My pictures from the Chicago Metblog First Anniversary Party at the Map Room are terrible. But I’m feeling that gnawing geekdom to be first, so here’s a photo to let you know that if you didn’t stop by last night you missed out on cupcakes.

And a few thoughts from the bike ride south along Damen from my kickball victory to the Map Room…

Damen and Belle Plaine: There is a bike lane for 2 blocks along Damen, just north of Irving Park, which is just long enough to get your hopes up and then dash them against the rocks as the bike lane disappears. Which reminds me that the lake path has spoiled me and that if I’m going to riding around in the dark on city streets I probably should have a light and/or a helmet.

Damen and Belmont: Hey, it’s a bunch of those people who build those freak bikes (you know, tall bikes made out of the parts of three other bikes and choppers and so on) having a get together in a parking lot. Is this a regular meeting or are they about to ride somewhere mini-Critical Mass-stylee or what? No time to stop and ask — there’s cupcakes and lambic waiting at the Map Room.

Damen and Diverseyish: Hey it’s Vienna Beef. A friend of mine used to work there as an admin. assist. and she totalled her car in an accident and the president of the company let her borrow the red promotional VW Beetle until she got a new car. Nice folks, those Vienna Beef folks.

Damen and Armitage: Time to go a few blocks west to the Map Room and Hey! It’s a bunch of Chicago Metrobloggers!