Didn't kids used to wait impatiently to see Santa Claus at the end of the Christmas parade and not some Disney Channel star?

Saturday Emily and I headed over to the Mag Mile Lights Festival. We arrived early to catch a Sister Hazel show. Of course, most of the people there didn't even know who Sister Hazel was and were all tweens lining up to see Corbin Bleu (who apparently is a star of High School Musical). The concert was pretty neat because I surprisingly know Sister Hazel songs (I never know who sings anything!) and they did play the one song I knew was by them and really like despite never actually hearing it on the radio - champagne high (and it seriously took me forever there to figure out how champagne the drink is really spelled...).

After the concert we got our picture taken with a piece of cheesecake and then headed to the Hershey store (aka the entire other end of the mag mile) to get some cupcakes and cocoa. Despite getting regular sized ones the cupcakes were huge and I got frosting in my nose and the cocoa was of course yummy until the powdery finish (and, of course, nowhere near as good as mine. Have I ever mentioned that I make the best hot chocolate in the whole wide world?)

Then we headed back to the other end of the mag mile to check out the Nutcracker window displays at Macy's (sorry, I don't care if I sound unChicagoan...but I think those people who are still protesting the change from Marshall Field's need to give it up already.)

I loved the windows...but then again I am still a ballerina at heart. :-)

After that we staked out a spot almost two hours early to watch the parade. We were surrounded by a bunch of kids who couldn't care less about anything in the parade except for Corbin Bleu. There was one twelve-year-old girl who was fanatic. She reminded me of how I was (am?) when I was that age though. She was convinced that she was going to marry Corbin in the same way I was (am?) convinced that I was going to marry Zack Morris (please note: I did not say I wanted to marry Mark Paul Gosselaar...I wanted to marry Zack Morris.)

The parade had a Disney theme because, you know, when you think Chicago, you think Disney! Right? It was kind of fun to watch all the lights light up, the hilarity of the kids, the sickly looking whale puppet, etc. etc. It's also fun that at events like these everyone (OK, everyone but the pushy parents who insist their kids have the right to go up front because they are small) is pretty friendly and talkative. Some fun conversations ensued:

Kid: Who is Sister Hazel?
Emily: It's an adult band.

Woman: Who is on the float.
Emily: Chip and Dale.
Woman: The Chippendales?

Kid: I'm gonna faint.
Me: If you faint you will miss Corbin.
Kid: You're right! I can't faint!

Me: How is it that that four year old has a boyfriend and I don't?
Emily: Val she's four, adult relationships are more than just sharing Twizzlers with someone.
Me: I want someone to share my Twizzlers with.

After Santa flew by we met up with Joe and Alina and went to some bar which I think was just called "The Bar" for dinner. Joe and Emily got bacon beer that came with a side of bacon. Awesome. I got a yummy pulled pork and sweet potato fries and raspberry beer. Afterwards at Joe and Alina's I made them watch the KSO they Tivo'd so I could point myself out on TV...let me tell you, it is so much easier on their 50,000-inch widescreen.

Joe and Alina called it a night and Emily and I headed over to Charlie's art show on the west side. It was fun as always and there seemed to be a lot more people there. I played some bouncy ball with Jeff and talked to Mike (who I couldn't tell if he was being aloof or didn't know who I was), tortured the man who was growing out of Charlie's stomach and bought some pocket paintings from Charlie which cost $2 a pop but will someday be worth millions.

**PICTURES HERE!!!**

Posted by valry at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My day on Saturday ended up with me putting 180 miles on my car without leaving a 20-mile radius of my house, seeing people I haven't seen in a while, people I've never met before, and someone I know I won't see again for a long time...

Charlie

First up was the Benton House Meme festival to see Mr. CharlieD. I haven't seen Charlie in a while (after not seeing him in a ridiculously long while) so when he said he was showing some of his art at Bosley Park, I was there.
I headed over there around 11:30...When I got there it looked kind of empty and small, and I thought maybe I got the time wrong and got there while they were still setting up, but it was just a very small festival.
There was some live music and a puppet show and a few artists. And I talked to Charlie and Jeff and force-fed Charlie a Twinkie because he was hungry. And then the puppet show booth collapsed and while I was worried and crying that the puppets were still inside and might have died, Charlie was hoping they did :( meanie.
MORE PICTURES FROM THE FESTIVAL HERE!



Scott

Around 2 I had to leave because it was time for the Whatever Annual Scott and Ken BBQ. I got to the yK house (home of MattyK, BobbyK, and ChrissyK) a few after 3 (I tried my damndest to be late) and KarryK opened the door...
Kari: Mathew's not here
Me: I know...is Scott here?
Kari: Scott?
Me: He said that he's having a bbq here.
Kari: Oh, yeah, I just found out about that.
So I arrived to the house and Kari was the only one there and hadn't even known that there was going to be a bbq thrown by people who don't live at that house at that house. Oh wells. So I called up Scott and he was on his way and chatted with Kari who just got her license but does not yet own two cars (she must be adopted).
Scott finally came (yay!) and then KennyK (who doesn't actually live at the yK house) and Becca...then Andy and Rob and Cynthia and her boyfriend who I always forget his name when I sit down to type.
Scotty is leaving today to live in Seattle, so it was his going away party :( tears.
The BBQ was superfun, but alas I had to leave after a few hours (and NO BBQ!) and head back to the city...
MORE PICTURES FROM THE BBQ HERE!



Kurt

I've been a fan of Kurt Halsey for about two years. I love his art (see the index page of my website to see the picture he drew of me after I won a livejournal redesign contest for his fan community). It's not necessarily "complex" work, but it's cute and emotional, and pretty much sums me up as a person (so I guess by that theory it is way too complex...). So, when about a year ago, I found out that he was going to be showing at a gallery in Chicago, I marked my calendar right away.
I've passed by the gallery in Lincoln Park a few times before but had never been in. But now I braved hectic Bears traffic and LPParking (I actually found a plum spot just two blocks down the street!!!) and headed for DVA Gallery.
When I got there I heard that Kurt's plane had just landed and that he'd be there shortly. It gave me some time to wander, mingle, and check out the art!
It was a 2-person show with Kurt and Julie West (there are some pics of Julie West stuff in my photo gallery, it was pretty nice stuff!). I loved the Kurt work (fortunately, as I cannot afford it, there was nothing I felt I needed to buy...and as much as I kind of wanted to...I didn't want to buy something just to have it). It was really interesting to see it all so close and in person. You notice so much more detail and can read the words and really see the linework.
Finally Kurt arrived and attracted himself a nice crowd. I waited in line to meet him. He recognized me! I had sent him pics when he drew me and it was awesome that he remembered me from those! It was awesome to meet him in person and he seemed smaller and quieter than I expected him to be. I didn't bring anything with me but he was nice enough to sign a postcard and take a picture. H really is a great artist and a great guy who is so nice to his fans. It was great to meet him and check out his work up close!
Since I was heading back to the burbs anyways I offered up a ride to a girl I met since she lived in Downers (and when I asked she told me she was not an ax murdered...it's always good to check these things out)...
MORE PICTURES FROM THE ART GALLERY HERE!



Scott (again)
Since I was then already in Downers I called up Scott and he said they were still at the yK house so I headed back there to catch the end of the Bears game (which wasn't even a real game...)
Afterwards we played some guitar hero...
Me (trying to adjust the strap on the guitar): I can never figure these things out. Am I making the strap shorter or longer?
Rob: But isn't that how bra straps work?
Me: Yes, and that is why my bra is always either way too loose or way too tight.
I did OK on my easy version on Cherry Pie with Rob...then later I went with ChrissyK (after he showed me that I was holding the guitar all wrong) and totally sucked it up. We were playing some song called Jessica (which apparently is the theme song to Top Gear?) and for the first part of it he was carrying the entire song because I missed almost every note and the game finally stopped us completely...twice. After that I was kicked out and KennyK took over for me. But then I went back and did Chris (semi-)proud by at least getting through the next two songs :)
Then everyone started leaving and Scott started gaming, so it was time to go home.
On the way home I managed to totally get lost (I wasn't paying attention and thought the I55N entrance was the S entrance and didn't feel like turning around, so I just continued on random streets until I finally hit the street I needed), heard a dance remix of Hey There Delilah, and almost hit a deer.

(p.s. the three links for photos go to different photo galleries)

Posted by valry at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Summer Slam!
Roller Derby! I made Jen come with me to see the Windy City Rollers roller derby because no one else was free :( It's a totally awesome sport in which a bunch of chicks who from a far look so tiny and young but look like tough women in the program skate around in a circle trying to score points and knock each other out. One of the girls scored two twelve pointers, which means she had to skate around and pass the pack fully twice and made it around again to score a few more. I keep thinking I want to do it myself...and then someone gets injured and I give up my dreams. All the skaters have wicked names like "Ava Sectomy" and "Lucy Furr." If I was a skater I think my name should be Pinky Swear and I'd wear hot pink skates. One of the girls had really cute lime green skates. Yeah, I'm a dork like that who covets skates.
I tok a couple of pictures, but they didn't turn out that well, 'cause I didn't want to bother others with my flash...

Summer Meat!
After the derby we headed over to the Parts and Labor Collective's show where CharlieD was showing some art. I wish I had a picture of his painting called "fin planning" to show to MK. The art show was held in some guy's loft apartment space and all the work was pretty amazing. I especially liked (besides CharlieD's of course) this mixed media painting with maps and some mounted books where the pages were bent and coming from the book (sorry for my complete lack of art terminology and being able to explain anything coherently). They also had meat and if you brought your own they would grill it for you. :) I also had a mini high school reunion because Jeff and Aaron were both there - more peeps I haven't seen since 1999. Everyone kind of assumed I was a dancer or something, which was weird. I probably should be.

Summer Heat!
Next it was on to the third un-air conditioned in 80 degree weather locale. It was another apartment in the same building where an after party was going on. I got to talk with CD for a bit and I ran into Nadia's sister. Kind of funny because Nad had dropped her off but decided she didn't want to go with. Not much else 'cause I'm not really a go to a random party and party all night kind of gal. So when CD left shortly after, Jen and I bailed as well. But I'm happy I got to talk to Charlie because he was busy on meat and/or door duty through a lot of his show.

fun night, fun night indeed.

Posted by valry at 1:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last night Cynthia and I went to see her friend Gabe's art show at the Merchandise Mart. It was pretty cool. The show itself was in a kitchen-design store. Awesome, eh? And his art was pretty good. When I met him he said that his mother named him Gabriel, so he always introduces himself as Gabriel and lets people gradually call him Gabe once he knows them...sound like someone you know??? His art was really nice. Mixed media put together with strips of magazines and newspaper clippings to make a scene (I do not know anything about art so I am merely using terms I think are correct). Very cool. He said he just uses things he finds around the house.
After walking through, drinking some wine, and eating some fruit (kumquats maybe?) and yummy cheese we decided to check out the rest of what was going on there. Now, Gabe's show lasted until 9, so we assumed that the other shows going on there did too, so we bought a ticket and went up to check out the other art show...but then about 15 minutes later they kicked us out :( Apparently they were definitely two different things and that thing ended at 7. Ooops.
So we went out to find some food and stopped at Lalo's where we got yummy food, free soup, and planned our weddings. :)

***

Today so far I watched some Hellraiser and did some shopping. I went to Victoria's Secret and when I walked in there was a girl in there, maybe 13. She was seriously standing there in the PINK section with her mouth wide open and her hands in jazz hands at her sides and she's saying "I'M...IN...HEAVEN!!!!" and running around touching everything. She wasn't even one of those 13 year olds I normally see in there who are decked out in all designer wear and wearing more makeup then I've ever worn in my life. ope, she was kind of normal looking. Anyway, I guess VS has found a good way to create brand loyalty young.

Then I came home and baked some blueberry muffins:

***

I am now addicted to the Dulce de Leche Latte at Starbucks. It tastes just like how I took my coffee when I was a kid (yes, I've been drinking coffee for as long as I can remember) where it was about a third coffee, a third milk, and a third sugar. YUM!

Posted by valry at 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)