This event was so much fun last year!  And  Imerman Angels is a great group to support, who help cancer fighters and survivors across the United States.

Buy your tickets now and don't miss this event!

       


2008 Midwest Regional Conference    for a U.S. Department of Peace



Date: June 19-22, 2008

Location: Schaumburg, IL /  Marriott Chicago-Schaumburg

Building a Culture of Peace in the Heartland

 

June 20:  Friday 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Marianne Williamson - will be speaking

"The Politics of Possibility"

                             benefiting The Peace Alliance

(tickets are $40 for the benefit - call  815-987-9897)

Conference dates -  June 21-22:
Saturday 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Sunday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

• Peace Alliance Staff in attendance:
  
  • Wendy Greene, Managing Director and
    
  • Kathy Kidd, National Field Director
    
• Pre-conference and Post-conference workshops will be offered and information will be provided soon.
• Learn more about H.R. 808 and connect with other local organizers.
• Access to information, resources and strategies to increase your effectiveness in the grassroots campaign, including NVC training, writing a laser speech, campaign fundraising, city council resolutions, building performing teams and more.

Confirmed speakers:

• Robert Koehler, award-winning, Chicago-based journalist, editor at Tribune Media Services and nationally syndicated writer.
• Lynn McMullen, National Campaign Consultant, The Peace Alliance

Conference Pricing: $50-95, self-selecting sliding scale
This cost includes Friday night benefit.

Lodging and meals are not included in the conference pricing.

Please contact the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg hotel directly for rooms at the conference site.
($99 single, Group Code: DOPDOPB; $109 double, Code: DOPDOPA).



If you want to attend only the Friday night benefit,with Maria the cost is $40

Volunteers needed and welcomed for planning and for on-site assistance.


Contact: Karen Johnson, 312-545-3460, DOPmidwestregion@aol.com

        Visit the regional site online

Festivals. Chicago offers  LOTS of festivals -  something for every taste.  

In June, Chicago hosts the annual Blues Festival and if you’re visiting in late June/early July, you won’t want to miss the Taste of Chicago, held annually at Grant Park. In late August, the Chicago Latin Music Festival features the sounds of cumbias, meringue and salsa. All summer long there are a number of neighborhood festivals, art fairs and other special events.

COMING UP in June....

FREE Chicago Blues Festival, Jun 5-8
Grant Park, Jackson Blvd at Columbus Dr. 11am-9:30pm.
The Blues Fest hits the quarter-century mark and celebrates with special anniversary performances. James Cotton, Johnny Winter with Koko Taylor and her Blues Machine, and Eddy Clearwater headline.

Jeff Fest, Jun 6-8
Milwaukee Ave at Higgins Rd. Fri 5-11pm; Sat 1-11pm; Sun 1-9pm; $5.
Jefferson Park’s annual neighborhood fest features food, games, arts and crafts, and live entertainment including “Slow Ride” rockers Foghat.

Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival, Jun 7-8
1000 Lake-Cook Rd, Glencoe. Sat noon-8pm, Sun noon-6pm; $30, $25 in advance, $10 designated driver ticket.
At this classier than average fest, you can taste from several wines, nibble on cuisine from Osteria di Tramonto and Nick’s Fishmarket, and glide across the dance floor to live bands.

* FREE Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair, Jun 7-8
Dearborn St between Congress Pkwy and Polk St. 10am-6pm.
Before that fair food slathers your hands in barbecue sauce, stop by Printers Row to pick up some bargain books. Author readings and signings take place in tents and surrounding buildings.

FREE 57th Street Art Fair, Jun 7-8
57th St between Kimbark and Kenwood Aves. Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 10am-5pm.
As art fairs go, this is one of the Midwest’s oldest (it’s been around for 60-plus years), biggest and best. Pick up jewelry, paintings, sculptures, photographs, ceramics and more.

Ribfest Chicago, Jun 7-8
Lincoln Ave at Irving Park Rd. Noon-10pm; $5.
Smoky, tangy ribs sizzle over the pits at this annual North Center neighborhood festival where you can sample slabs grilled by restaurants from around Chicago and feast your eyes on more than 20 bands.

FREE Chicago Festa Pasta Vino, Jun 12-15
Oakley Ave between 24th and 25th Sts. Thu, Fri 5-11pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-9pm.
The lost era of the Rat Pack meets all things Italian-American in the Heart of Italy neighborhood. Dozens of nostalgia-inducing crooners take the stage over four days, and fresh-cooked pasta abounds.

* Andersonville Midsommarfest, Jun 14-15
5200-5450 N Clark St. 11am-10pm; $5.
Andersonville celebrates its Swede side at this summer solstice festival. In addition to traditional family entertainment-Nordic dancers, singers and food selections-the fest shows off the hood’s lesbian hangouts.

* FREE Testicle Festival, Jun 14
Sportsman’s Club, 111 N Capitol Ave, Mount Sterling. 3pm-midnight.
Mount Sterling residents are on the ball at this fest. They’ve prepared a night of live music, games and all the pork, beef, turkey, lamb, and buffalo testicles you can eat. If you think you’re a tough nut, round out the night as a participant in the testicle eating contest.  EW!  Think I will pass on this one!

Wrigleyville SummerFest, Jun 14
Seminary Ave between School and Roscoe Sts. 11am-10pm, $5.
This fest stands out from the fray with a plethora of fun for the wee ones (pony rides, climbing wall, crafts, face painting), and games (cornhole and Guitar Hero tourneys) for the big kids.

Old Town Art Fair, Jun 14-15
Between Menomonee and Wisconsin Sts, from Lincoln Park W to Sedgwick St. 10am-6pm; $7, kids 12 and under free.
Old Town’s juried outdoor art fair rivals Hyde Park’s for endurance: This year marks its 59th incarnation.

FREE St. George Greek Festival, Jun 14-15
2701 N Sheffield St at Schubert Ave. Sat 4pm-10pm, Sun noon-11pm.

 

Wells Street Art Festival, Jun 14-15
Wells St between North Ave and Division St. 10am-10pm, $7-10.
More than 300 artisans convene in Old Town. Nightly entertainment includes A Flock of Seagulls.

Halsted Tastes Better, Jun 16
Halsted St between Belmont and Addison Sts. 6-9pm; $30, advance $25.
This event rounds up the tasty eats on North Halsted and serves them with live music and a waitperson’s race.

* Taste of Randolph Street, Jun 20-22
Randolph St between Peoria St and Racine Ave. Fri 5-11pm; Sat 2-11pm, Sun 2-10pm; $10.
Several posh area restaurants will sell bite-size samples of their cuisine. While you’re nibbling, tune into the band lineup-it’s always one of the summer’s freshest.

Custer’s Last Stand Festival of the Arts, Jun 21-22
Chicago Ave and Main St, Evanston. 10am-9pm, $1. Evanston brings in 350 artists and cuisine from 30 restaurants.

Pizza Fest, Jun 21-22
Racine at Fullerton Ave. Sat noon-10pm; Sun noon-8pm; $5.
Nosh on a $1 sampler, get a whole pie or watch a professionally judged contest that pins a ribbon on the area’s best pizza.

FREE Chicago Arabesque, Jun 25-28
Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn Sts. Wed-Fri 10am-3pm; Sat 10am-5pm.
Explore the Arab world through its art, cuisine, culture, music and dance while leaving religion and politics out of the mix.

Chicago Salsa Festival, Jun 26-29
Grant Park, Jackson Blvd at Columbus Dr, and other locations;
Fri, Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-4pm; $10-25.
Become a dancing queen for the weekend with four days of live music and dance performances and 30 dance workshops led by some choice instructors.

* FREE Taste of Chicago, Jun 27-Jul 6
Columbus Dr between Monroe and Balbo Drs; and Jackson and Congress Drs from Michigan Ave to Lake Shore Dr. 11am-9pm; Jul 3,4 11am-9:30pm; Jul 6 11am-8pm.
Scores of restaurants from around the city offer tastes of their top dishes. A strip of tickets costs $8 at the festival. Shell out one to four tickets for snack-size “Taste portions” or a few more for an entrée. The band lineup has finally snagged some big-name performers including Chaka Kahn, Joss Stone, Fantasia and Stevie Wonder.

Chicago Pride Fest, Jun 28
Halsted St at Waveland Ave. 11am-9pm, $5.
Chicago’s biggest preparade party unfurls over ten hours. Sponsored by the Northalsted Area Merchants Association, stages will feature many flavors of queer entertainment. The Chicago Pride Parade kicks off Jun 29 at noon on Halsted St at Belmont Ave.

BAM! Belmont Arts and Music Fest, Jun 28-29
2000 W Belmont Ave at Damen Ave. Noon-10pm; $5.

Fountain Square Art Festival, Jun 28-29
Sherman Ave at Church St. Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-6pm; $5.




For more festival information visit City of Chicago online!

Imagine a school…

where when you walk in the door, it smells like home cooking.

In the cafeteria, children are eating made-from-scratch, locally and sustainably grown foods—a feast of whole grains, bright green vegetables, and freshly sliced fruits.

Plate waste is minimal. The students like this food.

Then they rise from their seats and walk to the trash receptacles – there are multiple ones: one for compost, one for recycling and one for waste. They know what bin to put every part of their meal in, and the meal’s biodegradable tray and disposable packaging.

After eating, the children go outside to the school garden and see some of the food they just ate growing in the garden. They planted some of those foods, they helped care for them.

WHAT A CONCEPT!  The Organic School Project is the creation of Greg Christian. With a culinary career spanning over 25 years and as owner of Greg Christian Catering, Greg Christian Organics and Get Me Greg’s, Greg brings considerable knowledge and passion for food to OSP.

We’re the only organization bringing together hands-on gardening, organic food preparation and meal service with health-related curriculum and scientific evaluation.

This combination of interactive programs is designed to engage children – along with their families, school staffs and communities – in growing, learning about, and preparing the food they eat.

A unique collaboration of educators, public and private-area gardens, farms, food retailers and suppliers, parents, community organizations, cooking professionals and health care professionals, OSP seeks to reconnect the Chicago community with their food source.

OSP is a non-profit organization currently making this a reality in 3 Chicago-area schools.


Read the  Organic School Project Blog !

    

ELLEN  will be filming in Chicago for one day on MAY 3rd!

This will be ELLEN's   first time taping in the Windy City.

Not a whole lot of information has been said regarding the taping - mum is the word!

We don’t know the guest line-up quite yet — nor the exact site of the May 3 taping — as DeGeneres’ quipped recently that ‘‘I don’t want to say exactly where, because I don’t want anyone snooping around ... Oprah!’’

Find out how you can WIN TICKETS! or apply for tickets!

         

IT'S  BACK!     The Second Annual SOBCon Conference!

BIZ SCHOOL FOR BLOGGERS will take place in Chicago  May 2,3, and 4th!

200 bloggers from around the country will meet in downtown Chicago at this exciting 3 day event!


Whether you are a blogger now and want to take your blog to the next level or a business owner who wants to jump into the blogosphere, THIS IS A MUST ATTEND EVENT!

We attended last year and it was truly an amazing experience. And this years looks to even bigger and better than ever. Part seminar / part conference / part networking /  - it has something for everyone!

Lots of Guest speakers like Anita Bruzzese, Brian Clark, Lorelle VanFossen, Liz Strauss, Chris Garrett, Muhammad Saleem, Chris Brogan, Dave Bullock, and more!

If you blog and get to Chicago in May, you have to attend this event!

There are still a few tickets left!


See you there!

Derrick and Michael

It's back! 

If you are in Chicago the weekend of May 2nd - you have to check out LOOPTOPIA 08!

5PM TO 7AM

Come rain or come shine Looptopia will illuminate Chicago's most historic neighborhood known worldwide as "the Loop".  Showcasing some of the best and most dynamic of Chicago's artistic and cultural communities, Looptopia's 14 hours of programming will conclude on the morning of May 3rd with a Sunrise Celebration in Millennium Park.

Inspired by "White Night" events in cities like Rome, Paris, and Madrid, Looptopia made its wildly successful debut as the first American event of its kind last year. 300 artists. 100 venues. 14 hours. More than 100,000 people! Wether you live in Chicago or visiting, plan on checking out this event! Urban Adventurers. City dwellers. Night Owls. Students. Couples. Families. Music fans. Circus lovers. There is truly something for everyone at Looptopia. Shopping, music, art and more.

FYI, for visitors who may not know, The Loop is what locals call the historical center of downtown Chicago. It is the second-largest central business district in the United States, after Midtown Manhattan. The zip code for the Loop is 60602, and was named by Forbes as the hottest zipcode in the country and residential real estate averages $700,000.


For more details visit LOOPTOPIA 08

EARTH DAY IS THIS SUNDAY APRIL 20th!

Where will you be??
 
Here in Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo will be hosting an all-day Earth Day Celebration. 10:30 am - 6 pm.

The GREEN APPLE MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL is touted as America's Largest Earth Day Celebration!

We have an amzing zoo here. It's FREE, open all year, and has an amazing botanical garden nearby.  

Lincoln Park Zoo is a world of wildlife in the shadow of skyscrapers. Located within a verdant park just minutes north of downtown Chicago, the zoo has been a natural, free oasis for generations of animal lovers, who come to hear a lion’s roar echo off nearby apartment buildings, see gorillas climb trees as the Sears Tower looms in the distance, or forget where they are as they immerse themselves in tropical rainforests, dry-thorn forests or spacious savannas.

Last night, while watching IDOL GIVES BACK, they highlighted several great programs that are happening around the world. Programs that started really out of frustration for lack of government concern.  Everyday people and celebrities are now taking leadership roles with idea's that can and will  make a difference.

As we know, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. The slow reaction to the initial emergency and to the ongoing crisis exposed troubling realities about the response capabilities of the American government when the citizens of our most culturally diverse city were in desperate need of help.

When Brad Pitt visited the Lower 9th Ward for the first time after the storm, he was shocked by what he saw: the remnants of people's lives strewn across the streets and an entire neighborhood torn apart and turned upside down. Pitt was even more disturbed by the lack of a clear plan to address the situation. Many were quietly saying there was no chance the Lower 9th Ward would ever be re-built.

Inspired by the courage and hope of the residents he met, Pitt resolved to do whatever he could to help them rebuild. Just as importantly, he wanted to help recreate and nurture the unique culture and spirit of the Lower 9th Ward, which symbolizes the soul of New Orleans. He understood instinctively that a New Orleans rebuilt without the Lower 9th Ward would never be whole. MAKE IT RIGHT was  born.

He began by working with Global Green to sponsor an architecture competition aimed at generating ideas about how to rebuild sustainably. Pitt worked with local community leaders as well as experts from around the world to develop viable ideas for the Lower 9th Ward. That successful project inspired Pitt's new focus: Make It Right.

The Mission of Make It Right is clear: It is to be a catalyst for redevelopment of the Lower 9th Ward, by building a neighborhood comprised of safe and healthy homes that are inspired by Cradle to Cradle thinking, with an emphasis on a high quality of design, while preserving the spirit of the community's culture. The goal is to accomplish this quickly, so that the first residents can begin returning to their homes as soon as possible.

Without Pitt's dedication and concern - this would NOT be happening. In all likelihood, government officials would be standing around bickering about what to do.


Idol Gives Back Foundation is a new not-for-profit organization established by the producers of American Idol and FOX to raise money and awareness for children and families living in poverty and at risk in the U.S. and abroad. Idol Gives Back Foundation is harnessing American Idol's ability to capture America's hearts and the power of entertainment to benefit some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.

Groups like this and  ONE, are going to change the world. WE CAN make a difference!

Friday, March 14th 8-11pm  @   ENCLAVE

Join IMERMAN ANGELS for a benefit and St. Patricks Eve Party.

Tickets $30 in advance/ $40 at the door

Open bar with selected Vodka, rum, beer and wine & appetizers too!

ALL PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THIS AWESOME CAUSE!

       

The Chicago Loop Alliance is asking you to turn off your lights from 8pm to 9pm on
March 29th, 2008 as part of a global initiative on climate change called “Earth Hour”.


Earth Hour is an initiative of World Wildlife Fund, which began with one successful event held in Sydney, Australia in March 2007.  In 2008, Earth Hour will be celebrated globally in cities across with world, including Copenhagen, Manila, Tel Aviv and Toronto. Chicago has been chosen as the flagship city for the United States, with San Francisco, Phoenix and Atlanta also participating.  We hope you’ll support this creative initiative and participate.
 
How is Chicago celebrating Earth Hour?

Earth Hour is meant to be celebrated while maintaining safety. Streetlights will remain on, as will any lights deemed to impact public safety like lobbies and elevators.  All hospital and emergency services will be operating as usual – none of their lights will be turned off.  However, the dramatic skyscape that is the Chicago Loop will make a powerful statement during Earth Hour if as many members as possible of the Chicago Loop Alliance participate!
 
Signs of Climate Change are Everywhere

Climate change is perhaps the most significant issue facing our planet today. We are beginning to witness dramatic impacts—from melting glaciers and frequent heat waves to increased intensity of hurricanes—as a result of the amount of carbon dioxide we load into the atmosphere. The 10 hottest years on record have occurred since 1990—2006 was the hottest yet. The U.S. is the world’s leading emitter of carbon dioxide, with over 20 tons per person produced every year. To alter the current course of climate change we must act now to curb our emissions. One person can make a difference, and millions of us working together can change the world.
 
VISIT EARTH HOURS CHICAGO!

 

                   
What would you do if you were handed a bundle of cash—and told you have to give it all away?

Challengers on Oprah's Big Give, a new series by Harpo Productions that will  begin airing on ABC Sunday, March 2nd, have to face that very difficult question.

10 People from across the country are given a wad of cash and challenged to help total strangers so that they can feel the high of giving.  Over eight weeks, we follow their every move, and in the end, the biggest giver wins! $1 million to the one who gives the best. Givers are judged on creativity, leadership and accomplishments. And someone will be sent home! "Give big - or go home!" say's O.

Oprah will have designer pal Nate Berkus as co-host but also Jennifer Aniston, John Travolta, Jada Pinkett Smith, Donald Trump, and a few of Oprah's other pals will be around to lend a hand.

i.c.stars executes on its mission by providing IT career programs and services that strengthen the leadership potential of inner city young adults in Chicago.
 
i.c.stars offerings focus on providing social and economic value to participants, communities and industries.

7 years ago, i.c.stars began it's first training Cycle amidst the dot com boom. Slowly, the industry took a turn.
However, today, i.c.stars is still training future technology and community leaders!

Tucked inconspicuously inside a trendy Chicago loft in the upscale River North district, known for its art galleries, chic restaurants and tech startups, i.c.stars is a three-month boot camp designed to develop computer programming skills, business savvy and leadership. - Writer Michael Bitoun Blecher did a great article about ic stars for Graduatingengineer.

Volunteers are always needed!

The mission of One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. In order to accomplish our goal, we need people who believe in what we’re doing and want to help make education for the world’s children a priority, not a privilege. Between November 12 and November 26, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program. During this time, you can donate the revolutionary XO laptop to a child in a developing nation, and also receive one for the child in your life in recognition of your contribution.

Give One Get One

For the next week, OLPC is offering a Give One Get One program in the United States and Canada. This is the first time the revolutionary XO laptop has been made available to the general public. For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).

PLUS, for all U.S. donors who participate in the Give One Get One program, T-Mobile is offering one year of complimentary HotSpot access.

It’s not a laptop project. It’s an education project.

In 2002, MIT Professor Nicholas Negroponte experienced first-hand how connected laptops transformed the lives of children and their families in a remote Cambodian village. A seed was planted: If every child in the world had access to a computer, what potential could be unlocked? What problems could be solved? These questions eventually led to the foundation of One Laptop per Child, and the creation of the XO laptop.

OLPC’s mission is to provide a means for learning, self-expression, and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education. While children are by nature eager for knowledge, many countries have insufficient resources to devote to education—sometimes less than $20 per year per child (compared to an average of $7,500 in the United States). By giving children their very own connected XO laptop, we are giving them a window to the outside world, access to vast amounts of information, a way to connect with each other, and a springboard into their future. And we’re also helping these countries develop an essential resource—educated, empowered children.

WHAT A CONCEPT!

For more information visit Laptop.org!

  

 

I was driving down Lake Shore Drive the other drive and workers are busy preparing the ground for the most significant development in the world! The Chicago Spire! The presentation at their site is AMAZING! The Chicago Spire is a supertall skyscraper that will stand taller than Chicago's Sears Tower and New York's upcoming Freedom Tower, as well as Toronto's CN Tower, to become North America's tallest free-standing structure and the world's tallest all-residential building.


Inspired by nature - Imagined by Calatrava! The building was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is being developed by Garrett Kelleher of Shelbourne Development Group, Inc. The Chicago Spire is scheduled to be completed in 2010/2011  with 150 floors - a unique collection of 1200 residences overlooking Lake Michigan. No two residences  the same!

Originally announced in July of 2005 by Christopher T. Carley of the Fordham Company, the project was supported by many Chicagoans and city officials. After several months of development, Carley failed to acquire necessary financing and the project was taken over by Garrett Kelleher of the Shelbourne Development Group. Since that time, three major revisions were made to the design.

 
Cool Facts!

Chicago Spire will be the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. 

- According to the architect, the tower's shape was derived by imagining the plume of smoke from a campfire lit centuries ago by Native Americans at the mouth of the Chicago River. 

- Each floor is rotated about two degrees from the one below, forming a tapered tower which twists 270° from the base to the roof. 

- Chicago Spire's lot is situated by the mouth of the Chicago River, and also guards the entrance to Ogden Slip, a short branch of the river to the north.  
 
- This building will have the longest elevator run in the world!

   

THE BIGGEST AND BADDEST ROCK N' ROLL MUSICAL EVER HITS CHICAGO!

                       THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

PREVIEWS OCTOBER 12th AT  THE MERCURY THEATRE

                               Don't Dream It. Be It. Be There!

The biggest  and baddest rock n' roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show, will be whipping Chicago audiences into a frenzy when the production previews Friday, October 12th, and opens Wednesday, October 17th at the Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.

The musical, written by Richard O'Brien, will be presented by CreatiVision Entertainment, a newly formed production company devoted to innovative and fresh, state-of-the art productions.

When newly-engaged couple Brad and Janet take a trip to visit their high school science teacher they catch a flat tire and are forced to take shelter in an old castle. As they reluctantly approach the castle they are greeted by Riff Raff, the handyman.  Brad and Janet, soon after, encounter Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Master of the Castle, who explains he is a "Sweet Transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania." Confusion and debauchery ensue as this night of scandalous events continues, and provides the backdrop for an evening of wild and sexy entertainment!!

The cult phenomenon stage show that inspired the motion picture The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a one-of-a-kind combination of campy science fiction, trashy fantasy, ridiculous comedy and rock n' roll musical.  Bursting at the seams with timeless classics, including "Time Warp", "Hot Patootie," "Rose Tint My World," "Creature of the Night," and more, this is the boldest bash of them all. Live, fully staged, and conceived exclusively for Mercury's intimate setting, this brand new production pays tribute to the original in an ultra-contemporary, rock concert-style setting. So fish out the fishnets and sharpen your stilettos for the rockiest ride you'll enjoy out at the theater!

The Rocky Horror Show will be produced and directed by Steve Hiltebrand.  Brenda Didier, recently Jeff-nominated for Porchlight's "Ragtime," and chorographer of SHANGHAI: BAI XI at Navy Pier's Pepsi Skyline Stage, will choreograph. Scott Alan Jones, who received a Best Actor Jeff nomination for his previous portrayal, stars as Frank-N-Furter. Molly Callinan, a quickly rising Chicago rock star for her work as lead singer of the band CATFIGHT will play Magenta. Celebrated Musical Theatre actor Robert Felbinger will play Riff Raff. Dina DiCostanzo stars as Janet and Tony DiFalco will play Brad. Chicago Favorite and International Cabaret Superstar Amy Armstrong will play the dual roles of Eddie and Dr.Scott. Amy was most recently featured in a full-length interview for The Advocate Magazine. Her hilarious comedy and amazing voice have attracted a large and loyal fan base everywhere she plays...from P-Town to R.S.V.P. Cruises, not forgetting...Sweet Home Chicago!

Lighting Designer, Matthew DeYoung a rising force in the rock concert world, will provide the atmosphere.

The performance schedule for The Rocky Horror Show is Mondays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 11:00 p.m., Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. 

Tickets range in price from $30 to $42.50 and are available NOW at the Mercury Theater box office, by calling 773.325.1700.

SPECIAL SPECIAL SPECIAL! All Seats $25 for PREVIEW WEEKEND, October 12-15th!
Just mention TIME WARP when ordering!

This show is a GUARANTEED GOOD TIME!

The show contains Adult subject matter and is limited to ages 17 and older.

For more information on The Rocky Horror Show call 773.325.1700. 
Valet parking is available.

 

EBONY Magazine presents the second-annual Taste of EBONY next week, a premiere culinary extravaganza featuring leading African American chefs, restaurant and food industry experts from across the country.

The Taste of EBONY celebrates the unheralded contributions Blacks have made to the world of culinary arts. It further serves as a catalyst for people of color, particularly a younger generation, to view the many facets of the food industry as a viable path toward pursuing prestigious careers.

From Chicago to Los Angeles to New York and beyond, 20 food industry experts will offer a diverse array of culinary creations. Participating alongside the best of the best, celebrity chefs from TV One, The Food Network, Discovery Home, and Bravo’s Top Chef will offer a wide variety of dishes.

“The Taste of EBONY shines the light on the immeasurable contributions of leading Black chefs from around the globe,” said Linda Johnson Rice, President and CEO of Johnson Publishing Company. “African-American chefs and restaurateurs have established a solid history in the food and wine industries, and EBONY will provide the necessary platform to showcase a vast amount of incredible talent.”

The evening entails a culinary show and tasting hosted by Bill Bellamy of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and TV One’s Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes. Bellamy will intertwine his comedic talent with the culinary cast and attendees throughout the evening during this special segment.

Co-Chairs Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity and executive chef/TV host and owner, Aquavit, New York, G. Garvin, executive chef/TV Host, Turn Up the Heat - TV One, Los Angeles; and Jeff Henderson, NY Times best seller/executive chef, Las Vegas will present the Culinary Show.  Charlotte Lyons, EBONY Magazine Food Editor and Author of The New EBONY Cookbook is the event’s culinary director.

 

Other Taste of EBONY featured participants include:
Leon Baker, pastry chef, Farrah Olivia Restaurant, Alexandria, VA; Warren Brown, Food Network host of Sugar Rush and owner, CakeLove and Love Café, Washington D.C. and Silver Spring, MD; Sterling Burpee, chief culinary officer, Culinary Training Academy, Las Vegas; Jacqueline Cholmondeley, executive chef, Always Accolades Catering, New York; Timothy Dean, executive chef/owner, Timothy Dean Bistro, Baltimore; Brian Duncan, wine enthusiast/co-owner, Bin 36, Chicago; Robert Gadsby, executive chef/owner, Bedford Star Group, Houston; Steven McAfee, executive chef, Parrot Cage, Chicago; Andre Mack, corporate sommelier, The Fireman Hospitality Group, New York; Morou Ouattara, executive chef/owner, Farrah Olivia Restaurant, Alexandria, VA; Darryl Petty, owner, Blu 47, Chicago; Cliff Rome, Chef, Parkway Ballroom, Chicago; Connie Rousseau, executive chef, Connie Cooks, Fort Lee, NJ; Allan Vernon, owner, Vernon’s Jerk Paradise, New York; Tre Wilcox, executive chef, Bravo TV’s Top Chef contestant, Cuisine of Abacus restaurant, Dallas; Melba Wilson, owner/proprietor, Melba’s Restaurant, New York and Marvin Woods, executive chef/TV host, Home Plate, Atlanta.

The Taste of EBONY is sponsored by: EBONY, Anheuser-Busch, Chrysler, TV One, RR Donnelley, American Airlines, Viking, American Express and Swanson.

EBONY magazine, the No. 1 magazine for African-Americans, is published monthly and reaches over 12 million readers with each issue. Published by Johnson Publishing Company, Inc., the largest Black-owned publishing company in the world, EBONY was founded in 1942 by the late Publisher and Chairman John H. Johnson.  Linda Johnson Rice is President and CEO, and Eunice W. Johnson serves as the company’s secretary and treasurer.