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.

This weekend is the official start to our favorite season: Festival Season! Usually when you think of summer fun, scenes of The Taste and sounds of Lollapalooza come to mind, but it all starts with Mayfest.

The 14th annual gala rolls into Lakeview Friday and runs through Sunday. Five dollars will get you past the gate, where you can enjoy beer, food, live music -- and be sure not to miss the pet parade (believe it!) on Sunday.

The term “something for everyone” is a little played out, but that’s really what the musical adaptation of Mary Poppins has going for it. On one hand, how could Chicago not enjoy a good-looking, slightly smug, agent of change swooping in with her lessons in hope, ready to help bail out the Banks (family) from their world of doom and gloom. (ahem)

On the other, it’s pretty cool to watch them fly and dance upside down.

Yesterday Billboard magazine broke the news that Soldier Field will once again be home to a concert, and it's a big one. The Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot says U2 will announce they are playing the stadium on September 12th. Because Soldier Field fits a lot of people, tickets will vary in price, from $30 all the way to $250. They'll go on sale later this month.

U2 will also be in town on Tuesday as part of a cross-country radio promotion for their new album No Line On The Horizon. They won't be performing, but the location of their top-secret appearance still remains, well, a secret. Rumors have indicated it could be at the Metro. Greg Kot is warning us not to "be surprised if you bump into Bono on Clark Street." And guess what street the Metro is on? Hmmmm.

But back to the Soldier Field show. I am excited about this one and hope I might get a chance to go. But did U2 really have to pick the home of my beloved Chicago Bears, right in the middle of their season? What will a mega-concert like that do to the natural turf? I mean, how good are Terrell Owens and T.J. Houshmandzadeh going to be when they can't even break the line of scrimmage without tearing a hamstring?

The award winning Movin' Out comes to Rosemont this weekend. It's the story of five life-long friends told over two turbulent decades all set to the music of Billy Joel.

If you want tickets & to support a great cause purchase "special edition" tickets to the show on February 22nd with proceeds to benefit the National MS Society. What makes the tickets special is the dinner at Rosewood Restaurant after the show. To buy tickets head here, and enjoy the show.

The badass chicks of the Windy City Rollers have their home opener this Saturday, January 31st. Watch Beth Amphetamine, Riley Coyote, After Bertha and Sonya MouthShut go for the jugular in the first bout of what will surely be bone-crushing season.

Tickets start at $20...

Yours truly,
Jaxis of Evil

Chicago Filmmakers are honoring Obama's upcoming inauguration with a screening of the documentary "Senator Obama Goes to Africa." The screening is this Saturday, January 17th (just four days before Obama is sworn in) at 8 p.m. at 5243 N. Clark St., on the 2nd Floor. The film chronicles Sen. Obama's trip to Africa in 2006.

Part personal odyssey and part chronicle of diplomacy in action, this timely documentary follows Senator Barack Obama as he travels to the land of his ancestry in 2006. From South Africa to Kenya to a Darfur refugee camp in Chad, Obama explores the vast continent that is gaining increasing importance in this age of globalization. The heart of the film is Obama's emotional homecoming to Kisumu, Kenya - his father's former home - where thousands of people turn out to greet him.

Move over Frosty, there's a new holiday star in town. New Millennium Theatre Company is presenting "The David Bowie Hepzikat Velvet Flarney Solstice Spectacular…Live From Space! (David Bowie’s Christmas Special 1977 Network Edit)." Really, does it need any more explanation?

Okay, maybe it does.

In this high energy holiday romp, based off a fictional Christmas Special that never was, audiences will be treated to a star studded tribute to the classic Andy Williams Christmas Specials of the 70s. This one of kind variety show spectacular features the kind of star power that only ‘Ziggy Stardust’ could command. Character appearances by Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, Nipsey Russell, and Charo are just the tip of the iceberg; a special appearance by the Ghost of Freddy Mercury will remind us all of the joy of brotherhood and spirit of giving that the holiday and Solstice season brings.

It's playing Fridays and Saturdays, now through Dec 27th at National Pastime Theater -- 4139 N Broadway Tickets: $15.

For more information, check out their website and the flier below.

Before Facebook and LinkedIn, people actually networked face to face. A novel concept that returns to the city later this week in a unique way. The Ratio Network kicks off a networking event 'Concepts' that "will feature emerging entrepreneurs in the music, dance and fashion industries." Activities on Thursday, November 20 will be at Zocalo and on Friday, Nov. 21, the Victor Hotel is the place to be.
For more information, check out their website www.rationetwork.com/

Hello all! In case you don't have much to do tomorrow, I'm going to be a "celebrity bowler" in Chicago Blackhawk Brent Seabrook's first "ICE" bowling event! It's all going down at 10pin Bowling Lounge (330 N. State St. in Chicago) from 1:30 to 4:30 P.M.

I will be paired with a team of Hawks fans and we will hit the bowling lanes! I come from a family of bowlers, actually. My uncle Jim hits the senior professional circuit from time to time. Unfortunately, I lack most of his skills.

It's all for a great cause to benefit the Inner City Educaiton Program. Even if you don't have the cash to purchase lane time, you can still pay between $25-$50 and come out and watch! You also get access to Hawks players for pictures/autographs. We're talking Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Brian Campbell and more! So come on out to 10pin and don't forget to say hello! The full press release is pasted below:

That's the question the film "Breakfast with Scot" explores (Peep the trailer below). The film kicks off the Reeling 2008: 27th Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival, which starts today and runs through Nov. 16th. The fest will show 70 different films throughout its 11 day run.

For more information including ticket info and a list of screenings and events, log on to ReelingFilmFestival.org.

These guys are ready for Halloween. Are you?

All month long, we've been highlighting ways to celebrate Halloween - from area haunted houses, the best candy and where to find the best masks. Below are all the clips in one handy spot.

Want to hit a haunted house this weekend? That and much more in our web-exclusive Metromix planner.

A guide to Chicagoland's best haunted houses after the jump...

Usually, it takes months of planning and an entire weekend for ladies to schedule a shopping trip, a massage session and a night out dancing with the girls. But the people at 'Blush: Celebrating the Power of Pink' managed to throw all this and more into one night while at the same time benefiting charity.

The event kicks off this Thursday, October 23 from at 6:30 pm River East Art Center 465 E. Illinois and benefits American Cancer Society and Imerman Angels. Tickets are $35.00 at the door. $25 for runners from the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5k on October 19. Portion of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Campaign and Imerman Angels.

Who's got the looks? Who's got the brains? Who's got everything?
Why you do! If you have tickets to Ben Folds at the Congress Theater on Friday night. And - bonus! - Aussie songstress Missy Higgins is opening for the loquacious piano man. Higgins' earthy sound and personal lyrics could be the background songs for scenes on The Hills - if, you know, The Hills was a show of substance. So save your mascara tears for whatever band Audrina is 'discovering' and instead, head to the Congress Friday for a fun night - and don't forget to wear your black t-shirt.

Yes Virginia, there is something other than baseball happening this weekend in Chicago. And by the looks of it, we're all going to need the distraction anyway.
Luckily for us, Beck breaks out the jives and the jamboree handouts tonight at the Aragon. This year's indie darling MGMT is opening. If you don't have tickets already, they may be hard to come by. Stubhub, craigslist or a die-hard Sox/Beck fan may be your best bet. For more info, visit aragon.com

It's been a rough week for news concerning your wallet, so Saturday's Hyde Park Jazz Festival is arriving just in time. The second annual, free (yes, we said free) starts at noon at the DuSable Museum of African American History. Organizers are providing free (there's that word again) shuttles to different performance venues throughout the day. For more information including a schedule of performers and to sample some of the music, visit the fest's website at hydeparkjazzfestival.org.

Looking for a movie to see this weekend? We're keeping true to our indie roots & telling you to see Red Roses & Petrol. Malcolm McDowell stars in this dark comedy about the dysfunction within an Irish family.

Trailer & showtimes after the jump:

Evviva in downtown Lisle is throwing their 3rd Annual Block Party this Saturday. The music of Mach 5, Off Broadway & Hi Infidelity will all be featured. The best part is there is no cover!

1017 Front St.
Lisle, IL
630.241.9955

Have you done your good deed for the summer yet? Well time is a'wastin - you only have one weekend left. Luckily, this Sunday Aug. 31st, Chicago's own Treaty of Paris is teaming up with the Metro (at the Metro funny enough) and is presenting Cancel Out Cancer: A Benefit for The American Brain Tumor Association. You'll be ending your summer on a rockin' note for charity.

Quietdrive, Company of Thieves, House of Heroes and Scott Sweeny will also play. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. The show is all ages and starts at 6pm. Check out the Metro's website for more info.

This ain't a scene, it a God d@*# 10K!

Nike Human Race will take place once again this coming Sunday, Aug. 31. More official info? Read on.

"An anticipated one million runners will take to the streets of Chicago and 24 additional cities throughout the globe for a 10K run that will be the largest on-day running event ever.

Fall Out Boy will be performing the post event runners-only concert at Soldier Field. Registration is $35 and $5 goes to one of three charities of your choice: the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the WWF and the UN refugee agency’s ninemillion.org campaign.

To register visit www.nikeplus.com."

F.O.B. video after the jump...