Could you do it? An all glass slide. 1000 feet above the ground. Attached to the side of a skyscraper. The LA Times has the story HERE.
OLD NAVY PIER FERRIS WHEEL FINDS NEW HOME IN MISSOURI
(from abc7chicago.com)
An old Chicago landmark has a new home in Missouri. The old Navy Pier Ferris wheel is now in Branson, Mo. Its grand opening was held Thursday morning at a Family Fun Park. The old Ferris wheel got some upgrades, including a new LED lighting system. The facelift cost $4 million and it is now a permanent attraction in the park. (MORE HERE)
Isn’t Branson where old country stars go to retire? My uncle Jack lived there for a few years and he said it felt as if it’s where you go at the end of life and he wasn’t ready for that yet so he moved away. Also wondering if ‘Bransoners’ (?) pay $8 for rides or if they get a hand me down discount? I guess it’s better it get used than be destroyed. Though I feel like it’s a puppy that your parents told you “had to go live on a farm where it could roam (or in the case roll) free” ROLL FREE OLD NAVY PIER WHEEL. Roll free. – @marconibologna
Chicago Police on the lookout for Sinead O’Connor due to suicide threats
Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has reportedly threatened to commit suicide somewhere in Chicago according multiple reports including the Chicaog Sun-Times. O’Conoor dissappeared from a Wilmette home she was living in for a 24-hour period in May amid similar concerns about an a suicide attempt but was later found by local authorities.
- If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there is someone who will listen. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Find out more at suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Sun-Times quoted an alert that broadcasted on Chicago Police scanners about officers being on a lookout for the singer.
“All units stand by for the All Call message. …Word from Ireland police Sergeant Claire Mulligan, Dublin, Irleand, is saying that at 15:30 hours Sinead O’Connor called and said ‘I’m on a bridge in Chicago and I’m going to jump’. If officers could keep an eye out for the celebrity.”
O’Connor is most well known for her emotional 1990 hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” which was written originally by Prince. She has continued to produce music and tour behind 10 albums in her career since.
CPD notifed Sinead O’Connor threatening to jump from a Chicago bridge
(from tmz.com)
Cops are on the hunt for Sinead O’Connor after someone in her family told cops she’s threatening to kill herself.
Chicago PD got a call from Irish authorities saying Sinead contacted her family an hour ago and said she was suicidal and planned to jump off a bridge in the Chicago area.
We’re told cops actually spotted someone who looked like she fit the profile but it wasn’t Sinead.
Blink-182 post new chant-along track ‘No Future’
Today Blink-182 released even more new music from their upcoming album ‘California’ due out July 1st. The album will be the first to feature Chicago’s own Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio taking the place of Tom Delong who left the band last year. The track features more harmonizing vocally between bassist Mark Hoppus and Skiba with this big soaring chorus, it’s easy to sing along on the first listen. You can listen to it in the lyric video above.
Another new track with some NSFW language that will offend your Mom called ‘Rabbit Hole’ two weeks ago. The track features a engaging lyrical conflict about refusing to go into a dramatic situation or at least that’s how it hits these ears.
If that is not enough of taste of the new Blink album, here is the official video for ‘Bored To Death’ about kids who get in trouble and jump in the pools.
Here is an interview Blink-182 did with a show that usually talks non-stop about Kim Kardashian, Entertainment Tonight.
@kevkellam
President Obama interested in buying an NBA team
It’s been public knowledge but the idea of our current President becoming an owner or partial owner of an NBA team but the story became closer to reality during a press conference this week at the White House. Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded to the question by saying “potentially … under the right circumstances.”
President Obama has expressed a love of pro basketball in the past (He’s a Bulls fan, don’t worry) , and has filled out a bracket for March Maddness. In a November interview with GQ when asked point blank by acclaimed sports writer Bill Simmons if he would want to get invovled with an NBA team he responded “Absolutely...I know [Jerry] Reinsdorf pretty good—he’s not giving that thing up anytime soon. But I have fantasized about being able to put together a team and how much fun that would be. I think it’d be terrific.” Reinsdorf as many of you know is the principle owner of our beloved Chicago Bulls.
Could Obama buying into the Bulls change the team for the better? How would it change the Bull’s dynamics on and off the court? These interesting questions.
@kevkellam
Unreleased Nirvana tracks surface online
Yes, previously unreleased Nirvana recordings have made their way online today through a private Nirvana forum from a fan who according to Alternative Nation, bought a recording reel on Ebay and discovered the tracks from what was titled ‘The Pachyderm Sessions’. They were dated February 15, 1993. The major catch is that two new tracks are instrumentals and do not feature vocals. ‘Lullaby’ sounds like a deep album cut with odd keyboards, stomping drums, and weird scifi vibe to all of it. The other track of note is untitled. It is marked in a Youtube video simply as “Dave Solo” and is a romping track that apparently features Dave Grohl playing all the instruments, definitely foreshadows what Grohl would later create on the first Foo Fighters album in 1995. The recording session dates correlate with a time when the legendary Seattle was recording their final studio album ‘In Utero’ which was released on September 21, 1993.
The unearthed recordings are noted as the following. Currently we can only find the previously unheard songs in Youtube videos below. The song ‘Marigold’ (listed below) was first recorded by Grohl’s side project Late! in 1992, later being played by Nirvana and Foo Fighters in live shows. The song was included in “Lights Go Out” box set in 2004.
1) Dumb
2) Dumb (Instrumental)
3) Dave Solo
4) Marigold (Instrumental) * Kurt on Drums?
5) Marigold (Instrumental)
6) Marigold (With Cello)
7) Lullaby (Instrumental) * Kurt on Drums?
The last Nirvan single ‘You Know Your Right’ was made public in 2002. It was featured on several compilations including the band’s box set and the 2010 greatest hits collection called ‘Icon’. @kevkellam
Darth Vader returns in the upcoming ‘Rogue One’
Darth Vader is striking back with a return of sorts in the upcoming Star Wars prequel film ‘Rogue One’. :LucasFilm President Kathleen Kennedy confirmed yesterday that the iconic villain will be in the film and will be voiced by the legendary James Earl Jones. David Prowse who was the physical actor in the role, will not be returning as he is currently 80 years old. Kennedy told EW that “a variety of large-framed performers”.will be utilized to cover the role of the evil Empire leader. Kennedy did clarify that Vader will not be the central villain in ‘Rogue One’ with a character called Director Krennic assuming that spot, but she did say Lord Vader will be in “a key, strategic moment, he’s going to loom large.”
‘Rogue One’ takes place between Episode III and IV, and sees a band of Rebels operatives on a mission to get info about the then in-construction Death Star. You can find out more at EW.com ‘Rogue One’ opens on December 16th in the USA.
If you are looking to dig deeper into ‘Rogue One’ , here is a breakdown of all the characters who are presented in the trailer and easter eggs that could hint at the big stuff going down in this story.
@kevkellam
Maynard James Keenan
There may not be a more mysterious person to the masses than Maynard James Keenan. Vinter, actor, musician, father, husband, frontman for Tool, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle.
I am really excited for the A Perfect Union of Contrary Things, the authorized biography written by longtime friend Sarah Jensen,
The trailer alone has opened up a part of his background that I never knew – Jimmy Keenan was a member of the US Army. Very interesting….
A Perfect Union of Contrary Things is due out November 8th.
Now about that new Tool album….
<3 @laurenoneil
HBO Cancels Vinyl
HBO decided to pull the plug on the Martin Scorsese directed show after only one season. One mistake might have been the two hour long series debut. Tough to get through when you don’t really know the show yet, but still it had promise. Esquire digs a little deeper on why HBO decide to bail on “Vinyl” HERE.
DONALD TRUMP, CHICAGO PRESIDENT?
Maybe this is all he really wants? Seth Meyers may have had his most brilliant idea yet!! – @marconibologna
If you haven’t yet make sure to check out our PIQNIQ podcast for all things behind the scenes
Snapchat Hacks: Tricks and Features You Probably Didn’t Know About
(from blog.hootsuite.com)
We call them Snapchat hacks because many of the app’s best features are either hidden or just not intuitive. We’re looking at you, black paintbrush. But if you can learn these tricks you’ll have a powerful new arsenal of tools to help take your brand’s Snap game to the next level.
In this guide we’ll teach you how to access these lesser-known features, and uncover a few more that are available only after manipulating the settings on your device.
Let’s get started.
16 Snapchat hacks, tips, and hidden features
Record video without holding down the capture button
This makes it easier to hold your phone steady and flip back and forth between the front and rear camera. You need to be on an iOS device to use this hack.
How to do it
- Access Settings
- Select General
- Go to Accessibility
- Under the Interaction section, turn on the AssistiveTouch feature and a small icon will appear on the right side of your screen
- Tap Create New Gesture
- On the New Gesture page, hold your finger on the screen and let the blue bar at the bottom max out
- Tap Stop
- Save and name the gesture
- Open Snapchat and before you start recording a video tap the small icon
- Select Custom and a circle should appear on the screen
- Now simply tap the capture button and your Custom gesture will take care of the rest (MORE HERE)
MAC-N-CHEESE CHEETOS ARE A THING THAT EXISTS
Burger King is rolling out a hybrid snack – deep fried sticks of macaroni and cheese breaded with a crispy, Cheetos-flavored exterior. The restaurant chain is already testing the new Mac ‘n Cheetos, the product of a partnership Frito-Lay, in some locations. The rollout will extend to restaurants nationwide, but the offering will be for a limited time – eight weeks or until supplies run out. (MORE HERE)
Words are not forming right now but I’m sure I will have to try these. – @marconibologna
Converse All-Wah?
Check these Chucks out! Plug these babies in and you can control an actual wah-wah pedal via bluetooth. Although, it kinda limits your ability to run around the stage. -wALT
I See Your Cheerio Challenge
The #CherrioChallenge is sweeping the internet.. dads stacking cheerios on top of sleeping babies.
I see you.
And raise you…
Get on my level bro <3 @laurenoneil
More Cheerio Challenges from Buzzfeed HERE
Now you can be your own Girl Scout!
Ever look at a box of Girl Scout cookies and wish you could bake them yourself? Or at least a thin mint or samoa inspired cupcake or brownie? Well the girl scout bakery gods have heard your prayers and released four baking mixes you can try not to screw up in your own oven! Girl Scout not included.
More from Thrillist HERE
And if you want to get on another level with your own Girl Scout EZ-bake Oven for you and Barbie to bake your own Girl Scout Cookies, that is HERE. Barbie not included.
Fermented Cookie Dough Anyone?
Ever get drunk and reach for some late night cookie dough? Ben & Jerry’s is saving you a step. Their “Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough” beer should be out this fall. It’s not the first time Ben & Jerry’s has gone the adult beverage route. Last year they did a “Salted Caramel Brownie Brown Ale.”
Thrillist.com has more HERE.
TWENTY ONE PILOTS HEATHENS (VIDEO)
Love this song so much. Beautifully and unintentionally timely. Can’t wait for the movie. Great video too!! Will always love these guys. – @marconibologna
‘Hamilton’ tickets went on sale, everyone loses it
The Broadway musical sensation Hamilton is coming to Chicago and the line out in front of the Private Bank Theater today in the Loop today proved it’s something people really, really, really really want. ABC7 reported today that at some point the line to get tickets was nearly 4 city blocks wrong on a sweaty hot summer day. Tickets went on sale Tuesday at 10am. If you don’t believe us, check out this on-site video from Youtuber Emir Yonzon.
As for the scene overall, people were camped out over night outside the theater off State Street. One person quoted in an article from the Sun Times arrived at 5am and was not able to purchse tickets until 2pm. Some theater fanatics drove in from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and far away suburbs to get in line to buy tickets to the Tony Award winning show that mixes history and hip hop.
And with this much demand, the resale price for Hamilton tickets is going to make people decide between getting a loan for college or getting a loan to go to see this musical. Several sources are reporting that some tickets are already being priced at $8,000 in online marketplaces. This enormous price tag hit the web just minutes after tickets went on sale this morning. And of course, social media was filled with people complaining about long wait times to purchase tickets online for the limited run beginning later this year.
At least another musical theater hot spot in town had a sense of humor about the Hamilton mania, Lyric Opera tweeted this delightful pic of their marquee.
@kevkellam
PIQNIQ 2016 – Dining With DeLong
Thanks to Mountain Dew, two lucky listeners got to dine in style with Robert DeLong after his awesome set at PIQNIQ 2016.
