thank you

They say more than 80% of restaurants go out of business in their first year. 5yrs ago today, I opened a new concept with characteristics that this City had never seen before, but sorely needed, called Rockit Bar & Grill, w/my partners Brad Young & Arturo Gomez. We received Best Restaurant locally, Best Burger nationally (something we set out for from day one) & the picture above shows us stunned to all heck when we were honored nationally as operators of the year!

I owe this good life to all the hard work, faith, loyalty, support, commitment & sacrifice put forth every day & night for years & years by my partners Brad & Arturo, and from our 500+ employee / teammates, and those that worked w/us in the past, and to our investors for believing in us even when we weren’t proven, and to all the visiting guests & fellow chicagoans out there that allowed us to serve them, and anyone who has in anyway been nice to us and shown us a fair chance & friendly support….

….thank you for letting us do what we love….

transformers in chicago

Wow, look what resurfaced w/ all the hype about transformers this week- Someone sent this pic of me & shia labeouf hanging out @ the underground about an hour before his infamous silly arrest at walgreens- and wanted a comment- well, ya- we had a lot of fun, but nothing too outrageous- scary thing was, I called it a night sending him to his hotel jokingly writing on my biz card “call me if get lost or arrested!”  omg- was kidding!

Anyway, shia is a smart dude, really talented and an interesting character… I’m sure he will rock this movie.  I actually got to catch up w/ another chicago visitor/fan my old buddy transformer director michael bay over dinner at sunda couple wks ago and he was just in a zone about how hard they worked on it, how great it turned out, how psyched he was for all to see- so no doubt, these 2 great talents together are going to make magic!  Can’t wait til they bring a project to chicago!

an evening of great events!

there are a ton of things going on in the city tonight, that’s one of the reasons i love the summer in chicago so much! i’m going to hit up my spots tonight but before i do – check out some events that i’m going to swing by…..

+ Best Buddies of Illinois creates wonderful opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Come support at Rockit Bar & Grill 6pm-8pm www.bestbuddies.org

+ Graham Kostic (the stylist from my CS cover shoot) is hosting a Glenrothes Whiskey tasting event at the new Wit Hotel – 6-8pm  – rsvp@wagstaffworldwide.com

+ The countdown to the Olympic host city for 2016 has officially begun! Celebrate at Bon V starting at 6:30pm www.bonvchicago.com

+ The Trump Hotel is opening up their Terrace tonight – check it at www.trumpchicago.com.

+ The W Hotel – City Center just renovated their historic building and are unveiling it all tonight – 7:30pm – www.whotels.com/chicagocitycenter

+ The Gen Art Film Fest is in full swing, tonight’s after party is at the theatro lounge – details on www.genart.org 

hope to see you around!

find out who’s the next big thing?

I’ve always been fond of Gen Art not only because they expose emerging talent to the influential/masses… fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians, visual artists… but also because they focus a lot of their efforts right here in Chicago- from opening one of their few offices here to hosting an amazing annual chicago film fest that happens to be going on right now!

If don’t know, it’s a really big deal that they choose chicago as a location for this fest- not just because of positive financial reasons to city, but because of the artistic props it gives to our culture, talent, viewers,… community!  I love it so much I support by being a judge- and it’s fascinating.  Hope you will join me in supporting & being exposed to new talent?  Just go to http://genart.org/filmfestival/chicago/2009.

you are beautiful to me!

When I was young, I thought it would be cool to be a model, but unfortunately I was ugly… well, maybe not totally ugly (at least not to my mom), but definitely not model capable- partially because back then, most people in magazine ads & tv commercials didn’t have darker skin or “minority” features as I did with pacific islander roots… that, and partially because I couldn’t stop eating-  But now, it’s a whole new world and diversity is finally in demand!

For instance, “dove” is searching chicago this week for Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, or “mixed” women w/ unique character, vivacious personality, a joyful attitude, natural radiance usually btwn 21 -- 29 yrs about a size 10 & under w/ great hair & a passport (overseas filming!) for a new tv & print campaign! Reach out to Dove@oconnorcasting.tv asap for details- “real” women only- not for actors/models.

For those who are looking to model, my good friends from Elite Model Management think chicago could have the next top supermodel!  Since 1982, they have helped Cindy Crawford, Liya Kebede, Michelle Monaghan & countless others make it to the top… & many times it starts w/ a simple scouting event like the “meet elite” event they are having this Wednesday, June 24th between 3pm-7pm, at Rockit Bar & Grill – River North (22 West Hubbard Street, Chicago, IL 60654).  If interested, get the details first at www.elitechicago.com …

and regardless if either are for you, spread the word to everyone you think might like to hear you say… “you are beautiful to me!”

celebrate olympic day! and have fun!

As director of cultural relations for the chicago 2016 olympic committee, I particularly love this video- to me, it just captures the worldly, diverse, friendly, human, youthful, pure,… nature of what we stand to absorb, embrace & celebrate as epicenter of the world being host of the Olympics in 2016!

Speaking of, now is the time for us to lock it down, step up, & show them what we got… by all coming out to support “Olympic day” this Tuesday june 23^rd  where you can enjoy free sporting events, kid & adult runs, famous bands, iconic olympians… and a ton of fun!  (heads up, for sure be @ north ave beach @ 6p for a special party & performance! Serious, be there!)

Listen, this is national, 150 cities across the country are celebrating too because they want the games back in the usa real bad- but in my opinion, the world is watching us most- they want to see if we are enthusiastic, supportive, active, celebratory, fun,… capable of being worthy… and we are!  We just need to show them- so come out!!! And spread the news!!!  For all info on all the things you can enjoy on the 23^rd go to www.chicago2016.org

you can get on “entourage” too!

Emmy Award Winner Jeremy Piven and I made this fun little video while i was on the set of hbo’s “entourage” playing the role of one of ari gold’s agents! And it’s about how you can get on the show too! So check it out and spread the word!

As for our event this Saturday night, its always a blast! we have been hosting it together for 7 years many times joined by Piven Theatre Workshop Alums like john cusack, kate walsh, aidan quinn, and so many more…

The main event at rockit bar & grill from 6p-10p is a must for mingling w/ your hosts, enjoying all the amazing guests, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, music, fun, silent/live auction (including the “entourage” walk-on!)… and so much more! The best part is, as the video explains, it all goes to help kids excel in art & theatre!

And for the late night party crowd, the vip after party at the underground is always a blast too! It doesn’t have the whole package included above that usually sells out first, but it’s only a $20 donation at the door. (lil advice though, space limited, so plan on coming right at 9pm if want in… for table/bottle service contact bo@rockitranch.com ).

Tickets to the main event at Rockit are $125 (but say you got my personal “rockit” password by 5p weds 6/17 and they will give you my special batch for $100 if any left- the number at Piven Theatre workshop for tix is 847.866.8049 and website is www.piventheatre.org for more info!)

oh and olympic day is next week! i’ll be talking about it more in the next couple days but for the inside’s heads up continue reading…. Continue reading »

kanye puts on for his city

My good buddy Destiny’s Child’s Michelle Williams and I went to support Kanye West last night and his Foundation’s effort to fight drop out rates & improve literacy, before she took off this morning for London to begin rehearsals for the musical “chicago”(go see her july/aug!).  It was amazing-

I tell ya, the world knows kanye is a “chicago rapper” … but you don’t really feel it til you join a raging die hard crowd of Chicago kanye fans in the historic chicago theatre screaming along w/ kanye live all in effort to fight for our chicago school kids, the future of our great city!  it was real chicago on another level-

And I know this might be crazy, random & possibly not relevant, but want to share a personal moment where in all the crowd chaos, emotion, cheers, music,… I connected w/ kanye on a different level for a second… it was like everything stood still & all got quiet for a small moment when I heard him say something that goes through my head all the time… and it knocked me out to hear it…  he explained that its great to be home amongst friends & good people, it sucks to have haters & all that make it hard to do your thing… you got to just do your best… and then he said the line that always goes through my head… “when i’m working… all i’m thinking is they’re gonna love this in chicago” … which when I say it to myself just means… I do this for the good people in my hometown I share it with and allow me to work hard, create & serve… the rest can just keep talking

one night in chicago

I took the night off Saturday for once and it ended w/ catching up w/ paris hilton… but before this gets silly, let me just give a couple shoutouts to those that made my night super special… thank you to avec chef koren grieveson & owners Donny & Edward who all rock!  And thank you to the entire crew at enclave that were so nice to us!  Thank you all for the perfect experience!  And that brings me to the silly story I was going to tell about catching up w /paris late night Saturday which I can only imagine is not interesting to many… so warning you now, don’t read on if this isn’t your bag… Continue reading »

my craziest day on radio ever!

Yesterday I started as a guest on Mancow / wls 890am … listening to him scream at me & everyone else angry-faced about obama, david carradine, patty blagojevich and all kinds of crazy stuff… while I’m there to talk about how rockit won “best burger” in the country… (so random right?)… totally live, syndicated, I’m sure with a bajillion people listening… just wondering, what the heck am I doing here?

Then I get out only to go to my gig at harpo studios to be a special guest on oprah xm radio (click here to listen!) sitting in a quiet calm recording studio w/ dr. laura berman talking sex, dating, relationships, love,… also w/a bajillion listeners from all over the country… only this time w/ more love interested women listening than angry opinionated men… again wondering, what the heck am I doing here?

Unfortunately I didn’t come up w/ any answers… but I thanked god that he let me be there to experience it all… and that I live in a community w/ some of the greatest entertainers in the world w/ different backgrounds, talents, positions, character,… that the world listens to out of straight respect, interest and intrigue… and just pray that I only get to be a part of that craziness more and more in the future!  Thx for listening! 

(btw i tweeted all the behind the scenes details – click here to hook up with me on twitter.)

believe in art

my lil brother was an amazing artist suffering from a mental illness before he tragically passed away…  but his spirit for art lives on in me… that’s why I’m especially interested in supporting the “open art studio” in uptown…  that engages in the making of art & music w/ those marginalized due to mental illness & poverty…  

Unfortunately, even though being utilized to full capacity, they are apparently struggling financially and are scheduled to close in July of 2009. Thankfully there are a handful of wonderful Chicagoans dedicated to saving it… a couple are jumping into a car hitting 13 city art events in 7 days raising money anyway they can kickin it off June 6th at the Flat Iron building in Wicker Park for “smartshow” from 5-8pm featuring over 100 artists exhibiting & selling their work….  To learn more visit http://sarahraskey.foliosnap.com/?goto=events and to donate direct visit  http://www.giveforward.org/RunningonART.

chicago talent loves coming home!

While having an amazing dinner w/ my buddy joe Mantegna last night at sunda, other chicago actor friends Larenz tate & michael Clarke Duncan came over to say hello! It was really cool to see 3 very different chicago entertainers that I know from very different places, times, experiences… love being introduced to each other smiling, hugging, laughing,… instantly bonding because they all had a thing they all loved in common… being home in chicago!  (think you can see the love above!)

Joe come home to enjoy visiting family & his hometown city while on break from filming “criminal minds” while larenz & michael (along with a dozen other celebs they were there to have dinner with) are in town for a celebrity charity basketball game where they are playing our very own chicago sky tonight!  (tix at…http://www.wnba.com/sky/news/Basketball_Battle_of_the_Sexes_Promotion.html).   All in all, they all exuded love for jumping on any reason to come back to sweet home chicago!  And that is very cool…

chicago actor amazing in nyc!

New York times

As much as it is important to support local theater, I also think it’s super important to support actors with a local tie when they’re performing outside of chicago… that’s why when I was sent to nyc last week to interview celebs supporting the Olympics in chicago/2016, I jumped on the chance to see my buddy joey Slotnick (lookingglass) in ethan coen’s (coen bros) off-broadway play “offices” at atlantic theater co!

Along w/actors like f. murray Abraham (academy award best actor, Amadeus), joey’s performance was absolutely outstanding!  Anne Hathaway (“Devil Wears Prada”), John Krasinski (“Office”),… and others friends from the industry that came as well, joined me in praising him over dinner & drinks after the performance… everyone loved it!  Joey actually leads the first of three acts playing the main character… he’s hilariously paranoid freaking out thinking everyone at his office (especially his boss) is out to get him… w/ super funny references of what some do to climb the corporate ladder, how they kill time at work, and what it’s like to be alienated by the rest you work with (omg, water cooler scene)… who can’t relate!?!?!  My mind went crazy w/ a lot of thoughts of my own past, present and future- which for me, is a sign of a great play!

Show only goes to June 7^th so tell all to check it out fast!  Oh, and if miss joey there, rumor is he might be coming home to chicago in the fall to play groucho marx in the musical “animal crackers” at the Goodman… can you imagine!??!?  A homerun for sure!  Hope its true- bringing everyone I know…