Parents' Nights Out: TBS Just for Laughs Chicago Comedy Fest June 11-16 #JFLChicago @TBSVeryFunny #comedy

Get a sitter... send the littles to Grandma's... do what you've gotta do.   Nobody needs a good (not kid appropriate) laugh like parents!   ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama this weekend, with the best medicine.   Yes, that would be laughter, and the Dr. is in the house.   The annual TBS Just for Laughs Chicago is baaaaaack in Chi, IL and this fest is a laugh riot.   Check out our TBS Just for Laughs Chicago coverage from 2012 here.

We're particularly stoked for Russell Brand, Bill Maher, and Seth Meyers, but laughter abounds at loads of our favorite venues all over town. 

We've adored Bill Maher since waaaaay back in the day.   Anyone seen him in Cannibal Women in The Avocado Jungle of Death from back in 1989?!   If not, check it out after the fest is over.   It's the good kind of cheese & one of our favs.  

A young Bill Maher stars with Shannon Tweed, Adrienne Barbeau and Karen Waldron.

The government hires a feminist at the local university to track down the Piranha Women living in the uncharted Avocado Jungle (westernmost outpost is San Bernardino) to convince them to move to a reservation condo in Malibu. She hires a guide at the edge of the jungle, a male chauvinist pig, and they have many arguments about men and women as they work their way in, and eventually confront the Piranha Women. Written by Ed Sutton 

The U.S. government, eager to protect the nation's avacado supplies, recruits feminist professor Margo Hunt to make contact with the Piranha Women, an all-female tribe who believe men are only good as a source of food. Accompanying Dr. Hunt on her trip are Jim, a guide of questionable competence, and Bunny, a student of unquestionable incompetence. Written by Jean-Marc Rocher

For the next 6 days, no Cannibal Women for YOU.   Get outta the house and laugh it up.   We've highlighted some of our top choices, but you can't go wrong... just follow the funny.   Some of the best shows are in the smaller venues, off the beaten path.   And like performers at music fests, famous comedians pop up unannounced, sit in with each other, and create some one of a kind mash ups.   TBS Just for Laughs Chicago is renowned for that.  Be there.

Here's what's happening:

June 11, 2013
6:30 PM - The Heat - FREE Advance Screening - ShowPlace ICON
7:00 PM - Double Threat: Junior Stopka & Mike Lebovitz - STAGE 773 - The Pro
7:00 PM - iO Theater presents TJ & Dave - STAGE 773 - The Box
8:00 PM - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club
8:30 PM - Double Threat: Kellye Howard & Brianna Baker (BEDE) - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
8:30 PM - Double Threat: Mike Stanley & Sean Flannery - STAGE 773 - The Pro
8:30 PM - Naked Sports Live Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
9:30 PM -Secret Big-Time Local Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Box
10:00 PM - The Shit Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
10:00 PM - Wrestling with Depression Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
10:30 PM - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club

June 12, 2013

7pm - Moshe Kasher - STAGE 773 - The Pro
7pm - The Comedy Bar Kickass Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Box
7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
7:30pm - Anjelah Johnson - The Vic Theatre
7:30pm - Russell Brand - The Chicago Theatre 
7:30pm - The Whitest Kids U' Know - Park West
8pm - Second City Alumni - UP Comedy Club
8:30pm - The Todd Barry Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
9:30pm - The Annoyance Theatre presents Messing with a Friend - STAGE 773 - The Box (*Hilariously recommended!   We dig Susan Messing big time.)
10pm - @DadBoner and Friends, You Guys - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
10pm - Above Average presents: Tripp & Tyler and The Katydids - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret

June 13, 2013
7pm - Moshe Kasher - STAGE 773 - The Pro
7pm - Team Coco Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
7pm - The Lincoln Lodge - STAGE 773 - The Box
7:30pm - David Cross & His Super Duper Pals - The Chicago Theatre
7:30pm - John Hodgman, Performing as Celebrated Humorist John Hodgman in: JOHN HODGMAN TONIGHT! - Park West
7:30pm - Nick Swardson - The Vic Theatre
8pm - Pete Holmes - UP Comedy Club
8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro
8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
8:30pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box
8:30pm - Stage Time - Jokes and Notes
10pm - @DadBoner and Friends, You Guys - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro
10pm - Jokes and Notes Presents The Urban Comedy Hour - STAGE 773 - The Box
10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
10pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club
11:30pm - Above Average presents: Tripp & Tyler and The Katydids - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
11:30pm - The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
11:59pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

June 14, 2013
7pm - Doug Loves Movies Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
7pm - The Playground presents Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts - STAGE 773 - The Box
7:30pm - Dylan Moran - Yeah, Yeah - Park West
7:30pm - Nick Swardson - The Vic Theatre
7:30pm - Seth Meyers with Special Guests Al Madrigal & Hannibal Buress - The Chicago Theatre
8pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club
8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro
8:30pm - Comics to Watch - Jokes and Notes
8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
8:30 - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box
10pm - Competitive Erotic Fan Fiction - STAGE 773 - The Box
10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro
10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
10pm - The Sullivan & Son Comedy Tour - Park West
10pm - Todd Barry - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
10:30pm - Bad Boys of Comedy - Jokes and Notes
11pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club
11:30pm - The Blackout Diaries - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
11:59pm - The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
11:59pm - Set List: Stand-Up Without A Net - STAGE 773 - The Box

June 15, 2013
7pm - Bob Newhart Live - The Chicago Theatre
7pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro
7pm - Maria Bamford - Park West
7pm - Pete Holmes - You Made It Weird Podcast - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
7pm - The Dailymotion Comedy Showcase - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
7pm - The Playground presents Alone: Chicago's Best Solo Acts - STAGE 773 - The Box
7:30pm - Stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers - The Vic Theatre
8pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club
8:30pm - 5-Star Leading Ladies - Jokes and Notes 
8:30pm - A Tight 60 - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
8:30pm - Chelsea Peretti - STAGE 773 - The Pro
8:30pm - Dancing Around the Shit Fire with Kyle Kinane - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
8:30pm - Kill All Comedy - STAGE 773 - The Box\
9:30pm - Artie Lange - Park West
10pm - Double Threat: Kumail Nanjiani & Friend - STAGE 773 - The Pro
10pm - Stars of truTV's Impractical Jokers - The Vic Theatre
10pm - The Combo - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
10pm - Todd Barry - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
10:30pm - Best of Chicago - Jokes and Notes
10:30pm - The Playground presents The Tomkat Project - STAGE 773 - The Box
11pm - Knuckleheads - UP Comedy Club
11:30pm - The Blackout Diaries - STAGE 773 - The Cabaret
11:30pm The Super Serious Show - STAGE 773 - The Thrust
11:59pm - Artie Lange - Park West

June 16, 2013 - Sunday
7:30pm - Bill Maher - The Chicago Theatre
8pm - The Lil Rel Show - Jokes and Notes

Here are the biggest shows broken down by venue:

Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.:

David Cross & His Super Duper Pals - Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Seth Meyers, Al Madrigal and Hannibal Buress - Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Bob Newhart Live - Saturday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m.

Bill Maher - Sunday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m.

The Vic, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.:

Anjelah Johnson - Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m

Nick Swardson - Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Impractical Jokers - Saturday, June 15 at 7:30 and 10 p.m.

Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave.:

The Whitest Kids U’ Know - Wednesday, June 12 at 7:30 p.m.

John Hodgman -Thursday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Dylan Moran: “Yeah, Yeah” - Friday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Maria Bamford - Saturday, June 15 at 7 p.m.

Artie Lange - Saturday, June 15 at 9:30 and 11:59 p.m.

PLAY LOCALLY: ChiIL Mama's Top Weekend Picks

Keller Williams Interview With ChiIL Mama from ChiIL Mama on Vimeo.

ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama chat with Keller Williams about How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create

TODAY (Saturday)

American Girl Place

Meet the Author: Kathleen Ernst 1-3pm--free and open to the public.

Meet Kathleen Ernst, the award-winning author of Caroline Abbott’s six-book series! This informal session is your girl’s opportunity to meet Ms. Ernst in person and have her favorite books signed. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.

Event details by store

• Chicago: October 13
• Dallas: November 17
• Kansas City: October 14
• Seattle: November 18

Click here for full details.

Keller Williams at Park West (18+)8:30pm GA/ doors 7:30

ChiIL Live Shows will be there...will YOU?!   Highly recommended.   We've had the great pleasure of interviewing Keller Williams and shooting stills at his adult and kindie shows for years.  Check out our live show shots from Summer Camp Music Festival, Kidzapalooza, and Chicago's own Park West last year.   

This multitalented musician goes beyond the jam band genre with a plethora of great releases for adults, a kindie (kids' indie) album, and a kids' book/CD combo!!   We've given away loads of his CDs, and even the book/CD to our lucky readers.

This time through he's just playing for the big kids (AKA adults and kids 18+). 



It was great to meet Keller, his wife, Emily, and the kids, Ella and Cabell last year at Park West in Chicago.   Click HERE for our show stills and sneek peek.


Since ChiIL Live Shows & ChiIL Mama have a national following in the jam band and kindie communities check out Keller's upcoming tour dates beyond Chi-Town on his web site and keep up to date on Twitter, FB and social media sites. 

Check out some of our past Keller coverage on ChiIL Mama here and ChiIL Live Shows here.

Tickets are still available.   Click here for tonight's show details.


Sunday




Brunch With Gymnast, Gabby Douglas 

It's going to be a week of meeting heros and girls who rock.   My gymnast daughter is elated to meet two members of the US Olympic girls team.   Sunday we'll have brunch with Gabby Douglas and Monday we'll meet Aly Raisman at American Girl Place, Chicago.   Who are your heros?   

Olympic Champion Gabrielle Douglas will visit Chicago with her mother, Natalie Hawkins, to highlight a special event exclusive to mothers and daughters. 

What: Douglas will speak to hundreds of mothers, daughters and supporters at the “Pink Pearls & Pretty Dresses: Girls’ Empowerment Brunch.” The event is a fundraiser for Inspire Girls to Lead Our World (iGlow)—a Chicago mentorship program for young girls.

When: Sunday, October 14, 2012; 12pm-4pm

Where: Donald E. Stevens Convention Center; 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018

Why: The event will be a day of inspiration and empowerment for young girls and their mothers. It will also help raise funds for iGlow so that it can continue delivering resources and guidance for young women in the Chicago-land area.  In short, iGlow provides platforms for young girls to get answers to their questions about life and their struggles.

  
Aly Raisman Monday

Come to American Girl Chicago on Monday, October 15, for a chance to meet gymnastics two-time gold-medalist Aly Raisman! The first 300 girls in line at the Michigan Avenue entrance will receive a ticket to meet Aly, who will sign autographs and appear in photos from 5 – 7 p.m. Remember to bring your camera! Learn more about our Chicago store: http://bit.ly/Vi4LEn


All Weekend

Logan Center For The Arts Opening

Logan Launch Festival, October 12-14

The new Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts will officially open to the public with a free three-day Logan Launch Festival on October 12-14, 2012. The Logan Launch Festival will include ongoing activities throughout the building–and outside on the courtyard stage–featuring over 50 events organized for the occasion. The weekend highlights art of all sorts, with an architecture lecture by the Logan Center architects, plays written by alumni, film screenings and sound installations, the launch of family programming, Greek tragedy adaptations, and student talent. View the full schedule of events at loganlaunch.uchicago.edu.

Harvest Fest at North Park Nature Center   

Opening Drum Circle-Keller Williams Kids' Show-Park West Chicago

Wednesdays Rock at ChiIL Mama...





Here's a special treat for you today.   Ken Crampton of Everybody Drum led a multi age, rockin' drum circle at Park West as an opening act for Keller Williams' No Kidding! Tour.   ChiIL Mama had so much fun filming the show and interviewing Keller after.   We'll have lots more live footage and our exclusive interview posted in the very near future.


Keller has just released his first children's CD, Keller Williams Kids and his book/CD set, Because I Said So.   Both are fantastic.


ChiIL Mama gave away 4 Kids CDs and 1 book set to 5 lucky winners.   If you missed out, you can still order yours through Keller's Kids site by clicking HERE.   His website is a rich source of fun tracks to hear, live goat cam, upcoming tour dates and more.


Remember to check out ChiIL Mama every week for Win A Disc Wednesday (nationwide) and Free Tickets Tuesday (Chicago).   We have a ton of rockin' music from the kids' indie (kindie) rock community & adult bands, too.   We feature a wide range of genres and include interviews with musicians, live concert footage and lots of CD give aways.


Enjoy!

Keller Williams-Park West Photos-Both Kids and 18+ Shows