Do you like music? Do you like a WHOLE bunch of music? Do you like the August heat? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions... read on!

All of us at "metromix" love you so much that were giving away 10 passes to Lollapalooza 2009. Too good to be true? We know. Check out the awesome line-up here and watch this Thursday night to find out how you can win...

Summer is here and it's hot, hot, hot! I'll show you how to cool down your impact on Mother Earth -- from organic sunscreen to grass-fed beef, it's easy to keep Chica-GO GREEN :)

This picture popped up on our website today and it brings us joy. WGN's Marcus Leshock is fully entrenched at the Taste this week and it looks like he's enjoying his time and our Tribune dollars eating everything in sight.

So we'll have some fun at his expense and ask you to write the caption for this amazing pic. (Our suggestions after the jump.)

One of my most favorite Michael Jackson memories is this chill-inducing performance of "Heal The World" during Superbowl XXVII, complete with a 35,000 person flash card show... AMAZING! It came at a time when the world was in repair after the Gulf War and still gives me goose bumps after all these years.

It got me thinking about the best of MJ that will live and breathe well beyond his brief 50 years. Read on for my Top 10 songs...

The World's Largest Block Party is back and celebrating a quarter century in Chicago.

July 10th and 11th the West Loop will be packed for Gavin DeGraw, Ben Folds and Collective Soul. The best part is tickets are cheap at only $35! That includes admission and five drink tickets for the frothy beverage of your choice.

This year they are asking that you bring a non-perishable food item to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. If you decided to feed others Old St. Pat's will feed you with a free hot dog each day! It's a win / win.

Just yesterday I spoke with actor and poker player Vince Van Patten about MJ. The two grew up next door to each other... and Vince had nothing but the best to say about the entire Jackson family.

TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital and has died of Cardiac Arrest. He was 50.

Opinion: Forget the recession, troubles in Iran and North Korea, we've got problems of a much larger kind. Jon & Kate Gosselin are splitting up. OMG! We (Metromix TV) really wonder where the hell our (America's) priorities are.

A reality show on cable is the top story in todays news? We're seriously living in an alternate universe. Look at the cover of todays Chicago Sun-Times.

UPDATE: Since the King of Pop's passing, we thought we'd re-post everything we've done that's MJ related in the past...

You read that right....I have officially taken over for Michael Jackson in his classic video for "Thriller!" Check out my unbelievably good performance!

And you can do the same! Just log onto Mike's website here, then click on the link to insert yourself into the video. You'll need a digital camera and a few minutes to waste and never get back. The final product comes out a bit bizarre and extremely creepy...but when your taking about Michael Jackson....what did you really expect, people?!

Andy Dick has the blues and it's all because of his alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet. He obviously doesn't trust himself around the sauce or he needs some new material. Either way he performed a little song for us at The Hotel Sax about said bracelet and it's pretty funny...

Director / writer Harold Ramis was in town last week to premiere his new flick "Year One" at the Music Box. We had to ask him about the Ghostbusters 3 movie tentatively scheduled for a 2012 release.

If your commute down Illinois was detoured last night -- it's cause the West Coast took over the Third Coast for the Chicago premier of "Public Enemies" starring Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. As far as Red Carpets go, this was a pretty calm one... Marion was more beautiful in person than words can describe (the new face of Dior was wearing the eponymous designer), Christian had the most piercing eyes and Johnny, well... I barely even get to see his face :(

See -- there's a pecking order on the scarlett runway, the big stations are at the front of the line and "metromix"... let's just say we were somewhere in the middle. Needless to say, Johnny boy only made it a few reporters in before heading over to the crowds and signing literally hundreds of autographs for screaming fans. Guess you can't blame the guy! Anyway, here's some video from top-of-the-pack WGN...

And check out pics here!

No bright lights or big theaters here, but Broadway Street in Edgewater has a charm all its own...

Moody's Pub (5910 N. Broadway)
For beers, burgers and a breath of fresh air.

Ethiopian Diamond (6120 N. Broadway)
Eats from another world, that are out of this world!

Bananas Foster Cafe (1147 W. Granville)
A casual spot for "European comfort food" breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Broadway Antique Market (6130 N. Broadway)
More than 75 vendors bring their wares to this emporium for all things old and awesome.

Third Coast Comics (6234 N. Broadway)
The go-to for comics and graphic novels on the Northside.

Tonight, Universal Pictures is holding a screening of the new Dillinger pic Public Enemies - which was shot right here in our own backyard last year. The event is at AMC River East theater. And while us lowly, non-celebs aren't invited to watch the movie, we can show up and hoot and holler for the films stars: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Marion Cotillard. The red carpet rolls out at 6 p.m and will probably be more interesting that the Crosstown Classic.

The film opens on Wednesday July 1.

We know you've been worrying that the Beastie Boys will play at the same time as Care Bears On Fire at this year's Lollapalooza. But worry no more! The official lineup for all three days is available here - so you can start planning your rocking out down to the minute. (And for the record, Beastie Boys and Care Bears on Fire - play the same day, just not at the same time.)

I got my hands dirty (very dirty!) this past Saturday at Chicago's largest day of service! Serve-A-Thon is a ginormous annual event put on by Chicago Cares -- thousands of volunteers are sent out to public schools all over town to help paint and beautify the spaces where 30,000 Chicago children play and learn.

Watch this awesome "Mural in a Minute" video to check out what I spent my day slaving away on (see if you can spot me!) at Hendricks Elementary School. It actually took about five hours...

Join Jeremy Piven and Billy Dec this Saturday night for the Piven Theater Workshop Benefit at Rockit. The annual bash raises scratch for the Chicago arts... and among the drinks and do-gooding, you can also win a walk-on role in Entourage!

Get tickets here...

Bertha Mason takes over your kitchen with her homespun recipes. And remember... "if you're feeling bitter, just add butter and you'll be feeling better."

Bertha Mason’s Heaven and Hell Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup of all-purpose flour
½ cup of cocoa
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
4 oz of melted semi-sweet chocolate
½ cup of soft unsalted butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

To prepare:
Pre-heat oven to 325°. Sift flour, cocoa, soda, salt, cinnamon, and peppers. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape down side of bowl. Add eggs. Cream until incorporated. Scrape down. Add melted chocolate. Mix and scrape down. Mixture will look dark and grainy. Add vanilla. Mix. Add dry ingredients. Mix. Dough will be loose and not very firm. Scoop cookies on to a prepared cookie sheet. Use a 1 ½ inch ice cream scoop. Space cookies 2 inches apart on sheet. Chill dough until firm. Before baking, dip tops of cookies in sugar. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cookies will be soft and gooey. Remove from oven and allow to cool on tray. Remove once cookies are set.

Remember that these cookies are spicy like damnation, but sweet like salvation. Enjoy!

Make Butterscotch Blondies and Magically Easy Fudge after the jump...

You don't have to be a Cubs fan to enjoy a day at Wrigley Field. Being from New York, I grew up a devoted Yankees fan...when I cared to watch a game at all. (Football's more my speed...yup, GO BILLS!) Still, having lived in Chicago for a year now, it was high time I got myself to a Cubs game.

If you missed last night's Jimmy Fallon, or if you want to watch again what could possibly be the most brilliant segment in late night television history, here's the clip. Zack Morris (or, going by his SAG name, Mark Paul Gosselaar), complete with mammoth cell phone, memories of Stacey Carosi and pinch rolled, faded-wash jeans chats with Jimmy about his life as a grown up actor and signs on for a Saved By The Bell class reunion. Priceless.

Yup, what I do for "metromix!" So last Friday I was shooting wraps for the show... just minding my own business, when a pigeon had the nerve to use my shoulder as its personal port-o-potty. GROSS. Anyway, you better watch this week to make it worth my while!

Does anyone know where the "good luck" myth started? It's hard to believe that avian fecal matter with bring me anything but disease, but I guess we'll see...

Lot's to do this weekend -- Gospel Fest, Printers Row Lit Fest (I'll be there on Saturday!) and for all you browsers/collectors, the 57th Street Art Fair. This one's free kiddies, so drop by for jewelry, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture and so on. PLUS, this year they're doing an Art Buying Boot Camp to help all you cash-strapped art lovers find that perfect piece, for the perfect price!

It's a cheesy 80's movie come to life: Small town girl has goals, girl gets a break, girl packs up car and moves her whole life to a brand new, major city...all by herself. So what's she to do once she moves there? It's all too easy to become an introvert...so why not play tourist in her new home? Enter me, Lindsey, with my budget-friendly adventures, and you, the hopefully interested reader. Whether you're also new to Chicago or a lifelong native, (re)discover the Windy city with me!

We'll start simple...a day at the beach.