Billy Dec Joins Late Night Talk Show: Talk Hard on May 31st to talk all things restaurants/entertainment and who knows what else!

I’ve always loved Late Night talk shows. Conan, Kimmel, and Leno have been in my living room so many times (albeit on T.V) that I feel like we’re best friends. That’s why I love Talk Hard; Chicago’s longest running late night live uncensored talk show. In the audience you get the full experience, and the opportunity to hang with the host, writers, and guests in the Lounge after the show. I’m April Cowgur, the Guest Liaison and Social Media team for Talk Hard and can give you the FULL scoop!

Chicago is widely known for its rich comedy scene, and at Talk Hard you’ll be surrounded by the best of the best! Hosted by Jamie Campbell (ABC, NBC, truTV), and sidekick Kevin Pomeroy (The Stevens Family); Talk Hard is full of off-the-wall segments, videos from the street, interviews with unforgettable guests, and original musical performances.

You’ll especially want to be here for Talk Hard on May 31st, when Chicago’s favorite ambassador and restauranteur, Billy Dec, joins us to talk about his new venue Taco Tequila Tavern ¡AY CHIWOWA!  After the show, join Billy Dec and Arturo Gomez, as they host an after party at ¡AY CHIWOWA!. Get your ticket at half price, by calling the ComedySportz Box Office and using the Promo Code: TACO at (773) 549-8080. ComedySportz is located at 929 W Belmont Ave.  Chicago, IL 60657.

Find us online on our YouTube channel here & watch a video of monologue jokes below.

Life is short, TALK HARD.

-April Cowgur

Tags: abc, arturo gomez, Ay Chiwowa, billy dec, Chicago comedy, Chicago comedy scene, comedy scene, ComedySportz Box Office, conan, host, interviews with unforgettable guests, Jamie Campbell, Kevin Pomeroy, Kimmel, late night live, Late Night talk shows, Leno, monologue jokes, NBC, off-the-wall segments, original musical performances, star personality, Taco Tequila Tavern, Talk Hard, Talk Hard tickets, The Stevens Family, truTV, uncensored talk show, videos from the street, writers

The Sh*t Show, Now A Part of Just for Laughs: June 11th at Stage 773

Hey comedy lovers!  This is Rasa Gierstikas from the Shit Show comedy showcase.

My co-producer/ host, Ever Mainard and I are excited to tell you that our comedy show, the Shit Show, is going to be a part of TBS’s Just for Laughs here in Chicago on Tuesday, June 11 at 10pm at Stage 773 (1225 W Belmont Ave). Tickets are only $15 and are on sale now.

The Shit Show is a monthly comedy showcase that happens the last Friday of every month at the Shambles (2050 W. Division) hosting the best variety of comedic performers in Chicago. This interactive show is the most fun you will have at a comedy show. Prizes are given to audience members, as well as, performers with the night’s “Best Joke!” by The Shit Show’s very own Hotdog Man (Keith Paesel) – as determined by the audience.

With sponsors like Fireball Whisky, Revolution Brewing and Mingle Around, the show is guaranteed to be a blast.

The Shit Show has been described as a “sidesplitting… bighearted, monthly comedy bonanza” (Chicago Reader), “…hip- genre crossing comedy…” (the A.V. Club) and a “comedy extravaganza” (Redeye).

We have some great comics lined up for JFL’s and would love to see you there!

For more information or to buy tickets, please visit here. Thanks!

-Rasa Gierstikas

Tags: chicago reader, comedy show, comedy show Chicago, comedy showcase, Fireball Whisky, hotdog man, Just for Laughs, keith paesel, Mingle Around, Redeye, Revolution Brewing, Stage 773, TBS’s Just for Laughs, the a.v. club, the Shambles, the shit show, The Shit Show Chicago

3rd Annual Laughing Hearts Comedy Night

Laughter is the best medicine! No, really…it’s been proven (kind of). Chicago is the best place to find laughter with our awesome improve comedy scene. And, coming up is a night of hilarious comedy at the 3^rd Annual Laughing Hearts Comedy Night on Tuesday, May 21 at 6:30pm at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave). 100% of the ticket proceeds go to the American Heart Association!

I have been raising money for the Heart Association since I was a little girl going door to door. Through participating in the Chicago Heart Walk since 2004, I’ve raised over $21,000. All of this is in memory of my wonderful Mom, Tracey, who passed away of heart disease in 2003. She was the first person in our hometown to have open heart surgery… at the age of 15! My mom was an advocate of the AHA and coordinated many events on its behalf. After doing the heart walk for a few years I thought….what else can I do to raise money? I’m a graduate of the second city conservatory, I love to laugh and make people laugh, and with those passions Laughing Hearts Comedy Night was born!

Performers include Off Off Broadzway, Rabbit Rabbit, ComedySportz and stand-ups Adam Burke, Maria Wojciechowski, Monique Madrid and Corey Rittmaster. There’s also a silent auction with awesome items like Blackhawks tickets, Cubs tickets, bottle service at Ay Chiwowa, restaurant gift certificates, acting classes, theater tickets, portrait sessions, and a ridiculous big basket of booze from Beam! Check out the site and like the LHCN Facebook page for tix & info, and make plans to attend! It’s good for the heart! See you there!

- Patricia True Agos

Tags: 3rd Annual Laughing Hearts Comedy Night, acting classes, Adam Burke, american heart association, Ay Chiwowa, Beam, Blackhawks tickets, bottle service, Chicago Heart Walk, Chicago improve, ComedySportz, Corey Rittmaster, Cubs tickets, heart disease, improve, improve comedy scene, laughing hearts comedy night, Maria Wojciechowski, Monique Madrid, Off Off Broadzway, portrait sessions, Rabbit Rabbit, second city conservatory, Stage 773, theater tickets

Call for Volunteers: Printers Row Lit Fest June 8-9

Calling all literary and book lovers! Chicago Tribune’s annual Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest, drawing more than 125,000 book lovers and featuring over 250 authors and 150 booksellers, is approaching June 8 – 9! The event’s success relies on over 200 volunteers and we need your help!

Benefits of being a Lit Fest Volunteer include free t-shirt, free lunch and rubbing elbows with amazing authors such as Judy Blume, cartoonist Art Spiegelman, celebrity chef Rick Bayless and more!

The online volunteer application can be found here. More information about this year’s presenters and other frequently asked questions can be found at: printersrowlitfest.org.

This is Chicago’s biggest literary event of the year and a chance to get exposed to some of Chicago’s best literary figures. Help continue a Chicago literary tradition by signing up to volunteer today! Follow @PrintersRowFest for festival updates and become part of the conversation.

- Chicago Tribune’s Printers Row Team

Tags: Art Spiegelman, authors, cartoonist, celebrity chef, Chef Rick Bayless, chicago festivals, chicago tribune, Chicago Tribune’s annual Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago’s biggest literary event, education, free outdoor literary event, Judy Blume, Lit Fest Volunteer, literary festivals, Midwest festivals, volunteers

Broadway in Chicago Invites You to Win Tickets to ANYTHING GOES

Hi, I’m Amanda Meyer – on behalf of Broadway In Chicago, I’d like to introduce you to, ANYTHING GOES, which is one of the most timeless Broadway classics of all time. Be sure to catch it at the Cadillac Palace Theatre before May 5! The production includes Cole Porter’s hits “You’re the Top,” “Friendship,” “It’s De-Lovely,”  and, of course, “Anything Goes.” Broadway In Chicago is doing a ticket giveaway to Roundabout Theater Company’s ANYTHING GOES to the Wednesday, May 1 performance at 7:30 p.m. at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph). For a chance to win tickets to see ANYTHING GOES, explain to us, in the comment box, what your favorite musical is and why!

ANYTHING GOES, the 1934 musical comedy about the lovers, liars and clowns on a transatlantic cruise is “a daffy, shipshape romp!” - Variety. When the S.S. American heads out to sea, etiquette and convention head out the portholes as two unlikely pairs set off on the course to true love… proving that sometimes destiny needs a little help from a crew of singing sailors, an exotic disguise and some good old-fashioned blackmail.

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Roundabout Theatre Company’s ANYTHING GOES, nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

The performance schedule for ANYTHING GOES is as follows: Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (no matinee performance on April 24), Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. (no evening performance on May 5). Please note: Ticket prices and performance schedule are subject to change.

Tickets for ANYTHING GOES at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $27-$95. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are currently on-sale at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Kiosk at Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave.), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com. For more information, visit Broadway In Chicago or ANYTHING GOES.

-Amanda Meyer

Tags: "Friendship", 2011 Grammy Award, 2011 Tony Award, Alex Finke, Anything Goes, broadway, Broadway classics, broadway in chicago, Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chuck Wagner, Cole Porter, Dennis Kelly, donate, Edward Staudenmayer, Fred Applegate, Ghostlight Records, giveaways for "Anything Goes", It’s De-Lovely, Jeff Brooks, Josh Franklin, Joyce Chittick, Kathleen Marshall, Marcus Shane, Martin Pakledinaz, musical comedy, New Broadway Cast Recording, preformance, Rachel York, Roundabout Theater Company, Sandra Shipley, ticket giveaways, tickets, Vincent Rodriguez III, You’re the Top

Help Redmoon Light-Up Chicago at Spectacle Lunatique!

Emily Reusswig from Redmoon inviting you to ignite your passion for the arts at our annual gala benefit, Spectacle Lunatique, March 9th! Prepare yourself to experience four blockbuster spectacle moments, 1,874 candles, 164 performers and 31 wild happenings throughout seven hours of celebration at Redmoon’s 12^th-annual Spectacle Lunatique.

Redmoon, Chicago’s very own transformative creative force known for producing once-in-a-lifetime over-the-top artistic events, proudly presents our famed, annual gala benefit March 9, 7 PM — 2AM.This event also will debut the theater’s new space as Redmoon moves from their current West Loop location to occupy a 57,000 sq. ft. building at 2120 S. Jefferson in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. The move is Mayor-approved, so you know it’s a must-see.

Themed “Starting the Fire,” the evening will have a primal, earthy, “ritualistic” feel and seek to ignite Chicago with spirit, passion and participation in the arts.  Tickets range from $75 per person to $2,500 for a group VIP experience, and packages may be purchased on our website here!

Here’s a taste:

• Four “Blockbuster Spectacle Moments” reflected by light, ambient sound design, installations and provocative, animal-inspired costumes
• A Confetti Cannon, Bubble And Bomb “Assaults” to keep the energy going
• Specialty drinks and culinary delights from local chefs also will be flowing
• Musical entertainment will delight the ears
• Built in Chicago, 1871, and Firestarter Fund founder Matt Moog will be honored with Redmoon’s inaugural Galvanizer Award for his work promoting community in the digital space

Funds raised will support Redmoon’s original and unique events of a massive scale in landmark locations for all of Chicago, and the inaugural year of Redmoon’s Spectacle Academy impacting youth and emerging artists throughout Chicago.

Come one come all!!! 

-Emily Reusswig

Tags: Art, Chicago's very own transformative creative force, circus, Emily Reusswig, impacting youth and emerging artists, mayor's office, Redmoon, Redmoon’s 12th-annual Spectacle Lunatique

The Sh*t Show Monthly Comedy Showcase

Hi, this is Rasa Gierstikas from the planet Earth and I’m here to tell you about The Shit Show comedy showcase.

The Shit Show is “Chicago’s Premiere FREE Monthly Comedy Showcase” that is held the LAST Friday of every month at 8pm at The Shambles! Local comic Ever Mainard and I host/ produce a comedy variety show the last Friday of every month that includes emerging local comics to seasoned performers who have appeared on David Letterman, B.E.T., etc. Prizes are given to audience members, as well as, performers with the night’s “Best Joke!” by The Shit Show’s very own Hotdog Man (Keith Paesel) -winners determined by the audience.

The Shit Show is officially sponsored by Fireball Whisky and Mingle Around. The show has been featured in The Onion’s A/V Club, Metromix’s “Top Theater Picks”, The Redeye’s “Shows You Must See”, Timeout Chicago and The Reader. Come check out The Shit Show tomorrow at The Shambles-doors open at 8. For more information click here & to check out our promotional video by Eliaz Rodriguez!

Hope to see you there!

-Rasa Gierstikas

Tags: B.E.T., best joke, chicago reader, Chicago’s Premiere FREE Monthly Comedy Showcase, comedians, comics, david letterman, hotdog man, keith paesel, local comedy in chicago, Rasa Gierstikas from the planet Earth, redeye chicago, the shit show

Freezin’ for a Reason this Season!

It’s a well known fact that Chicago has some of the coldest winters around (well, with the exception of this one, anyway).  And when I say cold, I mean COLD.  Like, -30 degrees, frigid COLD (or so it feels).  Sadly, many homeless and abandoned dogs are forced to endure these conditions for nights on end, all alone.  So, in honor of these precious pups, Project Rescue Chicago (PRC) is “Freezin’ for a Reason” and asking you to do the same!

Here’s how it’ll work.  On Saturday, January 5th, you’ll meet fellow dog lovers at Foster Avenue Beach in Andersonville and together, jump into the icy waters of Lake Michigan.  Yes, you read that right.  I said JUMP into Lake Michigan.  Then, you’ll warm up at Cubby Bear – a local pet-friendly pub – with special drinks and prizes.

Not into actually taking the plunge?  You can still support the cause by dipping your toes or simply coming out to encourage those jumping in while you yourself stay warm and dry.

Last year, this fun and unique event raised a whopping $20,000+, which PRC used to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abandoned dogs and puppies in the Chicagoland area.  The organization is hoping to beat that record this year, and whole-heartedly maintains that the fundraiser is worth every penny (and shiver!).

What better way to kick off the New Year?  Hope to see you at the Lake, gettin’ cold for a cause!

-Kara Blasquez

Tags: abandoned dogs and puppies, cold for a cause, cold winter, cubby bear, dog charity event, dog fundraiser, dog shelter, Freezin’ for a Reason, homeless dogs, Lake Michigan jump, Lake Michigan plunge, Project Rescue Chicago, rehabilitate, rehome, rescue

Chicago Food Film Festival Mixes Movies with Good Grub

Growing tired of your usual dinner-and-a-movie date? Mix it up this weekend and attend the 3^rd annual Chicago Food Film Festival. The brainchild of George Motz, Travel Channel host and filmmaker, the festival will screen 17 films highlighting food and drink. There are 7 awards categories including: Best Feature, Best Short, Best Super-Short, Best Food Porn, Food Filmmaker of the Year, Best Film Made Locally, and Audience Choice Award.

Still not enthused? It gets better. At the Chicago Food Film Festival audience members are served the food/drinks that appear on the screen! This year’s fest includes 4 world premieres, 1 US premiere, and several Chicago premieres.

This year guests will enjoy whisky tastings from 8 distilleries in Scotland during the screening of Whisky: The Islay Edition, a fish fry during Fish Fry Night Milwaukee, and much more. Renowned chefs also participate in the gathering of food connoisseurs. Chef Phillip Foss brings back his famous “fries and ice cream,” and ramen expert Chef Keizo Shimamoto flies in from Japan Saturday to host Midnight Ramen, a meet-and-eat hosted by Kitchit, Gohan Society, and Sun Noodle.

Whether you’re looking to see a good movie or get a savory bite to eat, the Chicago Food Film Festival is sure to satisfy your craving. It’s a great opportunity to broaden your palette, both for the culinary and cinematic arts!

-Nathan Sullivan

Tags: audience, awards, chicago food film fest, documentary, Drink, filmmaker, food, geroge motz, premieres, travel channel

George Lopez and Rob Schneider To Share Chicago For Some Funny Business on September 22nd

September 22^nd should be a great night for comedy as The Chicago Theatre welcomes comedian George Lopez.  The comedian is scheduled to entertain what is sure to be a full house during the second night of his 2012 stand-up tour. Following the cancellation of his TBS talk show “Lopez Tonight,” George Lopez has decided to bring his presence to the stage for a second tour entitled “That’s The America I Live In”. The tour kicks off on September 21^st in Milwaukee with Chicago on the following night.

Lopez could very well face some competition from fellow comedian and actor Rob Schneider who is performing at Improv Chicago in Schaumburg, IL throughout the weekend of September 21-23. The entertainer has had a pretty consistent career in comedy since his start on “Saturday Night Live” and has spent the years starring in hit comedies.  He had a cameo in the film “Jack and Jill” which received extremely negative reviews and scored a staggeringly low 3% on Rotten Tomatoes but has had impressive success with his CBS sitcom “¡Rob!” in which he plays himself and marries into a Mexican-American family.

Good luck to both guys on their tours! I’m sure we will be nothing but impressed. So if you are looking for something to do you should definitely check out either one of these great Chicago venues during the weekend of September 21-23. In 2010 when Schneider visited “Lopez Tonight”, the two discussed the prospects of returning to stand up comedy after having spent a large chunk of their careers focusing on film and television.

In time of political polarity and Chicago teacher’s strikes, it’s nice to have something to laugh about.

“With everything goin’ on in the country, it’s always a good time for stand-up.” – George Lopez

- Mandy Stifter

Tags: cbs, chicago, chicago theatre, Comedy, george lopez, Jack and Jill, Lopez Tonight, Rob Schneider, Rotten Tomatoes, Saturday night live, Schaumburg, Stand Up, Teachers Strike