1

New Year's Eve which started off at State & Ontario at Craig & Michelle's party where their adhoc punch (see the Fridge Door Picture of the Week #1) was the stuff of legends and something not seen since my grad school days. Next stop was my buddy Debbie's friend Steve's Party at North & Wells. Nothing like a party where you don't know hardly anyone but that's where you meet a lot of cool new people and that I did. My friend Lara even stopped by to fly wing man for me at this event and was gracious enough even to provide a lift to Party #3 while on her way out to another event in the burbs.

Party #3 was the nightcap at my buddy Pete's where all the usual suspects were present (see Picture of the Week #2) and the libations flowed freely. After that even a handful of us went to some late night bar I don't remember (wasn't in any shape to) the name of to close out the night. New Year's Day started off with my roommate Dave, at great personal risk to himself, waking me up to catch the 10:00am Michigan - Florida Outback Bowl game and then ended meeting Linda and the Trouble Inc. crew at Finley Dunn's to watch a plethora of bowl games culminating in the defeat of Washington State at the Rose Bowl. Oh well, preseason starts only eight months away in August.

2

The first "two for one" of 2003. Nothing like wedging a free happy hour in the middle of a pub crawl, starting with a bunch of Festa's crew to visit that $30 cover charge MS fundraiser pub crawl which was actually a surprisingly good time. Hit bars 3-5 and then had to bail to catch my good friend Sara's free happy hour at Duffy's where we had a good showing of the usual suspects. Then, back to the crawl to hit the final two bars where we were joined by some more regulars for a very late night. Excellent partyage though!

3

Michelle's 6th Annual Retro Party at Fizz, Superbowl Sunday Frozen Tundra Kickball, and Three (!!) Super Bowl Parties (Saturday/Sunday, January 28-29)

Saturday night started off on a high note with Michelle's 6th Annual Retro Party at Fizz on Lincoln & Belmont. This party was absolutely packed and we had a great showing by elements of the old guard which included Fitzie and Sarah, Sebastian, John Hipo, the Mahu, His Festa-Ness, Sanpakit, Pauli K & Sheila, Patrick, Jose, Leslie, and even an extremely rare confirmed Jill sighting! The addition of another beer bar up by the dance floor was a definite hit as long service times was the only major deficit of last year's event. But we partied on into the wee hours of the morning and I have vague recollections of our piling like seven or eight people into the Rodrigomobile (a Ford Escort) for the belated trip home.

Sunday started off late because of the Retro party and subsequent carnage, but on high note with what I referred to as "Lunatic Bowl VIII" - Festa & Friends Annual Super Bowl Sunday Winter Kickball Game at Jonquil Park. The crowd built slowly and for a time we feared that we might only have enough lunatics for some batting practice instead of a full-fledged game due to the 14 degree ambient temperature and reputed minus 15 degree wind chill. But eventually, folks came out of the woodwork and I think by the end of the game we had over 20 players. Despite the relative lack of snow the playing surface was plenty slippery and the traditional "Mad Dog" team meetings at second base (replaced by Boone's Farm because we ran out of Mad Dog 20/20) proceeded well and the game ended up as a 6-2 victory for the "Happy Cats" (Fuji/Festa). And yes, in the interest of science we did discover that beer, Captain & Coke and 7 & 7's freeze into "Slurpee-like" slush at 14 degrees.

Then off to the first ever Super Bowl Party Triumvirate (never attempted to hit three parties for the game, only two) which started off at Larry & Jean's new pad at Cortland in Bucktown by the Kennedy, and then off to the Festa crew hangout at the 1700 block of Diversey where the host had three bags of ice keeping the keg cold on the back porch in 10 degree weather. But the "conference room projector" adhoc widescreen TV in the living room was certainly a hit. The capstone of the evening was Renji's Penthouse Super Bowl Party at Armitage and Lincoln Park West. Despite the outcome of the game, a great time was had by all. Taking a half day vacation from work Monday morning was definitely a wise move after all that partyage.

  4

Murray's Groundhog Day Party at Durkin's
 (Saturday, February 1)

I've heard legends about this party but this was my first year at Festa's buddy Murray's classic. All the peeps were out at this event including PPC 2002 Rookie of the Year Tony B. All I can say is that's the most fun I've had for $13 in a long time. Definitely one to add on the calendar for 2004 and the YIFC should probably just move their Winter pub crawl onto a different day! The Master of Disaster himself is shown second from the left, handing out his signature Ground Hog Day party stickers to his admiring public!

5

Heidi's Birthday Party Mini Pub Crawl
(Saturday, February 8)

Probably one of the only non-100+ person event to make this year's list, this Heidi birthday thing is becoming an annual classic. Although I missed the dinner at Emilio's Tapas due to conflict with a Milwaukee event (egads... I'm developing a second social life!), we met up at Southport Lanes for some bad (not necessarily due to the deleterious effects of alcoholic beverages, mind you) bowling. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to us, someone had rented the lanes for a private party earlier and the waitlist became unreal so we just switched over to drinking instead. Then off to the customary closer, Irish Eyes to finish off any remaining liver cells.

6

Steve's Second Annual St. Valentine's Day Massacre Party (Saturday, February 22)

Our buddy Steve has a condo right next door to the garage (where it used to be before it was demolished in favor of a parking lot) where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre happened in 1929. This was the second annual iteration of this event and a great time as Steve always throws top-drawer events! I think more vodka was consumed at this event than during all of Prohibition! And all of this despite the sad news earlier in the week of the passing of Fred Rogers of "Mister Roger's Neighborhood fame. I for one raised a glass for Fred! Also: Nora's Pix & Steve's Pix

7

Pre-St. Patrick's Day Parkway Tavern
(Saturday, March 8)

The description on the email invite says it all - "Those of you that have been there in the past know the drill - this is a free six hour party that usually tops out at around a thousand people. If you like free beer and lots of drunk Irish people (and who doesn't?) - this is the party for you." The Ubiquitous Mr. Festa tipped me off on this one which basically K.O.'s me for the rest of the day. Even had an extremely rare Jill sighting at the event too! Jesus, Mary Mother of God who were all those fun people?? And God Bless whoever throws this event!

8

Patrick Cooney's Guinnessfest
(Friday, March 14)

Although the festivities of St. Patrick's Day Saturday should also have made this list in aggregate, we come to expect extreme partyage already from that day by default. Instead, in the "over & above category" and first-ever iteration of this event, Patrick and The Iowa Boyz pulled out all the stops at the Half Shell Three Level Bar & Sauna in the Basement Party Palace with kegs of Guinness, Harp, and Green Bud Light! All the peeps were there including Angelica, Spiro, Festa, Kara, Tony, Krumancker, Pam & Sophia, I don't think I've ever left their place before 3am on a party night and Patrick promises me there will be even more kegs for G-Fest '04!! What an awesome start for St. Patrick's Day 2003!!

9

Dante's South Side Irish Parade Bus Trip
(Sunday, March 16)

The day started off at the unholy early hour of 10:30 am (c'mon, yesterday was St. Patrick's Day Saturday!) at the Bank One parking lot at Roscoe and Ashland. After loading two complete motor coaches full of people and beer we headed off to 113th and Western and were able to park the buses right up against Western Avenue! What a day of partying as once again the regulars as well as some really fun new friends showed up. After the parade, the hardcores took one of the buses to our friend Michael's parent's house for a backyard postparty (like we didn't already have enough at the parade). Total blast of a day and if you missed it this year fret not because Dante's getting THREE buses for 2004!!!

10

LaSalle Bank Shamrock Shuffle 8K & Subsequent Events (Sunday, March 23)

While my good friend from B-School Liz's wine "tasting" party (these guys "taste" like fire trucks pull water out of hydrants) up on the 4700 block of North Paulina Saturday night virtually assured a craptacular performance in the race early Sunday morning, but we were blessed by a (rare and) wonderful warm sunny day that got into the upper 50's and running with the Hash House Harriers "corporate" team got us access to the special hospitality tent with our own beer kegs. Not to mention all the friends we had in the main beer tent as celebrity guest bartenders! Bonus!!

11

The Arlington Home for Men's 9th Annual Masters Pub Crawl (Saturday, April 12)

In the largest non-Festa pub crawl I know of in the city of Chicago, this annual classic started off once again at Augie's on Wrightwood with 400+ people scattered across three separate flights. Special thanks  my 2003 Masters teammates, Bailey and Garrett whose kept us on Eagle pace (drink a pitcher at each bar in five minutes or less!) for the first five bars! But it was all for a good cause as half of the proceeds going to the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization and the other half to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Of course after a "brief" nap I met the crew at Lisa's South of the Border Party at Duffy's that night (bonus partyage!).

12

Waukesha HHH 2003 Red Dress Run/Linda's Birthday Party (Saturday, May 10)

Talk about a tale of two cities! The day started off with beautiful, sunny weather for a four mile run through South Milwaukee including stops to play "duck-duck-goose" and "spin bat relays" finally ending up at American Legion Post #27 for a massive blowout keg party. Who else could stage such madness other than the Hash House Harriers, "A Drinking Club With a Running Problem"? Then, after slamming an entire Big Gulp of Mountain Dew, back to the city for the 8th Anniversary of Linda's 29th birthday in Roscoe Village to close out the mayhem. What a day!! Album #1 / Album #2 / Album #3

13

Joe & Kim's South Side Catholic Wedding
(Saturday, June 7)

In the far South suburb of Burbank there exists an entirely different world than those of us who live in Lincoln Park experience. The wedding itself was a beautiful ceremony, but I should have known that a "preparty" at the groom's parents house for the VIP guests was foreshadowing the carnage to come. Man, you need a preparty because EIGHT HOURS OF PREMIUM OPEN BAR just isn't enough for a decent wedding reception. I ended up sleeping in my car in the parking lot of a Dominick's at 4am because I got one block from the hall and realized there was no way I was going to be able locate something as small as the CITY OF CHICAGO in that state. What an awesome time and serious congrats guys!!!

14

Steve's Champagne & Chocolat 2003
(Saturday June 21)

This marked the triumphant return of this Frank Jamora favorite and now PPC classic. Held at the same Clark St. venue as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre party in February, we went through over $1,500 bucks of champagne and when that ran out the crowd pretty much switched to anything left containing anything remotely alcoholic. But what a cool crowd and a really great time! Thanks Steve for bringing back one of our old favorites!

15

 
PPC's 12th Annual Chicago Fourth of July Party (Saturday June 28 - Saturday July 5).

The PPC's Flagship Event. 12 Years! Can you believe it??!! This years theme was "Operation Shock and Awe - The Search for Beverages of Mass Consumption". The fun started with our traditional boat cruise on the Free Spirit Friday night followed up by our traditional post-cruise trek to the Hangge Uppe on Elm St. Halftime intermission activities include our Grant Park Fireworks Outing and postpartyage at the Union on July 3. Saturday the troopers showed up for the traditional BBQ and Scavenger Hunt starting at Fuji's Party Central in Lincoln Park, and then ending with an nine-bar Scavenger Hunt/Pub Crawl up Southport.

16

Retro on Roscoe 2003
(Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3)

Started off as always in scenic Racine Wisconsin for four hours of food and open bar at my company's picnic. After that warm-up, then headed off to our friend Linda's annual RoR party at her place on Roscoe overlooking the West stage where she had a keg out on the porch. Between heading down to the fest periodically and refueling at Linda's it was a great time. Then there was Stage 2 on Sunday where we closed the fest at an Underwater People show in the center stage - overall a very excellent weekend!

17

5th Annual Post-Air & Water Show
(Saturday August 16)

This is my largest party of the year along the lines of a Festapalooza! 200+ people in the Big Backyard at Party Central. This year we rented a porta pot to ease the 45-minute restroom lines we had in 2002. Great crowd and very fun & diverse. Cops were called only twice this year and the skies opened up around 9:30 causing roughly 1/3 of the people to leave and the remainder to crowd under porches and stream into my 1100sqft condo (it took me weeks to clean up Party Central after this)! But eventually the rains let up and the die-hards proceeded to acquit themselves well despite the three kegs and $500 in booze furnished for this event! (Also JDog's Pix)

18

J-Dog's Birthday Outing at Cubby Bear and the "Party of the Year" on Pine Grove
(Saturday, September 13)

The day started with Michigan destroying Notre Dame. Lots of beers to celebrate the game and the win. Too cool!! Then, off to Wrigleyville to meet up with a group to celebrate J-Dog's birthday. Cut out after that to this massive multi-apartment, multi-deck party on the 2700 block of Pine Grove. By that time I had had so much folks said I was Salsa dancing (which I firmly deny to this day as I don't know how to Salsa dance - defense rests). On the way home at 4:15 am a massive downpour opened up but at that point in a party night, who cares?

19

Michigan/Iowa Game Roadtrip to Iowa City
(Friday, October 5-Sunday October 7)

This was one of the smaller iterations of our annual tradition of hitting one Michigan road game per year which we've done since graduation. This year it was just three of us, me, my good friend Dave from UM, and his brother in law. But for three guys we did a heck of a lot of damage. Using the Motel 6 in Coralville as our CentCom, we polished off a case of LaBatt's as a warm-up before hitting the bars Friday night. And before and after the game went another 36 pack of Molson. Then it was time to hit Iowa City. All I can say is THESE KIDS CAN DRINK. I think if Iowa City ever challenged Madison to a Big Ten party contest there would probably be deaths involved. But what a great time!! Like I told my buddy Dave, we can't wait until 2013 to visit this place AGAIN!!

20

Karen's Housewarming and Postpartyage at the Hangge Uppe (Saturday, October 11)

This was the sleeper event of Fall '03. Our friend Karen just moved into the hood in the West Loop and decided to have a small gathering of friends to celebrate her new crib. So you think, "no big deal, eh?" Wrong-o. While the event started rather small and low key (those are the worst because you let your guard down) things quickly escalated with the per capita consumption chocolate/vodka drinks. Then, the K.O. punch came - "Let's got the Hangge Uppe". I remember some more drinking, I remember some dancing. Not much else...

21

Tom & Beth's Wedding (Saturday, October 18)

You know it's one heck of a year when two weddings make the top 25 list! Or is it just that the friends we have who are getting married also happen to be huge partiers. The event started on a gorgeous sunny day at the Lincoln Park Conservatory for the ceremony (I did not know you could rent this out for weddings but it was EXTREMELY COOL), and then migrated to the Stadium Club at Wrigley Field for the reception. How cool is that? Album #1 | Album #2

22

Festa's Murphy's Bleacher's Lakeview Shelter Fundraiser Party (Thursday, October 30)

While his Jamaica Jam event in May made the honorable mention list, Festa hit his stride with this Thursday night wipeout at Murphy's Bleachers. For the same price ($25) as the Chicago Sport and Social Club party at Barleycorn on Fri night you got an assortment of beers (rather than just Bud Light), food (!!), an assortment of friends as well as a super-fun, friendly crowd. What a great time and I'm really glad I took off from work on Friday, unlike the Mahu who sounded like "a sh*t sandwich without the bread" when he called me the next morning!

23

Mid-November Tripleheader - Michigan/ Northwestern Tailgate, Drinkin' on Lincoln, and Robin's Birthday (Saturday, November 15)

Another great day started off tailgating with the UM True Blue Away Game Tailgate at the Peter Jans Golf Course (lame) and partying with Linda's crew right next to Ryan Field (cool). After the game we headed back to Lisa Hogan's Lincoln Ave pub crawl for a few bars and then off to Robin's birthday party at her place on Clark in Wrigleyville. Great dance floor downstairs and a great time was had by all!!

24

7th Annual PPC 12 Bars of Christmas
(Saturday, December 6)

The PPC's Winter Flagship event turned out to be yet another 300+ person event. This year we wound our way back north similar to 2001 starting at River Shannon and ending at Crush and The Union Tavern. Innovations like the two-bar Kelsey's/Kendall's halftime party and peppering the route with bonus bars like Durkin's helped ease the congestion and mayhem we experienced last year. A great time was had by all and we met some awesome new friends!!! Get ready for the PPC's 2004 12 Bars of Christmas!!
Album #1 (1-42) and Album #2 (43-83)

25

Festa's TBOX 8 (Saturday, December 13)

This has to be the largest pub crawl I have ever seen in my life and preliminary indications are we had over 1,200 people at this behemoth which moved like mass of humanity from bar to bar, occupying up to five bars concurrently. Proceeds benefited the Lakeview Shelter, as always. Started off at Wrigley Field with the first ever Torch Relay and ended at "Post BOX" at Chez Festa and hit all 15 bars (including the three alternates). Went "wire-to-wire" for the second time in a row and did proud the VIP Badge #0003 that his Festa-ness so graciously honored me with this year. Album #1 | Album #2 | Album #3 | Festa's 482 (!!) Pictures  | Another 60 Festa Pix