holiday in jazz

Looking some fine musical entertainment this week? Check out the Jazz Showcase calendar.

kids' New Year at Blue Moon

Want to have some New Year's Eve fun at Blue Moon with the kids? Enjoy a craft and ring in the New Year at high noon with Professor Becker and his guitar! The event starts at 11 a.m. this Thursday 12/31. Call 773.840.3618 to make a reservation while there's still space for this popular event.

Friday en español

Musica para los pies y la alma. Dos por Ricky Martin.

Pégate

jazz thoughts for the new year

Save the date: the Hyde Park Jazz Festival will be back on 9/25/10. I'm SOOO looking forward to it.

For now, I need to get to Jazz Showcase. Haven't been there in a while, and I've missed it - a downside of unemployment and having to cut back on entertainment spending. All things considered, it's been a good year. I've had a lot more free time to enjoy free concerts and other things and to ride my bike. No complaints about that.

311 holiday wishes

A while back, I wrote about a miracle on 98th St. and hoped for a few other things to be fixed before winter set in. In the last few weeks, I've seen those wishes granted.

The streetlight closest to that spot on 98th St. was burned out for months, and I'd called 311 a few times. It's finally fixed.

There was a small gas leak near 96th & Damen for several weeks. Peoples Gas made several visits there, excavating in a few different places before getting it fixed, but leaving a large area of ground-down pavement at the intersection. Fresh asphalt appeared just in time, before the first snow.

My thanks to all who made those repairs so that our streets are safer this winter.

dead politicians club

Found this one in the drafts file and still found it funny, so I thought I'd revive it. Cheers!

a new category

I was catching up on work stories with a police officer friend and heard one worth retelling. On a narrow street, genius #1 is driving with headlights off. Genius #2 is driving in the same direction in front of genius #1. #2 attempts a 3-point turn and is t-boned by genius #1. Of course, each blames the other. To make it even better, each is driving while his license is suspended for drunk driving. The most amazing fact of the incident is that neither driver was drunk while it happened. They were this stupid without alcohol!

Drivers like this need their own category of citation: Driving While Stupid.

Friday en español

Musica para los pies y la alma. Dos por Ana Gabriel.

Como Olvidar

No Entiendo

be careful at 97th & Leavitt

There is flowing water across Leavitt at the south side of the intersection. The pavement is starting to buckle. Looks like a water main break. I've called 311, so hopefully a crew will be out before long. Be careful out there, as it's likely to turn into an impromptu skating rink as the temperature drops.

holiday sale at Blackstone Bikes

Blackstone Bicycle Works, a program of Experimental Station, is holding a HOLIDAY BIKE SALE through this Saturday. They have refurbished bicycles for children and adults ranging in price from $25-250, as well as helmets, locks, and other bicycling accessories.

This is a great time of year to buy a bike. If you are looking for a refurbished bike, which can offer more reliable transportation than a cheapo bike from a big box store, this is the best time of year to find a broad selection of bikes.

All revenues for purchases of bicycles and accessories help to support Blackstone's youth education program. If you want to know more about Blackstone Bicycle Works, you may view this WGN piece on the shop from this past August.

Shop hours for the remainder of the week are today 12-5pm, Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 10am-5pm. You can find them at 6100 S. Blackstone Ave.

holiday parking hell

Had enough of the malls and holiday shopping? Need a laugh? I hope this video will help you blow off a little steam. Remember, Christmas shopping will be over soon.

caroling at Cloud Gate

This Friday evening at 6 pm will be the last night of the season for this Millennium Park holiday tradition. Caroling at Cloud Gate returns featuring Chicago's favorite choral groups:

The Wooten Choral Ensemble, December 18

Chicagoans and visitors alike are invited to sing along and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot cider courtesy of Caribou Coffee. Caroling at Cloud Gate is supported by the Comer Foundation.

new on 103rd Street

The rumors were true. The Music Station is getting up and running in World Music Company's former space on 103rd Street. They will be offering lessons in guitar, bass, upright bass, voice, piano, and rock band; outreach programs, drama and puppet shows, special needs kids class, and pre-kinder music. They will also include a store and a performance venue. A Grand Opening is planned for New Year's Day.

For a little more info, check out the Beverly Review story here.

java and jazz at Blue Moon

Need a jazz fix this Friday night? Come on down to Blue Moon. Emanon TME will be playing at 7 p.m. Enjoy swingin' tunes and some of Caroline's tasty treats.

Friday en español

Musica para risas. Here's a very silly Shakira parody.



...and the original Shakira video.

TGIF!

caroling at Cloud Gate

On Friday evenings at 6 pm thru December 19, enjoy a Millennium Park holiday tradition. Caroling at Cloud Gate returns featuring Chicago's favorite choral groups:

Old Town School of Folk Music, December 11

The Wooten Choral Ensemble, December 18

Chicagoans and visitors alike are invited to sing along and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot cider courtesy of Caribou Coffee. Caroling at Cloud Gate is supported by the Comer Foundation.

...but don't we all call it the Bean?

Beverly Bike Club Holiday Lights Ride

Don't put your bike away for the winter quite yet. Join us for a holiday lights bike ride on Saturday 12/12. We'll meet at Blue Moon, 1742 W. 99th St., at 5 p.m. Stop by early for hot drinks and some of Caroline's sweets. The ride will be 5-10 miles (depending on weather) at a leisurely pace.

Feel free to decorate your bike and/or yourself if you're so inclined. We'll enjoy some of the best holiday light displays in the neighborhood. If enough people decorate their bikes, we become part of the show.

Headlight and tail light are REQUIRED so we all have a safer ride. Don't have lights? You can always stop by Beverly Bike & Ski to pick up some before the ride.

Need a few tips for riding comfortably in winter? Check out the Bike Winter web site. See you at Blue Moon!

Friday en español

Musica para los pies y la alma. Dos por Mercedes Sosa.

have a greener Christmas

A lot of harm is done to the environment at the holidays, through increased household waste, consumption of non-recyclable products, energy use, etc. Have you thought about how to make your Christmas greener but weren't sure how to do it? Look here for some tips on how to make your holidays greener, by smarter food shopping, your choice of gifts, how you wrap them, how you decorate your home, etc.

Donating unused household items in good condition to charity can help the environment as well as aiding people in need. Did you get a new winter coat this year but still have an old one in decent condition? Donate it to a holiday clothing drive. It's a great way to feel good about recycling.

the spirit of giving

To celebrate the holiday spirit of giving, Blue Moon Coffeehouse (1742 W. 99th St.), My Sister’s Knits (9907 Walden Pkwy.) and The Blossom Boys (9911 Walden Pkwy.) are accepting donations of warm clothes, personal items, books, magazine subscriptions, CDs/DVDs, phone cards, gift cards, etc., from now through December 12th for wounded soldiers and their families.

The gifts will be taken to local VA hospitals (Jesse Brown, Hines, Manteno, Great Lakes, etc.) before Christmas by the ministers and members of St. Joseph/St. Aidan Episcopal Church in Blue Island. Please make sure the gifts are wrapped and have a tag that says whether the gift is for a man, woman or child. These should be the kinds of gifts that you would give to your own loved ones at the holiday.

Feel free to drop off your gifts at Blue Moon, My Sister's Knits or The Blossom Boys, or call Caroline Mooney (773-840-3618) or Carol Oprondek (773-238-4555) with any questions or to arrange drop off.

Friends of the Cal-Sag Trail

Considering a year-end charitable donation? This organization has an ambitious goal that will benefit many local residents and communities - when the trail gets built. It will connect communities from Lemont to Hegewisch, providing a path for walking, bike riding, or running. The trail will connect many existing trails and open up many new possibilities for regional bike touring. Please consider a contribution to help make it happen.

caroling at Cloud Gate

On Friday evenings at 6 pm thru December 19, enjoy a Millennium Park holiday tradition. Caroling at Cloud Gate returns featuring Chicago's favorite choral groups:

Chicago Children's Choir, December 4

Old Town School of Folk Music, December 11

The Wooten Choral Ensemble, December 18

Chicagoans and visitors alike are invited to sing along and enjoy complimentary coffee and hot cider courtesy of Caribou Coffee. Caroling at Cloud Gate is supported by the Comer Foundation.

...but don't we all call it the Bean?

java and jazz at Blue Moon

Need a jazz fix this Friday night? Come on down to Blue Moon. Emanon TME will be playing at 7 p.m. Enjoy swingin' tunes and some of Caroline's tasty treats.

breakfast with Santa at Blue Moon

Looking for something fun to do with the kids on 12/12? Have Breakfast with Santa on Saturday 12/12 from 8am - Noon at Blue Moon. Make your reservation early, as space is limited.