Category — Life

The SAUCE: Being HAPPY with Snow Days and Auto Shows! from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

SAUCEY LINKS:

• Ian Maksin (The Cello Man)
• Don’t Worry, Be Happy MP3 on Amazon
• Love Shack on Amazon
• Broadway in Chicago
• Conan’s Final Tonight Show
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Don’t worry, Be Happy video on Youtube
• Love Shack video on YouTube
• Happiness Coke Machine
• Snow Days / Explore Chicago
• Chicago Auto Show
• The Joynt Chicago
• La Scarola
• Cupid’s Loveshack Tickets
• Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown

I wish you all a very safe, peaceful and merry Christmas! Here is my “I’m on vacation” version of The SAUCE this week!

Ho-Ho-Ho!
Jen

JenChicago, NBC Chicago Street Team

Last Saturday, my teammate Kristin, and I explored Chicago in the World’s Largest Urban Adventure Series, City Chase Chicago, and Matt was there to catch the excitement on camera!  From jumping hurdles, to strutting the catwalk, the race challenged our bodies, minds and… well, sneakers.  The race started at 10am on Saturday, August 22 and concluded promptly at 4pm.  We went “all out” for 6 hours straight and now, 3 days later, we are still sore.  But it’s that good kind of “I did something really awesome and it’s totally worth it” sore, you know?

Watch the adventure unfold here!

The Race is ON for City Chase Chicago 2009! from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

PS: Thanks again to Chicago Sport and Social for sponsoring our registration for the City Chase and to The Joynt, Retro Club and Piano Bar, for sponsoring the video coverage.  Sponsors rock!

JenChicago, NBC Chicago Street Team

Last Saturday and Sunday the City of Chicago, once again, put on it’s yearly Air and Water Show… And once again, I was amazed, impressed and happily proud to be an American. Though Sunday turned out to be freckled with rainstorms, the show continued, and we were generously rewarded for being such “troopers” in waiting out the rain.  We we all given just one more reason to love… Sweet Home Chicago!

2009 Chicago Air & Water Show from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Stay tuned for more staycation ideas and my upcoming show, Staycation Nation!

It looked to be a late night at 7:30ish on a Tuesday and not a vegetable to be found in the fridge.  So I went to my favorite Subway for a footlong tuna sandwich.  What I got was an two footlongs, a tattered piece of paper with indecipherable handwriting and some new perspective on providing value to random strangers.  Zig Ziglar says “You can have whatever you want if you help enough other people get what they want”…  and I believe he’s right.

How do you give a “footlong” of value? from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

So this is what I want: I want to make great strides in the production of my budding travel show, Staycation Nation.  As a friend, fan or potential fan, of JenChicago what do you want to see in an online staycation show?  Do you want coupons?  Do you want discount travel?  Do you want staycation ideas for downtown Chicago or day trip ideas?  Do you want to know about food, dance or a mix of all of it?

Please let me know in the comments or direct message me.

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

The fun never stops in Chicago and this past Cinco de Mayo was another full night of fun! Youth Technology Corps is a local non-profit that came from extremely simple beginnings. Founder Dave Finkel gave some computers to some inner-city Chicago teens, who then figured out how to refurbish them on their own! This program now has the original teens doing outreach and being mentors in other countries like Mexico, thus the tie in with Cinco Del Soul.

As you can see, the event was skillfully executed with me as the host emcee for the night! Special thanks to Katie Bormaster, who invited me to participate and planned the entire event, including the video production! That girl called in a lot of favors with her very talented friends!

To find out more about YTC or to donate, click here.

PS: Can you hear me losing my voice?

YTC’s Cinco del Soul Party! from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Find me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!

Before heading out to enjoy this gorgeous Chicago day, I went to check the mail. Fun things come in the mail. I have a note card reminder to send people nice cards in the mail. We all like it. Today, I got some fun marketing tools and reading material. I love the nerdy side of me.

Also, check out the scavenger hunt that takes place online and in sweet home Chicago! And if you want to see me walk the runway and support a worthy cause, get tickets to next Friday’s event!

DUN… DUN… DUN…

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

I feel as though I have told this story a thousand times, and yet, it still makes me smile…

When I first moved to Chicago, I went out by myself… a lot. It was exciting to try new places without knowing anything about them in an effort to find “my spot” for “this or that”. One of the “spots” that needed to be found was a place for me to dance. Preferably to live music. I’m not much of a sit-and-drink kind of girl. I never really have been, unless I’m eating or watching a show. I like to keep moving. And by “moving”, I mostly mean “dance“. And the best kind of music to dance to is live music! Agreed? The energy of a great band moves me in a way that makes me feel as though I am part of the music. I love it.

So, I sauntered into The Joynt one day, a little less than a year ago, and it just felt “right”. I knew this was my spot. It is essentially four (5 in the summer) clubs in one! The Grand Bar, The Retro Club, The Lounge and The Outdoor Cafe are all fantastic rooms with different personalities for each one! And then there’s my personal favorite… The Swing Bar.

Anyway, long story short… I started shooting at The Joynt here and there until I finally asked Stan Wozniak and Pauly Babcock to let me play with an idea on the weekends. The video below is the first edition of a bi-monthly series. The premise is simple.

Everyone in Chicago has a story. The following are just a few… STORIES FROM THE JOYNT.

Stories from the Joynt: Friday, May 22, 2009 from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.

Come see me at The Joynt on Friday and Saturday nights!

JenChicago, NBC5 Street Team

All my life my mom has been an exceptional educator. I know that had a HUGE effect on my life! Among other things, Mom definitely gave me a strong appreciation for reading. I’m a regular bookworm and I love it! Now that social media is becoming more prevalent, I find myself becoming an educator, of sorts, for my family and friends. In honor of my mother, I offer to you a little “mom-themed” video on how to get started with Twitter.

Moms rock and we KNOW it! Happy Mother’s Day!

JenChicago: Twitter in a nutshell. from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.