Chicago.
First of all, Happy Birthday Mr. Charlie Sullivan (emergentpattern). Any chance you'll play the next art party? You really should.

I am so pissed. Feist dropped ACL. AND she was going to have an aftershow, which of course was subsequently cancelled as well. So this is how ACL treats me. The one band that I look to most always cancels at the last minute. Last year, it was the futureheads. This year, Feist. Gah. suck.

But you know, I'm okay for now. Why? Because I'm in Chi-town.
And of course, photos to document my first day here.





Just testing out the new camera. (I lost my old one.)


Here we are at the Amtrak station. Ready to go. First time on a train too.



Hugh's Brushing up on his Travel Literature.


Meanwhile, Eric and Julian converse over the existence of his Nintendo DS.


Hugh's Rocking the Sudoku now.



Hugh's ultra cool with his sock and flip flops.


In our sleeper car.


From the back of the train, we can look out the...back.


We're also good at blocking traffic.


Sightseeeeeer car.



The Golden Sun lays its rays upon us.


Until trees create shade.



Then it's suppertime.


Amtrak specialized cutlery.


So nice.


Pachuca sunriseset.



Eric had the lamb shank.


I had the Beef Ragout.




Eric's cheesecake.


My mississippi mud cake.


They were showing the pink panther in the sightseer car at night. OH MY GOD EMILY MORTIMER IS SO HOT/CUTE. But we didn't stay. We went back and watched House instead, and that's okay, because even though she's like thirty something, I have a thing for Lisa Edelstein (Cuddy.)


Eric reads in his top bunk!


We stopped in Memphis. Got some fresh air and some fresh pics too.


!!!


I've been living on the edge.



By the beard of Eric.


The Great Pyramid of Memphis.


In the sightseer. This time, they were playing failure to launch. Yikes! I really don't like Matthew McConaoguaghaeihgebarfhay btw. Something about him just doesn't quite set well with me.


So we slept.


Then I woke up at 6am for breakfast.


Fill in the blank: Pachuca ________.


Coffee.





We all got the railroad frenchtoast. It was alright.



Like a boy on christmas morning.


Then we pulled into Chicago...






So here we are at the station.


First thing you see after you get out is the river.





As we cross it, you can see Sears Tower.



The El.


Shoes or something.


Not just any bank, the Amalgamated Bank!


Chicago Theater.


Marina Towers.


Oh Eric. So magically photogenic.


Inside the Chicago Cultural Center.



Inside the Chicago Public Library, on the top floor.



Hugh is also photogenic, apparently.






On the El.


This place was goooooood.


Italian Beef Sandwich. Apparently Jay Leno comes here all the time.


Eric had the steak sandwich, as did Hugh.





Back on the El


What a clever name for a port-o-potty company.


I don't think we needed Heat. It was 97 degrees!


Eric is also a bum apparently. (Not really his 40, it just happened to be sitting in his chair on the train.


Sleepy dudes.



In Grant Park now.





This dude was doing a photo project, where he was taking pictures of people's reactions to him wearing all this in 97 degree weather.


In the park as the sun goes down.


The bridge. And the WEATHER! It was about to rain rain rain.




Do you realize what hides in the grass?



Prarie Dogs. And not just one, but...



two.



Wild rabbits roam the park apparently.





The weather started getting really bad. We were waiting for amy and Anna to get to town, so here we are outside the Essex Inn.




They were delayed a bit, so we started walking towards the rain. Why? I'm not sure.


McHugh.




I think this dude needs some sleep.


It started to rain, so we sought shelter in a dunkin donuts. I had a coolatta.



Finally, we made it back to the hotel, and ordered some chicago style pizza which has far more cheese than I care for. And, well, that's that.

DAY TWO, HERE WE COME.