Chicago Restaurant Week is an amazing time when over 170 Chicagoland restaurants offer special discounted menus. Restaurants of all different cuisines, locations, and prices are featured. Check out the website for a full list of restaurants and their special menus.

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

JUST ANNOUNCED – ON SALE NOW IN METRO:
Friday, March 19: MINDSIGHT * AMRITA * THE FIRESHIP * THE RAILS * THE LOVE SHOTS

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON IN METRO:
Wednesday, April 21: (JAM) ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN * HATCHAM SOCIAL

JUST ANNOUNCED ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON IN SMART BAR:
Thursday, March 18: MRK1 * SWOOP * WHOA-B
Friday March 19: THE GLAMOUR (LIVE) * KID COLOR * BUTCH CASSIDY & JOHN TWATTERS (Chances Dances)
Saturday March 20: JUSTIN LONG * ACID CIRCUS
Friday March 26: PEZZNER- THE PEZZNER MIXES * JOHNNY FIASCO * FORTUNE
Saturday April 3: GIOM * DJ MES * FRANK SOLANO

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/27 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Sunday, March 14: AMARAL * THE RIGHT ONS * MAIKA MAKOVSKI
Thursday, March 18: “Reclaiming Zionism – What’s YOURS?” Israeli photography exhibit: Israel: Land of Contrast & Faith featuring photos of Oded Fromovitz & Michael Steinberg
Sunday, March 29: CURTIS EVANS
Sunday, April 18: LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS * THE HACKENSAW BOYS
Thursday, June 10: PERSEUS NOBLE * SPLENDID APE * MORITAT

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Monday, April 5: KARRETTA
Wednesday, April 14: Chicago’s Ambassadors of Soul: SUPREME COURT * BEN PIRANI * DAVE MATA * RISK * SLOPPY WHITE
Thursday, May 20:  Chicago’s Ambassadors of Soul: SUPREME COURT * BEN PIRANI * DAVE MATA * RISK * SLOPPY WHITE

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

This weekly event, every Monday, began back in January and has been a big hit so far.  The social networking world is abuzz with the half off wine specials and free wine tasting (brought right to your table!).  If you’re looking for a way to unwind after work, head over to Rockit Wrigleyville for some great wine, food and service.

Rockit Wrigleyville
3700 N. Clark St. [google map]

Join Drinks Over Dearborn for a wonderfully fun wine tasting through Italy, right in your own backyard! Italian wine guide Filippo Bartolotta will guide you through 12 different gorgeous wines from his home country, with some fabulous food items thrown in to make it a night you will not soon forget!

They will be tasting:

Lunelli Ferrari Brut
Super Tuscan Grattamacco
Collemassari Lombroso
Tenute San Leonardo (the Sassicaia of the North…)
Cepparello Isole e Olena
Amarone Latium
Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco
Meletti Cavallari
Brunello Terre al Sole
Barolo Revello
Vernaccia Cusona
Chianti Classico La Porta di Vertine
Prosciutto di Parma ham
Balsamic Vinegar from Modena

No special passes or Groupons will be accepted for this exclusive event.

Please call to check availability of tickets as I know this is a very last-minute post (SORRY!!)

From 6:30 to 8:30
Tickets are $50 at the door
(312) 337-WINE (9463)
650 N. Dearborn (at Erie)
http://www.drinksoverdearborn.com/

Time for the weekly concert announcements! Who are you excited to see?

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/20 @ NOON IN METRO:
Sunday, April 11:(JAM) K’NAAN * WALE * JOHN FORTE
Saturday, May 22: THE SPILL CANVAS * TYLER HILTON * AM TAXI * NEW POLITICS

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN METRO:
Thursday, March 18: Columbia College Story Week 2010 Presents…. LITERARY ROCK & ROLL: ROCK THE GENRE Readings from ALEKSANDAR HEMON * BONNIE JO CAMPBELL * MARCUS SAKEY * Performance by THE BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER * DJ Sets by JOE SHANAHAN and DON DEGRAZIA

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS IN SMART BAR:
Friday, March 19: Columbia College Story Week 2010 Presents… STORY SHOWCASE with RICK KOGAN * Readings from PHYLLIS EISENSTEIN * MIKE BLACK * SEAN CHERCOVER * STEPHANIE KUEHNERT * MARC PAOLETTI * EARL SEWELL

ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 2/20 @ NOON AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Saturday, March 27: BILAL
Tuesday, April 20: RADIO MOSCOW * NAAM
Friday, April 30: KINETIX

JUST ANNOUNCED – FREE EVENTS AT DOUBLE DOOR:
Thursday, March 25: WE LOVE YOU * POP EMPIRE * COLTANE MOTION

Metro/Smart Bar is located at 3730 N Clark Street. Tickets to Metro and Smart Bar shows are available through the Metro and Smart Bar websites – www.metrochicago.com and www.smartbarchicago.com – and the Metro Box Office. Call (773) 549-0203 for more details.

Double Door is located at 1572 N. Milwaukee in historic Wicker Park. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the Double Door Box office. Call (773) 489-3160 for more details.

Fwd: You gotta love this doctor!

Q: Doctor,  I’ve heard that  cardiovascular exercise can prolong life.  Is this true? 
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it…don’t waste on exercise.  Everything wear out eventually.  Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster.  Want to live longer?  Take nap. 

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? 
A: You must grasp logistical efficiency.  What does cow eat?   Hay and corn.  And what are these?   Vegetables.  So steak is nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.  Need grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And pork chop can give you 100% of recommended daily allowance of vegetable product. Ice Cream even better – everything Cow eats in one package!

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?  
A:  No, not at all.  Wine made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way.  Beer also made of grain. All people who don’t drink unhappy – happy people live longer so drink more. Bottom up!

Q: How  can I calculate my body/fat ratio? 
A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one.  If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What  are some of  the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program? 
A: Can’t think of single one, sorry. More people killed running on street than lying on couch. My philosophy is: No pain…good!

Q:  Aren’t fried foods bad for you?  
A:  YOU NOT LISTENING!  Food are fried these day in vegetable oil.  In fact, they permeated by it.  How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?  

Q:  Will  sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 
A: Definitely not!  When you exercise muscle, it get bigger..  You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach. 

Q:  What about food additives?
A: You want to complain about something for free? If it added – must be better – like fuel additive!

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me?  
A:  Are you crazy?!?  HEL-LO-O!!  Cocoa bean!  Another vegetable!  It best feel-good food around!

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure?  
A:  If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me..

Q:  Is getting in shape important for my lifestyle?  
A:  Hey!  ‘Round’ a shape! 

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And  remember:
 
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways – Chardonnay in one hand – chocolate in the other – body thoroughly used up,  totally worn out and screaming “WOO-HOO, what a  ride!!”

–The Chicago Auto Show opens its doors to the public today!  Sure to be packed with people and vehicles but won’t disappoint.  For further details head to the Chicago Auto Show website.

–Registration for Humana Race to Taste Opens today online! Is this a sign that Winter is almost over? Hope so! More info

–Vaudezilla is at it again, tonight at Skokie Theatre.  Don’t miss this fun burlesque show! More info

– The Art Institute of Chicago is still free!  The whole month! If you haven’t at least seen the Modern Wing, don’t miss the opportunity to skip out on paying admission. More info

– Are you a Frankie Knuckles fan? Michael Serafini? Celebrate with your Valentine at Smart Bar’s Valentine’s Soiree on Saturday, February 13 featuring Frankie Knuckles and Michael Serafini. More info

–This event has been the most viewed post on our site for quite some time. It’s going to be a crazy time. Screw Cupid Pub Crawl (Sat. 2/13, 8pm).  It starts at the Wrightwood Tap and keeps going, and going, and going… More info

–Into art AND fashion?  This event is just for you! Screen Printing Workshop: The Chicago Urban Art Society (Saturdays, 1/9-2/27). More info

–Celebrate the Chinese New Year on Sunday, 2/14! It’s free. There’s a parade. It will be fun! More Info

–Awesome music for a worthy cause. Need your music fix on Sunday? Rock and Raise for Darfur at Metro On Sunday February 14. More info

So…. What do you have planned?

Time Out Chicago’s Dining and Libation Society presents Butcher Block and
Brew at The Bristol (2152 N Damen Avenue) on Thursday, February 25th at
6:30pm. Complete with a nine course meal and beer pairings by Goose
Island, guests will also experience a tutorial on the butchering process
led by Chef Chris Pandel. Tickets are $95. More information:
http://www.dlschicago.com/

ESPN ZONE HOSTS OFFICIAL VIEWING PARTY FOR LOCAL OLYMPIAN SHANI DAVIS
Coaches, colleagues and friends gather to cheer on Chicago speed skating star

ESPN Zone will host a watch party for Chicago product Shani Davis on Wednesday, February 17, as he competes in the 1,000-meter speed skating race at 6 p.m. The 27-year-old is scheduled to compete in four races in Vancouver, and is favored to win the 1,000m and 1,500m.

Shani’s former coach and legend in the sport, Sanders “Sam” Hicks, will be in attendance, along with current Evanston Speed Skating Club (ESSC) coach Jim Nubani. Hicks founded ESSC in 1966 and is a member of the National Speed Skating Hall of Fame. Both coaches will be available for media interviews and will be joined by dozens of Davis’ supporters from the ESSC and Chicagoland.

Davis, who grew up on Chicago’s South Side, won gold in the 1,000m and silver in the 1,500m in the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino and is the current World Record holder in both categories. Davis took up speed skating at just six years old when his mother enrolled him at the ESSC.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
5:30 p.m.

ESPN Zone (Corner of Ohio & Wabash)
43 E. Ohio St. [google map]
Chicago, IL 60611

Photo From: www.chicagoracetotaste.us

Registration for Humana Race to Taste Opens February 12!
18th Annual Race to Taste 5K Run/2-Mile Walk
Sunday, June 27 in Grant Park

Ready, set, race … your way to the Taste of Chicago. Humana Race to Taste 5K Run/2-Mile Walk is a Taste of Chicago tradition and is set for Sunday, June 27. Run/walk through Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park and lakefront, and stay for activities and great food at Taste of Chicago.

Registration for this annual event is available on-line beginning Friday, February 12 at www.chicagoracetotaste.us and is $35 per participant. There is no race day registration. The 5K Run/2-mile Walk will begin at 8:00 am at the corner of Balbo and Columbus and will be timed on d-chip. All participants will receive a commemorative NIKE Dri-FIT t-shirt in both men’s and women’s sizes. Also receive a complimentary strip of Taste tickets to enjoy the entire festival!

As the Taste celebrates its 30th year, Humana is pleased to extend their Taste of Chicago partnership to include the Race to the Taste. Humana has had a presence at the Taste since 2007, when it first introduced its Healthier Choices map that features lighter food options available during the festival. Humana believes it’s important to highlight the healthy side of the Taste, and the Humana Race to the Taste and Healthier Choices map provide Taste-goers with the chance to have fun and stay fit.

Race to Taste is presented by Humana, Hinckley Springs, Chicago Tribune, NIKE, United Airlines, Pepsi-Cola, Fleet Feet Sports, Domincks, Communications Direct, Chicago Transit Authority and Apple Vacations. For updates visit www.chicagoracetotaste.us and on Facebook, the Taste of Chicago page.

For more information on Taste of Chicago, visit www.tasteofchicago.us or call the event hotline, 312.744.3370 or TTY: 312.744.4964. For more information on Chicago, including help planning your trip, visit www.explorechicago.org.