A Kid's Eye View: Mako Mermaids Season 2 Makes a Splash on Netflix #StreamTeam #GuestPost #NetflixKids #Sage

Here at ChiIL Mama our whole family has enjoyed watching the Mako Mermaids since the original H2O episodes so we were pretty happy to hear that another full season was going to be added to Netflix this month! When Netflix Stream Team asked my daughter to check out the series and guest post, we were even more excited! (*We’d like to give Stream Team kids a chance to test the waters of what it’s like to be a blogger. So we’re asking your daughter to post a guest review of Mako Mermaids on your blog.) 

Check out 11 year old Sage's guest post/review on Mako Mermaids below.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own.

The mermaids are back: season 2 of Mako Mermaids, a Netflix original series for kids, started streaming as of Feb. 13, only on Netflix. 

Sage Words: Hi I’m Sage, and I’m 11. I’m reviewing Mako Mermaids season 2. Lots of kids are excited Mako Mermaids is on Netflix now. I just watched 7 episodes over a few days. They’re only 24 minutes with no commercials so it’s easy to watch a few, especially when they start the next one automatically. There are 39 episodes so I won’t run out any time soon.  I love the underwater reef photography. The shots are so cool. It’s shot in Australia so it’s beautiful and everyone’s accents are cool, but not hard to understand. They’re good episodes. My mom used to pretend she was a mermaid when she was little and had hair down to her waist. I always pretended I was an otter. I think anyone from about 2nd grade and up would like this show.  I think season 2 isn’t as good as the original H2O episodes, but it’s better than Mako Mermaids season one. I like this one because it’s more of a mystery. And they have more magic powers. It’s a little weird when they switch actresses for season 2 without an explanation, but keep one the same.  In the first original season of H20 there was more physical comedy around humans becoming mermaids by accident and trying to protect themselves from getting splashed and turning. Now there are still human mermaids but also girls who are born mermaids getting used to having legs, and pretending to be land people. It’s a little weird there are mermen now, but it can lead to more story ideas. And the boys’ tails are cooler because they’re blue instead of orangie.  I’m not a big fan of Serena singing in a lot of the new episodes, but I don’t really mind either. I just don’t think it adds much. If you liked the original H20: Just Add Water episodes you can still go back and watch those on Netflix too. I highly recommend those more than Mako Mermaids even. They’re my favorites. Stream Team sent Sage a super cool Mako Mermaids Island Escape “BeachBox” kit as a thank you for guest posting. She was thrilled with her tropical scented lotions, lip balms and polish.  My Mako Mermaid goodie box was very nice and now I smell good. Thanks Netflix! It’s 35 below zero wind chill right now in Chicago where I live, and it’s summer in Australia. I like winter but it’s fun to watch adventures on a tropical island while I’m snuggled under an electric fleece blanket by the fire. I want to be an actress and if I had a chance to audition to be a Mako Mermaid I would totally do it as long as I could move back after we shot the season. But I don’t know if I have strong enough swimming skills. I can hold my breath for a pretty long time and I can do the mermaid swim with my feet together like a tail.  When a young merman finds he has a powerful connection with Mako Island, a pod of mermaids have their lives turned upside down. As they struggle to take back control, the mermaids discover that his link with Mako might not be an accident. Dive into an all-new season of Mako Mermaids. The other great thing about watching stuff on Netflix besides no commercials is it’s easy to find stuff. I have my own name and kid settings and it shows me recently watched stuff plus suggestions like stuff I watched, From Books, Comedies, Animated, Girl Power, Popular, Watch With Family and more. Thanks for reading. Bye.

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own.

What Color is This Dress? Freak out And Geek Out #TheDress

ChiIL Out everyone! Embrace the great dress freak out, llamas on the loose, and the lovely absurdity of reality. Truth is stranger than fiction and the truth is rarely black and white or even always black/blue, white/gold. 

February 25, a day that will live in infamy. It began with an innocent enough question. 

The humble beginnings have been traced back to this Tumblr page, where a user posted a photo of the dress with the caption, "guys please help me - is this dress white and gold, or blue and black? Me and my friends can't agree and we are freaking the f--k out." Then the whole world chimed in!

From a wedding on a small Scottish island, #thedress went viral Thursday and consumed the internet! Why? People love a challenge, a mystery, a debate. This one seemed so clear cut and easy. It's not a trick question. What you see is what you get and HOW can so many people see the wrong 2 colors?!

Normally I skip clicking on things like this. Who cares about a freaking dress? But there was something of a dare in the headline and it had hit my Facebook/Twitter a startling number of time in a small window of time so I took the bait.

It was clearly gold and white. My 11yo daughter saw blue and black and was quite insistent about it. I "wished" I saw blue/black, my favorite color combo ever, instead of the ugly gold/white pairing. I stared for minutes willing it to shift, waiting for the pop. NOTHING. I began to read all the science experts weighing in, the graphs pitting #teamblueblack against #teamwhitegold. 

Then I looked at the image again and it had magically and incontrovertibly converted to black n blue! Then I couldn't unsee it. I scrolled through the fray, my eyes flip flopping the dress back and forth. I learned from one sciencey guy that white/gold seers were more sophisticated and had eyes that adjusted for the lighting. Blue/black visionaries saw the photo at face value (ie: crappy phone photo in poor light). Another sci nerd suggested untested theories that night owls tend to see blue/black while day lovers go gold/white. Yeah, not so muchly. Then every science, tech, medical, expert and their sisters spouted off on the hows and whys of the dress mess.

Where were you when #TheDress went viral?

Were you a first responder? Are you a luddite, just seeing this days, weeks, months after the initial craze, the parodies, and the endless dissecting have tired everyone of the dress? I work in social media so I saw this fairly early on Thursday and felt a little twinge of pride at being one of the first in the know. Why? Why not?

Calling out the troops:

The cadre of experts from neuroscientists and graphic artists, to lighting designers and photo editors were called. Celebs chimed in with their opinions. Social media was in a full on freak out. Then traditional media all began running their pieces in the broadcast news, talk shows, and on line. Everyone had an angle on the dress from the science & technology mediums to the star stalkers. Screen grabs of famous people seeing colors became news at legitimate major outlets like Time Magazine. And everyday dorks got excited to be in a Twitstorm debate with the rich and famous.

We predict that in the next wave the creative juices will flow and a zillion knock offs, spoofs, and spins on #TheDress will flood the internet just for fun. Then advertisers will try to figure out how make a buck, use the dress to sell product or drive traffic. Then people will be utterly sick of the endless dress discourse and it'll all be a memory and maybe a hot Halloween costume for 2015 if our collective memory lasts 8 months.

 

Why #TheDress Hit an Optic Nerve:

We've become accustomed to stunning CGI effects, internet trickery, photoshopped images and a healthy disbelief of high and low tech optical illusions. But THIS. This DRESS blew my mind. I think this whole dress debate touched a nerve with people, because it seemed so clear cut and not even a close contest, yet people standing right next to each other in real time were seeing a completely different reality. Is there a right and wrong answer? The dress was in actuality black and blue, but if your eyes see white and gold, then that IS legitimately what it is to you in that moment. 

It's fun to go low tech, with no tricks involved and realize that maybe you can't believe your own eyes. 

The Truth's Right There in Black and White (and Blue and Gold):

As a photographer, videographer and blogger I spend copious amounts of time shooting and editing photos. It's tricky business. There are HUGE differences in how pictures look depending on technology and biology, which make photo editing tricky. What might look stunning to me on my Macbook Pro may look dark or blown out on someone else's smartphone. And there are measurable gender differences in seeing color (women see a much larger range of colors, shades and variations) and differences between individual people. So right off, color is in the eye of the beholder. And everyone has their own unique version of "reality".

This was a fun diversion from the serious issues of the day. Humankind loves a debate, and this one was low stakes and quirky that didn't involve politics, war, the environment or the big hot button topics we endlessly debate. But it was a major mind melt and eye opening for a lot of people who are very sure of themselves and their opinions being correct.

There's a good psychology/sociology object lesson here. Maybe two very divergent points of view can both be correct on some level. And ultimately, something that gets people connecting, debating, thinking, sharing, parody creating, geeking on science, and laughing can't be all bad. 

Embrace the great dress freak out, llamas on the loose, and the lovely absurdity of reality. Truth is stranger than fiction and the truth is rarely black and white or even always black/blue, white/gold. 

Kids Under 17 FREE With Paying Adult at MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET Family Nights

CHICAGO’S HIT, FAMILY-FRIENDLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MUSICAL 

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET PRESENTS FAMILY NIGHTS  

MARCH 15, APRIL 5, MAY 17, JUNE 14,

JULY 12, AUGUST 9, 2015
With more than 2,000 performances and 6 smash years in Chicago, 
the Tony Award-winning rock ‘n’ roll musical has set a new record for the longest-running Broadway musical in Chicago. 

Million Dollar Quartet is one of our favorites here at ChiIL Mama. It's a high energy, fun multigenerational show you can feel great about taking your parents and/or kids to. I took the kids and they even got to go back stage and meet the actors! Highly recommended. Click here to check out our past review.

ChiIL Mama's kids, Dugan & Sage hangin' back stage with the stars of Million Dollar Quartet--seriously talented performers who sing, play music, get wild on stage, act, and rock some of the best music of the 50's that still has staying power today.

Million Dollar Quartet, the musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n’ roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, invites family members of all ages to enjoy the production.  The family-friendly musical will offer special family discounts on Sunday, March 15, April 5, May 17, June 14, July 12, and August 9, 2015 at 6:30pm. 

*Tickets to Million Dollar Quartet family nights are buy one, get one free.  (One child under 17 will be admitted free with each adult ticket purchase.)*  

The evenings will feature giveaways with special gifts from Million Dollar Quartet. Million Dollar Quartet is a 90-minute, family-friendly production.  Audience members of all ages are invited to laugh, clap—and even dance—during the show.

On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis.  The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll,” who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time. 

Featuring a treasure trove of the greatest rock ’n’ roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these music legends, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I Walk The Line,” “Hound Dog” and “Whole Lotta’ Shakin’ Goin’ On,” Million Dollar Quartet captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry’s most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history. 

Million Dollar Quartet has extended performances through summer 2015, with cast members Brandon Bennett (Elvis Presley), Shaun Whitley (Carl Perkins), Lance Lipinsky (Jerry Lee Lewis), Adam Lee (Johnny Cash), Jason Bradley (Sam Phillips), Marc Edelstein (Jay Perkins/Bass player), Marty Kondziolka (Fluke/Drummer) and Kelly Lamont (Dyanne).

The Tony Award-winning musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together legendary rock ‘n’ roll icons Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley, celebrates its long run in Chicago, a Tony Award-winning New York run, a long-running London production, a current production in Las Vegas, and a national tour that kicked-off in October 2011. 

TICKETS

Million Dollar Quartet tickets are now on sale through Summer 2015.  Tickets to Million Dollar Quartet at the Apollo Theater are available through the Apollo Theater box office, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave, (773) 935-6100.  Tickets are available online through Ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com. 

Tickets to Million Dollar Quartet Family Nights, Sunday, March 15, April 5, May 17, June 14, July 12, and August 9 at 6:30pm, are buy one, get one free.  (One child under 17 will be admitted free with each adult ticket purchase.)  The evenings will feature giveaways with special gifts from Million Dollar Quartet. 

Million Dollar Quartet is a 90-minute, family-friendly production.  Audience members of all ages are invited to laugh, clap—and even dance—during the show. 

Rush student tickets for select performances (Wed-Fri and Sun evenings only) are available 2 hours prior to curtain at the box office with valid Student ID. Student rush tickets are subject to availability.

The Apollo performance schedule is as follows: Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sundays at 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.

For more show information, visit www.milliondollarquartetlive.com.

OPENING: THE BOOK OF MORMON Is Back at Bank of America Theatre With $25 Day-Of-Show Ticket Drawings

Here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, we are so super stoked that Book of Mormon is BACK in Chicago as of this Wednesday. We've been promoting it's return for months and it's finally here. Book of Mormon is one of the funniest musicals I'd never take my kids or parents to see. That said, I adore Book of Mormon and can't wait to see it again. It's both irreverent and entirely relevant at the same time! Do note, this show is not for the easily offended, but highly recommended for everyone else. 

Earworm Warning: the tunes are crazy good and they WILL seep under your skin and go on auto repeat in your brain. 

“THE BEST MUSICAL OF THIS CENTURY.

Heaven on Broadway!  A celebration of the privilege

of living inside that improbable paradise called a musical comedy.”

Ben Brantley, THE NEW YORK TIMES

  

BOOK OF MORMON DAY-OF-SHOW DRAWING

PERFORMANCES BEGIN WEDNESDAY

AT BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE

THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, is pleased to announce a day-of-show drawing for the Second National Tour, which returns to Chicago by popular demand for a limited engagement.  Performances begin this Wednesday, February 25 through May 17, 2015 at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe).   The production will conduct a pre-show drawing at the box office, making a limited number of tickets available at $25 each.  THE BOOK OF MORMON holds the record for the largest weekly gross in the history of the Bank of America Theatre.

The producers of THE BOOK OF MORMON are pleased to offer low-priced day-of-show drawing seats in Chicago.  Entries for that day’s performance(s) will be accepted in-person when the Bank of America Theatre box office opens each day.  Each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided.  Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person.  Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing.  Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets.  Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.

Entries for that day’s performance(s) will be accepted in-person when the Bank of America Theatre box office opens each day.  Each person will print their name and the number of tickets (1 or 2) they wish to purchase on a card that is provided.  Two hours before curtain, names will be drawn at random for a limited number of tickets priced at $25 each. Only one entry is allowed per person.  Cards are checked for duplication prior to drawing.  Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets.  Limit one entry per person and two tickets per winner. Tickets are subject to availability.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker, Robert Lopez and Matt Stone. Parker and Stone are the four-time Emmy Award-winning creators of the landmark animated series, “South Park.” Tony Award-winner Lopez is co-creator of the long-running hit musical comedy, Avenue Q.  The musical is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone) and is directed by Nicholaw and Parker. 

THE BOOK OF MORMON is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Book (Trey Parker, Robert Lopez, Matt Stone), Best Direction (Casey Nicholaw, Trey Parker), Best Featured Actress (Nikki M. James), Best Scenic Design (Scott Pask), Best Lighting Design (Brian MacDevitt), Best Sound Design (Brian Ronan) and Best Orchestrations (Larry Hochman, Stephen Oremus); the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; five Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical, the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album; four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Best Musical, and the Drama League Award for Best Musical.

THE BOOK OF MORMON features set design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Brian Ronan.  Orchestrations are by Larry Hochman and Stephen Oremus.  Music direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus.  

The Original Broadway Cast Recording for THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on Ghostlight Records.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775‐2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.  Groups of 15 or more can call (312) 977‐1710 to purchase tickets. 

For more information, visit www.BookofMormonTheMusical.com  and follow THE BOOK OF MORMON on Twitter and on Facebook.

WIN 4 Tickets To Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure from ChiIL Mama #giveaway

Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure

Brings Characters from TV’s Smash Hit Shows for Preschoolers

Live to Rosemont Theatre, March 6-8, 2015

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and ENTER HERE for your chance to WIN 4 Tickets 

to The Opening Night Performance

*6:30 p.m., Friday, March 6, 2015*

Rosemont Theatre

5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont, IL

Travel with Mickey and Minnie to the magical worlds of Enchancia to meet the adorable Princess Sofia the First, and Never Land to root for Jake and his pirate friends.

Disclosure: Thanks to FELD for partnering up with ChiIL Mama for years and providing tickets for our giveaways and review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

Feld Entertainment, Inc., producers of Disney On Ice and Disney Live!, is bringing the top performing cable TV series for preschoolers to the stage in Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Featuring characters from the smash hits Sofia the First and Jake and the Never Land Pirates, this upbeat musical production is scheduled for seven performances at the Rosemont Theatre, Friday, March 6, through Sunday, March 8.

“The Feld Entertainment mission of providing quality live entertainment experiences that the entire family enjoys starts with Disney Live! because it is often a young fan’s first theatrical experience,” said producer Alana Feld.  “Children everywhere are falling in love with Sofia and Jake, and we are thrilled to bring these popular Disney Junior characters to the stage.” 

In this original storyline, Mickey and Minnie lead the audience on an exciting adventure that will have families rooting for their favorite pirate Jake and Disney's first little girl princess Sofia. Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Presented by YoKids begins with a special interactive pre-show featuring the loveable 6-year-old doctor to toys and stuffed animals, Doc McStuffins. Children and their parents will sing the “I Feel Better” song along with Doc as she provides tender love and care.

Audiences will then embark on a journey to the magical world of Enchancia, where Sofia, her step-siblings Amber and James, and the entire kingdom are preparing for the annual friendship festival. Sofia has the honor of delivering the perfect gift to her royal subjects at the celebration, and the one-and-only Cinderella visits the castle to help Sofia in her mission to find just the right present.

The excitement continues when families cast away to Never Land where Jake and his Yo Ho pirate friends Izzy and Cubby are in a race against time to locate a mysterious treasure-filled volcano. Danger, thrills and adventure lurk around every turn when our swashbuckling friends battle Captain Hook for the ultimate prize. Peter Pan makes a special appearance, aiding the team in their heroic quest, and with the help of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust, Jake and his crew fly above the stage in their journey.

In 2012, “Doc McStuffins” and “Jake and the Never Land Pirates” ranked as cable TV’s Top 2 series for all kids ages 2-5, reaching 46.7 million and 36.5 million unique total viewers, respectively, throughout the year. Launching at the top 2013, “Sofia the First” is cable TV’s #1 series year to date among Kids 2-5 and Girls 2-5, and is the #1 preschool cable TV series in Total Viewers and Women 18-49. In fact, the November 18, 2012 premiere of its introductory TV movie, “Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess” became the #1 cable TV telecast ever in Kids 2-5, and #1 preschool cable TV telecast of all time in Total Viewers (8.2 million) and Women 18-49.

To find out more about Disney Junior Live On Tour! Pirate &Princess Adventure Presented by YoKids, or to purchase tickets, visit disneyjuniorlive.com, or follow the show on Facebook at Disney Live! and Twitter @Disney Live! 

Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd. Rosemont, Ill.

Dates and Times of Performances:

Friday, March 6 – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 7 – 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Sunday, March 8 – 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Ticket Prices: starting at $20                          

To Order Tickets by Phone: 800-745-3000

In-Person: Rosemont Theatre Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets
Online: www.ticketmaster.com

The Producers of Disney On Ice and Disney Live! Bring the Top-Rated Cable TV Series for Preschoolers to Life on Stage.

ABOUT FELD ENTERTAINMENT

Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment’s productions have appeared in more than 70 countries and on six continents to date and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, Nuclear Cowboyz^®, AMSOIL Arenacross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live! and Marvel Universe LIVE! More information on Feld Entertainment is available online at www.feldentertainment.com.

ABOUT DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theatre enterprises, bringing live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries.  Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN^®, Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh, The Little Mermaid, Newsies, and Peter and the Starcatcher.

Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney On Ice and Disney Live!  For over 30 years, Disney On Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide through productions such as Rockin’ Ever After, Dare to Dream, Treasure Trove, Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show and Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever!  In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International.

ABOUT DISNEY JUNIOR

Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior's series blend Disney's unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills. Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network's biggest yearly audience in the day part in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels.  The magic continues in 2013, with the block currently home to the Top 3 cable TV series in Kids 2-5 and Top 4 preschool cable TV series in Total Viewers. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior added a cable and satellite channel in the U.S.  Disney Junior channels in Japan, India and Disney Junior Portugal launched in fall 2012, bringing the total number of channels to 33 worldwide.

Disclosure: Once again, thanks to FELD for partnering up with ChiIL Mama for years and providing tickets for our giveaways and review purposes. As always, all opinions are our own.

ChiIL Mama's Adventures at Monster Jam 2015 at Allstate Arena #MoreMonsterJam #ChiMonsterJam

Once again, we had a blast ChiILin' out in Chi, IL with Monster Jam. Monster trucks are BIG fun and Allstate Arena is one of only 10 arenas nationwide to debut the new MoreMonsterJam format. 

Disclosure: We've been stoked to partner up with FELD for years now, on Monster Jam coverage. Thanks to our friends over at Feld Motor Sports^® for providing tickets for our giveaway and for our family to come out and do a photo and video filled recap.

Check out the slide show here for our full set of original 2015 Monster Jam/Allstate Arena photos. We've embedded more favorites below:



An Exciting New Competitive Format

When Less is Not More:

Overall we had a blast at Monster Jam and there's a lot to like about the new format. What we didn't like about #MoreMonsterJam was more of our favorite acts missing! Megasaurus, the wreck munching mega monster, was missing from the half time entertainment.

The little rocket car and the dirt bike and quad jumpers who have always done such stellar tricks, like flips in the air, were all MIA for 2015 Monster Jam at Allstate too. We miss you!!

What Worked: 

Our seats were awesome this year, so we had a chance to shoot these monsters in action, up close and personal. Relive the excitement right here at ChiIL Mama, or enjoy it vicariously if you didn't make it there this year. The widely popular Monster Jam® tour roared into town and rocked Allstate Arena, Feb. 5-8, with an explosive new points-paying endurance showdown, featuring more of what the Monster Jam fans have been asking to see – more trucks, more action, #MoreMonsterJam! 

More Donuts! 

More Women:

Monster Jam is not just boys fun. There were tons of women and girls in the audience so it rocked to see 2 women out there driving the BIG trucks. My daughter has loved Monster Jam for years and this was her friend Mia's first time, and she had a blast too! 

The girls had just come from Girl Scouts where they are working on a Cadets projects about how women (& other stereotypes) are portrayed in the media. So it rocked for them to see women interviewing the drivers and killing it on the course too.

Mini Monster Trucks

Fans were treated to two new competition vehicles, extreme Monster Jam Speedsters and Monster Jam ATVs (designed to look like the big Monster Trucks). They ripped through the arena during combative racing action.

More Social:

FELD encouraged fans to Tweet, Instagram, Facebook and otherwise spread the word with fan photos and videos on Social Media with the hashtag #MoreMonsterJam, and shared some of the best on the scoreboard! Fun fun.  

Freestyle with the Monster Trucks is Still Our Favorite

These gravity defying wheelies and jumps hardly seem possible. The Allstate Arena event featured the biggest and best lineup of world famous Monster Jam trucks highlighted by more racing, more freestyle, more donuts, more wheelies and more competitive action than ever before. 

Headlining the tour were the fiercest Monster Jam athletes, who were the exclusive drivers of each of the teams made up of Monster Jam trucks, Monster Jam Speedsters, and Monster Jam ATVs. Each of the athletes competed against one another in a true test of endurance to earn valuable points during the seven competitive disciplines, unlike any Monster Jam event ever. 

More Wrecks:

We've been covering Monster Jam for years and we've never seen TWO of the big ones flip, which is exciting. There were also several of the quad runners that cornered too fast and went belly up. The drivers & cab are well padded with roll bars so they were all fine. 

Grave Digger dug his own grave with that spectacular wipe out right in front of us. 

Blue Thunder had the dubious distinction of flipping both the big and mini versions.

More Back Story:

This year the drivers were a bigger focus and we dig the banners featuring drivers around the arena, the back story, and the human element it brings to know whose behind the wheel of these beasts.

*These athletes are contending for a bid to the prestigious Monster Jam World FinalsSM held at Las Vegas’ Sam Boyd Stadium on March 26-28.*

Monster Jam Teams:

(We're super stoked to see El Toro Loco and Scooby Doo are driven by mighty grrrrrrrls, Becky and Bailey! Not just boys fun.)

Grave Digger®: Colton Eichelberger from Paxton, Ill., son of Max-DSM creator Tom Meents

Max-DSM: Morgan Kane

Blue Thunder®: Dalton Millican

Monster Energy: Coty Saucier

Scooby-Doo™: Bailey Shea Williams

New Earth Authority PoliceSM: Aaron Basl

Monster Mutt® Rottweiler: Daron Basl

El Toro Loco®: Becky McDonough

 

For Flash Giveaways, Real Time Photo Features, and the first heads up on incoming fun in Chi, IL and beyond, FOLLOW ChiIL Mama (family friendly) and ChiIL Live Shows (adult):

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Check out ChiIL Mama's past original Monster Jam videos here. 2015 Videos will be live soon:

*Click here & scroll down for 14+ of our original photo & video filled features of Monster Jams at Allstate Arena in years past.*

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tips:

Be sure to protect your ears. 

Monster Jam is LOUD! 



Bandanas and drinks help, too, if you're luck enough to be down close 
to the dust zone.



Tickets are on sale NOW for Monster Jam 2016, so book early for the best seat selection. It rocks being close to the action!

SAVE THE DATES & CLICK HERE FOR 2016 MONSTER JAM Tickets 

For more information on this new #MoreMonsterJam arena tour of endurance, log onto http://www.MonsterJam.com/MoreMonsterJam.  To follow Monster Jam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram log on to www.facebook.com/MJOnline and www.twitter.com/MonsterJam 
and www.instagram.com/MonsterJamLive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/MonsterJamLive.

About Feld Motor Sports^®

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports productions include Monster Jam^®, Monster Energy Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross and Nuclear Cowboyz^®.  Feld Motor Sports is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit  www.feldentertainment.com.

More Monster Jam Photo Favorites:

  

Disclosure: Once again, we've been stoked to partner up with FELD for years now, on Monster Jam coverage. Thanks to our friends over at Feld Motor Sports^® for providing tickets for our giveaway and for our family to come out and do a photo and video filled recap.