Living, Breathing and Loving Chicago
Heather Stumpf of Vavoom Pinups is by far the best photog in Chicago. Seriously! Remember when I did the 40s Pinup Shoot with her? Well, I came to her with an idea: A romance novel cover photoshoot with me and my guy. Goofy? Yup! But the results were stunning and my photoshop skills on this pic, seriously baller:
Hats off to this amazing photographer who can shoot pinup models, harlequins and Fabios!
MORE after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »
“Date night” took a backseat this summer, as my guy’s busy gig/triathlon schedule and my cheerleader/work schedule filled almost every evening. On the evenings we were both free, we just wanted to relax and veg on the couch – a date, yes, but not the most exciting one, and certainly not taking advantage of all that this amazing city has to offer!
Totally ready for a Date Night Marathon!
Now that it’s autumn and our schedules are back to normal, we decided to make up for our date drought by going on a Date-a-Palooza: A three night date bender that would give us the bonding time we missed out on over the summer.
After much thought, we chose the following schedule:
Friday: Dinner at home, a night at iO Improv to see the Improvisational Shakespeare troupe
I’ve only been to iO Improv a couple of times, and have never been disappointed by the comedic talent there. What better way to end the week than laughing out loud to the musings of the Improvised Shakespeare troupe? I had no idea what to expect, and my guy was a little afraid that comedy in iambic pentameter would not only be confusing, but just wouldn’t work. After much debate, we bought tickets, took a shot of whiskey (Okay, maybe two…cheers!) and made our way to Wrigleyville.
At the theatre, the IS troupe asked the crowd to shout a title for a play that they would make up on the spot. “Julius Pizza” was the title most shouted and then we witnessed the world premier of a brilliant Shakespeare play, complete with the best prologue with pizza references that was funnier than anything Shakespeare has written. Watching the all-male troupe play female parts and giggle at their own jokes as they materialised made the whole night thoroughly enjoyable. I was amazed how in sync the men were, never cutting each other off and always having the perfectly timed aside that both jived with the current event, and set up the next scene brilliantly. There ended up being, as I expected, a lot of jokes about the male member, but nothing too eye-rolling. We left in good spirits, wishing that we remembered all of the lines we laughed at, and agreed that it was one of the best improv shows we’d ever been to!
Saturday: Green City Market and an extended dinner/drinks at Hopleaf
A visit to Green City Market makes a great day date (just don’t ask your guy/gal to meet you at 7am) because there’s endless amounts of people/dog watching, ready-made delicious food (Sunday Dinner’s burgers….yum!), live music, chef demos/tastings, and it gives you a great excuse to invite someone to come back to your place…for a local, seasonal home-cooked meal, of course! We hung out and picked up some local fare to make homemade peach jam and a delish lunch.
Dinner at the Hopleaf is a great date for anyone who likes great craft beer and the bar’s specialty…mussels and fries! The side of stilton mac-n-cheese is the best, ever(!) and the venison meatballs…well, they were tender and earthy without being even a bit gamey. We agreed that the vibe of Hopleaf (there’s no blaring music, the lighting is soft, and if you score a table on the upstairs Mezzanine, you can look over the restaurant and people watch while feeling like it’s just the two of you. Romantic? Not quite…but it is intimate and the food is to-die-for!!!!
Sunday: A 6 1/2 hour movie marathon: Brew and View at The Vic.
A TOTAL GEM! How I walked by The Vic every day and DIDN’T partake in Brew and View is ridiculous!!! You MUST go here! The catch? You pay $5 or $6 (depending if they’re offering two or three movies, respectively, that week) per person to watch two or three movies back-to-back(-to-back). The movies are either cult classics (think Grease or Rocky Horror Picture Show), or second- and third- run movies, but if you’re like me, you probably didn’t get around to seeing them the first time they were out.
I took a survey on their website and got a 2-for-1 admission, which made TWO tickets…$6. To top it off, there were drink specials, a concession stand and you can order in food from their list of delivery spots. There’s no shortage of good delivery in Lakeview, so it’s totally worth it to order something. Talk about a cheap date! Brew and View is totally casual, you can talk during the movies, make fun of them (not in a hushed voice!), eat and drink a beer while enjoying someone’s company. We watched all three movies (a 6 1/2 hour affair!), but it was perfect for the dreary weather we had on Sunday.
We left the theatre with sore butts and limbs that had only recently “woke up”, but we also left laughing as we recapped silly movie moments and patting ourselves on the backs that we had found such an awesome date place. We’ll definitely be back before too long – hopefully bringing a crew along to brew and view with us!
If you have other great date ideas, let me know! In the mean time, Trev and I are booked for a tandem kayaking experience down the river….I’ll let ya know how it goes!!!
Yay for Chicago! Until next time…
Dev :o) xx
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, but if you want to avoid looking like you only care about your sweetheart on one day of the year, might I suggest taking him/her out for a romantic evening of music BEFORE the big day!? How (pleasantly) surprised your honey will be when you whisk her/him off to see the awe-inspiring Avalon String Quartet present Viennese Song aided by the vocal talents of Julia Bentley!
The show is next Thursday, February 10 at 7.30 pm at the Gottlieb Hall of the Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria Street, and there are still tickets available!
The Avalon String Quartet
I will openly admit that the first time I saw the Avalon String Quartet, I was skeptical. I had never seen them play and had also never been to the tiny Gottlieb Hall of the Merit School of Music to see any performances, by anyone. The venue was rather small and I thought for sure that the quartet would produce a tiny sound to go along with the tiny venue.
I was very, very wrong.
Instead, this dynamic quartet knocked the socks off of everyone and produced one of the most moving musical performances I have ever seen. Their passion and excitement for the music they handpick is evident in every bow stroke.
According to the programme I received, the performance will open with Anton Webern’s Langsamer Satz, “a late Romantic work with soaring melodies and rich harmonies”, and will continue with Alban Berg’s “Lyric Suite”, and Franz Schubert’s Death and the Maiden, where Bentley will join the quartet singing the part of the Maiden, “pleading with Death to pass her by, while Death in response sings his own song of imploring for the Maiden to not fear his embrace”.
Certainly, nothing will get your lovebug to hold onto you tighter as they contemplate your ultimate demise. Not even Saw IV will get someone to nuzzle closer!!
The Viennese Song programme will close with Schubert’s String Quartet in D Minor, “a work that ranges from light and lyrical to dark and compelling, ending with a dramatic tarantella”.
When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of love, which makes me think of music. Surprise your darling with great music, and well, you might have this holiday in the bag!
Dev xx
In honour of the Bears playing in the playoffs this Sunday, I present to you the most glorious ice sculpture spotted on State Street! Note the bear in the Bears helmet, holding the piece of cheese!! Love it!!!
"SQUEEZE THE CHEESE!"
Enjoy the playoffs! GO BEARS!
Dev xx
Yesterday morning I heard a woman at a crosswalk say to her friend, “Why is it that in winter, in Chicago, every day feels like a Monday?”
I could not help but cringe. It was at that moment I realised that Making Chicago Home needed to kick back into high gear. With all of the fun, amazing and unique things happening around our fair city, we have no one (and nothing!) to blame but ourselves if we are not having a great time!
When I want to kick the blues, I turn to something that always makes me feel better: music.
Yesterday I had the pleasure to shake off the chilly, rainy weather and park my tush in Symphony Center to hear the Chicago Sinfonietta present A Dream Unfolds, their annual tribute concert to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The concert opened with pieces by Ulysses Kay (Theater Set) and George Walker (Lyric for Strings), both conducted by Music Director Paul Freeman.
Maestro Paul Freeman, photo by Ken Carl
Don’t be so surprised if you notice a new ornament on your Christmas tree this year. Several shops at the ever-popular Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza are selling glass pickle ornaments that supposedly an old German tradition. Whether it is true or not, Chicagoans seem to be eating it up and these pickles are flying off the shelves out of the woven baskets.
The tag on the ornament says that it is an old German tradition to hide a pickle ornament in the tree and whichever child finds it gets an extra gift on Christmas morning. According to several urban myth sites online, this is a bunch of BS, and it probably is. I am sure the Germans are getting a good laugh as we all “ooh” and “ahh” over glass pickles, hiding them in our trees and patting ourselves on the backs for integrating an “old German” custom into our very American ways of celebrating the holiday. Yes, how worldly and cultured we are with our German pickles!
Just for a chuckle, check them out. They come in all shapes and sizes, colours and covered in glitter! Fun!
Dev :o) xx
The holiday season is upon us! And to kick off my 25 Days of Holiday posts, I would like to start by wishing everyone a Happy Hanukkah!
The massive Menorah in Daley Plaza in the Loop
Check out the gigantic menorah in Daley Plaza and have yourself a great holiday!
Dev xx
It’s Friday and that means you are ready for the weekend and ready for the absolutely BS Hallmark-made holiday, “Sweetest Day”. Have you heard of this holiday? I hadn’t until yesterday when a co-worker stressed how important it is for your guy to treat you to something special. If it gets me a free chocolate then I am in! :o)
But Sweetest Day or not, the Joffrey has something incredibly special going on: It’s called their 2010-2011 Season and it is starting with All Stars. From tonight (October 15) until October 24, you can laugh, cry and be entertained by Joffrey ballerinas performing what is arguably, their most diverse and moving collection of performances. Seriously, guys, this one is not to be missed.
"After the Rain" ft. Victoria Jaiani and Fabrice Calmels - Photo by Herbert Migdoll
Of course since I rave about the ballet every time I attend, I feel it necessary for me to elaborate as to why this particular set of performances it not to be missed.
Apparently, there is a hotline to help the, uh… sexually challenged. Spotted right outside the Sedgwick brown line stop right on North Avenue, this sign might be a real virgin help hotline or might be clever marketing for something else.
Did I call? Of course I called! The automated guy on the line dishes advice to both women and men; single and in a relationship; and you can even hear advice (if you are a guy) on how to get a girlfriend. I waited to hear a pitch for the new movie, Easy A, but no such luck, which just confuses me even more. What is this for!?
So I visited the website, thevirginityhit.com . Yup. Clever marketing for a new Sony Pictures movie coming out.
While you wait for the release, give the hotline a ring, virgin or not. It’s pretty funny!
Dev xx
Sure, unexpected flattery from strangers while you walk down the street is great, but nothing makes my day more than spotting hilarious (and harmless) vandalism on the streets of Chicago! This little gem was spotted on N. Stockton Avenue near Wrightwood Avenue:
Pretty clever! I want to know who creates custom stickers to vandalise pedestrian walkway signs! I’m not sure that’s a very lucrative business, but I could be wrong!!! :o)
Dev xx
