|
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Big Jones Hosts Second Annual Trash Fish Dinner with Fortune Fish & Gourmet (Bensenville,IL)
Garis & Hahn presents "DREAMLAND" (NYC)
|
|
|
Girls Supporting Girls Hosts a Build Bash at Bucktown Ballroom (Chicago)
|
Prairie Grass Cafe Ramps It Up for Earth Day Complimentary River Valley Ranch Mushroom Soup at Lunch(Northbrook,IL)
Prairie Grass Cafe Ramps It Up for Earth Day
Complimentary River Valley Ranch Mushroom Soup at Lunch
Complimentary River Valley Ranch Mushroom Soup at Lunch
Northbrook's
Prairie Grass Cafe (601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, 847-205-4433) will be
offering its lunch customer complimentary house-made River Valley Ranch
Mushroom Soup tomorrow for Earth Day. The soup normally sells for
$5.50.Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris, chefs/co-owners at Prairie Grass Cafe showcase various types of organic, local mushrooms. "We buy our Button and Portobello mushrooms from farmer Eric Rose of River Valley Ranch in Burlington, Wisconsin, as they are a Certified Organic Farm and the oldest mushroom farm in the Midwest," Sarah says. "All crops are grown without pesticides or chemicals. We connected with them through the Green City Market. The combination of mushrooms makes the best mushroom soup. It's truly delicious."
The Prairie Grass Cafe menu also will be featuring ramps starting tomorrow. Chefs Stegner and Bumbaris have provide their recipe using ramps from Tim Burton of Burton's Maplewood Farm. Guest will be able to enjoy the Ramp Crustini with Ramp Butter during ramp season. Says Stegner, " I always know that Spring has finally sprung when the ramps come in season." Let's hope she's right.
Sarah Stegner Photo by Grant Kessler
Prairie Grass CafeRamp Crustini with Ramp ButterBy George Bumbaris and Sarah Stegner
Ingredients:1# of wild ramps ( I use Burton Farms from Indiana) 1 Tbsp + ¼ cup olive oil (separated)
Salt
½ cup sweet butter (softened)
8 slices of baguette - sliced on the bias, 4-5 inches long each
Method:
Cook the ramps:
Take about 10 to 20 ramps depending on the size. Clean them very well. Divide the ramps into 3 parts: the bulb, the stem and the greens into three separate parts.
At the very beginning of the season you may need to only divide them into 2 parts the top greens from the bottom stem.
Blanch the stems and bulb in boiling salted water for a few minutes. Heat a medium size saute pan over high heat, add a 1 tablespoon olive oil. Put chopped up tops of the ramps into the pan along with the blanched stems and bulbs. Cook until tender and season well with salt. If they pick up a little charred color that can taste good too.
Make the ramp butter:Place ½ cup of the cooked ramps in a blender with ¼ cup olive oil, 1/8 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Puree well. Fold the pureed ramps into the softened butter.
Assembly:Spread some of the ramp butter onto a slice of baguette. Toast in the oven until hot and bubbly. The butter will be vibrant green. Add the remaining cooked ramps over the top and eat!
Prairie Grass Cafe Ramp Crustini with Ramp Butter
Monday, April 21, 2014
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL Extends Through August 9 (Chicago)
EXTENDED BY POPULAR DEMAND
THROUGH AUGUST 9 2014
FINAL BLOCK OF TICKETS GOES ON SALE APRIL 22
Producers Kevin McCollum,
Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, along with Broadway In Chicago, are thrilled to announce that due to popular demand
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL has added four weeks to its Chicago
engagement. The National Tour will launch at the Oriental Theatre on
April 22 and now play 16 weeks, through August 9, before continuing on
its National Tour across North America. The final block
of tickets for performances July 15 through August 9 will go on sale
Tuesday, April 22 at 10 a.m.
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright, MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s
journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who
launched the careers of Diana Ross,
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and so
many more.
Featuring more than 50 classic hits such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,”
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL tells the story behind the hits as Diana,
Smokey, Berry and the whole Motown family fight against the odds to
create the soundtrack of change in America. Motown shattered barriers,
shaped our lives and made us all move to the same
beat.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL features choreography by Patricia Wilcox (Blues in the Night) and
Warren Adams (Toy Story), scenic design by David Korins (Bring It On: The Musical, Annie), costume design by Tony Award® nominee
ESosa (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, “Project Runway”), lighting design by Tony Award® winner
Natasha Katz (Once, Sister Act), sound design by Tony Award® nominee
Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages, The Scottsboro Boys), projection design by
Daniel Brodie (Jekyll and Hyde), hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe (Memphis) and casting by
Telsey + Company.
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL’s arrangements and orchestrations are by Grammy and Tony Award® nominee
Ethan Popp (Rock of Ages), who also serves as music
supervisor in reproducing the classic “Sound of Young America,” with
co-orchestrations and additional arrangements by Tony Award® nominee
Bryan Crook (“Smash”) and dance arrangements by Zane Mark (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is produced by Tony Award®
winning producer Kevin McCollum (Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q), Chairman and CEO of SONY Music Entertainment
Doug Morris and Motown founder Berry Gordy.
For more information, visit
www.BroadwayInChicago.com
or
www.MotownTheMusical.comThe performance schedule for MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is as follows:
Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. (No 2:00 p.m. performance April 23; No 7:30 p.m. performance May 7)
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m. (Additional 7:30 p.m. performances on April 27, May 11 and July 6)
Please note: Performance schedule is subject to change.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets
are now on sale at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph
St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the
Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster
retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com
.
Best availability for tickets are currently on Tuesday and Wednesday
performances. Tickets are also available for groups of 10 or more by
calling Broadway
In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.
GETTING WAISTED: A Survival Guide to BEING FAT in a Society That LOVES THIN By Monica Parker
GETTING WAISTED: A Survival Guide to BEING FAT in a Society That LOVES THIN By Monica Parker
"My dear friend Monica Parker, the hilarious humorist, Mother Hen to me, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, John Candy – all of us when we started out in Toronto has written a book about truly finding yourself, being content with who you are and developing an enduring sense of self-esteem.” --Dan Aykroyd
Deerfield Beach, FL, April 21, 2014 – "I was born in Glasgow, Scotland. I weighed six and a half pounds. One hour later I weighed sixty-two pounds. Alright, maybe this is a slight exaggeration, but only about the time. My fat cells did start expanding at warp speed from the minute I exited the womb. I have no idea what was in that milk but I've been on a slippery slope ever since…” And, so begins, GETTING WAISTED: A Survival Guide to BEING FAT in a Society That LOVES THIN (HCI -- $15.95), the ultimate anti-diet book. It's a book that speaks to everyone who can identify with having struggled over and over to lose weight only to gain it back time after time. And, as is apparent by the opening line, it's funny.
There are so many hustlers promising the fastest fix to a better new us. "I listened and I drank their elixirs and I became tiny.” What they didn't tell the author, Monica Parker, is that it wouldn't last! An actor, writer and producer, Monica's story is funny and painful but it's also inspirational. She considers herself the poster woman for turning lemons into chocolate. We are all flawed, chipped and dented; which doesn't mean we're also not interesting, vital and sexy. "We must celebrate who we are as our mental health depends on it.”
Ultimately, GETTING WAISTED is a funny and inspirational look at life through society's fun-house mirror. Bridging the divide between serial-dieter's survival guide and memoir, it takes the reader on Parker's bumpy ride from chunky baby to chunky adult, where every mouthful arrives loaded with calories and anxiety. Insanity is added to the mix when she moves to Beverly Hills, a town filled with women all running in circles like dogs chasing their tails as they try to get back to their original birth weight of six-an-a-half-pounds: a place where being fat is considered a criminal offense.
GETTING WAISTED is a hilarious and heartfelt memoir, a rallying cry for women everywhere to trade the Spanx for self-acceptance.
Available wherever books are sold or to order directly from the publisher, contact:
www.hcibooks.com or (800) 441-5569.
GETTING WAISTED: A Survival Guide to BEING FAT in a Society That LOVES THIN by Monica Parker
IBSN: 978-0-7573-1774-3-- $15.95
About the author:
Monica Parker is an actor, writer, and producer in theatre, television, and film, most notably All Dogs Go to Heaven. She was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland, until the age of thirteen when she immigrated with her parents to Toronto, Canada. Monica is currently starring in her insightful and funny one woman show, Sex, Pies & A Few White Lies, which premiered in 2010. Monica has just completed two features already under option, and has a recurring role on ScyFy's Defiance. Monica lives with her long-time husband and saint, Gilles.
Upcoming Events:
April 21 2:00 p.m. PST - Appearance on KCAL TV News in Los Angeles
Monica will be in Los Angeles for the period 4/20 through 4/30
April 21 7:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble appearance
1201 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Praise for GETTING WAISTED:
Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of I Couldn't Love You More and Hunger Point: "Funny, frank, and refreshingly honest, Getting Waisted is Monica Parker's audacious memoir about her lifelong love/hate relationship with her body. But this book isn't really about being fat; it's about being human, and every woman who has ever used food to sate an emotional emptiness, or longed for self-acceptance, should read it."
Katie Ford, writer/producer of the box-office smash, Miss Congeniality, and the renowned TV series, Desperate Housewives: "I love Monica's humor, her honesty, and—better—her truth. That love letter to her unexpected boyfriend is something every woman will want to live. I love her compassionate, funny, sharp, beautiful, and romantic voice. It'll make sooo many women feel they are not alone."
David J. Pilon, Ph.D., 2012 president, Eating Disorders Association of Canada-Association des Troubles Alimentaire du Canada: "Monica Parker brings a human—and funny—face to the body politic that dictates that happiness and acceptance derive only from a slim physique. She courageously mines her life experience, in and out of the public eye, not only exposing her vulnerabilities but also revealing her resilience and hard-won self-acceptance. Monica's story inspires and her message is truly off the scale."
Christie Andrus, M.A., president, The Human Factor: "Monica Parker's work is outstanding. What she writes about mirrors the experience of many, and her capture of it is clever, poignant, and leaves her readers feeling like we belong. I've listened to the reaction of her audiences—it's as if she's been inside their heads. She says it as others have experienced it: all the silly, hurtful, and consuming monkey-talk we put ourselves through by not accepting who we are. Monica evokes a full spectrum of emotion: 'Did she really say that?' 'Aren't we suppose to keep that to ourselves?' 'I thought I was the only one who felt different/lesser/odd…' Thank you, Monica, for exposing our nutty ways through your humor and naked honesty. It inspires me, and others, to become more and more of who we really are meant to be. "
Sarah Rafferty, actress, 'Donna Paulson' on USA Network's hit drama Suits: "Thank God Monica Parker has turned her revelatory one-woman show into a hilarious memoir. At times both gobsmacking and inspiring, it's a story for any human who has struggled with 'fitting in' and gaining ever elusive self-acceptance and love."
Arlene Sarner, award-winning screenwriter/playwright/producer: "Ever known a female worried about losing her virginity, bathing suits, and finding Prince Charming while battling body issues? Ever known a female who hasn't?
Meet Monica Parker, the brilliant, witty, and perceptive woman who has gifted us with a hysterically funny, painfully honest, and outrageous true-life memoir of her life lived well and large. Getting Waisted leads us on Monica's raucously hilarious journey, from Scotland, to Toronto, and then to Beverly Hills—a fat girl growing into a fat woman, hungry for love and life while struggling with scores of diets tried and failed. But because Monica is a gifted writer, right up there in the Pantheon with Nora Ephron and Carrie Fisher, there's more than laughter here. This is ultimately a story, populated by a parade of incredible characters, about breaking free from societal stereotypes to embracing who you are, and living life on your own terms. Parker has done that with enormous charm, wit and humor, emerging as a happy and successful actress, writer, producer, and inspirational speaker living an extraordinary life—and with her Prince Charming at her side.
She beat the odds, and after reading this wonderful book, I think I can too!"
Wendy Crewson, award-winning actress: "Getting Waisted is funny as hell, and the good news is, it's not just for big girls. It's a welcome tonic for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and felt insecure . . . hello skinny, flat-chested girls with cat-eye glasses! Her adventures through self-doubt and into the sunshine of self-love are full of sass and panache. She's a cheerleader of the 'don't let 'em get you down' school of survival, and the BFF we all want on the other end of the line. So let's have a piece of chocolate, reapply that red lipstick, and get out there and give 'em hell, girls! Life's a cake and Monica wants more. I'll have what she's having!"
Kerrie Keane, artistic director, White Buffalo Theatre Company: "Play the hand you've been dealt. Heard it before? It's never rung so true as from this very funny, brutally honest voice. In Getting Waisted, Monica Parker shares 'the 101 humiliations it cost her to create the evolved woman' she's become. She finds a comedic take on most of those mortifying events, and chalks up the rest to the fire needed for the forge. Few of us escape the curse of comparison, especially with the media bombarding us with impossible standards of beauty and lifestyle, but Ms. Parker, in true Rabelaisian spirit, inspires us to get on with it, to accept and forgive. What an amusing kick in the ass!"
Friday, April 18, 2014
Through Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance, A Young Man Goes From Life On The Streets To A Real American Success Story
Through Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance, A Young Man Goes From Life On The Streets To A Real American Success Story
Sean P. Hoggs learned at an early age that we cannot allow our socioeconomic background or tough start in life to define who we are – and he should know! At age 16, he set out to change a life riddled with drugs and crime, moving from one friend's house to the next, determined not to end up in jail or, even worse, dead!
The Bastard Child: A Story of Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance (Author House Publishing) is Hoggs' remarkable and long-awaited autobiography that tells the compelling story of growing up on the violent inner city streets of Central New Jersey, abused and often homeless. Through hard work, perseverance and fortitude, he became a success and ascended onto the national and international stage through his many humanitarian and mentoring efforts. For anyone trying to overcome personal hardship or dealing with any of life's challenges, this inspiring story is a must read.
Enduring an abusive and turbulent childhood with little chance of ever getting a helping hand, let alone a word of encouragement, would have made it easy for Sean Hoggs to go through life a victim, but this was never an option. Instead, he chose to serve as a humanitarian and mentor, advising at-risk youth that fame and fortune in sports and entertainment is a highly unlikely prospect while a life filled with love and family is something achievable and worth having – living proof that everyone, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, or station in life, can fulfill their dreams through determination, education and hard work.
"It is simply a story of hope,” Hoggs says. "After all, the odds are against becoming a professional athlete or music star. However, with an education, the percentages are in your favor to accomplish anything you want in life.”
Sean P. Hoggs is a decorated retired military veteran of over 24 years. He has served as both an enlisted service member and commissioned officer (after earning a Presidential appointment for his years of exceptional enlisted service) in the United States Air Force. In 2007 he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans and is a noted mentor and role model to inner city youth. An internationally recognized humanitarian, he is also proud to be a 2011 Hall of Fame inductee at the Plainfield, NJ High School.
For three years, Sean was Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies at Rutgers University where he spent countless hours teaching, tutoring and mentoring civilians and military members alike. A noted international ambassador, Sean has raised funds for orphanages around the world and provided critical items for those in need. His passion to help and serve others has made him a sought-after speaker, mentor and role model.
Sean is currently a Senior Aerospace Instructor in his home state of New Jersey, where he lives with his wife of twenty-five years and their son. They have four children in all, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-seven. For more information on Sean or his book, please visit the website: www.seanphoggs.com
The Bastard Child: A Story of Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance
Author House Publishing
Available online at Amazon.com
Price: $13.31
ISBN-13: 978-1491832868
more info!
Dione Lauray-Davis, Community Activist: "To say that this book will change many lives is an understatement. I am forever changed since reading it. A book like this comes along once in a generation!”
Terrence Bellamy, Youth Advocate and Retired Law Enforcement Officer: "Once I picked the book up, I could not put it down. This autobiography is a must read, it's inspiring me to continue my education. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's having any kind of doubts about achieving their goals in life.”
Vernice Jackson, mother, Washington, D.C.: "…a must read autobiography for any adult or at risk youth that is struggling with his or her direction in life…Powerful…!”
Sean P. Hoggs learned at an early age that we cannot allow our socioeconomic background or tough start in life to define who we are – and he should know! At age 16, he set out to change a life riddled with drugs and crime, moving from one friend's house to the next, determined not to end up in jail or, even worse, dead!
The Bastard Child: A Story of Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance (Author House Publishing) is Hoggs' remarkable and long-awaited autobiography that tells the compelling story of growing up on the violent inner city streets of Central New Jersey, abused and often homeless. Through hard work, perseverance and fortitude, he became a success and ascended onto the national and international stage through his many humanitarian and mentoring efforts. For anyone trying to overcome personal hardship or dealing with any of life's challenges, this inspiring story is a must read.
Enduring an abusive and turbulent childhood with little chance of ever getting a helping hand, let alone a word of encouragement, would have made it easy for Sean Hoggs to go through life a victim, but this was never an option. Instead, he chose to serve as a humanitarian and mentor, advising at-risk youth that fame and fortune in sports and entertainment is a highly unlikely prospect while a life filled with love and family is something achievable and worth having – living proof that everyone, regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, or station in life, can fulfill their dreams through determination, education and hard work.
"It is simply a story of hope,” Hoggs says. "After all, the odds are against becoming a professional athlete or music star. However, with an education, the percentages are in your favor to accomplish anything you want in life.”
Sean P. Hoggs is a decorated retired military veteran of over 24 years. He has served as both an enlisted service member and commissioned officer (after earning a Presidential appointment for his years of exceptional enlisted service) in the United States Air Force. In 2007 he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans and is a noted mentor and role model to inner city youth. An internationally recognized humanitarian, he is also proud to be a 2011 Hall of Fame inductee at the Plainfield, NJ High School.
For three years, Sean was Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies at Rutgers University where he spent countless hours teaching, tutoring and mentoring civilians and military members alike. A noted international ambassador, Sean has raised funds for orphanages around the world and provided critical items for those in need. His passion to help and serve others has made him a sought-after speaker, mentor and role model.
Sean is currently a Senior Aerospace Instructor in his home state of New Jersey, where he lives with his wife of twenty-five years and their son. They have four children in all, ranging in age from sixteen to twenty-seven. For more information on Sean or his book, please visit the website: www.seanphoggs.com
The Bastard Child: A Story of Hope, Resiliency and Perseverance
Author House Publishing
Available online at Amazon.com
Price: $13.31
ISBN-13: 978-1491832868
more info!
Dione Lauray-Davis, Community Activist: "To say that this book will change many lives is an understatement. I am forever changed since reading it. A book like this comes along once in a generation!”
Terrence Bellamy, Youth Advocate and Retired Law Enforcement Officer: "Once I picked the book up, I could not put it down. This autobiography is a must read, it's inspiring me to continue my education. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's having any kind of doubts about achieving their goals in life.”
Vernice Jackson, mother, Washington, D.C.: "…a must read autobiography for any adult or at risk youth that is struggling with his or her direction in life…Powerful…!”
Final weekend of Silver Eye's Auction Preview Exhibition! Closes Wednesday, April 23 2014 (Pittsburgh,PA)
|
|
Silver Eye Center for Photography | 1015 East Carson Street | Pittsburgh | PA | 15203
|
Vice District Brewing - Chicago’s New South Loop Brewery
Vice District Brewing Co.
Situated in a landmark-status building at 1454 S. Michigan Ave., Vice District Brewing Co.
Longtime home brewers, Tarver II and Cole, secured their South Loop space late last year and plan to open the taproom to the public this July. The location’s 2,200 square-feet boasts 14 foot ceilings and ample room for their custom-built 7-barrel brew system. Eight functional serving tanks will be featured and visible in the space to make patrons feel like they’re a part of the brewing process. Once installed, the setup will feed 10 tap lines that will be responsible for quenching the thirst of up to 115 guests at a time.
Though
no food will be offered on-site, Tarver II and Cole plan to encourage
guests to bring in their own, utilize the food trucks that will be
parked outside, or get something delivered from any of the 5 dozen+
restaurants in the area. “We’re all about supporting other local
businesses and we feel like giving people the option to bring their own
food in while enjoying our beers allows us to do that,” says Tarver II.
However,
Tarver II and Cole aren’t ready to give up all of their secrets just
yet. They’re keeping the identity of their brewmaster a secret for the
time being as well as the names of the beers they plan on serving when
the doors open in July. More information will be released in the coming
months.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)