All of your favorite Particle Pals having been working hard this summer, nothing can pull our noses away from the grindstone. EXCEPT!! The chance to go support our best friends and co-workers TAKE THE PANDA! Earl and Doug Pandowki, Steve Konashevski, Gasper Pandowski, Bingo, and Daisuke Pandowski stormed the stage to bring the rock and roll to their legions of crazed fans.

Man alive, did we ever have fun. A little too much fun for a few people who curled up and crashed out on the way home. Not naming names (molly. morgan.) Can’t wait to do it all again soon!!

Thanks everyone for coming to the Particle Picnic Party!  Sweet jams were jammed, numerous hot dogs were had, plenty of cheap beer was chugged, and lots of baggo was…played.

Here are a few pictures too look at in case you missed it.  I’ll set the scene.

FADE IN:

INT –  PARTICLE LOBBY – NIGHT

The crowd gathers….

CUT TO:

INT – COMMA BAGGO TOURNAMENT – NIGHT

These guys mean business…

CUT TO:

INT – COMMA BAGGO TOURNAMENT – NIGHT

Pete and Morgan have a good laugh.

CUT TO:

INT – BACK AT PARTICLE – NIGHT

The ladies of Particle and Comma continue to party it up!

FADE OUT

Okay so maybe this script won’t be selling to MGM anytime soon, but it sure made for a fun and successful Particle Picnic Party to kick off the summer!

So there was this radio spot we worked on a little while back.   It was a special little spot with a catchy tune.  This catchy tune took over the Particle office and had everyone humming and singing many weeks after we put our special touch on it.  And the story continues…

It looks like we weren’t the only ones who found “Coors Light: This Monday Night” endearing and also ultimately effective.   Come June 17th, we’ll find out which spot on the short list of contenders comes home from NYC with the honor of receiving the 2009 Radio Mercury Grand Prize.  Keep your fingers crossed for “This Monday Night!”

Take a listen below and try not to sing this song all day.  I dare you.

Recorded at Comma.  Mixed at Particle.

Good news!  Chicago is finally starting to heat up for the summer and everyone over here at Particle couldn’t be more excited.  Even though it’s gray and rainy today, here are just a few things that we are looking forward to enjoying this summer in the cit-ay.

–  The weekly Outdoor Film Festival in Grant Park (Showing “Sunset Boulevard” on July 14th!)
–  Riding bikes to work
–  Opening windows to let that fresh breezy air flow throughout our hallways
–  The many local restaurants that offer outdoor seating and lighter lunch menus
–  Green flora claiming back Chicagos trees

Speaking of green, we’re also working on green-ing up the place around here at Particle.  First on the agenda is cutting down on those pesky plastic water bottles. You’ll notice next time you’re in session that in addition to the bottles we’ve also started setting out carafes of ice cold water with slices of lemon or cucumber.  We’re hoping this helps put everyone into that summery mood while also helps keep any extra plastic out of our landfills.  Any little bit counts, right?  That’s what Al Gore tells me.

Over and out.

Watch out party people, Particle is going to Kick Up Spring with a Cocktail Hour very soon… stay tuned as to when and where to be!

It's gonna be HOT!

But it will get you an ipod on occasion! Once again, congratulations to Todd Durston for winning this years March Madness Bracket! A game dependent on skill, agility, great strength and street smarts, this year was a highly competitive bracket. Thank you all for playing, try again next year!

After a month of nail biters, upsets, and close calls, March Madness has come to an end. I’m not sure who won the actual basketball games, but I do know who won the Particle Client Brackets!

In first place…. Todd Durston of Draft FCB! He will receive a Ipod Nano in the color of his choosing. If he doesn’t choose soon, I am sending him the pink one. Congratulations!

Second place winners, and debatably winner of the better prize…. Tony Wallace of Leo Burnett! Tony received a dozen More Cupcakes delivered to his office. Mmmmm.

And coming in way ahead of the pack in the category of Most Enthusiastic Participant…. Graham Gangi from Radar Studios! Radar received six cupcakes and many hearty Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who participated- we’ll see you all next year to do it again!