POTTY-MOUTHED: The Performance February 22

Radio veterans
Author Anne Johnsos
and Charlie Meyerson

Once upon a time, in the land of Chicago there lived a mom and dad and their two girlies. Their perspective of the world was like no other. This amused their parents, and their parents’ friends, so much so that the girlie’s mom published a book about the girlie's innocent ass-hattery: POTTY-MOUTHED: Big Thoughts from Small Brains.

Also in the land of Chicago, before the girlies were even born, lived another mom and dad with their three boychiks. They too saw the world like no other. This amused their parents so much so that journals were kept to contain their most humorous and profound utterances.

With permission from their kids, the girlies' mom, Anne Johnsos, and the boychiks' dad, Charlie Meyerson, will perform a reading of the often hysterical, sometimes sweet moments delivered by their kids recently and years ago.

You’re invited to the party.

POTTY-MOUTHED: The Performance

Thursday, February 22
6:30 p.m. cocktails and book buying
7 p.m. SHOW BEGINS
at
M Lounge
1520 S. Wabash
Chicago

You might learn what "milkers" and "noo-noos" are and maybe how to say "hello" in German according to a 6-year-old.

“Free” event. Cash bar.
Consider eating before you come, because no food is sold at M Lounge.

POTTY-MOUTHED, the book, will be on sale for $20.

Hope to see you there. Cyberspace is only fun for so long.

Anne recently spoke to WGN's Rick Kogan about her family and the book. Hear it here.

She and I had some back and forth too. Read it here.

For more information, contact me, the evening's impresario at karenkring8@gmail.com.

Making conversation with family and strangers

Killian Kring, my oldest nephew,
graduated from UIC this month.

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

~ Ferris Bueller

A new friend of mine just said “May is crazier than Christmas”. I’m feeling that too: Graduations, weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, Mother’s Day, birthdays, oy.

If you have trouble making conversation at family events, here’s some conversation starters. Consider putting them in a handy place on your mobile device to consult with when you get stuck. These are meant to be light questions, but can get heavy in a hurry, so if you’re not in the mood to get to deep, choose wisely.

Who would you invite to your ultimate dinner party, living or not?

What do you do for fun?

What was the happiest moment of your life?

What are some of the best lessons you’re ever learned?

What kind of a student were you?

Who was your favorite teacher?
Favorite topics?

Who has been the kindest to you?

What is your earliest memory?

Do you believe in love at first sight?

What are you proudest of?

Who are your best friends?

Who are your favorite relatives?

Have you ever experienced a miracles?

How would you like to be remembered?

If you weren't doing what you're doing now for a living, what else might you be doing?

When you meet God, what do you want to say to Him/Her?

The above questions are inspired by StoryCorps’ Great Questions.

The following are all mine. Two of my go-to “cocktail party” questions are these: 1) Have you ever been arrest? 2) Imagine that you’ve just spent the night with someone special, exchanged all kinds of bodily fluids, would you use their toothbrush in the morning?

Got any of your own questions you like asking? I'd love to hear them.

BizPics: Headshots for Business, Sunday, May 21

If you need a new headshot for social media, a website, media relations or other purposes, I'd love to make it for you. My next BizPics shoot is at Creative Coworking in Evanston Sunday, May 21, 2017.

If you find the prospect of getting your portrait made daunting, but you know you need one, this is the shoot for you. These shoots are fun, a cross between a fashion shoot and a party. If you come, you'll get some smart pictures made of yourself while having a good time. In fact, consider bringing a friend or loved one.

Skokie's Dr. Susan Becker Doroshow
 

This in from Skokie dentist, Dr. Susan Becker Doroshow, about BizPics: The business portrait that Karen made was literally the springboard for a revitalized practice image, new marketing materials, and a clear brand that truly resonates with my patients and staff. I never knew that a photograph could accomplish so much. Karen is an artist and creative genius!

From non-profit executive Thomas Applegate: I finally took advantage of the opportunity with...BizPics to get new photos for use online at Linkedin, Facebook and all of the rest. A great current photo is essential for my professional and social image online.

Karen and her crew are great to work with at the shoot. Even though I wasn't nervous about having my picture taken, I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun it was. Karen...made it fun and easy. I met other professionals while we waited for our turn and that casual conversation helped my photos look relaxed and natural. The process from sign up to selection of my favorite shots was quick and easy.

My only regret is that I waited so long to sign up for a shoot.

Registration and details for the May 21 shoot are up at https://bizpicsmay21.eventbrite.com.

Spam Fun with James Veitch

Nope. James Veitch is not from Skokie. He's British and funny. I feature him here because what Skokie, Chicago, Illinois, the USA and the world need now is love sweet love...and funny. Here's 9 minutes of chuckles for you.

Live music weekly at Dempster/Karlov Starbucks: July & August Schedule

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July 2015

4th – No Music – HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

11th – Amy Shoemaker and Friends playing Folk Rock

18th – Jerry Zabin playing Jazz

25th – Inna Melnikov playing R&B and Classical Violin


August 2015

1st – Kristin Lems playing Folk

8th – David Liljewal and Noah Ziedman playing Acoustic Rock and Pop

15th – M.K. Ness playing Acoustic Jazz and Blues

22nd – Tiny Miles playing R&B

29th – Jerry Zabin playing Jazz

Starbucks is at 4116 Dempster St., Skokie . Call 847-674-5834 for exact times.

Kristin Lems

Kristin Lems at Starbucks

updated July 22, 2013
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Had a great time on Saturday/June 15 with the crowd at Starbucks (on Dempster by Karlov) as we listened to Evanston's own singer-songwriter Kristin Lems tell stories and sing in French, Persian and English--her own songs and others--about spirit and challenge.

To be clear, while Kristin is a neighbor, she's known worldwide.
Learn more about her from this piece by Skokie-based Myrna Petlicki for the Evanston Review and another piece published by the Illinois Times.

Kristin plays that Skokie Starbucks again on August 17, 7-9 p.m.
Freewill donation is being asked for, so bring some cash, some gift cards or...hmm, whatever.

Before she comes back to Skokie, she'll be at the Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival on August 4, 11 a.m. - noon, on the stage at Dawes Park at Sheridan Rd. and Church St. The festival and free and open to the public.

Skokie's 4th of July Parade 2012

updated July 11, 2012

Here's Scott Holtz', Joel Lerner's and my take on from this year's Skokie 4th of July parade.

More of Scott's image can be found on Facebook via Downtown Skokie.

More of Joel's take can be seen online via Skokie Review.

 

Niles Township Assessor Scott Bagnall. 

 

Temple Judah Mizpah's Maddy Foler.

 

 

Dance Troupe Aenacer Boliviano dances down Oakton St. during Skokie's 4th of July Parade.

 

John Haber and Jeff Gould atop the Haben Funeral Home's antique hearse. 

Mike Reid.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White holds a banner as one of the Jesse White Tumblers flips over it.

 

U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky.

 

 

 

  

  

  

Illinois Representative Lou Lang (in blue cap) poses with neighbors for a picture.

 

 

Joel Lerner takes a break from covering the parade for the Skokie Review. 

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BizPics applying for Mission: Small Business grant

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Update: On June 29, we got the 250 votes we needed to be considered for the grant. Big thank-you to all who voted for us.

Like other Skokie-based business, Sweety Pies, Golly Gear, Urban Beat Dance, Illinois Nut & Candy among them, my company, Kring Lerner Group is going for it!

We've applied for a Chase and Living Social's Mission: Small Business grant for BizPics.

Scheduled approximately every other month, a BizPics shoot is a fun and affordable way to have a good business portrait made.

The grant money, $250,000, will support a new program for Chicago-area unemployed job seekers needing headshots for LinkedIn, Facebook and beyond, as well as help make BizPics a more sustainable operation.

We'll need 250 votes by June 30 to be eligible for the grant.
Grant recipients will be announced in September.

Please search on "BizPics" after logging in at https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com and cast a vote for us.

Thanks. We appreciate our community's support.

For more about Mission: Small Business' judges and sponsors, check out their press release on BusinessWire. 

Portrayed here: Holly Rotman-Zaid (top), Scott Holtz and Dr. Sue Becker Doroshow.

David Taxman in (the play) Skirmishes in June

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This in from David Taxman, Niles North alum, and my husband's second cousin once removed...

I am in an hour long comedy called Skirmishes, which is a series of skits dealing with the battle of the sexes. It takes place on Wednesdays in June starting June 8, going until June 29, at 8 p.m. So there are a total of 4 shows. Tickets are only $12.

Gorilla Tango Theatre
1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, Illinois (map)

I hope you can come and hopefully enjoy a great show.

More info about it on Facebook.

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Gorilla Tango is new Margie's Candies. Love that place. Love their sundaes!

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TED Talks for kids and adults

Do you know about the TED Talks?

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, is a non-profit dedicated to "ideas worth spreading".  Started in 1984, TED activities now go beyond annual conferences, which I've yet to get to in person.  I watch the TED Talks online and always come away with an additional perspective on issues I'm already engaged in and a greater understand of issues I'd rarely thought about.

Recently in TED Conversations, a mom asked for recommendations for TED Talks to share with her daughter. Concerned that the results of this very useful exchange wouldn't be available after the close of the conversation, I'm sharing some of the recommendations here, all of which I've listened to too.

All of these are suitable for adults as well.

Jamie Oliver talks about our country's dwindling mortality given our eating habits and how we can turn it around and save our kids.

Young Birke Baehr discusses the dark side of the industrialized food system, his dream of being an organic farmer and suggests not eating food that sparkles.

Young Adora Svitak challenges all to rethink the term "childish".  She thinks learning should be reciprocal.

Gever Tulley talks about playing with fire, knives, spears, appliances, the digital millenium copyright act, cars and how to raise kids to be creative, confident and in control of their environment.

William Kamkwamba discusses building an electricity-generating windmill for his family when he was 14.

Young Sirena Huang plays her violin and discusses the 16th Century technology, design and entertainment value of  her instrument.

Geert Chatrou is an amazing whistler.

Natasha Tsakos discusses the environment between reality and imagination, science and art, creative collaboration and connection, and producing meaningful work. She performs a piece from her show "Upwake".

A mathematician and a magician, Art Benjamin does "mathemagic".

Wow. Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demonstrate SixthSense.

By the way, November 20, 2011 is Universal Children's Day and TEDxYouthDay.

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Skokie's 4th of July Parade

One needed to know Skokie and its 4th of July parade to understand something was different this year. The weather was cooler than most years, so there was less concern about band members passing out, but any Chicagoan would have noticed that. Where were the temple teams? Where was Beth Israel? July 4, 2009 landed on a Saturday. Word was that many temples opted out of the parade in honor of the sabbath. July 4, 2010 is on a Sunday next year. It's a good bet they'll be back.

Pioneer Press' Mike Isaacs wrote about the pre-parade preparations.
SkokieNet's Eh re ca wrote about teen volunteers' work at the parade.
State Rep. Lou Lang's web page offers a bit about Lou's and Jan Schakowsky's infirmities.

Here's some simple snaps I made of the parade. I didn't catch everyone's name, but aim to fill them in as I learn them, so bring on the information. Love mob sourcing.

~ Karen Kring

George and Susan Van Dusen with friend.
George is Skokie's mayor.


U.S. House Rep Jan Schakowsky didn't walk the parade
as she usually does due to her bum foot.


This Jan of fan knows how to enjoy being in a parade.


Abbey Fishman Romanek is running for judge from
Cook Country's 9th subcircuit. Election is in February 2010.


Jesse Greenberg and other advocates for Abbey.




Having fun isn't hard when you've got...


a library card.


Roy Swenson.

Kiyo Shirataki.


Nola Penn.


Young Eldridge Shannon with Urban Beat Dance.


Two Rubinos.





Angeles "Jelly" Carandang






Illinois State Rep. Elizabeth Coulsen meets the Rubinos.


The parade is not over until the Refuse Collection
Division's trucks go by.