Earth Day Celebration at Chicago’s Green Exchange, Featuring NBC’s “The Voice” Singer, Rebecca Loebe

Hey eco-friendlies! This is Cassy from Ripple Public Relations, and I have the scoop on an awesome event coming up in honor of Earth Day. The Green Exchange in Logan Square (2545 W. Diversey) is celebrating Earth Day on Monday, April 22^nd from 5-9pm with an evening chock-full of food, drinks, fun classes, speakers, and live music!

I know what you’re thinking, “class” doesn’t sound very fun… but what if I told you there was a class on how to brew your own beer?! That’s what I thought. The “Homebrewing 101” workshop will be hosted by Chicago’s newest craft brewery, Ale Syndicate. There will be two workshops from 5-6pm and 6-7pm, and they are included in the ticket price! You do have to be 21 years old, and it’s first come, first served.

Additionally, from Season 1 of NBC’s “The Voice”, talented singer Rebecca Loebe will be performing live at 7pm at the Greenhouse Loft! Loebe is in award-winning singer and songwriter from Atlanta, with a musical style of intimate folk mixed with jubilant pop.

Guests will also be able to experience the global collaborative art project, As You Are: A Decade of You Are Beautiful, as seen on OWN’s Super Soul Sunday. Check out a video here!

The Green Exchange is America’s largest green business community, and it is totally environmentally friendly. Home to over 20 green businesses, the 270,000 square foot building has amazing features, like a 41,329-gallon rain cistern that captures water and reuses it, an organic garden, even live chickens and honey bees!

For info on other cool events, follow Green Exchange on their Facebook & Twitter pages.

Let’s celebrate this beautiful Earth we live on!

- Cassy Murphy, Ripple PR

Tags: Ale Syndicate, As You Are: A Decade of You Are Beautiful, atlanta, Beer, craft brewery, earth day, eco-friendlies, environment, folk, green, Green Exchange, Greenhouse Loft, homebrewing 101, honey bees, Logan Square, NBC, organic garden, OWN, pop, Rebecca Loebe, Ripple PR, Ripple Public Relations, Singer, songwriter, The Voice, workshop

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs! Well, kind of

I hope your calendar is clear this Friday night.  Why you ask?  Because it will be raining cats and dogs of course!  Ok, not literally.  But it’s the Anti-Cruelty Society’s 12^th Annual Fall Benefit, appropriately named: It’s Raining Cats & Dogs!  What can you expect from this extraordinary event (and I can assure you, it will be extraordinary)?  Here’s the inside scoop.

The Anti-Cruelty Society is Chicago’s oldest and largest private, open admission, unlimited stay humane society – helping to find “forever homes” for cats and dogs.  Through various programs and services like low to no-cost adoptions, spay/neuter clinics, cruelty investigations, humane education, charity veterinary clinics, dog training classes, and so forth, the organization helps over 50,000 animals and humans every year.

While supporting this remarkable cause at Chicago’s famous Palmer House Hilton hotel, you’ll be noshing on fabulous food prepared by the city’s finest chefs.  Some teasers?  Amanda Downing of Rockit Bar & Grill and Rockit Burger Bar (who doesn’t love what has been named “the best burger” in town by Good Morning America & Citysearch?), Patricio Sandoval of Mercadito (authentic Mexican cuisine, yum!), Ryan Pitts of RL (that’s right, the man behind Ralph Lauren’s iconic restaurant is on-board), John Coletta of Quartino (you can finally enjoy this rustic Italian restaurant that is jam-packed every weekend WITHOUT the wait), and Jeffrey Sills of Sprout (no explanation needed) will all be in attendance – to name just a few.  And in case you were wondering, complimentary cocktail bars will be stationed around the room.

NBC5’s Stefan Holt will be emceeing the evening which, in addition to the mouthwatering menu, will feature music from The Flat Cats, non-stop dancing, an old time photo booth, a cash raffle, a live & silent auction – including a safari trip to South Africa!, and adorable, ADOPTABLE cats & dogs serving of course as your host committee.

Individual tickets are $175 in advance or $200 at the door.  Better yet, Billy Dec has a few on-hand that you can enter to win.  Catch his regular “What’s on Dec” segment on Windy City Live tomorrow morning at 9:00am for all of the details.

So, is your calendar clear?  I’m assuming it will be now.  Enjoy!

-Kara Blasquez 

Tags: adopt cat, adopt dog, Amanda Downing, animal welfare organization, Anti-Cruelty Society, authentic Mexican food, benefit, best burger, billy dec, cash raffle, charity, chicago events, Citysearch best burger, finest chef, forever homes, Good Moring America best burger, It’s Raining Cats and Dogs, Jeffrey Sills, John Coletta, live auction, local cause, Mercadito, NBC, NBC5, Palmer House Hilton, Patricio Sandoval, photo booth, Quartino, Ralph Lauren restaurant, RL, rockit bar & grill, Rockit Burger Bar, Ryan Pitts, silent auction, Sprout, Stefan Holt, The Flat Cats, top chef, What's on Dec, windy city live

Chicago Gateway Green’s 20th Annual Green Tie Ball

I can’t believe this is the 20th anniversary of Green Tie Ball! I remember when I was graduating college and wanted to get involved in one charity that I knew could allow me to make a difference. I had always heard the best party of the year was called Green Tie Ball, so I did my research and found it was so much more than that I had to get involved.

The Green Tie Ball benefits Chicago Gateway Green, whose mission is dedicated to greening and beautifying Chicago’s expressways, gateways and neighborhoods. The non-profit organization was founded in 1986 and since then, have helped to improve both the local environment and the quality of life for millions of Chicago residents and visitors. They are able to improve our communities through three key programs: the Expressway Partnership, transforming city roadways into landscaped parkways; the International Sculpture Program, beautifying gateways through the installation of public, international art on expressways; and the Tree Partnership Program, a large-scale tree planting initiative that transforms vacant land into tree-filled green spaces.

12 years ago I started by stuffing gift bags and helping with whatever I could, I went on to book entertainment, then chaired the event and now was just voted on to the Executive Board of Directors! This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary and it’s back where it originated at A. Finkl & Sons and a “Return to Emerald City” theme. Saturday will be Co-Chaired by Tim Smithe – Walter E. Smithe Furniture & Design and Stephanie Castagnier – NBC’s The Apprentice 2010, plus we have over 60 of Chicago’s top restaurants including Sunda & Rockit Bar & Grill. Expect fabulous drinks and the best entertainment by Too White Crew, Dr. Bombay and tunes by DJ’s Rock City, Yours Truly and DJ Galvan – with the official after-party at The Underground. Tickets and more info – www.gatewaygreen.org.

- Jon Landan

Tags: after party, annual gala, charitable events, chicago, chicago expressway, chicago gateway green, chicago non-profit, chicago weekend events, dj galvan, dj rock city, dj yours truly, dr. bombay, gateway green, green tie ball, jon landan, NBC, rockit bar and grill, stephanie castagnier, sunda, the apprentice, the underground, tim smithe, too white crew, walter e. smithe

Better Boys & Girls Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration

Hi readers! This is Stephanie Castagnier, I’m a friend of Billy’s, but you probably know me from NBC’s The Apprentice, the 2010 season.  I wanted to share an event with you that I hold near and dear to my heart. On Tuesday, July 12th I have the distinct honor of speaking  at the Better Boys Foundation 50th Anniversary Celebration, and I can’t wait! I will be sharing my story of loosing my parents to AIDS and overcoming adversity as a child, I think this is the perfect platform to speak about my past. The Better Boys Foundation is truly an incredible, unique Chicago organization formed to serve kids in the North Lawndale neighborhood by providing academic, social, emotional and cultural guidance. Founded in the early ’60s by the legendary Buddy Hackett and local businessman Joe Kellman, the BBF has gone through several transformations and has grown substantially over the decades.

It’s amazing to think that it all began with the opening of a boxing gym! From there the foundation worked to create a free breakfast program for needy children, then went on in 1970 and formed the Farragut High School Outpost Classroom to help students that had dropped out, earn their GED’s. They have created scholarships, theatre programs, family based funds, temporary living facilities, teen-parent groups and even art based apprenticeships focused on film, dance, writing and more. It’s really quite impressive and heart warming to see the Better Boys Foundation progression through the years and makes me even more so looking forward to participating in next Tuesday’s festivities.

I hope you can all join me at Carnivale to commemorate the past 50 years of the BBF, it’s definitely going to be a fun evening! And an exciting twist…..guests will have the opportunity to step back in time to learn more about BBF’s beginnings in the 1960s and its evolution across five decades of dedicated service to the North Lawndale community, how cool is that? For more info and tickets please visit http://www.bbf50.com/ and I really hope to see you next week! Thanks….Stephanie

Tags: after school program, aids, better boys and girls, better boys foundation, better boys foundation 50th anniversary, buddy hackett, carnivale, charity, chicago, donald trump, farragut high school, joe kellman, NBC, nbc's apprentice, north lawndale, safe house, stephanie castagnier, the apprentice

Billy Dec joining ABC’s NEW SHOW filling “OPRAH” time slot called “Windy City Live!”

Shocking title I know – someone who beat me to the paper just texted it to me! Just wanted to confirm its true and that I couldn’t be more excited! Although I’m sad to see Oprah leave on the 25th, I’m thrilled to join the on-air team for the NEW ABC morning talk show filling her time slot (9a) the very next day (5/26) with such a wonderful group of talent, execs, crew…I can’t wait!

I’m most excited for you all to see my every Thursday segment about Entertainment/Buzz/Social Media/Events (set your DVR’s now just in case!).. But don’t just tune in then, as you never know when or where I might pop up elsewhere on the show… not to mention everyone on it rocks!

As always, follow me on www.twitter.com/BillyDec & www.facebook.com/BillyDec not only for what’s happening behind the scenes  & what’s to come, but also to shoot me any events, trends, stories… you think I should share on the show!! Speaking of, be sure to follow http://twitter.com/#!/WindyCityLIVE &  http://www.facebook.com/WindyCityLIVE?sk=wall as well!!

Shoutout to all on our team…President & General Manager Emily Barr, Executive Producer Marlaine Selip, Supervising Producer Cindy Patrasso, Senior Producer Hank Mendheim, Co-Host Ryan Chiaverini, Co-Host Val Warner, Producers Dan Barbossa, Mary Hynes, David Plummer and Matt Knutson, Producer/Editor Jared Hoffa, Director Greg Klazura, Associate Producers Jessie Kalin, Dawn Watkins, Ji Suk Yi and Lynne Wisnesfski and the Producer for my segments Emerald-Jane Hunter (who was my Producer when I Hosted her show on NBC!), all our fabulous interns Anna Simovska, Chelsea Collins, Courtney Mosley, Dana Weems, Myke Marinkovich, Steven Hurn… And the many many many other great people on set and behind the scenes that I can’t even name because the list is so long and wonderful.. Hope you all tune in and support!

Tags: abc, abc's windy city live, billy dec, chicago events, entertainment, facebook, last show, morning talk show, NBC, new show, news, oprah, oprah finale, oprah replacement, oprah show, oprah time slot, oprah winfrey, rockit, rockit bar, rockit bar and grill, rockit ranch, rockit ranch productions, ryan chiaverini, social media, sunda, twitter, underground, united center, val warner, windy city live

Get Into the holiday spirit with chicago's annual holiday pops concert!

one of my favorite holiday traditions is to take friends & family to see the annual Holiday Pops concert full of carols, choirs, stories, musicians.. And everything joyous & traditional about the holiday that brings back so many memories for me, as well as an all around cheerful time w/ people I enjoy! Featured performers include the Holiday Pops IX Chorus, the Randolph Street Jazz Orchestra & the Children’s Chorus of Alphonsus Academy and Center for The Arts.

The mastermind behind this festive concert is Maestro Scott Arkenberg, who also happens to be my 5-7th grade organ teacher from St. Clements (yes, I took organ lessons), and the evening is hosted by my other long time buddy nbc’s rob elgas (who I hear will be singing this year!??!). I highly recommend just pulling the trigger and bringing friends and/or family with you this Wednesday, Dec 8th at the Harris Theatre and enjoy! Tickets and more info about the concert and it’s history can be found at http://holidaypopschicago.com/index.php – I’ll see you there!

Tags: christmas, christmas concert, harris theatre, holiday pops concert, holidays, NBC, nbc 5, rob elgas, scott arkenberg, tickets

Chicago's Laura Baron on VH1's "You're Cut Off!"

join kiss fm, time out magazine, vh1 & the rockit ranch crew for a crazy kickoff to tonight’s blackhawks game six of the Stanley cup finals!!!!!!!! “You’re Cut Off” premieres tonight on VH1 taking 9 self proclaimed “princesses” who have lived nothing short of blessed lives and simply cuts them off. No money, no pricey belongings, no swanky living accommodations… and makes them work like hard working chicagoans like the shows host, my long time chicagoan buddy laura baron! (clip above hilarious!)

laura, who’s been featured on NBC, CNN, Extra and quite a few others, is teaching these young ladies how to grow up, take responsibility and live outside their perfect bubbles of decadence. A true Chicagoan, Laura chose her hometown to celebrate the premiere of the show at her hometown fav Rockit Bar and Grill tonight from 6-9pm…. And we are psyched to kick off this crazy victorious chicago night with her and the vh1, timeout, kiss fm crew & you!!!!!!!

Tags: ask laura baron, billy dec, blackhawks, cnn, extra, kiss fm, laura baron, life coach, MTV, NBC, princess, Radio, reality tv, rockit, rockit bar and grill, rockit ranch productions, spoiled, stanley cup, time out magazine, vh1, You're Cut Off

I got my 2nd Nomination for an Emmy!

Tags: 24/7, bridges media group, emmy, NBC, rockit ranch productions, sunda

chicago 2016 olympics w/ e!'s "the soup" joel mchale

most know joel from e!’s “the soup” (at least when tweeting from our hangout his e! fans lit my phone up!), but i have a strange feeling once his new show “community” premieres on nbc with chevy chase and cast, he is going to be known for a lot more! as you can tell, he is crazy funny to hang out with…i couldn’t keep a straight face myself…. 

remember all, if you want to help bring the olympic games home to chicago (and usa in general) share these celebrity videos i post each day for all through facebook, email, twitter….as fast as you can, where ever you can! will help spread the word far and fast – only 14 days to go until i land in copenhagen for the official decision on oct 2nd as to whether america wins or not!

Tags: 2016, chevy chase, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, community, e!, joel mchale, NBC, olympics, the soup

chicago 2016 olympics w/ nbc's "law and order" s. epatha merkerson

Tags: 2016, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, law and order, midwest, NBC, olympics, s. epatha merkerson, theatre