pro usa athletes for olympics in 2016!

I was at the sony ericsson tennis tournament last week and got to talk with a bunch of our best usa tennis athletes!  They were all so positive and excited about the possibility of having the Olympics here- you got to check out the video above— and is it me or does andy roddick sound like he was going to retire before 2016 but will stay on to play for our usa team if chicago is picked on October 2^nd!?  And I love the south African new American part- that is just amazing.  Thanks to Christian the creative genius and the whole crew at chicago company bridges media for volunteering to help me edit this piece in less than a day!  You rock!

chicago blues brother dan aykroyd wants olympics too!

I hung out w/ one of my comedic heroes dan aykroyd over the weekend from brunch to late night at rockit- and when he heard I was a volunteer for the chicago Olympic movement- he freaked out with excitement and wanted to jump on immediately- he even thought it would be cool to step into this little shop to film an impromptu interview together with a little portable camera I happen to have had in my back pack- literally we just whipped it out and started filming- click the video above- it speaks for itself!

after school matters

We all can make an impact on the future of this great city (and nation) by supporting a program that I have grown very fond of called After School Matters- a wonderful organization that provides teens in underserved communities, opportunities to participate in fun, out-of-school activities to teach skills that translate to the workplace. 

The best way to feel their positive impact is by joining Mayor and Mrs. Daley at The Chicago Theatre this Tuesday night (3/31) at 5pm, as they will be hosting a huge event where the asm students will be showcasing their talents to all in attendance.   (details at http://www.afterschoolmatters.org/). 

After the show, I will be hosting a fun private reception from 730p-9p at Rockit along with an amazing group of philanthropic minded friends (listed below) who have jumped on to lend a helping hand.  Whether you are able to attend the earlier portion or not… You must join us!  There will be cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, music, and beautiful pieces of…

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the world’s best djs come togther!

chicago’s own up for national top honors!

i think a shout out and a huge congrats are in order for the very well deserving local restaurants, chefs and restaurateurs who were recently nominated for the restaurant industry’s top honor – the james beard awards. We should all be proud to say the following spots are up for the prestigious awards that will be held this may in nyc.

-spiaggia for outstanding service

-chef grant achatz’s (of alinea) cookbook

-chef paul kahan of blackbird, avec, and publican (also up for best restaurant and graphic design by the way) for outstanding chef

-hot chocolate’s pastry chef, mindy segal

-bin 36 for outstanding wine service   

-best chef-great lakes category includes koren grieveson of avec, arun sampathavivat of arun’s and north pond’s bruce Sherman

-last but certainly not least, my good buddy, mr. rich melman’s new place l20 is the only Chicago restaurant nominated for “best new restaurant” and he is also up for outstanding restauranteur.  

This only goes to show you how Chicago is becoming more recognized and celebrated and how we, as residents of this great city are the ones that are making it all happen. Congrats to all and best of luck!  

chicago cultural groups getting involved!

As an asian American chicagoan and a huge supporter of the Olympics coming to our city/country in 2016… I was honored to be invited to an amazing Asian-american rally supporting the chicago 2016 olympic bid w/ the most beautiful performances from different cultural groups around chicago representing the Chinese, Burmese, Bangladeshi, Japanese, Indonesian, Filipino, Korean, Indian, Thai, Pakistani, Laotian, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Nepalese,… to name a few.  I can’t tell you how culturally diverse, energetic, entertaining, talented, proud and supportive the thousands in attendance were… I met dancers, musicians, consulates, media, students, teachers, attorneys, builders, store owners, grandparents, children,… all so excited about welcoming the world to the city that they are proud to call home!  Mayor daley expressed that we have…

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i let the secret out!

here is a really cool q & a article i did for restaurants and institutions magazine about how we create a hit

http://www.rimag.com/article/ca6645155.html 

i think it’s a pretty good perspective to consider for any business or company role…especially in chicago – hope you enjoy!  

(and how cool was it that my blog about the sears tower name change made it on to msnbc! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29772247/)

got more job spots!

doing another open call for restaurant jobs for our new rockit in wrigleyville – opening soon……bring a resume and picture to rockit in river north (22 w hubbard) wednesday, march 25th from 10am-4pm.

time to do our part!

After being at the inauguration back in january I came home with a rushing energy to do something good in response to president obama’s requests and direction about lending time and support to philanthropic initiatives… so started to plan and become involved in a number of charity events to benefit different philanthropies from the American cancer society… to the Piven theatre workshop… to after school matters… to the art institute… and they are all starting to come up soon!

The first is this Thursday and it is to benefit the lookingglass theatre company which I have supported for about a decade now.  This particular event is called the “madhatter’s cast party” and I host it with by my buddies, david schwimmer & joey Slotnick (its our 8^th yr in a row!), along with the lookingglass junior board.  tickets initially included the performance of “our town” that david and joey perform in- with a cast party after at the underground from 10p-midnight that is super fun (and includes grey goose cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, fun music, great crowd…)… tix to theatre production are sold out- but we posted some extra tix to the 10p-midnight cast party for a reduced $50 donation on www.lookingglasstheatre.org.  spread the word, we need you and your friends there to support, enjoy and celebrate art and theatre in chicago!

the world’s best restaurants all in one night!

So I can’t give names but let’s just say I was asked by a very important internationally related group to show them as many of the world’s greatest restaurants last Friday night in a matter of 5 hours.  In chicago that’s easy!  I scribbled out my top 50 first- booked a private car- realized I could only map/schedule the top 20 in 15min increments- and headed out 6pm sharp to blow my guests’ minds.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) every venue was so amazing- and owners, chefs, managers,… kept throwing us food, wine, champagne,… that we never made our time slots and only were able to hit the first 10 places!  But wow- what a 10. Check this list out-

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sears tower name change? hear from the owner –

i talked to him this morning – want to know what he said? first, a quick story…..

will never forget, was so nervous on my first day moving into my dorm/suite at the harvard business school – totally intimidated w/ no friends- like high school all over again.  Across the hall was a bedroom door 3 ft away where I could over hear a guy that was now my suitemate- with a noticeable accent- so assumed he wasn’t from the country like most other classmates in this particular program- and thought it was only right to give him a big american welcome. so i intro myself and say- hey man- I’m billy dec- from chicago- i’m in entertainment- and he says- hey, im joe Moinian- I love chicago- and travel there all the time!  I say- great! Feeling totally in position to be the guy to invite him to my hometown place of business- I say, well when you come- I can show you the city! and you have to let me take you to my place rockit for a burger!  Just as I am getting over myself thinking I am sorta connected to the city more than any other classmate- I say- wait, you love chicago and go there all the time- why?  He every so as a matter of fact says- oh, I just bought the sears tower.  Omg!  never felt smaller- cant believe I just showed off that I have a burger place- and he has the sears tower- wow- almost packed my suitcase and left right there- knowing I was way out of my league!  Long story short, we became great suitemates, study buddies and friends- he’s funny, cool, smart, nice,… definitely a man who works hard and knows what he is doing- someone that I could look up to for friendship and advice… especially if revolved around business and real estate.

Anywho, I woke up this morning to all the crazy headlines of the new name change for the sears tower- so I hit him on his cell to ask him all about it

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the people have spoken! our first reviews are in!

Billy & Johnny B Interview – The Loop

here is our first radio interview with johnny b on the loop! click above to enjoy!

here is our first food review in redeye/metromix today :

http://chicago.metromix.com/restaurants/restaurant_review/first-look-sunda/1017932/content 

and here are amazing words from one of the foremost authorities on the vibrant chicago restaurant industry, penny pollack….

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u2 in town for a reason (and for a chicagoan)

Rumors are true- U2 snuck in town to kick it at the Metro last night doing a super chill personal down and dirty Q & A with a select hundred or so guests- I was super honored to be there- props to them for such a unique and different way to promote the new album and North American tour- which kicks off in Chicago on Sept 12 ‘09 at Soldier Field!  And of course by picking chicago as a place to have this special experience, and to start launch their entire tour, certainly makes it evident that they know the value of chicago fans, exposure and influence.

But behind all of this- I think we need to give props to one special Chicagoan that helped make this happen- and that most U2 fans that praise their appearance don’t know about- and that’s my really wonderful friend- metro owner joe shanahan.  We had our “monthly lunch” together at uncommon ground Monday, day before all this went down, and I was just so proud to hear about how his great relationships he created and developed with bands like U2 (REM, New Order, Smashing Pumpkins,… list goes into the hundreds…) over decades of promoting them and their performances in Chicago, for Chicagoans- has turned into a comfort and love for being in our city- and a feeling of true friendship- that these bands, talents, icons,… truly value our city and want to be here, at the level exemplified by U2 above.  It’s just amazing joe- as just another Chicagoan trying to welcome the world to love our city- thank you for what you do.

new venue, new jobs, new fun!

On a day when unemployment in this country is at it’s highest- since before most of us started being old enough to work- it comes with great excitement to announce that we are putting about 125 new Chicago jobs out there in the next couple weeks with a new project we just signed to open a Rockit Bar & Grill across from Wrigley Field- to open in less than 60 days- in time for opening of Cubs Season!  Can’t believe I am announcing a new project before our current New Asian Restaurant project Sunda technically opens to the public tonight (which was 150 new Chicago jobs- and this group is truly amazing!).

I know the economic environment is scary, but we are pushing through and investing in this city as much as possible.  We all need to just keep creating more positive energy, action, excitement,… anyway we can… and all will be good soon!  And thank you Chicago friends for allowing us to grow- by always supporting our venues- we promise to keep throwing it back to you in quality everything- any way we can.

If you know someone that might be interested in being a part of the Rockit Wrigley team, tell them to check this out, because we are moving fast-

Open call for jobs is this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard) between 10am-4pm.  Bring a picture and resume.  And good luck!

beautifying chicago!

First of all, thanks to the one thousand beautiful happy smiling faces that were part of the big blog launch party last night- too fun- so great to see everyone! (pics and video to come)

tonight i’m super excited to host the chicago flower and garden show kickoff party at navy pier with my good buddy from nbc anna devlantes, martin castro, donna la pietra and the amazing crew from the mayor’s office!

why? because I love anything that beautifies chicago (im a total nature boy).  I also think we all really need to get out and support these shows/conventions on a whole other level when they come to our city- as it’s tough out there- can’t lose them to vegas and other cities that are fighting for the income, action, tourism,… that they bring us- and I guess now, some are just canceling all together due to economic reasons— and we can’t have that?!?!  So if for some reason can’t make it tonight, stop by while it’s here between 3/7 – 3/15!  You rock-

(oh, and I think I am being made fun of in daily candy today? Or maybe that’s good press?  Anywho- for those that have been asking, sunda officially opens to public Monday (3/9) and you can get to info and reservations on the site sundachicago.com or click the logo to right- seeya!)

chicago’s got talent! and the can’t miss event….

you got to see this -- host of “america’s got talent” explains why chicago is first! 

and invites you to the biggest party of the year….the launch party for this blog! 

(and check out the background! that’s us in sunda after a practice dinner)