We're Going To Need A Few Drinks If We Actually Do This...

Megan's work, AIAChicago, decided to throw us a Martini Engagement Party last Friday after work. It was very nice of them to do that for us and a lot of fun. Pictured above is my Orange Bitter Martini with Gin. It was damn good.


Here's Steve. He's an interesting guy. Every time I talk with him, some fascinating story or event happens. This Martini event is one of them. I had no idea he was such a Martini artist. He had this whole thing planned out with chilled glasses, ingredients, and crafted each drink to perfection by rubbing various fruit and stuff. It was amazing just to watch.


Here's Megan cutting up some Mango for a few drinks.


Here's the team at work


Here's Steve explaining the fine balance of making a Martini, "Well, it's a lot of alcohol with a small splash of juice." And that is why Megan and I ended up at Gino's East and ate a whole pizza afterwards...

PS - Has anyone else been watching the "THIS" Movie Channel? It's like HBO that you get with an antennae, but only shows really terrible B movies. And, if you know me, I love B movies. They had Charles Blakely's Monster, Species III, and millions of others I've never heard of before. It's pretty awesome. I highly suggest it...

Everyone Goes Coo-Coo Bananas When They Arrest My Neighbor

Our Governor (my neighbor) was arrested today. Apparently, they arrested him for being "a politician." Doesn't every politician use their political power of monetary gain? Anyway, read up on the man I saw shopping at Toys 'R Us: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/blagojevich/1321300,rod-blagojevich-illinois-governor-custody-120908.article


Megan's work, American Instutute of Architects - Chicago, had their x-mas party at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies a few nights ago. This is their new building. It's facade is designed to look all busted up or something in the front. Think Robocop futuristic.












Inside at the party


They had some kind of cool looking display. Unfortunately, this is as close as I got to it.


LOBBY BLOB!!!




I love my neighbors (not Blagojevich this time) with their decorations. Halloween was pretty good too. I think they add something new everyday. Since I took this, they have added a life-sized Santa Claus and a music system.


Decorations at the fire station on Elston near Sacremento


Our Charlie Brown x-mas tree. It has a couple of gifts under it now. Thanks Katie!


This customized stocking was part of Megan's gift last year.


Which meant, this year I had to customize a matching stocking of my own...

Not too much going on here other than cold, snow, and lots of x-mas parties. I have five or six x-mas parties at work. The first is tomorrow and it should be good. Nick and Katherine's is on Saturday. There's probably a few others I'm forgetting about at the moment. Plus, I have to do my x-mas shopping still. Another reason why Thankgiving and Labor Day are the best holidays ever. Still trying to figure out the x-mas plans. I think I need to eat something.

xoxo,

Mike

The Moment That Sweet Nectar of BBQ Sauce Touches My Lips

Graffiti pasted up near my apartment. I think this is my favorite type of graffiti and I'm not opposed to it being posted on boarded up buildings and construction sites.


They whitewashed the graffiti wall next door to my apartment and started on another design. The new image is looking nice. It's a neighborhood theme with the city skyline and the Humboldt Park boat house. I'll take some pics of it when it's finished.


Karli, SME, and Frances at the wednesday night BBQ.


So much meat, so little time. Rumor has it that the BBQ is at Brent/Angela/Evan's place tonight. Is it true?


Here's Canstruction 2008. Basically, the concept is for organizations to design something creative or artistic out of cans, which are later donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Good cause. This is the CTA train.


For my sister, this is the "We Can Do It" lady.


OH MY GOD! IT'S THE STAY-PUFT MARSHMELLOW MAN!!!


This one was my favorite this year. They won last year when they shouldn't have, so I don't feel bad about them not winning this year.


Nothing like a cup of tea


Marina City. They did a real good job on this one. It even has the House of Blues and Hotel complex on it. In fact, there's even a little car jumping from the parking garage into the river.


Well executed, but almost identical to last years winner. Nice try guys...


I wish I could watch them make these.


This should have received an engineering award.


JAWS!


This is a real nice sculpture that won. It was a bit of a surprise, but it's well executed and well designed. I like the use of labels that give the water texture. Even the sail is done to perfection.


If this doesn't play to the home crowd, nothing will. What says Chicago more than Deep Dish pizza and an Old Style?


333 Wacker at night


Horner Park sky at twilight


RIBFEST!!! Leslie and Andy came down from Muskegon to celebrate. Too bad it was the rainiest weekend I've ever been in Chicago. There were so many T-storm, tornado, and flash flood warnings and watches. There was even a tornado that hit the south suburbs. Craziness. But, Megan's friends band, Alternative Roots, played the festival and all. It was still a good time between the rain.


Hecky's Rib Sandwich. I should buy stock in this company.


What's ribs without a side of corn. Kinda disappointed they weren't selling their baked beans this year.


This is what it's all about. Although, don't go to where this guy cooks. The Fireplace Inn is a terrible yuppie joint that sells average food for swanky prices.


Megan rocking out at the Savemore. Thank god they had A/C.


Leslie plotting to grind Andy


Frances and Leslie's club dance photo watching Alternative Roots


Leslie

That's it from Chi-town. Still doing the ol' job hunt. Some leads here and there. But, nothing too wonderful. So, if you hear anything, drop me a line.

xoxo,

Mike

WANTED:

Here's the banner I designed for AIA Chicago (American Institute of Architects). It's right in downtown Chicago on Ohio between State and Dearborn.

While at the AIA party last Thursday, they were filming Wanted starring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. There was this bread truck and a SUV with a camera mounted on it chasing it. There was also a helicopter flying really low above the river.


You can't see in on this real well because of the bluriness, but Angelina's stunt double is strapped onto the windshield of this Dodge Viper driving about 70mph down Wacker Drive shooting guns toward the air. It was amazing!


At work, we hosted Great Chicago Places and Spaces (GCPS) this weekend. We offered hundreds of tours for free of buildings, downtown, and behind the scenes of a lot of Chicago's main attractions. The line to my office was two blocks long at 7:30am going from Michigan and Jackson to Adams and Wabash. The first guy got in line about 3am.


And here's more of them...


And they keep on going...


And, this is what they came for: Chicago's unique architecture.


This about sums up Humboldt Park.


A man riding down North Ave. at 6am on Sunday in a wheelchair obeying most traffic laws. I love this town!

Today, I plan to do nothing because I did too much this weekend.

xoxo,

Mike