Shows On Our Radar-The Buddies Tonight at Empty Bottle & Yakuza Tomorrow at Reggies

 21+
Come on out to The Empty Bottle and empty a few tonight.   Check out our prior coverage by clicking here.
THU . 12/22/11 ( 9:00pm , RSVP is closed; $8) 

The Buddies
Dirty Pigeons
The Canoes
Ed Jurken

Empty Bottle says:  THE BUDDIES’ debut LP, F*@# The Buddies is an effort stacked with reverb-soaked stompers that have led the outfit to be dubbed “a southern rock version of THE CLASH,” by Music. Defined. Boozy, shambling, sweetly grungy tracks that make you feel like you should be singing along, we’re excited to hear how the tracks translate to our boozy, grungy stage. The recording project of BRIAN MORRISSEY, THE DIRTY PIGEONS combine rock songs, folk ballads, quiet strumming and squealing guitars into a mélange of sounds unified by MORRISSEY’s uniquely world-weary vocals. Live he’s backed by a full band, catapulting his intimate songs onto the stage.
 

 

17+

Friday, December 23 • 8:00 PM
mPshows.com presents TAKE THE REGGIES BUS FROM PANCHOS, Pancho's party starts at 6, bus leaves at 7:45!

MACABRE
Macabre blends elements of true crime, math rock, nursery rhymes, punk, thrash, folk melodies, death metal, jazz fusion, black metal and more into an energetic, catchy and unmistakable amalgam. 

YAKUZA
Yakuza is an avant-garde metal band, formed in Chicago in 1999. Current members are James Staffel, Matt McClelland, Bruce Lamont, and Ivan Cruz.

New Yakuza album out!

NOVEMBERS DOOM
In 2006, Novembers Doom once again entered the studio to record the follow up to 2005's "The Pale Haunt Departure." The philosophy was simple... If it isn't broken, don't fix it. Sessions for "The Novella Reservoir" began with Chris Djuricic once again engineering and co-producing, also taking up the recording of the Bass guitar. Mixed by the highly respected Dan Swano, and mastered again by legendary James Murphy, "The Novella Reservoir" was completed, becoming the bands greatest audible onslaught yet. Taking their musical direction to the next logical step in their evolution, Novembers Doom has broken free from their past genre labels, to create a modern dark metal CD influenced heavily by their Chicago 90's death metal roots. "The Novella Reservoir" is easily the bands most aggressive CD to date, and will, without a doubt concrete them as one of the top bands of their genre.

A CORPORATE DEATH
Bruce Lamont improvised jam.

PRIMAL LORE
4 friends having a good time,ups and downs and all arounds. Tellin Stories of animalistic legends lycan thropic of Primal Lore.

Creatures of Cotton T Shirts -Most Unique Gift

Keep this one up your sleeve for gifting throughout 2012.   We adore Creatures of Cotton's creative designs and comfy 100% cotton.   We wore 'em to Lollapalooza and got so many great comments!

Rocky Teeth, Rock Guitar, Pierre, Baby Robot and Hare make up the first edition of the Creatures of Cotton t-shirt line. Printed on pre-shrunk 100% cotton shirts, available in adult S, M, L and XL, while supplies last. All Creatures are hand drawn with good 'ol pencil by artsit Bob Oltra.

To purchase, please email Bob at CreaturesOfCotton@gmail.com for more information.

Tech The Halls--PopCap Game Reviews (kid video)

The elves are swamped, so check in with Santa's expert in the 10 year old boy department--Tech Toy Tester, Dugan.   He'll tell you what's up with some of PopCap's best, award winning games like Plants Vs. Zombies, Bejeweled 3, Peggle & Peggle Nights and Bookworm Deluxe.

 


Plants vs. Zombies - Winner: 2011 Parents Choice Award.

 
Excellent fast-paced strategy game. A mob of fun-loving zombies is about to invade your home, and your only defense is an arsenal of zombie-zapping plants. Fun for the whole family – anyone age 5 to 105 can enjoy this game!

“Plants vs. Zombies leaps to the head of the tower defense pack by virtue of its polish, humor, simplicity and seductive strategic depth.”
-New York Times

“Lovingly made, so joyfully silly, and yet completely compelling.” 
-PC Magazine


 

Bookworm Adventures- Winner: 2011 National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval

Build words and battle monsters in this spelling sensation. Kids come away loving vocabulary and spelling!

“Bookworm Adventures Deluxe is a fantastic, family-friendly pick for word game fanatics.”
USAToday.com

“…I recommend the game wholeheartedly if you are a fan of word puzzles…you will quickly be racking your brain to come up with words that have x’s z’s or v’s in them and having a great time doing it.”
blogcritics.org

“…the perfect kids game with serious adult appeal.”
gamingwithchildren.com




Peggle- Winner: 2011 National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval

Each level of Peggle challenges the player to shoot a limited supply of balls at a field of colored pegs to clear out specifically marked pegs while attempting to achieve a high score through skilled shot planning.

“Peggle is a great game. It has a rhythmic, hypnotic quality not often found in other media.”
-NY Times

“Do yourself a favor and give Peggle a chance — it may not grab you by the lapels at first, but give it a few minutes and you won't be able to pry yourself away from the computer.”
-USA Today

Fans of other PopCap titles will likely recognize Peggle for what it truly is: a colorful, addictive game whose brilliant simplicity only adds to its charm and appeal.”
-Entertainment Weekly

 

Bejeweled 3 -(3 new platforms 11/15)

 
Fans of all ages have already logged 9 billion hours playing Bejeweled, and it’s on the road to complete gamer domination with one copy sold every 4.3 seconds.  Bejeweled 3, the hottest version of the most beloved match 3 game in history, was released for Xbox, Play Station 3 and Nintendo DS on November 15, 2011, just in time for the holidays. Price: $19.99

About PopCap Games:
 
PopCap Games is the leading global developer, publisher and operator of casual video games: fun, easy-to-learn, captivating games that appeal to all ages across PC, mobile, social and other platforms. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000, was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2011, and has a worldwide staff of more than 500 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin, Seoul, Shanghai and Tokyo. PopCap's games have been downloaded over 1.5 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship franchise, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 50 million units.


All games available at major retailers including Best Buy, Sam’s Club, GameStop, Target, Amazon, Fry's, Comp USA, Walmart and online. Price: $2.99 to $14.99 depending on platform.

Dinner at Reza's With Social Rev Up and CadillacRocks# (photo filled feature)

We had a great dinner Monday night, with many of our blogger and press friends, Social Rev Up, and "Cadillac Connie" herself.     



Usually, here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we have rock stars on the other side of our lens, but for one night we set our sites on the rock star of the automotive world, Cadillac.    We got to see the rockin' new Escalade, choice of many celebs and rockers with families to protect.   Their safety features are state of the art.   And their luxury items are pretty sweet, too.   Who wouldn't want heated seats, heated steering wheel, and heated/or cooled cup holders for Chi-town's extreme seasons!   

 Social Rev Up's Rock Stars, Dwana and MJ (on the left)

We enjoyed a tasty dinner at one of the city's best Middle Eastern restaurants, Reza's.   We frequent their Andersonville location, but this time we were in the gorgeous, spacious River North restaurant on Ontario.  Then we had our cake and ate it too, with desserts from both Reza's and Bleeding Heart Bakery.   They won a "Cadillac of Cakes" contest not too long ago, and are one of our favorite "Punk Rock Purveyors of Pasteries" in town.   Word is, the owner Vinny made this cake for us himself!   



We were in good company with Chi-Town's top movers and shakers of social media including The Mafia Hairdresser, whose first book we recently finished, thoroughly enjoyed, and will be reviewing here.   



Speaking of books, the evening also had a philanthropic bent, with book donations for another of our long time favs, Open Books!

  
These are our good Canon camera shots.   We'll have smart phone video and more phone photos for you shortly.   Cadillac, thanks for the lovely, informative evening of networking and noshing!    Happy holidays to all.

Act Out-Broadway in Chicago: Triple Tony Award Winner, La Cage Aux Folles, Opens Tonight

Escape to tropical Saint-Tropez for the holidays...at least for a couple hours.   Broadway in Chicago's TRIPLE TONY AWARD WINNER, La Cage Aux Folles, opens tonight!   We can't wait to check it out and will have a full review for you tomorrow.

  

La Cage Aux Folles
Theatre : Bank of America Theatre, Chicago, Illinois

Dates : December 20, 2011 - January 01, 2012 
 

WELCOME TO LA CAGE AUX FOLLES!

Winner of three 2010 Tony Awards® including the award for BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, this hilarious new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES was the biggest hit of the 2010 Broadway season, leaving audiences in stitches night after night!

LA CAGE starring George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber tells the story of Georges (George Hamilton), the owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner Albin (Christopher Sieber), who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges' son brings his fiancée's conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair, the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! LA CAGE is a tuneful and touching tale of one family's struggle to stay together... stay fabulous... and above all else, stay true to themselves!

With a glorious score of hummable melodies and a dynamite cast featuring the "notorious and dangerous Cagelles," LA CAGE is an indisputable musical comedy classic... and this extraordinary new version shows you why!

Ticket prices are $32 to $100.

GROUPS OF 15 OR MORE ON SALE NOW!
CALL (312) 977-1710

Tech The Halls--Rush Hour: Holiday Version iphone App Winners

 
Congrats to ChiIL Mama's winners.   Susie C. and Peggy M. both won ThinkFun's Rush Hour:  Holiday Version iphone App!   We'll e-mail your code today.   If the rest of our readers want one for yourselves, the app is available for just 99 cents, but you better rush--it's only available through 12/31/11!    Check out our full review by clicking the link here.

Act Out-Adult Theatre: Jeff Recommended Opus at Red Twist Theatre (Review)

We made our first foray into Redtwist Theatre's tiny black box on Saturday, to see their highly acclaimed production of Opus, which just received a Jeff recommendation.   This marks their 10th show in a row, to be Jeff recommended!   Just call them lettuce cause they're on a roll.  From their 2009-2010 opener Lettice and Lovage, all of their Jeff-eligible shows have been Jeff recommended.

Here at ChiIL Mama, we appreciate great theatre for kids and for adults.   And we love a good twist...licorice wise and plot wise.   We review loads of theatre, from all the elaborate Broadway in Chicago productions, to tiny, intriguing store front offerings.   My guilty theatre pleasure, where possible, is a packet of Twizzlers and a Sapphire n tonic.   So, when a member of The Saints (theatre ushers) and two educator friends wanted to see Opus, I was intrigued, and arranged to review the show.   I love their colorful mission statement:


To do white hot drama 
In a tiny black box
With a little red twist
 
Redtwist says:  We strive to do white hot drama, from name-brand blockbusters, to risky new work, and obscure buried treasures, that pack emotional force, examine moral dilemmas, and reveal greater truths…

by transforming our tiny black box and its explosive immediacy into a thematic asset, specifically tailored for every show and intended to close the gap between actor and audience, thus blurring the line between seating and staging…

by utilizing a little red twist in the concept and design of each production to provide a totally unique theatre experience that is simultaneously intimate, comfortable, and safe, yet intense, edgy, and thrilling, at a distance only inches away.

Redtwist Theatre is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization
 

Opus
a world-class string quartet
a bitter clash of wills
an explosive climax
a brilliant musical score

Regular Show Times:  Thu, Fri, Sat 7:30pm, and Sun 3pm
Through Jan 15
Tickets:  $25-$30 (half price tickets possible for some show times through Goldstar)
  
Opus is a smashing success fraught with genius and insanity, sexual tension, hidden affairs, brilliance and banality.  This quartet of musicians, at the top of their game in the chamber music world, still struggle with their own demons, mortality, tempers, and tempestuous relationships.   



Add two coveted, priceless, antique Lazara instruments from the 17th century into the mix, and you have a volatile, high stakes game.   The characters manage to be simultaneously rarified and raunchy.  They're accomplished enought to be invited to play the white house, yet their perfectionism and petty tirades threaten to tear apart the very fiber and substance of their quartet.

Opus is a challenging piece because the actors need to convincingly play stringed instruments on stage, while backed by a soundtrack.  Only one actor in Opus had ever played, and that was on the high school level.  They didn't attempt accurate fingering, but after all, the focus of the plot is the multilayered relationships between the characters, not the proper placement of a pinkie.   The production had a music coach come in and work with the actors on how to move their bodies and bows convincingly to, in effect, do the equivalent of lip syncing with violins and violas.  They did a fabulous job of embodying the characters and making the audience believe world class quartet, without their playing being over the top or distracting.  After the show, we spoke to an audience member who plays a stringed instrument professionally, and she was impressed.

Emily Tate was a stand out in her gorgeous dress, her character shining through as a highly gifted, yet unassailably stable island among turbulent seas.   This tiny storefront theatre is a force to reckon with and one to watch.  We thoroughly enjoyed the show and highly recommend it.



More from Redtwist:
Opus is the uniquely fascinating story about a world-class string quartet. The musical ensemble is in the midst of a bitter clash of wills between the two leaders of the group—one the artistic genius, the other, the business guru. One stays as the group leader and ousts the other. 



The replacement is a young woman, fresh out of school, and the evolution of the group takes several unexpected turns en route to a riveting conclusion. Featuring a bedrock of compelling "family" dynamics, Opus is a gripping piece of drama punctuated by a brilliant musical score. It was one of the most produced plays in the U.S. in 2009, and Redtwist has the Chicago premiere. The cast includes Redtwist company member and Jeff Award-winner Brian Parry,
along with Paul Dunckel, John Ferrick, Michael Sherwin, and Emily Tate.  

Their next offering March 4- April 17th sounds ambitious and amazing, too.  They're taking on The Laramie Project:  Ten Years Later, another Chicago premier.

The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later
by Moises Kaufman, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber
AND
Staged Readings of the original Laramie Project
by Moises Kaufman and the members of the Tectonic Theater Project
beginning February 17, 2012
Mar. 4 thru Apr. 7, 2012
Directed by Greg Kolack (3-time Jeff Award-winner for Best Director)

The sequel is the terrific follow-up to the legendary work produced by the Tectonic Theater Project in 1998 in the immediate aftermath of the Matthew Shepard murder in Laramie, Wyoming. Since that watershed hate crime, Tectonic has reconnected with nearly all the people whom they interviewed (and who appeared as characters in the original play) to assess how they have changed. 

The results are startling, regarding both growth and stasis. The United States passed an Act of Congress called The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, on Oct 22, 2009. This play documents the incredible journey of, well, the tectonic shift in the U.S. in the past ten years culminating in that landmark legislation. Featuring breathtaking interviews with both incarcerated killers, as well as a right-wing Wyoming legislator who rises to the occasion in support of a gay rights bill. It is riveting and  life-affirming theatre. This is the Chicago premiere.

Extra kudos to Redtwist for going green.   They're in the vanguard with innovative playbill recycling.   A few theatres put out a box to collect programs, but many are crumpled or a bit worse for wear and can't be reused.   And most patrons don't recycle.   Redtwist encases their programs in vinyl and requires them to be returned, like a restaurant menu!   If you're a collector who truly wants to save yours for posterity or refer back to it later, you can access the playbill on line and print our your own copy or request a copy at the box office.

 

Tech The Halls--2 Free iphone Download Codes for Rush Hour: Holiday Edition

Rush Hour: Holiday Edition – ThinkFun’s Newest Mobile App Available for a Limited Time Only
 
Addictively Fun Rush Hour App Gets a Holiday Makeover
ThinkFun's Rush Hour: Holiday Edition app puts a seasonal spin on the award-winning Rush Hour game.

ChiIL Mama's giving away 2 free iphone download codes.  Tell us what you're "rushing" to do before the holidays?   Enter through midnight tonight via the blue contact form on the upper right.  We'll pick two by random.org and announce our winners tomorrow.
  
We love the traditional Rush Hour board game.   Sagezilla has it in her Montessori 1st-3rd grade classroom and it's on the kids holiday wish list.    The app version is a ton of fun, too.  So we were excited when ThinkFun contacted us about their limited edition holiday version.   This cute little penguin needs your help, to navigate the clusters of colorful prezzies and escape.   These skills puzzles grow your brain and keep boredom at bay.   Du-Jay (age 10) made it all the way to the expert level.   These challenges are a great way to keep your little penguins from getting cranky while caught in actual rush hour.   They're great on long, holiday drives and buy you whine free time to get some extra shopping done.   They're fun for adults, too.  

If you have an iphone, enter today for your chance to win.   Got Androids, like us, the app has been reduced to just .99 cents at Android Marketplace!   You can also try it out for a few minutes on your computer with Amazon Apps "test drive" button.   But put a rush on it.   The game is only available through 12/31.

Here's the scoop:

 
“Everyone can use a little extra holiday fun! Each of these 400 special edition challenges will leave you feeling smart, confident, and ready to take on the next - I dare you to play just one!”- Bill Ritchie, CEO & Co-Founder, ThinkFun
 
In celebration of the season, ThinkFun® Inc., the world’s leading designer of addictively fun games that sharpen your mind, announced that it’s newest app, “Rush Hour®: Holiday Edition” is now available for Apple and Android.
 
Rush Hour: Holiday Edition gives ThinkFun’s classic brain game Rush Hour a complete redesign with seasonal graphics, 400 never-released challenges, four levels of play from Easy to Expert, and a whimsical holiday theme. 
 
    •    An Addictively Fun Holiday Treat *

Rush Hour: Holiday Edition is the perfect holiday treat for puzzle lovers and Rush Hour fans alike.
Your goal is simple, help Peppy the Penguin slide his red toboggan through the pile of presents. As you get better, the maze of presents gets more and more complex, and you’ll have to plan your moves carefully to break the little penguin free.
 
ThinkFun’s original Rush Hour app has won multiple awards, including a Parents' Choice Gold Award for Excellence in Mobile Play, an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, an Editor's Choice Award from Children's Technology Review, and it is one of Babble.com’s Top 25 Android Apps for Kids.
 
Rush Hour isn’t just for kids though – it’s just as fun for adults too. The Rush Hour game is a great brain training exercise and a past winner of the Mensa Mind Games competition.

    •    Feed Your Brain, Not Your Belly This Season *

Rush Hour is the original sliding block Traffic Jam puzzle – and still the best!
 
Rush Hour: Holiday Edition is the newest member of the Rush Hour family, which includes the original Rush Hour game, the world’s most successful logic puzzle; Rush Hour Jr, designed specifically for players 6 and up; and the classic Rush Hour app, with over 1.5 million downloads to date.

    •    For Apple and Android Platforms *

Rush Hour: Holiday Edition is available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch as well as Android. It contains 400 all new challenges from Easy to Expert and costs $1.99. Download it from the Apple App Store, Android Marketplace, or Amazon’s App Store. This special edition of Rush Hour will only be available though the holiday season.
 
A free version of the classic Rush Hour app, with 35 challenges across 4 levels from Beginner to Expert, is also available.
The apps can be downloaded from http://www.itunes.com/appstore, http://www.amazon.com/appstore , or https://market.android.com.
 
The Rush Hour board game is currently available from major retailers for $19.99 and is available here: http://www.thinkfun.com/rushhour.

About ThinkFun
ThinkFun Inc. is the world's leader in addictively fun games that challenge your mind. Over 25 years ago, ThinkFun was founded with a dream that we could change the world through play. We continue to expand on that dream every day with games, brainteasers, mobile apps, online games and global education programs. To learn more, go to http://www.thinkfun.com.
 

ThinkFun®, the ThinkFun logo, Rush Hour®, and Traffic Jam® are trademarks or registered trademarks of ThinkFun Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2011 ThinkFun, Inc. All rights reserved.

Here at ChiIL Mama, We Love Brain Games

Toy of the Year - Vote Now!
Swish and Tilt are nominated for Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards! Voting is done by the public, and ThinkFun would appreciate your help!   Please click to vote Swish for Educational Toy of the Year and Tilt for Specialty Toy of the year.