Chicago, IL

This year’s season of Theater on the Lake opens June 13th with a run of “Apparently Heaven Can’t Wait … The Best of Jim Zulevic at The Second City”

This show is the world premier of a collection of sketches from the notable career of the late Jim Zulevic.

The show runs: Jun. 13 - Jun. 17

Sundays : 6:30 p.m.
Wednesdays : 7:30 p.m.
Thursdays : 7:30 p.m.
Fridays : 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays : 7:30 p.m.

Price: $17.50. Tickets go on sale at 2 p.m. on June 5
Box office: 312-742-7994
Produced by: The Second City and Theater on the Lake

Theater on the Lake
2400 N. Lake Shore Drive

Think out of the Loop
Catch revivals of nine critically acclaimed productions from off-Loop companies this summer. It’s not actually outdoors (and no, no one walks on water), but the lakefront building boasts a grassy setting ripe for an aftershow picnic.

Second City, Jim Zeluvic, Theater On The Lake, Chicago, Theater

Do you have an hour to kill today? Then, you should take a tour of the Chicago Theater. According to the website, “The tour encompasses historical and architectural highlights of the building, including the grand lobby areas, majestic auditorium and backstage space (when possible).”

At first, that sounds a little bit on the dull side, until you check out photos of the building…

Wow. You have to admit that is pretty amazing.

Tour Schedule

Cost: $5 per person - which includes a souvenir VIP badge.

There are also sometimes special Saturday tours that include possible demonstrations on the Wurlitzer organ.

Does that make me a nerd, if that sounds REALLY REALLY cool to me?

If you want to learn some history of the building, visit this website: ZING!

The Chicago Theater
175 North State Street
Chicago, IL

The Chicago Theater, Tours, Sight-seeing, Wurlitzer organ

Well, it looks like this weekend marks the beginning of a long series of neighborhood music festivals around town. I’m going to check out the Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival. This festival not only has a truly banal name, but promises “national, regional and local bands, plus food, beer, crafts and more.”
Sounds great, you say, but how much does it cost? $5 donation benefits Central Lake View Merchants Association

Here’s the lineup…

Saturday
Noon: Cook County Jazz Commission
1:30 p.m.: The August
3 p.m.: Mike & Joe
4:15 p.m.: Mike & Joe
6 p.m.: Alternate Routes
8 p.m.: Josh Kelley

Sunday
Noon: Forte
1:30 p.m.: Soulio
3:30 p.m.: Catfight
5:30 p.m.: The 1900s
7:30 p.m.: Carbon Leaf

Jun. 2: noon - 10 p.m.
Jun. 3: noon - 9 p.m.

Located at 3200 N Sheffield…
Apparantly, if you just get off the Red Line at Belmont and walk Northwest, you’ll run right into it.

Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival, Carbon Leaf, the 1900s, Catfight, Soulio, Josh Kelley, Alternate Routes, Mike and Joe, The August, Cook County Jazz Comission, Chicago

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

I’ve never actually been to a book club. They sort of seem like the kind of thing that my older sister would do. She would wake up early, go for a jog, take the kids to Mommy-and-Me Yoga, then drop them off at day-care and go to her book club.
I’m more likely to wake up at noon, watch Heroes reruns online for several hours, eat some junk food and go to a comedy club.
That having been said, I read - A LOT. Mostly on the train. And, I was thinking that it might be cool to go to some kind of magical place where lots of people who have all read the same book get together and talk about it! Woh. If only there was a place like that…

For information about Chicago Public Library Book Clubs, click here: BOING!

Book Clubs, Chicago, Public Library, Reading

I’m not originally FROM Chicago, so the phenomenon of BYOB theater venues is amazing to me. If you have a hankering for some hedonistic fun, get a ticket to Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play. I’ve heard that it often sells out, so buy a few bottled of Yellow Tail and get tickets early.

Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play

Friday & Saturday nights at 11:30pm
21 and over only!

In his third show this year, Byron Hatfield joins with Gorilla Tango theatre to produce a show that truly knows the heart of Chicago. Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play is a series of outrageous sketches, all centered around Chicago’s favorite past time: Drinking. But to really get into the swing of things, the show is filled with interactive drinking games for the audience, pitting males versus females, actors versus audience, etc. It’s sure to be either one of this winter’s favorite attractions or worst follies, so catch it while you can. B.Y.O.B. - Beer/Wine only, 21 and over. www.byebyeliver.com

Produced by Byron Hatfield and Gorilla Tango.
Show Rating - R

Gorilla Tango Theater
1919 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL
773-598-4549

Gorilla Tango Theater, Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play, Theater, Comedy, Chicago

I recently saw what I believe to be a magical theatrical experience…

Arm Soup: The Story of How Five People Went West And Ate Each Other

Directed by my personal hero, Mr. Pat O’Brien, Arm Soup presupposes that the events that happened in 1846 to the Donner Party could happen in Modern America. A mismatched band of five modern residents of Loami set out on the road to California in a covered wagon. The actors (and writers) masterfully balanced the absurdity of the plot on the edge of pandemonium. They were the perfect example of controlled chaos.

Did I mention that this is a musical?
Riiiiight.
Basically, I was in heaven.

The cast was made up of a lot of actors that I normally associate with Improv Comedy: Beau Golwitzer (The Reckoning, Shotgun, Testify), Emily Wilson (Johnny Roast Beef, The Ragdolls), George McAuliffe (Revolver, 21st Century Men). And they all sang their little hearts out to songs written by the amazingly talented Tony Mendoza and Sam Locke.

Arm Soup is in an open run Friday and Saturday Nights at 10:30 at the Annoyance Theater on Broadway and Lawrence. It’s a couple of doors down from the Green Mill.

You can get tickets online: HERE
General Admission: $15

Arm Soup, Pat O’Brien, Annoyance Theater, Musicals, Improv Comedy, Chicago

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

Normally, when I ride the train, I wear headphones. To be perfectly honest, sometimes there’s no music playing, but I still wear the headphones to discourage people from talking to me. You would think that I do this because I’m a mean person, but it’s actually the opposite - I’m too nice. Being nice can take up a lot of your time.
Take Saturday night for instance.
I ran out to a show, and I didn’t take my purse with me, so I didn’t have my headphones! So, I’m riding the red line at about 1am, and there are about 12 billion drunk Sox fans riding back to their homes on the southside after the crosstown classic. First-Drunk-Guy starts talking to me. I gave him a fake name - Mandy, I think. Anyway, he kept talking to me, and I just wanted him to go away. He was perfectly fine, but he kept asking me why I ride home by myself in the middle of the night. Right. What else am I supposed to do? Sleep at the Annoyance Theater?
So, I finally dodged First-Drunk-Guy, only to meet up with Three-Drunk-Guys. Three-Drunk-Guys were all looking for the Blue Line transfer at Jackson. Being the nice person that I am - I walked them there. This actually worked out pretty well for me, because having Three-Drunk-Guys with me helped me to avoid Super-Crazy-Homeless-Guy. Smooth.
So, then after getting Three-Drunk-Guys safely to the Blue Line station, we met up with Lost-Russian-Lady. And, somehow I ended up helping her get from the Blue Line back to the Red Line. Then we (me and Three-Drunk-Guys) headed back to the Blue Line where we encountered Guy-Asking-For-Weed. He was, perhaps, the most entertaining new friend of the evening. While we were talking to Guy-Asking-For-Weed, Guitar-Guy came up and started playing. Then Guy-Asking-For-Weed’s friends started dancing - VERY entertaining.
So, finally we got on the Blue line at about 2:30am where we met Drunk-Guy-With-Ripped-Pants. For some reason, Drunk-Guy-With-Ripped-Pants started fighting with Three-Drunk-Guys, and just in the nick of time, we reached my stop. Whew.
The way I figure it, not bringing my headphones cost me about an hour of my life. At least it was entertaining!

Chicago, CTA, Annoyance Theater

So, normally, on a Monday night, I would head over to iO for The Armando Diaz Experience . . . buuuuuut . . . I was thinking that maybe instead, I would go to Myopic Books to see a performance by Karl Seigfried & Fred Lonberg-Holm.
Myopic Books claims to be “Chicago’s longest running experimental music venue.”
I think that is pretty awesome.
I have no idea who Karl Seigfried & Fred Lonberg-Holm are. In fact, Google thinks that I misspelled something and turns up nothing useful. Intriguing.
Obscurity + bookstore venue = guaranteed awesome experience.
Trust me. Go. If nothing else, you’ll meet someone really bizarre and have a cool conversation. Maybe you’ll meet me. Who knows.
Did I mention the music is free? The books cost money, though.

Myopic Books
1564 N. Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
773.862.4882

Music Series:
Monday, May 21- 7:30
Karl Seigfried & Fred Lonberg-Holm

Myopic Books, Experimental Music, Live Music, Chicago, Karl Seigfried & Fred Lonberg-Holm

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

Where were you last night? I was watching Topaz at the iO theater in Wrigelyville. Topaz is an improv troupe of 3 individuals wearing denim jumpsuits and doing long-form improv interspersed with various feats of strength. I have to say that I was impressed. I will say, though, that the denim jumpsuits left little to the imagination. I think it’s time to buy a bigger size, boys. I saw a little too much nard outline for a Tuesday night.
Feel bad you missed it? You should! To make up for it, tonight is Wednesday, and one of my favorite improv teams is playing at iO…. Carl and the Passions! YAY!!!

Not only are they a totally brilliant team, but they have the hottest babe in improv - TJ Jagodowski. OH, TJ!! I LOVE YOU!! I guarantee after watching one of their shows, you will become an instant fan. If you are a night-owl, you can stick around for the *LEGENDARY* TJ & Dave, but you should call ahead for tickets to that show, because they sell out a lot.

Wednesday night at iO:
Carl & The Passions - 8pm (FREE!!)
TJ & Dave - 11pm ($5)

iO, Wrigleyville, Comedy, Improv, Carl & The Passions, TJ & Dave, TJ Jagodowski

It’s Tuesday again, which means that it is free admission day at the Museum of Contemporary Art! Now, I should start this by saying that I’m not a really chic art person. Like, one time, I was at the Louvre (you know…in PARIS…the most famous and largest museum in the world). Yeah. Well, my friend Cheryl and I jogged through the entire museum in one hour, took a picture of the Mona Lisa, and then took the train to Euro-Disney where we spent the next 6 hours riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
That having been said, the MCA is pretty awesome. It’s small-ish, so you don’t have to feel like you have to spend the whole day there, and the art is pretty crazy, so you don’t have to feel like you have to appreciate it too much.
The Rudolph Stingel exhibit is up right now, and one of his “pieces” is a giant white room with an orange carpet. Awesome. There was some mention of how the point of it was that the viewers are creating the art, or something. I don’t know. It was a giant orange carpet. However, his enormous photo-realistic black and white oil self-portraits are gorgeous and amazing. So, really, it is definitely worth a visit. I even liked his Styrofoam work. So, there you go.
If you do go, visit the second floor video display. They are showing a video of a group of deaf students singing opera music, and it’s really bizarre and amazing to watch.

MCA Chicago
220 E Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611

Tuesday Admission: FREE!!
Tuesday Hours: 10am - 8pm

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, MCA, Rudolph Stingel, Modern Art

Recently, I decided that I wanted to take a modern dance class. I googled “Adult Beginning Modern Dance Class Chicago” and found a studio with classes exactly like what I was looking for. I could start dancing! People might think I was an unlikely dancer, but I would have fun and get some exercise.
Then I read the “Adult Dress Code” section, which reads as follows: “Women: Black Leotard, Flesh Tights, Ballet or Jazz Shoes.” After having a ten-minute laugh at picturing myself in a leotard and tights, I moved on to the next studio.
I continued my search and found that there are many more options than I imagined! There were ballroom studios and a whole studio dedicated to dance as exercise. I ended up at the Tuesday evening Basic Modern Dance Class at Lou Conte Dance Studio of the Hubbard Street School of Dance on Jackson and Racine – wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt like a normal person. The class was taught by the spunky and talented Winifred Haun and accompanied by a man that played live new-age music on his djembe. Modern Ballet is a a little bit strange, especially for a person that has only had a few dance classes in their life, but this class really made the dancing accessible, and FUN! Overall, it was much less intimidating than I originally thought it would be. I highly reccommend it. (They even let you jump into just one session, if you aren’t ready to committ to a whole 8-week course, or if you just want to give it a try!)
Here’s a link to their class schedule: Shazam!

ballet, modern dance, Lou Conte Dance Studio, Winifred Haun, Chicago