Chicago, IL

Starting December 1st, this blog will present the 12 days of Chicago. Each day I will write about a fun holiday event that you can do in Chicago. Most of them will be free, so that is a bonus.

To make this project more enticing for my readers, I will be offering it in conjunction with a contest! The winner of the contest will receive $25! Here are the rules:

HOW TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this blog entry or send an e-mail to winnieblogs(at)gmail.com (replace the (at) with @) in which you tell me your favorite holiday event to do in Chicago. If you have never been to Chicago, you can tell me what holiday event you wish you could do the most in Chicago. You will get plenty of ideas from my posts over the next 12 days, but feel free to come up with your own. The deadline to enter is Wednesday December 12th at 12:00 p.m. central time. This will coincide with the final day of the 12 Days of Chicago event. Only one entry person please.

HOW TO WIN: I will chose one winner via a random drawing of all of the eligible entries.

THE PRIZE: $25. Any applicable taxes are the responsibility of the winners. If you win, in order to receive the money, you must have a valid Paypal account. The prize money is coming directly from 451 Press, so this is how it has to be done. If you are the winner, I will e-mail you and you must reply with your valid Paypal e-mail address in order for me to give you the prize.

Questions? Leave in the comments or email me at winnieblogs(at)gmail.com. (replace (at) with @). Good luck!

I also have another contest going on at my View blog. Check that out as well!

Holidays in Chicago, Christmas, Chicago, contest

Do you think you have what it takes to perform at one of the city of Chicago’s summer music events? The Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events has posted information for those musicians who would like to be considered for a spot in the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Country Music Festival, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival or Celtic Fest Chicago.

The deadlines for submissions vary, although most are due this fall or early winter. For full information on how to apply and what the deadline is for the event you are considering, view the official announcement here. Who knows, I could be writing about your performance next summer!

Chicago, MOSE, Chicago Gospel Music Festival, Chicago Blues Festival, Taste of Chicago, Chicago Country Music Festival, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, Celtic Fest Chicago, music audition

There’s an old saying. If there’s one thing a filmmaker hates, it’s another filmmaker. Ok, maybe it’s not old. Maybe I just made it up. But, in the spirit of breaking down walls between artists, you should check out The Future Filmmakers Festival. See “Passionate, Honest, Inventive” student films for free! Who knows, some of them might even be watchable.

Friday June 29 & Saturday June 30th

Columbia College
1104 S Wabash
Rooms 705 & 709

Check out the website for a complete list of screenings: HERE

Future Filmmakers Festival, Student Film, Chicago, Columbia College

So, if you are up for a pretty amazing day, Sunday is your day. In the culminating event of Pride Month (June), the Pride Parade in Chicago will be this Sunday (June 24th) at noon. Some estimate crowds in past years as high as 450,000 people. That. Is. Amazing.

The international theme for Pride 2007 is United For Equality.

The parade route: Step off from the Halsted & Belmont corner, proceeding north on Halsted (to Broadway); then south on Broadway (to Diversey); then east on Diversey to Cannon Drive, in Lincoln Park.

This year’s Grand Marshal will be former NBA player, John Amaechi.
What a great chance to get together as a community and make a statement that we are all one big human family.
I hope to see you there!

Pride Parade, Gay, Lesbian, Chicago, John Amaechi, United for Equality

Last night I went to the preview of the new Thursday 8pm show in the Del Close Theater at iO featuring BUST and Indra’s Net, two new improv teams that promise big and exciting things. It’s a tough time slot at iO, because downstairs in the Cabaret, the legendary team The Reckoning has been an installation for what seems like forever. Maybe, though, because some of The Reckoning’s team members are off traveling, and they have been inviting others to join them that just don’t have the same chemistry…maybe it’s time to check out what’s going on upstairs at the Del Close Theater.
BUST is a two-woman improv team that to me, felt like the female version of the Nogoodniks in a lot of ways. Obviously there were only two of them, so the limitations of that dynamic are ever-present. I feel like these two are going to be really awesome once they find their grounding. This time felt like they were trying to cram every character they could think of into one show. My advice, as an audience member: Slow down.
Indra’s Dream made a good first showing. It’s a very cool concept. Read their show description HERE. Some of their players seemed to make a lot of common mistakes - repeating the same character one too many times, or entering the scene and shouting something pseudo-preposterous. But, overall, it was a good show with a lot of really promising elements. I saw a few cast members that seem to have been team-hopping recently. I, personally, enjoyed this combination. Most pointedly, I love seeing Kate Duffy, especially when she seems like she’s good-naturedly mocking her teammates. Also, I’m a new fan of Lisa Linke. I think she is smart and interesting to watch with an advanced wit. It always seems like she’s taking the scene in a direction that I didn’t expect. Love it. Plus, Joe Burton is always masterful and smart. It often seems like one or two people pick up his uber-cerebral references, but not everyone as a whole. But, you have to love an improv show that has a scene in which he gives an astonishingly thorough explanation of Avagadro’s Number. Well played.
Sad you missed it? Well, don’t miss iO’s line up tonight. A little bird told me that Seth Meyers is bringing SNL producers to scout for new talent. Charna Halpern is lining up some of the best for a great showcase. The Improvised Shakespeare Company’s regular 8pm show will be followed by a command performance by Moist. Then, at 10:30, downstairs will be The Reckoning and Bullet Lounge, while upstairs Dave Pasquesi is teaming up with Tracy Letts for what hopes to be a memorable experience. It’s a great opportunity to see some extremely experienced improvisers put on their A-game for the scouts.

iO, Chicago, Improv, Bust, Indra’s Net, The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Moist, The Reckoning, Bullet Lounge, Dave Pasquesi, Tracy Lords, Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live, Charna Halpern

So, I don’t know how many of you have ever been to a Roller Derby. That’s right. I’m talking about a Roller Derby. Tough, loud and crazy women flinging themselves around a track on rollerskates - smashing into each other - scoring points in an almost indeciferable manner. It’s almost like the illegitimate child of Hockey and Speed-skating…and it’s SUPER FUN!
Chicago is home to several kick-ass teams. You can check out the Windy City Roller’s website here: WHAM!
If you are up for something a little bit crazy and a whole lot of fun, on June 16th, starting at 6pm, you can see two matchups - Hell’s Belles vs The Fury, and Manic Attackers vs. Double Crossers.
They even have a Party Bus that meets at The Cobra Lounge for a pre-party at 4. For $8, you can get transportation to and from the match, and make it back to the Cobra Lounge in time for the after-party.

Admit it, it sounds fun!

Roller Derby, Chicago, Windy City Rollers, Hell’s Belles, The Fury, Manic Attackers, Double Crossers, The Cobra Lounge

Are you one of those people that thinks that there’s nothing fun to do on a Wednesday night? Well, America’s Next Top Model ended weeks ago, it’s time to get out of the house.
Here’s a few things you could be doing tonight…

International Summer Screenings Program
Claudia Cassidy Theatre, Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St

To encouraging a better understanding between cultures through the art of cinema, Cinema/Chicago is collaborating with various consulates and cultural organizations to provide free summer screenings of international films to the public.

Wednesday, at 7:30PM, at the Claudia Cassidy Theatre, Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street, Chicago. FREE ADMISSION.

See web details here: TOOT!

The Right-Handed Polar Bear

Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N Milwaukee, Chicago

BonusFunTime presents The Right-Handed Polar Bear, a sketch show that dissects the issues of dishonesty and embarrassment with subtle, and sometimes silly, comedy. There’s no agenda here. Think of it as an open dialogue between the truth and what we parade around as the truth every day. The Right-Handed Polar, a show, which if we’ve done are jobs correctly, will have you dropping any façade you had worn previously to let the “real” you shine through.

Produced by Gorilla Tango and BonusFunTime. Starring: (Your’s truly) Peggy Entrop, Nikhil Gahlawat, Leonardo Adrian Garcia, and Courtney Hummel.
Show Rating - PG-13
Every Wednesday in June - 8pm
For online tickets ($10), visit the website here: SMASH!

Rock Culture Music Festival
Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago

Rock Culture Music Festival is a two day music festival that features 8 bands each night (6 local bands, 1 or our artists, and a national headlining act) similar to Vans’ Warped Tour and Oz Fest.
Check out headliners: Before Their Eyes (June 6) and Spitalfield (June 5) with many others! Doors open at 5:30pm at Logan Square Auditorium- tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door! ALL Ages!!

www.rockculturemusic.com

America’s Next Top Model, Chicago, International Summer Screening Program, The Right-Handed Polar Bear, Gorilla Tango Theater, Rock Music Culture, Before Their Eyes, Spitalfield

Looking for something interesting to do? Why not find out what Midwestern Buddhists are like? Just steps from St. Michaels in Old Town, the Midwest Buddhist Temple is a beautiful and peaceful building. Take a cultural adventure, and check out their Zen Shin Meditations on Sunday mornings, or if you aren’t really interested in their spirituality, you could just go to their “First Ever Used Book Sale.”

Saturday June 9, 2007 10 AM to 1 PM
At front of Temple - Between Larabee & Sedgwick
Genres include fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.

Proceeds will go to Room to Read, which provides books and libraries to underprivileged children around the world.

Hardcovers $1 - Paperbacks $.50

Sounds like a great cause to me!

Buddhism, Chicago, Midwest Buddhist Temple, Used Books, Room to Read

Have you ever been walking around downtown, and you accidentally find yourself in the middle of some kind of protest? A few weeks ago, I found myself in this scenario, and I unfortunately never really figured out what was going on. It was something having to do with Bank of America and La Raza and racism.
Anyway, I was snooping around on the Chicago Free Speech Zone website, which seems to be a point of contact for people interested in Activism in Chicago, and I noticed that they have some really interesting events coming up.
Maybe you want to check them out.
Maybe you don’t agree with these people’s viewpoints - in that case, go check out their protest and learn a little bit more about why other people think differently than you.

Wednesday, May 23

Operation Midwest Mobilization
Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War will reenact the hypocrisies of deployment before “deploying” to New York for “Operation First Casualty” — a street theater action to bring the truth of the war home. At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Wacker Drive and Wabash Avenue (on the river).

Man, anything called a “street theater action” sounds cool to me. The only problem is they don’t say what time this is all going down. So, I guess we’re on our own.

Also, here’s what’s planned for Memorial day…

Monday, May 28

March for Peace on Memorial Day
Members of Chicago-Area CodePINK and Northwest Suburban NOW will have an anti-war contingent in the Arlington Heights Memorial Day parade. Gather at 9 a.m. east of Arlington Heights Road on Sigwalt Street; look for unit number 35.

You know, everyone says that the age of activism is dead, and I think there’s a lot of truth in that. Most people assume that activists are all either crazy or out to get something. But, I think if more regular people take an interest in what’s going on in the world around them, we could change that stereotype.

Now, I’m probably on one of those Patriot Act lists.

Rock on!

Activism, Chicago, Memorial Day Events, NOW, CodePINK, Iraq Veterans Against the War

This weekend marks the 10th Anniversary of the Playground Theater, one of Chicago’s very best places to see Improvisational Comedy. To celebrate, they have Big Yellow Bus headlining back-to-back improv shows on Sunday, featuring some pretty sweet players.
For $12 at 5pm on Sunday, you can see Big Yellow Bus performing with the cast of the Mainstage Second City show.

Then, at 6:30, improvisers from Annoyance Theater will be teaming up with…you guessed it…Big Yellow Bus for another show! This show is also $12.
Last, but certainly not least, is the 8pm show ($12) featuring Big Yellow Bus with the iO All-Stars. WOOT! If you don’t know anything about iO, you haven’t been reading my blog. There are some truly great performers in this bunch. Seriously. I can’t get enough of Noah Gregoropolous. He cracks me up. I saw him do a scene once where he was the guy holding the microphone on a movie set. All he did was just stand there, and it was the funniest thing I’ve ever seen.
So, do yourself a favor, and get out to The Playground this Sunday to see many of the area’s best improvisers - all under one roof. WOH. That’s crazy. I’m not sure, but the world may actually end on Sunday.
For tickets to the apocalypse, visit this website: CRACKO!

The Playground Theater
3209 Halsted
Chicago, IL
773-871-3793

Improv, Comedy, Chicago, iO, Annoyance, The Playground, Second City, Noah Gregoropolous, Big Yellow Bus

Want to support a great cause? Why not sponsor a rider in the Ride for AIDS Chicago bicycling event.
This is no cake walk, people.
These riders are committed to not only raising $1,000 each for local AIDS charities, but they are riding 180 MILES!! It’s madness.
I, for one, applaud them, and instantly feel inferior.
To read more about the ride, or to sponsor a rider, visit their website: HERE

Chicago, AIDS, Fundraiser, Ride for AIDS Chicago, Charity

So, somehow, in Chicago, April 17th - May 20th is a month. Namely, EARTH MONTH!! Who knew? The rest of the country get’s an earth day, but we get a whole month (or, technically, half of one month and half of another month). So, if you aren’t sick of hearing about how we’re all riding this home we call Earth on a blaze of fossil-fuel-driven-glory into an early grave, check out the website devoted to raising “awareness of the simple things all of us can do to improve the environment.” Right on. Here’s the link: BOOM
I, personally, decided that I’m going to buy my own cloth shopping bag, so that I don’t have to use the plastic bags at the grocery store. I watched something on TV (maybe the Today show?) talking about how much waste shopping bags create, and even paper bags aren’t much better.
Also, check out the calendar of events. There’s a clothing drive going on. It’s actually the perfect time of year to clean out your closet and get rid of some clothes. Don’t throw them away! It’s totally wasteful. Just ask my mom.

Earth Month, Earth Day, Chicago, Clothing Drive, environmentalism