L.L. Bean Bootmobile Coming to Navy Pier Next Weekend #NavyPier #bootmobile #LLBean #outdoors

L.L.Bean Brings “Outdoor Discovery Tour” to Chicago’s Navy Pier

Encouraging Families to Explore the Outdoors

The 2013 L.L.Bean Bootmobile Outdoor Discovery Tour is coming to Chicago next weekend with a return visit by the “Bootmobile” to Navy Pier.  The tour is part of a summer-long effort by L.L.Bean to inspire families to spend more time outdoors and provide an opportunity to try a new outdoor activity. 

Visitors at Navy Pier will have the opportunity to:

-          Learn more about local outdoor resources

-          Win an outdoor gear prize package

-          Pick up free giveaways

-          Find out how to discover outdoor resources on your own

Event will feature the “Bootmobile” – a 13-foot-high Bean Boot on wheels

The 2013 L.L.Bean Bootmobile Outdoor Discovery Tour comes to Chicago this summer with a return visit by the “Bootmobile” to Navy Pier.  The Bootmobile is a larger-than-life sized vehicle in the form of the famous Bean Boot, on tour as part of a summer-long effort by L.L.Bean to inspire families to spend more time outdoors and provide an opportunity to try a new outdoor activity. 

Visitors to the Bootmobile at Navy Pier will have the opportunity to:

• Learn More About Local Outdoor Resources – L.L.Bean will offer outdoor activity books for kids and provide information about local outdoor resources and activities in the Chicago area.  Local residents are invited to share their outdoor tips and suggestions by posting to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram using #OutdoorDiscovery.
• Win Great Gear – L.L.Bean will offer giveaways (while supplies last) and a chance to win a hiking, camping or beach gear prize package.
• Find Out How to Discover Outdoor Resources on Your Own – L.L.Bean’s ParkFinder tool and app, powered by Oh, Ranger! allows you to search thousands of national, state and local parks and public lands for outdoor activities including biking, birding, climbing, hiking, fishing, picnicking and much more.

A survey conducted by L.L.Bean and the National Park Foundation found that 60% of parents say, their children spend less than an hour a day outdoors.  The goal of the Outdoor Discovery Tour is to encourage young people to enjoy the lifelong benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. 

WHAT:                 L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Tour comes to Navy Pier

WHEN:                 Saturday, July 20, 2013

                                10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE:               Navy Pier

                                600 E. Grand Ave.

                                Chicago, IL

For more information about the 2013 L.L.Bean Bootmobile Outdoor Discovery Tour, visit www.llbean.com.  You can also follow the Bootmobile on Twitter: @Bootmobile.

CLUTCH Frontman Neil Fallon to Guest on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" This Saturday Night! #metal

Clutch frontman, Neil Fallon, speaks with Bonnie Kenaz-Mara for ChiIL Live Shows & talks about how his toddler son inspires his creative work for ChiIL Mama's long running video series on How Creatives Parent & How Parents Create. Clutch has been one of our favorite, literate alt-metal bands for decades!  We own almost all their albums and our kids have grown up belting out Clutch.   It was a high point of our year to score an interview with Neil Fallon.   He spoke with us about Earth Rocker, beard bands, inspiration, weird lineups, name origins and more.    He even contributed to our long running video series on How Creatives Parent & How Parents Create for ChiILMama.com.  Thank to the commenter who said "Finally, the interviewer is not an idiot."   You made my day!  Clutch is getting some main stream acclaim at last.   But they're no sell outs.   Their new material is intense and as amazing as ever!    Click here to check out our original Clutch live show shots, album review and more past coverage. Next Leg of "Earth Rocker" North American Tour Starts in September! Festival Appearances Announced! Earth Rocker North American Dates 8/31: Lacombe, AB @ Alberta Downs - (Alberta's Own)* 9/14: Baltimore, MD @ Carroll Park - "The Shindig" * 9/15: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 9/16: Birmingham, AL @ Iron City 9/17: Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live 9/19: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 9/20: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 9/21: Vienna, WV @ Fishbone Gill & Grill 9/22: South Bend, IN @ Club Landing 9/24: So. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground 9/25: Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom 9/26: Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre 9/27: Huntington, NY @ The Paramount 9/28: Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom 10/26: Virginia Beach, VA @ Motorworld - Localpalooza* 10/27: Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm 10/28: Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre 10/29: Chattanooga, TN @ Track 29 10/31: Louisville, KY @ Expo Five *Denotes Festival Date* Follow CLUTCH on Twitter: @ClutchOfficial Like CLUTCH on Facebook For More Info Visit: Earth Rocker Pro-Rock WeatherMaker Music Clutch Merch CLUTCH Frontman Neil Fallon to Guest on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show"  This Saturday Night! CLUTCH is wrapping up the summer on the European leg of their "Earth Rocker" World Tour which saw the band playing to sold-out houses at their headline shows as well as numerous festival appearances.  The band will back stateside after two sold out shows in Greece this weekend. But before they land in Maryland, singer Neil Fallon will appear as a featured guest on VH1 Classic's "That Metal Show" hosted by Eddie Trunk, Don Jamieson and Jim Florentine.  The episode premieres tomorrow on VH1 Classic at 11:00 PM EDT. Neil appears alongside guests Ricky Warwick and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy/Black Star Riders) whom CLUTCH has toured Previously toured with in the UK.  For more information visit the "That Metal Show" site HERE. CLUTCH will kick off the next leg of the "Earth Rocker" World Tour September 14th in Baltimore, MD with an appearance at "The Shindig Festival".  But before they doCLUTCH will also make a one off trip to Western Canada and appear in Edmonton, Alberta on August 31st for theAlberta's Own Festival.  Support on the headline tour in September will come from The Sword and Crobot. The start of the October leg of the tour will begin with another festival appearance in Virginia Beach, VA at "Localpalooza".  Support on the October and November shows will be provided by The Sword and American Sharks. Any fan's dream is to know what it's like to be on the road with a Rock and Roll band, but you may be surprised to see what it's really like - long periods of boredom, broken up by brief periods of intense activity and most of all hard work.  CLUTCH has been posting a tour diary blog throughout their European tour on how it really is.  The posts can be read on the band's Facebook Page.

http://www.pro-rock.com.

Earth Rocker was released March 19th via the band's label Weathermaker Music.  The album entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #15 achieving the band's highest chart position to date.  The album then proceeded to hold its own on the Billboard Top 200 for a total of 5 weeks. The album also came in at #1 on the Hard Music Chart and #3 on the Independent Album Chart.  The digital demand for this album continues to be very strong. In the week of releaseEarth Rocker shot to #4 on iTunes' overall Top 100 album charts and was #1 in their rock chart. Earth Rocker is available for purchase at the CLUTCH Merch Store. Earth Rocker World Tour Earth Rocker North American Dates 8/31: Lacombe, AB @ Alberta Downs - (Alberta's Own)* 9/14: Baltimore, MD @ Carroll Park - "The Shindig" * 9/15: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 9/16: Birmingham, AL @ Iron City 9/17: Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live 9/19: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 9/20: Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre 9/21: Vienna, WV @ Fishbone Gill & Grill 9/22: South Bend, IN @ Club Landing 9/24: So. Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground 9/25: Buffalo, NY @ The Town Ballroom 9/26: Port Chester, NY @ The Capitol Theatre 9/27: Huntington, NY @ The Paramount 9/28: Hampton Beach, NH @ Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom 10/26: Virginia Beach, VA @ Motorworld - Localpalooza* 10/27: Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm 10/28: Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre 10/29: Chattanooga, TN @ Track 29 *Denotes Festival Date* 10/31: Louisville, KY @ Expo Five 11/01: Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall 11/02: Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom 11/04: Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock 11/05: Austin, TX @ Emo's 11/07: Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater 11/08: Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre 11/09: West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues 11/10: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues 11/11: Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades 11/13: Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater & Club 11/14: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 11/15: Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion 11/16: Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note 11/17: Bloomington, IL @ The Castle Theatre 11/19: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes 11/20: Madison, WI @ Orpheum Theatre 11/21: Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere's 11/22: Columbus, OH @ The LC Pavilion 11/23: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit 12/27: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

Bristol Renaissance Faire Opening Day 2013 Photo Filled Recap #originalphotos

Check out all our fun vicariously through the slideshow above.   We saw all the usual suspects, had a blast with our friends, and can't wait to go back again.



Huzzah!   Bristol Renaissance Faire is one of our family's annual favs.   It was delightfully fun to be back in merry olde England for the day with all our fire whip crackin', sword fightin', Barely Balanced, castle stormin', pirate catapultin' friends.   Pirate Sagezilla even nailed a double back flip!!

• ChiIL Picks List:  Adam Crack-Fire Whip

This boy is on FIRE!   Check out his hot whip crackin' action on the green.  We've seen Adam whip open a can of pop numerous times and it never gets old!    

Neither does seeing him whip off his shirt :).   

Adam did add some new kazoo tricks and audience participation whip tricks involving a balloon and a brave man.   Check him out!

To Dress or Not To Dress...

We have an attic full of Renaissance fashion finds since I snag them at thrift stores year round.   But the kids bypassed all the peasant dresses, fairy wings, and knights' accouterments, and created their own costumes this year.   Du-Jay opted for Wizard (also bypassing our 2 wizard hats & Harry Potter robes for a DIY cape).   Sagezilla concocted a garden gnome costume, complete with a white face makeup beard.

We were delighted to run into a gnome "relative" of hers in the lovely Friends of the Faire Gardens.   It's soooo worth it to support the faire and purchase a membership.   Members have access to shade, seats, unlimited water & homemade sports drink refills and 2 private portalets with little or no line.

The kids and I LOVE an excuse to play dress up.   My husband's mr grey shirt/ anti-costume guy.   If you're intimidated by costumes, it's all good.   There are plenty of 21st century time travelers at the Ren Faire.  And that's OK too.   But whether you embrace your inner character and go historically accurate, hysterically funny, or every day casual... Bristol people watching is PRIME!

Ren Faire ChiIL Picks List
Shows:

• Adam Crack-Fire Whip
• The Swordsmen
• Barely Balanced (wacky acro)
• Silks show
• Jousting
• Chalk Art

• Lady Ettie 

Sage rubbing elbows with Ren Faire Royalty like crazy Lady Ettie

Food Favs:

• mile high chocolate crepes and/or waffle cones, butterfly chips, 

• giant garlic pickles on a stick & corn on the cob

(rare mythical beast-The UniCORN)

Active Fun:

• Pirate Catapult (bungee jump)
• Castle Wall Climb

Both of our friends made it to the top of the highest climb TWICE!

• Camel rides & Petting Zoo (yay Lemurs!)

• Rockin' Boats

• Juggling/diablo/devil sticks booth
• drum circle finale

• ChiIL Picks List:  Pirate Catapult (bungee jump)

Gavin, Molly, & Sage Rock the Pirate Catapult!

This Weekend:
Fancy yourself a pirate?

Ahoy, Matey! Bristol Renaissance Faire Slates First-Ever Swashbuckler Weekend and Top Guest Performers for July 13-14

The Bristol Renaissance Faire is battening down the hatches for its first-ever Swashbuckler Weekend, July 13-14. Boasting an incomparable booty of music, merriment, and at least a modicum of mayhem, the weekend will also mark the Bristol debut of the Iron Hill Vagabonds, an acoustic music duo that’s been attracting attention on the national Renaissance faire circuit.

            Bristol fans won’t want to miss the season’s only appearances of Doktor Kaboom, with his side-splittingly funny scientific diversions, and folk-madrigal singing sensations DeCantus. Other limited engagement appearances slated for the weekend include the Bristol premiere of the Jamila Lotus Bellydance Carnivale, and the second in a three-weekend-only engagement of Celtic rock phenomenon Tartanic.

            Named “#1 Renaissance Faire in the Country” in 2012, the Bristol Renaissance Faire is located on 30 wooded acres, just west of I-94’s Russell Road exit, near Kenosha, Wis. Open rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., every Saturday and Sunday through Sep. 2, and on Labor Day Monday, Sep. 3, tickets are $19.95 for adults and $9.50 for children, ages 5 to 12. For additional information, visit renfair.com or call (847) 395-7773.

TONIGHT 10TH WHEEL GYMNASTICS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS OPENING GALA -- EVENTS THROUGH JULY 14

CHICAGO TEENS SET TO COMPETE WITH MORE THAN 250 ATHLETES FROM 36 NATIONS IN CHICAGO FOR THE 10TH WHEEL GYMNASTIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH JULY 14.



Wheel acts at The CircEsteem Shows between bouts at The Windy City Rollers 5/4/13 featuring members of the US Juniors team and others.  Credit:  Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com.

Photo credit for all unless otherwise noted:  B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

We've long been fans of wheel gymnastics and we're thrilled to see Chicago's young wheel athletes compete on an international level.   My own kids have studied circus arts with most of the team and we've watched these kids grow up over the past 3 years.   This is the first year the World Championships will be hosted outside of Europe!



Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

Click here to check out ChiIL Mama's past coverage on the 10^th Wheel Gymnastics World Championships.

Event location:  North Park University Gymnasium, 3225 W.Foster Ave. Hosted by the USA Wheel Gymnastics Federation and American SOKOL, the championships feature more than 240 athletes from nearly 36 nations. 

Tickets:  General admission tickets are available for $10, Junior Finals for $15, Senior Finals and Team Finals for $20 each and All Event tickets for $50. Also available are tickets to the Opening Gala at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N. Southport Ave.) on July 9 for $25. For more information on the 10^th Wheel Gymnastics World Championships and to purchase tickets, please visit www.wheel2013.com.

In addition to the athletes, 200 international delegates, dignitaries, judges and officials will attend the event, with public attendance being estimated at more than 10,000. Competition will be divided between males and females, and junior and senior competitors. Awards will be given for best All-Around, Spirale, Straight-line, Vault and Mono Wheel competitions.

Photo Credit:  USA Junior Wheel Team

Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com

Photo credit: B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com/ChiILLiveShows.com