Jerry Azumah: 4th Annual ASAP Signature Bowling Event

Hello my fellow Chicagoans! My name is Micaeh Johnson and I’m the Executive Director of the Azumah Student Assistance Program. I’m guest blogging today to tell you all about our 4^th Annual Signature Bowling Event taking place this Wednesday but first… let me take it back a few years.

In 2009, All Pro, Former Chicago Bear, Jerry Azumah and I attended a charity event at the House of Blues for President Bill Clinton.  During our visit with the former White House resident, President Clinton said something that would stick with me forever. He mentioned contributions from American households comprise 75% of all giving to nonprofits every year. I looked at my friend and event co-chair, Jerry and smiled knowing the work we did for the Azumah Student Assistance Program (ASAP) that included small donations from our tight and influential network, was a piece of that 75% and our efforts were a part of a bigger picture. A picture that includes over 1,300 listed charities in the Chicagoland area alone!

Every day, Chicagoans attend events that contribute to programs supporting cancer research, environmental concerns, preservation of the arts and like ours, resources for education.  At ASAP, besides opening our mouths for support and soliciting corporate support, we produce ridiculously fun events several times a year.  On Wednesday May 16^th from 6-10pm, we’re hosting our 4^th Annual Signature Bowling Event at Lucky Strike Lanes.

Now in our 4^th event year, the best memory of all the events was when I saw these larger than life personalities and athletes roll in with their teeny bowling bags and personalized balls for the first time. I realized competition was not just reserved for the court, field or on the greens. It was a way of life! A life that included fun, awareness and giving back where one is not independent of the other. Even our founder, Jerry has a painted Chicago Bear on his bowling ball. So off with the helmets and celeb façade and bring on the competition. The bowling tournament pairs fans, sponsors and local celebs up for a night of sheer glee, charity and competition.  All right, time to grab your bowling balls (spectators welcome too!) and plan to have some major fun while making a contribution to a bigger picture!

Tickets are still available and are only $75

Purchase your ticket HERE

-Micaeh Johnson

Tags: 4th Annual, ASAP Foundation, Assistance, Azumah Student Assistance Program, celebs, charity, chicago bears, corporate, house of blues, jerry azumah, Local, Lucky Strike, nonprofits, President Clinton, Students, white house

CANstruction A-CAN-emy Awards & Gala

The CANstruction A-CAN-emy Awards & Gala was last night at Merchandise Mart and it was such a fun event! I attended and wanted you to give you readers a behind the scenes experience… so click away! As you know from our previous entry, CANstruction is a unique charity event that raises donations for the Greater Chicago Food Depository by having teams build amazing creations out of cans and other food items.  It is the largest donation of food in a single food drive in the city of Chicago – pretty impressive!

The A-CAN-emy Awards & Gala was pretty fabulous, I must say. I got there a little after it started so I walked around and got to see all of the incredibly creative can sculptures before it got more crowded. The sculptures were amazing, I had no idea cans could be made into such beautiful works of art (my personal favorite was “InterCANnected”), and the best part was that it was all for a great cause!  The crowd for the gala was pretty diverse, younger & older professionals who came by after work.  There was an open bar service with their very own “CAN-tini” – which was delicious & creative!  Whole Foods provided light hors d’oeuvres and delicious desserts were provided by Cacao Sweets & Treats (the chocolate champagne cupcake is to die for!)

The awards portion of the evening was the most anticipated part of the night!  NBC 5’s Natalie Martinez was the emcee for the evening and there was a panel of celebrity judges who announced winners of various awards.  The celeb judges included Windy City Live host Ryan Chiaverini, Chef Michael Kornick of mk, Chef Jared Van Camp of Nellcôte, Peter Exley from Architecture is Fun, and of course, our very own Billy Dec!  The SmithGroup JJR Team, who constructed “InterCANnected,” walked away with two awards, one for the Make No Small Cans Award and the other, the Structural Ingenuity Award.  The other big winner of the night was the KJWW Engineering Consultants-VOA-Berglund Team who constructed “A Healthy Balance” and walked away the winners of both the juror’s favorite and the crowd favorite; as part of their prize, they will be headed to the National competition in a couple of weeks!  Best of luck to them as they rep Chicago with their awesome design!

To see more pictures of the awards & gala, check out the CANstruction photo album on Facebook!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: A-CAN-emy Awards & Gala, Architecture is Fun, billy dec, Cacao Sweets & Treats, canstruction, charity, chicago, food drive, greater chicago food depository, InterCANnected, Jared Van Camp, KJWW Engineering Consultants, merchandise mart, Michael Kornick, Natalie Martinez, Nellcôte, Peter Exley, ryan chiaverini, SmithGroup JJR, VOA-Berglund, whole foods, windy city live

Pints, Pooches & Parties; Oh Mayfest!

I love the city of Chicago!

No, really I do. Especially in the summer time! There’s always something going on, right? Well, if you didn’t know that and find yourself bored on the weekends you can look forward to festival season. It’s quickly approaching and the city and burbs (yes, I know it’s suburbs) offer a variety of activities during the warm months. From the middle of May till the end of September, you can catch something every weekend.

The first totally fun filled neighborhood festival to kick off the season is Mayfest on May 18th. Located in one of my favorite neighborhoods, Lakeview, Mayfest will have plenty of live entertainment including Chicago’s very own 16 Candles!! Not to mention great food and drinks, stuff for the kids to do and a pet parade and pet expo for all you animal lovers out there. Live bands performing will be rockin’ under one of the largest tents around the city! If that won’t get you there… then keep reading!

The people of The Higgins Animal Clinic will be presenting the pet parade and pet expo. Interested in showing off your pooch? Deck it out and show it off! There will be a lot of different categories for competition including Best Trick, Best Dressed and oddly enough, a Pet and Owner Look Alike category. Radio personality, Lisa Dent from US 99.5 and Illinois Lottery personality Linda Kollmeyer will be emceeing this year. All different kinds of pets will be accepted so come one come all!

Chicago Kids Day will be at Mayfest on May 19th. From 10am-2pm, expect the future of America to get a dosage of learning about health and safety, but in a fun and entertaining way. Free food, fun, balloons, face painting and prizes will all be there donated by the generous people in local organizations and sponsors. In addition, free spinal and dental screenings!

The cost to attend the festival is $10 and benefits the Lakeview YMCA, Northside Parents Network, and the Festival Foundation.

So, grab your friends, children and/or pets and head out to the first summer neighborhood festival, Mayfest! Relax, mingle and enjoy the wonderful city culture that Chicago has to offer!

To find out more, email info@starevents.com or call (773) 665-4682

-Michael S. Iliopoulos

Tags: 16 Candles, Best Dressed, Best Trick, chicago, Chicago Kids Day, Dental, dogs, donate, entertainment, Expo, Face painting, festival, Festival Foundation, Illinois Lottery, lakeview, Lina Kollmeyer, Lisa Dent, May, Mayfest, Northside Parents Network, parade, pets, September, Starevents, suburbs, The Higgins Animal Clinic, ymca

May 19th “Sucks” at McGee’s

Love crawfish?  Love Louisiana?  Love a good time?  Well, you’re in luck! It’s that time of year again when the Louisiana Bayou comes to Lincoln Park!  McGee’s Tavern & Grille is hosting their 23^rd Annual Headsucker’s Ball; Chicago’s original crawfish boil.  Over 2,000 lbs. of crawfish, straight from the Louisiana Bayou, will be boiled with McGee’s secret blend of spices and herbs, corn, Andouille sausage and red potatoes.  For just $20 in advance, ($25 at the door for you more spontaneous folks), you can enjoy all-you-can-eat crawfish, red beans & rice, gumbo and jambalaya!  Also look for drink specials throughout the day, because who doesn’t need a cold one to wash down all those crawfish?

As if that wasn’t enough, Hurricane Gumbo will be there to transport you down to the bayou with their authentic zydeco music!  Doors open at 10 am, live music starts at 2 pm; you’ll want to get here early to ensure maximum enjoyment of the Headsucker’s Ball!  Grab some friends, head over to McGee’s & embrace your inner creole; it’s guaranteed to be a great time! Click here for tickets!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: 23rd Annual Headsucker’s Ball, All-you-can-eat, authentic, Boil, Crawfish, Crawfish boil, creole, Drink, Drinks, Gumbo, Jambalaya, lincoln park, Live, Louisiana, Louisiana Bayou, Mcgees Tavern & Grille, Music, Specials, Spices, Zydeco music

One For The Ladies

Hi Readers, Ryan Beshel here! Ahhh, spring.  A time of change, renewal and celebration!  Here at 900 North Michigan Shops, we don’t always need an excuse to celebrate – but, this month – we feel it only right to honor all the fabulous women in our lives.  (And what woman doesn’t like a bit of shopping?)  To do just that, we present to you “A Day For Her” – an all-day shopping event featuring exclusive discounts, activities, treats and raffle prizes on Saturday, May 12^th from 10a.m. – 6:30p.m.  All proceeds will benefit Friends of Prentice, the fundraising board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Prentice Women’s Hospital.  A special ticket price $20 (pre-sale) and $30 (at the door) leads the way to 20% off at Michael Kors, Mark Shale, L.K.Bennett, Karen Millen, Intimacy Bra Fit Stylists, Preggers and many more of our stellar retailers!

To sweeten the deal – the first 75 ticket buyers to purchase tickets in advance (and the first 25 people to purchase the day-of) will each receive two complimentary passes to an advance screening of Lionsgate’s What to Expect When You’re Expecting on Monday, May 14 at 7 p.m. promptly at a downtown Chicago theater.

Speaking of renewal … why not amp up your wardrobe with a little help from a friend?  Enter juliewatsonstyle – a stylish service that’s reigned as Chicago Magazine‘s pick  for best personal shopping and wardrobe consulting since 2009.  This team of experts has shopping down to an art and have just announced their annual “Shop The Shops” event!  During the entire month of May schedule a special 3-hour “Shop The Shops” styling session with a juliewatsonstyle wardrobe consultant and receive exclusive discounts at their favorite stores at 900 North Michigan Shops. Participating stores will offer up to 20% off to clients shopping with their juliewatsonstyle personal shopper.  Spots are filling up quickly, so click HERE to reserve your “Shop The Shops” styling session today!

From 900 North Michigan Shops to all of our Chicago friends, we wish you a very happy spring … we’ll see you soon! – Ryan

Tags: 900 N Michigan Shops, A Day For Her, advance screening, billy dec, Bowtie Memoirs, chicago, chicago magazine, Friends of Prentice, giveaway, Intimacy Bra Fit Stylist, juliewatsonstyle, Karen Millen, L.K. Bennett, Lionsgate, Mark Shale, May, Michael Kors, Michigan Ave, Mother's Day, Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Prentice Women's Hospital, Preggers, Ryan Beshel, Shops The Shops, What To Expect When You're Expecting

CANstruction

Think about all the Diet Coke and beer cans we throw away each day- always thought they were useless trash, right? Wrong! Look no further than the work of local architects, designers, engineers and construction workers who are turning cans into pieces of art right here in Chicago! Not only are these cans art, they’re lifesavers, too! Who would have thought?!

CANstruction is a unique non-profit food charity that holds annual design and build competitions where teams have to construct imaginative, life-size structures entirely out of cans or canned food. By imaginative I mean, pharaoh heads, venus fly traps and even hatching raptors!

Lucky for us, this organization has made it’s way to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart! When CANstruction comes to town, thousands of hungry people are fed- After the 21 competing teams build their crazy designs and a champion is selected, all of the cans will be donated to The Greater Chicago Food Depository (I wonder how many cans it takes to make a giant pharaoh head, hmm).

The grand opening for the CANstruction competition starts tomorrow on the first floor of the Mart. Grab your friends or kids and head over to the event- who knows what weird creations there will be this year!

Admission to the exhibit is free but I suggest you check out the Awards Ceremony Gala on May 10th where an exhibit winner will be chosen by a panel of celebrity judges (including Billy!) and a great party will follow. To enter to win tickets to the Gala, click here!

- Lauren Neuschel

Tags: art exhibit, billy dec, canstruction, chicago, donation, family event, fighting hunger, fundraiser, greater chicago food depository, Lauren Neuschel, merchandise mart

Derby Down at Arlington Park

Horse racing season is upon us and Arlington Park Racetrack opens just in time for the Kentucky Derby!  Celebrate opening day on Friday, May 4^th with some awesome specials:  One hot dog & either a 12 oz. beer or 20 oz. soda is only 50 cents and Mr. D’s Sports Bar will have $2 beers and ½ price appetizers, you just can’t beat those prices!  Gates open at 11:15am and the first race is at 3:00pm.  General admission is free and preferred parking is only $5.

Be sure to find your best looking Derby Hat and come back on Saturday, May 5^th for Chicagoland’s largest Kentucky Derby party.  General admission is $10 to watch and wager on a simulcast of the “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” as well as watch live racing that will be taking place throughout the day.  Derby day wouldn’t be complete without mint juleps and live music from Erica Iozzo.  For a red carpet Derby Day experience, you can purchase tickets to the Derby Party Zone presented by Moët & Chandon.  Tickets include an all-inclusive drink and food package, an official commemorative Kentucky Derby Mint Julep glass, race day program, and a “best of luck” champagne toast before the Derby begins, not to mention the best Derby Hat Contest where winners can walk away with some awesome prizes.  The Million Room at Arlington Park is another great option for Derby Day 2012.  Located on the 4^th floor, the Million Room offers great views of the racetrack and will have a special brunch buffet menu for race day. For more information about opening day at Arlington Park, click here!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: Arlington Park Racetrack, chicago, Derby, Erica Iozzo, food specials, Kentucky Derby, mint julep, Mr. D's Sports Bar, weekend activities

BOARD ROOM HOSTS “BODY LANGUAGE” LAUNCH EVENT

Who is the hottest new music artist around town? His name is Christacy and if you don’t already know who he is, we guarantee you will soon! Christacy’s first single “Body Language” will be dropping on iTunes Thursday, May 3. Check out a little preview here!

YOU can be one of the first to experience his sexy sounds live in a launch event at Board Room, A Boutique Nightclub – 343 W. Erie St. This Thursday, May 3, a red carpet entry will commence at 8 p.m., with a live performance to follow. Cover is $10 and benefits an awesome Chicago-based not-for-profit organization committed to leveraging the power of music to inspire literacy, Rock for Reading.

Christacy will also give attendees a special sneak peak of his soon to be released singles, “Be Your Man” and “Ooh La La.” Born and raised in Chicago, Christacy’s incomparable dance moves and high-energy performances set him apart. His unparalleled sound includes a blend of sensual and modern lyrics with a hip, pop-rap vibe. “Body Language” is Executive Produced by acclaimed President of OneSun Entertainment Group, Frayne Lewis and is Produced by Lambert “Stereo” Waldrip. Christacy is managed by Teri Tkachuk.

See you on Thursday! – Jenny Topolosky

Tags: Artist, Board Room, Body Language, Carol Fox and Associates, chicago, Christacy, Frayne Lewis, itunes, Jenny Topolsky, Lambert "Stereo" Waldrip, One Sun Entertainment Group, release party, Rock for Reading, Teri Tkachuk, upcoming

A celebration of life, community, and music!

Hey Readers! This is Pat Gilroy from the Chicago rock band The Super Happy Fun Club!  I’ve known and worked with Billy throughout the years and I’m excited to be a guest blogger today! In the summer of 2010 I received a troubling text about a friend who was part of a brutal attack.  He stood up for someone who was in harm’s way, and in a terrible turn of events, became the victim.  (check out the full story here).  Matthew Leone (bassist for the rock band Madina Lake) was at the beginning of a very long journey back to normal life.

Musicians from across the country heard Matthew’s story and came together to help.  Artists like Metallica, Fall Out Boy, and Madonna donated items to auction. The Smashing Pumpkins put together a benefit concert at the Metro with Kill Hannah.  With the help of the organization Sweet Relief, fans and friends alike kept track of the fundraising efforts and helped Matthew raise the money in order to pay down his medical bills.

Now Matthew has decided it is time to give back.  He is taking $60,000 from his medical bill fund and starting a new Midwestern Musicians Fund for Sweet Relief.  These funds will be available for musicians battling cancer, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and other life threatening challenges.

Join Matthew and friends on Wednesday May 2^nd 2012 at the Foundation Room at House of Blues where you can hear Matthew and Sweet Relief Executive Director Rob Max speak about the work that Sweet Relief does for the community.  Additionally, Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T’s will give a special performance. The event runs from 6:30 – 8:30PM.  Join us in this celebration of giving! Click here for more information.

- Pat Gilroy

Tags: chicago, Chicago attack, Fall Out Boy, Foundation Room, fundraiser, house of blues, Kill Hannah, Madina Lake, Madonna, Matthew Leone, Metallica, metro, Midwestern Musicians Fund, musicians, Pat Gilroy, plain white t's, Rob Max, Sweet Relief, the smashing pumpkins, The Super Happy Fun Club, Tom Higgenson

Zombie Chicago Bar Crawl. Say what?

What is it about zombies and vampires that people just cannot seem to get enough of!? I mean come on with all the different series and movies how can you even keep track, and besides the movie Zombieland, which was phenomenal by the way, don’t they all just blend together by now? Hat’s off to the Twilight guy who makes my pale looks even that more appealing… but if I have to side with one group or the other, I’m picking zombies, and it appears a ton of other Chicagoans tend to agree. The craze is here to stay as pH Productions is hosting their 5^th annual Zombie Pub crawl this weekend, inviting all the half dead to help terrorize the Andersonville neighborhood all in good fun and to benefit the non for profit Theater Company.

Previous zombie-crawls had over 700 blood hungry party goers and this year’s crawl is expected to be the best and biggest yet! Some of the stops include Hamburger Mary’s, Simons Tavern, @mosphere, The Sofo Tap and many other Clark Street Andersonville favorites. Timeout Chicago, the official media sponsor, is offering a free 1 year subscription for all, while PBR the official beer sponsor will be providing you all with unbeatable beer specials at every stop. Your $25 registration also includes a free official zombie bar crawl T-shirt, a free zombie makeup session, 2 free tickets to any pH show, and keepsake cup that you will need to take to all the bars! Visit the official Zombie Pub Crawl site here to register and for any other info you need, from the itinerary to make up tips, they got you covered. I’m sure it will be a KILLER pub crawl, and you’re all DYING to go… and with that brutal excuse for a joke, I’m out!

- Cheers
Bryan

Tags: @mosphere, andersonville, Bar Crawl, Bryan Neubauer, chicago, Drink deals, Hamburger Mary's, PBR, pH Productions, pH Theatre, Simons Tavern, The Sofo Tap, Timeout Chicago, weekend events, Zombie Bar Crawl, Zombieland, Zombies