Once upon a time, I used to be an angst-ridden teen just looking for a little love from bad boys who rocked DC skateboarding kicks and smoked various leaves behind the bushes at school. Now that I’ve matured, changed my taste in men, and effectively become more boring, I don’t have much to complain about come Valentine’s Day. But sometimes re-living the past can be fun, so here’s a list of moody songs I would’ve listened to back in the V-D day. What are yours?
Guess who’s coming to town? Nope, not Santa! It’s Nick Cannon and friends.
Mr. Mariah Carey will D.J. at The Underground this Thursday night in honor of the club's first annual The Grinch Who Gave Back Christmas holiday party. The $20 cover charge will get you in the door and benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Doors open at 10 p.m. so get there early and maybe you’ll sneak a peek at Mariah (if she shows). For more info, call 312-644-7600.
We all become overly obsessed with strange things from time to time (Twilight , anyone?) and my latest obsession is red, round and costs less than twenty bucks!
Is it a tube of “Lady Danger” MAC lipstick, you ask? Nope! It’s Pequod’s—Chicago’s most deeeeeelicious panned pizza!
Don’t believe me? Just take a look at my Capitol One statement. Careful inspection proves that I’ve eaten Pequod’s pizza for SEVEN consecutive weekends! Unabashedly disgusting? Sure! Worth every bite? Absolutely!
Has the dreary, maddeningly cold weather got you feeling a wee bit depressed? Well, one solution is a daylight therapy S.A.D. lamp, (zing?) but a frothy cup of hot chocolate is just SO much sexier!
Turns out the celeb gossip rags are pretty good about spreading accurate star gossip. For weeks, there’s been baby buzz surrounding Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, and now the rumors have been confirmed: the pop tart and Fall Out Boy are expecting! This news comes just a day after the former Miss Simpson officially changed her last name to “Wentz.”
Did Cameron Diaz pull a Britney? Click on the link to see why Miss Diaz is sporting a new look.
(More after the jump)
Ellen DeGeneres must have had marriage on the mind, because as soon as it was announced that gays and lesbians can get married in California, the talk show host came out with her own plans to marry girlfriend Portia di Rossi! Go, Ellen!
(Read Ellen’s Public Statement After the Jump)
Continue reading "Ellen & Long-time Lover will Tie the Knot!" »
In this week’s Neighborhood Tour segment, I made my way to La Grange, IL-- a cozy suburb 14 miles west of the city. If you didn’t catch our show tonight (tisk! tisk!), you’re in luck because you can watch the clip on our video player at the right of the screen. Yay!
Click on the link below for a quick recap and my personal opinion on all of the places I visited.
(More after the jump)
I LOVE that two of my favorite bands (Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails) are changing the way we access music!
Following the footsteps of Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” release in October, Trent Reznor’s giving fans a chance to download the new 10-track NIN album (The Slip) for FREE, in any format.
(Read More About "The Slip" After The Jump)
Continue reading "Trent Reznor “Slips” Fans a Sweet Surprise" »
I love this song from the sexy Sri Lankan musician, M.I.A. Check it out.
People.com is reporting that actors Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johansson are engaged. It looks like the 31-year-old Reynolds couldn’t wait to be a hubby--- he was previously engaged to musician Alanis Morrisette before their long-term romance fizzled. This is 23-year-old Johansson’s first engagement, and the Hollywood duo has yet to set a wedding date.
Metromixers, what are you doing this Friday night? Going to bed at 1 a.m. like a good little boy or girl? Wrong answer! You’re heading to Looptopia—Chicago’s second annual all-night party!
The dusk to dawn affair features live music, art exhibits, dance, and the general craziness that ensues when human beings stay awake all night long. Sounds mighty fun, doesn’t it?
(Read more about LOOPTOPIA after the jump)
Continue reading "Come Party With Bahar at LOOPTOPIA '08!" »
The sexiest woman of 2008 is engaged to “90210” alum, Brian Austin Green. Can you guess who?
(Click on the link for the answer and a Top 10 list)
Ladies, springtime is finally here and summer’s just a few months away, which means it’s time to revamp your look from head to toe.
On tonight’s episode, we taught you how to tweak your make-up regimen so you can put on your best face during the warm weather months (if you missed it, make sure to click on the video player on the right of the screen for another look) and below, we’re showing you how to shop the season’s hottest swim and footwear trends. Plus, Jackie takes us inside Gen Art's Shop CHIcago to explore the city's emerging designers.
Spring and Summer Shoe Trends
(More Style Tips and Video after the Jump)
Jessica Simpson shared a sugary sweet kiss with boyfriend Tony Romo at his 28th b-day bash over the weekend. It's good to see her letting loose and having fun with cake. I just wonder if Papa Joe Simpson saw this...
One of my favorite faces on the morning news just became a mother for the second time. American Morning co-host Kiran Chetry gave birth to son, Christopher, late last night. The 33-year-old anchor already has a 2-year-old daughter with husband and CW weatherman, Chris Knowles. Congrats to the couple!
I don’t mean to beat a dead horse over its head, but the celeb rags are still going crazy over Ashlee Simpson’s supposed pregnancy! First Us Weekly came out with the story--citing an unnamed source--then OK! followed suit, and now People says the rock duo is expecting and will be getting hitched in May. Do you think Ashlee’s really pregnant or is this just another publicity stunt?
On tonight’s Neighborhood Tour, we paid tribute to two Polish spots and one local institution in Jefferson Park. Read the details below:
1. Dinner at Smak-Tak!
It’s unlikely that you’ll be talking smack about the food at this place because everything on the menu’s homemade and delicious. They serve pierogies, potato pancakes and soft blintzes stuffed with sweet cheese. Yum!
http://www.smaktak.com/
(Read more about Jefferson Park after the jump...)
USMagazine.com is reporting that Ashlee Simpson’s pregnant! The Simpson/Wentz camp is vehemently denying the rumors, but I have to say, Us Weekly is usually right about these things, so it’ll be very interesting to see what unfolds during the next few days.
Johnny Depp fans, it’s time to jump in your cars and make the trek out to the 'burbs because heartthrob Johnny Depp is in Aurora working on his latest project, “Public Enemies.” The megastar signed autographs for adoring fans late last night.
Watch him on tonight's program!
Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with “The Hills.” A presidential hopeful recently shared their fondness for the MTV reality show on Time.com. No joke! Can you guess who?
The quote: “I’m honored to have Heidi’s [Montag] support and want to assure her that I never miss an episode of ‘The Hills,’ especially since the new season started.”
(Find out who said this after the jump… )
Continue reading "Which Presidential Candidate Loves Watching “The Hills?”" »
Tennis hottie (and superstar) Andy Roddick’s off the market, ladies! According to his official website, AndyRoddick.com, the 25-year-old’s engaged to his swimsuit model girlfriend of one year, Brooklyn Decker. Poor Mandy Moore…
The April issue of “Vogue,” featuring NBA star LeBron James and supermodel Gisele Bundchen has got tongues wagging. Sure, it’s the first cover in “Vogue” history to feature a black man, but that’s not what the controversy is all about.
(More after the jump...)
She’s already got a baby bump and now, Britney’s 16-year-old sister Jamie Lynn has a fiancé, too. The Nickelodeon star was recently engaged to her 18-year-old boyfriend, Casey Aldridge. The young couple will become parents some time this summer.
In tonight’s Neighborhood Tour, we traveled to my hometown, Glenview! If you didn’t catch the segment on TV (shame, shame!), it will replay at 8, 9 and midnight tonight… And if you don’t have cable, just click on the video player at the right of the blog.
Now, we stopped by lots of places, so here’s a quick recap after the jump....
Snoop fans, set your TiVo's! The rapper's scheduled to appear in two episodes of ABC's "One Life to Live" in May. Apparently, Snoop's been a fan of the soap ever since he was a tyke. Surprising, no? Anyhow, not only will the 36-year-old show off his acting chops, but he'll also perform two hits from his latest album, "Ego Trippin'."
If you've been following national news at all, you know that New York's high-profile, now-ex governor, Eliot Spitzer, is coming under fire for seeking the services of a pricey prostitute.
The New York Times is reporting that the call girl in question, "Kristen", is an aspiring songbird who goes by the stage name Ashley Alexandra Dupre. Turns out Dupre's got a Myspace page that reveals her personal pictures and singing abilities. Not surprisingly, her Myspace URL, http://www.myspace.com/ninavenetta, has been blowing up with page views ever since Spitzer's sex scandal surfaced, and her song "What We Want" has gotten more than 2 million plays so far. Could all of this media attention make Miss Dupre a new pop sensation?
**Update: Dupre's Myspace page was JUST deleted, minutes after I posted. I wonder who's behind that move...
Oh, boy. Just looking at this mammoth pothole makes me tremble in fear.
A few weeks ago, I had the misfortune of falling victim to a MASSIVE pothole hidden deep in the butchered streets of the I-88 highway.
Suffice it to say, I haven’t been the same woman since.
(Continue reading "Pothole Hell after the jump...)
Could this be the world’s most beautiful couple du jour? Sometimes I think so.
Looks like Mr. Brady’s been nursing his Super Bowl setback by hittin’ the beach with supermodel girlfriend, Gisele Bundchen.
The “super” duo were photographed at a store opening in New York City last night. What a life!
After making hits for more than two decades, Madonna’s finally a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.
The pop diva, who was inducted by Justin Timberlake in New York City last night, apparently gave one of the longest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acceptance speeches ever, clocking in at 16 minutes.
Madonna and Timberlake have gotten close in recent months and even worked together on her upcoming album, “Hard Candy,” which is set for an April 29 release.
A biopic on the Notorious B.I.G is scheduled to be released some time in 2009, and rapper Jamal “Gravy” Woolard has been picked to play the slain hip hop artist.
“Notorious,” will also feature cameos from Angela Bassett (cast as Biggie’s mom), Anthony Mackie (Tupac Shakur), and Derek Luke (Sean “Diddy” Combs).
According to sources, more than 100 rappers were vying for the role (Sean Kingston, Guerilla Black), but the part eventually went to Woolard, who will be making his Hollywood debut.
Listen up "Wheel of Fortune" lovers! A little birdie just gave me an update on the "Wheel" crew.
So, tickets to the Navy Pier tapings are no longer available, BUT if you want to see Pat and Vanna up close, you're going to have to (ahem) mysteriously end up in the W Hotel's lobby because that's where they're staying... Happy stalking!!!
Chicago native Pat Sajak (he grew up near 31st and Kedzie) is in town this week with Vanna & Co. to begin a three-day taping of “Wheel of Fortune” at Navy Pier. I’m not sure if tickets are still available, but the “Wheel” crew is in town March 7 to March 9-- partly to celebrate the show’s 25th season. Three weeks worth of Chicago-based shows will start airing on April 28th.
Recognize the bombshell behind Hillary Clinton? It’s Texas resident and “Desperate Housewives” star, Eva Longoria Parker. The actress made an appearance at Hillary Clinton’s town hall meeting in Austin the day before the Texas primary.
Actors Ted Danson and Melanie Griffith also helped rally support for Clinton.
Why do some celeb couples start dressing alike the minute they start dating? I’ve especially noticed this with starlets who date rockers. Case in point: Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz, Jessica Simpson and John Mayer (back when they were still a couple), and the latest rocker-wannabe, Paris Hilton, who appears to be channeling new boy toy, Benji Madden.
(More Pictures After the Jump)
Hello Metromixers-
It’s been a looooooooooooong, snowy week, but relief is in sight because it's Friday! Yay!
What are your plans for the weekend? Drinks? Dancing? Dinner? Let us know!
A number of celebrity sites are reporting that Good Charlotte rocker Benji Madden is dating Paris Hilton, only weeks after calling it quits with his beautiful fiancée, actress Sophie Monk.
I don’t usually care about Paris’ revolving door of men, but this pairing is interesting because her former BFF, Nicole Richie, is raising a baby with the other Madden brother, Joel. Go figure!
I guess I should have seen this one coming. Lauren Conrad of MTV’s “The Hills” fame has her own fashion label: the Lauren Conrad Collection. The line features simple dresses (named after “Hills” stars Audrina and Lo and priced around $135), skirts ($85) and Lauren's signature head scarves ($25). Some of the stuff is cute, but I don’t see too much of a unique vision in either her Winter 2007 or Spring 2008 collections.
Either way, you can shop her stuff online, http://laurenconrad.seenon.com/ , or in person at the Bella Mia Boutique in Champaign, IL.
After months of searching, we’re finally letting you in on some of the city’s coolest bathrooms.
1. Cobra Lounge
Local bands with hopes of getting discovered take the stage at this gritty West Town lounge and music space, but sometimes it’s the pink women’s bathrooms that get all the buzz.
www.cobralounge.com
2. The Drake Hotel
Don’t worry if you can’t afford to spend the night at the Drake—you don’t have to be a hotel guest to check out the private stalls at the Palm Court Lounge.
http://www.thedrakehotel.com/
(Continue reading Best Bathrooms after the jump... )
Feeling spurned by a former flame on this dreaded day ‘o love? Don’t stay home alone! Come shed your anger at the second annual “X Your Ex Event” tonight. I’ll bring my Metromix mic and you bring a picture of your Ex to shred at the door. Then grab a drink and mingle with other bitter boys and girls. Who knows…chubby lil’ Cupid may make an appearance and turn your whole night around…
The event’s taking place at Victory Liquors (2610 N. Halsted) at 7 P.M and there’s no cover. See you there!
Hey guys... It's your last chance to write in and tell us what you think are some of Chicago's best public bathrooms... We want you to submit your suggestions for the city's coolest bar, restaurant and hotel lobby bathrooms. Let us know ASAP. Thanks!
Senator Hillary Clinton was on Letterman the night before Super Tuesday...Watch this and then go out and vote for the man or woman (sounds cool to say that, no?) of your choice!
In honor of New York Fashion Week, which kicked off on Friday, here's a classic clip of Kate Moss and Christy Turlington hanging out backstage during their 1990s heyday.
A troubled Britney Spears is undergoing a 72-hour psychiatric evaluation, but mom Lynne Spears says she's "OK." Read the full L.A. Times article after the jump.
Gwen Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale are expecting another baby! It's hard to believe that this hottie mom is 38-years-old! Wow.
Hey, guys! I’m still looking for your picks on the BEST bathrooms in Chicago. Think hard about all of the restaurants, clubs, hotels and bars you’ve been to lately and let me know if any of them had bathrooms that blew you away. The top spots will air on TV in the upcoming weeks, so speak up!
Having a hard time focusing at work because your boyfriend or girlfriend just dumped you? This Japanese company gives the broken-hearted a chance to heal away from work. Read the story after the jump.
Brows can make or break a face, which is why I’m serious about getting my brows trimmed and shaped on a monthly basis.
After enduring years of pain and post-waxing pimples, I finally gave up on the hot, sticky stuff and started getting my brows threaded. Never heard of threading? It’s an ancient Middle Eastern and Indian method of hair removal.
(More after the jump...)
One of the best things about living in a pedestrian city like New York was the fashion tips I’d pick up by just walking the streets, riding the subway or even going to work.
(More after the jump...)
I just ran across an interesting article in the "India Times" speculating that Brit Brit's latest boytoy (and paparazzo) Adnan Ghalib may be influencing the pop tart to escape her crazy American life and embrace an entirely new culture…
(Read the article after the jump)
Hey Metromixers, we need your help. And fast!
We’re still working up a segment on the BEST restaurant and bar bathrooms in Chicago and need you to tell us about the more memorable bathrooms you’ve, uh, done your business in… So think back to all the dives, clubs, cafes, restaurants, etc. you’ve been to within the last year and leave us a comment!
The weekend is almost here! Yay! I’ll be out celebrating my birthday this Saturday night--which makes planning the weekend simple--but it’s not always this easy… My biggest issue with going out in the winter is the lousy Chicago weather.
(More after the jump...)
Hi, Everyone! Bahar here…
A while back I asked you guys to share your thoughts on some of the most interesting bar and restaurant bathrooms in town, and it seems as though some (ahem, all) of you forgot to reply. :( It’s okay. I forgive you… But I’m still hoping to get good viewer feedback so I can do a segment that takes you inside the best bathrooms in Chicago.
(More after the jump...)
Continue reading "Where Can You Find the Best Bar and Restaurant Bathrooms in Chicago?" »
I didn't spot a ring on Ashlee's left finger when I met her and boyfriend Pete Wentz last Friday (and trust me, I always look), but some sources are speculating that the lovebirds may have had a pretty special holiday weekend...
(More after the jump)
Continue reading "Are Local (Fallout) Boy Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson Engaged?" »
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...
Pete's girlfriend, Ashlee Simpson (dressed as Mrs. Elf), also made an appearance in Chitown today...
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...)
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
When you’ve got a job like mine where you’re constantly visiting new bars, restaurants and clubs, you inevitably come into contact with a lot of different washrooms, powder rooms, water closets and little boys’ rooms. So, being the odd bird that I am, I got to thinking: the bathrooms at these places can really reveal whether you’re at a posh or crappy place—pun intended, folks!
Continue reading "Bahar's Random Musings: Bathroom First Impressions" »
I learned a lot of important things in college--- most of which I (ahem) forgot the minute I walked out of an exam room. Oops. Anyhoo…one thing I did manage to remember is that the best way to cure a hangover is to, well, keep drinking!
In the upcoming weeks, I’m hoping to profile Chicago’s BEST bar brunches. But, seeing how I just moved to Chicago from New York City, I need your help!
So, tell me people: what are some of the city's top places to sip on a mimosa, bloody Mary, etc. while you dig your fork into a stack of syrupy pancakes?
Let’s be honest. I’m a huge dork.
I was the kid who eagerly volunteered to erase the teacher’s chalk board after class in first and second and third grade…and—okay, okay there was that one time in seventh grade, but, really, there's no need to share all the dirty details. Ahem. Oh, and who can forget how dearly I cherished “Check Your Hair for Head Lice” day at school. Come on! Is it just me or did those pencil stick thingies the nurses used on your scalp not feel heaven-sent?? Mmmm… memories. In any case, now that you've gotten just an itty bitty idea of how much of huge freak I can be, it probably comes as no surprise that I’ve always secretly enjoyed going to the dentist, too. I know, I know… Don’t even get me started on how much I love doctors appointments... But, I digress.
Continue reading "Bahar's Random Musings: A Trip to the Dentist" »
Hey Metromixers! It's Bahar here..
‘Tis the season of leggings (er, black Spandex under dresses and tunics), UGG boots (will they ever die?), skinny leg jeans, and bug-eyed sunglasses (thank you Ashley and Mary Kate!)... Oh, and it’s true-- arm-warmers from the 80s are back with a vengeance. Can you hand-le it?
We know you’re perceptive, opinionated and out and about on the Chicago scene, so tell us: what current fashion trend do you consider to be the worst trend out there for both guys and girls? Don’t be shy... it’s good to let all that pent up anger loose…
Bahar Takhtehchian is Metromix TV's newest Entertainment Guru!
Before Metromix
Chicago native Bahar Takhtehchian returned to the Windy City after working in print media in New York City for the past two years.
Bahar developed her passion for broadcast journalism at the age of seven when she cast herself as the “evening anchor” of ABC Eyewitness News, performing pretend broadcasts live from her family’s living room. Skilled with the ability to interview make-believe guests and banter with herself for hours, the prodigy captivated millions of imaginary viewers.
