I got an email from the nice people at Ebay last week letting me know that they would be on Michigan Avenue with a truck full of computers and a bunch of personal shoppers to help you find what you need in gifts to buy and ship anywhere in the USA this holiday season.

I saw the truck and the Ebay display as I walked to work this morning and remembered that these sidewalk promotions on Michigan Avenue downtown usually have somewhat mixed results for the company and the consumer. (which reminds me there was no Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog in the  410 plaza Michigan Avenue this October either, but they were ripping up pavement there too.)

Consumers walking on Michigan Avenue really want to get where they are going. About 80% of the people walking are people who work there and are either going to work, getting a quick lunch or going home. We don’t want to be interrupted or stopped by someone selling something because we just don’t have any spare time. The other 20% of people are tourists, but they are likley leary of someone trying to stop them also if they are in an unfamiliar town. You would be surprised how hard it is to give out free samples on a street like this where people don’t really want anything.

Ebay seemed to have a good mix of curiosity with the large computer truck set up on the turnaround drive in front of the Wrigley Building and a few people scattered on the sidewalk to answer questions without being a pest. If you work downtown in Chicago, stop by and check it out. Challenge the personal shoppers to a question about your toughest person to buy a gift for this Christmas.

You can search for Ebay items on the laptops they have set up and everyone was very friendly. I will go take a picture at lunch to share how it looks so you can stop by if it looks interesting.

The point of this post is that even though I find sidewalk promotions on Michigan Avenue in Chicago annoying, I do like the idea of finding unique gifts on Ebay for Christmas Shopping. (and people shop for just about everything else on Michigan Ave right?)

Personally I am bidding on some china plates for my mother in law for Christmas because she can’t find them anywhere and has lost several over the years (she only has 5 plates left and 2 bowls!) I also think its a neat place to find electronics at a better price than retail stores and a great source for antiques and jewelry. So, by chance I happen to actually agree with the point of the campaign. (I usually personally have an affinity for about 1/100 of the emails I am sent through the site)

Whether people will be buying a lot for Christmas this year is yet to be seen but Ebay is trying to get the word out that there are lower priced options and greener alternatives to buying new stuff every year and I agree with that. Another interesting place to check out is Etsy, which I am sure Ebay doesn’t want me to mention, but it’s like Ebay with out the auctions and with more interesting well marketed /photographed/hand crafted stuff. And there is always the donate to charity option for the Holidays if you have too much stuff too. I have a feeling that this will not be a typical Christmas in Chicago.

Eddie Izzard just announced that he will be back in Chicago performing his Stripped 2 The Big Intimacy Standup Comedy Tour to a larger crowd than ever at the United Center on January 8th 2010. The tickets go on pre-sale this morning Sept 14th at 10 am through Ticketmaster with the code Bees. Otherwise there are general tickets available to the public starting on Sept 21st at 10 am. The Eddie Izzard show tickets are be between $45-$75 each .

Eddie Izzard was last seen in Chicago in the spring of 2008 with the Stripped tour, selling out 3 nights at the Chicago Theater on State Street. I saw 2 of the 3 shows and he was creative and funny in different ways each night. I wonder in a huge stadium like United Center (that seats 23,000 people) if the intimacy is really just irony? I know they bring huge LED screens for shows like this, and really big speakers, but the reason people go to concerts in person (in the middle of January in Chicago) is to see that person up close and personal and I am not sure that this will be possible in this venue.

I have enjoyed many shows in the United Center, but it is an elliptical warehouse (not ornate and beautiful like the Chicago Theater) and is better suited for shows like ice capades, the circus or hockey. It is hard to see anything about any one person on a stage from the nosebleed seats. Unless Eddie Izzard pops up playing the giant pipe organ built into the stadium for Chicago Bulls Games and comes down to the stage on a wire, there won’t really be too many staging surprises.

That said, if you are a true fan of Eddie Izzard’s comedy, irreverence and improvisational style you will probably go anyway. I plan to. It was 6 years between Izzard Standup Comedy tours last time and only 2 years between visits is a gift. I have found more and more comedians and TV personalities mimicking Eddie Izzard’s tangential rambling improvisational style (I’m looking at you Craig Ferguson) lately but nobody compares to the original. Improvisation and comedy is big in Chicago with Second City training school(as well as MainStage polished shows) and IO Theater (the longform peeps) bringing hundreds of young aspiring comedians and actors to the city from all over the country to try to make it big. We have a huge following for shows like that because we remember our roots when the Compass Players started up at the University of Chicago and then many years later Chicago was the training center for SNL. It is one of the few defining and unique characteristics about Chicago. I know there are enough comedy fans here to support this show if they get the word out and we know Chicago loves improv.

If you are still reading this article and don’t know who Eddie Izzard is, you may want to look up some information on Wikipedia about him or head over to YouTube for a few clips of his work. Some notable pieces of information about Eddie Izzard is that he is from the UK and is a transvestite. Most of the time these days you see him in traditional menswear but his fans aren’t particular about his clothing because the comedy is the same either way. Eddie Izzard has branched off into acting in dramatic roles in the last decade or so after conquering the UK with his comedy in the late 1990’s. You may have seen him on The Riches on FX last year or the year before. He also pops up in movies in supporting roles (mostly bad guys or quirky side kicks since he is British) and is slowly morphing his look into a combination of Richard Branson and Tim Curry as he gets older. (its not a bad thing)

Eddie Izzard most recently completed running 40 marathons across and around the UK through August and September to benefit Sport Relief charity organization and yes, I donated. This was a truly inhuman feat that nobody thought anyone would/could do, and hopefully it helped the charity organization more than it hurt Eddie’s knees.  If nothing else, we never quite know what Eddie will do next. Eddie Izzard’s comedy style is a conversational one with the ability to jump to new tangents and bring back characters in callbacks later in the show. He also uses History, Religion, Society, Animals and Everyday things as the subject matter for his work, which stays fresh longer than political comedy and relates to a wider audience. He does swear but isn’t necessarily a blue comic and the content is mostly PG-13 rated with a dash of R from time to time for variety.

Eddie Izzard’s fans feel close to him because in many ways his comedy is quite personal. Many of us have had a revelation or two after seeing his comedy and his positive attitude has inspired many people to take on their daily lives with a new appreciation for the humor and irony rather than the monotony and unfairness of it. Eddie Izzard has also produced a couple documentaries about himself as he was gaining popularity and touring the US and UK in the 1990’s. These behind the scenes short films give you a feeling that he is just a regular guy you might know down the block and you route for him to succeed. He also has been nice enough to do meet and greets and autograph signings after many small shows over the years and many people know him to be a pretty nice guy. So, those are some of the reasons that his fans are so loyal and you should go see his show. If you have never seen the comedy genius of Mr Izzard, go buy the DVDs on Amazon or rent them from Netflix and I will see ya at the show when we’re freezing our arses off in January.

The Chicago Gourmet Festival 2009 is going to be a huge foodie event in Chicago. On Saturday September 26th and Sunday September 27th in Millennium Park (age 21 and up because there is a lot of wine!) there will be many opportunities to revel in being a foodie and try out new wines with some of the top gourmet food in Chicago. (see schedule below) This is the ultimate event for someone who really likes to be on the cutting edge for cooking/entertaining with friends and wants to learn from the expert presentations. The Chicago Gourmet Festival does get crowded though and sometimes there is more wine than food, which is not always a good combination.

So, my advice for attending the Chicago Gourmet Festival is take the CTA public transportation, get there early before they run out of food and bring a notepad to take notes if you hear something you really want to make at home. You can also purchase cook books at chef signings which is cool but expensive. The neatest part is to get to see some of these accomplished chefs work in person in their demonstrations and possibly taste some new gourmet flavors and wines.

Tickets are $120for general admission from 11 am – 5 pm for one day. (Saturday or Sunday)Tickets for 2 days are $240. Tickets for Grand Cru tastings are $175 in addition to the admission fees. Its not cheap, but it is rare that you can get access to an event like this open to the public, so for the people who love gourmet food and the exclusivity of the famous presenters it is probably worth it for the unique experience. Then again they probably assume that if you’re cooking gourmet food all the time, you can probably afford it. (I’m not sure that is true anymore in this economy though) They have an elaborate buy tickets online system and you print them directly off the internet so there is no waiting for tickets in the mail. Print this page for the complete schedule to take with you the day of the Chicago Gourmet Festival. AMEX card holders get a special 15% discount.

The events and demonstrations and book signings are listed below with the schedule for the 2009 Chicago Gourmet event:

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26:

Listings by Time Title Host and Location
11:30am – 12:00pm Perfect Pairings Ted Allen, Food and Wine Ambassador for
Robert Mondavi Private Selections wines Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
12:30pm – 1:00pm Mexico Meets the Sea Rick Bayless,Frontera Grill/Topolobampo
Paul Bartolotta, BARTOLOTTA Ristorante di Mare Marcus Samuelsson, C-House Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
1:30pm – 2:00pm Peaches & Pork Mindy Segal, Hot Chocolate Bill Kim, Urban Belly
Stephanie Izard, The Drunken Goat Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
2:30pm – 3:00pm Signatures of Santa Margherita Fabio Vivani, Bravo’s Top Chef and Cafe Firenze
Anthony Terlato, Terlato Wines International Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
3:30pm – 4:00pm Fish with Flair John Hogan, Tavern at the Park/Keefer’s Tony Mantuano, Spiaggia
Thierry Rautureau, Rover’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
4:30pm – 5:00pm The Artistry of Seafood & Salt Jose Garces, Mercat a la Planxa Jimmy Sneed, SugarToad
Ken Vedrinski, Trattoria Lucca Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
5:15pm – 5:45pm Prime Cuts Klaus Fritsch, Morton’s The Steakhouse
Rock Harper, Chefrock Inc. Jay Pritzker Pavilion Main Stage
12:00pm – 12:30pm Seasonal Cuisine Bruce Sherman, North Pond Gourmet Pavilion Culinary Stage
1:00pm – 1:30pm Upgrading Your Pantry: Must Have Pantry Items From “Wine Bar Food” Tony and Cathy Mantuano, Spiaggia Gourmet Pavilion Culinary Stage
2:00pm – 2:30pm Spice Up Thai Food Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s Gourmet Pavilion Culinary Stage
3:00pm – 3:30pm Demystifying Whole Fish Cookery Paul Bartolotta, BARTOLOTTA Ristorante di Mare Gourmet Pavilion Culinary Stage
4:00pm – 4:30pm The Multi Uses of Mojo Randy Zweiban, Province Gourmet Pavilion Culinary Stage
5:00pm – 5:30pm Two Countries, Two Traditions, One Plate Carlos Gaytan, Mexique Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage

WINE SEMINARS
Time Title Host Location
11:45am – 12:30pm Exploring Champagne Fernando Beteta, Master Sommelier Choral Room
1:00pm – 1:45pm Understanding the Difference between Great Wines and Good Wines William Terlato, President Terlato Wines International Choral Room
2:15pm – 3:00pm Franciscan Estates Bordeaux Style Blending Fred Dame, Master Sommelier Choral Room
3:30pm – 4:15pm American Tradition Since 1795 Fred Noe, Master Distiller
Beam Global Choral Room
4:45pm – 5:30pm Beer’s Intrinsic Affinity For Culinary Pairing Ryan Johnson, U.S. Trade Brewer/Certified Cicerone MillerCoors Choral Room
11:30am – 12:15pm Green Winegrowing Paul Dolan, Owner
Mendocino Wine Co. Park Grill South Plaza Tent
12:45pm – 1:30pm Where Innovation Meets Tradition:
The Versatility of Prosecco Manlio Collavini, Owner Mionetto Winery Park Grill South Plaza Tent
2:00pm – 2:45pm Why French Wine Matters Today Martin Sinkoff Frederick Wildman & Sons Park Grill
South Plaza Tent
3:15pm – 4:00pm Discovering the Wines of Costello di Monsanto… A Tuscan Treasure Laura Bianchi, Owner Moet Hennessy Park Grill South Plaza Tent

GRAND CRU TASTING
Listed by Time Title Host and Location
4:00pm – 5:30pm Grand Cru Tasting Event Fred Dame MS, Alpana Singh MS, Serafin Alvarado MS and Fernando Betata MS Choral Room

GOURMET TASTINGS PAVILIONS
Listed by Time Theme Presenter and Location
11:00am – 2:00pm Regional American Paul Virant, Vie Restaurant Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 2:00pm Regional American Paul Kahan, Blackbird
Michael Sheerin, Blackbird Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 2:00pm Regional American Kevin Hickey, Four Seasons Hotel Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 2:00pm Regional American John Hogan, Keefer’s Gourmet Pavilion I
2:30pm – 5:30pm Regional American Stephanie Izard, The Drunken Goat Gourmet Pavilion I
2:30pm – 5:30pm Regional American Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia Gourmet Pavilion I
2:30pm – 5:30pm Regional American Graham Elliot Bowles, graham elliot Gourmet Pavilion I
2:30pm – 5:30pm Regional American Jimmy Bannos, Heaven on Seven Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 2:00pm Latin Carlos Gaytan, Mexique Gourmet Pavilion II
11:00am – 2:00pm Latin Randy Zweiban, Province Gourmet Pavilion II
11:00am – 2:00pm Latin Jose Garces, Mercat a la Planxa Gourmet Pavilion II
11:00am – 2:00pm Latin Café 28 Gourmet Pavilion II
2:30pm – 5:30pm Latin Zapatista Gourmet Pavilion II
2:30pm – 5:30pm Latin Nicholas Ibarzabal, 5411 Empanadas Gourmet Pavilion II
2:30pm – 5:30pm Latin Mario Santiago, May Street Café & Catering Gourmet Pavilion II
2:30pm – 5:30pm Latin Mercadito Gourmet Pavilion II
11:30pm – 2:30pm Stockyard Philip Foss, Lockwood at Palmer House Gourmet Pavilion III
11:30pm – 2:30pm Stockyard John Gatsos, Tavern on Rush Gourmet Pavilion III
11:30pm – 2:30pm Stockyard Mario Navarro, Gene & Georgetti’s Gourmet Pavilion III
11:30pm – 2:30pm Stockyard Fogo De Chao Gourmet Pavilion III
3:00pm – 6:00pm Stockyard Capital Grille Gourmet Pavilion III
3:00pm – 6:00pm Stockyard Flemings Gourmet Pavilion III
3:00pm – 6:00pm Stockyard Ditka’s Gourmet Pavilion III
3:00pm – 6:00pm Stockyard Gale St. Inn Gourmet Pavilion III
11:30pm – 2:30pm Asian Jackie Shen, Red Light Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:30pm Asian Rodelio Aglibot, Sunda Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:30pm Asian Joshua Linton, Ajasteak Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:30pm Asian Bill Kim, Urban Belly Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:30pm Asian Le Colonial Gourmet Pavilion IV
3:00pm – 6:00pm Asian Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s Gourmet Pavilion IV
3:00pm – 6:00pm Asian Hans Aeschbacher, Trader Vic’s Gourmet Pavilion IV
3:00pm – 6:00pm Asian Tony Hu, Lao Szechuan Gourmet Pavilion IV
3:00pm – 6:00pm Asian Gene Kato, Japonais Gourmet Pavilion IV
3:00pm – 6:00pm Asian Carol Wallack, Sola Restaurant
Alex Shalev, Sola Restaurant Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 6:00pm Dessert Fannie May Dessert Pavilion

BOOK SIGNINGS
Time Title Author(s) Location
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm The Food You Want To Eat Ted Allen Author’s Corner
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Mexican Everyday The Soul of a New Cuisine Osteria Tru
Amuse-Bouche Rick Bayless Marcus Samuelsson Rick Tramonto

Author’s Corner 2:30pm – 3:00pm Wine Bar Food Tony and Cathy Mantuano
Author’s Corner 3:30pm – 4:00pm Taste TBD Anthony Terlato & Fabio Viviani
Author’s Corner 4:30pm – 5:00pm Morton’s The Steakhouse: 100 Steakhouse Recipes for Every Kitchen
Rover’s: Recipes from Seattle’s Chef in the Hat!!! Klaus Fritsch Thierry Rautureau

Author’s Corner 5:15pm – 5:45pm Latin Evolution Jose Garces Author’s Corner

Sunday, September 27, 2009 11am – 5pm

LIVE COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS
Time Title Host Location
11:30am – 12:00pm Farm to Table Carrie Nahabedian, NAHA
Kevin Hickey, Four Seasons Hotel Chicago Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
12:30pm – 1:00pm Tallgrass and Green City Market Bounty Sarah Stegner, Prairie Grass Cafe
George Bumbaris, Prairie Grass Cafe Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
1:30pm – 2:00pm Flavors of Italy John Colletta, Quartino
Federico Comacchio, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
2:30pm – 3:00pm Asian Delights Jackie Shen, Red Light
Takashi Yagihashi, Takashi Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
3:30pm – 4:00pm Rustic Delicacies Dirk Flanigan, The Gage
Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno Jay Pritzker Pavilion
Main Stage
4:15pm – 4:45pm Savory Starts Michael Altenberg, Bistro Campagne
Art Smith, Table Fifty-Two Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Main Stage
11:15am – 11:45am How to Make a Classic Hollandaise Sauce Shelley Young, Chopping Block Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage
12:00am – 12:30pm Cheese Fonduta John Colletta, Quartino Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage
1:00pm – 1:30pm TBD Paul Katz, Harry Caray’s Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage
2:00pm – 2:30pm Savory and Sweet Desserts Martial Noguier, Café des Architectes
Suzanne Imaz, Café des Architectes Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage
3:00pm – 3:30pm Mini Rockit Burgers James Gottwald, Rockit Bar & Grill Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage
4:00pm – 4:30pm Caribbean Ceviche Luigi Garcia, RIVA Gourmet Pavilion
Culinary Stage

WINE SEMINARS
Listed by Time Title Host and Location
11:45am – 12:30pm Wines Best Kept Secrets Revealed Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier Choral Room
1:00pm – 1:45pm Wine Pairing in Chicago Neighborhoods Alpana Singh, Master Sommelier Choral Room
2:15pm – 3:00pm Special Ticketed Event -GAJA: 150 Years of Winemaking Heritage Gaia Gaja, Co-Owner

Gaja Family Wine Estates Choral Room
3:30pm – 4:15pm Carneros… Napa’s Unique Appellation Jay Schupert, President

Cuvaison Estate Wines Choral Room
11:30am – 12:15pm The Versatility of Prosecco Enore Ceola, Winemaker
Mionetto Winery Park Grill

South Plaza Tent
12:45pm – 1:30pm If The Wine Matters, So Does The Glass Robert Hall, President
Bottega del Vino Crystal Park Grill

South Plaza Tent
2:00pm – 2:45pm Green Wine Revolution: What Does It Mean? Serafin Alvarado MS, Alpana Singh MS,
Fred Dame MS, and Fernando Beteta MS Park Grill

South Plaza Tent
3:15pm – 4:00pm Seasonal Cocktails from the Garden to
Glass Bridget Albert, Mixologist
Southern Wine & Spirits of Illinois Park Grill
South Plaza Tent

GRAND CRU TASTING
Listed by Time Title Host and Location
3:30pm – 5:00pm Grand Cru Tasting Event featuring Fred Dame MS, Alpana Singh MS, Serafin Alvarado MS and Fernando Betata MS in the Choral Room

GOURMET TASTINGS PAVILIONS
Listed by Time Theme Presenters and Location
11:00am – 1:45pm Gastropub James Gottwald, Rockit Bar & Grill Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 1:45pm Gastropub Dirk Flanigan, The Gage Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 1:45pm Gastropub Chris Pandel, The Bristol Gourmet Pavilion I
11:00am – 1:45pm Gastropub John Manion, Goose Island Brewing Co. Gourmet Pavilion I
2:15pm – 5:00pm Gastropub Chris Curren, Blue 13 Chicago Gourmet Pavilion I
2:15pm – 5:00pm Gastropub Jared Van Kamp, Old Town Social Gourmet Pavilion I
2:15pm – 5:00pm Gastropub Paramount Gourmet Pavilion I
2:15pm – 5:00pm Gastropub Michael Cisternino, Tavern at the Park Gourmet Pavilion I
11:30pm – 2:15pm Seafood Shawn McClain, Spring Gourmet Pavilion II
11:30pm – 2:15pm Seafood Mark Grosz, Oceanique Restaurant Gourmet Pavilion II
11:30pm – 2:15pm Seafood Luigi Garcia, RIVA Gourmet Pavilion II
11:30pm – 2:15pm Seafood Laurant Gras, L20 Gourmet Pavilion II
2:45pm – 5:00pm Seafood Seth Siegel-Gardner, C-House Gourmet Pavilion II
2:45pm – 5:00pm Seafood Ryan Pitts, RL Restaurant Gourmet Pavilion II
2:45pm – 5:00pm Seafood TBD Gourmet Pavilion II
2:45pm – 5:00pm Seafood TBD Gourmet Pavilion II
11:00am – 1:45pm French Christpohe David, NoMI Gourmet Pavilion III
11:00am – 1:45pm French Martial Noguier, Café des Architectes
Suzanne Imaz, Café des Architectes Gourmet Pavilion III
11:00am – 1:45pm French Tim Graham, Tru Gourmet Pavilion III
11:00am – 1:45pm French Michael Lachowicz, Michael Restaurant Gourmet Pavilion III
2:15pm – 5:00pm French Matt Tobin, Marché Gourmet Pavilion III
2:15pm – 5:00pm French Shelley Young, Chopping Block Gourmet Pavilion III
2:15pm – 5:00pm French Chris Nugent, Les Nomades Gourmet Pavilion III
2:15pm – 5:00pm French Frank Ferru, L’Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie Gourmet Pavilion III
11:30pm – 2:15pm Mediterranean Reza’s Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:15pm Mediterranean Koren Grieveson, Avec Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:15pm Mediterranean Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm – 2:15pm Mediterranean Jimmy Bannos, Purple Pig Gourmet Pavilion IV
2:45pm – 5:00pm Mediterranean Federico Comacchio, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush Gourmet Pavilion IV
2:45pm – 5:00pm Mediterranean John Colletta, Quartino Gourmet Pavilion IV
2:45pm – 5:00pm Mediterranean Carrie Nahabedian, NAHA Gourmet Pavilion IV
2:45pm – 5:00pm Mediterranean Mark Sparacino, PROSECCO Gourmet Pavilion IV
11:30pm -5:00pm Dessert Fannie May Dessert Pavilion

BOOK SIGNINGS
Time Title Author(s) Location
12:15pm – 12:45pm TBD Author’s Corner
1:15pm – 1:45pm TBD Author’s Corner
2:15pm – 2:45pm 200 True Italian Pasta Dishes John Colletta Author’s Corner
3:30pm – 4:00pm Takashi’s Noodles Takashi Yagihashi Author’s Corner
4:30pm – 5:00pm Market Fresh Mixology Bridget Albert Author’s Corner

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruises and Toursare one of the top attractions I recommend for tourists and locals alike when visiting downtown Chicago in the summer.  It offers a chance to see Chicago from a different perspective and is relatively cheap for entertainment. It is a great stay-cation activity this summer, and it is a local activity that is fun, relatively cheap and kid/family friendly. I hope everyone is enjoying the mild weather and the time off from work. I will post more frequently in the coming weeks after the big day has passed this Saturday.

chicago architecture river tours

Here are my recommendations for summer fun in Chicago:

1. The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise – This is a very popular Chicago River boat tour because Chicago is known for the great mid century and art deco architecture downtown. This Chicago River Cruise lasts about one and a half hours and costs $28 per person. The views of Chicago from the Chicago River are different than anywhere else in the city downtown. Looking up at the buildings that line the river is almost like walking back in history. The hosts of the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Tours always have the background, dates and interesting stories about these buildings you see.

They give you the background and history on why the buildings are as they are today and what companies and purposes they had back in the day that is entertaining even if you are a local tourist. A lot has changed in Chicago over the decades, but the architecture is one of the few things that stays the same. This tour tells you the history of why things are they way they are and who built this great city. Look to the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s web sitefor tickets, tour dates and times and what events are happening in conjunction with the tours coming up this month. architecture.org The starting point for the tour is on the corner of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue downtown near the loop. Check out the tour this summer, they run until November when the boats stop running for the winter.

I was checking out the Taste of Chicago 2009 map of vendors and restaurants and there is more to choose from this year at the taste than ever. The Taste of Chicago 2009 offers everything from classic Chicago hot dogs and pizza to vegetarian dishes, to international specialties from all over the world to luscious sweets and deserts.

The Taste of Chicago is an annual event for many people who live in the city so be aware of the crowds that you will be working with. Don’t bring a lot of stuff to carry and wear comfortable shoes for the long walk from the Bus, El, Cab, Metra or Parking Garage. the taste of Chicago isn’t cheap either. There is no admission fee, but all the food costs you in “tickets”. Expect to spend $20-$40 in tickets per person including appetizers, drinks, main dishes and deserts.  

This is the full list of tents and foods available at the Taste of Chicago 2009 from explorechicago.org:

Taste of Chicago Food Booths – ¢¢¢ indicates a “Taste Of” portion and is priced lower for a smaller sample portion

9 – Abbey Pub – Address 3420 West Grace Street – Irish Classics
Roasted Corn on the Cob; Fish and Chips(Fries); Irish Egg Rolls; Oreo® Bailey’s® Irish Custard
¢¢¢ Irish Egg Roll; Fries with Irish Curry

54 – Adobo Grill – 2005 West Division Street
Guacamole and Chips; Cochinita Pibil (Pork) Tacos; Chicken Tamale; Churros
¢¢¢ Churros; Cheese Empanada

51 – Arya Bhavan – 2508 West Devon Avenue
Samosa (Crisp Patties with Potatoes, Peas, Coriander and Spices); Chana Masala with Bread/Nan; Pav Bhaji with Bread/Nan (Vegetarian Stew with Cauliflower, Peas, Eggplant, Tomatoes and Spices); Bhel (Puffed Rice, Sev and Puri mixed with diced Potatoes, Onions, Cilantro, Garlic, and Hot and Sweet Chutney Sauces)
¢¢¢ Samosa; Bhel

17 – Aunt Diana’s Candy Makers- 29 East Burlington Road in Riverside
Chocolate Covered Strawberry; Chocolate Dipped Frozen Banana; Combo: Strawberry, Fudge and Baby Banana
¢¢¢ Chocolate Dipped Frozen Baby Banana; Chocolate Fudge

8 – Bacino’s Pizza of Lincoln Park - 2204 North Lincoln Avenue
Stuffed Spinach Pizza; Stuffed Sausage Pizza; Thin Crust Cheese Pizza; Thin Crust Sausage Pizza
¢¢¢ Stuffed Spinach Pizza; Stuffed Sausage Pizza

6 – Billy Goat Tavern and Grill - 1535 West Madison Avenue – A Chicago Classic
Rib Eye Steak Sandwich; Cheeseburger; Double Cheeseburger
¢¢¢ ½ Cheeseburger; Potato Chips

33 – BJ’s Market and Bakery – 8734 South Stony Island Avenue
Mustard-Fried Catfish; Turkey Burger; Barbecue Chicken Tenders; Sweet Potato Chips
¢¢¢ Mustard-Fried Catfish; Peach Cobbler [yummm]

14 – Blue Bayou -3734 North Southport Ave.
Muffalletta Sandwich; Jambalaya; Cornbread with Honey Chili Butter; Gator Sausage on a Stick
¢¢¢ Jambalaya; Bananas Foster Bites

25 – Buona - Many Chicagoland Locations – A Chicago Classic
Italian Beef Sandwich; Beef and Sausage Combo Sandwich; Italian Sausage Sandwich
¢¢¢ Italian Sausage Sandwich; Mini Cannoli

15 – Canady Le Chocolatier – 824 S. Wabash Ave.
Chocolate Gelato; Blueberry Yogurt Gelato; Tiramisu Gelato; Peanut Butter Gelato
¢¢¢ Fruiti di Bosco Sorbet [healthy diet option]; Chocolate Gelato

24 – Celebration Creamery - 286 Golf Mill Center, Niles
Funnel Cake; Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream and Chocolate Topping; Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Topping; One Scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream on a Waffle Cone
¢¢¢ Vanilla Ice Cream with Chocolate Topping; Strawberry Cheesecake Frozen Yogurt Sandwich

19 – C’est Si Bon! – 5225 South Harper Avenue
Sweet Potato Cheesecake; Collard Green Egg Rolls; Firecracker Chicken Wingettes with Biscuit; Fresh Fruit Cup
¢¢¢ Cajun Meatballs; Firecracker Wingettes

5 – Chicago Joe’s - 2256 West Irving Park Road
Breaded Buffalo Popcorn Shrimp with Fries; Beer Battered Butterfly Coconut Shrimp with Fries; Homemade Seasoned Fries; Breaded Calamari Rings with Fries
¢¢¢ Homemade Chili; Homemade Seasoned Fries

38 – Connie’s Pizza - 2373 South Archer Avenue
Deep Dish Cheese Pizza; Deep Dish Sausage Pizza; Meatball Sandwich; Thin Beer Crust Pepperoni Pizza
¢¢¢ Mini Meatball Sandwich; All Natural Vegetarian Panzerotti

45 – Costa’s -Address 340 South Halsted Street
Gyros; Greek Chicken on Pita; Loukaniko(Greek Sausage)
¢¢¢ Loukaniko; Baklava (super sweet Filo, Honey and Nut Pastry)

37 – Dominick’s -Chicagoland Locations – healthiest options at the taste!
Red/Green Seedless Grapes; Cherries; Watermelon Slice; Roasted Ultra Sweet Corn on the Cob
¢¢¢ ½ Watermelon Slice; Pineapple Bites

22 – Eli’s Cheesecake – 6701 West Forest Preserve Drive – A Chicago Classic
Frozen Chocolate Chip Toffee Crunch; Oreo® Cookie Cheesecake with Vanilla Ice Cream; Turtle Cheesecake; Plain Cheesecake (with or without strawberries) [personally I think their cheesecake is a bit dry]
¢¢¢ Plain Cheesecake; No-Sugar-Added Key Lime Cheesecake (made with Equal)

42 – Fireplace Inn - 1448 North Wells Street
BBQ Baby Back Ribs; BBQ Boneless Rib Sandwich; Mozzarella Sticks; BBQ Meatballs
¢¢¢ Mozzarella Sticks; Tropical Fruit Salad Bowl [heart healthy low cal option]

44 – Franco’s Ristorante – 300 West 31st Street
Lemon Italian Ice; Watermelon Italian Ice; Stracciatella Gelato (Vanilla with Chocolate Shavings); Chocolate Hazelnut Gelato (Giunduia)
¢¢¢ Lemon Italian Ice; Watermelon Italian Ice

52 – Garrett Popcorn Shops - Chicagoland and O’Hare Locations – A Chicago Classic
Popcornsicle (Caramel and Cheese Corn Mix, flash frozen on a stick); Chocolate Covered Caramel Corn; ½ lb. Mixed Nuts [careful of the popcorn and carmel if you have dental work]
¢¢¢ Caramel and Cheese Corn Mix; Chocolate Covered Caramel Corn

12 – The Grill on the Alley – Address: 909 North Michigan Avenue
Prime Rib Quesadilla; Gazpacho with Chopped Avocado and Chives; Rice Pudding with Mango and Dried Cranberries
¢¢¢ Gazpacho with Chopped Avocado and Chives; Grilled Anjou Pear Salad with Walnuts and Maytag Blue Cheese

7 – Guey Lon – 3968 North Elston Avenue
Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura; Orange Chicken with Vegetable Fried Rice; Mongolian Beef with Noodles; “Crab” Rangoon
¢¢¢ Egg Roll; Vegetable Tempura

39 – Harold’s Chicken #71 – 2109 South Wabash Avenue
Chicken Wings; Chicken Nuggets; Fried Okra; Fries
¢¢¢ Chicken Wings; Hush Puppies

28 – Harry Caray’s - 33 West Kinzie Street
Homemade Potato Chips; Fried Dough; Toasted Cheese Ravioli; Chocolate Chip Cookie
¢¢¢ Toasted Cheese Ravioli; Whole Wheat Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

16 – Hashbrowns – 731 West. Maxwell Street
Maxwell Street Burger (Burger Patty Topped with Pork Chop, Polish Sausage and Grilled Onions)[heart attack city]; Sweet Potato Fries [yummy]; Mini Waffle Topped with Whipped Cream, Chocolate Syrup and a Strawberry; Sweet Potato Hashbrowns ¢¢¢ Sweet Potato Fries; Sweet Potato Hashbrowns

23 – Home Run Inn Pizza - 4254 West 31st Street – A Chicago Classic
Cheese Pizza; Sausage Pizza; Ultra Thin Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza; Strawberry Pecan Salad
¢¢¢ Small Strawberry Pecan Salad; Mozzarella Stuffed Bread Stick

46 – JR Dessert Bakery - 2841 West Howard Street
Plain Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry or Caramel Pecan Sauce; Frozen Chocolate Dipped Cheesecake Bar; Key Lime Pie; Apple Pie with Ice Cream
¢¢¢ Plain Cheesecake; Ice Cream with Fresh Strawberry Sauce

47 – Kasia’s Deli - 2101 W. Chicago Ave.
Pierogi (Potato, Spinach, Chicken) with Sour Cream [recommended based on all Perogi are great and a polish staple]; Grilled Polish Sausage Sandwich with Sauteed Onions; Chicken Kabob with Vegetable Rice and Honey Mustard [healthier dinner option]; Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream and Pico de Gallo or Apple Sauce {mmmmm}
¢¢¢ Cheese Blintz with Raspberry Sauce; Potato and Cheese Pierogi

3 – La Justicia - 3901 West 26th Street
Enchiladas; Steak Tacos; Chicken Tacos; Combo: Taco, Enchilada and Quesadilla
¢¢¢ Enchilada; Chicken Taco

49 – Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt - 1525 West 79th Street
Catfish Po’Boy; Crawfish, Corn and Potatoes; Beignets; Chicken and Waffles
¢¢¢ Praline Ice Cream; Beignets

48 – Las Tablas Colombian Steakhouse – 2942 North Lincoln Avenue
Empanadas (Beef, Chicken, or Cheese); Entraña Skirt Steak with Sweet Plantain Wedges; Marinated Grilled Chicken with Sweet Plantain Wedges; Verdes y Maduros (Crunchy Plantain Chips and Sweet Plantain Wedges)
¢¢¢ Verdes (Crunchy Plantain Chips); Maduros (Sweet Plantain Wedges)

40 – Los Dos Laredos – 3120 West 26th Street
Carne Asada Tacos (Steak); Tamales (Cheese and Green Pepper); Steak Gordita ala Mexican; Cheese Nachos
¢¢¢ Carne Asada Taco (Steak); Steak Gordita

30 – Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria - 958 West Wrightwood Avenue [A Chicago Classic]
Cheese Pizza; Cheese and Sausage Pizza; Chopped Salad; Bruschetta
¢¢¢ Chopped Salad; Bruschetta

1 – Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen - 1141 South Jefferson Street
Barbequed Turkey Leg [you have to try this once] ; BarbequeBeef Brisket Sandwich; Cherry Pie Square; Potato Pancakes [potato pancakes are not really a summer food, but they are so good it might be worth the calories/fat since they are from an authentic Jewish Deli, share with a friend]
¢¢¢ Potato Pancake; Macaroni and Cheese

29 – Mazzone’s Italian Ice – At Chicagoland Retailers [italian ice is fat free, a heart healthy treat, but skip the nuttela unless your a marathon runner]
3 Scoops Italian Ice (Lemon, Strawberry, Blue Raspberry or Mango); 2 Scoops Italian Ice; Nuttella® Crepe with Whipped Cream; Chocolate Covered Rice Krispies® Treat
¢¢¢ 1 Scoop Blue Raspberry Italian Ice; Scoop Lemon Italian Ice

18 – The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine - 2336 South Wentworth Avenue
Sesame Beef on a Stick; Crab Rangoon; Shrimp Rolls; Curry Chicken on Rice
¢¢¢ Sesame Beef on a Stick; Shrimp Rolls

41 – Oak Street Beach Café - 5700 South Cicero Avenue
Grilled Slipper Tail Lobster with Garlic Potato; Grilled Shrimp on a Skewer with Garlic Potato; Grilled Spicy Chicken Wings with Garlic Potato; Grilled Cajun Turkey Link with Garlic Potato
¢¢¢ Garlic Potatoes; Spicy Wings

43 – O’Brien’s Pub - 1528 North Wells Street by the Chicago River.
Celtic Corn on the Cob; Loaded Baked Potato; Smoked Pulled Pork Sandwich; Buffalo Shrimp
¢¢¢ Baked Potato; Onion Coated Green Beans

36 – Original Rainbow Cone – 9233 South Western Avenue
Cool off with the Rainbow Ice Cream (Chocolate, Strawberry, Palmer and Pistachio Ice Cream with Orange Sherbet) in a Cake or Waffle Cone; Cookie Dough or Cookies and Cream Cone; Waffle Cone Sundae (Vanilla Yogurt, Blueberries and Strawberries); Strawberry Shortcake Parfait (Vanilla Yogurt)
¢¢¢ Taster Cup of Rainbow Ice Cream; Dream Cup (Vanilla Yogurt and Orange Sherbet)

13 – Polka Sausage and Deli - 8753 South Commercial Avenue
Polish Sausage Sandwich with Kraut; Bratwurst Sandwich with Kraut; Grilled Breast of Chicken with Grilled Onions; Pierogi with Sour Cream (Potato, Cheese, Kraut) [perogi with kraut is also good]
¢¢¢ 1 Pierogi; Polish Sausage Sandwich with Kraut

31 – Polo Café and Catering Bridgeport U.S.A. - 3322 South Morgan Street
Shark Veracruz (Oven-Baked); Crispy Noodle Shrimp; Crab Cake Nuggets(Oven-Baked); Southern Fried Tilapia Filet
¢¢¢ Garlic-Mozzarella Cheese Bread; Crispy Noodle Shrimp

35 – Reggio’s Pizza - 1339 South Halsted Street
Turkey Sausage Deep Dish Pizza; Cheese Deep Dish Pizza; Sausage Thin Crust Pizza; Pepperoni Thin Crust Pizza
¢¢¢ Italian Ice; Sausage Thin Crust Pizza

4 – Ricobene’s - 252 West 26th Street
Italian Breaded Steak Sandwich; Beef and Sausage Combo Sandwich; Fresh Cut Fries with Cheese; Boneless Buffalo Wings [another vendor that is not diet friendly]
¢¢¢ Italian Breaded Steak Sandwich; Breaded Eggplant Parmesan Sandwich

21 – Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs - 225 South Canal Street and in Oak Park
BBQ Rib Tips; BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich; Boneless Rib Sandwich; Turkey Wings
¢¢¢ Hot Link; BBQ Rib Tips

50 – Sabor Latino - 3810 West North Avenue
Spanish Steak, Onions and Rice with Pigeon Peas; Puerto RicanSteak and Onion Sandwich on Homemade Criollo Bread; Steak Jibarito (Farmer Sandwich)
¢¢¢ Steak Jibarito; Pork Filled Banana Dumpling

2 – Soul Vegetarian East – 205 East 75th Street
Veggie Gyros [new?]; Vegetarian BBQ Twist on a Stick; Corn on the Cob; Vegetarian Tamales
¢¢¢ Sweet Potato Pie; BBQ Twist on a Stick

26 – Star of Siam - 11 East Illinois Street
Tempura Shrimp and Vegetables; Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Cucumber Salad; Pad Thai Noodles (Vegetarian); Pot Stickers (Chicken and Vegetable Dumplings)
¢¢¢ Pad Thai Noodles; Pot Stickers

11 – Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce- Jewel and Dominick’s Chicagoland Retailers
Hickory Smoked BBQ Ribs; BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich; BBQ Boneless Rib Sandwich; BBQ Chicken Sandwich [not heart healthy options, not for someone with IBS, I speak from experience]
¢¢¢ Mini Boneless Rib Sandwich; BBQ Meatballs

53 – Tamarind - address 614 South Wabash Avenue
Orange Chicken with Rice; Thai Red Curry with Chicken; Taiwan Shining Noodles; Banana Chocolate Egg Roll [yummy desert!!]
¢¢¢ Taiwan Shining Noodles; Taro French Fries

34 – Tuscany Italian food at 1014 West Taylor Street
Italian Beef Sandwich; Italian Sausage Sandwich; Italian Turkey Meatballs; Toasted Cheese Ravioli
¢¢¢ Italian Turkey Meatballs; Toasted Cheese Ravioli

32 – Tutto Italiano- Located at 501 Sputh Wells Street
Pasta and Chicken Salad; Fried Ravioli Marinara; Steak Burger with Blue Cheese
¢¢¢ Italian Fries; Fried Ravioli Marinara

20 – Vee-Vee’s African Cuisine – 6232 N. Broadway St.
Jerk Chicken with Red Beans and Rice; Sauteed Goat Meat with Plantain; Jollof Rice and Goat; Red Beans and Rice with Plantain (Vegetarian menu option)
¢¢¢ Jerk Chicken with Red Beans and Rice; Jollof Rice with Goat

10 – Vermilion - 10 W. Hubbard St.
Char-Grilled Chicken Kabob with Mango-Mint Chutney; BBQ Tamarind Pepper Boneless Rib Sandwich (Plain or with Grilled Onions); Chimchurri Masala Chicken Wings; Mango-Cumin Dusted Fries with Date Chutney
¢¢¢ Chimchurri Masala Chicken Wings; Mango-Cumin Dusted Fries

27 – Vienna Beef/Gold Coast Dogs- various Chicagoland Locations – a Chicago Classic
Hot Dog (Plain or Chicago-Style) and Potato Chips; Polish Sausage (with Mustard and Grilled Onions) and Potato Chips; Fire Dog (with Mustard and Grilled Onions)
¢¢¢ Whole Pickle on a Stick [the only fat free option]; ½ Hot Dog

Dominick’s has a Gourmet Grocer located on Buckingham Fountain Plaza, east of the Chef’s Table.
Also, Bobtail Ice Cream and The Fountain Cafe are located at Buckingham Fountain Plaza.

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The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival is back again this summer (for the 10th year!) with a great lineup of movies planned. If you live in the city or work downtown these classic movies are a great way to picnic for dinner and wind down from a crazy day at work. I highly recommend the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival because it is fun and Free!

Every Tuesday at sunset (about 8:30 pm) from July 14th thru August 25th, a classic film will be shown in Grant Park’s Butler Field. Movie fans can enjoy a very good outdoor sound system and pre-show activities at each weekly screening. These films are sometimes great American classics and other times they are movies you have heard about but never seen because you weren’t around when they were popular. You can discover a new favorite classic film this way or relax because you know the dialogue in the scenes so well.

Many people bring picnic blankets and dinner to enjoy while watching the movie. It is a Ravinia style event though, so even with food and drinks allowed, you have to be quiet so that other people can hear the movie.

Grant Park’s address is:
337 East Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60601
 

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To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the film festival, Chicagoans are invited to join Movie CriticRichard Roeper on July 14th in an opening night discussion with a screening of Sunset Boulevard to follow.

The rest of the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park is as follows:

Complete List of Chicago Outdoor Film Festival 2009 Classic Films

- Sunset Boulevard July 14

- Duck Soup July 21

- Cat on a Hot Tin Roof July 28

- Born Yesterday August 4

- Psycho August 11

- Young Mr. Lincoln August 18

- Tootsie August 25

Enjoy the Show!

These are the updates I just got about Memorial Day Parade and Street Closures in Chicago. If you are planning on attending the Chicago Memorial Day Parade, The JP Morgan Chase Corporate Challenge Race, The Memorial March, or the Bike the Drive event, check this list first to find out where the streets are closed and where/when the events happen. I hope eveyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend and have a burger from the grill for me!

J. P. MORGAN CHASE CORPORATE CHALLENGE (3.5 miles) on Thursday, 21 May 09, 6pm – 10pm:

This event site will be in Grant Park, Lower Hutchinson Field.

The run will take place on Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Rd to Wacker Drive.

Start time for the run is at 7:10 pm.

Columbus will close at 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm from Roosevelt Rd to Balbo.

Columbus from Balbo to Wacker Drive, as well as the east west streets in this area will remain open for as long as possible to allow for the end of rush hour traffic.

The on site CPD Commander will give the order to close the streets shortly before the race begins.

At the end of the race, as soon as it is safe to do so, Columbus from Balbo to Wacker Drive and the east west streets in the area will be opened.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE on Saturday, 23 May 09:

The parade route is from Wacker Drive to Van Buren on State Street, step off 12 noon.

State Street and the east west streets along the route will close at 11:30 am.

Wacker Drive will be closed for staging from Wabash to Lake Street at 8:00 am.

Van Buren will be closed for vehicles and disbanding from Michigan to Franklin at 8:00 am.

The parade will last approximately 2 hours and streets will be opened to traffic as soon as it is safe.

BIKE THE DRIVE on Sunday, 24 May 09:

The event site will be in Grant Park, Butler Field the bike route is on Lake Shore Drive.

Lake Shore Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5:00 am to 10:30 am from Hollywood to 63rd Street.

AMERICANS FOR LIFE, LIFE MEMORIAL MARCH on Friday, 22 May 09:

This group will meet at the Thompson Center Plaza; the march will step off at 11:30 am.

A group of 2000 to 3000 people will march south on Clark St to Adams, east on Adams into Federal Plaza.

The group will hold a rally at Federal plaza until approximately 2:30 pm.

During the march traffic will be affected from Wacker Drive to Jackson and State to LaSalle.

As soon as it is safe, streets will be opened to traffic.

Vintage Black and White Mother's Day Photos with Kids.

There are a lot of ideas for spending Mother’s Day in Chicago with mom this year. Whether your mom is a corporate VP or a stay at home multitasking genius, there is something you can do to make this Sunday’s Mother’s Day Special.

Mother’s Day Flowers are always a great gift. Most moms love flowers so getting a bouquet of roses, flower arrangement of dasies or car load of bedding flowers for the front yard are all great ideas.  I have been taking my mom flower shopping for several years now the week before Mother’s Day. We buy a few hanging pots of geraniums and some flats of flowers for the garden (petunias, begonias, dahlias and maybe a rosebush or a flowering shrub if we need one that year).

Blue Butterfly on an Orange Zinnia, Flowers are a great gift for Mother's Day

I end up spending about $100 since it is a fancy place for flowers (Vern Goers in Hinsdale), but the Jewel stores have their greenhouses up and the home depot sells a lot of interesting bedding plants also. (also try The Growing Place in Naperville. ) You probably want to go home and help mom plant them in the garden and pots too, in order to really make it a great gift and a great day.

Mother’s Day Brunches

There are numerous Mother’s Day brunches all over Chicagoland on Sunday May 10th. Some good local Chicagoland restaurants I know of are:

Vintage Moms of the 1950's. What would they would have liked? What do they want us to remember?

The Glen Prairie Restaurant in Glen Ellyn, McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant in Chicago, ZED451 in Chicago and the very popular Naperville Hilton Sunday Brunch at Allgauer’s in Naperville. You need reservations for all these restaurants on Mother’s Day. They all are usually booked for their Sunday brunches and Mother’s Day is no different. Call now to see if there is still room!

Mother’s day Gift Ideas

If you can’t afford an iPhone or a luxury spa vacation for mom here are some good Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for kids and families.

What most moms want is to be appreciated and to spend quality fun time with their kids. With how hectic the schedules are in our lives with work and home responsibilities, nobody gets enough quality time. Doing something for the day for the family is probably what mom would like best.

The famous Blue Box from Tiffany's.

Also keep your ears open for what mom has been talking about needing latley. Does the dishwasher make a menacing noise when it starts? Would the thought of doing dishes by hand in the sink every night grind your life and schedule to a halt? Is the washer starting a leak or acting funny stopping mid cycle? Getting things for the home that need upgrading is a great way to get a gift for mom and help both parents in the house get things done quicker.

Not all mom’s want to be reminded of the work they do at home on Mother’s Daythough. Some moms want to go out and experience the world that they left behind when they had kids. Maybe this kind of mom wants a night out withdad in the city, with a broadway show, fancy dinner and four star hotel.

Mother’s Day Traditions

If you really think about it, moms are the glue that holds nature and life together. Without all their nurturing and caring how would human life transfer knowledge to the next generation and continue? If you think about it, its pretty amazing that life has existed as long as it has, and how within a few short decades the generational shift in the world is huge. Moms also influence heavily who you become and some of your deepest personality traits. Women have traditionally played an important role in making all life possible on earth, lets give them the credit they deserve.

Chicago Blues Festival 2008 by lanet and phil via Flickr.

The Chicago Blues Festival showcases the music Chicago is known for. If you are a fan of the Blues Brothers or maybe have seen BB King on commercials you may think you know something about the Blues. The thing is there is an entire world of Blues Music in Chicago with an incredible depth of talent just waiting to be discovered. the Chicago Blues Festival is a way for the general public to come discover these musicians, singers and talented artists perform their work. This speing on June 12, 13 and 14th Grant Park will be alivewith the sound of Blues, Soul and Jazz intermixing and providing some great entertainment to the city of Chicago. It is a living art form that is not to be missed.

Black Blues Guitar by Mr Noded via Flickr

It’s no surprise that Chicago Blues Festival is the largest blues festival in the world since Chicago is the largest of the cities known for Blues Music. What you may not know if that the Chicago Blues Festival the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. The festival lasts three days and contains six stages of performers. It’s pretty incredible that the Mayor’s Office of Special Events says that more than 640,000 blues fans attend the event and prove that Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.”

And did we mention it is FREE to the public?

Crowd at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2008. By Lanet and Phil va Flickr

The Chicago Blues Festival attracts big name mainstream performers who like to collaborate with local Blues singers and musicians including Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor.

This year if you are looking to attend the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Parkit will have performers live on 6 stages from 12 noon to 9:30 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. From the looks of teh schedule it should be a great weekend for music. (if the weather cooperates)

And did we mention it is FREE to the public?  (oh, we did)

Location: Grant Park at Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Dr. in Chicago, IL 60604  

Admission is FREE but, Food and Drinks tickets are sold in quantities of 12 for $8. (most food/drinks are a bit pricey, but the festival being free makes up for it)

There is also a city site with a lot of history about the Chicago Blues Festival available at explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_blues_festival.html.

some produce at the organic farmer's market

The Chicago Green City Market will be moving outside to Lincoln Park (1750 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60614) on Wednesday, May 6, with a kick off rally for the 2009 season on Saturday, May 9!

the Chicago Green City Market is known for having great locally grown and organic produce. If you believe in the 100 mile rule for buying food and consumables or just like the idea of fresh locally grown items this is the place to go in the city. The market grows to a larger size in the summer with the produce that is seasonally available then. The prices are very reasonable and usually lower than

The Chicago Green City Market will continue in the park Wednesdays and Saturdays (except 4th of July) from 7 am to 1 pm.

Until then, the Chicago Green City Market will continue in their winter home at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on Saturdays from 8 am to 1 pm, April 18th and April 25th.

Green, Yellow, Red, Orange and Purple Peppers

Alice Waters makes a special visit to the market on the 25th for her book signing of The Edible Schoolyard, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.

Check out the Green City Market to find some great locally grown fruit and vegetables this year to improve your diet and your health.

This outdoor produce market near Lake Michigan in Lincoln Park Chicago is noteworthy because it’s usually a whole-day event to do with shopping as well as chef demonstrations and local vendors selling prepared food from products sold at the market. They focus on sustainable and organic agriculture where ever they can, and in Chicago that is a challenge. The City of Chicago farmers markets also open in May. Get your baskets, bags and bicycles ready. You can find out more about the schedules and locations of the farmer’s market in your neighborhood here at: explorechicago.org/city/en/supporting_narrative/events___special_events/special_events/mose/chicago_farmers_markets.html

Rock out with your _ out.

Lollapalooza Tickets are on Sale now! The Lollapalooza 2009 tickets went on sale today and are available at variable prices with the first come first served lowest price model. Here is how it works. Right now the early bird 3-day pass is $175. That is a great deal for 3 whole days and nights of concerts and bands. Then when those sell out, the advance tickets will be available at $190 each. Then when those advance Lollapalooza 2009 tickets sell out the price may go over $250. Then when all the tickets are sold out (in July) the re-sellers start charging around $350 for 3 day passes. If you are a rich exec or company looking to get VIP access those VIP Tickets are $850! (YIKES!)

Nine inch nails play for the crowd in Grant Park in 2008.

It is in your own best interest to go over to the Lollapalooza.com site and buy the tickets now and get them for around 1/2 price as an early bird. They get sent in the mail closer to the concert festival date so you don’t have to worry if you forget about them, and you don’t have to save up a ton of money later in the summer when there are lots of events going on that fill up the budget.

In this economy I think that the regular Lollapalooza tickets will probably still sell out since it’s such a festival about all kinds of people, music and ideas. People will still want to come together and be a part of the music because it is a unique experience (some call it a big hippie-fest) they can’t find anywhere else. It’s worth it to cut out other high priced items and keep Lollapalooza on your summer todo list or keep it on the agenda to travel to Chicago to see.

The concerts are usually from very popular bands and singers also so most everyone finds a few bands they love and a few new groups they have not heard of yet that they discover. (although somewhat less discovery these days) The lineup for 2009 has not been announced yet, but it is usually expected to have some of the biggest names in music on it. Check back for more details when they become available.

Spring is the time that most people look for an apartment in Chicago. Rental Leases are up and it is the first time for the year that it is warm enough that you can actually move furniture our of one apartment and into a new apartment without freezing. April-June are the high points for most apartment rental searches so that means most people start looking in February, March and April in order to see enough places to make a decision on which lease to sign and where to move to in Chicago by May or June.

There are many ways to start your search for a new apartment in Chicago. If you are moving here from out of town most people find that making an appointment with an apartment rentals listing/finder service is an efficient way to see a lot of apartments over one or two weekends (with a guide) that they visit and then they can make their decisions within a few weeks. This way of searching for a new apartment in Chicago has a higher price though because there is always a finder’s fee involved in the cost of the apartment.

Lots of vintage buildings have apartments available that have charm and character you won't find in new apartment rentals.

Other people prefer to go it alone looking at craigslist or other apartment rentals listing sites (like apartments.com) for individual apartment listings and see the units on their own time schedule. This is more convenient if you already live in the neighborhood and generally you find better deals this way,but it may take 2-3 months to find the right apartment unit. Craigslist has many search options and ways to filter the search results and RSS feeds so you only see what you can afford and most listings have some photos that help you weed out the seedy/gross places. 

A lot of people consider the night life and amenities in a particular Chicago neighborhood to be a large part of their decision on where to find an apartment. Getting around in Chicago with 9.5 million other people isn’t easy, so being as close to work, friends and convenient places to hang out is definitely an asset. The problem is that the places closest to downtown are the most expensive and the places closest to a lot of bars and trendy hangouts in Lincoln Park and Lakeview are also in high demand and therefore cost a lot also.

A typical 1 bedroom apartment floorplan in Chicago

Sometimes you can find better prices on rent for apartments further north in the city like Buena Park, Uptown and Lincoln Square. These neighborhoods have a longer commute if you work downtown, but you can save $200-$300 per month on your rent. Another option may be to rent a condo that someone can’t sell in this bad real estate economy. Many condo owners who have moved or gotten married just want to recoup some of the cash they are paying in monthly mortgage payments so they are usually very negotiable on rental prices. You also get someones home that was probably taken care of much better than a rental unit. A lot of newly rehabbed condos with luxury details are available for rent from individual owners listed on craigslist or other classified sites.  

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Chicago?

I know people in Lakeview/Lincoln park that pay $750 per month for a 500 sq ft studio apartment without parking, and the price goes up from there. A 1 bedroom might be around $1,200 per month and a 2 bedroom might be around $1,800 especially if you want parking. Extra parking rental spaces can run from $150 – $300 per month depending on where it is located and if it is a garage or not.

A modern apartment that would be typical in Lakeview or Wicker Park neighborhoods in Chicago.

If you go further north the prices drop a few hundred dollars per unit. Also, Oak Park is a convenient alternative where a 1 bedroom might only be $850 per month and the parking is free. Oak Park apartments are still walking distance to the el for commuting to work downtown every day and the suburb is right next to the city so you can enjoy all the nightlife. Other people have found Evanston to be an alternative to living in Chicago and paying high apartment rentals prices. Evanston prices are very comparable to Oak Park and the buildings there are very similar also. The only difference is which train line you take to work. The Purple line instead of the Green line.  

Even cheaper apartment rent yet is available the south side of the city or some of the near west neighborhoods like Humboldt Park in Chicago.These neighborhoods may have lower rent rates for a reason though and it is always important to feel safe in the area that you decide to rent an apartment and live for a few years. Checking the crime reports through the local newspapers online is a good way to assess the situation and decide. 

How much of your income should you spend on rent each month?

A typical starter apartment where someone brings their bikes in because in Chicago cutting the locks & stealing bikes is all too common.

I think the guide to getting approved for a lease is around 25-30% of your monthly after tax income.Don’t forget you have to figure in the cost of utilities, parking, food and transportation also each month on top of rent. Some apartments come with heat or water included in the rent price, but not all of them do. If you find one that does, it is rare. The cost of food and utilities is about 25% more in the city than in the suburbs also. Finding roommates can help share the costs of rent but finding someone you can live with and share a bathroom with can be a serious challenge.

Wherever you decide to live in Chicago I hope this information helps you find the best deal on cheap apartment rent while finding a place you really like to live in. After you find your new apartment that you love you may want to check out whitefence.com for finding the cheapest utilities in your area also.

Plenty of fast fun affordable spring break escape options in Chicago.

I know that the tradition is to leave Chicago and go to a warm sunny tropical location to celebrate spring break, but for many people who live throughout the Midwest, Chicago is the destination for a spring break getaway. If you’re from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri or Minnesota you might be thinking of spending Spring Break in Chicago. OR, Maybe you live in Naperville and want to escape and stay downtown for a stay-cation break?

It’s the big city with all the bright lights and events happening. Maybe you’re considering moving there some day and want to see what all the excitement is about in Chicago? Here is a list of things that you can do on Spring Break in Chicago, whether you’re 17 or 77.

1. Shopping on Michigan Avenuedowntown or at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Before the Mall of America was built, Woodfield was the largest mall in America. Do your civic duty during this recession and find the best sales and deals in the stores now. Shopping is a local pastime in Chicago whether the country is in a recession or not. I see Michigan Avenue filled with shoppers every day.

2. Eat a Steak.Or if you’re a vegetarian, check out some of the finer veggie options in Chicago (yes there are many). Some of the best steakhouses in Chicago are: Gibson’s, Morton’s, Ruth’s Chris, Mickormick & Schmick’s, Smith & Wollensky and Lawry’s Prime Rib (technically not steak but still very good). Some of the best well known Vegetarian restaurants are the Lakeside Cafe, Uru-Swati on Devon, Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant on Ashland and Mana Food bar on Division.  

The view of Chicago on spring break

3. Odyssey Chicago Lake Michigan Dinner Cruise or the Chicago River Boat Tours. Both of these options give you a great view of Chicago and the skyline. The Odessy Dinner Cruises are best at night when the skyline is lit up. The Chicago River Boat Tours are also fantastic on the Chicago River. I think the Architecture tour is the best but all of them are equally informative and entertaining.

4. Check out the Art Institute of Chicago. Ok, this isn’t really very spring breaky, but well worth the time and still provides a certain amount of risque topics for discussion. There are always special traveling exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago that showcase collections of artwork that are very rare and exclusive. Check them out since they are usually only showing the exhibit for a limited number of weeks.

5. If your spring break is really late, or you are possibly waiting to plan a summer trip, consider Six Flags Great America. This is about the most spring break like activity we have here in Chicago. It’s pure fun, all the roller-coasters and rides you can possibly dream of. It is a day of pure escape from the everyday.

6. Check out the concerts. A lot of local bands play weekly in the city and if you plan ahead you can catch big national tours as they pass through Chicago. The Allstate arena, United Center, House of Blues and Chicago Theater all have new shows every weekend and you can get discount tickets the day of, if they aren’t sold out. The best way to check out these venues is their individual websites.

The Wood Dale restaurant is small, it only seats about 20 but the food is worth the wait if it's crowded.

Sweet Baby Ray’s makes a great Barbecue Sauce. I am a huge fan and when I found out that there was a restaurant that served just BBQ items with that sauce I had to try it out.  I had the Sweet Baby Ray’s Ribs at the Naperville Ribfest last summer and loved them. (Sweet Baby Ray’s won best ribs and second place in best sauce at the Naperville Ribfest) The barbecue sauce and the ribs are both important to getting your barbecue right, and although there are a lot of places in Chicago where you can get good ribs and ok BBQ, there aren’t many restaurants as good as Sweet Baby Ray’s.

They are known for having an authentic barbecue menu at very affordable prices and I found that to be very much the case.

The Wood Dale Restaurant is located at: 249 E. Irving Park Rd in Wood Dale, IL 60191. The phone number is: (630) 238-8261 you can also check out their menu online at sbrbbq.com.

The amazing Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce is more of a Kansas City style sauce but they also have hotter options for people who enjoy more of a Cajun flavor. When I visited the Sweet Baby Ray’s restaurant they mentioned that they don’t go too hot with their sauces because you alienate a large percentage of the BBQ fans with sauce that is too hot. They prefer tangy, flavorful sauces with a little heat that are enjoyable by many.

We tried a lot of food that night at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant and here are some of what we thought were the best highlights:

If you go to Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant for BBQ there are plenty of options. There are sandwiches, ribs, pulled pork, chicken and shrimp. They do make the distinction of doing a lot of research and bringing Barbecue styles and recipes in from all over the country so Chicagoans can taste the different regional flavors. I found that I am a fan of a good Kansas City Style Sauce, but they have many dry rub and hotter options.

One of the slabs of BBQ ribs you can get at Sweet Baby Ray's Restaurant

There are many side dishes at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant that are artfully paired with the main dish when you choose a meal. We found that we were huge fans of Chef Paul’s Corn Maque Choux and the Baked Beans, Sweet Baby Ray style. All the sides are great, but if your BBQ doesn’t come with the Corn Maque Choux you can still order it on the side for $1.29.

We were lucky enough to meet the Chef at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant in Wood Dale, IL. Chef Duce Raymond (son of the creator of the famous Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce) is a local grad of Kendall College’s professional cooking program and a proud innovator of the restaurant menu. They try and change up the menu often to feature new dishes and offer a taste of BBQ from all over the country. They take great pride in their food at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant and try and make it a high quality dining experience even though the price won’t break the bank.

In this less than stellar economy, going out for BBQ is one of the simple pleasures most of us can still afford and don’t have to go without. A dinner at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant can range in price from around $9 for a BBQ Sandwich, $20 for a full slab of ribs, $10 for Jamaican Jerk Chicken and $16 for shrimp New Orleans style. (including tax) Drinks are about $3 and Desert should not be missed with $3 specialties like Banana Pudding, Chocolate Mud Pie and Pecan Pie to choose from. The only problem is that with generous meat portions it is really hard to still have room for desert. Even harder after you taste the honey kissed cornbread. (which may be the best cornbread I have ever had) Personally I would go back again for the BBQ Ribs, Corn Maque Choux and the Cornbread

Overall a dinner at Sweet Baby Ray’s Restaurant will cost around $15-$25 per person depending on what you order from their menu. There is also another restaurant location in Elk Grove Village, IL and they have started to concentrate on a new venture into the catering business for corporate functions and parties. The food is definitely a crowd pleaser and has an upscale taste even though it is down home comfort food.

The speakers in the 2009 Speaker Series: Minds that Move the World.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment is presenting the 2009 Speaker Series: The Minds That Move the World at The Chicago Theatre. This series brings together the most influential voices in politics to debate the most pertinent current events. The speaker series schedule is:

MARCH 11      Bill Maher and Ann Coulter (already completed)

APRIL 1      Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore

APRIL 22 Chris Matthews interviewing Tucker Carlson, Arianna Huffington and Paul Begala

Bill Maher and Ann Coulter spar at the first series of debates.

MAY 28 Charlie Rose interviewing James Carville and former Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove

All these programs will be presented at the Chicago Theater at 175 N State Street in Chicago, IL in the loop downtown. This is a huge event because there aren’t a lot of events where you can see these speakers (like Al Gore) in Chicago very often. There are plenty of speaking events and TV show tapings you can go see in LA, New York or Washington DC, but it is rare to get political and media people out to Chicago.

The web site speakerseries2009.com does not give any details as to what former Vice President Al Gore will be talking about that evening of April st but I would bet on some of the themes from the Inconvenient truth and some updated data. I woullso expect a spirited debate from Karl Rove and James Carville. (twomen that are not fans of each-other and both powerful speakers) In fact I am suprised that Ann Coulter and Bill Maher didn’t end up in a brawl on the stage. I almost wonder iof they have chosen the most polarized political speakers in an effort to incite a war on stage.

Tickets for the speaker series cost between $35 and $185. (plus a multitude of Ticketmaster Fees adding another $20)

In the Chicago Theater you really have to be within the first 50 rows to see any details of what is happening on stage. You can bring binoculars to see from the balcony, but it is otherwise difficult to really enjoy the performances and events there. So, if you can get a seat closer to the stage, regardless of price, get it.

The other word of caution I always have about The Chicago Theater is to get there early and don’t expect to leave quickly. The theater seats over 3,000 people but only 20 people can enter or exit through the front doors at any one time, so the lines are long and the crowds can be fierce.  Arriving about a 1/2 hour before the show starts is the best way to go. Plus you get to admire the interior of a beautiful classic restored theater.

This is really a series of events for a true political junkies who are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Except Al Gore. I think his show will be the best of the series and the one to see.

March Madness used to be the one time during the year when betting at work was ok. Everyone got their brackets, whether they understood the NCAA college basketball tournament or not and the smack talk at the water-cooler continued for a month. (three weeks plus one week to speculate about your favorite NCAA college basketball teams)

President Obama Fills out NCAA Brackets on ESPN Sportcenter

Now with Fantasy Basball, Fantasy Football, Fantasy NASCAR and reality Television I am not sure how people have time at all to work since there are so many sports to consume. Somehow March Madness hasn’t dominated the work conversations yet this year, but I know the college basketball smack talk is coming. Soon.

An entire month of college basketball on CBS Channel 2 in Chicago and nothing else used to be a huge let down for me, but now as a girl who lives with a fiance, it is a welcome time of peace and quiet. Tech Guy watches as much NCAA college basketball in 2009 as he would like, and I get to go blog as much as I would like.

We call it having interests on our own and I think March Madness 2009 was invented for exactly this purpose. All the NCAA college basketball teams are hoping for their best shot at winning it all this year and I am hoping to get some laundry done.

On a more collegiate note. If you are a recent transplant to Chicago and want to find a bar or pub to watch the NCAA basketball tournament and all of its commercials, Chicago has many options.

The Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville northside neighborhoods of Chicago are filled with bars that still fly college team flags for those who can’t move on and want to pretend they’re still at the fraternity while getting completely wasted. Other bars and pubs across the city offer a more low key approach to experiencing the excitement of March Madness and the Final Four in 2009 with food and drink specials.

Some of these bars are:
Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap – from March 19 to April 6 Entire duration of the tournament Jake’s will be serving the Madness Burger, a 9-oz. burger topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg served between two grilled cheese sandwiches, paired with a Miller Lite pint for $9.99.

The Full Shilling Bar in Wrigleyville - March 19-20 The Wrigleyville bar will be throwing an NCAA Tournament kick-off party for the first two days of the big dance. Withover one hundred Miller Lite scratch & win tickets, this lottery-style party will give everyone a chance to win. Prizes include mp3 player speaker coolers, aluminum bottle wraps, hats, t-shirts, bottle openers and more. Pitchers of Miller Lite will be on special for $7 both days. Food specials include the two-buck burger on Thursday and the $7.99 fish fry on Friday.

Rockit Bar & Grill On March 26, 6-8 pm Red Hot March Madness. A $40 all inclusive ticket includes drinks and snacks during the NCAA basketball Games, and the proceeds benefit charity.

O’Donovan’s - After the St Pats crowd clears, this friendly North Center bar’s 20 plasma TVs to watch NCAA Tournament Games throughout the bar, party room and patio. The bar will open at 10 am on March 19-22 and offer daily lunch and dinner specials all day.

Smoke Daddy – Celebrate Purdue: Smoke Daddy owner Josh Rutherford is a Boilermaker Alum, so you know the place will be decked out in black-and-gold. And a Purdue-themed menu will be available throughout the tournament, including the Boiler Burger, Mackey’s Mac and Cheese and Purdue Pete’s Pulled Pork Sandwich. (say that three times fast)

Harry Caray’s – Harry Caray’sTavern has the first round action from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (weekday games working lunch?) with a food buffet and domestic drafts included for just $20. Harry Caray’s(in Lombard) will offer $2 Bud and Bud Light drafts with commemorative March Madness pint glasses on all game days. Visit harrycarays.com before the tournament starts to enter your picks and you could win a private flight for four to St. Louis for a Cubs-Cardinals game by picking the most games right.

Kroll’s SouthLoop – Lots of Drink Specials and the “Madness Burger” and “Sweet Sixteen Wings are all on tap with their TV screens for watching all the games at one sitting.

Merkle’sBar and Grill – $4 22-ounce drafts and $5 bombs, along with 25 cents wings during all tournament games. And on March 28, try your hand at Merkle’s Sweet 16 flip cup tournament (everyone’sfavorite college pastime) with cash prizes.

Timothy O’Toole’s – has 45 TV screens, more than any other Bar I have seen. The bar specials include Wingfest famous wings and $2 draft beers on Saturdays and $16 Miller/Coors buckets on Sundays.

The Spread – March 20 Junior Board’s 7th Annual March Mania Party. $30 all-you-can-drink package from 9 p.m. to midnight and enter a raffle to win prizes like Final Four tickets and a flat-screen TV.

Moretti’s (West Loop) – April 6 Watch the championship game on over 25 big screen TVs, including 4 super bright HD plasmas.

Social Twenty-Five is new and offers spacious booths, loungey leather banquettes and 24 TVs on two floors. No specials listed though this late-night spot will open as early as 11 am for daytime games.

Cagney’s Bar has oversized booths, wooden chairs and 25 TVs on two floors. They offer specials like $15 select domestic beer buckets and $5 burgers and fries. Luckilly it’s a new bar and without an allegiance to any one college team yet, so this spot’s clientele consists of mostly low-key locals and is a best bet to avoid frat behavor.

Bull & Bear Bar has all the NCAA March Madness games on 26 TVs (the most I’ve seen) and one wall projector. No specials for the NCAA College Basketball Games and in addition to that you need a reservation for a booth! The regular Monday-Friday deal of half-price apps (3-7 pm) is still in effect.

Theory has 20 TVs on one floor, including some semi-private booth sets. There are specials like $3 Miller Lite in March, plus regular deals such as $6 Belvedere cocktails Thursdays, Effen cocktails on Fridays. There is no official team loyalty here but reverence to Illinois teams across all sports so less crazed frat behavior is to be found.

Hi-Tops has 20 (yes 20) TVs to watch all the NCAA March Madness at once plus a bunch of reality shows and cable TV nobody needs to see. Hi-Tops has Domestic draft beer and appetizer buffet packages March 21 and 22 ($25 from 11 am to 5 pm) and April 4 and 6 ($15 for game start to end). A spirited Lincoln Park crowd has a Michigan State University fandom inherited from the Gin Mill and is known for it’s rowdy.

Sully’s House has 12 TVs plus 3 wall projectors for full coverage of all games. They have $12 select domestic beer buckets, and half-price appetzers on Fridays. There is a loyalty to Gonzaga University and University of Florida here plus an unofficial gathering of Creighton fans from who knows where.

Grand River Bar has 5 TVs and $4 well drinks and $10 Miller Lite pitchers deals like $1.50 mini-burgers on Thursdays and $5 sandwiches on Fridays. The bar is owned by Michigan State University alums, this is the spot for Spartan fans to congregate and celebrate in Lakeview. If MSU is out, then Big 10 games get priority over the others.

Get discounted tickets to Rod Blagojevich Superstar online now with the promo code “Rod”. The tickets are usually $25 but get them with $5 off this week. I really think that most of Chicago is sick of hearing about Rod Blagojevich, superstar or not. The only thing that makes this show somewhat redeemable is that Second City is putting the show on. And with any luck only a small part of the show is actually about Rod Blagojevich. 

They tend to name and theme their shows about an idea and then run all over the place with whatever is funny. I hope they have turned over some new scenes by now and keep the Rod Blagojevish Superstar stuff in the beginning as a tie in to greater all around Chicago Comedy. I have not seen this show but I have probably seen about a dozen of the main stage shows at Second City while I was in their training center classes a few years back. 

Second City is known for always having a brilliant cast of improvisers and actors that can sing dance and bring in the funny. Sadly, few end up at SNL within a few years but some notable folks have persevered through other paths also. I think this show is probably a best bet for the funniest thing you will see during your entire week and recommend the Rod Blagojevich Superstar show regardless of how much we’d all like to stop hearing about the looser.

The show is based on the book by Ed Furman, the show music and lyrics are by T.J. Shanoff and the directed by Matt Hovde.

Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare
March 26 – May 3, 2009

See this site for the coupon discount on tickets. chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,36

The city of Chicago is shocked and saddened right now by the news that the Sears Tower is going to be renamed the Willis Tower for the new company renting/leasing the major quantity of office space there. The Willis Group is from London and they plan on leasing 140,000 sq feet of space according to Crain’s Chicago Business.

The building at 233 S Wacker Drive in Chicago IL, 60606 may have a new name and signs soon but the people of Chicago will take a while to stop calling it the Sears Tower and going to the Sears Tower Skydeck. (How many years has it been and I still call Macy’s Marshall Fields?) 

The traditional Chicago Skyline Shot with the iconic Sears Tower now the Willis Tower.

I don’t think Chicagoans have a particular affinity to the Sears company, (judging by how poorly Sears has done in this market in the past 10 years) I just think they knew the Sears Tower building as an icon and point of pride for a city that was second or third place for everything else. 

The Architecture Firm Skidmore Owings and Merrill designed and built the building over 3 years for SEARS which was the largest retailer in the world then. From 1970-1973 the city watched and waited as this new modern design changed the way the world saw Chicago.

The image and pride was somewhat lessened when the Sears Tower was no longer the tallest building in the world and now with the name change it seems like it might eventually just be destined to become another tall building in a world of metropolises.

This also lessens the novelty of the Chicago Olympic Bid. Seriously, what did we ever offer the Olympics anyway?

The Sears Tower was sold from SEARS to AEW Holdings in 1995 and since 2001 the building has been low on tenants and had a lot of space available. I understand that the owners need to sell space and if changing the name gets them a better sq footage rate and closes the deal, we really don’t have any say about it.

In this recession economy the companies and the people in Chicago are really just trying to get by. Live and work smarter, more efficiently and see if we can survive this mess. We really can’t be too worried about iconography of any kind right now. We’re really in much more of a practical mood right now.

I hope the insurance brokers at the Willis Group understand that you can change all the signage quickly but it’s just going to be a long time before most people refer to your building as the Willis Tower rather than the Sears Tower. After all Marshall Fields still got searches on Google for years after it was folded into Macy’s.

Image Credits to Flickr.com wallyg and paulmcdee and glenharper and celkins. Seeing their photos reminds me of how many people see that building every day and how visible is it from every part of the city. I am also so impressed by the quality of photos on flickr of the Sears Tower from all over town.

The dynamic Riverdance Show in Action

Riverdance Irish Dance Performances are returning to Chicago this spring for their last 5 farewell performances at the Rosemont Theater at 5400 North River Road on March 19-22, 2009. The tickets for Riverdance are on sale now through Ticketmaster. This Riverdance show celebrates Irish song and dance traditions and has shared them with the world over the last years while becoming a worldwide phenomenon, winning Grammy awards, selling millions of DVDs and being viewed by millions of people.

Many people don’t know that like many popular cultural trends the Riverdance show arose from a short dance entry into the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994.(Much line American Idol, but with dancing also) And when the popularity went through the roof the production went on the road. Riverdance has not only been able to popularize names like Michael Flatley, it has changed the image of the country of Ireland since the peace process has ended the violence that was present for decades there  and these dancers traveled the world to show that this country offers so much more. They also paved the ay for other Irish shows like Celtic Women and popularity for local Irish Dance Troupes like our own Chicago Trinity Irish Dancers.

The Riverdance Farewell Tour passes through Chicago for 5 shows in March 2009.

But like all trends and cultural phenomenons, they have to come to an end. Most people have seen Riverdance in person, at shows and on PBS and other TV channels or on DVD many many times by now. I know the Irish community will continue these traditions but the general public has probably ridden the trend wave and now the attendance is down so the show is ending. This is one last performance to say goodbye to this sensational show before it ends. I have seen the show and I recommend it if you missed it before or just want to see it one last time in person.

An innovative and exciting blend of dance, music and song, “Riverdance” draws on Irish traditions and the combined talents of the performers propel Irish dancing and music to the present day capturing the imagination of audiences across all ages and cultures. This extraordinarily unique show features an international company all performing to the magic of Bill Whelan’s music.

Due to a scheduling conflict, performances previously scheduled for March 17 and 18, and March 19 at 2 p.m. have been cancelled. Patrons are being moved to alternate performances or refunds are available at point of purchase.

The performance schedule for “Riverdance” at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 North River Road, is as follows: Thursday, Mar. 19 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Mar. 20 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Mar. 21 at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Mar. 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets, which range from $32 – $69, are now on sale and may be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212. Tickets are also available for purchase at the Rosemont Theatre box office and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Many of us know Tesla Motors because of the news involving either:

1. High Gas Prices and alternative fuel vehicles talked about by magazines like WIRED.

2. The CEO of the Tesla Motors Company being removed by the board because of lots of personal differences and internal conflict which have led to the Tesla Roadster being behind on it’s delivery schedule and having engineering problems in getting the product to market.

3. The BBC UK show Top Gear reviewed the Tesla roadster this past season and it quit on them several times. They generally liked it when the batteries were running though.

The Chicago Tesla Dealership and Showroom will be located at 1053 West Grand Ave in Chicago, IL this spring near the Kennedy Expressway in the River West neighborhood. (kind of a desolate location from the looks of Google Street View) The dealership will be Tesla’s first electric car sales showroom and service center outside of California. I am also excited about this new Tesla Dealership in Chicago because this is the first fully electric car to be commercially available in Chicago that I know of.

I was a fan of the GM EV1 back in the day and they never even offered them here in Chicago since the test never expanded that far. Now Tesla will be the first company the test out battery powered electric cars (green cars) in this climate. Many people think that the cold winters will reduce the performance of the batteries that power the cars since batteries generally don’t do well here with out below zero temperatures.

Tesla is offering one couple model of their electric car for $109,000.00 ($55K down payment) at this time and have plans to offer another one at a lower price ($60K) in the future and maybe adding seats for more passengers. Right now Chicago is thrilled that we had enough people and interest to support an electric car dealership and we welcome Tesla to the Chicagoland area.

No word on how these little 2 seater Tesla roadsters will fare in the snow and cold, but we plan on enjoying them in traffic, emissions free, in the other season: construction.

The Odyssey Dinner Boat Cruises on Lake Michigan in Chicago are well known for providing an elegant evening on the lake with a spectacular view of the city of Chicago. When we got a chance to take one this weekend and have a night out we jumped at the chance. My fiance and I couldn’t remember the last time we had been out on a date night since we got engaged. The Chicago Odyssey Dinner Cruise was just what we needed among the crazy wedding planning we are managing right now. Here is a review of our experiences on the Odyssey Dinner Cruise this past Saturday night in Chicago.

Boarding Time: 6:30 pm

Cruise Starts: 7:30 pm

Dinner: 8PM

Jazz Music/Dancing: throughout

View of Chicago: the entire night until 10:30 pm when we got back to Navy Pier in Chicago.

Cost:  Saturday Night Dinner Cruises start at $92. This may seem like a lot of money, but there are many restaurants in the city that cost a lot more than that and don’t provide this kind of unique experience.

The weather started out rainy so we were not sure we would have much of a view on the Chicago Odyssey Cruise ship that evening, but we drove to Navy Pier anyway in hopes of a romantic evening away from everything stressful happening right now. We read that the dress code was somewhat formal and Steve actually pulled out a suit jacket to wear. The location was easy to find, we parked in the Navy Pier garage and the Chicago Odyssey Boat was docked right on the other side of the pier from where we parked by the #5 doors.  The cruise ship looked just like the pictures, big white modern looking boat with black windows. 

The rain was disappointing but when you are on a large boat for 800 people you don’t even know it’s raining outside. The interior was surprising, no communal tables or big buffets. The level we were set up on was a very elegant restaurant setting with individual tables and we sat right by the window to see the view perfectly. The meal was a 4 course meal which was very good. The appetizers, salad, main course and desert were all very good. The chicken I had as the main course was a bit heavy but Steve really enjoyed his steak and the cobbler for desert was amazing. I don’t think that people view the Odyssey or any of the Chicago Skyline Cruises as a big floating four star full service restaurant, but they really are.

The cruise started out with a champagne cocktail hour while people were boarding. Then we switched to diet pepsi so we would stay awake since we live sleep deprived lives at this point. The coffee later in the evening was also a welcome perk of caffeine. There was a full bar available though with all the amenities you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber.

The dining room on the Odyssey is really as nice as a fine dining restaurant.

The Chicago Odyssey Boat Tour Cruise also had a very nice 3 piece jazz band playing sets on the boat during the entire time we were there. They covered everything from smooth jazz to classic Sinatra standards and finished out the evening with an energetic rendition of Sweet Home Chicago. I think they are wise to have good quality music on a cruise of Chicago’s skyline. People in Chicago know their music and jazz and the couple next to us was commenting how the music was genuine jazz played well.

Our server was very attentive and the service all around was very good the entire time we were on the ship. We were still invited to go upstairs and view the skyline from the top deck of the ship even in the poor weather and the server even offered an umbrella if we needed it. I think having separate levels and rooms on this ship is a key to it’s success. There was a college honor society party on the 2nd level and a high school party on the 3rd and we never really came in contact with any of the immaturity you would expect from those younger crowds during the trip. I am sure that all the couples that were in that dining room were happy to be in a separate room also. 

We were surprised at the variety of events that people were celebrating on the Odyssey Cruise Ship that night. They make a special effort to find out what event you are celebrating and make it special. They announced people’s anniversaries and birthdays as well as had special birthday desert cakes with candles. They try and go out of the way to make your 3 hours on the lake a special and memorable experience.

We found that the Odyssey Ships don’t go far from the shore on to Lake Michigan (which is nice for the view), they initially turned south to view the city and then looped back north a few times cycling back and forth from the museum campus to Navy Pier. We did go up on the top deck and saw a beautiful view of Chicago (under a light fog) and of Navy Pier. Some HS kids were smoking up there but were just hanging out.

I can imagine how cool it must be for a high school or college student to take a date, or have a dance on Lake Michigan on a boat like this, especially if you’re from the suburbs.  It is like their first night out as adults and most of the kids looked like they took it pretty seriously. The rest of the crowd seemed like they were a mix of young couples celebrating birthdays and mid-aged people on anniversaries. One group was a girls night out all the way from Tennessee. I could see this as a great way for people traveling from other cities to really get to see Chicago and have an elegant dinner at the same time. I can also see the appeal for couples with kids to get away for the evening and go on a cruise like this just to relax and enjoy each-other’s company.

My overall experience surpassed my expectations on the Chicago Odyssey Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan andI can confidently recommend the experience for anyone looking for an elegant night out in Chicago or someone looking for tourist suggestions for enjoying a vacation in Chicago. The spring-summer-fall seasons are probably better weather than the first week in March but it is possible to go on these scenic dinner cruises almost any time of year and we’re glad we got to get away this weekend regardless of the weather.

Have you had an experience on an Odyssey Dinner Cruise that you would like to share? Comment below…

The Downtown Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12:00 noon, Saturday March 14th. This year like in many years the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade is not held on the actual holiday in order to make it more convenient to attend. (it’s also a fun free thing to do for the holiday) The parade will be held starting at Balbo and Columbus and runs north on Columbus to Monroe.

Taking Public Transportation to the Chicago St Patrick’s Day parade is strongly encouraged since parking is scarce and expensive. Any of the EL loop lines are accessible, get off at the train at Randolph, Madison or Adams and walk east to Columbus. If you are coming in from a Metra line to Union Station, the walk is much further, and you will probably want to take a cab from the station to Columbus. Plus it will most likely be cold, so walking 10 blocks or so isn’t fun when it is that cold. If you are lucky to be coming in to Millennium Station, exit on Lake Street and walk 2 blocks east to Columbus.

Dyeing the Chicago River also happens downtown at 10:45am: Saturday March 14th. You can see the green river dyeing process from the East side of the Chicago River bridge at Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. This is a new location due to construction taking place this year. There is all kinds of mystical folklore about leprechauns that surrounds the dyeing of the river but basically the local Journeymen Plumbers use 40 gallons of vegetable dye to change the color of the river for a few hours in celebration and spirit of St Patrick’s Day and Irish Traditions. It is enjoyed by everyone and quite a sight to see in person. Stay downtown for the Parade at Noon.

There is also a2009 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade on the same day in the SW suburbs. The west suburban residents will be able to celebrate their Irish heritage in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 14. The 2009 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 10 am from Naperville North High School, located at 899 N. Mill Street. The parade moves south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the Municipal Center. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is hosted by the West Suburban Irish group. All residents are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item at the parade to benefit the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Pantry Charity.

And last but not least, there is the ever popular South Side Irish Parade at noon on Sunday March 15th. This is the parade where people get the most drunk and rowdy although I hear it is a lot tamer than it used to be. If you would like to attend the South Side Irish Parade also, wear your green and go hang out between 103rd-115th Streets and Western Ave. & 103rd St in Chicago, IL 60643. The parade is free and it usually lasts about 2 hours. They actually mention on their website at southsideirishparade.org that this St Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of Irish heritage in the Beverly-Morgan Park community on the South Side of Chicago and in order to be respectful of it, please refrain from public drinking in areas where it is not permitted.

While most people are aware of the Mardi Gras side of Fat Tuesday but in Chicago there are probably more people who celebrate Punchki Day (p?czek or Paczki day) than Mardi Gras. Punchki Day is a Catholic (eastern European) tradition where you eat decadent fruit filled or cream filled doughnut like cakes to splurge before Ash Wednesday and the fasting and depravity required by Lent. Most Polish or Ukrainian bakeries will have Punchki available a week before Punchki Day and you can splurge all week.

Yes, I ate some of these Punchki last year.

Punchki come in a variety of incarnations. There are the doughnut style Punchki which are really the same as Jelly filled Doughnuts. These are good, but unless they are different than the regular doughnuts you can buy, what’s the point/novelty?

There is also a more cake-like type where the round baked/fried dough cakes are sliced in 1/2 and filled with fresh fruit fillings and sauces. There are other fillings like Boston cream, whipped cream, chocolate and cheesecake. I personally think the fruit is always the best way to go. You may find punchki available in these fruit flavors: Strawberry, Cherry, Peach, Apricot, Blueberry, Pineapple, Cinnamon Apples, Raspberry and Plum. (maybe even more flavors, these are just what I have tried) Most of these doughnut like mini cakes have around 400+ calories though, so this isn’t healthy by any means.

They sell them by the dozen.

I have had Punchki from Busy Bee Bakery in Downers Grove and they are pretty good. But the best Punchki I have had were from the Central Continental Bakery up north in Mount Prospect, IL. My dad works near by and places an order for a few boxes (dozens) of Punchki a week or 2 before the big day. They have a huge sign out advertising the countdown to Punchki day, so you can save up your calories. Then the crowds emerge and pick up all the punchki to take home and everyone shares them with family and friends since they are so good.

The prices range from $2.00 – $4.00 per punchki because they are huge and some are very elaborate to make. Plus they are so filling, you can’t really eat more than one in a sitting anyway. You can find the Central Continental Bakery in Mount Prispect at 101 S Main Street and call them at 847-870-9500 for ordering your Punchki or to just have them set some aside for you before they’re all gone!

Mardi Gras day celebrations can be hard to find in Chicago.The Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (beginning of lent) is usually a more cold and subdued one on Chicago with Punchki Day (pyczaki) on April 24 and thoughts of what it is you will give up for lent this year. Chicago’s heavily Catholic areas of the city aren’t really known for celebrating Mardi Gras.

Things are changing with the way the world keeps getting smaller, and more connected. Any holiday celebrated anywhere in the world is a reason to toss a few drinks back and celebrate. New Orleans does Mardi Gras like nobody else, and Chicago would like to offer some fun like that but without the flashing, since it is a bit colder here. Most of what you will find in Chicago for Mardi Gras is centered around restaurant specials and drink specials at bars. Possibly some good creole and gumbo, in the New Orleans tradition.

Spicy Shrimp Creole for Mardi Gras

The tradition was to let loose before this period of fasting and deprevity so one night out with some drinks and some unhealthy food is enjoyable without becoming a regular habit that sabotages your diet plans. There are plenty of places that serve decadent food to fit the bill this year. Some local Chicago restaurants with Mardi Gras specials this year are:

Marche in the west loop: They have a menu of Creole-inspired French dishes. On Mardi Gras Tuesday, diners get free beads with their meal. (classy) after 5:30 p.m. Prices range from about $15 to $35 per plate for dinner not including drinks. Reservations are recommended. Address: 833 W. Randolph St. in Chicago, IL Phone: 312-226-8399.

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen: This new Orleans Style Restaurant has a week long party planned that includes a $5.95 craw fish boil (Thursday) and happy hour in the bar from 3-7 pm featuring appetizer deals starting at $1.95 (Friday), live music (Saturday), keepsake Mardi Gras glasses (Sunday), free meals for kids 4-8 p.m. with purchase of adult entree (Monday) and a huge Fat Tuesday party. Prices range from $12 to $25 per dinner not including drinks. Address: 921 Pasquinelli Drive, Westmont, IL just off Route 83, Phone: 630-455-9846 for a reservation.

Everyone loves a good party and this year the recession has compelled more people to stay home and party for the Oscars with their neighbors and TV than in years past. The superbowl was a great example of people staying in, having a house party, bringing pot -luck dining items and enjoying the evening spectacle on DVR. The Oscars are always a very entertaining telecast and this year with Hugh Jackman hosting there will likely be lots of singing and dancing as well.

I think the Oscars will be entertaining whether you go out or stay in this year. Watching the Oscars at a posh party in Chicago is nice, although you will have a hard time justifying $150 ticket prices in the recession. Chicago Oscars house parties will be very popular this year and here are some tips for making yours fun. Remember that creativity is what really makes your Oscar party fun and not necessarily how much money you spend.

Chocolate Oscar Candy for guests.

Chicago Weekend Fun’s Oscar House Party Tips

:

1. Dress up. Seriously. Don’t buy anything new, just raid the closet and dress up fancy as if you were attending a formal Oscar party. Some people also take more of a character theme to party costumes and tell guests to dress up as their favorite movie character.

2. Champagne, or in most cases, use the champagne glasses with ginger ale soda and voila, it’s a lot cheaper and nobody gets drunk before the end of the loooong Oscars broadcast and has to figure out how to drive home.

3. Liveblog the telecast on your blog, or twitter your reactions to what is happening on the Oscars telecast online. Some snark may make that pretty popular with guests and your online friends if it is a “virtual” party.

4. Invite the neighbors, friends, family. People enjoy getting together the more people the merrier. It proves that just sticking together helps in a recession like this. Pull all the chairs into the TV room for seating to watch the Oscars and put the food in another room so people don’t chat in the room where people are actually watching the show. Interesting mixes of people from different areas of your life make the most interesting parties.

If you really can afford a $100+ ticket to an Oscar Party in Chicago here is one of the local Chicago Oscars Events you may be interested in:

The Gene Siskel Film Center Oscar Party @ 6pm till Midnight downtown at the Gene Siskel Film Center. “Oscar Night in America”. $150 or VIP $250. This is a formal black tie event, but you get to watch the most well known awards for movies with some of the most influential movie personalities in Chicago, making this a truly unique experience if you can afford it this year. CALL 312-846-2072 for your tickets.

The International Kennel Club of Chicago hosts it’s annual dog show this weekend at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Dog Show runs from February 18th through February 22nd at McCormick Place West 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616.

Tickets are $13 (adults) and $17 for Parking for anyone who would like to be a spectator to this grand event. The International Kennel Club of Chicago’s annual Dog Show is a Westminster Dog Show-like event right here in Chicago with the same level of professionalism in dog breeders.

Many people attend this show even if they aren’t a breeder or dog owner. There is no denying the beauty of the dogs and their breeds. If you are looking for a pet, you may even find the International Kennel Club Dog Show to be informative about the different breeds while showcasing over 10,000 dogs.

This weekend Kennel Club Dog Show is the place to be to see everything from award winning Labradors to stately Irish wolfhounds and American favorites like golden retrievers and greyhounds. All sizes and breeds will be featured from toy breeds (toy poodles, chihuas) to working dogs and terriers (like Barney the former first family’s dog). Come out to the dog show with the family for a day of entertainment, awards and education.

 

The Flight of the Conchords show has taken off by storm lately. What was a cult hit last season is mainstream popular this year.

I just heard that Flight of the Conchords will be playing at Arie Crown Theater on March 24th in Chicago. This is going to be a very popular show judging by how about 50 people I know have become “fans” of them on Facebook in the last 3 weeks.

..

If you are wondering who these Australian New Zealanders are you may want to check out some episodes of their show or download their album from iTunes or Amazon. They use the most creative (improvised?) satirical lyrics in their songs possible. Flight of the Conchords is like combining Moxy Fruvous’ Music, Second City Mainstage’s Improv/Comedy and the show The Office’s awkwardness all at once. This seems to be a magical combination for fans because the popularity is still growing for this ever “failing” band.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out their episodes online and see if this mockumentary style show grows on you too. if you go to the concert post your comments below and let me know how it goes!

The Flight of the Conchords Show Details are:

Show Date: April 28, 2009

Time: 7:30 pm

Address: 2301 Lake Shore Dr At McCormick PL, Chicago, IL 60616

Ticket Prices: $38.50 before tax, tip, and licence and doc fee. About $50 each after.

Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.  After those sell out there might be a few on StubHub or Ebay, but with the restrictions that is doubtful.

There are a lot of restrictions on reselling these tickets so be careful if you buy them, you must have them at will call and no alternate person can pick them up. There is also a 4 ticket limit to purchase. Wow, they anticipate this will sell out like crazy. If you can’t get tix remember there will always be discount Flight of the Conchords Season 1&2 DVDS to enjoy at home.

It is that time of year again, Tax Preparation Season in Chicago. (it can ruin many weekends before April 15th) You get through Christmas and the Super Bowl and very quietly your 1099’s sneak up on you when you aren’t looking. Tax Preparation in Chicago can be just as challenging as any other location in the US and it is a lot harder to make the trek out to an accountant when it is below zero here.

The tax season is a different process for everyone. Whether you use a paper form 1040 EZ, an online form, TurboTax, H&R Block TaxCut, go to a tax preparing service like Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block or have your own personal accountant, there are deductions your should know about.

Personally I got to use the energy credit for new energy star windows last year which was thrilling considering how much they cost up front. I also started using TurboTax a few years ago and have enjoyed doing my taxes online with their Q & A format. I actually don’t dread doing my taxes anymore thanks to TurboTax.

I actually think the ads that say an accountant will find you thousands of dollars in refunds is a bit misleading. The people who own businesses and have complicated situations may find more deductions with H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt, but someone single and uncomplicated like me does just fine with an online tax preparation program.

Here are some tips and resources to help you through the tax season in Chicago for 2008 in 2009. I do need to state that I am not a tax professional by any means, but through some research I was able to find these tips that I wanted to share.

This is a helpful list of green tax credits you can claim in 2009.

$150 for some Energy Star furnaces/boilers
$200 for all Energy Star windows
$300 for some Energy Star heat pumps and central AC
$500 for insulation and sealing that meets model building code
$3,150 for the purchase of a hybrid car or SUV

Also, the federal limit in tax credits for home improvements is $500. More information on state tax credits can be found at the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency.

This is also a list of common income tax deductions that are often missed:

1. State sales taxes as a deductions.This only applies if you live in a state without income tax like Oregon but work in a state that does have it like Washington. Keep track of these expenses during the year by saving receipts or logging them in Excel.
2. Reinvested dividends. This is more of a tax break since those dividends never got taxed. Bonus!
3. Out-of-pocket deductible charitable contributions. This includes mileage driven for charity and cash donations.
4. Deductible Student loan interest paid by parents. Since the IRS treats student loan repayments by parents as a gift to their child, students that aren’t claimed as dependents can actually deduct up to $2,500 of the loan interest paid by their parents.
5. Moving expense to take your first job. As long as you move more than 50 miles, you can deduct the cost of getting yourself and your stuff to the new locale. You can even deduct mileage.
6. Military reservists travel expenses. Members of the National Guard or military reserve can deduct travel expenses related to drills or meetings as long as they travel over 100 miles and are away overnight. The deduction covers the cost of lodging plus half the cost of your meals. You can also deduct mileage, parking fees, and tolls.
7. Child-care credits. If you pay someone to take care of your kids such that you can work, you might qualify for a tax credit. Note that this is true even if you claim your childcare-related expenses through a tax-favored reimbursement account at work because such accounts are capped at $5,000 while expenses up to $6,000 can qualify for the credit.
8. Estate tax on income in respect of a decedent. You can get an income-tax deduction for the amount of estate tax paid on an IRA the you inherit from someone else.
9. Any State tax you paid last spring. If you owed state taxes when you filed your 2007 return, you can deduct that amount along with the state income taxes that were withheld during 2008.
10. Deductible Mortgage Refinancing points. Any points that you pay when you refinance can be deducted (on a monthly basis) over the life of the new loan. Moreover, all unamortized mortgage points left over from prior years are deducted all at once if you end up refinancing your mortgage in any particular year.
11. Jury pay paid to employer. Some employers continue to pay their employees’ full salary when they’re on jury duty, but require that the employees turn over their jury pay. Since the IRS views this as taxable income, you need to be sure to deduct it. If you don’t, you’ll end up paying double taxes on a portion of your income.
     

President’s Day is observed on February 16. I won’t be at work that day, like most people who have the day off, I will be honoring our first presidents by shopping at the President’s Day Sales around Chicagoland. Wouldn’t they be proud?

All the local Chicago stores are starting their ramp up of ads for that holiday and if you are holding off on buying something because of the recession, you may want to go shopping on President’s Day because the stores are cutting prices and have everything on sale.

President’s Day is much like Christmas this year where Chicago retailers just want to make sales so they are cutting prices and discounting everything in the store. You can get great deals on clothing, furniture, housewares, carpet, mattresses and even cars. GM, Ford, Toyota and Honda are trying to talk anyone into buying a car off their lot. One dealer even advertised a buy one get one free sale. (it was a Chrysler dealer)

Here are some of the President’s Day Sales around Chicago that I have heard about. If these are national stores you may find they have the same deals in other locations also.

Kohl’s - the home of all holiday sales. Kohl’s has a lot marked down on sale this President’s day both online and in stores. Look for great Bonus Buys (Expires 2/18/09) like:
15-50% ENTIRE STOCK Kitchen Electrics
50% Off Chaps and axcess Suit Separates for Men
Athletic Shoes on sale from $28.99 
40-70% Off Bedding Collections & Accessories, Sheet Sets and Down Comforters 

The general sale includes some great deals like:
30-40% Off Men’s Dress Shoes & Casual Shoes
50% Off Bed Pillows, Mattress Pads, Feather Beds & Fiber Beds

Take an additional 10% off your order with coupon code: NEW3988 Expires on 2/22/09.

Kohl’s Charge Card holders save up to 30% off with the following coupons:
15% Off: MVCCHARGE15 (Exp 2/17/09)
20% Off: SAVE20FEB (Exp 2/29/09)
30% Off: PRESIDENT30 (Exp 2/18/09)  

Kohl’s also has all Dana Buchanan women’s seperates are 30% off on President’s day.

Plus there are bonus coupons you might get in your mail box if you are a Kohl’s credit card user. They always send 10%, 15% or 30% off coupons in the mail and this is inaddition to the sale prices already in the store.

Macy’s – Macy’s Department Stores also like having sales for all the Holidays. I would expect a lot to be on sale from their clothing departments to clear out the last of the winter clothes since spring merchandise is coming in soon and Jewelry will be on sale since Macy’s just took over the jewelry section of the store from a jeweler that was leasing it at the State Street Store. This may have been the case at other former Marshall Field’s Stores also.

Furniture – Ashley Furniture, Harlem Furniture and LaZBoy all have sales planned. If you have lots of savings and a good job while you have a ratty old sofa, it might be time to go looking. IKEA Chicago also has a $150 cash back deal going on mattresses in their Schaumburg and Bolingbrook locations.

Update: As I find out more details I will update this post. Check back and bookmark this page to see the updates as they happen closer to the President’s Day Sale Date. 

Photo credit goes to alykat on Flickr.

I realized about 7 years ago that bowling was enjoying a resurgence in popularity when all my friends were spending their weekends in rented shoes at bowling alleys in Chicago. I was surprised to see two bowling alleys packed this evening while driving home. I stopped by a store next to the Willowbrook Bowl on my way home and was surprised to see the parking lot packed. The place was jumpin!

Then just off 290 I saw that the Hillside Bowl was also full to the gills. You could see inside through the large windows and tons of people were bowling on a Saturday night. I remember the days when only the freaks and geeks went bowling at the Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove on Friday night and the “typical” first date was at the Brunswick Zone  where bowling and pool tables provided many teenager groping opportunities. Things have changed. Bowling is Family Friendly, it doesn’t cost as much as most other social activities and there is “some” exercise involved. I am sure that for some people the retro style bowling shirts and shoes are also a plus. 

Many new bowling alleys have been added to the Chicago area over the last 10 years also. 10 Pin bowling Alley and Lucky Strike Bowling Alley combine bars and huge video screens for sports games all in one.

Here is a roundup of the fees and open bowling times for the local Chicago area bowling alleys that I have been to or heard alot about lately:

1. Hillside Bowl – 4545 HARRISON St in HILLSIDE, IL 60162 (708) 449-5350 See their web site at bowlbowlbowl.com. 36 Lanes.

2. Willowbrook Bowl -735 Plainfield Road in Willowbrook, IL 60527 Call (630) 325-1746 or check out their website at willowbrook-bowl.com. I am not sure how much this bowling alley has been updated over the years, but I remember it from when my Aunt and Uncle used to run the restaurant there. It seems popular again, look for the giant bowling pin on the SE corner of Plainfield Rd and Rt 83 in Willowbrook.

3. Tivoli Bowling Alley – 938 Warren Ave, Downers Grove, IL? phone: (630) 969-0660 Great for afternoon bowling, under the movie theater. Watch out for the HS Bowling Gym Classes though.

4. Brunswick Zone Bowl – 1555 W. 75th St in Woodridge, IL Phone: (630) 985-1115 has pool tables as well as many bowling lanes. Or check out 1515 Aurora Ave in Naperville, IL Phone: (630) 355-7622 or there is another at 558 E. North Ave in Glendale Heights, IL Phone: (630) 858-1300. There are other Brunswick Zone Bowling Alleys tucked in all over Chicago. These are the ones I have either been to recently or a long time ago. Less personal service from Brunswick, since this is a huge chain and it’s hard to be individual and unique that way.?

5. 10 Pin Bowling Alley & Bar at the House of Blues in Chicago -330 N State St, Chicago, IL Call: (312) 644-0300. Watch out for the drunk bowlers, but it is a swanky looking place.

6. Lucky Strike Bowling Alley and Bar in the East Illinois Movie Theater Building Complex -100 Yorktown Shopping Ctr, Lombard, IL – (630) 916-8681 and 322 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL. – (312) 245-8331. $10 – Open to 2 AM.

7. Fireside Bowling Lanes - 2648 W Fullerton Ave in Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: (773) 486-2700 See their website at: firesidebowl.com. A great retro bowling alley on the north side of the city.

Photo credits to RICCIO “il colore del ricordo inganna”, Hryck. and ehoyer on Flickr.
 

I am sure you have heard Jesse McCartney’s songs on the radio, and maybe you have figured that he has a lot of soul in his music for a white guy that is only 21 years old, but if you haven’t heard his music you have time to discover it just in time for his concert in Chicago next week. Jesse McCartney will be playing the House of Blues on Wednesday February 18, 2009. This concert will most likely sell out due to his popularity right now.

Jesse McCartney was on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin Eve show this NYE and I was impressed. I thought it was great that not only did he sing great live, he sang better than the record. That is hard to find in most singers these days with all the digitizing they have done to their voices. 

If you want to go see Jesse McCartney live in concert here are the ticket details you need to know:  

Jesse McCartney Concert @ the House of Blues Chicago, IL
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 @ 06:00 PM

Tickets $25.00 for General Admission – no seats, standing room only 

Call the House of Blues Box office for more info at 312.923.2000

There is parking at the House of Blues, expect $20 as the charge.

Get there early for a good spot to stand since there are no seats and no difference in tickets, so first ones in get the best place to stand right in front of the stage.

Leave the cameras at home, the House of Blues has a no pictures policy and they check bags and coats for them when they are letting you in the theater.

Well the date is released, the Chicago Marathon is set for October 11, 2009 and Bank of America is still the main sponsor. The new Chicago Marathon web site is up and you can register now for the Chicago Marathon 2009. Just 247 days left to go…

What a year of training that will be! Should I try it? I have never run before, but I admire those who run marathons. I even admire people in Chicago who just train for Marathons! (whether they finish or not) I see them out running in the rain and snow and heat every year, but never the same people for more than one year. 

I am thinking I will pass on this year but get your info about registration for the Chicago marathon 2009 over at the site: chicagomarathon.com/cms400min/chicago_marathon/ The cost is a $125 non-refundable, non-deferable fee for US residents and $150 for international competitors. The registration is only open for a short time, maybe a month, before they fill up and all 45,000 slots are filled. So, go quickly and register.

Later the 2009 Bank of America Health & Fitness Expo will be held at Chicago’s McCormick Place and you go check in there on these dates:

Friday, October 9, 9 am to 8 pm
Saturday, October 10, 9 am to 6 pm

And if you are looking for training help Nike has a great site that has runner’s groups nation wide that you can train with and schedules/plans for training at Nike.com.

Chicago has had some comic shows rotate through town every so often but it has been a while since local comic fans had a large scale event here to attend locally. It is exciting to know that the majority of web and tech workers in the Chicago area will be happy to know that the Chicago Comic Book and Entertainment Show is coming to McCormick Place in Chicago in 2010. (or C2E2 as they call it)

It is more than a full year off, but all geeks rejoice because they will be able to bring out their costumes and partay in 2010. Ok, not everyone who likes comics has a costume, but several people I know do.

I am also surprised at how mainstream comic books are these days and how not-geeky this has become since the popularity of Spider man movies, BatMan movies and especially the Iron Man movie this past summer. There is a huge audience for this event in Chicago and I may even be going myself with my fiance since he and all his friends are big fans also.

The Chicago Comic Book & Entertainment Show details are:

April 16-18, 2010, at McCormick Place’s Lakeside Center

Hopefully this will be as good a show as the New York comicon shows since it is being organized by the same trade show company Reed Exhibitons. They can start by inviting the entire improv community at IO and Second City’s training centers. Then they can hang out at the comic shops and recruit more attendees there. I just know there are probably several hundred thousand people in Chicagoland (out of 9 million) who are comic book fans and collectors. When I find more details I will update this page. More info can also be found at chicagocomicandentertainmentexpo.com.

Well the groundhogs in Chicago saw their shadow this morning and that means we get about 6 million more days of winter. Or 6 weeks, whichever global warming provides. Groundhog Day seems to have been seriously overshadowed (no pun intended) by the Superbowl last night. Never the less, the groundhogs at the Brookfield Zoo (including Tubleweed at left) were out this morning giving us our anecdotal weather forecast for spring. Bill Murray was not present at the shadow sighting, he is most likely off making more funny movies somewhere exotic and warm. Photo linked from & credit to the Chicago Tribune & Antonio Perez . Anyway, happy winter!

Lady Gaga will be coming to Chicago to play a concert at the House of Blues on March 24, 2009. This will be huge since she has been getting so popular and her music keeps us dancing. Lady Gaga Tickets are selling for $22-$24.00 direct from the House of Blues but I expect these tickets to sell out quickly with how popular Lady Gaga’s music is in Chicago.

I think everyone has been dancing to Lady Gaga’s hit “Just Dance” on the radio, downloading it and watching it on YouTube. I knew that Lady Gaga had gone from cult hit on Perez Hilton to mainstream music when I heard the song on 101.9 FM in Chicago last week as “new music”. That is the middle age station in Chicago. It has to be mainstream to be considered for that station. Her album “The Fame” is doing well with Poker Face and Starstruck also being pretty popular songs.

The House of Blues is located at 329 North Dearborn street Chicago, IL 60610 312.923.2000 You can see more details about the concert at HOB.com or Lady Gaga’s site at ladygaga.com. The show at the House of Blues opens the doors at 10:30 PM and the show begins at 11 pm. The House of Blues has parking on site but they do not allow any cameras and there are no chairs or seating in the venue. So wear comfortable shoes and stand near the front if you want to see well. The show is age 17 and up with ID.  If you like electronic music, her shows are supposed to be awesome with laser lights and all kinds of effects. Lady Gaga also has been said to consider herself sexy weird rather than what the pussycat dolls do. I would concur. Maybe she is the next Madonna? Be ready for lots of leotards, sunglasses, PVC vinyl clothing and a great show!

The Shamrock Shuffle is an 8K run or 5K walk race for charity in Chicago on March 29, 2009. The Chicago Shamrock Shuffle is usually a fun run without a lot of pressure that a marathon might have and it inspires us Midwesterners to get out and exercise again after the frigid winter. This year Bank of America is the main sponsor. Registration is open now and the only requirements are that you can run a 15 minute mile or walk the 5K and pay the $40 entry fee.

Update: the registration is closed now due to the 32,500 person limit being filled already!

I know that a lot of people enjoy this race as runners also, since the Chicago Marathon isn’t until October and this is a lot shorter. But mostly the Shamrock Shuffle is a race for people who live in the city and enjoy running for exercise or want a goal to get back in shape and like the idea of doing it while supporting a charity. Many runners like to run in green for St Patrick’s Day also.

Try it out this year you might just get hooked on running! Nike has a great training site for runners also. They have detailed plans to get yourself up to speed of running a race if you need help.  After you register you get assigned to a corral depending on your speed and that determines when and where you start.

There are a number of street closures that happen for the Shamrock Shuffle beware if you are near any of these on the morning of March 29th:

• Columbus Dr., from Randolph Dr. to Grand Ave., 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
• Grand Ave., from Columbus Dr. to Rush St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Rush St., from Grand Ave. to Hubbard St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Hubbard St., from Rush St. to State St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• State St., from Hubbard St. to Jackson Blvd., 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
• Jackson Blvd., from State St. to Jefferson St., 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Jefferson St., from Jackson Blvd. to Harrison St., 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Harrison St., from Jefferson St. to Michigan Ave., 9:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Michigan Ave., from Harrison St. to Roosevelt Rd., 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  
• Roosevelt Rd. (westbound lanes only), from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

And have a happy Shamrock Shuffle! 

Click here for a map of the entire shamrock shuffle course map.

See the official website for the sign up forms: shamrockshuffle.com/cms400min/

See the Nike Running Blogs and Training Info here: nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us

After being absent for 2 years the Flower and Garden show is back this spring in Chicago. The Chicago Flower and Garden Show will be running between March 7 and 15 in 2009. This is a great show if you have a yard or garden area around your home that you enjoy spending time in or plan on renovating or improving this spring/summer.

The Chicago Flower and Garden Show is amazing for anyone to see because they have so many example gardens there that are inspiring for what you can really do with your space, even if you have a very small space to work with like urban dwellers do. There are usually a lot of vendors of plants, patios, decks, pools, hot tubs, landscape and design companies as well as lawn care companies exhibiting that can help. There are usually how-to talks also that help you find the right info if you want to do the work on your yard and garden yourself.

Tickets are $12 during the week and $14 on weekends for Adults and $5 for kids. This does not include the Navy Pier $23 parking fee. So, this is a fun family event if you want to take the time to drive downtown and don’t mind the parking costs. There are a lot of restaurants and shops at Navy Pier that are also fun to stop and see if you bring the family down to the Flower and Garden Show.

More details can be found at chicagoflower.com

In the past I have been very anti-valentine’s day, but now that I am engaged I am more ambivalent about it. If people want to get together on Valentine’s Day in Chicago and make love rather than war or money, it is probably a good thing. Those who don’t really want to bother with all the V-Day hullabaloo are always welcome to celebrate anti-valentine’s day too.

In Chicago it is cold in February and the options for celebrating Valentine’s Day with your special one are limited to the indoors and maybe someplace with a cozy fireplace. That said, there is a range of price to which you can celebrate this day of love.

If you have endless funds available the Trump Tower Hotel is offering a special Valentine’s Day package with a view of the Chicago River, a Dozen Roses, Champagne, Chocolate and a premium suite for $900. Yes, that is the cost for one night. That puts a lot of pressure on both parties for it to be a “spectacular” night at that price. At least at home you don’t loose $900 if things don’t work out. Plus in this economy who wants to spend a mortgage payment on one night in a hotel room? (just the room)

I have always liked the more simple ways to show someone you love them on Valentine’s Day. Nobody enjoys paying $100 for a dozen red roses at the Chicago FTD Florist so why not send something else? Believe me, pink roses can be just as romantic, white roses are elegant, and there are so many beautiful flowers, why limit it to just roses? (orchids, lilies and Gerber daisies are all great alternatives that get ignored by florists on Valentine’s day) Don’t all the flowers really say something beautiful? There is no reason that you have to be exactly like 9 million other people in Chicago. Originality gets you brownie points and wins over hearts big time.

Check out the little local Chicago FTD florists a week or 2 before Valentine’s day to see what they plan to have on hand. Ask about what else they will have besides 12 tons of red roses from Chile. I try to avoid large florist chains like Phillips because there is so little creativity there, but in a pinch they have a lot of stock. You have to tell them what you want though. Jewel and Dominicks have great low cost deals on flowers but they usually wilt in 24-48 hours. (Which is so dissapointing) I like Tulipia in River Forest for my fresh flowers and they usually last a week.

Chocolate is also a typical Valentine’s Day gift but I don’t know any woman that says she needs Chocolate when most women always complain that they are on a diet. (talk about passive aggressive) I know a few women who crave it, but I wonder if there is really something else going on there.

I think most women really want to be loved and appreciated. I think doing something to show you love them in a non-traditional way might be the best Valentine’s Day gift of all. Sure, an elegant dinner at the restaurant of her choice or a new pair of earrings would be great but save the big flower/chocolate/hotel room money for something else.

My fiance got me some flowers last year and new windshield wipers for my car. And yes, he even installed them for me. This year he is upgrading the memory in my laptop, very thoughtful of him. It was sweet and I do appreciate his thoughtfulness every time I am driving in the pouring rain in Chicago. Think different this Valentine’s Day and you will have a much better time with the holiday than all your friends and coworkers that do the same thing they do every year.

Update: 2 More events happening around Chicago if you really do want to brave the cold and go out to do something special on Valentine’s day:

The Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Troupe makes its official company debut at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., on Valentine’s Day. This event features performances from the company repertoire (including the jet propelled “Pyrokinesis”) …Plus, as the $46 ticket price includes a post-performance champagne and cheesecake reception and parking is free…this makes the event a great way to treat your honey to a great evening out without breaking the bank. For more info call 847.673.6300.

These local fine Restaurants have specially prices dinners available on Valentine’s Day with unique menu’s and Valentine’s Day details. Call for more information and details.

BIRCH RIVER GRILL – AN AMERICAN KITCHEN 75 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL (847) 427-4242
DINE at 733 W. Madison Street in Chicago, IL (312) 602- 2100
GLEN PRAIRIE at 1250 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn, IL (630) 613-1250
KARMA – ASIAN FOOD & WINE 510 E. Route 83 in Mundelein, IL (847) 970-6900
Kinzie Chophouse at 400 North Wells Street in Chicago, IL 60654 312.822.0191
MAMBO GRILL at 412 North Clark Street in Chicago, IL 60654 312.467.9797

There are several events going on for Martin Luther King day in Chicago this year on Monday January 19th. It is even more special that Barack Obama is being Inaugurated as the first Black president of the United States on January 20th (the next day). If you want to join in the commemorative activities here are some options for Martin Luther King Day activities happening around Chicago. This is a federal holiday so government offices are closed and there is no mail delivery in Chicago.

The Chicago History Museum has events planned for celebrating Martin Luther King’s legacy in racial equality in the US. They include performances by the Loyola University Chicago Gospel Choir, storytelling and a recitation of his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. The Chicago History Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Chicago, IL 60614. Phone for more info at: 312-642-4600

The Chicago Park District has a lot of what they call drop in activities for kids. I think this just means that you don’t have to pre-register to be able to attend. These activities are usually at your local park district building and are presentations, movies and games.

The DuSable Museum of African American Historyalso has events planned. The are scheduled for both Sunday and Monday and they will also have events surrounding Barack Obama’s Inauguration. The DuSable Museum is located at 740 East 56thPlace in Chicago, IL. Three days of events celebrating the legacy of Dr. King culminates with a simulcast of Barack Obama’s Inauguration followed by a luncheon.

There is also a commemorative symphony concert happening at Orchestra Hall on Monday, January 19, 2009 at 7:30pm. Chicago’s Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center is located at 220 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, IL. Tickets are from $10 – $96. Call (312)236-3681, x2 for tickets.

With the Fed lowering the interest rate to effectively 0% a few weeks back we have all been waiting to see how the consumer mortgage rates will be affected in Chicago. Both the city and suburbs have been affected by the real estate housing bubble and many people who have 6-7% mortgage rates on their homes and condos would love to refinance their mortgage and save some money in this economy.

Just this week Jan 12th, marketwatch reported that 30 year fixed rate mortgage rates went below 5% and down to the lowest rate ever. I am surprised that they have gotten so low and see that marketwatch lists the average mortgage rate for a 30 year fixed rate loan at 4.62% now. Wow that is low. A 300K mortgage with 20% down and a 30 year fixed rate loan at 4.62% is $1,333.00 a month.

If that rate was 5.62% it would be $1,481.00. Low rates save you a lot of money and allow you to use those savings to make extra principle payments and pay the loan off faster which saves a lot on interest paid to the bank over the life of the loan. (remember interest is calculated on the entire loan amount each year, so the amount you really pay for your house over 30 years is usually about 3x the value)

I am not sure which mortgage companies in Chicago can offer these rates though because so many of the banks are in trouble financially right now. Taking in less profit on loans would hurt their chance of recovery. Citigroup Banks is one that is giving higher interest rates like 5.5% on a 30 year fixed loan because of their current financial situation.

I hope that people living in Chicago can refinance their loans at the lowest rate possible and pay off their mortgage home loans quickly and own them outright. It is a difficult thing to do but owning your own home without a mortgage is one of the most rewarding things you can do and gives you so much financial freedom and saves a lot of stress. Look into how you can lower your interest rate and pay off your loan in a shorter time and get freedom from mortgage payments.

Chicago got more snow today and has a forecast of snow every day this week along with below zero temperatures. All this is after getting a foot of snow on this past Saturday and snow on Thursday before that. (January 2009) The snowfall was above average last year in 2007-2008 also (with 60.3 inches of snow at O’Hare Airport!). 

Chicago got snow once or twice most weeks between November 2007 and April 2008. I can’t tell you how many times I had to shovel/dig a path out of the alley in order to drive to the store last winter. This above average snowfall has made travel difficult although being Chicagoans, we still try and drive through just about any weather conditions.

Since this has been such a constant trend for the last 2 winters I decided to  look up some statistics and find out how rare it is that we get this kind of snowfall in Chicago, because so many people have been talking about 1979 lately and tuning in to Tom Skilling on WGN Channel 9 for their nightly snow/blizzard/weather update.

I am also curious as to why the snowfall amount has increased so dramatically in Chicago the last two years. Is it climate change modifying how the weather patterns travel? Is it just a weird weather anomaly? I haven’t been able to find a comprehensive answer to that question yet, if I find one, I will update this page and let you know.

Some fun weather statistics:

The National Weather Service says that the most snow that has ever fallen on Chicago in a winter season is 89.7 inches in 1978-1979. They also mention that the average amount of snow that Chicago recieved between 1971 and the year 2000 was 38 inches. (the least was 9.8 inches in 1920-1921) This is interesting because as of tonight Chicago has received 38 inches of snowfall for the 2008-2009 season already and it is only January 13.

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This might be a bit geeky but, the graph above (from the site Graphical Climatology of Chicago) shows the average snowfall in a season with the line and the amount we have received to date in 2008-2009 in the filled in bar graph area.

This is interesting because it shows that we have passed the usual yearly average as of today. I wonder if we will beat the all time high for snowfall in Chicago by the end of the season in June?

At this rate I think the winter of 2008-2009 could have about 60 inches of snow like last year, but since there is no reliable way for anyone to estimate this, we will just have to wait and see and update this page as the year and winter continue. I wish you the best of luck with the snow! (plan ahead with cars, travel and groceries this winter to hopefully make this snow less of an issue)

The current Chicago temperature is  from Wunderground.com.

Current Chicago Radar GIF Image from Intellicast.com. Chicago can be difficult to see with all the counties outlined in black, but if you look for the tip of Lake Michigan you can see Chicago weather just to the left. The storm patterns are updated hourly so add a bookmark or link to us to check back here for updates.

Trader Joe’s opened their new Oak Park Store location on December 5, 2008.Trader Joe’s is a great store for Oak Park because it is all about organics, low cost gourmet and foods from around the world. They have a great selection of interesting foods plus a Trader Joes House Brand that offers just about everything for less. The new Oak Park store is located at 483 N Harlem Ave in Oak Park, IL 60301. Parking is available in a garage near by but beware the elevators don’t always work, so if you plan to buy a cart full, park on the ground floor.

Oak Parkers are a unique breed. (I know, I live there) We appreciate the local delicacies but want to experience the best the world has to offer. We like the close availability of the city of Chicago and mass transit but want to live green and earth friendly lifestyles at the same time. We want really tasty enjoyable food but we want it to be good-for-us at the same time. We also like elegant new products but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg in a recession.

Somehow Trader Joe’s Food Stores cover this entire list of contradictions. Not everything in Trader Joe’s fits all the requirements, but everything hits at least 2 or 3 of them. I am not a vegetarian or someone who eats only Organics so I may not know as much about those foods as I should, but I know that a lot of people have applauded Trader Joe’s alternative foods that are vegitarian, vegan and organic friendly.

Others applaud Trader Joe’s for clear labeling and dating of their products that are perishable like deli meats, cheeses and breads. Some people contrast this honesty policy with whole foods no-date-labels on anything in a refrigerated case so you don’t know how long it has been there. (a day or a week?) I think the only complaint I have heard about Trader Joe’s is that sometimes products are discontinued and people can’t get them anymore. It causes a freakout situation because it is usually something that wasn’t available from other stores in the first place, and TJs was the only source locally for that item. (a balsalmic reduction is frequently mentioned) But this may be a result of that product not being available from the manufacturer or it not selling enough in the stores. Neither are much fun, but both are a factor of doing business globally.

I have been shopping at the downtown Trader Joe’s location lately since I work nearby and it is closer to walk over after work than it is to drive to the other locations in Lombard, Glen Ellyn or Downers Grove.  (or on the North Side) To celebrate having a new Trader Joe’s within walking distance from my house I came up with a list of my top 10 foods to buy at Trader Joe’s that I think you should check out:

10. Potato Pancakes – Latkes- I love potato pancakes because I am Ukrainian and they are part of my heritage and since I am no cook, I really enjoy the latkes that Trader Joe’s sells frozen. Just pop them in the oven to warm them up crispy, add a dollop of sour cream and voila, yumminess.

9. Quiche- There are 2 kinds of quiche, with crust and without. They are both wonderful for no mess one plate dinners. It might not be rocket science to whip up a quiche myself but sometimes during the work week I couldn’t be bothered to run the dishwasher let alone cook something. Microwaving the bacon-feta crust-less quiche or the crusted spinach or ham & cheese quiche and you have a hearty dinner with rich flavors.

8. Scones – the fresh baked scones aren’t always available but they are luscious.

7. Tiramisu- the boxed frozen tiramisu is just like at the fancy restaurants but half the price. I like to use Trader Joe’s tiramisu as a birthday cake for small groups (because it isn’t very large) and you can keep it frozen for several months just in case something comes up to celebrate.

6. Two Buck Chuck- this wine is good, but don’t overlook all the other unique wines that Trader Joe’s carries. I have found many good wines here to compliment my meals.

5. European Style Yogurt- I first tried this in France where this was the only style of yogurt they had and they sold it in small glass containers that got re-cycled. I found that this slightly tart but sweet thick yogurt is available at Trader Joe’s in a few flavors. I like the coffee and the chocolate. After tasting the richness of the European style yogurt, Dannon will taste too sugary sticky sweet and simple. 

4. Individual Chocolate Lava cakes – These are beyond decadent, and sometimes can take the edge off a particularly bad/frustrating day. I don’t recommend buying them all the time though because I would eat them all the time then. I have to make sure I consume some healthy food too after all!

3. Kashi Products- Now you can get Kashi everywhere (including Jewel and Target) but Trader Joe’s was the first place I saw the Tasty Little Crackers and the Go Lean cereals. You can still get great Kashi Products at Trader Joe’s and they are usually priced lower than most other grocery stores. Likewise Trader Joe’s was also one of the first places you could find organic/natural cleaning products, soaps and shampoos. They still stock a great selection of those also.

2. Organic Milk- They charge far less for the organic and hormone free milks than most grocery stores (Whole Foods) do. I have friends that only drank hormone free or Organic milk while pregnant and also use that kind of milk for their kids, and it saves them a lot of money to get it at Trader Joe’s. The organic meats (beef, chicken, fish)are also a good deal if you can buy them on sale and freeze them until needed. Most meat is ok frozen for up to a year.

1. Mochi- Trader Joe’s is the only place I have been able to find these yummy ice cream treats for sale in a grocery store in Chicago. They come in Chocolate (the best), Strawberry, Mango and Green Tea. I found the Green Tea flavor to be a bit odd at first but it grows on you. The best thing is that each ice cream ball wrapped in a rice flour dough is only 100 calories.

Let me know if you have any other Trader Joe’s favorites that you can recommend in the comments below.

January 26 is Chinese New Year in 2009 and in Chicago there is always a big celebration. Chicago has a large Chinatown on the SW side of the city that has a lot of spectacular traditions and treasures to be discovered if you plan to visit during the Chinese New Year celebrations.

Every year in the Chinese (or Lunar) calendar has an animal theme (from the zodiac) with special meaning. 2009 is the year of the Ox. This year is all about prosperity, fortitude and hard work. How fitting considering our current economic situation. People born in a year of the ox (every 12 years) are known to have certain personality traits like being very determined, individualistic and logical people.  

How can you celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chicago there are a few things you can do:

1. You can visit Chicago’s Chinatown area and see the Dragon Dance/Lion Dance in the parade and stay for the fireworks. If you go to dinner in Chinatown the Chamber of commerce has this coupon for 15% off at certain restaurants. Also hereis a downloadable and printable travel brochure and visitor’s guide for visitors to Chinatown. The Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown is scheduled for Sunday February 1 at 1 pm CST on Wentworth from 24th Street to Cermak Road. The The Chinatown Chinese New Year Parade will be celebrating the Lunar New Year and the “Year of the Ox, 4707” with local marching bands, beautiful floats, dancing lion teams, a100’ Mystical Dragon, and a Miss Friendship Ambassador. Many people will be saying “Gung Hay Fat Choi” to everyone there, which means: Best wishes and Congratulations! (for the new year) Parade start time is 1:00PM though there are other activities starting as early as 11:30 am.

2. You can get red envelopes and give them to family. These are traditional ways to gift money (even numbers of bills only, $8 is particularly lucky but don’t use $4, four means death) to suppress the evil spirits during the celebration. Traditionally they are given by parents to children or by married elders to younger unmarried relatives.

3. Check out the Chinese New Year markets (stores) for unique and traditional gifts like flowers, fireworks or clothing. These make more interesting gifts when you go to someone’s house for a Chinese New Year Celebration. Also buy some moon cakes to try, they are beautifully molded mini cakes with different flavored fillings and flavors.

4. Check out the fireworks and if you have some small ones set those off to celebrate too. In Chicago most Fireworks are not legal although small 4th of July fireworks like sparklers and poppers are. If you have any fireworks use them responsibly.

5. Do these things for good luck in the New Year: Open windows or doors (maybe when it gets warmer?), switch on lights at night to scare away evil spirits (do Christmas lights count? because mine are still up), eat sweets to ensure you have a “sweet” year, clean the house before the New Year (and apparently not just for guests sake).  (courtesy of Wikipedia)  

I got my Digital TV converter box this summer (with the $40 credit coupon) and I love it. Here is how to get your TV Converter Box Coupon and get your signal converter box hooked up to your TV before the transition happens on February 17th, 2009.

First though you may not need a digital converter box for your TV if you fit into these situations: 1. Over half of the population gets Cable so those people don’t have to worry about the Broadcast TV Signals changing over from Analog to Digital on February 17, 2009. The rest of us still do!(Some people might first object to the fact that I don’t get cable, but in this internet age why do I need it? The basics of free TV are just fine for me.) 2. If you bought your TV in the last year and a half it probably already accepts a digital signal with nothing new to add to it. (HDTV qualifies) (Personally, I did not want to replace my 2002 edition TV with a new digital TV since it really works fine and I don’t watch TV that much to warrant a $500 purchase anyway.)

So in summary, if you don’t have a digital TV, or cable TV, you will need to buy a very simple signal converter box before February 17, 2009. I recommend getting one now before they are sold out. These Digital TV converter Boxes are sold at most appliance and electronics stores, I got mine at Best Buy. (also be available at bestbuy.com)  

The trick is not to pay full price for the digital converter box and get one using the government sponsored coupon. After the $40 discount from this coupon I paid $25 for my box. That seemed like an affordable price to me for a small digital black box that is about 10 inches x 10 inches x 2 inches tall. You can go to dtv2009.govand sign up for a coupon to be mailed to you within a few weeks. I got mine in about a month. It looked like a credit card or a gift card and it was easy to swipe it like a credit card when I made the purchase at Best Buy.

Connecting the digital converter box to my TV was easy too. Dtvanswers.com has a great FAQ section that can help if you get stuck but the basic idea is that the digital signal converter box goes between your existing TV antenna and your TV. Yes, the same old antenna works to receive the digital signal, my parent’s attic antenna from 1968 works as does my 2002 rabbit ears antenna, it’s just the TVs that can’t receiver the signal, so we get converter boxes to help.

Take the Antenna cable from the TV and plug it into the converter box and then use the converter box cable to connect it to the TV. (the VCR goes in between the TV and the converter box if you still use one, see diagram) There is also a power cord to plug in. When you get your converter box it will also come with a new remote for the box. I have to leave my TV on channel 3 now and use the converter box remote to change channels there to get the digital channels. The new remote turns on the TV and the converter box and can adjust volume too.

I like the digital channels better than the old analog ones because there are more of them and there are more programs available now. I also have no problem with signal reception now although my parents live way out in the suburbs and have some trouble getting digital signals in bad weather or just at random times. When the signal is low the screen gets all pixelated and computer like. Which is kinda sci-fi future movie creepy but it doesn’t happen very often for me. It happens once or twice a week for my parents in Downers Grove though.

So, instead of watching ABC Channel 7 in Chicago I can now see 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3. Same for NBC 5, it is 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3 with widescreen and cropped screen views as well as a 24/7 weather and news summary channel. Sometimes 5 and 7 also re-run the noon or 10 pm news on the .2 channels or run other programs from other regions which are interesting.

WTTW Channel 11 has used the digital signals to diversify the most with the regular programming on 11.1, digital wide screen on 11.2, a new content channel called Create of all cooking and “how-to” shows on 11.3 and a spanish language versions of their shows on 11.4. Channel 20 has also diversified quite a bit the same way too. Channel 2 is the laggard here with only turning on it’s digital signal in the last month and I still don’t get it most of the time.

One last thing I want to mention about this digital TV conversion process. It is easy to do for most people but it may not be easy for older people who are not tech savvy. If you have a grandparent, aunt, uncle or neighbor that doesn’t understand how to get a converter box or the coupon for one, help them out and order one and get the box for them. You should also help install it for them so they don’t loose their link to news and information every day.

TV is much more important to the people who are in their homes a lot and either can’t or don’t, go out much. It is important for weather updates and alerts and general news. With newspaper delivery going by the wayside eventually (I predict) the TV and Radio may be the ways to find out what is happening in the world for people who are older, retired and don’t use a computer.  I read that 20% of the US does not use the internet, so there are still a great number of people in this group who might need some help.

Update 1/9/08: the Government has been reporting that they are out of money from the budget they had set aside for sending out discount cupons to citizens. This is not suprising since less than half of the cupons send out to date have not been redeemed. So, if you want one, still go to the site and get on the waiting list anyway. Then they are looking at also extending the analog signal for a while longer and pushing the cut of date back a month or two to help with this transition. I hope that happens also, since a lot of people would loose their link to information and updates if they have not converted.  

Update: Congress has decided to give people four more months to prepare for the upcoming transition from analog to digital TV broadcasting. The House voted Wednesday to postpone the end of analog TV signals until June 12, 2009. The move is meant to address concerns that more than 6.5 million Americans with older TVs would not be ready by Feb. 17, the originally mandated deadline.

2008 was a busy and eventful year in Chicago. People started off on edge about the war in Iraq and ended with more hope for the future even amidst more problems with the economy. 

Chicago had it’s fair share of events, news, trends, buzz and history made in 2008. The biggest most popular news and events in Chicago happened in the last few months with Barack Obama winning the presidential election and Rod Blagojevich being arrested and then released with corruption charges. 

Chicago also remained in the bid process for the 2016 Olympics ( despite my disagreeing about it’s appropriateness here) and we got monsoons of rain in June and Snow in December, January, February and March. The precipitation levels in Chicago have been on the rise in 2007 and 2008, nobody seems to know why. Bernie Mac passing away was big news in Chicago because it was so unexpected and he was (and is) so popular here. Politics is always new in Chicago but I haven’t gotten into the fray there. We try to keep things clean on the Chicago Weekend Fun Blog.

Not all of these topics are things we can post about here with our main focus being about entertainment, events and fun things to do in Chicago. It is also a secondary goal that we cover any other issues that people living in Chicago have to deal with and try and always remain open minded about all different people, cultures and ideas.

The trends in 2008 news coverage popularity by topic: (from the Pew Trust)

Some of the most popular posts we had on Chicago Weekend Fun in 2008 are listed below in no particular order.  I was happy that these posts got a lot of comments and seemed popular with readers. There were many more posts that were well received but too long a list to include here and I always appreciate the comments, emails and contact form submissions about the blog. All comments are welcome, even the ones about my spelling errors. (I am human like anyone else, and sometimes forget the spellcheck) I also appreciate the people who comment with additional information that I did not have at the time of the post, after all this is a blog and a news/events/information conversation.

Our goal in 2009 is to write more posts and provide even more information about the topics that are requested and commented on. We enjoy working on this blog immensely and would like to continue doing so for a long time. I never thought that writing or running a web site would be this enjoyable as work, but I find that we always have something to say so the topics and words come quickly. We also know that this is a learning process so if there are revisions and changes along the way it is because we are doing our best to provide the best site possible and work out the kinks as they come at us.

Your readership is always appreciated as is your feedback. If you would like to help out the Chicago Weekend Fun blog in 2009 you could send us a note in our feedback form, add a link to us in your blogroll, send a link to the site to your friends, bookmark us or advertise your company in ad words in the content network that runs on the blog. Any or all of those things would be greatly appreciated.

Top Topics, News and Post Trends for 2008 – comments and views – in no particular order

 Chicago Area Cook County and DuPage Sales Tax Increase

 Chicago Magnificent Mile Lights Festival

 Apple Orchards Autumn Apple Picking

 Top 5 Chicago Tourist Attractions

 Chicago now has 2 Christmas Music Radio Stations

 Naperville Ribfest Festival July 4th Weekend

 Chicago Black Friday Sales and CyberMonday Deals

 Fogo De Chao Brazilian Steakhouse Restaurant

 Chicago Neighborhood and Suburbs Zip Codes

 Chicago Halloween Haunted House

 Chicago Street Closures for Barack Obama Rally

 Taste of Chicago

 Big New Year’s Eve in Chicago 2008  

 Tommy Hillfiger Lighting Christmas Tree at Macy’s 

Everyone may be loathing the recession we are in right now, but that is no reason to not have a Happy New Year. There are plenty of New Years Parties happening in Chicago to ring in 2009. Or, if you really don’t want to spend a lot of money you can always to the frugal thing and host a party at your place. I still think it is important to celebrate. Plus I like non-denominational holidays like this where everyone can participate. It is good to balance things out after all that Christmas stuff.

If we are going to really have hope for 2009 to get better we are all going to have to pitch in and help. And that is a lot easier if we get to relax once in a while and have some fun, especially on New Years Eve. I know there are endless Chicago New Years Eve parties planned but these are the ones that I have heard about and think might be the better ones to recommend.

1. First off the major New Year’s Eve party in Chicago is always at Navy Pier. This year Kiss 103.5is hosting/sponsoring it so the music should be more up to date than it was when it was with 101.9. Some people think it is too crowded, but it really does give you a great view of the city, fireworks, bands and convenient parking inside the building. It isn’t as hip as some parties up north in the city at posh restaurants or clubs but for the most people this is a fun night and a great party. Tickets are still available at thenyegala.com from $154.80 per person to a $2,000.00 VIP Package. I am not sure what the point is of the VIP Package, but if you have the money to burn, have fun. The rest of us are ok with the regular admission. The Music is being provided by 7 local DJs. (what no live bands?) The tickets include a 5 hour Premium Top-Shelf Liquor Package, 3-Course Hors d’Oeuvres, 2 Ballrooms of Entertainment, Midnight Firework Celebration, Confetti Countdown, Champagne Toast, Giveaways, Party Favors, Raffles, and the Balloon Drop at midnight.

2. NYE at the Hard Rock Hotel is also an option if you like a modern rock style to your New Years Eve. This is also a great place to book a very stylish suite that has a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline and stay there without having to drive home. The party starts at 9 pm in the Fender Ballroom and tickets are $125.00. Attire is FORMAL. It is sponsored by the Lincoln Park Young professionals so be on the lookout for yuppies. The Hard Rock Hotel’s Address is 230 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL. ChicagoNYEInfo.com is the address to go to for tickets.

3. The Chicago Hilton is also having a large New Years Party in Chicago for 2009. It includes a 4 hour open br starting at 9 pm, a buffet, champagne toast at midnight and all kinds of music and video stuff going on. Tickets are $155.00 for the event, get them at newyears09.com. Or if you really want to live it up there is a $2,000 VIP package for 8 people that includes reserved seating and more goodies. But who really needs to spend 2K on NYE this year?

4. The Chicago House of Blues is also known for it’s New Year’s Eve Parties because of the performers they bring in and the venue itself. This year I can’t find anything listed there even though I have been to NYE parties there in the past. Why no party HOB?

So if none of those New Year’s Eve parties seem to sound like a place you would like to go for the evening, try Checking Going.com or there is always the house party for cheap. Nothing wrong with staying in on NYE, it is more recession proof for your wallet that way. 

I am sure that most Chicagoans are exhausted now that the holidays have passed, but they are very excited about  Barack Obama’s Inauguration in Washington DC. (Oprah is going to attend)  A lot of Chicagoans are planning on going out to DC for the 44th President’s Inauguration on January 20, 2009 to see it in person because they are so excited. (wow that is one elaborate setup they had at the last inauguration pictured at left)

Others of us have to work at a day job and will be here in Chicago’s frigid snowy cold watching TV on that day, but I will still be thrilled to witness history. If you are considering going to Barack Obama’s Inauguration in Washington DC you might have a hard time finding tickets. I heard they are all spoken for (sold out so to speak). All 240,000 of the Inauguration Tickets were available for free but by request from your local representative or senator. So, all the requests were early and now people are turning around and selling some for very very high prices. Probably not what Barack intended.

And since a lot of the hotels are booked too, the next best choice is following along at home and having an Inauguration party of your own. (why not? the kids would love it)

If you would like to get email updates from the Barack Obama Team about new Inauguration events and details you can sign up here on their site. pic2009.org/page/s/firsttoknow  (of course they land you on a contribution page after you sign up and would very much like you to donate to the Official Presidential Inaugural Committee. Someone has to foot the bill for all those events. I wonder what would happen if all websites landed you on a “please donate” page as the thank you page for submissions?) The web address for the site is: my.barackobama.com/inaugural if the link above does not work. 

Update: 12/16/08 I see there is an Inauguration Schedule, Inauguration Blog, and a lot of information already online 35 days before the event from the PIC (presidential inauguration committee). I am glad Barack’s teams are so organized and on top of things, this seems like such a change for the better in the communication department. The web teams that built all these sites for the campaigns and now after the elections have done a great job with it.

The outline of the Inaugural Schedule so far lists:

1. Barack Obama will travel by train to Washington DC on January 17, 2009 for the Inauguration. Kind of an old fashioned twist.

2. On Sunday, January 18th – The Official Inaugural Activities begin with a welcome event on Sunday in the afternoon that is available for the public to attend. (that is nice)

3. On Monday, January 19th – (it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a National Holiday) President Elect Obama and Vice-President Elect Biden will commemorate this holiday with community involvement activities in the Washington DC area.

4. Tuesday, January 20th is the official Inauguration Day - Barack Obama and Joe Biden will participate in the Inauguration Swearing in Ceremony and events on the US Capitol steps and the 56th Inaugural Parade in addition to the Inaugural Balls in the evening.

5. On Wednesday, January 21st (after not much sleep) The President Obama and Vice President Biden will participate in a prayer service.  

More information is supposed to be coming in the next few weeks, so as I hear about it, I will update this page with new info. The inaugural website is also pic2009.org. Thanks for stopping by, bookmark or link to this page for updates.

If you live in Chicago and want to celebrate there are 2 events being held here to celebrate the Inauguration:

The South Loop Hotel in the Bronzeville Chicago neighborhood has a 2 day package (family friendly) including a hotel room to stay in and all the live broadcasts of the inauguration events in the ballrooms and a party all for $400 per person. See their website at for more details and to buy tickets for the event. chicagosouthloophotel.com

McCormick Place in Chicago also has a black tie event planned for Tuesday evening at $275 a ticket. This is a more upscale get a babysitter for the kids event. Both events would be great for social networking among the democratic supporters of Chicago. I am sure Chicago will be partying and celebrating up a storm on January 20th. It may be an unofficial holiday the day after Martin Luther King Day. Check out mccormickplace.com for the Obama Inaugural Event details and directions.

Update: HBO will have the exclusive broadcast rights to the opening events of the inauguration. Coverage will startJanuary 18th, 2 days before the ceremony itself and will give viewers a taste of to as many events as possible.  The event will be free to all cable and satellite subscribers whether they have HBO regularly or not. (That is very nice of them)

All the major networks will cover the main inauguration event on Television on Tuesday January 20 starting at 9am and going until either 3 or 4 pm depending on the network. In Chicago this includes CBS Channel 2, NBC Channel 5, ABC Channel 7  on the free TV channels. (Why not WGN Channel 9, WTTW Channel 11 and FOX Channel 32?) Check your local listings for cable and dish channels and times.

Update 1/14/08: If you are traveling to Washington DC here is some very detailed information on documenting the inauguration for citizens. citmedialaw.org/legal-guide/documenting-2009-presidential-inauguration

Metromix also has a longer list of Inauguration Parties in Chicago so you can celebrate wherever you are in Chicagoland: chicago.metromix.com/events/roundup/inauguration-day-parties

And the Barack Obama team has just emailed a site that you can go to and watch a video from President Elect Obama and find out how to take part. He suggests that you text “open” to 56333 for mobile phone text message (SMS) updates on traffic, weather and events. The site is: pic2009.org/yourinauguration

President Elect Obama also suggests hosting your own neighborhood ball at home and celebrate that way. He also suggests going to USAService.org to donate your time to a public service project or charity type initiatives all over the country in honor of Martin Luther King Jr Day which is also National Service Day.

The Chicago Cubs are turned the Wrigley Baseball Field Stadium into an ice skating rink this winter for an unusual ice skating experience. I am curious to see how this will turn out. I don’t think anyone ever thought that we need an ice rink in the middle of Wrigley Field, but here we go anyway.

The original purpose is for a hockey game but the Wrigley Field Ballpark Ice Rink was open on January 4th for the general public at $10 per person. The proceeds from this day went to the Cubs Care Charity. There were no skate rentals, so you had to bring your own skates.

The rink was officially built to host the Chicago Winter Classic hockey game outdoors at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009 between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings. See the photo above from the game and the photo below from the public skate day.

What I don’t undersand though, is that if people have a hard time watching outdoor football games in the cold at Soldier Field in October and November when it is between 50 and 20 degrees farenheight, how did they attract a crowd to watch an outdoor hockey game in Chicago in January when it is between 20 and negative 10 degrees? And you’re not nearly as close to the action? Why would anyone sit outside to watch a hockey game when it is that cold? This was the oddest sports related stunt I have seen in a while.

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Update: There was a lot of media attention and PR buzz about this event and all went well except the Blackhawks lost the game against the Redwings. The community even got to skate on the rink a few days after the game. The thing is, it was cold, about 10 degrees and the people who did go to the game had to go warm up a lot indoors. I am not sure that all the cost of building this temporary rink was worth it, but the publicity seemed to get a ton of attention on the internet and on the local news. Hockey has lost a lot of popularity in recent years due to too many pro sports and not enough time to follow them and the reputation of lots of bloody fighting. Maybe this is a turnaround for the image of the sport? After all there is a lot of skill in the skating done on the ice.

I don’t know anyone who isn’t resolving to loose some extra weight for their New Year’s Resolutions in 2009, and if you want to see how long your resolution lasts, why not try out this offer from the Chicago Park District Gyms: Free membership to the city’s gym facilities from January 2-16. That is a 2 week free to the public membership to over 60 Chicago Park District Gym facilities. It is also a chance for you to get a free gym bag from Nike if you end up starting a membership during this free trial period.

The Chicago Park District Gyms have low rates to begin with and are usually always a better deal than health clubs so why not check out your local Chicago Park District Gym and look at the facility? You might find that they have been recently updated and all kinds of people in the community come to use them. It is a way to get fit for your New Year’s Resolutions in 2009 and get to know your neighbors at the same time. It only costs $40-$75 for 3 months depending on the gym and location. It is a cheaper way to stay in shape than all those pushy salesy big gyms that cost 2-3x as much.

The Chicago Park District Gyms have the same equipment and classes as many of the popular health clubs in the area (Bally’s, Equinox, Total Fitness)They all have computerized treadmills, upright and recumbent bicycles, cross trainers, free weights and benches, multi-station weight machines, cable cross-overs machines and core-focused weight equipment.  The gyms also offer a variety of fitness classes such as circuit training, kickboxing, conditioning, Pilates, spinning, yoga and aerobics.  Some of the facilities also have lap pools. 

If you need a list of the Chicago Park District Gyms, here is one for you with their phone numbers included:
1. Altgeld Park District Gym, 515 South Washtenaw Ave., 312.746.5001
2. Amundsen Park District Gym, 6200 West Bloomingdale Ave., 312.746.5003
3. Archer Park District Gym, 4901 South Kilbourn Ave., 773.284.7029
4. Armour Square Park District Gym, 3309 South. Shields Ave., 312.747.6012
5. Austin Town Hall Park District Gym, 5610 West Lake St., 773.287.7658
6. Avalon Park District Gym, 1215 E. 83rd Street, 312.747.2545
7. Broadway Armory Park District Gym, 5917 North Broadway St., 312.742.7502
8. Calumet Park District Gym, 9801 South Avenue G, 312.747.6039
9. Carver Park District Gym, 939 East 132nd Street, 312.747.6047
10. Clarendon Park Community Center, 4501 North Clarendon Ave., 312.742.7512
11. Columbus Park District Gym, 500 South Central Ave., 773.287.7641
12. Daley Bicentennial Plaza, 337 East Randolph St., 312.742.7648
13. Davis Square Park District Gym, 4430 South Marshfield Ave., 312.747.6107
14. Don Nash Community Center, 1833 East. 71st St., 773.256.0904
15. Eckhart Park District Gym, 1330 W. Chicago Avenue, 312.746.5490
16. Fernwood Park District Gym, 10436 South Wallace Street, 312.747.6132
17. Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Avenue, 312.746.5086
18. Foster Park, 1440 West 84th Street, 312.747.6135
19. Fuller Park, 331 West 45th, 312.747.6144
20. Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Avenue, 312.746.5092
21. Gage Park, 2411 W. 55th Street, 312.747.6147
22. Gale School Park, 7631 North Ashland Avenue, 773.262.5051
23. Gill Park, 825 West Sheridan, 312.742.7802
24. Grand Crossing Park, 7655 S. Ingleside Avenue, 312.747.6158
25. Harris Recreational Center, 6200 South Drexel Boulevard, 312.747.2706
26. Harrison Park, 1824 West Wood, 312.746.5491
27. Hayes Park, 2936 West 85th Street, 312.747.6177
28. Hiawatha Park, 8029 West Forest Preserve Drive, 312.746.5559
29. Homan Square Park, 3559 West Arlington Street, 312.746.6650
30. Humboldt Park, 1440 North Sacramento Avenue, 312.742.7549
31. Independence Park, 3945 North Springfield Ave., 773.478.3538
32. Jackson Park, 6401 Street Stony Island Ave., 773.256.0903
33. Kelvyn Park, 4438 West Wrightwood Ave., 312.742.7547
34. Kennicott Park, 4434 South Lake Park Ave., 312.747.7138
35. LaFollette Park, 1333 North Laramie Ave., 773.287.0541
36. Lake Shore Park, 808 North Lake Shore Drive, 312.742.7891
37. Lindblom Park, 6054 South Damen Ave., 312.747.6443
38. Margate Park, 4921 North Marine Drive, 312.742.7522
39. McFetridge Sports Center, 3843 N. California Ave., 773.478.2609
40. McGuane Park, 2901 South Poplar Ave., 312.747.6497
41. Mozart Park, 2036 North Avers St., 312.742.7535
42. Norwood Park, 5801 North Natoma Ave., 773.631.4893
43. Ogden Park, 6500 South Racine Avenue, 312.747.6572
44. Palmer Park, 201 East 111th Street, 312.747.6576
45. Peterson Park, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., 312.742.7584
46. Piotrowski Park, 4247 W. 31st St., 312.747.6608
47. Pottawattomie Park, 7340 N. Rogers Ave., 773.262.5835
48. Rainbow Beach & Park, 3111 E. 77th St., 773.745.1479
49. Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Drive, 312.747.6639
50. Russell Square Park, 3045 E. 83rd St., 312.747.6651
51. Rutherford Sayre Park, 6871 W. Belden Ave., 312.746.5368
52. Scottsdale Park, 4637 W. 83rd St., 773.284.1826
53. Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St., 312.747.6672
54. Sherwood Park, 5701 S. Sheilds Ave., 773.256.0926
55. Taylor Park in Bronzeville, 39 W. 47th St., 312.747.6728
56. Trumbull Park, 2400 E. 105th St., 312.747.6759
57. Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., 312.746.5494
58. Washington Park, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Drive, 773.256.1248
59. Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., 312.742.7511
60. West Lawn Park, 4233 W. 65th St., 773.284.2803

Visit the park district’s official Web site chicagoparkdistrict.org or call 312.742.PLAY, 312.747.2001. Or see the website for more info: cpdit.com/resources/fitness_centers/ And have fun getting more exercise in 2009 while your work on your New Year’s Resolutions.

From December 5th 2008 through January 4th 2009 the Bank of America Winter Wonderfest will be open at Navy Pier in Chicago. This is one of the many Chicago Christmas events that are perfect for the family to attend while kids are on holiday break. A trip downtown on the metra is always an exciting day for kids. The Bank of America Winter Wonderfest is a spectacular holiday event that begins its 8th holiday season with more attractions and over 170,000 sq ft of indoor family activities.

The Chicago Winter Wonderfest includes lots of amazing decorations with over 750,000 Christmas lights, 25,000 ornaments and hundreds of Christmas trees. The activities at Winter Wonderfest include Winter Themed carnival rides, games, music and live bands and entertainment daily. Many families found that this was a great yearly tradition to go to with the kids and return every year. (in addition to going to the walnut room at Macy’s for dinner under the great tree.

One of the attractions at the Winter Wonderfest is the eWish Center. The ewish center is open in Festival Hall from December 5th through January 4th. Kids can email Santa Claus their holiday wishes on the internet. Elves are there to help the kids write or send the emails. The emails go direct to Santa Claus. This is far more hip than the old write your list on paper and send it through snail mail method.

strong>Santa Claus arrives at Winter Wonderland at Navy Pier on Saturday November 29th at 5 pm on the Grand Staircase. This was for the opening of the holiday season and the official lighting of the pier for the holidays. Santa Claus also made a stop on the Family Pavilion Stage. Then he and Mrs. Claus listened to the holiday wishes of children from 6:00 pm. until 9:00 pm. Since Santa can’t be there every day, the ewish center makes sure that Santa Claus gets all the wish information and everyone gets their wish.

The Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier is free to enter and walk around but it is either $12 or $16 to ride the activities and rides. The $16 wristband includes ice skating, the $12 wristband ticket does not include ice skating. There are a few family packs that include parking and 4 wristbands that offer some discounts. There is a winter wonderfest family pack for $64 that includes 4 premium wrisbands (the ones that include skating) and free parking if you drive downtown. Navy Pier is located at 600 East Grand Avenue. Phone Number: (312) 559-1212.

The hours that the Chicago Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier is open are:
Bank of America Winter WonderFest will be open:
 
December 5, 2008 to December 18, 2008
Sunday through Thursday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 10:00am to 10:00pm December 19, 2008 to January 4, 2009
Sunday through Thursday: 10:00am to 8:00pm
Friday & Saturday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Special Holiday Hours:
Wednesday, December 24, 2008: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday, December 25, 2008: CLOSED
Wednesday, December 31, 2008: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Notes:

In addition to the Winter Wonderfest, Navy Pier is also the location for the largest New Year’s Eve Party in Chicago. Get tickets online to experience the best fireworks presentation and festivities of the New Year in Chicago!