Are you wary of the swarms of festival zombies at Taste this 4th of July? You should be -- especially if you're equally wary of twentysomething John Mayer fans with a knack for high-pitched screaming. So run far away from Grant Park, party people, and head to Washington Park for the African-Caribbean Festival of Life. The 15th annual cultural bash teems with ethnic beats, eats and a marketplace. Tonight's musical heavyweight, Jamaican reggae singer Buju Banton, takes the stage at
We have to admit, we were surprised by chef Charlie Trotter’s generosity at the Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Chicago fundraiser Monday night at the River East Arts Center. After all, he was on-site to pick-up his award as Chicago’s most sustainable chef from SOS, but he threw attendees a curve ball by auctioning himself, sort of. Trotter put an eight-course sustainable ingredient-focused dinner for 10 (served at his house) on the auction block, and he sweetened the deal by adding courses prepped by Graham Elliot Bowles (Avenues) and Michael Kornick (MK), plus guests get to raid his personal wine cellar with master sommelier Serafin Alvarado, and they’ll get to meet Tallgrass Beef founder Bill Kurtis. Deep-pocketed foodies went in for the kill– the dinner netted $16,000. But we were kinda confused by the final results – sounded to us like Trotter ended up adding two more dinners for 10, but in the bidding frenzy it was hard to tell. Event manager Pam Gross settled the issue for us this afternoon; three lucky groups of 10 scored dinner at Sir Trotter’s casa, shelling out a fat grand total of $48,500, which will go towards ending childhood hunger (SOS supports local agencies like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Vital Bridges).
It’s Hump Day, people! And it’s pretty damn warm out. That gives you two good reasons to start planning for a post-work drink outdoors tonight. And as always, we’re here to help: Join us tonight at the Metromix Summer Kick-off Bash at Citizen Bar.
We’ll be hanging on the spacious side patio and enormous rooftop deck, hitting the bar to cool off with $5 Svedka cocktails like the Grapetini, Raspberry Ginger Ale and Dreamsicle Screwdrivers. If that’s not enough of a draw, there will be complimentary beer cups good for $3 Peroni drafts—all summer long. And our newest Reader Review crew the Beer Garden Guides will be scoping out the scene, prepping for their month-long gig as your guides to alfresco bar action. See you tonight at 6 p.m.!
Tonight our pals at CLTV’s “Metromix” will be filming tonight’s 7 p.m. show live from North Avenue Beach and Castaways. The whole gang will be there: Marcus Leshock, Summer Jackson, Jackie Tranchida and Pogo, plus a few pals from metromix.com. Special guests include The Underground’s Billy Dec and Chicago Sport and Social Club President Jason Erkes, and yours truly will talk about our new Reader Review crew, the Beer Garden Guides, and tomorrow’s summer kick-off party at Citizen Bar. Watch the show from home, or hit the beach and join us! The TV team will be giving away free Verizon phones—the ones with TV—so show up no later than 6:30 p.m. to find out how you can win.
Fresh-faced actor/comedian Hal Sparks doesn't exactly bring to mind the image of buff leathermen. But, sure enough, the funnyman will entertain the crowd at the 29th annual International Mr. Leather contest. (At least last year's IML joke-teller Bruce Vilanch looked like someone you'd find at Jackhammer.) Still, the ex-Boy Scout and "Queer as Folk" star (who got a start at The Second City at age 16 while attending New Trier High School) will headline the title event on Sunday at The Chicago Theatre, where one of 50 fierce contenders will claim the coveted title of International Mr. Leather. So, um...what's up with that? Well, in addition to working the room fro laughs, maybe the comedy cutie also hopes to hype his upcoming CD release from his band Zero 1. On his Web site, Sparks says, "If you don't sing your song... nobody will." We can't wait to hear his "song" this weekend.
After last week’s “Grey’s Anatomy” season finale I thought two things: 1. Meredith is so annoying that I wouldn’t mind if her title character got kicked off the show, and 2. I wish Izzy would finally catch a break.
Well, the actress that plays her sure has—Katherine Heigl is set to star along with members of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” in “Knocked Up,” coming to a theater near you on June 1. If this flick's early buzz is anything to go by, accidental pregnancy never sounded so exciting!
Tonight, from 8 to 11 p.m., Elm Street Liquors is hosting a movie release party, complete with swag bags, “Knocked Up” giveaways and complimentary screening passes. And for 5 bucks, you can swig movie-inspired cocktails like Babymama Drama (Sky Vodka, Soda, Splash of Grapefruit), Fertility Shot (Bacardi Melon and Red Bull Shot) or Plan B (Beam, Coke and Grenedine with Cherry). We also like the $2 Shotgun Wedding (can of PBR).
1. You won your weight in candy (and earned a few scrapes) after proving your Big Wheel chops as a kid. See how your skills have held up at a Big Wheel Pub Crawl covering 12 Wicker Park bars, such as Cans (1640 N. Damen Ave.) and Northside (1635 N. Damen Ave.). Includes a costume contest and races in Wicker Park at 9 p.m. Crawl starts at 4 p.m. Saturday. $20. Proceeds benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital. Registration: bigwheelpubcrawl.com.
2. Crawling, you say? Puh-lease. Go for a seasonal stroll instead at the Fulton Market Spring Arts Walk, and browse contemporary artwork, antiques and other items at nearly 20 neighborhood galleries, studios and shops, including Mars (1139 W. Fulton Market) and Flatfile Galleries (217 N. Carpenter St.). Noon Saturday. Free. Fulton Market District, between Halsted Street and Ashland Avenue.
3. Hibernation season is long gone, so stretch your legs and venture outside for a peek at others’ abodes during the 37th Annual Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Home Tour. Guided and self-guided tours feature Tudor and Dutch Colonial homes, an English Gothic church and more. 11 a.m. Sunday. $25-$33. Proceeds benefit the Beverly Area Planning Association (BAPA). Tours depart from the Beverly Arts Center of Chicago, 2407 W. 111th St. 773-233-3100. Tickets: bapa.org.
See half of the original Smiths tonight in Chicago!
Yes, both Morrissey and Andy Rourke are in town. What? You were expecting Johnny Marr? Sorry, he's busy being an official, real-live member of Modest Mouse. And sorry again: Moz and Andy won't be performing together.
But after the Morrissey show at the Auditorium, you can head to Debonair Social Club to catch the former Smiths bassist hit the decks. It's as part of his new gig as a touring DJ. Expect an eclectic, well-selected mix of pop-rock that, from what we hear, samples his former band (including those killer bass lines). We hope that he throws a little "Last of the Famous International Playboys" in the set as well; after all, he had a brief stint as Morrissey's solo bassist.
What do you think the odds are that Morrissey shows up tonight at Debonair to see his former bandmate? We give 'em at, oh, slightly better than Moz showing up to Gibsons for a juicy New York Strip. But you just never know...
It was crowded, it was cold, but I managed to get an eyeful at Looptopia. Was it all that I hoped? Not really. Was I glad we checked it out? Sure. Here's a recap of my night:
7:00:I escape the cold with a generous pour of red wine at the Art Institute (the Hard Rock Hotel was my first choice for an afterwork drink and peek at Miss Looptopia hopefuls, but the swarms trying to squeeze inside turned me right off). Inside the museum, Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan tuned up but didn't start playing until my plastic cup was nearly empty and the gallery was teeming with Chex Mix-crunching refugees from the wind.
Next stop, 7:45: Daley Plaza to see what was going on. Midnight Circus was on the stage... I think. (Should've worn heels because I couldn't see anything.) Wandering some more brought one of several Redmoon Theater installations into view. It was a mesmerizing scene with live music, a potato patch and huge hanging lanterns. The crowd was impressed. Big win.
9:30: Searching for food and a place to sit, we stopped into Macy's and found the lower level court closed. Gen Art's seventh floor dance party featured a long line (we didn't wait; MFchicago's dance party at Sullivan Dock looked much more promising). I sat and watched a video installation across the street from Daley Plaza while The Ponys played to a receptive crowd.
10 p.m.: Eventually, the cold and wind got the better of me. My friends' hunger (and car parked nearby) convinced me to call it a night. Stuff I would've liked to visit: Jazz lounge at the Chicago Theatre, "365 Days/365 Plays" at Goodman Theatre, MFchicago Dance Party.
Looptopia? A lot of people still don't know what it is. Let us help:
Here's what we can tell you about Looptopia: For starters: It's an all-night, Loop-wide party. It starts 5 p.m. Friday and offers theater, music, dance, and general spectacle until dawn and beyond on Saturday. It's going to be "uge." Seriously. Think Redmoon Theater, The Ponys, Brickheadz, dance parties, comedy, late-night exhibits, installations, music and, well, you get it, right? Get top picks in our Looptopia guide and find out where the indoor-outdoor party goes down. (Download our map.pdf)
Here's what we can't: Will this be an annual affair? TBD. How much did it cost? Can't say. What happens if it rains? Um, nothing: Indoor programming will suffice. Looptopia organizer, The Chicago Loop Alliance, is pretty tight-lipped about some of these more newsy item. Still, the Extrovert thinks the event's going to be a mob scene -- at least as people leave work on Friday. But will the Loop still be trendy at 3 a.m.? Will hipsters and culture vultures heave a collective sigh in Millennium Park over a free breakfast at 5:30 a.m.? We can't say. But if you see us there, save us some coffee, OK? Thanks.
