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.

Exterminate Sluggish Morning Brain at Bleeding Heart Bakery

Who loves Bleeding Heart Bakery's new Chicago Ave. space?



Even time lords take time out for sweet food and caffeine at our favorite punk rock pastry shop.

Look For ChiIL Mama This Weekend: Welcoming The Year of the Dragon, Bidding Polar Adventure Day Goodbye, Loving Bleeding Heart Bread, and Rockin' The Roller Derby

SATURDAY
If you missed out on Chinatown's Lunar New Year parade last weekend or if you still haven't gotten your fill of welcoming in The Year of the Tiger, head up North to Argyle and Broadway at noon, for more fire crackers, Chinese dragons, martial arts and great food.

Lunar New Year Parade
Hosted and sponsored by Hip Sing and Area Merchants

Saturday, February 20, 2010
11:30am-1pm
1121 W. Argyle

This parade is a visual delight with parade floats, two lion dance teams, a dragon dance team, martial arts demonstrations, and two sections of the Rickover Naval Academy marching band!

The parade steps off at noon from Broadway & Argyle, heading East on Argyle, South on Sheridan, West on Ainslie and then north on Broadway, ending in the Tai Nam parking lot (4925 N. Broadway).

A traditional firecracker display will take place at Hip Sing - 1121 W. Argyle St.

Come early or stay after the parade to enjoy a fabulous meal at one of the many Argyle Street Chinese, Vietnamese or Thai restaurants, and browse the many shops for unique gift items!

Alternately, this is the last Polar Adventure Day of the winter out at Northerly Island.

SUNDAY
We've been hearing about the weekly bread co-op over at our favorite Punk Rock Pastry Shop, Bleeding Heart Bakery.   But last week was our first foray into ordering a loaf.   They're just $5 and can be picked up every Sunday after 1pm in Roscoe Village or Monday in Oak Park.   Bread must be pre-ordered by 7pm Friday.   

Every week is a different, creative flavor.   We can't wait to pick up our Sourdough loaf this Sunday.   Our first was, appropriately enough, a rich chocolate Valentine's Day heart, bleeding with dried cherries and gooey chocolate chips.   We made awe inspiring French Toast with some and tried it toasted, and sliced right off the loaf.   It was deeeeelicious.



Finally, Sunday night is the 2nd bout of the season.   Come cheer on The Windy City Rollers in some fast paced, flat track fun.

Smash Cake: Babycakes For All The Punk Kin

Bleeding Heart Bakery had a baby and it's name is SMASH CAKE. Our favorite punk purveyor of pasteries has spawned a kid friendly bakery on Lincoln, across the street and just south of Lincoln Park Tap. The grand opening is today till 6pm, if you wanna run by NOW. Otherwise, there will be ongoing craft projects every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4pm where you can either stay with or drop off. I've listed the June and July schedules below (double click on any picture to enlarge).

JUNE Smash Cake Craft Events.

$10 per child, each additional child $8 (must be prepaid).

Includes juice/milk and cupcake.

3pm until approximately 4pm.

We will cancel and refund or reschedule if less than 5 children,
Wear clothes that can get dirty.

Featuring Hope Citron, a super awesome girl who is
patient, caring and super creative. Feel free to hang
out with your child or run some errands and come back!

June 2 - Make your own recycled paper.
June 4 - Tie dye - each child needs to bring t-shirt to be tie-dyed.
June 9 - Potato stamps.
June 11 - Bookmarks and book reading.
June 16 - Make your own play dough-no cook.
June 18 - Sock puppets.
June 23 - Masks.
June 25 - Paper plate maracas-march around room.
June 30 - Paint coffee cans or some type of cans for drums.

This colorful and awesome space is sure to be a big hit for birthday parties and crafty fun. There is a fun rack of adult and kid sized aprons for sale including pirate and Mexican sugar skull patterns. The mini art gallery is creative and eye catching.

Owner, Michelle Garcia, is a Mama herself, with a 4 year old son and a daughter about to turn 3, so she "gets" kids.   She managed to have her girl on 6-6-06--how punk is that?!   Smash Cake is a funky fun place where everything is brightly colored, scaled to kid size and touchable.

Smash Cake put on quite a party for the opening. Du-Jay enjoyed planting cilantro,

drawing monsters on the giant roll out butcher paper, and of course snacking on gourmet PB & Js and delectable mini cupcakes and brownies.



I was happy to see all the tattooed and pierced masses cavorting with their littles and working behind the counter





We even spotted a Windy City Rollers sticker among the others on the fridge declaring Eat Organic, Kiss Me I'm Organic, and I love herbs. Smash Cake employees are fans and rumor is,
a Roller girl may work at Bleeding Heart. Now we've had Roller girls sightings at Reggie's Rock Club, The Riviera, Big Hair and Kuma's Corner.

Like it's parent, Smash Cake is committed to recycling. They're also organic and incredibly delicious.

Drop by and tell 'em ChiIL Mama sent you. I'm trying to convince them to carry spicy chocolate brownies at Smash Cake like they make at Bleeding Heart. They have some wicked HOT treats that are too intense for most kids, but I told them every kid will be accompanied by at least one parent. So far, everything at Smash Cake is sweet and palatable for all ages. Back me up guys. Who likes it hot? There's nothing better than a brownie that can burn your tongue off.   Do I hear a Smash Cake ChiIL Mama Chili Brownie special?!   

They've been open a bit over a month, and are slowly getting discovered. It's so great to see new places opening when so many places are boarding up their windows these days. Swing by and show your support. The rockin' awesome desserts will make you glad you did.

Smash Cake
2961 N. Lincoln ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60657
(p) 773.281.2353

Open M-F 7am - 7pm

http://www.smashcakechicago.com

info@smashcakechicago.com

Michelle and Vinny Garcia

Smash Cake info :

M,W,F - 3pm - 4pm Childrens book readings w/ guest speakers.

M,W,F - Free cupcake w/ beverage purchase.
Served Daily - Coffee, sweets, soups, salads,and sandwiches.

Semi private or private parties available for your next child's birthday party!

Click here for party details : http://www.smashcakechicago.com/flier.pdf

We are updating our Twitter account with daily sandwich specials, new coffee flavors, and

many more things you need to check out! http://twitter.com/smashchicago

In Like a Lion......Out Like A Snow Leopard?!

The new fashion for spring is funky hats

March has not brought mild, lamb like weather yet.
But, our neighbors brought a much needed chuckle,
amid the slushy snow and lingering winter cold.
We couldn't help but laugh
at a new life sized, figure
lurking on the corner
last night.

March 2009: In like a lion...............Out like a snow leopard?!





















































Today is my birthday, at 4:44pm to be exact.

"Happy birthday to you... The kids had the flu... Its rainy, cold and nasty.... and your house is a zoo."

If the kids are well enough to stay at school today, I hope to collect some birthday freebies. Andies Mediterranean restaurant offers a free birthday entree with advanced reservations and ID, on your actual birthday. Flat Top Grill also gives a free birthday stir fry coupon to anyone on their mailing list, and they even give you a 30 day window of time to use it.

Finally, this offer is not birthday related, but expires on my birthday by chance. Bleeding Heart Bakery, one of our favorites, is offering a free cupcake ($3 value) with a coupon from their mailing list.

I still haven't seen Slumdog Millionaire which has finally trickled down to the Logan Theatre, $3 all showings. It's hard to duck out and see anything that's not animated these days and most showings aren't early enough to coincide with the school day. Or maybe we can duck out to see Watchman which is on the Kerasotes $5 club list now. There are benefits to being behind the times on the latest releases. We'll see. I have big birthday hopes............

The kids surprised me with homemade cards this morning. Du drew my favorite shape, spirals and wrote lots of I love yous.

Sagezilla declared, "My card is big and poppie outie and it's something you love to do every day that makes Daddy crazy."

She appropriated a big cardboard box and made me a lap top complete with a mouse, pop up screen and keyboard! The keys have rune symbols and she "wrote" 4 lines of my blog on the screen and drew in pictures. (melt)

Waffles with fresh strawberries followed for breakfast. Then Dad left to take the kids to school, out the back door. Minutes later the front bell rang. UPS? FedEx? I opened the door and was serenaded with a chorus of "Happy Birthday to you............." from my lovely family. They had circled around the house to surprise me. We all cracked up. It was a sweet way to start the day.