What I'm Reading

Bob Dylan Behind the Shades Clinton Heylin (1991 version).

What I'm Reading

Isadora: A Sensational Life Peter Kurth.

Second Amendment Celebration

We shot sporting clays at St. Louis Skeet & Trap Club today. When I say "we shot sporting clays", I mean "Dennis and Chris shot sporting clays and I picked blackberries."

Birthday Trip: Chicago

Last night after the concert was a little unbelievable. I had a room reserved at the Red Roof Inn in Willowbrook, IL. When we got there, sometime around midnight, I was informed that they had no more rooms. The young guy working the front desk was unhelpful, and the 800 number said I needed to deal with him. My credit card reservation entitles me to a night at another hotel on their dime if they overbook their hotel, but he took so long I just gave up and left. I drove south on I-55 until I came to the Springhill Suites at the Bolingbrook exit. It is $35 more than the reservation, but it was a bed to sleep in.

We got downtown early, because I was worried about traffic and parking. Neither of these were an issue. We drove right up Lakeshore Drive and straight into a mostly empty parking garage on Randolph Street.

We went on a segway tour with City Segway Tours. It was a rainy morning, but the tour was really fun!





After our three hour tour (a three hour tour), we ate at Giordano's in the Prudential Building.


We ate dessert first:


Then stuffed pizzas:


Then we walked through the theater district up to
The Sears Tower. Except it is officially called "Willis Tower" now.







On the way home, Chris accidently threw ketchup all over my car:

Birthday Trip: Chicago

Crossroads Festival was extremely awesome!

We got there early and got pretty good seats:


Then we spread out our blanket and got ready:


The music was amazing. My personal favorite set was Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, and Ronnie Wood. I. SAW. CLAPTON. LIVE. There were a few other "bucket list" moments too. ZZ Top is freakin' badass. Warren Haynes, Robert Cray played Chicken in the Kitchen, John Mayer?!?!??, Jimmie Vaughan played Six Stings Down - OMGJEFFBECK - and Jeff Beck's BASS PLAYER! Shuuuut up! I can't believe I actually saw this concert!

Ron Wood, Buddy Guy & Jonny Lang:


ZZ Top:


Clapton & Winwood "Had to Cry Today":


Finale:

Birthday Trip: Chicago

Chris and I left for Chicago after work today. We ate dinner at Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield.



We're staying near the concert venue tonight so we can get to Toyota Park early tomorrow to hopefully get good seats for Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010.

Bonus! Our hotel room smells like hamster pee.

The Not-Cheap Seats

Dennis got some infield-box seats for a Cardinals' game from a vendor.





The seats were great, and the Cards won 9 - 3. My giant pretzel was very dry, but good. I'm glad Dennis got the giant lemonade to wash it down with!