Wednesday, July 30, 2014

PHOTO RECAP: #TBT Eli's Cheesecake Bakery Behind The Scenes -- Social Media Breakfast 2013

Happy National Cheesecake Day(s) 

Here at ChiIL Mama we're celebrating with an early throwback Thursday to this time last year, when we were super stoked to be invited to Eli's Cheesecake's First Annual Social Media Breakfast. Tomorrow we'll be back there bright and early to do it all over again... kinda like the Groundhog Day movie, but far more delicious.

We were elated to be invited back again for 2014!


Today--July 30th is evidently the "official" National Cheesecake Day, but it's too tasty to last just 24 hours. Chicago's famous Eli's Cheesecake Bakery is celebrating for days, from July 30th through August 3rd with tasty free cheesecake giveaways on site and downtown in a roving Cheesecakemobile!



Even if you don't work in Social Media, there will be samples galore, music, and so much more available to the general public. Come on out!



ChiIL Mama's Adventures at Eli's Cheesecake Bakery Social Media Breakfast 2013 #TBT 






We sampled cheesecakes and played a naming game, met their management & social media team... 





Then we got a sneak peek behind the scenes, in the kitchens where all the magic happens. 





 

This involved all the social media mavens donning hair nets, gloves, and jackets to keep the kitchens surgery suite clean... before we learned how Eli's operates! Don't we all look like a gaggle of doctors?



ChiIL Mama ChiILin' at Eli's Cheesecake headquarters.  


Once we got the behind the scenes tour, we broke into teams for a timed challenge and raced to decorate cheesecakes. 





My team WON! Yes, I'm the cheesecake queen. Though all we won were bragging rights, which was a little disappointing. Still they did send everyone in the whole tour home with a famous plain, frozen Eli's Cheesecake. 


I was so hoping for one of the fancy, decadent Chocolate Turtle ones we worked on, but someone else on my team got luck of the draw. Ah well. It was a fun event.



Thanks again to Eli's for hosting us all!  Keep on spreading the joy and deliciousness. Cheesecakes rule.









Summer Learning's a BLAST With Netflix #Streamteam #NetflixKids

Summer Slides Are For Playgrounds Not For Minds 
And Netflix Can Help

Something weird happens every year, about this time. All the school uniforms, school supplies, and school sales start ramping up and taking over the airwaves while there's still plenty of summer left! We're not quite ready to leave the long, lazy days of summer for school yet! But with Netflix Kids and a little help from your friends on The Stream Team, nobody needs to freak out about a lack of learning or suffer the summer slide.

Everyone's heard about the summer slide by now... that dreaded phenomenon where kids lose months of learning every summer. School may be out, but learning doesn’t have to be, and Netflix makes summer learning A BLAST! 




Disclosure:  ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  All opinions are our own.



Give your little ones a summer brain-power boost by introducing them to something new with Netflix
—whether you choose a documentary about dinosaurs or go on a math adventure to the moon. Learning rocks inside and outside of the classroom. 

Here at ChiIL Mama we dig documentaries. My husband shoots documentaries & TV Shows all over the world, and we've learned soooooo many interesting things about a wide range of topics from watching his shows and more.




For the perfect way to beat the heat and indulge in some screen time, introduce your kids to something new with Netflix. It's a great way to relax and wind down after a full, active day of outdoor play too. 

ChiIL Mama's Top Flixs Pick:

http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/70250990?sod=search-autocomplete

Check out Wild Horse Wild Ride, an awesome documentary the whole family can enjoy, by a husband/wife team who are friends/co-workers of my husband's. 


An annual contest challenges people across the U.S. to tame a wild mustang in 100 days, a dangerous feat performed by people from all walks of life. Rated PG. Available on Netflix.

Take a look at the plethora of great documentaries available for older kids and adults, including Blackfish, Food, Inc. and Mitt.


10 Netflix Titles for a Summer Brain-Power Boost












Want even more brain-boosting titles? Our friends at Common Sense Media (one of ChiIL Mama's favorite resources) shared 12 age-appropriate documentaries that encourage kids to explore worlds they may not normally encounter, all currently streaming on Netflix – check out the list here.


Netflix Kids Titles for a Summer Brain-Power Boost:










ChiIL out with us this summer in Chi, IL and beyond at ChiIL Mama (family friendly) and our sister site ChiIL Live Shows (adult). Check back with ChiIL Mama for more cool Stream Team Themes every month!  Stay cool and stream on...



Disclosure:  Once again, ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  All opinions are our own.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

ACT OUT EXTENDED: Rick Bayless in Cascabel: DINNER – DARING – DESIRE Now Through 8/31 #OriginalVideo #PhotoRecap

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE, FRONTERA GRILL,
AND SILVERGUY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT THE RETURN OF


RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL

DINNER – DARING – DESIRE

WITH NEW MENU ELEMENTS IN A NEW VENUE
In the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre
July 30 – August 31, 2014


**DUE TO DEMAND, CASCABEL IS EXTENDED THOUGH AUGUST 31, 2014
NEW BLOCK OF TICKETS ON SALE JULY 30!**


ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows were elated to be included in a private press breakfast at Frontera Grill
 with Co-Creators Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill) and Heidi Stillman (Hephaestus, Hard Times) & flamenco dancer extraordinaire, Chiara Mangiameli when the Cascabel remount was first announced way back in October. We've been raving about what's sure to be the event of the season ever since.  We can't wait to see it! Check back early and often for our original content, video interviews, reviews, photos and more.







ChiIL Live Shows' 
Rick Bayless Expounds on 
The Cascabel Remount



October: Rick Bayless, celebrity chef/owner Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO Chicago and Heidi Stillman, Lookingglass Ensemble Member  and  Artistic Director of New Work announce the return of an extraordinary culinary and theatrical event at a special food-infused press conference held at Frontera Grill. Guests were treated to a sneak peak at the event while enjoying enchanting acts and delicious hors d’oeuvres from Frontera Grill.  

Check out our full set of stills from the press conference here: 
Favorites are embedded below.


Lookingglass Theatre, Frontera Grill and Silverguy Entertainment announce an extension to the wildly popular return of Rick Bayless in Cascabel: Dinner – Daring – Desire, the unforgettable theatrical adventure featuring a sumptuous feast, world-class circus acts, and a tantalizing love story starring celebrity chef Rick Bayless that had Chicago audiences spellbound when it premiered in spring 2012. The extremely limited engagement is co-created by Rick Bayless, Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman (Hephaestus, The Brothers Karamazov, Hard Times), and Artistic Associate and founder of Silverguy Entertainment Tony Hernandez (Hephaestus, Lookingglass Alice). 



Cascabel runs at the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, now playing July 30 –August 31, 2014. 
Cascabel will feature the return of Rick Bayless in the role of Cook; Lookingglass Artistic Associate Tony Hernandez on the high wire as the Houseboy; Chiara Mangiameli as Señora of the Boardinghouse Cascabel; Lookingglass Ensemble Member Thomas J. Cox as Suitor and Artistic Associate Lindsey Noel Whiting as Daughter. Carlo Basile returns as Musician, with new cast members Heloise Bourgeois (Solitary Traveler), Genevieve Drolet (Bathing Chica), William Underwood (Solitary Traveler), Daniel Passer (Gardener), Lauren Katz (Gardener’s Wife), and J. Salome Martinez (Maitre d').


Cascabel's Coming:
This one-of-a-kind experience played to sold out houses in 2012 and had the Chicago Tribune exclaiming, “there’s nothing even remotely like it in Chicago!”  Now the unforgettable theatrical adventure is back for a limited engagement with a new menu, new circus elements, and at a new venue. Cascabel is sensory dining unlike anything you’ve ever experienced: it’s a sumptuous gourmet Mexican feast, world-class circus acts, exhilarating flamenco, hilarious comedy and a tantalizing love story starring celebrity chef Rick Bayless.






Cascabel audiences will join the guests of the boardinghouse Cascabel at their courtyard table where they will enjoy the same meal the Chef is preparing for the boarding house residents. From his meager kitchen, the mysterious new cook conjures an enchanting cuisine, which seems to give those who eat it fantastic and magical abilities. But he is singularly focused on the proprietress of the house, a melancholy woman with no interest in his food, who barely ever leaves her room. Will she ever try a bite? And what will happen if she does?

Lookingglass season subscriptions and tickets to Rick Bayless in Cascabel are available online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. For more information and box office hours, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org.

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays.  The lobby opens at 7:00pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, and at 5:00pm on Sundays. Tickets start at $215. Each ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, a three-course dinner, and wine and beer selected by Chef Bayless.  Prices may increase, based on demand. Information on wine pairings, food allergies and dietary restrictions is available at lookingglasstheatre.org/cascabel.



Lookingglass Artistic Director Andy White comments, "Cascabel really redefined what an evening at the theater could be.  This is an elemental fusion of gourmet dining, thrilling circus spectacle, and a hilarious and joyous evening of theater.  The 2012 production caught fire and sold out immediately, and we have little doubt that this production at the Goodman will be even more enthralling, breathtaking, and delicious."


Rick Bayless adds, “We had such a great time during the first production of Cascabel, a show that brings together a passion for dining, theatrical storytelling and circus.  These complementary elements will continue to give audiences an experience like never before.  I look forward to further collaboration with Lookingglass and Silverguy Entertainment as we share this thrilling experience—maybe even with a few new surprises.”

The Presenting Sponsors of Cascabel are Hillshire Brands, KPMG and PNC Bank.  In-Kind Sponsors of Cascabel include Badoit, Evian, Herraduna, Negra Modelo and Turlato Wines.

Season subscriptions and tickets to Rick Bayless in Cascabel are available online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. For more information and box office hours, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org.


Co-created by:  Rick Bayless, Tony Hernandez and Heidi Stillman
Co-directed by:  Tony Hernandez and Heidi Stillman

Dates:                               Previews:                     July 30 – August 1, 2014
                                   
                                    Run:                            August 2 – 31, 2014
Times:                          Tuesdays:                    7:00 p.m.
                                    Wednesdays:                7:00 p.m.
                                    Thursdays:                   7:00 p.m.
                                    Fridays:                        7:00 p.m.
                                    Saturdays:                    7:00 p.m.
                                    Sundays:                      5:00 p.m.

Location:          Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn
Prices:             Tickets are $215-$375
Box Office:       Buy online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org
or by phone at (312) 337-0665
The Lookingglass box office is located at Water Tower Water Works,
821 N. Michigan Ave.

Information on wine pairings, food allergies and dietary restrictions is available at lookingglasstheatre.org/cascabel.


About the Artists:
Rick Bayless (Co-Creator/Cook) Most people know him from his highly rated on-going public television series "Mexico - One Plate at a Time" and from his seven cookbooks. His side-by-side award-winning restaurants in Chicago were founded in 1987: the casual Frontera Grill and the 4-star Topolobampo.  In 2007, Frontera Grill won for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Organization.  His award-winning Frontera line of salsas, grilling sauces and organic chips can be found coast to coast. Rick Bayless has won James Beard awards for Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. "Mexico-One Plate at a Time" is currently in its ninth season on PBS and Rick’s book Mexican Everyday was nominated for a James Beard Award. XOCO, Rick's latest restaurant, is LEED certified and is known for house-ground chocolate. He was also recently crowned Bravo’s Top Chef Master. Rick’s seventh book, Fiesta at Rick’s spent the summer of 2011 on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has a total of eight cookbooks.

Tony Hernandez (Co-Creator/Artistic Associate/Houseboy) currently lives in New York where he serves as the Circus Artistic Director and Coach for the multi Tony award hit Pippin the Musical on Broadway in NYC. Tony recently finished performing over 1200 shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for their production Absinthe, where he wrote and created the final highwire act. Tony appeared in Anna Shapiro's Up at Steppenwolf, and is an Artistic Associate at Lookingglass where he has acted in numerous shows including Lookingglass Alice, Argonautica, Hard Times and others including Hephaestus, which he created, co-produced/wrote/directed and played the title role. Tony originated the role of Benito in Cascabel, which he also produced and co wrote/directed in 2012.

Heidi Stillman (Co-Creator/Artistic Director of New Work/Ensemble Member) most recently adapted and directed The North China Lover. She has both written and directed for Lookingglass: Cascabel, in collaboration with Tony Hernandez and Rick Bayless; Hephaestus, in collaboration with Tony Hernandez; The Brothers Karamazov (2009 Raven award); Hard Times (5 Jeff awards including director, new work, and production; also produced at the Arden in Philadelphia); The Master and Margarita (Jeff nominated). Additional writing credits with Lookingglass: The Last Act of Lilka Kadison with Nicola Behrman, David Kersnar, Abbie Phillips and Andy White; The Old Curiosity Shop with Laura Eason and Raymond Fox (Jeff award for adaptation), and The Baron in the Trees with Larry DiStasi (Jeff nominated). Directing work with Lookingglass includes Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Trust, The Wooden Breeks, and Hillbilly Antigone. Heidi’s adaptation of The Book Thief premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre. Additionally, Heidi has staged Laura Eason’s Around the World in 80 Days at Kansas City Repertory, and Mary Zimmerman’s The Arabian Nights at Berkeley Repertory.

Carlo Basile (Musician) has a Master's Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from NEIU and he has also studied Spanish flamenco guitar in Andalusia (Spain). He has visited more than 30 countries to gather musical materials, perform, teach and collaborate. Carlo has taught guitar workshops in Hanoi, Vietnam; Chang Mai, Thailand; and Cebu, Philippines. He has collaborated with musicians in Cuba, India, Senegal, Morocco and Bali, Indonesia. Carlo founded the Spanish guitar-influenced ensemble Las Guitarras de España (The Guitars of Spain), and his latest projects include a Spanish guitar Otis Redding tribute called "King of Soul" along with a world fusion ensemble based around his "Spanish Guitar Duo" (with guitarist, Diego Alonso). Carlo has co-produced and co-written music for 5 CDs and he most recently recorded some traditional Spanish melodies and rhythms on a new CD with some of these works being featured in Cascabel. Info at: www.carlobasileguitar.com

Heloise Bourgeois (Solitary Traveler) was introduced to acrobatics at the age of five. After getting a University diploma, her dreams of travelling led her into the world of circus. Three years at the National circus school of Montreal, Canada, made her a Hand to Hand flyer with Will Underwood. She performed around the world with The 7 Fingers from 2005 to 2012 in the shows Traces and Psy.  During this time, she was introduced to Chinese Pole, Hoop Diving, and aerials. Now she works as a pair with Will on the pole and in hand-to-hand.  The pair received 4 gold medals for their Chinese pole duo in the last 3 years in various festivals (Festival de Demain, Paris; Solycirco, Germany; Vaudreuil, Canada). Over the years of travel and performances, Heloise’s experiences and encounters led her to create a touching universe on the frontier of dance, theater and contemporary circus.

Thomas J. Cox (Suitor/Ensemble Member) is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass, with whom he has done more than thirty productions including The Odyssey, The Jungle, West, The Master and Margarita, Algren in For Keeps and a Single Day, Winston in 1984, Old Curiosity Shop, The Great Fire, and Big Lake, Big City. He has been seen at Victory Gardens, Court, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Milwaukee Rep, and Northlight (including Outgoing Tide with John Mahoney and Rondi Reed, which also traveled to the Galway Arts Festival). He serves as the Master Teacher for Lookingglass’ Education and Community Programs, and he has been adjunct faculty at Northwestern and UIC. Film/TV: Since You've Been Gone (Miramax) and "Brotherhood" (Showtime).

Genevieve Drolet (Bathing Chica) has been working in the circus for twenty years. She specializes in handbalancing and aerial techniques. Between tours, travel and shows, she also found the time to write a few novels that were very well received by critics and the public. She now works as a freelancer, performing all over the world with major circus companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Éloize, The 7 Fingers of the Hand, and many others.

Lauren Katz (Gardener's Wife) returns to work with Lookingglass Theatre after having last been seen on its stage in Wants and Needs and Great Men of Science Nos. 21 & 22.  Chicago/NY credits include Up (Steppenwolf Theatre), When The Messenger is Hot (Steppenwolf Theatre/59E59th Street Theatre), Filmdome (Victory Gardens), SKL (Steppenwolf), ED (Remains Theatre).  TV credits include "Arrested Development," "Parks & Recreation," "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Film credits include “Highball,” “Kicking and Screaming,” “Mr. Jealousy,” “Rudy,” “Women in Trouble” and the upcoming “Confessions of a Teenage Mormon.” Lauren studied and taught at The Piven Theatre Workshop and received her BFA from DePaul University.

Chiara Mangiameli (Señora) A native Italian, Chiara Mangiameli is the artistic director of Studio Mangiameli and Boutique Flamenca in Chicago's Logan Square. She has lived and studied in Seville, Spain, studying flamenco under the guidance of some of the great dancers and singers of the Andalusian art form. Ms. Mangiameli is the co-founder of the music trio Idilio, with which she released her debut album in 2009, and has collaborated with some of Chicago's most critically acclaimed groups including Las Guitarras De España, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Chicago Sinfonietta and Fulcrum Point. A graduate of The Theater School at De Paul University, Ms. Mangiameli appeared in Mary Zimmerman's The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci and A Time of the Cuckoo at New York's Lincoln Center.

J. Salome Martinez (Maitre d') has appeared previously at the Lookingglass Theatre in Big Lake Big City. Other theater credits include How Long Will I Cry? (Steppenwolf Theatre); After (Profiles Theatre); As You Like It, Man of La Mancha, The Seagull (Constans Theatre); and A Christmas Carol (Hippodrome State Theatre). Some of his television and film credits include “Law & Order,” “Castle,” “Generation Kill” (HBO, Emmy Award), “New York, I Love You” and the Oscar Award-nominated film “The Messenger.” He received his BA in theatre from Barat College and his MFA in acting from the University of Florida.

Daniel Passer (Gardener) For the past 10 years, he has been a lead clown and comedy conceptor with Cirque du Soleil and Franco Dragone (Zarkana – Radio City Music Hall & World Tour, Banana Shpeel – Beacon Theatre,  Le Reve – Wynn Las Vegas).  He has made several Film/Television appearances – most recently, "Boychoir" directed by Francois Girard.  He has taught Clowning and Commedia at Harvard, CalArts, The Moscow Art Theatre and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Daniel is a graduate of the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard and was the U.S. Representative to the International Commedia dell’Arte Festival in Italy.

William Underwood (Solitary Traveler) was born and raised in San Francisco, California.  He trained with Chinese acrobatics from an early age under master trainer Mr. Lu Yi at the San Francisco Circus Center.  He continued his training at the National Circus School in Montreal, and graduated in 2005 specializing in Hand to Hand with his partner Heloise Bourgeois.  He participated in the creation and performance of Traces, and Psy by the company “The 7 Fingers” over the period of 7 years.  In 2012, he created a duo Chines Pole act with Heloise, and began freelancing in cabarets, events, and festivals around the world.  They have received recognition internationally for their work on the Pole, including the gold medal in “Cirque de Demain” in Paris, the silver medal in Nikulin Festival in Moscow, and the silver medal in “Deidogei” festival in Japan.  William continues to perform, collaborate on new projects, and create new material in an effort to push his limits as a performer, and share his work.



Lindsey Noel Whiting (Daughter) Previous Lookingglass credits include The Great Fire, Icarus and Lookingglass Alice. Regionally, Lindsey has performed at Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Alliance Theatre and Syracuse Stage. Chicago credits include: The Snow Queen (Victory Gardens); Once Upon A Time (or The Secret Language of Birds), The Golden Truffle, The Cabinet, and Sink, Sank, Sunk (Redmoon); as well as several circus at Actors Gymnasium. Lindsey is also a member of Barrel of Monkeys and performs with Mucca Pazza, a circus punk marching band.



About Lookingglass Theatre Company
Lookingglass Theatre Company is the recipient of the 2011 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. The company is home to a multi-disciplined collective of artists who create original, story-centered theatre through a physical and improvisational rehearsal process centered on ensemble. Now in its 26th Season, the company has staged more than sixty world premieres and garnered numerous awards. Lookingglass productions have toured to more than a dozen cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Kansas City, Louisville, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Lookingglass is located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works on the Magnificent Mile.


About Frontera Grill
Frontera Grill was named “Outstanding Restaurant” by the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards. Frontera Grill uses beautiful ingredients to bring to you the bold flavors and immediate freshness that jump off the tongue just as it does in Mexico. Visit www.rickbayless.com to learn more.

About Silverguy Entertainment
Founded in 1998 by Tony Hernandez and Lijana Wallenda Hernandez, Silverguy is a live action theatrical circus company that consists of members of the world-famous Wallenda family and former members of Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Tony created Lookingglass’ smash hit circus odyssey Hephaestus, in which he and Lijana (along with daredevil Nik Wallenda) participated in the death-defying, seven-person highwire pyramid.

Best Buy & HEOS Will Rock Your World With Their August Audio Fest #AudioFest

I live for music. I grew up with parents whose preferred backdrop for car trips and daily life was silence, so as soon as I was off to college I made up for lost time. Silence may be golden, but music is more precious than gold! If you love music like we do, Best Buy's August Audio Fest is the treasure trove for you. 


Disclaimer:  ChiIL Mama is elated to be one of Best Buy's WOLF Bloggers. The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.  As always, our opinions are our own.

The whole family was super stoked when Best Buy asked us to review the HEOS by Denon ($399.98). I'm married to a professional Location Sound Engineer AKA: "Sound Guy", who loves music as much as I do, and our kids are growing up with a colorful audio tapestry of just about every genre out there. 

Do you love Audio? Do you enjoy your music at home and on the go?

Best Buy helps you enhance your home entertainment experience and upgrade your sound with additional components, speakers and headphones.  We have a sweet home stereo system, but we were lacking options for wireless multi-room playback, and easily hooking up our mobile devices. I have loads of new releases from bands to review and often end up playing them off my pathetic laptop or phone speakers for convenience, which don't do any genre justice.

With our wireless router and our new HEOS, we're set with booming bass and professional sound, and can play our favorites off Smartphones or pads, or stream Pandora, Spotify and more. Click here for more great info about Denon Heos at magnoliaav.com.

August Audio Fest is taking place across all Best Buy stores from 8/3/14 – 8/30/14

Best Buy will feature one month of audio specials, events & more. 

Click here starting August 3rd 
for all the great deals!


LOVE THE WAY YOU LiSTEN

Best Buy is gathering sweet offers on the best audio products throughout the entire month of August. Visit a Best Buy store to test & try the latest & greatest in audio – from portable Bluetooth speakers and headphones, to home theater solutions and car audio. Best Buy has the best selection of audio products – come in and let Best Buy teach you how to upgrade your sound.


What We're Playing With:
HEOS by Denon is a Wireless Multi-Room Sound System comprising a family of great-sounding music players for your whole home. You can enjoy your favorite streaming music services, internet radio or your own music collection and set-up is a breeze. There is a free app to control them from your iOS or Android phone or tablet.



HEOS5 is ideal for medium to large rooms such as dining rooms, larger bedrooms, offices or smaller living rooms.  The HEOS3 ($299.98) is ideal for smaller rooms, such as bedrooms or bathrooms, and are easy to move around the home.  The HEOS7 ($599.98) is ideal for large spaces, such as living rooms, great rooms; etc.


What We Dig:

I love the full, bass heavy sound of the HEOS and you can really crank it loud. 

It's also simple to adjust the volume from your mobile device or adjust or mute it on the speaker itself.


The HEOS App is free and the set up was really pretty simple.

HEOS is expandable and has multi-room capability. Even with one speaker, the sound is so full and powerful it easily fills our living and dining room.

The HEOS is great for streaming music stored locally on your iOS or Android smartphone or tablet. It's also an ideal way to stream from your favorite music service such as Pandora, Spotify, Deezer, Tunein or Rhapsody without compromising on quality.

What's Not Ideal:

We have had some issues with the app stopping or NOT stopping. It freezes up occasionally and the music continues to play, but can no longer be turned on/off or changed until you shut the app down entirely and log in again.

We had to jump through a few hoops to get it to find and recognize my phone library of tunes, and we still haven't found a way to shuffle the phone library, however Pandora came right up easily.

Do note, HEOS is not Bluetooth compatible or super portable (like heading to the beach or out in the yard) since the unit does still need to be plugged in and run through your wireless router. But it's small, and light weight, and simple to move from room to room with a built in handle. (It does have an AUX jack so you could play it outside with a device plugged in without wireless, or use it with an older ipod or non wifi compatible device.)

I dig the sound, but my husband thinks it sounds fairly mono and is a bit muffled when streaming tracks, but sounds great via the AUX. Though he is waaaaay more picky about audio than your average home listener, who doesn't work in a sound related field. It does sound a bit better across the room than up close.

Over all, we've all been pretty impressed with the HEOS, and it's a HUGE improvement over trying to listen to tunes via our mobile device speakers. 


Of course, everyone's taste is different, so the best bet is to head to Best Buy and give it a listen.


Disclaimer:  Once again, ChiIL Mama is elated to be one of Best Buy's WOLF Bloggers. The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.  As always, our opinions are our own.

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