chicago 2016 olympics w/ abc's "private practice" kate walsh

i met kate years back at a really cool event i hosted to raise money for kids all over the chicagoland area that need scholarships to study art & theatre. she was blowing up  on “grey’s anatomy” but never forgot her roots of living in chicago, studying under joyce piven in evanston, and wanted to join me in giving back in any way possible. with that, we clicked, and i have really enjoyed her talent, heart & friendship ever since. 

if remember my blog a couple months ago about our last hang out (scroll down to if want!) we had a fun night on the town and over did it at sunda…..the part i didn’t mention was that we were going to do an interview like the rest here but we got way too caught up in the fun to do it right, and we figured best to postpone….but, as cool as she is, kate actually felt bad and knocked it out soon as she got home on her own, and sent it to me! how cool is that? a lot of love for the for chi….

and remember all, how can you show your love for the chi? take one minute today to tell all your friends and contacts, by email, twitter, facebook, phone calls, whatever….to ask all to listen to these celebs share their stories so the rest of the world knows how great our city is too!

Tags: abc, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, grey's anatomy, kate walsh, olympics, private practice, sunda

we are full of talent this week! (as usual)

Not only have I enjoyed sharing chicago loving talent interviews w/ you all, and will continue to post one celebrity interview here per day until the official announcement in Copenhagen on oct. 2nd as to whether chicago will host the 2016 olympics, but as usual, letting you know there is talent all around us this week!

chicago 2016 olympics w/ csi's william petersen

 i grew up down the street from chicago’s infamous biograph theatre – been going there since my grade school days at st. clements when movies where $1 on tuesday (omg) – so it was super shocking to see how redesigned and upgraded it is. now showcasing amazing theatre productions like this one i visited to interview chicago actor bill petersen. i cut to the highlights for you all so it’s a quick taste – which was hard – we shared so much awesome love for chicago we lost track of time! 

by the way, hope you are coming to my party tonight?!?!?!?! it’s at rockit (22 w. hubbard) from 7-9pm w/ food, drink, celeb video previews, familiar faces….and fun! its only a suggested donation of $20 to benefit youth sport efforts in chicago, thru “world sport chicago” – which makes it a great cause – good fun – and a perfect way for me to say thank you to you for giving me a chance to share this with you all…..really hope to see ya at least stop in to say hi!

Tags: biograph theatre, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, csi, olympics, william petersen

chicago 2016 olympics w/ grammy winner john legend

Tags: chicago 2016 olympics, copenhagen, grammy, inauguration, john legend, midwest, olympics

celebrities love chicago & our 2016 olympic bid!

If you follow me on twitter you get to come along for some serious fun behind the scenes craziness… like when I filmed 50+ Celebrity friends about why they love Chicago & why they want to see the olympics in chicago (and the usa in general) in 2016!  If missed it, start following me now as there is way more to come, like when I announce the launch of one of those celebrity interviews for the world to see on the internet each day starting tomorrow, until I arrive in copenhagen on oct. 2nd w/ the olympic committee (& hopefully president obama) for the official announcement of (hopefully) chicago/usa being the home of the 2016 olympics!

Tags: 2016, celebrities, chicago, chicago 2016 legacy sports program, olympics, world sports chicago

the best view ever!

hate to say this, but summer is running out, and i’m all about enjoying one of the greatest chicago assets ever as fast as possible – the lake! 

if haven’t yet, get on a boat asap and look back on all we have like pic above – you will love… 

i’m gonna check this summer concert series on mystic blue cruises i just read about….w/ bands, food, drink….on board, but there are a billion other ways to get out there….go to www.explorechicago.org  for some fun suggestions! and don’t wait!

Tags: boat, chicago, lake michigan

Chicago’s best dancers, FootworKINGz, finally “Take Flight!”

my favorite dance crew, Chicago’s FootworKINGz, are blowing up! Been watching them on the internet for years, doing my best to share their talent so yet another “style” of entertainment can originate out of chicago culture, and catch on around the world! Slowly it seems they are making it big, breaking out nationally and internationally representing chicago on platforms like “america’s got talent” (see video above), Ellen, VH-1, MTV, Rolling Stone, Madonna’s World Tour,… and more!

Want to enjoy, share & support these chicago talents as they celebrate and claim right to their very own “chicago” style of dance?!? Join them on October 3rd at the Harold Washington Cultural Center Theater where the FootworKINGz will host a launch party for their very 1st DVD called “Take Flight!” And spread the news!

(more…)

Tags: America's Got Talent, anthony talauega, best dance crew, chicago dancers, ellen, footworKINGz, harold washington cultural center theater, madonna's world tour, MTV, rolling stone, VH-1

“my Billy Dec died?”

Sorry I have been absent, but my dad just passed away, and I haven’t been myself.  I appreciate all who have shared positive loving thoughts, you mean the world to me.

I don’t usually share sad stuff like this on my blog, but something clicked when his longtime bestfriend heard the horrible news and in shock asked, “my Billy Dec died?”  I realized, he was more than just a dad, he was many other things to many other people.  He made people laugh, worked hard, built great things, helped everyone he could,… all in Chicago.  At that moment, it also occurred to me that if anyone deserved to be celebrated amongst people, places & things in chicago that I love, think add character, are entertaining, and make us unique to any other city in the world, it would be my dad and the lessons he taught me as a kid…

-love your mom.
-educate yourself more than you will ever need.
-find work that makes you happy & be the best at it.
-sell yourself & anything else you believe in.
-be spontaneous, alive, creative, & unique.
-help people less fortunate than you near & far.
-fight through & past any obstacle, never give up.
-find the love of your life & build a happy family.
-live w/o prejudice, seek, promote & celebrate diversity.
-surround yourself w/ people better & smarter than you.
-be a good person so people know, love & trust you.
-create amazing experiences & share great story w/ all.
-always make people smile, no matter what.

Thanks dad, I promise I will. Rest in peace…

Tags: billy dec, Family, rockit ranch productions

lollapalooza concerts, vips, celebrities, nightclub afterparties & other perks for chicago!

it says alot that the world’s best musical talent & fans descend on the great city of chicago this weekend as the chosen location for lollapalooza- and we are all super excited!  this weekend also brings the best of pre & post parties like the ones in the crazy video above at the underground!  (btw, best situate being on lists now- limited space & such a blast! all info for this wknd at www.theundergroundchicago.com - oh, and i also love this video of katy perry rockin it live w/us too!  cool video- on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDqlYpmcR-A&feature=channel_page )

we should also be thankful that lolla organizers c3 signed on w/ mayor daley & chicago for 10 more yrs driving us  a minimum of $13 million in revenue & many other benefits like the $1.6 million c3 donated to our park districts for improvements to their support for my fav initiatives “After School Matters” and the chicago 2016 Olympics!  (more info on http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/turn_it_up/2009/07/lollapalooza-promoters-still-searching-for-chicago-identity.html).  seeya there!

here's a pic of me on entourage

omg- hilarious that there are still people asking to help find me in entourage this week!  i’m the dude with the shaved head sitting right next to fellow chicagoans jeremy piven (behind me), david schwimmer (back to us), and gary cole (across from me)… fun times… thx to whoever sent me this… sure it clears the mystery right up!  haha!

and wow, there was a ton of shout out to chicago in this episode huh?  crazy…

Tags: david schwimmer, entourage, gary cole, hbo, jeremy piven