Paris Opera Ballet To Make Its Chicago Debut

I’ve always LOVED Paris and all things French.  My grandmother lived in France briefly as a young girl, my great-uncle taught French in Australia for over 20 years, my mother’s family lived in Belgium for 9 years (where they speak French) and I took French in middle school and high school.  Sadly, from lack of practice my knowledge of the French language has dwindled, but my love of the country and culture remains strong.  I was fortunate enough to go to Paris for Christmas 3 years ago with my mom and I fell more in love with it all.  One of the most impressive things I saw on my trip was the Palais Garnier, home of the Paris Opéra Ballet, one of the most well known ballets in the world and the oldest (the company was started during the reign of Louis XIV).  While I didn’t get to see them perform – they were touring at the time – I was able to see the beautiful theatre where their performances take place and it was awe-inspiring.

Now, the world-famous Paris Opéra Ballet is set to make its Chicago debut on June 26^th.  The company of 190 dancers will take the stage at the Harris Theater for 2 different shows, led by Company Director Brigitte Lefèvre.  They open their tour with Giselle, a beloved piece that the Paris Opéra Ballet first performed 170 years ago.  Then starting on Friday, June 29^th through the end of their stay, the company will perform three timeless masterpieces in a show aptly named Epic French Masterpieces.  The three masterpieces include Suite en Blanc, L’Arlésienne & Boléro.  The opening night of the performance will also host a gala benefit that will include cocktails & hors d’oeuvres before the 6pm debut of Giselle with a dinner in Millennium Park directly following the show.

There are still plenty of tickets available for each night so be sure and get yours now before it’s too late!  Au revoir mes amis, I shall see you at the Harris Theater!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: ballet, Boléro, Brigitte Lefèvre, chicago, France, Giselle, Harris Theater, Louis XIV, L’Arlésienne, millennium park, Palais Garnier, paris, Paris Opéra Ballet

Vert Couture Eco-Fashion Show & Benefit at Fashion Focus Chicago

As one of the headlining shows during Fashion Focus Chicago, Conscious Living TV presents Vert Couture. This runway show is ready to wow the crowd and make fashionistas fall in love with the fashions of 2012. This Thursday, October 20^th, prepare to get your green on with this 3^rd annual event. Vert Couture is unlike any other fashion show out there- it focuses on Chicago’s sustainable fair trade fashion movement and the runway takes place on one of the largest green roofs in the Unites States! It was created by Michael and Bianca Alexander, founders of Conscious Planet Media, an Emmy award-winning green television, video and film productions company. Billy is on the host committee and thrilled to be a part of this earth-friendly evening of fashion.

You can attend this event and see the featured looks of spring and summer 2012 collections from Chicago’s most talented designers. What’s so different about these designer fabrics is that they are using renewable fabrics and vintage materials. The pieces that are being shown are the “best in luxury eco-haute couture” and feature designs from Brenda Abdullah, Richard Dayhoff, Dollparts, Heart, Victoria Larkin, Lauren Lein, Rosina-Mae, Silk Utopia and more.

This carbon-neutral event is taking place under the tents of Millennium Park and benefits Keep Chicago Beautiful – an environmental nonproft that offers governmental, corporate and community education programs to help beautify Chicagoland. Definitely get a move on purchasing tickets to Vert Couture, VIP tickets are $95 and General Admission is just $35 – get your tickets and more info at www.VertCouture.com.

- Rhea Drougas

Tags: billy dec, Brenda Abdullah, chicago, Dollparts, Fall Fashion 2011, fashion, Fashion Focus Chicago, fashion show, Heart, Keep Chicago Beautiful, Lauren Lein, millennium park, Richard Dayhoff, Rosina-Mae, Silk Utopia, Vert Couture, Victoria Larkin

Chicago Gourmet food festival in millennium park presented by bon appetit

chicago is a world-class culinary power w/all the support of its locals, talent, media, visitors & fans.. so it only makes sense that we finally have our own world-class food & wine festival appropriately named “chicago gourmet!” taking place this weekend in millennium park, this relatively young but thriving and much talked about festival will showcase the best food, wine, chefs, educational seminars, book signings and all things culinary in Chicago… oh, and I’ll be on stage MC’ing some of the wonderful culinary demonstrations that are not to be missed! join me?

you can get the entire schedule/cast of chefs, sommeliers, speakers, restaurants, brands,.. participating along with all other info on www.chicagogourmet.org. if can check out what I will be doing there (which I would love!), on Saturday at 12:30p come by the Bon Appetit Culinary Stage where I will be MC’ing “A Classic Revisited” by Bruce Sherman (North Pond). Then I’ll be MC’ing “Late Summer Plates” by Kerry Simon (Simone at the Palms) and Federico Comacchio (Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush) on the Bon Appetit Main Stage at 3pm. At 330p I will be at the Gastropub Tasting Pavilion to check out head of culinary for rockit, chef james gottwald, as he throws down and shares the secrets of our divine Mini Rockit Burgers. Then on Sunday, head over to the Sunda Table in the Supreme Lobster and Seafood Co. Tasting Pavilion for some delicious Chilled Corn and Miso Soup along with Malaysian Blue Crab Salad from chefs jesse deguzman and rodelio agligbot. seeeeeya there!

Tags: bon appétit, chefs, chicago, chicago gourmet, culinary, millennium park, rockit, sommeliers, sunda, wine, world-class food

chicago 2016 olympics w/ travel channel's "bizarre foods" andrew zimmern

if you follow me on twitter, you know i am a travel freak! i’m writing this from moscow for goodness sake! combine that w/ my life long restaurant background, and my obsession for eating everything i can….and bang! i am of course a huge fan of andrew zimmern and his tv show “bizarre foods!” and if that wasn’t enough in and of itself, wait till you see what he told me about chicago’s food culture! now i really like him!  

Speaking of our world class food culture, I have been bragging about a local culinary event for a year now that blew my mind called “Chicago Gourmet”… and it’s finally back this weekend!  Not only does this even showcase the top talent of Chicago’s culinary community (including my guys chef james & the food buddha from rockit & sunda) through 2 days of high-end food & wine tastings, demos & educational seminars… but it all happens outside in beautiful millennium park!  50 chefs, 300 wine makers, 65 spirits providers… it’s amazing! 

Tickets are available at www.ChicagoGourmet.org for $150/day or $250 for a two-day pass… and since I will be in Russia… I am giving my 2 passes away to my friendly supporter that best describes why andrew’s comment about our food culture is right on!  Comment below and we will pick a winner by 5pm today

Tags: 2016, andrew zimmern, bizarre foods, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, chicago gourmet, james gottwald, millennium park, moscow, olympics, rockit bar and grill, rodelio aglibot, sunda, travel channel