Local Buzz (64)
Articles featuring local (Chicago area) people and places
ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY CAMPThe ULTIMATE Backstage Experience
As VIP Packages Saturate the Ailing Concert Industry, Rock 'n Roll Fantasy
Camp Offers the Most Genuine Value at Recession-Busting Rates During Weekend
Warrior Adventures
IN CHICAGO, THE EXCLUSIVE MIDWEST CAMP,
YOUR ONCE-IN-A-LIFE-TIME ROCK STAR EXPERIENCE COMES TO YOU
ALLMAN BROTHERS LEGEND DICKEY BETTS
TO LEAD ROCK STAR COUNSELORS AND LOCAL CAMPERS
Mitch Ryder and Teddy Andreadis (Guns N Roses) added to Chicago!
More special surprise guests to be announced.
It's a true rock 'n roll awakening that only campers attending this fall's
four Weekend Warrior Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camps can truly understand. Simply
put, there is no VIP offer any concert promoter can make anywhere that compares
to the ultimate backstage experience campers get at ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY
CAMP (RRFC) especially at the Recession-busting rates of the Weekend
Warrior camps.
That's why Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp is going on tour this fall to just four
U.S. cities, with an exclusive Midwest camp in Chicago (Nov. 19-21 at the House
of Blues). Campers will be traveling across state lines to live out their rock
'n roll fantasies while having the ultimate backstage experience of their
lives with head counselor Dickey Betts (co-founder of the Allman Brothers
Band), along with camp counselors Mark Farner (formerly of Grand Funk
Railroad), Mark Hudson (Aerosmith), Kip Winger (Winger), Rudy Sarzo (Quiet
Riot, Ozzy) and Sandy Gennaro (Joan Jett).
And look who now will be making special guest counselor appearances in Chicago:
Mitch Ryder and Teddy Andreadis (Guns N Roses). With more to be announced!
Rock pundits from Rolling Stone to the New York Times are noting with anguish
this summer that while vast numbers of people are losing their jobs and homes,
the VIP packages once reserved for megastars like U2 and the Rolling Stones are
trickling down to the rank-and-file of live performers to prop up a struggling
industry . As artists desperately try to maximize grosses in an ailing economy,
they're giving you the opportunity to pay even more than the already inflated
ticket prices to feel like you're getting closer to them. But how much more do
you really get?
As the New York Times recently noted, Bon Jovi has been offering an $1875 VIP
package that includes a leather bag, a catered meal and a take-home folding
chair with the band's logo. But where's the genuine band interaction?
By comparison, for $1999, Weekend Warrior campers gain admission to a
three-day camp with over a half-dozen rock star counselors, two lunches, a
ticket to the final night concert opening night cocktail party and dinner, a
swag bag and most of all learning and playing all weekend long with the rock
star counselors. Pay a little more and you get things like autographed guitars
and drum heads, a DVD of the final concert (with YOU in it), the opportunity to
write and record original songs, take Master Classes, and receive concert
tickets and private meet-and-greets for 10 of your closest friends and family
members. Consider all of your rock 'n roll fantasies truly fulfilled. Chair or
no chair, these three-day camps will change your life!
No top-dollar VIP package being offered by an act on tour this summer even
comes close: Not by the Black Eyed Peas, not even by Justin Bieber. Sure, you
can grab a quick picture with KISS for a $999 concert ticket; but the Eagles
won't even let you snap a single shot. Some rockers will take a quick pic
with VIP's who've stood in a long line waiting for that brief few seconds of
face time. Some will offer a glass of wine. Almost all will guarantee you a
seat in the first 10 rows and a free t-shirt but would you expect a seat any
further away at that price?
ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY CAMP shows you what a real VIP package looks like, giving
you everything those other packages offer (well, maybe not the take-home
chair), with the true promise of the most genuine rock star interaction you
could imagine. And with your favorite rock legends. YOU and the rock stars are
the concert, and you work together with your rock star counselors to attain
that moment, the grand finale, at a renowned rock concert venue.
ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY CAMP has never been more accessible, thanks to these new,
Recession-busting Weekend Warrior packages. For that once-in-a-lifetime
experience, a deposit of just $299 will save you, a friend or family member a
limited spot. It's an irresistible combination that affords the opportunity to
embark on a widely acclaimed adventure, as TV viewers around the world will see
this fall when VH1 Classic's weekly hour-long docu-series premieres. Each day
is a new thrilling challenge for the rock campers. Weekend Warrior packages
start at $1999 for this once-in-a-lifetime weekend-long experience.
For more information, please visit: [4]www.rockcamp.com.
About Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp
Since 1997, Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp has been giving individuals--regardless
of their musical ability--a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live like a rock
star and jam with their idols. The sessions begin with an opening night party
and include intensive rehearsals with rock star counselors and jams, master
classes and Q&A's with rock legends, recording an original song at historic
studios and conclude with a sold-out, closing night performance at a legendary
club. It's a dream come true for any music fan. Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp
takes place annually in London at Abbey Road Studios and Los Angeles. Other
camp locations have included New York and Las Vegas. For information, please
call 888.762.2263 x2 or visit [5]www.rockcamp.com.
Punk rock porn princess and founder of BurningAngel.com www.burningangel.com) Joanna Angel (www.JoannaAngel.com)is set to infiltrate the Midwest once again with her BurningAngel Girls at Exxxtacyshow 2010.
Showcasing with their own booth, Joanna along with her sexy, sultry BurningAngel vixens Misti Dawn, Jessie Lee, Draven, Kleio and Phoenix Askani will be signing photos, DVDs and body parts from July 16th to 18th at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois with a special Saturday night performance of Strip for Pain: America’s Most Dangerous Game Show. http://www.backseatconceptions.com/sfp_07/htm/
“On the heels of the debauchery at Exxxotica LA, we thought we’d hit the Midwest. It’s been awhile since we’ve done a Strip for Pain show, so I’m bringing the BurningAngel girls with me and we cannot wait to attack the innocent victims of Chicago!” says Joanna. “We will also have the BurningAngel toy line with us, including the newest addition to the line – the Joanna Angel blow up doll! Of course, I’ll also your favorite BurningAngel DVDs on hand and my latest release, “Rebel Girl” starring myself and the uber-dirty-sexy Jenna Haze.”
Exxxtacy Show 2010
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 North River Road
Rosemont, IL
Friday, July 16th11am – 10pm
Saturday, July 17th10am – 10pm
Sunday, July 18th11am – 6pm
Tickets are $60 for the entire weekend
Pushing the envelope and breaking new ground, the BurningAngel empire is a
refreshingly unique web cocktail of sex, rock n' roll and pop culture. Its
unmatchable edge has claimed a burgeoning bi-coastal community both in and
out of cyberspace. BurningAngel.com officially launched in April 2002 with
a few sets of photos and a band interview. The amateur experiment, conceived
by two college kids from Rutgers (Joanna Angel and Mitch Fontaine), has since exploded into a fierce indie company that has pioneered a new species of erotica and has given way to the emergence of Joanna Angel as the "queen of alt-porn." In January 2005, the website’s growing popularity spawned its sister DVD production company, BurningAngel Entertainment, which continues to deliver hip, ironic cult classics, including the award-winning Joanna's Angels and Cum on My Tattoo series.
BurningAngel.com now hosts an extensive hardcore video collection and photo
gallery featuring over 200 girls, hailing the site's co-founder and star, Joanna Angel, as its queen bee. The site also features provocative interviews with a variety of bands on both major and independent labels, including Bad Religion, the Transplants, Bloc Party, Marilyn Manson, the Bouncing Souls and Brendon Small of Cartoon Network's Metalocalypse. The website also boasts an interactive web community, featuring active message boards, profile pages for all members and models, and comment boards throughout the site in which members can express their opinions.
Since its inception, BurningAngel and its star Joanna Angel have been featured on such media outlets as Fox News, Playboy TV, Fuse TV, KROQ Radio, SIRIUS Radio, and on the series premier of TLC’s LA Ink. In addition, to a feature cover on Heeb Magazine naming Joanna as one of the “Top 100 Up-and-Coming Jews,” BurningAngel has appeared in The New York Times, Newsweek, The Village Voice, The New York Press, Esquire UK AVN, XBIZ, Status Ink, Tabu Tattoo Magazine and Penthouse. In 2006 The New York Post featured her as one of the “Top 25 Sexiest New Yorkers.”
For years I sported non-slip shoes and served Chicago's public to make a living. When I first found myself taking orders, the tips compensated for the state's low hourly wage rates for waitresses. But, as the economy began to plummet, so did my daily income. Nobody could even spare ten percent of their bill anymore, and my hourly wage sat at $4.25. Luckily, my restaurant smiled at one of Chicago's busy expressways, so there was more hope for my working environment than there were for others. Occasionally, celebrities strolled through our doors, and it was always a wonder as to who the lucky server would be. After all, you would think the faces from our televisions are some of the only humans still able to leave a generous bill on the table after their meals...right? Guess again.
Imagine having models, fighters, singers, and rappers entering the doorways of the place you are serving at. It almost sounds like a dream come true, until you learn the truth. Even the famous people are money pinchers. What is even worse, they almost all expect to be treated royally. Sure, I have heard a story or two of a generous celebrity. Who doesn't remember last summer, when actor Johnny Depp came to Chicago and left his server with no headache (plus four grand!)? However, it was a story for a reason: it's rare.
I had the number one world welterweight champion sit in my section. Personally, I don't follow fighting matches that often, but table 24 had a face that hung from the ceilings of Sports Authorities next to other great athletes across the nation, and I hoped he would bestow a pleasant reward upon my chosen seat. He wasn't rude, at least he agreed to take a picture with the workers, but when I brought him the bill his accomplice scoffed at how the meal wasn't free. I apologized, I really was sorry, but when I had approached my manager about nixing the bill, he shot me down. Of course, I couldn't tell the champ and his friend that, so I just blushed while sheepishly repeating, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry...". After the welterweight pro's friend scoured at me for what seemed like an eternity (probably a minute or two), I left and then arrived to accept their payment. Once they had forked over the cash, I graced them with thanks as they solemnly rose and exited. The tip? Ten bucks. No, their bill wasn't outrageously large, but I thought twenty dollars minimum would have been appropriate. You live, you learn.
One night I got a text from a friend and co-worker of mine that one of my favorite rappers had just walked through the front doors of our work. I lived an hour away, but I jumped in my car and shook while I anticipated sharing the same air as him. When I arrived, he had just left. It was poor timing, but I stayed to have a drink and discuss what I had missed. Fellow servers gushed over how polite he had been, he had taken a picture with everyone, he had signed autographs, his girlfriend was beautiful...oh, and his bill was as much as he tipped - nothing. You heard it, nothing. Hey, at least he was nice (I guess).
Not all stars are as charming as the above rapper. Just a week prior to his arrival, a known R&B singer strutted through the same doors as his rapper friend. During his visit, his manager forbid pictures, autographs, and the recognized celeb even sat and watched as my manager cracked his crab legs for him upon request. After a strict drop-in, my crab cracking manager zeroed the bill, and the lucky waitress scored nothing but some crumbs left behind.
What gives, Chicago!? Note to all: 20% tips should be per usual - even if you're famous. Scratch that, especially if you're famous! Not a tipper? Then hit up a drive-thru. Bon appétit!
Top 5 Things To Do This Weekend in Chicago!
Written by Greg Chruscielski
TOP 5
Excellent Things To Do in Chicago!
For the weekend of JULY 9 thru JULY 11th, 2010.
This week.... The Beach. The Soul. The "Barenaked"!
Doing Chicago BIG! Having a Blast!
Gettin' Buzzed about Sports and Entertainment!
By Greg Chruscielski
Millenium Park has so much going on lately!
Rachel Barton Pine
will be presented with the Great Performer of Illinois award!
JULY 11th.
The now annual and 3rd GREAT PERFORMERS OF ILLINOIS event will take place on Sunday, July 11th. 2010 in gorgeous Millenium Park, Chicagoland's answer to New York's pedestrian retreat Central Park, but with a little more art and entertainment flaire! This special ceremony begins at 6:30pm. Start your day downtown early and get a close stage spot.
Rachel Barton Pine will be honored, like fellow award recipients Dennis DeYoung ( of STYX ) and Buddy Guy ( Blues Legend ), with the prestigious award of Illinois Performer of the Year.
Rachel is a star who has actually produced more than 10 albums over 10 years, is a world-renowned violinist, has a music foundation, and plays with a metal band on the side! Plus...she's from Illinois! And of all the artists out there, Rachel Barton Pine has been chosen an exceptionally well-rounded artist. Her notoriety world-wide is magic you must and should absorb.
Vilolin and Heavy Metal together create unique perceptions and contrasts.
Playing with orchestras and symphonies around the planet, ruminescing gorgeous baroque spirits, and toning the strong victorious characters of the metal world, Rachel has given soulful ember to the artistic spirit in all of us, despite our preferences. She and her 1700's violin bring magic to the mind, heart, and soul. She is a true Chicago Star. Make it to this ceremony.
THE LARGEST
Blockparty in the WORLD!
JULY 9th. & 10th.
Leave it to Chicago, AGAIN!
Last week, we talked about how Chicago hosts some of the biggest events and parties on earth, right?! Well...the World's Largest Blockparty is taking place this weekend on JULY 9th. & 10th and it is one of those Chicago feel-gooders you have to be at! Located barely a block off of the Kennedy Expressway near Madison and Des Plaines, this is a big one. Fun, food, killer Chicago scene, and...a few surprises. On July 9th, everybody there's getting "NAKED"!
Well...not really....but if you're there to see BARENAKED LADIES, you're going to the right place. Performing the evening of July 9th along with last year's AMERICAN IDOL winner Kris Allen and other great artists, when you buy your ticket for this weekend event you will also receive 5 Free Drinks! SPOON will also be performing there on Saturday, July 10th with White Rabbits.
Celebrity bartenders from the television series will be there. Get served right, not light!
Located at Old St. Pat's church, the "blockparty" started out as a charity fundraiser and has since become a staple Chicago heritage gathering. As you can imagine this area will not have a lot of parking, although you have some options on the perimeter of Greek Town. This event is a northwest-side of the Loop party, so you can EASILY take the train or bus, parking west a little bit. In fact, this ievent is not that far from Milwaukee Ave, so start out in Wicker Park and get your Chicago resident shoes on and take a little walk. This is a great party! Go get friendly, and do it for a great cause!
NEXT!
Let's hope you don't hear that a lot as we cover this next option for awesome things to do this July 9-11 weekend!
A U D I T I O N!
That's right! So you love to sit around and make fun of other people who act and perform! Shame on you! Well smartie pants, here's your big shot! Or your little shot. Only you know!
"Just please leave Somewhere Over The Rainbow to the professionals."
http://www.theatreinchicago.com/auditions/
Look out BROADWAY! There is a renaissance of theatre that has been growing in the hearts and minds of the Illinois art patron for decades, and now we have some of the quaintest, most stimulating theatre environments around. Known for a variety of super-cool and unique theatre spaces ranging from audiences of 40 to 4,000 or more, if you want to act, or think you can act, or if its time to just let your spirit run free as others witness your testimony, there's no better time than now to get up there and make it happen. Do something in your life!
Specifically, this weekend....ahem....mimimimimi.....cough..! gulp..! ...
Saturday July 10 during the day.
City Lit Literate theatre
http://www.theatreinchicago.com/auditions/industrydetail.php?AuditionID=686
City Lit Theater
1020 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue
Chicago, IL
Volpone
Category: Non-Equity Audition
Pay: Check about pay
Description:
Seeking 8 men, ages ranging from 20s to 40+, and two women, one in 20s, and one 40+.
Jul 10 3pm
Oracle Theatre
Puppy Tears Puppetry Festival
Category: Non-Equity Audition
Pay: No Pay
Description:
The Rough House is hosting a puppetry festival at Oracle Theatre August 27th-September 12th
(from the page)
"We are accepting submissions for original pieces that depend on puppets to tell a story. Pieces may run 5 minutes to an hour, and may be as elaborate or stripped down as you like. All submissions will be considered-- from those entrenched in reality to those floating in the ether of the absurd; incendiary or escapist, topical or totally not, we are interested."
DEADLINE will be Mid-July
Are you a little bit
country?
You probably are and didn't know it if this next performer makes your brown eyes blue!
Just you and I...... just you and I.... sharing our dreams together.
Crystal Gayle, famous singer and sister of country star Loretta Lynn, is giving a special performance at the charming art-deco period Watseka Theatre in Watseka, Illinois on July 10th from 7-10 p.m. This quaint 425 person showcase originally hosted over 600. As the only one of its kind constructed by 1933's The Century of Progress chief Chicagoland architect Louis Skidmore, who is most famous for his firm's design of the United Nations building, The Sears Tower, and The Hancock building, the Watseka Theatre is a special trip to a different time.
"A beautiful voice can change a spirit forever."
Known for some of the most memorable songs in American History, Crystal Gayle started out performing a few songs "on the road" with her then growing and successful sister Loretta ( Lynn ), and eventually signed up with famed DECCA Records where her velvet voice and angelic country/folk style were recorded for what has become a piece of music history crooning a world-wide base of fans across all genres. Crystal has a voice that soothes and engages. You don't have to love country to love Crystal!
This special show is definietly something to see, especially at the Watseka.
http://www.watsekatheatre.com/ticketboothbuytickets.html
There will never truely be another Crystal Gayle. Make a special trip to a special theatre.
OK SPORTSFANS!
Work Hard. Play Harder! Have some fun in the sun!
Can you say VOLLEYWOOD? No..Not HOLLYWOOD. V O L L E Y W O O D!
Stars of Chicago's Sand! Jump. Fly. Hip Hop Horray.....Ho.....Hey......Ho......
Headliners at the 2010 Volleywood Beach Bash & Tournament- Naughty By Nature!
" You down with v.o.l.l.e.y.b.a.l.l.? Yeah you know me!
"Bodies all over the beach. Competition. Fun. Music. Socializing. Why don't we live in Florida?"
North Avenue Beach has been working hard on and off for over 30 years to get that lakefront clean and the party cookin'. If there is any day to go celebrate how far the lakefront beach and sports community has come in it's efforts to make North Ave. Beach and all of the other "sands" down our "coast" a great place to swim and sunbathe, then this would be it. It is also the only day of the year you can legally drink alcohol on the beach. Chicago. Beach. Drink? How....Where....??
From Noon to 7p.m. July 10th. There are V.I.P. cabanas available for the true volleyball officionado.
Click here to register for a tournament spot or to check availability.
This is the midwest' LARGEST volleyball tournament, with over 250 teams competing. In it's 10th year running, it has become the biggest Chicago beach party of all time! Right at North Avenue and Lakeshore Drive. The city and Social Club have worked very hard to make this a seriously fun event. Get into the competition! Register to play and work your way up the ranks!
If you would like to register to compete in the tournament, there are prizes, guaranteed matches, the BASH, and an after party at Bull and Bear. Hosted by The Chicago Sport & Social Club, the VOLLEYWOOD party is a one of a kind. You will also receive a drink with the after party ticket.
Think about it. VOLLEYWOOD.
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