Kid Sister Mania!

I was lucky enough to interview Kid Sister for UR Chicago's upcoming September issue. Her bubbly personality was infectious and I hung up the phone feeling star struck and envious of her lemons into lemonade point of view.

It seems like this weekend is all about Chicago's favorite Kid Sister! Tonight, she'll be hosting a pre-Lollapalooza Black Kids, The Foals, and the Kills performance—with DJs Flosstradamus mixing as well—at the Apple Store downtown (679 N. Michigan Ave.) at 7. I'm sure the place will be packed so get there early!

Also, Kid Sister posted this bulletin on Myspace. I can't go (work, pout) but if you're interested, you should definitely show up with your dancing shoes on:

“Soooooo, have you ever wanted to be a part of one of my crazy, fun shows? Well yall, guess what? Today is ya lucky mf day! I'm looking for GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS and more girls... Reowr, haha! Yes my Chicago mamacitas if you wanna take part in my show happening this Sunday at Lollapalooza (and score FREE lolla tickets) just come on by to the open call happening tomorrow! There's some very liiiiight, light choreography involved so those with dance/theatre backgrounds are encouraged to audition.


Come by n' say chello to yer girl tomorrow, Friday, August 1st at NOON at the Revere Park Field house at 2501 West Irving Park Rd (one block west of Western av). We'll be set up outside, snackin, sippin and yappin about boyyyyys (what else, haha).
;)
See you there ma babes!!!

smoocherinis,
ks

Chic Tanishq

Schaumburg has been mecca for many a college student or Nordic-design enthusiasts; it's the home of Ikea and, in the eyes of the uninformed, not much else. Despite its seemingly unglamorous location, Schaumburg has just received another dose of cool from across the ocean: India.

Titan Industries Ltd., India's leading producer and retailer of jewelry and watches, has set its eyes on Schaumburg to be the site of its first foray into the United States market. Located in Woodfield Mall, Tanishq is sure to impress even the most suburb weary Chicagoan. The line carries gorgeous rings, necklaces, pendants, and other pieces made of 18k and 22k gold. Tanishq features both permanent and revolving collections; the inaugural collections--Yoga, Spring, and Lotus--are inspired by nature and philosophy.


"The Yoga collection features fluid shapes which incorporate diamonds in each piece."


"The Lotus collection, which uses pink sapphire, keshi pearls, carved rock crystal and diamonds, is inspired by the resilience of the beautiful lotus blossom."


"The Spring collection is influenced by the cycle of life, and encompasses delicate floral shapes with colorful stones such as garnet, rose quartz and amethyst."

C'est Chic, Tanishq. Fine jewelry is just the thing to make the trek to Schaumberg worthwhile.


Tanishq, K 108 of Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumberg, IL 60173. Open Monday-Saturday 10am - 9pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm.

Obviously on a Gnarls Barkley Kick

Why is it that I'm just now seeing the Gnarls Barkley video for "Going On" ? And why can't more music videos and music in general be this good? Ok. Last post of the day... I just really needed to share this video.

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Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

(Warning: Not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach)

Gnarls Barkley's newest music video for the haunting song, "Who's Going to Save My Soul?" from their latest studio album, The Odd Couple. Is it weird that I felt like I would cry at the end of the video? Maybe because I'm getting out of a similar place, or afraid of being in that place again...

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Talib Kweli: The Rapper's Rapper

One of the most exciting things I've ever done as a writer was cover the Zune BBQ at Union Park in Chicago a year ago. Microsoft's MP3 offering to a world obsessed with all things Apple had been embraced largely by the hip-hop community and to thank them, Zune created a concert tour across the US. The Chicago leg featured performances by Qualo (Shala Esquire's rap group), Little Brother, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli. It was a night of quality conscientious music mixed with the feel of a neighborhood block party--Robinson's BBQ was on hand and people played basketball in between sets.

Standing in the VIP section with my plus one, we noticed a man standing in front of us, wearing a light-weight sweater despite the Chicago mid-June heat.

Adam, my plus one: That guy's sweater is really nice.
Me: Yeah, it is.
On-stage announcer: Put your hands together for.... TALIB KWELI!!!!!
(man in light weight sweater runs on stage and begins rapping)
Adam and Me: OH! MY! GOD!

We were 5 feet away from one of the most renowned rappers for hip-hop heads and all we noticed was his impeccable taste in sweaters.

Long story aside, I was excited to read on the Black gossip website TheYBF.com that Talib Kweli is working on a documentary about himself. I wonder when and where it will be coming out...

Another Store Opening in Wicker Park/Bucktown

Before papers and government officials were uttering the "R" word, people in Chicago were grumbling about the "G" word: gentrification. We saw it in the droves of hipsters and artists who took haven in the historically Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen. And the more fashion savvy of us saw it when small, high-end boutiques in Wicker Park/Bucktown began shuttering up their windows and putting up for rent signs in spaces that once carried Geren Ford, Missoni, and other labels.

Out went the smaller boutiques (no longer able to afford the high price of rent and moving to internet based sales), and in came the bigger name retail purveyors. Marc Jacobs (not that I'm hating on this newest addition...drool), Cynthia Rowley, and BCBG have all moved on the fashionable strip of Damen and tomorrow night, people in the know will gather for the opening of Club Monaco.

Will this sound the death knoll for the once hipster-friendly Wicker Park/Bucktown?

Say It Ain't So!

I am not a coffee drinker myself, but I can imagine the waves of panic that spread through the nation upon word that 600 Starbucks locations will be closing. You know we're in hard times when Starbucks is one of the first highly publicized chains to start closures.

Here's a list of the locations closing down in Chicago, found on the Huffington Post. If one of these locations is yours, pull yourself up by the bootstraps and bravely march forward. Make yourself a recession latte and store it in your "green" friendly, biodegradeable coffee mug.

2286 ALTGELD & LINCOLN 2475 N LINCOLN CHICAGO IL
2403 ASHLAND & ATGELD 2454 N ASHLAND AVE CHICAGO IL
8985 95TH & WESTERN 2347 W 95TH ST CHICAGO IL
9895 ROOSEVELT & HOMAN 3350 W ROOSEVELT RD CHICAGO IL
11953 PILL HILL-95TH & STONY ISLAND 1753 E 95TH ST CHICAGO IL

Pitchfork Festival Preview

Pitchfork Music Festival, second only to Lollapalooza in its size and music scope, is happening this weekend. Somewhat sadly, I'm missing it to go back home this weekend. Luckily, a pre-Pitchfork event is being held at Grant Park with a musical sampling jumping from the Balkan inspired to American rock.

As part of the "Music Without Borders" concert series at Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the Pitchfork Music Festival Preview Night is definitely something to check out. It's free and nothing beats a concert at the Pritzker Pavilion either; the summer heat and breezes, always good (or at the very least, interesting) music, tons of people dancing, and the skyline looming and sparkling above you...it's, as Kanye would say, "so astounding."

For more information--and to hear the music of those performing tomorrow night--click here and press 7.17.

Not Only For the Saditty and Pretty

Musically, Andre 3000's verse is by far the only thing good about the song, but these men are all about presentation, which makes this video a-mazing.

Tyler Perry's Newest

(I think this movie looks great, no matter what some may say of Tyler Perry and his movies. At least he's creating good and smart roles for black actors and actresses outside of niche CW/UPN short lived TV shows. And I love me some Rockmond Dunbar.)