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News Alerts Week of February 20, 2012...More items on our NEWSLETTER page

GMC bi-monthly event held this Thursday, February 23. See our EVENTS page for details.

ANNA RETURNS TO FOX32: The girl in the photo at left may someday be delivering the news! That's baby Gabriella, newborn daughter of our  close "cousin," FOX32 morning co-host Anna Davlantes. Anna returned to the airwaves February 13 after a two-month maternity leave to rejoin her "Good Day Chicago" co-host Corey McFerrin. Anna and husband David Gamperl welcomed Gabriella in November 2011. At our February 23 event, Anna, David, and Gabriella are slated to join us, though Gabriella's a game-time decision (pending nocturnal efficacy ;) Anna's facebook caption for this photo was "Baby it's cold outside," a cute reference to the popular holiday tune.

KIM GETS NEW CO-ANCHOR FOR BDAY: We extend happy birthday wishes to our close "cousin" Kim Vatis (born February 17), NBC5 morning reporter and weekend morning news anchor. As of mid-February, Kim had been filling in weekday mornings as co-anchor with Stefan Holt and she'll continue in that role for the time being. Stefan was named weekday morning co-anchor in February. Stefan is the son of longtime Chicago CBS2 newscaster Lester Holt, now on the national scene. Stefan's familial journalistic talents run deep and we're excited for the new pairing. Also look for Kim Wednesdays when she hosts "Your Money" on NBC5, a weekly look at a wide range of issues concerning personal finances, the economy, and more.

HELP KIM DANCE TO FUNDS FOR BREAST CANCER RESEARCH: More news from our "cousin" Kim Vatis at NBC5. She was tapped to perform live ballroom dancing at the 7th annual Arthur Murray Susan G. Komen Dancing with Chicago Celebrities Gala Friday, March 9 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Supporters can donate in Kim's name to help her reach her fundraising goal. All proceeds benefit the 501(c)(3) Susan G. Komen for the Cure®. Kim will appear at the event with such notables as Chicago Bears player Desmond Clark, Miss Illinois Hannah Smith, CBS2 sports anchor Ryan Baker, FOX32 meteorologist Tammie Souza, WLS radio host Bruce Wolf, and more.

ON NBC SITCOM: Chicago area native Lauren Lapkus, a rising star in comedic acting, is co-starring on the new NBC sitcom "Are you there, Chelsea?" (Wednesdays 8:30/7:30 CST), headlined by Laura Prepon ("That 70's Show") and Chelsea Handler ("Chelsey Lately"). Lauren, who hails from Evanston, Illinois, is the real-life cousin of our GMC "cousin" Alex Kountoures, owner of Specscource in the Merchandise Mart and a two-time GMC venue host. Lauren recently played a role on "Saturday Night Live" and she's a regular on the LA standup improv circuit. A graduate of Chicago's DePaul University, Lauren is an alum of Chicago's Second City and Improv Olympic studio workshops and she has also performed at the Goodman Theatre. The Chicago Tribune profiled her on February 10, 2012, and the Chicago Reader wrote, "Lauren Lapkus's funny faces, pitch-perfect voices, and black humor are invariably riveting." The LA Times called her "reliably funny" and Centerstage Chicago observed of Lauren, "eccentric...smart and funny." Check out Lauren in the photo at left. We're watching her progress and wish her all the best in her endeavors!



ROSEMONT THEATRE NAMING RIGHTS: Big, big news from our "cousins" at Akoo International Inc., past GMC venue hosts. The hip, hot social music TV network just opened a brand new state-of-the art facility in Rosemont, hired former Discovery Networks president William Campbell to be their new president, and now the latest. Akoo in mid-February finalized a five-year, multi-million dollar naming rights deal to put their name and logo on the venerable Rosemont Theatre! Akoo will also be utilizing the magnificent facility, which seats up to 4000, for music video shoots and other special events. Check out coverage in the February 15, 2012 Chicago Sun-Times. Akoo's Chairman and CEO is our longtime "cousin" Niko Drakoulis, who was recently inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame by the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Akoo also recently hosted our own Ariana Savalas, singer extraordinaire, for a live taping of her hot new hit single (more details below).

SAVALAS ON E! & AKOO, HERE IN APRIL: Our close "cousin," singer/songwriter Ariana Savalas, just had the music video for her (soon-to-be-hit) single "Perfect Man" featured on E! Entertainment News. Co-starring in the video is "Dr. McSteamy" from "Grey's Anatomy." She also visited Chicago briefly in January to tape an `unplugged' version of the song for the social music network Akoo.com. View that HERE. Ariana, also an actress who had a guest role in 2011 on the network TV prime-time drama "Criminal Minds," is a repeat performer at GMC functions and she'll be back in Chi-Town in April 2012 for a WGN TV taping and we also look forward to her performing live for us yet again!!

108-YEAR OLD PAPER GETS NEW LOOK, EDGE, OWNER: Folks across the nation are congratulating America's oldest Greek newspaper, the English language weekly The Greek Star in Chicago, upon their February unveiling of an exciting new tabloid format, additional pages, new layout and features, a progressive focus, new contributors, and new publisher. Entrepreneur, author, and ecological blogger John Vlahakis, founder/president of Earth Friendly Products, takes the reigns from Treasure Island foods co-founder Frank Kamberos as the latest publisher in a long, rich tradition of Greek American journalism. John is media savvy and he's putting a lot of time and resources into bettering the paper and marketing it nationally. In March, The Greek Star will unveil an online companion and more news will be forthcoming. Diane Adam continues as executive editor, Maria Karamitsos is associate editor and general assignment writer, and Maria Bappert is the paper's longtime assistant. Terry Poulos, co-director of the Greek Media Club, is sports editor and media columnist, in addition to contributing features on a variety of subjects from time to time. The paper is looking for contributors in a number of areas. Check out their website and find them on facebook under "The Greek Star," on Twitter @TheGreekStar, or phone (773) 989-7211. The debut first new issue (front cover at right) was published early February. The theme, intended virtually as a rhetorical question, has wrought passionate discourse and sorely-needed fresh insight. You might still find copies at various Greekown venues, or phone the office. The online offering at TheGreekStar.com debuts this March with special rates for online only.


THODOS & LUNA NEGRA PERFORM FEB 11 & 12: Our "cousin" Melissa Thodos, celebrating the 20th anniversary season of her world-renowned dance troop Thodos Dance Chicago, is joining forces with the critically-acclaimed Luna Negra Dance Theater for two joint performances on February 11 and 12 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, Illinois. This is a rare joint event for these two dance companies and it looks to be a spectacular all-star assembly, including a "greatest hits" performance of both their choreographed masterpieces. Thodos is founder and artistic director of Thodos Dance Chicago, and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano is artistic director of Luna Negra. We're told
each set will be choreographed on the other company's dancers! Thodos is the only mid-sized, contemporary dance company in Chicago helped by a female choreographer for two decades that offers its ensemble members the opportunity to pursue dance as a performer, choreographer and educator. Luna Negra celebrates the richness and diversity of Latino culture through the creation of works by contemporary Latino choreographers while steering away from stereotypes and folkloric representations. Another GMC "cousin," NBC5 reporter Kim Vatis, is a board member at Thodos. Also, keep your calendars open for March 2 and 3 when Thodos celebrates two decades of dance at a Harris Theatre extravaganza performance!

(PHOTO AT RIGHT) At our August 2011 event benefitting the all-new Greek Film Fest Chicago. Jane Monzures, host of WGN TV's "Living Healthy Chicago," and Lou Canellis, weeknight sports anchor on the 9 pm newscast for FOX32 Chicago

A few "cousins" at Vertigo Sky Lounge, which attracted more than 300 to benefit the film fest. L-R front: Teddy Dres, Andrea Dres (Harpo Studios associate producer), Terry Poulos (GMC co-director), Cathy Demetropoulos (executive editor of Chicago Bride magazine). L-R back: Patricia Kara, ("Deal or No Deal," actress/TV host, celeb fitness spokesmodel), "Beatle" Tony Kidonakis (musician and music professor), singer/songwriter Ariana Savalas (hiding in back, we've got lots of pics of you Ari), Steven Livaditis (Portokalada Productions), and friends

Network NBC's "Access Hollywood" visited NBC Tower in Chicago in 2007 and GMC "cousin" Spiro Papadopoulos (co-founder of DailyFrappe.com) got an exclusive with Access Hollywood co-host Maria Menounos