February 14, 2010

On Wentworth from 24th St. to Cermak Rd.

The Chinatown New Year Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year, “Year of the TIGER 4708” will include marching bands, floats, lion teams, a100’ Mystical Dragon, and Miss Friendship Ambassador. Please join us to welcome the New Year as we convey “Gung Hay Fat Choi” to all in attendance.

Parade step-off time is 1:00PM though there are other activities starting as early as 11:30AM.

Gung Hay Fat Choy means “Best wishes and Congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.”

Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.  It is a time for family reunions, for honoring ancestors and for thanking the gods for their blessings.

Families make great preparations for this special celebration.  Before the new year, families settle debts and buy new clothes. The house is cleaned and food is prepared.  Homes are filled with flowers and fruit. Oranges, tangerines, and pomeloes are picked and displayed . The colors symbolize good luck and joy.

Blossoms symbolize longevity and courage.  Some Chinese believe that if flowers blossom on New Year’s Day good fortune will be theirs for the next year.  Candy trays of candied melon, coconut, lotus seed  and watermelon seed are offered. They signify growth, good health, abundance and togetherness.

Scrolls or couplets are hung on walls or doorways to carry messages of good health, luck, long life, prosperity, and happiness.  A popular one reads “May everything be according to your wishes.”

Children behave impeccably because they are warned that what happens the first day of the year may decide events for the coming year.  Everyone takes care to say and do the right things and think good thoughts.

On the seventh day of the New Year everyone adds a year to their age no matter when they were born.  In traditional China individual birthdays were not considered as important as this New Year”s date.

CHI! KA! GO! Sunday, February 14th, 2010: 7:30pm – Midnight

AN ANGELYNX / CARLASTARLA EVENT

SECOND SUNDAY Dance and Arts Event

Located at Yoga Now: 742 N. LaSalle, Suite 201

$10 admission

Opening Circle at 8pm

*Sarah Lombardi: Opening Vinyassa & Acro Yoga

*Heather & Cobra: Vertical Reiki Healing

*Cindy Huston: Body Work (LMT & ABT)

*Jane Albright (AlBright Art): Live Painting

*Carla Starla: Featured Poet & Live Vocal House Set

*DJ Romance: Uplifting Soulful Musical Melodies

*John Sacelli: AngeLynx Readings & Soul Alignments

*Arek & Friends: Closing Musical Meditation

***AND MORE T.B.A.

(Let them know if you would like to perform at future Chi! Ka! Go! events)

*contact salynx@yahoo.com with your ideas or suggestions. For more info, visit www.angelynx.com

CHI – the life force

KA – Egyptian for Spirit-Soul

Go – Chinese-Japanese game of strategies.

CHI-KA-GO – Life-Force Strategies of the Soul

Mix, Mingle and Meet the Experts: February 17th, 6:00pm-9:00pm

Happy New Year! Network with local, independent business owners and hear advice from the experts. Jump into the Light in 2010!  Share positive ideas and enjoy community.

6 – 6:30 pm: Networking & Mingling

6:30 – 7:30 pm: Advisory Panel - Local First Chicago’s monthly event, the panel is different and includes representatives of the local business community. Mimi’s Organic Exchange www.mimisorganicexchange.com, Local First Chicago www.localfirstchicago.org, Greenheart Shop www.greenheartshop.org and Rejuvestate www.rejuvestate.org will speak about their business and how they are building strong community bases to develop their future endeavors.

7:30 – 9:00 pm: Networking & Mingling

Included: Snacks, Drinks and Live painting by MOE Curator, Diane Ponder and art by Didier Nolet www.didiernolet.com

Live Acoustic Music by Zach Livingston www.zachlivingston.com and others.

Sampling by Raw Creation: A company focused on creating the purest Raw/Vegan and allergy restricted desserts that not only taste good, but also are good for you.  www.raw-creations.com

John Sacelli will be on hand providing AngeLynx readings, www.angelynx.com. The love donation depends on the length and the detail of each reading.

Open to the public. Donation of $5 recommended but not required.

RSVP to info@localfirstchicago.org appreciated but not required.

Hosted by Mimi’s Organic Exchange (MOE)

3840 N. Bell Ave, Chicago 60618

773.991.3835

info@mimisorganicexchange.com

SPONSORS

AEL Catering: Catering Services, Bartender, Culinary Talent

Metropolitan Brewing: Craft beer drinkers are caught up in a delicious whirlwind of flavors, aromas, and raise-the-bar-push-the-envelope beer styles offered by American craft brewers. Metropolitan would like to invite a little balance to the party. The smooth, mellow flavors and dry finish of German lagers are the foundation of Metropolitan’s beers. For more info, visit www.metropolitanbrewing.com

Simply stated, Green Planet realized that bottle water was not going away and that there had to be a better way than buying and throwing away tens of millions of bottles every single day.  So, they created a bottle that is made of renewable resources, is Greenhouse gas/carbon neutral, does not leach chemicals into the water, is fully compostable and provides 100% recyclable bottles, ultimately reducing our dependency on oil and providing a guilt-free and safer choice to traditional PET bottles.  Green Planet is the environmentally friendly brand that allows you to quench your thirst and your desire to help the environment.  For more info, visit www.greenplanetbottling.com

Local First Chicago’s mission is to educate the public on the importance of choosing locally owned, independent businesses. They work primarily through public education, business support, and advocacy.

Local First Chicago www.localfirstchicago.org is a network of locally owned, independent businesses and community organizations joined together to keep money and character in our neighborhoods and build a thriving local living economy. In doing so, they hope to promote the overall social, economic, and environmental health of our economy and communities. Watch for more Local First Mix and Mingles on the 3rd Wednesday of the every month from 6 – 8 pm.  Suggestions for topics and locations are always welcome.

Mimi’s Organic Exchange (MOE) is a business, arts and healing network committed to socially, environmentally and spiritually sustainable products and services. The MOE community includes small businesses, artisans and non-profits. Engaging people in a fun, social environment, MOE promotes building sustainable connections in an ever-changing world.

JUMP INTO THE LIGHT IN 2010

Dear MOE Community, This is an introduction to Mimi Clayton, Founder and Executive Director of Mimi’s Organic Exchange. Mimi not only runs the MOE network, she is an experienced Clinical Massage Therapist and business woman.

Mimi Clayton, CMT, ATC

Neuromuscular Massage, Sports Massage & Reiki Master

Call for an Appointment: 773.991.3835

Two convenient locations: Downtown or Northcenter. To schedule a massage, please call Mimi at 773.991.3835

Promotions For March:

• $20 off first time clients
• Buy 5 get 1 free, Buy 10 get 3 free
• Refer 1 client, get $20 off your massage
• Refer three, get a free massage
• Buy a gift certificate, receive $20 off your massage
• $5.00 off if you reschedule within 2 days
  

Regular Prices: 60 min $80 90 min $120

Benefits of Massage:

• Balances the mind, body and spirit
• Improves circulation and decreases toxins
• Relaxes tight muscles and improves mobilization
• Helps break down scar tissue and adhesions
• Prevents Injury
• Fortifies immune system
• Soothes away daily stresses
• Relieves pain and discomfort during and after pregnancy
• Promotes general health and wellness

For more info on massage, please visit www.amtamassage.org

Transformations:  MOE Executive Founder and Director, Mimi Clayton, CMT, ATC, has a B.A. in Sports Medicine, has been a bodywork professional for 17 years and is the owner of a 10 year old clinical massage therapy practice.  Mimi is an educator and a Reiki Master. She has taught and clinically supervised student teaching at the Soma Institute and has worked in various settings including physical therapy center, fitness clubs, corporate chair massage, spa, Chicago Marathon and other outdoor events.  Mimi is also a certified Athletic Trainer and her clients include elite marathoners, cyclists and triathletes . She is a rehab specialist, as well as a healer.  Mimi incorporates neuromuscular, deep tissue, sports, thai yoga, reflexology and energy work in her treatments to customize each client’s treatment.

Treat Your Body

Lotus Body Products are currently available through Mimi.  For more info, email info@mimisorganicexchange.com or call Mimi at 773.991.3835.

A wide variety of healing products for the whole family. Healing oils, salts, salves, balms, butters and teas designed to restore inner balance and stimulate healing from within. Lotus Body’s Botanical line works on 3 levels, physical, emotional and spiritual gently guiding your body to it’s fullest potential of Health and honoring the wholeness in Life. All of the products are handcrafted in small batches so that they are always fresh for you and your family! Lotus Body is founded and run by Maria J. Falce. Maria is an integral healer who is trained in Craniosacral Therapy, pre- and peri-natal massage therapy, energy work and aromatherapy / botanicals. For more product info, visit www.lotusbody.com

Looking for an intimate seminar or classroom space?

Mimi has space for up to twenty to meet. Quiet, residential, and well suited for training and educational meetings, with full kitchen facilities and optional catering.

If interested, please email Mimi at info@mimisorganicexchange.com or call 773.991.3835

AWAKEN THIS SPRING AND ENLIGHTEN THE NEW DECADE: Sunday, March 7th: 2:30pm-5:30pm

Align with your Divine Future

Get fit for your Life Mission

Activate your heart rays to Create Love in every situation

Letters house the quantum field metatones with which we create our consciousness and thus our reality. On March 7th, Peter Kime, founder of Human Radiance, will offer a three-hour workshop to teach you about the new 27th letter and its mystical attributes. He will show you how to work with the letter to activate your higher consciousness and supra-sensory faculties to be a more effective Divine Agent of Divine Love wherever you are and whatever the situation is.

Learn about the shift we are experiencing from planetary to galactic consciousness and how the galactic central sun is supporting both our personal and planetary evolution. Discover how the powerful archetypes housed within the new letter are part of this activation and how you can use the new letter and the new words to make immediate positive changes in yourself and your life. This workshop includes a new letter template and activities for bringing what you’ve learned into your daily life. For more info, visit www.humanradiance.com

814 Dobson Street, 3W, Evanston, IL 60202

$20 in advance; $25 at the door

RSVP at 847-869-6477

Seating is limited

10th ANNUAL CHICAGO POLAR PLUNGE: Sunday, March 7th: North Avenue Beach

My friend, Mike Gorrell, is preparing to once again jump into the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. Why would he put his body through this again? Because it benefits a cause Mike believes in, that’s why!

Please help him raise money for Special Children’s Charities, use the below link to donate. The website is secure, fast and easy to use. At the website you will be able to choose an amount to donate and receive email confirmation of your donation. Thanks in advance for your help.

www.active.com/donate/chicagopolarplunge10/MGorrell

Whether you go waist high or take the full plunge, we invite you to join us and support Special Olympics programs enjoyed throughout the year by 5,000 Chicago athletes. Last year 1,200 participants enjoyed a very fun day! Grab your group of fellow spirited friends and enjoy a memorable day while making a significant difference to Special Olympics Chicago!

Special Children’s Charities has been supporting Special Olympics Chicago programs since 1969. Created by Jack McHugh, Special Children’s Charities’ primary mission is to promote, foster and encourage physical and mental health and improvement for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities.

In cooperation with the Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools and Special Olympics Illinois, Special Children’s Charities is committed to providing year-round sports training, recreational and social programs for the children and adults of Special Olympics Chicago. For more info, visit www.sochicago.org

The Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.