Kendra G, Raven Smith join Windy City Weekend; Val and Ryan talk Bud Billiken Parade, Windy City Smokeout, new movies
Share this @internewscast.com

CHICAGO (WLS) — On Friday morning, Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini invited viewers to join them at their studio located at 190 North State Street during “Windy City Weekend.”

Host Chat with Kendra G

During the “Host Chat” portion, they were joined by media personality Kendra G. In the past, Kendra was a recurring guest on the former “Windy City Live” program when she worked as a local radio personality at WGCI-FM.

Now, Kendra is an entrepreneur in Southern California, best known for her dating app, Kendra G Singles, which is available on a variety of platforms.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Kendra G has returned to Chicago to promote her Kendra G Singles Live Tour, which will take place on Monday at The Promontory in Hyde Park. At this event, she will select the top 12 singles in the city and pair them up for a potential romantic connection. The event begins at 7 p.m. at The Promontory, located at 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Tickets can be purchased at www.promontorychicago.com.

In addition to talking about her event and app, Kendra also played the Kendra G Singles Live card game with Chiaverini and Warner, where they were both quizzed about their love matches.

They also talked about a new poll which says that the happiest shift workers are employed at marijuana dispensaries, with 92% of weed and vape store employees feeling good about their jobs.

Raven Smith

Clothes designer and entrepreneur Raven Smith has become one of the youngest changemakers in the city.

Smith first appeared on the show ten years during its incarnation as “Windy City Live.” She was a student at Morgan Park Academy, where she launched a clothing brand called “Straight From The Go,” where proceeds from all sales go to victims of gun violence in Chicago.

Since then, she’s become one of the youngest changemakers in the city and one of the youngest recipients of the Norman Bobins Award. She is also a two-time cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri and will return this August to pursue her master’s and possibly a PhD.

Smith talked to Chiaverini and Warner about her fashion show that she is curating on Saturday at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, 200 S. Ashland Ave. The show, called the Retrograde Fashion Show, will feature a celebrity signed “Straight From the Go” t-shirt. That shirt was signed by local celebrities, including Val Warner, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Doors open for the Retrograde Fashion Show at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on Eventbrite and at the Epiphany Center for the Arts website.

Road to ‘The Bud’

The Bud Billiken Pared will be broadcast live on ABC7 Chicago from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 9.

For the next few weeks, we’ll feature segments on some of the groups performing at the historic Bud Billiken Parade, a Chicago tradition since 1929.

This week, we profiled Dance Force Elite, a South Side dance school that’s been a staple at the parade since 2008.

The Bud Billiken Pared will be broadcast live on ABC7 Chicago from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Roeper’s reviews

Which new movies are worth your money?

Roeper also gave a “spend” to “Dexter: Resurrection,” a streaming series which is a sequel to the popular “Dexter” TV series.

And he also gave a spend to “One Night in Idaho – The College Murders,” a streaming documentary about the 2022 University of Idaho murders.

Windy City Smokeout

The four-day festival of country music and barbecue is held at the United Center.

Tickets and a daily schedule of events at the Windy City Smokeout can be found on their website, www.windycitysmokeout.com.

Val honored by Happiness Club

Chiaverini then closed the show by congratulating Warner for receiving the Legacy Award from The Happiness Club, a nonprofit organization that provides a free performing arts education program for Chicago youth, largely from the South and West sides, who otherwise have limited access to the arts.

The award honors Warner’s contributions as a role model and beacon of hope to young creatives in Chicago.

Warner will receive the award in person at The Happiness Club’s annual benefit in Chicago on Sunday at the Park West Theater.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Police investigating death of Maine paddleboarder as a homicide after discovery of body

Maine Paddleboarder’s Death Now Being Investigated as a Homicide After Body is Found

UNION, Maine — Police in Maine are investigating the death of a…
Georgia teen who raised 'awareness' about mother, stepfather's deaths on TikTok now charged with their murder

Georgia Teen Who Publicly Mourned Parents on TikTok Is Now Charged with Their Murders

In Georgia, a teenage girl is facing charges for the alleged murders…
Could this Hawaii community be the next Lahaina? Some residents fear a similar wildfire fate

Is this Hawaiian community at risk of becoming another Lahaina? Residents worry about facing a similar wildfire disaster.

WAIANAE, Hawaii (AP) — When the rain falls abundantly, the mountain-surrounded expanse…
Geoengineering Whistleblower Shanahan Reveals Truth

Shanahan, the Geoengineering Whistleblower, Unveils the Truth

Nicole Shanahan, RFK Jr.’s running mate, shares whistleblower details exposing ongoing U.S.…
Air India crash preliminary investigation report released

Preliminary Investigation Report on Air India Crash Published

The June 12 crash claimed the lives of at least 260 individuals…
Debris from a plane crash near a building.

Revealed: Air India Pilot’s Alarming Question Seconds Before Fatal Crash – Investigation Highlights 2018 Switch Problem

ONE of the pilots operating the doomed Air India flight asked why…
Ex-Jaguars employee convicted of stealing $22M from team now faces state charges

Former Jaguars Worker Convicted of $22M Theft Now Faces State Charges

Amit Patel, 32, was admitted into the Duval County Jail Tuesday afternoon…
Tragedy strikes at popular national park as climber meets fatal end on mountain

Climber’s Life Tragically Lost in Popular National Park Accident

A rock climbing outing turned fatal for one National Park visitor after…
Portrait of Colonel Sergei Ilyin in military uniform.

Top Russian Commander, Accused of War Crimes and Atrocities, Killed in Ukraine Attack

VLADIMIR Putin’s brutal war machine was dealt another blow today as Moscow…
Close-up of Maria Shalaeva.

Putin Official Accused of Using $100M Military Jets to Fly Young Mistress Amid Kremlin Scandal

A SEX scandal has shaken the Kremlin as a high-ranking Putin official…
Plane crash-lands near St. Augustine airport

Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing Near St. Augustine Airport

St. Johns County Fire Rescue noted in a Facebook post that the…
Intel Official Busted for Selling Top Secret Info to Foreign Nation Because He Was ‘Disturbed’ by Trump

Report: Kash Patel Stays Put Due to Leading Significant Russiagate Inquiry

Many experts believed that the Attorney General had made significant promises but…