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Browsing all posts from December, 2009.
12/31/09
song of the decade?
Woke up to the song “crazy” by gnarls barkley on the today show saying rolling stone
called it the song of decade? I’m not feeling that- but couldn’t come
up with one to sum it all up- so asked my friends on twitter and
facebook- and here is what the first 10 people to respond said:
Tags: alicia keys, beyonce, black eyed peas, coldplay, gnarls barkley, jay-z, kanye west, kings of leon, lil wayne, nine, rihanna, rolling stone, today show
12/29/09
Gossip Girl Leighton Meester tickets for Live Chicago Performance!
Ok- I haven’t had a chance to watch “gossip girl” but sure seems like everyone loves it! And since it’s such a hit, i have to say I am pretty interested in meeting one of the main characters leighton meester who plays “blair waldorf” on the show this Friday night when she performs live for her chicago fans at the underground!! (I especially got excited when watched her “best of” video mix above, it’s pretty good/funny)
Tags: gossip girl, leighton meester, rockit bar and grill, rockit wrigley, the underground
12/28/09
A new Chicago dog – named on Twitter!
My mom got a puppy for xmas & I took a pic of it asking friends on twitter what to name him- not only was I shocked to see how many times the pic got around & opened- but couldn’t believe all the suggestions we got- and how good they were! Anyway, here is a silly home video of my mom and I laughing & lounging around after xmas going through your suggested dog names.. and we picked one! Enjoy- and thank you!
Oh, since sharing this on my blog… thought I would tie it into something relevant to it so here are the top 10 breeds Chicagoans love!
(btw, this one is a “shorkie” which I guess is a shitsui/yorkie mix?)
1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd Dog
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Boxer
5. Bulldog
6. Golden Retriever
7. Rottweiler
8. Dachshund
9. Boston Terriers
10. Shih Tzu/Vizsla
Oh, and just to show you how obsessed we are with our pets, there are 169 pet related stores just in Chicago alone … that’s alot!
My mom got a puppy for xmas & I took a pic of it asking friends on twitter what to name him- not only was I shocked to see how many times the pic got around & opened- but couldn’t believe all the suggestions we got- and how good they were! Anyway, here is a silly home video of my mom and I laughing & lounging around after xmas going through your suggested dog names.. and we picked one! Enjoy- and thank you!
Oh, since sharing this on my blog… thought I would tie it into something relevant to it so here are the top 10 breeds Chicagoans love!
(btw, this one is a “shorkie” which I guess is a shitzu/yorkie mix?)
12/23/09
Photographer David Anthony Happy Holiday Video
Thank you all for the wonderful cheery happy holiday cards and wishes! Amongst the kind notes was also one from a chicago photographer friend david Anthony who also attached a video he randomly made “to not forget people who are not so fortunate.. The old, the sick, the homeless, our soldiers in the middle east,…” and I found it interesting.. so thought I would share it with you! (with his permission of course)
It made me think, seems like so many people have kept the tough economy and rough times in mind in chicago this season quite nicely.. I mean, plenty of attention, concern & actual work toward helping others has been a major part of this holiday season it seems (click here to see my latest shelter effort)… all while keeping a certain positive and humble energy in the air… has been a real pleasure to see.. and I really appreciate that about our community… so thank you all… and have a very wonderful holiday.. and an excellent new year!
For portfolio and bio on david Anthony check out… http://www.davidanthonyphotographer.com … his work photography work is pretty amazing to me..
Thank you all for the wonderful cheery happy holiday cards and wishes! Amongst the kind notes was also one from a chicago photographer friend david Anthony who also attached a video he randomly made “to not forget people who are not so fortunate.. The old, the sick, the homeless, our soldiers in the middle east,…” and I found it interesting.. so thought I would share it with you! (with his permission of course)
It made me think, seems like so many people have kept the tough economy and rough times in mind in chicago this season quite nicely.. I mean, plenty of attention, concern & actual work toward helping others has been a major part of this holiday season it seems (click here to see my latest shelter effort)… all while keeping a certain positive and humble energy in the air… has been a real pleasure to see.. and I really appreciate that about our community… so thank you all… and have a very wonderful holiday.. and an excellent new year!
For portfolio and bio on david Anthony check out… http://www.davidanthonyphotographer.com … his work photography work is pretty amazing to me..
Tags: clara's house and shetler, david anthony, homeless, middle east, photographer, photography, sick, soldiers
12/21/09
Best Restaurant in 2009! And other things?
Here’s a video of this very cool news report that one of my twitter followers sent to me about the top restaurants in 2009… and sunda is the first one!
Made me think of all the “top 10″ things everyone is doing with it being the end of the year and all, so thought I would do my own… this morning i asked my twitter & facebook friends what are the biggest things to happen in chicago in 2009 and here are some of the things shared…. thanks all!
Twitter
@rbstang1966 – Oprah says she is quitting show
@jpc671 – Chicagoan Barack Obama becomes the 44th US President!
@J_Ara – violence in CPS schools
@bentenenbaum – bad year for sports & weather sucked
@pc671 – rolling out of the pay boxes for city parking
@LuisLeanos – Governor Rod Blagojevich was impeached
@JillDK – art institute opened their new wing
Facebook
Tim Ryan Olympic bid.
Mary Iwanicki Oprah’s season opening on Mich Ave.
Jessica Odehnal Sears Tower becomes Willis Tower.
Xleo Xhernandez Mark Buehrle=PERFECTION on July 23
Lety Campos Billy Dec not just words but words in action “Principal For A Day” inspite of busy schedule inspiring kids.
Shelley Hughes We got Cutler…but he sucks
Marea Pasquesi Sunda!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s a video of this very cool news report that one of my twitter followers sent to me about the top restaurants in 2009… and sunda is the first one!
Made me think of all the “top 10″ things everyone is doing with it being the end of the year and all, so thought I would do my own… this morning i asked my twitter & facebook friends what are the biggest things to happen in chicago in 2009 and here are some of the things shared…. thanks all!
Tags: best restaurant, facebook, sunda, top ten, twitter
12/18/09
Opening this Friday…Chicago Photography Collective
An amazing chicago photographer by the name of Sandy Steinbrecher took this shot while I stood in front of fenger highschool a couple months ago greeting students when I voluteered as fenger high school “principal for a day!”
I blogged about the eye opening experience right after (scroll back and check it out!), but could not have done a better job of capturing the magic than this incredible artist sandy, so thought I would turn you all on to her (website here) and some of the artists she rolls with, like at this event she is a part of tonight!
It’s the opening of a new exhibit by the Chicago Photography Collective (CPC) tonight (12/18) from 5-7pm at 29 e. madison! (also open Tuesday thru Sunday from 11am to 5.30pm for a limited time) The CPC is a group of local Chicago professional photographers who strive to build a sense of community among fellow photographers. The current exhibition offered by the CPC is a salon-style exhibition featuring works from a group of 30 established photographers, whose subject matter ranges in photographic passions from music, political and social documentary, and culinary arts to architecture, aerials, portraiture, still life and abstraction.
It’s also pretty cool how CPC chooses random empty storefront properties in the center of the city for their exhibition space, which accomplishes their goal of offering cultural encounters for the public in unexpected places. For more info on the event, check out their website at: http://chicagophotographycollective.com . Hope to see you all there!
An amazing chicago photographer by the name of Sandy Steinbrecher took this shot while I stood in front of fenger highschool a couple months ago greeting students when I voluteered as fenger high school “principal for a day!”
I blogged about the eye opening experience right after (scroll back and check it out!), but could not have done a better job of capturing the magic than this incredible artist sandy, so thought I would turn you all on to her www.sandrasteinbrecher.com.
It’s the opening of a new exhibit by the Chicago Photography Collective (CPC) tonight (12/18) from 5-7pm at 29 e. madison! (also open Tuesday thru Sunday from 11am to 5.30pm for a limited time) The CPC is a group of local Chicago professional photographers who strive to build a sense of community among fellow photographers. The current exhibition offered by the CPC is a salon-style exhibition featuring works from a group of 30 established photographers, whose subject matter ranges in photographic passions from music, political and social documentary, and culinary arts to architecture, aerials, portraiture, still life and abstraction.
It’s also pretty cool how CPC chooses random empty storefront properties in the center of the city for their exhibition space, which accomplishes their goal of offering cultural encounters for the public in unexpected places. For more info on the event, check out their website at: http://chicagophotographycollective.com . Hope to see you all there!
Tags: fenger high school, photography, principal dozier, principal for a day
12/17/09
Seasons Greetings from the White House Holiday Party!
I just got back from the white house holiday party! Here’s my a picture of me in front of the white house Christmas tree in the “blue room” wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year in 2010!
The event was absolutely amazing, so many trees, eggnog, carolers, familiar faces, happy vibes, food, sweets,… if you follow me on twitter (click here to follow me on twitter) I sent you pics the whole way through! and as I said before on this blog, after being a guest at the white house a couple times in the past, I always feel so proud to see how many Chicagoans are running the most iconic house, monument, office, positions,.. in the country- I mean, in the world!
It’s funny- you walk in and your jaw drops because it is so historic, so iconic, it’s what you have seen in every movie, tv show, history book,… and you are so mindful and respectful of everything while a bit reserved and intimidated by how important everything and everyone is… and then someone says, “hey, I know you from chicago!” It’s shocking because everyone grows up thinking the people around you are just regular people, and the people in the white house are just extraordinary people- so seeing it all come together and play out as the same thing just takes forever to process… in the end, it just shows anyone can be those extraordinary people, and these Chicagoans and their teammates are those extraordinary people now… and I am just proud to be here to see it all happen.
Anyway, I want to share two things randomly on my mind from the party and will leave it at that. Someone questioned my reasoning on twitter for supporting obama and I simply said, I love this country so much that I will always support our president representing all of us to the rest of the world… past present & future. The second thing I want to share is that our president said some nice things at the holiday party about it being the season of giving and sharing… and i hope we all have the time, strength and heart to all do some of that right now, especially for the holidays, especially with the challenges in the world today.
That being said, if there is anything I can ever do for you… donate gift certificates or space to your charities you are a part of, get you and your office space for your holiday party for those not having one this year, put anything together for you after the holidays as I am sure January all will want to be tight on budgets, and/or help you with anything to have more fun and happiness w/ your friends & family… just ask in section below with contact info and will surely do my best! Happy holidays all… I appreciate you…
I just got back from the white house holiday party! Here’s my a picture of me in front of the white house Christmas tree in the “blue room” wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season and a wonderful new year in 2010!
The event was absolutely amazing, so many trees, eggnog, carolers, familiar faces, happy vibes, food, sweets,… if you follow me on twitter (click here to follow me on twitter) I sent you pics the whole way through! and as I said before on this blog, after being a guest at the white house a couple times in the past, I always feel so proud to see how many Chicagoans are running the most iconic house, monument, office, positions,.. in the country- I mean, in the world!
It’s funny- you walk in and your jaw drops because it is so historic, so iconic, it’s what you have seen in every movie, tv show, history book,… and you are so mindful and respectful of everything while a bit reserved and intimidated by how important everything and everyone is… and then someone says, “hey, I know you from chicago!” It’s shocking because everyone grows up thinking the people around you are just regular people, and the people in the white house are just extraordinary people- so seeing it all come together and play out as the same thing just takes forever to process… in the end, it just shows anyone can be those extraordinary people, and these Chicagoans and their teammates are those extraordinary people now… and I am just proud to be here to see it all happen.
Anyway, I want to share two things randomly on my mind from the party and will leave it at that. Someone questioned my reasoning on twitter for supporting obama and I simply said, I love this country so much that I will always support our president representing all of us to the rest of the world… past present & future. The second thing I want to share is that our president said some nice things at the holiday party about it being the season of giving and sharing… and i hope we all have the time, strength and heart to all do some of that right now, especially for the holidays, especially with the challenges in the world today.
That being said, if there is anything I can ever do for you… donate gift certificates or space to your charities you are a part of, get you and your office space for your holiday party for those not having one this year, put anything together for you after the holidays as I am sure January all will want to be tight on budgets, and/or help you with anything to have more fun and happiness w/ your friends & family… just ask in section below with contact info and will surely do my best! Happy holidays all… I appreciate you…
Tags: holiday party, president obama, twitter, white house
12/15/09
Chicago to Make A Wish for the Holidays by guest blogger : Bo Osacky, Team Rockit Ranch
The holidays are here – Tis the season to make wishes come true! No organization makes that happen more often than the Make-A- Wish Foundation, which granted 702 wishes last year to terminally ill children throughout Illinois. In December, Make-A-Wish will grant close to 100 wishes alone! The organization has been fortunate to have great supporters but, like most organizations, the economy has had a direct impact on the number of wishes they are able to grant this holiday season. Make-A-Wish is extremely proud that in their 23 year history, they have never had to turn down a wish child due to lack of funds. They are all working very hard to honor that record and be able to grant 700 more wishes this coming holiday season and into 2010. Here is a great local Make-A-Wish success story with a way you can help make those wishes come true…(kr see if can condense this nxt paragraph down half the size)
Robert Heidkamp III – Bobby is a charismatic eighteen-year-old boy. While Bobby has many good friends, he remains reserved and what his family calls, “an old soul.” He loves to play his guitar, write songs and is an avid reader. In November of 2008, Bobby was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He underwent a first round of chemotherapy and just started a second rotation of treatment. Although it makes him weak, Bobby continues to put up a good fight – all the while maintaining his amazing sense of humor. When asked to wish BIG, Bobby wanted his band, A City Sunrise, to perform at the Warped Tour. Thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois, his wish was granted! Bobby and his band mates got to sing for twenty minutes in front of a 200-person crowd. Bobby’s parents said, “It helped Bobby stay positive in a way no one else could.” Thank you for giving Bobby and his family the priceless gift of hope. You have turned his dream into reality!
One way you can help is to join us this Thursday night (12/17) for the annual The Grinch Who Gave Back X-Mas @ the underground. A donation of $20 is suggested at the door with a private reception from 9 to 10pm. DJ Eric CubeeChee from Bravo’s hit show “Launch My Line” will be spinning all night long for this great occasion! RSVP: VIP@rockitranch.com
The holidays are here – Tis the season to make wishes come true! No organization makes that happen more often than the Make-A- Wish Foundation, which granted 702 wishes last year to children with life-threatening diseases throughout Illinois. In December, Make-A-Wish will grant close to 100 wishes alone! The organization has been fortunate to have great supporters but, like most organizations, the economy has had a direct impact on the number of wishes they are able to grant this holiday season. Make-A-Wish is extremely proud that in their 23 year history, they have never had to turn down a wish child due to lack of funds. They are all working very hard to honor that record and be able to grant 700 more wishes this coming holiday season and into 2010. Here is a great local Make-A-Wish success story with a way you can help make those wishes come true…
Tags: a city sunrise, bravo, eric cubeechee, launch my line, make a wish foundation, make a wish of illinois, the underground, warped tour
12/14/09
philippine island love in chicago by guest blogger : aeron lancero, GM of sunda
I am of Filipino decent and had the opportunity of receiving my education in the Philippines and living there a great deal of time. My Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot was born there and raised in Hawaii, Rockit Ranch Productions’ founder and CEO Billy Dec is half Filipino and has been there over a dozen times, and our sushi chef Jesse is Filipino American as well. As we all have ties to the Philippines, clearly it was a priority to do something to help the victims of the terrible typhoons so tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 15, beginning at 6 p.m., Sunda will co-host a very special dinner with Gawad Kalinga, benefiting Operation:
Walang Iwanan (Leave No One Behind) in our new Sunda private room on the second floor.
I am of Filipino decent and had the opportunity of receiving my education in the Philippines and living there a great deal of time. My Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot was born there and raised in Hawaii, Rockit Ranch Productions’ founder and CEO Billy Dec is half Filipino and has been there over a dozen times, and our sushi chef Jesse is Filipino American as well. As we all have ties to the Philippines, clearly it was a priority to do something to help the victims of the terrible typhoons so tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 15, beginning at 6 p.m., Sunda will co-host a very special dinner with Gawad Kalinga, benefiting Operation:
Walang Iwanan (Leave No One Behind) in our new Sunda private room on the second floor.
I am of Filipino decent and had the opportunity of receiving my education in the Philippines and living there a great deal of time. My Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot was born there and raised in Hawaii, Rockit Ranch Productions’ founder and CEO Billy Dec is half Filipino and has been there over a dozen times, and our sushi chef Jesse is Filipino American as well. As we all have ties to the Philippines, clearly it was a priority to do something to help the victims of the terrible typhoons so tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 15, beginning at 6 p.m., Sunda will co-host a very special dinner with Gawad Kalinga, benefiting Operation: Walang Iwanan (Leave No One Behind) in our new Sunda private room on the second floor.
Tags: billy dec, gawad kalinga, philippine islands, rick munda, rockit ranch, rodelio aglibot, tony olaes, walang iwanan
12/11/09
i need bail! help!
help! caught on video above- i’m locked up in “clara’s house” shelter at 63rd & paulina in west englewood- i need $1000 to get bailed out! ”clara’s house” benefits woman & children that don’t have a warm bed, clothes & hot food… so i am doing this to benefit them.. make any size donation of whatever you can to the clara’s house by calling 312.315.2223.. denalda will help you.. together we can give a holiday gift of at least $1000 to them from me & you! til then, you know where i’ll be!
Tags: celebrity bailout, charity, children, clara's house shelter, shelter, woman