Hal Stedman and the Chicago Corgi Crew

My night with Barbra Streisand...

...and about 30,000 other people and it was all because of my Louisiana Corgi Momma.

When I receieved tickets as a gift to see Barbra Streisand I was completely floored. I couldn't believe it! I've wanted to see her so bad all these years. So there I was, 2-3 months before the concert and I had tickets...the wait had begun. I started watching her pevious concerts all over again, hed cd's filled the player. Nick, put the full page newspaper ad on his back door so whenever I went downstairs I would see it.

Philadelphia, 10/08/12, Barbra starts her tour in Philadelphia. I read the reviews (all glowing) and I watch all the videos on YOUTUBE from the show. I'm curious, the critics are saying her voice has gotten deeper and she saves the high notes. She's 70, sounds pretty amazing to me! Then there's her 2 Brooklyn shows, the Montreal show, the Ottowa show and the Toronto show, I do my research :)

Chicago, 10/26/12. OY! John gets here early and asks "is that what you're wearing tonight?" It's 9:30AM, of course not. I still haven't even begun to play Let's Pull Out Every Shirt And See What I'll Wear game? I settle on the gray polo. Why? Because the cap I'm cearing has gray lettering. What can I say, some of us got it some of us ain't! Time to nap, that's fruitless. An hour before we leave I start my magic transformation into something less hideous, it's a chore. John throws on a shirt and pants and he's done and looks great. As I'm dressing a thought suddenly hits me as I grab a new pair of underpants. Is Babs wearing a new pair to see me? I'm dressed and I walk into the dining room to present my glorious self to John and I ask him how I look? "Why we leaving so early? The show starts at 8 and it's only 4:30?" He replies, I know that's code for Hubba Hubba, you look so good!

We didn't plan on where to eat. We'd be driving down through an area called Wicker Park which is crowded, hip and parking is at a premium. We'll just pick a place that looks good and stop! Well, that didn't work out because we couldn't find parking! Our new plan became let's find a parking spot and find a restaurant around it! We find one, right by the Blue Line Damen Ave. Train Stop. SO MANY PEOPLE getting home from work. We decide on 'that place' across the street because whatever they're cooking smells good AND I'm freezing and it's close. Oh, and because I've read good stuff about it. The place is jammed, but we get a table, one of the few tables because it's mostly a bar. The menu has 10 latin inspired items. While waiting for our food I notice that John and I were the only two not carded when we came in. Big Star may have a very small menu but what they have is excellent. Excellent, but spicy!!!

On our way to the  United Center. Home of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks. This is where every big act plays. John and I already know that we will be avoiding The Barbra giftshop because she said in one of those videos I saw on YOUTUBE that the items were much cheaper on her website.

I've studied the maps of all the parking lots. I know which are cheap and which are expensive. We're lucky! We're almost 2 hours early (John has already bitched, I mean mentioned this) and the cheap parking lot closest to the Center is nearly empty and it's only $20. Then we're told for $5  more, we can get Easy Out, sounds like a bargain to me! As it turns out it was a wise investment after the show. It's cold out so I ask if we can sit in the car, it's 6:15PM. The man says yes but tells us the doors open at 6:30. I can see a crowd there already.

It's freezing in line and the doors don't open until 7. Being the social butterfly I am I start everyone around us in a conversation. She's here from Southern Il., these other two couples are from the suburbs, some from Michigan, Indiana, Argentina and we all are talking about Babs. Until I notice that the downtown skyline is all pink and mention it. We all admire it and go back to Babs. I mention to everyone what I heard from Babs herself, buy online, not here.

Doors open and we're all swiped with a wand, good thing I'm not packing! We are told over and over again that the artist is insisting no one records during the show. If we are caught, it's Adios, Partner.

Walk in and there's a gift shop just filled with everything Babs and I run over, giddy, like a two year old with John trying to catch me, but he's too late. For someone as big as me I run through that maze of people like a rat in a maze. By the time John get's there I'm looking at 2 tees. John buys both and says Happy Birthday.

Seats are amazing! We can see everything and there is nothing to obsrtruct our view, we can see over everyone in front of us. I ask the usher/kid if he knows who Barbra Streisand is? He says "Oh yeah, my Grandmother told me all about her and how she grew up listening to her music. He's lucky John was standing between us.

Good Lord these seats are so tiny. They were designed for supermodels, and I don't even have an ass!

The fashion parade begans. Furs, gowns, sweats, you name it. My attention goes to the sequins. The men seem to be wearing them better. Hello! Streisand! Some folks don't belong in sequins. I wonder if they own a mirror. I'm a big guy and I know what not to wear. This one lady is also, uh, full-figured to the point where Lane Bryant can't help her! But God love her, she found a black sequin, strapless mini dress. John tells me to shut up. She's wearing sky high heels and clip clops down the metal steps, yep she's getting all the attention she hoped for. I introduce myself to Geri, the lady behind me and apologize in advance for any screaming, carrying on, etc...she says she's the same way. Her husband, a firefighter, bought the tickets but couldn't come, so her 22 year old son, also a firefighter came with his Mom, because he grew up listening to Mom love Babs. Awww. Julie, he was single.

Three more announcements are made about not recording. The lights go down and the overture begins. The audince lights up, almost every cellphone in the place is recording. Well, I've watched YOUTUBE and I know her opening song is one I like, but not one of her famous ones. I won't record that one.

Almost 30,000 people are screaming, there's Babs. She says "Hello Chicago" and the place goes crazy, until she tells us to sit down and we do. She opens with 'On A Clear Day'...why wasn't I recording this. Streisand gets a standing ovation after every song. She sings some standards, some of her most populay, she performs with all of her special guests, which include her son, Jason Gould, who's not that bad and her sister, Roslyn Kind. Also, not so shabby. Il Volo abd Chris Botti. The show is 3 hours long with a 15 minute intermission. The only time Babs is not onstage is when she let's some of her guests do a solo.

"This is my favorite part of the show" Babs shares as she grabs a basket. "Questions from the audience, we always do it so thank you everyone who filled out a card in the lobby!" I didn't know this? I would have asked about Madonna showing off her crotch??? One question is about her movie, the Main Event and it's main song, Enough is Enough, the disco hit she did with Donna Summer. Babs says she hasn't done that in public in many years and tells her conducter to pull out the music..."but I'm only goig to do a snippet" she adds. She starts singing it and the audience is up, screaming, singing and dancing. I didn't record it because it was only a snippet! Guess what? Yep, she did the whole thing!

The fastest 3 hours in my life. I only recorded 4 songs. I would have been this happy even if I didn't record.

Barbra Streisand is MAGIC in concert. She can't hit notes like 50 years ago, but she can still hit some notes. Her voice is deep and rich and she knows how to use her gift. It was a night I'll NEVER forget. And yes, even some tears as she suddenly appeared on stage. A moment I never thought I'd see. She has some dates left. Vancouver, Vegas, San Jose and LA.

Peace Out, Homies...now go talk amogst youselves, I'm all verklempt.