Go See Cedar Rapids!

This movie is hilarious. Despite the fact that I love Ed Helms and would obsess over something he's in 11 times out of 10, this movie was legitimately hysterical. Great story, and John C. Riley absolutely runs the show. They give NOTHING away in the trailers, so you'll get your money's worth. I laughed for a good 90% of the movie. I can't take full credit for wanting to see it, though...that's a result of Dave's epically correct analysis of movie trailers.

I Needed To Know About This Months Ago

I needed to know about Chicago's Restaurant Week months ago. It's almost too late for me to wrap my mind around it. Get me out of this hell! I'm blowing the one real chance I have to find new and exciting places to go for cheap!

http://www.choosechicago.com/chicago_restaurant_week_2011/pages/default.aspx

The New American Marketing Strategy

Throw Bieber in anything that needs a ratings boost. You're guaranteed to at least reach your ratings expectations for females 10-14, 15-19, and sporadic 20-24 year old creeps like me. The NBA All-Star Celebrity game probably raked in an extra 1.4 million viewers just because he was there. As such, I'm not embarrassed that I was one of those 1.4 million.

I Want To Be As Deliriously Happy As These Arsenal Fans

Gloomy Chicago weather is (hopefully) outta here soon, and could not be happier. I think I want to keep that feeling year-round, so someone needs to invent a way to bottle how these Arsenal fans felt when Andrei Arshavin served this death blow to Barcelona on Wednesday. Arshavin single-handedly made probably a million people freak the fuck out with this goal vs. Barcelona and I was one of 'em, just a little late. Not to worry, though, Arsenal fans and I both felt the same on Wednesday, cause I'm pretty sure when I walked out of work and it was still light out and 50 degrees I was also screaming and hugging strangers.

http://www.footytube.com/video/cl-update-arsenal-2-1-barcelona-73394

This Just Excited the Crap Out of Me

I haven't been this excited about something in a while! I used to LOVE Project Runway but it's gone downhill since heading over to the Victim Network, and it's lost some of it's luster. So here's what's got me all riled up: the Oscars have given 9 up-and-coming designers the chance to create a gown to be worn on the Oscars stage during this year's show. There are short clips about the designers and their dresses, and the general public gets to vote on the dress to be worn. Aside from the fact that my favorite dress was designed by someone with a name that has more syllables than there are numbers on my paycheck, and who spends quite a bit of time in the tanning bed, it's awesome!

15 Minutes Later
Actually...Upon further examination (i.e. - watching all of the clips) I've realized that only probably 3 dresses are well designed.

Check it out here:
http://oscar.go.com/award-show/designer-challenge/vote

I Want Warm Chicago So Bad I Can Taste It

I desperately want warm weather back in Chicago if for no other reason than people in this city are like the angry walking dead right now. Chicago has been cold, gloomy, and generally unhappy for roughly 3 months. I read an article about "sidewalk rage" yesterday, and I fully agreed with everything it said. Turns out people are NASTY here when their walking space is confined by huge snow drifts. Here's how you could expect a sidewalk encounter to go on a snowy Chicago day: Two people, walking toward each other, going in opposite directions. The two reach a spot where a 10 foot tall snow drift has encroached on the sidewalk and leaves roughly 2 feet of walking space, which can obviously be used by only one person at a time. Almost instantly those two who were before moving zombie-like towards their destinations become enraged, feeling it a personal affront for the other to proceed first. Eventually one asshole will make the first move and each pedestrian returns to his/her state of general discontent, but that feeling of defeat remains for the rest of the day.

I've had just about enough of these encounters, myself, and I can't wait for the day when all the snow is gone. When it got above 50 yesterday, I caught a glimpse of warm, happy Chicago again and I've gotta say I cannot WAIT until temperatures are regularly above 60 degrees. People will be day drinking and happily sharing the sidewalk, and I can start wearing flip-flops and dresses again, which will make me infinitely happier. Since I have today off, I'll be having an afternoon drink and I will, without a doubt, cheers to warm Chicago.

This BuyWithMe is Legit

BuyWithMe Chicago is offering 50% off Second City Pizza Tours. This is actually a BuyWithMe I'm considering snagging. It's a combination of something I've wanted to do since moving to Chicago and a food group I happen to love: the architecture tour, and pizza. $24 is a little steep, but if they give me good pizza, I'll take it.

http://www.buywithme.com/chicago/deals/3174-second-city-pizza-tours