Lateshoes

In a small effort to either assuage or encourage my Chicago obsession, I’ve begun a fairly intense “Movies filmed in Chicago” marathon. Or as I like to call it, “The Great Chicago-Porn Fest 2010.”
Here’s what I’ve watched so far:

Candyman – Always awesome. “Candyman, Candyman, Can…….”

Blues Brothers – This is a BFF (Brewer Family Favorite). I could watch this movie about a billion times. It never gets old and it never stops being cool and funny. I’ll talk more about it in my “movies I could watch every day” post.

The Fugitive – The soundtrack for this movie blows mega balls and has not held up over time. BUT – as city-porn, I couldn’t have asked for better. Harrison gets chased all over the “L” and and the entire finale takes place at the Chicago Hilton where I stayed. Check it out:

Eagle Eye – Ugh. I happened to catch this one on cable. It was boo boo. I should admit that I’m biased against Shia LaBeouf because he sucks and his name is stupid and when I say it or think it, I feel stupid. I always hear it in Amy Adam’s snippy little “Julie & Julia” voice. Barf. I mean, LaBarf.

Anyway – for city-porn purposes it was amazing! The “L” was heavily featured, with all it’s glorious racket, so I was in LaBeouf heaven.

Tonight on the menu is North by Northwest, which I extremely excited for. I haven’t seen it in years.

Also on the list….

While You Were Sleeping

Batman Begins

Public Enemies

Call Northside 777

The Breakup

Damien: Omen II

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

The Lake House

Wayne’s World

Wicker Park

Glengarry Glen Ross

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Adventures in Babysitting

The Dark Knight

Medium Cool

The Untouchables

Road to Perdition

Hoop Dreams

High Fidelity

Primal Fear

Ugh – this blog is ugly and I’ve been too busy to snaz it up or to write in it for that matter.

I spent the day rearranging and cleaning my horrible house, readying it for some of my favorite women in the world. Tomorrow my momma, sister, granny and 3 cousins come to visit and I couldn’t be more over-the-moon about it.

First of all, this means I’m on vacation – something I’ve desperately needed….and secondly, that I’ll be surrounded by wonderful women that crack me up and that I love desperately.

We have several activities planned and I’ll do my best to post pictures and tell you all the haps. I’m recommitting. Did you catch that?

Once my family leaves, I’ll have 5 whole days of laziness before jetting back to Chicago for a week.

I want to be upset about it. Honestly, I’ve traveled more since January than in the past 10 years. It’s crazy. But, anyway – I’m not upset, mostly because I am without an ounce of hesitation – IN LOVE with Chicago.

I’ve never really loved a city like this before. I liked Seattle, Portland, San Francisco – sure – but, I want to make sweet love to Chicago – on the first date.

So – I’m excited. We’re staying downtown this time and while this means an hour commute in the mornings – I think it will be a much better experience and much less exhausting. We’re staying at this insanely pretty and old Hilton on Michigan Ave. It’s by the Field museum and the aquarium. Sigh.

Chicago Breakdown – Louis Armstrong (recorded in 1927)
1927:

Now:

I am so in love with Chicago.

I spent 4 wonderfully hurried nights, wandering its streets, exploring its landscape and loving it like a person. The buildings, the art, the train, the music, the people – all make my heart burst just a little bit.

All pictures were taken with my iPhone, Peggy. *Click on “Show Info” to see my captions and comments.

Chicago’s public restrooms are obsessed with robot toilets.

Inside the Amazing Chicago Funhouse

I’m completely in love with the “L.” The obnoxious voice you here can be seen in the slideshow above. He’s the guy wearing sunglasses on the train…at night.

Outside of the Art Institute of Chicago.

In just a few days I’ll be taking my first ever “business trip.” On Sunday, I’ll fly into Chicago and will spend the week learning some of the most boring, technical jim-jam in the world. But, after 4pm – oh, yeah – it’s on, Chicago.

You and me, we’re on the party train – that will take me to such exciting and party animalish sites as Bob Newhart’s statue and a couple of art museums and sculptures. Effing sweet!

Peep my tentative plans:

Come on! Feel the Illinoise // Sufjan Stevens

Chicago New York // The Aislers Set

Chicago At Night // Spoon

Stratford-On-Guy // Liz Phair

Chicago [Live] // Rufus Wainwright

Any Illinois-y pals that would like to chill next week sometime after 4, let me know and we shall hook up the good times! Also, if you know any other sites or places Bob Newhart related or otherwise that I should visit – let me know.