Once again the Monday Movie Quarterback went 4/5 with his weekend box office predictions. It was a bigger than expected opening for Disney/Pixar's "Up." I never thought it would break the $60's without a cartoon robot like "Wall-E," but I was once again proven wrong. Expectantly the other top earners fell in line, although I had my four and five films mixed up again. I told you not to see "Terminator: Salvation" but you never listen. Good luck getting those two hours of your life back. Here's this week's Top 5 at the box office:
1. "Up" $68.2 million (One of the best films of the year. Can we get the Oscar race started now?) 2. "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" $25.5 million (Another big Stiller weekend, even though he was ripped by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog at the MTV Movie Awards for looking like a monkey.) 3. "Drag Me to Hell" $16.6 million (No, not what I was thinking while watching T4. The only horror fare this weekend did well. 4. "Terminator: Salvation" $16.1 million (Huge drop from opening weekend last week. Wah wah.) 5. "Star Trek" $12.8 million (Best summer blockbuster of '09 thus far. Go see it.)
Your bathroom stinks. There's does not. It's about that time for the 8th America's Best Restroom contest brought to you by Cintas. This year, Chicago's own Drake Hotel is a top ten finalist, competing against Johns from Baltimore, Branson, and beyond. You can vote for any of the bathrooms, and check out photos of each, at bestrestroom.com. The winner will be announced in August.
I got a chance to walk through the Palm Court ladies room this afternnon with the manager of the Drake Hotel. I'll show you all of the highlights (there's no privacy in this business) tonight on the WGN News at 9 p.m.
9:59AM | June 1, 2009 | posted by Jennifer Lyons | comments: 2
Returned to Kabul late, and was looking at spending the
night at the airport until a kindly photog from ABC took pity on me. No, not
that ABC-- the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which is doing some great
work over here. He had a serious, SERIOUS-looking private security team taking
him into the city -i mean, armed to the teeth- and they wouldn't let me out of
their sight until I was where I needed to be and had secured safe passage.
Terrific guys. Fitting that I was mooching a lift from the Australians, because
it was one of their Hercules transports that brought me back from Kandahar- complete
with tactical takeoffs and landings--fast climbs and steep dives that bring you
to the ground fast and hard.
We had picked up my Australian friend at a spot called
Tarin Kowt. He had just finished filming an intense four-day firefight with the
Taliban. I haven't been seeing that kind of action.
That's not to say it hasn't been an interesting few
days.. but mostly, it's been the hurry up and wait ritual of travel in this
country.
I wish I could cover more ground.
There are a lot of great hometown stories here -as I keep
mentioning-- and word that a local reporter's in-country spreads surprisingly
fast. Here's an email from a group near Jalalabad that I couldn't get to:
"We are a Chicago-based Infantry Battalion who
deployed to Afghanistan late October 08...
...this is the first combat deployment
under our colors as The 1st Battalion 178th Infantry
Regiment (from the GEN Jones Armory, 5200 Cottage Grove in Hyde Park) since
world war II.
Our Task Force, TF Bayonet, not only supplies Security
teams all over Afghanistan to the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) but we
are also area managers over the Laghman Province.
Our element manages 2 Combat Out Post (COPs) and a
Forward Operation Base (FOB) located on the outskirts of Mehtar Lam. We would
very much like to share our experience here in Afghanistan with our families,
co-workers and friends from the Chicagoland area.. "
...and I would love to help, but my time here is quickly
running out. There are several other groups I just couldn't get to, although I
tried very hard.
I did get to Kandahar, though, then south.. within 50
miles or so of the Pakistan border. Spent time with a couple of groups of
Chicago-area guys. My day with Team 'War Hog' was especially interesting. While
we were talking, and I was filming, there was this 'WHUMP' not far off that
could only have been a mortar round. It was an interesting moment that I'm
trying to feed back to Chicago right now. They're a pretty fascinating group of
young guys -sort of an Illinois 'Band of Brothers'- patrolling the wilds of
southern Afghanistan.. easily the toughest, most dangerous part of the country
right now.
Back to work. Lots to do before I can go home- and a
couple of other stories I want to share a little later on.
Jun
2
10:08AM | June 2, 2009 | posted by Jennifer Lyons | comments: 4
Can you believe I wish I had more time in Afghanistan?
I can't.. but it's actually how I feel.
I've found some great stories, but find myself wishing I could get them all done- then go out and get more.
However, after two weeks that feels like two months, I am dying to get home to Chicago and my wife.
I honestly can't believe she let me do this- and frankly, when I get back and share a few details with her -some stuff I haven't shared yet- she may not do it again.
I'll chance it. A friend over here who's been doing this a long time says, "Always tell your wife everything." Sounds like a good policy.
We've only been married since November- and while she knew I'd been to Iraq and liked to do stuff like this- I couldn't have blamed her had she been less than supportive.. but she's supported me 100%.
Who gets to have a life like this and a wife like that?
Me- that's who. I don't take it for granted.
So, Sus- I'll see you soon.
This note is for the rest of the wives.. who won't have their husbands home quite so quickly.
Many of you have written-in via email or the comments section of this blog. You know that I've been talking to your husbands about what they're doing in Afghanistan.
What you don't know is that I've also been hearing a lot about you. I'll ask a question about the work or the conditions or the mission and the conversation inevitably comes around to the wives left to deal with the kids and the bills..the parents left to wait and worry..or the three-year-old daughter who wants to know who she has to call so her Daddy can come home.
I've heard story after story like that. I've seen your pictures, and tough guys loaded down with guns and body armor have shared some extremely personal thoughts that are all about you.
If your husband, father, son or daughter is called to serve their nation, is your sacrifice any less real? When they are called- is your calling any less important?
It may feel like it sometimes, but it's not- and the soldiers know it.
Because you fight your own battle, don't you? And while the war at home is so much different from the war here- it can be the tougher of the two. Not knowing can be the hardest part for the ones left behind- and they know that, too.
So, just as many of you have asked through my blog that I thank the troops- many of the troops have asked me to thank you.. and to tell their wives and girlfriends, parents, sons and daughters that if you feel like you're forgotten sometimes, you're not. And if you feel like your sacrifices aren't appreciated- please know that they are.
"metromix on CLTV" re-ran my segment with local hip-hoppers Yea Big + Kid Static this weekend. I love the sound of these guys, a rapper/lyricist and a producer who loves to kick around beats, riffing on everything from Mega Man to sandwiches. My interview is above, but you might want to check out their full video and album for yourself.... Continue readingMusic Tuesday: Yea Big + Kid Static »
Jun
3
5:38PM | June 3, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock | comments: 9
On the WGN Evening News, we checked out a couple places to get some unusual pizza toppings here in Chicago. Websites, addresses, phone numbers, and my thoughts on both Piece and Ian's Pizza is right after the jump! Continue readingChicago's most unusual pizza toppings »
Matthew Santos is best known for his work with Lupe Fiasco on last year's hit "Superstar" - but I had to be "that guy" that sells his solo career short. Matthew actually spent some time at Columbia College, which is how he made his bond with Chicago native Lupe. He was at WGN News today performing on the afternoon program (more of that video later), and as I said on the 5:30 p.m. news, he's one of my favorite artists I've had the pleasure to feature. Matthew is the subject of my first ever "In the Green Room" segment (above) - I'll be trying to pin down as many celebrities as possible as they trickle into WGN Studios and ask them some hard-hitting questions. Rough job, but someone's got to do it!
Matthew will be performing a FREE show tonight at the LaSalle Power Company at 8 p.m. If you still haven't made up your mind, Matthew's performance on the afternoon news is right after the jump....
It's another big (almost) summer weekend in Chicago. On tonight's WGN News at 5:30 p.m., we're breaking down the best things to get out of the house and do. First up, a music fest celebrating 25 years:
Chicago Gospel Music Festival Millenium Park Saturday and Sunday, 12-9:30 p.m. 50 artists on 3 stages Free! Full Lineup here.
Big shows have to be Donnie McClurkin closing out Saturday at 8:30 p.m. Also, you have Kirk Franklin headlining Sunday night at 8:30 p.m. Beforehand, look for American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, performing with her mother Diane. That goes down at 7:20 on Sunday.
*Update: The Monday Movie Quarterback has been changed to reflect the box office actuals. "The Hangover" has taken the #1 spot over "Up" by about $300,000-$400,000. Unless Disney/Pixar demands a recount, consider this official.
Wow, don't I have some dino-egg on my face. We, or I should say I learned a few things at the box office this weekend. If a movie looks childish and perhaps a little stupid, adults aren't going to see it. Even if their favorite comic actor is on the Tonight Show introducing a clip where he pours urine all over himself - people still won't buy a ticket. I guess I misunderestimated America. Won't happen again, sorry about that.
I'm talking about "Land of the Lost," the movie I picked to come in #1 over the weekend. It was absolutely spanked to come in #3. "Lost" is a huge disappointment considering the amount of publicity it received.
On a lighter note, absolutely hilarious "The Hangover" has now been declared the #1 movie in the country, just skipping past Pixar's "Up." Despite a lack of huge stars, the movie benefited from great word of mouth and an even better trailer. Here's how the Top 5 came in..... Continue readingUPDATE: Monday Movie Quarterback 6/8 »
1:33PM | June 8, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 4
We did a great half-hour of radio with my good pal Dean Richards on WGN-AM yesterday. Dean tells me the response was terrific, and we're hoping to get on the air together again soon.
This Wednesday, the Chicago Architecture Foundation is showing off its latest project - a scale model of the loop down to the smallest window. More than 1,000 buildings were created using a new three-dimensional computer generated printing process called stereolithography. Each building was designed in a computer, then spit out of a special machine overnight. Repeat a few thousand times.
Happy gloomy Tuesday everybody. Hopefully some local music can cheer you up. I first met singer/songwriter Mer at Northern Illinois University, and I've been a fan ever since. He can tell you more about him in his own words.
Want to hear more? Here's another performance and some info about his upcoming shows.....
5 year old Martrell Stevens was sitting in a car when he was shot in the stomach. Afterward he was paralyzed. Today he walked across a stage and received his kindergarten diploma. WGN's Marcella Raymond reported from the south side this morning.
6:06PM | June 9, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 2
Tonight WGN News continues its reports from Afghanistan. If you've missed any of the reports from Sunday or Monday night, you can watch them all here (as well as view photos and watch additional video).
If you tuned into the WGN News tonight, you saw my piece on the Frozen Yogurt craze sweeping Chicago. I checked out a couple places that are doing an alternative to ice cream with a unique twist. First up, we had..... Continue readingAs seen on TV: Ice cream alternatives! »
Jun
10
11:50AM | June 10, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 1
Last night's "Assignment: Afghanistan" ran about 5 minutes. It could have gone much longer, as it was all about the soldiers-- who they are and what they do back here at home. There are some fascinating people serving over there, with amazing stories to tell. Kudos to the powers-that-be here for seeing the value in this and letting me have the freedom to put those stories out there. First, it's- "Sure, Tom, why don't you take off to Afghanistan for a couple of weeks. Here's some money and camera equipment. Wear your body armor. See you when you get back."
The city hosted a special preview of the big event in Daley Plaza today, and for the first time it was open to the public. There were 6 booths in the plaza, showcasing restaurants from across the city. Among those you saw on our broadcast were....
So I'm awake and can't sleep, probably due to the entire can of Amp I drank at the Taste preview this afternoon. Thanks Mountain Dew! Anyhow, I was looking over CT.com and came across this great article by Monica Eng about the unhealthy slop children are eating in Chicago Public Schools. The most popular item?
"...the longest line leads to lunch workers grabbing paper dishes full of
yellow corn chips, topping them with a ball of ground meat and then
smothering the ensemble in hot orange cheese product."
Right, the "meat" topping on those stellar campus nachos. Is that what they're calling it these days? Reading this article brought back memories of my favorite lunch time specialties at good old Schaumburg High School. Here they are.... Continue readingMemories from high school lunch »
Jun
11
1:41PM | June 11, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki | comments: 8
Thanks for all the comments, phone calls and e-mails. The response to this continues to amaze.. The voice-mails alone are tough to keep up with!
Every one of your thoughts -whatever your views on the war- adds to the dialogue that we should be having at a time like this.. This trip and these stories were always a small part of a much bigger picture; not about politics or the war or one branch of service, but about the people who serve-- whether in the National Guard (like the troops I spent so much time with), the Army, Air Force, Marines, 3-letter agencies.. I even ran into folks from the Navy over there!
I'll be talking more about some of them on our news at 5:30 tonight.
At 9- a story I really think our viewers will appreciate. It's very rare that a reporter ever gets unrestricted access to a war zone. The result is complete access for the folks here at home to what's going on over there. I hope you'll check it out.
WGN's Tom Negovan reports: In Afghanistan, keeping civilians out of crossfire is priority for Illinois Guard
By Tom Negovan |Special to the Tribune
June 11, 2009
At the beginning of what promises to be another long, hot fighting season in Afghanistan, leaders of the NATO-led coalition are working to make sure civilians aren't caught in the crossfire.
With the U.S.
in particular criticized over recent Afghan civilian deaths during
operations against the Taliban, there's a renewed focus on preventing
more...
On Friday I checked out the new traveling exhibit Titanic: Treasures from the Deep. It's set up at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg through Sunday, in the parking lot between Macy's and JC Penny's. The exhibit features more than 50 artifacts that were pulled from the wreckage on the ocean floor, including a piece of the ship itself, personal heirlooms like mirrors and hairbrushes, and pieces of coal used to power the ship (you can even touch these). It's free of charge, and in case you miss it this weekend, it'll be stopping at various locations across Chicagoland all month long.... Continue readingWeekend Haps - Titanic: Treasures from the Deep exhibit »
Jun
15
11:05AM | June 15, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock
Well don't I feel stupid. Everything about me knew that "The Hangover" would repeat as #1 at the weekend box office. Yet I allowed myself to be conned by the silly "Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" - with its aging stars and bloviating title. This one hurts worse than an all-nighter at Ghostbar.
Another major gaffe last week came with Eddie Murphy's "Imagine That," of which I said "I have a feeling this is either going to do great or absolutely tank." Guess what? It ABSOLUTELY TANKED! Failing to crack even the Top 5. This proves my age old theory - unless Eddie Murphy is in a fat suit, he's box office poison. Here's how last weekend's Top 5 broke down:
1. "The Hangover" - $33 million 2. "Up" - $30 million 3. "The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3" - $25 million 4. "Night at the Museum 2" - $9.6 million 5. "Land of the Lost" - $9.1 million
But enough of the negative. Like every compulsive box office gambler, we'll shake off our losses and look forward to next week....
Documentarian Michael Moore is readying his latest as-yet-untitled film. Over the weekend he debuted a new teaser trailer. Behold the usual dose of serious to sarcasm:
According to various online reports, in some theaters the lights actually came up and ushers holding "Save Our CEO" cans walked up and down the aisles asking for donations (Aint It Cool News's Capone attended one right here in Chicago). No word on how much money they were able to collect. The film is scheduled to open on October 2nd.
Admittedly, baseball hasn't been that much fun to watch on either side of town, but it's time for the rare mid-week Crosstown Classic. Maybe the brother-against-brother battle will lead to less bloodshed on a work day? Yeah, I doubt it. But many of you are going to be getting out of the house this week to catch YOUR team take on its cross-city rival. Sox fan - this blog is for you. If you want to get out of the house and cheer on the pale hose with your fellow black shirts, here are a few options for ya!
If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I'm a Cubs fan. It's hard to hide the frustrated look on my face these days. But like many other fans, I still find myself glued to the television hoping they can pull out a victory. When I get out to watch a game I like to hit places with fans who enjoy watching baseball. I'm not looking for a dance party on game day - just a place with a seat, some good eats, and a few cold ones (and I'm not talking about $6 cans of Bud Light, shame on those guys). Here are a few places Cubs fans might run into me at during a ballgame.
On today's WGN News, I got a preview of high-end electronics retailer Bang & Olufsen's latest creation - the BeoVision 4, a 103" Plasma HDTV. Aside from the 600 pound motorized stand that turns the mammoth screen 20 degrees in either direction, the television boasts numerous other features - even a small calibration camera that descends from the upper lip of the screen to automatically calibrate your white balance. You can read more about it here. Details on how you can see the TV in person this Thursday, as well as a look at some other giant televisions on the market, after the jump....
Perry Farrell and company are hoping this year's three day Lollapalooza music festival (August 7-9, Grant Park) follows on the record breaking business brought in last year. We'll have eight stages dedicated to music this year, and it looks like no "comedy" or "mindfield" stage on the schedule. Every night features two headliners, where in year's past a single band has closed out at least one of the nights.
Single day tickets cost $80. To order tickets and see the full schedule, click here. As for the rest of my breakdown.... Continue readingLollapalooza 2009 Schedule Breakdown! »
The stars of the John Dillinger biopic "Public Enemies" will be hitting the red carpet tonight at the AMC River East at 6 p.m. Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard and company spent much of last summer filming the movie right here in Chicago. WGN's Dean Richards will be on hand to grab as many interviews as possible. Be sure to watch WGN at 5:30 and 9:00 to get the scoop. As for my brush with directing greatness....
I'm away with family for Father's Day and a little break from all the work that's still going on around this story.
Ever since I got back from Afghanistan, I've been scanning the headlines for the story I hoped I wouldn't see. I saw it today.
From the Tribune:
Two Illinois soldiers have died in Afghanistan after their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Kandahar, according to the Illinois Army National Guard.
Twenty-six-year-old Staff Sgt. Joshua Melton of Germantown and 43-year-old Sgt. Paul Smith of East Peoria died Friday, according to the national guard. Two other soldiers in the vehicle were injured.
It was Melton's second deployment after serving with Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004 to 2006. He graduated from Central Community High School in Breese in 2001 and enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in November 2000.
Melton was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Marion.
Smith graduated from East Peoria Community High School in 1984 and enlisted in the Guard in April 1993. It was his third deployment, and he was in Iraq from 2003 to 2004 and from 2005 to 2006.
Smith was with Troop C, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry based in Aurora.
Both soldiers had been in Afghanistan since October.
"Staff Sgt. Melton and Sgt. Smith were true patriots, answering the call to duty and supporting their fellow Soldiers during multiple deployments," said Maj. Gen. William Enyart, adjutant general of the Illinois National Guard. "They are remarkable, devoted Soldiers who will always be our heroes."
It hurts to come so close, then lose to Ryan Reynolds. Groan. Sandra Bullock bucked the trend and became a box office #1 over the weekend. "The Proposal" took the top spot with $34 million, not too surprising considering it was the only real chick flick out there. I predicted "The Hangover" would hang on to #1, but once again I was wrong, even though every thing else fell perfectly into place! Here's how the Bullock box office busted out:
1. The Proposal - $34 million 2. The Hangover - $28 million 3. Up - $21 million 4. Year One - $20 million 5. The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3 - $11 million
And you thoughts bicycles were just for getting from place to place, huh? I'll be hanging with BMX competitor Dennis Enarson on the WGN Evening News at 5:30 p.m. tonight. He's in town promoting the "Dew Tour," which is making a special stop in Grant Park this Friday and Saturday. The nationwide tour features competitions in skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motorcross. But the Chicago leg of the 2009 Dew Tour will focus exclusively on the sport of BMX. Tickets range between $15-$50 and can be purchased through Ticketmaster here.
On Friday @ 8:30p.m., Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco will be headlining a special concert in conjunction with the Dew Tour at the Chicago Theatre. They'll cost you between $23-$43, and you can pick those up here.
And in case you were still on the fence, check out these videos of Dennis showing off what these guys can do.... Continue readingBMX Dew Tour coming to Chicago! »
Jun
23
11:27AM | June 23, 2009 | posted by Diane Yamazaki
From the things they brought with them to the soldiers from Illinois, Tom Negovan's specials from Afghanistan bring new perspective to the daily occurances happening abroad.
Also, be sure to catch the full 30 minute special on Afghanistan, airring in early July. We'll post specific airdates and information on the blog as soon as we have them.
2:19PM | June 23, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock | comments: 1
Oh boy it's a hot, dog day of summer out there! Newspapers are soaking up the moisture in the wind. Radio DJ's are raspy from dehydration. Every TV newscast in town is doing its standard "how do you beat the heat" story. Well, I couldn't sit that one out! So I posted a simple "fill in the blank" challenge to all of my followers at twitter.com/marcusleshock and all of my friends at facebook.com/leshock. All they had to do was finish this statement: It's hotter than ________ outside. Here are some of the highlights, names have been abbreviated to protect the cyber-shy....
@metromix CLTV: It's hotter than that song this is why I'm hot by MIMS outside (Holler!).
Mike F: It's hotter than Duluthoutside (Never been, but I hear MIMS is very popular there).
Amanda O: It's hotter than a snakes ass in a wagon runt....what movie Marcus? outside (Easy, "Good Morning Vietnam"). Continue readingIt's hotter than ________ outside! »
If it existed, this one would win the "what in the world were they thinking" category. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Sid Ganis announced this morning that the 82nd Annual Academy Awards will feature 10 best picture nominees. The reason?
"After more than six decades, the Academy is returning to some of its
earlier roots, when a wider field competed for the top award of the
year," said Ganis. "The final outcome, of course, will be the same -
one Best Picture winner - but the race to the finish line will feature
10, not just five, great movies from 2009."
Deadline Hollywood Daily's Nikki Finke speculates that Hollywood studios have been pressuring AMPAS to allow more nominees, giving more films award attention to up their February profits. Plus, I bet AMPAS and ABC wished "The Dark Knight" had received a Best Picture nod, almost certainly leading to more fanboys watching the broadcast and giving it a ratings boost.
Whatever the reason, this absolutely waters down the nomination process. Why tune in at 5 a.m. to hear if you favorite film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar? It's almost a given that most good films are going to get in. Why not start by nominating 10 films, then announcing a few weeks later the final 5? The corrupt documentary category already does this and makes it more interesting.
I'm afraid the answer lies in the almighty $. More films + more attention = more money for everybody! Let's hope it doesn't mean a Best Picture Song & Dance number twice as long. I'm throwing up a little already.
The 3rd Annual Chicago Arabesque festival is back in Daley Plaza - celebrating the finest in Arabic music, cuisine, handicrafts, clothing and more! I'll be checking it out on tonight's WGN Evening news at 5:30. If you're wondering what kind of specific events you'll find at the festival, check out some of these highlights from the program guide.... Continue readingChicago Arabesque festival hits Daley Plaza! »
Jun
25
6:54PM | June 25, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock | comments: 1
On tonight's WGN Evening News, I checked out a new restaurant in Pilsen that's aiming pretty high. It's called Ristorante Al Teatro, 1227 W. 18th St. Owner Dominick Geraci and his son Vince have created a homage to Chicago's historic past. The building dates all the way back to 1892, just one year before Chicago landed the World's Columbian Exposition, or the World's Fair. Dominick scoured the city and found some amazing photographs from the time. He had them blown up and colorized, and they're on display all over the restaurant.
While there we had a chance to sample a few dishes. One a mushroom tortoloni - he corrected me when I referred to it as tortellini. These noodle pockets are much larger and handmade, each stuffed with a large portion of mushroom, and smothered in a mushroom sauce. Delicious and very filling.
Then, there are 20 different variety of pizza. I'll recommend the pizza galeto - a combination of garlick, shredded chicken, pesto, and goat cheese.
The restaurant is open daily - 4-10pm Sunday through Thursday, 4-11pm Friday and Saturday. Visit them online at alteatro.us.
I'm going to try and collect as many recipes or preparations as I can from restaurants I visit across the city. Here's a little montage I cut together of the folks at Ristorante Al Teatro & Caffe Gelato, showing off how they prepare their signature Italian dessert.
The King is dead - a shocking end to an American Tragedy. Michael Jackson unexpectedly passed away today. Then again, I should never use the word "unexpected" with Michael Jackson, you should expect the unexpected. Whether it was child abuse charges, plastic surgery, backyard theme parks, or dangling his baby off the terrace, Jackson knew how to make headlines for the wrong reasons.
Some of my earliest memories of childhood are of my neighborhood friends and I sitting on my driveway, taking turns showing off our sorry "moonwalks." All of us thought we could do it. Then, we'd go inside and watch the videotape of the King "moonwalking," and we knew we'd never be able to come close. Continue readingMichael Jackson: 1958-2009 »
Jun
29
10:51AM | June 29, 2009 | posted by Tom Negovan | comments: 1
We're hard at work on a very special project that has me re-living my experience in Afghanistan. I've spent the past week trying to boil down the best of what I shot into a half-hour program that will air this Thursday night, July 2nd. The second half of our 9:00 news will be devoted entirely to the trip..and the troops.
It might be easier to do a full hour. I have so much amazing material- and so many great interviews. I'm thrilled we're getting a chance to give the story more exposure. While the big challenge has been getting it down to a half-hour, the great part of that is it leaves us with only the best elements- and hopefully a half-hour well-spent.
The special will run at 9:30 Thursday night and again on the 4th of July between 7:30 and 8pm CST.
Given the timing, expect something that strikes a patriot tone and incorporates material we couldn't include in the 6 earlier reports.
I really want to thank everyone again for their kind thoughts, calls, letters and emails. I'm a little overwhelmed.
Many, many people have asked if they can buy a tape or DVD, and while that's not really something that we do, we will allow the material to live on-line for as long as possible. When the half-hour show is complete and has broadcast, it will be available here as well. And it's free..
Jun
30
12:20PM | June 30, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock
Yes, Manny's Deli BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich will set you back 10 tickets (roughly $7). But boy is it a big one. I made the mistake of making this my first order of the day. Now I'm looking for a tall tree with some comfy grass to rest it off (please don't tell the boss).
Maybe because it was one of their first sandwiches of the afternoon (I ordered at 11:15), but the Manny's beef was surprisingly tender. The sauce could use a little more kick for my taste, but if you prefer milder you'll really enjoy it. The only real trouble I had was fighting off all the gulls trying to get a piece when they noticed I was laboring. Where's Hitchcock when you need him?
I'll give Manny's Deli BBQ Sandwich a rating of 4/5 - too bad it doesn't come in a smaller taste portion. It's a little pricey, but it's massive, and will leave you VERY full. Bring a cot.
12:29PM | June 30, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock | comments: 2
You read that right, laddie! The Abbey Pub is staked out at the Taste of Chicago with an Irish Egg Roll. Forgive me if I sound ignorant here. I've been to the Abbey a few times and never noticed the Chinese-influenced Irish delicacy.
Thankfully, it comes in a Taste portion for just 4 tickets. Inside of the fried shell you'll find cabbage, cheese, and corned beef. Get it now? The throw a dollop of mustard into the dish for dipping, but I found it too overpowering. On it's own the Irish Egg Roll makes a neat snack but not much more. What's next, Corned Beef dumplings with a Guinness chaser?
I'll give the Irish Egg roll a 3/5 - fun and satisfying, but somewhat forgettable.
12:34PM | June 30, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock
I love me some hashbrowns, ironically I've never been to Hashbrowns (731 W. Maxwell). But that's why they're at the Taste, right? Walking by I noticed a sign for a Taste Portion of their Sweet Potato Hash Browns, and I couldn't resist.
The first thing I noticed about the browns? They kind of look like Spanish rice. More notably, they look just like the ones I cook at home. Even more notable, they taste just like the ones I cook at home - dissapointing. I prefer my hashbrowns a little bit more crisp, I found these very soggy. The portion isn't all that big, and they're surprisingly bland. I know what you're thinking - "Marcus, they're hashbrowns. Relax!"
Well, I like my breakfast sides to offend me a little bit. Wake me up, you know? I'm still going to check out Hashbrowns and see what they're all about, but I'd recommend taking a pass on their 4 ticket ($3) Taste Portion.
I noticed Marvelous the Clown set up next to a pair of giant 21 sized shoes, and thought he might be worth a question or two. He even made a balloon animal for us. No need to be jealous folks, he'll be here all week.
2:33PM | June 30, 2009 | posted by Marcus Leshock | comments: 1
The ambush review - you eat, you decide. I spotted this lucky group chomping down on a beef on a stick and corn on the cob, stuck a camera in their face, and now....they're food critics!
