"Fall In Love In Chi-ca-go..."

Lupe Fiasco's newest video for his single, "Paris, Tokyo." This was actually one of my least favorite songs on his album, The Cool, but I always appreciate Fiasco for taking his music above and beyond the current call of ring tone rappers.

Ring tone rapper (i.e. Souljah Boy): Can this song be a ring tone?
Music Exec: Does it have a lyrics of little value outside of dropping it like its hot and an annoyingly catchy chorus?
Ring tone rapper: Yeah...
Music Exec: Son, you got yourself a Verizon-worthy hit!

Abbreviated Weekend Guide

I am in New York this weekend--visiting Columbia University's Journalism school and deciding whether or not I want to move to the City--so here is a very short guide to what's going on in Chicago.

FRIDAY 4/11

Cocktails and Clay
Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze made clay sensual in a classic scene from "Ghost," but the Hyde Park Art Center makes it boozy with their monthly Cocktails and Clay event. Enjoy drink specials at their cash bar, explore the exhibitions at this venerable museum, and dance until midnight!

SATURDAY 4/12
"Teeth" Midnight Screening

A woman's ability to psychologically castrate men has been well-documented by Dr. Freud. This theory takes on a whole new meaning in the movie "Teeth" screening at the Music Box (3733 N. Southport) tonight at 11:55pm. Let's just say the female character has two set of teeth and one is trying its damnedest to serve as a chastity belt. Squirm, squirm.

Please Don't Mess This One Up, Diddy

Oh, Diddy. He's the black male version of Madonna, "reinventing" himself to keep the masses interested/unaware of how untalented he is as a performer. Constant sampling of better artists from eras past became "inventing the remix." He's made the leap from A&R scout to record company founder and owner (Bad Boy), wearer of shiny metallic track suits to a Council of Fashion Design of America award winning designer, Broadway actor (taking on the role Sidney Poitier made famous in the movie version of "A Raisin In The Sun"), and a reality television personality with his takes on the Making the Band series. Don't even get me started on the name changes.

So when one of my best friends from home told me about a new performer signed to Bad Boy, I was a little weary; his two new boy and girl groups leave much to be desired. But signing Janelle Monae—a Kansas City, KS native making waves in Atlanta with her blend of funk, soul, R&B, and futuristic imaginings of the world—is a step in the right direction for the multimedia mogul. Based on the power of her single on her MySpace page, Janelle Monae has many anxious for her star to rise; numerous publications, Andre 3000 and Big Boi of Outkast and even Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama have all sang her praises:



Janelle Monae's sound and style makes her stand out in a sea of record company manufactured and derivative pop princesses, and she's bringing the concept album to R&B (which, correct me if I'm wrong, is very unusual). Her android alter ego, Cindi Mayweather, has fallen in love with a human despite her computer programming and has to run away for fear of being disassembled.

Amazing.

Her debut album is slated for release in September, with an EP out in June. Listen to her single "Violet Star Happy Hunting" and its remix (sans Diddy) on her Myspace page.

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman... In Secret

I think one of the biggest pleasures a hardcore Chicagoan can get is finding some way to stick it to New York City. “Our people are nicer, our architecture is far superior,” cries the bruised Chicago ego. “Second City be damned!” Another area Chicago is gaining on New York is fine dining. The past two years have noted an increase in foodies turning their eyes and stomachs to what Chicago and its chefs have to offer (Chefs Charlie Trotter of Charlie Trotter’s, Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and Topolobamo, and Homaro Cantu of Moto just to name a few). Even Donald Trump, one of New York’s biggest personalities, has opened a restaurant on the sixteenth floor of his International Hotel and Tower in the heart of downtown Chicago.

Logan Square's Bonsoirée (2728 W. Armitage) adds another layer of exclusivity to the fine dining experience with their "Underground Restaurant." The twenty-seat restaurant offers a special, affordable prix-fixe menu for people who sign up (which you can do here). Each week a different portion of their mailing list will receive an email detailing a five-course meal to be served at the invitation-only event. It's first-come, first-served with a $10 non-refundable down payment for all reservations, a $5 corkage fee (the restaurant is BYOB, Chef Shin Thompson explains in an interview with Centerstage Chicago, so diners can pair food with wines of their choice), and two dining times (6pm and 8:30).

While I think an honest tally would be hard to come by, Bonsoirée's affordable take to fine dining may be one more point in Chicago's favor.

Feeling A LIttle Lazy So...

...here's a link to the review I did for UR Chicago's blog on Vampire Weekend's performance at the Metro. It was truly an amazing performance and has definitely made a fan out of me.

And here's a video for their song "APunk"

Get It Little Man!

This video--along with BYOB mimosas at Med for brunch--made my day.

Concert News

Erykah Badu and the Roots will be performing at the Chicago Theater May 30th. Her new CD, New Amerykah, Part 1: 4th World War, is an amazing listen and the Roots are a venerable band that continue to have success and influence in music after 15 years. Their newest album, Rising Down, comes out April 28th.


Watch the video for their 1999 collaboration, "You Got Me."

And when I was on the bus earlier this week I overheard a guy say that Stevie Wonder would be performing at this year's Taste of Chicago. If this bit of early morning commuting gossip is true, it might be worth dealing with the insanity that is the Taste.



(Oooh, it is true! The line up is here!)

Weekend Guide, 4/4 - 4/6

I am coming off the high of seeing John Legend perform at the Vic Theatre last night. Legend—along with Colbie Caillat and Cat Power—performed in celebration of the GRAMMY's 50th Anniversary. T-Mobile and Sidekick were the hosts of the night, and Legend definitely salvaged the night after Caillet and Cat Power's performances. You can read my coverage of the night on UR Chicago's blog today. Security started absconding cameras and cell phones before I could get any decent pictures, but it was amazing. I've never been the kind to freak out over performances (and I've seen my share of shriek/swoon inducing performers), but man oh man! Alright. Down girl. Here's a sampling of noteworthy going-ons in the Chi this weekend:

FRIDAY, 4/4

I throw myself at men
Performance artist Lilly McElroy's photographic series "I throw myself at men" has been at the Thomas Robertello Gallery for almost a month now, and I can't wait to see it. In these "performative photographs," the artist literally throws herself at men in bars, playing with issues of relationships and feminine and masculine roles in modern courting. According to the gallery's website, the project originated from ads McElroy posted on Craigslist, looking for men who would meet her at bars and let her throw herself at them. (Thomas Robertnello Gallery,939 W. Randolph, Wednesday-Saturday 11-6)

Future Shock
I have no idea why PBR (Pabst's Blue Ribbon) has become the drink of choice for hipsters. But Wicker Park music venue, Subterranean (2011 W. North) will be providing the ambrosia of the hip for free between 9-10 at Future Shock, their Friday night dance party. Come for the free booze, stay for the DJ sets of electro, hip-hop, bmore club bass, mashups and more combos you can't wrap your brain around.

First Fridays
The Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago) continues their monthly "happy hour" event with this month's First Friday. $15 tickets—which can be purchased at the door—includes live entertainment, entrance into the museum, appetizers from Wolfgang Puck's museum cafe, and access to their cash bar. These events are themed, and tonight's is "Lucky Star."

SATURDAY, 4/5

Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa
In its last days at Facets Theater (1517 W. Fullerton), "Off the Grid" is a must see this weekend. The documentary explores the Mesa, an area in America's Southwest with no water and electricity, no governing law or law enforcement, and is populated by the "legally" insane. Free from modern conventions of law, directors Jeremy and Randy Stulberg envision the Mesa as "the last outpost of the American Wild West." Watch the video below for a trailer and click here for movie times.



Oops Reading Series
My high school experiences and teenage angst have all been embarrassingly chronicled in black and white speckled Composition books. However I would never share them with an audience like a group of Chicago writers will at Heaven Gallery (1550 N. Milwaukee) tonight. The Oops Reading Series costs $5 and starts at 7pm.

SUNDAY, 4/6

24th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival
In it's twenty-fourth year, the Chicago Latino Film Festival continues to promote education and awareness of Latino cultures through screening "the best and most recent movies from Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the United States." Visit their website for movie screenings and more information.

The Visitor

The Midwest Independent Film Festival's screening of America the Beautiful has me excited for all of the organization's events. Support MIFF as they continue to champion the creative efforts of independent filmmakers in the Midwest with tonight's free screening. The Visitor was directed by Chicago native Richard Jenkins, who will be available after the screening for a Q&A. As MIFF founder Mike McNamara noted earlier this week, filling mainstream theaters to capacity proves that independent films are a viable product with a real audience.


(THE VISITOR screens tonight at 7 pm, Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark. The screening is free but if you want to attend, email THEVISITORCHICAGO@HOTMAIL.COM)

'Ye's Newest

HOMECOMING from kwest on Vimeo.

God... Kanye can do no wrong. I have a tendency to squeal when I see Chicago landmarks and the skyline, so you can imagine how excited I was during this video. For most, it thankfully returns to "normal" music video fare, involving less abstraction, confusion, violence, and inappropriate Playmate feminine jiggle than "Flashing Lights."