Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label original photos. Show all posts

Saturday, March 2, 2019

REVIEW: Monster Jam Triple Threat Series at Allstate Arena Through March 4, 2019

Monster Jam® Triple Threat 
Returns to Rosemont 
The most family-friendly, action-packed motorsport in the world races into Allstate Arena, 
March 1-4


Guest Review

by kimberly robb baker

We had a great time at the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series. This was the first any of us had attended—“us” being me, my four-year-old boy and my eight-year-old girl.

The house was packed, with a few sections of seats covered with plastic. We found out later, that was for the flying dirt! I was surprised at how small the arena was and then even more by what these large trucks were able to do in the space.

They started out with some ATV action. Because the competitors weren’t hidden behind the roof and doors of a truck, this was a fun way to get to know the “athletes” as they are called. I put that in quotes not because I deny that they are athletes (my daughter remarked at one point, “How do they not just get totally banged up in there?!”). I’ve just never associated loud, soil-throwing trucks with athleticism before.

It turns out that getting to know the athletes is critical—at least for the athletes—because as an audience we got to score each round. This is definitely a popularity contest because there were clearly drivers with more skill that were not as well liked by the audience and ended up towards the bottom. My own daughter gave the highest possible score to someone who seemed to me to be much less impressive than their competitors. I mean, he was driving a cool zombie truck, so, that is really what counts, right?

Speaking of my daughter, I was impressed that she had fun, despite her status as a princess-loving girly-girl. I liked that two of the drivers were women and feel this detail of the evening expanded her perspective on the possibilities that are open to women.

My four-year-old was just in happy awe most of the time. I mean, cars on the street are fun for him at this age, so monster trucks doing wheelies and donuts is like some kind of small human nirvana.

There was a great deal of showmanship on the part of the athletes as well as in the design of the trucks. We enjoyed it the way one enjoys the WWF—with appreciation and a grain of salt. I’d definitely go again.


Kimberly Robb Baker is a Chicago based writer, blogger, consultant, story teller, and mother. You can find her worky stuff here: ThisLittleBrand.com and her artsy fartsy stuff here:  DisruptiveMama.com.

Check out ChiIL Mama's Photo Recap from Monster Jam® Triple Threat at Allstate Arena November 2, 2018:

 

Out of 440 entries, congrats again to Jill L, ChiIL Mama's Family 4 Pack winner of tickets to opening night of Monster Jam® Triple Threat at Allstate Arena, Friday March 1, 2019 

Here at ChiIL Mama we've had a blast at Monster Jam® for years. Check out my full set of original shots from Monster Jam® Triple Threat at Allstate Arena November 2, 2018 in the slideshow here. More favorites are embedded below:



Monster Jam® Triple Threat is terrific, gravity defying, all ages fun. Bring your earplugs (a must!), 




cell phones so you can vote in real time to pick the winners, and a wallet full of cash for souvenirs and concessions. Then check back soon for our opening night recap. 



Monster Jam® Triple Threat will veer into Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, March 1-4, promising adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that will bring motorsport fans to the edge of their seats.

Featuring the eight most intense athletes of Monster Jam, Chicago-area fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and the famous Monster Jam trucks. 







Vying to be the Chicago-area champion for March 2019 will be:
Grave Digger® – Brandon Vinson
El Toro Loco® – Mark List
ZombieSM – Ami Houde
Pirate’s Curse – Justin Hicks
Monster Mutt® Rottweiler – Cory Snyder
Blue Thunder – Matt Cody
Monster Energy – Coty Saucier
Soldier Fortune – Kayla Blood



Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world’s most iconic venues, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit.

Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, new this season across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the donut, wheelie and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones.



Show Times & Ticket Information
Friday, March 1 – 7 pm
Saturday, March 2 – 1 pm & 7 pm (Pit Party, 10:30 am - Noon)
Sunday, March 3 – 1 pm & 6:30 pm (Pit Party, 10:30 am - Noon)
Monday, March 4 – 7 pm

Monster Jam events are affordably priced for the whole family with seats starting at $20. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster retail locations, the Allstate Arena box office, and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Pit Parties give fans the opportunity to meet the Monster Jam athletes and get up close to the Monster Jam trucks. Pit passes are priced at $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday, and can only be purchased in conjunction with tickets to the same-day Saturday or Sunday 1 pm show.



For more information on a Monster Jam near you, please log onto MonsterJam.com or follow us via our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Sesame Street Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.



  










  


DISCLOSURE: ChiIL Mama has been pleased to partner up with FELD and Monster Jam for years now. They have provided complimentary tickets for our giveaway and for review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

Monday, February 11, 2019

PHOTO RECAP: The Chicago Auto Show and 3rd Annual What Drives Her Luncheon

ChiIL Mama's Adventures at the
2019 Chicago Auto Show 
and 3rd Annual 
"What Drives Her" 
Luncheon and Networking Event


All Photos by Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

I've been attending The Chicago Auto Show since the early 90's and covering it during the media preview days for a decade. 2019 was no exception. I was pleased to partner up again with the Chicago Auto Show organizers, A Girls Guide to Cars, and Women in Automotive on coverage. One highlight was the What Drives Her luncheon and networking event during the show's Media Preview on Friday, Feb. 8 at McCormick Place. I covered the first two What Drives Her events as well, and they've always been informative and inspiring.







Check out live streams and photo recaps on social media from the What Drives Her luncheon & panel by searching the event hashtag #WDH2019. I was live streaming and covering the event on social media in real time with a host of other top bloggers.


The overarching theme this year focused on the major shifts that are taking place in the automotive industry, including the ways that women are shaping its evolution. 



"General Motors CEO Mary Barra is often quoted as saying the auto industry will see more change in the next five years than the last 50," said Autotrader Executive Analyst Michelle Krebs. "Whether it is five years or more, the shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles as well as new ways to acquire personal transportation is occurring now, generating tremendous opportunities for creative women to reinvent what has been a male-dominated business." 




The 2019 What Drives Her event featured a robust lineup of female speakers who discussed the integral role women play within the auto industry as contributors, consumers and drivers of purchasing decisions. It was a pleasure to see so many influential women come together to highlight industry trends and share personal experiences surrounding the impact that females have on the automotive industry. 


Check Out My Full Set of 2019 Chicago Auto Show Photos Below
ChiIL Mama's Photo Recap from the media previews Thursday and Friday are here in the slideshow with favorites embedded below




"Women buy or influence 85 percent of all vehicle purchases and hold the keys to $450 billion in spending each year, yet the biggest challenge is educating them as consumers and users of new technology," said Scotty Reiss, founder of A Girls Guide to Cars. "The most powerful way to change this is by engaging them as employees, leaders and innovators."



Autotrader's Krebs moderated the first panel discussion surrounding how females are driving change in the auto industry. Panelists include Jessica Petty, manager of customer data analytics, Hyundai; Jeneen Rippey, vice president of global quality, electronics division, ZF; and Edie Wines, instructor, National Automobile Dealers Association.

My live stream is below, featuring ANA's female-focused #SeeHer initiative as well as the second panel discussion topic, "Work, Life and Creating Balance While Building a Career". 





Live Streamed Above:
Between the first and second panel discussions, Leah Marshall, director, influencer marketing, with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), presented ANA's female-focused #SeeHer initiative. I found this particularly compelling, as a mother of a 15 year old daughter. Initiatives like this give me hope that the next generation will finally achieve more relatable and positive female centered images in media, and maybe even gender parity and equality

Cars.com Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Newman moderated the panel of women including Kathy Gilbert, global director of sales & business development, CDK; Laurie King, SVP, global operations & strategic solutions, Turtle Wax; Subi Ghosh, senior director of dealer strategy, Stream Companies; Lauren Brandt, Facebook client solutions manager and Returnity Project co-founder; and Kerri Wise, vice president, industry education and relations, TrueCar.




The What Drives Her event continues to be one example of how Chicago Auto Show organizers actively engage the female demographic. Foresight Research reports the Chicago Auto Show has an almost even split of male and female attendees: 45 percent of which are female.  

"As the nation's largest consumer auto show, one can argue the Chicago Auto Show is the perfect place to assess trends - not just locally but on a national level as well," said Kelly Webb Roberts, a board member for the Chicago Automobile Trade Association, producer of the Chicago Auto Show. "We're thrilled to continue to host this event to bring together some of the most influential women in the industry who are at the forefront of this change."

Event sponsors include Autotrader, Facebook, Hyundai, Lot Linx, TrueCar, Turtle Wax and ZF. 

For more information on the 2019 Chicago Auto Show, please visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com



About the Chicago Auto Show
The Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America, spanning more than 1 million square feet of production, concept and exotic vehicle exhibit space. In addition to hosting multiple world and North American vehicle debuts, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity raises more than $2.5 million annually for 18 vital Chicago organizations in a single night. The 2019 public show is Feb. 9-18. For more information, visit www.ChicagoAutoShow.com or www.Facebook.com/ChicagoAutoShow.

About the Chicago Automobile Trade Association
Founded in 1904, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association is one of the nation's largest metropolitan dealer organizations. It is comprised of more than 420 franchised new-car dealers and an additional 150 allied members. The group's dealer members employ about 19,000 people in the metropolitan area. The association has produced the world-famous Chicago Auto Show since 1935. For more information please visit www.CATA.info.

About Turtle Wax
The Turtle Wax story started with the launch of the first-ever liquid auto polish in 1944. Nearly 75 years later, the Most Innovative Brand in Car Care(tm) is still capturing the attention of the auto appearance category as the No. 1 selling brand in spray wax, car wash, carpet & fabric care, and more. With product distribution in more than 90 countries, the Turtle Wax brand resonates around the globe, but the brand's heart remains in its hometown of Chicago, where award-winning innovation is developed to this day. For an inside look at the brand's breakthrough product development process and how Turtle Wax supports car culture worldwide, visit YouTube.com/TurtleWax.







Photo Favorites From the 2019 
Chicago Auto Show 







Disclosure: I have been compensated for sharing this information with my readers and covering The Chicago Auto Show media preview days. As always, all opinions are my own.

Sunday, January 6, 2019

EXPO ALERT: 15th ANNUAL CHICAGO TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE SHOW Jan.12-13th, 2019

CHICAGO TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE SHOW RELEASES FULL 2019 PROGRAM SCHEDULE AND WELCOMES 75 NEW EXHIBITORS

Programming Includes Introduction to Wellness Travel, Top Travel Celebrity Discussions, Demonstrations from Master Chefs and Cultural Dance Performances 

**Admission for children age 16 and under is free!** 


Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we love to travel. So, for years we've been making one of our first destinations of the year the CHICAGO TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE SHOW, slated for Jan.12-13th, 2019. 


This show is a great opportunity to score amazing travel deals, meet industry celebs, pick up travel tips and tricks, and stock up on loads of reusable bags. 



Best of all, kids under 17 are free! Come check it out and start making some of your new years travel resolutions a reality. 



The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show, scheduled to return to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont) Jan. 12-13, is thrilled to announce its full program for 2019. The program includes a variety of brand new interactive experiences, celebrity speakers and first-time exhibitors that will be sure to elevate and expand the range of opportunities available for the 15th Annual Chicago Travel & Adventure Show.

The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show provides its visitors with the ultimate destination to find, plan and book their next vacation. Thousands of destinations will be represented for guests to explore, with free on-site experiences including a scuba diving pool, camel rides, master chef demonstrations and more. Some of the world’s top travel experts and celebrities including Samantha Brown, Pauline Frommer and Rick Steves will be present to answer questions on all things travel. You can also interact one on one with many of these celebrities at the show!

“Part of what makes this show so engaging every year is the broad variety of cultural experience and expertise that come together in one room,” said Travel & Adventure Show CEO John Golicz. “Whether it is a travel icon, master chef or unique travel destination, we want to welcome both old and new faces to the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show this year.”

AAA is the official Travel Agency Partner for the 2019 Chicago Travel & Adventure Show. The event’s Major Sponsor is MSC Cruises, while Supporting Sponsor Rick Steves’ Europe joins the Official Cruise Sponsor Celebrity Cruises, Contributing Sponsor Cruise Planners and Featured Destination Arizona Tourism.

The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show will run from Saturday, Jan. 12 to Sunday, Jan. 13 with timing as follows:

Saturday, January 12 
9:15 a.m. special media tour
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. for media and travel professionals.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for the general public

Sunday, January 13 
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Attendees can (for a limited time) purchase tickets online now for the discounted rate with promo code: CHPR19:
Single day: $11
Two day: $18

On-site tickets can be purchased with cash only at the rate of:
Single day: $15
Two day: $22



The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show has 75 first-time exhibitors this year that bring an even greater range of travel options for attendees. Some of the new exhibitors include MSC Cruises, Amazing Tanzania, Safari Legacy, China Adventure Tours, Best of Costa Rica, Balmoral Resort Orlando, Gosheni Safaris, Palau Visitors Authority, Visit Tucson, JorAfrica and many more.

The Chicago Travel & Adventure Show will host a variety of experiences at its four educational and inspirational theaters throughout the two-day event. A selection of the various experiences are below. For the full schedule of panels, performances and demonstrations click here.

Travel Theater
Guests learn the newest trends, hottest tips, and most reliable tools from some of the world’s top travel experts. This year’s celebrity travel speakers include:



Rick Steves | Writer and Host, Rick Steves Europe and Travel with Rick Steves
European Travel Skills
Saturday, January 12
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Samantha Brown | Host, Places to Love with Samantha Brown (PBS)
Travel Smart: Lessons Learned from a Life Lived on the Road
Saturday, January 12
12:45 – 1:45 p.m.



Pauline Frommer | Editorial Director, Frommer’s Guides
Spend Less, See More: Strategies for Creating Dream Vacations in ALL Price Ranges
Saturday, January 12
2:15 – 3:15 p.m.



Destination Theater
From where to go and when to go, to what to do and how to get there, destination experts give visitors the in-depth information needed to travel like a local.

James McBride | Business Development Manager, Princess Cruises
Alaska 2019 Explore the Great Land with Princess Cruises
Saturday, January 12
10:15 – 10:45 a.m.

Robert Stieve | Editor in Chief, Arizona Highways Magazine
The Ultimate Arizona Road Trip
Saturday, January 12
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Bonnie Levengood | Senior Vice President of Marketing, MSC Cruises USA
Discover the Best of the Caribbean with MSC Cruises
Saturday, January 12
12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

Alex Pinelo | VP of  National Accounts, AmaWaterways River Cruises
Let’s Get Away...with AAA Travel
Saturday, January 12
2:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Savvy Traveler Theater
Showcasing travel tips, tricks and actionable advice, you’ll learn how to travel like a pro straight from the experts. Topics include packing tips, technology skills, travel safety methods, budget travel hacks, etc.

Angel Castellanos | World Travel Expert, AngelsTravelLounge.com
The Ultimate Packing & Travel Tips for the Best Trip of Your Life
Saturday, January 12
12:15 – 1:00 p.m.

Patricia Schultz | Bestselling Author of “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”
European River Cruises
Saturday, January 12
1:15 – 2:00 p.m.



Global Beats Stage
Visitors are invited to watch and participate in performances representing several destinations from around the world (right on the show floor.) The interactive performances rotate throughout the day and provide a sneak peek into a diverse range of customs and cultures. Highlights include:

Nordic Folk Dances
Saturday, January 12 at 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, January 13 at 1:30 p.m.

Thai Cultural Performance
Saturday, January 12 at 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 13 at 3:15 p.m.

Bharatanatyam - Classical Indian Dance
Saturday, January 12 at 2:30 p.m.

In addition to the plethora of on-stage experiences, the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show’s exhibitors are offering a range of luxurious vacation giveaways available to visitors. 

Giveaway items include:

Peru Explorer vacation for two from AAA Travel and CostSaver
A three-day, two-night stay at the oceanfront Holiday Inn Resort provided by Daytona Beach Area CVB
A cruise provided by Cruise Planners
$10,000 Dream Home Makeover courtesy of Elite Remodeling Group
Free roundtrip flight from Oakland, CA or Boston, MA to the Azores or Lisbon
A two-week trip for two to Columbia courtesy of Tucan Travel

About Unicomm, LLC and the Travel & Adventure Show Series
UNICOMM LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world-class trade shows and conferences. Unicomm’s properties include the nation’s largest and longest running series of travel events, the Travel & Adventure Show in Boston, Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco/Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia and Dallas.

For complete schedules, tickets and more information on attending at the event, please visit www.travelshows.com/chicago.



Enjoy ChiIL Mama's Full Photo Recap In The Slideshow Here
More favorite photos are embedded below.






More of ChiIL Mama's Photo Favorites:


ChiIL Mama enjoys ChiILin' at Lake Geneva in real life too.































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