Author: Claudia

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Chicago Symphony Orchestra Imports Cuban Goods

The other night, I was at the Orchestra Hall of  Symphony Center,  waiting for the start of a Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert. While waiting,  I was admiring all the beauty that this place beholds. I felt grateful for living in a city that has such an amazing space for music and such a magnificent orchestra. Did you know that the Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center was designated a National Historic Landmark and that Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the “Big Five“? The CSO does not only hold classical music concerts, but also world music events. This year, I had the pleasure of  seeing the Sowetto Gospel Choir from South Africa and Flamenco guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucia from Spain there.

This Friday, it is Cuba’s turn. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris, saxophonist David Sánchez and trumpeter Nicholas Payton cross the 90-mile divide between Cuba and the United States in a session that blends traditional Cuban rhythms with jazz. Not only do these three virtuosos combine to generate a unique musical force, they create a true Cuban-American musical collaboration that defies political borders. Kicking off this double bill is Grammy® Award-winning Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba with an extraordinary solo set.  You can buy tickets for this show here. And if you want to see a panoramic view of the Orchestra Hall, just double click the picture below. You will feel as if you are sitting there!

 

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Win Tickets to Sones de Mexico’s 13 B’ak’tun concert: A Mayan Calendar Celebration

Sones de Mexico Ensemble presents
a spectacular concert experience and light show

13 B’AK’TUN: a celebration of the turning of the Mayan long-count calendar cycle

End of an Era • New Beginning

Sones de México, a two-time GRAMMY award nominated sextet based in Chicago, will present a spectacular concert and a light show in honor of the 13 B’ak’tun. All ages are welcome. This is a show you will not want to miss!

B’ak’tun is a measure of time in the ancient Maya long-count calendar cycle equivalent to 144,000 days (394 years). The current 13th B’ak’tun will mark the completion of a 5,122 year period in December of 2012. While popular culture portrays it as an apocalyptic “end of times,” the Mayans view it more optimistically and see it as a cause for celebration and renewal. Many Mayan communities in Southeastern Mexico and Guatemala are preparing to make special events and festivals to celebrate the 13 B’ak’tun in December.

Sones de Mexico Ensemble joins the celebration with a spectacular show as you have never seen them before. It will be a musical homage to the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Mexico with robotic lights, backlights, and fluorescent paint.

This concert will be filmed for a TV special. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind spectacle

Saturday, December 1, 2012
two 90 min shows/no intermission: 7pm and 10pm
(doors open 30 mins before the show)

Mayne Stage
1328 W. Morse Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626

Tickets at maynestage.com. Advance tickets start at $20.

Win tickets to this Show 
Chicago Urbanite subscribers! You can win tickets to the 10pm show. Enter our Photo Competition and leave a comment on this post to participate. We will announce the winners on November 29. Good luck!

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Come to our Free concert at Mayne Stage with Jugo de Mango, Nu Bambu, And DJs Mwelwa and Perla

Thanks to all who came to last Saturday’s event and made it so much fun! If you want to repeat the experience, then come to a free concert this Friday at Mayne Stage. Some of Chicago’s cultural music instigators and I are getting together to give thanks for a wonderful year in world music by hosting this free party with some of our city’s emerging talent. Please join us as we give thanks and look forward to another great year in music to come!

We will have my band Nu Bambu performing along with Jugo de Mango and DJs Mwelwa and Perla. It will be a night of pure awesomeness!

RSVP here

Jugo De Mango is a Latin world fusion band blending traditional and modern cumbia, reggae, and rock rhythms into a tangible palate of alluring dance Performing dynamic, energetic shows, Jugo De Mango’s music speaks to worldly listeners ready to get their groove on!

Nu Bambu brings strong Latin and Reggae flavors, pitch-bending trumpet and potent bass and drum lines, which give songs a unique progressive flavor along with conscious-raising, bilingual thought- provoking lyrics that morphs into hip cutting-edge music for a new generation.

Mwelwa Musambacine is influenced by cultures and people across the globe. He is recognized across music circles as one of Chicago’s best international and world music DJs. Mwelwa’s assorted global mix includes reggae, morna, forro, kizomba (semba), salsa, bachata, samba, merengue, afrobeat, ndombolo, rai, jazz, funk, son, soukous, blues, calypso, classical, rock, bhangra, zouk, house, soca, and various types of Arabic, Indian & African varieties. Mwelwa also plans and promotes events as a part of Akasuba.

Friday November 23 at 9pm
Mayne Stage | 1328 W. Morse Ave. Chicago
FREE

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Come to our Rumba Reggae Party tomorrow and help the Afro-Peruvian children of El Guayabo

Underground Wonderbar
710 N. Clark St., Chicago, Illinois 60654

Saturday November 17
8pm-10:30pm

Chicago Urbanite, Chicago’s top blog promoting world music and dance, invites you to come celebrate and be grateful with us! Live music by NuBambu, the hottest rumba-reggae band in Chicago. Cover includes access to all of Underground Wonderbar stages.

Also, we will be filming footage for Nu Bambu’s Music Video and we want YOU to be in it. Come out with your dance moves and support the band’s video. It will be FUN!

DJ Rebolu will throwing down world music

Free giveaways.

50% OFF beautiful Jewelry by Monsieur Pamplemousse. We will also raffle a gorgeous necklace valued at $162!

YOUR ATTENDANCE WILL MAKE CHILDREN FROM PERU HAPPY THESE HOLIDAYS!

We will be collecting donations for Christmas events that will benefit children from Lima and the Afro-Peruvian community of El Guayabo, Chincha (see pics here). Here is a video of these beautiful children dancing and playing their own music:

Cover: $10

50% off to Chicago Urbanite followers who RSVP here (click on “Join”) before 3pm on Nov 17

(Must follow this blog/ like our Facebook page and RSVP to get discount)

Cover includes access to all of Underground Wonderbar stages. After our show, stay for Lonie Walker & her Big Bad Ass Company Band show. Also DJ MWELWA , FLX, and Kino will have their Global Late Nite from 11pm to 5am

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Win tickets to Las Guitarras de España and El Payo Concert

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 10
8:30 PM
07:00 PM LOBBY DOORS

MAYNE STAGE

BUY TICKETS HERE

Las Guitarras de España and El Payo return to Mayne Stage performing Flamenco rumbas, tangos and even a Sevillana or two for you to dance too! Flamenco dancer, Chiara Mangiameli, owner of Studio Mangiameli, will offer some free basic flamenco dance instruction at 8:30PM. Cellist, Ian Maksin will also be a featured soloist for the evening.

Win Two tickets to this Show!
Just need to be a subscriber of Chicago Urbanite and leave a comment on this post to participate. We will announce the winner tomorrow morning. Good luck!

 
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ENTER OUR CHICAGO PHOTO COMPETITION

Share your experiences in Chicago with the world! Enter our monthly photo competition. Each month we will pick a theme. Submit a picture related to that theme via email (chiurbanite@gmail.com) with the subject “PHOTO COMPETITION” and we will publish it. Readers vote for their favorite picture by leaving a comment under the picture they like. The picture that gets the most comments wins a prize (one comment per person; comments on your own photo will not count). You can also follow the competition via Facebook or Twitter. Read terms and conditions here. Good luck!

This month’s theme is “Something in Chicago that I am thankful for”.

(pictures will be published here)

We will announce a winner on November 25.

Dancing Zouk by the Bean

 

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MUST-SEE EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER


SOFA CHICAGO 2012

Friday Nov 2- Sunday 4, 2012 at Navy Pier (600 E Grand Ave). Cost: $15

This event is highly recommended.  It features beautiful masterworks of contemporary and modern art and design, sculpture, functional art, non-traditional and visionary art, plus related special exhibits, lectures and demonstrations from artists from throughout the world.  We took a sneak peek last night and really enjoyed it. Visit our photo gallery here.  Visit www.sofaexpo.com for more information.

 

“MOULING ROUGE® – The Ballet”

Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s

7:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway; $30-$74; 

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (ATRU) welcomes Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) to the stage for the Chicago Premiere of “Moulin Rouge® – The Ballet” November 2, 3, 4. Based on the world’s most infamous cabaret, the ballet features high kicking choreography and a passionate story of love, ambition and heartbreak, transporting audiences to turn of the century Paris. It is a rare appearance by the Royal Winnipeg with a show that has been getting positive buzz. Click here for more information and to buy your tickets.

LATIN AMERICAN GUITAR FESTIVAL

Nov 01 – Nov 09 at 8PM at Casa Michoacan (1638 S Blue Island Chicago). FREE

A festival offering concerts, workshops and conferences about Latin American Guitar. Find more information about this event here.

33rd ANNUAL DIA DE LOS MUERTOS CELEBRATION: Muertos de la Risa COMMUNITY PROCESSION

Nov 02,  4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Dvorak Park (1119 W Cullerton St. Chicago), FREE

Pros Arts Studio proudly presents the 33rd annual Dia de Muertos celebration, Muertos de la Risa in breathtaking Pilsen. Join a community procession featuring giant pole puppets, face painting and street-level ofrendas—a memorable evening of thigh-slapping carcajadas and belly laughter. Find more information about this event here.

 

CHICAGO HUMANITIES FESTIVAL

November 1-11 , various locations and prices

The Chicago Humanities Festival’s mission is to create opportunities for people of all ages to support, enjoy and explore the humanities. This festival offers very interesting lectures about Arts and Architecture, History, Literature, Philosophy, Public Affairs, and Science and Technology. One lecture we are interested in attending is the “America Dances” lecture. Find a complete list of presentations here. 

THE LYCÉE FALL FRENCH MARKET

November 2-4. Lycée Français de Chicago (613 W. Bitterweet Pl. Chicago) $5 for the festival.

This market will have French cooking demonstrations and holiday shopping to choose from the best of French merchandise and cuisine. Visitors enjoy live French music. Proceeds will go to support students at this French-speaking school. A Vietnamese-themed cocktail party on Friday Nov 2 kicks things off ($35 in advance, $45 at the door). Find more information about this event here.

UMBRELLA MUSIC FESTIVAL: European Jazz Meets Chicago

Wednesday, November 7th & Thursday, November 8th at the Chicago Cultural Center

Umbrella Music is a Chicago-based collective dedicated to presenting jazz and improvised music. Artists from Austria, France, Germany, and Lithuania will perform at this event. For more information please go to www.umbrellamusic.org

CHICAGO URBANITE RUMBA-REGGAE THANSKGIVING PARTY

November 17 8pm-10:30pm, Underground Wonderbar (710 N CLARK ST. Chicago between Superior and Huron)
Nearest El station: State and Chicago Red Line Stop
Cover: $10
Chicago Urbanite, Chicago’s top blog promoting world music and dance, invites you to come celebrate and be grateful with us! Live music by NuBambu, the hottest rumba-reggae band in Chicago.  Cover includes access to all of Underground Wonderbar stages. Free giveaways. If you have never attended a Chicago Urbanite event, now is the perfect time to experience an amazing time.  RSVP on Facebook to get more information about this party.

THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

Thursday, November 22, 2012 8-11 AM, Downtown Chicago on State Street—from Congress to Randolph. Live national broadcast on WGN America

Chicago’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started in 1936 when Walter Gregory, then president of the State Street Council, created the “Christmas Caravan” intended to stimulating economic development on State Street and also to cheer people up during the Depression. Find more information about the parade here

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AND OTHER RELATED EVENTS

Tuesday November 20 4:30pm at Daley Plaza (Washington St. & Dearborn St. Chicago)

The City of Chicago and UL are proud to present the official start of the holiday season with the Tree Lighting Ceremony. This is a highly-anticipated event drawing people of all ages to the heart of Chicago’s downtown “Loop.” Musical performances and festive holiday music begin at 4:30 pm and the holiday season officially commences at 5:00 pm, when the switch is flipped and the lights begin to dazzle in Daley Plaza. The 2012 Tree Lighting Ceremony will include performances by Gentleman’s Rule and the Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol.

Also, “the Bean” highlights the season with song. Caroling at Cloud Gate returns with evening concerts on five consecutive Fridays at 6 pm beginning with Friday, November 23. And remember skaters, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens for business again on Friday, November 16. Skating is free and rentals are available for $10. It’s the perfect way to burn off those holiday calories. Also, there is a Magnificient Mile Lights Festival & Parade happening on November 17 at 5:30pm

 
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