Golden Nugget

DECEMBER 2010 NUGGET

We’ve seen our first snow, and Christmas, as my dear friend Lindsay Stevens pointed out, has puked in the office lobby. Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like [insert politically correct holiday here]. And so it must be December, with 21 more days to deck the proverbial halls.

• “What’s December without The Festival of Lights?” asks Jason Weinberger. Well, we’re a day late and a dollar short, but Jason hopes you all a very Happy Chanukah. Going with the c-h version, huh Weinberger? Strong choice, birthday boy.

• Cheryl Lindquist suggests getting into the Christmas spirit by taking a drive out to Pheasant Run Theater in St. Charles to see the radio adaption/play of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  It’s a 25-mile drive from the city, but well worth it says Cheryl. Check out show times and ticket prices here.

• Gillian Kindel says, “This flea market looks wild!” Where else can you score an appearance from Three’s Company’s Joyce DeWitt? December 11-12, Gray’s Lake Holiday Antique Market.

• Still need plans for X-mas Eve? Skip the Kung Pow Chicken and head instead to The Matzo Bash Christmas Eve Gala at Enclave, December 24, 8 PM-2 AM.  The annual party includes grub, cocktails, music by DJ JJ and admission to an after-party at Cuvee.

• On the heels of The Black Swan, comes ‘The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration’ film screening , which incidentally has nothing to do with Natalie Portman going crazy, and has everything to do with Maya Angelou narrating the history of Kwanza from the 60s Black Power Movement to today. It’s happening at the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Washington Park, December 12, 2-4 PM.

• Bucktown enthusiast Kim Noles and art show enthusiast Jenn Burak will have a meeting of minds at the Bucktown Holiday ArtShow. Browse original works by 100 artists in all media at the 12th annual show while DJs spin holiday music. This Saturday, December 11 from noon to 5 PM at Holstein Park Fieldhouse.

• The Chilean mimers want you to go Caroling at Cloud Gate with them. Of course, mimes don’t sing, but hey, should still be fun, right? Meet at the Bean December 10 & 17 at 6 PM.

• “I’m playing Hide-the-Pickle this Christmas,” proclaims Dave Straus. Thanks for sharing Dave. You can get your own Christmas pickle (small, medium or large), and other German crafts and gifts at Christkindlmarket Chicago in Daley Plaza from now until December 23.

• Holiday cheer AND running AND costumes? Alana Beseau is most def on board. Are you? Throw on a hazmat suit (seriously) and hit the pavement at the Great Chicago Anthrax Scare Hash/Santa Hat Run, December 18 in Roscoe Village.

• If any of you need last minute gift ideas for Toby Smalley, check out the The Holiday Show at Architectural Artifacts on December 12, 10 AM-5 PM. They’ve got gifts made by more than 75 artists including jewelry, ceramics, paintings and, wigs.

• Or you could go to Later Night Andersonville at Foster and Clark on December 17 from 6-10 PM. Stores and restaurants along Clark Street will be open late, offering discounts on clothes, fare and, wigs.

• “Why would I ride my bike when I could ride the train with Santa?” asks Jess Hanebury. Good question. Hop on the CTA Holiday Train this month for elves and candy canes and general merriment. Check transitchicago.com for a train schedule.

• 2011 promises to be the latest year yet! Ring it in with the New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier, December 31 at 8 PM.

• Brian Williams thinks you all belong in a zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo, to be exact. He proposes a trip to Zoo Lights, from now until January 3^rd, where you can catch this FREE lights spectacular.

And finally, it’s time for “What are you thankful for this holiday season?”

Prashant Nashi is thankful for argyle.

Toby Smalley is thankful for all his ideas.

Kate Napleton is thankful for .org/nut.

Phil Gant is thankful his wife looks like Hoda.

Adam Samara is thankful he looks like Bieber.

Amy Warden is thankful for high school hurdles.

Todd Crisman is thankful for his 2-vespas-1-man fame.

Amanda Hogg is thankful for Lindsay Stevens’ Chambers.

And Jenn Burak is thankful for Die Antwoord.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

OCTOBER NUGGET 2010 

1, 2, 3 o’clock, 4 o’clock Oc—tober. We may be well into it, but there’s still plenty of time to enjoy everyone’s favorite month.

• “How about a little picking?” asks Josh Witherspoon. Not your nose, but rather, apples. Josh will be spending the weekend at County Line Orchard in Hobart, Indiana, navigating the corn maze, lounging in the pumpkin patch and picking apples, among other things. Join him, won’t you? 

• A haunted sinkhole? Only in Chicago. That’s right folks, Chronicles of the Cursed: Sinkhole is back in the Warehouse District and promises to spook the unspookable. “This #?*! scared the living #?*! out of me. #?*!” Toby Smalley exclaims, in cartoon strip curse words. See for yourself at CursedChicago.com.

 • Amanda Hogg is taking her cat Badger to Pup Crawl. Come see them be ironic, Tuesday, October 26^th at 6PM in West Town. Owners and dogs will hit Matchbox, J. Patrick’s and Mahoney’s for great drink specials. Proceeds go to help dogs find jobs.

• Quasi-Emily-Wilson-Stalker, Alan Spindle, urges everyone, in a non-creepy way, to check out the latest Second City Show featuring—you guessed it—Emily Wilson. Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies is now showing. Vince Vaughn will be there.

 • Lindsay “Wino” Stevens plans to attend Quartino’s monthly wine tasting on Wednesday, October 27^th, November 27^th, December 27^th and so on because, you get it, she likes wine. Anyway, for 20 bones you’ll sample wines from the Veneto region of Italy, plus pizza and other apps. AND you can take home a featured bottle of wine for just $10. 

• “If I could do it all over again, I’d be a Muppet,” laments Kate Napleton. Well Kate, you can’t. But you can go to Jim Henson’s Fantastic World at the Museum of Science & Industry, now through January 23^rd, and explore the mind behind iconic puppets such as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy in this interactive exhibit. Get the deets at Museum of Science and Industry. 

• Ryan Bloecker says, “Screw you guys. I’m going to Cabo!” Thanks Ryan. Just remember, what happens in Cabo, comes out in ‘Cago. Muah ha ha ha ha.

• “I’d definitely get over to see ‘Daddy Long Legs’ at Northlight Theater — a great little musical featuring Megan McGinnis whom critics agree is destined for greatness,” says Neal Stamell. The show definitely runs until October 24^th, so definitely hurry!

• There’s still plenty of time to glimpse the giant pumpkins and fall foliage at the Chicago Botanic Garden. 

• And what Chicago October events blog would be complete without a mention of Halloween? Refer to this guide of ghoulish gatherings, and while you’re all out being wasted, I’ll be home watching “Ghosthunters” LIVE in a civilized manner.

• And finally, Alex Piechocki leaves us all with a little October word play:

AUGUST 2010 NUGGET

It struck me, as throngs of children mowed me down in the school supply wing (it is no longer just an aisle) of Wal-mart this weekend, that sadly, summer is winding down. It’s this same time every year that we ask ourselves, “Where did the time go?” Knowing full well that no answer will make us feel any better about the situation. So, I’m not going to bother with the pep talks. I’m not going to lie to you and say, “Don’t worry, it’ll be OK.” Because it won’t. Come December, it won’t be OK. But what I can do, is tell you how to make the most of the time you have left. Get out there and enjoy these August happenings. Before summer deploys the emergency escape and pulls a Steven Slater on us.

• AJ Livsey and Wrigleyville? They go together like peanut butter and cheese, right? Yet here she is, emailing me about Wrigleyville Summerfest. AJ will be embracing (yet secretly loathing) the popular street fest this weekend, Aug 14-15, at Seminary and School. “It’ll be a bumpin’, pukin’ good time,” insists AJ, a little too strongly. Check out the deets.

• Frenchy Neal Stamell says, “Steewpid Americans wiz your hot dogz, get over to ze French Market at Ogilvy station. Eez beautiful, wiz all kinds of upscale foodz, like ze
Prince Edward Island mussels for $4.99/lb.” He then goes on to mock us with this Frenchy mussel recipe: saute/steam in olive oil, shallots, garlic, sherry or wine and a little water for about 10 minutes and get ready for a delight.

• Susie Rashid wants you to have a clean place to pee during the Chicago Air & Water Show. “The OakStreet Beachstro is a great place to watch the Air Show this weekend.  $65 gets you a buffet lunch, access to a clean bathroom and a guaranteed seat!” Pretty sweat deal actually. The planes take to the sky in front of North Avenue Beach August 14 & 15 from 11-4 PM. Don’t miss Vince Vaughn when he teams up with the Golden Knights for a tandem jump while simultaneously dumping Jennifer Aniston, chugging whiskey and singing, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.”

 
• Susie will also be at the American Craft Exposition at Northwestern University starting on Aug. 27^th. Nothing particularly funny about that.

• Ronan Marra and his theatre company, Signal Ensemble Theatre, are at it again! Join them as they celebrate the grand opening of their performance space at 1802 W. Berenice this Monday, August 16th. “We will be running Tom Stoppard’s comedy The Real Inspector Hound thru September 18^th,” says Ronan. The regular run is Thursday-Saturday at 8 PM, and Sunday at 3 PM. Tickets are $20 with student, senior and industry discounts available.  Get more info here.
 

• Todd Crisman says, “I’ll be drainin’ a few tall boys with Earl and Bobby. Who wants to know?” No one, actually Todd. But thanks for sharin’.

• In an effort to close the divide, South Side native John Barry is extending an olive branch and attending the North Side Summerfeston August 20-22. “When it comes to brats and Too White Crew, borders just don’t matter,” states John. Way to break down the barriers, Barry. You can go too. Just check it out here.

• “I’m always on the lookout for a great vintage jumpsuit,” explains Patrick Brennan. Naturally. So he suggests we join him in perusing the 60-plus local vintage vendors at the Vintage Bazaar. It’s happening at the Congress Theater on August 22.

• In a twist of irony, small-statured Megan McCann is planning to attend Tall Ships Chicago 2010 at Navy Pier on August 24 from 4-9 PM. Even more ironic? That I consider Megan McCann to be short.

• Accomplished Bike-lingualist Lindsay Stevens translated a submission from her bike, Langster, for me. Apparently the two-wheeler will be putting in an appearance at the Boulevard Lakefront Tour on August 29^th.  You can opt for a 15-mile South Side architecture ride; a 35-mile boulevard tour of South and West Side parks; or a 62-mile Ultimate Neighborhood Tour. “Be prepare to travel streets of city and traffic signals must obey,” says the Langster, in broken English.

• Michael Jackson enthusiast Michael Gabriele is going to Mike Nite at Illuminati in Lincoln Park on August 28^th.  “We have the same name,” an excited Michael declares. Reason enough to toast Michael Jackson on the eve of his 52nd birthday with spoken word and musical tributes.

• And finally, Monica Klasa plans to party it up at the St. Demetrios Greek Festival August 20-22. “But she’s Polish,” you say? Yes. I just don’t know anyone in the office who’s Greek.

Best wishes for a wonderful August!

JULY 2010 NUGGET

Well here we are in July. Can you believe it? It’s hot. It’s humid. It’s AMAZING. Kinda thought this day might never come. And now I hear BP has finally stopped the oil spill. Again, Kinda thought this day might never come. Things are looking up. Question mark? One can always hope. So let’s take advantage. Let’s ride the positive momentum. Let’s get out there and build up our reserves of sun and positivity. Here’s some ways how:

• “I have one!” exclaims Rachel Stoll. She’s been volunteering with Esperanza for the past 6 months and will be attending the 11th Annual Esperanza Summerfest on Sat, July 17, from Noon-4:30PM at Esperanza School, 520 N. Marshfield Ave. There’ll be food, games, beer and all proceeds help to provide students with disabilities access to adaptive educational software and resources. There’s no punchline here folks. It’s for the kids!

• July is Dave Straus’s birthday month and he welcomes one and all to treat him to something special: a meal, after work drinks, or anything you think he’d like – he’s not fussy! Except when it comes to clothes. And then he’s REALLY not fussy.

• The awesome Tracey Button has some awesome ideas for summer fun. FREE yoga, pilates, tai chi and Dancersize on the great lawn at Millennium Park Saturday mornings. “The yoga is so awesome because you are outdoors, blue sky above, green grass below, sun coming up over the lake, music being piped through the state of the art sound system,” describes Tracey. That does sound awesome! Also awesome is the free world class music, says Tracey. Bring a bottle, sit on the lawn and enjoy the show.

• Adam Samara tells us Movie in the Park still exists… Just in smaller parks. Reason to live again!
 

• Neal Stamell says, “There looks to be a cool exhibit at the Chi Cultural center across the street.” Don’t get too specific Neal, people might actually go check it out. It’s about Louis Sullivan, btw.

• Lindsay Stevens sent her submission by Pony Express all the way from Montana. The telegram said: “Wish you were here. STOP. But since you’re not, check out Pitchfork Music Festival July 16-18 at Union Park. END.” This is telegram humor, in case you were wondering. But seriously, go to Pitchfork and enjoy the stylings of bands with such imaginative names as Girls, Real Estate, and my personal favorite, WHY?

• Windy City Ribfest is July 16-18 in Uptown. Ribs AND Sister Hazel?? Jess Hanebury has died and gone to heaven. This is a joke because she’s actually a vegetarian and hates Sister Hazel.

• Speaking of Jess, she’s hosting The Last Santa Shuffle on Sat, July 24. Say goodbye to JJ’s at the final shuffle puck tourney of our lives. Or at least our lives at JJ’s. Draw one last PBR from the keg. Take the hose for one last spin. And join in for one last chorus of “We’re Having the Best Time (at JJ’s).” The sobriety may only last an hour, but the memories will last a lifetime.

• Taste of Lincoln. When Taste of Chicago, Taste of Randolph, Taste of River North and Taste of My Foot aren’t enough.  

• “What if Milwaukee Avenue got together with Art to have a festival?” wonders Prashant Nashi. Strange thing to wonder, but then again, Prashant is a Michigan State fan. Anyway, it happened Prashant! Head to the Milwaukee Ave Arts Festival, July 23-25 in Logan Square, for sidewalk sales, food and music.

• The original hipster himself, Mr. Phil Gant, wants us all to go to Wicker Park Fest with him. As if the hipsters need one more reason to think they’re cooler than everyone else, here comes a street fest featuring food, crafts and live music by bands you should be ashamed you’ve never heard of. It all goes down on Milwaukee and North, July 31-Aug 1.

And finally, we have NEW NUGGS to announce!

Joining the Creative Department are four eager beavers ready to kick butt and take names. Shhh…don’t tell them it doesn’t always work like that. I kid. Sort of. But please, if you haven’t already, stop by to welcome…

The gifted Kate Napelton, Art Director Intern; the talented Tim Cerullo, Copywriter Intern; the brilliant Dan Cosgrove, Jr. Art Director; and the misguided Michigan State fan (OK, he’s pretty darn smart, too) Prashant Nashi, Jr. Copywriter. They sit in NE Cubeville with their fellow brethren. Say hi!

Also, we are thrilled to announce the following well-deserved promotions. Congratulations to:
           
The adept Amy Anderson – promoted to Management Director
The peachy Patrick Brennan – promoted to Senior Producer
The admirable Anita Salomon – promoted to Creative Director

Well done guys!

OK, so that’s it. Happy July (said like juw•ly in a southern accent)!

JUNE 2010 NUGGET

No time for a pithy opening guys—animals are dying in the Gulf!! You’ll just have to imagine you’re reading a witty social observation and the usual joke about the weather (but seriously, what if summer never came?). And now comes the part about what’s going down this June:

Remember when Duncan Keith had teeth? Lih Min Yuan and John Barry sure do. Teeth or not, he’ll be hammering the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, tonight at 7PM. Time to jump on the Bandwagon guys.

Amanda Hogg is doing the Avon Walk June 5th & 6th! People can find cheering stations by following this link: http://tinyurl.com/33vpodl.

Just so you know, AJ Livsey has a very full month planned. On Monday, June 7 @ 6:30PM, she’s walking across the street to catch She & Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward) performing a free show at Pritzker Pavilion. Then she’s checking out Great Lake Swimmers doing their thing at Pritzker the following Monday, June 14.
 
Grant Park may no longer host the Outdoor Film Series but you can still catch a movie under the stars with Chicago Park District’s Movies in the Park events. Nearly 170 movies will be shown all around the city from June 18 until September 10. Check out chicagoparksdistrict.com for the full schedule.
 
Summer in Chicago means fireworks at Navy Pier. Check out the extravaganza every Wednesday and Saturday night starting June 12.
 
We’re still on AJ here folks. Her favorite festivals this month are:

June 3-6:                Lincoln Square Mayfest
June 5-6               Do-Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale
June 11-13          Ribfest

June 11-13          Chicago Blues Festival

June 12-13          Printer’s Row Lit Fest

June 12-13          Andersonville Midsommerfest

AJ’s too shy to mention it, but her most favorite event this summer is World Naked Bike Ride Chicago, happening on June 12.

Speaking of Andersonville Midsommarfest. Lindsay’s got the keys to my place. So drink a beer and walk to the 16 Candles show. Just don’t have a rager, OK? I have a baby now. Duh.

Tom Macek does a show called “Classical Rock” every Thursday night at 8 PM on WRRG-FM (88.9FM). It features underground & progressive rock from the ‘60’s & ‘70’s.  Folks can listen online at www.myspace.com/wrrg or www.shoutcast.com.  He also does a jazz show at the same station every Sunday night at 5 PM.  The studio line is:  (708) 583-3110. Tom will also be doing a jazz show at WDCB-FM (90.9FM) on Sunday 6/27 and every 4th Sunday of the month at 7 PM.  You can listen online at www.wdcb.org.

June 21! It’s officially the first day of summer. Just thought you should know.

Don’t say you haven’t been warned. Taste of Chicago is coming this month, June 25-July 4. Ken Fill will be there eating sample-sized pierogis.

Right up Lindsay Stevens’s alley is Tour de Fat fest, happening on June 26. Ride your bike and drink Fat Tire at the same time!

Here’s another L Stevens mention: Come over for a Bloody Mary bar and the Pride Parade, on June 27.  She lives in boystown folks.

In a typical Weinberger move, Jason Weinberger will be taking in the new Twilight movie, Eclipse, which opens nationwide on June 30.

Linda Poe wants you to check out the Long Grove Strawberry Fest, and what Linda wants, Linda gets…
 http://www.longgroveonline.com/strawberry.html

Be sure to catch the Dumela 2010 Summer Show, June 4-27, Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to original contemporary paintings from South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe, “they’ve go pretty good wine and awesome food so it’s worth stopping by ‘cause all that’s free,” says Tracey Button.

Todd Crisman and family will drink delicious ice water at Wall Drug on his way to Mt. Rushmore. He’ll also be doing the following: “My buddy Robbie and me (maybe my brother) are planning to have chicken fights on BMX bikes while holding chickens. Don’t tell PETA!!! And a dude I know named Jimmy is gonna be rebuilding a Trans Am engine (455 SD) this summer - so I’m not sure if that counts as a June activity. Also, I plan to seriously crush all the posers who think they can gimme a run for my money at sitting in a baby pool while tanning and drinking Old Style Tallboys out of an Igloo cooler all the while catching up on Rainbow audience tapes!!!! I WILL dominate!!!” Thanks for that Todd.

Neal Stamell will be going skydiving for the first time! Make sure that harness is good ‘n tight Neal!

From the E79 Green Team: Bike to Work Week is June 12 – 18! Join the E79 team and log your rides to and from work – even trips to the train station count! This year we will be competing against other Chicago businesses to win some terrific prizes. Contact AJ Livsey for more information and to sign up.

Also from the E79 Green Team, the second annual Green Music Fest is June 26-27 in Ukrainian Village. Check out eco-friendly technology and vendors while listening to some rockin’ live music.  

And finally…

Alan Spindle will be reading his sister-in-law Monica Nolan’s new book, Bobby Blanchard, Lesbian Gym Teacher.  But not in a creepy way.

MAY 2010 NUGGET

Hold onto your wool coats! May is here, and almost halfway through at that. You’d think by now the sun would be shining it’s warm rays down onto the good people of Chicago. You’d think. But we all know better by now. It’s the start of the festival season and you’ll likely be sporting a scarf to the Sixteen Candles show. Deal with it. These are the sacrifices we make to live in the coolest city this side of the Ohio. I mean, who else can keep us busy with so many wonderful goings on? Only you, ‘Cago. Only you.

• As previously mentioned, the festival season is kicking off this month. Don’t miss the debauchery that is Mayfest, May 21-23 in Lakeview. “Debauchery?” asks Jess Hanebury, and then adds emphatically, “Done.” Because she likes debauchery. Get it?

• Everybody who’s anybody will be at the Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival on May 29-30. Which begs the question, “Why is Jason Weinberger attending?”

• Ronan Marra’s acting company has a new show, “Aftermath,” running through June 6^th. You can catch the show Thurs, Fri and Sat nights at 8:30PM, and Sundays at 3:30PM at Raven Theatre on N. Clark Street.  If that’s not enough showings for you, they’re also having a special performance on Monday, May 24th at 7:30PM. Ronan is too modest to tell you that big time Tribune Critic Chris Jones gave Aftermath 3 1/2 stars, so Jerry and I will tell you instead. Check this out for more.

• Hey, are you cool enough to ride a bike? OK, but are you cool enough to ride a bike down Lake Shore Drive? Rachel Stoll sure is. She’ll be Biking the Drive on May 30 along with everyone else who passes the pant roll coolness verification test. Sorry Jocelyn, you fail.

• Leah Barrett says Gallery 37 on Randolph “is an easy hop, skip and jump for E79 peeps to check out on a lunch break!” Great idea Leah. And hey all you freeloading creatives, myself included, it’s FREE.

• Lindsay Stevens will be riding her bike through the Pug Party at Joe’s Bar in Old Town on May 22. So bring your Pug, dress ‘em up, hope their eyes don’t pop out, and party on! $7; $4 for kids; free for pugs of course because pugs can’t hold money.

• In case you didn’t notice, it’s cool to be green. So get your sustainable self to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 7AM-1PM, then go home and tweet about how organic you are.

• Patrick Brennan wonders, “We’d never let a terrible trailer stop us from seeing Sex and the City 2, would we ladies?” Don’t answer that. Instead, grab your best gal pals and your highest heels and head to the premiere of your favorite TV show turned movie turned sequel. It opens May 27. That’s what Samantha said?

• The Faces thing (or Millennium Park’s Crown Fountain) is back up and running. “Go enjoy the show and splash your way to a pink eye infection!” says Amanda Hogg.

• “May’s the perfect month for a segway tour,” insists Amy Warden. “Why walk when you can teeter precariously on a motorized pedestal heading for a hill?” Sounds like a plan!

• And the beaches officially open May 28 (although some people have been letting their dogs deuce on them since back in October)! Canice Neary is counting the days ‘til he can don his Speedo and head to Oak Street to scope the babes and score some sun. Good luck with both of those Canice.

• In other news, Beiber Fever is spreading like wildfire. Rumor has it that the tween sensation was spotted in our own E79 office space this week, inconspicuously disguised as a “writer”. That sits beside Jess. And Chach. Oh, hey Adam Samara. How’s your week going?

And finally,

Here’s something exciting…we’ve got NEW NUGGS! 

 
• Monica Klasa joined us, then left us, and now joins us again as a Creative Director. Be sure to welcome her. Again.

• Like-minded Renee Gross also joined us, then left us, and now joins us again to work as an Account Executive on Super Cuts and Specialty Brands.

• Starting to notice a trend here…Sarah Sharon! Remember her? Well she’s back too as an Account Director for the ConAgra team.

• Here’s a new face—Jill Hefner, Account Executive. She joined the Harris team back in early February.

• VP, Director of Operations Cindy Hicks, Account Director Rosanna Klusmeyer, Account Executive Maria Van Etten and Account Executive Carrie Baker join the Cricket team.  Also, Amy Henning and Christie Nichols, Assistant Account Executives, joined us last October.
 
• Chris Howland joins the Con Agra team as an Assistant Account Executive. Ask him to do his Dennis Ryan voice!

• Katy Denny, Account Executive, is the most recent addition to the CDH team. Not unexpectedly, she’s always thinking and always caring.
 
• Michael Kurbjeweit, New Business Specialist, has gotten to be a familiar face now after joining the New Business team back in January.

• And rounding out our new nuggs are MultiMedia Developers Rick Janusz and Liz Rettger of the Digital Service team.

Please make our new additions feel welcome when you pass them in the hall!

Happy May!

JANUARY 2010 NUGGET

It’s the year 2010! The future has finally arrived. OK, so the flying cars, cyborg clones and telephone holograms are a long way off, but this decade has been nothing short of progressive. We saw the advent of the Snuggie, glimpsed the dawn of the all-powerful Facebook, and broke medical ground with Restasis—hey, you can make more of your own tears! Not to say the decade has been a total wash. Being green is cool again. And there was that little thing called the election of the first African American President. So let’s make a toast to the idiocy and brilliance of the past ten years. May the next ten finally bring those flying cars. And while you wait for that to happen, enjoy these equally idiotic and brilliant pastimes:

• “Puppy Cam??” asked an excited Ron D’Innocenzo. Yes, it’s back! Get your fill of Puppy Cam 2010.

• Alana Beseau has two friends who will be jumping into Lake Michigan at Oak Street Beach on Jan. 30^th in the Lakeview Polar Bear Club Celebration of Shrinkage! Hey, at least it’s for a good cause.

• “I’m not drinking this month so I’ll be focusing my energy on a metals class at Lillstreet Art Center,” says Amanda Hogg. Way to stick to your guns Amanda! Check this out for more info.

• Lindsay Stevens and Rachel Stoll attended the My Gold Mask album release show Jan. 9th at the Hideout. Had I gotten the Nugget out earlier, you could have gone too. But rest assured, “They Rocked Hard!”

• Lindsay also says, “People ice skate at Wrigley on the weekends; Don’t we have a 3-day weekend or something; and I bet someone is jumping in the lake in one of those Polar Bear things…like Toby or Canice.” Whoa, easy on the specifics Linz!

• Speaking of Toby Smalley, he’s taking credit once again, but this time for starting the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (that’d be the “3-day weekend or something” aforementioned by Lindsay). Need a way to celebrate? Check out the Chicago History Museum’s Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, January 18^th from 10AM-2PM.

• Join Gus Gavino and company at the Windy City Rollers season opener January 30^th at 6 PM. “Girls in skates,” says Gus. “Girls in skates.” Go here for details.

• Here’s something we could all do to start the New Year off right! Let’s climb 80 flights of stairs in our own Aon Center. Sounds daunting, but it’s for a good cause! The 13^th Annual Kohl’s Step Up for Kids raises money for the patients of Children’s Memorial Hospital. It happens on January 31^st, so RSVP now!

• Need a way to keep track of 2010? Buy a Best of Jess and Suz 2010 Calendar. Featuring Jess Hanebury and Suzanne Fazekas, this calendar comes complete with days, weeks, months and a plethora of “fist-to-chin pose” photos. Contact Jess to purchase yours today.

• And finally, don’t forget to catch the 2010 Pro Bowl along with Joshua Koenig on January 31^st. It’s been moved to before the Super Bowl, and it’ll be played in Florida instead of Hawaii, but it promises to be the same ‘ol song and dance that nobody ever watched in the first place.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DECEMBER NUGGET 2009

Here’s to snow and lights, and magic and cheer. Here’s to giving and receiving, to love and to laughter, to family and friends. Here’s to December, and a happy New Year!

Personally, I think it’s time for a fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. Why not start the season off with a viewing or two of the best Christmas movie ever, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Hallelujah! Where’s the Tylenol?

Ol’ Saint Jess Hanebury would like you to attend the 2^nd Annual Santa Shuffle. “Duh, it’s a shuffleboard tournament,” Jess clarifies. There will be food, and people, and pictures with Santa, but NO deeb rules! The jolly jousting goes down this Saturday, December 5^th, 7:30PM at JJ’s, 2024 W Haddon Ave. Jessiclaus reminds you to dress like you love Christmas!

Lynn Ruedger takes a much-needed break from keylining to ask, “Are you searching for that special Christmas gift?” If so, she suggests heading to “One of a Kind Chicago” at the Merchandise Mart, December 3-6^th. Check out their site for more info.

Susie Rashid is missing Second City’s latest revue, Taming of the Flu, but she doesn’t want you to. The sketch comedy show features the lovely and talented Emily Wilson and opens Sunday, December 6^th. Go to secondcity.com for more details.

Drama king Ken Fill will be taking in the musical stylings of theater greats Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth at the Addams Family pre-Broadway run.  “You’d be a fool not to go,” he adds between snaps.

Michelle Slape wonders, “What do weiner schnitzel and Christmas have in common?” While the similarities aren’t immediately obvious, they are both big attractions at the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza. Michelle recommends a lunchtime visit to the open-air, German-style holiday market. Get your gift on until December 24^th.

Dave Straus thinks you all belong in a zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo, to be exact. He proposes a trip to Zoo Lights, from now until January 3^rd, where you can catch this FREE lights spectacular.

She swears it has nothing to do with her name, but Carol Dunne will be Caroling at Cloudgate this month. Will you? Head to the Bean at 6PM on December 4^th, 11^th and 18^th for a holiday sing-along featuring a different choral group each week.

“Why would I take the bus when I could ride the train with Santa?” asks Alana Beseau. Good question. Hop on the CTA Holiday Train this month for elves and candy canes and general merriment. Check transitchicago.com for a train schedule.

And finally, it’s time for the office installation of, “All I want for Christmas, or Hanukah, or Kwanza…”

Adam Samara wants someone to do his Ethel. He also wants a wife.

Lisa Groot would like her very own Puppet Bike.

Amanda Hogg would like more than 3 hours to keyline 300 ads.

Jason Rizzo wants someone to visit him upstairs on 36.

Toby Smalley wants all the credit.

Jess Hanebury wants all the attention.

Alan Spindle wants all the love.

And Jason Weinberger wants all the ladies.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

NOVEMBER 2009 NUGGET

Thirty days hath November. That’s thirty days to think about Christmas way too early. Thirty days to drink your weight in pumpkin spice lattes. Thirty days to wear that pair of Thanksgiving socks your mom got you. And thirty days to do all these fun things:

• Lindsay Stevens is going to The Sounds, Foxy Shazam and Semi Precious Weapons November 7^th at the Vic. I have no idea who Foxy Shazam, but their name is Foxy Shazam. Foxy. Shazam.

• So you think you can watch other people dance? Rachel Stoll sure does. She’ll be attending Dance Chicago 2009 starting November 4^th. The 15^th annual fest features performances from 130 dance companies showcasing everything from ballet to the Memphis Juke. Check dancechicago.com for the complete schedule and list of locations.

• “Your jack-o-lantern may still be rotting on the front porch, but it’s already time for the Great Tree Lighting at Macy’s,” says a sentimental Jason Weinberger. “The 103rd annual Walnut Room celebration will feature a 45-foot-tall tree trimmed with 10,000 lights and 1,200 ornaments. The lights go on at Noon on November 7^th.” For someone with the last name Weinberger, you sure know a lot about Christmas trees, Jason.

- Kira Bigwood suggests yelling, “Bread ‘n Butter” if you see a black cat.

- Alan Spindle keeps an acorn in his pocket to avoid being struck by lightning.

- “And for Pete’s sake, don’t let your milk boil over unless you want to die,” cautions      Carol Dunne.

Hope to see you on the 14^th!

• E79 presents, Toby Smalley on Ice. Toby wants to remind everyone that the Millennium Park Ice Skating season opens November 18^th, so start practicing your triple salchow.

• “OMG, LMAO” texts Dave Straus. He’s laughing in the face of energy conservation, and attending the Mag Mile Lights Festival at 5:30 PM on November 21^st. Don’t miss this beautiful, if anti-green, street-lighting procession of more than one million bulbs along Michigan Avenue.

• Balloon enthusiast Amanda Hogg will be making a scene at the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade on November 26^th. It all goes down at State and Congress at 8:30 AM. If that’s too early, you can always watch it in your pj’s on WGN. “There will be marching bands and prancing horses and giant balloons,” exclaims Amanda. Sadly, Falcon will be too busy vomiting to make an appearance.

• Jen Burak + Christkindlmarket + weiner schnitzel = a rousing good time! Jen recommends a lunchtime visit to the open-air, German-style holiday market in Daley Plaza. Get your gifts and grub from November 26-December 24^th.

• Speaking on behalf of zoo animals everywhere, Bear proposes a trip to Zoo Lights this month. From November 27^th-January 3^rd, you can catch this FREE light spectacular at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

• Joshua Koenig blew me away with his submission for this month’s Nugget. “Thanksgiving is in late November,” he astutely remarked. Thanks Joshua. It’s November 26^th to be exact. So go find something to be thankful for!

• And on that note, it’s time for “Thankfulness from Around the Office.”

- Amy Anderson is thankful to be on maternity leave.

- Jess Hanebury is thankful for her programs.

- Jocelyn Howard is thankful the 33 SE copier always works smoothly.

- Phil Gant is thankful for the Reply All button.

- The creatives are thankful that Phil Gant is thankful for the Reply All button.

- Adam Samara is thankful for himself. Or rather, just full of himself.

- Brian Williams is thankful for sweater vests. The pink ones.

- Lindsay Stevens is thankful she’s NOT the pregnant one.

- And predictably, Todd Crisman is thankful for Old Style and the Who.

Have news for December’s Nugget? Please send all submissions to kira.bigwood@element79.com no later than the 29th.