It’s Official…I’m A Lollpaloozie

Ever push your way through a sea of 300,000 people at Lollapalooza to get to almost FRONT row while Skrillex is dropping the bass? Oh, and then have to leave to  chase one of your friends because she wasn't having fun...

Then, when you're almost out of the sea of 300,000 people you and the 3 others decide "SCREW it, she's an  adult and will find her way home"...then push you your way through 300,000 people again to make it to second row center while Skrillex is dropping the bass! That's just the beginning...

What I learned from this Lollapalooza adventure with my best friends!

1. Taking the train downtown, not knowing the actual Metra Train schedule is a bummer. On a Sunday afternoon, I learned that trains to the city of Chicago only run every 2 hours, and if you miss the train... they will not come back for you. #Duh

We did not miss the train, but we did happen to read the train schedule wrong! Instead of the train that  was supposed to leave the University Park station at 2:10, it actually  left at 1:50! We rolled up to the train station as the 1:50 train was pulling out. So, we had to wait for the 3:50 train! haha!

2. Scalpers are the creepiest people I have ever met in my life! For one thing, it's super illegal and cops were everywhere. We did not have tickets for Lollapalooza,  and it was the last day of the event. We knew there would be people selling all over the entrance, but what we didn't know is how sketchy these dudes would be! Nor how much they would cost. The first guy actually approached us "Tickets, you got tickets...You need tickets?" My answer was "Haha we need tickets" like an excited school boy. He took my money and got Lollapa-wasted!

"$100 a ticket", said the toothless scalper. There was no talking this guy down! So, with a chuckle in my voice and my head between my legs we moved on to the next scalper. Eventually me and my buddies decided to just find a bar and figure out how much we wanted to actually spend on these tickets and/or if we really  wanted to go. We headed to find a bar that was close to the entrance of  Lollapalooza. We needed some Vodka redbulls for a nice little boost of awesome (we did not get those).

Outside of the "Congress Hotel" downtown, the homies and myself noticed a few clean looking scalpers who had all of their teeth. Needless to say, with a push and a shove, he hooked us up with 3 wristbands for the price of $200. Agreeing on this price, we were hoping the risk was worth the reward! My buddies slipped their bands on (which were clearly used by someone prior to our purchase) while I counted out the money. The clean scalper stated "My business partner needs to get a butter knife from the bar to loosen the band for you sir". So, he handed me back $70 as collateral...while I watched his "business partner" pop off the top of the wristband  from the window! #Sketch

At this point we are all banded up, and ready to head to the gate (still no vodka redbulls in our system), when the "Clean scalper" said, "If these don't work, I have been at this same spot all weekend just come back and we will figure it out". Haha, yeah right! I bet that dude bolted as soon as we left!

With all that said, the passes were legit and we made it in!

3. As soon as we walked in we headed strait for the BEERS! In hopes they have Vodka Redbulls (we were craving these bad boys). We make the approach...and #Fail! Beer and wine all day, and no booze! Our goal was to get wasted and see a show. So, we started pounding tall boys of Bud Light!

Now we are faced with another challenge: Finding our life-long-friends that had already been drinking inside Lollapalooza.

We found them! It was pretty easy, and as soon as we all got the hugs and "OMG how have you been! It's been forever" out of the way.. it started to POUR down rain! It was awesome! I am with my 5 best friends in downtown Chicago at a festival that I have never been to before and its pouring down rain! It was a new experience and I would not have changed anything. Seeing the skyline while Childish Gambino is getting down onstage and the rain is coming down...is unlike anything else!

Lets flash forward a bit...

The bathrooms are the worst! Lines were almost as long as the beer lines. We honestly could care about anything after pounding a few beers. I'm with both guys and girls and we all are HAMMERED and have ADD! We went anywhere we could... like here.

Or here... haha!

Skrillex and Kings Of Leon were both headlining on Sunday (the only day I went), so we had a decision to make! At this point, we had make the switch from beers to wine! It was $20 a bottle, and they put it in a plastic carry-able bottle! We, for sure, grabbed like 8 of those, pounded a few and headed to get in the crowd at Skrillex...decision made! At this point, we are soaked, muddy, and all smiles!

I have never been a fan of Skrillex but he killed it! Like I said before "Pushing your way through a sea of 300,000" is an epic adventure, and being able to do it with your best friends is even more epic! I am officially a "Lollapaloozie"...I will be back for all 3 days next time!  -Huggie