Weekend Away

I had an absolutely wonderful weekend in Michigan with my boyfriend. We were barely there for 30 hours, but it felt like days. Stress and anxiety melted away in the open air, air that was 70 degrees thanks to a late fall heat wave. It's the beginning of the off season for a Lake Michigan beach town, but we still visited wineries and orchard shops, and found apple cider donuts to bring home. We had no obligations, nowhere to be, only with each other. Even things like "scary house" and finding a wasp in the kitchen were things we could laugh about. (A thousand thanks to Diann again for letting us stay at her place.)

It was a great break from the "hustle and bustle" of the city: the honking, the yelling, the pushing and the everybody-out-for-themselves-and-fuck-anybody-else mentality of the roads, trains and sidewalks of Chicago. Less than 24 hours back in the city, and I'd completely lost any healing relaxation I'd gained. It's so ironic that one of the reasons I moved to this city--the cool convenience of subway transit--is the thing I hate most about my day now. I could just feel my anxiety creep, creeping back up my shoulders.

I'm trying so hard to hang on to that feeling that I had in Michigan--positive, ambitious, energetic. I felt like myself again for the first time in a long time.

I need another vacation. Or maybe another place to live. 

Push It Real Good

I'm known for complaining about my public trans commute on Twitter, but I try to keep it humorous so that it's at least entertaining for my followers and so my head doesn't go splodey. After seeing this video, though, I'm never complaining again! Well, I'll have to at least tone it down a bit.

Just so we're clear, those "train pushers" are called oshiyas. Their job is literally to push people into the train.

Talkin' Lolla

My man is an expert on Lollapalooza:

Chicago News and Weather | FOX Chicago News

[Insert any word here]-palooza

Well, hell. I never recapped my P4K weekend, but now that Lollapalooza is over, it feels like that was just a warm up. I feel sort of like a shell of a person right now, and I'm about to sleep for the rest of the day, or at least veg in front of the television. I spent all weekend on my feet, on the go in the heat and mud, walking, partying and writing, too--I could barely even remember what I wrote, but from what I read, it was all pretty good...Sam's and Jim's, too! Our Chicagoist recaps are below for your reading pleasure.

Ok, I lie a little, I don't feel as bad as I could. I've learned to limit my drinking during the day, just a few beers here and there, and hit the water hard. Who woulda thought working hard at something I love would be more fun than partying until I don't remember anything and then name dropping stupid shit later?!

I know I have lots of memorable moments, inside jokes and celebrity sightings to share (you know, like 100,000 evacuating the park), but my brain is jumbled mush right now, so I guess those will just have to come up in conversation in person. I swear, if one more person asks me what bands I saw or liked...I can barely come up with the name of any band ever at this point!

A quick thanks to Devin and Dana for hooking me up this weekend, too!

Lollapalooza 2012: Friday

Lollapalooza 2012: A Rain-Soaked Saturday

Lollapalooza 2012: Closing Out Sunday

Guess Who's Turning 30?

No, not me. I'm officially, barely, older than the Cabaret Metro. I have memories stretching back almost ten years courtesy of the venue, but friends in the community have been watching bands here since I was just a toddler. And the building itself has a history even longer, believe me, I've heard the ghost stories.  

We went to their anniversary party over the weekend (where we got some pretty cool swag), but they're  s t r e t c h i n g   t h i s   b i r t h d a y   o u t.  They're celebrating with a dedicated blog, honorary anniversary concerts, and a pop-up art gallery in the loop featuring concert posters, photos and the like from their archives. And speaking of memories, they want to hear yours: 

Do you have a special memory from your first concert at Metro? Still carry in your wallet the ticket stub from your first date with your wife? Got some photos of you and your fellow Smart Bar bartenders from the 80s collecting dust? Is that poster of the first time your band played Metro hanging in your office? Whether you are a fan, a band, a friend or a former employee, we want to feature your memories on this blog too! Write us an email with your favorite story, scan photos, or send video to MetroRetro@metrochicago.com.

Tonight: Brent Puls @ Lincoln Hall

I got to spend a lot of time with my friend Brent Puls at Pitchfork Music Festival this past weekend (more on that later). His new home is in LA, but he's back in town for a show tonight at Lincoln Hall. He's got a new album out called Empty Ampersands, and while I haven't heard the whole thing yet, what I have heard is pretty sweet. Not as poppy as his stuff with Grammar, but he's had a lot to get mushy about in the last year or so. Check him out! Tickets are 8 bucks.

Now Playing: Maroon 5

Overexposed

It's no secret anymore that I'm an Adam Levine fan, espec since we got a glimpse of his personality on The Voice...and he ain't so bad to look at either... Anyway, I love that earworm of a song, "Moves Like Jagger," and it appears on the Deluxe edition of their new album, Overexposed (which Tankboy was nice enough to sneak onto my desktop for me). At first I thought the album was a bore, but after a couple listens, I can't seem to listen to anything else. There's just enough dance, just enough groove, and little enough emoting. And a Prince cover.