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

The Chicago International Film Festival is a little event run by a few people on a shoestring budget but it packs a big punch. Somehow, the Chicago International Film Festival manages to get access to the latest independent films and often times show the award winners that year before they have gone mainstream. This year the Chicago International Film Festival has done it again, they have found some really interesting unique films that may not be shown in Chicago otherwise and are presenting them October 8th through the 21st, 2009.

This year the festival has changed formats slightly, locating all the showings in one theater rather than at 4 or 5 across Chicago (which I always found confusing). The one theater you need to know about in order to see these amazing new films is the AMC River East on Illinois Street.

45th Chicago International Film Festival
October 8 – 21, 2009
150 films from more than 40 countries.
All in two weeks. All under one roof.
AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.)

The films available this year look better than usual. I normally have interest in 2-3 films, but this year almost all of them look like something I would be curious about.

Tickets aren’t cheap but they aren’t any more than the regular price of a movie either. The Gala Events bring in celebrities that you wouldn’t normally see in Chicago and can be worth the extra money for the experience of the event.

SAVE UP TO 40% OFF Your ADMISSION!
If you buy now, get an extra $10 off your order with the promo code 45FEST09, valid until 9/23.

You can purchase tickets now online at: CHICAGOFILMFESTIVAL.COM

the Chicago International Film Festival Packages are:

MOVIEGOER (10 admissions)
$80 for Cinema/Chicago members; $110 for non-members

PASSPORT (20 admissions)
$155 for Cinema/Chicago members; $210 for non-members

GALA PASS (4 admissions to Gala Presentations)
$80 for Cinema/Chicago members; $100 for non-members

There are a limited number of Chicago International Film Festival Gala Passes are available. The Moviegoer and Passport Passes are not valid/available for/including Gala Presentations. All passes are not valid for Opening Night or Closing Night.

Individual tickets on sale September 23
$9 for Cinema/Chicago members, students, and seniors; $12 for regular admission

Gala Presentation event tickets
$20 for Cinema/Chicago members; $25 for non-members

Some of the movies I plan on seeing are:

The Chicago Theater hosts the Gala Event for the Chicago International Film Festival

Motherhood

(Gala Presentation) – USA
Director: Katherine Dieckmann. Uma Thurman is in a charming, high-energy comedy as a beleaguered Manhattanite just trying to survive another day of the madness that comes with raising two young kids (and a husband and best friend).

Made in China – USA – Director: Judi Krant
Wes Anderson’s whimsy meets David Mamet’s love of duplicity in the peppy, comic tale of a wide-eyed Texas hayseed who travels to China to find a manufacturer for the novelty product he hopes will put him right up there with the guy who invented the whoopee cushion

Hipsters / Stilyagi – Russia – Dir: Valery Todorovsky
Moscow, 1955. Soviet uniformity is the order of the day, but incurring the wrath of all the grim-faced comrades in Russia isn’t enough to stop a group of young “hipsters” from donning outrageous threads, puffing up their pompadours, pushing up their cleavage, throwing back martinis, and shakin’ their hips. Could this romantic, infectiously fun musical be this year’s Slumdog Millionaire?

Steve Martinis a man of many talents. We all love his comedy and stand-up, we have all seen his dramatic talents and now he has branched out in another creative direction. Bluegrass Banjo Music. Steve Martin is going to be playing with his band for one show at the Cadillac Palace Theater in Chicago on October 22, 2009. Its a nice way to spend a fall evening with some relaxing yet peppy music.

You know Steve Martin is a funny guy, and if you’re a fan of his work, you may enjoy seeing another side of him and find some humor in the banter between songs. But the night is really about the music, the banjo and the Bluegrass music.Tickets are available now through Ticketmaster online or the Cadillac Palace Theater for $74. (that seems high but its what came up when I did a search, (floor seats) so there may be $50-$60 tickets available also in the balcony)

Steve Martin played his banjo and sang on Saturday Night Live not too long ago and it was quite different than you would expect for that type of music. Steve Martin played a few songs that were playful and light and a little bit funny. The sound was not too country but it was quaint in a way that seems surpising considering he is a big Hollywood star and has lived in that world for a long time. (per reading his book Born Standing Up)  The articles about him cite that he has won three Grammy Awards for his Bluegrass Albums, so this isn’t just another celebrity doing music because his name sells well.

I think people who work in the creative arts live and love to be active creating in all different ways and its interesting how knowledge in several areas all influence and inspire the others. Its true, everything in life is related (linked) somehow.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

So, you still want to go to the Chicago Auto Show even in the recession? A lot pf people do actually. There were a lot of people there even though people aren’t really buying cars right now.

Here is your guide to leaving your checkbook at home and still having an entertaining afternoon at the Chicago Auto Show 2009.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be in the market for a new car to go to the Chicago Auto Show and have a good time. The only requirement is that you like cars. Period.

The Chicago Auto Show has no salespeople pressuring you into buying anything so why not go learn about cars when you aren’t buying so you can be more informed when you need to buy a car later? Plus, it’s fun to sit in, and try out all the cars whether they are in your price range or not.

Learning the brands, models and options available on the cars now gives you some time to think about what you want in a car and why you would buy it. And it’s one of the most expensive things you will ever pay for (minus houses, college and possibly a wedding) so you might need a few years to really mull it over. (that is how I usually handle it)

If you can, go to the Chicago Auto Show with someone who knows a lot about cars. You can have a lively discussion about the engine cutaways and the performance stats of the cars if you’re there with someone that can explain it to you. If not, you’re reduced to “that one looks fast” and it is slightly less interesting.

Here are some tips for going to the Chicago Auto Show:

1. Arrive early in the day for several reasons: Better parking spots are available in the morning before the parking lots fill up and that matters a lot when it is -5 degrees outside and considering how far away the parking is from the building. Parking is usually $20. (tickets are only $10) Also, the Chicago Auto Show floor is less crowded in the AM so you won’t get cut off by a group of  14 year olds trying to sit in all the Lexus and BMW cars as often earlier in the day. Traffic, like parking also gets worse as the day goes on.

2. Wear something lightweight but still warm.That walk from the car may freeze your nose off but the Chicago Auto Show convention itself is actually very warm. There might be some key lockers you can buy access to for coats in McCormick Place, but I have not found them yet. A turtleneck or sweater with a light coat, and gloves might do the trick.  And wear walking shoes. The floor is an astounding amount of square footage, any-one’s feet would seriously hurt by the end of the show.

3. Don’t bring anything to carry. I know this is hard if you have kids, but carrying something (even a purse) for 3 hours is seriously annoying. Small cameras that fit in your pocket are also ok but not anything that requires a bag. If you have kids you may want to bring a stroller since this is more walking than they will want to do and you don’t want to end up carrying them either.

4. Look for brochures of cars you might buy or you just want to dream about. Most car companies give out free booklets with glossy photos of their new cars. Keep them in a file and when you need to buy one, you have your research done already. Most people know 2-3 brands that they like so this isn’t as much paperwork as you think. I personally keep a historical archive from all the years but that is just me. 

5. Stop for a snack if you need to. It won’t be cheap, but a pretzel and a soda go a long way for giving your feet a rest while you sit down and letting your recharge.

6. If you have limited time, just plan on stopping to see the cars you want to look at rather than everything. Sometimes you can discover something new you love but that is only if you have the energy and time to find it. I typically look at everything which can last 3-4 hours and is somewhat exhausting. You don’t have to know about all the cars, just the ones you really like. Keep track of the costs including options so you know what you want when the time comes to shop for a new car. Sit in the cars you like and see if it lives up to the hype. Maybe even rent one from a rental company to try it out first before buying.  

Got any other tips? Post them in the comments below.

Concept cars are usually on most people’s short list of things to see at the Chicago Auto Show . Some of the concept cars that will be at the Chicago Auto Show this year will be:

Cadillac Converj- A relative of the Evoq but with sharper sweeping triangular lines and a hardtop. It’s one of those kid pleasing concept cars that is just over the top.

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon- This isn’t really a dream concept car. It’s a station wagon all glitzed up. I guess they are testing the market for luxury sport wagons since BMW and Mercedes have them.

Chevrolet Orlando- This looks like a cross between the Honda Element and the Pontiac Aztec and the boxy shape of the Scion Xb. (seen at left: do you love it or hate it?) The front end works but the back end is oddly higher than the front. Basically a small SUV with a turbo diesel engine. The diesel is a mainstay in Europe and more will be coming to the US because of 50 mpg standards.

Chrysler 200c EV- This looks like an Audi from the preview photos and takes Chrysler design in a whole new direction. It also has an electric engine that has 40 miles on battery power possible much like GM’s Volt. After those 40 miles there is a gas motor that kicks in. I am not sure what the social networking component of this car is really good for, but they have it anyway.

Dodge Circuit EV- Where were all these EV’s 2 years ago? This car looks like a sport super car but runs on electricity only. Sports car fans will be happy to find that electric vehicles get awesome torque and have really great 0-60 times. Somehow this car reminds me of the Dodge Stealth and Viper combined.

The stingray concept used in the Transformers 2 movie.

Stingray Concept -

  Wow what a car. This is a great example of how GM can design an amazing fun supercar with cues from past cars but a very modern look. Too bad there are no plans to actually produce it for sale.

Kia Soulster- is an experimental micro SUV. This is somehow a throwback to the 80’s Geo Tracker but I am not sure how. Nobody really wants a convertible mini suv to drive on the beach like Baywatch. (in Yellow)  

Lincoln C – This is a very different direction for Lincoln. The C is a smaller Lincoln than I have seen i a while. It also takes the interior functions to a futuristic level. I like cars that really push boundaries like this.

And enjoy the Chicago Auto Show 2009!

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

Chicago has some of the richest museums and cultural attractions in the country and because of the generosity of some sponsors and the city of Chicago, you can visit and enjoy them for free on these days in 2009.This is a great opportunity for kids and families to enjoy these museums, cultural institutions and artwork the way they were intended: accessible for everyone, not just the privileged people.

If you have kids and don’t want to pay a lot of money for the whole family to go to Chicago Museums, this is the time to go. You still have parking costs and you may also have some costs for food and/or souvenirs but it is a lot cheaper and more affordable to visit Chicago Museums on a free sponsored day. And in this economy free things to do are better than sitting at home one more day with that TV and all those commercials.

The Art Institute of Chicago is Free on Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm after work. This is a great free date night for couples or anyone dating. Remember you can say that a painting or photograph means anything, it is whatever you want to interpret it as.  The Art Institute of Chicago has so many rare pieces of art that people come from all over the world to see our collection here. If you are a Chicago Tourist, you can enjoy the free evenings too. Special exhibits are usually not included in the free admission though.

The Adler Planetarium is Free and open to the public on these days in 2009. The planetarium does not have much parking and the Museum Campus in general has few parking spots available close to the buildings. Be prepared for a long walk and bundle up accordingly in the cold this winter. The y have some cool 3-D movies and space shows running now that the kids will be inspired by. Plus space is such an inspiring curious subject for kids and adults of all ages.

January 5,12-16, 20, & 27th
February 3, 9-13, 17, 24 & 26th
March 3, 10 & 17th
April 21 & 28th
May 5, 12, 19 & 26th
June 7-12th
September 1, 8, 14-18, 22, & 29th
October 6, 13, 20, & 27th
November 3, 10, 17, & 24th
December 1, 8, 15, & 22th 

See the adlerplanetarium.org for more details. 

Chicago Children’s Museum is open for Free every 1st Monday of the month. There is also free admission for children 15 and under every day. And Free Thursdays 5 to 8pm for everyone

Chicago History Museum is open for Free every Monday!

The Chicago Field Museum is open for Free on:  
The 2nd Monday of every month as well as:
January: 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
February: 1 – 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
September: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
October: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15
November: 11, 12, 18, 19
December: 2, 3, 9, 10 

The Museum of Science and Industry is open for Free on:

Jan. 5 – 31
Apr. 22 (Earth Day)
June 1 – 5
June 19 (MSI birthday)
Oct. 8 – 30 (Weekdays only)
Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) 

The Museum of Science and Industry is undergoing a large renovation in addition to the U-Boat Submarine that has already been renovated. This was a badly needed renovation, so you can go once now for free and once again when the revamp is done in a year or two. Feel free to skip the wildly out of date Internet exhibit and the automotive exhibit with all the cars covered. This used to be my favorite museum when I was a kid. I hope they can bring it back to it’s former splendor.

Nickelback is coming to Chicago for a concert at AllState Arena on March 12, 2009.

Nickelback is a popular Canadian Rock band that crosses over the genre boundaries into several different music categories. I enjoy Nickelback musicand so does my fiance. The interesting thing is that Steve really likes heavy metal music and I am more of a pop/rock listener. Nickelback is a cross breed of both. (and I thank them for that, because we actually have something we can both listen to in the car now) Some people have actually officially classified Nickelback as an Alternative Rock band or Alternative Metal band. Call them anything you want, they are very good.

I like their music because it has a lot of movement and feeling. Usually hard rock and alternative groups loose the clarity of the singing and vocals to the power of the guitars and drums. Nickelback provides a more lyrical emotional ballad with a rock background and setting. Some of the songs they are well known for are “Hero” from the first Spiderman movie, a top 10 hit “Photograph” and “Rockstar”. There is a lot of depth to their albums beyond the top 10 hits on the CDs though, and it’s worth a trip to AllState Arena to fully appreciate.

When is the Nickelback Concert? Mar 12, 2009 7:00 pm (Thursday)

Where is the Nickelback Concert?  Allstate Arena (map) 6920 North Mannheim Road in Des Plaines, IL 60018

Where can I get Tickets?  Through Ticketmaster.com they are $46.50, $55.00 or $75.00 each.The Nickelback tickets are about 1/2 sold at the time I am writing this post, I would expect that they will get close to selling out closer to the concert date. If there aren’t any left on Ticketmaster you can always check ebay and stubhub.com.

There are fan group packages and discounts available at Ticketmaster.com if you are a citi card holder. The AllState Arena (formerly the Rosemont Horizon if you are from the 80’s) is built so that even the seats in the balcony have a clear view of the stage (unless you are behind the stage. Plus many bands usually travel with huge digital/projection screens for showing a closeup of the band for the people sitting far up in the stands, so you would be able to see that way too. Otherwise you can always bring binoculars with the earplugs. (earplugs are always recommended for large concerts since the volume is so high, regardless of what type of music it is)

The Chicago Sketchfest has been a great event to see the top comedy sketches in Chicago(and from across the country) for the last 8 years. Brian Posen does a great job with the team he has working on the event and they really find some creative and inventive new comedy sketch acts to showcase. I have been to the sketchfest for the last 2 years and always end up laughing my arse off. I am also impressed by sponsors ways of showing unique support like the redbull sketchfest sign made from red bull cans and the giant Chipotle burrito that is about 10 ft long hanging from the celing.

There are schedules posted for the performers and shows now, so check them out and buy your passes early because they always sell out. The best deals are usually the weekend passes. This year the event is at the Chicago Theater Building again and the individual shows are $12.50 each for tickets and the full all-sketchfest pass is $150.00.That really is a good deal if you can spend 8 nights of your life in the Chicago Theater Building laughing at comedy. Even if you don’t have that much time on your hands it is still worth going. Especially since it is so f-ing cold, what else can you do in January? Its pretty much see original new comedy at the Sketchfest or see reruns on cable every night? I’d go see Sketchfest.

One of my favorite shows is always Big News, but they aren’t listed for this year nor are they listed on IO’s schedule where they launched a Chicago version of the show earlier in the year. This event is really about discoveringnew shows and new talent so I will go pick something I have never heard of before and be suprised at how random and funny it can be. Maybe I will laugh as hard as I did at the space musical I saw last year.

You may also be asking: “what is the difference between Improv and Sketch comedy?” That is a good question. There are many flavors of comedy in Chicago and the sketchfest specializes in written material that uses some props, video, music and costumes if needed, although it is somewhat low tech compared to SNL or other sketch based comedy shows. Improv is well, improvised on the spot. There is no script, so you make it all up as you go. The Chicago Improv Festival is the home of the Improv fest yearly and both fests are worth attending.

Yet you see a lot of the same people at both events. Both performers and audience members. I think a lot of people learn to create and write great comedy through improv as a process so the worlds overlap and collide in these festivals as well as in the permanent shows around town. You never know who you will see that will end up on SNL in a few years. We have almost too much talent in this city, it is impossible to see it all.

Additionally there is a new sketchfest kids day this year. This is always great for kids who like the performing arts or are just into laughing at wacky stuff. I am sure that these performances have been monitored for language and such so they are clean humor and safe for kids. Think more silly slap stick comedy. The details are:

Sketch Day for Kids presented by the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival on Sunday, January 10, 2009
1PM – Unintentionally Hilarious & 2PM – Bri-Ko
Location: Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont
Adult Tickets - $12.50 each, or $20 for both shows
Kids Under 12 Tickets - $8 each, or $12 for both shows.
Website: ChicagoSketchFest.com or Call (773) 539-4596 for tix

There is just one word of warning about the Sketchfest. (And I hate to mention it since everything else about the fest is so good) The sketchfest is way to big for the Chicago Theater Building. It outgrew it’s venue about 3 years ago and there is not enough room for people to enter and exit each set of shows on the hour and there is absolutely no parking. The valets don’t even have any parking spaces most nights. I sat outside in the cold for a 1/2 hour waiting for someone to leave last year so we could have the valet park our car. So, you *must* take public transportation and walk outside in -20 degree weather to get there, it is the only option. Or take a cab. That would work too. Somehow though, these tickets are always sold out despite the hassle of getting there and maneuvering between theaters in the mobs of people in line out the door and down the sidewalk. Make sure to get your show tickets at least a few weeks in advance.

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. 

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.

.

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.

Harry Potter’s props costumes and sets will be coming to the Museum of Science and Industry Exhibition in Chicago in April 2009. The exhibition will be there through September 7th 2009. This is much like the Star Wars Exhibition that they had there in the winter of 2007-2008. The movies are so popular that Harry Potter and Star Wars bring a whole new audience to The Museum of Science and Industry and help raise awareness of the museum for tourists and visitors as well as local residents.

The following for Harry Potter Books is huge in Chicago and an entire generation grew up on these books, reading them from cover to cover over and over again. I expect the tickets to easily sell out for the first few months at the exhibit. I would also expect there to be some demonstrations in the exhibit about how the magic effects happened in the movie and some explanations of how the Harry Potter movies were made.

Tickets on sale now at the Museum of Science and Industry website; $26 for adults, $19 for children, and $25 for senior citizens. There are discounted prices for everyone during the evening hours after the museum closes which is nice since people will pretty much line up forever to see these items in person if they are superfans. And judging from how many people stood in line at bookstores at midnight to get the books each time they were published, I think this will be one of the most popular exhibits at the museum of science and industry to date.

I also think this makes a good trip activity idea for the kids over spring break or summer break in 2009. There are a lot of other educational exhibits there that you should see too if you can make it. The bodyworlds exhibit is always popular. Just stay away from the internet exhibit (ala 1997) and the automobile exhibit (ala 1985). There are some areas of the museum that need a lot of updating.

See harrypotterexhibition.com for details and to buy tickets online.

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!

The Killers are playing UIC Pavilion in Chicago (usually for hockey?) on January 20th and tickets are still available. The original price of tickets was between $50-$100 but if you really want to be close to the stage and get good seats there are ebay and stubhub tickets from $100-$800 available online. (if you want them to sweat on you in the front row)

The Killers have been a band that has marked the sound of a certain generation with their 80-s style synthesizer rock and chart topping songs. (some call them alternative but I would not) Mainly college kids and the just graduated in the last 5 years from college set.  I am older than that certain y-generation or millennials or whatever they are called now but I even relate to their music. But what started as a new group that broke through with some unforgettable tunes has graduated to a complicated group wearing ridiculous costumes. (fur coat and no shirt? wha?) But the music is still really good. They also electrify the concerts they play and have gotten great reviews. And with a new album Day & Age to promote you have to go on tour, it’s just mandatory.

So check out the tickets still available now before they do sell out and mark your calendar for January 20th.

Harry Connick Jr is playing 2 nights in December at the historic Chicago Theater with a concert featuring Christmas music from his new holiday album “What A Night! – A Christmas Album“. (CD available in stores now) Harry Connick Jr is one of the people who brought back swing music in the early 1990’s (before the gap commercial) and for that I will always love him. The rest of the world knows Harry Connick Jr for his acting as well as his New Orleans style jazz and big band swing music that has been consistently popular for 2 decades now. He has a smoothness that reminds us of Frank Sinatra and more presence and range than youngster Michael Buble’.

If you like Christmas holiday music or the swing and big band sound, this is a concert not to miss. I can’t go because of prior commitments but I would love to. Harry Connick Jr’s music is always something that gets me in a positive and creative mood. I think the Chicago Theater is also a great place for a concert of this style of music. It is historical and back from the dead kind of like swing music. (although some people would like swing music to die out again). Harry also likes to innovate on classic songs and compose his own work. He is so much more than just someone doing covers from the great American songbook. I highly recommend his shows also because he is one of those few people who is just as good live in performance as you hear on the CDs. In an age of digital enhancement and robot voices, this is rare.

Tickets are still available for the shows on December 10 & 11 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the ChicagoTheater.org site. Both shows start at 8pm and tickets range from $37-$52.00 (plus at least $10 in service charges). There are still tickets available on the main floor and all over the balcony. I advise you to bring binoculars if you sit in the back of the main floor or in the balcony. The view is good in that it is clear and well lit but you just can’t see any detail from that far away or really get a feel for the performance going on. I think this will be a great concert not to miss. (and what is going on with that CD cover? and the spray tan? weird.)

All the polling places are closed across the entire US now and the ABC news organization is projecting that Barack Obama has won the election with 333 electorate votes and John McCain only has 155. This is only the preliminary projected result but people are thrilled. John McCain has just made a very eloquent and sportsmanlike concession speech praising Barack Obama and the historic nature of an African American being president. He also pledged his full cooperation in working with Senator Obama on fixing the problems that this country faces right now. I was very impressed by this speech. I did not expect John McCain to be that emotionally accepting of the projected loss that quickly or that complimentary of Barack Obama. It gives me great hope for the future that John McCain is willing to let this pass and still be an active member of the senate working together with both parties and the president to find real solutions to the issues we face as a country. I am also thrilled that race and ethnicity did not stop Barack Obama from becoming thefirst African Amercan President as the 44th president of our country.

I also want to mention to everyone that while this election outcome is worth jumping on your sofa and shooting off fireworks in the alley (as I just saw here in Oak Park) it is also a time to be patient with our new president. First off, he won’t take office until January 20th 2009. Second, Barack Obama doesn’t have a magic wand that fixes everything automatically any more than any other candidate does. He will face many long discussions with many people in government and the civilian public before any of the answers to the issues emerge and it may take even longer to make those changes that are needed.

We all need to be patient, understanding and supportive so we can help rather than make things more difficult. I still think in addition to Barack Obama’s leadership, this country needs each one of us to pitch in and make the right decisions in our own personal lives, our jobs and our local government to help. This may mean keeping people employed longer even if businesses aren’t as profitable as a result, keeping costs low for customers even if profits aren’t as high as before and not leveraging ourselves or our businesses to the hilt. We all need to save more money, be less statusy and consumption oriented and help each other out more often. We all need to be more like family in lending a hand and offering help and less like sales people over charging for everything and trying to swindle each other. We also need to seriously make changes with how we treat the environment.

So, that is my short list of how you, the general citizen, can help Barack Obama be a great president of the United States of America and be supportive of the changes we need. Other than that we should do some serious celebrating tonight. Whoop it up since Chicago is at the center of this celebration and the movement that made it happen. All we need now is to maintain this positivity and momentum and start working on making changes that we all can benefit from. And now I am going to go drink my champagne and enjoy the TV coverage since I cast my vote earlier this evening and can relax now.

The International Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Fine Art (SOFA) is planned for Festival Hall in Navy Pier in Chicago on November 6-9. This is an amazing contemporary art show and well worth the admission to attend. The work on display at SOFA ranges from glass to ceramics to textiles and sculpture. Even if you are not an art expert this show is eye opening and entertaining at the same time.

Art innovates constantly and SOFA Chicago is one of the few places to see what is new and evolving before it hits mainstream. If you are smart you can integrate these style details into your life before everyone else (haha) and become more of a style innovator yourself. That said the purchase prices of these art objects and sculptures are steep. These artwork pieces on display are not quite intended for the general public to buy and are usually purchased for private collections or in museums for the rest of us to enjoy. SOFA Chicago isn’t somewhere to go if you need to furnish your living room unless you are a millionaire. There is also a SOFA VIP Program and a free Lecture series for anyone who would like to attend. There is more info with the dates and times on their website listed below.

Over 35,000 people attended SOFA Chicago in 2007 and there are more than 100 galleries and dealers all in the same location together at Navy Pier. If you buy serious art this is the event to see everything all at once. Tickets to SOFA Chicago are available online for $15 for one day or $25 for a 3 day weekend pass. There is also an opening night Gala event that is $50.00 and you get to see all the art and sculpture objects before anyone else. Personally I was thinking of going since I have never been to SOFA and I hear people raving about it every year. It isn’t that expensive to attend although you will pay another $25.00 on top of your ticket prices for parking at Navy Pier. I think $35.00 is a small price for all that great inspiration.  Check out sofaexpo.com to buy tickets online or you can buy them at the door also.

The alphabetical list of Galleries exhibiting at SOFA Chicago 2008 is:

Aaron Faber Gallery
Adamar Fine Arts
Andora Gallery
Ann Nathan Gallery
Barry Friedman
Beaver Galleries
Berengo Studio
Blue Rain Gallery
browngrotta arts
Bullseye Gallery
Cervini Haas Gallery
Chappell Gallery
Charon Kransen Arts
Collection – Ateliers d’Art de France
COVET – collectable objects & fine art
CREA Gallery
D&M Fine Arts
Dai Ichi Arts
The Dancing Hands Gallery
David Collection
del Mano Gallery
Donna Schneier Fine Arts
Duane Reed Gallery
Eden Gallery
Elliott Brown Gallery
Ferrin Gallery
FLATFILE Galleries
Function + Art
Galerie Besson
Galerie Elca London
Galerie Elena Lee
Galerie Pokorná
Galleri Grønlund
Galleri Udengaard
Galleria Norsu
Gallery Sklo
Garson Baker Fine Art
Glass Artists Gallery
Habatat Galleries, Chicago
Habatat Galleries, Florida-Virgina
HABATAT Galleries, Michigan
Hawk Galleries
Heller Gallery
Holsten Galleries
Jane Sauer Gallery
Jean Albano Gallery
John Natsoulas Gallery
Judy Youens Gallery
Katie Gingrass Gallery
KEIKO Gallery
Kirra Galleries
Lacoste Gallery
Lafrenière & Pai Gallery
Lee Weitzman Furniture
Leo Kaplan Modern
Litvak Gallery
Maria Elena Kravetz Gallery
Marx-Saunders Gallery
Mattson’s Fine Art
Maurine Littleton Gallery
Micaëla Gallery
Modus Gallery
Mostly Glass Gallery
Mowen Solinsky Gallery
National Craft Gallery of Ireland
Next Step Studio and Gallery
Niemi Sculpture Gallery & Garden
Oliver & Espig
Option Art
Orley & Shabahang
Ornamentum
Palette Contemporary Art & Craft
Patina Gallery
Perimeter Gallery
Pistachios
Portals
PRISM Contemporary Glass
rakovaBRECKERgallery
Ruth Lawrence Fine Art
SABBIA
Santa Fe Clay
Sherrie Gallerie
Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art
Signature Gallery
Silica Galleries
Sim JaeCheon Gallery
Snyderman-Works Galleries
ten472 Contemporary Art
Thomas R. Riley Galleries
Turkish Cultural Foundation
Twiga
UrbanGlass
Wexler Gallery
William Zimmer
Yaw Gallery
Zygman Voss Gallery

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I have been to the Chicago Inaternational Film Festival every year for the past 3 years and it has been an event not to miss in Chicago. The Chicago International Film Festival runs for two weeks from October 16th to 29th showing scheduled independent movies from all over the world at three theater locations in the city. The locations of the theaters selected for showing the scheduled ”movie buffet” at the festival this year are the AMC River East 21 theater (322 East Illinois Street Chicago, IL) and the AMC 600 North Michigan 9 (600 North Michigan Avenue) as well as the Harris Theater (205 East Randolph Drive) for the opening and closing night ”Gala” events. I always like that it is like an advance screening to several films that you get to see months before they come out to the general public.

Right now theChicago International Film Festival early bird advance passes are available at a 40% discount through the chicagofilmfestival.org website (which has mostly 2007 information on it) before September 30. They have the 10 movie ticket pass for $110, the 20 movie ticket pass for $210 and the 40 movies ticket pass for $385. (non member prices, membership is $60 for the year but knocks off $30, $55 or $100 off the price passes) I do not have a membership but I attend the Chicago International Film Festival yearly anyway.

This year looks like it won’t disappoint in the range of independent films and themes that will be presented at the Chicago International Film Festival. There are simultaneous showings on most nights so download the entire schedule here (when it becomes available) and mark off which films you want to see ahead of time. With a 10 movie pass ticket it makes it easy to plan your 2 weeks of movies and just show up wherever they are playing ready to go.

I usually always go to the Chicago International Film Festival’s opening night gala and closing night gala. These events will be held at the uber modern Harris theater in Millennium Park in Downtown Chicago. They aren’t saying which films will be scheduled or featured on which nights but these are the 3 gala feature films:

A Christmas Tale / Un conte de Noël  from France and Director Arnaud Desplechin. A Christmas Tale stars Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, and Mathieu Amalric who play members of a family who conceive a third child in the hopes of using its bone marrow to save the dying firstborn child. 

Happy-Go-Lucky  from the UK and  Director Mike Leigh. The perennial optimist Poppy is played by Sally Hawkins and charges through life with breathless enthusiasm and a sincere desire to help others, struggling as she encounters fellow Londoners who do not always share her sunny outlook.

Pride and Glory  from the USA and Director Gavin O’Connor. Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voight star in a gritty and emotional portrait of a multigenerational New York City police family forced to choose between loyalties to each other and loyalties to the department.

Check back to this post in a few weeks. I will post more information about the films and Chicago International Film Festival schedule as it becomes available.

I saw the ad in the Daily Herald for “Turn of the Century” with Jeff Daniels at the Chicago Goodman Theatre a few days ago and the first thing out of my mouth was ” Jeff Daniels? the guy from Dumb and Dumber?” I have to see this… So I got tickets online from the goodmantheatre.org website with their swish little seat chooser web interface and guess what? It was almost sold out. In order to see the play soon and without having to sit in the rafters it will be a Wednesday night show on September 24th. The Turn of the Century show opens at The Goodman Theatre a week before that on Friday September 19th.

It seems that The Goodman Theatre has been a little jealous of the Steppenwolf Theater’s success this year with August: Osage County winning Pulitzers, Tony awards and all the press in Chicago. I did see one play at The Goodman Theater a few years ago and while it was good, although most of the shows I see promoted at the Goodman look like older themes I would not be interested in. Steppenwolf Theater across town seems to have younger edgier fare and is more identifiable for someone like me in my 30’s. But that said I do like a good Musical and loved Jersey Boys and Wicked.

My guess is that The Turn of The Century is a bigger musical with large dance numbers and tries to use the classic music that made many musicals a hit in the past 100 years. Plus it was a nostalgia boost for the core audience at the Goodman that likes that era. I think bringing people like Tommy Tune and others from Broadway in New York means they were really serious about the project and wanted some big guns to make an impact and getting Jeff Daniels seems to be a draw also because people outside the traditional theater crowds know who he is. Plus people never seem to tire of hearing the songs in the Great American Songbook from composers like Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The thing that I noticed from the backstage footage that the Goodman has online is that it is pre-WW1 music. Like ragtime, player pianos, and even before the 1920’s dance styles. (think long dresses and lots of parasols) It makes me think of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers ballroom dancing (although that was 1920’s – 1940’s) yet can anyone live up to a dance legend and musical immortal like that? How will they make this story in a time that offers no similarity to today, relate able and edgy enough to capture the minds and hearts of Chicagoans? Lots of singing synchronized dancers in period costumes probably won’t do it alone. It will need to tie emotionally to something we care about and something we understand. Most Chicagoans don’t know hoey about dancing nor do they care much about history 100 years ago.

Many of us also did not know that Jeff Daniels had a range beyond quirky-goofy-funny-guy but maybe we are all wrong about that.  From the behind the scenes footage he looks like he does know what he is doing and enjoys being in a musical even if it is in Chicago rather than New York.

The other interesting part of this musical is that they say it is an original musical never performed anywhere before and not written based on someones life or book. That could mean that it is really different from what we expect or not quite as good. It remains to be seen. They elude to some dramatic time travel in the Goodman’s ads and interviews and maybe that is the hook it needs. I will update this post in a few weeks when I see The Turn of the Century at The Goodman Theatre and let you know what I think.

Update and Review 9.25.08:

I saw “Turn of the Century” last night at the Goodman Theatre and it was a very nice theatrical work. The sets, costumes, dancing and singing are all top notch and worth going to see alone. Jeff Daniels fills his role with some of the quirkiness we would expect from him but it is much more of a straight role that most people have seen him in before. (A long way from Dumb and Dumber) He captures the essence of this character in his singing, dancing and acting. (yes, he can sing!) Rachel York is truly stunning in this show, looking amazing in the most impossibly tight corseted dresses, singing a wide range of songs and styles and really conveying the feelings of her character in a very believable way. There is a large supporting cast which means this really is an expensive production. They create mood and setting with some very good dancing and chorus singing that is historically correct and executed well. They also have about a million quick costume changes.

The set uses a white backdrop and white floor and lighting with a grand piano and minimal furniture to create settings for scenes. The stage has a catwalk that wraps around the orchestra pit and allows the actors to interact with the audience more and lets the scenes have an inside and outside divided space. There is also a large conveyor belt on one side that some scenes roll in on, but I’m not sure that is necessary considering how tricky it must be to install. The outside of the stage is wrapped in a circular scrolling electronic sign from floor to ceiling that sends messages around it from left to right. It is used before the show to scroll historical events from different times and during the show to list where and when they happen because the plot jumps around somewhat and there isn’t always more of a cue than a scene change. And of course they surpriseus all with a real live orchestra under the stage complete with a conductor that pops his head up occasionally. Even more people in this complicated production in a small theater.

Overall, I enjoyed the play although I can’t help thinking there are still some areas that need a little refinement and there are some plausibilityholes. The main one is this time travel thing. It is never explained or justified in a believable way although the characters fully accept it. (almost too quickly) The scenes change without any special effects or even an attempt to show that time is changing. They time this jump back in time with the millennium changeover in the beginning which could be understood as some time continuum weirdness but at the end they are back to present day with no reasoning whatsoever. (I think there is one sentence meant to explain why but it just doesn’t do it and can be easily missed) It seemed like they just went on this fantastic voyage to prove that the mid-level artists now would be capable of wowing millions back 100 years ago and that those songs and stories were the best ever told on Broadway so lets go have a nostalgic moment. 

The singing and dancing was flawless but sometimes it seemed like the songs were used just to reminisce about the good old days and had no ties to the emotions of the characters. Some did tell the story and emotions but maybe only 1/2 of them. And for a musical I always thought that was the point. The plot relies on the old standby of making a musical about making a musical. I feel like the people developing this just wanted to go back in time personally to re-live these songs, stories and possibly their youth. This may have also been evident that at 32 I may have been one of the youngest people in the sea of grey haired audience members. So, at least it appeals to the Goodman’s target demographic and will continue to sell out. (but don’t expect to attract many newcomers to the theater like Wicked or Jersey Boys does)

There are some technical difficulties they should work out also to refine things to the best level possible. (considering this is the Goodman) The first scene’s singing is drowned out by the clapping because of the mics the actors are wearing. There is a scene near the end where a clock bell tolls and you can’t hear what is being said there also. The piano is a little weird in that it just has a light-up keyboard since no one in the show actually plays piano. (I am sure finding a Harry Connick Jr Piano playing, singing, acting pro can’t be easy so you can understand why they do this) Sometimes though, I feel like it is better to have the piano turned away from the audience as to improve the believability that he is actually playing it.

All those things aside Turn of the Century is an enjoyable hour and a half show if you like music from the first 40 years of the last century. If you are under 30 you may be like my boyfriend and have never heard the songs used in this show and don’t know that they are out of place being performed in a 1900 style. For those people it won’t really be that compelling, but for the over 50 set it is probably a really nice night at the Goodman theater downtown. My parents would love it.

The Chicago Gourmet Festival (or the seriously fancy food show) brings the finest in foods, chefs, wines and housewares to the public downtown in Millennium Park on September 26th, 27th and 28th. This event is part housewares show, part celebrity gourmet cook instructional lesson and part wine tasting all in one. It makes sense though good food pairs well with fine wine and requires unique prep utensils and recipes to achieve. The Chicago Gourmet Festival would be the perfect place to bring your friend the “foodie” and the “wine snob” to socialize. I also think in a own economy people are saving money in some areas and spending it in comfort food and in enriching their experience at home. The Chicago Gourmet Festival offers new recipes and culinary skills which are a part of feathering the nest and keeping up with the Joneses at the same time.

The big draw to this event seems to be the Celebrity Chefs and Master Wine Sommeliers. Everyone from Chicago hometown fave Rick Bayless to AlpanaSingh will be there up close and personal to chat with and learn from. The Master Sommeliers for the Chicago Gourmet Festvial are Frederick Dame, Alpana Singh, Joseph Spellman and Serafin Alvarado.  There will me many more celebrity chefs in each of the events that are not specifically listed. If you enjoy the food network and channel 11’s create channel you will love this event.

The ticket prices are a bit…well, pricey. It is $150.00 for a one day ticket pass and $250.00 for a weekend ticket pass. (not including parking) ( Use your American Express Card and this code for a 15% off discount CG2008DC) I would guess there is some cooking schwagthat you get along withthat (cook books, wine bottles and housewares) to make it worth that much money? Or maybe it is just about exclusivity and access to the celebrity chefs? You can get into the special event tents for other amounts of money if you know there will be a certain chef there that you want to see. The Grand Cru tastings are $175.00, theCIA Worlds of Flavor Pavilion is $95.00 and the Whole Foods Pavilion and the Seminars are each $30.00. (the most reasonably priced thing on the menu)  Tickets can be purchased through the chicagogourmet.org website online or at the door of the event if they have not sold out.

- The Schedule of Special events for the Chicago Gourmet Festival:

- Friday, September 26, 2008

The Opening Night Receptionon the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace from 6:30 to 10:30 pm Tickets are $250.00. All the celebrity chefs and master sommeliers will be there.

- Saturday, September 27, 2008

The Chicago Gourmet Festival Opens in Millennium Park at 11 am and goes to 6 pm.

Grand Tasting Tents on the Great Lawn 11 am to 6 pm.

The Seminar Seriesat the Cultural Center, The Gage restaurant, or Pritzker Pavilion Choral Room times: 11 am to 5 pm. All the Master Sommeliers are presenting wine seminars including “Wine Pairing in Chicago’s Neighborhoods” by Channel 11 Check Please Host Alpana Singh, “Tasting Wine the Master’s Way” by Frederick Dame, “Syrah, A Global View ” by Joseph Spellman and “Exploring Eco Friendly Wines” by Serafin Alvarado.

Whole Foods Market Family Village in Millennium Park is open from 11 am to 3 pm. Tickets are only $30 bucks. the most affordable part of this event. (I bet you never thought you would hear the words “Whole Foods” and affordable in the same sentence) Whole Foods will still offer celebrity chef cooking demos and great samples.

CIA Worlds of Flavor Pavilion on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace 12 pm to 2 pm.This event features a latin flavor and decor as well as cooking demonstrations by Enrique Olvera, Chef and Owner of Pujol Restaurant in Mexico City, Norman Van Aken, Chef and Owner of Norman’s in Miami, and Coque Ossio, Chef and Owner of a consortium of restaurants in Peru.

Grand Cru Tasting on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace from 4 pm to 5:30 pm. This event features the top 50 finest wines in the world as selected by the Master Sommeliers at the Chicago Gourmet Festival this year: Frederick Dame, Alpana Singh, Joseph Spellman and Serafin Alvarado.

- Sunday, September 28, 2008

Chicago Gourmet Festival in Millennium Park is open from 11 am to 5 pm.

Grand Tasting Tents on the Great Lawn open from 11 am 5 pm.

Seminar Seriesat the Cultural Center, The Gage restaurant, or Pritzker Pavilion Choral Room from 11 am to 5 pm. See the list above, the same wine tasting educational seminars are offered.

Whole Foods Market Family Village in Millennium Parkis open from 11 am to 3 pm. Tickets are $30.00.

CIA Worlds of Flavor Pavilion on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace is open from 12 to 2 pm. See the description from Saturday, the same Celebrity Chefs will be presenting and cooking. It was inspired by the Worlds of Flavor International Conference & Festival held annually in Nappa Valley.

Grand Cru Tasting on the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace is open from 3:30 pm 5 pm. See Saturday’s descriptions as the same sommeliers will be presenting the top 50 wines again at the Chicago Gourmet Festival.

The word Staycation has gotten popular latley since gas, food and utilities have gotten so expensive and no one is really interested in traveling far away and generating a lot of costs in the process. So, Chicago Weekend Fun suggests a mini Chicago Vacation or staycation this weekend to make up for the lost vacation. (you may or may not need a hotel downtown for this) There is a lot happening this weekend and in the coming weeks in Chicago. The events and activities range from free admission to the Museum of Science and Industry to planning for Wired NextFest to attending the Chicago Redbull Flutag Event you have probably seen advertised on TV and the Internet latley. (who could miss it?) But beware, the CTA will have 1/2 the loop closed off for renovations so the EL will only be running north and south along the west and south sides of the loop track square. The CTA Loop EL tracks get shut down at 10 pm on Friday night. 

So first off, be careful of the loop shut down of the el trackson the east and north sides of the loop square downtown. If you need to connect with west or southbound trains you can always take the bus direct from just about anywhere in the city to one of the first stops on that arm of the CTA El line. Most just charge a connection fee of $.25 rather than another full fare. The full CTA bus and train schedule is available at transitchicago.com.

Next, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a lot of construction going on and as a result they have made admission free for visitors for the month of September. This is great because you can take the kids and go see all the parts of the museum that have been renovated already at no cost and you just pay for gas and parking. Unless you go to the old fashioned ice cream parlor, then you get the cost of ice cream too. I recommend the u-boat instead of the antiquated car display. And if your kids are under the age of 5 check out the farm exhibit. Mom and Dad may like the living green exhibit which is new and just opened. That is always a big hit with skyrocketing energy prices. Check out their site msichicago.com before you go for the hours and address.  

Also the RedBull Flutag Event happens on Saturday at 11 am at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. The flying machines start plunging at 1pm and the awards will be given out at 3pm. One can only hope that there is an award for best team name since there are some dooseys listed on the site. (Mustache ride anyone?) Admission is free but my guess is that parking will be near impossible and set you back about $30.00. Aside from that it should be fun to watch improvised flying machines crash ala 1910 in an experiment of physics, ridiculousness and caffeine.

The Wired Next Fest is a great free event to take the kids to also later in September. (just planning ahead because they emailed me about it) This show features all different kinds of new technology and innovation that companies are experimenting with and will be bringing to market soon. Last time I went in Chicago in 2005 there was some emphasis on green technology and other new developments in robotics and space sattelites featured. But you never know what they will come up with because there are so many companies in all different industries looking to innovate right now to get the edge in the market. This is always an inspiring show. The Wired Next Fest will run from September 27 through October 12, 2008 in the south promenade in Millennium Park, Chicago. My assumption is that they will have some kind of temporary building built for this since having it outdoors is not smart in Chicago. Mark it on your calendars now!

Remember; It’s your weekend, have fun with it!

This year the Chicago Windy City Wine Festival is being held on September 5th and 6th at Daley Plaza downtown in Chicago. The Wine Festival starts on Friday evening at 4pm and goes until 10 pm. It continues on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm and is open until 10 pm again. Tickets are available to purchase for the Windy City Wine Festival Online at windycitywinefestival.com/buy.html or call 847-382-1480 to purchase them by phone.

Tickets are $25.00 for the wine tasting in advance and $30.00 each at the door. Additional tasting coupons can be purchased for more tasting at the festival for $5.00. There is even a designated driver ticket available for $10.00 which gets you 2 non-alcoholic drinks and food as well as access to cooking demonstrations and a copy of the festival program.  

They have also included live bands performing at the event to add to the relaxed atmosphere and they have brought in several local wine experts and Sommeliers to present information about choosing, buying and pairing wines with food as well as information about the wine making process.

It is interesting that even though the economy has slowed down people have certainly not stopped drinking wine. People have decided that buying cheaper food and clothing as well as saving energy were all bearable changes but the Chicagoans are not giving up their wine drinking. Wine sales have increased an enormous amount in the last decade thanks to movies like Sideways that made it a cool, independent, social and cultural hobby to have.

Chicago may not have any vineyards or be written about much in Wine Spectator but we have a lot of wine drinkers and buyers in the Chicagoland area. They have been a fan of the Chicago Wine Festival and the Naperville Wine festival the last few years. Also a few stores like Armanetti’s, Sam’s Wines and Spirits and Binny’s have made buying from huge selections of wine from all over the world possible under one roof for very affordable prices. Also, hundreds of small wind boutiques have popped up like Wine Expressions and Wine Styles in all the small shopping centers in the suburbs.

Yuppies and baby boomers liked taking a bottle of wine to dinner at a friend’s house or serving a new wine guests had never tried before at parties. This novelty as well as great taste has kept wine popular while other luxury items have trailed off in popularity since the economy has slowed down. Click here for a map of the wine festival grounds and plan your trip today.

The entertainment and educational presentation schedule for the fest:

Friday, September 5 – 4-10pm

5:00-5:25pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
5:30-6:00 pm – “Cutting Edge White Wines” Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier Director of Wine Education, Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois
6:05-6:35 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
6:40-7:10 pm – Colleen Stewart, The Bonterra Vineyards Organic Road Show
7:15-7:45 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:00-9:45 pm – KIM MASSIE

Saturday, September 6 – 3-10pm

3:30-4:05 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
4:10-4:40 pm – Steve Ciappette Viand
4:45- 5:15pm – Fetzer Eco Tour “Growing Green”
5:30-6:40 pm – DAYNA MALOW
6:50-7:20 pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
7:25-7:55 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:15-9:45 pm – MICHAEL HEATON BAND

Oprah Winfrey (and the Chicago Oprah Show Harpo Productions Team) are taping the 23rsd season premier episode Wednesday September 3rd in Millennium Park in the Pritzker Pavilion with all the gold medal winning Olympic athletes. (150 Olympians!!) This is a huge deal in Chicago because the admission to see the show is free because it is in Millennium Park.

So, anyone who wants to see all their favorite Olympians can get tickets there in advance on Monday or Tuesday at Millennium Park so that you can still get in line on Wednesday morning at 6am for first come first served seats in the Pritzker Pavillion. These tickets may be gone by this time but if you are downtown and can look and see at Millennium Park let me know. The show will air on TV one week later on Monday September 8th at 9 am CST. (channel 7 ABC Chicago) They also say this is the first Oprah Winfrey Show to be recorded and broadcast in HD.

Big Name Gold Medalists like Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin, Dara Torres, Kobe Bryant, Lisa Leslie, Kerri Walsh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Misty May-Treanor will all be in attendance at the event. Also, some Illinois athletes will be there too: Christine Magnuson from Swimming, Matt Grevers from Swimming, Candance Parker from Basketball, Tom Hoff from Men’s Volleyball, Sylvia Fowles from Basketball and Deron Williams from team USA Basketball.

That said if you don’t have to be at work on September 3rd or can get the day off it might be a fun time to see your favorite Olympic athletes in person. The Pritzker Pavilion is a huge stadium like amphitheater in Millennium Park that can seat thousands of people. So if you want to see the Olympic Athletes and Gold Medal Winners you will have to be up front in the seats and not in the back in the grass seating. The stage is also set really high off the ground so if you do get a seat you will still need a pretty good zoom camera lens to get any good pictures. Also if you come in from the suburbs, take the Metra since parking is way expensive under Millennium park.

As much as I enjoy watching the Olympics on TV I will not be in that early morning line for seats because I have to go to work that day and even though I am a Chicagoan I am not really the biggest fan of Oprah Winfrey. She is cool and all, I just dislike the constant selling of stuff all on her shows. It’s not really fair to the people who are home from work all day to get pitched to buy stuff so heavily when they don’t have the income from work in the first place.

I am also not wild about the idea that this rally will be to support the idea of the Olympics coming to Chicago in 2016. While that may have been my dream as a kid, as an adult I am much wiser about who really benefits from these Olympic Games and who pays for them. As a resident here in Chicago I am not behind the idea at all. Some people are also crying foul because Oprah has not invited the para-Olympians too.

That said I think the athletes are awesome and I hope they enjoy their time in Chicago and I hope that all the people who go out to see the Oprah Show live in Millennium Park enjoy the show. The pictures here are of the taping in Millennium Park yesterday and they are from Flickr courtesy of Dane Brian and T-Shirt Auza. Bookmark this page and check back to the Chicago Weekend Fun Blog for more pictures and video as it becomes available.

The Labor Day Weekend and Holiday Monday are so jam packed with events you won’t be able to stay home for long. Both in the City of Chicago and in the suburbs there are large events and parades happening in addition to all the shopping sales all over Chicagoland. The Chicago Jazz Festival is this weekend, the JayCees Naperville Last Fling and the Labor Day Parades are all day Monday. I know the weather will also be good this Labor Day Weekend, it should be in the upper 80’s and no rain is in the forecast.

First, on Friday at 5pm there is the monthly Critical Mass Bike ride through downtown and the streets of Chicago. Join up wiht them at Daley Plaza at 5pm if you want to ride along. There is a police escort at the front of the pack and bike riding helmets may be required….

The Chicago Jazz Festival is also this weekend in Grant Park. The 30th Annual Jazz Festival runs Thursday through Sunday.  In the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park they will be celebrating 30 years of jazz with two time Grammy Award winner Sonny Rollins. The admission to the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park is Free! The Jazz Festival will run August 29-31 for three days of free music on three stages from 10:00 am-9:30 pm per day. No Dogs or Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the festival. The Grant Park Petrillo Band shell Schedule is as follows:

Friday, August 29, 2008
5:00-5:50 T.S. Galloway’s Tribute to Capt. Walter Dyett featuring Julian Priester, Ken Chaney, Mwata Bowden, Edwin Daugherty, Ari Brown and Von Freeman
6:00-6:55 AACM Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Michael Logan and Thurman Barker
7:10-8:10 Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Tribute to Betty Carter
8:30-9:30 Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Band

Saturday, August 30, 2008
4:30-4:45 – Remembering Franz Jackson
5:00-5:50 – Pharez Whitted Sextet
6:00-6:55 – Vijay Iyer Quintet
7:10-8:10 – Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy
8:30-9:30 – Gerald Wilson Orchestra with a special guest Kenny Burrell

Sunday, August 31, 2008
5:00-5:50 – Ron Dewar Quintet
6:00-6:55 – From the Netherlands: The Instant Composers Pool
7:10-8:10 – 8 Bold Souls with a Special Guest Dee Alexander
8:30-9:30 – Ornette Coleman

Naperville is also hosting it’s Jaycee’s Last Fling Concert Event in the downtown area. This is the traditional last event of the summer to celebrate and socialize before the official fall season and back to school craziness takes off and fills the calendar. Click here to see the full last fling booklet with the map, directions, schedule and more info you may need.

The Naperville JayCee’s Last Fling 2008 features a Carnival, Main Stage Performances featuring Nationally known Artists, Free performances on the Entertainment Stage daily, a Beer Garden and Dozens of Great Food Vendors and Business Expo Booths From local Naperville Businesses. It is a great place to take the family for a fun night out. Tickets are $10.00 per person on Friday night and $12.00 per person on Saturday and Sunday night. Tickets can be purchased at Oswald’s Pharmacy at 88 Gartner Road in Naperville, 60540 (in the Naperville Plaza Shopping Center) or at Dean’s Clothing at 226 South Main Street in Naperville, 60540 (in Downtown Naperville). The actual location of the Last Fling is: The Naperville Riverwalk, 100 West Jackson Avenue Naperville, IL 60540 phone: 630-961-4143

Naperville Last Fling Dates and Times:

• Friday August 29 @ 5 pm – 11 pm
• Saturday  August 30 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Sunday  August 31 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Monday September 1 @ 10 am – 6 pm

Music Concert Schedule
Friday August 29th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Dennis DeYoung
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm The Music of Styx – Hi Infidelity

Saturday August 30th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm The Doobie Brothers
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Painkiller Hotel
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Josh Holmes

Sunday August 31st
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Gavin DeGraw
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Absentstar
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Kimi Hayes

Monday September 1st
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm The Hat Guys
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Stellar Road 

Enjoy the Labor Day Holiday and have a great weekend!

This weekend in Chicago there are plenty of events to attend if you are still making your plans. First off the Olympics are ending this weekend and the closing ceremony will be on Sunday evening NBC Channel 5 in Chicago at 8pm.

Everyone is a Buzz over Barack Obama announcing his Vice President Choice via Text Message today. We still await the text message. Barack has chosen Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware. We hope there wasn’t a server crash sending out all those emails and texts… I am sure most people will be tuned in to the Democratic National Convention on Monday since Obama-mania is sweeping Chicago. Everywhere I go people are wearing Barack Obama T-Shirts, buttons, hats and other merchandise. He really is a phenomenon in Chicago. We may not win the Olympic bid for 2016 but we may get to have a cool connection with the next president of the United States.

Another event happening this weekend that will be a lot of fun is the Chicago Viva Latin Music Festival August 23-24 in Grant Park downtown.  (200-300 East Jackson. Jackson Street will be closed from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive Thursday to Monday for the Festival) Viva is a two day festival that features all styles of Latin Music along with food, a low rider car show and latin dancing too. The Viva Latin Music Festival is free and open from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday! The CTA is the best way to get to the festival. Please see the CTA web site for directions from where you live. The schedule of music performers is as follows:

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Saturday August 23rd 2008
2:30-2:35 pm Opening National Anthem
2:35-3:30 pm Everardo Rey y su flota musical
3:40-4:35 pm Malo featuring Jorge Santana
4:45-5:30 pm Don Tetto
5:40-6:20 pm Tommy Torres
6:25-7:05 pm The Dey
7:10-8:20 pm Yamil, El orgullo de México con el Mariachi, Zapopan y el Ballet C’Acatl
8:30-9:30 pm Alexis y Fido El Duo Sobrenatural

Sunday August 24th 2008
2:30-2:35 pm Opening National Anthem
2:35-3:05 pm Menudo
3:15-3:30 pm MTV Winner
3:40-4:40 pm Cruz Martínez y Los Súper Reyes
4:50-5:50 pm Los Creadores del Pasito Duranguense
6:00-7:00 pm Fobia
7:10-8:00 pm Mike Roman & The Tellstars Featuring Jose Chepito Areas and Armando Peraza
8:10-9:30 pm – Los Lobos

Also, you should tickets if you want to see Dirty Dancing the Musical when it opens at the Cadillac Palace Theater in Chicago September 28th. These tickets are selling fast because this show got such great reviews in New York. And remember, nobody puts baby in a corner. Broadway in Chicago sells all the tickets for the theater and musicals in Chicago and they are also listed on Ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $27.50 to $125.50 each. 

The Accenture Triathalon is also happening this weekend in Chicago. You probably wouldn’t think of entering unless you have already been training for 6 months, but if you want to go watch very fit people compete and get some inspiration for your own fitness goals you can watch the triatheletes. The race starts early on Saturday Morning at 6 AM at Chicago’s Foster Avenue Beach. It is all over by 11 am  though so you have to be an early riser to compete or be a spectator. The weather should be nice for a day at the beach in general though…

The Labor Day Holiday is also just around the corner and planning your shopping trip, camping expedition or last cookout BBQ of the season would be good right about now.  Or maybe it is just more fun to stay home and play Rock Band or the Wii. Personally I may go see the new movie The Rocker with Rainn Wilson in it and I have some Fantasy Football Drafts to attend. (although I am only playing fantasy football because my boyfriend asked, not because I understand anything about Football) Whatever you do this weekend, have fun with it!  

There is so much happening in Chicago this weekend I am not sure how you will choose which activities and events to attend! The weather should be beautiful with temperatures in the 80’s and no rain.

The Chicago Air and Water Show is front and center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Lakefront. The show turns 50 this year and is still a huge draw to the city for the weekend.

The Cirque Shanghai Gold is still in town and performing at Navy Pier.

The Olympics have the Closing Ceremonies next Sunday night on Channel 5 NBC and a lot of sports coverage all weekend and next week. Check out all the track and field events this weekend on TV or on NBC.com.

You should buy tickets to the Robin Williams stand-up show at The Chicago Theater on September 26 & 27 when they go on sale through Ticketmaster on Saturday morning. (they will sell out) Tickets are from $40.00 – $95.00 and VIP packages are available to meet and greet Robin Williams in person and sit up in the first few rows of the show for $400.00. (Ouch!) No starving comedian who idolizes him will be able to afford that. Ray LaMontagneis also coming through Chicago to play his music this fall on October 1 and tickets are on sale for this folksy acustic gutar player and soulful singer.

If you haven’t seen Dark Knight or Wall-e you should they are still in theaters and have gotten great reviews. Pineapple Express is getting rave reviews too. It is only like th 5th weed themed movie out this year, but people still want to see them. Tells ya something about what people do with their free time around Chicago.

Dance Chicago tickets have also gone on sale and they are available earlier this year. If you have never been to Dance Chicago, it is a month long Dance Festival in November at the Athenaeum Theater on Southport featuring the best performance artists in the Chicago area in many nights of dance performances. Each show is made up of one number from each group and usually contains 7-12 dance groups or performers. The results are diverse and stunning. Order tickets online from Ticketmaster to avoid the rush later.

You can also get tickets to Macy’s Glamorama Party featuring Cindy Lauper and benefiting the Art Institute of Chicago coming up on August 22ns, Next weekend. It has a 80’s pop candy arcade theme and tickets start at $50.00. It sounds like part fashion show, part concert, part 80’s theme party all rolled up into one.  One thing is for sure, you will be able to find out what is hip to buy and wear in clothing this fall.

You could also register to Vote, since the Presidential Election is closer than you think. I know Chicago is hot for Barack Obama but there are some very adamant McCain supporters who live here too. We do know though that it is better to duke it out in the polls legally than in person of course. So, register to vote if you haven’t already.

And if you just want a quiet afternoon with the kids, there is always Lincoln Park Zoo, which is the only Free admission Zoo in Chicago. (although it is a lot smaller than Brookfield Zoo) If your kids are older you may want to check Macy’s, Target, Kohl’s and WalMart for sales on back to school clothes, shoes, supplies and college dorm gear. This year may be a lean one with less money to spend, so it is more important to make sure eveything is on sale and the best deal possible. Many people I know utilize the Kohl’s charge card which gives you 15-30% off coupons in the mail combined with sales in the store. They end up getting everything at 50% off or more. But go early the stores get unbearably crowded in the afternoons.

If none of this is on your weekend to-do list just relax, have a lemonade and enjoy a hamburger from the grill since 6 months from now it will be frigid cold and snowing.

So, have a great weekend and remember “it’s your weekend, have fun with it“!

There are a lot of very affordable (cheap) entertainment and (family) fun options this weekend in Chicago. Whether you live in the suburbs or are planning on getting a hotel room and vacationing in Chicago for the weekend, there is lots to do. If you haven’t gotten tickets to see the award winning show Wicked (the musical) or Jersey Boys, get them quick, the last block of tickets is on sale now. Also, in perfect timing with the Olympics on TV, Circqe Shanghai: Gold is in town performing at Navy Pier. The Museum of Science and Industry also has a new exhibit on Glass Making called The Glass Experience that is a lot of fun for the family. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium also has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King. Here are my recommendations and best picks this weekend in Chicago:

1. Everyone knows that the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will begin on NBC Channel 5 at 6:30 pm Friday evening. You can also see Cirque Shanghai: Gold at Navy Pier’s Pepsi Skyline Stage this weekendin between watching Olympic TV events from China. They will be performing there through September 1st so get tickets for later in the month if you are already booked. Tickets are very affordable from $15.00 to $30.00 and it is a fun family event. If you re coming in from the suburbs, take the metra and then a cab or bus from the train station to avoid traffic and the high cost of parking the car.

2. The Museum of Science and Industry has a new exhibit on Glassmaking and Glassblowing that is a lot of fun for the family while also being a learning experience. The Museum of Science & Industry is located at the address: 57th Street & Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60637. Call 773-684-1414 for more information. The Glass Experience, runs through September 1 and this interactive exhibition reveals the science, craftsmanship and beauty from the world of glassmaking. There are live glass blowing demonstrations, Dale Chihuly glass bowls artwork, Tiffany glass shaded lamps and Frank Lloyd wright stained glass windows. Admission is 8.50 for kids and $13.00 for Adults. the Museum of Science and Industry and the Glass Experience is open from 9:30 am to 4pm daily.

3. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King through September 1. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is located at the address 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus) Chicago, IL 60605. Call 312.939.2438 if you have questions for the Shedd Aquarium. This exhibit is neat because the world’s largest lizard is making his first-time appearance in Chicago and they have brought out all the lizard creatures he is related to for show also. Lots of great fish and amphibious creatures are always viewable at the Shedd Aquarium (penguins!) also. Admission is $27.00 for an adult day pass which includes this exhibit.

4. The award winning show Wicked is ending it’s Musical Theater run in Chicago at the Ford Center for the Performing arts (formerly the Oriental Theater) in January. The last blocks of tickets to the shows through December have gone on sale now. They won’t last long, plan tour trip to Chicago and book your hotel rooms now before it sells out. Get your tickets to see Wicked from Broadway in Chicago before it leaves Chicago whether you have seen it many times or have never seen the show before. I saw it 3 times and loved it. Ticket prices range from around $30.00 to $100.00 per seat.

Have a happy and safe Olympic weekend in Chicago!

Naperville Ribfest has become one of the largest suburban summer festivals in Chicago. It has been running for at least 20 years and the Ribfest has grown to now include major music acts along with great ribs from all over the country.

The thing that makes the Naperville Ribfest so attractive for both businesses and local residents is that it is in the suburbs and there are over 128,000 people living in Naperville and many more in towns of similar size around it. All these families with kids get something fun to do over the July 4th weekend and advertisers and entertainers love to be in front of them.

Over 1 million people go through the Naperville Ribfest over the 4th of July weekend. With that in mind save yourself some time and park in the 5th Avenue Metra Station lot and take the shuttles they have running every 10 minutes to the Ribfest. Otherwise there is no aprking within 1 mile of the fest. It is actually located in Knoch park behind Edwards Hospital but the hospital parking lot is off limits too. All the street parking was full by 3pm in the afternoon when we went too.

We suburbanites live 1 hour or more southwest of Chicago so the Taste of Chicago isn’t really an option for us with the awful traffic Chicago has these days. Plus if you live locally walking or biking to the Naperville Ribfest makes it more community friendly and less like the big city. The festival tries to be kid friendly and family friendly but local high school and college kids enjoy the Ribfest too.

Here is some helpful information about  the Naperville Ribfest schedule, rib restaurants selling food there and the events that weekend. 2009

Ribfest 2009 will run from Thursday, July 2rd through Sunday, July 5th.

• Thursday, July 2nd 12:00 Noon to 10:00 p.m.
• Friday, July 3rd 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4th 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m. Gates open to public at 7:00pm for fireworks
• Sunday, July 5th 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.

The Ribfest Food Vendors selling Ribs will be:

• Desperado’s BBQ & Rib Co. – Their 10th year at Ribfest
• Fast Freddy’s Electric BBQ Ribs – They aren’t cooked fast but they are eaten fast!
• Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue and Catering – You know and love Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce from the Jewel grocery store and come see what they do when they are cookin’
• Texas Outlaws BBQ – They have won first place two of the last five years
• Uncle Bub’s- The Hichory Smoked BBQ Restaurant was born in 1997 in Westmont
• Famous Dave’s – Well, they are famous for their ribs of course
• Pigfoot BBQ Company – A Ribber at Naperville Ribfest for 13 years
• Aussom Aussie – A 20 year veteran of the International BBQ Circuit and they have great cornbread for $2.00 also.
• Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ – They offer both tomato based as well as vinegar based sauces.
• Porky N Beans – a member of the National Award Winning Rib Cookers of America since 1983
• Rasta Joes BBQ – Joe Alexander (Rasta Joe) has been at Ribfest for over 15 years
• Sgt. Oink’s Pit BBQ – Last year they won Naperville 3rd place best ribs
• Johnson’s BBQ – They have a BBQ sauce called “Thermonuclear Sauce”
• Smokin’ Joe’s Hog Wild Barbeque
• Armadillo’s Rib and Que Company
• Howling Coyote Southwest BBQ

The competition for best ribs prizes is Fierce! Last year Uncle Bubs was voted best in the Naperville Ribfest and Armadillo’s won best Sauce. I think that those plus Sweet Baby Ray’s will be the best ones to check out first because it may be impossible to try them all unless you plan on eating lunch and dinner there every day of the festival. There are other food and drink vendors there at the fest too. You can always count on Oberweis for some great ice cream and root beer floats.

If you come to Naperville Ribfest for the food, stay for the music. They have brought nationally known bands and acts to the suburbs for years and this year is no different. There are 2 stages; the Main Stage (Heart, Sarah Evans, Todd Rundgren and Huey Louis and the News) and the Brian R Schultz Rock and Roll Stage (Blue Oyster Cult, North Mississippi All Stars, WAR, Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone) plus there is also a BP Family Area that has a lot of fun activities for the kids. The schedules for both stages are below.

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Some tips for making your trip to the Naperville Ribfest more fun:

1. If you drive be prepared to walk because parking fills up in downtown Naperville quickly and you end up parking far away. Wear comfortable shoes. Park in the 5th Avenue Metra station lot off Washington and take the shuttle to the fest.

2. Buy your tickets in advance through the Ribfest web site or pre-sale tickets locally in downtown Naperville at the Jewel Grocery Food Stores and save $2.00 per ticket. Otherwise it is $10.00 at the gate and there are usually long lines.

3. Bring the kids, your appetite and stay for the music and entertainment all evening long. Here is a Map of the events and locations of the Naperville Ribfest.

4. The Ribfest will close if when it is raining there is any Lightning. At that time the park will close and everyone will be asked to leave for safety reasons. It is very very crowded and everyone just sits on the ground with their ribs to eat. So bring handy wipes for your fingers or get them at the Sweet Baby Ray’s station.

Enjoy the Ribfest and have a great time!

The Old Town Art Fair is just one of many festivals going on this weekend in Chicago. On June 14th and 15th (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 am to 6 pm you can pay $5 bucks to wander through the stations and view all the artwork and hear the local jazz and musicians play. The entrance is on to the Old Town Art Fair is at 1763 N Park Avenue but most people seem to get there by Second City at North Avenue and Wells Street because the Piper’s Alley theater has a paid parking garage. (it fills up fast and costs $25 to park for the afternoon) From there you can walk north or south to view the posh artwork.  

The Old Town Art Fair features local artist’s work from Chicago and the surrounding areas. You can find everything from fine art like paintings and watercolors to photography, sculpture and other creative arts. It is not though a craft fair. You won’t find flower arrangements or sewing projects. It is all about art in the traditional sense. They even feature some interesting emerging artists you might also see at the Around the Coyote Festival in Bucktown each year. So if you are looking for art to furnish your condo or home in Chicago or if you are just looking for an entertaining way to spend the afternoon in the Old Town neighborhood, check out the Old Town Art Fair. Expect large crowds (like in the picture) and this weekend expect it to be hot and sunny so remember the water and the sunscreen while enjoying the art fair.

Chicago’s IO Theater has been a local school and proving ground for improv and comedy royalty for decades. These are the shows currently running at IO Theater in Chicago and my thoughts on the shows and actors I have seen. Most of the time when I go to IO, the improvisers surprise and enlighten me about something very funny. The theater isn’t new, so overlook some of the aging details and have a beer or two and enjoy the comedic genius. The history of IO and Del Close is a great contribution to the arts in Chicago and they deserve your support because they really do put together great work and very funny comedy shows. Whether improvised or scripted, they are all very high level performances and experimental at the same time. 

Shows usually cost between $5.00 and $18.00 per ticket depending on the popularity of the show and if they usually sell out tickets. Shows are an hour to an hour and a half depending on the show. IO also has some basic food you can buy there for snacks but the menu is limited to things like pizza, chips and whatever is microwaveable. The bar list of mixed drinks is much more advanced and they offer many microbrew beers from all over the country and the world. Improvisers love their beer. They also serve $2.00 Schlitz for those uncultured people who just like a cheap buzz. The theater also hosts special guest shows and performances from time to time, check the web site for updates or get on their email list for email schedule show updates too. Parking is tricky in this crowded Wrigleyville neighborhood. Get there a 1/2 hour early to find street parking or expect to pay $10-$25 to park in a lot within a few blocks of the theater.  Being across the street from the cubby bear and Wrigley field has its pluses and minuses and parking is definitely hard to find if there is a cubs game going on.

Most improv shows are at 8pm or 10pm, check IOChicago.net for full details and to buy tickets online or call 773-880-0199 for tickets and show times.  The theater is located at the corner of Addison and Clark Street in Chicago.

You can’t see performances or entertainment like this anywhere else in Chicago or the MidWest. Check out these recommendations below: 

Sunday Night IO Theater Shows

I haven’t seen these shows and most likely they are teams that may change by the month. So, check the IO Theater site to see who is playing this week.

3033
Children of a Lesser God
Level 4 Student Shows
Middle Age Comeback
Student Graduation Show
The Grasshopper Show

Monday Night IO Theater Shows

Sketch Writing Student Performance

The Armando Diaz Experience - This is an interesting format where a local celebrity guest is invited to tell a story to the audience and then the team of pro improvisers does scenes using some of that material. The results are usually twisted and hilarious. The team of pros changes weekly but can contain TJ Jagodowski, Susan Messing and many of the Reckoning team members. The best funny IO has to offer.

Tuesday Night IO Theater Shows

Big News - The Chicago version of the LA show that usually comes to Chicago for sketchfest every year. This show combines sketches, music, songs and some improvisation to make light of the week’s news. They are big into Political satire, of which you would expect more from Second City, but they do it on the fly with only a few days to write and prepare each show. It is a cross between improv and the daily show with very funny results.

Cook County Social Club
The Frank Hayes 4
The iO Pub Quiz
The Lottery

The Reckoning – a pro level of performance on Tuesdays! Every one of the performers in this group is so good they can make us laugh without even uttering a word.

Wednesday Night IO Theater Shows

Felt - Like Avenue Q, but improvised and funnier.

The Better Half

TJ & Dave- The best show at IO all week! See TJ and Dave while they last, we always think TJ or Dave will fly off to LA or NY and become famous one of these days so you never know how long this amazing improv show of interesting quirky characters will last.

Thursday Night IO Theater Shows

I haven’t seen any of these shows, so I am not sure how their format works or how funny they are, if you check them out let me know how funny they are in the comments.

Razzmatazz
Shotgun!
Shreeman Showma
Stubs
The Lindbergh Babies 2.0
The Living Room

Friday Night IO Theater Shows

Guy Friends

Improvised Shakespeare - Very funny show with some really talented performers. I highly recommend this show.

Steve and Jordan, Respectively

The Improv Jam - At midnight, expect this show to be a bare bones example of what happens when you get drunk novices trying to get up on stage with drunk experienced performers. All hell breaks loose.

Saturday Night IO Theater Shows

Cupid Has A Heart On - Very funny show about relationships told through song. I recommend this show for dates or for girls nights out. (Bachelorette’s parties too) Brian Posen has created a very funny and clever show about all the ups downs and sideways turns of our relationships.

Hogwash 
Klusterphuk
The Chicago Improv Rebellion

The Deltones - Improv in Song. This show was created to replace Baby Wants Candy which left after many years performing there. I think the format is much the same, they improvise and make an entire musical out of a few suggestions. All the performers here are very talented singers and improvisers, it is amazing to see this all come together using the harold format and song.

Whirled News Tonight - Very funny weekly improv show based on news headlines of that week. It usually sells out, so you should buy tickets in advance and get there early for a seat. You never know what will come out of this show.

I have lived in Chicago all my life and during that time not only has the Taste of Chicago been a huge event known for great food, music and entertainment, it has gotten larger every year and keeps on growing. Taste of Chicago features some of the best food in the city as well as some of the fastest to make and serve. Most all of the food is specific to Chicago and you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Whether your favorite foods are ribs, chicken, burgers, Chicago style hot dogs, PIZZA, pasta, beef, sushi, Thai, Italian, BBQ, vegetarian, giant turkey legs, desserts, chocolate, ice cream, or cheesecake, you will find something tasty to eat this year at the Taste of Chicago. Many people make it a meal (or two!) at dinner after work downtown. It does get crowded and you should read some of the reviews and advice from others before tackling this huge event.

Some basic information you need to know if you are coming downtown for the Taste.

Taste of Chicago Map (712 KB PDF File)

Event Dates:June 27th through July 6th

Event Hours: The Taste of Chicago opens every day at 11 am for lunch and is open until 9:00 pm. Ticket sales stop at 8:30 pm. On the Final day July 6th the event closes early at 6pm.

Event Location: The Taste of Chicago is located in Grant Park downtown in Chicago between the streets of

Tickets and Costs: Admission is free to the event, but the food costs a bit more than you would expect. The vendors also don’t take cash, so you have to buy tickets and each item on the menu at each restaurant booth is listed with a price in a number of tickets. A strip of 12 tickets costs $8.00. No item should be more than 10 tickets and some places offer a sample taste for 2 or 4 tickets so you can get a real taste of a lot of foods. The thing that always surprises me is how much drinks cost. Expect them to be 6 or 8 tickets each. You can purchase advance food tickets for the Taste of Chicago at Dominick’s food stores for $6.00 a strip beforehand if you don’t plan to buy them downtown or want to save money.

Parking:A lot of people come in from the suburbs and across the Midwest to experience the Taste of Chicago, so expect big crowds and no street parking. There are parking garages located under Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park that are popular because they are walking distance to Grant Park. The Metra is always also an option but Union Station is not anywhere near Grant Park. Expect to take a bus or cab down to the event from there it is a very long walk in the hot sun otherwise. The CTA has plenty of buses and EL stations also near by if you plan on commuting from city locations. It is always better to CTA or Cab it rather than to drive to a huge crowded event like the Taste of Chicago.

Taste of Chicago Concerts: There are several concerts and they are all free! But because they are free, the seating and space fills up quickly and you should arrive a 1/2 hour or hour early to get a good spot. It is also frequently sunny and hot during these free concerts so bring a hat, sunscreen and buy a water if you plan to be in the heat for a few hours.

Safety: As always keep a close eye on kids and all the people in your group. There are frequently so many people trying to walk between the food vendors and restaurant stations that everyone is elbow to elbow and if you loose someone it is very hard to find them again. Use cell phones to locate people in a crowd. Also keep an eye for pickpockets, in a crowd it is easy to mistake a pickpocket for a bump and then your wallet is gone. I have never had this happen, but it can, so keep your money in a safe place.

Taste of Chicago Map (712 KB PDF File)

This year the restaurants exhibiting at the Taste of Chicago are:

  A Natural Harvest
  Abbey Pub
  Adobo Grill (New!)
  Arya Bhavan
  Aunt Diana’s Candy Makers (sweet!)
  B.J.’s Market & Bakery
  Bacino’s Pizza of Lincoln Park
  Bella Luna Café
  Billy Goat Inn (cheeseburgers!)
  Bobtail Ice Cream Company (awesome Ice Cream)
  Bolat African Cuisine
  Buona Beef (aways a favorite)
  C’est Si Bon
  Canady Le Chocolatier (New!)
  Celebration Creamery
  Chicago Chocolate Company
  Chicago Joe’s
  Connie’s Pizza
  Costa’s
  Dominick’s
  Eli’s Cheesecake (a tradition in Chicago)
  Father & Son Pizzeria
  Fireplace Inn
  Franco’s Ristorante
  Grazie! Ristorante
  Guey Lon
  Harold’s Chicken #71
  Harry Caray’s
  Hashbrowns (New!)
  Helen’s
  Home Run Inn Pizza (my personal favorite pizza)
  JR Dessert Bakery
  Kasia’s Deli
  La Justicia
  Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt
  Las Tablas (New!)
  Los Dos Laredos
  Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (a taste of Chicago favorite!)
  Mazzone’s Italian Ice
  Now We’re Poppin’ (New!) Popcorn
  O’Brien’s Cafe
  Oak Street Beach Café
  Original Rainbow Cone
  Polka Sausage & Deli
  Polo Cafe & Catering
  Reggio’s Pizza
  Ricobene’s (another traditional Taste of Chicago Favorite)
  Robinson’s #1 Ribs (awesome ribs)
  Sabor Latino
  Soul Vegetarian East (New!)
  Star of Siam (great Thai Food)
  Suparossa Pizza
  Sweet Baby Ray’s (I love their BBQ sauce)
  Tamarind (New!)
  Taqueria Los Comales
  The Breakfast Club (New!)
  The Grill On The Alley
  The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine
  Tiparos Thai Cuisine
  Tuscany Italian Restaurant
  Tutto Italiano
  Vee-Vee’s African Cuisine
  Vermilion Latin-American Cuisine
  Vienna Beef/Gold Coast Dogs (You can’t miss getting a real Chicago Hot Dog At the Taste of Chicago)
  Wow Bao (New!) (fresh hot buns they say!)

Also The Chef’s table Special Featured Restaurants at the Taste of Chicago schedule are:

Friday, June 27, 2008 – Heaven on Seven

Saturday, June 28, 2008 – Morton’s

Sunday, June 29, 2008 – Berghoff

Monday, June 30, 2008 – Tavern On Rush

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 – Chant

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 – Cafè Spiaggia

Thursday, July 3, 2008 – Les Nomades

Friday, July 4, 2008 – Art Smith Company

Saturday, July 5, 2008 – The Parrot Cage

Sunday, July 6, 2008 – The Parrot Cage

The Chicago Improv Festival is always a great collection of shows and improvised comedy for one week every year. This year it snuck up on me because I have been focusing on other things (like this blog) and not doing Improv classes anymore. That said, I hope to still get tickets and attend some of the Improv and sketch shows this week in Chicago. The Chicago Improv Festival is one of several comedy festivals that hits the city for a week and brings in talented performers with a Chicago tie-in or just comedy groups who are very good at what they do and want to travel to perform in front of new audiences. They usually try and bring back one or two people who have made it from the Chicago Improv scene to NY or LA on Saturday Night Live or any one of a few other comedy shows on TV.

They also feature some of the best improv troupes in the city of Chicago at CIF. This is always a great opportunity for the rest of the city to enjoy their talents. Usually only a certain number of people venture into the basement of IO or the Skybox theater of Second City to see new emerging artists in Improv. The Chicago Improv Festival gets a much wider attendance and hopefully helps jump start their careers.

Monday night the Chicago Improv Festival kicks off with the superpower comedy duo of Jack McBrayer  (from 30 Rock) and Paul Scheer (also of 30 Rock) at the Lakeshore theater in Lakeview. The first few nights of the festival are at the Lakeshore Theater which is an ok venue except there is no parking. So, if you go to this it will be a hilariously funny show that ends with the hilarious towing of your car. (sirusly still go to it anyway)

Tuesday Scott Adsit (also of 30 Rock, the major employer of Chicago Improv Alum) hits the stage at the Lakeshore Theater with 3 local Improv Gods (read: they make a living at this in Chicago): Susan Messing, Mick Napier and TJ Jagodowski.  I have to go to this one too now. (shit! when am I going to sleep this week?)

Wednesday  there are no CIF shows at the Lakeshore Theater. Thank god, I can finally get some sleep. Or not? There is a show at the ETC stage at Second City with Franken Matt, Frank Caeti  and Matt Craig opened by Brian Gallivan’s one man show. Zexy.

Thursday night the Chicago Improv Festival recovers with Miller and Middleditch, two veteran IO performers that should surely deliver the goods at the Lakeshore Theater. All these shows btw are at 8pm.

Friday night the Improv fest features a group of familiar faces at the Lakeshore theater with DITKA featuring some of the best Second City Mainstage cast to go to LA in the past few years: Frank Caeti, Maribeth Monroe, Brian Gallivan  and Marc Warzecha. It is always interesting to see new groups of people play together and this is a new pairing that shouldn’t disappoint. 

On Friday night The Playground Theater gets in on the action also with 2 shows, The Irish Mutts and Ay Diego with Zabeth Russell  and Will Luera.

Saturday has many shows:  7:30 starts off with 313 from LA, which has a cast of very talented alley jumpers Keegan-Michael Key, Larry Joe Campbell, Nyima Funk, Josh Funk, Marc Evan Jackson and Andy Cobb.  8 pm features the cast of Sports Action Team of which you might have seen on at midnight after SNL here on NBC Channel 5 in Chicago. It actually has a great cast of very funny people in it ,but the show has never really been a good use of their talents. I hope they are paid well. This show will most likely feature a screeching hawk at some point.

And Sunday we all fall over and die from all this comedy and partying and no sleep. Seriously though this is a huge week for comedy in Chicago and if you can make it to any of the shows from the Chicago Improv Festival it will be well worth the time, money and towing fees. Check out chicagoimprovfestival.org for the full bios and for more information on tickets and addresses of the theaters.

This is some very disturbing news. The state of Illinois will be deploying radar and speed cameras all across the state in July to record photos and track speeds of cars going over the speed limit in construction zones and work zones on the highways and tollways. The first ticket will be for $300.00 fine and a second one will result in a $1,000.00 fine. On the surface that looks like something good, to ensure safety, but it isn’t and we have seen this before.

What the press release doesn’t say is that speeding isn’t what you think it is. Most of us consider 5 mph over the speed limit to be ok, because a hill could create that without you even knowing it and most cops won’t write you a ticket for going 2 mph over the limit. These cameras and radar machines will be able to automatically print cash for the state’s budget deficit by sending tickets for anyone over the limit at any level. Even 1 mph. And they will, because it has nothing to do with safety. It is all about money.

This was a huge problem in Bolingbrook last year when a Mayor’s thinly veiled attempt to “reduce accidents” revealed a plan to print cash also. It failed when residents were getting $200.00 tickets in the mail several days a week for making legal right turns on a red light after stopping behind the white line. People were enraged. They lit up the internet protesting this unfair way to basically steal their hard earned money during an economic downturn when paying the mortgage and bills is harder than ever already. After months of vocal complaints, phone calls and an outright boycott of the stores in Bolingbrook, the mayor reconsidered this policy, took his money to the bank and suspended the program in November 2007. This has also been a huge problem as cameras were installed in London and all over England as a revenue generating machine, and the people were so enraged they openly disable and destroy them and just voted out the current mayor of London that approved it.

I hope the same protests happen online, by phone and in person all over the state of Illinois about these unfair tickets from these  automated speed and radar cameras. Technology has led to many new conveniences and advances in our lives, but it has also reduced our privacy and anonymity to an almost non-existent level. And now exploiting technicalities for the sake of revenue is more popular than ever.

It is obvious also that there is a huge budget deficit to be filled in Illinois right now, and technically catching small infractions and charging an insane amount of money in penalty for them is a fast way to make a lot of bucks. What the citizens of Illinois really hate is the patronizing tone of this false justification for the charges being to save lives. We know it isn’t true, and that isn’t even a growing problem. If saftey was a problem, the numbers would be higher. They find it legal and justified to charge everyone $300 or $1,000 because 2 people were killed in 2004 and 5 in 2003. No data is presented to prove that in the past 5 years anyone has been killed, injured or otherwise mildly annoyed while working on the roads. Why use 5 year old data to justify this program except that this is the last time this happened? And they don’t mention if the cars were speeding or not. I would bet they weren’t speeding and it was probably drunk driving, of which kills hundreds of people every year and the state is not very good at stopping at all.  How about we accept that accidents happen sometimes on highways rather than invent false reasons to charge people money they can’t afford because there is no public vote on this type of revenue generation scheme and no way the citizens could block it from happening?  

Another solution to this workers shutting down the roads every summer would be to actually fix them in a proper manner so they don’t require more fixing every summer. I have had a strong feeling for years now that the road construction companies are a huge racket making money in unjust ways from the state while they patch and repair roads in low quality ways that won’t last, on purpose, to create more work for themselves next year and for every year in the future. No roads should have to be redone every year. Yet, there they are on 290, I-55, 294, 90-94, I-88 and 355 every year jackhammering out road seams just to put in 2 seams where there was once 1. All the seams patched now buckle and bump my car so that the CD skips, but hey that made someone personally a lot richer. I believe that 90% of the highway road construction is completely unnecessary. I would be happy with the quality of the roads with no further work at all for about 5 years.

Hey, there is the answer!  The answer to the budget deficit problem is to stop all road work for the next 5 years. That way we don’t get busywork shutting down our roads and the state of Illinois can actually pay for things it needs all the while no one gets killed or mildly annoyed working there.

So, now we know that instead of stopping the racket of road construction companies basically extorting money from the state, the government has decided to steal the money from the citizens to pay them. Make your opinion known to the governor and state government that this is not right to do to citizens and it must stop.

Personally, I am not going to travel on the highways or tollways after July 1. I can’t take the risk of loosing that much money for something I didn’t do right now. I am perfectly ok with back roads for where I need to go. If you do have to travel on these highways, use cruise control and set it for 5 mph below the limit just in case of a hill.

If you want to read the full press release you can at: www.dot.state.il.us/press/r033005.html 

It finally feels like spring in Chicago and we should get out and enjoy it before the oppressive heat starts! Here are some suggestions for activities and events this weekend in Chicago.

1. Chicago Green City Market opens on May 14th and they have a special event with Mayor Daley on Saturday May 17th. The Market will be open weekends now until fall at 1799 N. Clark, and Stockton Drive. This is very close to Lakeview and Lincoln Avenue. Green City Market’s 10th Anniversary Rally for Local Sustainable Farming  Saturday, May 17, 9:00-10:00 am, South Lincoln Park *RAIN OR SHINE*. Come see what fruits, vegetables and foods have been locally grown and delivered fresh. I assume though that because of the location and the premium to raise produce locally these prices will be higher than your grocery store. I think that if you can afford it, locally grown food is a better choice for ecological sustainability.  Check out the Green City farmer’s market for what food is fresh and local this weekend.  (Many of the suburbs have local farmer’s markets also starting soon)

2. Lollapalooza Tickets  are still on Sale and if you want to make it to this fantastic festival this summer get them now before they are sold out. They have also set up a contest called Last Band Standing that you can find out more about on their site.

3. Eddie Izzard  is playing at the Chicago Theater on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm. Tickets are about 95% sold. See Ticketmaster for those last few nosebleed seats if you can get them. Eddie is fantastically funny and not to be missed since it may be another 5 years before he comes to Chicago again.

4. Chocolate Grape Restaurant opened last weekend and now that the crazy rush has passed it might be a good time to stop in and give them a try. Expect wine and chocolate themed food. It sounds luscious. Chocolate Grape Restaurant is located at 2113 West Division Street, between Damen and Hoyne Ave. call 773-772-3990 for reservations. 

5. The Field Museum  has  several new exhibits opening in May 2008. Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters opens next weekend May 23rd and advance tickets can be purchased online. This may not seem like regular Field Museum Fare (maybe more Science and Industry?) but it will be interesting in our current climate crisis. They also have a new permanent exhibit the “DNA Discovery Center” open now and “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” is open at The Field Museum through September 1, 2008.

6. Before you blow your $600.00 government economic stimulus rebate check at Home Depot on a giant grill consider these options. Jewel food stores are offering a 10% bonus if you give them the entire check amount. This may seem like a lot of money for groceries, but with no time limit for the card usage, who wouldn’t really get good use out of a 10% bonus on your money?  Also, consider the tax implications of this money. I think you still have to pay taxes on it like income. If you have most everything you need right now, why not stash it away in an interest bearing savings account like the ones online at ING? This will provide a safety net for when you need it later. You never know how much worse the economy is going to get or how global economic conditions will affect your job in the long term.

7. Register to start training for the Chicago Marathon.  I know this is a huge bragging right of passage in Chicago every year, to say you ran and finished the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. (they were bought by Bank of America so the name may change?) What most people don’t know is that you have to train for 6 months to get in shape enough to run 26 miles of Chicago city streets. It is about 6 months from now, so if you are interested the Chicago marathon site has training program guides available and Nike.com has some great running training tools and groups they coordinate for running locally. Check them out to get into better shape and stay away from the malls this summer.

8.  Chicago Mayfest  is this weekend and this opens the summer event festival season officially. Expect streets to be blocked off and traffic to be backed up for social-networking yuppies to be drinking al fresco all summer. The Chicago Mayfest includes the ambiguous staples such as beer, live music and dogs. It is located in Lakeview at 3100 N. Ashland Ave. It will be open from noon to midnight Friday Saturday and Sunday and is $5 to enter.

9. Try the ginormous Iron Maiden Burger  on a yummy pretzel bun at Kuma’s Corner.  (seen in the picture above) They are located at 2900 W. Belmont Ave in Chicago, IL 60618. Phone 773.604.8769 for more info.

Every February despite the cold weather, Chicago’s Chinatown comes alive with decorations, lions and lots of food in celebration of the Chinese New Year. This year it falls on Thursday February 7, 2008. Last year in 2007 was the year of the Pig and in 2008 it is the year of the Rat. Each Zodiac animal has different characteristics that lend a different mood and personality to the year and the celebrations. The year of the rat is known for wealth and prosperity as well as particular luck.

People born in the year of the rat are said to be smart, crafty, good with other people, social, empathetic, a little shrewd sometimes, hard working, ambitious, very entertaining and into parties. You are a rat if you were born in these years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984 and 1996. Some famous people who were born in the Year Of The Rat include Prince Charles, ice skater Sasha Cohen, and Scarlett Johansson.

The number 7 is also considered lucky in western cultures (via gambling) and the number 8 (in 2008) is lucky in Chinese culture. (and is also coincidentally the main number of the date and year of the China hosted Beijing Olympics 8-8-08, triple lucky) It is also said that if you get married in 2008 you will have good financial situations and if you buy real estate you will have good returns on your investment. The lowering of real estate prices nation wide will also make property purchases attractive to Chinese people with cash on hand looking to make a good return investment. 

January 26, 2009 will start the year of the Ox (or Buffalo) which is also very important to Chinese Americans and anyone who follows the Asian Zodiac as well.

Chinatown in Chicago traditionally has a parade and festival during the Spring New Year Festival and on the Chinese New Year itself. Be sure to stop by to see dragons dance in the streets under the pagoda arch, the lantern festival and try some moon cakes. The parade will be on February 10th at 1pm on 2400 South Wentworth Ave in Chicago. It usually goes down the main street of Chinatown if you don’t have a map to Wentworth Ave specifically. Or just follow the crowds. featuring a 100-foot-long dragon float and the traditional Chinese Lion dance. The parade starts at Wentworth Avenue and 24th Street, then heads north on Wentworth to Cermak Road.

If you don’t believe in the Asian Zodiac or won’t be able to make it to Chinatown this Chinese New Year there is  a great dance and musical show you can enjoy at the Arie Crown theater that is very popular and well received. Plus there are 15 days of the Spring New Year festival to celebrate beyond just the New Year date Feb 7th itself. For more info about the Chinese New Year Spectacular Show:

Show website: chicagosoh.net
Online Purchase: ticket.ntdtv.com or at ticketmaster.com
Show theater: Arie Crown Theater
Information hotline: 312-225-5120
Ticket price range: $28 – $128
Show schedules: 2008-01-25 20:00, 2008-01-26 14:00, 2008-01-26 19:00
Performance Group: Divine Performing Arts on Tour from China

And Happy Chinese New Year!!

New Year’s Eve 2008 in Chicago will be a huge event. We have a lot of holidays around religious beliefs and history but New Year’s Eve is just about fun and nothing else. You can go to any one of a number of NYE parties happening around Chicago and have a great time. Many of these parties have been going for years and have a great lineup of live bands, singers, champaigne toasts and balloons at midnight as well as drink specials all night long.  If you can find a baby sitter and get out, enjoy the night and the celebrations around Chicago. It’s the one night that you can stay up until dawn and not care about the hangover and after effects the next day. It’s also a day to celebrate the year in review and look forward at new and great opportunities. After the ball drop you can take a minute to ponder where you want to be next year and see if you can make it happen in 2008.

Weather Note: It is usually freezing on NYE every year. So, if you are a girl going to a party that you don’t want to have a coat or a purse because it might get stolen, try a black cardigan sweater or blazer over the sparkly top. It looks accomplished and professional but still sparkly. And has pockets for ID, Keys, Lipstick and Credit Cards. 

Here are the 3 biggest parties happening in Chicago on New Years Eve in 2008.

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Navy Pier Grand Ballroom - The Kiss 1035.5 Radio Station has a huge bash in the ballroom of Navy Pier this year. They get great current bands to play and the whole place is a huge concert. It also has a great view of the skyline of Chicago from outside on the pier, and Fireworks out there at Midnight. (but I wouldn’t stay out there more than a few minutes in the 10 degree weather) It is always packed so if you are looking to meet girls and guys on this party day, this would be a great place to go. Thousands of people (singles and attached) go every year and make this a well known hot spot. There is a Navy Pier Parking Garage attached to the complex so you can even drive in from the suburbs and park close by and not walk outside in the cold. Expect parking to be around $25.00 though it’s not cheap when it’s in demand. Tickets are $150.00but they include open bar, appetizers and of course the live concert from the Lollapalooza favorite band The Shock Stars.  Tickets are available at Ticketmaster or TrystNightLife.com which sells them through going.com. Navy Pier is located at 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL  60611.

At the House of Blues in Chicago Radio Station, 93 XRT is also hosting a New Year’s Eve bash with CBS and Collective Soul. This isn’t as huge as the Navy Pier Party but also guarantees a great night of entertainment and partying. This event is 21 and over event and remember the house of blues is a general admission standing room only venue. So wear comfortable shoes.  The tickets are $145.00(without fireworks like Navy Pier) and if you are looking for a dinner package with the restaurant, call 312.923.2000 for more information. The live band starts at 9pm. I would guess that this ticket price includes an open bar, but the site didn’t really specify. Tickets are only available at Ticketmaster. House of Blues is located at 329 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL  60610.

Excalibur’s New Year’s Eve Bash is always a huge clubbing party. It’s been happening for years and you can party on all the different levels in the turn of the century limestone castle building that has a weird goth vibe if you ask me. They say they have 25 bars and 100 bartenders to serve you and are open from 5pm to 7 am. There are 3 levels of tickets here. $125 Platinum Reservedtickets with guaranteed admission before midnight and premium open bar from 8p to midnight. It also includes a supreme dinner buffet from 8pm-11pm, access to vip rooms and the entire building. A $75 Gold Reserved ticket which gets you guaranteed admission before 11pm, a Deluxe Dinner Buffet 7p-9:30p and an Open Bar from 7pm-11pm. There is also a budget special $50 General Reserved ticketwith guaranteed admission before 9pm and a Cash bar if you’re not a big drinker. It is important to note that there are no returns and no re-entry if you leave the party. It is also a 21+ only event. Excalibur is located at 632 N Dearborn Chicago, IL.  

What is happening in Chicago this weekend? What is there to do this weekend in Chicago? I have been searching for the answer to those very questions. (don’t forget to fly the flag on Monday!) Here is the list of events and happenings for the Labor Day Weekend:

All Weekend:

** The 29th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival – In Grant Park – Friday – Sunday – Hear Great Jazz Music and musicians and it’s FREE!

** Taste of Polonia - Taste of Poland –  Live Music Food and Polka Dancing. (just like my ancestors used to do) @ the Copernicus Cultural Center 5216 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago – $3 – $7 Admission 773-777-8898

Friday August 31, 2007

** New Movies Opening this weekend: Halloween, Balls of Fury, Death Sentence, The Nines, Self Medicated and Deep Water. (none that I think are really must see, hey is Bourne Ultimatum still playing?) 

** Critical Mass Bike Ride – Meet at Daley Plaza Downtown @ 50 W. Washington St at 5:30 pm. Ride with some extreme bicyclists in Chicago.

** Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros @ 1:20 pm  (avoid the Lakeview area because of huge traffic jams)

** Tony Bennett sings @ Ravinia. These shows most likley sell out, call for ticket availability.

** Second City – Between Barack and a Hard Place is still running at the Main Stage Theater. It’s a great show, and very timley. See it before they write their next revue. Second City is located at 1615 N. Wells Street Chicago. Book tickets online or call for reservations first. These shows almost always sell out.

**IO Theater – Something new from IO Improv Comedy Theater: The Harold Show @ 10:30 PM. This place is great. I have seen dozens of their shows, and no matter who is performing, it is always a great time and I leave laughing.

Saturday September 1, 2007

** Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros @ 12:05 pm (avoid the Lakeview area because of huge traffic jams)

**Annoyance Theater  - Funny Improv Shows at 8pm, 10:30pm and 12 midnight. 4830 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Sunday September 2, 2007

** The Download Festival @ 1 p.m. Sunday at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive $40; 312-540-2000 or www.downloadfestival .com Hear, discover and download new music from a wide range of artists.

** Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros @ 1:20 pm (avoid the Lakeview area because of huge traffic jams)

** Enclave (night club, dance and music club/bar)  is hosting a bash called Global Adrenaline 10 Year Anniversary Festival from 5 pm till 2 am. Enclave is at 220 W Chicago Avenue in Chicago, IL. RSVP MANDITORY FOR ADMISSION call (312) 654-0234  I have been to Enclave, and it is a cool night club with a very modern feel.

** Navy Pier – The last weekend fireworks display for the summer, courtesy of Navy Pier. See them one last time at 9:30 pm and tune in on Jack FM on 104.3.

Monday September 3, 2007

Huh? Like are we really supposed to get out of bed on a day off? Isn’t days like this intended for living in the virtual world only? Many people probably plan on logging on to Second Life and WoW for the day and never get out of their pajamas.

Or, this might be your best chance to hit the Chicago Labor Day Sales and get some cool summer stuff on clearance or some stylish new clothes for fall. All the hot new fall styles are out already even though it’s not even cold yet.  Check out the Amazon.com Labor Day Sale, plus Kohl’s and Ikea also have sales planned for the holiday.

And then there is always the chance to have the last grilling BBQ ritual of summer before you put your white shoes and handbag away until next year.

Did I miss a cool event? Post it below and let people know about it!