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Chelsea Handler Hits A-Ville Sunday

The Huffington Post News Team — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:30:00 +0000

If you’re Facebook friends with at least one person of the gay persuasion, you probably already know this, but for the rest of you: Comedienne/gay icon/talk show host Chelsea Handler will be on hand at Women & Children First , 5233 N. Clark, for a book signing this Sunday, April 11 from 5-6:15 p.m. Handler, whose new book Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang was released last week, is also performing later in the evening at the Rosemont Theatre later the same evening. Known for her scathing wit, the book is a follow-up to her 2008 best-seller Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea . As host of Chelsea Lately on E!, we’re also particularly fond of Handler’s somewhat abrasive interview style. She recently spoke with Jennifer Love Hewitt and her big bag of crazy on vajazzling and the John Cusack stunt the former Party of Five r once played on an ex. So, if you want to meet Handler, here’s what you need to know: Buy the book from W&CF (or present your receipt from a previous purchase there) and you’ll receive a number representing your place in line. She’ll reportedly be signing 250 copies. Enjoy Handler’s conversation with the Queen of the Bejeweled Pikachus (and reported New York Times bestseller) embedded below.

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Chelsea Handler Hits A-Ville Sunday

Chicago Alderman Project Closes Out And Parties Down

admin — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Alderman Sharon Denise Dixon (24th) by Melissa Ann Pinney, courtesy of the Chicago Alderman Project The brains behind the Chicago Alderman Project – Jeremy Schuech and Lauri Apple – have enjoyed quite a successful run with the show receiving all kinds of media attention from the New York Times, the Chicago Reader, the Tribune, and right here . But all good things must come to an end so tonight the show is closing down at its current space at Johalla Projects tonight and they’re closing out with a party. The exhibit has been a smashing success and while it’s closing up shop at the current locale tonight, look for it to pop up again somewhere else soon. There’s also a great prize to coincide with tonight’s party. The Chicago Reader is running a quiz on how much you know about local politics and if you take the quiz, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a Four Star commuter bike by KHS Bicycles from Roscoe Village Bikes. The luck devils at the Reader also have the complete collection for your online perusal . Chicago Alderman Project Closing Party, Tonight, April 2, 7 – 11 p.m., Johalla Projects, 1561 N. Milwaukee Ave., FREE

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Chicago Alderman Project Closes Out And Parties Down

Hyde Park Murals Conceal And Reveal

The Huffington Post News Team — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Today we wanted to show you some of our favorite viaduct murals in the city, the ones that run along the 53rd Street underpass in Hyde Park, only to find that they’ve been mostly covered up. But it’s not all bad news, because the Chicago Public Art Group (CPAG) has installed temporary murals in front of the old ones along the 53rd Street Metra viaduct in Hyde Park. These temporary panels feature large format digital prints by Chicago artists Terry Evans and John Himmelfarb (a total of four artists are represented under the 53rd and 55th Street underpasses). The Metra Electric District line has four stops in Hyde Park, and the underbelly of each stop forms a kind of blind arcade , a perfect concrete canvas. The 53rd Street stop used to feature work by Mirtes Zwierzynski , whose rich swirls of color be-ribbon the cold concrete panels, now largely hidden behind the temporary panels of Evans’ and Himmelfarb’s work. Though you can still enjoy some of the most stunning panels of Zwierzynski’s original mural, sadly, a graffiti-covered electrical box (new within the last couple years) now partially conceals one of her shadowy, conch-mouthed figures. Terry Evans’ photographs belong to collections at major museums including the Art Institute. The photographs displayed here examine steel mills in East Chicago, Indiana—not far from the southeastern-most stop on the Metra Electric line. Imagine a person getting on board at 57th Street to catch a morning Loop-bound train—she pauses to look at the photographs and is suddenly, unknowingly connected to her seatmate, whose father perhaps once worked at that very steel mill. John Himmelfarb works primarily as a painter and sculptor, and the works under the viaduct are actually just photographs of his paintings, and lack the immediacy of paint on concrete and even of Evans’ photographs. One painting shows a truck outlined in black and daubed with bright flashes of pink and red and blue, its bed crammed full of unknown items, like a junkyard on wheels. Unfortunately, the viaduct’s poor lighting and the huge glares dull the effect of this painting and the other panels, so they are easy to miss, especially during the rush of a daily commute. Though Himmelfarb’s work is perhaps more visually connected to street art than Evans’ photographs, it puts too much distance between art and viewer. As you’re rushing for the train, why bother to stop a look at a photograph of a painting slapped on a temporary wall that’s standing between you and a concrete wall on which paint has already been beautifully spread? But for all our complaints about the decidedly un-museumlike atmosphere down here on 53rd Street… isn’t this what public art is all about? Zwierzynski says on the CPAG Web site that “art, in all its forms, belongs to the public space and should not only be confined to specialized institutions.” Even poor lighting and less than ideal conditions are better than no art at all, so that perhaps a person who rushes to catch the morning train will pause for a few minutes on their way home to examine these works of art. And just maybe they will create a deeper connection to this art and to Chicago artists whose works the commuters might otherwise not know. We love that these temporary art constructions feature Chicago artists with regional connections, and hope that they get the attention they deserve from harried passersby—and that someday they’ll come down to reveal the richness behind them. CPAG’s online map will help you locate these and many other murals around the city.

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Hyde Park Murals Conceal And Reveal

Lab Partners Master The Waves (Of Sound)

Rickhouse — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:40:00 +0000

Lab Partners are the last band we expected to hear on local label Pravda Records since they’re better known for releasing Chicago-based power-pop and jokester rock like The New Duncan Imperials. Lab Partners, out of Dayton, fall into neither of those categories. Instead they hit the distortion pedal hard and conjure up thick waves of melodic shoegaze that owes much of its existence to both The Jesus And Mary Chain and Spiritualized. Their most recent album is aptly titled Moonlight Music since it’s easy to envision the band playing against the speckled backdrop of a midnight ocean surging and swirling behind them. There’s definitely been a resurgence of folks playing this style of rock and/or roll, but Lab Partners have been at it for over a decade so they pull it off with grace and restraint. Many of the new generation of shoegazers seem to think cranking the volume and fuzzing up the chords is enough, but Lab Partners are pros so they know the value of allowing melody into the mix. They sculpt their sound to it engulfs you instead of assaulting you. Being in the middle of the maelstrom is strangely soothing, slightly moody experience. Lab Partners plays tonight, March 26, at Quenchers , 2401 N Western, 9 p.m., $5 suggested donation, 21+

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Lab Partners Master The Waves (Of Sound)

Weekend Dance Party: VHS Or Beta Deejays Hit Smart Bar

Rickhouse — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Sup, Chicago venues? Want to get up on this DJ game, or what? Of the seven Weekend Dance Party posts we’ve run, three have been held at Smart Bar, which may make our readers question the time and effort we go to to determine what the best option is to shake it, week in, week out. But the fact of the matter is, we go to considerable lengths to get you the preferred destination, so we really have to give credit to Metro (the essential big brother of Smart Bar) for landing our fourth Weekend Dance Party. On Saturday they will be hosting a UR Chicago event featuring VHS Or Beta Deejays , Bald E., Team Bayside High, BBU, Perfect Kiss, Midnight Conspiracy and Action/Adventure, which for us makes for an obvious refuge to cut some rug. VHS Or Beta are probably known just as much for their deejaying as their actual music. While it would be nice to see the band flex their indie cred and play their own music, a DJ set is nearly just as enthralling. Expect just about everything as long as it’s danceable, and never once question the direction they’re headed in a set. If their Lollapalooza ’08 appearance is any indication, be on your toes for a wide range of sounds. VOB will be accompanied by a complete slate of local DJ talent capable of big things, making for an all in all high-quality night of dance. See you there. VHS Or Beta Deejays, Saturday, Metro, 3730 N Clark St, $6 ($8 after midnight), 18+

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Weekend Dance Party: VHS Or Beta Deejays Hit Smart Bar

Foodie Rant – The Coupon Tipping Blues

admin — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:20:00 +0000

I’ve been spending a lot of time reading the recent debates over Groupon and the other group-deal coupon sites. Some argue they hurt small business, some that they can save a business that is on the rocks. I don’t have a business degree, and I’m hardly un-biased – I love cheap food as much as the next customer. Despite the glitz and glamour of my foodie life (I wish!) meals still cost a lot, and it’s hard for all of us. So, I’m a regular user of many of these sites. But I tip on the entire, original bill. One complaint that I’ve often heard is that putting out one of these coupons will give your restaurant a reputation for bad service. Consider the following scenario: coupon is issued, and hundreds of people descend on a restaurant. They order exactly the amount of food that the coupon covers, receive the discount, and tip on the resulting LOW amount. After a few days, the waitstaff begin to dread these coupons, and potentially treat customers who present them in advance with less deference. These customers leave, spreading the word that this restaurant spits in their food and dances on their fillets barefoot in the kitchen. Hence my rant. Anytime you receive a discount of any sort, be it a coupon, a Chicago Public Radio card, a gift certificate or anything else, it is a good idea to tip on the full, ORIGINAL amount. Remember how much that certificate was for? Add it back on, before you figure your percentage. You’ll still be getting a good deal. Most restaurants have no system of compensating waiters for coupons – they just lose money. The food they serve is exactly the same, the work they do is exactly the same – but if you only tip on the discounted total, they suddenly receive 25-50% less compensation. If I were in their position, I might start to get angry, after a few weeks of that! The same goes for anyplace that gives you anything for free. Bartender slips you a free drink? Tip anyway! Get a free dessert for your birthday? Consider that extra $8 when you figure the tip. This will go a long way to making staff like you at your regular haunts, and might make these coupons a little more sustainable. It’s only fair. Check out our other Foodie Rants . Photo by drew*in*chicago .

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Foodie Rant – The Coupon Tipping Blues

MOTO Premieres Future Food For Planet Green

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Last night, we attended the Future Foods premiere at moto , the show we told you about a few weeks ago . Here are some pictures from that event, but be sure to catch our interview with Chef Cantu and Chef Roche on Thursday when we delve into Future Food – which premieres March 30th on Planet Green. Details coming on Thursday!

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MOTO Premieres Future Food For Planet Green

3 Floyds Plus A Few Dozen Cans of Spraypaint Equals…

Rickhouse — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:40:00 +0000

Is it just us, or has there been a lot more graffiti around than usual? Taggers have been everywhere (when they’re not getting killed running from the cops ) and the skill level seems to have been going up as well, at least from the work we’re seeing on rooftops during our daily commute. Well, if you’re planning on attending Dark Lord Day at 3 Floyds in a few weeks (and if so, remember our survival guide !), you might have the chance to check out their newest brewery decoration which is along the same spraypainted lines. Although, we imagine that between the filming and the access, 3 Floyds actually intended on having this piece created. BombChicago brought us this clip of three artists with a group called Chitown Murals working on a a six-week installation process across two trailers. If you only watch one video of the creation of a mural about a leather queen standing atop a pile of skulls while wolves howl aside her, make it this one: [via]

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3 Floyds Plus A Few Dozen Cans of Spraypaint Equals…

New Musicals: Good, Bad, and Anna Nicole

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:40:00 +0000

Universal Studios Let’s start with the good news: Although no production timeline has been announced, songwriter Duncan Sheik and playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa are collaborating on a musical version of American Psycho . Before you cringe, let us state the case for this being an awesome idea: Bret Easton Ellis has given the project his blessing and will serve as a consulting producer. Sacasa’s got several playwriting credits to his name, and he’s also one of the writers on HBO’s Big Love . We loved Spring Awakening – a show which earned Sheik two Tony Awards (Best Orchestration and Best Original Score) – and we think the songwriter has the right idea for this project. “What could be more subversive fun than murderous bankers breaking into song?” Here’s hoping for a musical bloodbath of a Carrie: The Musical nature, minus the abject failure. South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone are working with Robert Lopez (Tony Award winning co-composer of Avenue Q ) on a new musical, slated to run at New York Theatre Workshop in August and September. Although according to this NY Times article , the theater isn’t releasing details about the show, this Independent article from 2008 states that it’ll be about Mormons and star Cheyenne Jackson. Then again, the latter article also stated that the show would open in 2009, so who knows what the piece has morphed into by now. Either way: YES. via movies.yahoo.com Now for the bad news: Just when we thought a whole new generation of kids would associate Victoria Beckham solely with her husband and ridiculous “fashion,” the visionary behind Mamma Mia! is blessing us with a Spice Girls musical . Producer Judy Craymer is working with Simon Fuller and the “girls” (they range in age from 34-37) “to create a unique celebration of the band and its music, with its own flavour and joyful message,” that will ensure “the excitement, style and humour of The Spice Girls is well represented on stage.” It’s titled Viva Forever . Forever? Really? Sounds like a threat to us. We already knew this was coming, but Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to Phantom of the Opera is still scheduled to open on Broadway. Love Never Dies (apparently our apt, brilliant title suggestion “The Phantom Takes Manhattan” was rejected), opened in London earlier this month to mixed reviews. According to the UK’s Guardian , “the score is one of the composer’s most seductive,” (everything’s relative, we suppose) but the show lacks “narrative tension.” Although some changes will be probably be made before its fall opening in New York, it’s still “Phantom of the Opera 2.” In slightly related news, we recently discovered the existence of “The Cutting Edge 4” – The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice . And, as promised, Anna Nicole: An opera based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith will have its world premiere at The Royal Opera in London next February. And that’s all we have to say about that.

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New Musicals: Good, Bad, and Anna Nicole

Expiration Date: An interview with Undateable’s Anne Coyle

Rickhouse — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0000

Anne Coyle For their new book, Undateable:311 Things Guys Do that Guarantee They Won’t Be Dating or Having Sex , Chicago residents Anne Coyle (an interior designer) and Ellen Rakieten (former producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show ) polled hundreds of women about things guys do that turn women off. So, what makes a man undateable? Notable red flags include earnestly quoting the made-up philosophies of Obi-Wan Kenobi, juvenile names for sperm (“baby batter”), and owning a rodent. Chicagoist checked in with one of the authors (we kept the Star Wars references to a minimum) to find out her number one undateable, and to get the scoop on the new VH1 five-part series inspired by their book. Chicagoist: I can’t believe someone hasn’t done this before now—how did you come up with the idea for Undateable ? Anne Coyle: Ellen and I were next door neighbors and best friends for 12 years, and we had worked together on decorating her house. (I am also a decorator—the March issue of Elle Decor actually features Ellen’s apartment on the cover.) She had worked for The Oprah Winfrey Show for 23 years, and she was one of the first married women in the bunch. And by “bunch,” I mean 300 women, most of them single and dating. So as a result, every Monday, she had a line of single women waiting outside her office to regale her with their dating stories, hoping to get some sage advice. After a while, she started writing them down, wondering ‘Is there a book here?’ I had re-entered the dating scene after a divorce, and (unfortunately) had experienced some first-hand dating mishaps of my own. I started telling Ellen my stories, she started sharing her list, and we decided to write the book. We wrote it and sold it in about 3 months, which was pretty exciting. C: What is your number one undateable? Were any undateables just too foul to make it into the book? AC: We each have our own personal worst undateables. Some of mine include acid washed jeans, orthopedic-like walking shoes, and guys who attend medieval times or renaissance festivals. Ellen has a real problem with the use of the “c” word, guys who play air guitar, and men who don’t come to the door and ring the bell, but insist on sitting in their car and laying on the horn as a way to pick up a date. We both can’t handle speedos, skullets and mullets. Gages (ear expander discs) frighten both of us. Yes, there were a few too vile or way too disturbing to put in the book! C: What is worse: A skullet or someone playing pocket-pool on a first date? AC: Definitely the skullet. It’s a disturbing look that, if you are sitting across the table from someone, is hard to ignore. It also is a form of bald denial—the guy should not try and make up for the fact that he is going bald by growing a pony tail with the hair below his ears. The pocket-pooler is the second worse, but it’s the lesser of two evils, as it would probably only last for about 5-10 seconds—you might be able to move on and forget about it if he’s really nice or really funny. The skullet is just so…. there . C: I heart the chapter on why your guy friends find you (other guys) undateable. What do you think is the number one undateable for a guy’s friends? AC: We love “guys that do the phantom golf swing.” We love the guy who puts a towel on his head turban style, and the guy who goes to Starbucks and pretends to work. Those are all funny. So is being known as “the porn guy.” C: Give us some Dos and Don’ts for how to be a “digital dateable.” AC: Do not ever ask a woman out via text—it is lazy and cowardly. If you know someone, and have been out with them a couple of times, its fine to text to say hi, but do not use that as your vehicle to communicate. Also, no women worth her weight in salt would tolerate this. C: Talk about the VH1 show. Is it a reality series? AC: The show is basically one of their countdown shows. They usually do things like “The Top 100 Hollywood Hookups” or “The Top 100 Hollywood Romances” or something like that. For Undateable, they are doing the “The Top 100 Undateables.” It starts April 19th and will be a five-night, one-hour series. C: You start off the book with a “Word About Swagger,” where you write “everyone’s got the right to develop their own swagger” and that nothing is sexier than a man with confidence, so if a guy reads this book and says he will continue to do whatever the F*** he wants, you support that? Why? AC: If a guy thinks he looks great, and has the confidence to pull it off, there is something really appealing about that. Knowing who you are, what you like, and having the personality to transcend a really bad pair of Dad jeans is a special quality! C: Whether or not a guy has swagger—is it ever okay for a guy to say he wants to “make love” ? AC: Not that we can imagine, unless it’s ‘My name is Johnny Depp. Welcome to my private island. Now, let’s make love.’ I’m sure most women would find that acceptable.

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Expiration Date: An interview with Undateable’s Anne Coyle