Stanley Cup fail...

Well as you all know now, the Chicago Blackhawks fell short on obtaining the Stanley Cup this year.  We have been spoiled on celebrating last year, 2013, and 2010.  But as the years go by, our team has made many changes as contract negotiations take place.  It is what it is.  It doesn't mean we aren't die hard Hawks fan!  We love them very much and will be looking forward to next season.
Game 6 took place last Saturday and the whole city was watching.  I ran my usual errands and made way down to Crossroads Public House to meet up with my friends.  I wore my Blackhawks Championship cap that I got for my birthday last year.  Too bad I won't be wearing it again anytime soon!  lol.  Regardless, we won that game and it got everyone in a really good mood.  I decided to head out to Bottled Blonde for a bit and then ended it at National 27.  Everywhere was packed!  I knew I didn't want to be out too late because I wanted to wake up early for church the next day.  The weekend was beautiful!!  I'm missing that weather already...

My friend got a table at Crossroads Public House for the game. 

Ran into an old friend and we decided to have a celebratory shot for the Hawks win!

Trust me, I definitely regretted those shots the next day...

So much for showing off my cap.  I only got to wear it once!

Bathroom selfie at National 27.  I love cool bathrooms...

Cup Chasing!!

As you know, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup again this year.  For any Chicagoan, we go CRAZY whenever one of our teams wins a championship.  One of the winning traditions the Hawks do for their fans is taking the Cup to various places in the city and show up unannounced.  With the help of social media, such as twitter, people get to follow the cup and see where it shows up next.  I love how excited the fans get by just word of mouth.
One Wednesday evening my friend texted me to say that a tweet was sent out on where Old Stanley might be.  It listed various places such as The Scout and Underground as well as Paris nightclub.  We decided to go cup chasing and head downtown.  I had to get up in the morning but decided not to drink at all.  It was the safest way to get up in time for work.  lol. 
I got by the Hubbard neighborhood and quickly texted my friend.  There was a huge line outside of Paris nightclub, along with cops blocking off the streets.  I was guessing they were in there already and quickly ran to Underground.  My initial plan was to get inside a venue before they showed up, but since they were at Paris already, Underground was the place to be.  My friend joined up soon after and we walked around and found some more friends to hangout with.  Well it turned out to be a pretty late night!  It was 1am and STILL NO CUP.  We all kept checking Instagram as well as Twitter constantly for any updates.  Looks like they ended up at Paris around midnight and were still partying it up with the fans.  I did not expect to be out so late, but at this point we were so close to seeing the players, I knew I couldn't leave.  The anticipation was growing and Underground was getting packed.  It was hard not to drink and join in the celebration.  It was finally around 2am when the players walked in.  I was so exhausted by then, but with all of the excitement the crowd was giving them, I got my second wind!  Unfortunately, they DID NOT have the cup with them because apparently the cup has a curfew (go figure).  But it was still a blast we got a chance to party with the players.  I got home by 4am.  Just in time for a nap before I got up for work at 6am.  It was a rough morning but totally worth it!  I would do it all over again... 

Not the actual Stanley Cup.  There were various imitations on the night of the Championship.

Waiting around at Underground...

Still waiting...

STILL WAITING!  lol

They're finally here!!!  The Chicago Blackhawks!!

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The Chicago Blackhawks are in the playoffs!!

Ending my recap of May events, last but not least, was the blackhawks playoff' game at Timothy O'Toole's Pub.  We had a pretty solid group gather up together in what was a memorable night for all of us.  I wore my new Blackhawks t-shirt I bought at Target.  Since I'm a terrible Chicago sports fan, I joked to my brothers that if the hawks make it to the playoffs, I'll get a hawks shirt.  I own a Chicago Bears shirt and a Bulls shirt, but I was still missing the championship winning Blackhawks.  I have a Chicago Cubs hat and Sox hat too, so I think I'm good in that department.  lol.  Regardless, part of the appeal in Chicago is the fact that we are in LOVE with our teams, (just not me, because I hate sports). 
Growing up with two brothers who were constantly grabbing the remote to watch yet ANOTHER Chicago team game, I grew to hate watching sports.  And I was the awkward girl in High School who was terrible at playing sports as well.  As I've gotten older, I've had more of a if-you-can't-beat-them-join-them mentality to sports, mostly because everyone here in Chicago LOVES sports!  I looked at it more or less as a social gathering of sorts, where we can drink and get goofy and once in a while, glance over at the game.
Not very sportsman like in my opinion, but I can't grasp the excitement of sport watching, period.  That's what I think made this a wonderful night for me.  I got to see my friends again, and make new ones too!  We ended up winning the game which lead us to the championship series, which of course, we won the Stanley Cup.  I will say that the Blackhawks were an important part in making my summer memorable!  lol.  More details later...
Happy Friday everyone and remember, I'll be back soon to finish recapping my June, July and August events in a few weeks.  I'm off to make new memories for myself since I am going on vacation again.  Might be my only one this year so I promise I'll make it good.  lol.  ttyl

Timothy O' Toole's was PACKED!



Bathroom selfie.  It was still a little nippy at night even though it was the last weekend in May!

Warming up in May!

One of the best things about summer is when the temperature starts warming up.  You don't understand.  Here in the midwest, it takes a minute before it gets nice and toasty.  While people travel to Mexico in January, or head down to springbreak in Miami, us midwesterners are still in winter mode.  Summer doesn't officially start til the 3rd week in June, and that's unfortunately when we get highs in the low 80s.  The best thing about our resilience to cold temps is the fact that we DO appreciate the warmer days whenever it does come our way. 
The weekend before Memorial Weekend our friend tried to setup a day at the Montrose beach with some friends.  It was slowly warming up to the high 70s, but for me, that's still too cold to wear next to nothing by the lake.  I showed up in a leather jacket.  Although I was the laugh of the crowd, the sun did kick in and eventually I ended up taking it off.  We had some drinks at The Dock and enjoyed the weather.  The street festivals were slowly starting up in Chicago, and we decided to go home and quickly change into party mode.  We figured we still had some time to checkout a fest before heading out downtown.  We ended up at the Belmont Shefield fest in our going out attire.  lol.  It was a little nippy for me in the evening, so luckily I chose a long sleeved wrap dress to stay a little warm.  The Blackhawks were in the playoffs, so we decided to catch the game at Shefield's Beer Garden.  It was awesome watching them win!  At that point everyone was in a pretty good mood.  We made our way downtown and met up with some friends at Mercadito for some cocktails.  We ended the night at Celeste but in the end, we were out for a while!  That's usually how it goes here in Chicago in the summer.  Start off at the beach and end up in a nightclub/ lounge.  lol

The Dock on Montrose Beach was packed!

Let's get this party started!

At the Belmont Shefield street festival...

Goofing around...

Ending it at Celeste.  I was exhausted!!