Dream Green – Lollapalooza 2009

Surely the music is impressive, but another impressive factor I discovered is the concerted efforts by the producers of Lollapalooza to make the Festival as ecologically responsible as possible. All generators used throughout the park are run on a biodiesel mix, solar energy is used to power select site enhancements. High-efficiency lighting is used whenever possible. Beside every trash container were separate bins for cans and plastic which makes it simple for everyone to recycle.
    

  
Can Lollapalooza fans make a difference by learning to minimize their day to day carbon footprint? Why not?

  Green Street made it’s debut at the festival two years ago. Stations are set up by various nonprofit organizations with enlightening information booths. The Green Street Art Market has selected retailers specializing in green goods that meet Lolla’s tight eco-guidelines. I did my part in the Lolla Eco activities by purchasing a reusable wine bottle and also filled a few bags  to earn my Lolla Green Card. 

This is Schlumpy, an 8 foot ball made up of plastic bags. He tours around the U S with the goal of collecting pledges to cut down on the number of plastic bags used by American shoppers. Throughout the festival grounds were Rock & Recycle Centers where fans were given plastic bags to fill with recyclable bottles,cans and cups.

Schlumpy

Heavy burdens abound. We have a responsibility to our planets, our family and ourselves. Music allows us to escape from the real world for awhile. Bring your blanket and some comfortable shoes. Be sure to seek out the numerous shady spots. Lollapalooza is a three day marathon, pace yourself and the only thing you have to be responsible for is to listen and just let it be……

  

Flying The Friendly Skys

I think I flew in more airplanes this past week-end than I have in my whole life….whatever it takes to be with the ones you love! The best and worst flight of all was from Louisville to Chicago. The fun  part was being on the same flight as Tom & Christopher, also I had a complimentary glass of wine (the flight attendant  must have known I would need it) The worst part was the rough landing. Our overhead luggage was tossed around as much as our nerves. Then saying good bye to Tom as he continued on to San Antonio was super hard.We were impressed with these bins at the Chicago airport. When will San Antonio catch up? How about Floresville?

   I took some great photos of Christopher having a blast at Lollapalooza on Sunday. He was by far the most handsome one there. I had fun helping out the fellow green people by collecting plastic and aluminum cans. They served Santa Rita wine in sports bottles!!!  We missed Delta Spirit and Depeche Mode, but some of my favorite bands that we heard were Sam Roberts,Ra Ra Riot, Portugal.The Man,The  Airborne Toxic Event and Passion Pit. I missed the Kaiser Chiefs, they were playing at the same time as another group.The Greencards were a Texas band and Robert Earl Keene is a fan.( He was there Saturday.) I got Peyton a Killers T-shirt and a Lollapalooza one also. The food was very reasonable and good. We had chicken salad sandwiches and spinache quiche. Christopher and I have a few blisters. I would suggest running shoes instead of flip flops.

  I am in the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel on Rush, just one street over from Michigan Ave. I thought I would have to go visit my laptop at the Apple store, but this is better.  Hasta luego…Leicalady

Wicker Park & Bucktown

Last week  was spent vicariously enjoying a great time  had by Chicago’s Golden Boy.  Christopher  moved from what I considered an amazing place on N. Michigan Ave. to an even more energetic  location for the 20 something crowd. Bucktown is already  sounding like a faster paced totally fun place to live. I’m just glad it’s him living there and not me because then I would have to feel very sorry for him  here….at home….slopping the hogs, like his Dad and I. 

  In between packing and moving, he sprinted over to Grant Park to run the Terrapin 5k race on Thursday night. I would have liked to just go there and eat the pizza, Cherry Garcia ice-cream  and listen to the Grateful Dead cover band at the after party. Can you believe the race packets had tie-dyed T-shirts and other stuff?  Read about  it and even see the results here. I checked it out……Chris Parish time:24:11. That is a 7:47 jet pace……A great way to celebrate the move to N. Milwaukee Ave. was to enjoy  the Wicker Park Fest . Great music, food and an opportunity to meet the neighbors and be hip to the latest styles. Mullets really got it goin’ on!

Lots of  shiny happy people and ……on Sunday  a concert by  Back Yard Tire Fire.

To round out the week-end, there was a baby shower for friends Ross and Hailey. What better place to meet girls who want to settle down?

Run, RCP, RUN!!!!!!!

RCP

Chi Town

I am in Best Buy on Michigan Ave in Chicago, right outside the Westin hotel.Peyton is looking at video games and I am just playing with my new laptop! I love it! We had lunch with Christopher at this really great Italian Deli and he is taking a rest. He is off work for the day and will soon be getting ready for the rehearsal which is also right accross the street from the Westin. The wedding of Kevin and Jen will take place tomorrow at 5:00.

  I miss my dogs, cats, horses,goats, sheep,tortoise,ducks,pig, but not the scorpion that is smashed and flushed after hiding in my shoe to nail me on the toe.

Saints On A Plane

I felt comforted the whole time flying to Chicago, even with a landing in Dallas followed by another landing in Saint Louis.There was a precious little 4 year old girl singing behind me and a young man who reminded me of  Christopher  sitting beside me. We talked about our families and dogs. I saw a photo of a beagle puppy named Sadie Hawkins and I felt Daddy Bub’s presence the whole time.  The final descent to Chicago was sheer bliss. I can fly!!!!!!!!

almost there......

City view

I see Saint Reet's !!!!!

Getting There

 

View of the train from the train

Our first view of the city from the orange line …..

Winestyles

Winestyles is a really cool place. There is a location at 1240 South Michigan right down the street from Christopher’s apartment. Their wines are classified according to style. We tried a bottle labeled “silky”. I didn’t even realize that they have two locations right here in San Antonio, in the Stone Oak area……It would take over an hour to drive there with all the traffic. It was great being able to walk there without having to get into a car, bus or train. They offer free wine tastings at least once a week……

My Kind Of Town

We walked just about everywhere that we wanted to go. The weather in Chicago was especially nice over the week-end before Saint Patrick’s Day. Lots of the same stores that we have in San Antonio, but bigger, like Borders,Barnes & Noble and the Target on Roosevelt is two stories…. HUGE. We bought a broom and a dustbin and I am sure I looked like a bag lady carrying them  along Michigan Ave. That’s OK, better that than a tourist with a fanny pack. I even got stopped for directions a few times. Art Effect on Armitage in Lincoln Park is my favorite store. Very cute stuff . Their web-site is shoparteffect.com.They have lots of bird themed items.  I bought a silver owl keychain.I wish I had bought the owl wine stopper also……next trip, I will. 

It was freezing that day.....

 

The Opera and Giocos are located on South Wabash  right around the corner from  Christopher’s apartment on Michigan Ave.

 

RCP and Kevin

 

The food was great! We had dinner at the Opera with Kevin one of Christopher’s best friends in Chicago from SMU. It seems that where ever we ate in Chicago we were served enough food for three meals. We had leftovers for two days from dinner at the Opera and Sunday brunch at Gioco which have the same owners. 

 Gioco has a great Sunday brunch. There omelets are really good, but so is their fettucini with bacon!!!  We had a great time visiting with the wonderful Thrall family. Jenn and her parents Jeff and Susie.  Jenn and Kevin are getting married in June. 

Omelet with asparagus

The fettucini was so yummy!!!!!!

This pasta was enough for our table of seven to share  and we had it for dinner the next night. It was weird not having Miss Piggy and the goats to share leftovers with, but we managed ……

a little blurry we spotted this place thru the cab window

Aurelia’s has great pizza and salads, too……The phone number is (312)994-2000.

I See Green People

 

Freaky

He was probably one of the most interesting Saint Patrick’s Day reveler’s in Chicago. I’m glad we left before it got too crazy…..

 

so much green......so little time

NOTE TO SELF: Buy a bungee cord and large towel when trying to sell my art.

Running Down A Dream

We had a great run by Lake Michigan on our last morning in Chicago. The weather was perfect , not much wind. It ended all too soon. I can’t wait to do it again. Wish I was there…….

I miss RCP!!!!!