WIN 4 Tickets To Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Out Of This WorldTM

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® 

Sets Course for Chicago with 

Never-Before-Seen Genre of Audience-Immersive, 

Character-Driven Circus

Ringling Bros. Out Of This World^TM  
to Open Month-Long Chicago Engagement, 
Nov. 4^th 

                                                   

                                       

Here at ChiIL Mama we're huge fans of circus arts and eagerly anticipate seeing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® every year when they play Chicago. My own kids have both studied circus arts for 4+ years, trying Lyra, Spanish Web, Trampoline, Juggling, Clowning, Acro, Silks, Chinese Pole and more. They love to see the pros in action. 

We're elated once again to be partnering with FELD to bring our readers a great ticket giveaway. I'll also be out to review and shoot a photo feature on opening night this Friday with my kids and their friends. The elephants have all been retired and the special effects and insane human skills have been amped up. We're particularly excited to see this new genre of circus with floor, air and ICE! Check back soon for our full recap.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^® is bringing its newest circus, Out Of This World^TM, to Chicago, promising fans an experience unlike anything ever seen in Ringling Bros.^® history. Set to open at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL, with performances Nov. 4 - 13, before moving downtown to Chicago’s United Center, Nov. 17 - 27, Out Of This World is being heralded as a brand new genre of circus that reimagines the circus experience. The show captivates audiences with its first-ever character-driven storyline, industry-defining production elements, and the addition of mixed-medium performance surfaces that seamlessly transition a nonstop display of artistic athleticism from floor, to air, to ice.

ENTER HERE for your chance to WIN 4 tickets to opening night at Allstate Arena 11/4/16.  

“With Out Of This World, we are redefining Ringling Bros. and modernizing live family entertainment,” said Alana Feld, Executive Vice President of Feld Entertainment and Producer of Out Of This World. “The immersive atmosphere created by lighting technology and video projection, combined with a thrilling storyline that will have families cheering for the heroes and booing the villains, will allow fans to connect with the show and our performers like never before.”

The technology in Out Of This World provides a multisensory experience, and video screen production enhancements deepen the connection between the audience, the performances and the performers’ journey through space. Projection technology transports fans to far-off planets throughout the galaxy and transforms the arena into a swirling space-scape.

From the moment the show begins, audiences are transported to outer space as the Simet Wheel performers embark on a gravity-defying spacewalk. Making its U.S. debut, the Simet Wheel requires incredible balance and artistry, which performers demonstrate as astronauts exploring the galaxy. The only performance of its kind in the world, the Simet Wheel combines the skill of tightrope walking with the added challenge of a rotating wheel.

The adventure continues to unfold as Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson and Starseeker Paulo dos Santos invite audiences to join their intergalactic journey. Guests follow the duo as they travel to planets of sand, water, fire and ice, battling evil Queen Tatiana on a mission to rescue the greatest and most talented circus stars.

New this year, Ringling Bros. will feature performances on ice, bringing new speed and motion to an already thrilling barrage of simultaneous action. Thrill skaters combine acrobatic disciplines and trick skating in an exciting display of athleticism. The Heilongjiang Provincial Acrobatic Troupe Co. Ltd. performs a variety of impressive feats on ice, including stilt-skating, human pyramid formations and hoop-diving. A talented group of freestyle skaters also makes its U.S. debut, delighting crowds with skilled technique and daring aerial stunts at stunningly fast speeds.

The free, all-new Ringling Bros. mobile app helps keep families connected before, during and after the show. The app allows fans to customize and share memories on social media, as well as unlock exclusive content during Starseeker’s Early Access™, which starts one hour prior to the show. Free to ticketholders, Starseeker’s Early Access provides guests with a peek backstage to see how Out Of This World prepares to launch and meet performers as they interact in the seats, on the concourse and from the arena floor.  

Affordable Family Friendly Fun W/ FREE Parking and Tickets starting at $15

Tickets for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Out Of This World start at $15 and are available through Ticketmaster and the Allstate Arena and United Center box offices, by calling (800) 745-3000, or visiting Ringling.com. Parking is FREE with ticket purchase in all official Allstate Arena and United Center parking lots. Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply. For general show information, call the Allstate Arena at (847) 635-6601, or the United Center at (312) 455-4500.

Get Social:

To stay current on the latest Out Of This World developments, follow Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube – @RinglingBros.

About Feld Entertainment

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment productions have appeared in more than 75 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey^®, Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information about Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com.

FACEBOOK LAUNCHING 360° PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY!

PAUL JOINS FACEBOOK IN LAUNCHING 360° PHOTOGRAPHY © 2016 MPL Communications Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we're stoked about the possibilities. I have press credentials to shoot CLUTCH, Corrosion of Conformity and Valkyrie tomorrow, so we may have a chance to give this new Facebook view a test run with a few iPhone panorama shots too. Follow along HERE.

Facebook today is launching a new way of sharing those special moments with friends and family: 360 photos. To celebrate the launch, Paul is one of the first to share a 360 photo on Facebook.

From today – Thursday 9th June – people on Facebook can post photos in 360 degrees and share them with their friends; either on your Page or via News Feed. Paul’s inaugural photo – which can be seen on his Facebook Page by clicking HERE – was taken during his recent concert in Córdoba, Argentina.

The new 360 photos allow the user to either pan around and explore the scene by moving their phone, or by click and dragging on a desktop — much as they can with 360 videos like Paul’s ‘Early Days’, published earlier in the week.

From tomorrow - at the Olympic Stadium show in Munich - Paul will also begin posting 360 photos on Facebook from his ‘One On One’ tour using the hashtag #OneOnOne360. If you’re going to see Paul play, we’d love to see your 360 photos too, so remember to use the hashtag and let fans from around the world enjoy the view!

To post photos, just share your panorama or 360-degree photo to Facebook and it will be converted into a fully immersive 360 photo.

Via our friends at:

FOODIE FUN: Hard Rock Cafe World Burger Tour Giveaway, Review & Photo Feature

Sometimes it's a blast to play tourist in your own town. Hard Rock Cafe has been a popular destination for Chicago visitors for years, but it's in a fairly touristy strip close to downtown, so we don't often venture out to eat there. However, when the Hard Rock Cafe reached out to us for a World Burger Tour review and giveaway, we hit the road to the Hard Rock Cafe without a backward glance. ChiIL Mama loves to ChiIL out with some foodie fun in Chi, IL and beyond, and this restaurant is a kid, tween and teen friendly favorite that's definitely not boring. 

ChiIL Mama's family ChiILin' at the Hard Rock Cafe in Chi, IL



My husband ordered the Java Lava burger and said it was excellent. Despite a double dog dare, he wisely did NOT eat the fried jalapeño topper.




My 13 year old daughter thoroughly enjoyed her burger, too, and the steak knife that came with it!





Don't wait! Like all great tours, this one will come to an end, so get to a Hard Rock Cafe from now through June 30th and make some tasty memories. Mouth watering details are below.


This priceless guitar, strung upside down because Jimi Hendrix was a lefty, hangs in the entry way. It's also unusual because he almost always played a Fender Stratocaster.

Check Out ChiIL Mama's Full Set of Photos in the Slide Show Right Here & More of Our Favorites Imbedded Below:

We're thrilled to be partnering up with Hard Rock Cafe to offer our readers a fun giveaway for your home grilling enjoyment. We have been compensated for sharing this information with our readers.

Giveaway:

Want this sweet set for the frontman or woman who steals the show at your grill outs? One of our lucky readers will win this star worthy Hard Rock Cafe branded merch grill set including:

    One (1) oven mitt
    One (1) apron
    One (1) spatula

ENTER HERE, early and often through midnight, June 8th for your chance to WIN! Open to US residents nationwide.

GET SOCIAL: 

Follow along on our adventures and add a few of your own with the hashtag #worldburgertour on ChiIL Live Shows' Twitter (Chi, IL entertainment & more), ChiIL Mama's Twitter (Family Friendly Fun in Chi, IL and beyond) and Hard Rock Cafe's Twitter (rockin' food with attitude).


ChiIL Mama's Adventures at Hard Rock Cafe Photo Favs:



We all had a great time at Hard Rock Cafe. The food was tasty, and the teens got a kick out of the music and the impressive memorabilia collection. The manager even came over and gave us a little history lesson on the place. He was quite friendly. Hard Rock Cafe does an excellent job of mixing genres and eras of the streaming music videos too, so the teens recognized current hits and we got to reminisce about our own younger rock, punk and metal days.




Prince! 




Despite the wonderful looking World Burger Tour offerings, I couldn't resist ordering the shrimp fajitas, and I have no regrets! 



The BBQ pulled chicken was a huge hit too. There's something for everyone.

My sound guy husband was on a film crew, making a documentary about Hard Rock Cafe's memorabilia acquisitions, when they got this kickin' guitar from Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick.

A super sweet finish... hot LAVA CAKE with vanilla ice cream! 

Give the cook a break and go out to eat at Hard Rock Cafe. The World Burger Tour is only in town till June 30th, so go already. Don't miss this!

Hard Rock World Burger Tour

VIRTUAL WORLD TOUR: Hard Rock Cafe locations in North America are celebrating the start of burger season with a menu showcasing international Local Legendary™ Burgers. Travel the culinary world without leaving town. The limited-time *World Burger Tour menu is available now through Thursday, June 30, 2016.

*World Burger Tour menus may vary by location; guests should consult their local cafe for a full list of featured burgers

Backstage Burger Pass

Hard Rock gives chefs at their cafes the freedom to create a unique Local Legendary Burger that captures the flavors of their city. This year more than 160 local burgers were evaluated by Hard Rock’s culinary team with fan favorites selected to headline the World Burger Tour menu. Throughout May and June, Hard Rock Cafe menus* will feature the following World Burger Tour offerings:

English Breakfast Burger (London, England) – a Certified Angus Beef® patty topped with sliced ham, a sausage patty, a fried egg, a portobello mushroom, arugula and garlic aioli and served with a side of baked beans

Java Lava Burger (Seattle, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty grilled and dressed in a house-made espresso rub and topped with lava sauce, crunchy java onions, bacon, melted Cheddar cheese and garnished with a fried jalapeño

Tandoori Chicken Burger (Mumbai, India) – a dark meat chicken patty seasoned with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, topped with mint mayonnaise and served with a side of cucumber

Jamaican Jerk Burger (Montego Bay, Jamaica) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with banana pepper rings, mango jalapeño cream cheese and jerk mayonnaise

ATOMIC! Burger (Las Vegas, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with Atomic beer-battered peppers, pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, garlic chipotle ketchup and chipotle mayonnaise

Tango Salsa Burger (Buenos Aires, Argentina) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with andouille sausage, Monterey Jack cheese, chips de batata, a fried egg, salsa criolla and garlic aioli

Greek Burger (Athens, Greece) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with arugula, feta cheese and a tomato slice

Aloha Burger (Honolulu, United States) – a Certified Angus Beef patty topped with SPAM, Monterey Jack cheese, a grilled pineapple ring with sweet soy glaze, guacamole and pico de gallo

Hard Rock Cafe has created cocktails that perfectly complement World Burger Tour offerings. Served in Hard Rock’s iconic mason jars, adult guests can order with the suggested pairing or mix it up with any other burger from the limited-time menu. New cocktails include: 

All Jacked Up – created to balance the Jamaican Jerk Burger’s spicy flair, this cocktail features a mix of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, PJ, Orgeat and lime juice, garnished with orange and pineapple wedges and a cherry

Crisp Sipper – inspired by the Aloha Burger’s sweet and savory taste, this cocktail features a mix of Hendrick’s gin, Monin Cucumber, lemon, orange and raspberry, topped with tonic and garnished with rosemary and thyme

MelonPalooza – designed to complement the fresh flavors of the Greek Burger, this cocktail features a mix of Midori Melon Liqueur, Malibu Rum, Hard Rock’s house-made sour mix and PJ, garnished with slices of pineapple and strawberry

Sweet & Fiery – inspired by the ATOMIC! Burger’s spicy flavor, this cocktail features a mix of Absolut Peppar Vodka, Canton Ginger Liquor, Blue Curacao, lemonade and ginger beer, garnished with a red pepper

Black Cherry Melonade (non-alcoholic) – created to complement the rich espresso of the Java Lava Burger, this mocktail features a mix of Black Cherry Real and Monin Cucumber, topped with ginger beer, garnished with a cucumber slice and a cherry

ACTUAL WORLD TOUR: This year, Hard Rock is also offering a literal World Burger Tour, a travel package that takes the most adventurous burger enthusiasts on the road (and the skies) to sample offerings from the World Burger Tour menu at Hard Rock Cafe locations in London, Athens, Buenos Aires and Seattle! Ready to book your ticket? Click here: Hard Rock World Burger Tour.

Burger Tour for the Roadie

For those a little more hungry, Hard Rock will bring its menu to life and offer a unique burger experience that takes guests’ taste buds on an international journey.

Hard Rock, in conjunction with global experience agency RPMC, is offering a World Burger Tour travel package that includes stops at iconic cities including London, England; Athens, Greece; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Seattle, United States. This four-stop, once-in-a-lifetime excursion celebrates the cities that inspired Hard Rock’s World Burger Tour.

The World Burger Tour travel package is a private, 10-night trip that includes flights, first class hotel accommodations, ground transportation and exclusive dining and music experiences at Hard Rock Cafe locations in each city not typically available to the public.

Disclosure: It's our pleasure here at ChiIL Mama to partner up with Hard Rock Cafe on this giveaway and sponsored post. The information, gift card, gift pack and giveaway have been provided to me by Hard Rock International. As always, all opinions, photos and experiences are my own.

Family Photo Fun In The Saran Wrapped Shrubbery 

Photo Recap: NYE 2016 Clutch Family Style

2016 came in with a roar and a cowbell. CLUTCH killed it at Bogart's, an intimate and infamous venue that's been a staple of the Cincinnati scene since the mid 70's as a concert hot spot and as early as 1905 as vaudeville venue. We were super stoked to be there shooting for ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama.

You've heard of "The Hottest Band in the Land... KISS" 

and "The Only Band That Matters... The Clash." 

Now meet "The Best Metal Band With Cow Bell... CLUTCH!!"



D.C. Sound Attack indeed!! What a welcome for 2016.

Click the image below for our  full Clutch NYE slide show. 

More photo favs are embedded at the bottom of this feature as well. Photo credit: Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

One thing we dig about Clutch is the band members take turns writing the set lists. I don't know who planned the NYE show, but it was a stellar mix of old school and new tunes and the pre-show music was a big ol' Lemmy fest.



*Pure Rock Fury was played instead of Son of Virginia.

We've been fans of Clutch's unique rock stylings since they began in the early 90's and we're happy to see them finally getting the critical acclaim and wider audience they deserve. Clutch fans are some of the friendliest, most unpretentious people out there and it's always a great vibe at shows.

 



One thing we love about Bogart's is their all ages shows truly are. We're not talking just 18+ under agers. Kids were welcome at the Clutch NYE show and some of the next gen rail riders even left with drum sticks and guitar picks!



 

NYE can be a time of reflection and of celebrating the old and new. Speaking of old, I was there with my husband of 15 years, a guy I've been catching Clutch with since the early 90's. And we made a whole slew of new friends at the show, and met others in person that we've known on line from the Clutch facebook group!

One of our new friends confessed to discovering the first Clutch album when she worked at a college radio station. It wasn't getting much air play, and she loved it so much she stole it. She admitted to feeling a twinge guilty in later years, but she's made amends by spreading the Clutch love since then. In fact, she was there with her boyfriend who was a live Clutch virgin till the Cleveland show the night before. By NYE he was an enthusiastic full convert! 

Our Clutch initiation was less dramatic. We were turned on to their first album by mutual friends and have caught them every chance we get for the past 20+ years. 

 



I've been shooting and reviewing their shows for about the past 5 years and it was truly a treat to catch Neil for a video interview right before Earth Rocker came out a few years back.

Click here for more of our past CLUTCH coverage.

Happy new year all. Hope 2016 is filled with music, creativity, laughter, friends, family and fun. We'll see you out there.

Remember to check back with ChiIL Live Shows for arts & entertainment news, reviews, interviews and giveaways for Chi, IL and beyond.

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Fan Shot Favs Clutch NYE:

Favorite Show Shots Clutch NYE: 

Just another brick in the wall.... Had to include this. Security was standing on cinder blocks in the photo pit so they'd have better sight lines on the crowd. Never seen anything like it!