There is a time lag between when one can spoof a decade and when one must pay homage to the very same decade. The 1950's were sport for comedians and artists during the 1960's (one can argue that many of the fashions and civil unrest were direct reactions to the decade previous) but became a decade to wax nostalgic about by the time George Lucas made "American Graffiti."
WBEZ's Winter Block Party: Not just about the music
Jan. 13, 2012
One of the many aspects of co-producing the Off-Air Events for WBEZ is the reprise events - events that are so unique and offer such incredible experiences for our audience that Breeze, Jessica and I simply have to bring them back. We're closing in on our fifth year of presenting the Global Activism Expo at the UIC Forum in April; next month is the second year of presenting the extraordinary Oba William King and Justin Roberts in our family-oriented So Many Ways to Tell a Story event at the Chicago Children's Museum; and this month is the Fourth Annual Winter Block Party for Chicago's Hip Hop Arts.
The Block Party is a celebration of all that is Hip Hop - not only the music but the dancing, the haircuts, the poetry, the film and the amazing visual artistry inspired by all that embodies Hip Hop.
As varied as the arts themselves...
Dec. 9, 2011"The artists...young and old...students and teachers...were really excited about their projects, and their enthusiasm showed. One young woman proudly showed her pottery and glass-blown pieces to Daniel Ash and me; her instructor then came up to us, provided some background, and said that this young woman had only been working with glass for one month. The enthusiasm throughout the hall that day was contagious!" Mary Train, WBEZ CAC
Last Saturday, in Yates Hall of the Chicago Cultural Center, nearly 700 people from all stripes and all walks of life, participated in, talked about, and celebrated the Community Art Centers of Chicago at the fourth Off-Air event this season.
I was T.I.R.E.D.
On top of our regular taping of Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! on Thursday night, the BBC filmed a pilot of WWDTM on Friday night (blog post forthcoming on that one) and by the time I reached the Cultural Center at 6:00 AM, I was beat.
Yates Hall started as an empty r
Fueling the artistic muse
Nov. 29, 2011Before I was the sparkly Events Coordinator for one of Chicago's finest media institutions, I was a seventh and eighth grade teacher for the CPS.
I loved teaching - working with kids filled with hopes and fears, trying my best to inspire and open minds, staying after school to work with the Band and Choir - it was all the plus side of dealing with the bureaucracy of the profession. I did NOT, however, have much use for the required Arts and Crafts sensibility employed in creating bulletin boards and banners for holidays. I'm not a tactile arts type.
One of the wonderful things about Chicago is (and was in my seven year tenure) the wealth of Community Art Centers throughout the area. I didn't have to be talented at the art of block printing or stone carving or cut & paste collage. I could just go to any one of a dozen places and "get my art on." Art is not simply a thing to do for those special, talented individuals who can go on to sell paintings for thousands of dollars. Even Picasso started out as a green kid. Art is a unifier and a binder. Art is fun.
Grading the Chicago Manual of Style
Nov. 9, 2011"Knock knock." "Who's there?" "To." "To who?" "To WHOM." #CenturyOfStyle"
Tuesday night (November 8) was a rainy night. The first Tuesday following Daylight Savings falling back and the first night that felt like November. What could possibly motivate over 200 people to travel down to the University of Chicago campus, find parking, and sit in the International House Assembly Hall, tweeting, texting, and whooping at a declaration of fealty to the Oxford comma?
"Dear Anita Samen: RE your opinion of "comprised of." Will you marry me?
What Do You Think? “Day 6” with Brent Bambury
Nov. 2, 2011
As part of our continual search for great content, we’re embarking on a little experiment. And we’d like to know what you think.
Our friends at the CBC and PRI are piloting a new weekly news magazine program that takes a surprising look at the events of the week. So, for the next 8 weeks, we’ll be airing the show “Day 6” Saturday afternoons at 2pm on WBEZ.
Hosted by Brent Bambury, “Day 6” is a new show that blends journalism, current affairs, comedy and opinion together. Since its inception, Day 6 has covered everything from the riots in Vancouver, to the fight for independence in Libya to the upcoming Bank Transfer Day.
Bambury thinks radio should be kinetic, full of life, fun, outrageous and thoughtful - all at the same time.
Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! performance calendar 2012 (and FAQ)
Nov. 2, 2011Greetings!
It is highly likely that you have stumbled onto this particular blog post while in hot pursuit of tickets to a live taping of the country's most popular public radio news quiz. If so, I hope the information below answers all your questions (because I'm terrible with phone calls). I will caution you, however - if you do not take the time to read the FAQ Quiz and then ask a question already answered, I will return your lack of intellectual rigor with sarcasm (I can't help it.).
NOTE: I can tell if you decided to simply NOT read this. Your questions expose you.
UPDATED 2012 Calendar of Tapings (All dates are Subject to Change):
(...if it isn't on here, it hasn't yet been confirmed but we're working on it...)
THURS OCT 11 NO TAPING
THURS OCT 18 CHICAGO (SOLD OUT)
THURS OCT 25 CHICAGO (SOLD OUT)
THURS NOV 1 CHICAGO (SOLD OUT)
THURS NOV 8 CHICAGO (SOLD OUT)
THURS NOV 15 Milwaukee, WI
Whose Style is it anyway?
Oct. 18, 2011Update: Watch this event live on UChicagoLive on Tuesday night: http://www.facebook.com/uchicago?sk=app_191025314254993
One of the reasons that I enjoy acting as a co-producer for the Off-Air events is the constant education I receive by logistically maintaining live events about obscure stuff.
Before last year, I couldn't have told you the difference between House music and Hip-Hop. Having sat in a room with some of the legendary creators of both (as interviewed by L-vis Lives author Kevin Coval) at last year's Winter Block Party, I am now "in the know."