This past Friday, while we were just sitting around minding our own business, this happened:

I think Sid figured out something was up when I had to pull his box of winter clothes down from the closet shelf. Sorry, buddy, but it’s time to break out the fleece.

Boy, that was one quick autumn! Anyone else got any snow already?

Greetings and salutations, my friends. Sid here with you today.

It’s been just super lovely outside here in Chicago so my dad and I took a stroll down to the lake.

If you can believe it, it is our FIRST TIME visiting the lake this year. I know. We live less than two miles away, so why we are not there EVERY SINGLE DAY is beyond me! I’m gonna look into getting a bus pass so I can just go by myself when my dad’s at work.

The waves were pretty out of control so we didn’t go in the water or spend too much time on the beach, but we go for a nice long stroll along the walkway that flanks the water. You get a great view of the city skyline from here when it’s clear out.

And it looks even BETTER with a pug, such as yours truly, in the foreground.

My dad even got a Margarita at the snack shack on the beach. But can you believe he didn’t share it with me?! I mean, I even did my best begging face…

Oh well, I still had a great time! I can’t wait to go again!

It’s a good thing Sid spent a few days resting up in preparation for Pugs Take Chicago because it was insane!

I’d reckon close to 100 pugs (and their human servants) from all over the U.S. dropped into Lake Shore East Dog Park this past Saturday.

Sid arrived in his red travel bag after a relaxing ride on the El train.

At first he tried to play it cool but once he realized how many freakin’ pugs were present, he lost any semblance of aloofness and started sniffing every pug butt he could find.

He had a great time playing in the fountain and the small stream it flows into. This really is one fantastic dog park. I only wish it were closer to Pug Slope HQ!

Pugs from California to Maine were represented, including the head-tilting pair from San Francisco, Minnie and Max!

Sid also got to hang with his midwestern pal, Violet, who also calls Chicago home.

There was a whole lot of running, sniffing, barking, and begging for treats going on.

By the end Sid was pretty knackered and snoozed in his travel bag the whole train ride back home! We can’t wait for the next one!

Hey fur-riends!

It’s Sid with you today. Reporting live from the nerve center of Pug Slope HQ. Yes, I know it just happens to be my bed.

The reason why I’m in bed is because I’ve been taking several extra naps each day to store up energy for this weekend’s pug meetup in Chicago. Along with from my fellow flat-faced Chicago pals, Violet and Timmy, dozens of pugs from all over the country will be coming into town by air, by rail, and by dog stroller. This is the weekend the pugs will take over Chicago!

There are several activities taking place over the weekend including a pug cruise. I sailed on the cruise a couple years ago (in appropriate nautical attire, natch) and so I will be skipping it this year, but I am planning to be at the meet and greet at Lake Shore East Dog Park. I was there last summer for a pug party and it was absolute mayhem.

Let me know if you are planning to go!

For more detailed information on PugsTakeChicago click here.

In his last post about our excursion to the Chicago lakefront, Sid forgot to mention that our beloved Foster Dog Beach is no more.

The high water level of Lake Michigan gobbled up the small remaining corner of Foster Beach reserved for the 4-legged and the tumultuous storms and heavy waves took out the fencing, deck, and wooden ramp that led down to the dog beach. If you take a look at our post from last summer, you can see what our cute tiny dog beach once looked like. We’ll miss it, but hopefully it can be rebuilt in the future.

Until then, I guess it’s time to find ourselves a new dog beach because this pug wants to swim!

Last evening in Chicago the clouds were making unusual formations and changing the light in surreal ways. It looked as if there were purple mountains off in the distance. Sid thought we were back in California.

I couldn’t resist going outside to Winnemac Park to check it out, and of course I wanted to bring Sid with to try and get some images of him with such an incredible backdrop. The lighting made everything look dramatic.

There was even a sun-shower at one point. It’s always a weird experience to have rain drizzling down while the sun is shining and half the sky is still clear bright blue.

P.S. Sid and I would like to thank you for all the positive thoughts and good juju you sent us in regard to his little back tweak fiasco. He is totally back to his normal self so it must have just been a fluke thing which is a big relief for us both!

As soon as Sid and I heard about the Anti-Cruelty Society‘s Canine Cruise, we signed up immediately. I’m a sucker for boats, especially those that are half-filled with creatures of the furry variety.

It had been a few years since Sid and I had been off dry land, but luckily all his sailing apparel still fit.

As soon as we got in line for boarding, we saw a group of some other pugs, and the pugnetic forces quickly pulled us all together.

Those are two of Sid’s new friends, Violet and Timmy. Attempts to get all three pugs in the same photo looking in the same direction were made but proved to be futile.

It turned out that Sid and Violet had met once before, at the pug pool party last summer. As soon as the cameras came out they both started turning on the charm and tried to top each other’s posing prowess (photo below from Violet’s instagram: @violet_pug).

The boat was filled with pups of all shapes and sizes, from tiny terriers to lumbering labradoodles. Sid and I sat with our new pug friends and their human companions. By the time we were ready to set sail, our pug trio grew to a quartet with the addition of another new pug friend, Chloe. She was looking stylish and staying dry in her little blue raincoat. And it even matched the chairs on the boat – way to coordinate!

The weather had turned pretty chilly and dreary as we lifted anchor, but it was certainly nice to be outside with all the pups, casually floating along the Chicago River.

Along our tour, both humans and dogs received snacks and beverages which made the ride much more enjoyable. According to Sid, anything can be improved with treats.

We had a really fun time and would like to thank the Anti-Cruelty Society and Mercury Cruises for putting together such a fun event. Sid can’t wait to set sail again!