So while I continue to whine about having an upset stomach, let's say, "top o'the evening" to some key learnings.
Key Learnings:
- Green Miller Lite actually takes better than regular Miller Lite
- Also, Miller Lite is not the best adhesive for a temporary tattoo. Licking it or ice works better (I prefer licking)
- Watching Chicago dye the river green is one of my favorite touristy things to do each year
- I am always in the mood for a Starbucks blueberry muffin (and none of that low-fat stuff)
- Charging $5.75 for beer on St. Patrick's Day is highway robbery, but getting two beers for free by accident is awesome
- It's okay to judge a 22 year old woman who is drunk and swerving while standing at McDonald's with her boyfriend. Hey, she could throw up at any moment
- Watching guys/girls and then girls/girls dry hump each other at a bar is a sign that it's time to go home
- You should not apologize for staring at some guy who is simulating oral sex on a large glass. I mean, isn't he asking for attention?
- I need to be better about using the "blogger" card
- It's okay to call a tourist an "a-hole" when he/she runs into a sitting flock of pigeons, sending these scary, vicious animals flying right at you and your friend
- Online shopping is an easy way to curb your spending urge, as long as you don't go too overboard
Go Green!
Saturday was St. Patrick's Day in Chicago and it gave everyone in the city a pass to party all day and for some, act like total d-bags.
But, I was able to indulge in my favorite tradition: watching Chicago turn the river green. I go every year, regardless of weather, and this year my bestie Sarah joined me. Yes, it was cold, but we had a great spot along the river and then met up with some friends at a local bar, where fortunately the line to go in was quick. One free green beer and tons of memorable photos(all now on my Flickr page) later, I was off to continue my productivity and curb the desire for more booze (more on that below.)
Chicago gets pretty crazy on St. Patrick's Day, but I still go out for it every year. And maybe next year is my time to indulge in some day drinking, a la college.
Girls Guide to Gaming
Yes, I behaved myself on Saturday because that evening I was invited to an event sponsored by Nintendo DS. The lovely Jenn and Jamie were our hostesses and it was a mix of food, drinks, DS games and awesome Chicago bloggers.
I was never a huge "gamer," mostly because my brother and stepbrothers used to hog all of the video games we had in the house. But, I used to play a mean game of Mario Brothers and, well, my Tetris addiction is something I don't talk about. But, this time it was for ladies-only and we got to play fun games like Mario Kart (which I kick butt at), Crosswords, Guitar Hero and Brain Age, which I need to play again because several glasses of champagne can numb the sense a bit :)
The party was a ton of fun, and it was so nice to catch up with my bloggy buddies and have a nice evening out. I even got a DS and game to take home with me! This will make the train ride home in a few weeks more enjoyable.
When the party closed down about 10 p.m., my new buddy Shanti and I headed up to a bar in Lincoln Park, to meet up with a friend of hers and ohhhhhhh my it was like being back at a college frat party. It was...interesting people watching, and I really wish I was more drunk when I was there. The bar was full of blasting music, glass breaking and girls/guys and girls/girls dry humping/grinding on one another. Oh memories. All I need now is some "jungle juice" in a lined garbage container and I'm back in college for sure!
I didn't get to fulfill my desire to dance on a bar, but that is best saved for next year.
How was everyone else's weekend? Did anyone else celebrate St. Patrick's Day?
Thank you for coming to the party! I'm SO glad you were able to make it out :) See you soon!
ReplyDeleteI think Nintendo rubbed a little crack on their DS's because I just went out and bought three more games....please send someone to the house to make sure I'm still feeding Diana!
ReplyDeleteIt was great seeing you (and you hearing me)! One of these days you guys are going to find me hiding in your closet just so I can hang out more!
....and now I'm a scary stalker....
i'm celebrating st pats on tuesday! my firm closes for the day to celebrate - i hope i'm recovered from the weekend still.
ReplyDeleteI love dancing on bars! Michigan State dyes all of the fountains on campus green this time of year for St. Patrick's Day/March Madness. And puke = bad news, but green beer puke is even worse. *shudder*
ReplyDeleteI'm celebrating on Tuesday and plan on getting bombed..gotta stick to my roots! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good weekend. Thanks for posting a pic of the green river, I had no idea what to expect. I didn't know if it was going to be a dirty murky green. This is def. better than what I expected! :)
ReplyDeleteLove how they make river green. I wish there was a way for someone to turn the ocean green like that for St. Patty's.
ReplyDeleteIt was oh so wonderful to see you!
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love watching the river get dyed. I missed it this year, but I have pictures from last year so I can look back.
I had a similar weekend....except with fewer bars.
ReplyDeleteI missed actually seeing them put the dye in the river, but I did make it downtown to see the river once it had been turned green.
We also spent time playing a lot of Wii this weekend! I, too, kick butt at Mario Kart. And I spent most of college playing Tetris with my roommate.
Wow how do they make that whole river green??
ReplyDeleteIt looks like the old time slime from Nickelodeon!
I want to come party in Chicago and watch them turn the river green! I didnt celebrate St. Pattys day this weekend, I had a friend get married today so there were celebrations!
ReplyDeleteDye the RIVER green? Oh my god I so wish I could see, I would clap like an overexcited idiot :P
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Chicago to see the green river during St. Patrick's celebration...
ReplyDeleteWe had Sunday dinner and the desert was Mom's (in-law) St. Pat's green cake. And we got to see the Shuttle taking off via live (not TV, but with our own eyes) from west coast of FL (shuttle takes off from east coast) - it was so exciting, I screamed like a crazy cat!
I'm glad you had a great weekend!!!
Heidi - I went to Michigan State and I had no idea they did that!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, fantastic weekend - Chicago has been nuts.
I wish they had dyed beer all year long!
ReplyDeleteawesome pic! the water is soooo green!
ReplyDeleteThe green river looks pretty damn cool.
ReplyDeleteI will be in Chicago on St. Patty's someday JUST to see that river turned green! It's rockin'!
ReplyDeleteTotally agree - Miller Lite has the same shitty taste whether it's green or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd I saw people in Philly dry-humping at bars around 2pm, which means they were already THAT drunk. Ugh.
Go green for sure! Until next year...
WOW! The river looks awesome like that.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow should be a fun day here, as it is St. Patrick's Day in Ireland! They don't die anything here in Cork, and I'm ok with that because I'd rather not have green beer.
We got together with our neighbors who happened to be cooking corn beef and cabbage. But, that's about as much acknowledgment of the pseudo-holiday as I'll give. Pretty much everything you wrote about here is why we hibernate for this non-holiday.
ReplyDeleteI wish someone would invite me to one of these DS parties! Haha, sounds like so much fun.
ReplyDeleteThe river turned green is awesome. How do they do that?
Glad you had a fun weeekend!
That water is so green! And it's awesome. Sounds like you had an awesome weekend!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny...the river doesn't look any different to me. :)
ReplyDeleteI saw the green Miller light this weekend but did not partake. Went for Magner's and Jameson instead. That's how I roll.
that is such an awesome picture! i never imagined that the shade of green in the river would be SO GREEN. i thought it would look sortof dingy.
ReplyDeletei wish the nintendo events would come to charlotte!
That green river is awesome! I'd love to come see them do that one year!
ReplyDeletefunny, the green river looks like the NJ beaches that i'm used to. mmm, sanitary. oh, hi, i just found your blog and i laughed out loud here in my cube, which never happens so i figured i'd say hi!
ReplyDeleteman i would love to go to chicago for st. patty's day one year, sounds like so much fun! and yay for nintendo parties :)
ReplyDeleteI heard the DS party was really really fun! I'm so jealous :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I miss watching the city dye the river green. It's a great tradition.
Judging from the key learnings of this weekend, it sounds like you had a fantastic time. I'm a big fan of the green beer and definitely agree that it tastes better than the regular. And licking temporary tattoos is the way to go! (I've done this one too many times on game day...)
ReplyDeleteLove the pic of the green river! Sounds like St. Patty's Day is a pretty big deal in Chicago. I've never really celebrated it other than wearing something green to keep people from pinching me. I hate that...hands off!
ReplyDelete