This Just In...Olympic Gold Medalist Cullen Jones To "Make A Splash" In Chicago, Bar 1's Big Break Grand Finale, Vera Wang's "Princess" Casting Call, One Direction's Pop-Up Store, & Goorin Bros. Hat-tastic Party!

Bring the family for a free water safety event featuring Olympic gold medalist Cullen Jones! The event will feature the opportunity to take a free swimming lesson, meet Olympians Jones and Rowdy Gaines and learn about water safety resources in the Chicago area.


The first 100 kids to register and participate in the lesson on August 25 will receive a voucher for $50 toward a session of lessons with the Make a Splash Local Partner of their choice!

• WHAT: Make a Splash with Cullen Jones Presented by Phillips 66: An in-water lesson and presentation by Olympic gold medal-winning swimmers.
• WHERE: Washington Park Pool
• WHEN: Saturday, August 25, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • Kids' lesson - 9:30 a.m.
  • Pep rally and motivational speech by Jones - 10:20 a.m.
  • Family lesson - 11:20 a.m.
• COST: Free
• DETAILS: Both in-water and out-of-water opportunities available. Bring a swimsuit and towel.
• RSVP: Pre-registration is now closed. Walk-ups are encouraged and will be accomodated on a space-available basis. All attendees are welcome to attend Cullen's motivational speech! 

The time has finally come! Don’t miss the finalists’ belt their hearts out one last time at The 8^th Annual Bar1’s Big Break: Discovering Chicago’s Best, a Vocal Competition. Top vocalists from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin have competed at Duffy’s Tavern & Grille all summer in hopes of making it to this final moment. Now it’s time to see who the audience will deem the best singer in Chicago!

After 11 weeks of close competition, one contestant will be crowned the winner and take home the $15,000 grand prize. Remaining finalists will split $5,000, bringing the total prizes awarded to $20,000! Don’t miss the Grand Finale on August 27 at 7 p.m.! 

Duffy's is located at 420 1/2 West Diversey, in Chicago.  Please visit http://www.bar1events.com/duffys/ or call 773-549-9090 for more information.

The Final Four Contenders are:

Caitlyn Stoeckley

Favorite Artist: Carole King

Bio: Caitlyn Stoeckley is a Chicago-based singer/songwriter. She has been a state finalist for the Colgate Country Showdown three times, has appeared on Fox Chicago's Morning News, and has provided entertainment for numerous restaurants and events. Her proudest accomplishments include singing the National Anthem and God Bless America for races held at the Chicagoland Speedway, and most recently releasing an EP, Circles.

Chris Slone

Favorite Artist: John Mayer

Bio: Chris was born in Illinois, and  born into a world of music. His father Randy Slone, a blues-country guitarist and singer, gave Chris his first guitar when he turned 4. By 19, Chris provided rhythm guitar and vocals for Pop-Rock band The Tryout. While living in Denver, CO with Tryout frontman Mychael Trotter for a short while and also working on finalizing some of his songs, Chris decided to pursue a career of his own and returned home to Illinois. He has been pushing his career as a solo artist ever since.

Gina Venier

Bio: Rhythmic Acoustic BLUE EYED SOUL Musician.  Singer, musician and songwriter.  She's 22 years old.  Think of her music like having an organic cup of coffee with a splash of honey whiskey. Think of taking a pop song, chopping it up, throwing it over a bed of soft guitar chords, and singing it raw.  Pop covers with a naked groove.  Original pieces, too.

Jae Wilkins

Favorite Artist: Adele

Bio: Jae has competed in Big Break twice before...this will be her third time. Jae took a break from singing for about three years, but recently decided to audition for The Voice. She made it to the second round of auditions, but overall the experience made her want to sing again...so she's hoping with Big Break, the third time will be the charm!

Support your favorite performer and enjoy Duffy’s August beer special of $3.50 Shock Top.

The audience holds all the power in the final rounds. Each performance is complete with in-house live video broadcast, elaborate stage design; lighting and top-notch digital accompaniment created by a dedicated production staff to make certain each audience member has a clear view of the finalists.

Good luck, everybody!

Top fashion designer Vera Wang is conducting a nationwide model search that will be stopping in Chicago this Saturday, August 25th at the W Lakeside. They've teamed up with Kohl's Department Stores and Teen Vogue to find the new face of Vera's juniors collection called Princess Vera Wang, which is new line  exclusively at Kohl's stores.

WHAT:   Kohl’s Department Stores and Teen Vogue have partnered to announce a nationwide model search forPrincess Vera Wang, the first contemporary juniors collection by fashion icon Vera Wang. To celebrate the launch of Princess Vera Wang, available exclusively at Kohl’s stores nationwide and Kohls.com,eligible contestants ages 13 and older may enter for a chance to be featured in the 2013 Princess Vera Wang ad campaign and win a $500 shopping spree.

WHEN:   Participants must attend one of the three nationwide casting calls in Los Angeles, Chicago or New
York or post their entry online between August 1 and September 15, 2012. The top five finalists will be
selected by an elite panel of judges, including Vera Wang. The finalists will then travel to New York
City this fall for a behind-the-scenes tour of Teen Vogue. The contest winner will be chosen out of the five finalists by an online vote between October 9 and November 6, 2012 and the winner will be formally announced on November 16, 2012.

WHERE: There are two ways for contestants to enter:
1) Attend the casting calls in Chicago and articulate to the judging panel why you are “Born to Rule”
and should be the next Princess Vera Wang model.

Chicago Casting Call
Saturday, August 25
1-4 p.m. CT
W Lakeside Hotel
644 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL

2) Upload a photograph to the contest page at www.princessmodelsearch.com and explain in 150
words or less why you should be selected to star in the Princess Vera Wang 2013 ad campaign .

For official rules and how to enter, please visit www.princessmodelsearch.com.

 

 

 

UK boy band, One Direction, is giving Chicago fans an opportunity to experience a true 1D world. This Saturday, the Chicagoland area will brace itself for pandemonium as the United States’ first 1D World store opens its doors. The “What Makes You Beautiful” hit makers will offer fans exclusive merchandise such as posters, calendars and, t-shirts, and the opportunity to win One Direction prizes.

One Direction’s debut album “Up All Night” is currently No. 1 in 15 different countries with 500 million views on YouTube. The original 1D World debuted in Sydney, Australia, and was attended by thousands of screaming tweens who stood in line through the night chanting and singing their favorite One Direction tunes. For more information visit online at https://www.facebook.com/1DmerchOz.

What:         1D World Chicago store opening, the U.S. debut

When:         Saturday, August 25, 2012; 9:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Where:        2171 Northbrook Ct.  

Northbrook, IL 60062

East doors near Neiman Marcus, level 2 

Before becoming the famed Hotel Monaco Chicago, a Kimpton Hotel, the building at 225 N. Wabash Avenue was a well-known hat factory, D.B. Fisk. 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the building and Hotel Monaco Chicago is inviting guests to celebrate its retail-related past during The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival presented by MasterCard®. Join them for a hat-tastic party on August 29 from 5:00 – 8:00pm in the Paris Ballroom with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, Goorin Hat trunk shows and more. Guests can also expect fun raffle prizes with all proceeds benefiting Dress for Success. Click here to download invitation. RSVP to rsvpchicago@kimptonhotels.com. Open event.