Vending machines have come along way in the past 2,000 years. According to the National Automated Machines Association, the first "vending machine" was put into use in 215 B.C., a device to dispense holy water used in the temples of Egypt. Uh, huh. Some other fun vending machine facts:

- The vending industry is a $30 billion a year industry, employing 700,000 people who work at an estimated 13,500 companies.

- 100 million Americans will use on of 7 million vending machines each day.

- 16.3% of all vending machines are located in schools and colleges. Most vending machines are located in manufacturing settings (30.2%)

NAMA will be set up in Navy Pier over the next two days, with dozens of vendors set up to show off their latest creations. Among the machines we caught - a cotton candy machine that whips up the sugary snack in seconds. The sticky will set you back $2.

Another is a futuristic, iPhone like machine called the Digi-Touch. This one was on display by Kraft Foods, who demonstrated how the flat-screen, Samsung created front allowed customers to touch their choice. If you insert a $20 bill, you'll get paper money in return. The machine also accepts credit cards. And in between orders, the flat screen turns into a large animated advertisement for the various products inside.

Kraft's Mike Miller told us about the various challenges the creative team had when designing the machine - which houses plenty of chocolate products.

"The heat from the screen was beginning to make the chocolate soft and melt a little bit," Mike told us. " What we've done, is we actually have two fans. One at the bottom to push the air out over the screen. One at the top to suck that air out of the top, so we don't have any issues anymore with soft or slightly melted chocolate."

Other machines include the Akoona Ice Machine, a behemoth of a product that pumps out bags of fresh ice for just 75 cents. It's a big improvement from gas station ice, which, according to Akoona Reps, often comes trucked in from large factories that use chemicals during the production process. Akoona's ice is chemical free and never touches a human hand. Pull your cooler up, and with three gushes, it's full to the brim.

The NAMA convention runs through Friday, but it's only open to vendors. Check out my video above to feel what it was like to be there. Plus, you'll get to keep some change in your pocket.

It's a gear head's paradise this weekend, as the 3rd annual Chicago Nationals Hot Rod Show invades the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet. The event will feature over 2,000 Hot Rods, Customs, Classics, Muscle Cars and Trucks. There will be a swap meet, street challenges, and drag races at the Route 66 Raceway on Friday night. Tickets cost $17 for adults, and $6 for kids 12 and under. You can purchase them here.

On tonight's WGN News, I went to check out The Roadster Shop, a custom car design and manufacturing facility in north suburban Mundelein. Neal Gerber, along with his sons Phil and Jeremy, took a small auto-collision repair shop in Elgin and turned it into a thriving Chicagoland business. Two years ago they opened their 30,000 square foot facility that now employs 25 people. They take orders from all over the country - from rebuilds and restores, to complete constructions and detailing. The Roadster Shop does it all under one roof.

Their recent claim to fame comes with a design spearheaded by Phil Gerber, a complete retooling of a classic 1962 Corvette which won Goodguys "Street Machine of the Year" designation. Phil and the team tore the car down and modified EVERYTHING. It now features an aluminum front and grill, an exposed glass windshield, bright red leather interior, and some really cool electronic doors that open with the push of a button.

You can view the entire process of restoring the car on the Roadster's website here. It was made for a client in Wisconsin, and while the staff vows secrecy when it comes to how much customers pay for their vehicles, staff says an auto with as much modification and rarity as the '62 Corvette could sell for about $500,000. And no, they won't put it on your credit card. Or at least on my credit card.

If you'd like to check out the Roadster Shop in person, here's some information:

The Roadster Shop
 28775 N IL Route 83
Mundelein, IL
847.949.7637
www.roadstershop.com

Afternoon tea just got a lot BIGGER. The enormous floral centerpiece at the Drake Hotel is the most photographed of its kind, at least according to staff there. Now, Chicagoans can get a chance to see the massive creation put together in person by Kevin J. Herman, head designer at Mangel Florist, located just steps from the Drake's famous lobby.

I got a chance to sit in on the demonstration for the first time, and to be honest, I was thinking it might be a little bit dry. But watching Kevin start with a vase full of 30 gallons of water and turn it into a beautiful blast of color was surprisingly thrilling. It's like watching an artist paint on a blank canvas. It starts out extraordinarily dull, but ends iconic.

If you are any kind of afficianado of greenery, it's well worth the hour of your time. The Drake had about 15 people show up today, but they're hoping positive word of mouth spreads. It costs $35 and features tea and sandwiches in their Palm Court afterwards. If you'd like to book a reservation, contact the Drake's special events manager Shaun Rajah at 312.932.4619.

 

 

It's the end of an era. The famous "Giant Heart" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry was officially taken apart last year. Too refresh your memory, here is WGN's Larry Rhoderick with a story from 1988 after the classic exhibit underwent a major renovation.


 

The old heart beats no more. In its place is a technological marvel - a 14 foot 3D beating heart that uses state of the art projectors to bring our essential organ to life. Another key feature of the new heart? Interactivity. You can grab the sensors at the pulse station and watch the mammoth vessels thump along with your actual heartbeat. When it's finished, it will also be able to simulate a heart attack, and various other electrical firings that happen inside its chambers. Overall it's a big step up technologically from the previous version.

The Chicago Tribune's William Mullen had a great piece about the new heart in today's paper. Just as notable were a few of the comments from readers - upset that a piece of their childhood nostalgia was gone. Museum staff told me the old heart was simply impossible to keep. It was built around a column that had to be removed, and as they tried to pry it free, it was crumbling to bits. After 50 plus years in existence, the heart wasn't as strong as it used to be. Sound familiar?

The museum took the heart apart and gave the remaining pieces to family members and significant others of the people who originally built it. So the "Giant Heart" does indeed beat on, in the rightful hands of the people who created lasting memories for millions of Chicagoans.

After looking at the new heart and testing out its features, I believe it's a positive change. Today's youth will be able to take more away from this heart - it's the next best thing to looking into somebody's chest. While the old heart definitely had its merits, with today's technology it seemed extremely dated. It's too bad they couldn't keep them both. They assured me they tried their best. I'm satisfied with that.

But how do you feel about this development? Do you think the change is warranted, or do you think the museum has made a major gaffe in getting rid of an iconic piece of Chicago nostalgia? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

At least according to Chicago Magazine it is! In their August "Best-Of" issue, the mag cites the village's great mix of young and old, and it's walkability as strong points. It's pretty neat how chains have managed to converge on the area without forcing out the mom and pop shops. A few of the places we visited:


LaGrange Theatre
80 S. LaGrange Road
(708) 579-2173
www.lagrangetheatre.com

Horton's Ace Hardware
60 S. LaGrange Road
www.hortonshome.com
(708) 352-2110

Knead Marketplace
13 S. LaGrange Road
www.kneadmarketplace.com
(708) 482-7909

So what do you think - does LaGrange have the best downtown in all of suburban Chicagoland? Do you have a favorite downtown that must be seen? Leave a comment and let me know!

 

On tonight's WGN News, I'm checking out the Blackstone Bicycle Works. It's located in Woodlawn, just near the University of Chicago. Connie Spreen is the co-owner, she started the business as part of her Experimental Station, and organization that sheds artistic and recreational influence on the community. They also have a large garden and a bakery on the property, all raising money to support local culture and youth.

You can help the Blackstone's cause by doing your bike business there. And if you have an old 10-speed in the basement collecting rust, click here to donate it to the shop.

Local youth will stay off the street and fix up your bike. Once they rack up enough hours learning, they'll get to keep a bike of their own. Plus, they learn the ins and outs of what it takes to run a successful business. And most important, Blackstone is a non-profit, so all of the money they make is funneled back into improving the lives of the local kids and improving the community overall. Here's more info:

Blackstone Bicycle Works
6100 S. Blackstone
773.241.5458
http://experimentalstation.org

Just what Chicago needs, something else to do this weekend. On tonight's WGN Evening News at 5:30, I'm checking out a brand lip-smacking new ribs fest to hit Chicago. We'll see what makes the Windy City Ribs Festival different. Reading their press release, it sounds like they'll be featuring vendors from here in Chicago, as well as a few from out of town, even as far away from Texas.

You'll be able to vote on your favorite vendor at the fest, and the big winner will be announced on Sunday. If I had to vote without even tasting yet, it would be a toss up between Old Town's Fireplace Inn and Uncle Bub's in Westmont. Here's all the info about the festival:

Windy City Ribs Festival
Union Park - 1501 W. Randolph St.
Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 12 noon - 10 p.m.
Click here to visit the official website

 
Ever wonder what it's like to do a flip in a helicopter? I know I did!

I had a chance to take a ride with one of my new heroes, Chuck "Malibu" Aaron, the pilot of this modified Eurocopter BO-105 CBS 4 Twin engine helicopter, better known as the Red Bull Helicopter. The chopper has a rigid rotor, as opposed to a semi-rigid rotor, which gives it the ability to do all kinds of fun stuff. We're talking flips, barrel rolls, free falls, etc.

First, I asked if we would be doing the maneuvers over the Gary Airport. I wanted my photographer to be able to shoot us from the ground looking up. I was then told that due to regulations, the tricks couldn't be performed over a populated area. We had to fly out over the lake to do what we were going to do. Not the most reassuring dialogue to have before going airborne in a FLIPPING HELICOPTER!

But Chuck immediately put me at ease. His flowing airman hair and adventerous mustache screamed "good pilot." Watching the video back, it doesn't look as crazy as it felt. But the Red Bull chopper was a wild ride, one I'll never forget. You can see my story about it above, but I did shoot some extra video in the cockpit. Sorry it's so shaky - we were in a FLIPPING HELICOPTER!...




And finally, the entire raw video of my ride. All shot from the tail on the chopper.




Again, this is a specially modified helicopter. Do not try this at home with the chopper you take to work. You'll crash. Seriously.

The Chicago Air and Water Show happens this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Avenue Beach, but you can catch it all along the lakefront on the North Side. Wave hello to Chuck for me!

I simply recorded a gentleman dancing with a Flip Cam, and next thing you know, he's a superstar all over the world. My "Lollapalooza 2009: World's Best Dancer" video is quickly going viral on YouTube. Last night I started getting texts and comments that it was featured on G4's "Attack of the Show." After a little digging, here it is. Fast forward to 3:30 if you don't want to watch the whole thing....


How this quick-footed, fist-pumping legend was not ranked #1 is beyond me. Thanks to G4 and AOTS for the mention of this television station, but your complete ignorance when it comes to human gyrating ability at a music festival is astounding.

So that's it. Lollapalooza 2009 is over, I'm showered and sitting at my recently elongated cubicle back at the station. Wondering what an "elongated cubicle" looks like? You don't want to know.

Yesterday was a good day. For one, I was riding a high from one of the best wedding receptions I've been at. The Saturday night party was at the Brookfield Zoo, with the cocktail hour in the "Tropic World: Africa" monkey house. Might sound strange, but watching two gorillas play-fight while sipping a cold beverage and snacking on Beef Wellington turned out to be one of the most exciting hours of my weekend. Am I getting old or what?

Anyhow, Lollapalooza Sunday consisted of me walking around Grant Park and taking in some much needed music. It was a late start...

2:30 KAISER CHIEFS (above)

If you've ever seen The Kaiser Chiefs, you know they're a great way to wake up your day. They've also got a great sense of humor.

Shaking off the heat, lead singer Ricky Wilson commented on how sweaty the crowd looked.

"We need 50,000 beers out there right now," he said. "Anything but Bud."

They were playing on the Budweiser stage. They ripped through their hits and anything else that would make the crowd get in the air. Great show.

 
Continue reading Lolla 2009: My Sunday, with video! »

As Depeche Mode bellows out in the background, Lollapalooza Day 1 is nearing a close. Overall, it was a pretty average day for the Grant Park Lolla Saga. But a great picture is worth so much more than what I can tell you...re-live the day with the RedEye's photo gallery.

It was the first day the fest has seen large amounts of rain. The result? Let's just say I hope you're not in a softball league at Grant Park, it'd be like playing outfield at Woodstock '94. The field looks absolutely trashed. We'll see if this tremendous heatwave coming through will help dry things up.
Continue reading Lolla 2009: Day 1 Recap »

The title speaks for itself. I ran into this man at Perry's stage. Best. Dancer. Ever.
 

The Gaslight Anthem, out of New Jersey, are ripping up the Chicago 2016 stage as I write this. A crowd loaded with umbrellas, ponchos, and thousands of sopping wet people are getting their money's worth. In the middle of a set that's included cuts off their latest album, "The 59 Sound," singer Brian Fallon stopped to ask a question that's been on his mind since he hit the stage.

He wondered about the Congress Hotel, seen off in the distance. He heard that Al Capone did something crazy in it.

"That's kind of creepy," he said. "We don't have anything like that."

Yeah, there's nothing creepy about New Jersey at all, right? It's my first time seeing these guys live, and it's nice to see they're just as entertaining between songs. TGA is quickly becoming one of my favorite young bands. I'm scheduled to interview them later this afternoon. I'll post it as soon as it's ready.

You've seen him on Top Chef Masters, maybe you've been to his restaurant. Celebrity chef Graham Elliot Bowles is known to make a big impression on the plate. This weekend he's been giving his biggest task yet, cooking meals for a few of the headliners at this year's Lollapalooza.

It's a big honor for the chef. I caught him with my rain-covered Flip cam earlier, and we talked about how he's getting through the weekend, his life in music, and what all of those tattoos are about! Please excuse the poor quality, quite a bit of rain came down while I was walking the grounds!

When I walked into work this morning, a colleague asked what I was working on for today.

"I'm going to be LIVE at the Wizard World Comic-Con," I replied.

"You know," he responded. "You have a pretty cool job."

Little did I know that hours later, I would be challenging Lou "The Incredible Hulk" Ferrigno to an arm wrestling match. He let me win (I think), but it's a memory I'll keep forever. The Hulk was a favorite show as a kid, which is why thousands of people flock to these conventions and throw down $20 to get Big Lou to throw his autograph onto a 8x10" glossy.

But back to the matter at hand. The Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con is taking place this Friday-Saturday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The fest features thousands of comic books for sale, some so valuable they're pretty-much just there for show. Unless, of course, you have the coin to throw down to take home the first appearance of Spider-Man. You could buy a house out in Rockford instead.

Single day tickets are available. You can buy them at the Wizard World website here. Other celebs scheduled to make an appearance include Todd Bridges, Gary Coleman, Michelle Rodriguez, Ernie Hudson, Billy Dee Williams, Jake Busey, Margot Kidder, and a few more.

Oh, wait...talk about burrying the lead. There's also this wildly popular "Twilight: New Moon" movie opening this fall. Three stars of the film will be at the convention on Saturday - Alex Meraz (left), Christopher Heyerdahl, and Cameron Bright. Too bad those "Twilight" boys are totally overweight and not good looking at all, right?

I don't expect these three to draw the Rob Pattinson crowd, but you never know. Anything "Twilight" equals chaos. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE!

Wizard World has always been good to me. Covering it was one of my first assignments ever, back when I was just getting my TV feet wet with "metromix on CLTV." Adding a Lou Ferrigno arm wrestling battle cements the convo in my memory bank forever. I can't guarantee it'll do the same for you, but it might be worth the try.

 

On tonight's WGN News, I tagged along on one of the Wrigley Field Tours. They're offered during most Cubs road trips and some select home games. For just $25, the 90-minute tour takes you to all of the cavernous spaces of the ballpark regular fans don't get to see.

You'll get to visit both clubhouses, the mezzanine suites, hang in the dugout and step onto the on deck circle, and if you're really lucky - you're guide might let you try your hand at the 7th inning stretch!

Some things you won't get to do - go into the scoreboard or poke around in your favorite player's locker. The home clubhouse is pretty much roped off, but you can still get a sense of the space. Carlos Zambrano's locker is closest to the rope-off, and I couldn't help but notice the taped-up photograph of Megan Fox hanging from the empty locker right next door. I'm assuming Big Z would never put that there, but hey, maybe he's a big fan of her acting ability?

Another thing I noticed on the tour - how clean the place is. Sitting in the bleachers, I couldn't even see a remnant of a peanut shell. Cubs' PR staff told me the cleaning crew has the procedure down to a science, and they often work throughout the night to get the job done. There's a documentary waiting to happen.

If you want to take a tour of the park yourself, a full schedule can be found on cubs.com. You can also call 1-800-THE-CUBS. They recommend you get your tickets in advance, because weekdays might be easier, but some of the weekend tours are packed with about 70 people. Good luck and have fun!

Sometimes these interviews are just too good to sit on a tape. Behold the Lake County kid dragging her Grandfather from ride to ride at the Lake County Fair, just a year after his heart transplant. You can tell they're both living life and loving every minute of it.

 

On tonight's WGN News at 5:30, I'll be reporting on the Lake County Fair. Though it's technically celebrating its 81st year this week, officials tell me the fair's been around in some form for about 150! They're also set up in a brand new location, the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, on the corner of Peterson and Midlothian (1060 E. Peterson to be exact).

If you want to check it out, it's going on everyday through Sunday with various events on each day. The hours are from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., again, with different events scheduled at different times. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for the kids.

You'll find the fair's official website here. For the full schedule of events, click here.

 

There's a new program at the Shedd Aquarium that lets you wade into the water with their famous Beluga Whales. It's called the Beluga Encounter and they just started the program earlier this month. The Shedd hosted a media preview yesterday, and I strapped on my wetsuit and tried it out for myself yesterday. You can see my experience in the video above. Continue reading Touch a Beluga Whale at the Shedd Aquarium »

 

Tonight on WGN News, you'll see my visit to the Ball Fore Mini Golf Course in south suburban Worth. This weekend, the U.S. Pro Mini Golf Association will be there all weekend, hosting their U.S. Open. Professional miniature golfers from around the world will be competing for $2,000 in prizes. Competition kicks off on Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m. if you'd like to watch. Unfortunately the deadline to register for $100 was yesterday.

On another note, organizers tell me that Andy Richter, famous announcer/sidekick on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" is scheduled to make an appearance. They say he'll probably be taping a segment for the show. These golfers are serious, but they're a very good time. So if Andy does come out I'm sure it'll make a hilarious piece.

If you happen to see him out there, or just experience Pro Mini Golf in all its glory, be sure to let me know how it went!

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 reading Chicago Arabesque festival hits Daley Plaza! »

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 reading BMX Dew Tour coming to Chicago! »

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.
Continue reading Crosstown Classic: Where to watch the Cubs beat the White Sox! »

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!
Continue reading Crosstown Classic: Where to watch the White Sox beat the Cubs! »

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 reading Weekend Haps - Titanic: Treasures from the Deep exhibit »

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.

But wait! There's more....
Continue reading Weekend Haps 6/5: Gospel Fest, Hyde Park Art Fair, Garage Sales and more! »

The Wit Hotel at 201 N. State is open and ready to rock! This weekend they're hosting "Legends: The Artwork of Rock and Roll Royalty," showcasing works by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, John Lennon, and more - over 100 paintings all for sale. They range in price from just $200, all the way up to $20,000! Here's all the information for the show...
Continue reading Weekend Haps: Legends Rock & Roll Art Show! »

Time for a taste of Germany - sausage, dancing, and plenty of beer in Lincoln Square. Mayfest, or Maifest as it's technically known, kicks off its 10 year anniversary today at Lincoln and Leyland. The highlights of this year's fest include:

THURSDAY: A performance from the Old Town School of Folk Music at 5:30 p.m. Beer spiggets tapped at 5 p.m.

FRIDAY: Official opening night party with traditional keg tapping at 8 p.m.

SATURDAY: Live music from 12:00 noon - 11:00 p.m. Featuring the likes of Paloma and the Austrian Express.

SUNDAY: My favorite event at Mayfest, the German/Ethnic program of events from 1-4 p.m., with traditional dancing around the Maypole at the center of Lincoln Square.

Good food, great beer, and pole dancing that won't leave you ashamed. Check out the full festival lineup and get more info at mayfestchicago.com.

Check out metromix.com's photo gallery of 2008's Mayfest here.