Chicago’s Fashion in Focus…the new Dress Code

Eric Smith, NBC5Chicago Street Team

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

Fashion in Focus

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

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

Dress Code 2009

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

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Stand Up Against Cancer Benefiting Imerman Angels

JenChicago, NBC Chicago Street Team

There’s something funny going on in River North on Tuesday, October 20^th. Sarah Vargo of Maven and Fred Farris of Key Management have teamed up with The Joynt to host Stand Up Against Cancer which benefits local charity Imerman Angels. The party and the awareness are going down at 650 N. Dearborn (@ Erie) and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate all the good things that are happening under Johnny Imerman’s inspiration!

The show starts at 6:30 and features a laundry list of talented comedians along with headliner Kira Soltanovich, from Girls Behaving Badly and The Phony Phone Booth on The Jay Leno Show. Have you seen this bit? It’s hilarious! What WON’T people do for a free picture?!?! You can find the clips here or check it out in this week’s edition of The SAUCE, hosted by Yours Truly, below. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door with limited seating.

*PRESS RELEASE*

**Hugs and Kisses from JenChicago.com!

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Three Peas Art Lounge Hosts Pipeline B2B and You!

Desiree, NBC Chicago Street Team
Listen up all you recessionistas and recessionistos: Pipeline B2B announces its Fourth Quarter Launch Event! On October 1, 2009 from 6PM – 8PM, small businesses, entrepreneurs, freelancers and contractors are invited to the swank Three Peas Art Lounge in Chicago’s South Loop. The fun networking event, which will include like-minded and talented peers with diverse backgrounds, is intended to accelerate business opportunities through meaningful exchange.

So come on out and get motivated with your 2009 goals! The event includes targeted strategic partners and leads, as well as Pipeline B2B’s Founders, Patrick Smith and Barbara Maldonado. Their network-savvy career experiences and social media practices have helped them jumpstart their own successful projects, inspiring the evening’s event. “At the end of the day,” Barbara says, “It’s about making a deal.”

Tickets, which include beverages and appetizers, are only $30, with proceeds of the evening’s event benefiting the non-profit, Jobs for Youth. Please RSVP ahead of time, and log on to the Three Peas Art Lounge website for a taste of the venue. What better place to learn how to turn your goals into success, than in a gallery created by emerging artists “on the cusp” of a successful career themselves? See you there!

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Renergizing Soul…KIA Presents The Soul Collective.

Eric Smith, NBC Chicago Street Team

Starting out as an invitation to a great party on Chicago’s hot music scene at the EnVent West Loop venue turned into an opportunity to take a closer look at the new KIA Soul vehicle and The Soul Collective.

The KIA Soul urban passenger vehicle was designed by Mike Torpey, who found inspiration for the vehicle while on assignment in Korea after watching a television show on wild boars. Believe it or not, the vehicle’s shape is derived from his sketch of a wild boar with a back pack, and as he states it is… “tough, rugged…with a cool stance and is ready to go places…”

The New KIA Soul

After having test-driven the vehicle it is all that and then some. KIA Soul is a cool urban vehicle perfect for city living. Its design is sleek, tight and compact with out being too small, rugged in posture-yet smooth around the bends. Definitely holding it’s own against other similar vehicles in it’s class like the Honday Civic, Scion xD and Sukuki SX4, this vehicle will surely stand out with many options for personalization and with the upcoming signature releases-Denim Soul, Ignition Soul, Light-Up Soul and more.

KIA Soul defines “a new way to roll” by partnering with Collective members Janelle Monae, Jonas and Francois, Jeff Stape, Jeffery Kalmikoff and Major Nelson. As stated by Katherine Cima, Manager of Sponsorships and Promotion for KMA, “Soul is a state of mind. The Soul Collective members have their own unique style and personality, they don’t roll the way the rest of us do. And as part of this campaign, these tastemakers are articulating how they roll, with KIA Soul-connecting with Gen Y at their passion points which are music, fashion design and art.”

Stating further, “The Soul Collective 10 city tour events are a fun place for people to come mingle, hear great music and test drive KIA Soul. Taking place over the course of three days and culminating on the last day in each market, a free concert only for those who take a test drive.” And she was right on point, I had the opportunity to see Chicago’s own Moneypenny

moneypenny

do her thing opening night, those in attendance were more than ready to mingle and I got tix to the closing ceremony with The Walkmen because I test drove the new KIA Soul!

For additional information and tour dates visit KIASoulCollective.com.

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Need An Excuse To Party?

Rebecca Taras, NBC Chicago Street Team

 

If you want a sneak peak of Old Town Social before its grand opening (Street Team Leader Marcus Riley reported on Old Town’s soft opening here), then you’ll get a shot this Thursday. The best part? You’ll be at a “Party for a Reason.” The evening of fun and philanthropy is hosted by GiveForward, a Chicago-based social venture committed to helping individuals and non-profits raise money for good causes. The “Party for a Reason” is a kick-off to supporters and runners of the Chicago Half Marathon taking place this weekend, where they’ll be “running for a reason” and raising money for various charities. Guests will enjoy appetizers and two hours of open bar including specialty cocktails, vodka drinks and beer. Looks like you may have to get a jumpstart on your weekend – but don’t feel guilty. Ticket poceeds will go to various charity partners of GiveForward.

Old Town Social

455 W. North Avenue

September 10th- 7pm-10pm

Tickets: $25. Available at www.party4aReason.com

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Party 4 a Reason

Next week you can feel like you’re making a difference with your binge drinking. GiveForward.org, a Chicago-based website that allows people to fundraise online for any charity or cause, is hosting Party for a Reason at one of Chicago’s newest bars, Old Town Social.

The event is technically the pre-party for Run for a Reason, a 5K race to benefit local Chicago charities. For those of us that consider beer pong the most exhausting athletic activity we can fathom, don’t worry: the proceeds from the party will also be going towards Chicago charities. Party for a Reason will take place on Thursday, September 10th at will and feature a two-hour open bar, appetizers, and what’s sure to be a young party-loving crowd.

To get your tickets today, head to http://www.party4areason.com. But wait, there’s more! Use discount code NBC before September 8th and get your ticket for $20!

Party 4 a Reason
Thursday, September 10th
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Old Town Social
455 W. North Ave
Tickets: $25; $35 at the door

For more information on GiveForward, check out http://giveforward.org/

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It’s My Birthday, so I’ll Blog if I Want to…

Adrienne Irmer, NBC Chicago Street Team

Actually, my birthday was last weekend, August 15th, but I was waiting on some pictures from the event photographer to include. As you can well tell, it was quite an affair, but believe me the planning involved would not have been so easy if it weren’t for the venue’s staff and event promoters that evening. If you have ever tried to plan a birthday, bachelorette or new promotion party at a night club, it’s not as easy as one thinks. The considerations that come into play are numerous, and the pricing, well, in a recession, is quite important.

After scouring the South Loop for a pre-existing, club-like party with moderately priced bottles of my favorite (Ketel One) and seating befitting a princess, I found Exposure, jointly known as Utopia, located at 1315 S. Wabash Avenue. On further investigation of the menu and venue, I was certainly drawn to the mood lighting, plush seating in my would-be [VIP] party area and the newly refurbished menu with Island cuisine—formerly this was a tapas restaurant. And whilst I am a huge fan of Ketel One-induced karaoke, I could not muster the courage to celebrate, that ambitiously, on a Wednesday evening… I just couldn’t, BUT on Saturdays they rotate (and boast) DJs such as Vince Adams, Malik Shabazz, Mustafah Rocks and Jay Illa, just to name a few. So with the sound, ambiance and accommodations in order, it was time to get down to business—cost. Bottles of Ketel One ran $200 and Absolut ran $175, pricey, but not exorbitant. Other venues I perused were asking closer to $300 (and up) for Ketel One. The plus side, too, is that, like CostCo, ordering in bulk pays off.

Lastly, without friendly service and helpful promoters, your night could be a big ole mess with laps to and from the door querying list issues, untimely replenishing of the Ketel One and, worst of all, a disappointed birthday girl with the ability to produce a rancorous blog… luckily I am not the vengeful type (or wasn’t made to go there *wink*) and had a great time—witness accounts the next day and photo documentation are the proof in the pudding, folks. On working with the Black Alumni Network, Urban Upscale, InterTwine Chicago in conjunction with BYP Chicago and A-Squared Marketing, I must say that my first experience with planning an elaborate celebration was enjoyable and I highly recommend them, or using a promotions company of your choosing to help with the process, because counting RSVPs by yourself is not was I was looking forward to. For more information on Exposure/Utopia call (312)662-1082 as the site is under new construction or for FREE entry before 11:30pm on Saturdays visit: http://ourkindofpeople.rsvphub.com. Cheers!

Hard at work… I like it!

DJ is quite effective, no?

Yeah, its like that, so come early!

Myself and fellow sketch comedians, Rico Stamper (L) and McKenzie Holmes (R)

Myself and a dear friend, Nerissa

Good times…

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