Autism Speaks to Young Professionals Supports Autism Awareness Month with Illuminate Event

AS2YP Chicago will be hosting Illuminate on April 6th at the Joffrey Ballet Studio to celebrate Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue campaign and April as Autism Awareness Month. The event is now sold out, but read on to learn how to get on the waitlist and support AS2YP in other ways!

Autism affects 1 in 88 children in the United States – what can Chicago do to help? Autism Speaks to Young Professionals (AS2YP) calls Chicagoans to commemorate Autism Awareness month and to help Autism Speaks Light It Up Blue this April!

Step One:

Join AS2YP – Chicago for Illuminate, a cocktail reception, taking place on April 6, 2013 from 7-10 p.m. at the Joffrey Ballet Tower. The event includes tasting stations from Chicago restaurants (Rockit Bar & Grill is one of them!), an open bar (courtesy of Goose Island and Bacardi USA), raffle and silent auction, music and most importantly, the opportunity to help Autism Speaks change the future for everyone who struggles with autism. Click here to put your name on the Illuminate wait list, donate to the event or to purchase a tribute to honor a loved one!

Step Two:

Do your part to Light It Up Blue. Wear blue on April 2^nd, World Autism Awareness Day, and purchase blue Autism Speaks light bulbs from Home Depot to light up your own home. With the support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, buildings throughout Chicago will Light It Up Blue. Keep your eye on the blue skyline all month, join us for our city-wide events and take the opportunity to raise awareness about autism!

Step Three:

Become involved with AS2YP – Chicago beyond Illuminate and Autism Awareness month. AS2YP is making Chicago a more autism-friendly city, playing in LTS Chicago’s sports leagues, planning fundraisers, networking…you name it, we do it, and we invite you to join us! Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about AS2YP and to learn more about membership opportunities. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to receive daily updates on Illuminate and our other activities!

-Tori Tasch, PR Chair for Illuminate, AS2YP Chicago’s annual event

Tags: as2yp, autism-friendly, bacardi usa, city-wide events, events on april 6th, facebook, goose island, home depot, illuminate, joffrey ballet tower, light it up blue, LTS Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Music, rockit bar & grill, silent auction, tori tasch, twitter

Goddess & Grocer River North Location Opening Soon!

Does your big box grocery store just not cut it? Are you in the River North area and looking for a touch of class from your local grocer? Looking for a little ‘take-home’ gourmet? Looking to try any different kind of shopping experience?

Well, you’re in luck! Keep an eye out for a 4^th location of the admired Chicago establishment. Look forward to seeing Chicago local favorite deli “The Goddess & Grocer” on the western edge of River North very soon. In this case, soon means…(drum roll please) … February!

The specialty shop is known for both made to order, ready to heat and eat entrée’s and delectable sweets (just to mention a few of their yummy abilities!) Guests should expect excitement over unique architectural design and delicious Goddess specialties as well!

I’d suggest maybe grabbing breakfast, lunch or even a gift basket (great Valentine’s Day Gift for Mom!!)

They also cater Valentine’s Day Dinner to your home! They suggest you to “Cheat on Dinner” by offering to make your life a little easier on lovebird’s day. Pretty cute and definitely tempting…everything just looks WAY to yummy to pass it up.

Check out the website for more specific info on the opening, to order online, to view the menu or just to browse the enticing pictures!

PS: if you get a cupcake…get me one too, please!

- Follow Goddess & Grocer on Facebook & Twitter -

- Mandy Stifter

I tweet, do you?

Tags: architecture, breakfast, catering, chicago, cupcake, eats, facebook, February, Goddess & Grocer, groceries, lunch, opening, order, river north, sweets, treats, twitter, yummy

Create the best late night Bar/Restaurant! Rockit Ranch bought Martini Ranch. You choose the concept Chicago! (update by Billy Dec)

UPDATE 10/19/12- THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN! The most voted for concept for our next venue was a play on a “Mexican Dive Bar” at 39% of the votes- so as of right now, we will proceed now in that direction!!!!! Please help us spread the word to hire the best staff for this project, and for positions available at our other Restaurants/Bars/Nightclubs…at our Open Call for Jobs this Monday 10/22/12 from 2p-530p at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard). See: http://bit.ly/SAOFyP & email HR@RockitRanch.com for info.

Thank you all so much for your valuable input! More to come!***

Surprise!  We found a unique opportunity and bought Martini Ranch!  Not only is it one of the few 4am licenses left in the city, and walking distance from our other River North properties Sunda, Dragon Ranch, Underground & Rockit, but tons of Chicagoans from all over (like my partners Brad Young, Arturo Gomez & I) have meaningful history enjoying this local gem w/friends for the last 20+ years! Haha- I even was a bouncer there when I was 21!

So… now what? What should we do with it?  We figured you all have been so critical to our success with your insightful & caring suggestions on what we can  do to serve you better, that we thought we’d let you have a say too! We’d probably open it around the new year, just in time to send our late night crowd & employees there from Underground, while we give UG a fresh new look during the slower winter months of 2013. Which means we need to know what route to take now! 

[poll id="3"]

We will tally all votes and announce our decision in early October!  Thanks all and spread the word to all your friends via Twitter, Facebook, email (please use share buttons here too).. we want to hear what they think too!

AND since we are growing- WE ARE HIRING! Positions include experienced Servers, Bartenders, Managers, Hosts, Security, Cooks, Sous Chefs, Mixologists… At Rockit, Sunda, Underground, Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ and whatever this new concept will be! Email HR@RockitRanch.com if interested!

Tags: 4am, arturo gomez, Bar, Best, billy dec, brad young, chicago, Dive Bar, Dragon Ranch, facebook, late night, Martini Ranch, New concept, restaurant, river north, rockit, rockit ranch productions, sunda, the underground, twitter, Voting

Good times w/ Gold Medalist buds Ryan Lochte & Conor Dwyer at Sunda Chicago after London Olympics

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw my night out last night w/Olympian buds Ryan Lochte & Conor Dwyer. You obviously know how freakishly talented they are and how great they represented and competed for our country, but just wanted to say on a personal level, they are two solid great guys, pleasure to hang out with for sure.

If missed it, I took them to join me at Sunda, and we all tweeted out this pic (click here) of us and this amazing sushi roll Chef made to look like a gold medal with real gold shavings sprinkled over the top. Had to share it with you! They were blown away, totally fun. Then we all went for Moonshine Bushwackers at my new place Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ for the launch of our Tuesday Industry Night “Moonshine Social Club!“  After all that craze, we headed to a Hennessy Party where Ryan & I were just goofing off and made this little random off-the-cuff 2min Q & A video I think you’ll like…Enjoy!

Tags: "Jeah", basketball, billy dec, chicago, Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ, football, Gold Medal, Gold Sushi, Hennesy, interview, lil wayne, London, Magic, miami, Minnesota Vikings, Moonshine Social Club, Music, olympics, Orlando, Randy Moss, Ryan Lochte, Speedo, sunda, twitter

There’s Nothing Tricky About This: Rev Run is About to Rock Chicago!

Summertime Chi…there’s nothing quite like it: concerts nightly, festivals every weekend, crazy cool parties (like last week’s Talent Show) every weekend; it’s nonstop fun this time of year & there’s more to come this week!

Rockit Ranch Productions invites you to an exclusive private party this Thursday where legendary emcee, (and star of MTV’s popular show, Run’s House), Rev Run, will be hitting the turntables at Venue One at 7pm (and it’s free!).  The show kicks off with a DJ set by well-known Chicagoan Dante and is followed up by Ruckus before Rev Run takes over.  Run DMC is credited with bringing hip-hop mainstream in the late 80s and early 90s and Rev Run has been a huge factor in providing audiences with some of the most recognizable songs in hip-hop for years – see any of the 5 hits from the ‘Discover Run DMC – EP’ – and he’s coming HERE, just for this show!

As if that wasn’t enough, the official after-party continues at Chicago hotspot, The Underground and you know that means it’ll be a good night, especially since the Summer Music Series is wrapping up with DJ Cobra so the beats will be bumping!  There will be complimentary trolleys to transport guests from Venue One to The Underground starting at 9:45pm.  This is just a taste of what’s to come next week for Lolla, so be sure to save some energy for then.

The hosts of this event, Bud Light Platinum, want attendees to get interactive on twitter (share your pics, experiences, etc.) and use the hashtag, #MAKEITPLATINUM, while at the event!  We want to show Bud Light that Chicago is the best city, so let’s get this trending!

Be sure to RSVP to GuestList@rockitranch.com to get your name on the list!  See you at Venue One tomorrow night!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: #MAKEITPLATINUM, chicago, concert, Dante, DJ Cobra, DJ set, emcee, exclusive, founding members, free, interactive, night out, Rev Run, rockit ranch productions, Ruckus, Run DMC, Run’s House, summer music series, twitter, underground, Venue One, vip

I’m having an Identity crisis!!! What the heck should my name be?!? You pick:

Long story short, I changed my name on twitter on my bday last Friday from @BillyDec to @BD thinking it was the smartest thing to do being less characters, so unique, so hard to get.. But immediately a ton of people said they didn’t like the name change at all! Did I make a mistake?!? Help me decide what my name should be, vote here now please! Will go with the name with the most votes by next Friday (11/11/11) at 5p. Here are just a few of the comments from people about it in case helps, and feel free to leave your own comments below or on my twitter or facebook pages. Thanks! Signed, no name guy (til Friday).

[poll id="2"]

Tags: @BD, billy dec, billydec, name, twitter

Let Nike Know How You #OWNCHICAGO!

Do you run this city? As in, do you spend countless miles on the lakefront path, either training for the marathon or running to work? Do you spend hours on the basketball court, practicing your skills? Each person plays an integral role in this city and Niketown wants to honor these individuals that #ownchicago.

Starting Thursday, Niketown will be creating an art campaign through the hashtag #ownchicago. When Chicagoans go on Twitter or Facebook and share how they #ownchicago, Niketown Chicago will create a piece of artwork to bring it all to life. Every individual that uses #ownchicago will have their profile picture added to a giant mosaic located in Niketown Chicago.

With the marathon taking place on Sunday, this is a great way to celebrate all of the hard work and dedication that runners put in over the summer toward finishing 26.2 miles. On Thursday at 6:30pm, join Chicago athletes and many others at Niketown as they kick off this idea. Chicago is a great city that works hard and we all #ownchicago. Come out and share your voice.

-  Evan Jones

Tags: #ownchicago, Artwork, Chicago Marathon, evan jones, facebook, Marathon 2011, Nike, niketown, rockit ranch, sports, twitter

Shecky’s Girls Night Out: Fashion, Jewelry & Beauty!

Keeping up with the latest fashion could really be a full-time job! Styles come and go with the seasons and beauty trends never really last. I’m a jeans and a tshirt kind of guy, but if I had to say there is one thing that never goes out of style, it would be quality time with friends and loved ones.

So ladies, grab your gal pals and head out to Shecky’s Girls Night Out, this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct 4 & 5! Come out to the Great Hall at Union Station for an evening of cocktails, fall fashions and relaxing spa treatments! And I hear there is a killer goodie bag – it’s a win-win event!

Click here for details: http://www.sheckys.com/events/6489/girls-night-out-chicago-fall-2011/ and definitely check in on my Facebook and Twitter as I’ll be giving away tickets to the event this week!

Tags: billy dec, chicago fashion event, facebook, fall fashion, fashion, Girls Night Out, giveaway, Shecky's, spa treatments, tickets, twitter, Union Station

Nature Detox! My Colorado weekend Pics Twitter & Facebook Free!

Tags: billy dec, Colorado, facebook, Happy Trails, horses, Mountains, Nature, Private Plane, twitter

Rockit Ranch Productions and www.aChicagoThing.com win 4 Telly Awards with Billy Dec Avatar Social Media Anniversary Benefit Video!

What if my avatar literally came to life and spoke to people about a gigantic party to celebrate his 2nd birthday as the “person” behind all my social media platforms (facebook, twitter, blog..) that had  been communicating with tens of thousands of people with similar interests for the last 2 years?  And what if he explained in a really fun way that this huge party would benefit one of our favorite philanthropic missions, feeding people in need.  Well, that was the crazy idea we came up with at Rockit Ranch Productions 6 months ago when we produced the attached video- we just never thought we would actually win awards for it!!??!

Telly Awards honor the very best TV commercials, programs, videos, film productions & work created for the web… and we won these 4!
-Silver Award (the highest honor!!) – Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Use of Animation
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Video – Live Events
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Video – Animation
-Bronze Award – Internet/Online Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Charitable/Not for Profit

We had a blast making fun of me & my ridiculous updates, food porn, travel, celebrity encounters, behind the scenes work in our nightclubs & restaurants, contests & giveaways.. I love to share on facebook & twitter (you should be following me if not already!).. But the awards above are really due to the collaboration between the Rockit Ranch team and a number of talented animators, directors, videographers, friends.. below.. Thank you all!

Special shoutout to all the local artists who helped create this amazing video! Director/Editor: Catherine Lynch, Cinematographer: Adam Dick, Sound: Sam Fell, Avatar Lead: James Pawula, Animation: Ian Beckman & Ari Flesch, Texturing: Arwa Dabbakeh, Modeling: Whit Alexander, Music: Don Meyer, Underground Music: DJ Kane, Make-Up: Brenda Arelano, Equipment: Zacuto, Invites: M13 Graphics

And of course, the good people at the Greater Chicago Food Depository for all they do to fight hunger in our city, and for providing others with a way to help bring attention and support to their cause.

Tags: animation, anniversary party, avatar, billy dec, bronze award, chicago, Chicago charities, directors, facebook, food porn, fundraiser, greater chicago food depository, internet programs, live events, rockit, rockit ranch, rockit ranch productions, silver award, Telly, Telly Awards, twitter, videographers