07-28-2003: So, I went to Chicago this past weekend. The primary objective - Cirque de Solei's Verekai.

I scooped a friend up in Iowa City on the way, and we rode together the rest of the way to Chicago (which is a sucky drive, around 5 1/2 hours). Thanks for riding along, Ellen - it's nice to have someone to talk to, even though I'm not the most talkative chap on this earth.

Friday night, we went to Joe's Crab Shack on Golf Road (Schaumburg). Pretty good eats, cool atmosphere, reasonable prices. I like Papadeaux a little more (I think their food is better), but it was damned good. Two thumbs up, I'll be back.

Saturday was slightly chaotic, with driving downtown and all. Can't say I enjoy the traffic you guys have to put up with - I especially like how the entire freeway comes to a freezing halt every time a butterfly farts nearby.

But, the Field Museum was OK, and it was cool to see the harbor. I think next time I'll hit the Museum of Science and Industry again. I visited that when I was a kid, and I'd like to see how it's grown.

Well, back to the hotel to change into monkey clothes, and then we were off to a steakhouse. Because of my poor planning, there was no way we were going to make it to J. Alexander's, so a buddy found another one nearby. I don't recall the name, but it was friggin' AWESOME. "Chicago's Best" or something like that? Whatever it was, I'll be back. It was on Meacham Road, right south of Golf.

And then on to Verekai. Holy shit. I've seen a bunch of Cirque de Solei shows on TV, but in person, wow. The acts were flawless (there were a few mistakes, but they tried again and nailed them all on the second try), everything was perfectly choreographed, and I think I wet myself during the comedy routines. I have never been as impressed with a show as I was with Verekai.

After the show, we stopped at a neat place nearby for a drink, and then back onto the freeway. Good lord, bumper to bumper at 12:30 at night? OK, that's a bit much.

Yesterday, we hit the road pretty early. All in all, it was an awesome weekend.