Hot Chocolate 5k recap…

I have run a fair amount of 5ks since I started running in summer of 2008, and I need to say right now that the Hot Chocolate 5k I ran this morning (and hauled my butt out of bed the morning after Halloween for, mind you) was the most disorganized race I’ve participated in.

It started a few weeks ago.

Bob had already signed up long before I did. When he convinced me to sign up, I went to the site and saw that the packet pick-up Bob had told me about was no longer listed on the website. They changed this key piece of info and hadn’t emailed the registered runners to let them know.

Whatever. Could have been a fluke, right?

Nope. 

First of all, we’re pretty sure they oversold the race, as the place was packed to the gills.  It took us 8 minutes from when the race began to actually cross the start line, which is not an altogether uncommon thing in a big race, but the race path was packed the entire 3.1 miles, and the course had some precarious turns, a stretch right along Montrose Harbor that could have easily ended with someone falling in the water, and I saw a guy in the last mile trying to pull his sneaker out of a hole it had gotten lodged in.

Regardless, I had a nice run – The weather was perfect and my admittedly nice race hoodie kept me the perfect temperature.

Then we finished the race, and immediately made our way to gear check.

Easily, we spent 20 minutes in the looping line for gear check before someone told us that runners with numbers of 15,000 and higher(Eric and I) could go to a new line.  So we did, and soon realized what all the hold-up was. The gear check people had essentially taken everyones bags and thrown them into a great big pile with no arrangement, so when it was time to collect the volunteers (god bless ‘em) were basically looking for a needle in a haystack. Once Eric and I got our stuff, we returned to where Bob, Gina, and Laura were still waiting to get theirs, and took it upon ourselves to inform all the new runners in line with numbers 15,000 or higher not even to bother with the line they were in.

Race times haven’t officially come in yet, but we’re nearly positive we spent more time in line at gear check than we did actually running.

(To put things in perspective, the 2009 Shamrock Shuffle has significantly more runners and we maybe spent a grand total of 3 minutes in line both checking and collecting our items pre and post race. And, you know, that was in a blizzard, so..)

While we waited in line, we heard people complaining that the free shuttles took forever to get to and from the race site, that the 5k finishers were walking in the path of the 15k runners, and that this race was WAY better organized in 2008. A girl told us that the company who put the race up this year was a brand new company, and you could tell.

So, finally, gear collected, we headed to the food tents. As this was the HOT CHOCOLATE 5K, sponsored in part by Hershey, all the press had promised TONS of chocolate. Not really. Though the chocolate fondue we recieved was great (if in small quantites) the Hot Chocolate itself was really bitter and gross. We threw it away.

UPDATE: According to this blog, they also ran out of chocolate.

(Thats another thing. 15,000 runners and there were maybe 4 trash cans on the entire site?)

Though we all ran well, and the day was lovely and it’s always nice to run with friends (Congrats Gina, on your first 5k – and doing awesome!), event organization kept it from being a really awesome experience.

I won’t be running this race again in 2010.  I’ll get on a treadmill and have a Snickers when I’m done, instead.

(Once again, I remain an ardent fan of Capri Events races..organized, accessible, easy-going, and safe courses. I’ll stick with them.)

Check out Bobs blog – chitheatreaddict.com – where he’s blogged an open letter to RAM Racing, and is recieving some interesting accounts from fellow runners.

Halloween (Cinderella’s Pumpkin Ball)

So, largely from laziness, I decided at the last minute NOT to kill Cinderella.

She attended the Halloween ball un-rotted, un-bloodied, and very much alive.

Vinyl Savants

To anyone that knows him, it’s clear that Eric collects Transformers. We’re talking an amazing collection that numbers in the thousands. I have been known, in my time, to have a few random action figures – usually (ok, always) the female of the series. (April O’Neil, Leia, Tila, Princess Peach, etc, etc, etc..)

So it should come as no surprise that we’ve started a wee collection of vinyl toys…

This, our pride and joy, is apparently Black Daruma, one of the rarest characters in the (we think now discontinued) Cannibal Funfair series.

This, my first vinyl, is Cloak – also of the Cannibal Funfair series.

Our other collectibles so far – Cactus Pups (now available in Borders, apparently), KidRobot, and Rolling Stock (the three animals in train cars.)

Well, if you’re into vinyl, one of the biggest names you’ll hear is Dunny. (See previous blog about rotofugi.) This very evening was the release of the 2009 Dunny series, and so we joined other vinyl-heads at rotofugi to celebrate and to get our hands on the new guys. These little guys, like many vinyls, come blindboxed so you don’t know until you open the box and the bag inside which character you’re getting.

Eric and I… got the exact same dudes. (See below) But it’s fine, because he’s adorable.

 

I also took a shot on a Dunny series 5, and got the above toy, which delighted me. As he is pink, and I like pink.

Eric initiated us into a whole new series – Heroes and Heartbreakers – with this little darling. Please note: the wheels on the skates DO move.

And, I have a brand new project – a do it yourself Munny. I’m not going to touch him until I have a really solid idea what I want to turn him into, but think of the possibilities…

It’s silly, but it’s fun. Everyone needs a hobby, right?

The Real Thing @ Saint Sebastian Players

When it comes to love – and to writing – what is real and true and worth sacrifice and struggle – and what is merely pretense?

That seems to be the central question of Tom Stoppard’s “The Real Thing” now being presented by Saint Sebastian Players through May 17, 2009.

Directed by John Oster, the delightful cast of “The Real Thing” moves through 11 scenes about relationships with lovers, spouses, children, co-stars, and the theatre at a fairly fast pace. The play is a little long – I question whether a scene involving Annie and Billy rehearsing “‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore” is necessary since we already know they’re sleeping together, and that they’re rehearsing for the piece together – but it’s full of Stoppard’s wit and charm, so it moves quickly, and the cast carries it along even in the slower parts on their capable shoulders.

Our central protgaonist is Henry, a writer obviously intended to stand in for Stoppard, played by Neal Tucker. Though obviously a little young to play the role, Tucker carries the show nobly.  It’s a challenge to be the hero of a show when one of the first things an audience learns about you is that you’re cheating on your wife, but Tucker is up to the task. Opposite him as Annie, the real love of his life, Stephanie Nelson is simply wonderful. (Margo commented as to how much like Nicole Kidman she was – and I agree.) She’s strong and more than a match for everyone she comes into contact with onstage.

Around Henry and Annie swirl the other inhabitants of the world of the play – Charlotte (played by Renae Stone), is Henry’s ex-wife and the mother of his daughter, Debbie (played by Sophie Amos).  Max (played by Eric S. Prahl), is Annie’s ex-husband and the star of Henry’s last show, House of Cards. Billy (Scott Edward Mills) is a young actor enamored of Annie, and Brodie (Andrew Strenk) is a political prisoner who has written a teleplay about his inprisonment that Henry is to fix.

Stone and Prahl have the really juicy roles – you wait for more Charlotte and Max (Max, sadly, only appears in the first three scenes – but Charlotte gets to come back later for another round with Henry.) Charlotte is the most likeable character in the show, funny and touching and flawed and human – while Max is the source of nearly all the big laughs in the first two scenes, whether performing in Henry’s play or enduring an awkward visit to Charlotte and Henry’s home.  Prahl melts down wonderfully as the moments tick by and the stress increases. You can practically hear taps playing as he leaves the scene.  Sophie Amos, a ringer for Deni Mazar, also perfectly nails her one scene as a daughter about to head out into the world on tour with her musician boyfriend (or, he plays a steam organ – whether or not thats music is debated.)

Oster’s actors are more than up to the task of tackling Stoppard, never the easiest playwright to take on. If only the technical aspects of the show were a little less raggedy, the whole thing would sparkle. As it is, the scene changes take a long time and are sporatically covered by music – or done in complete silence.

Other than technical befuddling, however, the show is funny and touching and thought-provoking. If you like Stoppard, see it.

Cafe Absinthe (Chicago, IL)

http://www.cafeabsinthechicago.com/

Eric and I are Chicago foodies.  That said, our surprises to each other often come in the form of dinner at special places.

My birthday was no exception.

I was told I had to wear a dress, and given instructions to get on the red line after my rehearsal and get off at North Avenue, where I was to get on the bus and head west.  By some miracle, Eric happened to be on said North Avenue bus, and we got off in Wicker Park. After some brief shopping at the various Akiras in that ‘hood, I was told where we were going – and promptly giggled.

I have wanted to go to Cafe Absinthe for about 2 years – since I first learned of it while trekking to Cherie’s apartment to head to a Music Man rehearsal.

The interior is very intimate – way smaller than you’d think – and the kitchen is right out in the open on one end of the space – so you can see the chefs preparing your food. It’s dim, with private tables and candlelight, and I immediately loved it.

The food was wonderful – so wonderful, in fact, that we felt like we might explode when we left and waddled back to the bus. I had a spinach salad, beef tenderloin, and chocolate cake – all of which were amazing – as well as an Artisianal Cheese Plate made of three  cheeses I couldn’t name you, but all were splendid. Eric had the duck, which was really amazing also.

Wine, cheese, cake, candles – it was a pretty damn stellar birthday dinner.  Probably even my favorite ever.

Huzzah.

a much-needed surprise day

Eric likes to surprise me.

I happen to enjoy surprises thoroughly.

Since my birthday next Saturday will be spent in ten hours of tech and therefore is kinda useless, and also since a lot of things have been happening lately and I needed a pick-me-up, Eric told me to reserve Sunday (yesterday) for him, but wouldn’t tell me why. All I knew was that I was to be ready to go at 8:00am and to come downstairs.

I obeyed, and here’s what I saw….

Folks, meet Maize (or Mazey!) the zipcar that was our wheels for yesterdays adventures.

Our first stop was M.Henry in Andersonville for an amazing breakfast.

Peasant quiche, home-blend iced tea, and Blackberry Bliss Cakes.

Seriously.

I have never tasted anything like the Blackberry Bliss Cakes before. They’re like Blackberry ice cream on pancakes with fresh fruit…. Eat them. Eat them now.

Then, we headed out into the burbs… listening to apparently International Retro day on every radio station.  There was lots of Madonna, Prince, and Genesis…and other random pieces of fabulousness like “Fame” and “The Safety Dance.”

We stopped quickly at Wal-mart (I’m from Michigan, don’t knock it!) and then.. without further ado….

We arrived at our destination - Woodfield Mall.

I have never been to la Woodfield before, and was impressed by it’s sheer size and scope. Pretty much any store you could ever want is housed somewhere in that mall – except a bookstore. There is a notable lack of bookstores.  We did a ton of shopping (Macys, Charlotte Russe, Icing, Lush, Urban Outfitters, Z Galleri, etc, etc…) and walking around, and I got a whole passel of new pretty things for spring.

After a fabulous lunch and beer at Ruby Tuesdays (it was the burbs, dude) we, tired, returned back to the city and headed to Metro to see The Ting Tings (see previous blog)

In all seriousness, it was the most wonderful day I’ve ever had.

Thanks, Eric. For knowing just what I needed.

The TingTings @ Metro

Oh, how I love music sometimes.

Eric introduced me to The Ting Tings a few months back as a band I would likely enjoy running to, and he was really super right about that. So, when we heard they were coming to Chicago for a show at the Metro on 4/5 – 6 days before my birthday – of course tickets were obtained.

FYI for those over .. 24? College.. whatever? An “All ages” show means that there are literally all ages.  From the middle-aged “Moms” in the front row dancing their fool heads off to the young kids leaning over the balcony with their parents (the kids were maybe 12.. probably younger) there was a very interesting vibe to the whole room. Lots of young teens, many of whom were clearly of the belief that they were the single most important person who had ever lived.

The opening act was called HOTTUB, which – according to the online research I found – is a “female rap trio from Oakland, California.”  Um, yeah. Basically, they appeared to be three bratty teenage girls drunk and/or high jumping around (and falling a lot) on the stage and yelling indistinguishable lyrics. Along with them was a young man who basically just danced wildly and kept jumping into the audience and onto people – including us at one point. I mean, I get that music is about energy, but looking around the venue, most of the audience (other than a few members singled out as being cousins of one of the members) weren’t feeling the energy and looked rather annoyed. Perhaps it’s because we weren’t all wasted.  For an all-ages show, they had songs called “Manbitch” and a song I’m guessing it called “This s%$t is f%$#$%g bomb.” Like I said, I couldn’t make out a single word.

Saving the day the second they hit the stage, The Ting Tings themselves put on an awesome show, performing songs from their debut album “We started nothing.” There are only two members of the band, but it feels like ten.  Katie White (the lead singer, who also plays guitar, keyboards, and drums and cowbell when needed) trots onto the stage looking like Sharpay from High School Musical, but with ever so much more grit and class, she’s a delight to watch. And Jules DeMartino (drums, guitars, vocals, everything else) keeps up with her every step of the way.  They played a good chunk of their album, as well as sampling some classics – “Walk this way” among others. It was a high-energy show, and they erased the memory of their appalling opening act by the end of their first song.

Check out The Ting Tings – their music is infectious.

Come to the Cabaret!

Hello Friends! Happy April Fools Day!

Lacking plans for the evening? Like mischeif, music, and merriment?

Come to the Theatre Building at 7:30 for Point of Contention’s motley miscast cabaret, APRIL ANTICS! Come see us play roles we were BORN to play – but no one in their right minds would EVER cast us as! Featuring songs and scenes from Chicago, The Music Man, Spring Awakening, Shakespeare, Side Show, Mamet, and more!

Tickets are $10 and available at the door– or at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/59740

(For the CTA riders out there — #77 Belmont Bus, or the Belmont Red/Purple/Brown lines are right down the street.)

Huzzah for Showtunes and Gender-Bending!

Recap: World Theatre Day 2009

Going back a few days -

World Theatre Day was Friday, March 27th.

Uniting all the world’s theatre artists for a day of celebration is a fantastic idea, and Eric and I decided to attend a performance AND the Chicago-area World Theatre Day after-party to join up and celebrate.

Since the party was to be held at the Chopin theatre, we got tickets to the House Theatre’s production of THE ROSE AND THE RIME, which was playing in the same building. I’d heard awesome things about past House Theatre shows, but had never seen one for myself – I was awestruck.

ROSE/RIME is simply the most beautifully done show I have seen on any stage in Chicago theatre.  Carolyn Defrin, as Rose – the young girl who decides to end the perpetual winter in Radio Falls, Michigan by embarking on a journey to slay the Rime witch – is a master of physical comedy and also an all-around superb actress. She is ably supported by a stellar cast I would love to single out, but I don’t have a program and there is no info on the website. I did recognize Dana Tretta amongst the cast, and she’s a show-stealer. The show has magic, music, dance, acrobatics, and a whole lot of heart. I absolutely loved it.

Post-show, the Chopin theatre became a mass of theatre-fans and makers who had a thoroughly merry time drinking and networking on both levels of the Chopin theatre. Eric and I ran into several of our all-time favorite people: Betsy and Will Morgan (Betsy was in charge of bouncing people off one of the sets of a show playing at the Chopin – and got hit on by an older man who within about four minutes told her he was a director, asked if she was married, and told her to watch out for his book…mhmmm) and Mr. Scott Cupper, from POC’s production of Radium Girls.

All in all, it was a lovely time and I’m super glad I went.

Theatre and Wine makes EVERYONE happy.

Support the arts. Go see live theatre.

Shufflesicles

Sunday, March 29th 2009 was the 30th Anniversary Shamrock Shuffle 8k race through the streets of downtown Chicago.  Considered by many to be the unofficial start to racing season in Chicago, 32,000 trained, dedicated runners were scheduled to race. 

But then we all woke up and saw this out our windows….

..which begs the question: Are runners freakin’ nuts?

Undeterred by weather conditions, Eric, Lindsey, Bob and I all trekked down to Grant Park in the snow, our shoes a’fillin with freezing cold water, checked our gear, met up, remarked countless times on how dumb we were to be doing it… and then, around 9:50, we hit play on our respective ipods and began to run.

I have never done an 8k before. I had planned to train like a mofo for this race, but all sorts of things like life got in the way. We started running, and my frozen shoes made it feel like I was running on blocks of ice. Not gonna lie, for the first few minutes I panicked – I can’t do this! OMG. This is horrible. But then, it got so much easier. Maybe it was the idea of running with such a large group through the closed streets of Chicago, or who knows? But I ran super well (after a while of running, your shoes would get warm again – which would then get destroyed by the NEXT puddle you’d step in, but c’est la vie) and finished in 57:06.  My goal was to finish in under 1 hour and 15 minutes (which is the point where they stop recording your times..) so I’m pleased as punch.

(Apparently, out of 32,000 registered runners only like 13,000 showed up. Which blows my mind. I would have SWORN there were all 32,000 people hanging out in the snow with us. It looked like it. Then again, I’m short.)

It was also quite awesome to head to The Rail afterwards for breakfast and beer. All races should end at the Rail. It was double-awesome to walk in, in running gear, soaked, and have the table next to us go – “The Shuffle?! I can’t believe you guys DID that?!”

Yep. We pretty much own.

Bob, Lindsey, Eric, Gator, and Gina are the reasons I went through with it. Thanks, guys.

Next up – Ravenswood Run, April 26th.