Let me start by just saying – Wow! That was a freaking blast! The 3 day event turned into 4 full days when they added a “preview party” for people (like me) that had bought the tickets in advance. My favorite concert buddy and I actually arrived on Wed and immediately launched into a whirlwind “see as much as we can of Chicago in one day adventure”. We checked into our hotel by noon, dumped the bags, freshened up and ran out the door managing to pack in Millennium Park, with the famous “bean” and the spitting fountains. Then made our way along the “River walk” over to Navy Pier to enjoy the boardwalk, atrium and Ferris wheel! We then followed the beautiful lakeside trail over to the amazing Buckingham Fountain and finished off with dinner at the Russian Tea Room (yeah that’s how we roll!)

Ok well I figured I could use one really nice evening out since I knew the rest of the week I was pretty much going to have to make do with “festival food” which is not generally known to be full of healthy choices. However I was pleasantly surprised to find a vendor called “Festi – Bowl” that I totally fell in love with and ate there three days in a row. LOL 🙂

As for the venue – wow – big freaking park with 1000’s of people but I was delighted that they required proof of either vaccination or negative covid test within 48 hours at the gate. (meaning unvaccinated people were tested more than once if they attended the whole event!) Yes, I realize that didn’t make us bullet proof but it sure went a long way towards making me feel better about being around that many people all week. I truly love the energy of these huge festivals! So many different kinds of people, of all ages including families with strollers and musical tastes from metal heads to pop punk fans coming together to enjoy a great weekend full of music and fun and celebrate life. It truly did my soul so much good.

I saw so many amazing acts – Meet Me at the Altar, Seratones, Amigo the Devil, Anti Flag, Thrice, Motion City Soundtrack, Coheed and Cambria, The Smashing Pumpkins. NOFX, Four Year Strong, State Champs, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Mayday Parade, Taking Back Sunday, Pet Symmetry, 3OH!3, Mother Mother, and Body Count. But I think my 2 faves were definitely New Found Glory and Simple Plan and I am delighted that we are going to be seeing them both again in a couple of weeks in Massachusetts on the Pop Punk’s Still Not Dead tour!

I literally clocked over 145K steps in the week I was there with my highest day over 38K! But it is really nice to be back home to my sweetheart, and my cats and even Toni the new turtle. I managed to sift through the mountain of email and get a bunch of other needed errands done while my sweet slave helped me unpack and did the laundry. (He’s such a good boy!) Now after a day or two of rest and relaxation I will be totally recharged and ready to have some good kinky fun! (Starting with the sweethearts that sent advance deposits for my “travel fund”. Thanks guys! Let’s have some fun!