Friday, June 3, 2011

Play Locally: WallahGala, Windy Kindie, Do Division, Lit Fest, Viking Breakfast, Free Movies, Art and More!

Click HERE for more information and a full schedule-ongoing through June 5th.

Check out the first WallahGala and get your art on for a good cause.   

Kids' bands rockin' Chi Town this weekend:


The windy city has kindie (kids' indie) rockers that are second to none.    And this weekend they're out in force, to rock your socks off.    Beat Kitchen's weekly Concerts for Kids series is over till fall, but we're takin' it to the streets all spring and summer.   Here's ChiIL Mama's best of Windy Kindie for the weekend.



Printers Row Lit Fest:   is highly recommended.   Ok, we're book dorks and proud of it.   We've met so many great children's authors, gotten books signed, heard excellent music and had a blast at this book feast for years.    The littles can meet strolling characters from their favorite stories like brother and sister Berenstain Bear.


Lil’ Lit Park Neverland:
Saturday
  • 10:00 a.m. CAPTAIN HOOK’S JOLLY RODGERS featuring Tiger Lily 
  • 10:30 a.m. JUSTIN ROBERTS and the Not Ready for Naptime Players perform
  • 11:15 a.m. The Teacher Who Became an Author, JIM AYLESWORTH will read
  • 12:15 p.m. The Actors Training Center Teen Repertory Company Ensemble members perform a selection of songs
  • 1 p.m. Every Day Music, a musical performance by Sandy Lucas
  • 2:45 p.m. Punch & Cookies, a puppet show with MARILYN PRICE, author of “Grandma's Cookies”
  • 3:30 p.m. JUSTIN ROBERTS and the Not Ready for Naptime Players perform
  • 4:15 p.m. ADAM RUBIN, author of “Those Darn Squirrels and the Cat Next Door,” and illustrator DANIEL SALMIERI

Sunday

  • 10:45 a.m. REBECCA COHEN, author of “Fifteen Minutes Outside”
  • 11 a.m. CAROLYN CRIMI, author of “Henry & the Crazed Chicken Pirates” and “Dear Tabby” 
  • 11:45 a.m. JUSTIN ROBERTS and the Not Ready for Naptime Players perform
  • 12:30 p.m. AMY KROUSE ROSENTHAL, author of “Little Pea,” “Spoon” and the new “This Plus That”
  • 1:15 p.m. SUZANNE SLADE, author of “What’s New at the Zoo”
  • 2 p.m. The Dot and Susan Show 2:45 p.m. JUSTIN ROBERTS AND THE NOT READY FOR NAPTIME Players perform
  • 3:30 p.m. MARK NICHOLS, director and master puppeteer of The Puppet Place, presents “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”




Say hey to our friends at 826CHI and Open Books while you're down there.   Click HERE for the full schedule.


 Do Division:
Loads of ChiIL Mama's Win A Disc Wednesday featured bands and bands we've promoted in the past, are playing this fun fest, like Laura Doherty, Jeanie B, Karen 4 Kids, Mary Macaroni, and Super Stolie.   We've also gotta give a shout out to The Hamburglars, or is that a robble robble.   We hung with them at the Halloween shoot for Chic A Go Go and they're a hoot.   So Do Division.   Do it up.   Click HERE for the full schedule.




Family Stage Schedule Saturday, June 4: 12pm: Laura Doherty 1pm: Jeanie B!
2pm: Mad Science 3pm: Karen 4 Kids! 4pm: Mary Macaroni

Sunday, June 5: 12pm: Mary Macaroni 1pm: Super Stolie 2pm: Sarah Jayne Parker 3pm: The Hamburglars 4pm: Baby Take a Bow Hip Hop Workshop

JUNE JAM in Roscoe Village:

Click HERE  for the full schedule.   But a few of our all time favorites are performing here on Saturday and Sunday.

Check out Little Miss Ann at 12:30 Saturday and CircEsteem at 3pm Sunday!

Adult bands we love:

While you do it do it do it on Division, one of our new favorite bands is playing one of the big kid (AKA:  adult) stages.    Check 'em out.


The Shams Band
5:45 p.m., Saturday; Leavitt Stage







Art Attack (Gallery Openings):

   
FRIDAY:  An Artistic Collaboration:  The Arts of Life and Lindblom Math & Science Academy Art Exhibit

On Friday, June 3rdh, the Kinzie Corridor Gallery will host an art exhibit featuring the works of Lindblom Math and Science Academy students as a result of an impactful collaboration with the Arts of Life.  The collaboration was formed to support Lindblom students’ developments and their becoming part of the arts community.  
The Arts of Life artists Kris Schenkel, Stefan Harhaj, and Ryan Shuquem, along with general education students at Lindblom, partnered with the special education students to create art during this school year.  They utilized stamping techniques, reductive method using stencils, & free-form painting on canvas in their works.
Lindblom Art Teacher, Michelle Wielgosz, sought out the Arts of Life to assist in giving the school’s special education department an opportunity to enhance the students’ learning of art by adapting materials to match the students’ unique and individual strengths.   At the same time, this collaboration provided the students the chance to build rare & meaningful relationships outside of their classroom. 
Join the artists from Lindblom and the Arts of Life to delight in the artistic creations that came from this special partnership.
This FREE event is open to the public and will take place at the Kinzie Corridor Gallery located at 2010 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago, IL 60612 on June 3rd from 5-7 PM. 
Artist's work can be viewed at 14 Starbucks locations throughout Chicago as well as many other generous businesses and cafes.

For more information, contact artsoflife@gmail.com, or visit:

SATURDAY:



Despite the Logan Square neighborhood’s most recent flurry of attention, it has historically been a creatively vibrant community. IALS’s June exhibition will feature works by a group of longtime residents, established artists living and working in the neighborhood for over a decade. 

“From the Studios of: Beth LeFauve, Jane Michalski and Monica Rezman” will open on Saturday, June 4, 2011 from 6 PM to 9 PM at the I Am Logan Square Gallery, located at 2648 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Craft beer by Revolution Brewing and Sangria by D’Noche will compliment delicious seasonal hors d’oeuvres by Café con Leche, Rewster’s Café and Paper Moon Pastry. Musical entertainment will be provided by Resident DJ, Nick Kusiak.

“Over the years, we [Michalski, LeFauve and Rezman] have each been committed to producing art that is accomplished in our prospective media. We represent a few of the many talented artists working out of studios in Logan Square,” declares Jane Michalski, the exhibition’s curator.  “Thanks to the existence of the I Am Logan Square Gallery and other emerging opportunities, we are now able to show our work and celebrate our achievements in our own backyard.”

Jane Michalski has lived and worked in Logan Square since 1986 and has been a Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival curator since its inception in 2009. Michalski, who received her graduate training from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and holds BFA from the University of Wisconsin, has worked in the encaustic medium since 2005. She is known for her abstract works, which incorporate geometric structures transformed by layers of wax. She counts exhibitions at the Koehnline Museum of Art at Oakton Community College, the Haydon Art Center of Lincoln, Nebraska, Katherine Butler Gallery in Sarasota, Florida and an Award of Excellence from the Tubac Arizona Center amongst her professional accomplishments. In addition to her thriving art career, Michalski maintains active in the community though her work with the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival and as a board member of the Logan Square Chamber of the Arts.

Beth LeFauve, an Interior Design graduate from Purdue University, has lived in Logan Square for the past twenty-five years, working with Chicago's architectural and arts communities. She has exhibited her work at the Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival and two of her paintings are scheduled to appear in HBO's new fictional Hugh Hefner Playboy show this fall. Le Fauve's works include acrylic paintings and found object assemblages.

Monica Rezman is a painter, textile designer and most recently a photographer who currently splits her time between Chicago and India. Rezman, whose work recently appeared at NEXT Chicago, explores eroticism, transformation and a spectrum of mind states through the subject matter of female hair. Her photographs and renderings are inspired by childhood memories of her mother altering and augmenting her own hair and her three-year-old daughter, who experiments with female adornment the same way. Rezman studied fine art and textile design at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Instituto Allende in Mexico, subsequently pursuing a career in textile design in New York City. Wanting to explore new artistic territory she commenced an intensive study of classical drawing and painting in Italy and continued studying at the School of Representational Art in Chicago.

Each of IALS’s three June exhibiting artists will participate in the 2011 Milwaukee Avenue Arts Festival, which will be presented from Friday, July 29 to Sunday, July 31 along Milwaukee Avenue between Kimball and California. “From the Studios of: Beth LeFauve, Jane Michalski and Monica Rezman” will run through the July 15th and all works will be available for purchase with proceeds going to the artist(s) and to support I Am Logan Square. IALS hosts monthly exhibitions of works by local artists and is currently accepting proposals for the fall. Participating artists must either live or work in Logan Square to exhibit their work and priority will be given to group or collaborative shows. The gallery is open to the public by appointment Tuesday through Saturday.


Free Movies Fri & Sat:
Lincoln Hall is screening E.T. and The Goonies as part of our "3 Penny Was Here" series


In honor of director JJ Abrams highly anticipated upcoming film, Super 8, we’ve decided to do a retrospective of sorts. Combining the supernatural vibe of “The X-Files” with the spirit of 70’s and 80’s sci-fi classics, Super 8 revisits a style of filmmaking not unfamiliar to the films producer, Steven Spielberg.

To pay homage to the genre, we will screen "The Goonies" on Friday, June 3rd and "E.T." on Saturday, June 4th. For more information, please visit our listing below:




Multicultural:
SATURDAY:
Viking Breakfast at The Swedish Museum
Get a little taste of Scandinavia without leaving the city. 
All ages are invited to the Viking Breakfast with Frey the Viking on Saturday, June 4,2011.  This event features Swedish pancakes, crafts, games, friends and more at this breakfast!
For your convenience, families with children are invited to join us at 9 a.m., and adults are invited to join us anytime between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. for open seating at the breakfast.
Pre-paid reservations are required.  For more information, or to register, please call the Museum at 773.728.8111, ext 26, to reserve your spot.  To pay online, please click here.  



Ongoing:   





It's Farmer's Market Season, ya know.   Check into your own local market schedule or check out opening day in Logan Square.    Spring has sprung and a zillion markets are springing up all over Chi town.   Eat locally!





Opening day:
Logan Square  
Farmers MarketTM
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Rain or Shine!
10am-3pm

Save the Date:

Maloof Skateboarding kicks off their  National Skater Competition Tour in CHICAGO, the weekend of June 11-12  (Maloof brothers own NBA Sacramento Kings and sponsor international skate boarding & parks).




WHERE:  Logan Boulevard Skate Park at 2430 W Logan Blvd under the Kennedy Expressway overpass is a competition location Saturday June 11, 2011 !  
local event organizers:   UPRISE SKATE SHOP (1820 N Milwaukee Ave)
Mark Heller        Logan Square parks advocate
The tour Will Feature Skate Contests, Giveaways and Volunteer Sundays where the Public is Invited to Join the Road Tour in a Day of Community Service

Maloof Skateboarding has announced the 12 participating cities and dates for the 2011 Maloof Road Tour leading up to the first-ever Maloof Money Cup contest in Washington D.C. over Labor Day Weekend. The road tour kicks off June 11 in Chicago, the weekend after the Maloof Money Cup New York (June 4-5) and will travel to 11 additional cities during the 12-week RV tour across the country. Other cities include (in order of stops): Kansas City, Denver, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Vancouver, Salt Lake City, Dallas, Birmingham, Miami, Atlanta and Philadelphia.


The Maloof Road Tour will work with local skate shops in each city to host skate contests (High Ollie, Game of Skate, Best Line contests and more) on Saturdays at each stop of the tour. The winners of the Best Line contests in the first 10 cities will be flown to Las Vegas in August for MAGIC, the fashion industry’s largest event, where they’ll compete on a special course on the show floor for a shot at $5,000 cash.

Sundays will be dedicated to community projects, including skate park cleanup, graffiti removal, skate gear drives and other community needs. Volunteers from the local community are encouraged to come out and participate.  Volunteer hours will be tallied as points to redeem on the MMC website for ticket discounts and prizes from sponsors.
Road Tour Manager Eric Isenberg will lead the team that includes Pro Skater Rodney Torres (rodneytorresnyc.com) and Dante Yore, from NY Skate Shop Homage Brooklyn (homagebrooklyn.com), who earned spots on the tour through the casting call held on maloofmoneycup.com in March.   Chris Miller, the official Maloof Road Tour Filmer, will capture the events as they unfold in each city.

“The Maloof Road Tour presents a great opportunity to visit amazing skate cities, have fun with the local skaters, and leave the city better than when we came to it,” said Eric Isenberg, Maloof Road Tour Manager. “Kids are pushing the limits of skateboarding every day, so we encourage skateboarders and fans to come out to our Road Tour stops and show us what they got. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Plus, we have a whole RV of swag we need to unload!”

Maloof Road Tour Dates/Cities
  •  June 11-12, Chicago
  •  June 18-19, Kansas City, MO
  •  June 25-26, Denver
  •  July 2-3, Las Vegas
  •  July 9-10, Sacramento
  •  July 16-17, Vancouver, BC
  •  July 23-24, Salt Lake City
  •  July 30-31, Dallas
  •  August 6-7, Birmingham
  •  August 13-14, Miami
  •  August 20-21, Atlanta
  •  August 27-28, Philadelphia

Click HERE for more information.



Thursday, June 2, 2011

American Girl Doll-Kanani Winner Announced







Here's a big congrats to our Kanani doll and book winner, Kimberly W. from Robbinsdale, MN.   She says her favorite American Girl Doll is Kitt Kittredge and her dream vacation destination is Fiji.   We'll mail your new friend right out to you.


Thanks to all who entered.   Check in with ChiIL Mama for lots of great give aways, book-CD-DVD-toy reviews, interviews and more.    And check out our new launch ChiILTravelKids.com.    We'll be expanding the new site to include loads of fun vacation destinations and tips for interesting things to do.    We'll be talking to families living abroad with kids for the non-tourist approach.  And we'll focus on eco-friendly, quirky, popular and under the radar fun from around the US and around the world.


We'll also be running more American Girl doll features throughout June, so check in like we vote in Chicago...early and often.    Check out the American Girl site for fun, free games, crafts, local events and ordering information for their whole line of dolls, book and accessories.   For more info about Kanani, Girl of the Year 2011, click HERE.



In Store Kanani Events:

Kanani’s Beach Craft

Get ready for sun and fun! Your girl can decorate a tropical sun visor inspired by Kanani, our Girl of the Year 2011. She loves to swim at Hawai’i’s beautiful beaches and share the aloha spirit with others. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.
Event details by store
Kanani’s Hawaiian Celebration
Join us to celebrate our newest Girl of the Year! At this special event, girls will learn about Kanani—a cheerful girl who helps others by sharing Hawai‘i’s aloha spirit. They’ll learn some Hawaiian words, enjoy a delicious meal, and get a doll-sized hula skirt. Plus, every girl will take home a Kanani poster and Lend a Hand, a book filled with girl-sized ways to help others. Reservations required. For girls ages 8 and up.
Event details by store
Kanani’s Hawaiian Lei Crafts
Celebrate the aloha spirit with Kanani, our newest Girl of the Year! At this free craft event, your girl can make a cute doll-sized lei with fabric flowers. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.
Event details by store
Kanani’s Hawaiian Crafts
Join in the fun with our newest Girl of the Year! During this craft event inspired by Kanani, your girl can make a Hawaiian lei for her doll. She’ll also decorate a girl-sized sun visor with tropical stickers. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.
Event details by store
Kanani’s Hula Dance Steps Demo
Celebrate Kanani by learning about the traditional Hawaiian art of hula dance! Expert facilitators will perform a hula, then show girls how to do some of the movements. Free and open to the public. For girls ages 8 and up.
Event details by store
Dining reservations: book online | Party or event reservations: call 877-247-5223

How Far to Austin Plays HOB June 11th With Van Ghost, Allie from Cornmeal


How Far to Austin at Mayne Stage in March 
(dbl click the slideshow for full screen options)




Saturday, June 11, 2011
329 N Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654 (United States) - Map 
312-923-2000
Set: 10:30 PM 
Doors: 7:00 PM 
17+ 
Tickets: $13/15 

Also Playing: Van Ghost (11:45 PM) , Katie Todd (8:00 PM) , Great Divide (9:30 PM) 
Other Info:
HOW FAR to AUSTIN is back at the House of Blues in Chicago for another spectacular 17+ show, this time supporting the always awesome VAN GHOST, with special guest Allie Kral of the band Cornmeal!




Starting out the night will be Katie Todd, followed by Ben Ripani Music Co., then Great Divide, HOW FAR to AUSTIN @ 10:30 for a mind blowing set - we're playing tons of tunes off of our recent e.p. "Goodnight Madison" as well as a few fan-selected covers, and we've got nothing short of an extravaganza on stage for the evening!

Tickets are $13 in advance, purchase through a band member and thats all you pay - saves you a pile of cash versus buying through the box office (which charges a ton of Ticketmaster fees) just message any HFTA band member on Facebook, or email us at info@howfartoaustin.com, see you at the show!!!

If you haven't seen it yet, check out ChiIL Mama's interview with Tate and Katie and their drummer--all the rockin' parents of How Far To Austin right HERE.

Parents' Night Out Tonight-Cirque De La Moda



Doors open at 7:30 p.m. 
Hosted bar and appetizers until 9 pm.

A fantastic fashion lineup. A showcase of Chicago boutiques & talent.


Enter code LeThrift when ordering tickets.
Automatic entry to a raffle with prizes and gift bag!


Celebrity Host Natalie Martinez from NBC5 Chicago
Celebrity Host Model Jaslene Gonzalez ANTM Cycle 8 Winner

DJ Boy Wonder - Live Video Mixing all night

Appetizers Provided by Moonshine Wicker Park

Check out our new retail location at 
1754 West Division, Chicago IL or visit our site at

LeThrift, Chicago's high end consignment and retail boutique,  is the brain child of Chicago Mom, Christine.    As of May 6th, LeThrift has a new retail location as well as an on line store.    Come on out and enjoy fashion and fun without breaking the bank.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Win A Disc Wednesday- Luv Clowns & 3 CD Winners Announced

We have loads of winners to announce today.   First is our kindie CD winner.


Congrats to Dana D. from Windermere, FL who is our Luv Clowns winner.




These guys are on the label Goner Records under the charming subcategory, Goner jr.    We hope this is a sign of things to come.    This is Lisa's label--our favorite punk librarian from Headache City and CoCoComa.  





Over here at ChiIL Mama we luved the Love Clowns self titled CD and wacky sense of humor.    These are talented musicians with an artistic vision that's just twisted enough and catchy enough to evoke laughter from adults and children alike.   We've all been thoroughly enjoying this CD since December, when we featured Luv Clowns on our Holiday Kindie Rock Tree.





Check 'em out HERE for ordering information.






Luv Clowns - Love Clowns! cd (Goner jr)
$11.99
Memphis' Luv Clowns are destined to be your new favorite kids' music band, whether you've somehow retained a sense of childlike wonder or are surrounded by your own ankle-biters. 
The group boasts a roster that reads like a who's-who of Memphis musicians: Harlan T. Bobo as "Bobo," "Professor" Doug Easley (Cat Power), Alex "Cow Cow" Greene (Reigning Sound) and "Timot" T. Prudhomme (Fuck). They all dress up like clowns when they play, although the oft-kilter lyrics, penchant for hooch and quasi-creepy delivery ensure that they're just as much kindred spirits of M. Emmet Walsh as they are of Emmett Kelly.  
This ramshackle collection of tunes for tots has many memorable melodies, psychedelic effects and enough goofy charm to fill a thousand red wagons. Even the silly skits between the songs are enjoyable. "Draw," a countrified number that channels the eccentric Michael Hurley, ponders the limitless nature of the imagination. "Mr. Bubble" has nothing to do with the popular brand of bubble bath and everything to do with an odd assortment of characters that includes Mr. Gooey and Mr. Clowny. 
The bongos set a perfect jungle mood for "Monkey Island," a paean to the gone-but-not-forgotten primate exhibit at the Memphis Zoo.  The highlights are the campy, catchy "K-I-D-S," which features a learned professor explaining why we're all here, and a heartbreakingly sincere cover of Mr. Rogers' "Sometimes Good People Do Bad Things." This greasepaint gang has recorded a cockeyed kiddie classic. 
The Luv Clowns understand that being a kid is more than just being goofy and having fun--it's about being confused and disoriented sometimes, too.

Our next winner is Kevin H from Oak Park, IL.   He's won 3 adult CDs by some of our favorite Chicago bands, perfect for summer jammin'. 










 The Shams band are rocking Do Division this weekend and have a brand new release comin'

CD #1  The Shams Band-Champagne 


CD #2  How Far to Austin -Goodnight Madison


These guys are playing with an amazing line up at House of Blues June 11th.   We just saw Cornmeal and Van Ghost at Summer Camp and highly recommend catching them! 



Saturday, June 11, 2011
329 N Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654 (United States) - Map 
312-923-2000
Set: 10:30 PM 
Doors: 7:00 PM 
17+ 
Tickets: $13/15 

Also Playing: Van Ghost (11:45 PM) , Katie Todd (8:00 PM) , Great Divide (9:30 PM) 
Other Info:
HOW FAR to AUSTIN is back at the House of Blues in Chicago for another spectacular 17+ show, this time supporting the always awesome VAN GHOST, with special guest Allie Kral of the band Cornmeal!

ChiIL Mama shot a bunch of stills at Allie's amazing late night set with Cornmeal, on the Campfire Stage at Summer Camp Music Festival this past weekend.   We'll have a photo filled fest recap up shortly.

Starting out the night will be Katie Todd, followed by Ben Ripani Music Co., then Great Divide, HOW FAR to AUSTIN @ 10:30 for a mind blowing set - we're playing tons of tunes off of our recent e.p. "Goodnight Madison" as well as a few fan-selected covers, and we've got nothing short of an extravaganza on stage for the evening!

Tickets are $13 in advance, purchase through a band member and thats all you pay - saves you a pile of cash versus buying through the box office (which charges a ton of Ticketmaster fees) just message any HFTA band member on Facebook, or email us at info@howfartoaustin.com, see you at the show!!!



CD #3 The Future Laureates-Rethink the Recession

These guys are also playing June 11th.
This year, The Future Laureates have been asked to play at Ribfest Chicago.  This festival is known for its music, so we are especially excited.
We’re playing on the South Stage at noon on Saturday, June 11th.  Headlining the stage that day is Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, so you’ll definitely want to stick around.  Admission to the festival is free, but a $5 donation is requested.  All ages are welcome.
Come on out for some summer fun!


If you're not Kevin H. and didn't win this time, name your price and download 3 Future Laureates tracks HERE.

These 3 bands all have a little rock, R & B, soul and defy easy genre classification.    All we know is they make great warm weather listening!!    They're all 
Funk-folk-fantastic.  

Follow them on FB and Twitter for the heads up on where you can check 'em out live all spring and summer.

Check out ChiIL Mama for more great June give aways including 2 DVDs (Glen Tilbrook from Squeeze and Neil Young's Music Box), kindie CDs & shows and adult bands, too.   We'll have all our June give aways up this week and you'll be able to continue to enter all month long, until each one ends.   We try to announce live show winners on Free Ticket Tuesdays and CD and DVD winners on Win A Disc Wednesdays when possible.   We do add new shows throughout the month, as tickets become available, so check back in early and often.

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