Comments Off It is not that often that you get to see thousands of ducks getting dumped into the Chicago River (since the Congressional Water Quality Act), so we wanted to share some photos of the rubber duck invasion. Check them out and see why tons of people gathered around the Congress and Michigan Ave bridges!
Say goodbye rubber duckies...
An overcast summer duck race
This Thursday (tomorrow) Chicago hosts a quirky, Ernie-endorsed fundraiser: the Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby. Sponsored ducks will race along the Chicago river to raise money for Special Olympics. We spoke to the people behind this ingenious campaign to inform Chicagoans about what they’ll see floating by on the river at 1:00pm tomorrow. Quack for the Cause!
Where did the idea for this kind of fundraiser come from?!
Special Olympics Illinois wanted to go ‘quackers’ over a fun summer fundraiser. And we have the perfect venue here for a duck race – the beautiful Chicago River!
Why do the ducks have sunglasses?
The ducks look very cool in their shades, plus the sunglasses complement their brightly-colored lips.
Will there be a starting line or a running – ahem, swimming – start? What is the ‘Duck Splashdown’?
The yellow Komatsu “duck truck” will pull up to the south side of the Columbus Drive bridge (after the north side has been raised) and dump 30,000+ little rubber ducks into the Chicago River. Then it’s every duck for himself as they race to the finish-
How do teams keep track of their ducks?
It’s a little tricky to find your duck among the thousands of ducks in the River, but everyone knows their duck is in the lead.
Do participants get to keep their ducks after the race? What happens to all the ducks after the race?
All the racing ducks are scrubbed after the race and sent on to the next race in a far-away place. However, Special Olympics Illinois has duplicate souvenir ducks available for sale before the race on Michigan Avenue or on the website.
What can people do to ensure their duck wins?
Adopt lots of ducks for $5 each to benefit Special Olympics Illinois here (through July 29 at 4pm) or on Michigan Avenue starting at 6:30am on race day – July 30. You can also call to adopt ducks on race day morning by calling 1-877-9SPLASH.
Where should spectators watch? How visible is the race from Michigan Ave or the various bridges that cross the river?
Bring your lunch and camera and position yourself on either side of the river between Columbus and Michigan; it’s a great chance to experience the fabulous River Walk on the south side. The ducks will be corralled over to the north side of the river by a boom, so that river traffic can continue. A tugboat will spray water on the ducks to propel them to the finish line!
Have you caught any ducks cheating? What is the penalty for cheating?
Some ducks jump the boom and try to make a run to the finish line, but we have people in boats to scoop them up with nets and disqualify them from the race!
If ESPN were to cover this event, what highlights would they show?
No sporting event has a more dramatic start than this race. You can feel the excitement as ducks jockey for position along the edge of the boom and try to line themselves up to be the first in the duck trap halfway to Michigan Avenue.
Is there any plan to change it to a different animal anytime soon? Maybe dolphins?
Some of our Special Olympics athletes have suggested frogs, but then we would need lily pads also.
Does this fundraiser take place in other cities?
The duck race takes place in cities and towns all over the country, but we have the best one right here in Chicago.
Seems like a great fundraiser that benefits Illinois Special Olympics. Any other way people can get involved in helping the Special Olympics?
Special Olympics training and competition takes place all year round in 19 summer and winter sports, so we use lots of volunteers. There are many exciting fundraisers happening to benefit the more than 22,000 children and adults involved in the program in Illinois. Check out the website for information on getting involved and supporting Special Olympics.
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Funnyman and musician Tim Joyce
Tim Joyce, a Second City improv student and folk musician talks about his passion for performing. Like the best musicians and comedians, Tim strives to keep learning, changing and improving his skills. When you have some free time, you should watch him perform at the Second City and catch a late night brewsky with him at the Old Town Ale House.
F: Many people enjoy comedy without ever trying it themselves. Based on your experience, what are the biggest differences between being on stage and sitting in the audience?
T: This is a tough question. I think the differences are far fewer than most people think. What really makes people laugh are the things that they can identify with. Most people know when things are funny, and funny stuff happens in our lives everyday. When you see someone on stage in a funny situation and you recognize it as something that has happened or could happen to you, it makes you laugh. The one big difference: as a performer, you are putting your self out there. You and your life experience can get laid out for everyone to see. If someone yells out “embarrassment” as a suggestion, you may likely have to deal with the time that you wet your pants in gym class in second grade. And there is the rub, you will have to deal with it in front of a bunch of strangers. (That didn’t happen to me though…)
F: What was your first routine like?
T: My real first stab at comedy was as a little kid. I would jam a globe under my t-shirt and pretend I was an uncle who had quite a large gut. People laughed. Turn about is fair play I guess, because now my nieces and nephews get to do the same thing to me. One of my more recent opportunities to perform in front of a non family audience was at the end of my first year at the Second City. There were definitely some nerves and the fear that I would screw something up, but as soon as I stepped out on the stage, I forgot I was nervous. You trust that your teammates will not let you down, and have to trust that you are being honest and make sure you are having fun, and things will work out.
F: How would you describe your comedic style?
T: I think that is always evolving, especially in improv. Currently, I think I am a slow burn type of guy. When it comes to improvisation, I find myself taking a lot of time to let things sink in. Not that I am slow on the uptake, but I might react with a facial expression or a movement of my body before anything comes out of my mouth. This might be out of necessity at this point in my training. I’m still learning. It would be nice to be one of those people who can say what seems like the right thing every single time. I think a lot of that comes with practice: The more you do it, the more comfortable you get. (At least I keep telling myself that.)
F: How do you learn in comedy class?
T: I think the key is listening. It sounds corny, and you hear it all the time, but you have to pay attention. I learn more from watching my classmates than any other way. Seeing how they succeed and how they fail is the best instruction. And I think failing is a huge part of improv. You have to be able to let yourself screw up, forget about it, and move on.
F: Do people always ask you tell jokes? How hard is it to improvise something funny on the fly?
T: “Tell me a joke” happens pretty often. But more often is “Do something funny,” or “Do an improv!” I try, in the nicest way possible, to explain to people that it is not a crazy-hands, toe-tappin’ cigar-in-the-mouth Vaudeville thing. I try to explain that it is more often the people you work with who make you funny. It is getting in a scene with them and connecting with them that gets the laughs, it is about people in the audience being able to recognize something you are doing as something they might do, or more likely something they have already done. I guess to answer the question: “On the fly” is what it is all about, but it feels most rewarding when you have a partner in crime who knows the ropes a little bit. This answer doesn’t usually leave family members very satisfied at Thanksgiving though, and that is usually the time I pull a joke out of the old funny bag.
F: What do you think of the comedy scene here in Chicago, especially improv?
T: I think Chicago is an amazing and incredibly supportive place for improv. I have spent a lot of time in the music scene here in Chicago and I find them very similar: Two very supportive groups of people with a lot of overlap. On any given night in Chicago you have access to some of the most accomplished performers in their fields. You can see a musician at the Old Town School of Folk Music on one night and the next night they will be playing at a little club in Evanston. Or, you can see someone on the mainstage at Second City one week and then see them at the iO or The Annoyance the next week. All for not that much cash, really. Great for the audiences, not so great for the performers. But a testament to how much people love performing. (Pay: another sad but true similarity between music and improv.)
F: Second City has some pretty famous alums: can that be intimidating while taking classes at the Training Center? What do you want to do after you perfect your craft?
T: There is no doubt that history surrounds you at The Second City. There are reminders everywhere about all the other people who preceded you: old flyers, posters, paintings. even the people who are training you are part of that history. It is intimidating at first, knowing that all these famous folks who came through the programs and performed at Second City. But as a student, the real solace is something I mentioned before: knowing they all failed at some point and kept plugging along. I don’t really have an end goal in mind at this point really. Right now, I just want to really continue plowing through to be able to get good at this. I don’t know if you can ever perfect the craft of improv either. It seems that even the best performers are always learning and changing and getting better, even the ones you think are already geniuses.
F: You also work at the Old Town School of Folk Music, a singular presence on the Chicago music scene. What distinguishes folk music (from classical or pop, for example)?
T: I think folk actually has a pretty expansive definition. People usually just think of the sixties folk revival most of the time, but I think it extends way beyond that. A lot of musical genres have more folk in them than people realize. The points where musical genres overlap are what I find the most interesting and I like music and artist that are blurring those lines. For example, one thing that is exciting to me right now are the groups of younger classical musicians who are playing smaller group shows in venues that normally wouldn’t be for classical music, and not necessarily playing all classical pieces.
F: How does comedy relate to music, particularly folk music?
T: I think there is a real similarity on the learning level. You have to practice to improve. No one can just sit down and pick up a Banjo and play Bluegrass having never touched a banjo before. The same way that no one can jump up on stage and be an expert improviser from the get go. You need a little instruction and you need to practice. You need to learn the basics. In banjo, it is chord shapes, tunings, clawhammer style, Scruggs picking technique… In improv it is dialogue rules, how to react, how to move your body, how to listen and respond… And then after you get the basics down, you can decide what you like, what you want to continue to use, and find out where you want to go from there.
F: Do you think folk music is becoming more popular with listeners and/or musicians?
T: I do. Even though I would love to expand the definition of folk, there are things that definitely fall into the folk category for many people. It seems like every time you turn around there is another band that has a fiddle player, or a ukulele, or a strange Appalachian instrument in it. I think that is a good thing.
F: What are your favorite places to go in the Old Town neighborhood? What do you think Old Town has to recommend it (above other Chicago neighborhoods)?
T: Ahhhh the Fudge Pot. One of my favorite places in Chicago. You can get chocolate shaped like anything there. I think Old Town is a great neighborhood because of it’s accessibility. Once you are there, you can spend the whole day in a few block radius. This would be mine: I am a bit of a food geek, so I’d hit the Spice House and Old Town Oil then grab Lunch and a smoothie at Fresh Choice, proceed to dessert at the Fudge pot, grab dinner at Trattoria Pizzeria Roma, Catch a show at the Second City, then hit the Old Town Ale house for a late night beer.
F: You said you also run a record label with friends… tell me more about that.
T: The label is called Contraphonic. Part of the label is a traditional record label with a roster of bands running the gamut from freaky folk music, to giant experimental jazz orchestras, to 70’s style pop music. The other part is a Chicago History based project called the Chicago Sound Series. There are two parts to that currently. Little Hell is a Series (currently 4 volumes) in which we have musicians compose short, e.p. length musical interpretations of historical people, places, or events related to Chicago. The second portion is called “ A Lot You Got to Holler.” The “Hollers” are very short studies/field recordings of things in and around Chicago. Those are free downloads on our site.
F: And, finally, please tell me how you manage to pursue all these diverse interests and find time to sleep!
T: It is difficult. But when you are lucky enough to be involved in things that really mean something to you, it makes it easier. The excitement and enjoyment I feel when I am about to head to a class at Second City, record with my band, or watch a show at the Hideout keeps me going. (Plus I have a very supportive wife.)
F: There is another comedian named Tim Joyce based in Chicago – also associated with Second city, no less! Have there been any embarrassing mix-ups between the two of you?
F: I get the occasional Facebook message for him, but nothing major. Wait, I’m not even sure it was the same Tim Joyce, but there was this time in college…(cue flashback music)… It was the final day of a History class I was taking. The day before the exam and the professor asked me to see him after class. He pulls a Chicago Tribune out of his desk drawer, looks me in the eye and says “I need to know if this is you” He slaps the Local section of the paper down on the desk and there is a giant photo of Barney the dinosaur. I begin to read the article and the first lines say something like: “ Every weekend local actor Tim Joyce dons his Barney suit to entertain kids on the North Shore of Chicago…” I vehemently denied it until he finally believed me. But before I left I asked if it would have affected my grade, and he said very honestly “Very likely, I can’t just overlook these kinds of things.”
F: Any other cool things we should know about you?
T: I am addicted to cooking Italian food. I am a rabid cookbook reader, not a big fan of roller coasters, I love visiting Montana, and I used to drive a school bus.
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Genevieve Thiers has a head full of ideas and a voice to match. Gen moved to Chicago seven years ago to attend Northwestern University’s prestigious School of Music. At the same time, she was busy launching the country’s premier caregiving website, Sittercity.com. Since settling in Chicago, Genevieve has built Sittercity from the ground up and started an opera company on the side for good measure. In her spare time, Gen sleeps, reads, and explores Chicago…
F: You are a native of Philadelphia, and you attended college in Boston. What made you decide to base your business here in Chicago?
A few things: I love Chicago’s location—the center of the country. You can get anywhere without having to face a 7-hour flight. And it’s a gorgeous city! So clean, with lots of tall buildings. Second, my husband is from this area and wanted to get reacquainted as an adult. But the final reason is that – in addition to being a CEO – I am also a trained opera singer. I wanted to attend Northwestern University’s School of Opera night program from 2002-2004. Of all the opera schools I considered, it was the best choice.
F: Sittercity has markets in cities across the country: what characterizes Chicago in the care-taking industry?
Chicago was not different from other markets in that it desperately needed Sittercity! What was different was how the locals approached care. More families tended to hire family members: it’s a Midwestern trait. But I think when they saw Sittercity was literally safer than hiring the girl-next-door, that quickly changed. In fact I’ve seen grandparents in this area on our site to find a sitter, so that they do not have to be the primary caregiver!
F: In your opinion, what are the most kid-friendly neighborhoods in Chicago?
I think that Glencoe, Wilmette, Skokie, and Highland Park are lovely. There’s also some great areas downtown: Southport in Wrigleyville is a great place to raise kids. The great thing about Chicago is that it’s tough to find a not-so-nice place to live.
F: Babysitting – full-time or on the side – is a long-standing and respected line of work. How do you recommend parents and sitters use babysitting as a way to supplement their lifestyle?
I think babysitting and nannying should be considered full-time careers in the United States, and right now, that is not the case. In the UK it’s perfectly normal to have a career as a nanny: there are even degrees that support it. Here, it’s considered something you do on the side – a means to an end. I’d like to change that… I know a lot of care providers who would like to feel that their work counts as a full-time career.
F: Did you ever think childcare might become your career?
No… but, thinking back, I am not too surprised it became mine! I am the oldest of seven kids and have clocked over 2500 babysitting jobs in my life. I used to reassure 2-3 moms a day that they should go out and have fun—at the age of 16! So it’s very natural that this would end up being my career. And I even sing! I’ve played both Mary Poppins and Maria in The Sound of Music.
F: What was your funniest babysitting experience as a kid or as a sitter?
M brother, sister, and I were once all booked for the same job. The mom was nervous none of us would come and so triple-booked it to be sure!
F: You’ve also opened up the Chicago opera industry by starting Operamoda, an opera company featuring innovative operas and young performers. How receptive have Chicagoans been to a revamped opera company, since opera is such a selective taste in the first place?
OperaModa’s mission is to support young emerging opera singers and American opera. Chicago seems to love the combination. We just finished a show with the Elgin Opera, actually—Menotti’s The Telephone. It was so delightful – I loved every minute of it! The Telephone was also performed by Daniel Peretto—a hyper-talented young Chicago baritone—and directed by Amy Hutchison from the Lyric Opera. I love that I’m able to sing in a great opera company in Chicago without having to travel the globe.
F: What is your favorite modern opera?
I adore Menotti’s The Telephone, but I’ve also loved playing Dorine in Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe and Beth in Mark Adamo’s Little Women.
F: What are your favorite performance venues around Chicago?
The Athenaeum is lovely, but also rather expensive. The Harris Center here is phenomenal. It’s my dream to perform there, and also at some point on the stage of Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier. They do stunning work.
F: Was it always opera? When did opera enter the scene?
I’ve sung since the age of 11; my twin sister played piano. We were a bit like the Von Trapp family—many of us are musical. I went abroad my junior year of college to Oxford University, and it was there that I fell in love with opera. Before that, I had mostly done musicals: The Secret Garden, The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Fiddler on the Roof… But then I sang in a production of Carmen, and it was never the same. There’s something so sophisticated and complex about the opera sound. It’s like tasting fine wine after drinking wine coolers: there’s no going back.
F: What was it like going back to school in a new city? And music school, no less?
Wonderful! I was ready for a change. I launched Sittercity.com in Boston at the start of the Internet boom. It was very exciting to see how fast it caught on. But I wanted to sing opera too, so Chicago seemed like the perfect place—centrally-located with a great music school and, as a bonus, my husband Dan knew it well and was able to tour me around. It was love at first sight! The funny thing really was juggling my opera schedule with my business career. One time I had a situation where I sang Act 1 of an opera (in a nun costume, no less), changed into a suit to go downtown for a meeting, and dashed back in time to sing Act 3. It was hilarious.
F: What would you say Evanston is like relative to Chicago?
Quieter…I attended opera school there, and so drove back and forth for two years between Sittercity’s office downtown and Evanston. I think Evanston is lovely, but I’m a city girl. You can’t beat tall buildings, bright lights and a beach.
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Founder of Imerman Angels
Maybe it’s because he’s named Jonny, or maybe it’s because he survived cancer, but Jonny Imerman is the most positive, people-loving person you’ll ever met. His struggle with cancer at the young age of 26 led to his life’s work: Imerman Angels, an organization uniting cancer patients and survivors in a global community that champions the power of positive thinking. The phrase “battle with cancer” gained new meaning during the course of the conversation: cancer patients undergo an ordeal that renegotiates their place in the grand-scheme-of-things. As Jonny describes it, cancer survivors have fought the battle of/for their lives, and they usually land on the other side stronger than ever. His boundless energy and enthusiasm are apparent. Jonny Imerman’s sentences never really end: he makes connections so effortlessly that he never seems to pause.
F: Where did your very open and friendly personality come from?
Pre-cancer, I always loved connecting people. It really wasn’t a shock to realize I could use that skill for the greater good within the cancer world. After going through cancer, it just made sense. I took who was before and said, “Now I have an insider knowledge of the cancer world, and there’s a gap here.” I had wanted somebody my age – a young guy – who could tell me, “Look bro, I’ve in your shoes. Now I’m 30 and I’m back in the basketball court; I’m raising a family; I’m working full-time; I’m living my life, my hair’s growing back.” All those things that you want to see: survivors can tell you that.
I come from a very warm, loving family: I talk to my mother and my brother just about every day. I was very lucky; I had a lot of love to help me during my fight. I was surrounded by love growing up, so I would accredit that to being an upbeat, friendly person.
F: Can you walk us through what went through your head when you were first diagnosed with cancer?
When I got first diagnosed, obviously it was the last thing I was thinking about. I had pain in my testicle. Only 10% of people feel pain, but I was lucky because it alerted me to the problem.
I couldn’t believe it: I was like, “Really, this is cancer?” I’m not a reactive guy, “So I went the doctor and said, “OK… cancer. What’s the game plan? What are we going to do to get this out?” I never really got angry; I never said, “Why me?” As soon as I got to the clinic and went through surgeries and chemo, I looked around and said, “Why these people? What about the seventeen-year old kid two doors down from me who’s got brain cancer. Why that kid?”
Maybe, again, it was my family and the training I’ve had growing up: I was always taught to be community-minded and to think of others. Being a good person: that’s what life is about. I never got angry; that never entered my mind as a possibility, so I just didn’t do it.
F: Is there a difference between Jonny pre-cancer and Jonny post-cancer?
The biggest difference is my energy is channeled. Before cancer I had a ton of energy, but I really didn’t know what I was meant to do in this world. Post-cancer, it is absolutely crystal-clear why I’m here and what I was looking to do: how I’m supposed to change the cancer world and create a movement. And I couldn’t be having more fun doing it, surrounded by these cancer survivors who are such compassionate people – who need no reward other than knowing they’ve helped someone overcome the biggest obstacle in their life! To put it in very direct terms, it’s like living a dream: I get to help people every day.
F: Your foundation pairs up cancer survivors with cancer patients. How effective is this tactic in fighting the battle against cancer?
Since Day One I’ve believed that collaboration in the cancer world is the key, socially and emotionally. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We have guys who have fought and finally won at the end of 8 years – 8 years! If you can’t keep your mind focused on the finish line – if you don’t believe it exists – then I think it’s tough. The body can fold if you believe you won’t live to see your next birthday.
I personally believe that’s not good for your body. I think the body gets the will to fight from your brain. We survivors can motivate/empower/inspire/pump up patients that are in the clinic and make them believe, “Hey I did it – you can too.” There’s no question in my mind: that person’s more likely to beat cancer.
I hear it all the time from oncologists: “You know what, Jonny, I can’t give you any empirical data of my own, but it just seems that the ones who walk in with their chin up – a smile on their face, ready to fight, believing that they’re going to walk out of that clinic one day a healthy man – those guys tend to do better. The people that walk in heads lowered, looking like they’ve already been defeated, they tend not to do as well.”
Lance Armstrong is your best example: the guy that every doctor wrote off, saying, “You have Stage 4 testicular cancer spreading into your lung, into your abdomen, all over your stomach, and into your brain.” He had two brain surgeries, and he still beat it. He would ride his bike during chemo: he was determined to keep fighting and keep exercising, and he believed he could win. I think he was probably the greatest athlete ever to walk the earth, in any sport. At 26, he just wouldn’t give up. We in the cancer world all believe that makes a huge difference.
F: What is your advice to people going through tough times?
My advice is to connect; I’m a huge believer in teamwork and collaboration. It’s sometimes hard for people to reach out and ask for help, to open up a conversation that is scary for a lot of people.
We have 1800 survivors in our network who all believe in one idea:that together our stories are powerful and that every survivor has something to give – that’s why they register with us. My advice is to take it. When you’re fighting cancer, you feel alone. It’s OK to reach out – I couldn’t do it on my own and I don’t know who could. Keep strong; keep motivated; connect with other people your age. Your peers simply want to help you, and it’s OK to receive help.
F: Why might it be hard for people to reach out?
Some people have an old-school mentality of “I can do this on my own.” I understand and have sympathy for those people, because they grew up in an era when people didn’t talk about cancer. If you said your kid had cancer thirty years ago, other parents wouldn’t let their kids play with your kid because they were afraid they could catch something.
Our generation – especially the younger people, with Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and all the social networking sites – is much more open. I’ve had people call me on their cell phone from the parking lot of the hospital, five minutes after walking out of the doctor’s meeting, just diagnosed, saying, “My doctor gave this to me, I’m in the parking lot, my head’s spinning, I have cancer and I don’t know where to go from here. Can you introduce me to someone who can help me?”
F: A lot of people have been quite inspired by you – who, in turn, inspires you?
I’m inspired by every single cancer survivor who has called me and said “I love this idea; I want to give back.” That inspires me every day: the selfless side of people who have been through cancer and simply want to make it better. These survivors are complete; they’ve got their life back; they’re rebuilding: they’re good to go. But they don’t just turn the cheek and say, “I’m going to forget everything that’s happened to me in the last two years.” They get back in it because they realize there’s other people out there still in the clinic, people who are still fighting for their lives, their families.
I’m also very inspired by a lot of our volunteers who have never had cancer. You don’t have to get cancer to inspire me, but you have to be passionate; you’ve got to believe in something that you know helps people; and you just can’t quit.
Can you walk us through your typical day?
My typical day is all-over-the-map [literally]. I’m around people 95% of the time and at home 1% of the time: I sleep at home, that’s about it. I travel a lot: 7 cities in the past 8 weeks. I spend a lot of time speaking: tomorrow [Saturday] night I’m speaking at a Chicago Fire game. I spend a lot of my days talking to fighters and survivors. I need to find the guys that are sick, and I need to get cancer survivors to register. By 2013 we want every single American diagnosed with cancer to have free access to one of our survivors, so that no one who is diagnosed with cancer feels alone!
Next month I’ll be in Ireland for a conference. Lance Armstrong is hosting a 250-person summit in Dublin, Ireland after he finishes the race at the end of this month. We were very flattered to be one of those two-hundred fifty groups. The goal is to globally work together to unite the cancer world. I know the guy who runs the cancer group in Scotland; I know the guy who runs the cancer group in the Philippines; I know the guy who runs the cancer group in Australia. We’re the largest one-on-one matching cancer group in the world, so they refer patients to us when they see a need – they outsource it. That’s how we find so many people in Germany, Nigeria, and Cape Town: we help people in all those cities.
F: How do you channel your love of life living here in Chicago?
I love Chicago, I really do. Chicago has been an amazing launching pad for this idea; the city’s really embraced it. I love sports: basketball, football, frisbee on the beach, volleyball. I’m running my second marathon this year.
F: Are you a Cubs or White Sox fan? Who are your favorite Chicago athletes?
I probably like the Cubs a little bit better; I love Wrigley, I love the energy up there. When I go to games I talk to people – I don’t really end up watching the game.
I’m a Detroit Tiger’s fan at heart. Magglio Ordonez is on the Tigers, and he just cut his hair and held an auction to get the word out about Imerman Angels.
I like Jake Cutler: he’s going to be the Bears quarterback. Everyone’s excited about him athletically, but I love that he’s done a lot of great things for diabetes since he was diagnosed himself.
F: Aside from the weather, is there anything you don’t like about Chicago?
I wouldn’t even say the weather; a lot of people complain about the weather here, but I like changing seasons – keeps it interesting. I grew up in Michigan, so it’s not that bad. I love the beach in the summer, and the people are the best part!
There’s really nothing I don’t like about this city; I want this to be home. There may be a time I live in New York or LA for a couple of years to build Imerman Angels, but I’d like to make this home.
F: We heard you guys throw some of the best parties in the city to aid in your fundraising efforts – anything coming up soon?
On August 30, we are going to do a one-hour fashion show at Galleria Marchetti with Akira. It’s our biggest event of the year, and it’s only $15. I want cancer survivors to be able to afford our events: it’s about connecting and including, definitely not excluding. This tends to be the youngest event we do: almost all people in their late 20s, early 30s.
F: Are there questions that you wish were asked more often when you give interviews? What’s the most common question asked of you?
Do we help anyone else besides cancer fighters and survivors?
We help caregivers also! Say we have a 2-year old girl with leukemia; we’ll partner that mother and father up with another set of parents that have a 5-year old little girl who beat the same leukemia three years ago. So the other set of parents can say, “Look – our little kid did it. We know the ropes. We’ve been through this.” It’s all positive, all success stories: one family helping another. It’s really that simple: people helping people.
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The Zisook sisters trying out their ware
Sisters Ashley and Allison Zisook sat down to answer some questions about the vintage market: a green movement in its own right, recycling fashions, patterns, and styles. Ashley and Allison were introduced to the world of fashion early on by their mother and grandmother, and have now turned a passion into a career path. Vintage shopping can be hit-or-miss, but Sofia Vintage is all about boutique-style shopping: Ashley is ready to help you, dress you, or even find a specific vintage item for you!
F: Since you moved back to Chicago to be near family and then started a business with your sister inspired by your mother and grandmother’s dress sense, family is obviously very important to you. Tell me about growing up in your household and what led to this career path–
Ashley: My mom used to take us to our Nana’s house, and all four of us – me, my sister, Nana, and my mom – would play with her jewelry, go though her drawers, try on her clothes…
I remember Nana once took us to 900 N. Michigan Ave. Our shopping sprees weren’t focused on the materialistic aspect of fashion, more just being together and bonding.
Allison: My mom always brought us down to Chicago to get our clothes,, so we were always exposed to the city at an early age.
Ashley: Also, retail is pretty much in our blood – my mom’s father is Morrie Mages; he owned Morrie Mages Sporting Goods, which was the first sporting goods department store.
Allison: He was a big name in the retail industry at the time.
F: When did you develop your own personal style(s)?
Ashley: I went through a lot of different styles. I think I was trying to find my own style, but didn’t really get it until I grew up a bit more. So I dabbled: one day I was a hippie and the next day I was a raver and the next day I was a goth.
Allison: I think I did that too… But I came out of it more quickly than you did.
Ashley: And then it developed into a very eclectic mix of the new and the old. I always wanted to dress differently, and I knew that if I found something at a vintage store, no one else would have it.
F: How do you separate the family aspect in resolving business (or fashion) disagreements with your sister?
Ashley: We both know that we have very different fashion styles. I might love her outfit but wouldn’t wear it, or vice versa. And right from the beginning, we set our guidelines: business is business and family is family. Say we didn’t agree on what to put on the mannequin: at the family dinner, that’s not even on our minds anymore. Besides being sisters, we’re also best friends.
Allison: We had a discussion the first week about how we were going to separate business from family.
F: You two reunited recently to create Sofia Vintage. What had each of you done before this venture, and how have your individual skills combined to make this a successful business?
Allison: I was a teacher in Chicago Public Schools, so I’m more organized and more responsible with paying the bills and that kind of thing.
Ashley: She’s more business. I worked for Rockit Ranch Productions in Chicago doing all the special events and marketing; then I moved to LA and was managing DJs; and then I went to the Fashion Institute of Design.
My marketing and special events skills have helped me in this industry. I was in charge of all the VIP relations when celebrities came to town, so I’m used to dealing with important people. We had Joe Perry and Steven Tyler from Aerosmith come into the store!
F: Is vintage as popular with men as it is with women?
Ashley: It’s harder to find men’s vintage clothing. Most of the stores that do have men’s vintage clothing feature racks of Hawaiian shirts. We thought the men’s market was untapped–
We grew up in Chicago, and all of our guy friends from high school would always come to Allison and I for fashion advice. My friend would say, “Here’s some money – go buy me my wardrobe for the spring.” We both experienced that, so we thought, “Why not have cool clothing for the guys?”
Two of my friends came yesterday after work, sat on the couch, and said, “Alright, just bring us racks.” Guys like it because we are very chill, showing them what would look good on them and guiding them. Aerosmith told us we had some of the best guys’ vintage they’ve ever seen!
F: Where do you go to collect the vintage pieces you sell in your store?
Cool stuff from the Sofia vintage store
Ashley: Flea markets, auctions, and sometimes people bring us clothing. In the past 2-3 months, I’ve been to LA, New York, and Kentucky. I take random road trips through ho-dunk towns. It’s a mixture of what I stumble upon and what stumbles upon me.
F: What did they teach you in FIDM: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising?
Ashley: I had a color and painting class, where I learned about the colors that go together, the textures that go together, the combinations, what looks good, what doesn’t look good… We had History of Fashion, as well as Mannequin and Set Design building. I really liked that class: we had to build models of a fashion show, small models of the runway and then models of the models! We designed our own tote-bags: I made mine out of a faux chinchilla.
F: Would you consider designing in the future?
Ashley: I think I’m better at styling. I like dressing people; I like that person-to-person connection. With designing, that human interchange – “Oh, this looks good on you!” – is lost.
F: You have a beautiful photo gallery online featuring outfits of vintage clothing you put together. How easy is it to make outfits mixing and matching vintage clothing from various decades?
Ashley: It’s really easy for me. I get a feel for the person I’m working with – what they want, what they reflect, who they are on the inside. I don’t dress everyone in head-to-toe vintage; it’s mostly mixing the new with the old, like a gorgeous vintage gown with crazy new shoes, or jeans with a vintage t-shirt and a blazer. So I do like mixing the new and the old, but I decide based on the person and where they’re wearing it to. In the pictures in the online photo gallery, almost everything was vintage.
F: Have you considered putting together vintage fashion shows?
Ashley: Yeah, we actually had one at Underground last June 18. Clothes looks so much different on the rack!
F: Is vintage always in vogue, or is it a recent fad? In the 70s, for example, was vintage as popular as it is now?
Ashley: Vintage is timeless. Is an item in a runway show today vintage 30 years later? Probably not, because that item was probably inspired by an item from the 1930s or 1940s. Marc Jacobs had these cardigans [points to sequined, beaded cardigans with shoulder pads and designs] on top of every single item in his line for New York Fashion Week.
Allison: Also, we’ve met a lot of people who have been in the vintage industry for a while, and they said that a lot of the designers call them for pieces for inspiration, which I never knew before.
Ashley: We did a pop-up shop in Soho; a lot of designers are there. You could tell who was sent by the designers and who was looking to buy for themselves. The people sent by the designers knew exactly what they were looking for, and would quickly flick through a rack looking for interesting patterns.
The green movement is about recycling – vintage is just recycling fashion. And then there’s the celebrity aspect of it. “What are you wearing?” gets asked a lot on the red carpet.
“Vintage this, vintage that,” I think that’s made it really popular as well.
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Conchita concentrating before a performance
A funsherpa first! Interrogating the interesting is now in New York City! Our first NYC feature is with singer/songwriter Conchita Campos. Having recently moved back to the Big Apple after a year of self discovery in San Francisco, Conchita brings back her unique sound and music talent back to the city. If you’re interested in checking her music out, you can find her EP here and on iTunes
F: So what’s up with Conchita these days?
C: I am currently working hard on my first full-length album – it is quite exciting because it is about 75% done!
F: You seem quite talented in many things, what made you decide to create music?
C: I come from a musical family. My dad played the piano and my brother picked up the guitar in high school, so that’s how I got into playing music. When I got to college, I eventually decided to take it up as my major and have been playing ever since.
F: Who are your major influences on your sound/style ?
C: I grew up around a lot of jazz and Latin jazz and my dad collected a lot of records, so there’s a big jazz influence in there. As I got older, I started to listening to other styles, like soul, hip hop, indie rock, electronic – I think there’s a little bit of all of that in there.
F: Has NY influenced your music much?
C: Definitely! I think the dark, grittiness that comes out in my music is a NY thing. I noticed the songs I’ve written in California are significantly more upbeat, at least in melody.
F: I’ve thought of becoming a singer…any advice to the aspiring singer/songwriter?
C: Like most things, there will always be ups and downs and you’ll always have doubts. As long as you remain sincere and passionate, you’ll be able to push through it. Keep creating and dreaming.
F: So you mentioned that you have an upcoming album…can you spill the beans on it?
C: It’s a big departure from the purely organic, acoustic sound of the EP. It’s heavy on the jazz and soul, with some elements of my roots in acoustic music. I worked with really amazing people (The Park, Rachel Lastimosa from Dirty Boots, Nino Moschella) to create the sound I envisioned for the album. Hopefully, people see the fruits of our labor in this collaborative endeavor.
F: Aside from the finance world, NYC has an awesome arts scene. How do you feel about the current music scene in NYC?
C: The NYC music scene is diverse and always evolving, just like the city itself. My biggest gripe with it is that it’s so extremely competitive, so there isn’t as much of a sense of community in the music scene, unlike that in San Francisco. On the other hand, it’s good in the sense that it forces you to stay motivated and driven and passionate.
F: Why did you decide to move back to NYC after moving back to San Francisco for a year ?
C: I went to San Francisco to record the album. It made absolute sense to do it in there because I could work with people I admire and respect, who would be able to achieve my vision for the album. I was surrounded by amazing musicians who were also my friends. It made everything easier and more enjoyable. Now that the album is pretty much done, I felt like it was time for me to go home. One of my favorite artists, Alana Davis, said that as an artist, you must be where you feel most inspired. Being in the Bay Area for a year made me realize that NY is now home. It’s where I’ve been inspired to write and constantly evolve and create.
F: Where do you go in the city when you need inspiration for writing your music?
C: I watch a lot of shows, whenever and wherever I can.
F: Can you tell us where Conchita hangs out in the city to listen to live music?
C: The summer is awesome because you have all these great free concerts. I love jazz shows, so there’s Smoke and Sweet Rhythm.
F: Favorite place in the city to perform?
I have a soft spot for The Bitter End, since it’s where I played my first NY gig.
F: We love summer – any suggestions for things to do in the city during this time of the year?
Summerstage, the music festivals, food festivals – so much to do really!
John Brinkman is a self-proclaimed history buff. His brainchild – Chicago Film Tours – presents a fascinating take on Chicago. Littered with interesting facts, like the story behind Oz Park and the origin of those little Oscar statuettes, the Chicago Film Tour fills in the gaps for Chicago natives and gives visitors a run-down on Chicago’s place in the film industry. From the Uptown neighborhood to Lower Wacker Drive, the tour bus navigates the streets of Chicago with movie clips to supplement the scenery. John Brinkman talks about the film scene in Chicago and what inspired his popular tour.
F: On your website, it says you grew up in a community that produced recognizable names in the film industry…
Yes, I grew up in Franklin Village, Michigan with Sam Raimi –the director of the Spiderman series, as well as the recent Drag Me To Hell. Sam moved in before the 4th grade and I went all through high school with him. Another good friend is Josh Becker, who does independent movies. Actor Bruce Campbell was also a classmate.
F: What made you decide to turn your love of movies into a business? What had you previously done?
I was an executive for an auto-parts supplier, and you’ve seen what’s happened to the automotive industry! General Motors, Toyota – those were all my biggest customers. For the past year or so, I’ve been looking for something to do. I almost opened up a coffee kiosk in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I wanted to do something that was different, something fun.
My Dad and I went on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria, years ago and had a memorable experience. While thinking about my next career, my daughter suggested moving to Chicago and starting a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off tour. So I was talking to my buddy Josh, and Josh goes, “Well, do you know anything about the Chicago film industry?” And – just off the top of his head – he starts rattling off about Colonel Selig and Broncho Billy Anderson. So I said, “OK, maybe there’s something here!” I check to see if there’s a film tour, and there isn’t. So I started putting it together with my daughter; we took her car and started mapping it out.
I liked doing all the research for the tour; I thought that part was fun. Everyone says, “Oh you’re living your dream!” Having a film tour isn’t my dream, but it’s a lot better than selling ball-bearings, the way I look at it. It’s original.
F: So what would you say sets Chicago apart in the history of the film industry?
The infancy of it as well as the longevity. The center of the film industry began with Edison in New York. Chicago had the World’s Fair and the Columbia Exposition right around the time nickelodeons were invented. In 1896 Selig did his first movie, and 1893 was the Columbia Exposition. 80 years later you had the John Hughes era and recently, Dark Knight and other blockbusters
F: Your site and the tour have a lot of fun movie facts. Where do you get all your movie facts? What are some of your favorite facts?
My director friend Josh had a lot of information, and I also used IMDB. Once I decided on the movies I wanted, I focused on the obscure facts, like the fact that Vince Vaughn’s father played Jennifer Aniston’s dad in the movie The Break-Up, or the fact that Alan Ruck was 29 years old when he played Cameron in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
I like the building facts as well. I like the weird little things like John Barleycorn’s used to be a Chinese Laundry in the back. Wrigley Field wasn’t built for the Cubs; the Cubs moved in two years later.
F: As the proprietor of Chicago Film Tours, you must have a very curated Top Ten movie list. What are some of your favorite movies?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Stalag 17 are terrific. Groundhog Day, which was filmed up in Woodstock, is a Top 10. Great Escape is probably one of my favorites. I tend to like comedies, war movies and dramas.
F: Have you seen many movies while they’re being filmed in Chicago?
I went to the Chicago Film Office here and introduced myself to them. One of the things I try to do is to find out what’s filming here so that when people take my tour, I can be up-to-date on what’s filming in town. I went to the red carpet event for Public Enemies, and I got a picture of Johnny Depp.
The only thing filming right now is Nightmare on Elm St., and that’s mostly up in the northern suburbs.
F: It seems like the same places are repeatedly used in movies…
Those have the flavor of the era. My buddy Josh explained all this to me. Look at it from a location scout’s point of view. You want to use existing buildings that are around. If I have to change the facade, put up an awning, or if I have to take away Starbucks or Subway – fine, as long as the architecture is there.
F: The Dark Knight seems to be one of the more popular movies linked to Chicago. In your opinion, what are some of the parallels between the fictional Gotham City and the real Chicago?
I live up by Division and Clark. It’s weird to see people my age sleeping on the sidewalk, then walk four blocks over to the old Playboy Mansion. When you look at the Narrows, that’s a parallel. Gotham City is obviously a fictional city, but it’s known for skyscrapers and lots of activity. I think that’s Chicago personified: Chicago is a vibrant city.
F: If you were directing a movie set here in Chicago, what kind of movie would it be? Plot? Cast? Genre?
Actually one of the things I’ve done is outline a screenplay! It’s like Sex in the City but for guys. It would be humorous and telling; it would be a slice-of-life story. I would probably not have a lot of locations; it would be set in some guy’s backyard with the city as a backdrop.
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