PARIS, FRANCE 2010

MURAL ARTS PROGRAM: FRANKFEST 2010 WAS SUPER SUCCESSFUL!

Why I dressed up like Frankenstein and what exactly happened at Frankfest 2010?

Frankfest 2010 was a promotional event I produced for the City of Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program. This summer the organization unveiled a new tour product called the Mural Mile - this was one of the many events programmed to draw attention to these free downloadable audio/cell phone tours. For more information: www.muralarts.org/muralmile

Here's what happened at Frankfest 2010:

• Guests met MAP Executive Director Jane Golden and Dave McShane, the muralist who painted the Mural at Dirty Franks
• Acclaimed Frank Sinatra performer, Rich DeSimone, sang classic Sinatra tunes throughout the event
• Philadelphia's most famous Frank, Ben Franklin, was on hand offering guests intriguing historical Philadelphia factoids
• Two adorable frankfurters, Frankenstein and the Bride of Frankenstein greeted guests, danced and smiled for photos
• Free frankfurters - America's favorite "Frank" themed food - was served to those named Frank, Francine, Frankie, etc. and to those who dressed in a Frank themed costume

GOOD TIMES HAD BY ALL! 

TODAY IS NO HO-HUM DAY - IT'S A DAY OF GRATITUDE!

Memorial Day weekend wasn't filled with my typical long afternoons in the sun at a beer garden/street festival or late night parties ending in dance filled debauchery. I spent quality time with my loving man and my three adorable pups – it was perfect in every way!

We had a friend over for dinner last night as John made steak, potato salad and grilled veggies – yum! He's such a great chef and a master of the barbeque grill!

During the dinner conversation we heard about the many big life changes that were going on with our friend - all happening in the next few months.

John compared the difficult life changing decisions she was making to the many he’s made in life - like leaving loving friends and family behind in an effort to progress in his career.

He said, "I can't even imagine still scrubbing cases at that hospital in North Carolina," referring to the surgery position he held at the beginning of his career.

Which led to several discussions about many of our closest friends in high school still living in our hometowns and how they are happy with the small-town lifestyle. And we all knew that bigger cities were more our speed.

Before going to bed I evaluated aspects of my life and how I've progressed from high school till today. Living in three major metropolitan cities and the career I've established for myself is something that I’m proud of.

For the last 4 years, the glue that has kept my life together is the love I’ve found with John and my three pups – I’m so blessed to have such a beautiful family! We live in an amazing home, we have fabulous family and friends who support us AND we’re both healthy - which is an amazing blessing!

I too often take things for granted and find myself sweating the small aspects of life instead of looking at the big picture. I need to stand on top of the mountain and look down and see the great life I'm living.

Memorial Day weekend served as a reminder to me to not become complaisant, forge ahead and achieve in my career, love my family and cherish every day I have on this long twisty road of of life. (Maybe a little too philosophical - but you get where I’m going with all of this)

Today is no ho-hum of a day - it's a day of gratitude. Join me in being thankful for all of the blessings we currently have and the amazing days we have to look forward to in our future!

KSLATZ HAS BEEN WORDLED

CHILLING WITH THE MAYOR OF PHILADELPHIA AND CHICAGO

PHOTOS OF THE DAY - OUR NEW HOUSE!

SELF PORTRAITS

These photos date back to right before Thanksgiving when we spent the day at the Longwood Conservatory.

HAVE YOU EVER?

KSlatz is cranking out some great ideas.

Have you ever come up with a brilliant idea and lose it before you are able to jot it down on paper? Super frustrating!

Last night I thought of an amazing topic to write about here in my blog and for about an hour this morning I've been struggling to remember what the topic was - apparently too much wine last night.

But I did wake up with a great idea for the public arts group I've been working with, one that I think could evolve into a great promotion for a new product they are unveiling soon.

Hopefully I will remember my great new blog topic later...more to come!

MAN THOSE ARE SOME CHEESY-LOVEY-DOVEY MAGAZINE COVERS!

I'm posting these photos, made from an iPhone application called iCover, because I'm totally lucky to have a family that loves and supports me in every way...I know, cheesy...but the cheese is good sometimes, it's good to be in the habit of being grateful!

BROTHERHOOD

WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT

YEP, that's me!

CUSP OF GREATNESS

Four years ago I blew out the candles on my birthday cake and wished for a successful-loving relationship with a sexy man. I've succeeded in this endeavor - John is totally amazing and I love the life we have set up with our two amazing pups!

John and I don’t plan on having children so our careers play a major role in our lives – which makes finding the right job, one that will make me completely and utterly happy, very important!

THE STORY

We treated ourselves to a fancy French dinner last night – a final quaint meal in one of our favorite neighborhood joints before we embark on a seven day adventure to Costa Rica with 16 friends.

John did his usual eavesdropping on conversations of the people dining around us. I was off in space collecting ideas of everything I needed to do before our trip.

When we both came back to reality, John started to talk about my career, and made a comment that struck a nerve with me. He said, "You remind me a lot of the character from that movie last night."

I knew he was referencing the movie Julie and Julia as we watched it in bed the night before. I blurted out, "You think I'm like Julia Child?"

"No, no, no, Julie - the character that Amy Adams played."

Adams played Julie, a married woman in Brooklyn who was turning 30. She was the literary editor for her college magazine and believed she would have written her first novel by the age of 30. Instead she was stuck in a dead-end government job watching her friends excel in their careers.

John said, "I think you are sitting on the cusp of greatness, you just need to figure what you want to do and you will have a great career!"

I haven't found the "one thing" I'm great at. I'm essentially "decent" at many things. I just haven't found that one passionate outlet that fully expresses me.

I believe in myself and my creative abilities and agree that I haven't found the right outlet to showcase my diverse skill set. I have a strong passion for photography, event planning, marketing non-profit organizations and telling stories.

In my career I’ve had no shortage of creative ideas for other people and organizations. What I need is to channel my skill set towards something that’s completely and totally all about what I do best and do it in a way that is extremely profitable.

KSlatz’s New Year's Resolution: Decide what to do with the rest of my life - stick to it - and be the best "insert career here" I can be!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

My shadow rooted within a magnificent tree at the Longwood Gardens. Love the stars on the ground - this place pulled out all of the stops for visitors!

I TALK TO MYSELF - IT'S NOT ALL THAT WEIRD!

Examining the details of my too often monotonous day to day life takes some rational thinking - often resulting in me defending myself because - well, I'm always right.

I find this sentiment to be especially true when John and I are debating. I think one of my strong talents is spinning something I do that could be considered weird or abnormal into a total normal behavior - let me explain through a recent story.

THE STORY
John and I stopped at a BBQ restaurant to get a quick bite to eat before we headed to the movies. We were the only customers in the restaurant and were patiently waiting for our food to come out.

I'm very comfortable with John. We have lived together in our "partnered" relationship for three years on Thanksgiving. We don't have "uncomfortable silence" and there are few people other than him that I'm one hundred percent comfortable being around.

We were sitting in silence and I was looking out the window thinking about how I might need to do some spin control for my behavior on Halloween.

I was internally debating on whether or not I should apologize to the host of the party for my possibly bad drunken behavior or ignoring it all together and hope nothing bad happened - because I'm not sure what exactly happened...once the evening reached a certain point...it all is a bit blurry due to the heavy pour on the vodka drinks my brother made us.

I was looking out the window AND apparently mouthing the words of the potential conversation I would have with the host of the party - who we are having over for dinner soon. Thus, looking like a "special needs" child to any outside observer.

John said, "Kevin, what are you doing?" He then looked over both shoulders to see if anyone was watching me - to make sure no one knew he was eating lunch with a loony Mc-loon.

Incidentally, this was the second time in recent weeks he caught me doing this, thus establishing a repetitive behavior. Yikes, maybe I'm turning into a whack-job weirdo!

RELATED BACKGROUND INFO
One of the more memorable columns I wrote for my college newspaper detailed "things I just don't understand" about my college classmates. It spotlighted some truly weird behavior I saw around campus. Two that come to mind: sorority girls wore tight black pants to the bar like it was their "slutty" uniform & people used glow sticks at the club like they were their magic hypnotizing sticks.

Throughout that semester my friend and roommate Ryan, repeated: "Things I don't understand by Kevin Slatz" followed by his trademark giggle, whenever he spotted an example of something "I didn't understand."

The column took on a life of its own because other friends and total strangers would tell me about the odd behaviors they found weird - thus making this article a defining college moment.

Which brings me to this related question: Is my "talking to myself" behavior something I would have written about in college? Have I turned into the person I made fun of in the "things I just don't understand" column?

SPIN CONTROL
OK, maybe I talk to myself and this is a odd/strange behavior. But it's not all that weird! I chalk it up to being a sign of a creative story teller who is practicing his shtick - after all - only a creative-artsy person would think it's totally fine to be caught in an empty restaurant mumbling words out the window!

When you're hanging out with me and I'm mouthing words into outer space, please don't be alarmed - let me be! It's definitely a sign of a creative genius at work and hopefully you'll find it to be an endearing quality in a friend.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE GOSSIP FROM AN UNLIKELY SOURCE

While walking through the lobby of my building today, after waiting in the mile long line at the post office to mail a present to my niece for her birthday, I stopped by to catch up with our doorman Sean.

I found out that Sean has another part-time job writing tickets by the Tower Theater - where John and I saw Jennifer Hudson perform a few months ago.

He told me since he helps the people who manage the theater with their parking, he gets free admission to any show in the building - a you scratch my back I'll scratch yours agreement.

During a recent performance, possibly a Rihanna performance - he said a young black woman, Justin Timberlake drove up, stopped his car and went into the side door of the theatre. His "people" said they wouldn't be long as he left the car blocking the street causing a mile long traffic jam behind him.

Sean immediately shouted, "You can't park here, you are blocking traffic, what are you thinking?"

The guy working for the theater who let him into the building responded, "Do you know who he is? He's Justin Timberlake, it's fine!"

Sean proceeded to call the police and wrote a $75 ticket and placed it on Timberlake's rental car. When the police arrived the officer ripped up the ticket and wrote a more expensive ticket - for $250. Before the tow truck could come and pull the car away and after listening to 15-20 minutes of horns blowing around the theater, Timberlake and his crew jumped into the car and drove away.

I'll never forget Sean's face when he said, "I don't care if it's the effing Pope, no one parks there! His arrogance is totally unbelievable!"

Our doormen have been extremely kind to us and John always jokes, telling anyone who will listen, that the doormen are my only friends in Philadelphia. I say Sean is a great friend to have - and obviously John is jealous!

SOME TIMES, SOME DAYS, SOME HOURS...

Today was one of those days when you just want to kick yourself. I worked really hard and came in second...I hope to come in first ASAP! Until then, this above image will remind me that time is ticking and I need to work all angles in order to "GET ER' DONE!"

WHAT TO DO WHEN VISITING CHICAGO

My best bud Adolfo works for a TV news station in Austin and his night news anchor is headed to Chicago this weekend. Adolfo asked me to make him a list of best restaurants, attractions, nightlife, etc. What to do when visiting Chicago by KSLATZ:


FOOD

• Best Chicago Style Pizza = Gino's East or Lou Malnati's
• Best Steak = Gibson's is a Chicago institution in the River North area, The Gage across from Millennium Park, Chicago Chop House, Rib Eye at Peterino's on State Street
• Best Brunch = Jane's is located off the beaten path in the Bucktown neighborhood - Courtland and Ashland.
• Wishbone is good for southern style breakfast and is located near Oprah's Studio in the West Loop - you can also head to the Oprah Gift Store which very popular with the "little lady."
• South loop hosts two great breakfast joints - Yolk and 11-City Diner.
• In the River North you should should try Rockit, order city's best Kobe burger with brie cheese and truffle fries
• Italian = Little Italy is home to many great restaurants: Tuscany, Rosebud, RoSals - Pompeii for inexpensive greatness - Taylor Street between Halsted and Ashland
• Osteria Via Stato in River North...really good thin crust pizza, veal meatballs are out of this world!
• Southern Dinner = Oprah's chef Art Smith Table 52 (make reservation early) in the Gold Coast - expensive but worth every penny...one block from my old studio!
• High end Mexican = Frontera Grill and Topolobampo - Rick Bayless...just won Top Chef Masters with this River North staple.
• Sheeshy/High End - Sepia in the West Loop and Spiaggia off Michigan Ave. (great views of the city) - are two of Obama's favorite places to eat on Chicago!
• Chinese = Joy-Yees in Chinatown is awesome! Pepper Steak and bubble tea - yum yum! For dim sum - The Phoenix.
• Greek Town is awesome...I like Greek Islands for inexpensive and Athena for high end...Athena offers a great outdoor patio. Order your own saganaki to start - flaming cheese...Op-aaaah!
• Hot Dogs = Chicago is known for its tasty dogs...and they don"t do the whole street cart thing! Hot Dougs - way off the beaten path - in West Lakeview has been written up in MANY luxury magazines throughout the country for it diverse menu of unique hot dog selections/creations. Portillos is my favorite local dog/beef place - in the River North
• Italian Beef - Al's Italian Beef in River North or Little Italy.
• French Bistro - Bistro Zinc in River North, an adorable restaurant and GREAT food!
• Best fast, quick bites, chain = Corner Bakery...I heart their chicken salad with apples and walnuts - yummy!

ATTRACTIONS

• Go to Millennium Park - it's amazing, one of a kind park with so much to offer
• Art Institute is a world-class institution that recently opened a new wing that is connected to Millennium Park
• For the Adventurous = Bobby's Bike Hike Tours - featuring a new Obama tour through Hyde Park
• Walk along Lake Michigan, walk through all of Grant Park and take pictures at the Buckingham Fountain - easy and beautiful recreation.
• Chicago Architecture Foundation offers the best tours..boat, walking, trolley, bus - main location is at Jackson and Michigan Ave - The Loop.
• Go see Wrigley Field - the oldest national league baseball park, located at Clark and Addison, Wrigleyville...tours on weekends throughout the summer, check website
• Pilsen - Latin neighborhood has an emerging Art Gallery scene and awesome authentic Mexican restaurants
• Two stunningly beautiful glass domes in the Chicago Cultural Center which has a visitor information center, free exhibits - Randolph and Michigan Ave
• Take a tour of the Chicago Theatre! The have them on Saturday mornings on State Street and the Chicago River...really cool is you like legendary theatre/music people
• Check out the Water Tower free photo exhibit - it takes 2 minutes to walk through - very unique setting for a photo exhibit - Chicago and Michigan Ave
• Take a ride around the Loop and watch all of the architectural greatness on the Brown Line of the Chicago's famed 'L'
• Chicago enthusiasts should head over to Lincoln Park and check out the Chicago History Museum to educate yourself on how Chicago got to be the amazing city it is today!

SHOPPING

• Michigan Ave is known for the big box department stores and major chain stores
• Oak Street has Barneys New York and a selection of boutiques and spas.
• State Street, between Congress and the River, hosts the best department store in the city: Marshall Fields - now housing Macy's - look for the Tiffany Dome mosaic ceiling over the make-up section
• Lincoln Park boutiques = Armitage Ave. - Armitage and Halsted..
• The newest hot spot for boutique shops is Bucktown/Wicker Park = Daman, Division, North Ave, Milwaukee Ave
• Lakeview/Wrigleyville = Rock alternative, t-shirts, leather, unique stores - The Alley is the hub/main store - Belmont and Clark
• Oldtown = Wells street between North Ave and Division - for men's clothes go to Haberdash!

NIGHTLIFE

• Jazz - Andy's Jazz in River North, Green Dolphin in Bucktown
• Rock - Double Door in Bucktown, Metro in Wrigelyville.
• Most tourists head to Rush and Division Street for a plethora of nightlife options
• River North and West Loop offers an ever changing scene of clubs and sports bars
• Oldtown hosts Second City Comedy...buy tickets in advance - many of the famed Saturday Night Live! cast members started here: Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Dan Akroyd etc.
• House of Blues and 10-Pin Bowling Alley are a cool option between, River North and the Loop
• Have cocktails at the Trump Hotel, bar at the Peninsula Hotel

THEATRE

• Goodman - State and Randolph, hit or miss dramas in the Loop
• Steppenwolf - my favorite...award winning smaller theatre company - dramas/live theatrical greatness in Lincoln Park...Pulitzer prize winning August of Osage County started here...
• Broadway in Chicago...if you like the big musical touring from Broadway- Jersey Boys is open run still - I think - State Street.
• Lookingglass Theatre - North Michigan Ave for hit or miss dramas by you favorite "Friend" David Schwimmer.

Website: www.metromix.com, choosechicago.com, explorechicago.com