Chicago Dream Birthday, Part 2

Ok, so after returning from the disappointing Kingston Mines, back at the hotel we took a luxurious bubble bath together in our big deep tub along w/drinks (well, a drink for me). Sunday I slept in again while Stefano did his coffee/newspaper thing downstairs. But I couldn't sleep in TOO long as we'd plans to go check out the Maxwell St. Market in the late morning, also made famous in The Blues Brothers with the John Lee Hooker scene. However, we had to go to the NEW MSM as the OLD one is now defunct, having been moved by the city to safer environs. (As I told Stefano as we were walking through the neighborhood, any place with a bunch of white girls jogging and that has a Bed Bath and Beyond is a safe neighborhood!)

We took the El down there and had a very nice walk to the Market, including over the river where we snapped some nice pic's, downtown skyline behind us. Ok, so the New MSM is almost totally Hispanic, I'm guessing mostly Mexican. It's similar to the flea markets here in Houston. It was amusing to just walk around and look at the stuff (crap) and people watch, though Stefano did buy me a stainless steel 3-piece shaker set, something I've been wanting since Christmas! (Price on it was $24.99, Stefano paid $5!) Stefano had been hoping to find some blues CD's, but the only music was Hispanic and pop. Also--the only live music going on was an unassuming WHITE 3-piece blues band that had been relegated to playing on the very edge of the market. No respect! Stefano took a pic of them and gave them a tip.

After that we headed a short El ride away to 1060 West Addison, also a place I just had to see b/c of The Blues Brothers, my favorite movie of all time. At that time Stefano advised we could have our 1st meal of the day (I hadn't been hungry all day yet after the previous night's pizza!) at the famous Billy Goat Tavern, made famous by John Belushi on SNL. So we took our quick snapshots in front of Wrigley Field's famous sign, then walked down the street to find the Billy Goat. Stefano, who'd eaten there before years ago while attending a Cubs game, was perplexed at not being able to find it, and a quick duck into a nearby store to inquire led to the discovery that it had closed down, at least at that location. So we realized we should grab a cab to another location, one actually not far from our hotel. Before doing so we stopped into a used bookstore to see if they had any good blues CD's. They didn't but I found a book I have been looking for for over a year, the Walter Murch editing book! Stefano bought it for me.... awwww!

So we grabbed a cab which dropped us at the address we had for the original Billy Goat. We had trouble finding it at 1st b/c it's actually located underneath the street--interesting! So we went on in and Stefano ordered a double cheeseburger and I ordered a single. The loud cook said "No, double!" I insisted single. He said "No, double," and pointed at the patties on the grill, which were indeed thin. I acquiesced. I'd been hoping for fries but no, you have to have chips there! And of course, no Pepsi, only Coke! (Diet Coke for us.) Then he loudly ordered us to move down the counter so we could pay. It was kinda like the scary Soup Nazi, only not as mean! Anyway, the cook also pulled out one of their famous paper hats and gave it to me so I could put it on. I ended up wearing it the entire meal b/c I was too scared to take it off, thinking I'd get yelled at or something! The burgers were great and it was a fun experience. While eating I overheard the cook ordering people they also had to order a double. (One lady actually got away w/ordering a single--she musta been REALLY adamant--and he said "Next time, double!") They had this busboy or something, this old black man w/only 1 tooth, that walked around the talked sports endlessly w/us and the other patrons. Stefano bought a souvenir tshirt before we left.

Back to the hotel, which we walked to. It was a beautiful sunny day, if still a bit cold. Everyone was trying to walk on the sunny side of the street, including us! I had a craving for something sweet. I'd brought Dots w/me on the trip and M&M's but I wanted a cupcake or something. So we stopped in a nice bakery and I satisfied my craving w/a huge chocolate cupcake which we took back to our room. I ate 1/2 of it while Stefano relaxed. After awhile, it was time to get ready for the Main Event of the Whole Trip: The Holmes Brothers concert!!!

I was so excited! I was trying not to think of the concert too much b/c I was worried I'd get too freaked out and excited!!! We took the El there and it was a very nice ride. After getting off the El we weren't sure which way to go but a nice couple pointed us right there. It was also a nice neighborhood, very trendy and kitschy. The Old Town School of Music was a really groovy place, very hip and a real nice vibe. The audience seemed to be all old white folks my parents' age, which I am totally used to by now, as my taste in music seems to run that way for some reason! I had bought the best seats my money could buy, and we were a few rows away from the stage but truthfully there was not a bad seat in the house. Even the balcony was close. Before we got our seats I bought a CD out front, not their latest one but the one before that. I only had enough cash for 1 CD and this one had Levon on it!!! Thrills! Also the merch. lady confirmed that the Brothers would be out after the show for autographs. Yay!!!

There was an opening band of 4 white dudes that was RIGHT up Stefano's alley. It was old-school, low-volume blues just like his band. After they played Stefano went up to say hi and come to find out, he found out from the guitarist that we definitely did not get the best of Chicago blues on our previous 2 nights out. Live and learn! Then I saw the incredible, angel-voiced Popsy from the Holmes Bros. onstage adjusting his drum set. I was thrilled to see him! And when they introduced the Bros., I was really out of my mind w/excitement now! But then... Wendell sat behind the keyboard and introduced the song "Fair Weather Friend" and the story behind it made me totally start to cry. Tears were streaming down my face! Wendell had been diagnosed with cancer and his best friend totally deserted him. I couldn't believe anyone would do that to such an amazing man, such a sweet soul, such an incredible talent! The song was so sad and beautiful, it just killed me. I also couldn't help but think of R., who deserted me last fall when I needed friends the most. So yeah, I related a little.

I finally stopped crying around the 4th song! Stefano also loved the Brothers! They put on such a great show. They didn't do any of my real favorites, and as I'd warned Stefano, they are heavy on the Jesus-songs, but it was totally ok. I was so glad to be in the same room w/them--they're old men! God knows when I'll get to see them again! I'd bought these tickets back in January, and there they were, right in front of me in person!!!

After the show I raced outside to the lobby and I was the 1st person to greet Wendell, who walked right to the merch. table, no break needed for him! I told him I'd come all the way from Texas to see them! I told Sherman I was also a bass player! And they sat down and signed my CD and Stefano took a pic of me w/them. Then Popsy came out a minute later and I also greeted him happily. He was so sweet (I'd been told he's actually the most talkative of all of them) and signed my CD and I got a pic of just the 2 of us. Stefano also bought an Old Town School of Music tshirt. I was so overwhelmed and ecstatic!

I was still a little teary as we walked back to the El. Stefano had brought along some of my beloved coco rum and we both took swigs. He said we needed to go to a bar and have one drink and toast to the Brothers. After the El took us back to our hotel's area we decided just to swing into our hotel's adjoining fancy bar. Fancy, indeed! 2 shots of Irish whiskey cost $20! Back upstairs we had another bubble bath while listening to the CD on our room's CD player. Perfect ending to a wonderful day/concert/birthday weekend!

The next morning Stefano did his coffee/newspaper thing and I went to the hotel's exercise room for a quick exercycle session, while catching up on a This American Life podcast, natch! The bike overlooked the street from a huge window--great view! After I was done we had time to go across the street again to "Pancakes House" but this time I had the southwestern skillet. After that we took a short walk down to Lakeshore Drive, walking in front of the famous Drake hotel. Then it was time to get back, finish packing and grab a cab to the airport. We arrived in plenty of time so we had another drink in a hotel bar and relaxed and read the paper and watched the news, etc. Again an easy flight home and it felt so nice to be back in warm weather. But yeah, it was the best birthday of my life and of course that is saying a lot.