music.. it's how you communicate

I am always on the hunt for new music. I often find a song or band that is pretty good, but usually it’s rare that I find a band and fall head over heels - madly in love with them. Especially in the genre of Punk Rock, I think most bands sound alike. Maybe it’s the familiar gritty vocals or the same 3 cords, regardless I just don’t stop in my tracks. However, when I do hear a song that does I then must absorb everything about them! Recently, Bryan brought to my attention a band called The Menzingers. OH HOLY GOODNESS! I couldn’t get enough.  Immediately I looked to see if they had any upcoming tour dates in Chicago and BINGO!  They were coming to the Metro to play support for The Bouncing Souls 20^th anniversary show. I bought two tickets and planned to surprise Bryan with them… yeah, never happened! I was so excited that I told him 3 weeks before the gig. We had SUCH a good time. Here are some photos.. and a not so great video.     

If you like punk rock – I highly suggest checking these guys out.  I have plans to see them on my birthday! They are playing in Rhode Island with a couple other favorites of mine: Taking Back Sunday and Bayside. Road trip + punk rock show…. ah, good times should be in store.  What bands are you digging?

Summer Lovin'

Each and every summer I fall back in love with Chicago. The city comes alive!  There is SO much to do!  By way of the Chicago Park Districts, sponsors, non-for-profit groups, ect several activities are held throughout the city from about May to October for FREE and cater to the arts. In addition, street festivals are rampant in the neighborhoods of Chicago. There is usually one on every weekend. from June to early September. I have to say, I haven’t been to many at all because of how hot and humid this summer has been. However, a couple of my friends had a rooftop party during Roscoe Village’s Burger Fest. Their apartment was on the same corner as the main stage. The headliner that night was Rusted Root. Oh, 1999 memories came back! It was good times. B and I did have intentions of getting a burger since I read that some top notch restaurants were vending, but it was SO PACKED! We navigated through the crowd to my friend’s apartment and happily situated ourselves on the rooftop. 

Sidenote: even though a suggested donation is asked at the entry of all festivals, you don’t HAVE to pay. I’ve been to festivals that haven’t been great and I’ve left shortly after arriving. Then, I’ve been to festivals that are great and I’ll stay and fork out cash on the drink and grub. As I see it, they get my money that way!.

On what felt like one of the hottest days of the year, we saw Death Cab for Cutie in Grant Park, located on the southern end of downtown. Yes, you guessed it.. for free. The show was part of a weeklong event called the Taste of Chicago. Seated tickets were sold for 25 buck, but the lawn was free to the public. The lawn wasn’t far from the stage and jumbo screens were set up. The sound was incredible.. Oh and the topper, (in all of the below) it’s OK to pack a picnic and booze.

 

Bryan on his own stumbled upon a concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, located at the Northern end of downtown. I love this park. The view is breath taking (in my opinion) as the city’s skyline makes for a stellar backdrop.  The concert was part of the “Downtown Sounds” series held during the day. It would be a lovely lunch break event during the workday. Since I mention Bryan was on his own he didn’t take a picture.  Here is one I found on the internet. I have seen many concerts here and plan to catch a few more before the cold comes creeping in.

I added in a night time shot to show just how deadly the city looks! (again, in my opinion)

This past weekend we took in a play and movie.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater launched just this summer Shakespeare in the Parks. Bryan, I and few friends took in a production of Taming of the Shrew in Wells Park, located steps from my apartment. We all had a great time… maybe too good of a time! I think some of the people around us would have appreciated less entertainment from our group.

 

The next night Bryan and I headed to a park in Lincoln Park, (hehe), to see North by Northwest by Alfred Hitchcock. Bryan and I adore films - for him, especially anything by Hitchcock. This was my first Hitchcock film and it definitely won’t be the last.  

Even with all the free events, we still forked out cash for food and drink, but hey… overall it is still cheaper than a night on the town and we are still taking in the city!  

Oh, well, Hello!

I’ve been on a blog hiatus. This has not been an intentional absence.  Rather a case of how life gets away. I’ve been meaning to call my friend Shannon for days now… and even in my apologetic text she replies with something to the effect of, “it’s ok.. this is what happens when we get older.” Sad, but I guess true. So many other life priorities tend to take the best of our time, don't they?  And, the free time is usually spend mindlessly tuned out from the world. Welp, Anyhoo – I’m back at it. 

It’s been a little shy of 5 months since my last post. A quick rundown of (un)eventful activity –

·         I moved from Andersonville to North Center. I LOVE my new neighborhood and the lovely park just moments away. I often spend 1 day a week in the park taking in a book, enjoying a cup of coffee or tapping into my inner child and swinging on the swing. (Oh, yes – 31 and still enjoys the child-like moments life can offer)

·         Due to the move from a HUGE apartment (by Chicago city standards for the price I was paying) to a smaller apartment I gave up my home office.  Working in the same space I live was getting the best of me. I am now working in my company’s remote downtown office. I love it. I think what I love the most about this change is being on the “L” (brown line) and coming around the bend headed to the Sedwick stop and seeing the entire Chicago skyline from my seat.  It’s a great way to kick off my day.

·         I learned that I am allergic to almost everything! Well five things. The worst being Benzoic Acid which is a common preservative found in foods and in several health and beauty products. I had to change all of my make-up, hair and beauty products. That was an awesome unexpected cost. (insert sarcastic tone) A few others that are making me THAT kid, Vanilla (bye, bye most sweets), Mace (the shell of nutmeg) – this rules out all perfumes, ugh, Neomycin (found in most anti- biotic) and Nickel which involves following a nickel free diet. The list for that is bananas! (seriously, no, chocolate, beans, lettuce, to name a few)Navigating and processing all of this is getting better each day. I just have to read the labels on everything.

·         A new addition to my family coming this January! My sister Megan is prego!! Can’t wait for this little bundle to arrive. Rory, Megan and Mike’s almost 2 year old son is the coolest kid, ever… well; at least his hair holds the place for the coolest. I think he has had 7 haircuts already to date. His curls are OUT OF CONTROL in the best way possible!

·         Oh, and my yellowbird aka Bryan is BACK!! It feels amazing to be back in the same city with my best friend and boyfriend. Life is funny… it can lead to places you never thought you be and to people you never thought you’d meet.

I believe that recaps the major points of the past 5 months. Of course, many "in-additions" such as,  good times with friends, great music (coming in another post) and summer lovin' in Chicago! For now, I’m just saying, “hey, I’m back”.

*me at the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland