There are plenty of free Lollapalooza parties happening next weekend, but how many involve prehistoric reptiles? We know just the one. The Blackstone (636 S Michigan Ave), which is located directly across the street from Grant Park, is hosting one of the more unique pre-parties we’ve seen so far this year. As part of its weekly Blackstone Beats music series, the hotel will open its lobby lounge to fest-goers and post-work Loopers alike on Friday, August 4 from 3:30 to 5:30pm. The festivities, dubbed DJ and Dinos, will feature live music and an appearance from the velociraptor from “Jurassic World: The Exhibition.”(MORE HERE)
It won’t be that long until autumn is knocking on the door, which is why we try to squeeze every drop out of simple summer pleasures as we can. The ice-cream slingers at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams are helping the mission with free scoops at the their newest location, in Old Town. (MORE HERE)
Talinda Bennington, the widow of Chester Bennington, issued a poignant statement to Rolling Stone, one week after the Linkin Park singer died by suicide.
“One week ago, I lost my soulmate and my children lost their hero – their Daddy. We had a fairytale life and now it has turned into some sick Shakespearean tragedy,” Talinda wrote.
“How do I move on? How do I pick up my shattered soul? The only answer I know is to raise our babies with every ounce of love I have left. I want to let my community and the fans worldwide know that we feel your love. We feel your loss as well. My babies are so young to have lost their daddy. And I know that all of you will help keep his memory alive.”
It’s been just about nine months since the fateful night of Nov. 2, 2016, when the Chicago Cubs at long last won the World Series, putting an end once and for all to goat and curse narratives. But for all that was put to rest, the win unsurprisingly signaled a lot of new life—and it’s arriving right on cue.
Births are spiking in July at Chicagoland hospitals, according to the Tribune. And although the facilities haven’t done any kind of scientific study to definitively determine a correlation, medical staff is apparently hearing from mothers that the newborns were conceived during the Cubs’ playoff run. Seems like a fair assumption.
The birth rate at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center nearly doubled the normal rate between July 10 and July 18, Dr. Melissa Dennis, of vice chairwoman of obstetrics and gynecology at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center told the paper. The “surge” is likely to carry on through August, she said. (MORE HERE)
The mustard folks at Gulden’s are in town four days this week to hand out free hot dogs. Yes, they will have mustard; no, they will not have ketchup.
No names are named, but as you might suspect, the so-called “Defend the Dog” giveaway is in light of “the recent Chicago hot dog topping shenanigans,” according to Gulden’s. That of course would be Heinz’s nerve-striking repackaged ketchup Chicago Dog Sauce. You know a brand campaign is doing something right when it starts generating rebuttals.
Anyway, the good thing is, it’s led to some free lunch and dinner options for the week ahead. Gulden’s will be handing out freebies at the following locations and times:
In their new music video for ‘Feels Like Summer’ posted today, Weezer went full blast with the aesthetics of Guns ‘n Roses’s signature ‘Paradise City’ vibe with Rivers Cuomo sporting a white leather jacket and long red hair. Meanwhile guitarists Brian Bell plays the Slash role in top hat and Scott Shriner does Duff McKagan in aviator glasses. Do you think Axl Rose is going to angry about this?
The song comes off the Weez’s yet-to-be-released and untitled 11th album which comes out later this year. In June, the band posted an acoustic version of the seasonal anthem.
The Warped Tour is known for sweaty active crowds who surf, dance, thrash, and mosh….but who thought it was a good idea to go into the mosh pit INSIDE A TRASH CAN?
Yes, this delightfully dumb fun was on display at this year’s Warped in a video brought to our attention by Alternative Press and Youtuber Gian Molinary today. If you look in the video below you can watch it all unfold in messy fashion. Focus on the left side of the screen and follow the hot garbage get unleashed.
Listen to this week’s episode of Taking Back Sundays here. Catch new episodes on air Sundays 10pm
The Killers who will headline Lollapalooza night 2 on August 4th at Grant Park. are continuing to ramp up their new album ‘Wonderful Wonderful’ due out next month with teasers online including this short clip of unreleased song ‘Run for Cover’. And as you get ready for those big hype trips you call your friends, the Killers have a friend and he’s a got weeknight national TV show.
Late night darling Jimmy Kimmel has long had an on-air friendship with the Killers who also hail from his hometown Las Vegas. They have appeared on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ several times, and tonight is no different. The Killers will tape a freshset for ‘Kimmel’ on Monday in Vegas. The same week they play Lolla, what a week!
Here is darkly funny sketch with Jimmy and the guys in 2006 when they were promoting their second album ‘Sam’s Town’.
Then there was that time they played strip poker on the late night comedy show.
For his birthday, Brandon Flowers and company came in did a tribute in song to the former ‘Man Show’ dude. Oh this death pattern continues…
Every year since ‘06, the Killers have released a lighthearted Christmas song for charity. Two years ago, they collaborated with Kimmel on a song called “Joel the Lump of Coal”. Here is the animated results.
Last year, KImmel invited his celebrity pals as well as the Killers over to do a charity shong for the anti-Aids campaign. The song “We’re Going to Hell” featured Kimmel, Bono as the Devil, Julia Roberts, Kristen Bell, DJ Khaled, The Killers, Channing Tatum, Neil Patrick Harris and Halsey. It was over-the-top but sends a wonderful message to fight an awful disease.
In addition to wildfires and water shortages, California has another major problem…
THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POT.
Seriously.
“A leader of California’s marijuana industry warned Wednesday that the state’s cannabis growers produce eight times the pot that is consumed in the state so some will face “painful” pressure to reduce crops under new state regulations that will ban exports after Jan. 1.” More from the LA Times HERE.
Fellow Illinoisians, I think our mission is clear. Not all heroos wear capes….
— America’s first booze-servingTaco Bellopened in Wicker Park less than two years ago — and soon Chicago alone will have three. The third is slated to open a block from the Magnificent Mile at 205 E. Ohio St. in late August or early September, DNAinfo reports, joining a Loop location at 407 S. Dearborn St. that’s slated to open around the same time. Boozy bells have since opened in other cities, including San Francisco and Las Vegas.
If you’re a fan of pounding the pavement and enjoying (or at least tolerating) a few shots of Chicago’s premiere wormwood liqueur, a new road race in North Center is combining one half of the Chicago Handshake with good, old-fashioned exercise. The Chicago Fire Soccer Club supporters group Section 8 is hosting a Malört 5K race on Sunday, August 20, welcoming runners from across the city to indulge in the bitter liquid while raising money for the group’s 20th anniversary celebration. (MORE HERE)
A video has gone viral of a Chicago man who is allegedly high on drugs bleeding heavily from his genital area. It happened Monday evening near the intersection of Grace Street and Drake Avenue in the Irving Park neighborhood.
The video appears to show the man shouting and swearing at residents in the area. Once police arrived on the scene, video shows the man charging at officers who then tase him. The person who shot the video can be heard saying, “Oh my God, bro. Shoot his a**. Shoot that mother f****r. This is a time when you shoot people!”
The man’s condition is currently unknown.
Here’s the video – but be warned its graphic and a bit disturbing.
Thank you to everyone who joined in the celebration of Chester Bennington’s life during The Lockout today. Thank you to Dr. Drew for all of the amazing insight and stories about Chester, to everyone who called and/or texted in, and to Linkin Park for the incredible making music that we will have forever. If you missed it or would like to listen again, please do and share with anyone who loves this man and this band.
Trent Reznor chats with wALT about new music, Defiant Ones on HBO, Jimmy Iovine, Riot Fest and more… (listen below)
