The Arts of Life, a Chicagoland non-profit arts studio for adults with and without disabilities, will once again showcase the area’s best and tastiest chili at their 3rd annual Half Acre Charitable Chili Cook-Off on November 5, 2011 starting at 5PM. Like the last two successful years, the cook-off will be at 2010 W Carroll Ave and this year, attendants should expect even more fun and yum!


24 entrants from around the Chicagoland area will provide a variety of chilies including vegetarian and vegan friendly entries. Guests can also partake in fresh brewed Half Acre Beer, a cool down from George’s Ice Cream and Sweets, and rock out with The Arts of Life Band at 7pm! Lindsay Heath, who attended the 2nd Chili Cook-Off, says, "Great chili everywhere you look, great cause, good times. Come early cause the good stuff goes fast!”


The esteemed judge’s panel with the difficult task of choosing this year’s top chili includes representatives from Half Acre Brewery, George’s Ice Cream and Sweets, two Arts of Life Artists and Chicago Food blogs: Chicago Food Whores, Feed Susan and Chicago Bites. Chicago-based performance artist Smiley Thims will be MCing the event and ensures that the cook-off will be an even hotter ticket than last year!


Tickets for the chili cook-off are now on sale for $10 and will be available at the door for $15. All proceeds go directly to supporting The Arts of Life, which is celebrating eleven years of empowering people to create an amazing artistic and personal vision for their community. So, not only will attendants enjoy an evening of locally made treats, they will also support an invaluable organization. Tim Sarrantino, a contestant at last year’s chili cook-off says, "This is an amazing fundraiser because it combines three of my favorite things - art, creativity, and charity. Being able to whip up an amazing chili for people to try while supporting both a local brewery and a Chicago artistic institution is the highlight of my year."


The Arts of Life is people, with and without disabilities, creating an artistic culture to realize their full potential. Opened in 2000, The Arts of Life was the first program in Chicago to provide employment in the arts for adults with developmental disabilities. The studio serves as both an alternative day program and creative epicenter for its artists. Funded partly by the Department of Human Services, The Arts of Life also greatly depends on fundraising efforts and grants to sustain its program.

For more information, contact Emily Smith at esmith@artsoflife.org