Entries Tagged as 'chirp'

CHIRP Presents The First Time: First Record

February 3rd, 2012 · 2 Comments

A few months ago Jess and I attended a CHIRP event, The First Time: First Date at Beat Kitchen. It was so much fun, we decided to go again and this time drag Sara and Loden along with us. (They actually wanted to attend the first time, but couldn’t.) The theme this time was first record. I knew one reader very well, Chuck, and a few others were friends of friends. There were several Chicagoists that I got to see and catch up with a bit. I missed the Hixx though! Oh well. Next time! (You better attend the next time, Margaret!).

Here’s a lineup of everyone who read essays about their first record:

John Morrison of Subism
Shawn Campbell of CHIRP Radio
Sabrina Harper of Second City
Whet Moser of Chicago Magazine
Jessica Galliart of Red Eye
Chuck Sudo of Chicagoist

Unlike last time when we were sitting front and center, this time we were in the back of the room. Not a bad view, but not great for taking photos, so I just concentrated on getting a good one of Chuck :) His essay was hilarious, one of the best of the night, I think.

Again, after each essay, the band played a song of the writer/reader’s choosing. Again, the band was fabulous. Gerald Dowd sang a version of Huey Lewis and the News’ Power of Love that I want to buy and listen to 10 more times. It was awesome!

I guess I have to settle for this version, by Huey Lews and the News!

The event was $10 and all proceeds went to benefit CHIRP. The next event is going to be in April. Follow CHIRP’s Facebook page to make sure you get alerted as to the exact date! You won’t want to miss it.

Hey, and the reason we were late and had to stand in the back? Super slow service at the Village Tap. Our favorite waitress, Carolyn, made sure to say hi to us and even remembered the exact last date we were there. But we weren’t in her section.

And the reason we went to The Tap? We meant to go to Kitsch’n and use a Groupon, but they were randomly closed on a Wednesday night? What the heck?

I got to Roscoe Village early and strolled a bit, on the streets and down memory lane.

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CHIRP Presents The First Time: First Date

November 23rd, 2011 · No Comments


Jocelyn of CHIRP (and formerly of Chicagoist)


Jason Crock of CHIRP


Jackie Schimmel of Not Ready for Naptime Players


Tony Breed of Finn & Charlie are Hitched


Kyra Kyles of Kyles Files


Georg Coleman of Worst Cook in America


Megan Stielstra of 2nd Story and Everyone Remain Calm


Kevin Robinson of Chicagoist


Kevin Robinson


Jocelyn

Last Wednesday, Jess and I went to an event at Beat Kitchen called The First Time: First Date. It was part of a reading series with a “First Time” theme. There previously was First High, First Car and First Job. It was $10 and all the proceeds benefitted the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP).

I always had friends reading and attending these events, but I hadn’t ever been able to go to go in the past. This time I knew Kevin, who read, and Jocelyn, who coordinated the event for CHIRP. I also saw Chuck there. All of these people I know from my Chicagoist days.

The event was really fun. Each person wrote an essay based on the theme “The First Time: First Date” and could interpret it however they wanted. Each reading was so thoughtful and funny. At then end of each essay a live band played a song the reader chose to accompany their piece. And so it went reading, song, reading, song, etc. Loved the format. The songs were so great. Many times hilarious, what each reader chose to go with their reading. The band was called The First Time and consisted of Steve Frisbie, Liam Davis, and Gerald Dowd. I thought these guys were familiar then I realized that Jocelyn interviewed them for Chicagoist way back in 2005 (Part 1, Part 2)!

The next event is scheduled for Wedsnesday, January 25 an I’m really going to try to go again because I had so much fun. Also, for all my years I lived in Roscoe Village, I never once went to Beat Kitchen. I don’t know how that could be. It’s only a block or two from where Jen & Chad live. In fact, I was hanging out with Jen and Limey and Quinn there before heading over to the event.

** Note: I didn’t get any photos of the band performing because my camera battery was about to die any second and I was trying to save it to take photos of Kevin, the last reader! And at least one photo of every other reader. I put my backup battery in and guess what? Dead. The band are the guys sitting in the background of each photo. I felt kind of bad for them because everyone was staring at them the whole time whether they were performing or not. Ha! Anyway, I didn’t think the photos came out half bad, given that I was just quick snapping one off then turning my camera off. And also because we were at a weird angle, front row seating.

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CHIRP VIP Mixer

October 5th, 2011 · No Comments


The event was at Catalyst Ranch, which had all kinds of stuff, including these cut outs


CHIRP DJ


Esta Vivo


Jess wanted this lunchbox.

A week or so ago, Jess and I went to the CHIRP VIP Mixer. CHIRP is the Chicago Independent Radio Project. I don’t know how I became a CHIRP VIP, but I got an invite in the mail with a plus one and since the last CHIRP party was fun, I decided to go. And we had fun. Happy to celebrate with and support CHIRP! Tune in!

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CHIRP Launch Party

February 1st, 2010 · 2 Comments

After dinner at Buona Terra, Jess and I headed up to the Lillstreet Art Center in Ravenswood for the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) launch party. CHIRP launched this past fall as a truly indpendent music- and arts-focused community radio station. Right now they only broadcast online, but they are hoping to someday broadcast on a low power FM station someday.

Jocelyn, a writer I know from back in my Chicagoist days, is the CHIRP events coordinator and DJs at noon on Fridays. So, she invited me to come to the party and it was nice to see her again and hear about her new venture. The party was fun. There was a live band, great beer and a ton of food, as well. We didn’t eat because we’d just eaten dinner, but we certainly did partake in the beer. And the band. I also got to see The Hixx, who I also know from Chicagoist. I still talk to her a lot online, but, man.. it’s probably been years since we’ve seen each other, so it was great catching up.

CHIRP is a cool project going on here in Chicago… but since they’re online, no matter where you live you can tune in and give them a listen at CHIRPradio.org. Tune in!

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