Claudia

October 1, 2012October 1, 2012

MUST-DO EVENTS FOR OCTOBER

Chicago is more than Halloween in October. Here are some fun things to do this month that go beyond the “boo” in Halloween.

Chicago Marathon on October 7

This annual favorite attracts over 40,000 runners and thousands of cheering spectators. The marathon goes through some of the city’s most popular and historic neighborhoods. The Chicago Marathon has become a world-class marathon attracting the world’s top runners. Course distance is 26.2 miles with one of the world’s flattest surfaces and unpredictable October weather condition. Click here for more information about this event.

OktoberFest

OktoberFest is big in Chicago, and as such, there are many places loaded with goodies for the occasion. Need some suggestions on where to get your German on? TimeOut Chicago magazine recommends seven spots in the city to get an Oktoberfest pint. Get the scoop here.

Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández

Venue: Auditorium Theatre
Dates: Saturday, October 6 – Sunday, October 7, 2012
Times: Saturday at 7:30 pm, Sunday at 3:00 pm
Price: $74-$30 (Save $10 with code ARTEYVIDA)

Journey through the past with Ballet Folklórico de México, performing within the dance traditions of Mexico for 60 years. Credited as the Cultural Representative of Mexico to the world, Ballet Folklórico offers a lively performance that is full of movement, rhythm and technical perfection. Buy your tickets here.

Fashion Focus Chicago

Fashion Focus Chicago 2012 returns for its eighth year October 15-21. The week-long celebration of Chicago’s thriving fashion industry showcases some of its top designers and features runway shows in Millennium Park and fashion events at various locations around the city. This includes a variety of free and affordable industry happenings, shopping and designer events. Find more information about this event here.

You should also come see “Fashion and The Field Museum Collection: Maria Pinto at the Field Museum”. The museum gave the Chicago-based designer—whom locals know as a go-to outfitter for fashion-forward professional women, but whom the rest of the world knows as one of the First Lady’s preferred dressmakers—free reign to select pieces from its vast collection of artifacts. From there, Pinto wove loose stories about how the garments relate to present-day fashion, using a few of her own designs as examples. It runs from September 14, 2012 to June 16, 2013. More information at http://mariapinto.fieldmuseum.org/

Jovanotti in Concert in at Vic Theater in Chicago

Jovanotti–one of Italy’s best performing artists–is coming to the Vic Theatre Oct. 17! He mixes rock, rap, world folk music into an innovative melodic style. His musical career spans 20 years on the Italian music scene. Buy your tickets at http://www.jamusa.com/Venues/Vic/ConcertDetails.aspx?ConcertId=5050

Hubbard Street Dance 35 year Anniversary

Hubbard Street’s 35^th Season will kick off October 18^th with the world premiere of One Thousand Pieces. Choreographed by Hubbard Street’s Resident Choreographer, Alejandro Cerrudo, this full-length piece features the music of Philip Glass and is inspired by Marc Chagall’s America Windows on display at the Art Institute. The piece is dedicated to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. More information at hubbardstreetdance.com

Open House Chicago

The Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Open House Chicago is a free public event that offers behind-the-scenes access to over 150 buildings across Chicago.

No reservations are required and everyone is welcome. Explore the hidden gems and architectural treasures of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods — all for free.

150 cool places | 48 hours | Go.

More information at http://www.openhousechicago.org/

Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts

Wed Oct 17, 2012 – Sun Feb 3, 2013

Nearly 200 stunning treasures spanning 250 years bear witness to a period of dramatic change in India. Beginning in the early-1700s as the power of the Moghul Empire waned, the exhibition traces the shift in political control to strong regional powers, colonization by Great Britain, and the emergence of the modern, independent nation in 1947.

Through stunning objects—including beautiful paintings and costumes, fabulous jewelry and weapons, and a golden throne—the exhibition explores the concept of kingship in India, and illuminates the world of the maharajas and their extraordinarily rich culture. These are the objects they used, commissioned, collected, and loved and through which they realized their multifaceted—and often, conflicting—role as military and political ruler, religious leader, and cultural patron. More information at http://FIELDMUSEUM.ORG/happening/exhibits/maharaja-splendor-indias-royal-courts

48th Chicago International Film Festival

October 11-25, 2012

This annual film festival is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Cinema/Chicago, the presenting organization of the Chicago International Film Festival, is a year-round cultural and educational non-profit organization dedicated to fostering better communication among people of diverse cultures through the art of film and the moving image. Their goal is to serve Chicago’s diverse and under-served citizenry by providing access to world-class cinema and to enrich Chicago’s cultural environment by presenting film in contexts that encourage discussion and debate. More information at http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/

September 23, 2012September 23, 2012

World Music Fest and People of Chicago Videos

If you still have not gone to any of the free Chicago World Music Fest concerts, you should definitely do it soon. I went to see Dehli 2 Dublin, this Canadian band that mixes Bhangra and Celtic music, and it was quite energizing and unique. I mean, where have you seen an Asian dude wearing a kilt and playing the sitar? Check some of their performance here:

Tonight I am checking out Slavic Soul Party, a BalkanSoulGypsyFunk Brass band from New York. and tomorrow I will see Magic Carpet, a local band that blends Jazz, Reggae, and Funk with the traditions of Africa, the Middle East, and India. I saw these cats at SummerDance Fest a few weeks ago and I can tell you that you run the risk to get hypnotized with their music:

Note aside: I want to pay homage to the people of Chicago, who can be fearless and strong supporters of music and dance. I went to Millennium Park for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra‘s Carmina Burana concert last Friday, thinking that very few people would attend due to the rainy weather. To my surprise, the place was packed! We stood in the rain for the duration of what was an epic concert.

In addition to overcome uncomfortable weather conditions, some of us are fearless enough to express our passion for dance and music in unorthodox ways. I saw some of that happening at Chicago SummerDance Fest during Magic Carpet’s concert. This free outdoors festival allows Chicagoans from all backgrounds and ages to get together and dance. Gotta love the power of music and dance to break any kind of barriers!

So in case you fancy to join me, these are my recommendations for tonight and tomorrow (I also accept suggestions, so post a comment with your favorite bands or pics/videos of the festival):

Tonight: Slavic Soul Party,

Tomorrow: Magic Carpet and Spain’s flamenco/latin/rock band Canteca de Macao

Click here for information about location and times of concerts. Hope to see you there!

September 21, 2012

Let’s get artsy at EXPO CHICAGO

Dates:
Sep 20, 2012 – Sep 23, 2012

Location:
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave., Festival Hall
Chicago, IL 60611

EXPO CHICAGO is a new international exposition of contemporary art, design and culture that is trying to get Chicago back on the art fair map. The Expo showcases up to 100 international art galleries in a curated mixed of contemporary and modern art, design and new mediums. You will be able to buy the work of leading and emerging contemporary artists.

For 2012, EXPO CHICAGO will introduce an overarching theme – Discovery – to focus the programming and special installations that will occur at Navy Pier and other public art projects and events throughout the city. EXPO CHICAGO will take full advantage of Navy Pier’s expansive space and ceiling height to offer generous-sized exhibitor stands, special exhibitions, large scale installations and patron amenities.

Tickets are $20 for a one-day pass and can be purchased at http://www.expochicago.com/.

September 20, 2012

Free World Music Fest, Carmina Burana, Villapalooza and more!

Summer must be over but events in Chicago are still heating up!

Here are my picks for this weekend:

Chicago World Music Fest

September 21-27

Multiple locations

The awaited World Music Fest is starting tomorrow and runs until September 27. We are very excited about this year’s version because it will be the first time that all performances are free. This year’s festival also has a marked preference for showcasing local world music bands. This is the largest and longest running festival of international music in the US. Click here to see the full schedule and participating venues.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs Carmina Burana at Millennium Park

Friday September 21st at 6:30pm

In September 2010, Riccardo Muti launched his tenure as music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with an unforgettable concert in Millennium Park. With an audience of 25,000, this monumental “Concert for Chicago” was praised for its thrilling physical impact, elegance and staggering power by the Chicago Tribune. This fall, Muti and the CSO return to Millennium Park to perform Carl Orff’s choral blockbuster, Carmina Burana. Don’t miss what is sure to be another landmark in CSO and Chicago history. You can find more information about this event here

Villapalooza

Saturday, September 22nd starting at 12:00pm

3724 W. 26th St.
Chicago,

Presented by the SurCul Collective, a group of community organizers and educators, Villapalooza is an all-day outdoor music festival based in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, and back for its second year on September 22.

Among this year’s musical acts will be my band NuBambu and electro-cumbia giants Cumbia Machin from San Diego, CA, local favorites Malafacha, Sangre Michoacana, Scheme, Sin Orden, Population, and Vicios De Papa.

$5 suggested donation gets you access to all three stages and a full day of great music!

Click here for full schedule

September 10, 2012September 10, 2012

Join us at a live world music show tomorrow at 9 pm!

I will be co-hosting a live world music radio show tomorrow (September 11) at 9pm. Our guest is Black Bear Combo, a Chicago brass/reed band whose sound is a raucous mutt channeling the common energy between traditional music from eastern Europe and the Balkans, punk rock, and free jazz.

If you are in Logan Square or Wicker Park tune us in at 1710 am (T.R.I.B.E.S. Radio). The rest of the world can watch us online at this link: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Quennect4

September 3, 2012September 3, 2012

Chicago in the Movies

Have you ever wondered how Chicago looked like 70 years ago? Starting September 13, 2012, The Classic Movie Man, a website that is devoted to the love of classic movies, will be hosting a classic film series featuring movies that take place, either entirely or partly, in Chicago. Chicago is a popular setting for movies and they’re a great time capsule and snapshot of what life in the city was like. Chicago and the movies go way back. Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson, two movie icons from the silent era, started their film careers here. Both Chaplin and Swanson worked at Essanay Studios on West Argyle, now St. Augustine College.

This new film club will take place at “The Venue” at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State St. Chicago. Hosted by Stephen Reginald, the film club will feature four classic films having connections with Chicago. Some like Henry Hathaway’s Call Northside 777 were shot entirely on location in the city, while others like Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, features several critical scenes in the windy city. Films will be screened at 7 p.m. on the second Thursdays of the month. Reginald will introduce each film giving background information before screenings, with Q & A afterwards. Reginald is a freelance writer/editor and popular instructor at Facets Film School in Chicago. He was also the original host of Meet Me at the Movies.

For more information about this event, click here.

Hope everyone is well. Enjoy the holiday weekend!

August 19, 2012August 19, 2012

Get Free Tickets to Gipsy Kings Concert!

GIPSY KINGS
Sat.,Aug. 25
8pm
Star Plaza Theatre
Merrillville, IN

Details available at: www.starplazatheatre.com

The best-selling French band in history, the Gipsy Kings, are among the best-known non-English speaking groups in the U.S. (the band’s language is the Gypsy dialect of gitane). Since the 1987 release of the international hit single “Bamboleo,” the Gipsy Kings have sold more than 20 million albums worldwide—more than four million in the United States alone. The band’s vigorous guitar work and passionate vocals are the trademarks of an indigenous musical tradition known as “rumba flamenca.” Albums such as the gold-certified Mosaique, Allegria, Este Mundo, Gipsy Kings Live, Love & Liberté, Tierra Gitana, Cantos de Amor, and Volare! The Very Best of the Gipsy Kings have provided a steady stream of hits to Billboard’s world music, Latin, and pop charts. The ensemble’s music has been used in numerous motion pictures, including Peter Weir’s “Fearless” and Joel and Ethan Coen’s “The Big Lebowski.”

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THIS CONCERT!

All you have to do is to leave a comment with your favorite Gipsy Kings song on this post. We will pick a winner from that list.

GOOD LUCK!

July 27, 2012July 27, 2012

Where to watch the Olympic Games in Chicago

Looking for a place where to watch the opening ceremony tonight? Click on this link for suggestions. Let the games begin! http://ow.ly/cypty

July 25, 2012July 27, 2012

Like Drums? Act fast and get free tickets to an explosive Japanese Taiko drumming concert with HO ETSU

THIS OFFER ENDS BY 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY JULY 27, 2012

Have you ever been to a Taiko drumming concert? If you have not, then this is your chance to go to one! I believe you will find the unique, cultural appeal of this concert very interesting. Ho Etsu Taiko is a Chicago-based Japanese drum ensemble that brings a passionate energy and lively spirit to the rich tradition of Taiko drumming. Ho Etsu means ‘a way to spread joy’, and this idea centers their philosophy. They bring a bright, energizing sound to the stage to infuse taiko’s cultural legacy with new vitality, bridging the tradition through fresh experiences and influences. Ho Etsu formed in 1997 at the Midwest Buddhist Temple in Chicago’s historic Old Town neighborhood. The original Midwest Buddhist Temple taiko group was the first ensemble in Chicago, born in the 1970s during the earliest wave of Japanese-American taiko. From these deep roots, Ho Etsu blossomed into one of the most dynamic and exciting taiko ensembles in the city.

This July 28, Ho Etsu Taiko is inviting us to help them celebrate their 15th Anniversary. Appropriately named HANABI (‘fireworks’), this concert will introduce us to their explosive sound and striking compositions. In addition, they will be joined on stage by one of their earliest mentors – Kiyoshi Nagata – and his Toronto-based professional taiko and music ensemble, Nagata Shachu. As they continue to build upon their unique Taiko foundation stemming from both Japanese and American influences, this group aspires to bring a youthful and energizing sound to the stage.

SPECIAL OFFER

Free Tickets

Ho Etsu Taiko wants Chicago Urbanite followers to join their 15th Anniversary concert. And for that, they are giving away free tickets to the first 20 people that subscribe to my blog. Are you a subscriber already? Then leave a comment on this post to count you in.

$15 Discount Price
If you are not able to get a free ticket, you can still get a great deal for this show. Just call to reserve tickets at a special price of $15 with the phrase “Ho Etsu Loves Chicago Urbanites.” You will be able to pick up your ticket at the box office on the day of the show with an ID. The number to call is 312 725 8225 (Midwest Buddhist Temple)

Both offers apply to both shows, 2 pm and 7 pm.

Check Ho Etsu in action in this video:

Here are the times and location of the concerts:

HO ETSU TAIKO presents ‘HANABI’ | Celebrating 15 Years of Ho Etsu Taiko

TWO SHOWS | 2-4pm and 7-9pm

University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts

915 E 60th St. 60637

For more info on HO ETSU TAIKO, check out their Website or Facebook page.

For more info on NAGATA SHACHU, check out their website and their promo video.

July 24, 2012July 25, 2012

Videos of Ana Tijoux and Sidi Touré’s performance at Millennium Park

It was too hot in Chicago last night, specially at Millennium Park. People got together to see Malian bluesman Sidi Touré and Chilean rapper Anita Tijoux perform. The show was so reminiscent of the beloved and now gone Music Without Borders series that some people in the audience screamed “We want Music Without Borders!”at some point during the show. Yes, the place was definitely hot. Those of us who endured the high temperatures got rewarded with a big chunk of talent coming from Africa and Latin America. If you were not able to go, do not worry, I have prepared some videos for you.

Here is Sidi Touré giving a great performance of Malian Blues:

And here is “hermanita” (little sis) Anita Tijoux (that is how she called me when we briefly exchange words her after the show…how sweet!), touching hearts with her music and words:

I was able to have a longer conversation with Cristobal, Anita’s guitar player (the conversation was held in Spanish because Cristobal does not speak much English). He talks about Ana Tijoux – the person, the musician, and her message – and why he thinks Chicago is a special city due to its rich cultural activity. He also says that, according to what he has heard, cultural activity in Chicago is not as strong as before.

Talking to some people who came to the show, I encountered some who knew nothing about Ana Tijoux. Dietrich Gray from Pilsen, for instance, never heard about her. However, he was able to connect with her music and message. He noticed the calm and stillness in her presentation, and stated that it is something not common to observe in live performances of other rappers, who tend to be very physical or try to get attention by getting in people’s faces. When he saw her perform he thought to himself “Oh my God, whatever she is saying must be absolutely enough to carry the message she is spreading. She doesn’t need to paint it with body movements or physicality in order to pound it in our heads. Whatever she is saying must be significant.” Others like the activists of #YoSoy132 (a civil movement in Mexico that demands the democratization of media and the rejection of the mediatic imposition of the virtual winner of the Presidental elections of 2012, Enrique Peña Nieto), came to see Anita Tijoux because of her connection with social movements in Chile and abroad. In fact, her song Shock, is dedicated to the Chilean student movement . A new video of the same song has been recently released to support the rights of immigrants in Arizona.

Movimiento 132 activists and fans of Ana Tijoux at her concert in Chicago
July 23, 2012

It was definitely a night full of great world music, diversity, and social consciousness. I hope we get to see more of these world music nights at Millennium Park in the future.