here it goes …

I'll be home in less than two days. I remember my first week in Chicago went by really slowly, but after that it just kinda took off and I'm not quite sure what happened!

I won't recap the whole summer — if you've read this at all you kind of have an idea of what happened — but I guess it can be summed up by saying that I met some amazing people and learned a whole lot. I went to a ton of shows and learned that I really love writing concert reviews. I also wrote more album reviews, which still is not my forté, but I at least feel a little more confident. I learned how a magazine is run, and lots of other stuff. It's a hectic job, and I love it.

It really does feel like home here, in the sense that I know my way around pretty well (I'm proud of that).

A few things I'll miss:

- My roommates (OK, I already do miss them, since they're all gone)
- Everyone else I've met here
- Argo Tea Café - Amazing local café half a block away from me, where I know half the staff. My wallet, however, will be thrilled.
- Sunflower Market - A grocery store similar to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, but local and usually less expensive
- Schubas Tavern - The concert venue I visited most this summer. It has a capacity of only about 200 people
- Clarke's - 24-hour diner with fantastic food
- Tempo Café - another 24/hour place; possibly my favorite restaurant in the city
- GOOD H&M stores (keyword: good)
- Not having to drive/pay for gas
- The huge couches in my apartment
- Venus. Venus Venus Venus Venus Venus. I never want to leave.


A few things I won't miss:

- 9 percent sales tax
- Waiting forever for buses and the El
- Cigarette smoke in the apartment
- Expensive groceries
- Expensive everything
- Our crazy-bitch landlady
- Sleeping on an air mattress (which really wasn't that bad)
- Hearing the train go by 237489 a day, and drowning out the TV

Honestly, it kind of feels like this summer didn't even happen, like it was some kind of fantasy. Is that weird?

After I leave here it'll be kind of a whirlwind of rushing to see friends and family at home, moving into my co-op house and starting back up at The State News. Work should be interesting, and probably not easy this semester, but I'm up for the challenge and I know it'll be a great experience.

Oh yeah, did I mention that I'm already thinking about next summer?

Yeah, it's time for bed.

Until next time, Chicago.

Lollapalooza 2007 …

… was awesome. The lineup wasn't quite up to par with last year's, but that made it easier to pick who to see, and I had fewer time conflicts.

Bands I saw (in order): The Fratellis, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Polyphonic Spree, M.I.A., LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, Matt & Kim, I'm From Barcelona, Silverchair, Cold War Kids, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Muse, acoustic Ben Harper, Lupe Fiasco, Annuals, Peter Bjorn and John, Modest Mouse, TV On The Radio and Pearl Jam, plus little clips from others here and there.

I had a media pass because I'm writing about it for Venus (my stuff will be online tomorrow afternoon), which meant being able to go in the little press area. It was an interesting experience: little tents lined up with radio stations set up in them, people from bands walking around, reporters working on deadline, etc.

My few random band/celebrity sightings:
- Kurt Loder from MTV (I think)
- Against Me!
- Perry Farrell
- Silversun Pickups
- Tim DeLaughter and someone else from the Polypohnic Spree
- Danny Masterson (I saw a guy I thought was him but figured it wasn't, then found out he did a DJ set at an afterparty, so I'm pretty positive I was 2 feet away from him)
- Juliette Lewis (she's so little!)
- And the best one … I walked past a radio tent and realized that SILVERCHAIR was getting interviewed! I usually don't get starstruck, but this was a big deal and I felt like I was 12. I stood behind them and tried to hear the interview (failed), and waited for them to get up in hopes of getting a photo with the band. It looked like they were rushing to another interview but I did at least introduce myself to Chris Joannou (bassist) because I talked to him on the phone, so it wasn't as weird.

I saw a bunch of other people with "Artist" wristbands, but I have no idea who they were …

Other random stuff that won't make it in my recap:

- I searched all weekend for my favorite blogger, Whitney Matheson (USA Today's Pop Candy), but didn't find her. Derek, however, did, and I was jealous.

- Laura is ridiculously awkward and clumsy, part 4,356: On Saturday the press area ran out of water and the only drink left was some kind of weird flavored milk. It looked gross, but I was really thirsty so I decided to try it anyway. The drink was in a plastic Capri Sun-like pouch, but with a weird twist-off cap. After I figured out how to open it, I looked down the hole and thought maybe there was still plastic that needed to be pulled out, so I squeezed the pouch a tiny bit and it all squirted up in my face, on my glasses, and down my tank top. SO EMBARRASSING! I'm sure people saw, but luckily I didn't hear any comments about it, and I had Kleenex in my bag so I got myself cleaned up quickly. And, as predicted, the milk was gross.

- Friday when I was waiting for M.I.A. I started talking to the kid next to me and it turns out he's from the city next to my hometown and knows a couple of my friends. I swear, Jews from Metro Detroit are everywhere.

- The group of friends I had staying at my apartment was awesome. Everyone had fun and there were a lot of bands that at least two of us wanted to see.

- I accidentally told a guy that I work for Spin magazine. I got a free Spin hat from the press area, which I wore all day Friday to keep the sun out of my eyes, and while I was waiting for the Polyphonic Spree, some kid asks me if I write for a magazine, because I had my notebook out, to which I said yes. Later that night, back at my apartment, I am informed by Derek and Anthony that no, he did not ask if I write for a magazine, but asked if I write for Spin magazine. Oops … maybe someday though.

- Muse was amazing Saturday night, but Anthony and I were pretty close to the front and the crowd was nuts (obviously). Luckily, I found a guy next to me who pretty much made sure I didn't die the whole show. Even with his help though, a pretty big guy landed right on me because I couldn't get my hands sturdy enough to hold him up. I've been to enough shows that I've had my share of crowd surfers hitting and kicking me, but this was tied for the worst I've ever gotten hit because he fell completely on my head and neck. I had to splash water on my face so it didn't look like I was crying. But, overall that guy helped me out quite a bit. And it didn't hurt that he was absolutely gorgeous.

- Top three (I think.): LCD Soundsystem, Polyphonic Spree, and Muse

I'm still pretty exhausted … time for some sleep. Then I have to get up early tomorrow to finish my recap.