Listen to your friend Billy Zane, he’s a cool dude

Listen to your friend Billy Zane, he’s a cool dude

Colin S… he’s so hot right now. (Danny Cox for the RedEye)

Originally posted on the RedEye: http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/wrigleyville/viewpoint/2011/06/19/listen-to-your-friend-billy-zane-hes-a-cool-dude/

As I sipped on my specially crafted “Orange is the new Black” cocktail on Friday night at The Underground, the details of my surroundings began to sink in: high-fashion haircuts perched atop equally fashionable females; the makeshift runway and lights down the middle of the bar; the fact that I was sipping a specialty drink called “Orange is the new Black.” I found myself asking the question that continues to push to the front of my brain: is this real life?

Friday night at Underground, the folks from the first season of the Kenmore Studio’s So You Wanna Be a Designer web series put together a reunion exhibition for some of Chicago’s hottest up-and-coming designers. Imagine the love child of Jersey Shore: After Hours and Project Runway, but without the awful people or artificial drama. One of the designers (the fabulous Steve Curd) happens to be a personal friend of mine, so of course I had to go show some support.

For the record, I am a pretty committed pub and sports bar kinda guy- having people judge me for my shoes and lack of a shiny shirt is not my idea of a good time, so I typically avoid clubs. But I put friendship above my personal hang-ups on venues any day of the week. I will admit, being able to tell the doorman my actual name and being granted admission did make me feel just a tad cooler than I normally do, though not nearly as cool as my guest would soon feel.

Being the affable and well-dressed fellow he is, I had invited the one and only Colin S along for the show late Thursday evening. Being the amiable and well-mannered fellow he is, he accepted Friday afternoon. Within approximately 10 minutes of arriving at the club, Steve approached Mr. S with what would normally be a very strange question in a bar on a Friday night: “What size pants do you wear?” Moments later, Colin handed me his specialty beverage (“Orange Dream”) informing me that he would be playing the role of model for the evening. And as you can see from the photo above, he rocked that mother like a tornado in a trailer park.

Going to a private fashion show on a Friday night in downtown Chicago: cool. Going to a private fashion show on a Friday night in downtown Chicago as a guest of the designer: cooler. Going to a private fashion show on a Friday night in downtown Chicago and owning the stage like you were the bastard love child of Derek Zoolander and Tyra Banks: legendary.

THIS IS A REDEYE COMMUNITY BLOG. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author and not those of RedEye or Tribune Company.

I just won Twitter

I just won Twitter

Danny Cox for the RedEye… is now being followed by David Hasselhoff. #winning?

Long way to the top: rockin’ the North Shore half

Long way to the top: rockin’ the North Shore half

Danny Cox for the RedEye

Originally posted on the RedEye Wrigleyville: http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/wrigleyville/viewpoint/2011/06/13/long-way-to-the-top-rockin-the-north-shore-half/

This is the first in a continued series documenting one man in one band’s journey to the halls of rock legend. Full disclosure: I am that man, Riff/Raff Chicago is that band. This installment takes us to Highland Park for Chicago’s oldest half-marathon, the North Shore Half Marathon.

I really need to make better choices when it comes to sleeping. This was the overarching thought as I dragged my slow-to-life body out of bed around 4:15 am on Sunday, June 12. Why am I awake at 4:15 am on a Sunday, you ask? Rock and roll baby. In a few short hours, Chicago’s best Bon Scott-era AC/DC tribute band (as confirmed by a completely unscientific poll of beer coasters and bar napkins) would be taking the grand stage of the North Shore Half Marathon/5k and delivering pure rock gold to thousands of runners.

I knew that this moment would come, and had strongly considered returning home for some much-needed sleep at various degrees of lateness throughout the Saturday evening before until logic had finally gotten the best of me. Around 3:00. Fast forward an hour or so to me zombie-walking through the living room, complete with my still-awake-from-the-evening’s-festivities roommate and our guest from out of town, clinging desperately to the hope that a lukewarm shower will help shake some life into my dragging limbs. As consciousness slowly started to creep back to me  TLC style, the issue of transportation arose: I’m awake before the Brown Line. Sonofabitch.

One cab ride and short discussion on race relations in America later (don’t ask), I was en route to our destination: sunny Highland Park, Illinois! Arriving without a hitch, we realized quickly that one of our members may be taking the tribute to late-70′s rock a bit too far. Aside from meeting at the pre-determined rendezvous, we had no way of finding our recently cell-phone free drummer. This would soon become even more problematic when the race coordinator led us down a circuitous path, eventually pulling to the side of a narrow, chain-link fence-lined road. Thinking we were making a quick pit stop to grab the generator sitting casually in a rocky roadside recess, we were a bit taken aback to learn that this was, in fact, our impromptu stage.

Only the finest stages for Riff/Raff Chicago

With a will as hard as steel and minds as sharp as MacGyver’s, we pooled our collective resources (namely, a piece of styrofoam and a rubber lining to a truck bed) and transformed the rocky patch of pavement into a stage fit for a king. Namely, Jeffrey King, the reigning shift manager at the Irving Park Burker King [Author's note: this is a fictional individual. Any resemblance to real individuals is purely coincidental and highly bizarre]. What followed was some rocking tunes, a lot of smiles, a few high fives, and a great time had by all.

For those about to rock the Warrior Dash Midwest this weekend, you too can experience the awesomesauce, as Riff/Raff Chicago will be laying down some tasty licks on both Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Shameless self-promotion or simply biased reporting: you decide.

Danny Cox is a RedEye blogger.

The first date: Wrigleyville style

The first date: Wrigleyville style

Danny Cox for the RedEye

Originally posted on the RedEye Wrigleyville: http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/wrigleyville/viewpoint/2011/05/29/the-first-date-wrigleyville-style/

Though the weather may make it difficult to believe, summer is right around the corner. And with summer comes the summer lovin’. It’s a famliar story: you’re at a party rockin’ a fresh mohawk, you meet a lady (cute, smart, funny, you know the type) and a good time is had by all. If you’re lucky, you’re able to secure some digits to set up some quality time down the road. If, hypothetically, it’s her sister’s 21st birthday and you get separated before you get the chance to ask, there’s always social media right? For those of you able follow-up and get the date, here’s a handy guide to a great first date in the neighborhood that I, for one, think would make for a wonderful evening.

Setting the Stage

Set the mood for the evening with a classy, relaxing bite to eat. Check out Uncommon Ground (Clark & Grace) for a great space, delicious eats and a casual vibe. The quiet ambiance provides the perfect backdrop for conversation to allow you to get to know one another. For food, I personally recommend the mac & cheese or Uncommon Chopped Salad.

The Adventure Begins

They say that laughter is the best medicine- it also makes for a great first date activity. Whether you’re heading to a Thursday Open Mic night at the Risque Cafe (Clark & Newport) or The Cupid Players’ “Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships” at the iO Theatre (Clark & Addison) on Saturday, you’ll share some laughs and have plenty to talk about after the show.

The Finishing Touch

As the evening progresses, it’s time to take advantage of Clark Street’s vibrant night life. Depending on your personal flavor, you can go dancing at Red Ivy or John Barleycorn; sing some karaoke at Beer the Bar;  or get sporty at the batting cages of Sluggers. The possibilities are nearly endless! You play your cards right, follow the vibe of the night and who knows- you could turning that first date into a first kiss.

Now that you’ve got your evening planned, all you have to do is find someone special to take with you. So how about it: would you like to join me for a date?

Danny Cox is a RedEye blogger.

Pay some attention to to the man behind the curtain

Pay some attention to the man behind the curtain

Originally posted on the RedEye Wrigleyville: http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/wrigleyville/viewpoint/2011/05/26/pay-some-attention-to-the-man-behind-the-curtain/

As you may or may not know, aside from dropping hotness on Wrigleyville for the RedEye ‘Hoods, I also spend some time a few Red Line stops south working with the Steppenwolf Theatre. As a member of both the Auxiliary Council and Audience Development Committee, I essentially get to hang out with great people and do what I can to help spread the good word of Steppenwolf’s glory. Every now and again, we get a little somethin’ somethin’ in return for our efforts, and this week happened to hold one of those times.

By the very capable hands of Steppenwolf’s veteran Production Manager Al Franklin, several members of the Auxiliary Council were treated to a behind the scenes tour and in-depth history lesson for one of Chicago’s most-storied theatre company. And since my momma taught me that sharing is caring (or was that Sesame Street?), I wanted to bring you as close to that experience as I could. If you want to experience it for yourself, I highly recommend checking out an upcoming performance. Until then, enjoy this video.

Video: Steppenwolf: Behind the Scenes

Danny Cox is a RedEye blogger, and a really great listener.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Al

Welcome to the neighborhood, Al

Italian Beef Sandwich at Al’s Beef, Courtesy of Paul Howey

Originally published on the RedEye Wrigleyville:http://neighborhoods.redeyechicago.com/wrigleyville/viewpoint/2011/05/25/welcome-to-the-neighborhood-al/

Following the Bulls’ providing additional evidence that they fully lack the ability to close a game (I’m talking to you and your back-to-back missed shot attempts in the 4th, Mr. MVP D. Rose), I took a stroll through my beloved Wrigleyville. The best thing about having an iconic baseball stadium in your neighborhood is the livelihood and vibrancy of spirit that come along with the influx of the roughly 50,000 attendees and satellite spectators.

Though my stroll occurred in the twilight of the 11 o’clock hour, the presence of the game-day crowd could still be felt. The couple on the corner of Clark & Roscoe having the serious conversation about the validity of cargo shorts; the superfan in matching hat and socks using the full width of the sidewalk; and most importantly to this particular stroll, the plain fellow in the classic Cubs’ tee scarfing a piece of Ian’s mac & cheese pie. Deeply engaged in a phone call on a dying cell phone, it struck me that I had neglected to eat dinner before departing for the game-watching festivities.

Determined to satisfy my hunger pangs with either a slice of one of Ian’s unique flavors and a root beer or Bacci’s massive, coronary-inducing slices, I was surprised to find myself drawn to a yellow roof new to the point where Sheffield and Clark meet. Wrigleyville’s newest neighbor: Al’s Beef. Some may attribute my drastic and abrupt change in target to alcohol-induced ADD, others to a lack of conviction. To those detractors, I say nay. My shift in sustenance acquisition stemmed from nothing more than my Midwestern morals and desire to extend a friendly hand to the new guy in town.

Upon my approach to the counter, a friendly gentleman greeted me with the courtesy of an old friend: “How can I help you buddy?”

“This is actually my first visit to this location,” I inform the gentleman. “I’m excited to have you as a part of the neighborhood.”

“I appreciate that,” replied the friendly gentleman with a smile. “We’ve been open about a month, and we don’t plan on going anywhere soon.”

After a brief exchange about the benefits of having an additional establishment available for the late-night dining crowd, the gentleman and I reach an accord on the terms of trade: about $5 in currency for a Maxwell Street Polish, fries and a Dr. Pepper (unfortunately, root beer was nowhere to be found). On my way out, one of the patrons clearly brought in by the game drunkenly stumbled into my path, nearly knocking my delicious snack from my ninja-like death grip. Instantly transformed into a mama grizzly, prepared to protect my Polish provisions by whatever means necessary, I was pleasantly surprised by the sincere and heartfelt apology with which my attack-stance was met.

Which brings me back to my initial point: though they contribute more than their share of litter, take more than their share of cabs and most definitely increase drinks to Prohibition-era pricing (adjusted for inflation, of course), this ‘hood would not likely sustain a delicious establishment like Al’s Beef on its own. If you disagree, I assume you haven’t had their Maxwell Polish combo at the end of an evening out, and your opinion is no longer valid.