I Know Chicago

FREE PARKING FOR YOU!

It has been FOREVER since I last posted but this seemed like something you have to know about ASAP. 

I was given a Klout Perk to try this valet services called Luxe Valet. This is Chicago so I never turn down a shot at free parking. This is how it went:

Downloaded App, Hesitantly hooked up credit card to said app (because ain’t no one got time for some stupid Uber-like surge charge or some nonsense). 

My parents were visiting so I thought I would test it out on the day we were going to the Art Institute. Before I left my house I told Luxe to meet me at the Cosi restaurant across from the Institute (because...caffeine). 

That’s right, you heard me. I said I told my valet to meet me at a random spot at a random time and you know what? HE WAS THERE. I rolled up to Cosi (baller I know), jumped out, handed my keys to my guy and away went my car. 

The app showed me a picture of my valet. He was wearing the company uniform and he called me as I approached to make sure I knew it was him and he was ready for us. 

Wait, it gets better. My parents and I spent the day running around the Art Institute, then meandered to Millennium Park and ended up at the Harris Theater 4 hours later ready to head home. I pulled up the app, hit the button that said I want my car and within 10 minutes my car was handed back to me at my new location! It was like magic. 

The app even provided me a live tracking tool so I could see exactly where my car was as it was returned to me. They even made the little avatar look exactly like my car. Nice touch.

Here is the crazy part. The fee would have been no more than $15! That is less than a garage!!! That is when they had me. Now I did ask about “surge charges” and there are certainly times when the pricing will be more. The examples they gave me were concerts + ball games. I don’t have much more info than that so like with all new services, ask questions before you use it. 

I do suggest you give it a try. And because they are clever marketers you can use the code: Shannon43 and get $20 worth of free parking which as I mentioned is a lot. (Full disclosure, I get credits too when you use this code). 

I plan to use this service all the time. 

Before you head out, investigate their service area though. I planned to use it when I went to the Shedd but museum campus isn’t in their service area yet. 

I hope you find this useful. Let me know how it goes for you!

BOTTOMS UP: DRIZLY BRINGS ALCOHOL DELIVERY TO CHICAGO

  There’s never been a more convenient way to buy alcohol in Chicago. 

  Drizly, Inc., the smartphone app powering fast, convenient alcohol delivery, today continues its rapid expansion in the United States with the announcement of service to all major areas of Chicago.  The Windy City now joins New York City, Brooklyn and Boston as major metropolitan areas currently serviced by Drizly. 

  Service areas at launch in Chicago include South Loop, Loop, West Loop, River North, Gold Coast, Streeterville, Wrigleyville, Lakeview, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Bucktown.  Hours of delivery are subject to variability based on Drizly’s retail partner network.

  For consumers of legal age, Drizly is like having a liquor store on their smartphone. With the largest retail delivery partner network, Drizly is the smartest way for Chicago drinkers to buy a huge selection of alcoholic beverages and have them conveniently delivered in just 20-40 minutes.  Products on Drizly even cost the same as they do in the local liquor store.

Drizly is available for download on iPhone and Android. As a special welcome to Chicagoans, new Drizly members can enter WELCOMECHI for $10 off any order placed in May. They can also follow @DrizlyChi on Twitter and Instagram for the latest local updates and promotions.

                 AVAILABLE ON iPHONE AND ANDROID 

  The Drizly apps can be downloaded here:

  •   iPHONE: http://driz.ly/ios

•   ANDROID: http://driz.ly/android

  HOW DRIZLY WORKS IN CHICAGO

  1. Download Drizly to your iPhone or Android phone.

2. Sign up and add your favorite beer, wine and liquor to your cart.

3. Check out, enter discount codes, pay (same prices as in the store) and tip your driver, all right from the Drizly app.

4. In just 20-40 minutes, you’ll have your alcohol.

Good News! Rebecca Loebe (as seen on The Voice) is coming to Chicago on Saturday.

See you there. Buy Tickets Here.

The Studios at Space (Evanston)

Saturday, May 10th

Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7:00pm

CHGO DSGN: Recent Object and Graphic Design curated by Rick Valicenti 

CHGO DSGN [Chicago Design], a major exhibition of Recent Object and Graphic Design by 100+ of the city’s leading designers, will open May 31 and run through November 2 at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Chicago has long been regarded as an international center for design, and this retrospective celebrates the region’s creative and innovative spirit. 

The exhibition is curated by Rick Valicenti, 2011 recipient of the prestigious Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award, with displays designed by Tim Parsons, Associate Professor of Designed Objects at the School of the Art Institute.

A public reception will be held Friday evening May 30 from 6–10pm. 

RSVP Here: https://www.facebook.com/events/742003842497356/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming

Check it out! Renderings have been release for the new Geek Bar Chicago coming to 1960 N Clybourn! 

Full disclosure: I’m on the advisory committee so obviously I think this is the greatest idea ever.

Grandmothers Visiting the Heartland

April 25–27, 2014 Chicago, IL

Join Everyday Medicine Woman for a historic series of events with esteemed elders Grandmother Flordemayo (Maya), Grandmother Mona Polacca (Havasupai/Hopi), and Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance (Oglala Lakota), members of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. Each Grandmother, as sacred lineage keeper, will be sharing her knowledge by bringing the heart of the mother into the city of Chicago. The overall intention of this visit is to support their prayer for global peace and sacred activism, and to provide more people, especially those in youth-oriented urban settings with the opportunity to experience, value and appreciate the importance of intergenerational wisdom and the power of the feminine. All proceeds and support benefit the 13th Gathering of The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers in South Dakota, hosted by Grandmother Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance.

Registration

Click here to register for each event. When purchasing multiple tickets, please register each guest separately for each event.

AWAKENING THE GLOBAL HEART Friday, April 25 5:30 pm - 9:15 pm; $40.00 Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL [ map ] An Evening Celebrating the Power of Ancestry with Esteemed Grandmother Elders: Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance, Mona Polacca and Flordemayo

The evening will begin with an informal gathering among new and remembered kindred spirits, followed by a screening of the powerful documentary "For the Next 7 Generations" by Carole Hart, which takes us into the lives of each Grandmother and how they came to learn about each other's lineage and culture.

Fantastic new nonprofit in Chicago now recruiting Board Members!

Downsize For Life (DFL) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that exists to support young people ages 13-18 that are currently at an unhealthy weight in transforming their lives through mental focus, fitness, and nutrition in a body positive and empowering environment.

DFL is here to challenge the shame-induced silence surround obesity and youth. We exist to empower young people to take ownership over their health and begin their health journey toward transformation.

There is a significant correlation between youth obesity and depression, bullying, suicide, eating disorders and violence. While there are a multitude of programs that are working toward childhood obesity prevention there are few resources for our teen population who are already at an unhealthy weight. DFL was created to address this critical need.

DFL is currently seeking board members to support the mission, vision and growth of this great non-profit.  Board members will support the work of DFL and provide leadership and strategic governance in partnership with the Executive Director.  Board members will serve a two-year term (with an option to re-elect for an additional two years).  Board member responsibilities include:

Attend board meetings (held monthly) and serve on committees or task forces, taking on special assignments.

Provide a minimum of six hours of volunteer service a month (this includes the previously mentioned meetings).

Stay informed about Board Committee matters, prepare for committee meetings, and review and comment on minutes and reports.

Assisting the Executive Director and Board President in identifying and recruiting other Board Members.

Approving DFL’s annual budget, audit reports, material business decisions and to ensure all legal and fiduciary responsibilities are being met.

Contribute unique skill sets and experience to assist DFL in programmatic development, strategic planning, fundraising, and financial management.

Enhance DFL’s public image by enlightening as many people as possible to the importance of the organization’s mission and work.

Make an annual contribution of $3,000.  This can be gifted personally, or raised by each member.

Participate in at least two DFL events annually.

DFL seeks persons with one or more of the following experiences or skill sets:

Non-profit financial planning and budgeting

Non-profit governance

Entrepreneurship

Program recruitment

Fundraising and development

Experience with young people ages 13-18 in educational and nontraditional settings

Marketing

Legal

Experience with significant weight loss

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who connects with DFL’s mission and who has experience with board leadership. 

Please email Shannon Downey, Executive Director, [email protected] for application.

www.DownsizeForLife.org // (a) DownsizeForLife

If you like free wine and/or post-apocalyptic lit that features haunting oracles and Deep South zombies, then local writer Clayton Smith's book release party just might be for you.

If you need a cobbler...I highly recommend going to Gus's at: 2361 N Clark St in Lincoln Park.

Got two pairs of boots re-heeled, re-soled and cleaned up and these things look BRAND NEW. $50 total. Win.

No Lights, No Lycra ... a dance-based, fitness gathering

Just DANCE!

This is a weekly dance party/fitness movement that was born in Melbourne and is now happening here in Chicago.

The premise: The lights are off, the music is loud, everyone is sober and you dance until you can't dance anymore. No judgement, no talking, no flirting, no need to impress just dance your ass off.

The Chicago events are held at Defibrillator in Wicker Park every Monday at 8:15pm.

Details on their Facebook page here.

Dating? Learn why you are doing it wrong! My friend Silvana has a no-nonsense approach + wants to help Chicagoland date more effectively.

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StandOut is a new and unique singles program in Chicago.

They state:

StandOut combines cutting edge social research and weekly integrated workshops for you to get the most out of your dating life.

If you want a great dating life, have a great social life.  Surround yourself with amazing people, and amazing things happen.

Join us at the StandOut Launch Party at Gallery Bar!

At this event you will:

Get a taste of hands-on experiential training to expand your dating repertoire

Enjoy fabulous bites served by Gallery Bar

Mingle with local singles

Get a sneak peek at StandOut’s unique dating program

And…a special performance from the StandOut crew

Get your tickets here

Who wants to get their Canadian on?!

A company called BuckIt List Events, is hosting a Curling + Beer all day extravaganza.

$75 will get you:

Round trip transpo from downtown Chicago to Wauwatosa Curling Club

2.5 hours of curling instruction with game play

1 hour open beer bar at the club, featuring Lakefront brewery beers on tap

Pizza and salad from a local pizzeria

December 7th  - Perhaps I will see you there!

I'm super duper honored and excited to be a part of a new semi-regular web series called, The Gay Agenda with the AMAZING Mary Morten, Jim Bennett and Tony Alvarado-Rivera.

Short description: It's like "The View" but err...gayer.

Episode 1, Parts 1 + 2 are live and can be watched on the website.

www.TheGayAgendaLive.com

You can hook up with us on Facebook + Twitter too.

We shoot in front of a live studio audience so if you connect with us via social media you just might be invited to our next taping. It involves lots of free booze and a fluffer ; ) Heeeyyyy.