Category Archives: Culture

Songs for Syria Nov 20th

Songs for Syria
featuring
Bassel & The Supernaturals
Mariela Shaker
Omar Offendum

 

Saturday, Nov. 20,   3 p.m.

 

Three amazing Syrian artists – one unforgettable performance. Join us as we pay homage to the history and culture of Syria with multiple musical genres including classical violin, spoken word, neo-soul and funk with captivating lyrics about love, loss, and a war in Syria that has directly affected over 10,000,000 people.

 

For more information about the artists:
unhcr.org/en-us/mariela-shaker.html
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Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre October 9th

Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre was founded in 1999 by Joe Cerqua, composer and musician; Wilfredo Rivera, choreographer and dancer; and Matt Lamb, painter.

Through an intense focus on personal narratives, the combined talents of its diverse company and the multiple artistic languages with which the company communicates, Cerqua Rivera engages audiences in magnetic human stories at once new and deeply familiar.

In their art and their artists, they are proudly and visibly multicultural, exploring the intersection of heritage, culture, and identity.

https://www.cerquarivera.org

Saturday, Oct. 9       7:30 p.m.

 

Moraine Valley is following COVID-19 safety protocols for visitors on campus. See the latest information at morainevalley.edu/covid.

 

Moraine Valley Community College, Fine and Performing Arts Center | 9000 West College ParkwayPalos Hills, IL 60465
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BEST Mariachi Band Comes to Chicagoland Feb 8th

Award-winning Mariachi ensemble to perform at Moraine Valley

Mariachi Herencia De México will perform its award-winning traditional Mexican music on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dorothy Menker Theater at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.

Tickets are $30, $25 for seniors, and free for children and students with ID. Those who qualify for free admission must acquire a ticket to reserve a seat.

This ensemble of students from Chicago’s immigrant barrios started in 2014 as a music education program for Chicago Public school students. The group has earned a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Ranchero/Mariachi Album category, and its latest album, “Herencia de la Tierra Mia,” debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Latin Album sales chart.

Mariachi Herencia de México has performed alongside major artists, Lila Downs, Aida Cuevas, Los Lobos, Pedro Fernández, as well as some of the most respected mariachi groups from both sides of the border, including Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan, Los Camperos, Sol de Mexico, Cobre, and the all-female group Reyna de Los Angeles.

 

For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Fine and Performing Arts Center Box Office at (708) 974-5500 or visit morainevalley.edu/fpac.

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One Night Only Special Dinner Sept 5th

Exclusive Maestro Dobel Agave Dinner

Thursday, September 5th, 2019 | 7:00 p.m. | Chicago

Nothing makes us happier than a good tequila cocktail…and this event has THREE!

We’ll spend the night dining and drinking on El Mariachi’s patio with special guest speaker and field brand specialist, Dean Stojanov from Maestra Dobel Tequila.

For only $50/person Dean will take Lakeview Supper Club members through a 3-course Agave Dinner (see above for menu). *Gratuity not included. Members can bring up to 4 guests at membership pricing.

The password to purchase tickets is: TeAmoTequila

 

> Click Here to Purchase Tickets!

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Penny Arcade at City Winery June 25

Penny Arcade’s one-woman-show Longing Lasts Longer

Tuesday, June 25 at 8:00 pm at City Winery Chicago

 

JUST IN TIME  FOR  PRIDE!!! The long-overdue Chicago debut of underground performance legend Penny Arcade and her one woman show Longing Lasts Longer is a rock n’ roll blend of stand-up comedy and memoir in which she offers perspectives on the effects of gentrification. Arcade’s performance is the same week as the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion and PENNY WAS THERE THROWING BRICKS! (Note, she prefers the word “uprising” to “riots.”)

 

She was on the scene in NYC with Patti Smith, Lou Reed, and Andy Warhol, to drop a few names.

 

Arcade, also known as Susana Ventura, is an internationally respected performance artist, writer, poet, and experimental theater maker known for her magnetic stage presence, her take-no-prisoners wit, and her content rich plays and one-liners. She is the author of ten scripted performance plays and hundreds of performance art pieces. Arcade’s decade-long focus on the creation of community and inclusion as the goals of performance, and her efforts to use performance as a transformative act mark her as a true original in American theater and performance. The work she does has always focused on the other and the outsider, giving voice to those marginalized by society. Longing Lasts Longer’s street smarts and exuberance open a crack in our planet’s post-gentrified landscape with its razor sharp satire.

 

Tickets $25-35. citywinery.com/Chicago.

SNEAK PEAK ON YOUTUBE

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Cirque du Soleil VOLTA Extended

Cirque du Soleil is excited to add two weeks of performances of VOLTA’s Chicago engagement this spring. The show will be presented under its signature Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, May 18 – July 6, 2019. Tickets, starting at $49, are available for purchase by visitingcirquedusoleil.com/volta or calling 1-877-9CIRQUE (1-877-924-7783).

 

The show

Energetic, urban and contemporary, VOLTA is a captivating voyage of discovery that showcases never-before-seen under the Big Top acrobatics in a visually striking world. Driven by a stirring melodic score and inspired in part by the adventurous spirit that fuels the culture of street sports, VOLTA is a story of transformation. It is about being true to oneself, fulfilling one’s true potential, and recognizing one’s own power to make it possible. Ultimate freedom comes with self-acceptance, and with the liberation of the judgment of others.

 

BMX & Street Sports

The creators of VOLTA drew inspiration from the spirit of adventure that pervades the world of BMX, street sports and acrobatics. Whether they are on a bike, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, or double dutch rope skipping, urban sports enthusiasts constantly challenge themselves and defy convention.

Sure to be a Chicago crowd pleaser, VOLTA features a full-blown BMX park mounted on stage in front of the audience’s very eyes for the breathtaking BMX finale as riders invade the stage to deliver a jaw-dropping, fast and furious performance of nonstop acrobatics on wheels. The riders go up the jump boxes and perform air tricks before landing and leaping off the ramps again, crisscrossing and spinning their bikes in midair in a spirit of brotherhood.

The name VOLTA refers to a sudden about-face, a change in emotion or idea often used in poetry. It also speaks to the jolt of energy delivered through the show.

The Costumes

The stunning costumes of VOLTA have been designed by Zaldy Goco, famous for his work with Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefany and for TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race.

 

Ticket Information

VOLTA will be presented under the Big Top at the Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, starting May 18. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta. Discover our VIP package – a cocktail reception with open bar and hors d’ oeuvres inspired by the show, access to the best seats for greater comfort, complimentary parking and more!

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ART on the MART Sept 29th 6:30pm

In the spirit of Chicago’s great legacy of public art and culture, Art on theMART will be the longest-running and largest digital art projection in the world. The first-of-its-kind for Chicago, this curated series of digital artworks will be projected across 2.5 acres of theMART’s exterior river-façade.

LAUNCH – THIS  SATURDAY!

Beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m., Wacker Dr. between N. Wells St. and N. Franklin St. will be closed off to traffic to enable public viewing of the projections. While viewing the inaugural program, the public will enjoy a live DJ, food trucks and a Lantern Procession presented by Light Up My Arts (LUMA8). 

The art unveiling will begin at 7:15 p.m. with a fireworks show at 8:00 p.m.

 

Can’t make the launch?   September 30 – December 30
begins at dusk Wednesdays through Sundays!

The artwork will be projected onto the river façade of theMART.

Where to view : Upper Wacker Drive between N. Wells St.  and N. Franklin St. & The Jetty and Confluence areas on The Chicago Riverwalk between Wells and Lake St.

Where to enter The Riverwalk : The Riverwalk is accessible via any of the stairways along Wacker Dr. There are ADA compliant ramps providing Riverwalk access located at the east side of State St., the west side of Clark St., and the west side of Franklin St.

THE DETAILS

PROJECTORS – 34 Christie Digital Boxer 4K30 30,000 lumen projectors for a total of over one million lumens projected on the building façade.

PROJECTION SURFACE – The building façade is 556’x165′ or 91,740 ft² (over 2 acres), and the projection resolution will be 6000 x 2620. 

READ MORE HERE!

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F*cking Men – Now Playing at Pride Arts Center

Two  great plays  currently  running  at the  Pride Arts  Center in Buena  Park;   Fucking Men   and The View Upstairs!

We are very lucky  to have such a vibrant  LGBTQ  theatre scene in Chicago – I urge you to go out and see some of the wonderful shows  that come to the Pride Arts  Center in Buena  Park  at  4139 N. Broadway.

Now playing – Fucking Men. In this present-day updating of Schnitzler’s LA RONDE by Joe DiPietro, ten men – a hustler, soldier, two college students, businessman and his husband, an adult film actor, a movie star, his agent and a playwright – all have physical and emotional desires to connect.

Gay men—just like all human beings—are capable of love, and in fact, spend much of their lives, as everyone does, looking for it. And it is this search for meaning, connection and kindness in a sea of sex that playwright Joe DiPietro attempts to illuminate in his cyclical play Fucking Men.

The treatment of hot topics — promiscuity, monogamy, sexual deception — yields such commonplace insights as: Macho men with forbidden desires lash out with their fists; married couples struggle to stick to their bargains about cheating; some people lie about their HIV status; movie stars screw over ordinary people; can’t we all just get along?; and prostitutes and porn stars really want love.

This play runs  through August 25. Performances will be Fridays and Saturdays at 11 pm and Sundays at 8 pm.

Ticket prices are: Previews $15, Regular Run: Premium seats $30, General Admission $25, Seniors/Students/Military $23. Tickets are on sale now at www.pridefilmsandplays.comor by phone at 866-411-4111 or 773-857-0222.

 

THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, a musical by Max Vernon, which won Best Musical honors in off-Broadway’s Lortel Awards and  was also nominated for seven Drama Desk awards. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS,  opened off-Broadway in February 2017.

Circle Theatre Chicago is proud to present the Chicago premiere of THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, at Pride Arts Center.
It is inspired by real life events of the 1973 arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge, a vibrant gay bar in New Orleans. Now accepted as a targeted anti-gay attack, the arson resulted in the deaths of 32 people and was, until the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooting, the deadliest assault on a gay club in U.S. history. The show is inspired by and pays tributes to many of the patrons that frequented the venue.

In THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, Wes, a young fashion designer from 2017, buys an abandoned building in the French Quarter of New Orleans and finds himself transported to the UpStairs Lounge in 1973. As this forgotten community comes to life, Wes embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-exploration that spans two generations of queer history. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS asks what has been gained and lost in the fight for equality, and how the past can help guide all of us through an uncertain future.

TIMEOUT NEW YORK said, “It takes your breath away!” and ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY called it “a moving homage to LGBT culture, past and present.” THE NEW YORKER praised it for its “beautiful love songs.”

THE VIEW UPSTAIRS will be running through Sunday, July 22. Shows will be Thursdays – Saturdays at 8:00pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30pm, with industry performances every Monday at 8:00pm at The Broadway at Pride Arts Center (4139 N. Broadway).

Tickets: $30.00. Monday Industry nights $20. Tickets on sale now atwww.circletheatrechicago.org

 

 

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Chicago Market Days Entertainment

Northalsted Serves Up Summer’s Best Fest

Market Days Returns August 11-12

The Northalsted Business Alliance delivers a diverse and dance heavy line-up for this year’s Market Days set for August 11 and 12. The must-do Midwest fest returns to the heart of Boystown with non-stop entertainment from four stages, shopping, food and more.

Multi-faceted entertainer Todrick Hall graces the stage as part of his Forbidden tour on Saturday, while Betty Who brings the beat on Sunday with her power pop. MAX, of gold single “Lights Down Low” fame closes out the festival on Sunday night. Additional national and local acts round out the line-up.

Northalsted Business Alliance Executive Director Chad Honeycutt explains the popularity of Market Days. “For more than 30 years Northalsted Market Days has set the bar for Chicago festivals and this year is no exception. We can’t wait to welcome our neighbors and visitors alike to celebrate summer in Boystown.”

About the Northalsted Business Alliance (NBA)

Formed in 1980, NBA represents more than 100 businesses along the Halsted Street corridor. The organization hosts major events throughout the year including Chicago Pride Fest, Northalsted Market Days, the Halloween Parade and Frost Fest. For information about NBA visitwww.northalsted.com.

Northalsted Market Days

North Halsted (From Belmont to Addison)

August 11-12       11 am – 10 pm        $10 Suggestion Donation

 

Northalsted Market Days 2018/Saturday, Aug 11th

Addison North Stage

1:30P-3:30PM             Drag Show

2:30PM-3:30PM         Todrick Hall

3:30PM-4:15PM         Trenyce

5:00PM-6:30PM         Cat Fight

7:00PM-7:45PM         Kimberly Locke

7:50PM-8:35PM         Ultra Nate

8:40PM-9:25PM         Martha Wash

Roscoe Stage

1:15PM-2:30PM         Hello Weekend

3:15PM-4:30PM         Girl Power Night

5:00PM-5:45PM         DJ

5:45P-6:25PM             Crystal Waters

6:25PM-7:00PM         DJ

7:00PM-7:45PM         Ty Herndon

8:20-9:45PM               Hank & Cupcake

Aldine Jazz Stage

130PM-3:00PM          Sam Fazio Quartet

5:30PM-7:30PM         Feathered Beaus

NORTHALSTED MARKETDAYS 2018/Sunday, Aug 12th

Addison North Stage

1:00PM-2:00PM         DJ

2:00PM-2:45PM         Betty Who

3:30PM-4:30PM         Sushi Roll

4:45PM-6:15PM         DJ

6:15PM-7:00PM         Expose

7:00PM-9:00PM         DJ

9:00PM-9:55PM         MAX

Roscoe Stage

1:00PM-1:45PM         Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus

2:15PM-3:45PM         Boy Band

4:15PM-5:00PM         Kristine W

5:15PM-7:15PM         Rod Tuffcurls

7:45PM-9:45PM         16 Candles

Aldine Jazz Stage

1:30PM-3:00PM         BMR4

3:30PM-5:00PM         Joe Policastro Trio

5:30PM-7:30PM         The Flat Cats

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Best Cinco De Mayo in Chicago

Cinco de Mayo is a cultural phenomenon in the United States. It’s a time to celebrate Mexican culture and, for some, an opportunity to drink a lot of margaritas and cerveza.

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day.Mexican independence is celebrated Sept.16. Cinco de Mayo commemorates theMexican army’s unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico. In the U.S. the date has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades.

The 2  BEST places  to celebrate  are in Lakeview!

Revolucion  Steak House  &  El Mariachi Tequila Bar & Restaurant!

SATURDAY  AND  SUNDAY!  2 days, 2 ways to celebrate! Brunch and Dinner!

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Undocumented and QUEER April 24th

Join us as we showcase the struggles and activism of undocumented queer people in this age of uncertainty. Delve into the history of the fight for immigrant rights in Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Take a closer look at the gripping stories, legal avenues, and layered past of undocumented queer persons in this lively panel discussion with immigration and queer activist Egle Malinauskaite, organizer and scholar Tania Unzueta Carrasco ofMijente, Antonio Gutierrez of Community Activism Law Alliance – CALA and LGBTQ immigration attorney Michael Jarecki.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Museum’s popular and provocative series delves into the storied history of Chicago’s LGBTQ communities. This season, join us as we explore the connections between activism of the past and today and how calls to action propel cultural disruption.

Schedule:
5:30 p.m. Reception with refreshments and appetizers
6:30 p.m. Program begins
-Introduction by Nancy Villafranca, CHM Elizabeth F. Cheney
Director of Education
-Two audio recordings from the Immigrant Youth Justice League
(IYJL)
-Panel discussion, Q&A to follow
8:00 p.m. Program concludes

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Cirque Du Soleil LUZIA

LUZIA official photos!

Photo credit : Matt Beard / Costumes: Giovanna Buzzi / 2016 Cirque du Soleil

A clown parachutes into the big top, turns a giant key et voilà: a new world is revealed, one populated by giant butterflies, hoop-jumping hummingbirds and a garden of real marigolds tended to by tin robots. Welcome to Cirque du Soleil’s vibrant new big-top show, Luzia!

 

Directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, Luzia provides us with a glimpse into a dream-like Mexico that is simultaneously traditional and modern.

 

THE STAGING – AMAZING  AS ALWAYS!

 

 

Luzia’s design, by the numbers:

  • The opening scene begins in a field of 5,000 marigolds.
  • In all, 1,115 different costume elements were created for the show.
  • Each performance requires 140 pairs of shoes.
  • The artisans in the costume workshop developed 6 crocodile heads, 1 iguana shawl, 1 cockroach, 1 grasshopper, 1 armadillo, 1 snake, 5 swordfish heads and 3 tuna heads.
  • With its two revolving rings and central platter, the stage floor has 94,657 holes through which the water drains into a 3,500-litre basin hidden underneath.
  • Integrating the element of water inside the big top represented a huge technical challenge on several fronts. All electrical and mechanical systems have to be waterproof. In addition, the water must be recycled, disinfected and kept at 28 Celsius for the comfort of the artists.
  • The two giant treadmills weigh 3,630 kg apiece and are powered independently by 28 automobile-type batteries.
  • July 21, 2017 – September 3, 2017,  UNITED CENTER  Parking Lot K.
  • GET  TICKETS – Starting at just  $35 while supplies last!

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Fogo de Chao Happy Hour Bar Bites

FOGO DE CHÃO ROLLS OUT LARGEST U.S. BAR MENU INNOVATION TO-DATE

New Brazilian cocktails, bar bites and Happy Hour offers, plus eagerly anticipated seasonal menu additions offer guests three new reasons to experience Fogo nationwide

Fogo de Chão debuts three significant menu enhancements, taking guests on a captivating culinary adventure through Southern Brazil without leaving the comfort of their table or bar seats. As part of the Brazilian steakhouse’s largest bar innovation since it arrived stateside nearly 20 years ago, Bar Fogo – a casual alternative for guests looking to enjoy the Brazilian art of churrasco – now features an expanded menu that includes a refined array of new Brazilian Bites, Brazilian-inspired craft cocktails and South American wines. Coupled with an enriched Bar Fogo Happy Hour program at attractive price points, these two enhancements perfectly complement Fogo’s new spring menu additions that include seasonal salads and soup.

“Menu innovation is at the core of all that we do at Fogo, and with our new Bar Fogo menu, Happy Hour and seasonal spring offerings, we’re thrilled to be providing our guests with new ways to experience the authentic flavors and Southern Brazilian hospitality for which Fogo is known,” said Larry Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chão.

 

 

Bar Fogo’s new offerings were designed with everyday occasions in mind and offer uniquely craveable items found only at Fogo de Chão. A sample of the new small plates include:

 

  • Braised Beef Rib Sliders: Brazilian Xingu beer braised beef is topped with caramelized onions and smoked provolone, served on a brioche bun.
  • Brazilian Empanadas: Flaky pastry filled with seasoned picanha and onions served with Chimichurri aioli for dipping.
  • Garlic Shrimp: Four jumbo shrimp sautéed in garlic butter with sweet peppers and onions, served with passion fruit dipping sauce.

The expanded Bar Fogo menu also features new hand-crafted Caipirinhas and Brazilian inspired cocktails including:

  • Strawberry Hibiscus Caipirinha: Silver cachaça is mixed with hibiscus-infused syrup, fresh strawberries, and lime for a tasty twist on Brazil’s national cocktail.
  • Mango Habanero Caipirinha: Limes, mangoes and habanero peppers are muddled with silver cachaça for a sizzling kick destined to jumpstart any Happy Hour.
  • Brazilian Gentleman: Knob Creek Rye Bourbon, passion fruit, tawny port, Amargo Chuncho bitters and honey blend together seamlessly in this premium cocktail.
  • Brazilian Nights: Belvedere Vodka joins forces with passion fruit, cinnamon honey, lemon ginger tincture and La Marca Prosecco for the ultimate evening drink.
  • Bar Fogo Happy Hour is available Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and features new Happy Hour prices that everyone can appreciate – from $4 Brazilian Bites & Beers to $6 South American Wines and $8 Brazilian Inspired Cocktails.

Finally, Fogo’s spring seasonal menu items have been crafted for those ready to embrace warmer temperatures using the freshest ingredients of the season.  Select menu items include:

 

  • Blackberry Arugula Salad: This flavorful arugula salad features fresh blackberries and spring onions and is topped with goat cheese, crispy prosciutto and served with a blackberry balsamic vinaigrette.
  • Lentil Quinoa Salad: This colorful salad features quinoa and green lentils, finely diced red onion and red bell pepper and is garnished with fresh chopped parsley and basil.
  • Carrot Ginger Soup: Sweet spring carrots are blended with coconut milk and ginger for a delicious vegan treat.
  • Mango Ginger Martini: Ketel One Citroen, fresh mango, South American ginger and honey lemon elixir is garnished with fresh basil.

For more information on the new Bar Fogo and spring menu offerings or to make dining reservations, please visit http://www.fogo.com.

 

661 N LaSalle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654. (312) 932-9330

(see the website  for  suburban locations)

About Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão is a leading Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria, which has specialized for more than 37 years in fire-roasting high-quality meats utilizing the centuries-old Southern Brazilian cooking technique of churrasco. Fogo offers guests a wide variety of simply seasoned meats that are carefully fire-roasted to expose their natural flavors. The company was founded in 1979 in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and expanded into the U.S. in 1997. There are currently 47 locations throughout Brazil, the United States, and Mexico, including locations in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City.

 

Additionally, Fogo offers a gourmet Market Table & Feijoada Bar, which includes seasonal salads, soup, fresh vegetables, feijoada (traditional black bean stew with rice, fresh orange and yuca flour), and much more. Southern Brazilian side dishes such as pão de queijo (warm cheese bread), crispy hot polenta, and caramelized bananas are served family-style. To further complement the dining experience, the restaurant offers an award-winning wine list, tempting dessert menu, and creative and classic cocktails. Guests can also choose between lighter seafood selections, or enjoy the gourmet Market Table only option. For more information, visit Fogo.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

 

For a visual representation of the story of Fogo de Chão, watch “The Gaucho Way,” a documentary-style video shot through the eyes of real Fogo de Chão Brazilian gauchos and explores the restaurant’s deep cultural roots in Southern Brazil.

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Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company Hyde Park

The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company  (Hyde Park) will perform Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri – regarded by many as Gilbert and Sullivan’s finest and most perfect collaboration. Three performances will take place at the University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall on March 10, 11 and 12.

Iolanthe drops England’s House of Peers into the middle of a Hans Christian Andersen-inspired forest enchanted by fairies and ruled by a no-nonsense Fairy Queen. Strephon is the son of the beloved eponymous fairy Iolanthe, the progeny of her marriage to a mortal, and as such is a HALF-FAIRY. The Fairy Queen sends him into Parliament as a Fairy Member when the Lord Chancellor and his House of Peers spurn his affections for his love Phyllis.

Gilbert & Sullivan’s satire is just as fresh today, with the clueless and bumbling Peers going up against a formidable fairy circle who’s special magic cannot be denied. And Strephon suddenly finds himself in charge of BOTH houses of Parliment! How much more resonant can we get?

Iolanthe has the strongest blend of dialogue and music of any other collaboration between this formidable duo,” says director Shane Valenzi, returning for a third year with the Company.

Highlighted by the most difficult patter song in the canon, and calling for a top-notch featured male ensemble, Iolanthe has long been revered in the United Kingdom as on par with The Mikado as one of the best and most popular works of operetta ever produced by the Savoy. And as the chorus has an exceptionally prominent role, Valenzi explains that now is the perfect time to mount this show. We’ve built a tradition of a supremely talented, active chorus over the last few years, and Iolanthe is the perfect vehicle for them to shine. I could not be more excited to see how the brilliant, professional-level performers that make up our chorus make this show their own.

Frequent performer Aaron Hunt will take a turn as associate director this year, collaborating with Valenzi. Also returning for a third year is conductor Matthew Sheppard, Director of the University of Chicago Chamber Orchestra. The talented cast includes some of the Company’s favorites from past productions as well as
several outstanding newcomers. Nancy Levner will produce, aided by associate producers Trip Driscoll and Roger Huff.

Performances take place at Mandel Hall, 1131 East 57th Street, from March 10 through 12.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $25 general, $5 for students, $15 for groups and can be ordered online , or by calling the Logan Center for the Arts box office at 773.702.ARTS.

Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the Logan Center box office Tuesday through Saturday from noon through 6 p.m.

2017 marks the 33rd consecutive year the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company has partnered with the University of Chicago Department of Music for their annual production. The proceeds will benefit the Department of Music’s performance program, whose seventeen ensembles and programs present more than a hundred concerts each year.

ABOUT THE GILBERT & SULLIVAN OPERA COMPANY
The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, Inc. is a non-profit, community arts organization dedicated to performing the works of Gilbert & Sullivan to the highest artistic standards. It has been a mainstay of Chicago’s Hyde Park cultural scene since it was founded in 1964 by three local G&S fans: Nancy Lorie, Robert Ashenhurst, and Roland Bailey. GSOC is supported by member donations, ticket sales, and local grants.

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Home is Where the Art Is: Queer Ricans

puerto-rican-museum-chicago

As many in the US struggle to understand and accept the LGBT community, join us to discuss the particular challenges faced by LGBT Latinos, as teens and others share their stories and celebrate their culture.

WHAT:  Home is Where the Art Is:  Queer Ricans –  A Conversation with Lawrence La Fountain

WHEN: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM  October 22, 2016

WHERE: National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture | 3015 West Division Street

The Great Books Foundation, in partnership with several Chicago community organizations, is pleased to present author, scholar and performer Lawrence La Fountain. Raised in Puerto Rico, Mr. La Fountain teaches at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and is featured in the Great Books Foundation’s anthology, Immigrant Voices: 21 Century Stories.

The free, four-hour program will include an interview and Q&A session with Mr. La Fountain, a panel discussion with teens, and an interactive storytelling workshop for the audience, presented by Public Narrative.

The Home is Where the Art Is program is underwritten by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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Dance for Life: Inspiring Chicago, One Dance at a Time August 16th

DFL_Online-Banners-2014_615x300

Dance for Life: Inspiring Chicago, One Dance at a Time

Chicago’s Leading Dance Troupes Unite to Raise Funds for

HIV/AIDS Prevention and Services on Aug. 16

WHAT: Experience a night of awe-inspiring performances as six of Chicago’s top dance companies come together for one evening at Dance for Life, the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest. With poignant choreography and moving music, this highly anticipated event is held annually to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS care, education and prevention while promoting the art of dance in Chicago.

Since 1992 Dance for Life has raised millions of dollars to support the cause.

This year, Dance for Life Chicago features two electrifying, world-premiere performances by renowned choreographers Randy Duncan, Harrison McEldowney and Jeremy Plummer.

Funds raised through this year’s Dance for Life Chicago benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, The Dancers’ Fund, Agape Missions, NFP and MADE: Making A Daily Effort.

WHO: Participating Companies Include:

• Giordano Dance Chicago
• Joffrey Ballet
• River North Dance Chicago
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
• Visceral Dance Chicago

 

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014
5:00 p.m. – Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago Grand Ballroom (720 S. Michigan Ave.)
8:00 p.m. – Dance for Life Performance – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E. Congress Pkwy.)
*Complimentary shuttle bus service provided between the two venues.

COST: $25-$75 (performance only)
$250- $600 (includes admission to 5:00 p.m. gala reception and premiere seating at the performance)
To purchase tickets, please call 312-922-5812 or visit www.danceforlifechicago.org

WHERE: Performance – Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., Chicago
Gala Reception – Hilton Chicago, 720 South Michigan Ave., Chicago

Connect with Dance for Life on Facebook!

About Dance for Life
Dance for Life raises awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS care, prevention and education, while promoting the art of dance in Chicago. Realizing that AIDS had heavily affected the dance community, Dance for Life was founded in 1992 as an inventive way for dancers and dance companies, whose incomes do not normally allow for large donations, to be able to contribute time, effort and badly needed funds for existing AIDS agencies. Check us out online on the Dance for Life website or on Facebook.

About The Dancers’ Fund
The Dancers’ Fund, a funding program of Dance for Life, was created in 1994 as a one of a kind fund with the mission to provide emergency financial assistance to dancers living with HIV/AIDS and has since expanded to include any life-threatening illness. The Dancers’ Fund provides immediate financial assistance for those facing life-threatening illness, injury or circumstance. Designed to help qualified individuals meet their immediate financial obligations while dealing with life-threatening conditions, The Dancers’ Fund is available to Chicago-based, professionally trained working dancers and those whose primary source of income is derived by serving the dance community.

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My Private Chef Demonstrates How to Cook Spanish Tapas October 19th

 Fresh
from his trip to Barcelona, Spain, Chef Christopher Tong of the upscale
Chicago-based private gourmet dining service, My Private Chef, will
demonstrate how to cook and serve Spanish Tapas. 

 

Chef
Tong has been a favorite at Bloomingdales for several years because
lovers of gourmet food get to ask questions, discuss preparation and
come away with recipes that spice up their meals. And, everyone gets to
have a taste!

 

The demonstration will take place on Saturday, October 19, from 2-4 p.m. at the Bloomingdale’s Home & Furniture Store at Medinah Temple, 600 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago.

For more information about this Bloomingdale’s event, contact 312.324.7678.

My Private Chef is
enjoying popularity as one of Chicago’s favorite private gourmet dining
services. Trained in European-style fine cuisine,Chef Tong
established his reputation at fine restaurants and hotels in Florida,
California, and Chicago. Now he has adapted his impressive skills to the
world of private entertaining. My Private Chef offers enticing cuisine for a wide range of events, from intimate dinners to weddings to corporate parties.

Chef Chris says:
“Every event is different and I’ve met some wonderful people including
many celebrities. Being part of very special occasions makes my work
worthwhile. I also love conducting cooking demonstrations where I get
the feeling that audience members will go home and try some new dishes!”

For more information about My Private Chef, contact Event Services at 773.370.8131 or visit our web site: www.myprivatechef.net

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Cinco de Mayo at the BEST MEXICAN Restaurant

3906 N. Broadway Chicago Il. 60640  #773-549-2932

&

3420 N. Broadway Chicago Il 60657  #773-549-7020

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FREE Films March 20th – LGBT History

 

T’Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness: Queer Blues Divas of the 1920s (2011)
Blues history thru a lavender lens

The 1920s saw a revolution in technology, the advent of the recording
industry, that created the first class of African-American women to sing
their way to fame and fortune. Blues divas such as Bessie Smith, Ma
Rainey, and Alberta Hunter created and promoted a working-class vision
of blues life that provided an alternative to the Victorian gentility of
middle-class manners. In their lives and music, blues women presented
themselves as strong, independent women who lived hard lives and were
unapologetic about their unconventional choices in clothes, recreational
activities, and bed partners. Blues singers disseminated a Black
feminism that celebrated emotional resilience and sexual pleasure, no
matter the source.

PLUS!

Living With Pride: Ruth Ellis @ 100  (1999)
Ruth Ellis (July 23, 1899 – October 5, 2000) was the oldest known open lesbian, and an LGBT rights activist. Her life was the subject of the documentary directed by Yvonne Welbon. In this charming documentary, Ruth Ellis, a 100-year-old African
American lesbian, recounts her life. As a lesbian academic interviewed
in the documentary puts it, “Ruth is a gift to us” as she is able to
tell what it was like to suffer “triple oppression, being a woman, being
black, and being a lesbian.” Ellis tells about discovering her
sexuality some 80 years ago, and when discussing her romantic
involvements (which included one relationship lasting 35 years), she is
utterly honest. 
At one point she is even asked about the last time she
had sex, and she replies it was when she was 95, adding with a laugh,
“that was a one-night stand.” A businesswoman, Ellis lived openly as a
lesbian and often played host for an active social circle of gays and
lesbians in Detroit at a time when mainstream America scarcely
acknowledged the existence of the community. The film is illustrated
with vintage photographs of Ellis, her family, lovers, and friends, and
footage shot in the present day shows her at dance class, having fun at
her favorite bowling alley, and shooting pool with friends. This is an
engaging look at a special character, a woman who was always true to
herself.
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Latin Latino Pride in Chicago this Week

 UNITED LATINO PRIDE  – ULP is a group of individual community members, organizations and buisness that identify as Latino LGBTQ and allies. The group was formed to meet the need to educate and celebrate who we are as community.

“There are over 1 million Latinos in the Chicago Land Area meaning that statistically at least 30,000 fall in the LGBTQ spectrum. With such a large population, how can we not celebrate who we are!”

This week ULP is organizing a series of event for Latino Pride in Chicago.  Including:


June 9, 2011     screening “I am the Queen” film Directed by Josue Pellot and Henrique Cirne-Lima


The Event will begin with a small reception and special performance, followed by the viewing of the film and a Q and A.    This event is open to ALL AGES


We are asking for a minimum donation of $10.00 to benefit the transitional living center for Trans identified people, “El Rescate” that Vida Sida is in the processes of… establishing in Humbolt Park, Chicago.


About the Movie: “I am the Queen” takes a look at the often unobserved life of Chicago’s
Puerto Rican transgendered community documenting the Cacique Pageant, the first annual transgendered pageant held in Chicago’s Humboldt Park
neighborhood.


The film exposes the restructuring of the family unit
experienced by pageant participants who are often distanced from their
biological family only to find kinship among others in the Puerto Rican
transgendered community.


AND      Saturday, June 11 · 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Latin@ PRIDE Summer Dance

Join us for Latin@ Pride Summer Dance at Harrison Park in Pilsen. Help us kick-off the pride festivities with music by some of Chicago’s leading queer Latin@ DJ’s and some of the queer friendliest DJ’s.


Spinning to the delight of your ears: Dj’s Reyna, Ang G., Feline and (((SONORAMA))).


There’ll be a dance contest, a guac-off (guacamole show down!) and so much more.  
Location Harrison Park in Pilsen ,  19th & Damen    Chicago, IL


More events and details at United Latino Pride.


BestGayChicago.com

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