane’s Tye Dye Skye, Jennifer Peterson Band, Ellen Rosner, Tracylynn & 55 South, Gina Gonzalez, White Buffalo Is Born and Twin Ray (Desiree Irwin). Doors open at 5:30, the live music begins at 6:30pm. Tickets are only $20 plus there is an awesome silent auction. You can bid on autographed items from Bon Jovi, Counting Crowes, John Hiatt, Steve Vai and more – CLICK HERE for the full list.

I had an enlightening conversation with Paris Delane on my podcast Cara’s Basement.  He’s passionate about his involvement with this cause – in fact, he radiates passion about life.  His adoration for his mother is especially touching as we approach Mothers Day.  Listen:

(Type my name in the search bar to see/hear more of my posts including interviews with The Bravery, Lovehammers, Triumph’s Rik Emmett, Shooting Star, Mike Tafoya comedian Lee Camp & more)

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Right Zed Fed

Dave Leonard, NBC5 Street Team, (Video)

“Free food??? I’m there!!!” This was my reply when I got the invite from my good friend at the Burnham hotel for one of the pre-grand openings of the stylish restaurant/bar and lounge, Zed 451. 

Located in the heart of the River North part of downtown, Zed 451 has a very busy atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door.  There are several rooms inside, both upstairs and downstairs bustling with hosts and hostesses, servers and patrons.  The eye-catching wood decor gives you a warm, inviting feeling with several large fireplaces…almost like you’re stepping into a huge ski lodge.  The first room you see is the bar and lounge with it’s cool intimate lighting and music…great place to unwind after a hard days work.  A huge wine storage area partially fills the space with an assortment of wines from all over the world.

The main dining area was overwhelming with the surrounding all-you-can-eat harvest bars that included the freshest of food items including: cheeses, soups, salads, and fruits.  If you’re not careful, you can easily fill up quick in this area and not have enough room for the main course.   

After nibbling on a few appetizers from the Harvest Bar, it was time for the real deal.  The main course set up at Zed 451 is very similar to Fogo De Chao.  Instead of a red and green coaster, you place a stone on your table to alert the chefs that you are ready to eat.  One by one they start to bring several meat, fish, and poultry selections for you to choose from until you can’t eat another bite.

Far be it for me to be the restaurant critic – not to mention that beggars can’t be choosy – but I have to be honest and say I was a tad bit underwhelmed by some of the food.  With the exception of the chimichurri chicken wings and the citrus-glazed salmon, a lot of the steak portions left a little to be desired.  Perhaps it was me being greedy, but the portions didn’t come as frequent as I would have hoped, and the near nail in the coffin was the restaurant running out of the chocolate desserts.

All in all, my experience at Zed 451 was good and the staff was very friendly and attentive.  For a new hotspot, I would definitely recommend and give it another try.

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Band Interview: Shooting Star

Cara “Cara’s Basement” Carriveau, NBC5 Street Team

 

“Last Chance” is one of my all-time favorite songs.  It’s one of those tunes that whenever I’ve played it on the radio I instantly get a ton of phone calls…people asking, “Who is that band?” or “Where can I get that CD?”.  Well, that band is Shooting Star.  They have a ton of great songs, many that were quite popular in Chicago:  “Breakout”, “Hollywood”, “Flesh and Blood”, “Hang On For Your Life”, “Tonight”, and much more.

I was honored to welcome original Shooting Star member Van McLain and new lead singer Ronnie Platt to Cara’s Basement.  Van shared a lot of fun stories from the band’s long history and he explained the meaning behind “Last Chance”.  There’s quite a bit of similarity between Shooting Star and Spinal Tap.  You’ll hear why in this interview:

The best is saved for last.  At the very end of the podcast you will hear the exclusive world premier of “George’s Song” with Ronnie Platt on vocals!  You can watch the brand new video of that song HERE.

Type my name in the search bar to see/hear more of my posts including interviews with The Bravery, Lovehammers, Triumph’s Rik Emmett, comedian Lee Camp and rocker Mike Tafoya.  Heck, I’ll make it easy for you…just click HERE.

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Chelsea Handler’s Chicago Area Book Signing

Janelle Rominski, NBC5 Street Team (Video)

Chelsea Handler; host of E! Entertainment’s Chelsea Lately, comedienne and author will be making a stop at the Borders book store in Oak Brook to sign copies and discuss her new book titled, “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea“.

This comically-titled book was released on April 22nd which was a follow up to her previous book, My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands.

She will be at the Borders (in Oak Brook) on Thursday, April 24th from 6:30 pm – 8 pm, whereupon she’ll head up to Waukegan to perform at the Genesee Theatre for her nearly sold-out show.

Want more Rominski reads? Read more right HERE!

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Earth Day Chicago Style

Irit Silverman NBC5 Street Team (Video)

The Green Apple Festival kicked off Earth Day early Sunday at the Lincoln Park Zoo. This event was held simultaneously in 8 major cities with musicians performing live and environmental speakers addressing crowds of people embracing their inner hippie and coming together to support environmental awareness. The organization that founded Earth Day in 1970, The Earth Day Network, urged attendees to call the Capitol Switchboard (at 202-224-3121) to encourage Senators and Representatives to take action on climate change.

It doesn’t take a tree hugger to know that in the past century, the health of our planet has deteriorated rapidly and continues to do so at an alarming rate. No one wants this to happen. As more research emerges on the dangers we face due to pollution and overconsumption of resources, maybe Earth Day can remind people that doing what we can really is worth the extra effort.

In honor of Earth Day, here are some of the things Chicago residents can do to help:

• Many of the large apartment buildings have recycling options available to residents. If you don’t know where to go, check out Chicago’s Recycling website for info and drop off facilities: http://www.chicagorecycling.org
  

I know when you are ready to get rid of your old shoes or end table, the garbage is the closest and quickest way to make it disappear. What you may not know is that donating clothes, furniture or other items to The Salvation Army is easier than you might think. They offer pick up in the city and have a lot more drop off centers than you may realize (and P.S. finding vintage Prada or Manolo heels is a definite possibility if you go in to shop- style meets recycling for a great price and everyone wins). Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK or go to http://www.salarmychicago.org for more info.

And finally, a lesser known and greater pollution evil that you may be hearing for the first time now:

40% of the waste in landfills comes from construction waste!

So what can the average person do to help this major issue?

• There are demolition auctions for houses that are being knocked down where EVERY piece of the home is sold off: antique mantles, crown molding, and fixtures from older homes; top name kitchens, granite, and appliances from others. If you are re-decorating or building your dream home, you can do it for a fraction of the price and save the environment too! Murco Recycling is a local company that holds demolition auctions (and my sources tell me there is a great one this Saturday in Winnetka). The website is http://www.murco.net if you want to find out more about the auction or the demolition auction process.

Hope these tips help! Happy Earth Day!

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