He'll leave you smiling....

Have you ever 

been around anyone

who just makes you 

smile 

no matter what 

they say or do?

I'm the kind of person 

who smiles at everyone...

just ask my kids. 

Doesn't matter who you are -- you get a smile.
It's me. It's what I do.
(Got the crow's feet to prove it.)

And,

I love it when a smile is returned.

So sad when they're not -- that takes so

much deliberate frown-ish effort. 

How can you NOT smile back 
when someone smiles at you? 

Just don't get that.

Ok, back on subject.
I am drawn to

happy people 
 radiating with positive energy. 

So, when I was online a few years ago 

 looking for a good cake recipe,

my life changed 

 the moment I laid eyes on

........ drumroll please ........

Charles Phoenix 

I found him quite by accident 
on a video clip 

making his world famous cake recipe:

THE CHERPUMPLE

(Oh, this creation is unbelievable --- you must watch this)

:)

(Link to see this here)

Are you thinking that smile is familiar?
Are you wishing you had the same dentist like I am?

 You may have seen him

on one of his numerous appearances on

the Martha Stewart Show,

or  on 

The Conan O' Brien?

(Charles is a performer, humorist, 
chef and author.

 He is from the Los Angeles area and you 
can read more about him and see clips 
and his retro slide collection, etc. etc. etc. 

at his website here)

Oh. My. Goodness.

This man is not only a hoot --

he has a smile that gets embedded in your heart.

My daughter and I found his Facebook page

a couple of years ago,  months after watching

 the Cherpumple video clip, 

and started asking -- no -- pleading him 

to consider bringing his show to Chicago.

 Well, 

he made it!!!!

and put on a fantastic

show about retro Chicago destinations

and vintage signage.

Charles came a few days early and got to see some of Chicagoland's beloved spots.

Charles at the McDonald's store museum in Des Plaines, IL

We rounded up a group of fun gals

and headed to the city for the evening

to meet Charles and see him 
at a local version of his retro slide show.

What an inspiring speaker!

Charles makes you look at things

with an open heart and mind

urging you to find 

beauty and appreciation in  

the whimsy and artful expressions 

of quirky retro Americana.

Please watch his video clips

on his website,

OR

try to catch one of his shows

 on the west coast,

OR

purchase one of his many books

for more of his fun interpretations

of this off-beat chapter in our country's history.

He will have you agreeing...

 "they just don't make them like this anymore." 

He's very charismatic 
and has a contagious laugh

and sense of humor 
that makes you just want to 
hang out with him for hours!

We miss you Charles 

and we are anxious 

to have you come back

again! 

Next time, we will fill the 

CHICAGO THEATER

with 
retro-lovin'
PHOENIXTERS!!!

(yep, I am coining the term.)

:)

Come back soon! 

xox -
Alison, Self-proclaimed President,
Chicago Chapter of  The Phoenixters