chicago

Cristobal Martinez is a Senior Program Associate with Urban Initiatives. Coach Cris implements the Work to Play Program, which encourages kids to live active and healthy lives through the sport of soccer across 5 Chicago Public Schools. They'd like to tell you about a great event that's right around the corner:

Chicago’s South Shore Drill Team was recently notified that they were one of twenty-four groups selected nation-wide to perform in President Barack Obama’s inaugural parade on January 21st, 2013 in Washington D.C. The team was one of over 2,800 to apply for the honor, and will send 54 of its senior members to the nation’s capital to represent the City of Chicago.

Chicago's local-area reality TV casting associate, Lyn Niemann, needs singles! Get out of those post-holiday slumps! After all, Valentine's Day is practically around the corner! Love darts are ready to fly! I'm doing the preliminary casting for the next 3 DAYS for a television show on the WE Network called "Set Up For Love".

It’s a well known fact that Chicago has some of the coldest winters around (well, with the exception of this one, anyway). And when I say cold, I mean COLD. Like, -30 degrees, frigid COLD (or so it feels). Sadly, many homeless and abandoned dogs are forced to endure these conditions for nights on end, all alone. So, in honor of these precious pups, Project Rescue Chicago (PRC) is “Freezin’ for a Reason” and asking you to do the same!

Early New year prediction: I pull my numb face off a mirror, peel my withered tendril of a former feather boa off the sticky club floor and grope about in the dark For my shades….it’s a brand new year, is that howling I hear outside?..is it the year of the diamond dogs? No-not quite, however I do know that I, Chris Connelly, am fulfilling a secret dream of mine to step into the shiny black brogues of the THIN WHITE DUKE and be him for a night, and not just ANY night, January 11th, just 3 days after his 66th birthday! And where? Oh-the METRO, my favorite venue ! and why? Apart from why NOT!? Because it’s for the Pablove foundation, an amazing organization established to provide relief for the patients and families of pediatric cancer.

Have you checked out Daley Plaza yet? It is literally the best way to get into the spirit of the season. Besides grabbing some fun gifts at Chriskindlmarket, you have to stop by and admire the tree. I did back in November when they lit the tree for the 99th time.

Hey everyone! If the Mayans were correct, the world will end in about eight days. Billy was kind enough to let me take a few minutes of your time to let you know about a great way to make what might be the last toast you ever make: a toast to the end of the world.

What happens when you combine leaders in the world of Chicago arts, culture & entertainment? An incredible musical that takes its audience on a journey of reflection and self-discovery through song, dance, fashion and design. Sita Ram began in 2002 when Krithika Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Company commissioned founding ensemble member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, David Kresnar, and Grammy-nominated composer, Jai Uttal, to create a world musical that encompassed Chicago’s rich diversity and culture. The first show premiered in 2006 and was a great success. The Hindu epic, Ramayana, is the basis for Sita Ram as it fuses together the past, present & future – all themes that are as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago when Ramayana was first written.

Hey! It’s James and Catherine from XA and we would like to thank our buddy Billy for allowing us to spread some holiday cheer on behalf of Sweetwater and The Boundary. Guests are invited to get into the spirit – of giving! But what would giving be on an empty stomach? Sweetwater and The Boundary are rewarding the holiday spirit with Tots for Tots!

Hello everyone! Billy and I have known each other for a long time, primarily on account of my alter ego, C-note – the lead singer for Too White Crew, but today’s blog is not about that. He’s letting me take up some bandwidth to tell you about a fresh new business I started in the West Loop…