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Browsing all posts from May, 2010.
05/27/10
Chicago's "Aspire Coffee" w/ a cause
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a couple weeks ago a friend of this blog turned me on to chicago’s new “aspire coffee” and I am absolutely hooked! The taste is so amazing that I am drinking it every morning- and most important, by doing so, I am helping “aspire of Illinois” provide assistance and services for adults and children with developmental disabilities… it’s an amazing mix of quality and good service, which I love, to the point that it just got featured today show! Check out video above, I am determined to get you to at least try it!
Tags: aspire coffee, aspire coffee works, aspire of illinois, billy dec, charity, coffee, developmental disabilities, job placement, metropolis coffee, special needs, today show
05/25/10
Glee Cast Loves Chicago Food!
The city of Chicago, especially the guests at my spot, Sunda, was all up in arms last night as the cast of Glee paid us a visit & dined late night. The cast were all super nice, approachable, generous and even were the ones that suggested taking this pic w/my sunda general manager aeron lancero when he mentioned his kids were fans (Sure ur “kids” are the fans aeron.. Haha).. Great sports.. Even took more pics w our guests and signed autographs… Must like us chicagoans!?
Actually, they must love us, they said usually eat room service when travelling, but said no way to that when hit chicago! I hear they’re in town while on their national tour and performing tonight and tomorrow night at Rosemont. I’m not too familiar with the show but it’s apparant a lot of you are – someone even told me you call yourselves “Gleeks?”
For those of you totally in the dark, Glee is a show on Fox that’s still relatively new, been on for just 2 seasons now but has take the world by storm and has totally transformed the way people think about high school glee choirs! The cast does all their own singing and dancing and I guess that’s the best part, the fact that they are all extremely talented!
Anyway, I hear they loved the food and atmosphere so much, they might be coming back again tonight? If you can’t catch them at Sunda or attend their concert, Glee is on Fox tonight with their most talked about episode yet – all Lady Gaga songs….I can only imagine!
Tags: chris colfer, cory monteith, diana aragon, fox, glee, glee cast, glee on fox, gleeks, kevin mchale, lady gaga, lea michelle, sunda
05/20/10
Kisses from Conan in Chicago!
If follow me on twitter you saw all my pics last night from the chicago theatre “pit” where I was just feet from the stage where conan o’brien was performing live! This pic of him licking labamba’s face is my fav… just shows the love he had to be back with the gang & his fans, and how ridiculously funny it all was!
Got a lot of feedback from friends asking me not to blow tonight’s 2nd sold out show they had tickets too, so let me cut it short saying I loved the opening where showed him 4 mos ago all washed up at his house with no work, loved that he referenced his days living in chicago/wrigleyville, surprised to see him play the guitar & sing so much, loved all his old characters again, fun to see new local surprise guests, and I’m psyched to see him on tbs soon!
Tags: billy dec, chicago theatre, comedy show, conan, conan o'brien, late night with conan o'brien, team coco, team coco tour, tickets, wrigleyville
05/19/10
Bin Donated…
I love creative, helpful, simple and super effective ideas that Chicagoans come up with everyday that continually make chicago the best city in the world- and I’m psyched today to highlight one that an old friend of mine named scott Goodrich is heading up called Bin Donated! Bin donated specializes in free residential and commercial donation pick-up. Meaning…large 55 gallon bins are placed around the Chicagoland area in apartment buildings, offices, stores, schools etc and are there to collect donations of everyday goods that are easy and accessible to most, but that many can’t obtain for themselves. They gather anything from food and cell phones to toiletries and school supplies. From there, Bin Donated delivers those goods to their partner charities such as Camp of Dreams, Chicago Public Schools, Interfaith House and the YMCA. Love it.
It’s amazing to hear what has been “bin donated” thus far – 535 lbs of food, 2,826 lbs of books, 2,117 lbs of hygiene products and so much more. Think of all the things in your pantry, in your garage, up in your attic that you’re holding on to for no real reason, and then picture all the people you could be helping by donating those items. check out www.bindonated.org for more info, facts and where you can bin donate… and thanks for your support!
Tags: billy dec, bin donated, camp of dreams, charity, chicago public schools, donation, interfaith house, ymca
05/14/10
CANstruction for Greater Chicago Food Depository
For years I have been a judge at a really unique mash up of uber creative architecture & philanthropy called “canstruction!” competing teams led by great chicago architects & designers build structures made entirely of canned foods within a 10′x10′x8′ space, crazy isn’t it?!? Will be crazy when I try to judge who’s is best w/my friends and fellow judges Radhika Desai of “Top Chef” and Bill Zwecker of the Sun Times.. they are all just amazing it’s hard!
Best part is all cans go directly to 650 soup kitchens, pantries & shelters in the Greater Chicago Food Depository network- that’s roughly 678,000 men, women and children. The event actually takes place this Thursday, May 13th at the Merchandise Mart- CANstruction tickets will only run you $25- which is nothing knowing the impact you can make while being wow’ed! For more info and to get your tickets – visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org
Tags: architecture, bill zwecker, bravo, canned foods, canstruction, charity, design, donation, greater chicago food depository, merchandise mart, philanthropy, radhika desai, soup kitchens, sun times, top chef
05/14/10
my asian pacific american heritage awards belong to you
(((Updated May 18th : Here’s a pic of me and Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias from the Asian Pacific American Heritage month celebration at Sunda last night. I also just found out I am receiving the Illinois Secretary of State’s Asian Pacific American Business Leadership award tomorrow at noon at the James R. Thompson Center on Randolph if you want to check it out!)))
Equally exciting, this upcoming week I am being awarded Fil-Am TV Asian American Hall of Fame Award, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’ Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award & the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award!
First of all, in case confused about the connection, my mom is from the Philippine islands and I still have family there, I have traveled asia & the pacific islands extensively throughout my entire lifetime, and the month of may is very exciting for my family & community as it is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month- a celebration of Asian & Pacific Islander accomplishments and contributions in the United States! Secondly, I am as shocked as you are, and am completely humbled & honored, and thank all of you for supporting me, my family and my rockitranch / sunda team, as you are very much a part of why all of this is so special.
I may have a very deep and great love and admiration for my asian pacific islander background and culture, but know we built sunda because it was you that we wanted to share it with. I can’t be a fulfilled entrepreneur, not only without the great team that I have, but without you who allow us to do what we all love to do. And know that I couldn’t be effective with anything having to do with community, unless I loved the community that I worked for, which is you. so thank you, these awards are equally yours, and know they have only inspired me to work harder for you…
For more information about asian pacific American heritage month … www.asianpacificheritage.gov
Tags: asian american heritage month, asian pacific american award, award, billy dec, cook county, cook county treasurer maria pappas, leadership, philippines, rockit ranch s, state's attorney, sunda, twitter
05/05/10
Nightwalk 2010 Chicago School of the Art Institute
If you haven’t been to the Modern Wing at The Art Institute of Chicago, here’s an excellent opportunity to do so while taking in cutting-edge fashion at “nightwalk 2010!” This late night fashion show featuring the best of SAIC student designs, and highlighting 10 new runway pieces from Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist and SAIC Legend of Fashion Honoree Gary Graham, is hosted by my buddy Nick Cave, professor & chair of SAIC’s fashion design department (whose art book “meet me at the center of the earth” is a fav sitting on my coffee table), along w/event co-chairs Adam Fields & Jason Pritzker.
Tickets to the show will allow you to indulge in cocktails and hors d’oeuvres pre-runway and in support of the NightWalk scholarship, two limited edition fine art photo prints of SAIC Fashion Department Chair Nick Cave’s work are available for sale through Art+Culture, a curated online gallery designed to facilitate greater access to and interest in art, artists, and the many organizations that showcase innovative arts practices across the country, the images can be viewed and purchased at www.aceditions.com. I know I can’t wait to check it out!
For more information and to get your tickets, visit www.saic.edu/fashionshow.
Tags: adam fields, designers, fashion show, gary graham, jason pritzker, legend of fahsion honoree, modern wing, nick cave, nightwalk 2010, runway, school of the art institute, vogue fashion fund finalist
05/04/10
Man & Woman of the Year!
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has come up with one of the most amazing fundraising concepts I’ve heard about in a long time! It’s called “Man and Woman of the Year” and this is how it goes….. it’s actually a 10 week competition based solely on fundraising efforts. Every dollar raised counts as a vote for that person – they can throw parties, do car washes, anything to raise money! The candidates raise money in honor of local blood cancer survivors, and then that survivor is then deemed Boy or Girl of The Year! All the donations support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society programs, including research, patient services, advocacy, public and professional education and community services.
I am such a fan of the idea that I am helping one of the wonderfully giving candidates host a fundraising “karaoke party” at Rockit Wrigley this Friday. His name is Dr. Jeffrey Baker of Weil Foot and Ankle Institute has put on soccer games, boat cruises, you name it, just in the name of fundraising for incredibly important organization. If you can help spread the word and join Jeffrey & I (whether to sing your heart out or just laugh at/with people like me), in this amazing effort that will be a ton of fun, you would be supporting an amazing cause and so many people would appreciate it! visit http://il.mwoy.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=JBAKER and we’ll see ya there!
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has come up with one of the most amazing fundraising concepts I’ve heard about in a long time! It’s called “Man and Woman of the Year” and this is how it goes….. it’s actually a 10 week competition based solely on fundraising efforts. Every dollar raised counts as a vote for that person – they can throw parties, do car washes, anything to raise money! The candidates raise money in honor of local blood cancer survivors, and then that survivor is then deemed Boy or Girl of The Year! All the donations support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society programs, including research, patient services, advocacy, public and professional education and community services.
I am such a fan of the idea that I am helping one of the wonderfully giving candidates host a fundraising “karaoke party” at Rockit Wrigley this Friday. His name is Dr. Jeffrey Baker of Weil Foot and Ankle Institute has put on soccer games, boat cruises, you name it, just in the name of fundraising for this incredibly important organization. If you can help spread the word and join Jeffrey & I (whether to sing your heart out or just laugh at/with people like me), in this amazing effort that will be a ton of fun, you would be supporting an amazing cause and so many people would appreciate it! visit http://il.mwoy.llsevent.org/pledge/index.cfm?mid=JBAKER and we’ll see ya there!
Tags: dr. jeffrey baker, fundraising, karaoke, karaoke party, leukemia and lymphoma society, man and woman of the year, rockit wrigley, weil foot and ankle institute
05/03/10
My Role on "Nightmare on Elm Street"
If you remember from my video on set of “sin bin” the movie that just filmed here in chicago (btw, great wrap party this wknd at rockit Wrigley cast & crew!), I love playing a small role when tv & film projects come to chicago! The biggest movie project that ever let me come on, and my most difficult auditioning/filming experience yet, is finally out, and its “nightmare on elm street!”
Oddly enough, I won’t be able to see it, because I am afraid of scary movies. I know, lame. So please look for me as the cop that finds lead actress Katie Cassidy post freddy attack (pic of us above is actually me hungover after that “hills” episode I was in that filmed the night before & my buddy Katie at a coach superbowl party in miami).
So although my scene is short, I say it was difficult because I had to audition at tp&r casting 3 times for the same part before they decided on it, as apparently the director was very serious about it? Also tough, I was on set in full heavy & hot cop gear on a super steamy day not allowed to sweat in a scene where I had to walk down a super creepy long dark hallway swat style looking for a dead body finding the most gory scene ever w/katie ripped up all over the place easily acting like it was real (because it felt that way!) delivering my lines freaked out! (but not because I was a cop?)
Don’t get me wrong- im absolutely not complaining about it- I’m actually looking celebrating it all! So blessed to even be a part of the magic- this was and is one of my greatest joys that I hope I can keep doing if people will continue having me! Also just happy to be a part of any kind of film projects coming to chicago in any way as not only is it fun, but these projects have been bringing our state about $141 million a year!
this particular group Platinum Dunes chose to film in Illinois because of pleasurable filming experiences in the state when the company produced The Amityville Horror and The Unborn. They probably also came because our film office gave them a thirty percent tax break for filming in the state. They filmed in chicago, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Cicero, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Lake Forest, Orland Park,… so we are definitely all in this together, and need to thank all who help make all of these wonderful opportunities for all of us possible! Thank you!
If you remember from my video on set of “sin bin” the movie that just filmed here in chicago (btw, great wrap party this wknd at rockit Wrigley cast & crew!), I love playing a small role when tv & film projects come to chicago! The biggest movie project that ever let me come on, and my most difficult auditioning/filming experience yet, is finally out, and its “nightmare on elm street!”
Oddly enough, I won’t be able to see it, because I am afraid of scary movies. I know, lame. So please look for me as the cop that finds lead actress Katie Cassidy post freddy attack (pic of us above is actually me hungover after that “hills” episode I was in that filmed the night before & my buddy Katie at a coach superbowl party in miami).
So although my scene is short, I say it was difficult because I had to audition at tp&r casting 3 times for the same part before they decided on it, as apparently the director was very serious about it? Also tough, I was on set in full heavy & hot cop gear on a super steamy day not allowed to sweat in a scene where I had to walk down a super creepy long dark hallway swat style looking for a dead body finding the most gory scene ever w/katie ripped up all over the place easily acting like it was real (because it felt that way!) delivering my lines freaked out! (but not because I was a cop?)
Don’t get me wrong- im absolutely not complaining about it- I’m actually celebrating it all! So blessed to even be a part of the magic- this was and is one of my greatest joys that I hope I can keep doing if people will continue having me! Also just happy to be a part of any kind of film projects coming to chicago in any way as not only is it fun, but these projects have been bringing our state about $141 million a year!
this particular group Platinum Dunes chose to film in Illinois because of pleasurable filming experiences in the state when the company produced The Amityville Horror and The Unborn. They probably also came because our film office gave them a thirty percent tax break for filming in the state. They filmed in chicago, Arlington Heights, Barrington, Cicero, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Lake Forest, Orland Park,… so we are definitely all in this together, and need to thank all who help make all of these wonderful opportunities for all of us possible! Thank you!
Tags: coach, horror, illinois film office, katie cassidy, miami, movie premiere, MTV, mtv "the hills", nightmare on elm street, nightmare on elm street 2010, platinum dunes, rockit wrigley, sin bin, superbowl, the amityville horro, the hills, the unborn, tp&r casting