This is The SAUCE video for the week beginning October 22, 2009.

Original and unedited script is available here for the hearing impaired.

*The following is my original script with ideas for video.  Many edits have been made.**

Hey Everyone, I’m JenChicago, this is Toto and you’re watching The SAUCE. Maybe you expected the SAUCE yesterday, but we had to toss the SAUCE from yesterday… It just wouldn’t do.  So here it is- a day late, but remade with love and from scratch.  So eat it! 

Weird Al’s video “Eat it?”

*witch cackle*

What a week we had here at the Joynt, Toto! Stan’s long time friend, Joe Piscopo and gal pal, Jess, came in town Saturday night- just in time for Sweetest Day. *aww* The guys are moving forward with Ari Golan and Jimmy the Hat on preproduction of the sweetest variety show to hit Chicago in a very long time.  The Joynt After Dark, hosted by Mr. Piscopo, is creeping forward to shoot in November. *scary growl or evil laugh*

Joe and Jess came into town and a few of us went out for a scrumptious dinner at N9ne Steakhouse. Big thumbs up to Bruno for taking care of us at the table, and of course our buddy, and manager Tim Griffin; who also has the fine taste enough to frequent the Joynt on a regular basis. The surf and turf I ordered was outstanding! And the Ketel martinis straight up with 3 blue cheese olives were so good, I think we made a believer out of Jess. From there we went back to The Joynt, where Joe had the whole crowd singing and swaying as he and Dakota sang “New York, New York”.
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Fun right?! I know! There was all kinds of excitement going on Saturday night! Which is why I didn’t catch any of Joe’s comedy on camera… I was in the Grand Bar celebrating DJ Jack’s birthday with a big ol’ cookie cake and then… he played my song and I just had to get my boogie on…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGjC0wbUXzk

*dancing* Now THAT’S a good song, even Napolean Dynamite thinks so! And speaking of good songs, after my dance, I popped back in the Piano room and what do I find?!? Joe!  Rocking out on the drums and doing some cool freelance thing with Zachary on the congos or bongos- I forget which is which. Anyway, it looked like so much fun, I can’t to watch it again right NOW!

[VIDEO]

 Talented guys… Joe was really nice and gracious, too. He took pictures with anyone that asked, which was a lot of pictures- even by my standards. Our buddy and best-selling author Bill Zehme took a break from writing his upcoming book to join us in the fun.  I’m not allowed to say who it’s about *mouth or cough Johnny Carson, or hold up sign* but I know it will be an incredibly interesting read because Bill is an incredibly interesting character.  He may not say much, much when he does, it’s always really cool and smart. *duh* I guess that’s why he sells so many books. 

Okay, back to Saturday- At one point, Brandy and I step outside for some air and the next thing I know, we’re singing “Tyrone” by Erika Badu on the sidewalk at the top of our lungs for anyone that will listen!  Too silly!  Ladies, if you haven’t heard Ms. Badu, here’s a little taste…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VABStIYzepY
Oh snap! *snap fingers* Guys, sorry, we women just shared a little moment there, but everything’s ok… it’s just a song. You can borrow our phone.  But make it fast.

Okay, that was pretty much Saturday night, and then rewinding back to Friday… we had the Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chef Ball at Macy’s.  Pretty ladies peppered the party, like poppies on the way to Oz. Among said beauties were Theresa Carter, Meagan Pulia, Desiree Prieto, and Michelle Molina. Michelle, coincidently, wins a date with Toto here, for being such a great sport and hard-working volunteer.

Then, we followed the yellow brick road all the way back to the Joynt and kept the party going. Oh, yeah- you don’t have to go to the movies to see “Where the Wild Things Are”. Just pop in here on the weekend!

Ari Golan from Atomic (not to be confused with Ari Gold from Entourage) is throwing a HUGE party on Halloween, aptly titled Graveyard Millionaire! And if you’re anything like me, you’ll go to this party AND the JOYNT party on Halloween!  Ari’s fundraiser benefits Adaptive Adventures and includes spirits, dancing, hors’ dourves and prizes. Get the full 411 at AtomicImaging.com or search Graveyard millionaire on FB.

Last night, River North belly laughed as comics performed one after the other for a very good looking crowd.  Stand Up Against Cancer Benefitting Imerman Angels was standing room only as Vince Carone, Brian Neufang, Mike Maxwell, Prash-anth Venkat-Arama-Nujam Andrew Woodhull and Prescott Tolk from Premium Blend on COMEDY CENTRAL kept us in stitches all night long. Kira Soltanovich headlined the show last night and here’s a little taste, if you missed it. 
I also had the chance to chat with Kira after the show and “yes” she’s just as funny in a chair as she is on stage.  You can find the rest of our interview along with all of the comedic performances on our YouTube Channel or Facebook Page. 

Why did the dancing skeleton go to The Joynt? To see DJ BoogieMan. *drum beat for joke* That’s right, starting this Friday, and just in time for Halloween, we have DJ BoogieMan mashing up beats, so all you ghouls can shake your groove bone! And if you want even more Groove… the ladies of Groove Dynasty will be performing in the Piano Room once again this Friday.

[VIDEO]

*dancing* They always pack the room- so get here early and get some food from Lloyd, in the kitchen! The Spicy Grilled Shrimp is my personal favorite! *slurp*

NBC’s Art Norman may be retired, but that hasn’t slowed him down one bit.  Thanks for dropping in, Art.  We miss seeing you on the air.

I think it’s time for some more October birthdays!

Happy Birthday to…

Michael Essany (age 27)
Christina Foster
Carlos ChiiCity Lopez
Elizabeth Jackson age 27),
Kurt Scholle,(
Ann Marie Belcore (age 39),
Sandra Smith-Doghmi (age 68)
Angelo Eliades,
Bernardo Rodarte (age 28),
Susan Schatz,
Tom Cooper (age 55)24 -
Brad Serot,
James Wilson,
Saya Hillman (age 31)
Jaime Vela (age 24),
Lisa Boren Gordon,
Pam Adair
Mark Beringer,
Thom Ward
Jo Blitz A. Escotal,
Matt Redding (age 38),
Sasha Techet
Charles Whitlock (age 45),
Chef Jeff Goldfarb (age 40),

 As you can probably surmise, the fun never here at The Joynt and we would love for you to be a part of it! As Phillip Speciale author of *Mia Cuchina Pazzo” says about the Joynt, “If you don’t appreciate style and class, then this is not the place for you.” Touche, Mr Speciale. We agree.

*tug on neck* Whew!  What a surprising spurt of warm weather we are having, ay? But alas it shall become cold and rainy, once again this weekend. But we will not let the weather ride in on her broomstick to spoil our fun!  Nope, we’ll click your heels together 3 times and remember… *whistfully* …everything we’ve ever really wanted is in our own backyard of downtown Chicago.  And there’s no place like the Joynt. Right, Toto?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YKn53vWIHA (heels click)

A lot of you have been asking about the SAUCE and it gave me a brilliant idea!  You are invited to the shooting of the SAUCE next Tuesday October 27 at noon.  Watch us shoot, while you eat and network on your lunch break.  RSVP to jen@jenchicago.com and I’ll even feed you.

As you may, or may not, know Chicago is a candidate city for the 2016 Olympics. In addition to bringing in revenue and national recognition, it is being said that it will evolve the way we do business in the city. Mmm… evolution is good.

*sigh* I just love that Chicago was nominated. He’s so wonderful. (yes, it’s personification) And it doesn’t suprise me that others feel the same way I do. I really can’t get over how lovely and clean and efficient and exciting and nice and everything this city is…

…you know like when you are super-sweet on someone and then he/she just does or says the nicest thing(!) and you have to take a deep breathe to contain your delight? Yeah… that’s SO like me and Chi.

Anyway… in my quest to give you the inside scoop on Chicago, I am learning a TON about EVERYTHING! My head is spinning but it just makes me love Chi more!

However… In a separate post, remind me to discuss the fact that people keep telling me how miserable I will be in the winter. I don’t doubt it’s cold, but winter has her own problems. It’s SUMMA-TIME in Chicago, People! Please refer back to my boating video if you need a refresher. Don’t live in the past OR the future… Live now!

Back to the Olympics (OlymPIC or OlymPICS?) party. It was really cool and over at Millennium Park.

And you know how I like to skip over to Millennium Park. So much so, that I’m going to give her a nickname. Millie, I think. Hmmm…Yes, I like that. Okay, it’s official. Millie = Millennium Park

So, I went to go see Millie and I had a chance to chat with some volunteers, ride some crazy ride (that seriously scared me because my feet were slipping out of my shoes!) laugh with some nice young olympians, drink wine, hear Daley, dance barefoot, talk with some flipper guy and a whole lotta other stuff!

Well… just watch the video. That’s easier.

And for Pete’s sake, let me know you are out there! Hearing from you makes me smile… and you know how I like to smile, don’t you?

Peace out.

PS: Do you think the writing should be first or the video?

Chicago 2016 party from Jen Knoedl on Vimeo.