Taste of Chicago Celebrity Chef du Jour Tickets On Sale Today! (Chicago,IL)

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, 78 E. Washington St., 4th Fl., Chicago, IL 60602

CHI50 FITNESS STUDIO OPENS IN BUCKTOWN (Chicago,IL)

 

NEW BUCKTOWN FITNESS STUDIO USES RENOWNED LAGREE METHOD CHI50 features state-of-the-art Megaformer machine    CHI50, a core-focussed fitness studio in Bucktown, is now open to the public. This total-body fitness studio began offering community classes Monday, May 9th, 2016. CHI50 utilizes the Lagree Fitness Method, which incorporates the state-of-the-art Megaformer machines to provide a workout combining cardio, strength training, and Pilates. The Lagree workout has been used by several high profile celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Sofia Vergara. The acronym CHI50 stands for Core, High, Intensity and the number reflects the 50-minute workout which is designed to keep participants motivated and inspired. For the entire workout, clients will experience an elevated heart rate from the slow-controlled movements and fast transitions, keeping them in the fat-burning zone from start to finish. Owner, Cheri Byrd explains that she was originally drawn to the method because "you never plateau from it, you can always get better, and it works for all fitness levels." The intensity of the Lagree Method ensures that each workout will incorporate the challenges of core toning, endurance, cardio, balance, strength, and flexibility. CHI50's trainers are dedicated to assisting each client in accomplishing their fitness goals. Byrd has started to create a community within the studio and continually motivates and inspires everyone who walks in the front door. Byrd has traveled the world, studied physical therapy, and has previously worked in management for corporate fitness phenomenon, Lululemon. Her ambition and experience drove her decision to open a studio specializing in the most innovative and aggressive approach to full body conditioning. The fitness studio is open to the public,  and class reservations can be made through mindbodyonline.com. Classes are available seven days a week at various times. The studio offers introductory specials for newcomers including a $10 intro class and a $150 unlimited month. Bridal and new-mom packages are also available. Private sessions can be reserved for one-on-one training or group parties. About CHI50: CHI50 is a fitness studio practicing the Lagree Method in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. CHI50 is a total-body, 50-minute workout that incorporates the state of the art Megaformer machine and combines Pilates, strength training, and cardiovascular exercise. The studio is filled with bright light and owner, Cheri Byrd, works with the instructors to leave clients feeling motivated and inspired after every workout.

The Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano>>Dr. Travis ("The Doctors"), Blair Tindall ("Mozart in the Jungle"), Former White House Chef Sam Kass & POTUS

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Dr. Travis, host of The Doctors (and previous The Bachelor star) and Blair Tindall, author of Mozart in the Jungle, join me on the most recent episode of The Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano from my kitchen in Los Angeles. We dish on how they both landed in TV, food as medicine, the world of classical music, and of course, favorite snacks! Listen by clicking on the images or click here. Subscribe on Soundcloud here.

Former White House Chef and Senior Policy Advisor on Nutrition, Sam Kass, and I dish on American food trends and technology from the International Association of Culinary Professional conference...AND POTUS seems to like what we have to say on Instagram! Listen to The Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano by clicking on the images or click here. Subscribe on Soundcloud here. To read my blogs in The Huffington Post, click here . To subscribe to future podcasts, click here. To subscribe to future Dinner Party video clips, click here. Don't forget to share this with friends and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, YouTube and The Dinner Party To Go Podcast with Elysabeth Alfano on Soundcloud and iTunes! Just click on the icon below. We are thrilled to thank and work with the following Dinner Party sponsors Follow my blog on The Huffington Post and The Dinner Party To Go Podcast with Elysabeth Alfano on Soundcloud For more information, please contact Elysabeth Alfano at elysabeth@TheDinnerParty.tv or visit THE DINNER PARTY with Elysabeth Alfano Sign up on www.TheDinnerParty .tv and follow me on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to me on TiVo and Soundcloud

A Stunning Coloring Book for Women to Relax, Recharge, and Unleash their Creativity

It's been a long time since I picked up a coloring book.I'd say at least 9 Presidents ago to be almost exact.
I had some down time backing up my computer and deciding to step away from social media for a few days.Perfect timing to receive a copy of,"Inkspirations for Women: Color Your World Happy – Inspiring Designs to Nourish Your
Heart and Renew Your Spirit" by  Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times Bestselling Author,
With original art by Judy Clement Wall.
Crayons didn't come with my copy but I had a box left over from a photo shoot several years ago.
I enjoyed reading the quotes on the opposite page and letting out my inner 5 year old to take a play date.What did I come away with? About as good of a relaxation session as meditation and  a few new ideas of things I'd like to do.
So,if your looking to kick start a mind-body relaxation technique,this coloring book just might be the key that opens your creative door.
 
 

  Celebrating millions of women worldwide, Inkspirations for Women (HCI Books -- $10.95) encourages women to leave the demands of the day behind for a much-needed boost of happiness, creativity, and relaxation. As the largest audience for adult coloring books, women are uplifted in Inkspirations for Women. This adult coloring book helps women unwind and rediscover their inner artist with an eclectic mix of gorgeous designs to color and customize.

Believe it or not, scientists have studied coloring, and they've found that it quiets your mind, calms your thoughts, reduces stress, and allows you to simply be. Research shows that coloring can induce a kind of 'flow,' or active meditation, during which you lose your sense of time and your brain waves fall into a calming rhythm. As a result, worries fade away and creative blocks can become wellsprings of ideas.

Inkspirations for Women offers:

•    Inspiring quotes and motivating mantras from the New York Times bestselling author and happiness expert Marci Shimoff on love, hope, gratitude, dreaming big, and more.

•    More than 30 intricate designs from illustrator Judy Clement Wall, everything from flowers and fauna to meditative mandalas and more.

•    How-to section by artist that guides readers in how to customize the art or to take their interest further by doodling or patterning within the pages.

•    Thick stock paper, allowing readers to use colored pencils, markers or watercolors, and perforated pages encourage framing or sharing finished pieces.

•    Perforated pages for easy tearing and sharing.

The readers of Inkspirations for Women are invited to take a break from the busyness of life with this book's captivating collection of exquisite original art.  After spending a moment with this adult coloring book, women will come to see the world is their canvas to make some beautiful marks!

About the Authors:  

Marci Shimoff is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a world-renowned transformational teacher, and an expert on happiness, success and unconditional love. She's authored the international bestsellers, Love for No Reason and Happy for No Reason, co-authored six titles in the Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul series, and is a featured teacher in The Secret. She currently co-leads a global online program called Your Year of Miracles to help people live more miraculous lives. Please visit: www.HappyforNoReason.com.

Judy Clement Wall is a freelance artist/illustrator, writer, and intrepid doodler. In addition to her commissioned artwork and illustrations, Judy creates unique cards and original artwork that celebrates life and inspires creativity. To see more of her art and read her published work, visit her web site at: www.judyclementwall.com.

Ask us about our private labeling program for an Inkspirations coloring book designed personally for your organization. Thank you for blogging about Inkspirations and liking, sharing, and pinning us on your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

Learn more at www.inkspirations.com.  

Available wherever books are sold or to order directly from the publisher:
or (800) 441-5569
Inkspirations for Women
Color Your World Happy—30 Inspiring Designs to Nourish Your Heart and Renew Your Spirit
By Marci Shimoff
Judy Clement Wall (illustrator)
ISBN: 9780757319235
$10.95 – March 2016

CineYouth Winners Announced - $2,500 in Prizes, Scholarships

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   12th ANNUAL CINEYOUTH FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS, AWARDS OVER $2,500 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING (Chicago, IL) May 18, 2016- Cinema/Chicago's CineYouth Festival, the three-day annual film festival that showcases the future of independent filmmaking by featuring films from artists ages 10-22, concluded earlier this month with a closing night Awards Ceremony that awarded top prizes in fifteen categories and over $2,500 in prize money and scholarships.  Filmmakers Dmitry Lesnevshiy Jr and Marcus Sudac  celebrate their awards at the 12th annual CineYouth Festival.  Courtesy Cinema/Chicago; Credit Timothy M. Schmidt Official selections at this year's festival featured over 75 short films from 10 countries eligible for top honors; young filmmakers from Russia, United Kingdom, and throughout the U.S. attended the events. The winning films will be screened in their entirety at the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival in October. Winners include students from around the Chicagoland area, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Antonio and more. The full list of winners is below and here.  CineYouth encourages the talent of young artists and provides them with opportunities to feature their films in front of the public in a film festival setting; network with their peers and industry executives; and be recognized for their creativity, efforts and potential. Each winning film receives a small cash prize; filmmaker Robert Flummerfelt, winner of the Prodigy Award, also earned a partial scholarship to Prodigy Camp, a Washington-based experience dedicated to helping young artists explore and develop their craft. Young filmmakers also participated in a Film Pitch session where attendees received industry feedback on their film ideas, and the Film Challenge that saw 22 participants write, shoot and edit a film in a single afternoon under the guidance of Chicago-area industry professionals.  "Our twelfth CineYouth Festival stands out as a year that showcased brilliantly honest, challenging and entertaining stories. We are continually impressed with the talent of these emerging voices, and our award winners are a perfect example of the quality of work that audiences have come to expect and enjoy at CineYouth," said Festival Education Director Rebecca Fons.  CineYouth and Cinema/Chicago gratefully acknowledge the businesses and organizations that underwrite the awards, including CineYouth presenting partners Columbia College Chicago and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Harol Ramis Film School a the Second City Training Center; School of Communication at Loyola University Chicago; Byron Pollock (Cinema/Chicago Governing Board member), Women in Film Chicago and the Chicago Internaional Film Festival Associate Board. 2016 CineYouth Festival Winners: Best Animated Film - Hum directed by Tom Teller (Bend, OR / age 20) Best Comedy Film - Handjob directed by Alex Heller (Chicago, IL / age 22) Best Experimental Film (Junior Division) -  Lady of Paint Creek directed by Alexia Salingaros (San Antonio, TX / age 17) Best Experimental Film (Senior Division) -  circles directed by Marcus Sudac (Lake Forest, IL / age 21) Best Music Video -  Big Coat directed by Duncan Gowdy, Jaya Flanary, Leo Pfeifer (Seattle, WA / ages 17-18) Best Drama Film -  Cottonmouth directed by Richard Rogers (Winston-Salem, NC / age 22) Best Documentary Film (Junior Division) -  The Story of Three Rings: A Memoir of Dana Schwartz directed by Felix Audelo-Ruiz, Juli Freedman, Elly Hong, Carolina Martinez, Dora Schoenberg (Studio City, CA / ages 12-17) Best Documentary Film (Senior Division) -   Smoke That Travels directed by Kayla Briet (La Mirada, CA / age 18) Reel Women Award - The Botanist's Violet directed by Anna Greg and Alison Titus (Chicago, IL / ages 20-21) Best Thriller Film -  Maternal directed by Wei-Shen Khor (United Kingdom / age 22) Prodigy Award -  Dark Horizon directed by Robert Flummerfelt (Las Vegas, NV / age 16) Rising Star Award - Chicago directed by Louis Salgado (Chicago, IL / age 16) Chicago Award -  American Filth directed by Luis Treviño (Chicago, IL / age 19) Audience Choice Award -  September Can't Sleep directed by Mia Neumann (Wilmette, IL / age 18) Best Overall Film (tie) -  Two Dollar Bill directed by Hannah Marks (Los Angeles, CA / age 22) Turnaround directed by Dmitry Lesnevskiy Jr. (Russia / age 19) ABOUT CINEMA/CHICAGO Cinema/Chicago is a not-for-profit arts and education organization dedicated to encouraging better understanding between cultures and to making a positive contribution to the art form of the moving image. CineYouth is one of the year-round programs presented by Cinema/Chicago, which also include the Chicago International Film Festival,  the Chicago International Film Festival Television Awards, the International Screenings Program, Education Program and Members Film Series. Celebrating its 52nd edition October 13-27, the Chicago International Film Festival is North America's longest-running competitive film festival.  CONTACT    chicagofilmfestival.com   ### 2015 Winners

Chicago International Film Festival, 30 E. Adams St., Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60603

The Conservation Center>>May at The Center: Displaying Waterbodies, Japanese Screen Cleaning, and Yosegaki Hinomaru

 

May at The Conservation Center With Memorial Day just around the corner, we are excited for summertime at the beach. To celebrate, our first article features a piece that was created on a beach, a collaboration with former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije, culminated in an innovative installation 30 feet in the air.  Next, check out the time lapse video of a conservator working on an intricate six-panel Asian screen.  Our third article highlights the importance of Japanese "Good Luck" flags during WWII.  Finally, don't forget to check out Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to see what the conservators have been up to this week.  Enjoy!   STAY CONNECTED Displaying Waterbodies: A Look into Conservation Collaboration with Former Chicago Bear, Israel Idonije It seemed like any other Wednesday in September at The Center.   Things were relatively quiet after a previously hectic week at EXPO CHICAGO, and the Client Services team was expecting an appointment with Israel Idonije who had a large watercolor piece that needed display options.  When the client arrived with the watercolor, the team quickly realized that "display options" was an understatement.   The Conservation Center prides itself on interdepartmental collaboration and the consultation soon included several conservators from many departments, all of whom were ready to Bear Down and tackle the task at hand.  While the piece most certainly fell into the Paper Department's specialization, often having multiple conservators in a dialogue facilitates troubleshooting the logistics of a complex project.  The team unrolled the first piece, which measured 213 ½" x 55" and began to evaluate the best way to display an 18-foot work on paper. Continue Reading A Six-Panel Screen and a Panel of Conservators Whether ancient, contemporary, or any time in between, there are countless types of artwork of all styles and ages that challenge conservators. Every piece of artwork has its own nuances and characteristics that are the result of the artist's technique, the materials used, and the conditions the artwork experiences over the years. When it comes to conservation there is probably no type of artwork as commonly complex as traditional Asian screens. Typically constructed of paper decorated with paints, gilding, and stretched over a wooden support, Asian screens are a type of object that can require consultations including conservators in many different specialties. Collaboration between paper, furniture, painting, and gilding conservators can be critical to determine the appropriate treatment and achieve successful results when treating Asian screens. Continue Reading Yosegaki Hinomaru: The Good Luck Flag Made of delicate fibers, folded, and carried in the pockets of soldiers, Japanese "good luck flags", commonly known in Japan as yosegaki hinomaru, were parting gifts for soldiers deployed into battle. These flags are evidence of a long standing tradition among Japanese servicemen. The Japanese National Flag, commonly known in Japan as hinomaru, was used to facilitate these messages of prayers and well-wishes from loved ones, so that the soldier could endure the difficult times ahead; yosegaki, refers to the gathered writing, often inscribed in a pattern radiating from the center of the flag.  A yosegaki hinomaru experienced only a fraction of the harrowing perils of war experienced by the soldiers who carried them to the front lines. It is remarkable that these flags have survived to continue the story of the soldiers who brought them into battle.  Continue Reading This week at The Center: Getting Toasted In the Paintings Department, conservators use toasted cellulose to inpaint on raw canvas as the cellulose mimics the way the original material refracts light. Meanwhile, in the Paper Department, the material is used to compensate areas of loss.  To conservation collaboration, cin cin! (312) 944-5401 | info@theconservationcenter.com | www.theconservationcenter.com STAY CONNECTED:

The Conservation Center, 400 North Wolcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622