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WARNING: Potential geek-out alert!
Authentic Azkaban prison uniforms!
Looking to satisfy your deepest, guilt-free obsession with all things Harry Potter? Do you lay awake fantasizing about a stroll on the grounds of Hogwarts, a ride on a Hippogriff? Well ponder no longer, and hurry to the latest exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park.
Harry Potter the Exhibition, to be precise.
I was invited to attend the media preview yesterday and was absolutely floored by this amazing collection. It is an outdoor, temporary exhibit that features over 200 costumes and props from the movies.
Needless to say, I was in HP heaven.
The tent is air and humidity controlled, so as to protect those undeniable gems. The exhibit is set up like an interactive maze. Part haunted house/part mental adventure, I was utterly enthralled the entire time. I walk in and was immediately greeted by a man in robes, who asked me-most appropriately with a British accent-if I wanted to get the “full” experience. Please and thank you. I was then directed to a stool to be sorted by Sorting Hat. All the appropriate bells and whistles were employed: festive limerick, wild gesticulation of the arms. And then I was told I belonged in Gryffindor. (Yes, yes, yes!)
Next I was led to a dark room when approximately 12 TV’s displayed a brief synopsis of all the movies. A loud whistle was sounded at the end, and I was led by a full-scale Hogwarts Express train, where another man in robes urged me forward, claiming I was going to be late to the exhibit. Kitsch, and amazing!
The exhibit itself is divided up by themes and rooms. The first theme is portraits and, true to the books, some pictures are animated. For the fans, the much-loved Fat Lady painting is there.. in all her screaming glory.
The following areas include props and costumes pertaining to the different classes Harry takes, potion books, shoes, more TV’s depicting pertinent scenes. Continuing along, the room darkens and you will find yourself delightfully lost in the Forbidden Forest. A life-size (or what I would imagine to be life sized) Centaur, Hippogriff, and Acromantula spider are all gathered in what my mind recalls, as a room wrought with eerie sound effects and probably a fog machine.
Harry Potter overload. To anyone but me.
Take a look at some of the pictures I snagged at the event.
Yes, you heard right!!!!!
Martha Stewart, domestic demi-god, is coming to Chicago for a book signing TOMORROW (May 1st). I have class but that does not mean you cannot do what I wish I was doing and go and get your brand new copy of “Martha Stewart’s Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook,” SIGNED!!!
Here are the details you need to know:
- When: May 1 at 1 p.m.
- Price: Free (and PRICELESS!!!)
- Event Phone Number: 312-781-1000
@ Macy’s on 111 N. State St.
Dev xx
CRAZY STORE ALERT!!!!
Will someone please tell me how RobotCity Workshop on Sheffield in Lakeview is still in business these days?! With the economy crumbling around us, this shop is busy selling robots and robot-themed novelties and somehow they are still afloat. Crazy!! Did I mention they offer robot making classes? Because they do.
Now, I am not really the type to geek out on robots, but you have GOT to go into this store to understand how absolutely neat it is. I never could have dreamed that there were so many robot products on the market and I can only hope to one day afford classes to build a robot that will bring me breakfast in bed.
*sigh* One day.
Dev xx
Time Out Chicago is usually the bible from which I read and is the first place I turn to when I want the skinny on what’s going down in the city.
On Thursday mornings I wake up all giddy and cannot wait to get myself to my friendly, neighbourhood convenient store to pick up a brand new issue that will guide my weekend shenanigans. Sometimes, while waiting in the queue to check out, I even peek at the “Around Town” section to see what event is going to blow my mind.
“What will it be today?” I ask myself. “A Cat Circus? Kinky burlesque lesssons? A talk on glow-in-the-dark rabbits?”
The possibilities are endless.
But a few weeks ago, I popped into my regular corner shop and there were no Time Outs in their regular area. When I enquired about the missing Time Outs to the cashier he just shrugged. “The girl didn’t make the delivery today.”
HAVE YOU SEEN ME?! ＮＯ，ｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｌｙ。Ｗｈｅｒｅ ｔｈｅ ｈｅｌｌ ｉｓ ｔｈｉｓ ｉｓｓｕｅ ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ ｉｔ ｈａｓ ｎｏｔ ｂｅｅｎ ｄｅｌｉｖｅｒｅｄ ｔｏ ｍｅ ｙｅｔ！
Over the next few days I visited nearly every gas station, corner store and magazine rack nestled in pharmacies around Lakeview and low and behold…no Time Outs. Little stickers on the front of shops claiming that “Time Out IS SOLD HERE” misled me.
It was not until I wandered into a shop on Sheffield where I got my lede. The shop owner told me that Time Out was no longer delivering to smaller stores. Instead, only big bookstores like Borders would be carrying copies.
What do you think I did next? Of course I bought a subscription online…five weeks ago. Has it come yet? Nope. Will it? I hope so but I am not too sure.
While I have been waiting for my issues, Time Out’s price went down. That is awesome but hopefully it does not mean they will lose any of their current content。
But my love-hate thing is more than just subscription-deep. I know it can only be so many pages long, but I would pay an extra dollar for bigger print. I am only 22, but I feel like my Mom trying to read that print! Come on, Time Out!
I love Time Out Chicago and will still turn to it in times of need, but until I get my subscription and can actually read what is in the pages, I am going on a tyrade!
I want my Time Out!
Dev xx
I heard about The Zoo weeks ago. From what I read, Zoo was supposed to be a really cool zoo-themed bar complete with an interactive fish tank and a remodeled bar with live music and poetry.
All ready to open my wallet, Tim and I visited the Zoo one night at around 8.00 just to find it closed. It was a Wednesday. Really?! Not open at 8 on a Wednesday? Fine. We visited again on a Friday night after 9pm and even though there were people in the bar it was still. not. open.
The other night we were walking by and the “Open” sign was turned on. Finally, I thought, this bar is going to be well worth the wait. Upon entering, I wondered what the hell was going on. The music was way too loud, there was only three other people in the bar and there was no bartender.
After a few minutes, a trashy looking girl put down her iPhone, jumped up from her seat, went behind the bar and begrudgingly asked us if we wanted a drink.
Sure, I wanted a drink. I wanted a cold, frosty pint of fine imported beer. But wait a minute here, there were no taps. The only drinks Zoo had was a sad looking liquor collection haphazardly line up on the candle-lit bar. To tell you the truth, I think my parents have a better liquor collection in their kitchen cabinet.
The drink I ordered was disgusting because it was not made right (who messes up a simple vodka tonic?) and after chugging it down I made it clear to Tim that we had to leave.
We wandered around Wrigleyville in search for a place that did not sell Bud Light or Old Style, but I finally decided I just wanted a quiet place to talk and a chocolate milkshake.
Pick Me Up Cafe, at 3408 N. Clark Street, gave me just what its name suggests. We were greeted by a happy hipster in paint on jeans and led to a table with a hypnotic swirly design. The music, as to be expected, was some indie crap that I could not care less about now but will probably be in love with when it becomes more mainstream.
The server, who was very friendly, delivered my chocolate milkshake with extra whipped cream (goodness bless that server) and never once bothered us by continually asking us if we were okay. A really chill crowd filled the place, some people burying themselves in books while others sat with a friend or two and chowed down on veggie-friendly French toast.
Pick Me Up is open until 2am, but there is a catch: You must buy a certain amount of food/drinks per hour to stay there. For some reason, that did not apply to us when we were there, but I think it is more of a policy to keep solicitors or the homeless out.
Really, for whatever you want and however late you want it, Pick Me Up definitely has something for you.
Dev xx
If you’re curious about what Devin and I have been so busy with these past few weeks, be sure to check out Medill Reports. It’s the news service to which we file stories almost daily. Check it out and see all the exciting stories we’re reporting on in Chicago!
-Ileana
One of the bright spots in my otherwise hectic schedule at Medill is a research project I’ve been working on for my global seminar. We are instructed to research various ethnic communities in Chicago–and after much deep soul-searching, I chose Romania!
I put together a multimedia package on Vuvox. It’s only my first foray into learning more about this vibrant community, so if anyone happens to know more about it, please let me know.
Enjoy!
-Ileana
After a long week of crappy classes, I simply cannot hold out for Friday to let loose. No, instead I let my hair down on Thursday, which is quickly becoming my favourite day because of Green Mill Lounge, located at 4802 N. Broadway Ave.
If you are sick of the same ol’ same ol’, then take a trip to Al Capone’s old hangout, put on your best old Hollywood threads and listen to the sounds of Alan Gresik’s Swing Shift Orchestra while sipping on a glass of wine.
The coolest thing about Green Mill is the never-ending supply of men who can dance really well just waiting to dance with you! They can spin you and dip you alllll the way to the ground. My only advice is that you wear shoes that are 100% comfortable and that you trust the men will make you look damn good on the dancefloor. (Read: let them lead).
The band is set up like a 1920s radio show, and the announcer Lou, will charm you all night in between songs and sets with jokes, stories and cool history. While the band was taking a break, Lou approached Tim and me and told us all about the Green Mill and its history. The table Capone used to sit at faced the front door so he could see who was coming in. What looks like air vents flanking the stage in the back are not ducts at all: they are look-out posts.
Pretty cool, huh?
In any case, do not take my word for it. Go to Green Mill yourself and experience Thursdays at their best.
You can thank me later :o).
Dev xx
Click here to watch my audio slideshow about the new Cubs-themed columbarium.
Don’t be surprised if you are soon at a funeral and the closing remarks are:
Thy Cubdom come/Thy will be done/In Heaven/as it is on Wrigley
Dev xx
The Chicago Cubs and McCormick Foundation donated more than $1 million to 41 non-profit Chicago organizations and to the city’s park district summer programs on Tuesday, earmarking the money to help recreation and social service programs.
Cubs Care, a fund of the McCormick Foundation now in its 18th year, is supported by donors and fans who together are able to help thousands of Chicagoans in need.
Crane Kenney, Cubs’ chairman, said it’s important for fans “to understand that we are an important and responsible community organization. We are one of the unique ball parks in that we are in a residential community. We don’t play in some pre-fabricated ball park on a cornfield somewhere or in a parking lot. So we have to give back a little more and we enjoy doing it.”
The Cubs Care grant recipients include organizations in the Lakeview area where Wrigley Field is located.
Summer programs such as Inner City Youth Baseball and the Cubs Care Rookie League, sponsored by the Chicago Park District, received more than $375,000 from the grants.
Lake View YMCA’s Executive Director Brian Page, a beneficiary of a Cubs Care grant, said the funds would cover the cost of staff, materials and activities at its after-school program.
“By receiving these funds, it helps to fulfill our mission to build strong kids, strong families and strong communities,” Page said.
Cubs pitcher Sean Marshall helped distribute grants at the 2009 Cubs Care Award Luncheon held at Wrigley Field Stadium Club.
The McCormick Foundation, through Cubs Care, has granted more than $14 million to agencies that support youth activities, aid children with special needs and assist social service efforts throughout Chicago since 1991.
Dev xx
