PJ Harvey at The Riv 6-12-09

PJ, barefoot and beautiful

photo credit: Kirstie Shanley

I had the great luck to win 4 free tickets to see PJ Harvey at The Riviera Theatre for her show this past Friday. We had a friend available to sit for the kids and were already planning to go to celebrate our 9th anniversary. So getting to go free was an added bonus.

She danced the whole show barefoot, and wrapped us in the strands of her hypnotic voice. The Riv, with it's peeling paint encircled chandeliers, and tattered, ripped velvet dress ambiance , added to the show.

Here's a trib review ...

and a set list with video links

• 1. Black Hearted Love
  2. Sixteen, Fifteen, Fourteen
  3. Rope Bridge Crossing
  4. Urn with Dead Flowers in a Drained Pool
  5. The Soldier
  6. Taut
  7. Un Cercle Autour Du Soleil
  8. The Chair
  9. Leaving California
  10. A Woman A Man Walked By
  11. Passionless, Pointless
  12. Cracks in the Canvas
  13. Pig Will Not
  14. Encore:
  14. False Fire
  15. April

We've been to see her a number of times over our last 14 years together and she's always amazing! We had to skip Friday night of The Chicago Blues Fest, but we got our share of the Blues Saturday and Sunday. Whether you're a long time admirer or are saying PJ who?, I'd encourage you to listen to a bit of her creative and unique artistic endeavors.

I ♥ Faces Sepia--Hoop Girls and The Dirty Cowboy

This week's contest at I ♥ Faces is sepia tone, which I've never really played with. It always reminds me of old fashioned photos, so I tried to pick two that fit with a turn of the century theme. My children's entry-Hoop Girls, was shot at Blues Fest Saturday. My adult entry, was shot last year at a Lifeline Children's Theatre adaptation of the book, The Dirty Cowboy. Enjoy.


I also have a favor to ask. ChiIL Mama is one of 4 blogs nominated for best blog, Chicago, on GoCityKids. Please help us win by clicking on the circle link below and selecting ChiIL Mama. This circle will appear on the top right side of my blog, under the slide show, for easy access. I'll give my children each a big xtra hug for each vote. You can vote up to once a day through July 15th. Thank you!

Neighborham Lincoln at your Neighborhood Library

When my little sister was a toddler, our Grandpa, whom we called PaPa, gave her a $5.00 bill and told her she could keep it if she could name the president on it. She proudly declared, "That's Neighborham Lincoln". She got to keep the bill, and our 16th President became fondly referred to as Neighborham for the rest of our childhoods.

This summer, your offspring can also cash in and learn about "Neighborham Lincoln" at your neighborhood library.

The annual summer reading program through The Chicago Public Libraries is excellent and includes children's entertainers, events and incentives. Kids 3-9 who read and log in 25 picture books and kids 9-14 who read 10 chapter books win a T-Shirt. Individual branches also run free raffles for books and goodies from local businesses. And many give goodie bags or little prizes along the way. Chicago History Museum is the partner this year. Go to your local branch to sign up.

Barnes and Noble also runs a good summer reading program. Click the link and download a reading journal and activities. When you've read 8 books, come to your local B & N and they'll let you pick out a free book. They have a wide selection of topics and reading levels from beginner to chapter books.

Borders and Waldenbooks Summer Reading Program for kids 12 and under, also requires reading 8 books for 50% off on select titles.

Finally, Half Price Books has a summer reading program, as well, but it requires weekly visits to the store, rather than an on line option. Still, if you live near a store, it's well worth it. Kids earn a $3 gift card every week that they read 15 minutes a day. That's more than a Neighborham Lincoln for two weeks of reading fun!

So, you can't say reading doesn't pay. And the lifelong pay off for having good reading skills and a love of books... is priceless.

What If................

What If...........
Madeline was raised by an American punk Daddy and a hippypunk Mama, instead of by French nuns?!

In an old house in Chi town, where the music is fine,

Lived two little kids and lots of wine.

They left the house, running late, like gorillas...

The smallest one, was Sagezilla.

ChiILin' At Free And Cheap Movies All Summer Long

The long, lazy days of summer are here. Without those early morning classes to get to, these are the perfect weeks to stay up past bedtime and enjoy a free movie in the park. Here are links to our favorite free movie programs.

Chicago Park District Movies in the Park

Chicago Park District announces Movies in the Parks where more than 170 current and classic movies will be shown in neighborhood parks throughout the city, from June through September. All movies are free and begin at dusk. Folding chairs, picnic blankets and food are welcome.

Another favorite freebie is The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park every Tuesday night. Double check the line up. Some, like Psycho on Aug. 11, are not kid appropriate for the younger spawn. Most are family friendly.

If your kids can't stay up that long past dark, or get squirrely early, try AMC Summer Movie Camp at 10am every Wed. all summer long. All shows are $1.00 to benefit local charities.

Kerasotes also runs free movies every Wed. and Thurs. morning at 10am. Check their web site for instructions on how to join the $5 movie club for free. Once a movie has been out a few weeks, you can show your card and purchase $5 tickets. They'll send you a weekly e-mail listing the shows that qualify.

In Lincoln Square, The Davis Theatre Camp Hollywood plays family movies for $1.00 every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00 AM.

And finally, at a whopping $4 a show for all shows, any time of day, see recent releases that have been out a few weeks at The Logan Theatre. Looks like the start of a "reel" great summer.

Swedes and Blues

The summer I turned 12, I had the opportunity to stay with a Swedish Family for the summer, and dance at a real Midsommarfest, around a real Swedish Maypole, in Sweden. I swam in chilly lakes and saw the sun stay up nearly all night. It was an amazing experience that I've never forgotten. This weekend I can give my kids a little taste of Sweden, a lot closer to home, at the 44th annual Andersonville Midsommarfest.

Though the bands are predominantly American rock and the booths sell the usual Guatemalan clothes and 3 for $20.00 designer knock-off sunglasses, it's still worth a look. We'll make it a point to get there in time for traditional maypole dancing at 11:45 at the stage at Clark and Foster. There is always a kids area with crafts and activities, and The Swedish Museum tent breaks out art projects for the littles as well.

Then we're off to play in Grant Park, "Chicago's Front Lawn", at The 26th Chicago Blues Fest. There are sure to be tributes to Koko Taylor, who recently died at the age of 80, and will be greatly missed this year. Bettye LaVette, Saturday's headliner, is a particular favorite of ours. Sagezilla loves to drive her big brother crazy singing "They've got my joy. I want it back." 8:20-9:30 pm - Bettye LaVette

If you're not big on crowds, Blues Fest is never as full as Taste of Chicago. Toward the back of the lawn there is still plenty of space for kids to run and play Frisbee or catch. There's almost always a juggler in the crowd and plenty of great tunes to dance to. Bring folding chairs, a picnic, and an umbrella or play tent for shade, and make a day of it in Sweet Home Chicago.

Poets And Lizards And Bears, Oh My--Lit Fest Recap

Children's Poet Laureate, Mary Ann Hoberman, can now claim that she's been photographed with President Barack Obama......... AND with Sagezilla and Du-Jay. She read from her poetry compilation, "The Llama Who Had No Pajama" and led the children in a marching game. She's grandmotherly, photogenic, and was as charming in person as her prolific writing. This is her supportive and equally adorable husband and sometimes illustrator. The kids were thrilled to have her sign their books and proudly sported their red Hoberman hats.

Zilla and Du were also excited to meet the faces behind some of their favorite stories. They saved up their own money to buy books at Lit Fest, and eagerly waited in line to get them signed. Carolyn Crimi, author of "Henry & the Buccaneer Bunnies" was a hoot. After her reading, she had the kids "walk the plank" blindfolded by bandannas, to earn a pirate tattoo. She signed two of her awesome books for us.

We also had books signed by Judy Schachner, author of "Skippyjon Jones and the Big Bones". She was also hilarious. At the signing, she drew pictures and channeled her characters to write a personal message to the kids, claiming "I never know what they're going to say." Then she had the kids make their best pirate "Aaaaarrrrrrggggg" with her for the first photo.
I'm so happy to have kids who think of children's book authors as the celebrities they ought to be. They couldn't care less about the sports heavy hitters, but were all starry eyed at the Lit Fest. When I told Du, he could grow up to do that, he replied matter of factly, "I'm already an author and an illustrator, Mom!" Indeed he is.

Shedd Aquarium brought a live, Blue Tongued Skink, and another enormous black and white lizard out for a Q and A. The kids were entranced. We all came away with increased knowledge about reptiles. Can't beat that for free.

I was unsure whether my two were too "mature" for Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, since their target market is the toddler set. But they danced along and had fun. We actually saw a hand puppet cover AC/DC Back in Black. Even I'm not too old for that yet! I'm also just old enough to get a laugh out of ".....I'll stop the world and melt down with you."
I was also sad to realize that at 6 & 8, my kids' days of getting excited about big furry characters are numbered. For this year, at least, they still joyously recognized and posed with The Berenstain Bears. Brother and Sister bear are long time literary favs in our family. We have oodles of their adventures and Du and Zilla went through a several year phase where they would do elaborate roll playing games where they called each other Brother and Sister.

We ran into 6 parents and 7 children we know, and had a great time browsing the aisles till the rain came and caused all the book sellers to scramble for their tarps. Just before we left, I caught a glimpse of Lynda Barry signing her new book. I've read her cartoons for years and appreciate her wacky wit and style.

Despite the rain and chilly weather, we had an excellent and educational time at
The Printers Row Lit Fest 2009 And we've even got 4 new children's books to enjoy on the next rainy day. Preferably inside, this time.

ChiILy Dog Blog

Here in Chi, IL we love our chiILy dogs. And we love our creative kids. This special feature, DOG BLOG combines both passions. All dogs were photographed equally by Sagezilla (6) and Du-Jay (8) over this past Saturday and Sunday. All were either sighted at Metronome Celebration or The Logan Square Farmers Market. Enjoy!

First are the Fest Hounds, or Metronome Dogs:

























































































































































































































































































































































































































Next are the farmers market dogs, after Zilla and the white dog that's lying down:



























































































































































And then...our favorite ChiIL dogs in the whole city, were there to greet us at home.