The Zoppe Italian Family Circus is coming to the Chicago and St. Louis areas over the next few weeks. If you are in (or can make it to one of these lots, it would be well worthwhile to see this talented circus performer doing classic clown in circus. You just can't find the kind of stuff he is doing much of anywhere else these days. Plus, Giovanni "Nino" is a really great guy.

August 23 -26 Addison, IL
West Suburban Italian Festival
23rd - 7:00PM; 24th - 7:30PM; 25th - 4:00PM, 7:00PM; 26th - 2:00PM, 5:00PM
http://onestientertainment.com/pages/westsuburbanfest/westsuburbanfest.htm

September 1-September 3 St. Louis, MO
St. Louis County Fair and Air Show
1st - 11:30AM, 5:30PM; 2nd - 11:30AM, 5:30PM; 3rd - 11:30AM, 3:00PM
http://www.stlcofair.org/

September 12-16 Chicago, IL (Dvorak Park, Pilsen Area)
12th -7:30PM; 13th - 7:30PM; 14th - 7:30PM; 15th - 1:30PM, 4:30PM 7:30PM;
16th - 1:30PM, 4:30PM


http://www.zoppe.net

September 12-16 in Chicago eh? I think I smell a self given Birthday present in my future. Thanks for the info Tim.

Dan.....I'm also eyeing the Chicago show....sound like a Dan/Tim/Clare meetup?

I think I might go message Baloo....see if he wants to drive down with me.

If anyone wants to come to Chicago that week or weekend, there may be some other shows and circuses playing town, also. I have to check the schedules, but Universoul ought to begin their run about that time. Vazquez may be in the area. Kelly Miller will be here just before that, but I'm not sure how long they'll stick around. Vaudeville Underground (a variety show that always has at least one clown act, one juggling act, and one circus act) may have a show. And there is at least one clown based theatrical show which opens on September 15.

Well, we'll see what my budget is doing, but it's currently looking like I'll able to go.
I PM'd Baloo about a possibe roadtrip...Tonight I'm going to look around at hotels and start pricing....see if I can actually afford this trip! haha!

Now I'm liking this idea. Sounds like we could have a lot of fun.

Tonight I'm going to look around at hotels and start pricing....see if I can actually afford this trip! haha!

There are a couple of hostels in town which are affordable. One, I understand, offers private rooms at respectable cost.

If you are going to price out hotels, what you want to do, probably, is stay away from downtown. The costs there (unless you get some kind of special deal) is usually absolutely crazy.

This hotel in Oak Park (West of Chicago) has always intrugued me.

http://www.carletonhotel.com/

It is an old hotel in a nice part of this quaint suburb. The accompanying motor inn offers both parking and relatively reasonable rates (around $100/night).

But feel free to ask about other hotels in the area which you might be interested in, as I can probably offer an opinion and insight as to their value and location.

I only wish I could offer you all a place to stay free!

Actually, O'Hare Garden on Expedia from $80/night.

Hmm...$80/night isn't too bad.
I'm going to search from some cheap motels as well (I'm young enough that I'd rather go cheap on lodging, and splurge on fun. :D ).
I'm really getting psyched up for this trip!
Chicago is such a fabulous city....I'm excited for pizza! hahah!

Uh oh. I just realize. I'm not old enough to check into a hotel!
Okay.....onto plan B......I'll get back to you on what plan B is...

Just because Tim or I get a hotel room doesn't mean we have to be the one sleeping there. I'm sure there will be a place for you to stay. That part is minor. ;-)

Be a bit careful of "really cheap" motels in the city. Some of them are more of residential/transient and "hourly" type places where you really don't want to be. respectable chains are cool, but probably the best rate you could get would be around 60- 70 bucks a night, anyway. And in order to get those truly discounted rates, you may need to start getting farther and farther out from the city to the point that it can be cumbersome in relation to attractions. In town, just about everything is going to be around $100 just for low end. Though a couple of the suburban Days Inn locations might have something worthwhile (Elk Grove, Niles) and not too far off the beaten track. I think that there is a chain in the Glenview area (around 30 minutes north of the city) which may have rates around $65/night or so. The $80 spot I noted is probably about the best one can reasonably do in the area, honestly. Right off I-90, free parking, and everything. Bring a friend along and split the cost!

Also, if the hosteling route at all interests you, that can be quite inexpensive and in decent locales. Here are the local hostels' websites:

http://www.arlingtonhouse.com/

http://www.hichicago.org/

http://www.hostelz.com/hostel/501-Chicago-International-Hostel

Hostels are a very promising idea....thanks Tim!

Only problem you might have with the hostels is that parking can be a little tough to find where they are. But it's not impossible; you just may have to drive around awhile and walk a couple extra blocks.

I'm sorry to say that I won't be able to go to Chicago this year...we're shorthanded at work, and I'm the only one who can cover any shift in any position, so I really can't take any time off right now. (plus I just got a promotion, and a massive raise is on its way, so I really can't up and go off for three days. Have to prove that I'm worth 8.50+ an hour.... :)

Quite the raise Dottie. Congratulations. Just to celebrate we will let you buy when we get together.

And here Dan and I were going to get you drunk and take you out to see a drag show. Won't be half as fun now. lol

Seriously, though, Giovanni is quite worth watching perform, so catch him if you can next year. Whether that be as part of Circus Flora (in St. Louis and Nantucket), in a shrine circus, or on his own show.

And, of course, the invitation to come and visit Chicago is ALWAYS open. So here's hoping it will work out for you sometime soon, whenever that happens to be.

I'm dying to go see Chicago again anyway (it's been too long!), so we'll see what happens when work finally gets organized and all settled. I just may be able to take a short trip down there before the end of the year. :)
Drinking? Drag shows? Hooray!!! Sounds like my kind of night!


Will you being taking pictures at Zoppe?

Will you being taking pictures at Zoppe?

I hope to take a few, maybe even a little video, yes. Will probably blog about it eventually. (I'm SO behind on blogging.)

The 2008 Chicago date is set:

September 3 - 7 at Dvorak Park, just off I-94 a little Southwest of downtown. So come to Chicago and see what is possibly the best clown show in traditional circus going!

Will you remind of the website for more iformation Tim? I might be able to make it this year.

Home - Zoppé - An Italian Family Circus since 1842 (http://www.zoppe.net)

Hey, that's THIS WEEK!

It's about that time of year, again:

Maryville Academy-Zoppe Family Circus (http://maryvilleac.web139.discountasp.net/subpages.asp?id=194&parentid=23)

http://maryvilleac.web139.discountasp.net/uploads/z/Zoppe_Flyer(1)_ci_08.pdf

I hope to take a few, maybe even a little video, yes. Will probably blog about it eventually. (I'm SO behind on blogging.)

I should get some of my pictures from their show online. Ah, here are a few.

As for video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQmk_Huzj_M

http://www.youtube.com/user/VaudeVilleClown#play/uploads/3/A8qnahfZq-E

A couple more pictures from the 2007 show:

For any of you cool California clowns, they're out West this Fall:

Tour Dates - Zoppé - An Italian Family Circus since 1842 (http://www.zoppe.net/page3.html)

Saw Nino 2 years ago at the Shrine Circus here, he is great. Because of the death in the family they didn't perform last year. Hoping to catch them this year.

This year's dates seem, thus far, centered around the Chicago area throughout July. So plan to come through town for a night or some weekend to see a fantastic show and a great circus clown!

http://www.wheelermansion.com/images/logoo.gif not sure of price but looks nice for a bed and breakfast.

Are you suggesting something? ;)

One of my friends, Tim Heard, is going to travel with the Zoppe Family Circus this summer. He said after the Chicago area, they are headed to Wisconsin, then onto Denver for 4 straight weeks.