YES OH YES - IT WAS A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!

Mayor's Office of Special Events Intern class of 1999, in the Mayor's office.

THE SUMMER OF 1999

I could drink legally, met my rock alternative idol, shook hands with the President, strapped on a leather helmet and goggles so I could fly around the skyline in a plane and fell in love with the greatest city in the world, Chicago!

I left the "land of corn" (Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL) making sure I packed my writing skills, public relations experience and my enormous best friend - I mean eagerness to succeed. I headed off to Chicago to start my first internship with the Mayor's Office of Special Events (MOSE).

I got paid very little to be an intern and the first thing I noticed was that beer was a lot more expensive in Chicago - no more 50 cent draft nights - and I often bought rounds of drinks on my credit card...those were some good times when I learned some real life lessons in finance!

I quickly became a trusted member of the small PR staff with MOSE that gave me experience writing press releases and media alerts while planning media events and working the summer free festival circuit. One event was a little more special than the rest; Taste of Chicago is the largest festival of the summer and provided a magical experience, one that I'll never forget.

MEETING A MUSIC LEGEND AT THE TASTE OF CHICAGO

Cheap Trick was performing and I heard rumors that some celebrity rockers will be hanging around backstage. What does one do when they hear such rumors? Spend most of my day back stage with your eyes wide open, DUH! I hoped to get a glimpse of someone famous - well famous to a 21 year old kid from the midwest in 1999.

I was sitting back stage of the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park on my lunch break, sharing cheese fries and eating an Italian beef sandwich with my coworker. Then, out of no where, Billy Corgan (of the 90's rock alternative band Smashing Pumpkins) sat down in front of us - walked up by himself like he was coming to chill with his friends in the lunch room in high school.

I was amazed at how personable he was and proceeded to have a casual conversation about the local music scene, the city's best bars on the north side and the disgusting amount of food we consumed at the festival that week. The conversation went on for quite a while and I was in the height of my glory - Billy Corgan is a legend!

In the 90's Corgan dominated the rock alternative scene with his melodic voice and unmistakable "spooky brand" made a huge imprint on my generation. He was from Chicago and went to school in the suburbs near where I grew up.

I took a weekend ACT class in his former high school and the teacher told everyone that he taught Corgan in the very same class room we were in taking the class.

That story stuck with me because I have always had hopes of greatness, wanting to achieve in whatever I decided to do when I "grew up" and someone making it from the suburbs of Chicago gave me hope to achieve some sort of greatness one day.

When he left the table my coworker whispered, "That was amazing!" And I responded, "A Chicago moment I'll always remember!"

Little did I know that I would begin to collect several unforgettable "Chicago moments" that summer. Yes oh yes - it was a summer to remember!

MEETING PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON - IT WAS A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!

My eyes were buggin' out of my head, glued to the computer screen as I concentrated on correctly typing the Spanish names of the entertainment performing at the upcoming Latin music festival into a press release.

My boss walked up to my cube and asked me to take an ad over to the Chicago Tribune. I gathered the ad materials and headed out for the long walk.

Just as I was leaving the office my intern coordinator frantically stopped me and said, "You've been selected to work a hot dog luncheon! Since you wore a tie and a dress shirt - we need you!"

Visions of wearing a hairnet and preparing hot dogs for the homeless at a soup kitchen immediately consumed my mind. My boss agreed to let them use my services for the afternoon and I was sent on my way to spend the day handing out processed meat.

Our Executive Director was at the front of the office rounding up interns to drive us - which made me realize this was a much bigger event than I originally thought - probably not going to see homeless guests at this one.

After we got situated in the car and started to drive down the street, he told us that the President of the United States would be at the press conference. Wait, this is a press conference? What about the hot dogs?

He firmly said three times in the conversation to the event, "You are working, not attending!"

Summer of 1999 heat wave bought a huge ComEd power failure and parts of the city had outages for a couple days. This press conference/hot dog event was a celebration for the people who helped neighbors during the crazy heat wave.

Bill Clinton is going to be at the same event I'm working at, HOLY COW, best internship EVER!

KEEP IN MIND

The infamous Monica blow job was all the talk this summer as he was recently caught in a big lie to the American people. I never understood why it was such a big deal...if Hillary was cool with it, I don't care!

THE HOT DOG EVENT

Secret service men surrounded the entrance as we entered the "old school" park district indoor gymnasium serving as the venue.

My very important job was to act as a human door stop at the entrance of the building. I was told that once the President walked in I was to firmly close the door and the secret service would handle securing the entrance. I greeted all of the guests and when the President arrived I closed the door as instructed.

They used the Presidential music when he entered the room - so totally awesome! My heart was beating quickly - super excited for my opportunity to see the President. Mayor Daley walked to the front of the podium with the President right behind.

Daley briefly addresses the crowd - he thanked all Chicago citizens who help their neighbors get through the power outages and helped them deal with the brutal heat.

He then, very dramatically, introduced the President who is greeted with thunderous applause. The room was made up of some guests and MANY members of the media. Every news station and prominent reporter was in the room to cover the event.

The President spoke for a good five minutes and you could have heard a pin drop. He's one of the most charismatic and articulate men I've had the opportunity see speak. He quickly grabbed my attention, demanded my respect and made me feel good when he concluded his speech. I was mesmerized by his public speaking prowess.

When he was done, the music started to play and I assumed he would be carted off to his next meeting. But to my surprise he walked out to the crowd and shook hands with every person in the room. He hugged people, got his picture taken and smiled from ear to ear.

I was with my fellow intern who had a disposable camera. I asked if should would take a picture of my with the President and she told me she didn't have enough pictures left on her camera for everyone to get their picture with him. I was so pissed at her - but what can you do! She got her picture taken with him and brought it to the office the next day to brag. Never liked her after that!

SAY WHAT? I MET THE PRESIDENT!

I met President Bill Clinton, I firmly shook his hand and was in complete awe of the man! This is something I will never forget! Just another example of an awesome "Chicago Moment" in 1999.

THE FUN EVENTUALLY CAME TO AN END - IT WAS A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!

My last day in the MOSE office with the Director of PR and my fellow PR intern Vince.

On the last day of my internship I left an hour early since my boss could tell I was really sad. She didn't want to see her 21 year old intern cry in her office, as I choked up a little saying good bye to her.

Since I was early for my train I found a place to sit and sadly reflected on how much I'd miss my summer of fun in Chicago. I was looking straight down when I heard, "Hey guy, don't be sad...it's Miller time!"

I popped my head up and saw a strange looking man showing off his six pack of Miller Lite beer he was carrying in a brown paper bag. He was smiling ear to ear showing his missing front teeth.

The face of this sweet and peculiar man has stuck with me for all these years because he gave me the kick in the butt to get off my feet and smile all the way home.

This was only the start of my career in Chicago, there were even more great opportunities for "Chicago moments" down the pipeline. Being successful in this internship was due to my mentors who had enough confidence in me to let me work with the media to cover Chicago's biggest events.

I put reporters in acrobatic airplanes to promote the Air and Water Show, delivered food to all of Chicago's TV and radio stations to promote the restaurants at Taste of Chicago and ran stages of entertainment at Celtic Fest.

IT WAS A SUMMER TO REMEMBER!