I’ve sadly never experienced my favorite part of Chicago’s Union Station. One day, though. One day.

I grabbed a copy of The Onion while we ate at Pick Me Up Cafe, and my friend Arthur’s headline — “Computer Being Stupid” — was in the issue!

Gettin’ our giggly eats on.

A chalkboard in the bathroom, so people write on that instead of the walls. Brilliant.

I kept staring at this paper towel dispenser thinking, “Wow, that looks like a Paper Towel Monster,” and then noticed someone had doodled a face onto it.

Crazy minds must think alike.

I want my entire life to be coated in these colors.

Oh, thank God, since I’ve wasted so much of my time in line at Potbelly’s!

After we took the (wrong) train to the (wrong) Damen stop, we realized our mistake and took a long, confusing and worrisome bus ride to Wicker Park in order to visit the new Marc Jacobs store.

I’ve only been to one Marc Jacobs store in New York, and it was extremely boutiquey. I was dressed nicely and the salespeople were still reluctant to help me when I was waiting at the counter. The one in Chicago is different, with super sweet salespeople and a storefront selling trinkets ranging from $1 to $30 amidst the pricey yet precious shoes, bags and clothing. I tried to see if I could wear a purse over my shoulder and subsequently got my hair stuck in the zipper, which was more embarrasing than it sounds and a clear reminder that I need a haircut.

But, they had a photo booth area that looked like a happy acid trip with plastic neon mushrooms, plants, flowers and foliage with a goofy man in a skunk costume taking silly photos with customers.

Ellen and I were two of those customers:

The saleswoman helped me attach a Marc Jacobs lanyard to my purse, and now I can swing it around my head!

It’s showtime.

My friends, my friends.

And then, there was the show.

[Review coming soon.]

I don’t think I need to have better handwriting because I type everything, but I guess this would encourage me to make more greeting cards, since it’s been a month or two since I have.

Update: Wow, there’s a billion of them! I think I might buy “Teach Yourself Art History.” I’m not sure if they’re good, but the covers are beautiful.

My first story for Smile Politely:

Posted to Culture by Carlye Wisel
Monday, April 7, 2008 10:30 AM

When Drew’s Pizza, the take-out restaurant on Green Street between Sixth and Wright streets known for their $5 pies that tasted like cardboard closed, their darkened storefront became the third on the block, until now. Offering bagels, sandwiches, spreads, and treats, Howbowda Bagel will open in summer 2008, and if they serve matzo ball soup, I will have no reason to travel back to the Chicago suburbs ever again.

Seriously though, building a bagel restaurant across the street from Green Street Towers? Someone’s got their shit together and knows the demographics of my apartment building.

Does It Offend You, Yeah?. I’ve over-listened to Justice (as it is my morning wake-up alarm on my phone, no joke) and Hot Chip is getting old, so DIOYY comes at a perfect time with their blend of seriously danceable beats and poppy vocals.

It’s practically impossible for me to organize my crazy life, so I’m buying Bento today. I’m sick of using Google, a 12-page To Do notebook on Microsoft Word and slips of paper here and there to plan out my days.

“August 1 - Lollapalooza - Chicago, IL
August 3 - Verizon Wireless Music Center - Indianapolis, IN
August 4 - Blossom Music Center - Cleveland, OH
August 6 - Parc Jean Drapeau - Montreal, QC
August 8 - All Points West Music & Arts Festival/Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ
August 9 - All Points West Music & Arts Festival/Liberty State Park - Jersey City, NJ
August 12 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ
August 13 - Tweeter Center For the Performing Arts - Mansfield, MA
August 15 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
August 19 - Thunderbird Stadium - Vancouver, BC
August 20 - White River Amphitheatre - Auburn, WA
August 22 - Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival @ Golden Gate Park - San Francisco, CA
August 24 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
August 25 - Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA
August 27 - Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre - Chula Vista, CA
August 28 - Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA

Support for the headline dates will be Grizzly Bear August 3-15 and Liars August 19-28 (as well as the first run of U.S. dates in May).”

Grizzly Bear is opening? That’s quite the jump, from Feist to Radiohead…

Pitchfork.tv is here, and it’s wonderful.

Radiohead, RATM, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Love and Rockets, Gnarls Barkley, Bloc Party, The Black Keys, Broken Social Scene, Flogging Molly, Mark Ronson, Cat Power, Lupe Fiasco, The National, G Love & Special Sauce, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Explosions in the Sky, Gogol Bordello, Brand New, Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Dierks Bentley, Okkervil River, CSS, Girl Talk, Battles, John Butler Trio, Blues Traveler, Jamie Lidell, Mates of State, Brazilian Girls, Chromeo, Duffy, Rogue Wave, The Go! Team, Yeasayer, Grizzly Bear, MGMT, The Weakerthans, Santogold, Black Lips, Black Kids, Dr. Dog, Nicole Atkins, The Ting Tings, The Office, The Cool Kids, Does It Offend You, Yeah?, What Made Milwaukee Famous, The Whigs, Manchester Orchestra, Foals, Margot & The Nukes, The Octopus Project, Tally Hall, and a bunch of other people I don’t want to type out by hand.

Bold = Bands who also played at Lollapalooza 2006

Italics = Bands who also played at Lollapalooza 2007

Five out of the top 11 bands played in 2006. Lupe Fiasco, who is also highly billed played in 2007, something Lollapalooza seems to pride itself on not doing. Sure, the lower-billed bands are good, but how can you look forward to a festival you’ve already seen?

Zomg! My brother went on vacation and bought me a new UglyDoll! Its name is Domo, it’s poo brown and I love it, even though I won’t get it for a week.

Thanks, Steve!!

My favorite band, holding my favorite flower in a photo for their new album.

Sigh.