The Chi-town rundown

With all of the fun we had in Chicago (and all the shopping), there wasn't much time for snapping photos - but here are a few.
The happy couple (pre-wedding). See how perfect they are for each other. The only thing I wanted to eat while I was in Chicago - a Chicago dog with everything on top and chili cheese fries, washed down with an Old Style beer.
Good times on the Shalom shuttle bus - hired from a Jewish retirement home. The artsy, non-traditional yet rather traditional, Jewish wedding. We all stood around the huppah to watch the ceremony, which was only slightly interrupted every 7 minutes by a passing L train.
Leo having a great time at the wedding...really.

We're back

We're home and exhausted. Sorry for the short post, but this is as much effort as I'm able to muster right now. More to come when I wake up.

Back in the USSA

Today, for the first time in almost 5 months we're heading back to the US to attend a wedding. What's odd is that we're not going to back to New York, we're not seeing our families...instead we're flying to Chicago (we lived there close to 5 years ago). So I guess it's home...in a way. What I'm most looking forward to is meandering down the aisles at Rite Aid and picking up items I don't even know I miss - Aleve, stick non-scented deodorant, mac and cheese. We'll be back on Sunday with the good, stories to share, and hopefully a lot of pictures.

Here and Now

Last night I went to Wembley Arena to see the Here and Now tour. The lineup was a bunch of 1 hit wonders from the 80s, and my British companions were amazed to find out that these people/bands had even made it across the pond. We, unfortunately, got there a bit late (the concert was called for 7:30, and we arrived at 8 thinking that there would be no way they'd start on time. By the time we found our seats, the first band, the Cutting Crew (of "I just died in your arms tonight" fame) had just finished. Next came Curiosity Killed the Cat, who I don't think ever made it big in the US and Johnny Hates Jazz ("Shattered dreams"). Then came the big hitters - ABC ("Poison arrow" and "Look of love"), Paul Young ("Every time you go away"), Bananarama ("Venus" and "Cruel summer"), and Rick Astley ("Together forever" and "Never gonna give you up"). The whole evening was like a slow dance in junior high school. It was wonderful. I didn't bring my camera, but here are some of the highlights from the show (these are from a different venue, but it was basically the same thing - I think they were even wearing the same outfits).

Rick Astley
ABC
Bananarama
Paul Young


There were some distinct differences between seeing a concert in the UK versus one in the US. Someone in our row spilled their drink, and a guy with a mop came by to clean it up. I was shocked! The ushers were actually helpful and nice. There were enough bathrooms that you could find one easily without a queue. And the bathrooms were clean! It was a very pleasant experience just being in an arena that functioned in such an orderly and sanitary way.

Partying American-style

This past weekend we celebrated our friend Matt's birthday in very familiar surroundings - a bowling alley. I love to bowl...I'm terrible at it, but I'm always up for it and I always have a great time. In Chicago, we used to go bowling quite a bit. I guess it was just the thing to do. And what I love about bowling alleys is they are all the same - from the Bowl-o-Mat in Miami, to Timberlanes in Chicago, to Leisure Time Bowl in New York's Port Authority. They all have the same smell of disinfectant in the air, cheep beer, greasy food, ugly (seizure-inducing) carpeting, terrible music, stained ceilings, and surly staff (unless they are boutique bowling establishments, which although they look nice, they don't have nearly as much...charm).

I am happy to say that the Super Bowl in the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre lived up to the same standards of its American counterparts.Same ill-fitting shoes (and horrible carpeting).Same water-damaged ceiling.
Same bowling bravado.
Same amusing antics. In the hideous orange glow of the bowling alley, I almost forgot where I was...and except for the thumping club music...it was almost like home.

The sun

When the sun is out in London, it becomes a new city. There is more life on the street, people are smiling, the tube is sweltering...but it's still not too bad. I don't have to wear a jacket. We don't have to turn on the overhead lights in my office. I can sit in the park, or on the lawn in front of where I work to eat my lunch. Life is grand...and hopefully it will stay this way.

Bank holidaze

Our friends Matt and Lara are staying with us this weekend. Matt is English and used to live in London. So, when I asked him what he wanted to do while he was here, he responded "It's Bank holiday weekend...it's time to get properly pissed." So this is what we've been doing since Saturday morning when they arrived. We have done a bit of sightseeing - walk down to the Docklands to go to a pub, walk around Shoreditch to go to a pub, walk around Hoxton to go to a pub. It's all a bit of a blur, but it's been a lot of fun. Last night, due to pubs closing ridiculously early around here, we all ended up at our flat for an impromptu party, surrounded by new friends and old. Good times.