me with Lito and Master Kev

Zentra

It’s HOT! What the f–k? Chicago summer is the lover who left too soon, tries to come back, and you want them to GO AWAY! I’ve moved on, bring back the cold please!!!

From Thursday through Sunday my life has been on a non-stop no-sleep rollercoaster of places to go and people to see. Thursday night after Betty’s and having the unfortunate circumstance of people bumrushing my place, I had to pick up my doctor brother from O’Hare early Friday. He is running the Chicago marathon on Sunday. After being in traffic for over 3 hours, I tiredly deposit him at his hotel, take an hour fake-nap, then am up again to have dinner with him at a very slow Italian restaurant in boystown called Angelina’s. (Never go there!) Later that night I have to drop off the October issue magazines all over the Friday night clubs plus collect money. I go Leo’s Den, Kita’s Lounge and the Shop all on the southside. Then we see Madd Soul briefly at Cuatro and end the night at Zentra.

Early Saturday evening we go and check out the History of House 2 at the Congress Theater. There is door drama/list inconsistencies, even though I repeat over and over again that 5 Magazine is an official sponsor of the event! After enough hissy-fitting, they let me and Rees in and we go backstage so I can take the necessary pictures of all the “stars of yesterday.” Singers Robin S., Crystal Waters, Shannon plus DJs, DJs and more DJs in both rooms and every crevice in between. We are with Dave Sabat and NY’s Master Kev, and eventually we take our ringing ears over to Cat’s Meow to hear Kev play. The rest of the night is a mad blur as every one of us in that place tried to be THE champion alcoholic. I’m surprised Arman had any liquor left. By the end of the night poor rowdy Kev (who did a great job DJing by the way) took the prize, yelling and insisting on more drinks. And then more! He refused to leave the club, so I kindly suggested we club him with the mop so he’ll pass out. (I look out for my friends.) We ended up not having to do that as he eventually passed out himself. As did all of our retarded selves at some point shortly after… even my brother Lito blacked out, and he’s usually quite sane.

And joy of joys, after a mere 2 hours of drunken sleep, I wake up in a hurry and try to catch my brother running in Sunday morning’s marathon. I am delirious, hoarse and suicidal. Zombie party girl coming down on zero fuel. Let’s just say after $60 in driving-around-cab money, 4 miles of walking in the hot sun, 2 poster boards and 1 big Filipino flag…. not to mention going up to Boystown, the UIC campus and near the finish line….I did not catch my brother once! I was pissed. I wanted to cheer him on and get pictures… this marathon was very special. We eventually reunite with him at a downtown hotel, have a crappy lunch at the Water Tower’s Foodlife court, then later have an even worse dinner up north topped by an argument with a random pig. I’m so coming down with a fever.

Monday morning. Awesome! I have a fever!