I love to hate love. For me, love is like going to an abandoned carnival, it looks like it used to be a lot of fun, but all of the attractions are rusted and there are far too many raccoons. There’s only one place I know that a V-Day Scrooge like me can go to avoid getting my heart stabbed in its pulsing bloody back: an anti-Valentine’s Day cabaret! Letters/X is a performance pieced together by real letters, emails, text messages, Facebook posts and other publicly written submissions that are presented as monologues and original songs.  The cabaret was produced in 2004 with Groundup Theatre and has been going strong for nine years. The show has fresh material and is guaranteed to be a savvy way to not celebrate a certain senseless societal holiday. The show runs in the Apollo Theater from February 2^nd through March 10^th and starts at 8pm. You can grab your tickets at the Apollo box office, or  through Ticketmaster.com, but hurry, nearly all performances of the anti-Valentine cabaret sold out last year.

Among the Letters/X ensemble and crew are Jessica Jane Childs, a 7 year veteran whose credits include Steep, Halcyon, Dream Theatre and The Lakewood Manor players, Stephanie Clark who has worked on several Tennessee Rep Theatre productions includingSweeney Todd, Rabbit Hole and Darwin in Malibu, and Anthony Roberts, Chicago’s resident playwright, composer, singer, guitarist and actor who has been involved in productions at American Blues Theater, Chicago Dramatists, Groundup, Serendipity, and American Theatre Company.

The affair is sure to be an absolute solute to all things love, and will allow you to reminisce on true love, lost love, and shady yet necessary affairs. Don’t be left home alone this Valentine’s day. Make sure you hop, skip, and jump over to the Apollo Theater to catch Letters/X soon!

Wanjiku K </3

What does a local Chicago legendary rock venue and a thriving Texas arts festival have in common? After the Reggies SXSW Throwdown, quite a bit! Started in Austin in 1987 South By Southwest has grown into a week long music, film, and culture festival attended by nearly 20,000 people every year. Their lineup, consisting of musical acts, films, speakers, and others, features a great collection of current hot names but also tons of great up and coming artists.

This year, local venue Reggie’s Rock Club is putting on a Showcase at SWSW and will be taking a local Chicago band with them! Vying for the title is Gun, Tracer Bullet, Yellow Jacket, The Welcome, Yer Mother Lovers, and Fates Furies and Men. Help choose the band that will represent Chicago on Saturday February 4th. Tickets (18+) will only cost you $10 for a night of great local rock. This huge opportunity could help launch one of these bands to national attention so make sure to come out and support Chicago music by casting your vote!

Each band has it¹s own link to buy tickets so, so support your favorite: Tracer Bullet , The Welcome , Yer Mother Lovers, Fates, Furies and Men, Gun.

-Kevin Hartmann

I really just want a Ducati Monster…like, I’ll give you a vital organ for that bike kind of desire. And I don’t even really ride,  actually… I’ve only ridden once.  But that one time was all it took, and in the grand scheme of things that bike is so cool it doesn’t even matter if you ride it. It would instantly increase my street cred, don’t ya think? So, I don’t ride, and I’m not the biggest Son’s of Anarchy fan,  but I was still pretty intrigued when I heard about this event this weekend. Chicago is hosting the World’s Largest Indoor Motorcycle Show, Parts Expo, and Motorcycle Swap Meet at the Tinley Park Convention Center.

The 28th Annual Chicago Motorcycle Show & Parts Expo is being held on Friday, February 3rd and Saturday, February 4^th.  It’s the perfect way to get ready for this motorcycle season. Vendors from all over the country will be in attendance in addition to the greatest Midwest swap meet there is.  Anything and everything you can you can tie into this scene, bikes, leather, novelties and more for sale, trade, and purchase. For all you Sons of Anarchy buffs, Opie Winston, will make a pair of appearances on Saturday, while the rest of the weekend is highlighted with custom bike shows, trophies, over $3,000 cash prizes, live music, food, beer, door prizes and a lot more.

Whether you are an experienced rider, mechanic, or just a passionate enthusiast this is one of the best motorcycle events this city has to offer, conveniently timed during this off season to get you excited for the months to come. Tickets for 1 day are only $10 pre purchased or $15 at the door, and a 2 day pass is only an additional $5 to both prices respectively. There is even a VIP pass for online purchase only, and it’ll get you 2 day admission, a special meet and greet with the celebrity guests, and access to a VIP lounge and open Bar. The only negative thing I can possibly think of is riding on 4 wheels all the way home! To get your tickets ahead of time and all the info visit http://bit.ly/yDCUP2

-Bryan Neubauer

Mark your calendars and check the temperature for the upcoming 11^th annual Lakeview Polar Plunge! You may think it’s crazy taking a diving into the lake at Oak Street Beach at the end of January, but it’s to help two families in need and other people will be doing it too! Participants should arrive at the beach by 11am because at Noon you will be running towards the water for you’re plunge!

When you’re finally done with your dip, I don’t think you’re going to want to stay in there and “get use to the water” so you can warm up at the after-party at Sedgwick’s Bar & Grill. For just $30.00 you will get all-you-can-drink beer, liquor, wine, and appetizers and a raffle with prizes from local companies!

If you’re thinking about taking the plunge here are some helpful hints and if you’re not you should come cheer others on!

-Rhea Drougas

Cancer doesn’t target an age, gender, or ethnicity- it can happen to anyone. It is one of the most well known diseases in the world and affects not only adults, but children each and every day. On January 29^th you can participate in “Step Up For Kids”, an event benefitting Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and the Family Services Department and help fight the battle against children’s cancers.

Be part of a force that will be climbing 80 floors of the Aon Center to make an impact.  At the end of your 80-floor climb you can enjoy complimentary food, beverage, and live music by Spakl. When you want to meet up with your family and friends you can take the elevator (phew!) down to the mezzanine level to enjoy more food and drinks! It’s a great event for a worthy cause that the whole family can enjoy. There is even some fun set up at their Kids Corner for children!

All you have to do is sign up online here and by January 25^th you will get an assigned number and start time. Friends and family are encouraged to attend and cheer on steppers too! The first three males and females will be getting a medal and prizes will be awarded to the top individual fundraiser and the to the winner of the Team Challenge.

The goal for this event is to raise $575,000.00 and currently achieved is a bit over $362,000.00 so even if you can’t participate you can always donate to this great cause!

Take a step and make a difference today!

-Rhea Drougas

Get ready to start your engines, Brides-to-be! The Hilton Rosemont is hosting a bridal expo on Sunday, January 22. The Bridal Sampler Wedding Expo is guaranteed to be an intimate affair that will bring you seats away from the hem of your perfect gown. Hosted by TBS Bridal, the Expo will feature a fashion show, several beautiful exhibits, tastings, live performances, and exciting prizes. This year’s Grand Prize winner will walk away with a trip to Mexico for two.

The Bridal Expo starts at noon and goes to 4pm, but be sure to get there early! The first 100 brides will receive a complimentary mini-champagne basket. Now that’s something I would get out of bed early for. The fashion show is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm. The Bridal Expo is sure to display many creative and original gown designs that will have you feeling confident in your dress purchase. The Bridal expo will introduce you to expert hair and make-up artists who can teach you the tricks of the trade, including the coveted Smokey Eyes Technique. The event is one day only, and you can get your first 4 tickets for free here!

TBS Bridal which also runs Event Planning and Retail is located in Oak Brook and offers bridal gowns, accessories, shoes, headpieces and veils. They carry many elegant bridal fashions including Impressions, DaVinci, Symphony, Enzoani, Jordan, Casablanca and many more. TBS allows you to try on and purchase not just bridal gowns, but also bridesmaid, mother of the bride, and flower girl dresses and rent tuxedos. The Bridal Sampler Wedding Expo more than just a fashion show and live music, it’s also an opportunity for you to make connections with wedding dance instructors, DJ’s, florists, honeymoon experts, cakes, candle and décor. TBS Bridal is dedicated to making your wedding experience the most beautiful, affordable and rewarding wedding it can be. Make sure you bring your mob of friends, family, and loving fiancé to the Bridal Sampler Wedding Expo on January 22^nd.

Good luck ladies!

Wanjiku Kairu

If you’re anything like me, you can find yourself in the liquor store on any given night spending as long as ten Chicago minutes to decide what the heck you actually want. You walk in, look around for something appealing in the front first, you’re feeling adventurous so you wander over to the import beers, no sales, and you quickly talk yourself out of to drinking a beer you can’t pronounce all night. You shift to the domestics where you start calculating ounces to dollars, looking for that hidden sixer of tall boys that saves you a buck from the 12 pack… college budget. Then, next thing you know, you’re sitting on your couch watching a game with the usual Budweiser in hand… real adventurous.

To my boring beer drinkers, and craft brew connoisseurs alike, this Saturday, January 21^st at the Local 22, a perfect pint sized event is commencing. Alpha Beer VII: The Chicagoland Edition, is a 3 hr tour of all the lagers, ales and frothy brews you can drink. I’m talking about a total of 26 different beers, one for each letter, to satisfy all your taste buds’ needs and leave you feeling for a lack of a better word, well…drunk. I am SOLD. The best part about this event is that the focus of these beers will be on Windy City (and surrounding area) breweries. Chicago has seen a kegs worth of new small craft breweries, and specialty liquor stores in the past few years and the scene seems to constantly grow among Chi-towners, you have to respect that. California, you can keep your wine scene, were starting our own over here that doesn’t require any ridiculous glasses!

Guiding all of you enthusiasts will be Chef Jill Houk, who certainly knows a thing or two about the naughty water. A former smuggler of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (before it was sold in the 2^nd city), and home brewer who has hosted multiple beer appreciation events, she will be as entertaining as she is passionate. It should be an epic night! Get your tickets in advance at the link below and save $10 off the $50 price at the door. Eat, drink, and be merry!

For more info on the event you can click here.

- Cheers
Bryan

On January 21^st from 12 pm to 6 pm the 4^th Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts is going down for FREE at the Metro! Thousands of people attended WBEZ 91.5’s Off Air Events Series last year and 2012 will be no different. This free party will feature graffiti galleries, breakdancing performances, a film screening of “The People Speak”, and the best music by some of Chicago’s BEST DJ’s. The list of fun & free things to do goes on and on but what caught my eye was the Emcee Olympics hosted by Urban Music & Hip-Hop Barbershop!!

If you’re not ready to stop the party there you can end your night at the 2012 “Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3” at 8 pm! Based on the history of breakdancing in our city- the Legendary Brickheadz will host final rounds of a LIVE head-to-head “3 on 3” battle! If you’re not on the dance floor, no worries because this evening will feature interviews, past footage, and you get to cheer for your favorite!

Chicago’s DJ’s participating in the event:

Vocalo DJ Collective, Pumpin Pete, Big Once, Trancid, Charlie, and Jesse De La Pena

Hosted by former members of Liquid Soul : Luis Perez and Dirty

This is an all-city event that celebrates lyrics, style, art, dance, community so come one come all!

-Amanda Rivera

I found the perfect lunchtime getaway!

Most of us have less than an hour to chow down on whatever Chicago grub we set our eyes on but with this good find you can literally “Eat to the Beat”.

On January 12^th, The Harris Theater for Music and Dance continued the 3^rd season of its celebrated Eat to the Beat lunchtime series with a one-hour performance by DanceWorks Chicago and featured guests for only FIVE DOLLARS! DanceWorks Chicago’s commitment is to “Community” not “Company”, the Participatory, rather than the Proprietary. Touche!

This crowd-pleasing series, Eat to the Beat, is aimed towards those Chicagoans who work, live, shop, or just find themselves in the vicinity of the Harris during the workday lunch hour. It’ll take your mind off the workday still ahead and add some excitement in your lunch break that I guarantee you didn’t have before!

DanceWorks featured multiple dances within the hour:

Paradigm by Christian Spuck

A preview of Addio Amore by European choreographer Nelly van Bommel

Western Michigan University’s dance department

& last but certainly not least, James Gregg’s Nocturnal Sense

So instead of sitting in your cubicle, come enjoy your lunch during the Eat to the Beat performances! If you didn’t bring your lunch to work then no worries, food will be available to buy from Chicago’s finest food trucks that are on-site during performances outside the Theater on Lower Randolph Drive.

For just $10 more you can buy an “all you can experience cultural buffet” Lunch Pass that allows you to enjoy the full Eat to the Beat performance series for only $15 (there are two upcoming events in March & one in May).

Individual tickets and lunch passes are available at the Harris Theater box office located in Millennium Park at 205 E. Randolph Dr., by calling 312-334-7777 or by visiting www.harristheaterchicago.org

-Amanda Rivera