Show Going and Celebrating

Sunday was Monica Barcelona: Bitch I'll Cut You at the Chicago Women's Funny Festival at Stage 773. Having both seen my sister perform improv and gotten haircuts from her for years, it was great fun to see the two combined. It's essentially an improvised salon scene with a live haircut for one lucky audience volunteer. Mo and Erica rocked it. The show was high energy and got loads of laughs from the audience.

But you don't have to take my word for it (I am a little biased, after all). Our friend Ada Grey agrees. Ada is a 7 year old who has been blogging her reviews of Chicago theater since she was 4 (dictated to her mother). She was there with an official press pass and a front row seat, swinging her mary janes in anticipation. She loved the show, and raved on about it afterwards. You can read all about her take on Monica Barcelona in a couple weeks on Ada Grey Reviews for You.

After the show, we headed to Coopers across the street for celebratory drinks. They do a $3.50 beer of the month special, and this month is Shiner Ruby Redbird. Holy crap, people, this is one refreshing beer. Kind of like a grapefruit shandy. It's rare that the cheap beer on the menu is also an awesome one. I will definitely be picking up a six-pack for my next picnic. We decided to celebrate our celebratory beers with a bbq pork/coleslaw pizza. I love trying unusual food combinations (chocolate covered bacon, anyone?), and the pie didn't disappoint. It was fitting after a show that combined Monique's dual talents. I'd go back for this dish, which is saying something in a town where there are unlimited choices for amazing pizza. Also, I hear they have homemade ice cream. 'Nuff said.

My new favorite summer brew.

Volunteering

I did a little volunteering at the Chicago Canine Rescue Beer Tent on Sunday. I figured that since I sling beers for a living, I may as well sling 'em for charity too. The Chicago Canine Rescue is a really great organization. They encourage volunteers to walk in and just take a dog for walk around the hood. It's a fun, easy, commitment-free way to lend a hand, and it results in super happy pups (not to mention you get one-on-one time with an assortment of adorable dogs). Surely there aren't many shelters in which the dogs get walked and loved on three times a day. When we finally pull the trigger and get a dog, this will be my first stop. 

Anyways, the hot hot heat at the Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival ensured scores of beer guzzling, sun-burnt patrons to keep us busy, and it didn't hurt that the tent had a spot right by the stage. As such, I learned that you must be drunk to enjoy a few solid hours of Journey covers. Unfortunately, we couldn't drink. So I had a polish instead. All in the name of a good cause, I suppose.

   

My kind of charity.