No, you sicko. It’s an ice cream parlor!

I’ve passed this place a million times on my WP excursions and that Coming Soon sign has always been in the window. Well by the end of the week, it should be open. Yeah, the name is pretty suggestive but they make ice cream! You choose what kind of dairy and toppings and they make it in a mixer right there for you. With liquid nitrogen!

Ice cream.

LIQUID NITROGEN.

ICE CREAM!

I will personally be checking this place and reporting back because hi! Have you heard? Ice cream made with liquid nitrogen!

If that isn’t cool (gimmicky or not), I don’t know what is.

(sorry, dirty minded people. only ice cream here)

source.

This was such a fun weekend! It was hot but not too hot. Yes, it was ridiculously hot for some people but honestly, compared to the past few years at Lolla, it wasn’t too bad. In case you missed me twittering each and every breath I made since stepping foot in Grant Park, I’ll do a little recap of who I seen.

Friday:

On Friday the first person we wanted to see was Duffy. We hit some traffic though so we got there right as she was ending which was a bummer. Then a friend was djing so we went to go see him for awhile. We caught some of the Cool Kids and then the end of CSS. They were hilarious. The singer was like, “We love you, Chicago! Top Chef, Kathy Griffen! Woo!”. Is Kathy Griffen from Chicago? I don’t even know but it was too funny. After that, boyfriend and I got some food and we walked toward that madness that was about to be Radiohead. One whole side of Grant Park was FULL of people. The crowd was pretty insane. Here is a picture of a tiny bit of the crowd.

The stage all the way in the back on the left is where they were playing. It was out of control. William and I scouted out some grassy area and laid down a blanket and just chilled. They played an amazing set and sound impeccable live. After we left Grant Park, we went to Angels & Kings for an after party. I kept hoping Jessica would show up but no luck. I still had a great time though!

(more…)

Tomorrow around this time, there will be a piece of science fiction on this little blog here. I figured I’d warn you in advance so you’re not like “who the fuck does Jamie think she is? George Lucus or something?!” I can’t promise Ewoks or facehuggers but it will be fun. In case you haven’t heard by now, it will be the second time Nancy Pearl Wannabe has hosted the Choose Your Own Blogventure series and I’ll be taking part. So make sure you stop by tomorrow and play along!

Ben has been dropping hints of a super secret project he has been working on and today I can final reveal that I will be taking part of this no longer secret project too!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be spent sweating it out with the 75,000+ people expected to show up at Grant Park for Lollapalooza. There will be some really great bands and I’m really looking forward to it. Just to make you a little jealous, here is a taste of who I will see: Duffy, Radiohead, Mates of States, Explosions in the Sky, Spankrock, DJ AM, Brand New, The Weakerthans, Chromeo and my lovah, Mark Ronson.

Jess is prepared to bail me out of jail in case I get in trouble with the law for trying to sneak attack Mark Ronson’s face. In case I die of heatstroke, you all have to battle it out on who gets to keep my pretty blog.

Are you going to Lolla or just wanna keep up with me because you know I will be twittering my face off all weekend?

P.S. Want a cute and FREE header by the lovely lady who made my amazing design? Go here!

What do you do when friends are in town?

Take them to get cupcakes, of course!

When Deutlich and Maxie were in town last month, we had a mini cupcake crawl. First, we hit up Sweet Mandy B’s first but I settled for a cookie there. I’m so glad I did! Our next stop was Swirlz cupcakes and I could not get enough!

Swirlz is in Lincoln Park, right off of Clark on Belden. Now let me tell you, I’m super picky about cake and cupcakes because a lot of frosting is just too sweet for me. Swirlz cupcakes were to die for though! The frosting was just right and the cupcakes tasted amazing.

Pam was such a sweetheart and hooked us up! We had a taste of just about every cupcake that was in store, I think. There is a such a great variety. I also think it is pretty fantastic that they have gluten-free* cupcakes. I really didn’t know much about what gluten free means, but Pam took the time to explain to us. I had a regular Red Velvet cupcake and then tried the gluten-free Red Velvet, seriously, you could not tell the difference! Moist cake and yummy cream cheese and butter cream frosting. It was delicious.

These are all the cupcakes we ended up getting. I was a big fan of the Red Velvet and Peanut Butter! I ended up bring a chocolate cupcake and a vanilla cupcake home for boyfriend. The frosting melted a bit from my day outside but that didn’t stop him from taking them down in oh, about 3.2 seconds.

Also, I couldn’t forget about my adorable dog so when I see pupcakes on the counter, you just know I picked some up! Swirlz also got Edie’s bark of approval. I forgot to take a picture of these but I’ll be back soon enough to get her more.

Swirlz motto: Cupcakes make people happy.

Never has a more true word been spoken!

Coming to Chicago? Definitely make this one of your stops. I know I will be there next time I’m in Lincoln Park!

* Don’t know what gluten-free is either? Check it out.
** I slacked on the photo front so these are from Jess and Jenn.

PINK: A (LOVE) COURIER SERVICE, an art & cycling project on tour from Austin, TX, is setting up shop in Wicker Park, July 26 August 15! Visit our factory headquarters @ the St. Paul’s Cultural Center to send love notes to friends, lovers, coworkers, and strangers . . . we bottle the notes and deliver them by bike all around the city!

Want to volunteer as a messenger or love factory worker? Come to our volunteer orientation:
Wednesday, July 23, 7:00pm (factory HQ).

Can’t come to the volunteer orientation?
Send us an email: pinkontour@gmail.com or just stop on in anytime we are open (Wed-Sun, 11am-10pm)

chicago: we (deliver) love (for) you. (pass it on!)

Where: St. Paul Cultural Center, 2215 W. North Avenue

When: July 26-August 15, open Wed-Sun, 11am-10pm

Contact: pinkontourATgmailDOTcom

Web: Jaclyn Pryor

Someone send me love notes, okay?

source

A few months back I bought tickets for boyfriend and I to see this show. I paid an obscene amount of money for pretty craptacular seats, but it will still be cool. It’s Kanye. In Chicago. I heard the show is pretty ridiculous but hey, what else to expect from Kanye? And seriously? Pharell? I might just have to find him and like, lick his face or something because he is too freaking sexy. Oh, and that broad Rihanna will be there. Her and her big ass forehead are annoying and I’m not sure why she is on this show but whatever. She gets a pardon from me if an adorable Chris Brown shows up because her lucky ass is dating him. Not likely though.

Yeah, any Chicago people going? I’ll be the girl NOT wearing those stupid glasses that everyone will be wearing and may or may not be attached to Pharell’s face.

Since our first hang out was a smashing success, Jenn and I have been trying to hanging out again for like the past three weeks. The thing is, I fail at life and manage to get sick all the time or something, so Minnie’s has been on the back burner for awhile. Finally, this past Saturday, we finally got to go. Angela tagged along too, so I invited my friend, Monica.

Mini food, mini drinks, not so mini desserts - it was a fun night. The cuteness had to be documented, so pictures?

my fabulous partner in crime, Jenn, with her mini martini

me, cheesin’ obviously. check out my cute mini food!

the lovely Monica

last, but most definitely not least, Angela enjoying her ridiculously good banana ice cream

It is decidedly obvious that mini stuff is always better. Plus, you have room for dessert!

It’s all about Cupcake Crawls. Seriously. That is what a bunch of us Chicago bloggy people will be doing April 12th. Well, a bunch, if you all decide to come. If not, more cupcakes for Jenn and I!

Five places of yummy cupcakey goodness with some fabulous company. What more can you ask for?

You in?

Anyway, check out Jenn’s blog for more details!

I don’t think Chicago has ever seen this much fierceness at once.

Yesterday, Jenn and I met up at the Borders on State Street talked in the cafe area, next to some dudes who were playing music or ring tones out loud on their cellphone. We then grabbed a bite to eat at Pizano’s and sat next to some awesome frat boy dudes, who were drunk and all greened out, talking about how jealous they were of some girl’s stache. Obviously, not Jenn and I because we don’t have mustaches. We also got the evil death glare from our waitress for not just packing up and leaving as soon as we got the check.

Before we knew it four hours had gone by! Jenn’s so much more awesome in real life. Seriously, you guys should be jealous. We talked about everything in the world from BlogHer to tattoos to penguin poop to parades that suck. What? Yes, I’m pretty sure each of those topics were brought up and no, I will no elaborate on it.

Anyway, admire our awesome picture taking skillz and be blinded by the glare of our fierceness…err…glasses.

More adventures of Jenn and Jamie to follow. You can count on that.

From Chicagoist: Part of the shenanigans involved with the Tribune selling Wrigley Field to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority are renovations to the ballpark, which apparently are going to be so major that even with construction beginning immediately after the regular season ends, the Cubs might have to find a temporary home potentially well into the following season. Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney’s choice for that move? U.S. Cellular Field.

You know what I have to say about that?