Wow. I can’t believe it’s been literally decades that I’ve known John Schenk and often hosted charity concerts that he’s put together for his Rainbow Foundation. From UFO’s Pete Way to Jim Peterik to Randy Jackson to Dennis DeYoung to Shooting Star to Kevin Chalfant to Rik Emmett…the list goes on and on. His many charity shows benefited sick children and their families. Their stories were tragic yet somehow these events were so fun! His giving spirit always impressed me, and his ability to put on a great rock concert that helped so many heartbreaking situations really amazes me.
This Saturday, May 13 it’s time to celebrate two decades of concerts/charity events…by having another concert! Swing by The Penny Road Pub to catch a great show from Firehouse and UFO’s Paul Chapman while celebrating 20 years of The Rainbow Foundation helping children and families in crisis.
Ticket’s are only $13 in advance (get them through ticketweb) or $16 at the door.
It will be a somber St. Patrick’s Day for those of us slowly coming to terms with the absence of our beloved South Side Irish Parade. On March 25th of 2009, the South Side St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced that the event would be cancelled, indefinitely. The decision was welcomed by some, but widely regarded as the end of a cherished era by most.
For many, the parade was as much a staple for their neighborhood as any event; so much so, that it grew in popularity every year and eventually became too large to manage. Or so the explanation goes.
South Side Irish Parade Route
While there were many legitimate factors that influenced the cancellation, (namely public intoxication, trampled property, unruly behavior) none represent what gave the parade its heart and soul: the families. It was about gathering to celebrate our Irish heritage, but you always got the sense there was more to it than that. Droves of families and friends poured faithfully each year into Western Avenue like a green human river; walking distances from as short as their front lawns to neighborhoods miles away.
Some of my earliest and fondest memories can be attributed to that parade. I watched it with my family and relatives as a child; marched in it as a boy scout; attended it with dear friends as a teenager; played in it as part of the Marist High School Marching Band and returned to it as a spectator, and an adult. It was an event to share with your children, and your children’s children. A gathering of proud people surrounded by the buildings and streets they love. It was the celebration of the neighborhoods the event represented, and the stores you rode your bike to as a kid. It was the South Side Irish Parade, and it was ours.
(Replacing the event will be the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest, held on Saturday, March 13th, hosted by the Beverly Arts Center. The daylong festival features family-friendly activities including: bag pipers, an Irish soda bread contest, a small children’s parade, dancers, a best dressed “Irish dog” contest and an array of Irish-themed arts.)
TICKETS
Admission (from 11am-4pm): $10 Adults,
$7 Seniors, Free for children under 12
Admission (after 4pm): All tickets $25
What if Ebony could have twittered 15 years ago? This would have been a Herculean innovation for the home of now defunct WJPC Radio and it’s 8-track tape machines. If you want a great read about an iconic publisher set right here in your own backyard, then this weekend you gotta get Living The Ebony Life: E-Mails from the Plantation by Zondra Hughes. The book signing will be at Azizi Books in Matteson, this Saturday March 13th from 2p.m. to 4p.m.
Zondra Hughes worked as an associate editor for Ebony from 1999 to 2006, and as she illustrates in her latest work, sometimes your dream job can become your worst nightmare. Living The Ebony Life: E-Mails from the Plantation is the compelling insider’s tell-all of life at the No. 1 magazine in Black America.
“New media didn’t derail Ebony magazine,” Zondra says, “bad management did.” In EBONY LIFE, she provides the context for the magazine’s recent woes with a shocking paper trail that exposes the work conditions under a few rogue overseers, collectively referred to as ‘The Man.’
Ms. Hughes made her literary debut on the outrageous and over-the-top Wendy Williams smash hit, Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood! (Pocket Books/Karen Hunter Publishing). She is currently the editor of N’Digo, and a featured blogger for both The Huffington Post and ChicagoNow. For more information visit www.livingtheebonylife.com.
Baseball season in the Chi doesn’t start for another 27 days, 4 hours and 21 minutes so you have absolutely no excuse for not attending this dazzling event brought to you by the Chicago Lions Rugby Super League.
The Chicago Lions RSL team will be opening their season with a spectacular display of elite rugby competition by taking on their cross-town rival, the Chicago Griffins, at Hope Field (2431 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL) on March 20th at 1 PM.
The Chicago Hope Academy, the Lions community partner in Lions for Hope, will start the day with a high school match against DeKalb HS @ 10:30 AM. The Lions RSL B side will follow the A side match @ 3PM. The 3 games will be followed by a post-match party on the Lions field. In addition to high level rugby, USA Eagles (USA Rugby’s National Team) Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan, will be present to scout for the national team and available for meet-and-greet throughout the day.
The Chicago Lions rugby match against the Griffins on March 20th has all the makings of a great day for the Lions and all of our supporters. Rugby is growing rapidly in popularity, especially with the recent release of Invictus and the addition of rugby 7s to the 2016 Olympics, and this is our opportunity to display rugby in its preeminent form to the people of Chicago. Together with the unique partnership of the Chicago Hope Academy, and the introduction of rugby to high school students, it will be memorable sporting event.
For more information about this event, please visit the website at www.chicagolions.com or contact Chicago Lions RFC President Keith Brown at 312.952.1028. If you have any questions or seek more information about the Lions for Hope partnership, please contact Chicago Hope Academy President Bob Muzikowski at 312.781.2139 or visit their website www.chicagohopeacademy.com.
Jay-Z may be performing at the United Center but the after-party is definitely at The Shrine!
Hennessy Black & Rich Paul Presents THE BLACKOUT Thursday March 18th, at The Shrine (2109 South Wabash). Celebrities expected to attend THE BLACKOUT including LeBron James will be Jay – Z, Trey Songz, Young Jeezy, Michael Jordan, Memphis Bleek, Shaquille O’Neal, Donte Whitner (Buffalo Bills), Ted Ginn Jr. (Miami Dolphins), Jerry Azumah, Hustle Simmons, Mark Anderson, Fred Carter (Minnesota Vikings), Devin Hester and WGCI’s Leon Rogers.
This is don’t miss party people so come and enjoy The Blackout!
Taking the least respectable portion of a demographic and giving them a platform on which to embarrass themselves and everyone they represent? So has been, and continues to be the ongoing trend in reality television. Normally, you’d breathe a sigh of disapproval, change the channel and feel sorry for the city or culture that has just been misrepresented. This time is different, though. This time it’s personal.
According to www.oconnorcasting.tv, O’Connor Casting has begun searching for White Sox fans who live on Chicago’s South Side, who dislike the Cubs, and who (wait for it….) resemble a “”Jersey Shore” type of reality star.” The casting call goes on to describe its criteria: “ARE YOU THE NEXT “Jersey Shore” TYPE OF REALITY STAR? Do you live on Chicago’s Southside?Are you the GUY or GIRL who is awesome in oh so many ways? Are you sexy, crazy, fun, outgoing, outrageous, love to make things exciting, always up for an adventure, and a HUGE SOX fan who thinks the CUBS suck? If so, then we want you, your friends, your total awesomeness. CONTACT US NOW!” View the entire casting call here: http://oconnorcasting.tv/castingboard/index.php?q=node/6
In other words — unless I’m mistaken — an excuse to manufacture a Chicago version of what has become one of the most socially protested, insulting, grotesque displays of human behavior in recent television history. Already, I can hear the collective sounds of Chicagoans (myself included) hurling their lunches into their laps. White Sox fans and South Siders don’t deserve to be represented by the lowest common denominator of individual. We are one city, despite the connotation a show like this would suggest.
While the website does not disclose when, where or on how grand a scale the reality show will air, one thing is certain: whether you’re a Cubs fan, or White Sox fan, or don’t care for sports altogether – this is bad for Chicago. Period.
There is no benefit in plucking the most abominable members of any fan base, culture or city and parading them around as if they were the majority. “Jersey Shore” became a television phenomenon for all the wrong reasons. Its success came at the the expense of many who never asked to be associated with the stereotypes the show has created. And yet, it seems companies are tripping over themselves to clone and serve up the next batch of culturally destructive, two-dimensional, well…… “Hiney Birds,” as “Hawk” Harrelson might describe them.
Shame on any Chicago-based companythat so willingly offers up its own people to be used as embarrassing pawns in the name of a reality television show. The Windy City deserves better.
Natalia Avilez, NBC Street TeamWhat is best described as a town surrounded by magical realism in the Gabriel García Márquez’ novel; “One hundred years of Solitude,” is now a reality. Macondo- Colombian Coffee & Empanadas, is a fair- trade Colombian coffee and (gluten-free) empanada shop located in Lakeview that offers patrons a taste of Colombia that goes beyond Coffee.
From the hand-picked selection of traditional and contemporary music that plays in the background, the Colombian-themed art work, and the trinkets that adorn this rustic coffe-house; Macondo is surrounded by a warm feeling that reminds you of home-at least for me it did. As I snacked on the Aborrajado; a sweet plantain filled with guava covered in mozzarella and sipped on Juan Valdez Café Reale; Leo Suares -owner, took the time to speak with patrons about Colombian culture, music and art.
Macondo’s menu varies from 8-10 different bite sized empanadas;a turnover with a shell made of either wheat or corn flour filled with endless possibilities of deliciousness, sweet plantain wedges, as well as other Colombian dishes for under 10$ that will satisfy both your appetite and wallet . Although the service was friendly fast and efficient both the coffee and the atmosphere were so inviting that each time I tried to leave I kept ordering more items from the menu!
If you are looking for a great way to experience Colombian music, culture and food in a relaxing environment, I highly recommend this humble coffee and empanada shop located at 2955 Lincoln Ave. For more information on Macondo, their delivery area, or to attend one of their many upcoming events check out www.macondochicago.com.
Well, I have worked in the Adult Beverage Industry for over 7 years here in the Chicago area. About a year ago I was approached by representatives of the brand and then came on board to use my expertise to help launch the beverage in Illinois. It has been a lot of fun working for this new company and breaking it in this market. TY KU has given us the freedom and flexibility to try new things in order to build the brand.
What are the most popular types of TY KU in this market?
TY KU LIQUEUR is the most popular type selling in the Chicago area. It comes in a very uniquely shaped bottle with a bright green citrus tasting liquor inside-that people like. TY KU LIQUEUR is made up of super fruits found only in Asia-including a combination of mangosteen and gogi berri-natural ingredients packed high in antioxidants and vitamins.
How does the brand differentiate itself?
The New Skin of TY KU
Currently, there is no clear leader in Asian Spirits in this market and this is where we’ve found our niche. In addition, we are bringing to market a healthier alternative to most adult beverages due to the natural super fruit ingredients. The TY KU LIQUEUR is packaged in a unique bottle that lights up at the bottom and this is another great selling point. And our TY KU SAKE is poised for huge growth with it’s unique flavor-offering the same health benefits as wine.
No not really. But we find that we are developing a customer base that is 21-30 looking to experience new flavors-willing to try something different. And it is very popular among women. (And this couldn’t be more true-new TY KU Fan-Alicia Tiffany stated, “Personally I liked the fruity sweet taste of the green one…the colors of the drink and the shape of the bottle really stood out.”)
At the top of the year we introduced the new TY KU SOJU and have a major push behind this campaign. And we have just launched the TY KU NINJAGETAWAY Sweepstakes because even Ninjas need a vacation! We are offering TY KU fans a chance to win a kick a$$ vacation to Paradise Island, Bahamas or Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The prize includes 4 days & 3 nights at the luxurious Riu Hotel & Resort, round trip airfare, spa treatments, water sports, beachwear, skincare products & much more! Enter daily to increase your chances of winning. Sweepstakes ends on April 30th, 2010
So you’re out bowling with your buddies and suddenly your stomach starts growling. What do you do? You go to the snack bar and get some nachos or an overpriced bad piece of pizza, right? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy chips and manufactured cheese as much as the next guy, but what if there was something better? What if there was a place that offered bowling, bocce, real food, and didn’t smell like a bowling alley? This place does exist and it’s called Pinstripes.
Upon arrival you make a choice if you want to sit in the dining room and eat, bowl and eat, or play bocce and eat. Yup, they will serve you anything off the menu even if you’re bowling. I decided to sit down and eat before knocking down a few pins. My guest and I decided we were going to enjoy simple comfort food, so we started off with the fried mozzarella. It’s simple but satisfying.
For main courses we decide on the baby back ribs and the prime rib dip.
The full slab of ribs are tender and features a tangy barbeque sauce with just a hint of citrus behind it. The Prime rib dip is like a French dip, but better! Tender sliced prime rib is served on an awesome pretzel roll with a side of au jus and is sooo much better than that stale slice of pizza you get at your local bowling alley.
Desserts were admittedly a disappointment. The warm cookies and milk look amazing, smell great, but only taste ok. Reason being that they are not fresh baked cookies, but rather warmed up cookies that start soft and eventually end up hard. The other disappointment was the lemon and orange sorbet. Served inside their own shells, these normally refreshing treats had the distinct flavor of freezer burn.
After dinner it was time to partake in some of the swankiest bowling around. Flat screen TV’s replace the old boob tubes, leather couches replace hard plastic chairs, and smooth R&B replaces the usual top 40 playing at most alleys. This is almost too nice to bring your buddies to!
Dinner for two will run about $40-50 depending on your choices and bowling runs $7 a game in the evenings. A bit pricey if you’re with your with pals but not too bad if you’re on a date. Food alone warrants ** and ¼ but factor in the ultra cool music, bocce, and bowling and Pinstripes deserves *** out of ****.
Locations
100 West Higgins
South Barrington, IL 60010
847-844-9300
On Friday February 19th 2010 Ven Sherrod Photography and LAD4 Creative Video Productions will feature an artist tribute entitled “Celebrating the Black Wedding”. An exhibition showing how photography and video have captured the beauty of the black wedding through an artistic and creative approach.
The exhibit will be held at the Ven Sherrod image gallery located at 1906 S Halsted Chicago IL 60608 from 6-10pm This is a free event and refreshments will be served with live entertainment. RSVP at events@vsphoto.com
Who is Aniba Hotep-please explain for the world to know.
I am a Messenger of Peace-the person who sees the happy ending to the path of life. Consider me a combination my unique life’s experience and applied knowledge-from mentors who have gone before me. Living through these experiences-this is who I am. Where it all began was in my hometown, performing in talent shows and composing my own music in an academic honors programs, which lead to a chance to perform at the famed Apollo theater as a young child.
Aniba Hotep
How do you define your style…is it Soul Music or is it R&B?
My style is absolutely Soul Music. Originally from small town in Virginia, my musical roots were being established in the Church from age 11. My sound is influenced by my religious upbringing-infused with the blues. Listening to me perform-you can hear Southern based Soul a kind of Soul Blues-akin to many of the greats like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Johnny Taylor, Al Green and Billie Holiday.
When I first heard you play you reminded me of some of the great disco classics from the days of Salsoul Records. How do you feel about disco and house music?
Where I’m from-house is GoGo music. And when I first moved here-I fell in love with the older stuff like First Choice and Loleatta Holloway-and you can hear some of these songs incorporated in my live sets. However, I would not have labeled what I heard and listened to at that time as house music.
How does fashion play a role in your music?
Fashion is very much intertwined with my music. When first arriving in Chicago-I started first expressing myself on the poetry scene and then transitioned into the music. Even then, I wanted to leave a mark in all facets of this are. When people see a show they deserve a visual-and fashion would never not be a factor.
What do you enjoy most about your art and performing?
Aniba Hotep-Live
I enjoy the songwriting aspect of my art. I write most of my material and music. Building a song that people appreciate-pleases me. Once an audience is engaged in my art-that’s when I am most comfortable and closer to finding a love for the stage.
What about the city of Chicago influences you?
I became an adult in the city of Chicago. It has always influenced me musically. Before arriving I was always in record stores listening to and looking for records from Chaka Khan, Ramsey Lewis and Booker-T-the Chicago taste in music was similar to what I was listening to and what I like to give in my shows.
What’s in store for your fans in 2010?
I plan to continue with the“All Souled Out” concert series-we already have a growing fan base. The next time you can come to see me play will be at The Morseland-Friday, February 26 at 9pm. We plan to perform at the upcoming Chicago Soul Music Festival and will look to book an overseas tour.
Come on out an see the most soulful band out of Chicago since Earth, Wind and Fire-Aniba Hotep and The Sol Collective!
The Fold will play atThe Bottom Lounge in Chicago tomorrow (Friday, February 12) night. They will be also at the Apple Store in Michigan Avenue on March 21, 2010. Bring your iPhone and be part of their new video! Hear more about that during my conversation with Dan Castady, lead singer of The Fold in Cara’s Basement.
Listen here:
The video they made for “Every Band In The U.S.A.” is amazing and is burning up on youtube:
Get more from The Fold here:
Most home cooks have a signature dish. You know that dish you make when you want to impress family, friends, or even that special someone. This dish is so good; everyone tells you it should be on a menu somewhere! What if you got that chance? Does your dish have what it takes?
The folks at Carlucci’s in Downers Grove had an open call out for people to submit their best pasta dishes with a chance to be featured on their menu. With nearly 50 entries submitted, executive Chef Kevin Provenzano whittled them down to six finalists. Dishes were scored on taste, appearance, originality, and difficulty to prepare.
The finalists each brought a guest to help judge each others dish. What they didn’t know was that Chef Pravenzano, Joe Carlucci, Suburban Life Publications assistant managing editor Jonathan Schuler, and yours truly were on hand as guest judges.
The finalists and their dishes were:
Dan Peloza — linguini misto
Colleen O’Leary — rigatoni with portabello bolognese
Joan Cerny-Cimaglia — tuna rotini pasta
Karen Price — crab bisque ricotta shells
James Griseto — rigatoni carbonara
Karen Whalen — farfalle with sausage
Coming in third were Karen Whalen’s savory farfalle & sausage. The runner up was Karen Price’s rich and creamy crab bisque riccotta shells. And the grand champion was Dan Peloza’s shrimp and sun dried tomato linguini misto.
Dan’s winnings include his dish being featured on the Carlucci menu for a month, a $200 gift card to the restaurant, and one night stay at the Doubletree. I want to thank the folks at Carlucci’s for asking me to be a guest judge and I would like to offer my congratulations to all the finalists for filling my belly with you terrific pasta creations!
Carlucci Restaurant is at 1801 Butterfield Road in Downers Grove, (630) 512-0990, www.carluccirestaurant.com
It’s rare to find a restaurant in the burbs that I really like which is not in the city. I found such a gem in the western suburbs a couple of weeks a go. Prasino, the new eco-friendly restaurant in LaGrange, promotes “green” and is doing it very well. Prasino (means “green” in Greek) is the first eco-friendly restaurant for Chicago’s western suburbs. With an eco-chic design, and family friendly environment, this 200-seat restaurant is committed to promoting organic agriculture and supporting local growers & artisanal food producers whenever possible. General Manager Peggy Maglaris Kopley was inspired to start the concept after her husband was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007, that brought the family’s attention back to the importance of “all things fresh.” She soon started buying organic products from the grocery store and attributes her husbands recovery to his organic diet.
Prasino’s menu appears to have similar menu items that you can find at other restaurants, but the key is that they’re organic and healthy. For example, their “Blue Crab Nachos” appetizer are served on baked yukon gold crisp with steamed blue crab, mango salsa, and cilantro bearnaise. The “Grilled Fresh Monterey Calamari” features blistered cherry tomato, braised cannellini beans, baby spinach, sea salt crustini, and a truffle mustard vinaigrette. Prasino has an attractive list of meat and seafood entrees, but I chose to sample the “Miso Chili Glazed Alaskan Black Cod” and the “Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna”. Both dishes were extremely fresh, delicate and complemented by steamed basmati rice and baby bok choy. The flavors were light but present and the wasbai cream added a pleasant touch to the tuna. Side dishes range from “Grilled Asparagus” to “Roasted Cauliflower Gratin”. I thought the “Asparagus & Corn Risotto” made with truffle oil and lemon butter would be a dream, but it turned out to be a little too salty.
Prasino has a drink menu that works for everyone. Besides the standards of specialty coffees and teas, other organic highlights include fruit and veggie blended juices, sodas, smoothies, bottled beers and ciders, and sparkling wines. They have nice red and white wine selections, but Prasino’s specialty alcoholic cocktails take the blue ribbon. Be sure to order my two favorites, the “La Grange Manhattan” and the “Rose Hipster”. Top off your dinner with the apple waffles or bread pudding, although the latter of the desserts was very average.
Prasino is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has affordable prices. The atmosphere has a friendly family feel and the service was good. It’s a great place to dine with kids and is located steps from the Metra station in downtown LaGrange enabling easy access from the city and other suburban areas. My wish is for Prasino to bring their concept to the city. Check out Prasino at http://www.eatgreenlivewell.com. Visit www.efete.net/blog.html to view my “Tru” ratings for Prasino.
JenChicago, NBC Chicago Street Team Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Or even better, WATCH all about it! The weekend starts early with a performance and celebration this Thursday at The Joynt. Cellist Ian Maksin will be performing, with special guests, songs from his new CD, Solo Flight. The night is also the launch of the newly released CD, so expect plenty of celebrating to go along with the unique and soulful music of Ian Maskin. No cover. Doors at 8.
Want a little taste? Watch below as I host a “Gimme 5!” interview with “The Cello Man”, himself!
For more info, check out this week’s Time Out Chicago! See ya there!
After a disappointing experience at the grand opening of the new restaurant Epic, in the downtown River North area of Chicago, I was a little hesitant to return for dinner. The event that evening was far too crowded and a little unorganized that left me pondering the concept of the new hot spot. I didn’t know whether they it was a club or a restaurant, so I decided to go back and check it out, after receiving a sincere message from their Maitre De.
Upon arrival, I again had the same thoughts. Is this a club or a restaurant? But as soon as we were seated in the main dining area, the concept became very clear. The downstairs bar area provides more of a lounge atmosphere with hip music, couches and hi top bar seating. The upstairs space is where the feasting takes place. The entire place is massive complete with four levels, including a rooftop terrace. Epic’s design is simple and straightforward. The architecture has a loft like appearance with elements of exposed brick, steel and concrete. It didn’t wow me, but it got my attention.
Epic’s dinner menu is filled with beef, chicken, pork and fish entrées. Seafood items plaster most of the appetizer section and they have a nice selection of salads and side dishes to choose from. Since I’m a connoisseur of lamb shanks, I opted for the “Spiced Lamb Shank” entrée. Our waiter assured me that their lamb shank would be right up there with the best that I’ve had. Well, I wouldn’t necessarily give it those props, but it was definitely tender and succulent. The combination of spices complemented the shank and the lamb jus was pungently flavorful without sweetness. My dinner guests enjoyed the “Chilean Sea Bass” and “Salt Crusted Market Fish For Two” entrées. The presentations for both dishes were done well. The “Brussels Sprouts” side dish prepared with bacon, honey and chestnuts tempted my taste buds. The sweet and savory combination helped me forget that I was eating brussels sprouts for a moment, but sprouts are sprouts.
Dinner was capped with dessert. The “Chocolate” and “Pumpkin & White Chocolate” desserts were sampled. The former consisted of flourless cake, mousse and hot fudge, and the latter was made with toasted white chocolate cake, roasted pumpkin ice cream and chestnut caramel. Both desserts were solid, but didn’t have me licking the plate. The service started off a little slow, but picked up as the dinner progressed. The atmosphere was festive, which helped the cocktails to flow more readily, although, I wouldn’t recommend Epic for a quiet evening at dinner. Expect to drop $50 per person on dinner before getting your keys back from the valet and be prepared to hang out for after dinner cocktails in the downstairs bar area. Overall Epic’s cuisine was solid with a good atmosphere and decent service. My final “Tru” rating is TTt.
January is “National Soup Month”, a holiday celebrated annually in the United States. Although this is an American holiday; soups from around the world are celebrated. By definition, soup is a liquid food that is made by combining ingredients, such as meat, vegetables or beans in stock or hot water, until the flavor is extracted. Before there was soup, there was broth, which people used to pour over a piece of bread in a bowl. That bread was known as sop, and from sop came the word soup.
Now that we’ve had our history lesson, let’s talk about how you can celebrate here in your own backyard. City dwellers and suburbanites are both in luck! Chances are no matter what neighborhood or suburban city you live in, there’s a restaurant nearby waiting to warm you up. And with our fine Chicago winter being as cold as can be, doesn’t a nice warm bowl of soup sound good right about now?
Bookbinder and clam chowder at Hugo's
I embarked on my own “Soup Day” adventure recently in suburban Naperville. To make me yearn for soup, I decided to forgo the valet and park a couple of blocks from my first stop and walk through the cold. First stop was Hugo’s Frog bar to help warm my bones. Hugo’s is owned by Gibson’s, which means it’s bold, loud, and plenty of fun. First soup offered was the creamy New England clam chowder that boasted a generous helping of tender clams. Soup of the day was the chicken and rice and was very close to what your mother might have made. My favorite though was the Bookbinder soup. A rich and hearty vegetable and seafood soup that had just a little heat added to help warm your mouth and your soul.
To get that need for soup again, a one mile walk to Meson Sabika was in order. Unlike Hugo’s, the quiet dining room feels like your in someone’s home. In a way you are since this restaurant was converted from a residence to a restaurant some time ago. Three unique soups were available and a sample of them all was in order. The first was the “Sop de Alubias Negras”, a black been soup with chorizo that had a nice smoky flavor. My personal favorite was the “Caldo Gallego”, a hearty white bean soup that had pieces of bacon and Serrano ham throughout. The soup of the day was a cream of mussel soup that was blended velvety smooth and had the flavor of the mussels right on the forefront.
Caldo Gallego at Meson Sabika
Whether your craving cream of chicken or cream of mussels, January is definitely the time to exercise your love for soups. And if you don’t listen to me, listen to your mother, because she’s probably told you eat more soup since you can remember. Below is a list of participating restaurants.
Those looking to satisfy their hard rock cravings will have an opportunity to do just that when the Riviera Theatre welcomes home two of Chicago’s hard-hitting acts:Chevelle(Epic Records) and Janus(REALID Records.) The bands join Australia natives, Sick Puppies, for what promises to be one ear-crushing event you won’t want to miss.
Chevelle
WHERE ·Riviera Theatre WHEN ·Saturday, February 20 @ 7:30 PM AGE ·All Ages PRICE ·$25.00
Every year we make resolutions that we can’t or don’t keep. We set ourselves up for failure by setting unrealistic goals or by not establishing a plan of action to reach those goals. When we fall off the wagon we say – I’ll start again on Monday or on the first or, the infamous, “tomorrow.” Well, keep in mind that the “tomorrow” that we talked about yesterday is now TODAY – so let’s get 2010 off to a good start with a few tips for maintaining your resolutions and solutions for common resolutions!
Put your resolutions in writing. Nothing beats the accountability you’ll feel when you re-read the promises you’ve made to yourself. Post them on your computer as a screen saver or on sticky notes on your computer, desk phone, bulletin board, dashboard or all of the above! Let them serve as ever-present reminders of your goals.
Develop an action plan. What are the steps to reach your goals? Plot those steps on your calendar, setting reminders and breaking your resolution into manageable chunks so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by your ultimate objective.
Chart your progress. For those long term goals, be sure to monitor your progress. Give yourself a pat on the back (or massage, purse, Wii game or a lite beer!) for those first five pounds, five new customers or five stacks of unopened bills that you’ve finally gone through!
Be realistic. Be sure that your goals are set high enough that you really have something strive for, but not so high that they are unattainable. Stretch yourself – your mind, body and spirit!
Yesterday, Tomorrow was Today! If you fall off the wagon or get a little off your path, “now” is always a good time to self-correct! You don’t have to wait until tomorrow, or think Monday morning is a magical start date. Acknowledge the slip, determine the reason (if you can), adjust your game plan (if necessary), dust yourself off, forgive yourself and make it happen, baby!
Now that we’ve got a game plan in order, here are a few common resolutions and some things To-Do in connection with them!
Get Physically Active! Getting fit isn’t just about going to the health club. Here are some other ways that you can meet your fitness goals.
The Mature H.O.T. Women’s Program liberates the spirit of the dancer to reign free in every cosmopolitan woman. This workshop is designed to strengthen the body, challenge the mind and nurture the soul through the synergy of modern, ballet and jazz techniques. Classes begin on January 18th and are offered on Monday evenings in the Loop and Wednesday evenings at the South Shore Cultural Center. Check out photos from the first workshop series!
Sno Gophers – While skiing may not be practical for an everyday fitness routine, it is great exercise! Sno Gophers is an African-American ski club and each year it plans a number of regional and national ski trips. The regional trips include day trips and overnight trips and each trip includes generous amounts of camaraderie amongst ski enthusiasts and rookies! You don’t have to break a leg or go for broke to take part in this exhilarating winter sport!
The Chicago Park District is offering you an opportunity to “Break a Sweat, Not the Bank!” Continuing through Sunday, January 10, 2010, work out for free at all Chicago Park District Fitness Centers. Even after the 10th, you’ll find that the CPD has ϋber reasonable rates and there’s probably a fitness center really close to where you live and/or work!
Start My Own Business! Whether there’s an idea that you’ve dreamed of pursuing for years, or you’ve dabbled at something without giving it your full commitment, there are low cost options available to assist you in making your dream a reality!
The Chicago Urban League offers a Business Boot Camp that will guide you through a number of critical areas, including writing your business plan, financing your business, marketing and much more. The 16-week series begins on January 12th and you can either register for the entire series for $200 or drop-in on the classes that interest you for $20-25.
Since 1986, the Women’s Business and Development Center has helped prospective and established women business owners achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship. From workshops and seminars to business coaching and financial assistance, they will help guide you to business and economic success. Here, too, you will find reasonable prices and programming that addresses some specific issues faced by female entrepreneurs.
SCORE Chicago is another excellent resource for new businesses. SCORE Chicago provides free business counseling, management consulting, and low cost workshops. They advise on how to get a business loan and offer other resources like templates for a business plan. SCORE counselors can help the entrepreneur start a business or a small business owner grow and prosper. The organization has more than 25 locations in the Chicago area.
Travel! If the travel bug’s gotcha, there are some real cool opportunities to take part in a variety of travel adventures!
The University of Chicago’s Graham School of General Studies offers, among other fantastic opportunities, a variety of “travel study” programs. Through the Graham School, you can visit any number of exotic locations in small groups designed to ensure that you get the most out of the experience. Lectures, discussions and exploration will provide you with a thoroughly enriching cultural experience!
Black Girl Travel creates extraordinary travel opportunities for extraordinary women! The tours are designed from scratch by Black Women for Black Women. Coming up in 2010: Italy, the French Riviera, Spain, Egypt and more!
Sankofa Odyssey is another cool way to make your way around the world – by sea! Their trips include travel from luxurious yachts to “bareboat chartering” (where everyone participates in sailing, cooking, cleaning and partying!). In July, Sankofa journeys to St. Martin, St. Barts, Anguilla and the Leeward Islands!
Find Love! If the club, bar and party scene didn’t do it for ya in 2009, try something new in 2010! Explore some of Chicago’s art exhibit openings this year or attend art lectures. If music is your thing, take advantage of some of the world music series or the lunchbreaks at the Chicago Cultural Center. Winter is a great time to take in some Chicago theater! Plan your attendance around opening night or on nights with a post-performance discussion or reception. The point is that by regularly participating in specific cultural events that interest you, you are bound to start regularly coming across people with similar interests. Soleil’s To-Dos can help, because we have the most comprehensive listing of culturally diverse Chicago events! Take advantage of our search options by viewing only those categories of events that interest you.
Whatever you decide To-Do, make it a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
A monk is a man that’s part of a brotherhood, living in a monastery, and devoted to a discipline prescribed by his order. What most people don’t realize is that Trappist monks are accomplished brew masters. So while most of us thought monks chanted all day, the folks at The Lucky Monk drew inspiration from these age old brew masters to craft their own line of specialty beers. Since man cannot live on beer alone (some of you have tried), a full menu is available to help lead you to a path of enlightenment.
Glance over the drink menu and you’ll notice that a whopping thirty five beers are available and seven are brewed in house. Two standouts are the “Cardinal Sin”, a Czech-style pilsner and the “Pale Belgian”. In order to drink more beer you need to eat. I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson about drinking on an empty stomach!
For those feeling a little Mediterranean, a creamy serving of hummus is available. While I do prefer warm/soft pita bread, the toasted pita will appeal to the potato chip fan. A true delight was the warm pretzel trio. Three warm pretzels served with honey mustard butter, tomato parmesan sauce, and the oh so heavenly Wisconsin cheddar beer fondue. The fondue is so good, you could serve it on a shoe and it would be delicious! How about some fries? How about some white truffle-parmesan fries? For a $1.50 more, you get fries drizzled in white truffle oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and topped with shaved parmesan cheese, YUM!
You don’t need to be on the path to enlightenment to know that most guys eat pizza and burgers with their beer. Seven prime beef burgers are available here, with both a 6oz and a manly 9oz size available. Tonight’s choice was the 9oz smothered burger. Cooked nicely to medium, this juicy burger is toped with sweet caramelized onions, creamy Gruyere, lettuce, tomato, and sits on a sturdy sesame seed bun. While I am admittedly a deep dish fan, I do on occasion enjoy some thin crust pizza as well. New York style thin crust is featured here and it works on most levels. The crust is crisp and chewy, the cheese is flavorful and stretchable, the sausage is meaty and plentiful, but the sauce is ordinary and forgettable. The pizza is still a good choice, just not the standout that the burger was.
Dessert should never be skipped! If you’re already eating burgers and drinking beer, your thoughts about your diet should be thrown out the window. Think back to your childhood in the boys/girls scouts and dig into the hot skillet s’mores. Warm melted chocolate and toasted mini marshmallows make this a rich and decadent dessert. The star dessert is the house made apple strudel. Thin sliced apples kissed with cinnamon and wrapped in filo dough make this a dessert good enough to kiss the chef over!
Dinner for two should be about $40 since most items are $10 or less and nothing even at $20. Overall The Lucky Monk offers hand crafted beers and impressive food for a pretty reasonable price. Check out more reviews at HungryZ.com
Lady Gaga will invade Chicago next weekend, but now it’s at a new location. Turns out the production of her show just won’t work at the Chicago Theatre so now her shows on January 8-10 will happen at The Rosemont Theatre.
Here’s the kicker: if you were fortunate enough to land tickets to any of her sold out Chicago Theatre shows those tickets are not automatically good for the The Rosemont Theatre. YOU MUST TAKE ACTION TO KEEP YOUR TICKETS VALID….AND YOU ONLY HAVE 48 HOURS TO DO SO, beginning at 5pm today!
If you have Lady Gaga tickets here’s what you need to do: return your Chicago Theatre tickets for a full refund at your point of purchase – then you will be given the information on an exclusive presale for The Rosemont Theatreshows at that time. So, in essence, you have to buy your tickets all over again. But rest assured, ticket holders for the Chicago Theatre show(s) are guaranteed the same amount of tickets to the Rosemont Theatre show(s) on the same night they bought originally. This guarantee is only valid during the 48 hour presale time.
Confused? For any ticket holder questions, go to www.ticketmaster.com or call ticketmaster customer service at 800-653-8000.
All of this is good news if you didn’t score Lady Gaga tickets the first time around. Since The Rosemont Theatre is a bigger venue that means more tickets will go on sale this Monday morning, January 4, at 10am via www.ticketmaster.com or at any ticketmaster outlet. Get more information HERE. And…even better…you can win FREE tickets for Lady Gaga next week with Eric & Kathy on 101.9 The MIX!
Your best bets for affordability and fun for New Year’s Eve have everything to do with your own personal style. From the big blow outs to the smaller more intimate events there is certainly something for everyone. Here is a sampling of the some of the options:
The Critic’s Choice: Chicago Scene Party at the Drake
Voted 3rd best NYE party in the country by AOL City Guide. Chicago Scene in association with Lonnie Rodriguez and Vince Anzalone of Genuine Entertainment will host a massive party at the Drake Hotel.
Special Guest performance by Your Villain My Hero Chicago’s hottest top 40 Cover Band. DJ Jernell Geronimo (Y-Bar, CRESCENDO) with Miro on Drums will be performing in the Grand Ballroom.
DJ JEM (Lumen, Cuvee) and Marty Kane are the newest DJ/Drummer Duo to hit the scene will be performing in the VIP French Room.
New Year’s Eve Soiree 2010 at the Westin Sponsored by KISS 103.5 FM
The Westin Hotel (909 North Michigan Ave) will provide not only a great New Year’s Eve party with all the requisite amenities: Top Shelf Open Bar All Night, a variety of hors d’oeuvres, specialized martinis, champagne all night, chocolates, celebrity djs, midnight confetti storm and so much more.. not to mention 3 nights of celebration. Purchase a ticket to the celebration and get free admission to the pre party Dec. 30th at Soundbar and the post party Jan 1 at Crobar. www.chicagonye.com
The Elegant Choice: Pops For Champagne
Pops For Champagne (601 North State) will feature an open bar food and party favors and a special performance in their downstairs jazz club by the Ava Logan Quartet.
Have you ever gone to a restaurant with your buddies and wished you could just order a bunch of appetizers instead of an entrée? Maybe you just landed a date with that hottie from the gym and thought, “Man I wish she would share what’s on her plate.” Here’s where a tapas restaurant can really come in handy. Simply put, tapas are small plates of food that are meant to be shared over a drink. Those looking for that 32oz porterhouse should look elsewhere, like the cardiologist!
While many tapas restaurants focus on cuisine from Spain, Mezé offers a more international menu. Located in the West Loop, this spot exudes a cool vibe. Local art adorns the walls while the exotic music offers a cool mix of international sounds. All this means nothing without good food, so pour the sangria and let our world wide journey begin!
We start in Asia with the vegetarian Thai rolls. Served cold, the crisp carrotts and cucumbers are wrapped in rice paper and served with a dynamite sweet chili sauce. Hop on a plane to the Carribbean and chill out with the bright citrusy flavor of ceviche. They’re served with organic chips, so you can tell your beer buddies they’re nachos! Grilled talapia is the star of the addictive fish tacos served with an delicious carrot slaw.
After your buddies have finished their tacos and “nachos”, a stop in America will leave them licking their fingers from the barbecued chicken winglettes. Tender lollipops of chicken are served with a warm barbeque sauce that is sure to be a favorite. Our final stop is in the Mediterranean, so feel free to relax and stay a while. Say goodnight to the guys and hello to that hottie who agreed to meet you here. Pour some of the smooth house made sangria and you my friend are Joe Cool.
The colorful Boursin stuffed peppadew wows with creamy garlic infused goat cheese stuffed inside pickled sweet peppers. Butter knife tender peppercorn beef and gorgonzola is sure to make your taste buds explode with joy while satisfying your carnal need for red meat. To finish our journey we need to enjoy the grilled baby lamb chops. This super tender meat is topped with a roasted red pepper puree and is thankfully devoid of the mint jelly that many restaurants offer.
Prices average $6-7 per plate with only three over $10. Overall Mezé offers a cool vibe, wonderful diverse food, and killer sangria for a suprisingly reasonabe price.
New Partnership! Nude Hippo has been a player in the Chicago media scene for more than 10 years. Now the brand and the personalities are an exclusive part of the NBC Chicago Street Team. Watch Nude Hippo videos on this blog and on the brand new nbcchicago.com Emmy Winners! The NBC Chicago Street Team was recognized by the National Association of Television, Arts and Sciences with an Emmy for its coverage of Looptopia. Click here for more information and to watch the video that helped secure the nomination.
Cara Carriveau, NBC Chicago Street Team
Erik Sorensen, NBC5 Street Team
LaShonda Matlock, NBC Chicago Street Team
Natalia Avilez, NBC Street Team
Eric Smith, NBC5Chicago Street Team
Glenn Murray, NBC5 Street Team
Hungry Z, NBCChicago Street Team
D.C. “Fete Select TV” Crenshaw, NBC5 Street Team
Hungry Z, NBCChicago Street Team
Stephanie S. Green, NBC Chicago Street Team
The 
The 
Black Girl Travel
Check out the weekly “Word On the Street” segment on “
amyzang
anthonymorre
Ashley Lobo
blagica
Ben Soldinger
candacejordan
Cara Carriveau
Chasity Chaos
Zach
dccrenshaw
dleoblogs
Damaris Woodbury
eriksorensen
flyextreme
Glenn Murray
goodhumor82
hungryz
Itika
janellerominski
Jeff Baraka
jdinaro
Jen Knoedl
jimgrillo
lashonda
lauralodewyck
lizholland
Lindsay
Marcus Riley
maureenvanaphotography
mendenhall
moveyourbody
nbc5
paulbanks05
prowriter0923
rebeccarose78
Relaxocat
Jon Ibrahim
shlomichicago
shreyasshah
April Lawson
smnoble
Soleil!
Desiree Prieto
theregman
The Local Tourist
tomkolovos
turban8r
NBC Chicago Street Team 
