Chicago Dogs Release Their 2020 Season Schedule

With summer coming up we are approaching the beginning of baseball season. This year the baseball season's are going to be a little short and a little bit restrictive on the crowds attending, but it will be a good distraction from all that is going on in the world. We have been to Chicago Dogs' games a few times over the years and hopefully, we will attend some games once they start up again in July. The team just released their 2020 game and promotional schedule. 

Enjoying good times, songs and beers at Hofbräuhaus Chicago in Rosemont

Disclaimer: The Fandads were invited to the opening celebrations in exchange for coverage. All thoughts, opinions, and dancing on benches are our own. Prost!

Last Friday the Fandads were invited to the opening ceremony at Hofbräuhaus Chicago and we had a blast. We have been lucky to be invited to this annual event and every year we go home with full stomachs and tired cheeks from laughing and smiling so much. 

Are you ready for ACE Comic Con Midwest?

Hey friends, Ace Comic Con Midwest is less than a month away and this year it will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. We attended the inaugural Ace show last year and had a blast and we can not wait to attend this year's event.  So what is going to happen this year? Read on to see all of the awesomeness that will be waiting for you at Ace Comic Con Midwest.

Monster Jam® Set to Roar into Rosemont

Monster Jam®, the unexpected, unscripted, and unforgettable family-friendly motor sport is headed for what’s expected to be another sold-out event at the Allstate Arena, Sept. 27-29. Promising a new level of high-flying, four-wheel excitement, the Friday through Sunday engagement will cram in five action-packed shows, bringing a bigger, faster and louder experience for the entire family.

Donate to Children at Wizard World with ComicBooks For Kids! Program In Chicago

Wizard World is proud to team with ComicBooks For Kids! to make sure that every child in a hospital or cancer center has a comic book! Wizard World is asking fans to bring child-appropriate graphic novels, comics, science fiction books, or any other similar reading materials to Wizard World Chicago, August 22-25 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Center and leave them in a specially marked donation receptacle near the Special Guest Registration desk.

As a thank you, fans who donate two or more items to ComicBooks For Kids! during Wizard World Chicago will receive a free pre-autographed celebrity photo from a selection of previous Wizard World guests. These photographs are available to fans on a first-come, first-served basis while supply lasts, one per family donation per day, at the full discretion of Wizard World.

Fans can learn more about ComicBooks For Kids! at https://www.comicbooksforkids.org/.

Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Justice League), “Gotham” stars Ben McKenzie, Morena Baccarin and Drew Powell, Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, “Stranger Things”), Henry Winkler (“Happy Days,” “Barry”), Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride, Nightmare Before Christmas) and Daniel Cudmore (X-Men, The Twilight Saga) are among the early wave of celebrities scheduled to attend the 22nd annual event.

For more on the 2019 Wizard World Chicago, visit http://wizd.me/ChicagoPR.

Top Creators Announced for Wizard World Chicago 2019

Industry veterans Christopher Priest (“Black Panther,” “Batman”) Carl Potts (“Venom,” “Punisher”), Stuart Sayger (“G.I. Joe.” “Xena: Warrior Princess”), Gerry Conway (“The Punisher,” “Ms. Marvel”), Kurt Lehner (“Gargoyles,” “Marvel Action Hour”), Mostafa Moussa (“Superman,” “Fantastic Four”), Jeremy Clark ("Grimm Fairy Tales," "Day of the Dead"), Thomas Estrada (Disney, DreamWorks), Tim Lattie (“Ghostbusters,” WWE), Joe Wos (“Mazetoons”), and Joe Corroney (“Star Wars,” “Marvel’s Avengers”) are among the leading creators scheduled to populate Artist Alley at the 22nd annual Wizard World Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, August 22-25. The weekend will also feature many demonstrations and discussions at the Creative Stage, as well as more than 40 Chicagoland-area creators.

Other notable artists and writers scheduled to appear include Gavin Smith (“The Accelerators,” “Ghost in the Shell”), Claudio Aboy (DC Comics, LucasFilm), Eddy Decker (“Far Out!”), James Morris (Three Kingdoms trilogy), Mog Park (HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” “Hundred Thousand Kingdoms”), Ren McKenzie (“The Samaritan,” “Half Breed”), Jed Thomas (“Crypt TV,” “The Amity Wars”) and more.

In addition to Decker, the Chicago area will be well represented in Artist Alley. Local artists and writers appearing there include notables Trevor Mueller (“Albert the Alien,” “Reading with Pictures”), Alan Dyson (“Game of Thrones,” “Knight Seeker”), Andy Szaf (“Power Animals,” WCW), Christopher Kostecka (Hippo Ocracy, The President Killed My Dog), Camron Johnson (“Bonecheek,” “Rabbit in Red”), Cory Smith (pencil portraits, charcoal sketches), Christine Chang (traditional, digital media), Arthur Lashkiba (digital art), Winslow Dumaine (“The Tarot Restless”), DJ Corchin (“A Thousand No’s,” “Do You Speak Fish?”), Juan Gomez (“The Bells,” Rolling Stone), Kae McSpadden (“Find Your Wings,” Reppin’ Flag), Katie Houston (costumes, custom figures), Edward Sims (“Black Arrow,” “Persia the Lighting Dragon”), Kurt Zauer (“Spectress and Sabanion”), Luis Colindres (EDM illustrations), Wil Woods (The Paper Terminal), Tyrine Carver (The Paper Terminal), Brandon Santiago (“The Kid,” “Asa’s Dad”), Patrick Olsen (“Paradise Lost”), Peter Smith (“Chronicles of Zelara,” “Across the Pond Presents”), Rob Hogan (political art), Joseph Cisneros (“Bandana Avenger and Friends”), Matthew Paciorek (“C.H.A.M.P.S.”), Vheto Gutierrez Vazquez (“Chaac”) and others.

Wizard World Chicago will also include non-stop live entertainment, gaming, exclusive Q&A sessions with select celebrities and autographs/photo ops with top stars such as Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Justice League), “Gotham” stars Ben McKenzie, Morena Baccarin and Drew Powell, Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, “Stranger Things”), Henry Winkler (“Happy Days,” “Barry”), Chris Sarandon (The Princess Bride, Nightmare Before Christmas), Daniel Cudmore (X-Men, The Twilight Saga), George Wendt (“Cheers”), Melissa Joan Hart (“Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” “Melissa and Joey”), Katrina Law (“Arrow,” “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”) and more, along with Wizard World’s Master of Ceremonies, Kato Kaelin.

Wizard World events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. The eighth event scheduled on the 2019 Wizard World calendar, Chicago show hours are Thursday, August 22, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, August 23, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, August 25, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.

Wizard World Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday evening.

For more on the 2019 Wizard World Chicago, visit http://www.wizardworld.com/comiccon/chicago.

Aquaman to attend Wizard World Chicago

Wizard World Chicago is coming soon and Aquaman, Jason Mamoa, himself will be in attendance. The Fandads have been attending Wizard World before we became the Fandads and this is one of the fun shows that we love attending. This year's line up runs the gamut of celebrities and might just have someone that you are excited to meet. Check out the line-up and we'll keep you posted on more updates as they are released.

Having A Blast with the Chicago Dogs

Disclaimer: The Fandads were invited to attend the Chicago Dogs game for this post. All thoughts, opinions, and good times had are our own. 

Baseball season is in full swing and it is always a great way for families to spend time together. With the local teams in the city, it can be a little costly to attend one of those games. Especially if you are a family of four with two children that like to eat a lot, you have to find an alternative to the big league games. While the big league games are pretty fun to attend the real action is at the minor league games like the Chicago Dogs. Last weekend the Fandads were invited to attend a Chicago Dogs game and it was a great time for our family.

Monster Jam® Triple Threat Returns to Rosemont

Too big to contain to once a year, Monster Jam® Triple Threat will make its second annual appearance at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, Nov. 2-4, marking the first time the wildly popular Monster Jam tour will make a Chicagoland pit-stop in November. Playing to sold-out crowds here each February/March, this new season of Monster Jam Triple Threat promises to bring motorsport fans to the edge of their seats with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family.

Featuring the eight most intense athletes of Monster Jam, Chicago-area fans will witness a fierce battle for the championship with each competitor using customized high-powered vehicles: Monster Jam Speedsters, Monster Jam ATVs and the famous Monster Jam trucks. Vying to be the Chicago-area champion will be:

Grave Digger® – Brandon Vinson
Max D® – Jared Eichelberger
El Toro Loco® – Armando Castro
ZombieSM – Ami Houde
Pirate’s Curse – Camden Murphy
Wonder Woman – Collete Davis
Megalodon – driver-athlete to be announced
Monster Mutt® Rottweiler – Jack Brown

Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, Monster Jam takes center stage in the world’s most iconic venues, sporting meticulously manicured dirt tracks created with the sole purpose of pushing these perfectly engineered, larger-than-life trucks to the limit.

Monster Jam is one of the only sports where male and female world-class drivers, some generational rivals, are equals competing for the same championship on the same track. Following racing, new this season across all Monster Jam events, fans in every city will have the chance to vote for the truck winner in the donut, wheelie and freestyle competitions by real-time, in-arena fan voting on their smartphones.


Show Times & Ticket Information

Friday, Nov. 2 – 7 pm

Saturday, Nov. 3 – 1 pm & 7 pm (Pit Party, 10 am - Noon)

Sunday, Nov. 4 – 1 pm & 6:30 pm (Pit Party, 10 am - Noon)


Monster Jam events are affordably priced for the whole family with seats starting at $20. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster retail locations, the Allstate Arena box office, and by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Pit Parties give fans the opportunity to meet the Monster Jam athletes and get up close to the Monster Jam trucks. Pit passes are priced at $10 on Saturday, and $15 on Sunday, and can only be purchased in conjunction with tickets to the same-day Saturday or Sunday 1 pm show.

For more information on a Monster Jam near you, please log onto MonsterJam.com or follow us via our social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.


About Feld Entertainment, Inc.

Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that uplift the human spirit and bring people together. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Sesame Street Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

It's Time to Party with the Gang! Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!,

Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

When I was growing up I remember how much joy I got from watching Sesame Street. Watching it every day and learning new numbers or letters was always so much fun. Now with children of my own I watch the new episodes of Sesame Street and it takes me back to my childhood. I love watching all the new characters that have been introduced and see how they interact with the characters I grew up watching. In a few months, the gang will be live in the Chicagoland area for a show that will entertain the entire family.

MB FINANCIAL PARK KICKS OFF HOLIDAY SEASON WITH “LIGHT UP THE PARK” TREE LIGHTING NOVEMBER 24

Photo courtesy of Carol Fox and Associates Public Relations

It's almost that time of year friends to start enjoying the skating rink at MB Financial Park and we have the information you are looking for as to when the skating begins and the park gets lit up for the holiday.

Hofbräuhaus Chicago is the place to celebrate Oktoberfest this year

Disclaimer: The Fandads were invited to attend the opening of Oktoberfest. All thoughts, opinions and full stomachs are our own. 

Last Friday the Fandads were invited to celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest at Hofbräuhaus Chicago in Rosemont, IL. This is the second time that we were invited to this event and it was a lot of fun and let us tell you about it if you have never been.

I believe I can fly....at least with the help of iFLY

I remember the first time that I saw Superman flying on the big screen I was in awe. It was pretty cool seeing this man flying around through the air like it was nothing and I wanted to do that.  When I was older I saw the movie Point Break and I remember the skydiving scenes and again I wanted to do that. Just like Superman it was pretty cool to see these guys doing these aerial acrobatics while they fell from a perfectly good plane.

Hanging out at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago. #Sponsored

(Disclaimer: The Fandads were compensated with a gift card and dinner for this post. All words and opinions are our own and if given the chance we would have moved into the candy store that you will read about later on.)

When I was younger I hated going to shopping malls. I hated the experience of going to the trendy stores and having a sales associate trying to sell me the "in" clothes and my parents shooting down all  of their suggestions. There was just something about malls I did not like, I mean I like shopping, but I don't like crowds sometimes.

Well, that was then and nowadays I kind of enjoy malls. I enjoy the people watching and getting a good deal on something that I'm looking for. Also, having kids makes going to the mall a fun and interesting experience. How many of you have had a child have a major breakdown while standing in line to buy your items? Ahh, the sweet sounds of tantrums.

Swinging away with Spider-man at the Marvel Universe Live show.

Anyone that knows me by now knows that I am a huge Spider-Man fan.  If I could be any superhero that is who I would want to be.  My love for the web-head goes back to my grammar school days and there was just something about him that I related to...minus the being bitten by a spider thing, but I saw myself in him.