NASHVILLE |DATE: APRIL 19, 2012
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER/AARON FETERL
LUCHA VaVOOM’s
TOP ELEVEN GUIDE TO CHICAGO
THE CREATORS OF THE MOST OUTRAGEOUS SHOW ON EARTH
RITA D’ALBERT AND LIZ FAIRBAIRN
SHARE THEIR FAVORITE WINDY CITY DIGS
LUCHA VAVOOM IS SET FOR ANNUAL
‘CINCO DE CHICAGO’ SHOW ON MAY 5 AT PARK WEST
LUCHA VAVOOM–the acclaimed Mexican masked wrestling/burlesque/comedy ensemble which “has the pacing of a prison break” (Los Angeles Times, 3/10/12)–is the brainchild of Rita D’Albert and Liz Fairbairn. The troupe has regularly sold out 1,000-seat venues across the globe (Amsterdam, Calgary, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and Philadelphia, among many other cities) and since last year, have celebrated Cinco De Mayo with a show at Park West.
As this 10-year-old production gets ready to celebrate its annual “Cinco De Chicago” show–Saturday, May 5 at Park West—Rita and Liz share their 11 favorite things about Chicago:
11. THE BONGO ROOM: Our go-to place after we do the WGN Morning Show! We treat the performers to some insane pancakes and great breakfasts. If we’re lucky enough to go on an off-day, it’s Bloody Mary’s and boozie breakfasts for us!
10. THE HIDEOUT: This is truly the best bar in the United States. Everything I’ve ever seen there has been GREAT. We make sure we visit as much as possible while we’re in Chicago. We stumbled in after a show with Cynthia Plaster Caster in tow, but were disappointed to find that Jug Band Night was over. Well, they went and brought their instruments back in, treating us to our own special show. I mentioned that the only thing that would make this better would be if Slymenstra Hymen (from GWAR, LUCHA VAVOOM) would Clog Dance. Well she did. Then I pointed out it would be even better TOPLESS and she obliged. Pardon my vulgarity, but she puts the jugs in JUG band. Topless clog-dancing-jug-band night. One of the best nights of my life. Thank you, the Hideout!
9. GREEN MILL:Great decor and of course history goes without saying. But what is better than when you add Hammond B-3 Organ? How ‘bout three? Yes, please. The Green Mill never lets us down.
8. WEINER’S CIRCLE: We know it’s a big tourist attraction, but after seeing it on INSOMNIAC with Dave Attell, we really couldn’t wait to go. Unfortunately, we’ve encountered no lunchtime cussing. Somehow, we never make it over late at night, but we’re hoping to get a blistering tirade for f*cking up and ordering too slow or something.
7. CYNTHIA PLASTER CASTER: Cynthia is our hero! She may not be the mayor, but she’s definitely our ambassador to Chicago. What an inspiration! We can’t wait for her book to come out.
6. THE COQ D’OR: We are strangely drawn to this classy old joint. When the clock strikes 5p we head over for our customary espresso martini for a boozie jolt. Chicago is lousy with great old bars!
5. THE ZEBRA ROOM: We are breaking some kind of secret pact for even mentioning this great watering hole, so, you didn’t hear it from us (wink wink)!
4. MILLENNIUM PARK: You guys are probably all used to having this great park, but we love coming here. The Cloud Gate aka silver bean is so iconic; such good tourist-y fun to take your picture in front of. We just can’t resist it.
3. THE JAMES HOTEL: We lucked out when Hotwire dealt us this hotel. Such lovely, roomy-rooms and very convenient to walk to stuff. We’ve stayed at lots of hotels in Chicago but this one was very much to our modern/fancy/comfy tastes. So much so that our wrestlers are all spoiled now; we can only hope the fates will be with us again next time we roll the dice on Hotwire.
2. WGN MORNING NEWS: Even though it means getting up at ass o’clock, the ritual of the cab getting lost on the way (every-flipping-time), to trying to look lovely by 6am (sometimes in the snack area), to the zany fun segments they do, makes going to Chicago and doing this show a total blast. We only wish that we could watch it in Los Angeles.
1. THE PEOPLE: People of Chicago–you are the best. We’re not saying that L.A. is not as friendly–oh wait–that’s exactly what we’re saying! You always make us feel welcome everywhere we go, and many times people stop and help us, even if we just LOOK lost (looking lost is how we always look. It’s sexy). Plus you guys always BRING IT to Lucha VaVOOM shows.
Tickets are available online or at the Park West box office:
(322 W. Armitage , Chicago, IL, 60614)
$35 General Admission tickets are available:
www.ticketweb.com
www.luchavavoom.com
–Link to photo gallery at LA Weekly.com:
http://www.laweekly.com/slideshow/lucha-va-voom-kinky-valentine-show-32551686/
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