Country from her cowboy boots to her down home roots

Wild Country

June 4th, 2010

So I have tried to explain this place to a few friends back home in Jersey before and it is difficult. Wild Country is a country themed night club in Collinsville, IL where most of the dancing is line dancing. It is 18+ club with a bar, stage, live band, stripper pole, second story balcony, televisions, and such. On some days they have a mechanical bull, on Fridays they have their Thong-a-thon Contest (yes it is what you are thinking), and other events throughout the weeks like karaoke, pool contests, concerts, etc. 

This is a picture from wildcountrynightclub.com of 

what the club looks like inside.

It is a lot of fun! Went with a group of people yesterday and it was only my third time ever. How it generally works is that for most of the songs, people start up one of the line dances and everyone else follows. There are always a group of people that know what they are doing (they must be regulars) and know all the dances. I have to say, I am getting better! I remember a few! It is always hilarious to try to follow along as they spin and twirl and kick their feet. 

Blurry but this is from the last time I went!

My first experience seeing the Thong-a-thon Contest. 

The people that show up to this place is just as entertaining to watch. There are a few that dress up - blue jeans, cowboy hats, gold belt buckles, boots, the works. But I've seen a lot of different styles. Basketball jerseys with backwards baseball caps, semiformal dresses, short mini skirts and club style attire - I have even seen a girl in an old fashion fringe jean jacket with a sequin skirt. So for this trip, I was well aware that it really doesn't matter what you wear - there will always be someone dressed more ridiculously than you. I think it is part of the place's charm! A lot of interesting people of all ages come together - local people that have known about this place for awhile, college students who are completely new to such thing, and everyone in between. 

At the club, my friend Nate and John decided to get drinks...in plastic boots! And an extremely long strong. Fun souvenir. We danced for awhile - I find it a lot of fun to try and pick up new dances, occasionally saying sorry to the people I bump into trying to keep up.

Friday, like I mentioned before, is also the Thong-a-thon event. This is where they get 10 girls to get up on stage and have judges vote on who looks the best in a thong. Now when I first heard this, it didn't bother me. Well it of course bothered me but it got the same reaction as telling me about strip clubs - I know about it. I know these things exist and people participate, it is how it is. But seeing an event like this with your own eyes, it is something different. I think what actually got to me was the commentary. Girls showing off their bodies and guys hootin' and hollarin' at them is not new - I'm not naive. But hearing that damn DJ talking about these girls and their bodies, was gross. And those girls who got up there...well I will save that lecture.

We didn't stay very long - long enough to see the first girl strip down to bra and thong. First time I saw this contest - we watched halfway. Saw some interesting girls. Saw a girl who wore two panties (talk about being prepared) and a girl who flashed her nipples. She got disqualified interesting enough. As disgusted as I was - it was definitely an experience! I will leave it at that.

Wild Country - Check! Though I am sure going to go back. This is what going to school in Missouri has done to a simple Jersey Girl.

Don't really have pictures from this trip but here is one of

me and my ChiO/Beta Family at Wild Country the last time!

Island, Bean, Beach, Food - Chicago

Memorial Day Weekend and I spent it in Chicago! I decided to go visit my best friend, Zee, from high school who goes to school in there. Took the Megabus over at 1 in the morning. The time doesn't bug me that much, it is just that I hate long bus rides. I find them incredibly uncomfortable. Same with airplane rides. Got to her place at 7 in the morning and crash for a few hours. Second best sleep over the weekend. Best is coming up. Showered and got ready to go out at around noon. Breakfast was a great Einstein's Cinnamon Sugar Bagel. We then headed to one of UChicago's Faternity parties - Island. 

Has anyone seen the show Greek? This reminded me of a Kappa Tau party. The pledges dug a moat in the backyard in which had a three legged turtle in it (wah? I don't know). There was a band playing, BBQ, and just a ton of silly people. I was looking around for Cappie. It was a lotta fun though. Met a bunch of people, I was someone's best friend for about five minutes, drank a lot, didn't get dunked in the moat thankfully, ice luged, and all that fun stuff. It was so....Greek =P

Me and Zee at Island! They had two locations for more errr refreshments.

Yes, we kinda match. Love her

Needless to say, we crashed mucho early. Before napping though we got Harold's Chicken! Great stuff I tell you. It is becoming a tradition of ours to get Harold's Chicken when I visit. It is basically fried chicken in this type of BBQ sauce, fries, and bread. Yummy.

Best sleep? That was nap after chicken. Knocked out like no other. Unfortunately, waking up wasn't fun.  

Into the City of Chicago - Millennium Park

This cool Dino in Millennium Park - It says Made in China on its belly.

Next morning (today), more like afternoon by the time we got up. Zee took me around Chicago. I've only been to the city one before and hadn't really seen anything past UChicago. It was a beautiful day and I was excited to be exploring the city. Zee was like my personal tour guide - minus the matching tshirts and tacky double decker buses (actually that would have been fun).

We went to Millennium Park - a must stop for all tourists of course. It had a lot of really cool sculptures and architecture. And speaking of cool sculptures - of course we had to go see...

The Bean!

Another staple of Chicago. It really is super cool. I of course hit my head on the Bean as we were trying to take cool reflection pictures. Bahh. Aside from the park we took a walk by the Chicago River, which I learned gets turned Green for St. Patty's day, Navy Pier (cute touristy place where I got a Chicago Keychain!) and North Ave Beach! 

  

Now when you say Chicago, I don't think Beach. I kind of forget that the Lakes are near by. But the beach was really nice! We went to North Av Beach where you are right next to the skyscrapers of the city. We sunbathed for awhile - I realized that I have a bandaid tan line on my leg - and just enjoyed the sun. Got to wear my new bathing suit! Yep, I am such a girl.

Me and Starfruit! Oooh I think I look a little tanner!

After the beach we headed to Chinatown! We took a pitstop at Startfruit, this very yummy froyo place. Technically I learned that it isn't froyo but Kefer. Either way, it was really refreshing especially on a 80 degree weather day. I got the pomegranate flavored one with chocolate chips and Zee got a smoothie. I want more. 

Chinatown was next! *insert Asian joke here*  It reminded me actually a bit of Chinatown in New York actually. We stopped at this rather popular restuarant for dinner. I got this Beef specialty noodle soup - it came in a bowl the size of a sink basin. OMG I just remembered that I have leftovers in the fridge. That makes me super excited.

Exhausted after a day of being a tourist but it was a very good weekend! Loved seeing my Zee and spending the weekend partying and sight seeing! Chicago is so fitting for her and I can see why she likes it so much. There is so much going on in this City that I definitely want to come back. Not in the winter - not a very friendly person when it is cold. 

Later Chicago!!!!