Great Pumpkin Week!

I've had a week full of wonderful Halloween events. A fantastic, huge Halloween party last Saturday in Elgin, a trip with friends to the Graceland Cemetery here in Chicago, a murder-themed show-choir performance, "Scareyoke" and a house dance party with the Joel Hall Dancers last night. Now I'm dressed at work in my "Chia Obama" costume. Tomorrow is going to be a blast at the Halloween Parade. Here are pics from this past week. More to come for tomorrow's celebrations!

Let's Make A Deal!

While in Vegas last week, a co-worker and I went the Tropicana to be in the studio audience of the new "Let's Make A Deal" with Wayne Brady. We got into the audience and had a prime position in the middle of the seating area. But rats, Wayne never picked us to do a deal. Still, the show is going to aire on CBS next Friday, Nov. 6. They wouldn't let us take picutres inside, but here's photos of us waiting in line with the other costumed contestants.

Margaritaville

While in Vegas, I saw Jimmy Buffett as part of the Anheuser Busch party. The guy goes to work in bare feet. Must be nice. But he really put on a good show and you can tell he loves his job.

Vegas Week

Last week I spent five days in Vegas for the annual convenience-store convention. Here are pictures from the convention floor, the view from the top of Stratosphere and a Karaoke at the Imperial Hotel. More pics will follow ...

Link to CSP TV at the convenience store convention

Convenience store convention.

Oktoberfest!

Pals at work put together an Oktoberfest-themed lunch to celebrate three co-workers' birthdays. Here's me getting into the spirit.

Nuns at a Wedding

My former Nunsense castmates got together to help our pianist Myron Silberstein and his bride Laura celebrate their wedding yesterday. Here's the happy couple in their first dance and a YouTube moment with the Sisters of St. Katrina.

Jen and Joe Show

The AIDS-awareness not-for-profit that I'm on the board of called School Street Arts Movement is having several fundraisers this fall. One of them is a singing duo of my two friends Joe Rosenmayer and Jen Thompson. They do quirky songs from various artists. Both play guitar and are trained vocalists. Jen's worked with local opera companies and Joe's done a lot of musical theater and has been musical director for the North Shore Theatre of Wilmette and Big Noise Theatre.

The "Jen and Joe Show" will be Saturday, Nov. 7 at Wild Pug, 4810 N. Broadway in Chicago at 8 p.m. Tickets will be $15/$20, but presale $10/$15. For presale, leave me a comment here on this blog.

Naked Sushi!

The Asians and Friends Chicago group that I'm involved in is hosting a "Naked Sushi" event where volunteer members will be "live serving trays" for catered sushi. We're just now getting our marketing materials together. The event will be Sat. Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. at @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark in Chicago. It'll be a blast!

Olympic Disappointment

My friends were downtown for the news last Friday that Chicago didn't win the 2016 Summer Games. They said Daley Plaza was buzzing with excitement, but when Chicago was eliminated in the first round, the crowd let out a huge, stunned gasp. Then everyone left. But they got free T-shirts and were seen on the television news.

So You Think You Can Dance?

Look at the old girl now. I had to video tape my Hip-Hop dance instructor William Gill at the Joel Hall Dance Center for the young people I'm working with. They're organizing an AIDS-awareness conference. They wanted to see what they were getting themselves into. And lo and behold, I'm in the video! America's Best Dance Crew, here I come!