Chicago - U2

I had a few days in Chicago this past weekend for the opening of U2's new tour. Heather doesn't like U2, crowds or loud noise, so I was solo on the trip.

This was my first time in Chicago. My plan, in a addition to seeing U2, was: 1) to see Wrigley Field; 2) have a steak at Gibson's; and 3) eat a deep dish pizza.

Wrigley Field - check:


Steak at Gibson's, Friday night - check.


World famous Chicago deep dish pizza - not check.

The plan was to head over to Soldier Field in the morning and unload some extra General Admission tickets we had bought before we got better seats and then have pizza and beers for lunch.

We went to Soldier Field and saw the General Admission line, in which we were happy not to be waiting.


After that, we waked through Grant Park and saw these neat leg things.


Then we started having beers at about 11:30 on a nice patio.


And we went to the John Hancock Tower to see the slightly hazy view from the bar at the top:


. . . and the next thing we knew it was time to get ready for the concert and we had forgot to hit the pizza place. I went all the way to that city and missed what was probably #2 on my list of things to do next to the show. I love pizza and love deep dish pizza. I really dropped the ball on that one. Maybe I'll get another chance one day.

The show, which was U2's first stadium show in the U.S. in about 12 or 13 years, was just incredible. It was like rock show meets Cirque du Soleil. I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing, generally, but it was a sight.








The production and the sound were so good, and the stage was so huge and doing many synchronized visuals, that it was hard to believe that even the crowd's flash bulbs and numerous sing alongs were not somehow half faked with lighting effects and pre-recorded audience vocals. It was all perfect - a little too perfect. I think everything the crowd appeared to be doing was real, just because of the repercussions a band would face if they faked something like that; it would be like a reverse Milli Vanilli. But, it is possible to make a show too good. This one was about 2% better than what I thought was realistically possible.

We had pretty good seats in what was supposed to be a special section, so I thought I might see Vince Vaughn or Oprah or some other fancy pants Chicago person. My hopes were exceeded when I saw Kenny Powers on the way out. I had to act cool and not talk to him, but I got the picture.


That beautiful mane. It made me want to reach out and pet it, but I exercised restraint. My self control probably kept me from taking an ass kicking at the hands of a Midwestern corn-fed redneck. I hear that the Midwestern redneck is smarter and more agile than the Southeastern redneck, so I don't want to tangle with former if I don't have to.

All in all, the trip was great up until I opened my eyes Sunday and realized that I was 600 miles away from my family. This was my first trip away from the kids and the weight of being gone hit me as soon as I didn't have major distraction. I really wanted to be teleported home right that second.

I was scheduled to be home in time to do afternoon bath-time and have some quality time with the kids before dinner and bed. My plane was really late, though. I have missed meetings and social events because of late planes before, but I don't think I have ever been as pissed at an airline as I was at the thought that I would miss putting the kids to bed.

I am glad I went and I had a great time, but I think the best part of my trip was hurrying into the house on Sunday to see that Heather was able to keep the kids up a little later, reading a book, ready for me to kiss them goodnight.