Kyles Files | ChicagoNow

Q&A with Brian Hooks: "Friends with Benefits" Coming Soon

Kyra Kyles posted 13 hours, 59 minutes ago | no comments

Hola! Let's all take a moment to thank YouTube for going down last night and ruining my efforts to upload my interview with Brian Hooks of "Soulplane" and "Eve" fame.

Hooks, a Cali-born indie producer and comic, worked with a team, including Chicagoan Mark Harris, to do a reverse Tyler Perry-- going from film-making to creating a stage-play that kicks off right here in Chicago.

The catch? It's only for one day. Feb. 13 with show doors opening at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Harold Washington Cultural Center. Hooks dropped by the RedEye to chat with me on camera and I will upload that amusing interview as soon as I can.

Stay tuned by following me on Twitter @thekylesfiles or on Facebook at "Kyra Kyles." Until then, read more about the play and pick up tix if you're interested in seeing.

As you might have seen in today's RedHots, Hooks offers an interesting challenge to anyone who doesn't find the play funny.

More to come...

"Friends with Benefits" is at the Harold Washington Cultural Center this Saturday. Come back for hilarious Hook highlights.

Published in Film at 11, Out Box and tagged Brian Hooks, Friends with Benefits,, Harold Washington Cultural Center, independent film, Phat Beach, Soulplane,, stageplay, Tyler Perry

Confessions of a Super Bowl Snubber: Saints, Colts, Say What?

Kyra Kyles posted 1 day, 4 hours ago | 4 comments

Wow, so you were one of the 106 million who watched the Super Bowl last night, I'll bet.

You almost had to be. This just in: the Sunday event was the most watched TV show in history, according to Nielsen ratings.

Pretty impressive.

Guess a lot of people got caught up in the blood, sweat, tears and advertising blitz that make up this annual event.

I, for one, did everything in my earthly power to block out this event.

You can ask my RedEye colleagues who could tell how I felt last week when I was asked to help with headlines for Super Bowl festivities. Some of my suggestions:

Stupor Bowl

Blooper Bowl

Super Bull

You get what I'm saying here?

I cannot stand the Super Bowl.

Not since the infectious tune known as the "Super Bowl Shuffle" have I been excited about a game.

No, wait, I was excited when the Bears were in it in '07.

Yeah, it's been a minute. I can just imagine what some of you are saying.

"Oh yeah? Well, what did you do Miss Kyles Files. What on earth did you find to occupy your time with while the rest of us were loopy with football zeal?"

Good question. I have no problem answering. Hit the "continue" and all will be addressed.

Congrats, Saints, and I'm a let you finish, but grocery shopping at Jewels for Polka Dot Riesling is the greatest Super Bowl experience of all time. Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

Published in Social Studies and tagged commercials, football, Indiananapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl, Super Bowl ads

Black History Homework: Black List, Vol. 3 on Feb. 8

Kyra Kyles posted 1 day, 5 hours ago | no comments

Ah yes, Day 8 of Black History month and the homework is going strong.

I'd really love more reader suggestions, but hey, I will do it all by my lonely like Naughty By Nature if I have to.

Today's assignment to honor Black History adds on to our previous lesson plan of artistic/musical and a special DuSable exhibit.

Check it out after the jump....it involves HBO.

Beverly Johnson offers interesting insights on how race affected her in the modeling world during "Black List, Vol. 3" on HBO. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Published in Black History Homework and tagged AfriCOBRA, BET, Beverly Johnson, black history month, Dr. Michael Lomax, DuSable Museum, HBO, Hill Harper, John Monopoly, Lee Daniels, Precious,, President Obama, United Negro College Fund President

Track-off: S.I.N. Extraordinaire vs Ghosthouse vs PGEEZ

Kyra Kyles posted 1 day, 20 hours ago | 11 comments

Ladies, this one goes out to you. The danceable songs to follow are about having fun with some femme fatales, though each artist takes a different approach.

Discriminating Kyles Files voters, take a listen and then pick the track that deserves to be put in the paper or considered for other accolades. (All eyes are on the track-off these days from video producers to talent showcase producers.)

Vote with your ears, and be fair. We want to uncover new talent and give constructive criticism to those who need to spend a lil' more time in the lab.

Earbuds in. Ready, set, track-off!

Published in Trackoff and tagged Chicago music, Ghosthouse, rap, Sin, track-off

Black History Homework: Tune into Music, Art

Kyra Kyles posted 4 days, 1 hour ago | no comments

Forgive me for not handing out homework yesterday. Technical glitches prevented me from delivering on my pledge to provide options for fun, unique ways to commemorate Black History Month.

Click here if you want to know why I feel we need to keep that effort alive.

But anyway, to make up for my lapse, here is a double dose of culture for my friends of all skin shades. Thanks to Facebook invitations for one of them, though I must say, usually I feel buried alive by all the events therein.

Pop the trunk for more...

Credit: Jeff Donaldson "Jam Pact Jelly Tite for Jamila"

Published in Black History Homework and tagged AfriCOBRA, First Lady Michelle Obama, John Legend, John Mellencamp, PBS Special, President Barack Obama, Queen Latifah, Smokey Robinson, TVland.com

Jump into the "Shark Tank" with Two Chicago Businesses

Kyra Kyles posted 4 days, 7 hours ago | no comments

Happy Friday, fam!

I'm proud to report that I'm done with the excuses. I can now present you with a little of the skinny on two local businesses (Woot!) who will be appearing on ABC-7's "Shark Tank" this very night at 8 p.m.

You are going to want to tune in. I talked to the lovely and vibrant Nicole Jones of Sensual Steps shoe salon in Bronzeville, as well as a pair of sisters that I could have spent all day talking to-- Jefferson Parkers Michelle Kapustka and Melisa Moroko of sendaball.com.

These are two businesses that could get big investment from the Sharks on the show. I just hope they don't get gobbled up in the process.

But anyway, before these ladies' official appearance in the tank, they talked to the Kyles Files about their goals, background on their business and what drove them to go on a reality show competition in the first place. I don't know if you've ever seen this show before, but man, those judges can be mean.

So pop the trunk and check out some of the tidbits that Jones and Team Kapustka/Moroko shared. You'll even get a special discount from the sendaball siblings, so don't skim this post or you'll miss it.

Nicole Jones, depicted as a mermaid, fending off sharks. Big ups to James Elston for Biohertz who designed this cool pic. Jones is a true marketer, and I can't wait to see how she handled the abrupt investors on ABC.

Published in Chi-town Stars and tagged business, entrepreneurs, Melisa Moroko, Michelle Kapustka, Nicole Jones, sendaball.com, Sensual Steps Shoe Salon, Shark Tank,

Today's Column: Impeach this Impression...Fred Armisen as President Obama

Kyra Kyles posted 4 days, 20 hours ago | 8 comments

If you read my column in today's RedEye, you already know. I want to "SNL" to end Fred Armisen torturous impression of President Obama. Yesterday. I think he's gotten worse, and it's too important a character to let fall by the wayside. I am actually hoping they make a substitution this month.

Let me know how you feel about Armisen/Obama in "comments below." If you haven't read the column, please check it out and then join the discussion.

(And seriously, this is NOT because Armisen isn't black. I will totally roll my eyes all the way back in my head at the silliness of it all if anyone suggests that. And you don't want to see that. I look like Regan from "The Exorcist." Some have an issue with that, but not me.) Carry on....

Published in Column Fodder and tagged Andy Samberg, audition, Bill Clinton, digital shorts, Dwayne Johnson, Eddie Murphy, Fred Armisen, George W. Bush, Iman Crosson, impressions, Saturday Night Life,, The Rock Obama, The Tooth Fairy, Tina Fey, Vin Diesel, YouTube

On TV With Me: Razzies, Common and Mel Gibson...Oh My!

Kyra Kyles posted 5 days, 1 hour ago | 1 comment

Hi there, Kyles Filers!

If you didn't get a chance to see me gabbing on WGN-TV earlier tonight at 5:45 p.m., check out the video below. We got into some hot topics, and per a request, I have a link here to the big local Haiti relief effort starring Chi-town's own, Common. (Check out the RedEye for more in coming days.)

But anyhoo, here's the vid. And if you missed me this time around, check me out next Thursday and every Thursday to follow. Same time, same channel.

Published in On TV with Me

Locals Become Shark Bait: Video Coming Soon....Wait For It

Kyra Kyles posted 5 days, 20 hours ago | no comments

A shark ate my homework.

Just kidding.

We were having some technical issues that wouldn't allow me to post last night, so the much ballyhooed interviews with two sets of local "Shark Tank" contestants will be up by this afternoon even if I have to skip lunch.

Cool cartoon version of Sensual Steps Shoe Salon entrepreneur, Nicole Jones, fighting off those Sharks. Credit: James Elston for Biohertz

If you want to know when this post will hit the Interwebs, you can follow me at @thekylesfiles or friend up with me on Facebook and I'll alert you via my status.

Or, even better, sign up for RSS feeds of this blog if you haven't already. (See the bottom of the screen and do a quick click to make it happen.)

It's worth it to return for more scoop on "Shark Tank," I promise.

So come on back now, ya hear?

Published in Chi-town Stars and tagged Bronzeville, Jefferson Park, Nicole Jones, Sendaball.com, Sensual Steps, Shark Tank,

Black History Homework: A Soldier's Story

Kyra Kyles posted 6 days, 1 hour ago | 12 comments

Oh, is it already the 3rd day of February aka Black History Month?

I must have forgotten because we're living in post-racial America. Dammit, I forgot I was black until I saw my photo in the corner of this screen.

Just ask old Chris Matthews who last week experienced mild racial amnesia and didn't realize that President Barack Obama was black.

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Yeah, I'm still laughing.

I wish we were there, but we haven't really reached post-racial America though we've made great strides. I no more listen to the constant race-baiters than I do the crazies who think that anyone of color is "whining" when they express any opinion on matters of race.

And in the spirit of that thinking, I still believe we need to commemorate Black History month because, unless I didn't get the memo, that area of U.S. history education is still quite scant.

But we can make it fun, yes?

To that end, every day of this month, I am going to aim to give out some Black History homework that we Kyles filers can do to keep reinforcing our knowledge of this important topic.

Important Note: This is not a black-only event. In fact, I am outright asking my sisters and brothers of another mother/color to join us in this pursuit. There really is only one race, and it's human. Corny, but true.

Abstaining from Black History Month is like not attending your own sibling's birthday party simply because the focus will not be on you.

So don't be like that. Let's get down to business. First piece of homework is:

Published in Black History Homework and tagged black history, Chicago, DuSable Museum, Glory,, Metromix, soldiers, Spike Lee, The Tuskegee Airmen,, troops