Chicago's Vittum Theater Hosts Midwest's Pole Dance Championships 5/24 & 25 #AllAges

120 OF THE MIDWEST’S POLE DANCE ARTISTIC SPORT ATHLETES COMPETE IN PRO-AM REGIONAL COMPETITION.

2014 Central Pole Championships (CPC)

Vittum Theater - 1012 N. Noble St. Chicago, IL 60642

Here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows, we cover lots of world wide circus arts, loads of gymnastics, aerial dance, and other unconventional sports. So we're excited to announce that Chicago is hosting the US Pole Dancing Competition this weekend, right here at the Vittum Theater!  We even have a good friend who is performing one of the showcases on Sunday.

Pole dance suffers from a bit of an image problem, like a serious actress who began in soft porn to put food on the table. Most people immediately think strip club when they hear pole dance, and not serious sport or legitimate art. But The Pole Sport Organization is working to change all that, and the idea of pole dance as a fun form of fitness and a legitimate sport/art form is catching on in a big way.  This competition features male and female athletes, amateurs and pros.  

Events at the Vittum Theatre, 1012 N. Noble St., will begin on Saturday at 7:15 am and run until 9:30 pm. Sunday events will begin at 7:45 am and run until 5:30 pm. Full schedule is included below. Tickets are $30 and can be easily purchased online or at the door.  This weekend's championship includes five levels of experience, from amateur to professional. 

Pole Dance is NOT about taking clothes off, in fact, in 2014 there are over 3,000 pole studios and gyms around the world instructing the art and sport of pole dancing. CPC is an all ages event and part of a 5 event pro-am pole dance competition series, where both amateurs and seasoned professionals perform on the same stage.  (**At ChiIL Mama, we love this set up BTW. The amateurs make the sport look more accessible for newbies and the pros give us something exquisite to aim for and show us what's possible.)

Our friend with the Sunday showcase belly danced for years, and she adores pole dancing and has increased her core strength, arm strength and confidence.  My own 11 year old studied the related circus art of Chinese Pole for a year and has made it to state in gymnastics 4 years in a row, so she's very interested in checking out the showcases and the competitions, too.

We love to introduce our readers to new events and pole dance requires strength, skill, grace, creativity and a good dose of courage.  The shows are family friendly and all athletes are fully clothed, but pole dance can be sexy, so use your own discretion if you are bringing kids.  You are the best judge of your family's maturity level. We're very much looking forward to checking it out this weekend. ChiIL Live Shows will be there... will YOU?!

If you can't make it out, we'll be shooting stills and recapping the weekend right here at both of our sites, ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, and on our social media outlets as well. There's no substitute for being there, but that's not possible you can experience CPC vicariously.  

On May 24-25th, in Chicago, IL, 100 of the region’s pole dance artists will come together at the Vittum Theater to participate in the 2014 Central Pole Championships (CPC). Tickets are on sale now, and amateur events run 8am-5pm on Saturday, May 24 and 8am-5pm on Sunday, May 25. The Championship Professional event (main event) will be at 7pm-11pm on Saturday, May 24.

The top 3 competitors from the Championship Professional event at each regional event advance on to the Nationals event, held on August 1-3, 2014, in New York City. The Nationals event will crown the U.S. National Pole Champion, with a grand prize of $10,000 for the winner. 

Amateur contestants will compete for multiple titles, including categories for Dramatic, Entertainment, and Championship performances.  Within the categories, amateurs compete at 4 levels of skill and through 4 age groups. They are evaluated on multiple elements including technique, difficulty, balance of program, musicality, and stage presence. 

In addition to the competitors, CPC will draw around 50 volunteers who act as judges, backstage managers, registrars, and announcers, and about 300 spectators over the course of the weekend.

Part of a series of 4 regional pole dance fitness events leading up to the National event that will take place on August 1-3 in New York City.

Events in the series include:

Atlantic Pole Championships (Herndon, April 11-12)

Central Pole Championships (Chicago, May 24-25)

Southern Pole Championships (Atlanta, June 7-8)

U.S. National Pole Championships (New York City, August 1-3)

Additional, stand alone events produced by Pole Sport Organization:

Northwest Pole Art Championships (Seattle, July 13-14)

Verticalove Pole Sport Organization Competition (Toronto, June 21)

Northeast Pole Art Championships (Boston, November 1-2)

Sponsors include: Pole Fit by Bad Kitty, Womack & Bowman, International Pole Fitness Alliance, X-Pole U.S., Dew Point Pole

More about Pole Sport Organization: Pole Sport Organization was created by pole dancers with experience in mainstream pole competitions in order to bring the opportunity to perform and receive feedback to a wider range of dancers. We offer a variety of events designed to inspire and challenge dancers at all skill levels to express their artistic and athletic capabilities. The decision to structure Pole Sport Organization performances in a competition format rather than a show, stems from the desire to offer feedback to the performers from judges from throughout the pole and dance communities, to assist each dancers in his or her own pole evolution. 

More on B.J. Pettigrew: The structure of PSO is based on B.J.’s experiences as a high school varsity gymnast and as a figure skater and coach. The primary goals of the competition are consistency (particularly in safety standards), transparency in the judging system and inclusiveness. 

As a kid, B.J. moved around a lot. By the ninth grade, she was on her eighth school and eighth opportunity “to be whoever you want to be.” It was also her eighth chance to have little to say when conversations rolled around to reminiscing about “that time in elementary school when…” So, it was natural progression to make the connection from being the perpetual outsider to growing up to be the one always trying to include everyone in everything. And it probably isn’t too surprising to find that served as a primary motivation in B.J.’s creating PSO with Amy. She says, “When I find an activity that I love, or that has allowed me to challenge myself and grow in ways I never imagined, my inclination is to share it with the world.”

More on Amy Guion: A former ballet dancer with a degree in Natural Science from Loyola Marymount University, Amy discovered pole dancing in 2008 and spent the past 4 years competing in pole dance fitness both nationally and internationally. After working with B.J. on Guion’s award winning routine at the California Pole Dance Championships in 2011, they decided to join forces and start a new type of pole competition. Amy is a U.S. Pole Dance Federation Pro, the USPDF 2011 Amateur silver medalist, California Pole Dance Championship 2011 bronze medalist and creator of the flexibility training program, Bendability Fitness. She currently travels and teaches specialty seminars on pole dance and flexibility in studios in the U.S. and around the world.

Click here for Chicago tickets and more info.

Follow on Instagram @PoleSportOrg

Find us on Facebook PoleSportOrganization

www.PoleSportOrganization.com

Did you know?

U.S. Nationals are August 1-3 in New York City!

Tickets and info at www.PoleSportOrganization.com/Nationals

Photo by Alloy Images, courtesy of Pole Sport Organization

Chicago Schedule

CENTRAL POLE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tentative Event Schedule (with performance order)

May 24^th & 25^th, 2014

SATURDAY, MAY 24^th, 2014: 

Saturday, 7:15a – 8:15a

Amateur Day One competitors pole testing

Event 101: Saturday, 8:30a – 9:10a

Dramatic Level 1 Junior/Senior:

1. Julie DeBonzo
2. Rose McAli – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio (Jr)
3. Danielle Markley – Divine Movement
4. Jennifer Brown – TGR Fitness
5. Tessa Cárdenas – The Brass Ring

Event 102: Saturday, 9:10a – 10:10a

Championship Level 2 Junior:

1. Jamie Wagner – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
2. Maggie Schildgen – TGR Fitness
3. Bee Clark – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
4. Alezah Shiffman – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
5. Cassie Stegall – Yoga Life
6. Rachel LaVoie – Intrigue Fitness

Event 103: Saturday, 10:10a – 10:30a:

Entertainment Level 3 Senior/Masters:

1. Sabrina Renee – Stiletto Dance Studios
2. Brittin Wagner – FreStyl Fitness

Event 104: Saturday, 10:30a – 10:50a:

Entertainment Level 3 Masters:

1. Blue Britt – Metamorphosis Mind Body & Pole
2. Candace – Pole Pressure DC

Event 105: Saturday, 10:50a – 11:20a

Championship Level 1 Junior

1. Heidi Rain – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
2. Phoenix – Femme Fatale Fitness
3. Emily Aldrich – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio

Event 106: Saturday, 11:20a – 12:25p

Dramatic Level 2 Senior:

1. Cassie Truskowski – Flirt Fitness
2. Jenna Leigh – The Brass Ring
3. DaNae Wiseth – FreStyl Fitness
4. Brandi Angelosanto
5. Katie Nichols – FreStyle Fitness
6. Rebecca Gad – FreStyle Fitness
7. Amanda Dawn – FreStyl Fitness

Event 107: Saturday, 12:25p – 1:00p

Dramatic Level 4 Senior/Master:

1. Angela Noel (Mstr)
2. Divine Em - Choreography House
3. Natasha Nova (Sr)

Event 108: Saturday, 1:00p – 1:25p

Championship Level 3 Masters:

1. Blue Britt – Metamorphosis Mind Body & Pole
2. Julie Sander - TGR Fitness
3. Jennifer Dudek - Italia Cordaro at Vie Custom Fitness

Event 109: Saturday, 1:25p – 2:25p

Entertainment Level 2 Junior/Senior:

1. Betty – FreStyl Fitness
2. Jan – the Brass Ring (Jr)
3. Brandi Angelosanto
4. Victoria Griffin – The Brass Ring
5. Jenna Leigh – The Brass Ring
6. Dawn Tripp
7. Dajuan Kinney - TGR Fitness

Event 110: Saturday, 2:25p – 2:50p

Championship Level 3 Youth/Junior:

1. Red Panther – Bella Forza Fitness (Jr)
2. Serah Wagoner – TGR Fitness (Jr)
3. Kylie Neal – TGR Fitness (Yth)

Event 111: Saturday, 2:50p – 3:15p

Championship Level 4 Masters:

1. Leina Dietmeyer – The Brass Ring

Event 111(a): Saturday, 3:10p - 3:15p

Showcase:

      1. Krista - Aerial Bliss

Event 112: Saturday, 3:15p – 3:50p

Championship Level 1 Senior:

1. Julie Rice - TGR Fitness
2. Piper Robinson – Tease Fitness & Dance
3. Anastassia Letourneau - Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
4. Danielle Markley – Divine Movement
5. Jacky Lopez

Event 113: Saturday, 3:50p – 4:40p

Dramatic Level 3 Youth/Junior/Senior:

1. Amanda Cantlin – S Factor
2. Gabi MyWay – Bella Forza Fitness (Yth)
3. Geraldine Lamboley – Body & Pole (Jr)
4. Liz Kinnmark – Body & Pole
5. Sabrina Renee – Stiletto Dance Studios
6. Serena Valenti – The Brass Ring
7. Brittin Wagner – FreStyl Fitness

Saturday, 4:40p – 4:45p

Event 113(a): Showcases

1. Bryn Griffin – Jasmine Dragons

Saturday, 4:45p – 5:00p – DAY ONE AMATEUR EVENTS’ AWARDS

PRO EVENT

Saturday, 5:15p – 6:15p

Pro Competitor Pole Testing

Saturday, 6:30 pm – Doors Open

Saturday, 7:30p – 9:30p

Pro Women’s and Men’s Championship

Event opener: Jan Damm

Event 201: Saturday: approx. 7:00 – 9:30 pm

Championship Pro Women’s Division:

1. Tiffany Curtin – Expressions Fitness
2. Kyrsten Grimm – Fantasy Fitness Studio
3. Melissa Schrader – The Brass Ring
4. Danielle Cain – Bella Forza Fitness
5. Amber Cahill – TGR Fitness
6. Tristabel Akila – TGR Fitness
7. Jordan Mazur – Muse Pole Fitness

Event 202: Saturday: After Women’s – 

Championship Pro Men’s Division:

1. Jonny – OC Pole Fitness
2. Da Wei Hou – Body & Pole
3. Ben Pierson – TNT Dance Studio

SUNDAY, MAY 25^th, 2014:

7:45a – 8:45a – Amateur Day 2 Competitor Pole Test

Event 301: Sunday, 9:00a – 9:20a

Dramatic Level 3 Masters:

1. Blue Britt – Metamorphosis Mind Body & Pole
2. Candace – Pole Pressure DC

Event 302: Sunday, 9:20a – 9:45p

Entertainment Level 4 Senior:

1. Colleen Jolly – Pole Pressure
2. Natasha Nova
3. Jenn Cornelius-Green – Muse Pole Fitness

Event 303: 9:45a – 10:00a

Showcase Performances:

1. Ulla Arnold – S Factor
2. Carol-Anne Chojnowski – S Factor

Event 304: Sunday, 10:00a – 10:40a

Championship Level 4 Junior:

1. Whitley Dorsey – Fantasy Fitness Studio
2. Amber Wolf – Fembody Fitness
3. Nina Zamora – Body & Pole

Event 305: Sunday, 10:40a – 11:15a

Dramatic Level 2 Youth/Junior:

1. Bee Clark – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio (Jr)
2. Jade Marfia – Flirt Fitness (Yth)
3. Rachel LaVoie – Intrigue Fitness (Jr)
4. Jamie Wagner – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio (Jr)

Event 306: Sunday, 11:15a – 11:35a

Entertainment Level 1 Junior/Masters:

1. Phoenix (Jr) – Femme Fatale Fitness
2. Karen Magler (Mstr) – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio

Event 307: Sunday, 11:35a – 12:45p

Championship Level 2 Senior/Masters:

1. Brandi Angelosanto
2. Amanda Dawn – FreStyl Fitness
3. Jessi Biely (Mstr)
4. DaNae Wiseth – FreStyl Fitness
5. Rebecca Gad – FreStyl Fitness
6. Elizabeth Ivy – Tease Dance & Fitness

Event 308: (Merged with 307 - no 308)

Event 309: Sunday, 12:45p – 2:25p

Championship Level 3 Senior:

1. Cady Chen – Fembody Fitness
2. Cassie Palmer
3. Nikita
4. Liz Kinnmark – Body & Pole
5. Taylor Nischan – S Factor
6. Calamity Jane – Defiance Studios
7. Kelly Marie – Stiletto Dance
8. Lindlie Haithcoat – Muse Pole Fitness
9. Rebekah Mullen – Tantra Fitness
10. Megan Nelson - TGR Fitness
11. Ashley Houk - TGR Fitness
12. Brittin Wagner – FreStyl Fitness

Event 309(a): Sunday, 2:25p – 2:35p

Showcase

1. Lesa Majur – The Brass Ring

Event 310: Sunday, 2:35p – 4:05p

Championship Level 4 Senior (Female):

1. Kelly Jeanne – Stiletto Dance Studios
2. Karyn Rae – Tease Dance & Fitness
3. Anna Alvarez – Dollhouse Pole Dance Studio
4. Natasha Nova
5. Divine Em – The Choreography House
6. Sally Sachs – The Brass Ring
7. Elisa Johnston – Fembody Fitness

Event 310(a): Sunday, 4:05p – 4:15p:

Showcase

1. Lisa Suzanne – The Brass Ring

Sunday, 4:15p – 4:30p

Day Two Amateur Awards

Sunday, 4:30p – 5:30p

Gather belongings and head over to The Brass Ring studio for post-competition party hosted by The Brass Ring! 

ACT OUT: More bang for the bear... at Redmoon Theatre #ChiILPicksList #DiscountCode

Bellboys, Bears and Baggage at Redmoon

Chi, IL Live Shows on our Radar

This bear has endured a marshmallow firing range and a host of entertaining indignities and adventures! On the bright side, he's working more shows than many Chicago equity actors and he's finally got TOP billing in Redmoon Theatre's new promenade style spring show where he'll be joined by 7 more of his kin. We can "bearly" contain our excitement. Bah dum bum. Sorry... couldn't resist.  Come "Wonder Around" indeed! 

DO THE MATH:  27 rooms + a cast of 35-40 including 12 masked actors + 8 bellboys/guides + 8 bears/agents of chaos + one bike riding bar tending BEAR = the potential for one heck of a fun night!!

ChiIL Mama's Skelebration Shots -- Redmoon Day of the Dead 2013:

Click here to check out loads of our past Redmoon coverage (22+ features).  Then check them out in action through June 8th.

Here at ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama, we have enjoyed Redmoon's unique vision for decades now. We can't wait to check out Bellboys Bears and Baggage.  We'll be there for sure... will YOU?! Redmoon knows how to rock a theme and their quirky, visual, multimedia extravaganzas are must see theatre. All ages. 

Bellboys, Bears and Baggage... AND BARDS?!

If that's not enough to entice you... throw in Shakespeare and you've got a deal!

Redmoon’s largest indoor show to-date riffs on some of the stranger and more striking elements of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, including the use of Time as a physical character, the unique mash-up of tragedy and comedy, the contradictory absurdity of a ship landing on the coast of a landlocked nation, and one of Shakespeare’s most well-known but enigmatic stage directions, “Exit, pursued by a bear.”

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List  

Why?  Do the Math:

27 rooms. Redmoon is building rooms of various size throughout its cavernous 18,000-square-foot headquarters, each with its own lighting and a vintage record player setting a unique tone.  

o   One room features a forest, pond and boat.

o   Another has a surreal kitchen on a spring morning.

o   Another, an elaborate bedroom with some hidden surprises.

35-40 performers overall

o   8 Bellboys, who serve as guides/chaperones for the audience

o   8 Bears, who serve as agents of chaos

o   12 masked actors, portraying two main characters throughout the various scenes

A new mobile device, the “Piano Bar,” that’s part Bear-playing-piano and part functional bar, which will roam the space.  

But of course!

Redmoon presents its Spring Spectacle

Bellboys, Bears and Baggage

Epic indoor journey 

combining unique masks, movement and richly detailed rooms 

in one-of-a-kind, choose-your-own-adventure through Redmoon’s 

expansive industrial home

2120 S. Jefferson St, May 18 – June 8

Redmoon, Chicago’s acclaimed Spectacle theater, presents its 2014 Spring Spectacle, Bellboys, Bears and Baggage, bringing the magnitude of its outdoor Spectacle performances indoors to transform its massive 18,000-square-foot Pilsen warehouse studio into a theatrical world of revelry, reflection and revelation. Audiences are given the freedom to move about Redmoon's one-of-a-kind space to encounter scenes, images, dances and music. Bellboys, Bears and Baggage is performed Thursday through Sunday evenings, with staggered entrance times, at 2120 S. Jefferson Street, May 18 – June 8. 

Conceived by Jim Lasko (Redmoon Executive Artistic Director) and Blake Montgomery (former Artistic Director of the Building Stage), directed by Montgomery and designed by Frank Maugeri (Redmoon Producing Artistic Director). 

Redmoon brings its outdoor large-scale productions indoors. Scenes are played in separate rooms throughout the mammoth home, each richly detailed, using time, space and architecture to explore theatrical dimension. Bears prowl the space, both in and in between the scenes. Character masks provide visual continuity as the audience sees a male and female protagonist in various moments that, collectively, investigate falling in and out of love. A corps of luggage-toting bellboys usher viewers through the space. The story is not linear. Audiences can choose for themselves what scenes, and in what order, they experience during the event. Secrets and magical surprises reward viewers’ curiosity, challenging and encouraging them to create their own journey. Movement, gesture, imagery and music combine for a mostly language-free storytelling experience. 

“Normally in the theater, we sit in one place and watch as a series of events are presented to us. Even in the ‘promenade’ style, the order of events is usually pre-determined,” Montgomery noted. “The result is a passive form of entertainment where the audience has little responsibility for their own experience. Bellboys, Bears and Baggage creates a world rich in detail and depth of feeling that exists continuously in looped patterns, of various lengths installed in various rooms and of various scales, throughout the space. No two audience members will share the same experience, but all will begin to see the same patterns and themes emerge. I’m thrilled to create an experience that gets the audience onto their feet and into their heads and using their hearts, changing the role of the audience through a dramatic landscape in four dimensions.”

Dates, Entrance Times and Tickets

Bellboys, Bears and Baggage opens Sunday, May 18 and runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening through June 8.  

Audiences enter every half hour, 7-9 pm Thursdays, 7-11 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 6-8 pm Sundays. The experience is designed to take approximately 90 minutes, but may vary depending on each individual’s choices as they craft their own personal journey. A lounge with cash bar opens one hour prior to the first entrance and remains open until 11 pm Thursdays, 1 am Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 pm Sundays.

Tickets are $30 general admission, $25 each for groups of 10 or more, or $15 for students with valid ID ages 16 and up. Tickets are available through Redmoon’s box office at 312-850-8440 x123 or online at www.redmoon.org.

Redmoon Says:

I wanted to share how excited we are for you to join us at Bellboys, Bears, and Baggage. 

You are not going to believe our fully transformed space.  We've created an entirely new world for you to explore - with 17,000 square feet, multiple installations, interactive amusements, and more - all inspired by Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. 

This is our first Spring Spectacle at our home in Pilsen, and it is a mammoth, epic production. 

You have three weekends to see this one-of-a-kind show.  Click here to buy your tickets now.

Best, 

Frank 

Producing Artistic Director

Want to learn more about the genius behind the spectacle?

About the Artists

To learn more about Jim Lasko, visit www.redmoon.org/people/jim-lasko.

To learn more about Blake Montgomery, visit www.redmoon.org/people/blake-montgomery 

To learn more about Frank Maugeri, visit www.redmoon.org/people/frank-maugeri. 

For more information on Redmoon and its programs, visit www.redmoon.org.

Check back with ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. 

We have photo & video filled features, loads of great reviews and interviews, and lots of weekly giveaways--nationwide toys/games/products and Chicago based music and theatre tickets.  

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Cinema Night at City Winery Dave Grohl's Sound City THIS Tuesday at 8pm All Ages

CINEMA NIGHT AT CITY WINERY CHICAGO

SPECIAL ALL-AGES SHOWING OF DAVE GROHL’S SOUND CITY

FOOD AND BEVERAGE SPECIALS INCLUDE HALF-PRICE CARAFES OF WINE AND $10 FLATBREADS

  TUESDAY, MAY 20, 8PM

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, Dave Grohl's long been one of our favorites. We're HUGE Nirvana fans and those songs are still in heavy rotation on our ipods.  Grohl is versitile and crazy prolific, playing with a host of greats. Come check out Sound City, the documentary he produced and directed.  It's playing THIS Tuesday at Chicago's hot venue for cool live shows and now films--City Winery!!  ALL AGES.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, follows up the success of its April movie screening, 20 Feet From Stardom, with a special showing of Sound City, the acclaimed documentary directed and produced by Dave Grohl. The story of LA’s unsung analog recording studio in the Valley and the artists who made rock history there features appearances by Neil Young, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Trent Reznor, Rick Rubin, Mick Fleetwood, Lars Ulrich, John Fogerty, Rick Springfield, Josh Homme, Frank Black, Pat Smear, Barry Manilow, Lindsey Buckingham, Lee Ving, Krist Novoselic and Paul McCartney. Sound City shows Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m. in City Winery’s performance venue projected onto dual 90-inch screens and heard on City Winery’s state-of-the-art Meyer Sound® system. 

Tickets are $5, and guests receive 50% off carafes of City Winery house-made wines and $10 flatbreads.

Sound City (Dave Grohl,

2013, 108 mins.): Tuesday, May 20, 8 p.m. ($5 general admission)

Deep in the San Fernando Valley, amidst rows of dilapidated warehouses, was rock ’n' roll's best-kept secret: Sound City. America's greatest unsung recording studio housed a one-of-a-kind console, and as its legend grew, seminal bands and artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Neil Young, Rick Springfield, Tom Petty, Metallica and Nirvana all came out to put magic to tape. Directed by Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring interviews and performances from the iconic musicians who recorded some of rock’s greatest albums at the studio, Sound City doesn’t just tell the story of this real-life rock ’n’ roll shrine; it celebrates the human element of music as Grohl gathers some of rock's biggest artists to collaborate on a new album. Using Sound City's legendary analog console, together these artists continue to create musical miracles in a digital world.

All City Winery Chicago events are open to all ages and start at 8pm, unless noted.

To purchase concert tickets or to become a City Winery VinoFile™ member, please call (312) 733-WINE (9463) or visit www.citywinery.com/chicago/.

Sound City joins a diverse lineup of the most respected names in pop, rock, jazz, blues, world music and live lit performing at City Winery Chicago, including previously announced headliners and supporting acts: Spektral Quartet with Julien Labro (May 14); Colin Blunstone with special guest Edward Rogers (May 15); Cathy Richardson Band and Andrew Salgado (May 16); Steep Canyon Rangers (May 18); Sound City (May 20); Story Sessions (May 21); The Westies (May 22); Jackopierce and Phil Jacobson (May 23-24); French Quarter Fest with New Orleans Suspects, Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys and Sanctified Grumblers (May 26); Burton Cummings from The Guess Who (May 28-29); The Westies and Greg Trooper (May 30); Jukebox Groove (June 1, 2pm); Rising Appalachia and The Way Down Wanderers with Good Graeff (June 1); New Millennium Orchestra with Matt Ulery Trio (June 2); Josh Krajcik (June 3); Sizzling Latin Dance Night with Samuel Del Real and Juvenato (June 4); Bilal (June 5); Orbert Davis Sextet (June 8, 3pm); Chuck Prophet and the Mission Express – “Temple Beautiful with Strings” (June 8); Blitzen Trapper with Parkington Sisters (June 10); World Party with Gabriel Kelley (June 12-13); John Doe with Jesse Dayton (June 14); Carolina Chocolate Drops (June 16-17); Joe Purdy with Brian Wright (June 18-19); Ari Hest (June 20); Carrie Newcomer (June 22); Ginger Baker’s Jazz Confusion (June 23); Preservation Hall Jazz Band (June 24-25); Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis (June 28); Albert Cummings (June 29); Julian Lage and Nels Cline Duo (June 30); Berlin featuring Terri Nunn and Vapornet (July 1); The English Beat (July 2-3); Pedrito Martinez Group (July 4); Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses (July 6); Time For Three (July 7); Yarn with special guest Carolina Story (July 9); Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (July 10); Dr. Ralph Stanley & his Clinch Mountain Boys with Town Mountain (July 11); Dengue Fever (July 12); Marc Cohn (July 17 - 18); Asleep at the Wheel (July 20); An Evening with David Crosby (July 21-22); and Dave Alvin + Phil Alvin with The Guilty Ones (July 24); Matthew Sweet ( July 25); The Bangles (July 27-28); Bruce Cockburn with Jenny Scheinman (Aug. 10-11); Sharon Shannon (Aug. 12).

City Winery Chicago, a fully operational winery, restaurant with outdoor patio, concert hall and private event space, is located in the heart of the West Loop at 1200 W. Randolph, in the historic urban Fulton Market district. The concert hall accommodates up to 300 guests, all seated at tables with complete beverage and dining service, ensuring a comfortable “listening room” experience enhanced by a state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system.  Riedel is the official and exclusive provider of glass ware, showing City Winery’s commitment to enjoying quality wine in a quality vessel. American Airlines is the Official Airline and Crowne Plaza is the Official Hotel of City Winery. For more information, please visit www.citywinery.com.

NEW on Blu-Ray and DVD: Still Mine Staring Oscar Nominees James Cromwell & Genevieve Bujold

What we're watching: Still Mine

This film is a true love story if I've ever seen one.  And it's even more remarkable because it's true! This touching testament to love conquering all... even ludicrous bureaucracy... is based on real life events. We adore this story, and it's one you'll want to watch time and again with all generations of your family.   This is a feel good film with substance, a searing indictment of petty bureaucrats, and a wake up call to embrace what truly matters.  It's our care for other's--our partners, our children, time to enjoy a gorgeous view, and work well done, that make for a great life.  As of May 6th, Still Mine can be yours on Blu-Ray, Digital HD and DVD.

Disclosure:  Thanks to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for partnering with ChiIL Mama and sending us Blu-rays for review purposes. All opinions are our own.

Still Mine

Oscar^® Nominees James Cromwell and Geneviève Bujold* star in this love story based on actual events that proves love is the ultimate triumph.  Determined to build a more suitable house for his wife Irene (Bujold), whose memory is failing, Craig Morrison (Cromwell) is met with resistance from an overzealous government inspector. Facing a possible jail sentence, and with Irene becoming increasingly ill, Craig races to finish the house in this beautiful story filled with heart and humor.

*Cromwell: 1995, Actor, Babe. Bujold: 1969, Actress, Anne of the Thousand Days. 

Still Mine Blu-ray 

Street Date:	May 6, 2014
Prebook Date:	April 9, 2014
Screen Format:	Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio:	English DTS-HD-MA 5.1
Subtitles:	English/Spanish
U.S. Rating:	PG-13
Total Run Time:	111 minutes
Closed Captioned:	Yes

Still Mine DVD 

Street Date:	May 6, 2014
Prebook Date:	April 9, 2014
Screen Format:	Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio:	English DD 5.1
Subtitles:	English/Spanish
U.S. Rating:	PG-13
Total Run Time:	111 minutes
Closed Captioned:	Yes

About Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.

Disclosure:  Once again, thanks to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment for partnering with ChiIL Mama and sending us Blu-rays for review purposes. All opinions are our own.

TONIGHT: Maximo Park at Bottom Lounge 5/18/14 (17+)

Incoming: Maximo Park

Chi, IL Live Shows on our Radar

ChiIL Live Shows will be there tonight... will YOU?! We caught Maximo Park back in October of 2012 at Schubas and and can't wait to shoot stills again tonight at Bottom Lounge! The band puts on a great, live show.

Click here for our past coverage and full set of LIVE original Maximo Park photos. Our favorites are embedded at the bottom of this post.

CHIRP Welcomes: MAXIMO PARK * ETERNAL SUMMERS

Date: 05/18/2014
Bottom Lounge

1375 W. Lake St 

Chicago, IL 60607 

Maximo Park

Sunday, May 18, 2014 7:00 PM CDT
Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
17 years and over

$15.00

Status updates, tweets, memes, constant communication: seeing through the data smog is harder every day. Through all the neon flash and white noise, however, there are transmissions that slash straight through all the static and cut to the quick. Maximo Park’s fifth album Too Much Information is one such record, that hooks out life’s critical moments from the dizzying ebb and flow and brings them into HD-sharp focus. It’s the work of a band who, despite their compelling development since 2005’s febrile debut A Certain Trigger, have never confused consistency with give-the-people-what-they-want reliability.

“After five records you want to make a statement to the world and say ‘this is us and if you don’t like it, unlucky – we’re not going to change for you,’” says singer Paul Smith.

Click Here To Watch Video For "Brain Cells" 

Click Here To Watch "Midnight On The Hill" Video On VEVO Maximo Park have announced US tour dates in support of the band's fifth LP, 'Too Much Information', available In The US On April 1st Via Daylighting / [PIAS] America.  'Too Much Information' was recorded and self-produced  by the band in Newcastle and Sunderland  with additional production duties from The Invisible’s Dave Okumu and from Field Music’s  David and Peter Brewis. The album is the follow-up  to 2012’s  critically acclaimed ‘The National Health’, and sees the band reach new heights in their remarkable songwriting and  sonic experimentation. From the beautiful weirdness of "Brain Cells", to the poetic "Leave This Island" and "Midnight On The Hill," and the refined rock of "Give, Get ,Take", 'Too Much Information' sees the band keen to challenge the listener  with some of their most adventurous musical and lyrical work to date. ‘Too Much Information’ will be available in the US on vinyl, CD and digitally via all reputable outlets  through Daylighting / [PIAS] America. Maximo Park are: Tom English (Drums), Duncan Lloyd (Guitar), Paul Smith (Vocals), Archis Tiku (Bass), Lukas Wooller (Keyboards) Press Quotes “[Too Much Information] eases up on the gas while deepening their commitment to contemplative songwriting” – Pitchfork "Proves that the standard guitar-bass-drums lineup doesn’t have to be an outdated one, with its emotive Smiths-draped massiveness" - Alt Sounds “Cleverly maneuvered their way into the slipstream of far cooler Alt.rock pioneers” – NME “Catchy as ever” – The Guardian “Beatific, melancholy-kissed rock that almost no one does well anymore” - Slant

Too Much Information LP Available In The US As of April 1st Via Daylighting / [PIAS] America Remaining Tour Dates 05/18/14 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge 05/20/14 - Washington, DC - Rock n Roll Hotel 05/21/14 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts - Wolf Building 05/23/14 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza 05/24/14 - Boston, MA - Boston Calling 'Too Much Information' Deluxe Edition Tracklisting: 1. Give, Get , Take 2. Brain Cells 3. Leave This Island 4.  Lydia, The Ink Will Never Dry 5. My Bloody Mind 6. Is It True? 7. Drinking Martinis 8. I Recognise The Light 9. Midnight On The Hill 10. Her Name Was Audre 11. Where We’re Going Deluxe tracks (Digital Only): 1.  ‘Middlesbrough Man’  - The Fall 2.   ‘I’ll Be Here In The Morning’ – Townes Van Zandt 3.   ‘Lover, Lover, Lover ‘ – Leonard Cohen 4.   ‘Northern Sky’  - Nick Drake 5.   ‘Final Day’ - Young Marble Giants 6.   ‘Fade Into You’ – Mazzy Star 7.   ‘On The Sly’ (iTunes bonus track) Links Maximo Park Website Soundcloud Facebook Follow:  ChiIL Live Shows Website Facebook Twitter We'll have LIVE Maximo Park show shots and a full review of the new album up shortly. Check back with us like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. Two ii's, one L, for great entertainment & urban lifestyle coverage in Chi, IL and beyond. We have loads of giveaways, photo and video filled original content and more.  Follow us so you'll be the first to know.

Here are a few of our favorite past original Maximo Park shots:

ACT OUT OPENING: The Last Voyage of Pirate Blackheart and More at Actors Gym #agyouthcircus #CircusinProgress

The Actors Gymnasium has one of the strongest circus arts programs in the region and they're a true treasure. We've been huge fans of their work for years. Their performances are stunningly well produced and there are few locations that teach circus arts for BOTH kids and adults. We highly recommend you check them out. All performances are held in their home space at: Noyes Cultural Arts Center | 927 Noyes Street, Suite 104 | Evanston, IL 60201  (847) 328-2795 | email@actorsgymnasium.com  Click here for loads of our past photo filled features on The Actors Gymnasium then go already! Spring Youth Circus  May 17 - 25, 2014 Saturdays at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Sundays at 3:00 pm      $15 for adult tickets $12.50 for children, students and  seniors    Join the fearsome pirate Captain Blackheart as she sails her crew of brigands and scallywags through treacherous dark waters in pursuit of her most valuable treasure yet! Visit mysterious remote isles, and strange aquatic worlds! Hold your breath as Blackheart and her pirates battle fierce fellow pirates, giant sea creatures, and the fragility of their own sanity. Inhale the salty air and exhale sighs of awe as students of The Actors Gymnasium amaze you with aerial acrobatics and nautical know-how unparalleled by any seafaring sea dogs on the North Shore.     Coming Up Next (one day/2 shows only!) #CircusinProgress May 31, 2014 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm Tickets are $15 each Did you enjoy The Magical Exploding Boy and the Invisible Circus? Come to our spring showcase of new work in development. Two Performances Only! Performances include: Spring & Tulga (duo acro), ETC Music School Ensemble (choral music),  Angela Loiacono of Aerial Dance Chicago (solo trapeze), Brett Schneider (magic), Jill Heyser (aerial silks), Regina Meirmanov (lyra), Destiny Vinley (Chinese pole), Mr. Spring (hand balancing), and advanced students from AG's own classes.  Watch the trailer! About The Actors Gymnasium The Actors Gymnasium is dedicated to bringing a new physicality to the American Theatre. Encouraging ground-breaking theatrical exploration, The Actors Gymnasium teaches circus arts, physical theatre and multi-disciplinary performance to children and adults; produces original, daring works of circus-theatre; and serves as a talent resource, providing performance opportunities to our students and innovative professional event entertainment for a wider audience.  At The Actors Gymnasium, people Learn To Fly - physically, emotionally, and creatively.