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Chicago Foodcast

Episode 5: “The Best EFFEN Episode”

Interviews with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason and Chicago mixlogists

Running Time: 48:20

Chicago Foodcast

Episode Description: Episode 5 of Chicago Foodcast is “The Best EFFEN Episode,” as Archie and Bill head to the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago for a big EFFEN bash, EFFEN vodka that is. The episode features discussion on top Chicago mixologists competing to make the tastiest concoctions with EFFEN, EFFEN Black Cherry and EFFEN Cucumber. Bill also sits down for an interview with Jim Beam Global Spirits Master Mixologist Bobby “G” Gleason, as well as three of Chicago’s top mixologists and bartenders. Sarah Kumley joins the guys for the episode, and brings Mike’s Hard Strawberry Lemonade for “Happy Hour.” She also displays her cupcake enthusiasm by making a batch of cupcakes from ThinkGeek’s new Zombie Cupcakes recipe book. On “Hey Fatty! Whatcha been eatin?” the trio talks Bleeding Heart Bakery, Park Grill, Meatyballs Mobile, SkrineChops and Owen & Engine.

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Music on the episode – Al Duvall’s “The Day Bartender” (more…)

Artist: Silverstein

Album Title: Rescue

Record Label: Hopeless Records

Rating:

Review by: Eric Stuckart

I remember when Silverstein’s first full length, When Broken is Easily Fixed, first came out in 2003. Their aggressive, almost metal approach to screamo filled in the gap sadly created by the breakup of Grade the year prior, and it was pretty close to what I was looking for. Their style was a little safer — a touch more melodic punk and less hardcore — but vocalist Shane Told embodied the spirit of Grade singer Kyle Bishop in his impassioned screams, and that’s what made me initially fall in love with this band. Plus, for what it’s worth, it was a hell of a lot better than Bishop’s comeback band, the short-lived The Black Maria.

Unfortunately, my adoration for that band was relatively short-lived, as the band aimed for a more mainstream, poppy sound with their follow-up, Discovering the Waterfront, much to my chagrin. The songwriting was toned down, and the screaming was utilized less often, more or less only as punctuation rather than the balanced blend that they had on their first one. In retrospect, I was most likely starting to just lose interest in that style, but I still remember it not being as good of an album.

So with that being said, it comes to a bit of a surprise to see a band like Silverstein in the year 2011. Most of the screamo/post-hardcore bands from their era didn’t have nearly the amount of longevity, having all but packed it up and gone home in favor of either morphing into heavier or more melodic styles, or just breaking up completely. (more…)

No matter what happens at MITB, Punk rant was brilliant

How WWE is playing a hometown, the internet and more

By Bill Jones

No matter what happens at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view in Chicago this Sunday, there’s no denying that the already infamous June 27 Monday Night Raw rant was an absolutely brilliant move. And its impact is already readily apparent. More people are buzzing about the world of professional wrestling than they have in years; WWE is likely to get great buyrates for a PPV that otherwise might have been considered second-rate and gone largely under the radar; people were chanting CM Punk’s name on Raw tonight; and there is the setup for some great shock value in Punk’s hometown.

For those coming to this story unfamiliar with the situation, CM Punk came out at the end of Monday Night Raw June 27, cost John Cena a tables match against R Truth, and proceeded to sit at the top of the ramp and cut a promo that had many wondering whether it was scripted or whether CM Punk had really just gone off the hinges. (more…)

Title: NCAA Football 12

Platform: 360 (PS3)

ESRB: E

Publisher: EA Sports

Developer: EA Tiburon, EA Canada

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Sports games have the benefit of being an easy sell, in that fans already love the sports, know the series, and like to keep coming back to drop $60 for a few more features if done right, but a difficult sell in that savvy fans know that in terms of gameplay there usually isn’t much changing from year to year. College football has the extra-dubious task of selling without the NFL star power of the Madden series.

That said, the NCAA Football series from EA Sports has been excelling in recent years at making that sell, pulling my attention completely from the pros and back to college with an absolutely addictive Dynasty (Franchise) mode. Last year, I became so caught up with trying to sign four- and five-star recruits to my school it got to be a bit ridiculous, and that’s saying a lot for someone who was never interested in franchises, just in playing some fun video game football. (more…)