General

rab your holiday sweaters, candy canes and...party cups? Corn Productions, the producers of one-act plays, music monologues, and comedy sketches would like to wish you a Happy Holly-daze by inviting you to a drinking game performance. From December 8th-30th they will be “sharing all of their favorite holiday stories, songs, and beverages with you.” Each sketch is a drinking game, giving you the chance to celebrate the season in style. It is BYOB so you can bring anything from eggnog to bottled beer - whatever gets you into the holiday spirit(s).

Many of us use buses to navigate our way throughout the city, either going to school or work. We pack them full of people trying to avoid the blistering cold at the bus stop. This year help over 700 families by filling a bus with toys, blankets, coats, clothing, and canned goods. Starting December 8, 103.5 KISS FM, AT&T, Taco Bell, and The Salvation Army are teaming up to Stuff-A-Bus in Arlington Heights on the corner of Palatine and Rand Road.

Now that the 7th annual Chicago Fashion Focus has come to an end, this is the perfect time to reflect on the city’s initiative to cultivate local talent. Having just seen a parade of various trades, be it designers, producers, stylists, models, photographers and more, it’s comforting to know that the city is trying to help these emerging artists find a voice. Chicago definitely has been and still is a launching pad for many careers.

Highwood might be a small city in the North Shore, but what we lack in size, we certainly have in heart. Take our second annual Great Pumpkin Fest into consideration to get an idea of what I mean.

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 20th, prepare to get your green on with this 3rd 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.

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.

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.

Pick a topic - any topic. Now, with a group of your friends, create a comedy sketch and a song to go with it. You have 1 minute. GO. Not the easiest task. It takes a special person with talent to accomplish such a goal... and have it be funny. Living in the city of Chicago, we have our pick of comedy troupes and clubs. We even have entire organizations dedicated to the craft, such as Second City and iO. With such a great pool of individuals out there willing to share their passion with audiences, don’t you think we deserve to laugh at them and with them?

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.

Unless you’re some sort of magic snowman reading this blog in a Wi-Fi equipped freezer somewhere, you probably don’t want summer in Chicago to end. Part of the problem of losing the warm weather is it means we have to temporarily say goodbye to the gajillion music festivals that take place here. But before winter hits and the magic snowmen reclaim the streets, the pop-culture/entertainment website The A.V. Club is bringing us one more outdoor festival.