Chicago Culture, Celebrity, Arts & Entertainment
Chicago culture, arts & entertainment with Billy Dec

Browsing all posts tagged with blackhawks.

05/10/13

Chicago cocktails for a cause! GO for Malawi at Rockit Bar & Grill!

baseball, blackhawks, charity, chicago, Chicago White Sox, cubs, Food, Fundraiser, restaurants, sports

Ready to do some good, Chicago? We’re Jessica and Amanda, and we’re working with Groundwork Opportunities (GO) to help put an end to world hunger. Swing by River North’s Rockit Bar & Grill on May 16 from 6:00-8:00pm to drink, mingle, and support GO’s incredible mission: investing in groundbreaking ideas, empowering local leaders, and engaging communities to create a world beyond poverty.

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All the proceeds of this event will go directly to a small village in Malawi, Africa, allowing them to purchase agricultural equipment, seeds, and any other necessary materials to start a farm. The fundraising goal is $5,000, which is enough to cover everything the village needs to begin growing food and providing jobs.

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The event includes two hours of unlimited beer and wine, as well as two specially crafted cocktails. Food will also be available at a 50% discount. Cubs and Sox tickets, signed Blackhawks memorabilia, one-month fitness memberships, and several other items will be available through a silent auction.

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Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. To purchase tickets, click here. You can also watch our video or donate here. If Chicago can help a village in Malawi, who knows the impact that the ripple effect will have!

- Jessica and Amanda

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07/06/12

Blackhawks in July?! It’s Like Christmas!

blackhawks, celebrities, chicago, Food, Networking, nightlife, Pictures, Press, Radio, restaurants, sports, Video

If you’re a Blackhawks fan and planning on going to the upcoming Blackhawks Convention – like me – then last weekend was like Christmas for you.  Convention passes and welcome letters were sent out to the delight of fans across Chicagoland.  July 20th – 22nd the Hilton Chicago will become Blackhawks central; players & fans will flock to the iconic Chicago hotel for a weekend of hockey in the middle of summer – it’s quite a sight!  This marks the 5th year of the convention and as in years past, it has completely sold out – unless you’re willing to go on StubHub.  It’s no surprise this event is so popular.  I went to my first convention last year and if you’re a fan of the Hawks, it’s something you NEED to go to.

Friday kicks off the festivities with event registration opening at 12pm in the Northeast Hall where fans can pick up their programs for the weekend.  The International Ballroom plays host to the opening ceremonies at 5pm where the team is together for the first time since the end of last season and introduced to fans.  Expect to hear from Blackhawks TV color analyst, Eddie Olczyk – as he’s been the emcee in the past – and Blackhawks Captain, Jonathan Toews.  Also expect appearances from Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp, Brent Seabrook and many more familiar faces!

Saturday starts off nice and early at 9am with various Q-and-A seminars with panels of players and coaches discussing a range of topics.  Once the sun goes down the Blackhawks players and celebrities will judge ‘Blackhawks Idol’ and crown the winner. Sunday wraps up the convention with more Q-and-A sessions beginning at 9am; with everything finishing up at about 1pm.

There will also be various Blackhawks memorabilia vendors as well as a locker room sale where you have the opportunity to buy items from the Blackhawks locker room.  Attendees may also have an opportunity to meet their favorite players, get autographs & have their pictures taken.  It’s an all-around great weekend for Blackhawks fans of all ages and I, for one, am VERY excited for it!  There’s 2 weeks until the convention, but if you’re too excited you can’t handle it, take a look at my pics from last year!  See you all at the Hilton Chicago, I’ll be the one in the Blackhawks t-shirt ;)

-Alex Chwastek

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05/18/11

Make A Wish w/ Jordan, Daley, Corgan, Urlacher, Blackhawks, Rockit Ranch & more!

Art, basketball, blackhawks, celebrities, charity, chicago, chicago bears, fashion, Football, Fundraiser, General, Homepage Feature, nightlife, sports


The Make A Wish Foundation of Illinois is celebrating their 25th Anniversary of their Gala the “Wish Ball” this Saturday May 21st by honoring 25 people and organizations that they have deemed “Leaders In Joy!”  I am beyond honored to say that I am among this humbled group along others like Michael Jordan, Mayor Daley & Maggie Daley, Larry Wert, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Brian Urlacher, the Chicago Blackhawks and more. Since 1985 Make A Wish has been granting special wishes to children facing life threatening illnesses giving each child the power to decide the nature of their wish, providing a sense of renewed faith, courage and self-confidence. These are not in any way “last wishes” but experiences that remind the wish kids that although everything in their world seems to be falling apart, there is still good and magic out there, and I love that message.

As much as there are “Leaders In Joy” being honored, to me this event will be way more about celebrating the work that the Make A Wish team has done by granting nearly 10,000 wishes across the state! One of those wishes was for an awesome little girl, Sydney Martin, (in picture above) that I had the pleasure of meeting last March when helping her present her necklace jewelry line in a run-way show. I blogged about Sydney right after not only because I was extremely moved by her story, but also I was excited about her talents & future.  She was diagnosed in 2007 with an extremely rare blood disease called Langerhan’s Cell Histicytosis (LCH), and started her own necklace line she has used to raise over $120,000 for LCH research.  I’m just inspired by that, and feel like I got just as much out of helping, as she may have received by being granted a wish.

Because of the wonderful feelings and giving all the way around, I’m really looking forward to honoring her, the many many other kids like her, and all those that have been an important part of building the Illinois chapter in to the largest and most well-known wish-granting organization in the region.. to be included in that is something I will always cherish.

For more information about the Make A Wish Foundation and this year’s Wish Ball – please take the time to visit www.wishes.org.

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02/21/11

Chicago Blackhawks Appreciation Night at Rockit Wrigley for my Social Media Friends!

blackhawks, chicago, Homepage Feature, Uncategorized

Remember when I shared these personal pics (that got 250,000 views in 24hrs) the night I was w/the Blackhawks when they came home w/the Stanley Cup?! The team came straight to Rockit first, threw me in their bus, we hit the town, and we ended the celebration w/the most memorable party ever at The Underground at 4am- just hours before the celebratory parade downtown!
It is all so obvious that Chicago loves their sports teams and we were beyond thrilled to celebrate w/the Blackhawks and the champion cup they so rightfully earned- and I just want to continue the celebration and invite all of my Facebook and Twitter friends to Rockit Wrigley this Thursday, Feb 24th for a Chicago Blackhawks Appreciation Party! Starting at 7pm let’s all cheer on the Hawks as they take on the Predators….I’ll have ticket giveaways, food, drinks and Blackhawks.. Will be fun!

This is how you RSVP….

Twitter Peeps : Tweet me this exact line –  ”Hey @BD, I want to go to your Blackhawks Appreciation Night! http://bit.ly/dMJ1FW”

Facebook friends : Write this exact line on my wall – “Hey Billy Dec, I want to go to your Blackhawks Appreciation Night! http://bit.ly/dMJ1FW”

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08/02/10

Behind the scenes w/ bon jovi, kid rock, bachelors, blackhawks, & my white sox 1st pitch

General

Everyone has been asking me what’s it like to be asked to hang backstage w/ bon jovi, to stand on the pitchers mound at a major league baseball game and throw out the 1st pitch in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans, take the most well known people from the show “the bachelor” out to play pool in the middle of one of my night’s out with all the guys from the blackhawks (and did they all get along), and much much more????  So here are a sample of my crazy pics attached from last few days to all who are missing out on getting them (and way more) first in real time by following me on twitter, and by being friends with me on facebook… sign up already… who knows… maybe next time you can join me! (as I take twitter/facebook friends with me from time to time too!)

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07/29/10

2010 Stanley Cup Champions 3rd Annual Blackhawks Convention

blackhawks, celebrities, chicago, General, Pictures, sports

Chicagoans are die hard sports fans, win or lose, but it’s even more sweet when we national championships! The day after the Hawks took home the Stanley Cup I posted the pics of me hitting the town with the team, sharing the cup w/chicago and celebrating an excellent season…I received over 250,000 hits that morning, how crazy is that?!? (click here to see them!)

In keeping with the celebration and gearing up for next season I wanted to share (as I always do) some of my badges to the 3rd Annual Blackhawks Convention this weekend! From July 30th to August 1st at the Chicago Hilton you can hang out with players, Hawks alum, enjoy Q& A sessions, try your luck at interactive games, and just revel in all the Blackhawks glory! Check out my facebook page to see how you can win them today!

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07/08/10

duncan keith at nascar & vince vaughn at wild west comedy tour!

blackhawks, celebrities, chicago, Comedy, General, Movies, sports

I woke up this morning to exciting news from two fav dudes I’m partying w/in this pic from blackhawks celebrations- duncan keith & vince vaughn!

First, my buddy Duncan Keith, star defenseman for the Blackhawks will serve as Grand Marshal of the LifeLock.com 400 NASCAR Spring Cup Series this Saturday, July 10th at the Chicagoland Speedway. You can check out the Keith and a little NASCAR by visiting www.chicagolandspeedway.com.

Vince Vaughn is in town shooting a new Ron Howard and Brian Grazer flick this summer,  just released that he’s bringing his Wild West Comedy Tour to Chicago for one night along with fellow comedian Kevin James. You can see them Friday, July 23rd at Park West Theatre — read more for all info…

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06/25/10

Comcast Sportsnet Interview : Blackhawks, Piven Theatre Workshop Benefit & Lookingglass Theatre's Madhatter's Ball

Art, blackhawks, celebrities, charity, chicago, General, nightlife, sports, Theater, Video

it’s always a pleasure to chat and catch up with my buddy david kaplan on comcast sportsnet – we covered all things chicago but more importantly, our hometown champs – the chicago blackhawks (you have to see these stanley cup pictures, they’re a riot!) – the annual piven theatre workshop benefit i host with jeremy piven every year (you can check me out on the set of entourage by clicking here) and lookingglass theatre’s madhatter’s ball which was a blast last night!

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06/17/10

Ellen Live TBS Show at Chicago Theatre!

Art, blackhawks, celebrities, chicago, Comedy, General, Music, nightlife, Theater

I love to share awesome prizes, tickets, vip passes…to all the experiences I get invited to w/ all my friends and followers on facebook and twitter (click on them to get in on it!). Yesterday I made up a fun lil contest to take a couple fans to Ellen’s amazing live show at The Chicago Theatre…you got to see these pics & read this review that one of the winners wrote, it’s awesome!

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06/15/10

Blackhawks, Stanley Cup, Cubs vs Sox…Chicago Celebration Pics!

blackhawks, chicago, nightlife, Pictures

Crazy weekend from Blackhawks to Cubs/Sox… and as you know, I always try to share the chicago behind the scenes here… so enjoy a quick look at some of my pics… from pre-parade celebration last Thursday night that all started at rockit.. until 5a yesterday morning!

And btw, sorry to all who couldn’t get to see the cup in Wrigleyville after the game as the players had texted me they had planned… said the city/cops felt after last weds it could just get way too mobbed w/cubs v sox crowd on top of it all…probably right… thank you players for letting me know as soon as rerouted w/in minutes of game ending (which I immediately forwarded on to all on facebook & twitter) so didn’t have to wait around… you all rock… sure everyone in chi will see it this summer all over town.. as it’s “a chicago thing” now! look at some of my pics

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