Svengoolie will be among the spooky stars at this weekend's Ghost Conference.(photo via myspace.com/svengoolie26)
Chicago Ghost Conference 5-11 p.m. Friday and 8:30 p.m.-midnight Saturday; Portage Theater; $50 for a two-day pass
Join paranormal experts and speakers for this annual event about all things otherworldly. This year's speakers include Lorraine Warren from A&E's "Paranormal State" and Jeff Belanger, paranormal author and creator of Ghostvillage.com, who join members of paranormal groups from around the country to educate, inform, network, share ideas and entertain others that are fascinated with the supernatural. If that's not enough, Chicago legend Svengoolie makes an appearance on Friday night.
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival Saturday-Sunday at Welles Park; $8
The Old Town School of Folk Music's eclectic annual fest may fly a bit under the radar of many Chicagoans, but to know it is to love it (especially if you've got kids in tow). Don't be fooled by the name, as you'll find a whole lot more than just folk music here; this year's eclectic lineup includes throwback soul (Austin's Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears), Mediterranean electro (France's Watcha Clan) and what we'll describe as Indian-inspired club sounds (Karsh Kale, from New York).
Want Ari Gold to swear at you? It could happen. One of several prizes in the silent auction at next week's Piven Theatre Workshop Annual Benefit is a walk-on role on "Entourage," the HBO show starring Jeremy Piven as a high-powered, foul-mouthed super-agent to the stars.
Piven will be at Rockit Bar & Grill on Saturday, June 20 to host the event with friend (and Rockit owner) Billy Dec from 6-10 p.m. Proceeds from the $125 tickets will help provide scholarships to kids wishing to train at the famed Piven workshop in Evanston. See, Ari's not as heartless as he sounds.
The recently renovated Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry is all about ecology (its subtitle is "Green + Wired"). So it's no surprise that the Home has opened up a free farmers market on its premises. Opening Friday, June 5, the free market (running on the first and third Fridays of each month in the East parking lot) will feature fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, baked goods, plants, flowers and even cooking demonstrations.
The first such demonstration will be extra special: The Hearty Boys (from the Food Network) will make an appearance on opening day at 11:30 a.m., offering some of their trademark food and personality.
The market runs from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; admission to the Smart Home or the Museum of Science and Industry is not required.
Not convenient for you? Head to Centerstage for a list of all farmers' markets.
So, your roommates are sick of Simon Cowell's sour face, and have vowed to go on a pill binge if they have to hear one more word out of Paula Abdul's mouth. Their patience for your "American Idol" love has run out at exactly the wrong time: the big season finale is on Wednesday. So what do you do? Go out for sushi.
Hear us out. Chen's Chinese and Sushi in Wrigleyville is offering an Idol special on Wednesday that sounds like a great deal: $10 for two drinks (including martinis) and an appetizer and sushi buffet. You'll be able to mingle with other fans while watching the big showdown between Adam and Kris on 42-inch plasma TVs (probably better than what you have in your apartment anyway). Reservations are required.
If you're really strapped, you can head there tonight as well for the penultimate episode, when half-price bottles of wine will be in effect.
Want to get in shape for the next season? Centerstage offers up a long list of local karaoke spots where you can get your sing on -- without all those dirty looks from Simon.
Back in the 1970s, long before anyone pitied the fool, there was a bouncer at the Chicago nightclub Dingbats named Laurence Tureaud. Today, that address (622 N. Fairbanks Court) is a pub called Timothy O'Toole's, and Laurence is better known as Mr. T.
In celebration of Mr. T's 57th birthday on Thursday, the staff of Timothy O'Toole's will be dressed in the garb the sweet-but-menacing T-man made famous: mohawks (OK, many will be faux-hawks), overalls and lots and lots of gold chains. The pub's chef, Sean O'Brien, has even created themed food and drinks — Mr. T appetizers, a B.A. Baracus Burger, a Mrs. T-ni Thunder Punch Cocktail — and there will be trivia games. (Q.On what TV sitcom did Mr. T play bodyguard to a spoiled rich kid?A. after the jump ...)
The Mr. T's Birthday Bash begins at 9 p.m. Thursday. Maybe he'll show up. We know he's around: Just a couple of weeks ago, our photographers caught him coming out of the Cook County Courthouse after serving jury duty ...
Audarshia of 312DD's got the scoop (we hope she heard via text) on a special celebrity appearance at Rockit Bar & Grill tonight. Ed Westwick (aka Chuck Bass) and his "Gossip Girl" co-star and possible real-life girlfriend, Jessica Szohr (aka Vanessa Abrams) will be on hand from 7-10 p.m. to help launch Target's new "Bullseye Bazaar" pop-up shop.
Want to meet the sneaky bastard and his occasional booty call (the two were actually caught kissing off set recently)? RSVP for the party, which includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, at vip@rockitranch.com.
"Yum-o!" "Deelish!" Expect to hear these and other Rachael Ray catchphrases often during her 500th episode, airing tomorrow, April 1 at 2 p.m. (check your local listings).
In addition to appearances by Matthew McConaughey and Barbara Walters, the landmark show will feature the Jen Ultimate Oatmeal Cherry Cookie, made by Barrington, Illinois' own Jennie and Vera's Cookies.
This will be the second time the perky host has showcased the treat, so she must really love it...or else Jennie and Vera have some major dirt on Ray. Perhaps some photos of her drinking from a coffee cup from Starbucks instead of her beloved Dunkin' Donuts?
In any case, have some local pride and tune into the show tomorrow. Just be warned, you'll probably end up with a virtual shopping cart full of cookies before the hour's up.
Ira Glass just keeps moving to bigger and bigger media. First, his influential radio show started here in Chicago, then moved to cable TV as a Showtime series. Now he's hitting the big screen. "This American Life" — if you haven't yet seen the ads for it ahead of the movie trailers — is returning to movie screens for another one-night-only, live-via-satellite event to be broadcast to select movie theaters on April 23.
Glass will host a new episode of the program, joined by contributors Dan Savage, Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia, David Rakoff and Dave Hill. There will also be a new cartoon by Chris Ware, visuals by Arthur Jones and a very special appearance by Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Firefly" and the current series "Dollhouse."
The event will be shown at these area theaters: Addison 21, Addison; Lincolnshire 20 w/ IMAX, Lincolnshire; AMC South Barrington 30, Barrington; AMC Yorktown 17, Lombard; Randall 15 w/ IMAX, Batavia; Naperville Showplace, Naperville; Century Stratford Square, Bloomingdale; New Lenox Showplace, New Lenox; Carbondale Showplace, Carbondale; Niles Showplace, Niles; AMC River East 21, Chicago; Orland Park Cinemas 14, Orland Park; Chicago City North, Chicago; Pekin Showplace, Pekin; Chicago Webster Place, Chicago; Willow Knolls 14, Peoria; Showplace 16, Crystal Lake; Rockford Showplace, Rockford; Century 16 Deer Park, Deer Park; Savoy 16, Savoy; Edwardsville Stadium 12, Edwardsville; Springfield West Showplace, Springfield; Elgin Fox Theatre, Elgin; AMC Cantera 30, Warrenville; Evanston 18, Evanston; Cinemark Woodridge 17 w/ IMAX, Woodridge; Gurnee Cinemas 20, Gurnee.
Here at Our Town, we have our running list of "3 Things We Love About ..." — and over at NBC Chicago they've got hometown talk-show host Bonnie Hunt talking about her favorite three things about the city ...
Ok, we'll bite. Multipleoutlets are saying that Alinea chef Grant Achatz will be a guest on tomorrow's Oprah. He won't be talking about food, but rather about his battle with oral cancer. The show, called "Medical Mistakes," will focus on patient advocacy and will also include Dennis Quaid and Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Popular Wicker Park bar The Fifty/50 is screening episodes of ‘Lost’ every Wednesday night and offering special Lost-themed drinks. Choose from the Flight 815 (a selection of three different shots of Skyy vodka), the Dharma-rita (a mysterious margarita beer cocktail) and The Orchid (Blue Zephyr English Gin, herb steeped white cranberry, apricot wheat beer and soda).
Will the bar start hurtling back and forth through time like the island? Will you start seeing visions of people you know in different stages of their lives, thereby freaking you out completely? Will some bug-eyed guy come find you after you leave and try to get you and your friends to all go back, for the sake of the bar? Will this week’s episode completely blow your mind?!?! You’ll have to head to Fifty/50 to find out.
Drink specials run from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and the entire lower level is reserved for Losties (who, incidentally, are the only people who will understand anything about this post).
Excited for the new episode of "Top Chef" tonight? Imagine how excited you'd be if you were actually on the show. You could be next season, if you have play your cards right. And follow all the submission guidelines, which are many, according to the MenuPages Blog. Seriously, it's like applying to college all over again.
As we've mentioned previously, the Chicago installment of Anthony Bourdain's popular show, "No Reservations," airs on the Travel Channel tonight at 9 p.m. (note: many city-dwelling Comcast customers don't appear to get the channel at first glance; we've been told that re-scanning your channels may make it pop up at channel 62).
This means that some of your favorite area restaurants may soon be seeing a boost in business thanks to their time in the TV spotlight (maybe not a "Check, Please!" type bump, but still). If you've been meaning to try any of these spots, better get your reservations in now - better yet, set your DVR tonight and grab a table while the show actually airs. Below you'll find the 10 places Bourdain patronizes during his visit (and here are all 10 on a handy map).
The chef stands by Calumet Fisheries on the South Side.
Avec, 615 W. Randolph Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph
(ok, he doesn't really eat at these two, but he does dine in chef Paul Kahan's backyard)
Hot Doug's, 3324 N. California (also of note, Steelers fans, today's special dog is the Santonio Holmes, a gyros sausage with spinach raita, kalamata olives and haloumi cheese)
No, still another couple months for that. But you can catch an exclusive screening of the new HBO series “Eastbound & Down” on Wednesday night at Wrigleyville’s Cubby Bear. The show, starring Danny McBride and featuring appearances by Will Ferrell, is about a washed-up baseball reliever (McBride) who gets run out of the big leagues and is forced to go home to North Carolina and work as a substitute teacher.
We’re not sure which former Cubs player this resembles most (too soon for Rod Beck?) but McBride eerily resembles pudgy former Phillies slugger (and current ESPN commentator) John Kruk. Decide for yourself at the preview, which starts at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. [Gapers Block is giving away 10 pairs of VIP tickets.] Or check out the show on HBO, which premieres Feb. 15.
Sick of sitting at home watching the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show every year? Us, too (our roommates don't appreciate all the howling).
Well, there's another option: the 4th Annual "Best In Show" benefit, hosted this year at Fat Cat in Uptown. For $50 (VIP tables are $250 for four guests), you get an open bar and some adult-style treats. The event benefits the Sit, Stay and Read Organization, which helps Chicago inner-city children learn to read with the help of dogs. So head out on February 10 to watch the show and help out a good cause - you might even find some new members for your Kennel Club fantasy league. For tickets, call (773) 545-6629 or email info at sitstayread.org.
All aboard! Calling all Chicago passengers on the "Soul Train." If you danced on, performed on or even just enjoyed watching the legendary Chicago R&B television show on Channel 26 throughout the 1970s, you're invited to an unofficial reunion for the show this weekend.
The event — honoring Clinton Ghent, who hosted the local show after creator Don Cornelius headed to Los Angeles — promises to "recreate the atmosphere of the classic show. Ghent, who also was a choreographer for the Jackson Five and others, will receive an award, musicians will reminisce about their experiences on the show, and all attendees are invited to dance to music of the era." Though our favorite sentence from the announcement is: "There will be light refreshments and gift bags." Hmm, "Soul Train" swag, you say? The mind reels.
The boogie begins at 7:30 p.m. Friday at CAN-TV studios, 322 S. Green St., and it's free. For more information, call (773) 875-6470 or visit the event's MySpace page.
Anthony Bourdain at Borders Bookstore in Chicago in 2007. (via Flickr)
Remember last summer when the Travel Channel's darkly comic chef/philosopher, Anthony Bourdain, came to Chicago to sample some of its many culinary goodies? It wasn't all just for show. Or actually, it was. For his show, "No Reservations." And now you can finally see all his adventures: The Chicago episode airs on Monday, February 2 at 9 p.m. Central Time on the Travel Channel, featuring several area standbys like Hot Doug's, Burt's Place and more.
One of the establishments featured on the show, the Silver Palm, will be hosting a viewing party and serving its featured Three Little Piggy Sandwich (thanks for the tip, LTH Forum!). The restaurant, typically closed on Mondays, will be open from 6 p.m.-2 a.m. Call (312) 666-9322 for reservations.
If we hear of other parties, we'll surely let you know. Get excited!
We don't want to spoil anything for you, but if you've already watched last night's Top Chef episode, we strongly recommend reading Hungry Mag's bulleted recap, 30 Seconds on Top Chef. Somehow, Hungry's main man Michael Nagrant (an occasional freelancer for the Sun-Times, FYI) always manages to capture exactly what we're thinking during the episodes. And he doesn't play favorites; even our hometown contestant, Radhika Desai (of Wicker Park's Between Boutique Cafe and Lounge), incurs his wrath from time to time.
The chef stands by Calumet Fisheries on the South Side.
Anthony Bourdain at Borders Bookstore in Chicago in 2007. (via 
