Category: Events

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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 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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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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Be part of an Afro-Peruvian percussion and dance flash mob in Chicago

Wanna learn a little of Afro-Peruvian dance? Then come to a FREE mini dance flash mob rehearsal tomorrow Sunday October 28 at Africaribe Cultural Center (2547 W Division) between 11am and 1pm. Easy steps and tons of fun. We will do the dance flash mob at a place nearby immediately after rehearsal.
If you can, bring the following:
Casual, comfortable, street clothes (bright-colored tops are preferred)
An empty glass bottle and a metal spoon to be used as musical instrument.

Hope to see you there!

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Chicago Halloween Parties

Jack-o-lantern
Jack-o-lantern (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Are you still looking for a party where to show your Halloween costume? Look no more. I created a list with links to parties going on in Chicago from today until November 2nd. You will have plenty of opportunities to get spooky in the next days. Here they are:

FRIDAY OCTOBER 26

TANGO

ARTango Halloween Party Featuring Alejandro Ziegler Quartet from Buenos Aires, Argentina Friday, October 26 at ARTango Center Chicago

BRAZILIAN

BOLLYWOOD/BHANGRA/ARAB

Trick or Treat, Feel My Beat! at bodi

======================

SATURDAY OCTOBER 27

SALSA

HotOn1Salsa Halloween Party @ Cafe Paris!!

TANGO

Halloween Milonga! Free tickets to LiveTangoEvent Sat,Oct 27@MilongaCite

LATINO/FUNK/SOUL

DANCE SYNDROME : The Halloween Edition : feat DJ MAMABEAR with Soulphonetics at Taxim

HOUSE

===================
MONDAY OCTOBER 29
HOUSE
TUESDAY OCTOBER 30
SALSA
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Discover the Joy of Sean-nós dance

If you live in Chicago, I am sure you have seen Irish Stepdance. You know, the traditional Irish  dance performed at St Patrick Day’s celebrations in which dancers stiffen their upper bodies while performing quick, intricate footwork. But have you ever heard of Sean-nós dancing?  I discovered this Irish dance form while attending a show at Old Town School of Folk music last year and had the pleasure to see sean-nós dancers Brian Cunningham and Irene Cunningham perform:

This dance is considered to be the jazz of traditional Irish dancing. Rescued from near death almost twenty years ago, it is now flourishing and spreading throughout Ireland like a hill fire. It is performed alone in short bursts of exuberance as dancers respond to the music in their own unique way. Dancers start with a few basic steps and improvise and refine them over a lifetime. No two performances are ever the same. There are no set pieces, no costumes, no rules.  Sean-nós dance is characterized by its “low to the ground” footwork, improvised steps, free movement of the arms, and an emphasis upon a “battering step” (which sounds out more loudly the accented beat of the music). By its nature, it follows the music closely. Because sean-nós dancing is improvisational, it is not necessary for a pre-arranged routine or choreography to be decided upon by the dancer. Spontaneous expression is highly valued. Therefore, it is less common to see groups performing synchronized sean-nós dance (which requires choreography in advance). Instead, the dancers may dance in turns, playing off the energy of the other.

If you are interested in seeing this dance form in Chicago, then come to a benefit show organized by Chicago Irish Immigrant Support that will feature this joyful dance and the unbridled enthusiasm of Brian Cunningham and Atlantic Steps. Brian Cunningham has won multiple awards for his dancing at major competitions and has performed at a number of prestigious occasions, including  accompanying the President of Ireland on state visits to Japan and South Korea and going on tour all over Britain, Ireland, Europe, and North America. The show moves audiences to their feet, bringing sean nós dance to its rightful place on the world stage.

Proceeds from the show go to benefit Chicago Irish Immigrant Support’s legal aid to Irish immigrants and social services for senior citizens.

WHEN:  Saturday, November 3, 2012.

Doors open:  6:00PM

Show begins: 7PM

WHERE:  Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave, Chicago, IL 60630

WHO:  Starring Brian Cunningham and the Atlantic Steps dancers. The show is an exciting display of sean nós dance accompanied by live traditional music.

FOR TICKETS: call Chicago Irish Immigrant Support (773) 282-8445 or buy them online  at www.ci-is.org.
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Win tickets to Jovanotti concert

Italian language has been connected to the bel canto and opera. But have you ever heard Italian rap? My first experience with this was in the nineties when Jovanotti became famous in Latin America with this song:

Jovanotti has already achieved rock star status in much of the rest of the world. In his native Italy, over the course of 25 years, he has sold over five million albums. Jovanotti’s most recent studio album, 2011’s Ora (Now), debuted at #1 there, went on to become the best-selling album of the year, and resulted in sell-outs over 50 arena and stadium dates. In the last few years, he has graced the cover of the Italian editions of Rolling Stone, GQ, Vanity Fair and L’Uomo Vogue, among other magazines.

Outside Europe, Jovanotti has long been a favorite of Latin American listeners and artists, including Oscar winner Jorge Drexler and Juanes, with whom Jovanotti has collaborated live and on recent recordings. Although Jovanotti is still in his early 40s, a whole generation of younger Latin alternative artists grew up admiring him; he has in turn invited Los Amigos Invisibles, Ana Tijoux, Bomba Estereo and others to open for him on recent tours.

Jovanotti has begun to spend a considerable amount of his time and career energies in the U.S. In the summer of 2009, he and a mostly US-based band performed 16 sold-out shows at downtown New York clubs. He has returned for brief stints in other parts of this country, including a performance at Central Park SummerStage in 2010, and earlier this year, with TV on the Radio, in The Music of The Rolling Stones Hot Rocks 1964-1971 at Carnegie Hall.

This fall, Jovanotti will move to New York for a year. The relocation is a sort of return to origins for the artist, who counts The Beastie Boys as his primary influence (and, later in his life, collaborators and friends). When Jovanotti performed at the Bowery Ballroom in March 2012, he sang some lines from “No Sleep till Brooklyn.” He was not only acknowledging his whereabouts, but his beginnings, when he sported a sideways baseball cap and a “Get Off My Dick” t-shirt on the cover of his 1988 debut, the rap album Jovanotti for President.

Enter for a chance to win a FREE TICKET to this concert! If you are a blog subscriber, leave a comment on this post to participate. If you are not,  enter your email address where it says “follow blog via email” on this page and then leave a comment.  We will announce two winners here on Tuesday October 16 at noon.

Good luck! 

Jovanotti

Diego Garcia

October 17

Vic Theatre

3145 N. Sheffield / Chicago

7:30pm / all ages/ $25.00

 Buy tickets at http://www.jamusa.com/ConcertDetails.aspx?ConcertId=5050

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