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Gayle the Garmin GPS and I have a rocky friendship.
We met at Best Buy about two months ago after I got lost and super panicky in the suburb of Mount Prospect. At 9 p.m. On a Tuesday night. On my way home from work. You see, when it comes to getting from point “A” to point “B” in and around Chicago, I might as well be a non-English speaking four-year-old from Zimbabwe who’s just stepped foot on American soil; frankly, I have no idea where I’m going.
Marcus Leshock here. Just a few weeks before Christmas, I’ve decided to start posting some of my favorite gifts ideas. Think of it like Oprah’s Favorite Things, except normal people can afford them, and I’m not giving any of them away! With that stated, let’s get to one of my most recent purchases and something I highly recommend for any Home Theatre buff – the Toshiba HD-A3 HD-DVD player! More on how this device changed my life, after the jump….
Continue reading "Marcus’s Holiday Gift Picks: HD-DVD Player!" »
Marcus Leshock here. Sly Stallone came through Chicago when "Rocky Balboa" was released, and he was kind enough to spend a few minutes with me. The "Rocky Saga" comes out on DVD today and it's my DVD Pick of the Week. All 6 "Rocky" movies for less than $40! Talk about a great gift! Check out the full uncut interview above!
Hey, Metromixers! It’s Bahar here… Forget Santa! Did you know that the season’s craziest pub crawl, The Twelve Bars of Christmas (TBOX) is coming to town? If you don’t have a ticket, you better not pout or cry, and here’s why: On Wednesday’s show, we’ll give you a chance to win free admission to the day-long boozefest.
And if you’re already a lucky ticket-holder, keep an eye out for the Metromix cameras. I’ll be working the pub crawl from 10 a.m. onwards, so stop on by and show me whether you’re naughty or nice.
Hey all, Marcus Leshock here. Have to thank all of the viewers who came out to English last night for our 1st Annual Metromix Mistletoe Party! I didn't see too many people getting lucky under the mistletoe, but the place was packed right at 6 and rocked throughout the night. Also have to thank the fine folks at Moet Hennessy USA for providing the complementary cocktails.
After the jump you can watch the video highlights from last night's show, and get those tasty Moet cocktail recipes Jane Monzures was telling you about! So thanks again and keep reading!
Marcus Leshock here. The National Board of Review announced its annual film awards yesterday, and they named "No Country for Old Men" the Best Picture of 2007. Their entire top ten, and is Ben Affleck a front-runner to win Best Director, after the jump....
Continue reading "The Season's First *Best Picture* Award Goes To....." »
So we’re still in that “it’s the end of the year, and the music industry is about to go into annual hibernation until mid-January” phase...But, there are still some new records of note, and a couple to clean up on that I haven’t yet talked about…click for ‘em.
We know you'll be spending a lot of time indoors as it gets colder.
So we thought it would be cool if we gave you some options to stay warm and learn a little.
Check out some of these museum exhibits before they close.
He performed to a full house last night at The Cubby Bear, and man was he hilarious! Chicago-born actor John C. Reilly sat down with me for a few minutes to talk everything Dewey Cox. Cox music, Cox on the road, and just how fun it is to be able to say Cox all the time.
Ok..I'm lucky enough to see so many shows, that it's a rare occurrence when one hits me so hard, it compels me to write about it the next morning....
Continue reading "RICHARD HAWLEY: Pogo Gets Blown Away At The Abbey Pub" »
"Atonement" is a period piece. . It's a movie about love, guilt, and the horrors of war. But don't let the term "period piece" scare you away. This is one of the most exhilirating movies of the year. My full review is right after the jump....
Continue reading "LESHOCK VALUE: Golden Globe Leading "Atonement" Review!" »
Just wanted to give a shout out to everyone I met at TBox12 on Saturday. It was great hearing from all of you who watch the show.
If you have no idea what TBox is, even MORE of a reason to watch the clips. It's an annual holiday event unlike anything in Chicago. It was my first time, and let me tell you...I have seen a lot of things over the years on Metromix TV....Never have I seen so many people devoted to drinking so early in the A-M. And the costumes!?!
If you were there, let us know what the weirdest thing you saw was.
Just added: Video highlights after the jump!
-Stephanie
MxTV Executive Producer
Of course, this Florida gal would be talking about winter. On one hand... there's the caroling, snow-covered sidewalks, mistletoe (wink, wink) and general citywide glee. And to be fair, a palm tree wrapped in twinkling lights is just wrong. On the other... you've got car scrapers, frost-bitten cheeks, a whopper of a heating bill and toes that will seemingly never thaw.
The hoildays are joyous, no doubt. But come the New Year, what's the point of winter? Please help me see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm looking for that bar, that toasty drink or that cozy cafe that helps you make it through the months of miserable weather...
Marcus Leshock here. The Golden Globe nominations for 2007 are out, and as always, there’s plenty to complain about! This year’s field is SO tough to judge, they have 7 films in the Best Drama category as opposed to the usual 5! Check out the nominees, complete with commentary, after the jump….
I’ve got a problem. And instead of resolving it, I’ve simply chosen to ignore it, hoping it’ll just go away. And it hasn’t, no matter how far I run or hide.
You see, New Years Eve is just weeks away, and my friends have so graciously dumped all of the party planning burdens upon my feeble, already-aching-from-carrying-a-camera-around-all–day shoulders. But, really, how can I blame them?
Marcus Leshock here. Ever wonder what happens on the "metromix" set AFTER the broadcast ends? As you can imagine, a little hijinx ensue. You fans of 80's cinema should get this one. Just call us "The Metromix Club":
Marcus Leshock here. You may have caught it on Monday's show, but in honor of the release of the "Once" DVD, we re-aired Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's performance on the show! Since I've uploaded it, more than 35,000 people have checked it out. Pretty amazing, but then again, so are they. Back by popular demand, here's the entire performance. Glen and Marketa doing Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic":
Being closer to the end of the year, this week in music is even slower than the last couple...but there are a few releases of note...so click to see them:
While barhopping all around town last Saturday night, I realized that I don’t get carded anymore! Back in my college days, getting through bar doors and lame velvet ropes scot-free would have been a blessing, but now that I’m approaching 26 (when! did! that! happen!) I kinda miss the look of suspicion you get from bouncers when you're 19 or 20 and clearly too young to be sipping vodka sodas bought for you by 32-year-old men.
Marcus Leshock here. Saw this photo on the London Daily Mail website. One of my childhood heroes continues to amaze:
Michael Jackson was spotted shopping in a ridiculous disguise, and sporting surgical plasters all over his face. Either Michael's gearing up to kick off his "comeback" tour - or he's getting ready to play the killer in the next "I Know What You Did Last Summer" film. Read about it and see more depressing pictures here.
Project Runway's Steven Rosengard just did a fabulous job of showing us some of the top scarf trends of the season (see "metromix" video), but if you're obsessed with wearing silk scarves on your hair as a headband or bandana (like I am) check out the link (after the jump) for even more inspiration.
We all have our vices. For some, it’s nicotine and for others, it’s video games, junk food, sex or alcohol. My downfall?
(Continue reading after the jump...)
Marcus Leshock here, happy Friday everyone! Holiday break has been good so far. I'm planning on checking out "The Orphanage" today, still haven't seen it yet. And I just read that "3:10 to Yuma" drops on DVD next week, more on that then. For now, please excuse me as I go return some video tapes. Enjoy a little fun with Christian Bale:
Marcus here. Maybe you're like the thousands of other folks who still have no idea what they're doing on New Year's Eve? You could spend hundreds of dollars on some party you probably won't remember. Or you could spend all of that money on a nice dinner! Before you "snap into shape in '08" (patent pending), why not gather your friends at one of Chicago's signature restaurants and shovel ridiculous amounts of food down your traps? A few options for ya after the jump....
Pete's girlfriend, Ashlee Simpson (dressed as Mrs. Elf), also made an appearance in Chitown today...
Fall Out Boy bassist and Wilmette, IL native Pete Wentz took some time to chat with me today, and now that I've met him, I can certainly see why the ladies love him: he's charming, down to earth and sweet. Be sure to watch "metromix" next week to see why Pete was in town over the holidays...
Some very sad news over the holiday break. Chicago Tribune entertainment columnist Terry Armour passed away at the young age of 46.
I’ve been with “metromix on CLTV” for just over 2 years now, which means Terry and I would cross paths pretty frequently. He was always so outgoing, interested in how things were going with the show, and always wanted to talk. But what I'll remember more than anything else - he was so darn funny. You knew Terry was in the screening room because people were laughing.
I remember us joking a few days after interviewing Chris Tucker for “Rush Hour 3.” We debated what “Rush Hour 4” would be about. Terry said, “Rush Hour 4: Crisis in Darfour.” He then went into a spot on Chris Tucker impression – “Why you ain’t eatin?! Daaaaammmnnnn!”
I can’t say I knew Terry very well, but I knew enough to say he was one of the nicest people in our business, always willing to give advice to the newest guy at the job. The Tribune lost a great columnist, but Chicago has lost an even better person.
