Driving home Saturday night I ran into a traffic jam at Roosevelt Road and State Street. Red light after red light found me sitting in place waiting for hundreds of westbound bike riders turning South onto State Street . Traffic was backed up for a mile in each direction at Michigan, at Wabash, on State Street and on Roosevelt. Before I could hurl an F-bomb at the passing cyclists voice my displeasure, I remembered being stuck in traffic on Michigan Avenue last year for the same event. The annual L.A.T.E. Ride was taking place.

Each year the Friends of the Parks organization holds a Long After Twilight Ends (“L.A.T.E.”) ride to benefit the organization. I certainly respect the organization and everything they do to keep Chicago’s green spaces in top condition but it’s really time for the Friends of the Parks to be good neighbors and find a fund raising activity that is less disruptive to motorists and to the neighborhoods they ride through.

This year the ride took a different route than recent years and I suspect the change was due to growing cries of displeasure from people inconvenienced by the event. With a name like Friends of the Parks and 26 miles of lakefront path in our beautiful city, wouldn’t a nice ride along the shore better suit the organization? I just want to point out that if they delay just one emergency vehicle in the traffic this ride causes and all their efforts are all for not. Lincoln Park Zoo holds Zoo Lights on the premises and other organizations host similar fundraising events that don’t inconvenience nearby residents. Why can’t Friends of the Parks do the same?

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Every year it happens. I’m in the loop during the taste and I see car after car with out of state plates or one with that I’m a proud parent of an “insert suburban high school name here" honor roll student going the wrong way on a one way street. They ask for directions to Willis Tower one block away from the building. If I had a dollar for every time I told a tourist to try looking up, I swear I’d be rich. I don’t know why but I’m always the guy the ask directions from. Sure I’m usually dressed professionally and always willing to help but if these types only knew what I was thinking inside. C’mon you know who you are out there so take note because this guide to the taste was written just for you.

Getting to the Taste:

First of all, I want to welcome you to Chicago. Yeah, yeah forget what I wrote above… I kid, I kid. Not really but look at it this way, after reading this guide you won’t have locals pointing at you with hatred.

Where ever you are coming from I urge you not to drive to the Taste. Take the CTA, take Metra, take a cab from your hotel but don’t drive. The CTA has several bus routes convenient to the Taste and all el / subway trains have stops within a short walk from Grant Park. If you take Metra Electric in, the last stop will put you right at Michigan and Randolph but Ogilvie and Union Station are a good eight blocks east of the Taste.

Should you find yourself driving to the Taste slap yourself try parking in one of the garages west of LaSalle Street. Most of the garages in that area offer specials after 3pm that will allow you to park all evening for about $13. I recommend Washington & Franklin Self Park. Again, you will have to walk seven blocks east to get to the park but getting out of the loop will be so much easier for you. Especially if you come down to the Taste on July 3rd. If you ignore my advice, park stupid and get towed click here to find out where your car has been taken.

Making last minute plans to visit the Taste from out of town and need a hotel? As recent as last Wednesday a friend got a great rate for next week at the Palmer House Hilton (as low as $95 a night). With the recession, good deals can be had if you shop around.

The Food:

OK you made it downtown and you are ready to eat. I suggest beginning at the North end of the Taste and walking South from Monroe to Balbo.

First, you will have to buy tickets. Cash is not used at any of the vendors. There is a ticket booth as soon as you enter the gate on Monroe. They sell tickets on both sides of the booth so if everyone is headed to one side, go round to the other side to save time. Each ticket represents .50 cents and tickets are sold in strips of twelve for eight dollars. I know it doesn’t add up but if you read the bottom of your tickets it says "$2.00 charge per strip of tickets covers cost of amenities". These tickets are not refundable and you’re going to have at least three tickets left over that you can’t do anything with.

Now let’s eat. Expect sweaty, smelly people shoulder to shoulder with you and long lines everywhere you go. Its part of the experience so don”t freak out. No one item costs more than 12 tickets ($6.00) and everyone offers a sample or "taste portion" of something for 4 tickets or less. Beverages can be had for 5 or 6 tickets but if you want to have a beer, drink before you get there. The Taste only serves Budweiser and for 8 tickets a cup.

As you walk toward Balbo from Monroe here are my recommendations:

• Bobak Sausage (Booth 1): I didn’t try this one but a bacon wrapped frankfurter sounds so good. Let me know if you check this one out.
• Iyanze West African (Booth 2): They offer a full serving of rice & beans with jerk chicken and plantain.
• Billy Goat Tavern and Grill (Booth 8): Leave room for a half cheeseburger taste portion. They also offer full servings as a rib eye sandwich, double or single cheeseburger.
• Abbey Pub (Booth 11): This place has fat free ice cream and fries with Irish Curry. Irish Curry?
• Vee-Vee’s African Restaurant (Booth 22): Collard green egg rolls, sweet potato cheesecake and a taste portion of red beans & rice with jerk chicken. You can stick a fork in ME now, I’m done.
• Robinson’s #1 Ribs (Booth 23): Oak Park’s own serves up BBQ ribs, rib tips, pulled turkey and a boneless rib sandwich. Try a taste portion of hot links or turkey wings.
• Eli’s Cheesecake (Booth 24): Watching your sugar intake? Get a taste portion of plain or chocolate cheesecake made with Equal®.
• Gold Coast Dogs (Booth 29): Meh’ I’d rather go to Gene and Jude’s or have a SuperDawg.
• Lou Malnatis (Booth 32): I don’t recognize any other pizza joint in Chicago (except for Pat’s Pizza but I’m still kind of mad at them) so this is the only one I need mention. Leave room for Mal’s and you won’t be disappointed.
• Harold’s Chicken (Booth 41): Seriously what do they put in their chicken to make it so good?
• O’Brien’s (Booth 42): The Old Town favorite is servin’ up buffalo popcorn shrimp among other things.
• Las Tablas Colombian Steak House (Booth 48): Really good food but I was disappointed that they were out of chorizo so I moved on.
• Abundance Bakery (Booth 51): Chocolate brownies and upside down caramel cupcake.
• Garrett Popcorn (Booth 53): Everybody knows I <3 Garrett Popcorn so I had to stop for a flash frozen popcorncicle. I was presented with a frozen caramel ball of popcorn on a stick frozen and steaming in the heat. Same great Garrett popcorn turned into a cold treat for the summer.

Although the Taste of Chicago is a celebration of local fare, there is so much more to the Taste than just food. Concerts and events are going on across the area. For a full line up of restaurants & menus at the Taste and other events check out the Mayor’s Office of Special Events website.

 

 

In May I got a chance to shoot a little bit of the 2010 NEXTFEST and talk to some of the artists at the Merchandise Mart. These creatives aren’t traditional at all but amazingly creative. As a graphic designer dealing in the digital I am always amazed by artists creating tangible 3D works. I take many visual keys from the likes of their work and rarely miss this inspiring show.

The NEXTFEST exhibition was part of the greater Art Chicago show for 2010. The event website describes the show as "the annual international fair of contemporary and modern art, brings together the world’s leading emerging and established galleries. Art Chicago offers curators, collectors, artists and art enthusiasts a comprehensive survey of current and historic work, from cutting-edge to modern masters in a wide variety of media including: painting, photography, drawings, prints, sculpture, video and special installations".

There were many unique installations blending media of all types for amazing visual stimuli. One of my favorite pieces was this sculpture of a man in a wheelchair. Underneath the book in the lap of the man is a projector that cast an animated face onto the blank space where the face would be. It made for a mind bending visual of an animated real looking human face on an inanimate sculpture. To my less than trained eye this was very impressive but I bet some of the more discriminating art enthusiasts enjoyed this one as well.

Another fast favorite of mine was the exhibit by Christophe Roberts from the Lyons Wier Gallery. Taking discarded Nike shoe boxes and creating unique sculptures is both environmentally friendly and crazy creative. For some, this was garbage before and after the process but it is art that I can relate to and admire.

I really applaud Christophe for his works and attracting new masses to the ever emerging urban art landscape. See more of him here.

There were so many talented artists exhibiting. The thing that pops for me are the pieces that take familiar shapes, colors and/or icons and makes a statement with them. Social commentary is a big part of any artists work and boy does this piece make a statement.

The reaction is what the artist is going for and they got one out of me with this piece. If I could have I would have torn this down and shat sat upon it. I understand that the shock value is worth something but can’t some things be sacred? This hippie Virgin Mary really rubs me the wrong way but out of respect for the creative process and fear of a trip to 26th and California I kept my hands and opinion to myself.

This sculpture by Min Hyung is made of many tiny pieces of wood asembled to form the larger shape. It wasnt my favorite but it was remarkable. Imagine the time taken and presence of mind to put this all together.

Seriously, what would you do for a giant Klondike bar with a gold nugget center? I don’t get the connection but Timothy Berg and Rebekah Myers‘ peice called "Something for Nothing" certainly made me smile.

This talented artist from the ADA Gallery in Richmond VA. came up with a creative way of selling his sketches. The dispenser has sketches on the paper and each sketch torn off is $20.

I don’t know who was responsible for these works in wood but they were very interesting.

Don’t move or I’ll sculpt.

Last but not least was this piece by Kyle Trowbridge. The installation brings to mind an old coin operated juke box panel but it is loaded with books not music. The irnony that made this special to me was that each book contains the complete ascii text output of a mpeg file called "Rock That Ass". I asure you the video in its native form is NSFW but presented in book form as ascii text, loaded into a contraption that dates back to the malt shop days mixes so many eras of communication that it makes this a great piece in my book.

 

BraxtonMedia is proud to present this Sneak peek at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. Of course tonight is the annual First Look for Charity benefiting 18 different charities but if you could not attend the black tie event, come along with me as I give you an overview of the largest North American auto show in its 102nd year.

Walking the show floor Wednesday you could feel the energy. This year’s even has an air of excitement that has been absent in recent years due to the economic climate. Avoid the long lines and buy your advance tickets online. Admission is $11 but weekday discount tickets ($4 off the regular adult admission) are available at area new-car dealers and from participating banks. Also, Wednesday, February 17 – Friday, February 19 visitors who bring three cans of food to be donated to the Chicago Christian Industrial League will be admitted for $7.

What stands out to me about this year’s show is the number of environmentally friendly vehicles on display. Forty-four alternative fuel vehicles and fifteen hybrids await consumer eyes.

During the media preview Kia rolled out unveiled the Ray, a futuristic plug-in concept that looks nothing like other hybrids out there. It’s sleek, unique and environmentally friendly; congratulations Kia, this car is hot!  While you are in the Kia display don’t forget to try your luck on the Kia Karaoke stage.

Kia Ray interior

Kia Ray rear view

Kia Ray from the front

Fisker Automotive from California presents what they are calling “the world’s first luxury hybrid”. The Fisker Karma combines Q-Drive plug-in hybrid technology with the sleek lines and luxury interior of a world class sports car. The Karma offers a 50 mile range on its electric battery and a 300 mile range overall. Company literature says if your average commute is less than 50 miles you can average 100 mpg. This is their first showing in Chicago and certainly worth a look.

The Fisker Karma

$87,000 worth of environment saving hybrid power

I love the lines on this car

For your consideration Hyundai presents the Blue-Will. This is another futuristic hybrid concept dressed up with interior transparent OLED lighting and touch screen controls. This is another car where you can achieve 100 mpg with the help of its 40 mile range / 100kW electric motor.

Jeep is back with its road course that shows off their signature dynamic suspension, off road capabilities and interior comforts. Ride along with their friendly and informative drivers as they take you over traction, suspension obstacles that would leave most cars with a busted ball joint.

The Buick display lets you know right away that this is not your father’s Buick. Situated next to Cadillac on the show floor this next generation of Buick’s holds its own and then some. The provocative lines of the Lacrosse and Lucerne draw the eye and their luxury interiors keep your attention could have you reaching for your checkbook. Check out the return of the Regal for 2011 on display. There is also an aggressively sporty Regal GS for you to oogle.

Buick has come a long way in design and luxury trim

The Buick Regal GS

The U.S. Army has some impressive hardware on display along with a 360 degree rotating simulator and a mock-up of a cutting edge field hospital showcasing the care available for our boys over there.

In a stroke of genius Secretary of State Jesse White has a complete DMV counter set up at the show for all your license related needs

There are super cars and luxury cars throughout the show like Maserati, Lotus, and Maybach. Jaguar has an impressive display, as does Audi and BWM but I want to mention the Scion display. WOW! These are not commuter cars and you cannot load up the family and go for a ride in the country but they are amazing customs. Models on display include a rolling dj booth, a sleek, glass roof model with speakers from firewall to trunk and one model complete with a refrigerator and sink. I salute their creativity and engineering here.

I have no idea what model this started out as but its awesome as a low-rider truck

A party on wheels, complete Pioneer DJ set up in the roof of this Scion

He wasn’t cleared to be up there rocking out, they chased him away

Speakers fold out of the body and the interior includes strobes and disco balls

This model brings the Boom (and NoX)

A sink, on the right, grill on the right and obscured on the right is a refrigerator

This model is sick!

Take it easy, these custom cars come with a sick sticker price as well

That’s all for now, make sure to visit the event and see it for yourself. The show runs February 12th – 21st . Thank you to the staff of drivechicago.com, the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and OCIA for allowing me to bring you this first look at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. More pictures follow and I may post video in the next few days.

Fiat is showing two beautiful models, they also have a couple cars on display

The Transformers Camaro is on display

Audi is showing this really cool custom color on the Cabriolet

The 2010 Maserati GranTurismo

Despite recent bad press Toyota is drawing attention with the FT-CH. The car is a more contemporary and affordable hybrid concept aimed at a younger audience

Jaguar on the loose

Now owned by Tata Motors, the Jaguar legacy continues

 

Wintertime in Chicago can be brutal but we make the most of it. There are many indoor / outdoor events to cure cabin fever and one of them was held this past weekend in Grant Park. "Snow Days" featured a snow sculpture contest that attracted talent from all over the nation and the world. I first heard about the event in the men’s room at Shenanigans (that’s a story in itself for another time) and decided to check it out. Here are a few shots of the very impressive entries for you to enjoy.

First Place and People’s Choice Award winner was "Chinese Opera" by
sculptors Rui Xu and Forest Gao.

Second Place went to sculptors David Andrews, Chris Andrews and Jack Lullo for "Night Life (Lantern)".

Check out the clay mock-up they worked from. I think they did an awesome job.

Third Place was awared to "5 Seconds of Life" by sculptors Daniel Cushard, Adam Warmack and Keith Frick.

Apparently this is the entry I learned about at Shenanigans.

Did Oprah ok this? It’s really good but you know how she protects her brand.

USA USA USA USA!

How was this entry not a winner? Look at the detail. I mean, one poorly made detail
and this top heavy sculpture is reduced to slush.

Amazing no?

My favorite was "Barnyard Roosters". Are they fighting or?????

While enjoying a wonderful Saturday afternoon at Navy Pier’s Winterfest I failed a child.

Like dozens of other people standing in line to return skates I witnessed a woman striking a young girl who looked to be four years old repeatedly in the forehead with a tube of lock De-Icer. In a stabbing motion she hit the child repeatedly saying she would #@%% her up if she went in her purse again. She looked up to see my shocked face and said “What? What if she went in my purse and lost $400?”

Well first of all, your child should be much more important than any amount of money is what I thought but clearly I wasn’t dealing with a rational human being so I said nothing. The child did not cry which leads me to believe she felt fortunate to only receive a few lumps on her head. I can only imagine what happens to her behind closed doors. This lady was not embarrassed or worried about her actions at all.

I will never forget her standing there, a chocolate skinned woman in her late 20’s with her hair styled like a Beatles bowl cut grown out, candy striped Coogie shirt with nails meticulously done. Her arm extended for all to notice her knock off purse hanging and wearing jeans made for a woman two sizes smaller than herself while her children looked ragged as orphans.

This is not ok. I feel guilty for not reporting her but how would I report her? No one else spoke up because they were probably thinking the same thing I was “no good deed goes unpunished, take care of your own, and don’t get involved”. I am not that person, I hold myself to a higher standard but Saturday I failed that child and her siblings.

Going forward I will react to child abuse and ask you to as well. If you see someone mistreating a child, contact the proper authorities and say it is not ok.

If you follow my blog you’ll remember that I, like most Bears fans started this season very optimistic. Let’s just say things have not come together as Bear fans had hoped. Week after miserable week I have watched the Bear’s offensive line go all Swiss cheese and allow linemen access to Cutler.

I gotta give it to #6 for brushing off some good hits without getting hurt. I don’t know if the problem is Cutler being hurried, lack of chemistry with the receivers or what but after throwing 17 picks last year in Denver, he already has 20 interceptions in the orange and blue. If the Bears are going to take the field to win this Sunday, Cutler will have to stop the INT gravy train. Nick Collins already has one interception against us this year and five total. We don’t want to open up the turnover spicket and risk a pick six.

Injuries have plagued the team on both sides of the ball, loosing Brian Urlacher, early. This week’s injury report lists Devin Hester, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Israel Idonije, Orlando Pace, Lance Briggs, and Tommie Harris. The Bears are notorious for giving misleading or no injury information at all so I hope that most of the crew will be game ready.
The weather may or may not play a factor Sunday. The sub-zero wind chill outside will give way to snow and mid 30s by game time at Soldier Field. Maybe the Bears running game will thaw out by them also. So far the Bears only have 1,050 yards of offense on the ground but ask anyone in the organization and they will tell you we are still a running team. To give you an idea of how silly things have gotten, Hester has carried the ball six times for -1 yards total.

I hate to focus on the negative when there are positives to mention. Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox have been pleasant surprises. Both in the offense and on returns they have made a measurable impact on the team. In he last Bears Packers match Adewale Ogunleye clearly had a step on their third string lineman Barbere. Im’s ure there are exploits to be worked this Sunday. I’d be happy if the team could just remember how to wrap up an opponent (i.e. follow through and lock up tackles). Somebody send this post to my man Lovie and things will be looking up after Sunday’s game.

BEAT GREEN BAY!

If I followed the example of today’s major media outlets and entertainers I would include a risqué photo of myself with this blog post, but I am not that guy anymore.

In light of the recent shenanigans at the AMA awards by Adam Lambert I have to ask… when will these “performance artists” stop using shock value in the place of talent? Janet Jackson bared her breast, Madonna locked lips with Brittany, Sasha Baron Cohen pulled a swan dive into Eminem’s lap, Lady GaGa comes out wearing outfits from The Jetsons and now to push the envelope further Lambert dry humps some guys face and then goes tongue fishing for another guy’s tonsils on live TV “For Your Entertainment”.

Who are they kidding? What is edgy about his? These contrived parlor tricks should be beneath artists of their caliber production budget. Apparently they aren’t unwilling to stoop to such things for a quick cheap media pop. What bugs me even more are the sheeple viewers that eat this stuff up. Really now, who can’t see through the lowest common denominator entertainment product they are putting out there? Instead of adoring them you should see them insulting your intelligence.

As 2009 comes to a close I have to look back on the year and acknowledge the blessings I have received.

I am thankful for the development of this blog as a platform to showcase my talents and viewpoints. I am thankful for the social media contacts I have made over the year. In person and/or on line my twitter/facebook friends truly add value to my life. I am thankful for the people who keep up with my YouTube account and my silly videos. Hokey as they are I put a lot of work into them and it means a lot for people to take the time to view them.

I am thankful for the aggregators (Digg, StumbleUpon, WindyCItizen, ChicagoNow) out there that allow me to introduce my content to a wider audience. I bother to write this dribble and you help me get it in front of people. Thank you!

On a deeper level I have been blessed and I am thankful to reconnect with good friends over the course of the year. I haven’t laughed so hard since high school. To think of how far we have all come, and to see the next generation coming into their own, is truly amazing.

I am thankful for the new opportunities that have been presented to me in my career. After working with such good natured and talented people at Merrill Lynch I was afraid of what the change would bring. However, my new role has afforded me the acquaintance of even more talented and good natured people. That means a lot and I am so grateful for their contribution every day.

I am thankful for the men and women that leave their homes and families behind to protect us, our property and freedoms where ever their duty takes them. Police, fire, soldiers , sailors, teachers and public servants of all ranks I thank you for all you do.

I am thankful for my son. For so many years we have been distant. I am grateful for his mother, her family and everyone that has contributed to his well being in my absence. Having him in my life and being able to open my heart fully is a soaring joy that goes beyond words.

Finally, I am grateful for Amy who has been there for the ride providing a positive insight on life. She brings light to the darkness I love to curse.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Be safe and enjoy.

If the crowd at the Disney Holiday Lights Festival on Michigan Avenue was any indication of the crowds that will come out on Black Friday, I’m staying inside and barring the door. Seriously, I have never been surrounded with so many inconsiderate people in my life.

We watched the show from just in front of the Ferragamo store on the East side of Michigan Ave. We got there an hour ahead of time and met some really nice people who had brought their family down for the parade. Late comers filed in behind us as they closed down the street for the parade and all the little kiddes were excited to see Mickey Mouse.

What rubbed me the wrong way right from the jump were the late comers who charged ahead of all the people who had been patiently waiting when they closed down the street. We got there an hour ahead of time but people who had been waiting much longer than us for a prime viewing spot got pushed out of the way. Even so, you already know I didn’t get pushed out of the way by the suburban rabble. Eat this Naperville!

We took our place along the rail with a great view of the parade route and I felt bad for a few kids standing behind me. In the holiday spirit I stood single file with my son so a couple little ones could squeeze in next to us. Well, no good deed goes unpunished; these little buggers were hell on wheels. All night long these two were pushing, shoving and swearing while their mother stood by and did nothing. Way to be a parent lady.

How did it become our responsibility to make sure these little angels demon seeds didn’t fall off the rail they climbed up on next to us? How did it become my job not to step on the one ankle biter as he crawled back and forth to mom and her “fishie” snacks? Yes lady I am talking about you. I was proud of how my son handled the situation. He weathered the storm without throwing as much as a discrete elbow. His reward? A great view of the parade.

Mickey came down the Mag Mile waving his wand and lighting the lights. Pluto, Daffy and Minie followed with other Disney owned personalities it tow (ABC7, WLS and etc.). What was really funny was the slooow pace the parade kept at first then abruptly everything began to fly by at better than 25 mph. It was good to see the Proviso East band in the parade (I’m originally from Maywood). They really got the crowd moving to their beat.
All an all it was a good time. We passed on the fireworks that followed the parade and made our way home. Below are a few shots from the festivities for your enjoyment.

A marching band kicks off the festivities On Michigan Ave.

A Harris Bank float carries military personnel down the Mag Mile.

Pluto & Goofy ham it up for the crowd.

On air personalities from ABC7 cheese for the crowd. They better, this is a Disney event and Disney owns every one of em.

Scrooge! My hero. Sorry your tour/production got canceled.

Daffy and Daisy rollin down the block.

 

Hey it’s Frosty!

Minnie and Mickey rode on separate floats. Trouble in Disneyland?

Santa!