Summerfest in Milwaukee starts tomorrow!  I went last year for the first time and it was awesome!  I can’t wait to go again this year.  If you have never been, I highly suggest you try and make it out for at least a day.  It runs 6/25 to 7/5.  Here are some highlights:

Marcus Monroe.  My favorite juggler.  His show is on the main strip area at the main entrance.  They are usually every hour or so.  Do not miss this!!  Unfortunately it looks like I will be missing him this year as his website only lists him as being there until 7/1.  I’m going after that.  Not cool.

Adult tickets range from $8 to $15 depending on when you go.  Perfect price for these recessionary times!

For that admission price, you can see any of the following: The BoDeans, Better than Ezra, Blues Traveler, Lupe Fiasco, Heart, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, The Wailers, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Roots, Huey Lewis and The News, plus many other bands that may possibly become your new favorite!

For an additional price, you can catch these acts at the Marcus Ampitheater which is located at the very end of the Summerfest grounds: Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, Kiss, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney (you can guess who I’m going to see!), The Fray, and Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyrd.  (Some of these may be sold out).

Aside from the music, there is plenty else to do: watch a strongmen competition, ride the Sky Glider that goes across the main drag of the festival, take a break from beer and drink a martini at Jo Jo’s, browse the marketplace for an awesome t-shirt or an ankle bracelet, and of course there is also the obligatory people watching (it’s GOOD up there in the Wisconsin heartland let me tell you!)  Also, you will not go hungry here.  There is sooooo much food, from BBQ to Pizza, Burgers to Shish-Kabobs.  It’s a couple cuts above your regular fair food but don’t worry, the standbys such as corn on the cob and funnel cakes are also available.  I don’t know what the prices are this year, but from what I recall last year, the beer and food were not as expensive as you would imagine; it all seemed very reasonably priced.

So really, you have no excuse NOT to go to Summerfest.  Unless you live really far away I guess.  I like to take the Amtrak there from Chicago instead of dealing with all the traffic on the way to Milwaukee.  If you wanted to just go for a day (since hotels are sold out) and plan on drinking, Amtrak is the way to go!  They run trains to and from Milwaukee/Chicago all day.  Plus, who doesn’t love a good old fashioned train ride?!  For more information about Summerfest, go here: http://www.summerfest.com.

Pet Peeve of the Day: Humidity

Quote of the Day: “Somebody told me it was frightening how much topsoil we are losing each year, but I told that story around the campfire and no one got scared.” –Jack Handy

Clear your calendar for NEXT Friday, March 27.  My friend’s bro’s band, Dan Tedesco and the Long Haul, is having their CD release party at the Elbo Room:  http://www.elboroomchicago.com/store/one/index.html?store_id=1061&page_type=sched

Find out more about their music, and awesome jam “Symphony in the City,” here: http://www.myspace.com/dantedesco and here: http://www.dantedesco.com/ .  See you there!  Vale.

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My favorite juggler, Marcus Monroe, although he’s not juggling here.  Yes, I have a favorite juggler:

That is Marcus Monroe, getting ready to juggle his infamous “knorches” (knives serving as torches).  He is legendary, catch him at Summerfest!!  http://www.marcusmonroe.com

Pet Peeve of the Day: the word “panties”

Quote of the Day: “That Dotty.  When she died, she never gave me her house keys back.” –Shanky’s grandma Josephine